“Is the old man not going to make it?” Yue Hanjun didn’t even turn his head, his tone still as calm as ever, as if he had anticipated this situation long ago.

“Yes,” Yue Qingwu responded.

“Jiang Tianyun, that old bastard, really has some dogshit luck. Even Li Xuanxi couldn’t kill him and ended up defeated. Have we found the whereabouts of the item?” Yue Hanjun asked.

“Not yet. Brother, I think we should ask Li Changqing. Maybe he knows something,” Yue Qingwu couldn’t help but suggest.

“What could he possibly know?” Yue Hanjun shook his head. “No rush. We have plenty of time. Since Jiang Tianyun is on his last legs, notify everyone to get ready.”

“Alright.”

“It’s about time those old geezers from the Yue family came out to stretch their legs,” Yue Hanjun said with a smile. “We’ve nurtured this fruit for so long; it’s time to harvest. There’s no rush to find the item; it will be mine sooner or later.”

“Brother, what about Hengsheng?” Yue Qingwu asked cautiously.

“We’ll see when the time comes,” Yue Hanjun brushed off the question about Li Hengsheng, showing no concern.

Since Yue Hanjun had said so, Yue Qingwu didn’t press further.

After Yue Qingwu left the Endless Prison, her figure disappeared into the night.

Recently, the Cangyuan Realm had become chaotic. Ever since Yin Fengqi introduced some clients to Li Changqing, more and more people had come to the Changqing Trading Company to buy information. With Bai Tu and Zhen Wanshou in the Cangyuan Pavilion, obtaining information had become much easier.

During this period, Li Changqing went out once and brought back a rare piece of wood based on the information he had.

To Li Changqing’s surprise, the wood turned out to be another piece of Longevity Wood. Although it was smaller than the previous one, this piece was the core of the Longevity Wood, containing even more vitality.

With his previous experience, Li Changqing knew the value of this wood and dared not use it recklessly.

However, he had an idea for it. Li Changqing secluded himself for over half a month and carved a Painting Treasure from the Longevity Wood.

When he emerged, he looked exhausted.

The complexity of this Painting Treasure was almost on par with the phoenix he had carved for Li Hengsheng.

Yet, Li Changqing still didn’t feel any signs of his Divine Soul stepping into the Realm of Great Freedom.

This puzzled him greatly. His Divine Soul was full, but every time he absorbed the power of the Divine Soul through carving, it would leak out of his body.

His body was like a sieve, always leaking the accumulated Divine Soul power, making the Realm of Great Freedom seem within reach but unattainable no matter how hard he tried.

Li Changqing couldn’t figure it out on his own and wanted to ask someone, but he didn’t know any high-level Painting Sages. Even if he did, they might not know the answer, as they themselves hadn’t reached the Realm of Great Freedom.

If anyone knew the reason, it would probably be a Painting Immortal.

Gu Hanxi?

He couldn’t possibly go to him.

If they met, their enmity would flare up, and a fight to the death would be inevitable.

Li Changqing had nothing but hatred for the Longevity Sect.

“Mr. Changqing.”

At this moment, Zhang Fuguang walked in and said to Li Changqing, “The head of the Bai family is here.”

“Bai Jingfei?” Li Changqing asked curiously, “What’s he here for? Let him in.”

Soon, Bai Jingfei walked in, bowed respectfully to Li Changqing, and said, “Mr. Changqing, I came by once before, but I heard you were in seclusion, so I waited for a few days.”

“What’s the matter?” Li Changqing asked, “Is there a problem with the intelligence department?”

“Mr. Changqing, business has been good lately. Our Changqing Trading Company has received many valuable treasures. Just half a month ago, we received a fine sword, which I brought to you.” Bai Jingfei took out a sword box from his Acceptance of Rings.

Seeing that Bai Jingfei had an Acceptance of Rings, Li Changqing knew he must be quite wealthy now.

But when Li Changqing saw the green sword box, he looked pleasantly surprised. If it was indeed a Divine Weapon, it would be perfect. His Zhenxian Sword Formation required four swords, but the Seven Swords of Qinglian were too fragile for it.

He needed better swords for the Zhenxian Sword Formation.

Currently, he had the Red Phosphorus Sword, the Absolute Sword, and the Heavenly Maiden Sword. If he could get another good sword, it would be perfect.

Little did he know, Li Changqing had been eyeing Xue Qianbai’s sword with envy.

The Qianxue Sword—how great it would be if it were his.

Xue Qianbai had stayed with Li Changqing for a few days, but seeing Li Changqing’s covetous gaze, he fled back to Dao Mountain Ancient Land, fearing Li Changqing would drug his wine and take his Qianxue Sword.

Li Changqing opened the sword box and found a pitch-black sword inside.

The sword was so black it was frightening, even absorbing the sunlight that shone on it, giving it an eerie appearance.

“The Ink Sword?” Li Changqing said in surprise, “Isn’t this sword supposed to be in the Great Wilderness Hall of the Western Wilderness?”

“Yes, someone from the Great Wilderness Hall came to our Changqing Trading Company to buy a top-secret piece of information and exchanged it for this sword,” Bai Jingfei said with a smile.

“Top-secret information?” Li Changqing was astonished. What kind of top-secret information would require such a Divine Weapon in exchange?

The Ink Sword.

Ranked fourteenth on the Divine Weapon List, it was a highly coveted sword. Many swordsmen had visited the Great Wilderness Hall to seek it, but they never gave it away. Yet, they exchanged it for a piece of information, which Li Changqing found incredible.

“It’s about the Yue family,” Bai Jingfei whispered to Li Changqing.

“The Yue family?” Li Changqing suddenly understood. The Yue family was the top family in Tianhai City, closely linked to the City Lord’s Mansion. Investigating the Yue family through the Cangyuan Pavilion would be impossible and would alert them. But obtaining information through the Changqing Trading Company was different.

“What are they planning against the Yue family?” Li Changqing pondered. He had a keen interest in the Yue family.

After all, Yue Qingwu had previously claimed that Li Changqing was her brother, saying his name was Yue Zhengjun. Li Changqing always felt she was lying.

“Mr. Changqing, the Yue family has been very active lately. After obtaining the information, I discovered a significant secret: the Yue family has an ancestor named Yue Zhiming, who might still be alive and could have become a terrestrial immortal,” Bai Jingfei said cautiously.

“The Yue family is hiding a terrestrial immortal?” Li Changqing raised an eyebrow. “If that’s true, wouldn’t Jiang Tianyun know?”

“Jiang Tianyun might not necessarily know,” Bai Jingfei said with a smile. “Although the Cangyuan Pavilion belongs to Jiang Tianyun, the real manager is Lin Qingyi. If Lin Qingyi doesn’t want him to know, he might not.”

“Lin Qingyi…” Li Changqing recalled seeing Lin Qingyi in Tianhai City, walking closely with Yue Qingwu.

Could Lin Qingyi have defected to the Yue family? Or perhaps to Yue Qingwu?

Jiang Tianyun might be in a weakened state. If something significant happened in Tianhai City, Jiang Tianyun might not be able to handle it.

Meanwhile, as Li Changqing looked at the Ink Sword in the box, he had a feeling.

If the Yue family had any movements or ulterior motives, could the mastermind be Yue Qingwu?

Or was it the mysterious Yue Hanjun?

From previous intelligence, Yue Hanjun was a genius, not someone who would follow the rules or be content to stay in the Endless Prison until death. Could all this be Yue Hanjun’s plan?

Li Changqing increasingly felt that if Yue Hanjun emerged from the Endless Prison, the entire Cangyuan Realm would be turned upside down.

And once Yue Hanjun came out, Li Changqing would inevitably be caught in the turmoil. The one plotting against him was likely Yue Hanjun.

But what exactly did Yue Hanjun want?

Did he have the qualifications to contend with Yue Hanjun?

He had many treasures and the support of Xue Qianbai. If he wished, he could even ask Guangzu for help. Even if Yue Hanjun had terrestrial immortals on his side, they might not be able to do anything to him.

But from this moment, Li Changqing began to feel a growing sense of unease.

This feeling made it impossible for him to calm down.

Not only Li Changqing but even Li Hengsheng on the White Snake Path felt the same unease, sensing a crisis without any apparent reason.

Both father and son shared this feeling.

Time flew by.

A month later.

On a moonless, windy night.

The entire Tianhai City was shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere.

The city’s guards felt something was off, and by the middle of the night, chaos erupted in the city!

Countless experts rushed towards the City Lord’s Mansion.

The guards of the mansion had no time to react before they were slaughtered by the intruders. Despite this, the City Lord’s Mansion quickly responded, and many strong warriors emerged to fight the invaders.

The sounds of battle shook the city, shocking everyone.

“Who dares to cause trouble in the City Lord’s Mansion!”

A booming voice echoed, and a man in white armor appeared in the sky, wielding a Fangtian halberd. With a swing, he crushed several experts.

The man was Sha Heng, the chief instructor of the City Lord’s Mansion.

Sha Heng led the battle, his Grandmaster-level strength overwhelming the intruders.

Until he clashed with a black-robed expert.

Both were Grandmasters, and after a few exchanges, Sha Heng recognized the black-robed expert.

“Someone from the Yue family!” Sha Heng roared in anger. “The Yue family dares to rebel!”

The black-robed expert, seeing that Sha Heng had recognized him, discarded his robe, revealing a familiar face—an expert from the Yue family.

“It’s me. So what?” The Yue family expert sneered.

At that moment, Lin Qingyi arrived.

Seeing Lin Qingyi, Sha Heng respectfully said, “Lord Lin, you’re here. The Yue family has rebelled and attacked the City Lord’s Mansion. This is unforgivable!”

Before Sha Heng could finish, Lin Qingyi’s blade flashed, and Sha Heng’s head flew off.

Sha Heng never expected Lin Qingyi to attack him.

“Lord Lin, thank you,” the Yue family expert said with a smile, clearly knowing Lin Qingyi was on their side.

Lin Qingyi said nothing, but turned to see an old man approaching from the sky.

The old man’s gaze was oppressive, silencing the battlefield.

“Unforgivable,” Jiang Feng said, his eyes filled with killing intent.

Jiang Feng held a short spear, ready to strike. The spear seemed to be stained with some creature’s blood, and his presence was terrifying.

A terrestrial immortal!

None could stand against him.

But from the horizon, something flew towards Jiang Feng.

It moved swiftly, breaking through the void like a shooting star.

Jiang Feng’s spear clashed with the object, revealing it to be a blood-red coffin.

Jiang Feng was shocked by the coffin, and as the lid flew off, a pale man appeared before him.

The man smiled faintly at Jiang Feng.

“You are…”

“Yue Zhiming!”

Jiang Feng’s eyes widened in disbelief. Yue Zhiming, an ancestor of the Yue family, was supposed to be dead.

How could he still be alive?

Finally, a million words.