The seventy-two beams of light that had shot into the sky slowly retracted their imposing aura, like weary birds returning to their nests. They finally vanished into the depths of the bamboo forest, leaving only a faint, swirling radiance around the spiritual spring's eye. The massive energy fluctuations were mostly constrained by the array itself, but the pure, yang energy that burst forth in that instant was still like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, sending ripples through some of the darker corners of Fog City.
In Fog City, in an underground stronghold that never saw sunlight, the air was filled with the musty smell of dampness and a faint scent of blood. Several indistinct human skin maps hung on the walls, and scattered in the corners were white skeletons. A gaunt old man in a black robe, his face hidden in the shadow of his hood, was sitting cross-legged on a Black Jade Cushion. A water mirror floated in front of him, and the originally murky image in the mirror fluctuated violently a few times, vaguely reflecting a flash of sky-piercing green light from the Hidden Profound Sect's back mountain.
The old man suddenly opened his eyes, a trace of surprise and anger flashing in his cloudy pupils. "Hmm? Such pure yang energy from the Earth Fiend… This array fluctuation doesn't seem like the Hidden Profound Sect's old, outdated mountain-protecting array. When did another tough character pop up in this area of the mountain city?" He tapped his withered fingers lightly on the armrest of the Black Jade Cushion, making a tapping sound. "Those useless fools from Blood Plum Hall, their work is getting less and less reliable; they deserved to die." A flicker of viciousness flashed in Blood Owl's eyes. "However, that they were defeated silently, I'd like to see who is so blind as to offend me." He paused his tapping, "Where is Black Shade?"
A shadow wriggled out from the corner, silently kneeling on the ground. "Rudder Master."
"Go investigate the recent movements behind the Hidden Profound Sect's back mountain. Remember, only observe, do not attack. I want to know who is crossing me, the Yin Corpse Sect." Blood Owl's voice was hoarse and low, devoid of any warmth.
"As you command." The shadow took the order and merged back into the darkness.
Blood Owl closed his eyes again, but the corners of his mouth curled into a cruel arc. "Hmph, daring to make a move on my territory? I'd like to see if your ground is hard enough!"
Hidden Profound Sect's back mountain. Chen Changqing brushed off the non-existent dust on his sleeves and pressed the last jade talisman, which served as the array's core, into its designated position. The seventy-two layers of the Earth Fiend Array completely vanished, as if it had never been there. Only he could clearly perceive that an invisible yet incredibly resilient energy shield had enveloped the entire back mountain and even the antique shop area in front of Hidden Profound Sect.
He concealed his aura, changed back into his faded sportswear, and strolled leisurely down the mountain, reverting to the image of the laid-back owner who ran a barely surviving antique shop near the Liberation Monument.
"Senior Brother! Senior Brother! Great news!" As he reached the antique shop's entrance, Lin Wanqing rushed out like a happy little bird, waving her phone, the screen displaying the sales data from the milk tea shop's back end.
"The 'Tortoise Shell Latte' is a hit! You wouldn't believe it, Senior Brother, those office ladies love our 'Enlightened Blessing' coffee. They say they feel refreshed, have clear thoughts, and even their work efficiency has improved! And there was an uncle who came in looking gloomy yesterday, but he came back today with a big smile. He said he always got bad hands while playing mahjong, his luck was terrible. But after drinking our latte, he got several self-drawn hands of the same suit last night and won a lot! He insisted on buying ten more of our mini peace talismans, saying he wanted to give one to each of his mahjong partners, for shared prosperity!" Lin Wanqing's face was flushed with excitement as she reported, her eyes sparkling, and she handed a still-steaming "Tortoise Shell Latte" to Chen Changqing.
Chen Changqing took the coffee, took a sip, and the familiar aroma of coffee mixed with a subtle hint of clearing herbal medicine, the taste was indeed good. Little Junior Sister did have a talent for "commercial development."
"Right, Senior Brother," Lin Wanqing suddenly remembered something, leaned closer, and lowered her voice. "This morning, a few strange customers came. They were dressed quite expensively, but I felt something was off about them. Their way of speaking was also different from ordinary people. They didn't look at antiques, nor did they ask about feng shui. They were subtly inquiring about the situation in our back mountain, asking if there was a 'hidden paradise' that wasn't open to the public, and also if there had been any 'spiritual energy fluctuations' or 'auspicious signs' on the mountain recently. I feel like they aren't ordinary tourists, but rather… like the kind of people in stories who seek immortals and practice Taoism."
Chen Changqing's fingers holding the coffee cup imperceptibly paused.
Almost at the same moment Lin Wanqing finished speaking, his internal Karma Celestial Eye twitched slightly, and the edge of his vision captured a few extremely faint strands of causality, like spider silk, that were entangled in the direction of the antique shop and back mountain. These lines were a dim grayish-black, hinting at a subtle malice.
[Karma Line Warning: Unknown forces are spying and targeting.]
[Targets: Hidden Profound Sect's mountain gate and host's residence (antique shop).]
[Threat Level: Low (No direct attack intent at present, but has been marked, subsequent risks will increase).]
[Recommendations: Strengthen vigilance, investigate potential dangers.]
So it came. Chen Changqing understood. Although the seventy-two layered Earth Fiend Array was concealed, the energy fluctuations at the moment of activation couldn't be hidden from truly skilled experts. This mountain city seemed peaceful on the surface, but undercurrents were surging, with various factions entrenched. Although the other party was only spying in secret now, and the danger level wasn't high, being marked in itself meant trouble.
Chen Changqing's expression remained unchanged, still with that lazy look. "Oh? Maybe it's just some hikers who want to explore the back mountain, no need to pay them any mind. There are plenty of snakes, insects, and rodents in the mountains, nothing worth seeing."
He handed the empty coffee cup to Lin Wanqing, saying casually, "The warehouse in the shop is a bit messy, I'll go tidy it up. You watch the shop first."
"Alright!" Lin Wanqing took the cup and bounced back to the milk tea shop to prepare the next batch of "Tortoise Shell Latte," completely unaware that her senior brother had already sounded the alarm in his heart.
Chen Changqing walked into the warehouse behind the antique shop. It was piled high with all sorts of odds and ends: old furniture he'd scavenged, fragments of broken porcelain, and some of the failed talismans and array components he'd crafted. He appeared to be casually rummaging through the warehouse, but in reality, his fingertips were subtly moving, embedding tiny, fingernail-sized, cicada-wing-thin micro-jade talismans into hidden corners like the wall corners, door frames, and shelf cracks.
These were the Micro-Dust Alert Talismans. They were numerous and widely deployed, capable of covering the entire shop, inside and out. If anything with malicious intent or specific energy fluctuations approached, they would immediately send him a warning, as if countless eyes were opening around him.
Besides the alert talismans, he also set up a few disposable Wood Substitute Talismans and Earth Instant Escape Talismans. "Wood Substitute Talismans can take a hit for me at a critical moment, absorbing a fatal blow. Earth Instant Escape Talismans can allow me to instantly escape dozens of meters if I'm surrounded, buying me time to breathe." These were his trump cards, rarely used, but now that he was targeted by unknown forces, he had to be cautious. An extra layer of preparation meant an extra measure of composure.
After finishing all this, Chen Changqing brushed the dust off his hands, walked out of the warehouse, and sat back down in the master chair behind the counter. He picked up a bound copy of the Classic of Mountains and Seas: Illustrated Study of Strange Beasts and continued to play the role of a laid-back antique shop owner.
Sunlight streamed through the old wooden window grilles, casting mottled shadows on him. Outside was the bustling modern city, while inside was the quiet, ancient past.
However, beneath the calm facade, the world reflected by his Karma Celestial Eye revealed several gray-black threads of prying, still lurking around the antique shop like venomous snakes, waiting for their opportunity.
Chen Changqing gently stroked the pages of the book, his eyes calm and still.
Steady, don't get reckless.
The enemy has noticed this place. Although they haven't made a move yet, we can't let our guard down. We must nip all potential risks in the bud.
He silently circulated the Great Purity Water Essence Scripture, sensing every subtle flow of spiritual energy inside and outside the shop. At the same time, he split off a wisp of his mind to deduce the source and purpose of those who were spying on the threads of karma.
The results of the deduction weren't clear; a layer of mist seemed to shroud everything, interfering with his investigation. This only confirmed for him that those targeting this place were no ordinary individuals.
It seems that Fog City is about to get turbulent.