Translator: CinderTL
Xu Sanyan walked away, relieved to see Qin Manyang hadn't followed. He'd felt something off about the woman—he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he'd always trusted his instincts.
He examined the hairpin in his hand, sensing a potent aura of Yin Qi clinging to it. It seemed to be a valuable item, though he wasn't sure what it was for.
Despite having reached the Peak Stage of Foundation Establishment, his rapid progress had left him unfamiliar with many aspects of the cultivation world. Xu Sanyan resolved to not only cultivate diligently but also learn more about the intricacies of the cultivation realm.
Next, he picked up the red robe. It was a powerful artifact, but unfortunately, he'd torn a hole in it. He wasn't sure how badly it was damaged, so he decided to keep it for now.
He folded the robe and tied it to the Ferocious Demon's back. The demon's primary function these days was carrying his luggage.
With two long swords strapped to his back—one from the Red Sea Twin Immortals and the other from the Imperial Advisor—along with the red robe, a dark dagger, gold and silver, two tokens, and a Dust-Whisk, this was his entire fortune.
As for the cultivation manuals, he'd memorized them and burned them afterward. Since he often had to tear off his clothes during battles, he'd entrusted all his belongings to the Ferocious Demon to prevent losing them.
His horse had been spooked and run off, so he'd have to walk the rest of the way.
As dawn broke, Xu Sanyan removed the red robe from his waist and discarded it. The woman's origins were mysterious, and she had an unsettling aura. He didn't dare keep anything of hers.
However, strolling through the Great White Heaven with a bird on his shoulder wasn't exactly a dignified sight. So, he tore a piece of the Ferocious Demon's black robe and wrapped it around his waist instead.
After a month and a half, Xu Sanyan gazed at the massive city before him and let out a long sigh of relief. According to the token, passing through this city and traveling for about three more days would bring him to the Vast Origin Sect.
Xu Sanyan took a deep breath, savoring the abundant spiritual energy permeating the air. He couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. The spiritual energy here was more than twice as dense as in the Qi Kingdom. No wonder they called the Qi Kingdom a barren land.
Though the density of spiritual energy had little impact on him personally—Xu Sanyan didn't rely on it for cultivation—its abundance meant a greater abundance of precious medicines and rare treasures. He wouldn't have to risk his family's destruction for a few precious medicine plants.
Moreover, this place was merely a corner of the Central Region. The Central Region was vast and boundless, with even denser spiritual energy toward its center.
The city gates teemed with people coming and going. Occasionally, someone would glance at Xu Sanyan, but they quickly averted their gaze. He was dressed in only a simple pair of pants, with two tattered pieces of cloth hanging from a rope around his waist. As he walked, the cloth would flutter, revealing a glimpse of his muscular physique.
A few bold women blushed and stole glances, quickly looking away when caught.
Xu Sanyan paid them no mind and strode confidently into the city. The guards at the gate didn't bother him. They knew that those who dressed so strangely usually had some skill, and as mere gatekeepers, they had no reason to provoke trouble.
Xu Sanyan went to a clothing shop, bought a set of clothes, and changed into them. Then, he found a restaurant to wash off the dust and grime of the road. He ordered a table of dishes and sat in the main hall, savoring each bite slowly while listening to the diners' lively conversations.
With his current cultivation level, eating was no longer necessary; absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was sufficient to meet his body's needs. However, Xu Sanyan still enjoyed eating.
Savoring delicious food was one of his few hobbies. The sensation of sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and tongue-numbing flavors assaulting his taste buds brought him immense pleasure.
Of course, he had another hobby as well...
Xu Sanyan picked up a piece of fish skin and savored it slowly, the Ferocious Demon standing behind him like a loyal bodyguard.
At that moment, a chair at the side of the table was pulled out, and a figure sat down with perfect naturalness.
Xu Sanyan raised his eyelids to look at him. The man appeared to be about thirty years old, with a pale face, no beard, and a purple robe that exuded an air of nobility.
The man's expression was calm as he spoke slowly, "My name is Cui Yousheng. I've been waiting for you here for half a month."
Xu Sanyan was slightly surprised. He put down his chopsticks and glanced outside the door, where a familiar figure appeared—Cui Sheng, the Eldest Son of the Cui Family.
Xu Sanyan immediately understood. When he had wiped out the Cui Family, he hadn't found Cui Sheng. Now he knew the young master had fled here.
Cui Sheng stared at Xu Sanyan with hatred burning in his eyes. This man was the one who had destroyed his family, the one who had killed his father and brothers.
When he had left home, his father had repeatedly warned him never to seek revenge. But how could such a deep-seated hatred be easily forgotten?
Only by killing Xu Sanyan could he finally lay down his burden!
Thus, Cui Sheng had defied his father's wishes, enduring countless hardships to finally reach the Vast Origin Sect. There, he had met Cui Yousheng.
He had explained everything to Cui Yousheng, who had then taken him to the city to wait.
And now, today, he had finally found him.
His long-awaited revenge was within reach!
Cui Sheng was confident that Xu Sanyan was no match for his uncle!
Xu Sanyan looked at Cui Yousheng and smiled. "Are you here to avenge the Cui Family?"
He wasn't afraid of Cui Yousheng. The man's cultivation was at most equal to his own. If they fought, the outcome was uncertain.
But to his surprise, Cui Yousheng slowly shook his head. "We have no quarrel. Why would I seek revenge? When I sent the cultivation methods through intermediaries, I made it clear that from that day forward, Immortals and mortals would forever be separated."
"The Cui Family leveraged my influence to leap into the ranks of ordinary noble families. That debt of gratitude was repaid long ago. Therefore, everything related to the Cui Family is now none of my concern. I'm here today to clarify this, lest a rift grow between us."
Cui Yousheng's actions were driven by his own considerations. Xu Sanyan, at just over twenty years old, had already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, his talent truly astonishing.
With such talent, Xu Sanyan even had a chance of being taken as a disciple by the Sect Leader himself. Cui Yousheng naturally didn't want to make an enemy of him.
As long as Xu Sanyan didn't meet an untimely end, he was destined for a high position within the sect in the future.
Offending such a promising young man for the sake of a distant relative several generations removed simply wasn't worth it.
Moreover, Cui Yousheng's parents had long passed away, and his only sister had died young. He cared nothing for the remaining members of the Cui Family.
In this calculation of benefits, Cui Sheng had already become a discarded pawn.
Cui Sheng's face was a mask of disbelief. He couldn't understand why his granduncle would help an outsider instead of him.
The earnest teachings of the Cui Family's patriarch had finally come to pass.
Xu Sanyan watched Cui Sheng's stunned expression and chuckled softly. "Surprised, young man?"
This is the World of Immortal Cultivation, where self-interest reigns supreme.
Cui Yousheng rose to his feet and said, "I'll leave the rest to you. This humble Daoist bids farewell. If you have time, feel free to visit my Immortal's Cave for tea and discussions on the Dao."
Xu Sanyan stood to see him off. "I'll certainly come and bother you then."
Cui Yousheng smiled and nodded without even glancing at Cui Sheng before drifting away.
Xu Sanyan patted the empty seat beside him. "Come, sit down."
Cui Sheng stood rooted to the spot, his face ashen, as if his soul had been stolen. He muttered unconsciously, "Why... why..."
The Ferocious Demon pressed Cui Sheng into the chair. Xu Sanyan spoke, "I'll tell you why: because of value!"
"Value...?"
Cui Sheng finally reacted, his face blank as he waited for Xu Sanyan's explanation.
Xu Sanyan picked up his chopsticks and plucked a piece of green vegetable. "Your value isn't as high as mine, so you were abandoned. It's a simple principle. Why don't you understand?"
"But... he's my granduncle..."
"Granduncle? Hahahaha..." Xu Sanyan burst into laughter.
"But he's not your father."
(End of the Chapter)
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