Chapter 54: The Days of Cultivation Are Becoming More and More Full of Hope

Alleys, alleys, and more alleys.

Duan Sanfu's forehead veins throbbed violently. It wasn't until he saw Luo Chen enter a three-entry courtyard complex that he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"No wonder the brothers in the gang couldn't find him for so long."

"So he moved to the Inner City long ago, and even picked such a remote spot."

Beside him, a lackey was eager to try his hand.

"Brother Duan, what do we do now? Do we charge in and kidnap that kid in front of Second Brother Gao?"

*Slap!*

Duan Sanfu slapped the lackey on the head. Facing the lackey's aggrieved gaze, Duan Sanfu said with frustration, "Where do you think we are? This is the Inner City! This is the territory of the Yuding Sword Sect, and the Golden Core Master oversees it. Are you planning to abduct someone right under the Golden Core Master's nose?"

The lackey said pitifully, "He's just a piece of trash at the third level of Qi Refinement. If you and I act, we can knock him unconscious and take him away without anyone noticing. At worst, we can pour some wine down his throat when we leave the city and say he was just drunk."

"Are you blind?!" Duan Sanfu roared, then realizing something, he looked left and right and lowered his voice. "That kid is already at the fourth level of Qi Refinement. Can't you tell?"

The lackey was stunned.

Wasn't he at the third level?

How could he have reached the fourth level after only a month or two?

Though it was only a one-level difference, there was indeed a distinction between the third and fourth levels of Qi Refinement.

A cultivator at the third level could barely cast two spells and was unskilled with magical tools; if they didn't even know basic secular martial arts, they were practically "powerless." They could be taken away easily.

But the fourth level meant having enough spiritual energy to release spells and operate magical tools for extended periods. A single moment of carelessness during a fight could easily cause a massive commotion.

Duan Sanfu patted the lackey's shoulder. "The residence has been scouted. As for what comes next, we wait for Second Brother Gao to finish the Eighteen Death Duels before deciding."

"Understood. I'll head back to report now."

"What about me?"

"Stay here and keep watch. Make sure that kid is a long-term resident so it's easier to grab him when the time comes."

"Oh, alright!"

The lackey sulked and crouched down in a shadowy corner.

*Scurry, scurry.*

He glanced down and saw a black tail disappearing into the shadows.

*Hah, they say the Inner City is so great, but it's no different from the Outer City; there are rats here too.*

Inside the courtyard, Luo Chen sat cross-legged on the ground, exerting all his strength to mobilize his spiritual energy.

After a long while, the Pangolin Puppet Beast returned to his hand.

"Gao Tingyuan is still investigating his brother's death; he might even have plans to move against me."

Luo Chen's expression shifted between light and dark.

He stood up and paced the courtyard, lost in thought.

Through the puppet beast, he had managed to overhear some information.

The opponent didn't have time right now, but once the two factions finished their death duels and he was free, he would certainly strike.

If that happened, he would be in danger.

However, to dare to act in the Inner City—they certainly had guts!

The corners of Luo Chen's mouth curled slightly, as if he had thought of something.

"Fellow Daoist, which courtyard are you from?"

Suddenly, a voice rang out in front of him.

A middle-aged man was looking at Luo Chen curiously.

Luo Chen smiled slightly and pointed toward the two inner courtyards behind him.

"I'm in the back courtyard. I just moved in. Hello!"

"A new neighbor! I am Wan Xiaoshan."

"I am Jin Xian. Pleased to meet you."

"Oh, what a fine name, Fellow Daoist. I fear you might one day attain Great Luo Golden Immortal status and live as long as the heavens!"

*Great Luo?*

Indeed, although people in the martial world currently called him "Little Luo," there was no reason he couldn't be called "Great Luo" in the future.

Of course, for a first meeting, one had to remain humble.

"Ha, it's nothing worth mentioning. I have things to do, so I'll head home first."

Luo Chen waved his hand, bid farewell to this newly met "neighbor," and walked toward the archway of the middle courtyard.

Before leaving, as if suddenly remembering something, he gave a sincere warning.

"Fellow Daoist Wan Xiaoshan, there have been too many outside cultivators lately, and the Dahe坊 is a mixed bag. I fear some people, thinking they can pull one big score and leave, might target honest folk like us. You must be careful when going in and out!"

Wan Xiaoshan froze for a moment, then said dismissively, "It's fine. The Yuding Sword Pavilion anticipated this long ago and specifically assigned a Foundation Establishment sword cultivator to lead a patrol team. If we actually run into such people, we'll just catch them and beat them senseless."

"Is that so? That's wonderful then!"

Luo Chen's eyes brightened, and his steps became even lighter. In a moment, he passed through the middle courtyard archway and stepped into the back courtyard.

After rounding a spirit wall, his figure vanished completely.

Wan Xiaoshan shook his head with a smile. This fellow Daoist was quite timid.

In broad daylight, who would dare plot mischief in the Inner City?

Never mind the Inner City; even the Outer City was incredibly safe now. Who would dare pull the whiskers of the Yuding Sword Sect?

Smiling to himself, he left the courtyard, intending to visit the nearest trade fair.

However, despite his inner disdain, he was indeed more cautious when stepping out.

Normally, many people entered and exited this courtyard, so it was indeed possible for some ill-intentioned bandit cultivators to slip in.

With this thought, his gaze carried a hint of scrutiny toward everyone he saw.

"Huh? Why is this guy acting so suspicious?"

"He dares to stare at me?"

"I have no grudge against him, so why is he looking at me?"

"Hiss, could Fellow Daoist Jin Xian be right?"

"No, I must quickly notify the patrol!"

After casting a sharp glare back at the Da Jiang Gang lackey crouching in the corner, Wan Xiaoshan quickened his pace.

The lackey looked at Wan Xiaoshan in confusion.

"Is this guy crazy? He's just walking, why does he keep looking at me?"

"Forget it, not worth arguing with someone like him. I'd better keep an eye on Luo Chen so he doesn't run off."

"Once this is done, Brother Duan will surely value me more. Maybe even Second Brother Gao will look at me differently and take me onto the ships to earn big spirit stones!"

Thinking this, he couldn't help but feel that his future was looking brighter and brighter.

However, half a stick of incense later, several streaks of light descended from the sky, surrounding him tightly.

"Yes, it's him! He kept staring at me; he must want to kill me and rob the mid-grade flying sword I worked so hard to buy! He might even want to strip my new Daoist robes!"

The lackey was stunned!

One of the leading cultivators of the patrol stepped forward with a frown.

"Hah!"

"Where are you from? What are you doing? Why are you crouching here? Are you planning a robbery?"

The tone was urgent, and his voice carried a faint echo.

The lackey was first shaken by the authority, then said dizzily, "From the Outer City. A cargo-carrying cultivator from the Da Jiang Gang, watching someone here. Not a robbery, just looking to kidnap someone."

After saying this, he suddenly snapped to his senses.

Instantly, his face turned pale.

How could he have blurted out everything?

*Slap!*

The patrol leader gave him a harsh slap. "I hate bandit cultivators like you the most—no skill whatsoever! Follow me!"

"Where?"

"Your business is out. Now, get lost to the Red Pillar Prison for a hundred years. Don't bother coming out until you can win ten matches on the Dao Discussion Platform!"

The lackey's mouth hung open, unsure if he was stunned by the slap or if he had just seen his future.

After the patrol cultivators left, Wan Xiaoshan patted his chest in terror.

*Thank goodness I'm sharp!*

No, I can't keep this to myself; I must warn the neighbors in the three courtyards.

Action is better than thought. He gathered his breath in his dantian and began running while shouting.

"Bandit cultivators are appearing nearby! Everyone, please be careful when going in and out!"

Nearby, a cultivator stepped out of his house.

"That's right, I'm the one who reported him! Scum like that belongs in the Red Pillar Prison!"

"Ha, it's nothing, no need to thank me!"

(End of Chapter)