Free Web NovelChapter 41: Chapter 41: Parting
’Jin Ling’Er is in seclusion, cultivating her mind and body. Don’t tell me she’s still traumatized from that last Magical Combat!?’
’No way. Is this girl’s mental fortitude really that weak?’
’It’s been so long, and she still hasn’t gotten over it!?’
’So, right now...’
’...did I just screw myself over!?’
Xu Chang’an felt rather strange about this.
He also felt helpless.
But helpless or not, there was nothing he could do.
After a couple of days, he put it out of his mind.
There were far too many misfortunes on the Demon Path.
’If I let every little thing weigh on my mind, I’d die from exhaustion.’
For the next month, he quietly studied his Alchemy Skill and practiced Magic.
Come to think of it, a full nine years had passed since he began cultivating again!
The bright moon hung in the sky, and a gentle breeze drifted by.
Xu Chang’an stood before his cave, gazing at the myriad night views of Langlang Mountain, filled with emotion.
"In my past life, I thought I could rely on my status panel."
"I believed I could enter the Dao Path, achieve Foundation Establishment, form a Golden Core, reach Nascent Soul, transform my Primordial Spirit, and finally reach the Peak!"
"Who would have thought..."
"The Dao Path is arduous. So what if one has the aid of heaven!?"
"If one loses their sense of awe and caution, blindly fighting and scrambling for resources, they will still end up dead, their Dao extinguished."
"Now, heaven and earth have shown me favor, granting me another life. Though I am reincarnated as a member of the Demon Race, I have retained the wisdom of my past life and still possess the ability to seek the Dao!"
"Though my Bloodline and aptitude are inferior, my Dao is sufficient to transcend the gains and losses of the material world, and my will is enough to master the ebb and flow of a single breath!"
"The Demon Path is long and endless. I will seek it high and low!"
The moonlight, pristine and gentle, shone upon Xu Chang’an, seeming to drape a soft cloak over him.
Dao Rhyme flowed, circulating naturally and without end.
If any other Demon had witnessed this scene, it would perhaps have become a memory they could never erase.
...
Two more months passed, and the Young Miss, Jin Ling’Er, announced she was coming out of seclusion.
Upon hearing the news, Xu Chang’an immediately rushed to Elder Peak.
"Grey Rat Little Flag, what is the matter!?"
As soon as Xu Chang’an entered the hall, Jin Ling’Er’s clear voice rang out.
Jin Ling’Er had a gentle temperament and fair skin.
For some reason, however, she was wearing a long, golden dress that seemed to glitter and sparkle.
Xu Chang’an didn’t stare and instead took out the letter sent by Bai Yuhu.
He explained the situation and requested permission to leave Langlang Mountain for about half a year.
Xu Chang’an had his reasons for requesting half a year.
This trip, the little gathering at Red Cloud Mountain, was merely incidental.
The main purposes were to liquidate his resources and scheme for a Top-grade Magical Artifact!
The time needed for this would not be short.
Xu Chang’an provided a reasonable explanation for the timeframe.
He claimed that at this gathering on Red Cloud Mountain, Bai Yuhu would specifically introduce him to some Alchemists.
He would then need to live near Red Cloud Mountain for a while to improve his Alchemy Skill.
In truth, Xu Chang’an had completely made this up.
In any case, it wasn’t as if Jin Ling’Er would go out of her way to find Bai Yuhu and verify his story.
"Grey Rat Little Flag, you actually know a Demon from Red Cloud Mountain!"
Jin Ling’Er was quite surprised.
Red Cloud Mountain was the hegemon of the Red Cloud Mountain Range. Any Demon who could enter that place was no ordinary character!
"To have such a connection is rare indeed. You should certainly deepen that relationship."
Jin Ling’Er pondered for a moment, then took a Demon Talisman from her Storage Bag.
"Red Cloud Mountain is not Langlang Mountain. Plus, the journey is long and may be dangerous."
"This is a Middle-Grade Escape Demon Talisman. It can save your life at a critical moment!"
Xu Chang’an was slightly astonished. An expression of tearful gratitude appeared on his face as he accepted the Demon Talisman.
Taking it and looking closer, he saw that it was a fine-quality item even among Middle-Grade Demon Talismans.
The value of this single Demon Talisman alone far surpassed that of a Low-grade Magical Artifact.
’The Young Miss is so generous!’
He immediately thanked her again and again before taking his leave.
Watching Xu Chang’an’s departing figure, Jin Ling’Er seemed somewhat absent-minded.
That battle in the Spirit Plant Garden several months ago... although she had spent many days in seclusion to calm her mind and spirit, she still thought of it from time to time.
It had almost become her personal nightmare.
’That Lion Spirit...’
’We were both at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, so why was there such a huge gap in our combat strength?’
She prided herself on her exceptional talent. Though she was still young, her experience in Magical Combat was also considerable.
’Why...’
’...was I completely powerless after just a few exchanges, utterly at his mercy?’
According to the Old Ancestor, that Lion Spirit was very likely a Direct Lineage Demon from Lion’s Mane Cave.
He was out gaining experience and just happened to be passing through Langlang Mountain.
All the miscellaneous factors just happened to come together to cause such a scene.
’Lion’s Mane Cave!’
’That’s a power with a Demon King presiding over it!’
For a moment, Jin Ling’Er’s expression grew distant as she seemed to get lost in thought. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
The feeling of being held completely at his mercy seemed to well up in her heart once more.
’Lion Spirit...’
...
Xu Chang’an successfully applied for half a year of leave from Jin Ling’Er.
He was in a good mood.
He notified the Mountain Goat Spirit in the Alchemy Hall and a few other Demons he frequently dealt with.
Then he returned to his cave early to pack his things and prepare for his trip.
In reality, the vast majority of Xu Chang’an’s wealth was hidden outside.
There were only a few things inside his cave.
In a corner sat a small Alchemy Furnace, an Entry-level Magical Artifact. This was standard issue from the Alchemy Hall for every Low-grade Alchemist.
Looking at the Alchemy Furnace, Xu Chang’an’s thoughts drifted. freewebnovёl.ƈom
’If I’m going to set up my own shop in the future, I’ll need to buy a proper Alchemy Furnace.’
The value of an Alchemy Furnace was no cheaper than a Magical Artifact of the same grade.
Considering Xu Chang’an’s plan to take the path of a high-end Alchemist, the grade of the Alchemy Furnace he would need to purchase would not be low, which meant another considerable expense.
’A cultivation ground, an Array, a Pill Furnace...’
’If I want to be independent, I’ll have to prepare all of these things myself.’
’Add to that the needs for my own cultivation and my Guarding Methods...’
’The amount of Demon Stones I’ll need to spend is simply terrifying!’
’Indeed, to cultivate peacefully, the ’wealth’ in ’wealth, companion, technique, and location’ is absolutely essential!’
Xu Chang’an couldn’t help but sigh toward the heavens.
...
Early the next morning, Xu Chang’an packed his bags and left Langlang Mountain.
Since he would be away for half a year, he said another round of goodbyes to a few Demons he was acquainted with before leaving.
Among them, of course, was the Black Bear Demon, Xiong Da.
The Xiong Da of today was quite impressive.
He had been successfully promoted to a Langlang Mountain Standard-Bearer and was given an important position in the Guardian Hall, overseeing one of the gates of Langlang Mountain.
He had more than twenty Little Demons under his command.
Wherever he went, he was respectfully addressed as Commander Xiong!
In front of Xu Chang’an, however, he was still the same simple and honest fellow.
Before they knew it, they had known each other for almost nine years!
"Grey Rat, Red Cloud Mountain is nothing like Langlang Mountain."
"You’re a lone Demon, and you’ll be gone for half a year."
"Here, take this."
Xiong Da gave Xu Chang’an a Middle-Grade Defense Demon Talisman.
After Xiong Da’s promotion to Standard-Bearer, his stipend had increased quite a bit.
However, Xiong Da had only just been promoted to Standard-Bearer.
Giving away a Middle-Grade Demon Talisman was no small matter for him.
Xu Chang’an refused several times, explaining that Jin Ling’Er of Hundred Arts Peak had already looked out for him and given him a life-saving Demon Talisman.
But he couldn’t win against Xiong Da’s persistence and finally tucked the Demon Talisman into his Storage Bag.
The Demon Talisman felt heavy, perhaps with the weight of his friend’s concern!
