Chen Chang'an Wanted

"Young Master!"

"I've reached my limit."

"However, I'm afraid I've absorbed less than ten percent of the Immortal Spirit Fruit's energy."

Gu Xian'er's cultivation level was still too low, nowhere near as strong as Lie Zhankuang, so the amount of spiritual energy she could absorb was naturally limited.

Even so, in just one day, Gu Xian'er's cultivation soared from the ninth level of the Transcendent Realm to the ninth level of the Divine Ability Realm.

Such a rapid improvement would shock anyone who witnessed it.

On one hand, it was due to the effects of the Immortal Spirit Fruit, and on the other, it was also because of Gu Xian'er's extraordinary physique.

"You've done very well."

"Gradually converting and absorbing this energy in the future will be enough to push your cultivation to the Void Comprehension Realm."

This was Chen Chang'an's most conservative estimate, as he didn't know much about the Immortal Spirit Fruit and had never consumed one himself.

"Void Comprehension Realm?"

"Young Master, does that mean if I fully convert and absorb the Immortal Spirit Fruit's energy within three years..."

"I could reach the top of the Human Ranking?" Gu Xian'er asked excitedly.

"Indeed, but don’t underestimate others. They might also make rapid progress in their cultivation within three years."

"So, you’ll need to work even harder."

"Yes, Young Master."

"Let’s go. It’s time to leave."

After Gu Xian'er's breakthrough, Chen Chang'an took her with him as they crossed Cloud Snow Ridge and flew straight toward the Lanling region.

When Chen Chang'an and Gu Xian'er stepped into Lanling, however, they found things taking an interesting turn.

"A man, a woman, and a dog?"

"That should be referring to me, right?"

Chen Chang'an hadn’t expected that someone in Lanling would be searching for him.

"Young Master, could it be the Lin family?"

"Only a powerful family could command so many people."

"Although this is Lanling, it’s still within the Langya territory."

"In Langya, even a branch of the Lin family carries significant weight." Gu Xian'er frowned as she spoke.

Chen Chang'an hadn’t been in Langya for long, and before this, he had mostly stayed in the Yunchuan region.

Moreover, he hadn’t made any enemies, so the only possibility for someone to investigate him now was the Lin family!

Gu Xian'er felt somewhat guilty, believing that their actions must be related to her.

After all, Chen Chang'an and the Lin family had no past grudges or recent conflicts—why would they go to such lengths?

But Chen Chang'an sensed something different about the situation.

"Is the Lin family making such a big move just because they fear your rise and revenge?"

"That might be part of it, but I feel their focus is actually on me."

Chen Chang'an wasn’t making baseless assumptions. Along the way, he noticed that those searching for him paid more attention to men.

If their target were Gu Xian'er, they would have been looking more closely at women.

Chen Chang'an and Gu Xian'er had indeed been observed, but they weren’t suspected because they were missing one key element.

"Young Master, what should we do now?"

"Once Senior Huang returns, he’ll definitely draw attention."

A man, a woman, and a dog—such a combination was far too distinctive.

After all, who would casually bring a dog along? Even if they did, they’d at least choose a more impressive spirit beast.

"Let them notice us if they must."

"The Lin family is in Qingshui, right?" Chen Chang'an asked.

"Correct. The Lin family Lin Ruoheng belongs to is in Qingshui, not too far from here—just a few thousand kilometers away."

Hearing Gu Xian'er's words, Chen Chang'an nodded, thinking to himself, I hope it’s not what I suspect.

"Young Master, do you mean we’re going to Qingshui?"

Mentioning Qingshui stirred emotions in Gu Xian'er. After all, the Gu family had once been there.

But now, she was the only one left alive.

It was both her homeland and the place of her enemies.

She hadn’t expected to return so soon.

"Given the current situation, it seems Qingshui—"

"Gu Xian'er?"

"You’re Gu Xian'er!"

Before Chen Chang'an could finish, a man nearby suddenly pointed at Gu Xian'er, his face filled with excitement.

Few people knew Chen Chang'an, but some had seen Gu Xian'er before.

And now, they had encountered one.

Gu Xian'er was surprised to be recognized. She studied the man but couldn’t recall ever meeting him.

"Hahaha! I never thought such fortune would fall into my lap!"

"Truly, the heavens favor me."

"You’re Gu Xian'er, so the man beside you must be Chen Chang'an, right?"

"Even if the dog isn’t here, it doesn’t matter anymore."

"If you two don’t want trouble, come with me quietly."

The man didn’t take Chen Chang'an and Gu Xian'er seriously at all. To him, they were an endless source of resources—and his ticket to climbing the Lin family’s ranks.

His words also drew the attention of others nearby.

Clearly, the names Chen Chang'an and Gu Xian'er were already well-known.

"So, they’re Chen Chang'an and Gu Xian'er?"

"No wonder they couldn’t be found—they ditched the dog! How cunning."

"Who even spread that rumor about a man, a woman, and a dog? I knew it—who brings a dog around? The intel was wrong."

"Capturing these two will earn us a hefty reward from the Lin family."

"Damn it, these two are mine! Don’t even think about taking them!"

"Who do you think you are? You can’t just claim them!"

"You wanna test me?"

Before anything could happen, the crowd erupted into arguments, leaving Chen Chang'an standing there helpless.

Should I just leave while they’re busy fighting?

"All of you, get lost!"

"You think you’re worthy?"

"Damn, who the hell—"

"G-Gao Changyuan?"

"My apologies, Young Master Gao! I spoke out of turn. I’ll leave right away!"

"Y-yes, we’re not worthy. We’re not worthy."

Gao Changyuan’s appearance silenced everyone. None dared to provoke him.

After all, in Lanling, the Gao family ranked among the top three powers.

"Young Master, I’ve heard of Gao Changyuan."

"He’s a genius of the Gao family’s younger generation—twenty-five years old, already at the fifth level of the Divine Ability Realm."

"And he’s the Gao family’s young master, always accompanied by powerful experts."

After learning the newcomer’s identity, Gu Xian'er quietly explained to Chen Chang'an.

The Gao family?

Why are they meddling in this mess?

Gao Changyuan studied Chen Chang'an, puzzled.

A mere first-level Qi Condensation cultivator—why would the Lin family go to such lengths for him?

But as for Gu Xian'er...

Why can’t I see her cultivation level?

Or does she have none at all?

Unable to comprehend, Gao Changyuan didn't dwell on it further—after all, he was utterly confident in his ability to keep these two from escaping.

"Consider yourselves lucky today, running into me," he said with a faint smile, though his eyes gleamed with arrogance.

"Otherwise, you’d have suffered quite a bit."

"Follow me quietly, and I won’t make things harder for you." His tone carried an air of condescension, as if his leniency were some grand favor bestowed upon Chen Chang'an and the other.

"Lucky?"

"Funny… I’d say your luck seems rather poor instead!"