Published: March 3, 2025
Chapter 385: Dark Contact with Heavenly Harmony
Tonight is a rare full moon, its moonlight as pure as water.
It shines down onto the ground, draping the earth in a layer of silver gauze.
Since taking control of the market, it has remained under martial law, with no cultivators allowed to move about at night.
Thus, the market did not have too many sunstones, leaving some corners a bit dim.
Aside from the patrolling cultivators in the team, there are no other cultivators moving between the buildings, surrounding them in an empty silence.
In the distant inn, lights are still on; in such a deep night, some cultivators are still busy with their own affairs.
"The value of the Liu Jinshi mineral vein is quite considerable. Once it slips from our hands, it will definitely draw the attention of the sect."
"It will become a stain on our reputation."
"We cannot give up!"
Liu Yu suddenly sighed lightly, feeling a sense of being unable to help himself.
Clearly, he only wanted to quietly gather spiritual herbs but had to respond due to the ambitions of the cultivators of the Heavenly Harmony Sect.
"Indeed, in this world, as long as one seeks to advance, one will inevitably encounter various obstacles."
"Various unexpected obstacles."
"It is impossible for the path of longevity to be smooth sailing; this incident was both coincidental and inevitable."
"Only one's own realm and strength are the most reliable things to depend on."
After pondering the cause and effect for a while, a hint of enlightenment suddenly surfaced in Liu Yu's heart, and his expression returned to indifference.
With his hands behind his back, he gazed at the bright moon and the distant beautiful mountains, and his heart lake returned to a state of calm.
Just as he was about to return to his cave dwelling, his spiritual perception was suddenly stirred.
He activated the "heavenly eye technique" to look up at the sky above the market.
He saw a yellow escape light rising silently, emitting extremely minor fluctuations as it swiftly darted westward toward the Eternal Prosperity Market.
The patrolling cultivators at the qi refinement stage in the market were completely oblivious to the yellow escape light.
As per routine, there was supposed to be a foundation establishment cultivator on duty, but this cultivator did not appear.
This led to the yellow escape light leaving brazenly, rendering the market's defenses ineffective.
"The local forces' foundation establishment cultivators aligned with Yan State have all returned to their territories; there are no other foundation establishment cultivators in the market."
"Unless... it’s someone from the team."
"Who is this person, and why are they sneaking away at such a late hour?"
Liu Yu frowned.
From that escape light, he clearly sensed the spiritual pressure at the foundation establishment level.
With a suppression in cultivation, it is not surprising that the qi refinement stage patrolling cultivators could not detect it.
"But why is the on-duty foundation establishment cultivator not at their post?"
"Is it an absence without leave, or...?"
"Let's go see what this person is up to."
Feeling a stirring in his heart, Liu Yu took out the Li Xuan Sword, transforming it into a red escape light as he silently followed.
With the "concealment technique" in operation, he repressed the fluctuations of his magical power, spiritual pressure, and presence.
Neither the patrolling cultivators in the market nor the yellow escape light ahead noticed his existence.
Fearing to alert the patrolling cultivators, the yellow escape light deliberately slowed its speed, which was significantly slower than a normal foundation establishment cultivator's pace.
However, its purpose was clear; after leaving the market, it flew toward a certain direction in the west, clearly not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Liu Yu maneuvered the Li Xuan Sword, concealing his presence while using stealth techniques to follow openly behind.
Based on his spiritual perception, the cultivator in the yellow escape light was only at the mid foundation establishment stage, considerably weaker than himself.