154: Goodbye Yun Tianhe

Lin Feng carefully removed the fragment map from between the skeleton's fingers.

After putting the fragment map into his black jade bracelet, he carefully cleaned up the scene.

He put away the Jade Slip and rearranged Elder Chu's remains, ensuring there were no signs that anyone had disturbed them.

When exiting the stone chamber, he meticulously restored the entrance to its original state, wiping away all traces of anyone having been there.

The evening sun's afterglow pierced through the valley's mist and fell upon him.

Lin Feng took a deep breath; his heart felt both the excitement of obtaining a supreme treasure and the heaviness of concealing the truth.

But he knew very well that in the Cultivation world, some Opportunities must be firmly grasped.

In the days that followed, Lin Feng devoted most of his energy to studying the "Great Array of Stellar Evolution Circulating Heaven".

Sometimes he would stay in the Formation Pavilion for months, deducing changes while staring at star charts; other times, he would spar with Zhao Gan in the practice arena to exchange insights on Formation principles. From their initial sharp confrontation, they eventually reached a point where they could calmly discuss their respective understandings of the Dao of Formations.

But more often, he would watch the stars side-by-side with Qu Yunshang on the Star Gazing Platform.

She would point to the sky and explain the correspondence between the positions of the constellations and the array foundations, while Lin Feng would often offer unique insights that also benefited her greatly.

However, three years passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of parting eventually arrived.

On the night before his departure, the breeze on the Star Gazing Platform was exceptionally gentle.

Qu Yunshang wore a light green dress, and pinned in her hair was the wooden hairpin that Lin Feng had gifted her, which he had personally carved using wood unique to the Starfall Mountain Range.

"You are leaving tomorrow?" She gazed at the Tianshu Star, her voice very soft.

"Yes, the three-year term is up." Lin Feng nodded slightly.

Silence spread within the starlight.

Qu Yunshang suddenly turned around and pressed a Jade Slip into his hand: "This is... some star observation notes that I have compiled."

She paused, "Although the Tianxuan Sect has its own Formation Legacy, the principles of star observation are universal, and perhaps this will be of some help to you."

Lin Feng took it, feeling its cool touch.

He took out a protective jade talisman he had refined himself and handed it to her: "Although this 'Heart Guard Talisman' is not comparable to a Qingyun Magic Treasure, it contains a wisp of my original spiritual power and might be able to block a disaster in times of danger."

Under the starlight, Qu Yunshang's eyes were brighter than usual.

She took the jade talisman, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against his palm, and she paused slightly.

"Take care." She finally said only these two words softly before turning and leaving.

The next morning, the morning mist outside the mountain gate had not yet dissipated.

Zhao Gan came to see him off, and Elder Mo Yuan also made an exceptional appearance, instructing him not to neglect his practice of the Dao of Formations.

Lin Feng thanked them one by one, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, but he did not see that familiar figure.

Just as he turned to leave, his Divine Sense stirred, and he detected a blurry figure on the distant Star Gazing Platform.

He looked up and saw Qu Yunshang standing alone in the morning light, her fair hand raised slightly, waving gently in his direction.

Lin Feng nodded in understanding and summoned the wine immortal gourd.

The wine immortal gourd turned into a stream of light and disappeared into the horizon, flying south towards the Tianxuan Sect.

A few days later, the familiar three hundred and sixty Peaks of the Tianxuan Sect gradually became clear.

He did not stop and flew straight to "Cloud Vast Pavilion" where his Revered Master, Lu Yuchan, practiced in seclusion.

Inside the pavilion, Lu Yuchan was sitting in meditation with her eyes closed.

Sensing Lin Feng's aura, she slowly opened her eyes, a rare smile appearing on the corners of her lips: "You're back."

Lin Feng bowed respectfully: "Disciple greets Revered Master."

"Venerable Qingxu of the Qingyun Sect sent a message to me previously," Lu Yuchan tapped her teacup with her fingertip, "praising your boldness and carefulness in the heart moon fox array foundation matter. Elder Mo Yuan also mentioned that you have quite a talent for the Dao of Formations."

She looked at Lin Feng with a gentle gaze, "Three years of training, you have not been slack; very good."

Lin Feng was slightly stunned. He had not expected that his actions at the Qingyun Sect were already fully known to his Revered Master.

Immediately, warmth surged in his heart. It turned out that although his Revered Master was cold and detached on ordinary days, she had always been watching over his cultivation.

After exiting the Cloud Vast Pavilion, he flew straight to Hundred Flowers Peak.

Outside the Immortal Cave, Luo Linger was bending over to tend to some spirit plants. Having not seen her for three years, she had matured, and her features possessed even more grace and spirit.

"Junior Brother Lin!" She turned around in surprise, her skirt brushing past a patch of ice heart orchid.

Lin Feng took out a jade box from his black jade bracelet: "While passing through the Starfall Mountain Range, I saw this flower was quite unique, so I picked it for you."

The star tear orchid in the box shimmered with a luster like moonlight. Luo Linger lightly touched the petals and suddenly lowered her voice: "Do you know, Junior Brother? Since the illusion heart vine was destroyed three years ago, the Hehuan Old Demon of the Hehuan Sect has actually broken out of seclusion."

"Hehuan Old Demon?" Lin Feng's hand holding the jade box paused slightly, "That old monster?"

Luo Linger sighed: "A few days ago, I saw Su Sizhu. She told me that after the illusion heart vine was destroyed three years ago, the Hehuan Sect's plan to refine the spirit bewitching pill was thwarted, causing turmoil within the Sect. Now that the Old Demon has broken out of seclusion, his first decree is to thoroughly investigate the events of that year."

Lin Feng recalled three years ago when he, Luo Linger, and Su Sizhu infiltrated the floating island; they had indeed left a few subtle traces. At the time, he thought that destroying the illusion heart vine would end everything, but he did not expect it to lead to such an old monster now.

"How is the Sect responding?" He closed the jade box calmly.

"The Elders have been meeting frequently recently, and the patrols of the mountain protection Formation have become much stricter." Luo Linger gently tugged at his sleeve, "Although not many people in the Sect know that the three of us destroyed the illusion heart vine back then, but..."

She did not finish her sentence, but Lin Feng also understood that it was indeed possible they had not cleaned up thoroughly at the time.

...

It had been three months since returning to the Tianxuan Sect. Lin Feng opened his eyes in the cultivation room, a trace of helplessness flashing in them.

His cultivation had clearly reached the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage, the Sword Intent of the "Nine Profound Sword Heart Art" was circulating perfectly, and the tempering of his Divine Sense from the "Hanguang Art" also seemed to have reached a limit for his current Realm.

However, he always felt like there was a thin layer of paper that he couldn't poke through, as if he lacked an Opportunity to trigger a qualitative change and step into the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

He sighed softly, knowing well that working behind closed doors was no longer beneficial, so he informed his Revered Master, Lu Yuchan, of his intention to travel outside and seek that Opportunity to break through his Realm.

Lu Yuchan nodded in agreement, only instructing: "Opportunities and risks coexist in the outside world; guard your heart and act according to your ability."

Lin Feng specifically checked the few Puppets he had recently refined in his Storage Pouch. Everything was prepared, so he summoned the wine immortal gourd and left the Tianxuan Sect alone.

After traveling outside for over a month, his state of mind had opened up significantly. One day, he walked into a place called the "Badou Mountain Range", where the Spiritual Qi was chaotic, and few Cultivators would usually come here.

Just as he was walking forward along a narrow valley, fierce fighting sounds suddenly came from ahead, mixed with the cold reprimands of a woman and the vicious, savage laughter of men.

Lin Feng immediately held his breath, approached silently, and hid behind a large rock to observe.

The situation in the valley was very tense. On one side were five female Cultivators wearing moon-white dresses, their movement techniques agile, but at this moment, their defensive Formation was already tottering, and they were all wounded.

Lin Feng's gaze fell upon their attire, and his heart stirred slightly. This clothing was exactly the same as that of the few female Cultivators from the Illusory Moon Sect he had encountered in the Zen Sound Temple ruins years ago.

The Illusory Moon Sect belonged to the same Righteous Path camp as the Tianxuan Sect; although they did not interact deeply, their stances were consistent.

His thoughts drifted back to the ruins of the Zen Sound Temple. At that time, he was putting all his effort into breaking a Formation, but was suddenly ambushed by Li Feiyu and Flower Without Shadow, putting him in a precarious situation.

At the critical moment, it was the female team leader from the Illusory Moon Sect who intervened, and a cold moonlight barrier timely blocked the fatal blow, allowing him to reach the bodhi tree.

Now, seeing the Disciples of the Illusory Moon Sect in danger again, whether for public or private reasons, it seemed he could not completely stay out of it.

However, when he turned his gaze to the other side and saw that group of blood-robed Cultivators, especially the smiling face of one of the leaders, Lin Feng's eyes instantly turned cold.

That person was none other than Yun Tianhe.