Supreme Alchemist-Chapter 2423 - 2413: Incident in the Bamboo Forest

The second day, early in the morning, Long Yan and his companions packed up their belongings, preparing to return to the Commercial City. Everyone in their group was a cultivator, so walking wasn’t necessary, which naturally sped up their progress. Of course, the real reason for their haste was the presence of Niu Shan, a voracious eater, which had left everyone’s finances depleted. They needed to return to the city to seek assistance from the Yanmen Commerce Association.

Although Long Yan and his companions descended the mountain early, they were still noticed by certain individuals.

Thunder Leopard had been unrestful in recent days. If Long Yan remained in Tianshan, he himself might not find any opportunities. But seeing Long Yan and his group preparing to set out, Thunder Leopard couldn’t contain his excitement.

He kicked awake the snoring Gu Yuan at his side, ordering him to go down the mountain and relay the news. Meanwhile, he covertly followed behind Long Yan and his group, searching for an ambush point. He wasn’t worried about losing track of them—after all, their group was far too conspicuous. With three stunning beauties traveling alongside, they were the center of everyone’s attention wherever they went.

Passersby cast envious glances at Long Yan, who was surrounded by the three women, wishing they could trade places with him. This kid’s luck truly seemed extraordinary, and the jealous stares made Long Yan feel uncomfortable all over.

"Hey, you should cover your faces," Long Yan suggested, intending to protect them from greedy eyes, but his well-meaning remark earned him furious looks from the three women.

"Are you embarrassed to be seen with the three of us? Which one of us looks ugly?"

Mingyue clearly misunderstood Long Yan’s intentions. Raising her brows, she grabbed one of Long Yan’s arms. Not to be outdone, Long Qingli clung to his other arm, her fair jade hand pinching his waist in a painful twist.

Long Yan was beside himself with frustration, regretting his loose tongue. As if that weren’t enough, Long Qingyan directly placed the dagger in her hand against Long Yan’s neck, the cold gleam of the blade making his hair stand on end. He truly believed this crazy woman might actually slit his throat.

Protecting his own charges had become a paradox, leaving Long Yan increasingly doubtful that Long Qingyan was truly King of Lanling’s favorite disciple.

As a result, the envious bystanders secretly cheered, transforming Long Yan’s identity from a privileged young master flaunting beauty to a suspected criminal being apprehended by stunning constables.

With his arms held fast by two women, Long Yan indeed looked like a captive.

Seeing Niu Shan still laughing heartily nearby, Long Yan’s anger rose further.

"Why are you laughing? Can’t you help me out here?"

Unfazed by Long Yan’s complaints, Niu Shan simply shook his head and chuckled, looking for all the world like a two-hundred-pound poet.

"Women and petty men..."

Originally trying to recite the rest of the adage, Niu Shan swallowed hard when he met the cold glares of the three women, wisely deciding against continuing. His defeated demeanor only infuriated Long Yan further.

"What a waste of all your height!"

In the end, Long Yan, like a hapless scapegoat, was dragged off by the three women.

Trailing the group, Thunder Leopard’s expression was anything but friendly; he sneered sinisterly.

"Go ahead and enjoy yourselves for now. Let’s see if you’re still laughing later."

The path through Tianshan City led into a stretch of connected mountain ranges. While most of it consisted of rugged trails, as cultivators, they chose to fly across. Even at their flight speed, however, it would take a full day and night to reach the Commercial City.

Within the Holy Domain, there was a rule: cultivators could fly freely during daytime but were advised against flying at night. Encounters with Demon Beasts were unpredictable; after all, the Holy Domain bordered the territory of the Demon Clan. Although protected by a seal, the seal had become dangerously weak.

Over time, many creatures had been corrupted by Demonic Qi, transforming into Demon Beasts—a phenomenon far from rare. These Demon Beasts were dramatically different from the kinds found in the Star Domain; they were formidable entities feared even in the Cultivation World. The most terrifying aspect was their ability to master various Domains depending on their species. If a single cultivator encountered such a creature, escape would often be the only option.

Even the simplest Demon Beasts at the Divine Emperor first stage were beings humans could only look up to. Anything tainted by the Demon Realm was bound to be difficult to deal with.

Understanding this, Long Yan and his group decided to rest on the ground for the night before proceeding. Ahead of them stretched a bamboo forest, and this was why Long Yan selected this spot. Though Demon Beasts were predominantly nocturnal, the dense forest could still harbor wild animals. Their priority was to choose the safest option.

Long Qingli had already prepared for camping, having stored tents in her spatial ring in advance. After a tiring day, the group picked a location and quickly retired to rest.

However, Long Yan remained alert, spreading his sensory abilities outward. Someone needed to keep watch during the night. Ever since acquiring his Ice Domain, Long Yan noticed an enhancement in his perception skills. Previously, he could only sense vague presences; now, within a radius of several dozen meters, even a tiny insect couldn’t escape his detection.

Improved abilities were certainly a boon, but Long Yan couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Ever since returning from the Heart Inquiry Road, Yun Huang’s presence had vanished. It seemed the return of his Heavenly Soul had triggered something Yun Huang didn’t want to reveal. Still, Long Yan chose not to investigate further, believing that once he found Lingxi, solutions to his predicament might emerge.

Long Yan trusted the old lady’s words, for she was merely a soul fragment born from the Heart Inquiry Road with no reason to deceive him.

Thunder Leopard stood at the edge of the bamboo forest, careful not to step into Long Yan’s sensory range. Having committed numerous misdeeds, Thunder Leopard was exceptionally cautious. Tonight, he merely came to confirm whether Long Yan was indeed here.

Feeling the familiar presence of Long Yan’s True Qi, Thunder Leopard’s face twisted into a wicked smile as he turned to leave. That old madman’s intervention would likely leave nobody alive—what a waste of those breathtaking beauties, though.

A dark figure descended into the bamboo forest, their disheveled white hair hinting at years without care. Wrinkled skin bore crisscrossing scars, and as the figure landed near the group’s resting place, an oppressive killing intent radiated from them.

In the darkness, faint glimmers of cold light gleamed where their hands were. As the figure took two steps forward, a voice called out from behind.

"Senior, what are you planning to do?"

The dark figure turned around to see Long Yan, his hands glowing with a kaleidoscope of colors—the power of the Martial God Array merging into his body. Observing closely, one could see Long Yan in a heightened state of vigilance, his glowing hands trembling slightly.

The person before him was overwhelmingly powerful!

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