345: Huaqing City! Shocking Change!

Chapter 343: Huaqing City! Sudden Change!

Amidst a vast sea of clouds, a majestic city, like a giant whale, lay sprawled across the land.

This was Huaqing City.

Separated by over two thousand li from the Canglan Heavenly Mansion Sect, it was the farthest reach of the Canglan Heavenly Mansion Sect's influence.

Three days later, a spiritual bird, pure white with iridescent wings, streaked across the clear sky.

Finally, it landed precisely on the flat plaza in front of the City Lord's Mansion.

Four figures dismounted from the bird's back.

At the forefront, Lu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, the dark wave patterns on his azure cloud-colored robe shimmering under the morning sun.

This place was the center of Huaqing City, and it was already bustling with noise and activity.

Dense crowds, like a tide, converged, surrounding the area so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through.

The clamor of human voices and the incessant shouts intertwined into a lively, yet slightly chaotic, market scene.

However, beyond the outermost crowded layer, looking towards the innermost circle, presented a different, well-ordered sight.

The vast space was cleverly divided into four neat zones.

Each zone was meticulously arranged, akin to well-trained military formations.

In front of these four zones, four flagpoles stood tall, their banners fluttering in the wind.

The patterns and characters embroidered on these banners were not merely symbols; they were emblems of the authority and power of the major forces.

The Qian Family, the Yang Family, the Shi Family, and the Mad Wolf Gang.

These four names, for the people of Huaqing City, were already household names, deeply etched in everyone's hearts.

In this city, apart from the City Lord's Mansion, which symbolized official authority, these four forces were the undisputed "giants."

They each occupied a territory, holding crucial positions in Huaqing City's commercial trade, daily life, and military deterrence.

Like four towering trees, rooted in the soil of Huaqing City, their branches extended to every corner of Huaqing City.

To the east, a crimson flag fluttered, its surface embroidered with the ancient seal character for "Qian."

The Disciples under this flag each wore spiritual jade at their waists, and even their seats were specially plated with gold essence.

To the west, a black banner was as dark as ink, the character "Yang" rendered in bold, forceful strokes. A group of young Disciples wore stern expressions, exuding an Aura that kept strangers at bay.

To the south, a green flag swirled like clouds, with a medicinal cauldron pattern drawn beside the character "Shi."

A faint medicinal aroma clung to the Shi Family members, clearly indicating their status as a family of alchemists.

To the north, a blood-red flag was menacing, and the Mad Wolf Gang members uniformly wore Xuan Iron bracers.

The Gang Leader sat on a tiger-skin seat, toying with a Demon Beast's sharp tooth.

The burly men behind him all had vivid wolf head tattoos on their bare chests.

The four major forces, who had just been seated in the VIP section, exuding an Aura of authority and the demeanor of local magnates,

now saw Lu Xuan and the three others descending from the sky, and their expressions suddenly changed.

These figures, usually incredibly arrogant, now resembled startled birds, abruptly rising in unison from their carved sandalwood chairs.

Their postures were tense, not daring to breathe too deeply, fearing that a slight misstep might enrage Lu Xuan and the three others.

The crowd parted automatically like a tide, revealing a passage.

At the end of the passage, the Huaqing City Lord, a man over fifty, was striding quickly.

His sparse silver hair was meticulously combed, and he wore a gray brocade robe with cloud patterns.

Although he was only at the early Foundation Establishment Stage, his every move exuded the air of one who had long held a high position.

Usually decisive and efficient in his actions,

he now showed no trace of his usual authority, hurrying towards Lu Xuan, his face beaming with a fawning smile.

Upon nearing, the Huaqing City Lord quickly bowed, his back curved like a crescent moon, his aged voice filled with respect: "Oh dear!"

"So it is Steward Lu who has graced us with his presence. This old man has failed to welcome you from afar; a grave sin, a grave sin!"

"I hope Steward Lu will not blame me!" As he spoke, the old man kept glancing at Lu Xuan's expression, his eyes filled with anxiety and unease.

As the person in Huaqing City who understood the Canglan Heavenly Mansion Sect best, he naturally knew Lu Xuan's identity and his cultivation Realm.

Ten years ago, this Steward Lu had visited Huaqing City and taken a dozen promising cultivation talents back to the Canglan Heavenly Mansion Sect.

Because at that time, it was he who personally received this Steward Lu.

Lu Xuan's expression was calm, and he nodded slightly, a low voice escaping his throat, its ending carrying a hint of unstated authority.

"Hmm!"

Immediately, Lu Xuan's gaze swept around like a hawk, taking in the nervous yet expectant young juniors.

"Since you are all prepared."

Lu Xuan's lips parted slightly, his voice steady and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority.

"Then let's start with the Qian Family, and proceed in the order of Qian, Yang, Shi, and Mad Wolf Gang, to test everyone's root bones."

With that, Lu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, a faint spiritual energy fluctuation surrounding him, shimmering with a faint blue glow under the sunlight.

Regarding this root bone testing method, it seemed simple but actually had a threshold.

It required Cultivators at the late Foundation Establishment Stage and above to circulate their abundant spiritual power, using it as a guide to probe into the tested person's Meridians.

By sensing the smoothness of spiritual energy flow within the other party's body and the root bone's absorption rate of spiritual energy, one could determine their root bone Aptitude.

The higher the Cultivator's Realm, the more pure and refined their spiritual power, and naturally, the more precise and subtle their judgment would be.

Even extremely subtle differences in Aptitude could not escape the perception of high-level Cultivators.

The scorching sun was like a flame, heating the bluestone bricks on the spirit testing plaza until they were hot.

Distorted heat waves churned in the air, blurring the outlines of distant buildings.

Lu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, the faint blue spiritual power flowing through his fingertips radiating fine ripples.

Each ripple subtly conformed to the spiritual energy circulation trajectory of the Canglan Heavenly Mansion Sect's guardian secret art, the "Azure Sea Bi Bo Jue," implicitly revealing an unfathomable pressure.

"Look up."

Lu Xuan's voice was like a cold spring, startling the brocade-clad youth at the front of the line, causing him to tremble.

The youth shakily lifted his head, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously.

Lu Xuan's hand, covered in a deep blue spiritual light, gently pressed against his glabella.

In an instant, a visible ripple of spiritual energy surged outward from the point of contact.

The youth abruptly arched his back, powerful spiritual energy flowing through all his Meridians.

After three breaths, Lu Xuan suddenly withdrew his hand.

A faint blue cloud pattern slowly appeared on the youth's forehead, an anomaly caused by absorbing a trace of Lu Xuan's spiritual energy.

"Spiritual energy condensed and not dispersed, three-element Spiritual Root, middle-lower Aptitude, can enter my Sect."

No sooner had he spoken than the three inner Disciples who had been following Lu Xuan quickly stepped forward, leading the still-dazed youth to the selection area.

Next, a timid girl with pigtails stepped forward.

As soon as Lu Xuan's spiritual energy probed, an anomaly occurred – the air around the little girl suddenly solidified.

Thousands of tiny ice crystals fell rustling, reflecting a cold light in the sunlight.

"Mutated Ice Spiritual Root!"

"Superior Aptitude, can enter my Sect!"

The girl blinked blankly, completely unaware of the storm she had caused.

Gasps of astonishment erupted from the crowd, and discussions exploded like boiling water.

"Patriarch Qian, congratulations."

The girl was personally led by the hand by the female inner Disciple surnamed Han and stood to one side.

This was indeed a superior cultivation Aptitude.

One could say that Lu Xuan's trip, simply by bringing her back to the Sect, would fulfill his mission.

When the third test subject stepped forward, the spiritual energy probe only stirred up a faint, earthy yellow glow.

Lu Xuan remained as indifferent as ever: "Four Spiritual Roots, mixed, can serve as a handyman in my Sect."

"Are you willing..."

The fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth's face instantly turned ashen upon hearing this.

He stared intently at his hands, covered in chilblains and calluses, his nails digging deeply into his palms.

"I... I am willing."

The youth's voice was hoarse, almost breaking, as if he had used all his strength.

He knew this was the most important opportunity of his life.

In the Canglan Heavenly Mansion Sect, even the lowest handyman status was enough to make countless rogue Cultivators in the mountains flock to it.

Because it meant a slim hope of achieving Foundation Establishment, a chance to change the fate of a Mortal.

..........

Three hours later, Lu Xuan had already selected twenty-five cultivation sprouts.

The last one was a teenage girl with freckles.

She forced herself to move her stiff legs, stumbling forward under everyone's gaze.

Lu Xuan lightly tapped the girl's glabella, and a wisp of deep blue spiritual energy entered her body.

After only a few breaths, Lu Xuan withdrew his finger: "Water-wood dual Spiritual Roots, middle Aptitude, can enter my Sect."

Upon hearing this, the freckled girl's body swayed slightly, and her pale face instantly flushed crimson, a sign of extreme excitement.

Seeing that the last person on the spirit testing plaza had been tested, Lu Xuan's spiritual energy in his sleeve subtly moved, instantly dispersing the residual spiritual energy in his palm.

He looked up at the distant sky, his fingertips gently caressing the storage bag at his waist, a plan already forming in his mind.

Huaqing City was located at the edge of the Sect's territory, and the wilderness Secret Realm might hold unexpected gains.

Heavenly Spiritual Objects, and Demon Beasts.

Lu Xuan wanted to see if the System panel could refine these two into System points.

"Boom!"

A loud bang cracked the ground of the spirit testing plaza, and crimson blood energy shot up like venomous snakes, the late Qi Condensation stage Aura transforming into an invisible wave that swept across the entire area.

A dozen low-cultivation Qi Condensation Cultivators in the back row immediately rolled their eyes and collapsed to the ground.

Immediately after, the burly man with a scarred face pushed through the crowd like a bulldozer, uncaring.

Wherever he passed, the aristocratic family Disciples were knocked sprawling, screams rising one after another.

The crowd instantly exploded, retreating backward.

Amidst the swirling dust, this burly figure stumbled out, cradling a seven or eight-year-old boy huddled in his arms.

He knelt heavily before Lu Xuan, shattering stones beneath his knees.

"Immortal Master, wait!"

The burly man's hoarse roar cut through the clamor, the ferocious scar on his face twisting and deforming with his trembling muscles.

"My child... also wants to enter the Canglan Heavenly Mansion Sect!"

With that, the burly man pushed the boy forward, his calloused hand pressing firmly on the child's back.

"Please, Immortal Master, show mercy!"

"How dare you!"

The Mad Wolf Gang Leader roared, his curved saber unsheathing three inches from his waist, its cold gleam making everyone's faces turn pale.

"Fang Yunshui!"

"What do you think this place is?"

"You actually dare to appear before us!"

The Qian Family's Grand Elder flicked his sleeve, the hidden projectiles within his sleeve glowing with a faint blue poisonous light.

"A year ago, you robbed my Qian Family's caravan, causing me heavy losses."

"This debt, our Qian Family has not yet settled with you!"

Immediately after, people from a dozen forces rose one after another, their eyes filled with murderous intent, as if they were about to tear Fang Yunshui into a thousand pieces the next second.

Clearly, this Fang Yunshui seemed to have offended many forces.

Lu Xuan, however, seemed oblivious to the tense atmosphere around him, his dark wide sleeves moving without wind, as he indifferently gazed down at the kneeling large and small figures on the ground.

The little boy trembled all over, but stubbornly held his head up, his clear eyes filled with both fear and longing.

The Huaqing City Lord's forehead was sweating profusely from anxiety, and he rushed to Lu Xuan's side in hurried steps, pointing a trembling finger at Fang Yunshui: "Fang Yunshui, you villain!"

"You've repeatedly plundered outside the city, and you even dared to steal the spiritual rice from the City Lord's Mansion!"

"Now, you dare to act wildly in front of Steward Lu!"

"This City Lord thinks you don't want to live!"

With the Huaqing City Lord's addition, the surroundings were filled with shouts of 'kill him!', and spittle almost drowned Fang Yunshui and the boy.

Lu Xuan's gaze swept indifferently, spiritual energy subtly gathering in his sleeve, ready to use a movement technique to leave.

Although he feared no one present, Lu Xuan also did not want to act for an unfamiliar person.

He disdained to bother with the grievances between ants.

Because Lu Xuan hated trouble the most!

Lu Xuan's indifferent attitude was seen by everyone present.

The moment he turned, the atmosphere of the entire spirit testing plaza suddenly changed.

"Good!"

"Fang Yunshui, since you've come today, don't even think about leaving Huaqing City!"

The Mad Wolf Gang Leader suddenly let out a piercing, sinister laugh, and his Xuan Iron bracers clanged with the sound of metal.

Dozens of gang members behind him simultaneously drew their weapons, their cold gleam illuminating the spirit testing platform brightly.

These blades were all engraved with the same wolf head emblem; these were weapons forged from excellent spiritual iron!

"Fang Yunshui, ah, Fang Yunshui..." Patriarch Qian slowly muttered.

"Starting three years ago, you robbed my Qian Family's caravan four times, valued at..." He suddenly narrowed his eyes, "one thousand four hundred spiritual stones."

"Today, I will use you to sacrifice for my Qian Family's reputation!"

The Huaqing City Lord seemingly casually raised his hand, and the city guards on the edge of the plaza were already poised, ready to apprehend Fang Yunshui at any moment.

This was because Fang Yunshui, this scoundrel, had been hiding outside the city in recent years, occasionally plundering goods from large passing caravans.

For example, large forces like the Qian Family and the City Lord's Mansion.

This Fang Yunshui had not bothered with some smaller forces in the city.

It was unknown whether he did it on purpose or simply disdained the goods of those smaller forces.

Facing the chilling glint of blades and swords around him, Fang Yunshui showed no fear, as if he had long anticipated this scene.

"Immortal Master!"

"Three months ago, this humble one encountered a Profound-grade spiritual flower—the Purple Ling Fruit—deep within the Cangwu Mountain Range!"

At these words, the entire audience was in an uproar.

Fang Yunshui's eyes burned brightly as he stared at Lu Xuan's halted back.

"At that time, the fruit was not yet ripe, and a Foundation Establishment Stage Azure-scaled Demon Serpent guarded it day and night. This humble one barely escaped with his life, breaking three ribs in the process."

"Calculating the time, the Purple Ling Fruit is now ninety percent ripe; these few days are the perfect time for harvesting!"

Gasps of cold air rose one after another from the crowd.

The Profound-grade spiritual flower, Purple Ling Fruit, was a rare find, appearing only once every few hundred years. It was rumored that consuming it could purify one's Spiritual Root Aptitude.

"If Immortal Master gives my son a chance, this humble one is willing to offer the location of this fruit!"