Chapter 36

As the geese flew north and the green grass spread along the ancient path, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

Standing at the classroom door, Xiaoming took a deep breath and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

As the geese flew north and the green grass spread along the ancient path, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

As the geese flew north and the green grass spread along the ancient path, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

While someone stood on the mountaintop gazing at the flying birds, on the ancient path slick with rain, two figures were hurrying along. The one in front was a man in his thirties, who looked quite fierce, with a tall and sturdy build that gave off an intimidating aura. The young man behind him was about seventeen or eighteen, with a pair of lively eyes. At first glance, these two looked no different from ordinary passersby. However, if you paid attention to their feet, you would realize that they were no ordinary people. On the road, which had just been rained on, it wouldn't take long for your shoes and socks to be soaked with mud and water. But the green boots and white trouser legs of these two men were completely free of mud and water, not even a trace of moisture. If you observed more closely, you would notice that although they seemed to be walking on the road, their feet were actually two inches off the ground. If there were any cultivation experts present, they would be greatly astonished. The technique of floating in the air, which even experts at the sixth level of cultivation found difficult to master, was being used by these two men to travel.

"Senior Brother, how much longer until we arrive?" The young man casually put a leaf in his mouth and asked softly.

The man called Senior Brother looked up and then said in a deep voice, "We should have about five days of travel left."

The young man glanced ahead and said with a smile, "Senior Brother, I see a town about fifteen miles ahead. Should we rest for a while?"

The burly man frowned and said in a deep voice, "Junior Brother, how can you waste your magical power on such trivial matters?"

"Senior Brother, I'm just a bit tired," the young man said with a grin. "Besides, we still have half a month, so there's no need to rush."

The burly man shook his head and sighed, "Alright!"

Seeing the burly man agree, the young man said with a smile, "I knew you were the best, Senior Brother. Master is really something, our Lionhead Dove from Lishan Palace can fly a thousand miles in just a few hours, yet he insisted we walk."

"Lei Mo, it's wrong of you to complain. The path of cultivation lies at our feet. Tempering our hearts in the mundane world is equally important for us cultivators," the burly man said sternly. "Moreover, this trip to Dingfang City is of great importance. We absolutely cannot make any mistakes, understand?"

The young man's heart trembled at the burly man's stern face, and he hurriedly said, "I understand, Senior Brother."

"Lei Mo, you should understand how much the sect values you. Otherwise, why would you, among the three thousand disciples below the Foundation Establishment stage in Lishan Palace, be chosen to go to Dingfang City to seek the Jade Tiger Blood? It's because they have high hopes for you!"

"You can't be unaware that the Jade Tiger Blood appears only once every sixty years. Thirty-one of our predecessors who have taken the Jade Tiger Blood have all reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and twelve of them have even become Golden Core cultivators, with three reaching the Yuan Ying stage!"

"Master has paid a great price to secure this opportunity for you. He is grooming you to become a Golden Core cultivator, or even a Yuan Ying elder!"

The young man's expression changed for a moment, then he said solemnly, "Senior Brother, please rest assured. I, Lei Mo, will not let you or Master down. I will definitely obtain the Jade Tiger Blood!"

The burly man laughed heartily, "Good, let's speed up and rest in the town ahead."

...

In the Western Suburb Dust Map, Fang Ling was carefully placing several hundred stones he had brought in, according to a strange arrangement.

"Dry position, three zhang giant stone, as the array eye!"

"Take thirteen steps to the left, place thirteen stones in sequence."

"Five feet to the right, dig five inches into the ground!"

...

After placing the last stone, Fang Ling took a deep breath. He leaped to the top of the monkey mountain and looked at the position where he had set up the array. He saw a white mist covering an area of over two hundred acres on the previously flat ground.

With his keen eyesight, he couldn't see what was beneath the white mist.

"The Five Elements Reversal Array is complete!"

Saying this, Fang Ling felt a surge of joy.

The Five Elements Reversal Array was one of the simplest arrays in the array formation secrets he had obtained from Master Zhao. The main function of this array was to invert space and trap people within it.

Back when Master Zhao was not yet a cultivator, he used this array to trap and kill two experts at the sixth level of cultivation.

However, this array had a flaw: it was difficult to trap cultivators. Cultivators with magical power could easily find a way out of the array.

Despite this, Fang Ling was still very excited about the success of the array. Although the Five Elements Reversal Array was not very powerful, it confirmed a thought in his mind.

If he could set up the Five Elements Reversal Array in the Western Suburb Dust Map, then when his cultivation reached a higher level, he could set up other arrays in the map.

He could even engrave array patterns on the Western Suburb Dust Map to change its single attack pattern.

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

A monkey's cry startled Fang Ling from his thoughts. He looked up at the small monkey, then leaped up and grabbed it.

In a few leaps, Fang Ling reached the edge of the misty array and casually threw the monkey inside.

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

The monkey's cry was full of fear.

Fang Ling entered the array following the correct path recorded in the array formation. He saw the monkey circling a stone, while he stood on the other side. The monkey, which was almost driven mad, couldn't detect his presence at all.

With this array, even if cultivators were trapped in the Western Suburb Dust Map, they could be delayed for some time.

Fang Ling picked up the monkey and casually threw it out of the array.

The terrified monkey ran up the monkey mountain and disappeared in an instant.

Just as he was about to adjust the array, the Western Suburb Dust Map suddenly sank into his body, and he appeared in his bedroom.

Taking out the Western Suburb Dust Map and unfolding it, he saw the clear image of the Western Suburb Zoo on the three-foot-nine-inch-long map, seemingly unchanged from before.

However, upon closer inspection, a few patches of white mist had appeared at the base of the monkey mountain, as if someone had deliberately added them.

When I break through to the seventh level of cultivation and engrave the entire map with array patterns...

Fang Ling's heart was filled with anticipation.

"Knock knock knock"

A light knock on the door interrupted Fang Ling's thoughts. He said, "Come in," and the thin monkey quietly entered.

"Master, this is an invitation from the Chen family, inviting you to their celebration in seven days," the thin monkey said, handing over an invitation.

Fang Ling took the invitation, glanced at it, and placed it on the table. "I know, you can go now."

As the door closed, Fang Ling's thoughts began to race. He was well aware of the Chen family's purpose for the celebration: to establish their position in Nanhua Continent.

Although the Chen family was currently hesitant to move against him, this did not mean he was truly safe. With the return of the Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Chen family, it was almost certain that they would use him to establish their authority.

Although he now had the support of the Laxi Secret Realm and the Western Suburb Dust Map, staying in Dingfang City was not the best option. It would be better to find Brother Lin.

He was now at the fifth level of cultivation. Once he found Brother Lin and completed the Ninefold Dao Pill, he could break through to the seventh level of cultivation, and then joining Brother Lin's sect would be no problem.

Although he was somewhat reluctant to leave Dingfang City, a man must give up to gain. As long as he achieved success in cultivation, what was his would always be his. The only thing he couldn't let go of in Dingfang City was Huashuying.

But this was not a problem; he could take Huashuying with him to find Lin Mucheng.

With his mind made up, Fang Ling lightly slapped the table, and a surge of determination filled his heart...

Sixteen white horses pulled a wide carriage, galloping madly on the road.

Dust swirled, and the carriage moved as fast as lightning.

"Damn it, running so fast, are you in a hurry to attend a funeral?" A man on horseback, who was forced into the rice field by the carriage, found his clothes soaked in water.

The man, who had a short temper, had no good words to say.

To him, this was just a common complaint.

However, the moment he spoke, a cold snort came from the carriage, which was already twenty zhang away.

With the cold snort, a red light flew out of the carriage.

The man, thinking it was a hidden weapon, was about to leap into the air, but the red light had already landed on him.

"Boom"

In an instant, the red flames engulfed the man and his horse.

The man screamed in agony, trying to jump into the water to extinguish the flames, but the flames only grew more intense in the water.

In a short moment, the man and his horse were reduced to a pile of ashes.

"Ha ha ha..."

A burst of triumphant laughter came from the stopped carriage, which then sped off again, leaving the onlookers too frightened to breathe.

"Chen Shengnan of the Chen family of Dingfang City pays respects to Young Master Qing Luo!" As the carriage approached within a hundred miles of Dingfang City, Chen Shengnan, who had been waiting, respectfully called out.

"Hehe, Young Master, no!" A coquettish voice came from inside the carriage. Though not loud, it made Chen Shengnan, the head of the Chen family, shudder.

He quickly calmed himself and regained his composure.

Then, a series of heavy breathing and the coquettish laughter of a woman echoed from the carriage for a full fifteen minutes before a faint voice said, "You are Chen Shengnan of the Chen family, huh? Heh, your daughter is quite something! Too bad, she ended up with that old man!"

Chen Shengnan was at a loss for words, but then he heard the voice say, "We're almost at Dingfang City. Hurry, I want to see the beauty. I hope she looks like the painting, or even with Old Lu's protection, I'll break your third leg!"

As he spoke, the carriage sped forward, swift as a startled swan.

PS: Calling for support with favorites and recommendations!