Chapter 54: Killing Intent

“…”

Jiang Ning’er’s face showed contemplation. “If circumstances allow… I’d certainly want to be his dao companion.”

Since their parting in Heavenly Sword City, this thought had lingered for more than a day or two.

However, due to certain practical realities, she could only harbor the idea without acting on it.

“Want me to help you out?”

“What?” Jiang Ning’er momentarily doubted her ears.

“If you truly like him and want to be his dao companion, I can find ways to create opportunities for you…”

“How about it?”

“This…”

Faced with her master’s unexpected kindness, Jiang Ning’er felt a mix of surprise and flattery.

“Is Uncle serious?” she asked again, confirming it wasn’t a mishearing.

“Mm.”

Luo Qingling nodded. “But let me be clear: whether it works out depends on how you show your feelings for him.”

“After all, in matters of love, I, as your master’s sister, can only play a guiding role, like a matchmaker.”

“…”

“I understand. Thank you, Uncle.”

Jiang Ning’er grasped the principle that success depends on effort and bowed in gratitude.

Meanwhile, at the Moon Shadow Chamber in Xuanyong City.

Shen Mu was selecting a cauldron suitable for a beginner like himself, unaware that his master had “sold him out.”

“This cauldron’s good—resistant to prolonged burning from various types of pill flames, and the price is reasonable.”

He eyed the half-leg-high crimson copper cauldron with spiritual patterns, glancing at its price of two thousand low-grade spirit stones, and nodded slightly. “This one.”

“Senior Brother, are you really starting to learn alchemy?”

A girl’s voice came from behind, startling Shen Mu before he shot her a glance.

“Next time you show up, can you not use that concealment technique? This isn’t a place where you need to hide.”

“I’m just training your adaptability, Senior Brother~” Lin Yuhe appeared silently beside him, giving a slight smile.

Shen Mu could only shrug helplessly at her unpredictable personality, asking directly, “What are you here for? Got any news about her?”

“Mm, there’s news, but it’s not great.”

Shen Mu, mentally prepared, remained unfazed. “Let’s talk about it in detail when we get back.”

“Alright…”

“By the way, Senior Brother, are you serious about learning alchemy?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Shen Mu stepped past her to the trading counter, pulling a bag of spirit stones from his storage ring to pay, receiving a talisman to unlock the cauldron’s seal.

“Do you even have the talent for it?” Lin Yuhe asked skeptically.

“Whether I do or not, I’ll only know by trying.”

Shen Mu used the talisman to unseal the cauldron, stored it in his ring, and walked away.

Lin Yuhe shook her head slightly, then followed his footsteps.

After they left, a mid-Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator in plain clothes glanced in their direction, a contemplative look in his cold, calm eyes.

“It should be him…”

Muttering to himself, he followed their path.

“Why do you want to learn alchemy, Senior Brother?” Lin Yuhe asked suddenly on the winding mountain road back to the sect.

Shen Mu pointed to his head. “I’ve got plenty of high-tier, rare pill formulas up here, some of which are extinct in the Nine Continents…”

“If I don’t make use of them, wouldn’t that be a waste?”

As a top-tier strategist, he had to memorize and understand far more than ordinary players.

Pills, a crucial element in this world’s framework, were naturally a priority for him to study.

“Even immortal pill formulas?”

“Of course.”

Immortal pills were essential strategic resources after reaching the Immortal Realm.

Without a stockpile, casting immortal techniques would be heavily restricted, limiting one’s capabilities.

“Senior Brother, let’s make a deal~” Lin Yuhe’s expression turned sly, her eyes glinting with cunning.

“No way…” Shen Mu, hearing her tone, already guessed her intentions and flatly refused.

“Even if I have immortal pill formulas, in a place like Chi You Continent with no trace of immortal qi, it’s like trying to cook without rice.”

“I’m not thinking of refining immortal pills.”

Shen Mu raised an eyebrow. “What, you want to auction them off and make a fortune?”

Lin Yuhe rubbed her chin, eyeing Shen Mu thoughtfully…

“Senior Brother… I feel like you’re becoming the worm in my stomach.”

“…”

Shen Mu rolled his eyes, exasperated. “Can you use a better metaphor?”

Suddenly, he sensed a trace of killing intent, his brow furrowing as he stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

“…You go back first. I forgot to buy some spiritual materials and need to head back.”

With that, Shen Mu turned and left.

“…”

Lin Yuhe watched his receding figure, her eyes narrowing, a slight smirk forming.

Definitely something up.

After parting with Lin Yuhe, Shen Mu took a detour on the road to Xuanyong City, entering a forest path toward another mountain.

As he neared the woods, he leapt onto a green tree’s branch, his expression turning serious and cold.

I definitely felt it—someone’s secretly watching me. Let’s see if I can lure them out.

Whoosh!

Casting the Wind Spirit Movement Technique, his figure flowed like the wind, vanishing into the forest.

Soon after, a man in a black hooded cloak arrived at the dense forest’s edge.

He hesitated briefly, pausing to release his divine sense, scanning a three-mile radius…

Confirming nothing unusual, he moved swiftly, darting into the forest to pursue his target.

However.

Not long after entering, a strange fragrance wafted into his nose, causing his expression to shift.

Within a single breath, his spiritual energy flow stalled, and his near-blur-like speed slowed dramatically.

“Not good!”

Realizing something was wrong, he tried to retreat.

But the next moment, the surrounding trees lit up with talisman patterns, forming an all-encompassing sky-blue barrier, trapping him inside.

“Damn it… I’ve been set up!”

The man summoned a green-patterned spiritual sword, slashing several sharp green sword beams at the barrier!

Yet his attacks only rippled the blue barrier, producing no effect.

“You took the bait so easily. Should I call you bold but reckless, or just lacking vigilance?”

Shen Mu emerged from the tree’s shadow outside the barrier, his indifferent words laced with mockery, having confirmed the man’s strength.

“…”

“You knew I was following you?” The man’s face under the hood remained cold, showing little panic despite being trapped.

“What do you think?”

Shen Mu’s fingers revealed a third-grade thunder talisman, a faint smile on his lips as he exuded a subtle killing intent.

Having gauged the man’s strength, there was no need to hesitate or probe further.

He’d extract some information, then kill him.

“Senior Brother, who’d you catch?”

The next moment, a girl’s voice interrupted Shen Mu’s spellcasting, eliciting a sigh of exasperation.

“Didn’t I tell you to go back?” Shen Mu glanced at Lin Yuhe on the treetop, his tone tinged with resentment.

“I was worried about you, Senior Brother~”

Lin Yuhe leapt lightly to his side, her face showing concern but her eyes glinting with mischief.

“Shoo, shoo, worried about me? I think you just want to join the fun.” Shen Mu saw through her intentions.

“Let’s be clear: this guy’s after me.”

“So… stay out of it and let me handle the experience.”