I Have a Compass for Opportunity

Miss Anyang had already fulfilled all her obligations.

After giving these instructions, she took Yin Yixuan with her and left.

Because of his battle with that old Demon Cultivator, Liou Yuan’s newly opened cave residence and the mountain peak were left in a chaotic mess; if he stayed any longer, it would definitely draw attention.

So, once Miss Anyang departed, Liou Yuan tidied up the cave a bit, left the peak behind, and found another ravine near Qiwen Mountain to continue lying low.

"Daoist Huixie." In the cave just dug out with the Canglan Sword, earthy scents still lingering, Liou Yuan sat atop a stone stool, reflecting on the information that old Demon Cultivator had vomited out.

"Linlang Domain has been quiet for fifty years, and suddenly a Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator shows up—there’s definitely something fishy about it."

"What exactly is he scheming?"

Clearly, the Demonic Cultivation Skill spreading in Qingyou Prefecture was directly connected to this Daoist Huixie.

Under the influence of the Demonic Cultivation Skill, all the cultivators in Qingyou Prefecture now lived as if treading on thin ice; Daoist Huixie’s actions were clearly meant to muddy the waters.

"What is his purpose in doing this?"

"Does he want to turn Qingyou Prefecture into a place overrun by Demon Cultivators, like Linlang Domain?"

That was obviously impossible; the Yin Family’s rule over the Jin Dynasty was still ironclad.

Thinking he could stir up Qingyou Prefecture with just a Demonic Cultivation Skill was wishful thinking.

Liou Yuan was never one to meddle in affairs unrelated to himself, especially matters beyond his ability—he avoided them whenever possible.

The crucial point was that he was now within Qingyou Prefecture, and had even been attacked by a Demon Cultivator earlier today. That experience did have some impact on him, so he mulled over the affair more than usual.

"The intentions of those in Foundation Establishment truly elude me." With his realm so low, Liou Yuan’s perspectives were limited—he simply couldn’t fathom Daoist Huixie’s ulterior motives.

So he readily gave up speculating, and his thoughts drifted to the now-dead Zhai Yuzhu.

"Zhai Yuzhu was wanted and hunted by multiple sects, but her first destination was Qingyou Prefecture. I’d bet eighty percent that’s related to Daoist Huixie."

"Perhaps she came here precisely to rendezvous with Daoist Huixie."

"But in the end, things went much like with that old Demon Cultivator—she never met Daoist Huixie in person, and was forced to flee to Nether Abyss Peak to take refuge."

"Heh, whether it’s Zhai Yuzhu or that old Demon Cultivator, in Daoist Huixie’s eyes they’re probably just dispensable chess pieces."

"They were probably just tossed out to attract the attention of the various sects of the Jin Dynasty."

"The bellies of Demon Cultivators are full of nothing but twisted plans—not a one can be trusted."

Liou Yuan had already more or less deduced Zhai Yuzhu’s motive.

While mocking Daoist Huixie’s deviousness, Liou Yuan once again pulled out the "Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array Derivation" and went back to studying the Cold River Illusionary Water Array.

No matter the storms in the outside world, only improving one’s own strength is the foundation for surviving in this world.

Liou Yuan understood this perfectly.

Whoosh—whoosh—the icy winds between heaven and earth only grew sharper.

The snowy wind and swirling flakes painted the vast mountain ranges a seamless white.

In this climate, even cultivators were reluctant to venture out—let alone birds or beasts.

In the frozen world, Liou Yuan finally awaited another night of Star Rotation.

That night, he set aside the "Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array Derivation" early, stepped outside the cave, and gazed out at the stars above.

In the heavens, stars wheeled and shifted, and at last, sinister light pierced the night’s veil.

He had waited for the Evil Star Shift.

With the Evil Star Shift, Star Evil emerged into the world.

The instant the gruesome light of the Evil Star shone down, a cacophony of Star Evil roars echoed from the vast ranges near Qiwen Mountain.

Amid the howling mountain winds, one after another Star Evil that would never stir during the Auspicious Star Shift now emerged from their hiding places.

They flitted among the mountains, greedily searching for signs of living humans.

Right near Liou Yuan’s newly opened cave, two Star Evil appeared.

Fortunately, Liou Yuan had already activated the Night Concealing Mask, completely shrouding his aura in the darkness—even Star Evil couldn’t catch so much as a trace of his presence.

Unless it was a Calamity-level Star Evil, Liou Yuan could, with the Night Concealing Mask, roam the outside freely and boldly.

That’s why Liou Yuan felt not the slightest tension talking about the day of the Evil Star Shift.

"The Night Concealing Mask has brought me so many conveniences."

"And it’s only a magical artifact for the Qi Cultivation Realm—one can scarcely imagine what wonders Foundation Establishment realm artifacts possess."

Liou Yuan had marveled more than once at the Night Concealing Mask’s marvel.

Watching the two Star Evil materialize nearby and then drift away without sparing him even a glance, the smile on Liou Yuan’s face grew even more self-satisfied.

"It’s time to go to Qiwen Mountain."

With that, Liou Yuan wasted no time. He used Treading Flowing Waves, hidden under the cover of the Night Concealing Mask, and sped off toward Qiwen Mountain.

He didn’t choose Flying Sword—far too easy to expose himself.

Besides, during the Evil Star Shift, the skies were even more perilous than the ground.

Liou Yuan’s plan was simple: once at Qiwen Mountain, he would immediately activate the Fixed Star Compass.

The Fixed Star Compass not only locked onto Star Evil and other entities, but, when activated, would lay out the entire topography within its range before Liou Yuan in the form of a detailed map, leaving nothing undiscovered.

He could fully exploit this to peer into Qiwen Mountain’s true face and seek out opportunity.

Of course, the so-called "opportunity" within Qiwen Mountain still existed only in Liou Yuan’s speculation.

Even if there was no great fortune in Qiwen Mountain, Liou Yuan didn’t care—there was still a Calamity-level Star Evil there, after all.

Once he swept the area with the Fixed Star Compass, he’d locate that Calamity-level Star Evil, report it to Yin Yufu, and use the Jin Dynasty’s power to eliminate it. The reward would be his—a trip not made in vain.