bookpower Chapter 334: Escaping Unscathed
Chapter 334: Escaping Unscathed
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"Locked on. There's no time!"
Lan Chang'an's expression shifted subtly. Moments ago, he had delayed for a bit, delegating the task of handling the scene and collecting the fourth-rank illusion array to the Earth Burrowing Rat.
The brilliant golden moon, spanning several li in radius, descended, forming an inverted bowl-shaped golden barrier. It enveloped Lan Chang'an, Xia Wenyue, and Nalan Qing, isolating them from the outside world.
High in the firmament, at the center of the golden moon, a female Nascent Soul True Monarch appeared, donning a phoenix crown and golden robes. A cinnabar dot adorned her glabella, exuding an icy elegance and a domineering aura that seemed to look down upon all living beings.
"Master! Junior Sister Xia!"
Nalan Qing, who had finally escaped the illusory space, looked overjoyed, letting out a long sigh of relief.
"And you... who are you?"
Nalan Qing's delicate features tensed, her gaze cold and piercing as she looked at the white-robed man standing beside Fairy Xia. The two stood close together, their relationship clearly unusual.
Especially Xia Wenyue—her hair was disheveled, her dress in disarray, clinging tightly to the man's arm. Her stance seemed stiff and uneasy.
"Master Lan, don’t step away from Wenyue for even a moment. That’s the only way you’ll keep your life."
Xia Wenyue’s eyes held a trace of pleading as she clung to Lan Chang'an's arm, sending him a voice transmission.
Lan Chang'an hesitated but didn’t push away the clearly distressed Xia Wenyue.
For now, he chose to trust her.
More importantly, it was already too late to attempt an immediate retreat.
At the very least, he would need to clash with the barrier and break through it before attempting to flee with the Blood Escape Technique.
If it could be resolved amicably, through human kindness and friendly negotiation, and allow him to leave unscathed, that would naturally be the best.
Unless absolutely necessary, Lan Chang'an didn’t want to reveal his true strength or any of his secrets to the outside world.
"Turtle Lan! As her master who’s hidden away for over a hundred years, you have the audacity to act with such treachery and shamelessness toward Wenyue!"
In the sky, the dazzling figure of the Golden Moon True Monarch, unparalleled in beauty, merged with the massive golden moon. A terrifying spiritual pressure descended like ten thousand great mountains, bearing down on Lan Chang'an. RâŊoBƐș
Lan Chang'an's body sank under the weight. The energy and blood in his body, along with his magic power, nearly froze, his feet feeling as though they were leaden and difficult to move.
Xia Wenyue and Nalan Qing, however, remained unaffected. This alone showcased the Golden Moon True Monarch's mastery over her divine abilities and control over her power.
"As a mere loose cultivator, how could I, Lan, ever have the fortune to occupy a place in the esteemed Palace Master's thoughts, much less be recognized at a glance?"
Exerting his strength, Lan Chang'an withstood the pressure above his head. Remaining calm and composed, he cupped his hands in a polite salute, showing not the slightest intention of admitting fault or pleading for mercy.
"You’re at death’s door, yet you remain unrepentant!"
The Golden Moon True Monarch’s face darkened, her golden robes billowing as her voice turned cold and frosty.
Beneath her commanding killing intent, a hint of surprise flickered in her eyes.
This "Turtle Lan" had actually cultivated to the late Core Formation stage? And he was holding up against her Golden Moon pressure with such ease?
This level of power and composure far exceeded that of an ordinary Core Formation cultivator.
Back when Xia Wenyue joined the Proud Moon Palace, the Golden Moon True Monarch had already investigated her personal connections.
Among them, Lan Chang'an was undoubtedly the cultivator who had the greatest influence on Wenyue’s life.
If Lan Chang'an had maintained ties with Xia Wenyue and shared a close relationship, the Proud Moon Palace would have taken precautions.
However, over the past hundred-plus years, Lan Chang'an had severed his relationship with Xia Wenyue. To save his own life, he had even fled and disappeared, leaving the Righteous Dao Alliance.
Under such circumstances, the Proud Moon Palace and the Golden Moon True Monarch dismissed him as insignificant, even thinking he was "sensible."
Who would have thought that this "Turtle Lan" had hidden so deeply, laying out plans over the course of one to two hundred years?
And when the time was ripe, he had suddenly reappeared, seizing the fruit that the Proud Moon Palace had carefully cultivated for many years with lightning speed.
As Xia Wenyue's Master and the Proud Moon Palace’s Master, the Golden Moon True Monarch felt her blood boiling with anger. Her fury surged, and her resolve to kill him was absolute.
...
"Senior Golden Moon, you exaggerate. Back in the Xia Family of Qingsha Bay, everyone knew that I, Lan, merely accepted Wenyue as a nominal disciple. There was never any true master-disciple relationship," Lan Chang'an remarked nonchalantly.
Taking a step back, even if there were a genuine master-disciple relationship, such romances were not unheard of in the cultivation world.
As long as both parties were consenting and no coercion was involved, outsiders had no right to interfere.
"Shameless thief, how dare you argue!"
The cold light in the Golden Moon True Monarch's eyes grew even sharper. With a wave of her jade-white hand through the void, the massive golden moon behind her split into a hundred-zhang-wide golden lotus, radiating a dangerous aura.
The fury of a Nascent Soul True Monarch was about to descend.
Lan Chang'an immediately sensed a threat far greater than the one he had felt from the True Monarch Shazhai years ago.
"Master! If you wish to kill Darling Lan, then take my life first!"
Xia Wenyue's crisp voice rang out as she turned away, her moon-white palace dress billowing as she stepped in front of Lan Chang'an.
"You..."
Lan Chang'an's expression shifted. Following Xia Wenyue's pull, he instinctively caught her soft and graceful figure in his arms.
"Wenyue! For the sake of this old undead, you're willing to threaten me with your life and oppose your own Master?"
The Golden Moon True Monarch was forced to halt her strike. Her face turned livid, and she looked both furious and deeply disappointed.
Hearing himself referred to as "old undead," Lan Chang'an's face twitched slightly.
That said, he was indeed quite old, more than 120 years older than Xia Wenyue.
As for the Proud Moon Palace Master, though she was a Nascent Soul True Monarch, her age was likely comparable to his.
"Lan Chang'an! Using Junior Sister as a shield? What kind of man are you?"
Not far away, the palace-garbed beauty Nalan Qing, who appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties, glared at him with wide almond eyes and reprimanded him sharply.
From her perspective, Lan Chang'an seemed to be using Xia Wenyue as a hostage to save his own skin, showing no scruples whatsoever.
As someone with experience, she could tell that after half an hour, her junior sister was no longer untouched.
For a man to seize a woman's chastity and then use her as a bargaining chip to stay alive—it was utterly despicable!
"Don't let go of me."
Hearing Xia Wenyue's voice transmission, Lan Chang'an glanced down at the pale-faced fairy in his arms, feeling her quickened breaths and inner turmoil.
A complex emotion rose in his heart.
He hadn't expected that, after more than a hundred years apart, Xia Wenyue would not only honor their agreement but also risk her life to ensure he could escape in one piece.
In her mind, Lan Chang'an's current predicament was likely because of her.
Lan Chang'an tried to free himself from Xia Wenyue's grasp, but he was concerned that any abrupt movement might hurt the fragile and shaken fairy.
"Master, please allow your disciple to explain before making a decision..."
After halting the Proud Moon Palace Master's attack, Xia Wenyue regained her composure and spoke calmly.
"No matter what you say, it will not quell my anger," the Palace Master replied coldly.
Though she suppressed her fury, her disappointment was evident.
Even without the Taiyin Jade Essence, Xia Wenyue's innate Dao physique was far superior to most earth spirit root cultivators, particularly in its affinity for ice-type divine abilities and spells.
The Golden Moon Barrier ensured that the events inside remained hidden from the outside world.
After all, this was a scandal involving the Proud Moon Palace, and the Golden Moon True Monarch naturally wanted to block any prying eyes.
"To heal her hidden ailment... to awaken her innate Dao physique... a life-saving kindness... a heart demon oath..."
After a brief explanation, the Golden Moon True Monarch's expression shifted unpredictably. Though her anger subsided slightly, it hadn't fully dissipated.
Given the circumstances, Lan Chang'an taking the Taiyin Jade Essence seemed reasonable.
As for Xia Wenyue's actions today, they were simply a way to repay the debt of gratitude.
Moreover, the constraints of a heart demon oath made it nearly impossible for Xia Wenyue, a genius with hopes of reaching Nascent Soul, to go against her promise.
This was a hurdle she was destined to face.
However, her flight was noticeably slower than expected, barely surpassing the speed of a Foundation Establishment cultivator—perhaps due to her physical condition.
Lan Chang'an watched the icy yet elegant figure grow smaller in the distance, suppressing a fleeting impulse to chase after her.
He had to admit that her act of self-sacrifice after more than a century of separation had moved him, stirring a trace of sympathy in his heart.
With her talent, making her his Dao companion in this lifetime was not out of the question.
But then he sighed, his long sleeves fluttering in the breeze.
"The path to Nascent Soul is long and arduous. The mountains are high, the waters far, and the immortal road eternal. Can we truly meet again after a hundred years?"
With that lament, Lan Chang'an stepped into the void and departed.
Far ahead, Xia Wenyue, having flown some distance, faintly heard his soft murmur carried by the wind.
She did not turn back but instead carefully mulled over the latter half of his words.
After a moment, her lips curved into a bitter smile, though a sliver of comfort flickered in her heart.
After one or two centuries of knowing him, she finally understood Lan Chang'an’s aspirations and heard the truth in his heart.
But alas, this realization came too late.
Unless both of them ascended to Nascent Soul, granting them the chance to reconnect, everything else was destined to be in vain.
...
As Lan Chang'an flew onward, he couldn’t help but cast a divination regarding Xia Wenyue’s future.
In truth, before leaving, he had considered compensating her with a magical treasure or life-saving cards.
But Xia Wenyue’s firm insistence on severing all ties made it impossible for her to accept any goodwill from him.
Fortunately, her innate Dao physique gave her considerable strength, and her methods of self-defense were nothing to scoff at.
After completing his calculations, Lan Chang'an furrowed his brows slightly.
Xia Wenyue’s future cultivation path appeared fraught with challenges.
The root of the issue lay in today’s events, which had caused the Proud Moon Palace Master to grow displeased with her. A rift had formed in their master-disciple relationship.
Her act of using her life as leverage to protect him was seen as a challenge to the Proud Moon Palace Master’s authority—a grave act of disrespect in the eyes of such a domineering figure.
Moreover, with the loss of the Taiyin Jade Essence, Xia Wenyue’s value had significantly diminished.
Moving forward, the Proud Moon Palace Master’s care and resources for her would likely dwindle, and she might no longer be considered a Nascent Soul seedling.
Even knowing this, there was little Lan Chang'an could do.
He had the ability to help others reach Foundation Establishment or even Core Formation.
But Nascent Soul? Even for himself, it required painstaking planning and effort—he had only just made some modest progress in that direction.
Suddenly, a sharp streak of sword light sliced through the air, traveling swiftly from a certain direction and heading straight toward him.
Lan Chang'an glanced at it.
It was a young man of striking appearance, tall and well-built, with sword-like brows and bright, sharp eyes. He seemed to be in his late twenties or early thirties, exuding the spiritual pressure of a late-stage Core Formation cultivator.
Lan Chang'an’s heart stirred slightly—this person was none other than Situ Lan.
Situ Lan seemed to be in a hurry, sparing only a cursory glance at Lan Chang'an as he passed without saying a word.
Their gazes met briefly before they continued on their separate ways.
...
Situ Lan suppressed his injuries as he hurried toward Ice Moon Fortress, eager to meet Xia Wenyue.
However, he was met with rejection. Xia Wenyue, citing physical discomfort, refused his request for a visit.
For three days, Situ Lan waited patiently. In the meantime, he gathered information through his subordinates, piecing together an astonishing picture of what had transpired that day.
While the details were murky, two things were certain:
One, the infamous “Turtle Lan” from the neighboring nation had made an appearance and met with Xia Wenyue.
Two, the Proud Moon Palace Master had chased after them in a fury, though the outcome was unclear.
Finally, after three days of waiting, Situ Lan was able to see the woman who haunted his dreams.
“Wenyue, I’m so glad you’re alright!”
Situ Lan breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the familiar figure dressed in a moon-white palace dress. Her icy elegance was unchanged, though her expression seemed colder than before. He stepped forward, expressing concern and care.
But as he observed her closely, something about her demeanor struck him as different.
Having cultivated for over two centuries, Situ Lan was no naive youth. The realization hit him like a thunderclap, and his expression changed.
“Fellow Daoist Situ, your suspicions are correct. I’ve lost the Taiyin Jade Essence,” Xia Wenyue said coldly, noticing the change in his expression.
“You...”
Situ Lan’s face turned pale, his mind reeling.
For over a century, he had pursued Xia Wenyue with genuine affection. His act of risking his life for her on the battlefield was not a pretense.
Of course, the Taiyin Jade Essence had always been an added incentive—a priceless opportunity for Nascent Soul cultivation that no Core Formation cultivator could resist.
But now, learning that Xia Wenyue had inexplicably lost the Taiyin Jade Essence—that she had given herself to another man—dealt him a heavy blow. He momentarily lost his composure.
“Hmph! So you do care! As expected, all your previous pursuit was insincere, driven only by the allure of my Taiyin Jade Essence,” Xia Wenyue said frostily, her disappointment palpable as she turned and left.
“No! That’s not it... I didn’t mean...”
Situ Lan snapped out of his daze, unwilling to let go of over a century of effort and his deep feelings for her.
Even without the Taiyin Jade Essence, Xia Wenyue still had a natural Dao physique and the most renowned Fairy Xuanbing of the Proud Moon Palace.
He just needed time—to understand what had happened, to come to terms with this shocking turn of events.
...
Fengyuan Kingdom, deep in the Ice and Snow Sacred Mountain.
Achoo!
A thin, clean-cut Daoist dressed in snow-white robes sneezed, his frail body shivering as he woke from a nap.
“Who’s stirring up karmic ties with this Heavenly Master?”
The Daoist’s hair and eyebrows were entirely white, but his jet-black eyes resembled drops of ink, like the black dots in a yin-yang diagram, rotating slowly.
After calculating for a moment, his deep gaze turned toward the direction of the Righteous Dao Alliance. His expression relaxed.
“The calamity is not yet over. That brat should be leaving the Eastern Region of Great Qing soon. Let’s hope he doesn’t forget our agreement after reaching Nascent Soul.”
The Heavenly Master wouldn’t forget the debt Lan Chang'an owed him.
In addition to the divination before sending him off back then, he had also promised to cover up Lan Changan's heavenly secrets in the Fenyuan Kingdom for him, and shelter the people involved.
Of course, his kindness wasn’t without reason. The Heavenly Master had discovered that Lan Chang'an’s origins were shrouded in mystery, and he showed potential to achieve Nascent Soul.
...
Lan Chang'an had already left the Proud Moon Palace’s sphere of influence and was heading toward the borders of Feng Kingdom.
“Feng Kingdom isn’t a place to linger.”
Lan Chang'an was fully aware that obtaining the Taiyin Jade Essence would draw the ire of many powerful factions and prodigies.
Beyond offending the Proud Moon Palace, he had likely also provoked the Heavenly Net Sect and the Xie Family of Chen Kingdom.
Additionally, Situ Lan was the personal disciple of Chu Tianfeng, the leader of the Righteous Dao Alliance—a man not to be underestimated.
It was best to leave before the situation escalated.
Two days later.
Lan Chang'an transformed his appearance, disguising himself as an elderly man in a straw raincoat, and left the cultivation world of Feng Kingdom. He was now heading toward Jing Kingdom.