Chapter 383: The Mist Tide's First Arrival

The moonlight was cold and desolate, and scattered starlight dotted the night sky. Xu Sanyan stood in the wilderness, gazing upward. A hazy mist drifted like a thin veil, blurring his vision.

Half a month had passed since Yang Shuang’er’s arrival. During this time, Xu Sanyan had remained at home, cultivating diligently. He deepened his understanding of formations, practiced carving formation patterns, and even got married.

His household now included two Madams. Wang Mingxin had recently joined the family, but despite their outward harmony, the two women were secretly vying for dominance. Xu Sanyan paid them no mind.

He had also planted a Demonic Seed in Wang Mingxin. After all, she was his bedmate, and it was best to be cautious.

The number of individuals bearing his Demonic Seeds had now reached eight, including Xiang Tan, Wang Zixuan, Wang Qingyu, Wang Ruixin, Chang Yulian, the Wang brothers, and Wang Mingxin.

As for Fang Xiang, Meng Zhu’er, and others who had previously carried Demonic Seeds, they had all died, freeing up slots.

Since breaking through to the soul refinement mid-stage, Xu Sanyan’s capacity to condense Demonic Seeds had significantly increased, rising from ten to approximately twenty.

Next, Xu Sanyan planned to attempt to control the four Madams of the Wang Family. These women wielded considerable power, and if he could turn them into allies, it would greatly aid his future plans.

However, this operation had to be conducted in utmost secrecy, hidden from the Wang Clan Head and the great elder.

As for inscribing formation patterns, Xu Sanyan’s mastery over his body made the task itself relatively easy. The true challenge lay in controlling the flow of spiritual power.

Inscribing formation patterns required three key elements: precise vision, focused intent, and steady hand movements.

Furthermore, he needed to divide his attention in two: simultaneously inscribing the patterns while channeling spiritual power. The spiritual power had to flow continuously like a gentle river, never surging or faltering, and never breaking its flow.

Each formation pattern consisted of dozens, even hundreds, of intricate lines. The Soul-Gathering Brilliance-Preserving Grand Formation, in particular, was composed of countless such patterns, making the inscription process alone a monumental undertaking.

Most critically, he had to complete this task entirely on his own.

Outside Thousand Autumns City,

Xu Sanyan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching Chang Yulian’s departing figure. He turned and murmured, “Let’s return.”

“Yes,” Wang Ying replied, following closely behind.

Xu Sanyan’s mission for Chang Yulian was to construct a Blood Pool near the five cities while scouting the surrounding area.

According to the map, the five cities were located in the southeastern part of the Qian Kingdom, in a region called Honghai Continent. This remote area was dominated by only one major power: Southern Heaven Valley.

With Xu Sanyan’s soul refinement mid-stage cultivation level, he could essentially roam freely in such a place. Unless a void harmony realm expert appeared, he feared no one.

Void harmony realm experts were rare, and the Qian Kingdom was unlikely to deploy many forces to such a remote region. Xu Sanyan estimated there might be at most one void harmony realm expert present, or even none at all.

However, the area was relatively close to the Jiang Family of Southern Heaven Valley, requiring some caution.

The Jiang Family possessed considerable strength, holding a position in the cultivation world comparable to the Zuoqiu Clan of Huai Lake. They had void harmony realm experts within their ranks, likely more than one.

“The Mist Tide has begun…”

The mist gradually thickened, currently still thin and devoid of monsters. As the days passed and the mist intensified, the monsters would inevitably emerge.

Xu Sanyan gazed at the rising mist in the distance, his mind involuntarily recalling the monster within the Mist Sea, a faint unease stirring in his heart.

If that monster were to appear in the Chaotic Cloud Mountains, it could flatten the entire range.

Xu Sanyan turned to Wang Ying. “How long does the Mist Tide usually last?”

“Hmm… it varies. Sometimes it lingers for over two months, while other times it dissipates in just over a month.”

Xu Sanyan nodded slightly, forming a plan in his mind.

As soon as he returned home, Chunmei greeted him with a bow. “Master, the clan head requests your presence.”

“Hmm, did he mention the reason?”

Chunmei shook her head. “No, but this servant dares to speculate it’s related to the Mist Tide. After all, you oversee all the major and minor clans in the western region of Thousand Autumns City, a heavy responsibility indeed.”

Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by Chunmei’s insight. Intrigued, he decided to test her.

“What do you think the clan head wants?”

Chunmei lowered her gaze slightly. “This servant is of humble status and dares not presume to guess.”

She understood the principle that the more one speaks, the more mistakes one makes. Though she was a member of the Wang Family, she remained merely a servant. Uttering anything displeasing could lead to punishment, a risk not worth taking.

Xu Sanyan saw through her caution and waved his hand. “It’s fine. If you’re wrong, I won’t blame you.”

Chunmei was determined to elevate her status in Xu Sanyan’s eyes. Knowing her cultivation talent was mediocre, she realized she had to find another way to gain his favor.

“Then I’ll speak,” she began. “The Mist Tide is approaching, and manpower is desperately needed. Unfortunately, many of the clan’s elders recently perished, and the great elder remains severely injured, still recovering. This has left us critically short-handed…”

Xu Sanyan nodded slightly. The recent conflict with cultivators from the Qian Kingdom, though resulting in their complete annihilation, had cost the Wang Family dearly. Half of their twenty-odd Soul Refinement elders had been lost, and with the Mist Tide looming, the Wang Clan Head would undoubtedly need to reorganize their forces.

Chunmei continued, “I suspect the clan head will assign you additional duties. While the western region of Thousand Autumns City is vast, it houses few major clans. You may be tasked with overseeing other areas as well.”

Xu Sanyan nodded slowly, recognizing the logic in her words. His primary responsibility was managing the various factions in the western region of Thousand Autumns City. He couldn’t ignore requests for assistance from clans who paid annual tributes, after all.

Of course, Xu Sanyan wouldn’t foolishly rush into danger if he sensed a threat.

“A few hundred coins a month? What kind of life is that?”

Xu Sanyan lifted Chunmei’s chin, examining her closely with a click of his tongue. “I never expected you to have such insight. Truly rare, indeed.”

He had discovered a rough gem right beside him.

Chunmei blushed at the praise, pressing her lips together. “This servant only learned a few scraps from Master.”

Xu Sanyan chuckled, shaking his head. “Ha, I could never have taught you such things.”

He changed the subject. “How’s that Beast-Repelling Powder shop I had you set up going?”

Chunmei blinked. “It’s open and doing very well.”

“And the owner?” Xu Sanyan meant the shop’s original owner.

“As you instructed…” Chunmei smiled shyly, leaving the rest unsaid.

Xu Sanyan flicked her nose. “You handle things efficiently.”

His admiration for Chunmei grew. He gripped her delicate neck, slowly tightening his hold.

Chunmei gasped for breath, her face flushing crimson, but she dared not resist.

“I have another task for you,” Xu Sanyan whispered, pressing close. He watched her long lashes tremble violently from her struggle to breathe, her fair skin gradually turning red, her gasps growing ragged, and her pupils slowly becoming bloodshot. A strange excitement surged through him.

(End of the Chapter)