Chapter 318: Last Day In Crimson Iron City
The following morning, sunlight bathed the newly reconstructed headquarters of the Golden Cauldron Merchant Union.
The grand structure stood taller and more imposing than before, its dark timber and gold work fully restored, with only the defensive array formations left to be reactivated.
At the highest point of the primary tower, inside the spacious Union Leader’s office overlooking the entirety of Crimson Iron City, four figures were gathered.
Shen Yu leaned back in the central head seat, his posture relaxed yet radiating absolute authority.
To his right sat Bai Ruolan, dressed in her newly tailored indigo robes embroidered with gold threading.
To his left sat Cao Shuying, elegant in jade silk, and beside Shuying sat her daughter, Cao Wanru, looking demure yet sharp.
The air in the room was thick with a subtle, electric tension.
Ruolan and Shuying exchanged occasional sharp glances, like two prideful cats marking their territory.
Both women had come to realize the truth of each other’s relationship with Shen Yu.
Though they had accepted sharing his affection, a lingering, competitive jealousy burned beneath their polished composure.
This was Shen Yu’s final day in Crimson Iron City. Today, he was returning to Thousand Waves City.
Watching the subtle silent rivalry playing out before him, Shen Yu let out a soft chuckle and cleared his throat, instantly drawing all three pairs of eyes toward him.
"Alright," Shen Yu began smoothly, his golden eyes sweeping over them.
"Today I will be departing for Thousand Waves City. Before I go, there are a few directives you must follow."
He looked directly at Bai Ruolan and Cao Shuying.
"The Imperial Pill Competition resumes will start in a week. I expect both of you to participate and give it your absolute best. I have personally taught you both, and while I know Shuying’s alchemical foundation is slightly behind Ruolan’s, whoever wins will bring honor to our unified front."
His tone turned firmer as he leaned forward.
"Once the competition concludes, I expect the two of you to mend your relations. The old grudges between the Cao Clan and the Golden Cauldron Union end today. Turn your bitter rivalry into a friendly competition, expand your trade networks, and continue growing your power."
Turning his gaze toward Cao Wanru, he added softly, "And you, Wanru... continue studying the alchemy techniques I bestowed upon you. Do not slack off in your cultivation."
Rising smoothly to his feet, Shen Yu smiled warmly at the three women.
"So... goodbye for now."
The sharp tension in the room vanished in an instant, replaced by heavy sadness.
Each woman offered a bittersweet smile, reluctant to watch him leave.
Shen Yu stepped forward, pulling them into a shared, gentle embrace.
He cupped Bai Ruolan’s face first, capturing her soft lips in a lingering kiss that made her blue eyes shimmer with devotion.
Next, he turned to Cao Shuying, kissing her deeply as her hands lingered on his chest.
Finally, he pulled Cao Wanru close, pressing a warm kiss to her blushing lips.
Stepping back, Shen Yu gave each of their rears a playful, firm spank, drawing soft gasps and flushed cheeks from all three.
"Goodbye," he whispered, his deep voice vibrating in their ears.
Before they could reply, his figure blurred.
His first stop on his way out was the high-end inn, where he met with Huo Lin one last time.
He instructed her to keep a close, vigilant watch on every shift in Crimson Iron City’s political landscape and report directly to him if anything unusual occurred.
Sealing the order with a deep, breathless kiss that left her flushed and trembling, he vanished into the morning light.
Moments later, Shen Yu leaped past the outer gates of Crimson Iron City.
Pausing atop a high ridge overlooking the metropolis, he looked back one last time at the city he had completely conquered from the shadows, its leaders tamed, its merchants unified, and its enemies obliterated.
A satisfied, cold smile touched his lips.
Turning on his heel, Shen Yu activated his movement technique, shooting across the wilderness like a phantom as he began his journey back toward Thousand Waves City.
As Shen Yu sprinted through the dense, perpetually shadowed canopy of the Mist Cloud Forest, the air grew noticeably cooler, thick with the damp scent of ancient trees.
Suddenly, a sharp, rhythmic vibration pulsed against his hip.
Shen Yu came to an abrupt halt, his boots skidding across a mossy stone ridge.
Reaching into his spatial storage ring, he traced the source of the resonance.
With a flick of his wrist, he drew out the tattered, ancient map fragment he had carried for months.
The moment the parchment hit the open air, it flared with a faint, crimson light, tugging noticeably toward the deep, uncharted abysses of the forest like a compass needle drawn to a magnetic pole.
’What is going on?’ Shen Yu thought, his golden-emerald eyes narrowing as he analyzed the faint pulse.
’Why is the map reacting so violently all of a sudden?’
Before he could probe the parchment with his divine sense, a sharp, crisp chiming sound echoed directly within his mind:
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
[Warning: The final fragment of the Asura Desolate Realm Map has been claimed by a third party.]
[Resonance Event Triggered: All map fragments have now been gathered across the region.]
[Due to the complete convergence of the map keys, the opening mechanism of the Asura Desolate Realm has been accelerated.]
[Remaining Time Adjusted: Originally 2 months -> Now 1.5 months (45 days).]
Hearing the message, Shen Yu’s brow furrowed into a slight frown.
Fifteen days cut from his timeline was no small matter.
While he didn’t yet know all the secrets and treasures hidden within the Asura Desolate Realm, the system’s initial mission parameters were crystal clear, he needed to push his cultivation to at least the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm, if not higher, before the ancient gates opened.
With a renewed sense of determination burning in his chest, Shen Yu channeled his Qi into his boots, accelerating into a blur of speed as he made his way toward Thousand Waves City.
-x-
A/N:
Weekly PS: 19 / 80
Monthly GT: 24 / 30