Mu Yan’s mind reeled. He refused to believe it, but a terrifying answer gradually took shape in his thoughts.

He had heard stories.

A Tier Four Divination Grandmaster could influence the tides of fate, killing someone without a trace.

Now, the Li Chang’an before him looked the same as always, yet he was shrouded in a mysterious aura, his eyes as profound as a galaxy.

"Li Chang’an, you... you’ve become a Tier Four Divination Grandmaster?"

"You are clever, Daoist Mu."

Li Chang’an smiled faintly.

The miserable state Mu Yan was in was the direct result of Li Chang’an manipulating fate.

This ability had some effect even on a Nascent Soul True Monarch, let alone a Golden Core Master like Mu Yan.

"To think you hid your power so well..."

Mu Yan’s face paled, the disbelief in his heart slowly twisting into terror.

Even his voice began to tremble slightly.

Facing a Tier Four Divination Grandmaster was different from facing a Nascent Soul True Monarch, but to him, the outcome was the same.

’There’s no escaping death!’

At this thought, he couldn’t help but be filled with regret.

If he had known earlier that Li Chang’an was a Grandmaster, he would have listened to Xiong Yan’s advice and taken the initiative to apologize.

Judging by Li Chang’an’s past behavior, if he had apologized voluntarily, he probably would have been able to save his own life.

But now, his chance was gone!

"Li Chang’an, no... Daoist Li, Grandmaster Li, please spare my life!"

Mu Yan was on the verge of despair, but he still clung to a sliver of hope, his voice trembling as he pleaded.

"I have a Tier Three High Grade Array Skill. I am willing to become your servant and guard the Tier Three Array on Changqing Mountain for you."

"That won’t be necessary. Your Array Dao Skill, which has barely reached the Tier Three Top Grade, is of no use to me."

Hearing this, Mu Yan’s entire body trembled. He knew his earlier suspicion had been correct.

’Li Chang’an was already a Tier Three Top Grade Array Master!’

’What kind of heaven-defying talent would allow someone to possess a Tier Four Divination Skill and simultaneously have the energy to cultivate a Tier Three Array Dao Skill?’

Mu Yan’s face was ashen. ’Why did I have to provoke a Celestial Pride like him?’

Before he could speak again,

A streak of green light flew into his body, transforming into a Wood Seed just below his heart.

In the blink of an eye,

Mu Yan had become a Wood Seed Puppet.

’Mu Yan’s strength isn’t bad. With his Middle Stage Golden Core Cultivation and Tier Three High Grade Array Skill, he should be able to find some good opportunities in the Ancient Ruins Secret Realm by coordinating with Ye Mengxian, He Qianshan, and the other Puppets.’

With a thought, Li Chang’an controlled Mu Yan, making him return to the Red Flame Sect to heal.

「Before long.」

He saw Xiong Yan, the Elder Sect Leader of the Red Flame Sect.

"Daoist Xiong, I’ve thought things through. What happened back then was indeed my fault."

He had Mu Yan say that he wanted to go with Xiong Yan to the birthday banquet to apologize to Li Chang’an.

Hearing this, a smile spread across Xiong Yan’s face.

"It’s good that you’ve come to your senses, Daoist Mu! Come with me to the Treasure Vault and we’ll pick out some Treasures. The apology gift cannot be of too low a Tier."

A moment later, the two of them went to the Red Flame Sect’s Treasure Vault together.

Among the Three Great Sects,

The Red Flame Sect was the weakest.

The current Red Flame Sect had fewer Golden Core Masters than even the Dan Valley Xiao Family.

Naturally, its Sect Treasure Vault didn’t contain many valuables, and it couldn’t compare to Mandarin Duck Valley, which Li Chang’an had previously plundered.

However, there were a few Heaven and Earth Anomalous Fires inside that made Li Chang’an take a second look.

’Qingqing could absorb these Heaven and Earth Anomalous Fires to strengthen her foundation for Core Formation.’

Li Chang’an performed a quick divination and sensed that the day of Zheng Qingqing’s Core Formation was not far off.

Zheng Qingqing had reached Foundation Establishment even earlier than he had.

The reason she had yet to achieve Core Formation was that her Spiritual Root’s aptitude was holding her back.

With her talent from a Middle Grade Spirit Root, it was already quite an accomplishment for her to have come this far.

’If she successfully reaches Core Formation, she can walk the path of cultivation with me for several hundred more years. It’s a good thing she didn’t choose to guard the Marketplace for her family back then.’

If Zheng Qingqing had chosen to guard the Marketplace, her Cultivation would likely only be at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment by now.

Li Chang’an waved a hand, collecting the few Anomalous Fires.

He had Mu Yan say to Xiong Yan, "I’ve heard that Daoist Li has a female friend who needs Heaven and Earth Anomalous Fires. Let’s use these to apologize to him."

"Excellent!"

Xiong Yan had no objections and nodded in agreement.

...

「Before long.」

Li Chang’an’s 150th birthday banquet began.

Due to the war between the two realms, many Golden Core Masters were still at the front lines engaged in Magical Combat with the Golden Cores from the Western Domain. They couldn’t attend in person and could only have their Disciples deliver gifts.

This birthday banquet was not as boisterous as his Core Formation Ceremony.

Li Chang’an was quite happy about this.

After all, even though these people didn’t show up, their gifts certainly did.

Halfway through the banquet,

Li Chang’an had Mu Yan put on a public show of apology.

He accepted the apology gift and publicly declared, "I am focused solely on my cultivation and have no desire for conflict. From this day forward, the grudge between Daoist Mu and myself is wiped clean!"

This declaration was in line with the persona he had always projected.

Xiong Yan and the others from the Red Flame Sect breathed a sigh of relief. They had a decent amount of faith in Li Chang’an’s character.

Meanwhile, the few Golden Core Masters from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect had complicated expressions.

"Sigh... if Daoist Nie and Daoist Du had apologized to Daoist Li sooner, perhaps things would have ended differently."

"Especially Daoist Du. Like Mu Yan, he was only invited to deal with the Array on Changqing Mountain. There was no deep-seated hatred between him and Daoist Li..."

They all felt a sense of regret.

Just as they were lost in thought,

A streak of purple light suddenly flashed across the sky.

Immediately after, a Purple Flying Ship appeared before everyone’s eyes.

"It’s a Flying Ship from the Purple Mist Sect!"

"Back when Daoist Li achieved his Core Formation, the Purple Mist Sect sent their congratulations."

Everyone was a little surprised, and also a bit envious.

It was clear that Li Chang’an had an excellent relationship with the Purple Mist Sect.

Aboard the Flying Ship were Zi Xi, Zi Yun, and other cultivators from the Purple Mist Sect.

Zi Yun, a charming smile on her face, couldn’t wait. She transformed into a streak of light and landed on Changqing Mountain, beaming as she presented a gift.

"Daoist Li, I spent a long time picking out this gift. You’ll definitely like it. Go on, take it!"

"Thank you, Daoist Zi."

Li Chang’an reached out to take the gift and extended his Divine Sense into it. He immediately understood.

No wonder Zi Yun said he would definitely like it.

Inside was actually a Tier Three Life-Extending Treasure that could extend one’s life by thirty years!

Life-Extending Treasures that had reached Tier Three were extremely rare; none could be found in the treasure vaults of the various sects and families.

After all, it was a matter concerning one’s lifespan.

Most Golden Core Masters were reluctant to simply toss a Life-Extending Treasure into their Sect Treasure Vault.