Upon hearing Zou Ping’s words, the crowd immediately erupted in an uproar.

“Good, let’s go make trouble for him!” “See how far he thinks he can run!” A feeling of being thoroughly played washed over everyone present; their anger surged, and the collective spirit was high.

Following Zou Ping, they swiftly left Mount Gezao, heading menacingly toward Tiannan City.

But once they arrived over Tiannan City, Zhang Ling suddenly shouted, “Hold!” Yan Fang had already fled, and Wan Zhenyuan was nowhere to be seen.

Zhang Ling had clearly assumed leadership among this group of cultivators.

At her command, everyone immediately halted mid-air.

They asked in confusion, “True Master Zhang, what is it?” Zhang Ling turned sharply to Zou Ping, her expression frigid.

“Does Li Yundong live in a bustling urban area like this?” Zou Ping nodded subconsciously.

“Yes, he lives in a very high-end residential community, and he also owns a shop on Tiannan City’s busiest pedestrian street.” Zhang Ling sneered, “Hmph.

There are so many of us cultivators here.

If we charge in, what then? Engage in a massive brawl? Slaughter everyone in sight?” Her question struck a chord with the cultivators from the other sects, sending a sharp chill through them; they all fell silent.

They knew there was an absolute, inviolable iron law in the cultivation world: no sorcery or magical artifacts were to be used to kill ordinary mortals.

Compared to this, there was an unwritten rule that cultivators must not use any magic visible to the mundane world in their presence.

Thanks to the Reform and Opening Up policies over the years, the cultivation world had gradually regained its vitality.

However, nearly every senior cultivator carried a lingering terror from the horrific decade past: all the Daoist temples on Longhu Mountain were smashed by the Red Guards; even the ancestral grave of Wang Chongyang, the founder of the Quanzhen Sect, was dug up.

His remains were tossed onto the desolate mountainside.

If not for the kindness of Zhao Maozhong, a villager from Zu'an Village, who painstakingly gathered Wang Chongyang’s bones, the mausoleum at Chongyang Palace might still contain an empty coffin to this day! That upheaval delivered a near-fatal blow to the cultivation world, bringing it close to irrecoverable ruin.

Having managed to recover, the older generation of cultivators drew a crucial lesson: under the current governmental control, cultivators absolutely had to remain low-key, lower-key, and even lower-key.

They must never employ magic in front of mortals, lest they attract the state’s attention again and bring another terrible catastrophe upon the cultivation community.

Consequently, the elders repeatedly stressed this unwritten rule to their disciples and grand-disciples.

These cultivators chasing now were mostly inner-chamber disciples, having cultivated mostly in the mountains.

Yet, upon arriving in Tiannan City, they discovered Li Yundong was living right alongside ordinary mortals, with regular people as next-door neighbors.

If they were to start fighting, given Li Yundong’s strength and the influence of the Fox Zen Sect, reconciliation would be impossible; it would inevitably become an event equivalent to a meteor strike.

Previously, on Mount Tianlong, the area was remote and sparsely populated, and the outer disciples of various sects had blockaded the mountain.

Thus, the intense fighting on the summit hadn't attracted any mortal notice.

But to start a major conflict in a crowded city—that would invite monumental trouble, consequences these individuals could never bear.

“Then what should we do?” one cultivator asked.

“Are we really supposed to just slink away in defeat?” Zhang Ling scoffed, “Matters between cultivators are settled within the cultivation world! Isn’t he opening a shop? Are we worried we won’t find him? The Lotus Picking Assembly is soon; we’ll send him an invitation and see if he dares to attend! If he refuses, every sect under heaven will despise him, and we won’t need to lift a finger; other sects will eagerly queue up to deal with him.

If he goes, hmph, then we will have the righteous grounds to deal with him!” The cultivators from all sects rejoiced immediately.

“True Master Zhang’s plan is excellent! Let’s do that!” However, some still harbored doubts.

“But the Lotus Picking Assembly is still some time away.

Are we really supposed to let Li Yundong take the Human Essence Golden Elixir just like that?” Zhang Ling glanced sideways at him.

“Do you think he’s going to keep the Human Essence Golden Elixir waiting around for you to snatch it? If you want to go now, you go by yourself.

Don't drag our Zheng Yi Sect into any trouble you cause!” The cultivator who had spoken immediately shrank his neck, a look of resentment crossing his face.

Zheng Yuan had been trailing them some distance behind, flying alongside his disciple Ding Nan.

He neither wanted to stay with that group nor leave entirely.

Hearing the exchange, he turned to Ding Nan and said, “Let’s go.

Tonight’s business is a bust.

Hmph, so many people, and they let a mere youngster walk away with the prize.

What a disgrace!” With that, he took Ding Nan and flew back to Mount Wuhua without saying goodbye to the others.

As soon as Zheng Yuan and Ding Nan landed, he sneered, “The Six Great Sects.

Hmph.

A pack of useless younglings! I truly wonder what their sect masters are thinking!” He then turned to Ding Nan and suddenly said, “By the way, didn’t you say earlier that your original physical body was classmates with Li Yundong? Why don’t you go…” Ding Nan became instantly agitated, shouting loudly, “I’m not going! If you want to go, you go yourself!” Ding Nan dreaded the possibility of losing face in front of Li Yundong, fearing his disdain.

Before her cultivation was complete, she was absolutely unwilling to confront him, let alone beg him subserviently! Seeing Ding Nan’s vehement reaction, Zheng Yuan assumed his disciple was still enraged by the destruction of her former body (referring to Lü Fengping).

He could only say helplessly, “I haven’t even said what it is; why are you so agitated?” Ding Nan retorted loudly, “Whatever it is, I don’t want to talk to him!” Zheng Yuan had to soothe her.

“Alright! Ah, well, I suppose I’ll have to think of another way.

However, Li Yundong’s cultivation was already high, and now with the Human Essence Golden Elixir, it will probably be even harder to deal with him in the future!” Ding Nan took several deep breaths before gradually calming down.

She said, “There’s no need to worry about that.

Based on what I know, Li Yundong is highly unlikely to consume this Human Essence Golden Elixir himself; he’ll probably give it to Su Chan or Zhou Qin.” Zheng Yuan exclaimed in surprise, “Why? He won’t take the Human Essence Golden Elixir himself, but give it to someone else? Is he an idiot?” But immediately, Zheng Yuan seemed to realize something and exclaimed, “I understand now! Could it be that he intends to cultivate these two women as cauldrons, keeping them nourished before he practices Yin-Yang dual cultivation on them? Yes, that must be it! Hmph, what good fortune this fellow has with women!” Ding Nan sneered inwardly: Li Yundong is one of the rare true gentlemen in this world; does he think everyone else is just like you? You are a vile scoundrel, so you project that onto everyone under heaven! Just as the cultivators of various sects were chasing after Li Yundong toward Tiannan City, back at Mount Gezao within the Gezao Sect, Wan Zhenyuan stood alone, hands clasped behind his back, gazing up at the night sky where the dark clouds had dispersed to reveal brilliant starlight.

He stood silent as a statue in the courtyard where the battle had just taken place.

Not long after, a person walked slowly up behind him.

Tall and powerfully built, he gripped the Qiankun Jade Staff in one hand and the Immortal Binding Rope in the other.

His voice was unnervingly old and hoarse.

“The Human Essence Golden Elixir was stolen? Heh, this Master Wuhua’s Clairvoyance does have some skill.” Wan Zhenyuan did not turn around, saying coldly, “You had better ensure your elaborate scheme doesn’t go awry, or else, hmph…” The man chuckled.

“For decades, my calculations have never erred.

What in this world can escape my planning?” A look of ridicule crossed Wan Zhenyuan’s face.

“Oh? If you truly wanted Li Yundong to steal the Human Essence Golden Elixir, why bind him so tightly with the Immortal Binding Rope? Aren't you afraid he might struggle free, leading to an unforeseen disaster?” The man snorted, “Ever since Chan’er consumed the Human Essence Golden Elixir, I’ve been observing him for more than a day or two.

The person I choose is never one to be trifled with.

If he fails to escape, it simply means he is not the one I sought.

I can just choose someone else!” Wan Zhenyuan suddenly whirled around, roaring in anger, “Nonsense! Do you think the Human Essence Golden Elixir I refined is some kind of Liuwei Dihuang Pill that can be wasted on a whim?” The other man retorted just as sharply, “Stop talking nonsense.

I was the one who helped you gather the spiritual herbs required for your Human Essence Golden Elixir.

If I hadn't brought you those two giant golden vipers, the catalyst for the Earth Essence Spirit Elixir, you would never have refined it in your lifetime!” A flash of rage crossed Wan Zhenyuan’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it forcefully.

He said in a deep voice, “The Earth Essence Spirit Elixir still lacks the most crucial catalyst.

Once I have that ingredient, I can refine the Earth Essence Spirit Elixir!” The man considered this.

“Once the Earth Essence Spirit Elixir is refined, our plan will be more than halfway successful.

Then, the day will not be far off when your Outer Elixir faction, the Gezao Sect, rises again!” An intense, blazing light appeared in Wan Zhenyuan’s eyes.

Lost in thought for a moment, he suddenly asked, “What about your woman?” The man replied casually, “Sleeping.” Wan Zhenyuan snorted dismissively.

“Those who achieve great things overlook trivialities.

I suggest you dispose of her sooner rather than later.

Are you not afraid she will leak our matters if you keep an ordinary person around all the time?” The man snorted back.

“I can betray everyone in the world, but I absolutely cannot betray her! Say that one more time, and I’ll kill you first!” Wan Zhenyuan’s expression shifted, but he quickly returned to normal, bursting into loud laughter.

“I never would have thought, I never would have thought! Such an old fox is actually capable of true affection? Ridiculous, truly ridiculous!” The man said coldly, “My affairs are none of your concern.

Just make sure you handle yours well! The Lotus Picking Assembly will convene soon; you had better ensure everything is foolproof, or you can forget about the Gezao Sect ever rising again in this lifetime!” Wan Zhenyuan also sneered back, “Don’t always use that to threaten me.

You cooperate with me because you are also hoping for the resurgence of your Fox Zen Sect, aren’t you? If we join forces, both benefit; if we fight, both lose.

So stop bringing that up!” The man was silent for a moment before saying, “In any case, hurry up and acquire that final catalyst, or everything will be mere talk! I will go arrange the other matters.” With that, he turned and walked into the side hall.

Wan Zhenyuan snorted, then continued to look up at the vast starry sky, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

He murmured slowly, “The cultivation world is about to see some turmoil…”