159: Paper Crane

In Black Ridge City, Shen Li, who was patrolling around, felt a series of heart palpitations.

He hadn't entered cultivation for a long time, which surprised the people around him.

Even Wang Teng couldn't help but give up his cultivation, standing beside Shen Li and greeting him.

"Late Stage Qi Refining, approaching Perfection, and reaching Half-Step Dao Foundation, Dao Foundation Realm, will both cause anxiety. This anxiety is extremely prone to developing Heart Demons, so don't think too much."

"The more you think, the more you will encounter later. Things can be good or bad. My Immortal Master often says that cultivation is about going with the flow, pushing the boat along the current, only then can there be miraculous effects."

The moon hung high in the sky, and Shen Li gazed at the moonlight, as if wanting to see the Chang'e and Jade Rabbit in the immortal palace through the endless moonlight Qi.

He didn't know if this world had such a legend. Dressed in white, the crescent moon on his brow gradually became round and flawless, turning into a full moon, as if his Karma was at Perfection.

This made him appear even more like a banished immortal from the Moon Palace, looking down upon the mortal world.

His temperament was cold, but he remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Brother Wang, you worry too much. You know my thoughts are too heavy, so you should know that I have already made plans for the future Dao Foundation path."

"This sudden premonition is not due to cultivation."

"It's just a feeling that something extremely important... or even someone... has suddenly gone missing."

When a martial artist's premonition reaches an extraordinary level, they can sense a certain subtle danger.

However, a Cultivator's premonition, a spiritual warning, senses an unpleasant future.

This feeling was very accurate, but he didn't know where to begin to explain it.

Nor did he know where to investigate.

It was as if an elder with whom I shared Karma had encountered some unexpected change.

Seeing this, Wang Teng rubbed the corner of his mouth.

"This evening, I received a letter from home saying that the border is under martial law, and Disciples from within the pass are no longer allowed to come to Yellow Sand Plains for training."

"My Immortal Sen Yan is also not in the market, saying he has important matters to attend to. In addition, the appearance of many unfamiliar faces and auras suggests that this Grand Ceremony is nearing completion."

"Otherwise, it wouldn't be impossible for you to return home for a trip, but now it seems a bit late."

Shen Li shook his head, said no more, and just waved his hand, indicating that he wanted to be alone.

Seeing this, Wang Teng also shook his head and retreated.

Shen Li sat from dusk till dawn, and then from dawn till dusk again.

After an unknown period, that feeling slowly disappeared.

All that remained for Shen Li was a sense of desolation.

He slowly rose and walked from the City Lord's Mansion to the outer city wall.

It was a scene of prosperity.

Mr. Li was selecting talented students in the academy.

The two shopkeepers were also moving through their shops, making adjustments and deployments.

Countless unfamiliar martial artists and Cultivators bowed respectfully upon seeing Shen Li.

Some curiously observed this young Cultivator in charge of the town.

Others were surprised, amazed by Shen Li's age and cultivation.

The Living Spring Water Vein had been introduced into various shops, and the water from the waterwheel tinkled like celestial music.

The Cang Hai Flower exuded abundant moisture, its central petals fluttering in the wind, bringing much warmth to this incredibly dry Yellow Sand Plains.

The Black Horn Mountain Range is located in the heartland of the Yellow Sand Plains, and Black Ridge City, after Immortal Sen Yan's battle, became the foremost market in the heartland.

It was still expanding in an orderly fashion. Qi Sect, Food as Heaven, Pill Hall, and Talisman Hall attracted wave after wave of Loose Cultivators and adventurers.

Among them were many old acquaintances.

They treated this place as a transit station, coming for a visit whenever they had free time.

For example, the True Inheritor of Beast Control frequently visited.

His purpose was surprisingly just to absorb some Spiritual Qi.

Passing through the Huangsha city wall and reaching the outermost area, one could see lush green colors.

The branches and leaves of the ninth-grade sea buckthorn fruit swayed in the wind, and dense sea buckthorn fruit forests were planted in the yellow sand. After a clear female voice called out and connected the spell structure of the Small Cloud Rain Technique.

The sky above this sea buckthorn fruit forest suddenly became a bit gloomy.

Then came fine, dense raindrops.

Although not heavy, it was enough for irrigation.

A ninth-grade Qing He Cow was also moving through it, not gnawing on any leaves, but diligently fertilizing. This ninth-grade Spirit Beast clearly possessed some instincts and was well-domesticated by the Shen Family, knowing what to do and what not to do.

This scene attracted countless Loose Cultivators and even ordinary people who came by reputation.

They spontaneously built sheds in the sandy area to sell some relics from the Loulan Ancient Kingdom.

And further out, a small mountain appeared out of nowhere, covered in Ore.

It controlled the vital pass, like a guardian god.

Everyone who passed by was incomparably shocked and inexplicably terrified.

This gatekeeper... was actually an eighth-grade Spirit Beast at the Half-Step Dao Foundation Realm???

And on top of this small Ore mountain, a Sand Fox was gnawing on spiritual essence, muttering and communicating with the small mountain beneath its feet, though no one knew what it was saying.

But it looked very happy.

Everything was so flourishing.

For a time, there was even a bustling atmosphere.

Amidst the clamor, Yuting Guards in cold armor moved through, their iron armor cold and stained with blood. The Yuting Guards behind them were still carrying many Yao Beast corpses on their shoulders.

Wang Shan, with one arm, had an arm full of cold light, and his entire demeanor was incomparably serious and solemn.

He was already at the Grandmaster Realm.

Upon seeing Shen Li, his eyes burned with fervent loyalty.

"City Lord."

The Cultivator casting the spell heard the words "City Lord," and the gloomy clouds above her head quietly began to dissipate.

However, Shen Li shook his head, and a spiritual guide soared into the sky, where he used it to connect the structure of the spell in the air.

Allowing this Small Cloud Rain Technique to be successfully cast.

The woman rushed over, bowing slightly, wanting to kneel and salute, but Shen Li stopped her.

Sun Miaoqing, with a look of guilt, said.

"Young Master, I wasn't focused enough."

Shen Li patted her head. This girl was not much older than his own sister, and it was inevitable that he would feel a sense of nostalgia.

"It's fine. My sister is the same age as you, but her personality is much more mischievous than yours."

"Even when I was your age, my cultivation was like fishing for three days and drying nets for two."

"Go on, continue your cultivation!"

"Yes!"

After wandering around, Shen Li arrived at the well of the Living Spring Water Vein again.

Peach Blossom Maiden trembled a few times upon seeing Shen Li, not daring to appear.

She was still traumatized from being beheaded last time.

The Different Water Carp inside was bruised all over.

It wasn't that someone was abusing it; it was just that there were other Spirit Beasts in the water vein, and to occupy the underground water vein, it needed to constantly fight with other Spirit Beasts to secure territory, only then could it make progress!

For water-attributed creatures, the size of the water vein was the key to their cultivation, just like a Flood Dragon traveling through water or a great Yao Beast roaming.

All things in the world always have their own Dao to cultivate.

The Great Dao reaches the heavens, each takes their own path!

But at this moment, Shen Li, who had returned to the City Lord's Mansion, slightly furrowed his brows.

As if he had sensed something.

A blood-stained paper crane, appearing from nowhere, fluttered unsteadily into his palm.

The paper crane's eyes glowed with a bloody hue.

Its aura dissipated, annihilated.

But it left behind a blood-stained, broken Jade Slip.