Li Chang’an said calmly, "In his eyes, we aren’t juniors, but ants. Crushing a few ants requires no consideration for his reputation."

One’s mentality naturally changes with status and power.

Jiang Muyu bit her lip, indignation swelling in her heart.

"Sir, I will definitely reach the Nascent Soul realm and kill Huang Sha True Monarch for you!"

She, too, believed that Li Chang’an would never reach Nascent Soul. ’Golden Core is his limit. He’ll never be able to face Huang Sha True Monarch, not even on his deathbed.’

For that very reason, she secretly swore never to slack off again. She had to reach Nascent Soul and avenge Li Chang’an.

Li Chang’an just smiled, saying nothing more.

’It’s good for her to have a goal.’

Ever since her father, Jiang Xuanyuan, became a Nascent Soul True Monarch, Jiang Muyu’s sense of urgency about her cultivation had diminished.

The two continued their journey without pause as they spoke.

Eventually, they met Jiang Xuanyuan halfway, who had rushed over from the Eastern Domain.

Jiang Xuanyuan was puzzled as to why Huang Sha True Monarch had torn up the Spirit Contract.

"Li, is the information from your friend truly trustworthy?"

"Rest assured, Elder Jiang. My friend has never deceived me."

Li Chang’an answered with a sincere expression.

’The Divination has never been wrong. It’s helped me escape death several times.’

Jiang Xuanyuan asked again, "Have you done anything recently to anger Huang Sha True Monarch?"

"Elder Jiang, I focus solely on my cultivation and have never intentionally provoked anyone."

Li Chang’an’s tone was firm and sincere.

"However, his disciple and Dao companion both met with unfortunate ends recently. He might have placed the suspicion on me."

"Oh? Tell me everything..."

Jiang Xuanyuan had recently been occupied with the Wang Family, a Nascent Soul Family from the Northern Domain.

The Eastern and Northern Domains were also at war. The conflict between Great Qi and the Wang Family was escalating, so he hadn’t paid much attention to matters in the Western and Southern Domains.

On the way back to Changqing Mountain, Li Chang’an gave Jiang Xuanyuan a detailed account of what had occurred across the two domains.

By the time he finished, Changqing Mountain was already visible in the distance.

In a courtyard on Changqing Mountain, a cultivator in yellow robes stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

His expression was grim and his aura piercing, his body suffused with the tyrannical Magical Power of a True Monarch.

It was Huang Sha True Monarch!

Jiang Xuanyuan stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Daoist Huang Sha, why did you break our Spirit Contract?"

Huang Sha True Monarch answered, "To kill Li Chang’an, of course!"

"I want to know why."

As he spoke, Jiang Xuanyuan’s True Monarch’s Magical Power began to emanate from him.

The auras of the two Nascent Soul True Monarchs clashed over Changqing Mountain.

The very sky seemed to shift.

Winds howled and dark clouds gathered, heralding an impending storm.

Huang Sha True Monarch glanced at Li Chang’an, his gaze frigid and brimming with killing intent.

"Daoist Jiang, my disciple and my Dao companion have both recently died. This boy is a suspect."

"Daoist Huang Sha, Li Chang’an’s cultivation is only at the Early Stage of Golden Core. Do you truly believe he has the ability to kill your precious disciple and Dao companion?"

Jiang Xuanyuan did not mince his words.

No matter how one looked at it, there was no way a mere Loose Cultivator at the Early Stage of Golden Core like Li Chang’an could have killed those two.

Huang Sha True Monarch was, of course, aware of this.

The suspicion on Li Chang’an was minuscule, practically nonexistent.

’But even a sliver of suspicion is enough. He deserves to die!’

’A magnificent True Monarch doesn’t need much of a reason to kill a Golden Core Cultivator.’

"Daoist Jiang, you’re really going to protect him?"

"That’s right!"

Jiang Xuanyuan’s stance was firm, and he refused to back down an inch.

Seeing this, Huang Sha True Monarch wasted no more words.

"Very well. I’ve long heard of your exceptional abilities, Daoist Jiang. Today, I shall test them for myself!"

With that, he shot into the sky, his robes whipping in the wind as his aura climbed higher and higher.

Jiang Xuanyuan also soared into the sky.

The two did not fight near Changqing Mountain. Instead, they flew deep into the Black Dragon Mountain Range, avoiding the many Low Tier Cultivators and choosing to battle in Demon Beast territory.

On that day, the terrifying aura of two Nascent Soul True Monarchs engaged in Magical Combat shook the entire Black Dragon Mountain Range.

Some saw a vast, endless river of yellow sand descend from the heavens, threatening to submerge the world.

Others saw an azure spear materialize in the sky, its edge so sharp it seemed ready to pierce the vast cosmos!

When the battle ended, countless mountain ranges below had crumbled, leaving the land a scene of utter devastation.

The war between the Western and Southern Domains even ground to a halt because of this Nascent Soul battle.

In the end, Huang Sha True Monarch departed.

Jiang Xuanyuan returned to Changqing Mountain, his aura slightly more turbulent than before.

Li Chang’an asked anxiously, "Elder Jiang, are you alright?"

"I’m fine. It was merely a spar. That Huang Sha just wanted to test my depth."

Jiang Xuanyuan shook his head, and his aura quickly stabilized.

He had only recently advanced to Nascent Soul, so his foundation was indeed not as profound as Huang Sha True Monarch’s.

However, the gap between them was not large.

Both were Early Stage Nascent Soul Cultivators.

Jiang Xuanyuan said, "I have forged a new Spirit Contract with him. He won’t bother you again."

Li Chang’an was still uneasy.

"Elder Jiang, I’m just worried about what might happen."

"Don’t worry. I told him that if he dares to make a move against you again, I will kill all his disciples and descendants!"

Hearing this, Li Chang’an finally felt a measure of security.

’Of course, even if Huang Sha True Monarch acts again, disregarding the lives of his disciples and descendants, the Divination will warn me in time to escape.’

’Worst case, I’ll just abandon Changqing Mountain, live in anonymity, and return to settle this score once I become a True Monarch myself!’

...

News of the Nascent Soul battle quickly spread throughout the Zhao Country Cultivation Immortality Realm, shaking countless cultivators.

Nascent Soul True Monarchs rarely came to blows.

Upon reaching the Nascent Soul realm, one’s only pursuits were the paths to Divinity Transformation and Ascension. There was no need to fight to the death over trivial conflicts.

It had been a very long time since a true Nascent Soul battle had taken place in all of Zhao Country.

Many began to speculate on the combatants’ identities and the reason for their fight.

「Inside the Yellow Sand Sect.」

Huang Sha True Monarch’s face was grim. He summoned his first disciple, Gu Yunqi, and his third disciple, Wei Xu.

"You two, kill Li Chang’an as soon as possible. Do not disappoint me."

He sat on his high seat, his aura immense, as he bestowed two True Monarch’s Decrees upon them.

Both disciples accepted a Decree.

"Yes, we shall obey Master’s Decree!"

The two naturally guessed that one of the True Monarchs who had fought was their master.

The river of yellow sand was his master’s signature Treasure!

"Master is in a foul mood. We have to kill that Li Chang’an quickly."

After withdrawing, the two discussed their plan in earnest.

...

「Meanwhile, within the Purple Mist Sect.」

A young cultivator emerged from seclusion, his body suffused with the Magical Power of a Middle Stage Golden Core Cultivator.

If Li Chang’an had been there, he would have recognized him.

This man was none other than Liu Xuanfeng.

Years ago, he had targeted Li Chang’an multiple times in the Southern Domain. He later returned to the Purple Mist Sect to pursue Core Formation and hadn’t been heard from since.

"I’ve been in seclusion for so many years. I wonder how the outside world has changed."

Liu Xuanfeng smiled and went to visit an old acquaintance.

After a brief conversation, the smile on his face suddenly froze.

"What did you say? That Li Chang’an from Changqing Mountain... he actually reached Golden Core?"