Changsun Xixue Appears in Langya

Chen Chang'an directly fused with the fetal pearl. Compared to the previous two fusions, this process took slightly longer.

Chen Chang'an felt the energy of the fetal pearl coursing through his entire right arm after entering his body. It took a full two hours before it finally settled. At the same time, Chen Chang'an regained his ability to absorb spiritual energy from the world around him.

"Perfect timing to consume the Immortal Spirit Fruit and see its effects."

The moment the Immortal Spirit Fruit entered his mouth, Chen Chang'an couldn't help but shudder—such vast and pure energy!

In the past, when breaking through, Chen Chang'an would first drain all the surrounding spiritual energy before gradually impacting his realm. But this time was different. The energy of the Immortal Spirit Fruit was simply too pure, too overwhelming!

In just an instant, Chen Chang'an's cultivation began to surge. After a few breaths, he had already reached the first level of the Transcendent Realm.

Moreover, this time, Chen Chang'an had genuinely absorbed an immense amount of energy, reaching the absolute limit his body could handle.

"What a pity. There’s still sixty percent of the energy left unabsorbed."

Chen Chang'an sighed helplessly, unsure whether he could find the fourth fetal pearl before the remaining energy gradually dissipated.

However, his words shocked both Gu Xian'er and Da Huang beside him.

Absorbing forty percent of the Immortal Spirit Fruit’s energy in such a short time? This wasn’t just terrifying in quantity—even Da Huang, upon consuming the fruit for the first time, had taken an entire day to absorb just twenty percent of its energy.

As for Gu Xian'er, she hadn’t even managed to absorb ten percent before her body reached its limit.

"Gu Xian'er has the Phoenix Immortal Body, yet she reaches her limit before absorbing even ten percent. You absorbed forty percent just like that? If not for the fetal pearl’s restriction, would you have devoured it all?"

"Your physique is just too monstrous."

After saying this, Da Huang realized his words were pointless. A man with no cultivation yet capable of eternal youth and immortality—such a physique was anything but ordinary.

"What a shame. Who knows how long it’ll take to find the next fetal pearl?"

"But… following the Chen family’s trail should yield some clues."

"Let’s head back to Tianshui Lake for now."

"Go back?"

"We should at least inform Lin Xiangliu. Leaving without a word would be too inconsiderate."

"Fair enough."

After obtaining the fetal pearl, Chen Chang'an returned to Tianshui Lake. By then, Lin Xiangliu had already dealt with the matters concerning the Qingshui Lin Family.

Seeing Chen Chang'an return, Lin Xiangliu smiled wryly.

"Brother Chen, this outcome was what you wanted all along, wasn’t it?" Lin Xiangliu wasn’t a fool. Though he hadn’t realized it at first, he had eventually pieced it together.

"Indeed."

"And this result isn’t too troublesome for you either, right?"

"Though I did employ some methods." Chen Chang'an admitted with a faint smile.

Lin Xiangliu let out a helpless chuckle. He didn’t blame Chen Chang'an, knowing full well that he had acted out of consideration for him.

Besides, if the Qingshui Lin Family could rebel today, they could rebel again in the future. This incident served as a warning to the other branches of the Lin Family.

"What are your plans next?" Lin Xiangliu asked.

"I’ll take things as they come. This journey is about wandering freely."

"And you? Now that you’ve broken through to the Immortal Realm, what’s next?" Chen Chang'an countered.

What’s next?

For a moment, Lin Xiangliu truly didn’t know what he should do.

Originally, he had only wanted to reach the Immortal Realm quickly, then seek out Chen Chang'an to discuss Wu Mingdao’s affairs. As for his own future, he hadn’t given it much thought.

Noticing Lin Xiangliu’s uncertainty, Chen Chang'an said, "It’s time for you to leave."

"For your own sake, and for the Lin Family’s, you must go."

"Hm?"

Lin Xiangliu looked at Chen Chang'an in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Staying in Langya will do you no good."

"You need to venture out if you wish to advance further. Secluded cultivation will only slow your progress."

"Moreover, as long as you remain, the Lin Family will never improve."

"Though they claim they want to surpass you, catch up to you—deep down, they’re complacent, lacking any sense of urgency."

"In Langya, you hold absolute power, and the Lin Family acts without restraint."

"If the Lin Family had no ambitions and simply wished to live peacefully, there’d be no issue."

"But does the Lin Family truly have no ambitions at all?"

Chen Chang'an’s words plunged Lin Xiangliu into deep thought. Did the Lin Family have ambitions? Of course they did! That much was certain.

Looking at the Lin Family now—dominating Langya, bullying others with impunity, with no one daring to raise their voice against them—its members had grown far too comfortable.

"Brother Chen, you’re right. The Lin Family has grown too complacent."

"Perhaps only my departure will awaken their sense of danger."

"At the same time, I can use this opportunity to search for Mingdao’s reincarnation."

"Brother Chen, if you ever journey to the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty, be sure to inform me."

"Not being able to fight alongside Mingdao in his lifetime is my greatest regret."

"I will strive to improve my strength so that, when the time comes, I can contribute." Lin Xiangliu spoke solemnly.

"Naturally."

Chen Chang'an didn’t linger. After exchanging a few more words with Lin Xiangliu, he took his leave.

"Where to next?"

"South."

"South? Any leads?"

"None. Just a feeling."

"I have a sense that heading south might yield something."

"Though… the Chen Family’s records indicate they never ventured into that region."

Chen Chang'an didn’t know why, but he simply had this intuition. Yet the Chen Family’s chronicles clearly stated they had never traveled beyond Langya’s southern borders.

"Do you know what lies south of Langya?" Da Huang asked curiously.

"No, I’ve never been." Chen Chang'an shook his head.

"Young Master, I’ve heard of it."

"Rumors say the lands south of Langya are perilous."

"A place of utter chaos, drenched in bloodshed—it’s called the Chaotic Zone."

"People from Langya only venture there for training. Otherwise, they avoid it entirely."

"As for the specifics, I’m not sure. I only heard about it in passing."

Gu Xian'er, having grown up in Langya, had naturally come across such rumors.

"The Chaotic Zone? Interesting."

"I’d like to see just how chaotic it really is."

As Chen Chang'an set off for the Chaotic Zone, Changsun Xixue, clad in white robes, appeared within Langya’s borders.

Her arrival drew countless gazes—this woman, as if descended from the heavens, possessed a beauty so striking it was impossible to look away.

Yet the chilling aura around her instilled fear, making onlookers hesitate to stare for too long.

"Chen Chang'an, you really did come to Langya!"

"After all these years, I've finally tracked you down!"