Chapter 136: Chapter 98: Star Evil Executed, Departing for Qiwen Mountain

The reward for slaying the Star Evil was foretelling the acquisition of the Low-Level Star Bath—and it was already in hand.

"This trip was definitely worth it." Feeling the rich star energy bursting from the Fixed Star Compass within him, Liou Yuan’s face lit up with delight. "Now I just need to find a safe place to undergo this Star Bath."

The Calamity-level Star Evil had already been vanquished.

In this battle, most of Chouhuai City was destroyed.

It was a complete ruin—over half the city was leveled to the ground. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

When Liou Yuan and his party brought the citizens of Chouhuai City back inside, what met their eyes was utter devastation.

The ruins that could barely be called buildings before, now were nothing but crisscrossing cracks carved into the earth itself.

Even the city walls of Chouhuai City had collapsed in large sections.

Who knows how much time it would take to rebuild this city?

Of course, though the cost was heavy, with the Calamity-level Star Evil gone, Chouhuai City no longer had any threats lurking overhead.

It could stand in Jiangyang Prefecture for hundreds of years to come.

After the two Foundation Establishment cultivators from Jiangyang Prefecture had slain the Star Evil, they departed Chouhuai City without even half a moment’s delay.

Their haste, Liou Yuan believed, was all because of that Foundation Establishment Magical Artifact.

The prefect of Jiangyang Prefecture surely wouldn’t want such a high-grade Foundation Establishment Magical Artifact leaving his jurisdiction for too long.

And so, in Chouhuai City, only Zhao Zhuoran and the elderly Mr. Sun, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators, remained.

This time, helping Jin Dynasty eliminate the Star Evil, Zhao Zhuoran had gained a lot, and when Liou Yuan and Zhao Feiyue went to pay their respects, it was clear the usually stern-faced Protector of Five Extremes Mountain could not hide his joy.

Even when facing Liou Yuan, he was much more amiable than usual.

Taking advantage of Zhao Zhuoran’s good mood, Liou Yuan hesitated not at all to respectfully speak the words he’d prepared long before.

"Protector Zhao, my family is in Yanhe City, Qingyou Prefecture—not far from Chouhuai City. Please permit me to go home to visit my relatives."

Of course, Liou Yuan’s purpose wasn’t just to visit Bai Xin.

Visiting relatives was a mere pretext—his real aim was to investigate Qiwen Mountain in the territory of Qingyou Prefecture.

"I almost forgot, you and Liou Zhen are both from Qingyou Prefecture." Zhao Zhuoran did not refuse. After briefly pondering, he said, "It’s not difficult, but you must return to Five Extremes Mountain before the next Star Rotation Day."

"It’s not that I want to make things hard for you. The rules of Five Extremes Mountain are strict, and my position only allows me to give you this much leeway."

"Any more, and those old fellows from the Disciplinary Hall will be at my ear nagging endlessly."

It was obvious Zhao Zhuoran wasn’t just paying lip service; this really was all the time he could allow Liou Yuan.

If Liou Yuan hadn’t left a good impression on this elder, even these few days would not have been granted.

Liou Yuan silently calculated—the Weixiu Star had only been in rotation for eight days, and the next rotation was still twenty-two days away.

"Twenty-two days—that’s enough for me to uncover the situation at Qiwen Mountain and make it back to Five Extremes Mountain."

Thinking this, Liou Yuan smiled brightly and replied, "Protector Zhao, rest assured, I’ll definitely return to Five Extremes Mountain by the day of rotation. I won’t make things difficult for you."

"Good!" To Zhao Zhuoran, this matter was just a passing favor.

Selling Liou Yuan a favor in return for his care of Zhao Feiyue—he was more than willing.

"For Yanhe City to have produced both Mr. Liou and Mr. Liou as such geniuses, it must be a place of spirit and talent. Perhaps I should visit someday," Zhao Feiyue said with a bright, smiling gaze from the side.

"Haha, as long as you want to come, Miss Zhao, I’ll surely be the perfect host and treat you well!" answered Liou Yuan with a hearty laugh, promising readily.

For he knew this was merely something Zhao Feiyue said in passing.

She had no time to wander about; once Chouhuai City’s affairs were done, she’d return to Five Extremes Mountain and enter seclusion immediately to break through to the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer.

Liou Yuan and Zhao Feiyue’s easy banter made the elderly Zhao Zhuoran narrow his old eyes slightly. Since coming to Chouhuai City, he’d stayed at the Array core, focused on repairs.

He hadn’t realized Liou Yuan and Zhao Feiyue had become so familiar.

As an elder of the Zhao Family, his thoughts went deep and far. He’d begun wondering if Liou Yuan might have feelings for Zhao Feiyue.

Inwardly, he mused: "The Liou Family of Xiang Mountain is a muddy pond—if Liou Yuan can achieve Foundation Establishment, so be it. If not, the family will probably plot against him sooner or later."

"Yue’Er is inexperienced, unaware of the depths here—I’ll have to find time to talk with her."

Little did Liou Yuan know how far Protector Zhao’s thoughts had wandered.

After chatting with Zhao Feiyue, and bidding farewell to Protector Zhao,

he, pressed for time and having just obtained the Star Bath reward, was determined to absorb it before returning to the Sect.

He planned to head out at once, to give himself more free time in the days ahead.

"The roads aren’t peaceful yet. Even with the Auspicious Star in rotation and no risk of Star Evils..."

"The mountains are still full of demons and monsters. You must be careful."

Protector Zhao gave Liou Yuan a few parting words of advice.

"As for Jin Dynasty’s reward—Mr. Sun has already submitted it for you. I expect it’ll reach Five Extremes Mountain soon."

"I’ll keep an eye on it for you, so no one can embezzle your share."

"Many thanks, Protector Zhao." The favor Liou Yuan had shown Zhao Feiyue was now returning to him; it was clear from Protector Zhao’s words he looked out for him.

"Go on, then." With the gentle tone of Protector Zhao, Liou Yuan took his leave from the yamen.

Before departing, Liou Yuan specifically sought out Qiu Ming to tell him he was going home to visit relatives.

This kid had made a huge fuss before about Liou Yuan keeping the Calamity-level Star Evil a secret.

If he slipped away without a word, he’d be pestered to death by Qiu Ming once he was back at Xiaopei Mountain.