Chapter 440 - 65: Smiling Wanderer
「A few days later, at Miaoxiang Tower.」
Wan’Er sat cross-legged on the Jade Couch, her body enveloped in a halo of serene light that gave her a celestial air.
Though she had only recently entered the Life Talisman Realm, after a session of Dual Cultivation with Fang Cheng, she was now firmly established at the peak of the Early Life Talisman Stage, just one step away from the mid-stage.
’Unfortunately, after he left, he vanished without a trace. He’s probably not coming back.’
As this thought crossed her mind, Wan’Er activated her Heart Method. Her emotions were gradually soothed until her expression became placid, a mask of cool serenity.
As a Cultivator of Miaoxiang Tower, the more successful one was at Refining the Heart in the Red Dust, the smoother their future cultivation path would be.
She had a great talent for this practice. Though Fang Cheng had left an indelible mark on her, she had buried the memory deep in her heart, where it could no longer stir the slightest ripple of emotion.
An expert in Miaoxiang Tower once gave her a five-word evaluation:
"Celestial grace and a profound foundation!"
She was born with the innate aptitude to cultivate Miaoxiang Tower’s Supreme Profound Skill, a talent other women could only dream of.
The sound of a Jade Chime came from outside the door. Wan’Er ceased her cultivation and retracted her aura. A sweep of her Divine Sense revealed the visitor to be her senior sister, so she released the room’s restrictions and said with a smile, "Senior Sister, please come in."
The visitor wore an elegant, simple gown. She carried herself with a dignified and radiant air, and her Cultivation was, impressively, also at the Life Soul Realm.
Wan’Er rose to greet her, asking curiously, "Senior Sister, what brings you here?"
This was Senior Sister Qin, an Elder sent by Miaoxiang Tower to preside over Heaven Shepherd City. Her status was exceptional, and she was typically a recluse. If not for a major incident, no one would have known the tower housed such a Life Soul Realm master.
Senior Sister Qin looked at Wan’Er and sighed softly. "A major incident has occurred on Mu Tianyuan in the last few days, and it happens to have a connection to you. I’m here to sort out the details so I can report back to headquarters."
Wan’Er was taken aback, a look of surprise on her face. "But I’ve had almost no contact with outsiders since coming to Heaven Shepherd City. Why... Senior Sister, are you referring to *that* man?"
Senior Sister Qin nodded. "The man who calls himself Lanling Xiaosanren. Since leaving our Miaoxiang Tower, he’s already done several earth-shattering things."
Wan’Er’s brow furrowed as she guessed, "Is it related to the City Lord’s Mansion?"
Senior Sister Qin nodded. "First, he abducted seven Female Cultivators, including the City Lord’s daughter, to use as his Tripod Furnaces. These seven women all have extraordinary backgrounds, with connections to many powerful Life Soul Cultivators..."
She briefly recounted the events at Chuqiu Mountain, then added that Shen Gu Feng had teamed up with three other Life Soul Cultivators to confront the Smiling Wanderer, only to be slain by him.
In just a few days, the man had slain five Life Soul Cultivators from Mu Tianyuan!
"And that’s not all. He seized the Qi Family’s Immortal Castle, decorated it extravagantly for a Dual Cultivation ceremony, and sent invitations to all the major powers in Mu Tianyuan, inviting them to a grand feast."
Senior Sister Qin’s tone was grave as she said solemnly, "Yesterday, Shang Shang brought a Body Refining Cultivator who had reached the Peak of Life Soul and formed a Demon Extermination Alliance with the other seven great families. Wielding a Fourth-tier Slaughter Array, they marched on the Qi Family, intent on a desperate battle with the Smiling Wanderer."
"But who could have predicted it? Relying on a single Fourth-tier Forbidden Breaking Talisman, the Smiling Wanderer moved through the Demon Extermination Alliance’s Slaughter Array as if it were nothing. He single-handedly fought thirteen Life Soul Cultivators, capturing seven alive and killing six. The Demon Extermination Alliance was utterly defeated, and the Life Talisman Cultivators among them fled in disarray..."
Wan’Er’s eyes widened in disbelief.
’I knew he was strong, but I never imagined he was *this* strong.’
Senior Sister Qin continued, "From what I understand, the Body Refining Cultivator at the Peak of Life Soul who was with Shang Shang was likely the Heaven Shepherd City Lord’s eldest disciple... He’s been in hiding for years, secretly handling the City Lord’s dirty work. His power was said to be unfathomable, yet he, too, was slain on the spot by the Smiling Wanderer."
Wan’Er asked, "Did you witness the battle yourself, Senior Sister?"
Senior Sister Qin nodded, her expression still showing a trace of fear. "The light from his sword was horrifying; I doubt even a Tier Four Demon Beast could have blocked it. He also has a Fourth-tier Immortal Binding Rope that is endlessly versatile. Almost no one can evade it. That’s exactly how he captured Shang Shang."
Before coming to Heaven Shepherd City, Wan’Er had heard her peers in the tower speak of the many masters on Mu Tianyuan.
Shang Shang, with her Late-Stage Life Soul Cultivation, was ranked among the top five experts in all of Mu Tianyuan!
Even the Dharma Elders of Miaoxiang Tower spoke highly of her and warned the other disciples to be cautious around her.
Yet even a figure like her was no match for the Smiling Wanderer.
The actions of the "Smiling Wanderer" were simply astounding. With just three major moves, he had turned all of Mu Tianyuan on its head.
Senior Sister Qin continued, "The Smiling Wanderer’s Dual Cultivation ceremony proceeded as planned. He placed a Divine Soul Prohibition on Shang Shang and the other surviving family elders, forcing them into submission on the spot."
"Afterward, the eight great families jointly recognized him as the Alliance Leader of Mu Tianyuan. They plan to unite and establish a new sect, one whose teachings will last for ages... A man like him is destined to leave his mark on history, his name known throughout the world."
"Wan’Er, you were the first one of us to interact with him. Tell me every single detail of your time together."
Wan’Er’s heart was in turmoil, and it was a long time before she could calm herself.
’No wonder Miaoxiang Tower is paying such close attention. He’s that powerful!’
She recalled her first encounter with Fang Cheng and began to recount it. "The day he first came to Miaoxiang Tower, Senior Sister Liu told me he was a regular patron, but that it was his first time at the Heaven Shepherd City branch..."
*
*
*
News of how Fang Cheng had single-handedly challenged and defeated the various Life Soul masters of Mu Tianyuan spread like wildfire.
The name "Lanling Xiaosanren" became famous far and wide. Even many of the great families and sects outside Mu Tianyuan received news of his exploits.
Organizations like Miaoxiang Tower immediately transmitted the most detailed intelligence to their headquarters, information that even included the "Smiling Wanderer’s" habits and preferences in bed.
Soon, Miaoxiang Tower identified the "Smiling Wanderer’s" true identity.
However, Miaoxiang Tower did not publicize this information. Connecting these events with the recent conflict between Yun Country and the Ten Thousand Transformations Sect, the cultivators of the tower began to form their own theories and decided to observe from the sidelines.
Other powers, however, were still puzzling over the location of "Lanling" and the source of the Smiling Wanderer’s Divine Techniques.
Gradually, various rumors began to circulate, the most convincing of which was this:
The Smiling Wanderer hailed from the neighboring Cang Country and was the disciple of a Dharma Realm master, the North Sea Wanderer. He was said to be an expert in Dual Cultivation and the Replenishing Technique, which was why he enjoyed abducting Female Cultivators to use as Tripod Furnaces.
The rumor claimed he had set his sights on Mu Tianyuan because it had no Dharma Great Power to protect it, and so he had come to stake his claim.
「The Heaven Shepherd City Lord’s Mansion.」
An old man who looked to be at death’s door arrived before an Earth Palace deep beneath the City Lord’s Mansion.
This Earth Palace was a Pocket World Spiritual Building, where the City Lord was cultivating in seclusion.
The old man knelt before the gates of the Earth Palace and said in a grim voice, "My Lord, there has been an incident."
After a long while, a sigh echoed from deep within the Earth Palace, followed by a faint question. "What is it?"
The old man said respectfully, "A Life Soul Cultivator from outside Mu Tianyuan has killed Luo Xiao, Shen Gu Feng, and three of the city’s Honored Guest Elders. He has also abducted Lady Shang Shang and Miss Youyi. This man is arrogant and lecherous, with a habit of kidnapping Female Cultivators to use as Tripod Furnaces for Dual Cultivation. I fear that Lady Shang Shang and the young miss are now..."
The Earth Palace fell silent for a moment before the voice spoke again. "To defeat Luo Xiao, he must be the core disciple of a major sect. Let Yingya handle this."
The old man swallowed hard and said in a trembling voice, "After Ruan San Niang and Yingya went to Yun Country, their Soul Lamps went out. We’ve lost all contact with Elder Yingya."
"My Lord, if I were not worried that Lady Shang Shang and the young miss would suffer such disgrace, I would not have dared to disturb your secluded cultivation..."
An irritable, angry huff came from within the Earth Palace. "It seems someone is trying to draw me out. Where is this man now?"
The old man replied, "At the Qi Family Immortal Castle."
...