Lu Changsheng, leveraging a flying talisman, flew with all his might to a cliff cave several miles away.

He used a purification talisman to thoroughly inspect himself, ensuring no tricks were left behind.

Once certain everything was in order, he began to sort through the contents of two storage bags.

Inside, there were three hundred and sixty-two spirit stones.

Three low-grade magical instruments and one mid-grade magical instrument.

Various pills.

Various medicinal herbs.

Various talismans.

And a pile of miscellaneous items.

Lu Changsheng estimated that these items alone were worth six to seven hundred spirit stones.

Including the magical robes, boots, flying sword, shield, curved knife, and flying magical instrument he had just acquired, it casually amounted to over a thousand spirit stones.

It could be considered a huge fortune.

A trace of joy appeared on his face.

This haul was much better than his previous one at Niu Tou Mountain.

It just goes to show, even among bandits, there are disparities.

Being a bandit in a place like Jiu Long Fang Market was much more lucrative than in mundane places like Niu Tou Mountain.

Of course, the risks were also much greater.

Lu Changsheng took out a high-grade purification talisman and checked these items again to ensure there were no issues.

Sure enough, under the effect of the purification talisman, three items bore branded marks.

After destroying these few items along with some other unrecognizable suspicious ones, Lu Changsheng continued to flee, changing locations.

Thinking about running on his own, which might leave traces and scent, and also consume too much spiritual and physical strength,

Lu Changsheng immediately used a hundred-mile escape talisman.

Instantly, spiritual light surged around him, enveloping him as he burrowed underground and shot out swiftly at the thought.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lu Changsheng appeared tens of miles away.

"Phew!"

Lu Changsheng had just emerged from underground and took a breath of air.

He immediately smelled a foul odor.

"Grrr!"

Turning his head, he saw not far away, a black wild boar about two to three meters tall and five to six meters long, with fur like pine needles, staring at him, its nostrils puffing white smoke, and its sharp fangs fierce and daunting.

"A demonic beast!"

Upon seeing the giant boar, Lu Changsheng's heart skipped a beat, realizing this was no ordinary beast, but a demonic one.

"Grrr!"

Before he could take a closer look, the giant boar growled and charged at him, its tusks glowing with a faint black light.

Seeing this, Lu Changsheng quickly used a talisman of moderate lower quality.

The talisman burst into light, forming a barrier of water and light around him.

Then vines and earthy prisons appeared, trapping the wild boar, followed by a barrage of fire pellets, fireballs, wind blades, and sharp arrows bombarding the beast.

"Boom boom boom!"

"Aooo aooo!"

Under the bombardment of a dozen or so talismans, the boar hadn't even reached Lu Changsheng when it let out pitiful howls, its body charred and bleeding profusely, eventually falling to the ground with a final cry.

"This was probably just a first-stage early-phase demonic beast. I might have been able to kill it with my flying sword."

"This was indeed somewhat wasteful."

Lu Changsheng looked at the fallen giant boar and shook his head slightly.

Just one handful of these talismans cost dozens to nearly a hundred spirit stones.

And selling such a demonic beast might only bring in about a hundred spirit stones.

Moreover, with the boar's skin and flesh severely damaged from the talisman bombardment, it would fetch a much lower price.

"Never mind, no need to save on such small matters."

"After all, I only have one life, and I can't afford even a slight mistake!"

Lu Changsheng comforted himself and didn't feel too distressed.

He took out his flying sword, slightly dissected the giant boar, and packed the meat into a storage bag.

Like storing demonic beast meat in a storage bag, it also had a shelf life; he estimated that in seven to eight days the meat quality would degrade.

However, after returning to Qing Bamboo Mountain, besides eating it himself, he could also feed it to the Jiuyou Hound.

For the past two years, he mostly fed the Jiuyou Hound ordinary raw meat, only occasionally treating it to demonic beast meat.

There was no way around it; feeding it demonic beast meat every day was simply unaffordable.

If not for the fear of accidents, he would have liked to find a mountain range to let the Jiuyou Hound roam free.

Waiting for the Jiuyou Hound to struggle and fight its way to becoming a local demon king, and then to carry him flying.

After clearing the surrounding traces, Lu Changsheng began to look for a place to stay overnight.

Planning to rest for a day, and if the Iron Feather Eagle was restored to normal by tomorrow, he would move on.

During this process, to avoid encountering other demonic beasts, Lu Changsheng was very cautious.

Eventually, at a cave in the mountains, he encountered an old tiger demon.

Instantly, Lu Changsheng used a talisman to bomb and kill this early-phase first-stage tiger demon, and then walked into the cave.

Planning to spend the night here.

"Just spending the night, nothing else should happen, right?"

Lu Changsheng lay on a tiger skin rug, feeling somewhat fatigued.

Although using the talismans did not consume physical energy, deploying so many had drained his mental spirit significantly.

After taking a couple of sips of Baiyu Hundred Flowers Wine, Lu Changsheng took out a spirit stone and began to meditate.

As night fell gradually.

The roars and screams of wild beasts in the wilderness and forests throughout the night were incredibly eerie.

Meanwhile, dozens of miles away, atop a mountain.

"Screech!"

A huge black eagle with wings spanning several meters landed.

On the back of the black eagle stood a burly middle-aged man.

Dressed in a black robe, he seemed to merge with the night.

Jumping down from the back of the eagle, his eyes shimmered faintly under the night sky as he surveyed the surroundings.

After inspecting the area, Zhou Kuanglong muttered to himself, "Seems I've been outplayed. A mere fourth-level Qi cultivator has such strength and means?"

He then lightly stepped, leaping agilely back onto the eagle.

The black eagle then soared into the night sky.

They hadn't flown far when suddenly, a brilliant light surged in the distance.

The light was dazzling, like the rising sun in the night sky, almost too brilliant to look at directly.

"What is that!?"

Zhou Kuanglong stared toward the light from his mount.

Even with his peak Qi cultivation, he couldn't make out the details.

As the light dimmed slightly, a spectacle of colorful auroras clashed with a black and red tornado, thundering like roaring thunder.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two beams of light moved through the sky, colliding and stirring up a tremendous turmoil.

The aftershocks hit the mountains below, causing the terrain to churn and shatter.

Predators and fierce beasts in the woods were terrified and fled in all directions.

"This is... Core Formation real people battling!"

Zhou Kuanglong finally saw clearly; within the swirl of colors and the dark red tornado, there were glimpses of a woman in colorful attire and an old man in a red robe.

The two exchanged blows, illuminating the night sky, with clouds swirling around them.

"We need to escape, need to get out of here fast!"

Seeing the Core Formation real people moving in his direction, he immediately urged his Black Wing Eagle to speed away from the area.

However, at that moment, his mount, the black eagle, already terrified by the formidable presence in the distance, began to emit fearful screams.

"Damn it, I've raised you for so long, and you're completely unreliable at the crucial moment."

Zhou Kuanglong cursed as he saw his pet mount shivering.

He knew that although his Black Wing Eagle had high-grade lineage, it was only at the late first stage.

Facing the terrifying aura of Core Formation real people, it was natural for the creature to feel fear and panic.

Not just his pet, he himself was quite panicked.

After all, this was a battle between Core Formation real people.

Even a slight aftershock could cripple or kill him if it hit.

He immediately directed the Black Wing Eagle to land, planning to find a place to hide.

Being in the air was too conspicuous.

They might be spotted by the battling Core Formation real people and casually swatted away.

In the sky, the woman in colorful attire wielded a long sword, her movements stirring up the dust and creating waves in the air.

"Cackle, cackle, cackle, Yun Wanshang, you can't escape! You've already been hit by my Red Luan Karma Fire, just give in!"

The old man, enveloped in a black and red mist that gradually turned pink, was impervious to the sword's light, which passed right through him without effect.

"Hoo hoo hoo—"

Around the old man, the pink mist churned, whipping up strong winds and turbulent spiritual energy.

Sounds like the seductive whispers of men, women, old, and young emanated from the mist, attacking the minds of those who heard them, stirring up inner desires.

"This is a Core Formation real person, truly terrifying!"

Just after Zhou Kuanglong landed, an aftershock hit near him.

The terrifying force shook his blood and Qi, and where the aftershock hit the ground, a huge crater appeared.

Despite his peak Qi cultivation and physical training, just this minor aftershock made him feel the threat of danger.

He ran swiftly to another location, keeping an eye on the sky to avoid being hit by aftershocks.

Dying here like this would be both tragic and humiliating.

After running for a while, he saw in the night sky, the woman with the sword now had an ancient mirror floating above her head.

Caught in the midst of such a potent confrontation between two formidable cultivators, Zhou Kuanglong felt a mixture of awe and dread. The choice he faced was no small matter; aiding either could tilt his fate drastically.

Yun Wanshang, the colorful-clad woman and a renowned elder of the Qingyun Sect, appeared distinctly powerful yet vulnerable due to the affliction of the Red Luan Karma Fire. Her opponent, the notorious Red Luan Elder Huyan Xiao, despite his weakened state, still exuded a dangerous aura, his desperation making him unpredictable.

Zhou Kuanglong, although a peak Qi cultivator, was acutely aware of the risks involved in meddling with Core Formation cultivators. Yet, the potential rewards — whether the promise of profound gratitude and rewards from the Qingyun Sect or the direct tutelage and support to foundation building from the Red Luan Elder — were tempting.

With both Yun Wanshang and Huyan Xiao making their pleas, Zhou Kuanglong took a moment to assess the situation. His eyes lingered on Yun Wanshang, whose beauty was marred by pain and desperation. Then he glanced at Huyan Xiao, whose powerful presence was somewhat diminished by his injuries and the intense battle.

Zhou Kuanglong knew the gravity of the situation extended beyond the immediate threats and promises. Assisting Yun Wanshang could strengthen ties with the Qingyun Sect, a prominent and influential sect that could offer protection and opportunities beyond this single act of aid. Conversely, aiding Huyan Xiao might provide a more immediate boost to his cultivation journey but at the risk of aligning himself with a figure known for ruthlessness and a questionable moral compass.

The decision was fraught with danger either way. Interference in battles between higher-tier cultivators was perilous, and the wrong move could not only fail to yield the promised benefits but could also place him in direct danger from either party or their associates.

After weighing his options under the intense gaze of both cultivators, Zhou Kuanglong made his decision. He took a deep breath, steadied his resolve, and spoke.

"Senior Yun, I will aid you against this threat," Zhou Kuanglong declared, stepping forward to align himself with Yun Wanshang. His decision was based not only on the potential for future support from the Qingyun Sect but also on a moral judgement, preferring to aid a victim rather than empower a villain.

As he prepared to engage, Zhou Kuanglong was fully aware of the potential backlash and the necessity to tread carefully. He knew that his actions today would echo in his cultivation journey, possibly drawing the ire or favor of powerful entities.

"Prepare yourself, Huyan Xiao," Zhou said, taking a defensive stance, ready to support Yun Wanshang in repelling the elder and his malicious intentions.

"Young man, rest assured, I, the old man, am willing to make a vow against my heart's demons. As long as you are willing to assist me, even if I can't guarantee that you will form a true core, I will ensure you can condense a false core!" said Hongluan the Demon Elder while striking while the iron was hot.

"This statement is indeed honorable, Senior!" Upon hearing this, Zhou Kuanglong was thrilled, immediately responding.

He embarked on this path of calamity cultivation primarily to attempt foundation building and become a great foundation building cultivator.

As for forming a core, it was a stage he dared not even consider.

Upon hearing Hongluan the Demon Elder promise a false core, he was immensely tempted.

After all, the Qingyun Sect was completely out of his consideration.

If the Qingyun Sect were to discover the actions he took, even if they forgave him, he would gain no real benefits.

"Ha, ha, ha, how, how can you believe the words of such a demon?" Yun Wanshang gasped in disbelief, seeing Zhou Kuanglong leaning towards listening to Hongluan the Demon Elder, her beautiful, dazed eyes showing a hint of panic.

"In my life, Huyan Xiao never swears, but if you do not believe, cough, cough, cough, I can swear right now. I, Huyan Xiao, swear today..." Despite being unable to move on the ground, Hongluan the Demon Elder forcibly raised his palm, beginning to swear.

For cultivators, a vow against the heart's demons carries increasing weight the higher their cultivation level.

Seeing him swear, Zhou Kuanglong immediately knelt down to the old man: "Disciple Zhou Kuanglong greets his master!"

"Cough, cough, cough, very good, good disciple."

"Quickly bring your master’s wife over. She is currently entangled in my Red Luan karma fire, overwhelmed by lustful tides. Just a touch of my magic power will trigger it," said Hongluan the Demon Elder, grinning.

"Yes, Master!" Zhou Kuanglong bowed slightly and approached Yun Wanshang.

Seeing Zhou Kuanglong approaching, Yun Wanshang also showed a hint of determination in her eyes.

Her cultivation technique and physique were special, and if given time, she could suppress the Red Luan karma fire.

But unexpectedly, there was a cultivator nearby who chose to help Hongluan the Demon Elder.

She could only silently lament that such was fate.

She then slapped her storage bag, and instantly, a fist-sized purple bead emerged from it.

"Hoo hoo hoo!"

The bead burst into light, with celestial thunder and terrestrial fire spreading, instantly incinerating Zhou Kuanglong and Hongluan the Demon Elder.

At that moment, the last bit of clarity in Yun Wanshang's beautiful eyes vanished, her body rapidly heating up, her skin visibly turning a tender pink color like creamy white jade.

At the same time, as if instinctively sensing something, she transformed into a divine rainbow and shot forth.

Meanwhile, not far away, inside a cave.

"Damn, it's finally quiet. The power and noise of that fight, what level of battle was that? It was truly astonishing," Lu Changsheng sighed with relief as the outside became silent, his heart finally settling down.

Anyone cultivating peacefully at night would panic if suddenly the ground shook and the mountains trembled from a fight.

"Sigh, I'll head back early tomorrow morning once the Iron Feather Eagle has recovered. Better not travel back and forth too much, might as well bring Miaoyun, Zhenzhen and the others to Jiulongfang City permanently."

"Otherwise, constantly running around might lead to danger," Lu Changsheng thought, feeling it was better to stay indoors if possible.

The outside was simply too dangerous.

However, just then, a fragrant breeze arrived.

He saw, suddenly appearing before him, a stunningly beautiful woman in colorful attire.

"Uh!?" Lu Changsheng was shocked by the sudden appearance of the gorgeous woman.

He hadn't even realized how she had appeared.

This woman was none other than Yun Wanshang.

Her face was flushed red, her beautiful eyes seductive like autumn waters, brimming with desire, and she lunged directly at Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng was immediately pinned down by the woman and couldn't move; despite several struggles, he couldn't free himself.

He could clearly feel the scorching heat of the woman's body before him.

As if a fierce fire was burning her, he knew she must be either poisoned or had succumbed to demonic influences.

"Fairy, fairy, please restrain yourself," Lu Changsheng called out a few times,