"Alright!"

Li Chang’an didn’t hesitate in the slightest.

A flash of Spiritual Light appeared in his hand, revealing a Jade Treasure that was translucent and emanated a frosty aura.

It was the Ice Spirit Jade!

At the sight of this Jade Treasure, everyone’s eyes widened in astonishment.

Even the many Golden Core Masters of the Purple Mist Sect felt a surge of greed.

The members of the Yellow Sand Sect nearby were even more restless. Magical Power surged around them as they stared intently at the Jade Treasure in Li Chang’an’s hand, looking as if they were about to snatch it away.

However, because Li Chang’an’s performance in the previous battle had been so astonishing, they temporarily suppressed their greed.

Li Chang’an walked straight up to Zi Xi and presented the Ice Spirit Jade.

"Saintess, my aptitude is mediocre, and I have no hope of reaching Nascent Soul Formation. This Ice Spirit Jade is useless to me. You have taken great care of me, and I have no way to repay you. Please, accept it."

"Mm, a thoughtful gesture."

Zi Xi gave a slight nod and accepted the Ice Spirit Jade.

Their prior discussion had been conducted via secret Sound Transmission, so outsiders were unaware.

In everyone else’s eyes, Li Chang’an was simply presenting a treasure in exchange for Zi Xi’s continued protection.

Seeing this, the members of the Yellow Sand Sect reluctantly gave up on the idea of seizing the treasure.

After all, they couldn’t possibly snatch a treasure from Zi Xi’s hands.

Not even Gu Yunqi and Wei Xu could take it from her, let alone ordinary Golden Core Masters like them.

’That Li Chang’an is clever, knowing he couldn’t hold on to that treasure.’

’And the Ice Spirit Jade is indeed useless to him.’

And just like that, the pressure brought by the Ice Spirit Jade was shifted onto Zi Xi.

Her strength and status were more than enough to bear that pressure.

However, everyone still had their doubts.

Zi Yun asked impatiently, "Daoist Li, how were you able to obtain the treasure? Is there some trick to it? Can you get another one?"

Upon hearing this, everyone pricked up their ears.

This was a question everyone present wanted to know the answer to.

Li Chang’an smiled and replied, "There’s no special trick. After I went in, I tested each of the treasures one by one. I felt that this Ice Spirit Jade and I were fated to be together, so I took it."

"Fated?"

Upon hearing his explanation, everyone came to a sudden realization.

So it was a matter of destiny!

The reason they couldn’t obtain any treasures was because their own destiny was insufficient.

As a Loose Cultivator with a Low Grade Spirit Root, Li Chang’an must possess incredibly strong fortune to have encountered so many opportunities. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to reach the Core Formation stage.

Wu Shuo sighed with sincere admiration, "Daoist Li, I’m truly in awe of your fortune."

"Indeed. Daoist Li is truly worthy of his reputation as a Cultivator who reached Core Formation with a Low Grade Spirit Root. I am also full of admiration."

One after another, the crowd spoke up to praise Li Chang’an’s fortune, showing their intent to build a deeper connection with him.

According to rumor, if one spent a long time with a person of great fortune, their own fortune would also improve.

Just then, the palace suddenly trembled.

CRACK—

A shocking crack appeared on the palace’s surface.

Immediately after, hundreds, even thousands, of cracks appeared one after another.

"Oh no, the palace is about to collapse!"

With astonished expressions, everyone quickly retreated.

They backed away to a safe distance, watching the palace with a hint of anticipation in their eyes.

’Would the bizarre power within disappear after the palace collapsed?’

’Would they be able to get more treasures?’

Just as they were thinking this, they were suddenly shocked to see a rift appear inside the palace.

Globes of hazy, precious light flew into the rift one by one and vanished.

"What’s going on?"

Before they could figure it out, the entire palace collapsed with a deafening BOOM.

Everyone hurriedly flew forward and used their Magical Power to clear away the palace ruins, trying to find even a single treasure, but they came up empty-handed!

All the treasures had flown into that rift before the palace collapsed.

"Damn it! What was that rift?"

Some were furious, others were filled with regret.

They had been planning to change their approach and go inside to test their own destiny.

But now, the chance was gone forever.

"Sigh... forget it. Let’s go look for opportunities elsewhere."

After a fruitless search, everyone had no choice but to give up.

Li Chang’an, however, planned to return to Changqing Mountain.

Nearly all areas here had been explored, and few opportunities remained.

He pinched his fingers together in a quick calculation and had a premonition that even if he stayed, he wouldn’t find many more treasures. It would just be a waste of time.

Before long, he informed Zi Xi and the others of his intention to leave.

This time, he didn’t need Zi Xi to escort him. He only needed to use a Concealing Spell to avoid the detection of Gu Yunqi and Wei Xu.

Before he left, Zi Xi called him onto her Flying Ship and quietly gave him half of the Ice Spirit Jade.

This portion of the Ice Spirit Jade was enough for him to use for his future Nascent Soul Formation.

Of course, in Zi Xi’s view, Li Chang’an would never be able to reach the Nascent Soul Formation stage. He could only leave it for his descendants.

"This Ice Spirit Jade is of great benefit to me, and my previous promise still stands. Once I successfully achieve Nascent Soul Formation, I will do my best to resolve the conflict between you and Huang Sha True Monarch. If Huang Sha True Monarch does not agree, I will protect you for the rest of your life."

"Thank you, Saintess."

"No need to thank me. Consider this payment for the Ice Spirit Jade."

Afterward, Zi Xi and Li Chang’an signed a procurement Spirit Contract.

From then on, Li Chang’an would be required to provide a batch of Tier Three Elixir Pills and Magical Treasures to Zi Xi or the Purple Mist Sect at regular intervals.

He had, in effect, gained a stable sales channel.

After signing the Spirit Contract, Li Chang’an lingered no longer and departed quietly.

...

「A few days later.」

He returned to Changqing Mountain and took out the Realm-Sundering Talisman.

’Let’s see just how effective this thing is.’

To be safe, Li Chang’an did not test it with his main body.

He had his Blood-Dripping Incarnation hold the talisman, face south, and activate it.

In the next instant, an astonishing power enveloped his Blood-Dripping Incarnation, instantly tore through space, and vanished from Changqing Mountain.

In the blink of an eye, the Blood-Dripping Incarnation appeared deep within the Black Dragon Mountain Range to the south!

Moreover, the Blood-Dripping Incarnation was completely unharmed, having suffered no damage whatsoever.

"What a fantastic treasure!"

A look of delight spread across Li Chang’an’s face. The item’s effect was exactly as described in the Jade Scroll.

He looked at the talisman and saw that the Spirit Patterns on it had dimmed considerably.

’There are still four uses left. I can’t waste them.’

With this treasure, his confidence in dealing with Liu Feiyan grew even greater.

Even if Huang Sha True Monarch came to kill him, he could use this treasure to escape.

’After plotting for so many years, it’s finally time to make a move against that Liu Feiyan.’

Over the past few years, Li Chang’an had managed to gain control over all the Golden Core Masters of Mandarin Duck Valley, with the sole exception of Liu Feiyan.

He had also taken control of more than half of the Golden Core Masters from the Hundred Beasts Sect.

In the days that followed, Li Chang’an continuously fanned the flames of conflict between the two sects, causing their Golden Core Masters to fight and kill each other.

Within a short month, several Golden Core Masters had fallen, and the entire Western Domain was shaken by the bloody slaughter.

Finally, Liu Feiyan could no longer sit back and do nothing.

She took the initiative to propose peace talks with the Hundred Beasts Sect.

Just as they had years ago, they would discuss the terms of the truce in the neutral territory between the two sects’ domains.

Liu Feiyan’s expression was cold as she drafted the Spirit Contract for the peace talks.

"Once this is over, I’ll deal with Li Chang’an no matter the cost. That brat has lived for far too long!"