Chapter 748: Chapter 455: Looking Back, Another Year! [3rd Update, Request for Monthly Pass!]

"Did you hear everything?" Yan Chuan returned to his residence.

Ding Xiang came out of the ’North Mansion’ and flashed a sweet smile at Yan Chuan, "There’s still an empty stone room in the ’North Mansion’. Why not let Sister Bodhisattva move in?"

Ding Xiang was also kind-hearted.

She wasn’t interested in romance, whether it be with men or women, but Situ Fei treated her well. Ding Xiang couldn’t bear to see her friend’s worried, furrowed brow. "Sister Bodhisattva’s demeanor is truly pitiful," she said.

She added, "I promise Sister Bodhisattva will be as obedient as I am."

She wanted Yan Chuan to bring Situ Fei along so that Situ Fei could be with her more often, relieving her friend’s longing. And besides, being with Yan Chuan had so many advantages and thrills that she didn’t want the person who treated her the best, Situ Fei, to be left behind.

Ding Xiang had no idea that in Yan Chuan’s eyes, she was just a ’human-shaped external device’. She only assumed that since Yan Chuan could take her along, he wouldn’t mind having one more, especially since Sister Bodhisattva was much more pleasing to the eye than she was. Taking her along would be delightful.

Moreover—

"Senior Brother previously developed an array specifically for the ’King City Competition’ called the ’True Martial Seven Style Formation’. I, Sister Situ, and Senior Sister Xiao Lu, who is about to prove her Dao, can form the array together to be of some help." Ding Xiang said, then shook her head, "It’s not suitable to form the ’True Martial Seven Style Formation’ with just three people. However, Senior Brother’s brilliance is unparalleled, and creating a new three-person array tailored for us should not be difficult. Then we can support each other more."

Ding Xiang really had some good ideas.

This idea wasn’t bad at all.

A three-person array!

The first thing Yan Chuan thought of was the ’Vajra Demon Suppression Circle’ of San Du, where the three share a connected mind. One person initiates a thought, and the other two immediately respond, capable of both attack and defense, with great power.

Yan Chuan didn’t need to copy exactly. By slightly altering the ’Derivation Skill’, it could be better suited to Ding Xiang, Situ Fei, and Lu Yuru. Once Lu Yuru proves her Dao, the three innate cultivators could handle thirty-two Divine Generals, which is no small feat.

"Feasible." Yan Chuan said, "If so, let Junior Sister Ding explain the situation to Fairy Situ, assuring her that I have no disrespect or frivolous intentions, but that the crisis in Golden Talisman City requires it."

"Rest assured, Senior Brother, I understand." Ding Xiang chuckled, then ran off to find Situ Fei. Seeing Situ Fei upset recently had made her feel guilty and she went to offer comfort.

After Ding Xiang left.

Lu Yuru turned to Yan Chuan and said, "I will prove my Dao as soon as possible to not lag behind everyone else." Ding Xiang had mentioned earlier that once she proved her Dao, they would have a trio with Situ Fei to assist Yan Chuan, but she was the only one who hadn’t. Lu Yuru felt the pressure.

"Lu Fairy can go at her own pace." Yan Chuan waved his hand. What he valued in Lu Yuru and Ding Xiang was never just their combat strength.

...

There are quite a few innate cultivators in Tan Valley Royal City—

Yan Chuan, Wang Zhengyi, Jiang Bianliu, Chen Ze, Huang Wuniang, Situ Fei, Ying Jifeng, Ding Xiang, making eight. Among them, Ying Jifeng has been frequently wandering in dangerous areas around the royal city since proving his Dao, busy looking for great medicine to prolong Ying He’s life, rarely seen.

Ding Xiang followed Yan Chuan outside.

Now, with Situ Fei being taken away by Yan Chuan, only Wang Zhengyi, Chen Ze, Jiang Bianliu, and Huang Wuniang remained in Tan Valley Royal City, almost reverting back to where it was in early July last year.

However, after over half a year, whether it’s Chen Ze, Jiang Bianliu, or Huang Wuniang, their strength is incomparable to before. It’s not an exaggeration to say one could defeat ten of their former selves, especially Chen Ze, whose combat power has skyrocketed.

Additionally, there is now an innate Beast King, the ’Double-headed Duck’, stationed with Chen Ze in the royal city, and a ’Soul Channel’ allows Yan Chuan, Ding Xiang, and Situ Fei to return quickly.

So, on the surface, the number of innate cultivators in the royal city hasn’t changed much, but the city remains as steady as Mount Tai, allowing Yan Chuan to venture out confidently and to continue his pursuits in Golden Talisman City.

With the ’Soul Channel’, Yan Chuan can oversee both ends.

This particular day, near dusk.

After meeting the innate cultivators of Tan Valley Royal City, Yan Chuan noticed it seemed quieter than usual. After making a round, he finally realized—

Peng Fannian, Ban Xianfu, Jing Bao.

Liu Xin (Chasing God Blade), Ma Hongniang (White Bone Banner), Luo Qi (Ancient Sound of the Primordial World), Guo Xi (Golden Stick), Zhuge Zhen (Centipede Bee Bag), Cai Ru’an (Five-Colored Stone), Chi Gao (Water and Fire Blade), ...

All familiar faces were missing.

"Where did they all go?" Yan Chuan wondered.

Did they form a team to go out?

Did they all leave the nest?

It didn’t seem possible.

At least Jing Bao rarely ventured out of the royal city, often focusing on bitter cultivation, and Ma Hongniang was usually seen training diligently in ’Heavenly Ladder City’ on the ’Vajra Unbreakable Body Divine Skill’.

But now, they were all gone.

Yan Chuan went to the command tent where the thirty thousand Tan Valley troops were stationed and found Ni Mengtong at work. When he asked, Ni Mengtong immediately laughed: "The City Lord has been too busy and must have forgotten. The annual Cang Mountain Sword Discussion is about to begin, and selection events for the states have started. Except for Luo Qi, who is still cultivating in the ’Hong Sea’, everyone else has returned to Great Yan."

Cang Mountain Sword Discussion?

Yan Chuan suddenly realized.

That’s right!

He had been so busy with cultivation and business that he almost forgot another year of the Cang Mountain Sword Discussion was nearing.

The state selection competitions occur from late February to early March.

On May 8th, the ’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion’ officially begins.

And today was already March 12th. Yan Chuan recalled that last year’s ’Jian Province Competition’ began on February 24th, with the championship match against Wang Zhengyi on March 18th.

Unbeknownst to him.

A year had already passed.

"Time really flies," Yan Chuan sighed.

He had shone brilliantly in the first Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, advancing rapidly, thinking he might participate for three consecutive years until he turned thirty.

Who would have thought he’d prove his Dao in less than a year?

Not just him.

As nearly a year went by, those once dazzling Heavenly Prides—

Chen Ze, Wang Zhengyi, Situ Fei, Ding Xiang, and Ying Jifeng had all proved their Dao.

They leapt beyond Cang Mountain into a brand new world.

However, Peng Fannian, Ban Xianfu, Jing Bao, and other first-session ’Absolutes’, along with Ma Hongniang and Guo Xi as first-session Heavenly Prides, still lingered and struggled at the peak of the Postnatal Realm.

Without entering the Innate Realm, they could still participate in the Cang Mountain Sword Discussion.

At Cang Mountain, not only could they battle enthusiastically with various new and old Heavenly Prides, but the winners would also receive rich rewards, often tens of thousands of taels of Essence Stone, which even those in the Innate Realm might not obtain in a few months, let alone a year.

Even purely from a profit perspective, the Cang Mountain Sword Discussion couldn’t be missed.

It’s even possible to linger in the Peak State for several more years, participating in as many sessions of Cang Mountain Sword Discussion as possible before turning thirty, and with enough strength, one could earn substantial Essence Stone rewards from the competitions.

It’s unknown whether the rewards for the second session of Cang Mountain Sword Discussion will be higher or lower than the first.

Originally, there was no way to know.

But coincidentally, just as Yan Chuan was about to return to Golden Talisman City after meeting Ni Mengtong, an unexpected guest arrived—

...

"Director Tan?" Yan Chuan was surprised to see Tan Yunqing. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The visitor was indeed Tan Yunqing, director of the Xuanwu Department, one of the Six Ministries of Great Yan, known as ’Yanjing Three Fierce’, ’Mountain Opening Sword’, and father to ’Magic Child’ Tan Dou.

Seeing Tan Yunqing, Yan Chuan immediately thought of his son, Tan Dou.

In the blink of an eye.

Nearly a year had passed.

This year, led by Yan Chuan, many Heavenly Prides from the first Cang Mountain Sword Discussion continued to strive in Tan Valley Royal City, progressing together, pushing each other forward.

Yet, the two former ’First Generations’—

Wei Lingshan couldn’t remain in Tan Valley Royal City and returned to the Black Hawk Sect, seemingly prepared to inherit the family business.

Tan Dou, however, had been unheard of, almost forgotten.

Until now, seeing Tan Yunqing, Yan Chuan remembered how long it had been since anyone heard from Tan Dou. Recalling the ’Magic Child’, Yan Chuan exchanged pleasantries with Tan Yunqing, "It’s been a long time since we saw Brother Tan Dou, everyone misses him. This year, at the Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, Brother Tan Dou, if he participates, will surely shine alone."

Exaggeration upon meeting.

For many parents, praising their children is more pleasing than praising themselves.

But this time, it was different—

"Tan Dou is ill, on his behalf, I thank City Lord Yan for your concern." Tan Yunqing sighed.

"Ill?" Yan Chuan was taken aback.

Tan Dou, such an energetic child, was the most active during the first Cang Mountain Sword Discussion. How could he be ill?

Seeing Tan Yunqing’s weary face, clearly showing signs of being drained, it seemed Tan Dou was gravely ill.

"I’ve never had much interaction with Tan Yunqing. Could his sudden visit be because of Tan Dou?" Yan Chuan speculated internally.

He guessed correctly.

Tan Yunqing got straight to the point: "Tan Dou experienced a setback in cultivation early on. His body and mind have been stuck at the age of seven or eight. The ’Eternal Green Xuanji Force’ is fraught with issues. I’ve been suppressing it for years, but shortly after the Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, it became uncontrollable. The cultivation technique backfired, and Tan Dou fell into a coma, his condition is dire."

Ah,

Yan Chuan hadn’t expected Tan Dou’s situation to be this serious, explaining why nothing had been heard from him since the Cang Mountain Sword Discussion ended.

Considering Tan Dou’s temperament, he was unlikely to stay quiet.

Ill.

Comatose.

That explained it.

But—

"What can I do for Brother Tan Dou?" Yan Chuan inquired.

After all, Tan Dou and Yan Chuan both came from the first Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, sharing a connection, albeit not close. Still, if it was within his power, Yan Chuan was willing to help.

Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda.

Amitabha Buddha.

"Thank you, City Lord Yan!" Tan Yunqing expressed his gratitude and continued, "The Fifth Princess was in a similar condition until City Lord Yan and Senior Jiang intervened to stabilize her life. Yan Chuan also tailored Absolutes for Ying Jifeng, Ding Xiang, and others, helping them achieve quick Dao Proving. Yunqing is embarrassed but wishes to ask City Lord Yan to tailor an Absolute for Tan Dou. If Tan Dou can prove his Dao, perhaps the illness might be cured."

This was a solution borne of desperation.

Over the years, Tan Yunqing had ventured throughout the Mountain and Sea Realm, even worked for the Emperor Yan seeking aid, but had never resolved Tan Dou’s issue.

Now.

Tan Dou was at the end of his rope.

Tan Yunqing was out of options.

Having heard that Yan Chuan had tailored Absolutes for several people, making them innate, Tan Yunqing saw a glimmer of hope. He wanted to seize it, to try once more for Tan Dou.

However—

"Developing an Absolute is feasible, but Brother Tan Dou is comatose. Even if he obtains an Absolute, how will he cultivate?" Yan Chuan hesitated.

This was one issue.

Another—

...