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It was common knowledge that most beasts only achieved human form upon reaching the fourth rank. However, speaking human language was a much simpler task.

A third-rank Great Demon, equivalent to a human at the Core Formation Realm, could easily refine the horizontal bone in their throat. With time and comprehension, understanding human speech came naturally.

There were also rare spirit pills, like the Tongling Elixir, which allowed beasts to speak prematurely. Some extraordinary beasts could even speak human language as early as the first or second rank.

"Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain..."

Lan Chang\'an accepted the letter handed over by the Earth Burrowing Rat, noticing the plum blossom insignia marking the seal—a clear sign it came from the Li Family in the Liang Kingdom.

Li Congren, the head of the Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain, was the most successful grandson of Li Erqing. Their territory was near the border of the Liang Kingdom, and they had established early trade ties with the Jing Kingdom merchant guilds.

Ten years ago, Lan Chang\'an had used his connections with Li Congren to slip into the Jing Kingdom.

This letter, sent via the merchant guild’s network, had several restrictive spells protecting it.

"Four years ago, when I resumed my identity as Lan Chang\'an within the Xia Family, the Xinyue Merchant Association began investigating me in the Liang Kingdom. This, in turn, alerted the Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain…"

As Lan Chang\'an read through the beginning of the letter, he quickly grasped the situation.

At present, the Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain had expanded their trade, founding a family-run merchant guild that now had more frequent dealings with the Jing Kingdom’s trade network.

Because they had been keeping an eye out, Li Congren had learned about Lan Chang\'an’s whereabouts in the Jing Kingdom over the past two years.

This letter wasn’t just Li Congren’s initiative; it was also under the directive of Li Erqing of Feiyue Lake’s Mu Family.

Upon learning about his big brother’s whereabouts, Li Erqing had been deeply moved and instructed Li Congren to find a way to establish contact.

In times of war, when military supplies could still cross borders, communication was possible if one had the right connections and knew the recipient’s location.

Of course, such cross-border correspondence took a long time, with multiple variables potentially delaying delivery.

...

"The year I fled the Liang Kingdom, Zhao Siyao took an inferior Crystal Condensation Pill and, using common Core Formation items, managed to form a Fake Dan."

Many of the people and events mentioned in the letter were of particular concern to Lan Chang\'an.

"A few years later, the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm opened, and the enemy\'s Foundation Establishment cultivators used a temporary passage to enter, killing and looting to seize heavenly materials and treasures."

"At the time, Zhao Siyao’s disciple, Zhao Tan’er, reached late Foundation Establishment and secured a great deal of fortune in the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm."

"Little Turtle Peak\'s mountain caretaker, Qi Feng, was taken care of by the Beast Taming Zhou Family and Fairy Shi, and achieved Foundation Establishment two years ago. He now refers to himself as the ‘Mountain Guardian’ and has established a small escort organization on Little Turtle Peak…"

"The Golden Sun Sect forces of the Feng Kingdom have seized half of the spiritual veins and cultivation grounds in the Liang Kingdom. They now focus on consolidating their spoils and territory, slowing their invasion. The Liang Kingdom’s sects, centered around the ‘Flame Departing Palace,’ are doing everything they can to defend the remaining half of the kingdom."

"Many of the Liang Kingdom\'s cultivation factions have lost their spiritual veins and cultivation grounds, forcing them to explore the wastelands of the Black Fog Mountain Range. Some loose cultivators have followed the flow of others and fled to the Jing Kingdom, while a few have ventured north, crossing the Endless Sands Chasm into the Fengyuan Kingdom."

"The Mu Family of Feiyue Lake, now located in Feng Kingdom-occupied territory, has been relatively fortunate. Thanks to Mu Jiuan’s influence, the Mu Family presented the Youth Retaining Pill they once received to a high-ranking woman in the Golden Sun Sect, ensuring their safe surrender."

As he read most of the letter, Lan Chang\'an finally felt some relief.

Both Zhao Siyao and Li Erqing, the people closest to him, were still alive.

Even his adoptive father’s descendant had successfully established his Foundation on Little Turtle Peak using the Foundation Establishment Pill he had left behind.

At the end of the letter, Li Erqing’s longing was conveyed:

Li Erqing had one final wish—he hoped to see Lan Chang\'an once more in this lifetime.

"Li Erqing suffered serious injuries during a fight with the Feng Kingdom’s cultivators. He likely only has until the age of two hundred to live."

Lan Chang\'an considered the details in the letter and understood Li Erqing’s despair.

With the shadow of war hanging over the cultivation world, and the two nations locked in conflict, for ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators with only a few decades of life remaining, it was unlikely they’d ever reunite.

Even though Mu Jiuan provided protection for the Mu Family, that didn’t guarantee safety. They could still be conscripted to fight, leaving them exposed to the dangers of war.

Thus, Lan Chang\'an wasn’t certain if he’d ever see Li Erqing again.

Nevertheless, in his reply, he gave a firm response:

"Big brother is well here in the Jing Kingdom. Once I attempt Core Formation, regardless of success or failure, I will return to the Liang Kingdom one day."

After writing the reply, Lan Chang\'an set restrictions around it and handed it to the Earth Burrowing Rat to deliver to Xia Wenyue.

The Wufu Merchant Association was a prominent player in the Merchant Alliance and had members traveling to the Liang Kingdom every year, capable of sending the letters.

Now that Lan Chang\'an was officially a guest elder of the Xia Family, he didn’t need to personally handle such trivial matters.

...

Three months later.

While in meditation, Lan Chang\'an suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze directed toward the heart of Qingsha Bay.

Just moments before, he sensed that the Xia Family\'s patriarch, Xia Hongyu, had left the clan’s territory.

Such occurrences had been exceedingly rare during Lan Chang\'an’s years of residing on Autumnwind Isle.

A few days later, during a casual conversation with Xia Wenyue, he learned that Patriarch Xia Hongyu had gone to the headquarters of the Wufu Merchant Association to oversee matters personally.

"It seems the Xia Family’s control over the guild is weakening. For a Fake Dan ancestor to leave the clan grounds and head to the main guild headquarters, something serious must be happening."

The Wufu Merchant Association was facing both internal and external troubles, and anyone could see it.

Externally, the rival Xinyue Merchant Association was aggressively suppressing them, attempting to annex their businesses.

Internally, the Xin Family, one of the Wufu, had produced a Fake Dan cultivator and had once received backing from the Xinyue Merchant Association.

Lan Chang\'an had a general idea of why Patriarch Xia Hongyu had gone to the headquarters.

If they couldn’t subdue the Xin Family, the Wufu Merchant Association would likely splinter.

"That old guy finally left. Now I can comfortably soak up more spiritual energy."

The Earth Burrowing Rat was the happiest to see Xia Hongyu gone.

The patriarch’s Water Curtain Cave had a spiritual environment comparable to a quasi-third-rank vein, and every time the Earth Burrowing Rat snuck over to siphon energy, it had to be extremely cautious, hiding deep underground.

But now that Xia Hongyu was gone, the rat could indulge more freely.

Lan Chang\'an didn’t particularly care about the internal strife of the Wufu Merchant Association.

Even if things went badly and the Xia Family lost control, it would merely mean they’d forfeit a large portion of their assets.

Due to the Merchant Alliance’s regulations, high-level cultivators rarely engaged in lethal battles.

If the Xia Family were to lose, they would simply cut their losses and protect Qingsha Bay’s core territory.

As long as the clan’s land remained intact, it wouldn’t affect Lan Chang\'an’s cultivation.

With Patriarch Xia Hongyu’s departure, Qingsha Bay had clearly heightened its defensive formations, and the number of patrolling cultivators had also increased.

Aside from Lan Chang\'an, there were still three Foundation Establishment elders holding down the fort.

This included the people he was more familiar with, like the young master, Xia Mingqu, and the one he had saved, Xia Shenglan.

Including Lan Chang\'an, Qingsha Bay now had four Foundation Establishment cultivators. With the clan’s protective formations, even a Fake Dan expert would struggle to break through directly.

...

Half a year later.

Lan Chang\'an was preparing to make another trip outside the clan.

For one, the Earth Burrowing Rat had used up all the third-rank beast pills needed for its cultivation.

Secondly, Xia Wenyue’s cultivation had become increasingly smooth, and she had recently reached the eighth layer of Qi-Refining.

However, after scouring the Xia Family’s ancient records, Lan Chang\'an hadn’t found any detailed information on the "Cold Soul Jade Marrow" physique that Xia Wenyue possessed.

Thus, he planned to buy more third-rank beast pills while also searching for any texts that might provide further insight into this rare Dao physique.

In addition, he had refined several Foundation Establishment Pills, three of which were of inferior quality, so he could consider selling them off appropriately.

"Master Lan, there is a distinguished guest within the clan who has come to request medicine," Xia Wenyue, dressed in her simple yet elegant white gown, informed Lan Chang\'an.

Thanks to his two years of treatment, her condition had stabilized, allowing her to cultivate normally. Her once pale complexion had regained a healthy glow.

Currently, Xia Wenyue was widely regarded as the most beautiful woman in Qingsha Bay, with numerous suitors vying for her hand.

"A distinguished guest? Could it be one of Young Master Xia’s friends?"

Lan Chang\'an scanned with his spiritual sense and noticed a young female Foundation Establishment cultivator in a pink dress waiting respectfully outside the residence.

The woman’s demeanor was charming, and her gaze seemed to carry a hint of flirtatious allure.

"Yes, this senior is named Yu Qin. Many years ago, she and the young master were in love and almost became Dao companions. Later, Yu Qin joined the ‘Cloud Mist Mountain’ sect, and their relationship gradually faded,"

Xia Wenyue explained.

Lan Chang\'an had heard rumors about this woman visiting Qingsha Bay recently.

"Since they’ve already parted ways, why has Yu Qin come looking for Young Master Xia again?"

"I heard she’s fallen on hard times recently. She was expelled from her sect and her family is in decline, so she sought help from the young master. Out of old affection, he agreed to take her in for a while."

"Alright, bring her in."

Lan Chang\'an wasn’t particularly interested in the young master’s personal affairs and waved for Xia Wenyue to bring the guest inside.

"Madam Yu Qin greets Master Lan,"

Yu Qin gracefully curtsied, her eyes shimmering with a delicate allure.

"What medicine do you seek, Fellow Daoist Yu?"

Lan Chang\'an exchanged a few pleasantries before cutting to the chase.

"Years ago, I suffered an injury that left me with a lingering condition. Each month, I endure bouts of cold in my lower abdomen. I’ve heard that Master Lan is skilled in medicine and specializes in nurturing. I’ve come to request a prescription to ease my symptoms."

"Cold in the lower abdomen? A prescription?"

Lan Chang\'an’s guard went up.

He had only recently stabilized Xia Wenyue’s condition, and now this woman showed up asking for a remedy for a cold condition?

Could this be some sort of test?

"Would Master Lan be willing to take my pulse?"

Yu Qin stepped forward, extending her pale wrist toward him, her gaze briefly flickering toward Xia Wenyue.

Sensing the subtle tension, Xia Wenyue excused herself and left the room.

Lan Chang\'an placed two fingers on Yu Qin’s wrist, his brow furrowing slightly.

Yu Qin exuded a soft fragrance, her gaze lingering on him with a faintly affectionate glimmer.

"The cold symptoms you’re experiencing are normal for women of your age. There’s no need for concern,"

Lan Chang\'an replied calmly, scribbling out a basic prescription and handing it to her without asking for any payment.

Yu Qin took the prescription, but when she saw Lan Chang\'an quietly sipping his tea, her expression soured. With a final glance, she left disappointed.

Lan Chang\'an watched her leave, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

There was indeed an underlying condition in her body, but it wasn’t caused by external factors. If not for his heightened senses, he might not have noticed it at all.

What exactly was she trying to do?

At first, he suspected it might be related to Xia Wenyue’s innate Dao physique.

However, Yu Qin hadn’t shown any interest in Xia Wenyue at all. In fact, she seemed to harbor a natural aversion toward her beauty and demeanor.

Was this a test? Or some sort of seduction?

Lan Chang\'an couldn’t quite figure it out and decided it wasn’t worth his time.

Yu Qin’s cultivation level was that of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator with relatively pure spiritual power, but nothing particularly noteworthy.

"Keep an eye on that outsider," he instructed the Earth Burrowing Rat, taking a cautious approach.

Before leaving on his trip, Lan Chang\'an planned to notify the young master and subtly caution him.

...

That evening, faint sobs echoed from Young Master Xia’s residence, carrying the soft, helpless cries of a woman.

"Are you saying Lan Chang\'an did something indecent during the pulse reading and took advantage of you?"

Xia Mingqu was taken aback, finding it hard to believe.

"That can’t be right. Fellow Daoist Lan has a sterling reputation in the Liang Kingdom and has shown no interest in women in the clan. He even rejected Shenglan’s advances..."

"Hmph! That’s because Xia Shenglan’s beauty is nothing compared to mine," Yu Qin sniffled, her tears streaming down like pearls from a broken necklace as she clung to Xia Mingqu.

"Besides, Lan Chang\'an wants no ties to the Xia Family. Rejecting Xia Shenglan was just his way of avoiding responsibility."

"But I’m different. I’m a helpless woman, abandoned by my sect and with no one to rely on. Even if he took advantage of me, he wouldn’t need to bear the burden of responsibility."

Her tear-streaked face looked up at Xia Mingqu with an expression full of hurt and betrayal.

Xia Mingqu stared at her, stunned. This was the woman he had once loved and lost, the one who had left him behind years ago.

Though time had dulled the feelings, there was still something inside him that stirred—an unresolved desire to conquer what had once been unattainable.

"Qin’er, you’re sure it wasn’t just a misunderstanding? Maybe you were too sensitive during the examination?"

"You doubt me now? Or do you really think he’s some kind of saint?"

Yu Qin’s eyes widened, a look of hurt deepening as she stared at him, tears brimming.

"You men are all the same. You were so righteous and reserved back then too, but look how quickly you fell under my charm..."

"Alright, enough," Xia Mingqu sighed, rubbing his nose with a wry smile.

...

The next day, Lan Chang\'an visited the young master.

Before heading out, he wanted to leave a subtle warning for Xia Mingqu.

To his surprise, he found Xia Mingqu and Yu Qin walking side by side, looking like a happy couple.

Given the situation, Lan Chang\'an decided not to say anything further—it would only make him seem petty.

He found Yu Qin’s behavior odd, suspecting she had ulterior motives, but without any solid evidence, there was no point in stirring things up.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, you’re now an esteemed guest elder of the clan. You don’t need to notify me personally for something as minor as a trip,"

Xia Mingqu smiled, though his thoughts were conflicted.

Last night, Yu Qin had accused Lan Chang\'an of misconduct, and now today, Lan Chang\'an announced he was leaving. It all seemed a bit too coincidental, as if he were fleeing in guilt.

After explaining his trip, Lan Chang\'an took his leave.

...