This female cultivator had a cold expression and an overbearing aura. Her attitude toward Li Chang’an was especially hostile, immediately denouncing him as a Demon Cultivator the moment she spoke.
Li Chang’an’s clone stood in the courtyard. Looking unbothered, he gave a faint smile and said, "Why do you say that, Daoist Lin?"
Having investigated Holy Fire True Monarch’s disciples long ago, he naturally recognized this woman. Her name was Lin Ximu, one of Holy Fire True Monarch’s many disciples and the Saintess of the Black Tortoise Sect, possessing Late Stage Golden Core Cultivation.
Meanwhile, inside the Changqing Mountain Cave Mansion, Lin Zhuoran confirmed the visitor’s identity through her aura.
"It’s my junior sister!" Anxiety gripped his heart, and panic showed on his face. "Daoist Li, my junior sister doesn’t know about our master colluding with the Demonic faction. Please don’t hurt her."
"Doesn’t know? Hard to say." Li Chang’an shook his head slightly. He could sense that Lin Ximu hadn’t come alone today. Trailing behind her was an extremely concealed yet powerful aura.
It was Holy Fire True Monarch!
Li Chang’an said to the Old Turtle, "Elder Turtle, Holy Fire has returned to Changqing Mountain, likely in his true form. That leaves only the Six-winged Water Snake in the Black Tortoise Sect. Do you have a way to escape on your own?"
"No, Holy Fire left a Tier Four Low Grade Puppet with the Six-winged Water Snake," the Old Turtle replied.
The situation was almost identical to last time. During Li Chang’an’s birthday banquet, Holy Fire True Monarch had also left a puppet behind. On his own, the Old Turtle wasn’t confident in seizing control of the Sect Grand Array while simultaneously dealing with the Six-winged Water Snake and a Tier Four Puppet.
While the man and turtle conversed, Lin Ximu shouted her demands once more outside Changqing Mountain. "Li Chang’an, my senior brother must be in your hands. Release him immediately!"
"You must have misunderstood, Daoist Lin. I have no grudge against Daoist Lin Zhuoran. Why would I capture him?"
"You are a Demon Cultivator, and the Righteous and Demonic are irreconcilable!" Lin Ximu’s tone was icy as her eyes swept across the entirety of Changqing Mountain, seemingly searching for any trace of Lin Zhuoran.
But naturally, she couldn’t find anything. Li Chang’an had long since erased all auras. He wiped away not only the traces on Changqing Mountain but also those on the low hill where Lin Zhuoran had previously kept watch, as well as every hint of his presence along the path to the mountain.
Lin Ximu demanded, "Li Chang’an, where have you hidden my senior brother?"
"Daoist Lin, why are you so certain? Do you have any proof?"
"My senior brother hasn’t returned for a month. Although his Soul Lamp hasn’t extinguished, he hasn’t responded to any messages. The last time he spoke to someone, he revealed his intent to kill you."
"So what you’re saying is that you don’t actually have any proof?" Li Chang’an asked gently with a smile.
Lin Ximu replied coldly, "To deal with a Demon Cultivator like you, what proof do I need?"
"That’s absurd." With a wave of his hand, Li Chang’an dispelled the Changqing Mountain Array. He smiled and made an inviting gesture. "Daoist Lin, why not come up to Changqing Mountain for a cup of tea? We can discuss the matter of Daoist Lin Zhuoran in detail."
"Hmph, I have nothing to say to a Demon Cultivator like you!" Lin Ximu didn’t enter Changqing Mountain. Instead, she looked wary and retreated a fair distance. She had come today not only to search for traces of Lin Zhuoran but also to see if there was a chance to slay Li Chang’an.
Clearly, there was no such opportunity. Changqing Mountain seemed peaceful, but it felt like a dormant beast, making her sense the underlying danger.
A moment later, she transformed into a streak of light and left. Before departing, she left behind a sentence brimming with killing intent.
"Li Chang’an, people like you who collude with the Demonic faction deserve to be killed by all! One day, I will cut you down!"
After she left, it wasn’t long before Holy Fire True Monarch’s concealed aura also vanished.
Li Chang’an remained composed and waited for a long time, but that aura never reappeared. "It seems he has indeed left."
He had already prepared for Magical Combat. Changqing Mountain was his stronghold; even without making deliberate arrangements, he could ensure Holy Fire True Monarch suffered a heavy loss.
Unfortunately, Holy Fire True Monarch was too cautious. Perhaps influenced by the previous birthday banquet, this Nascent Soul True Monarch actually didn’t dare strike directly at Changqing Mountain, a mere Golden Core Influence.
"That works out well. The Beast Taming Wheel hasn’t been completely refined yet, so it isn’t time to make a move." Li Chang’an collected his thoughts and began his Alchemy.
Very soon, a completed Beast Heart Pill fell into his hand.
He didn’t go directly to the Yellow Stone Sect to trade but continued gathering materials instead. Over the following month or so, he purchased a large quantity of Beast Heart Pill ingredients through various channels and refined six more Beast Heart Pills.
During this period, he continuously observed the condition of the two Flood Dragon Kings. After swallowing the Beast Heart Pills, the two Flood Dragon Kings remained completely stable without showing any abnormalities.
"There shouldn’t be any problems." Li Chang’an took out two Beast Heart Pills and called Xiaohai and Dahuang over. He explained the effects of these Elixir Pills, gave them detailed instructions, and finally handed the pills to the two.
"Thank you, Master!" Xiaohai and Dahuang were overjoyed and immediately swallowed the pills.
Very soon, expressions of pain also appeared on their faces. Blood-red flames surfaced around their bodies, as if they were undergoing a metamorphosis within the roaring fire. The entire process was no different from that of the two Flood Dragon Kings.
Not long after, the two demons’ auras stabilized. They looked at each other, both filled with pleasant surprise.
"How is it?" Li Chang’an asked them.
Dahuang immediately replied, "Master, this Beast Heart Pill stimulated the residual power of the two Ten Thousand Demon Blood Stones inside me, helping my bloodline advance even further. I’m already nearing a Celestial Grade Bloodline!"
"Not bad. Cultivate well." Li Chang’an was quite satisfied with this.
Back when Dahuang advanced to Tier Three, the Demon Pill he condensed wasn’t of very high quality; it was only a Superior Demon Pill. Because of this, his Cultivation progress had always been very slow.
Now, this near-Celestial Grade Bloodline should be able to make up for some of his shortcomings.