Six months later.

"Ninth level of Qi refining!"

Li An stepped out from his secluded cultivation, his expression calm, but expectation shone bright in his eyes!

The advancement of his Spirit Root, combined with the Life Nourishing Immortal Skill, resulted in exceptionally high-quality spiritual power, and with the help of pills, his breakthrough was a natural progression.

Li An was already seventy-seven years old!

Yet his appearance showed no trace of aging; he looked more mature and settled than when he first joined the Profound Yang Sect, without the etching of time, hardly any wrinkles, and his visage even more radiant than before.

"The range of my Divine Sense has also expanded to ten meters."

The growth of his Divine Sense filled Li An with joy.

But checking the current situation of his Spirit Stones, Li An suddenly felt a deep ache in his heart.

"The harvest from eight years ago has nearly been depleted by today..."

Eight years ago, he had seized more than seventeen thousand Spirit Stones, and combined with his own, he had over twenty thousand Spirit Stones.

But eight years had passed, and now he only had around a thousand Spirit Stones left.

Actually, Li An's cultivation wasn't the main drain; it was primarily the array within the valley that consumed too much.

Every month, it devoured around two hundred pieces.

But this was a necessary expense; without protection, Li An couldn't cultivate with peace of mind.

During these eight years, some Loose Cultivators and others came to Moon Tempering Valley, only to be scared away by the array in the valley.

After all, there was indeed a Tier Two Spirit Vein here!

This is where the disadvantage of Loose Cultivators showed.

If it were in the past, Li An wouldn't have to worry too much about safety cultivating in Qingyang Market.

"I need to go out once..."

Besides Spirit Stones, years ago Li An had also obtained resources worth about ten thousand Spirit Stones, including Magical Artifacts, pills, runes, materials, etc.

But they were too scattered; selling them all would take a long cycle, not something that could be rushed.

In the next six months, he stabilized his ninth-level Qi refining stage while changing his appearance, visiting some small towns, cities, and gathering information.

Eight years had passed, and everything that happened back then had already spread throughout the northern part of Great Li, Li An didn't have to exert much effort to understand the situation:

As he suspected, the Profound Yang Sect was breached from the inside.

The Fake Pill Elder Li Yuan, who once led people to slay Life-taking Horse-Faced in Qingyang Market, was possessed by Life-taking Horse-Faced and had been setting traps within the sect.

Internal and external collusion led to the destruction of the entire Profound Yang Sect.

The mountain gate of the Profound Yang Sect, along with the Spirit Vein, had already been destroyed, now only ruins remain.

And the Liuyang River Market, the spiritual ore of the Profound Yang Sect, etc., have been taken over by the Divine Sword Sect and the Hundred Beasts Sect.

The cultivation forces that once attached themselves to the Profound Yang Sect also switched allegiances.

For instance, the Zhao family of Zhao Xian's clan, after taking refuge in the Hundred Beasts Sect, was greatly valued; over the years, they have been absorbing remnants of the Profound Yang Sect, becoming quite renowned in the northern Great Li.

Li An deliberately inquired about who was still alive, but the information was not accurate.

"The waters of the Demon Sect run deep."

Li An was wary in his heart; even to this day, no one knows the detailed circumstances of the Profound Yang Sect being breached.

Especially how Profound Yang Master was defeated.

After all, Profound Yang Master was a Core Formation expert; even if Life-taking Horse-Faced possessed Li Yuan, it was still just a Fake Pill, not a match for Profound Yang Master.

Li An suspected that during that battle, there might have been demon cultivators of the same Pill Level involved?

If that's true, it means the strength of the Demon Sect is more terrifying than anyone imagined.

Moreover, after the destruction of the Profound Yang Sect, the Demon Sect disappeared for a time; their whereabouts were too mysterious.

"What exactly are they plotting?"

Li An couldn't fathom, but he had a vague feeling that the Profound Yang Sect might not be the Demon Sect's ultimate goal.

They probably have bigger ambitions.

Nonetheless, for the time being, he doesn't need to worry too much; as long as it doesn't endanger him, even if the Demon Sect stirs up chaos, it has nothing to do with Li An.

While out, he sold some basic supplies, gaining over three thousand Spirit Stones in six months.

"It's time to leave..."

Li An pondered, now that he has crossed the ninth level of Qi refining, he needs to start planning for Foundation Establishment. This means he can't stay in Moon Tempering Valley indefinitely.

His heart had long since set a direction!

White Tiger City!

White Tiger City is a sanctuary for Loose Cultivators, with White Tiger Master overseeing it; Loose Cultivators can find refuge there.

Moreover, resources circulate more densely there, making it more convenient to purchase herbs, etc.

Another important reason is that continuing to stay in Moon Tempering Valley was becoming unsustainable for Li An.

Even a small cultivation clan in the Qi Refining stage couldn't afford the expenses of a Tier Two Array; typically, it would require a Foundation Establishment stage force.

Li An, fighting solo without any industries or income sources, the consumption... was far too excessive.

And before heading to White Tiger City, he needed to make some preparations.

——The Primordial Soul Beast Turtle Shell and Turtle Horn he obtained from the Cloud Illusion Mountain Range were still there.

If he could refine them into Tier Two Magical Artifacts, Li An would have more confidence going to White Tiger City.

"I need to make a trip to Qiling County..."

The Foundation Establishment cultivation clan Zhao family resides in Qiling County; Li An headed there primarily to find Wang Dazhu.

If Wang Dazhu was still alive, the Zhao family would be his only haven, and with his talent, he should be close to becoming a Tier Two Artifact Refiner by now, right?

...

After arranging everything in the valley, he set off for Qiling County.

...

A few days later.

Li An arrived at Zhao Family Town in Qiling County.

Qiling County has a total of seven large towns under its jurisdiction, densely populated, and in recent years, almost all have fallen under the influence of the Zhao family.

Zhao Family Town is the core area of Zhao family's influence; most of the town's residents are mortals, but there are also many cultivators coming and going.

Disguised as a small cultivator at the third level of Qi refining, Li An quickly gathered the information he wanted—

Wang Dazhu was indeed still alive, right here in the Zhao family!

Moreover, Wang Dazhu held a high status within the Zhao family, revered as an Honored Guest Elder, and three years ago, he successfully crafted two Tier Two Magical Artifacts for the Zhao family.

Additionally, recent rumors suggested that Zhao Xian's family patriarch Zhao Xian had intentions of marrying his younger aunt or sister to him.

Zhao Xian was also still alive, and over the years, he led the Zhao family to join the Hundred Beasts Sect, even annexing several nearby cultivation clans, gaining high prestige within the family, and inherited the position of patriarch five years ago.

Recently, the Zhao family was also vying for responsibilities over Liuyang River Market; if successful, Zhao family's strength would increase significantly.

The unpredictability of the world had, in a way, led to the Zhao family's success with the downfall of the Profound Yang Sect.

Li An lingered in Zhao Family Town for more than a month, finally finding an opportunity.

That night, Li An lurked in front of Mianhong Residence in Zhao Family Town.

Through careful inquiries and repeated observations, he discovered Wang Dazhu had gained a new liking since his time at the Profound Yang Sect—women.

He was deeply infatuated, having several lovers within Mianhong Residence!

Regarding this, Li An wasn't too surprised; back at the Profound Yang Sect, Wang Dazhu was merely an outer sect disciple, with a low status that left him no opportunities to enjoy such pleasures.

But now it was different; he could forge Tier Two Magical Artifacts, and Zhao Xian, wanting to win him over, undoubtedly made lavish efforts in wealth and women. Initially, he might have maintained his original intentions, but over time, getting lost in such indulgences was normal.

With prior experience leading the development of a cultivation clan, Li An understood these means quite well.

Li An waited until the next day, until the sun was high in the sky, an older-looking Wang Dazhu finally emerged from Mianhong Residence.

Wang Dazhu wore a satisfied expression and boarded a luxurious carriage waiting for him.

Just as he sat down, he frowned, picking up a letter on the seat—

"Avoid the great calamity of the Demon Sect by leaving the spiritual ore, Brother Wang climbs high, old friends are much relieved, if you have free time tonight, meet at the maple forest in the south mountain."

"An old friend from Wuling Sect."

Wang Dazhu was instantly stunned and said, "Brother An?!"

...

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