The lingering sunset faded away.
A bright moon slowly rose into the sky.
Qin Yuan sat somewhat lost on the rooftop.
Two hours passed.
His eyes gradually moistened, yet he remained oblivious.
He simply caressed the crescent-shaped Cyan Jade in his palm.
——It was a gift from his senior sister before she embarked on her journey.
Over the years.
Qin Yuan carried it with him always.
But now, the jade remained, while she was gone.
After a long while.
Qin Yuan finally came back to his senses.
He hid the tears in his eyes and composed the sorrow in his heart.
Carefully pressing the Cyan Jade against his chest.
He murmured softly: "Lin Tunan..."
In an instant.
A surge of fury welled up inside him, and his gaze turned more fierce.
...
The next day.
Qin Yuan knelt before Chen Sheng:
"Master, I intend to head to Linglong Immortal City."
"I bid farewell to you here."
Chen Sheng looked at his disciple's resolute expression and did not stop him.
He merely advised in a low voice:
"Go, be cautious and careful."
"The enemy is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator; without enough strength, you must lie low."
Qin Yuan nodded earnestly:
"I understand, Master."
After speaking, he turned and left.
...
In the days that followed.
Chen Sheng always remained cautious.
He did not know the character of that Lin Tunan.
Since Chen Sheng could learn about the other party's information.
If the other party was willing to put in the effort, it wouldn't be difficult for them to learn about us either.
Chen Sheng contemplated silently:
"Although it's thousands of miles away, the chances of the other party eradicating us are small, but not impossible."
"It's been a long time; perhaps someone is already waiting for me outside the Market."
"In any case, I'll stay here in the Thousand Machines Market."
"This place belongs to the Qinghua Sect, and it's safer compared to other places."
...
In the blink of an eye.
Several years passed.
In these years, everything remained stable.
Chen Sheng received several 'normal' invitations to go out.
Among them was even an invitation from a Foundation Establishment elder of the Yuquan Zhou Clan.
He rejected all of them.
Too many normal occurrences are abnormal!
Chen Sheng stayed securely in the Market, not taking a single step outside.
Although he did not seek to reach the Upper Realm Foundation Establishment in this lifetime.
He still had decades of life left.
Many things were unfinished; he did not wish to die halfway.
As time passed.
In the Pill Workshop.
The younger members of the family grew to suitable ages.
They began to learn the Alchemy Skill.
Chen Sheng carefully instructed them.
Now that Qin Yuan had traveled far away.
He promised his father-in-law to pass down the Alchemy Skill.
He could not break his promise.
Besides, if the family wanted to have a legacy, how could it lack a lucrative craft?
...
In the Fire Room.
Chen Sheng watched the younger members learn the Fire Control Skill.
He saw them forming Spell hands, conjuring fire, dividing flames, stacking flames…
Each step looked very practiced.
"Good, just like that, keep it steady!"
Chen Sheng guided them one by one, explaining the tips and tricks.
Time flew by quickly.
By noon.
Huang Wangyou brought some cool tea to relieve the heat for them.
She waved away the heat in the room and spoke gently:
"Come, have some tea, cool off, cool off."
Chen Sheng clapped his hands:
"Alright, go get some tea."
A group of youths immediately rushed towards Huang Wangyou with a whoosh.
"Thank you, Grandma!"
"Thank you, Grandma!"
Seeing a group of well-behaved young ones.
Huang Wangyou showed a gentle smile:
"Drink slowly, no need to rush."
"No one is competing with you."
Years passed by.
Huang Wangyou had noticeably become thinner.
For it's hard to cure an ailment of the heart.
Chen Sheng joined in as well, immediately drinking a bowl, loudly praising:
"Delicious, just like before."
Huang Wangyou chuckled lightly, a trace of reminiscence on her face:
"I remember when you and Huayao learned the Fire Control Skill from Father, I was the one bringing drinks to you."
Hearing this, Chen Sheng also felt nostalgic.
The scenes of learning the craft were still vivid in his mind.
"Yes, it's been over forty years."
"How quickly time flies!"
Huang Wangyou nodded gently:
"Junior sister Huayao left early, and I've been thinking of her a lot lately."
"In a few days, let's visit her grave."
Li Huayao's grave was in the east corner of the Market, not far away.
Chen Sheng nodded upon hearing this:
"Alright!"
...
A few days later.
The two returned from visiting the grave.
Huang Wangyou felt much better and spent half a day playing chess with Chen Sheng.
Chen Sheng was happy to accompany her, wishing for her happiness.
...
Until evening.
Chen Sheng took out the "Array Introduction."
Studying it diligently.
His gaze lingered on the basic Array Diagram within, then he retrieved a few small Array Banners and an Array Disc from his Storage Pouch.
He began to try setting up an array.
"The Small Illusionary Array requires placing five Array Banners according to the Five Elements positions, Earth Banner in the center, Wood Banner to the east, Fire Banner to the south..."
Chen Sheng murmured under his breath, starting to set up the array.
Time passed slowly.
He planted the last Array Banner.
But when his fingertips infused mana into the Banner, the golden banner only trembled, and not a single halo of light appeared.
"Failed again!"
"Even using the Array Disc, the array is too difficult!"
Chen Sheng shook his head, somewhat helpless.
The existence of the Array Disc was like having the formation already half completed, he only needed to accomplish the most basic placement of the Array Banners.
Even so, it was still challenging.
After several more attempts.
Chen Sheng finally succeeded in setting up the formation.
On the chessboard, the five Array Banners shimmered with halos, clouds swirling within, ready to change direction at any moment.
Chen Sheng smiled:
"Finally succeeded."
He was preparing for the next life.
As his current life approached its end.
Chen Sheng planned this lifetime.
Using the array to complement mundane Mechanical Techniques, setting up a Secret Mansion in a hidden spot, to store the various cultivation resources and Magical Artifacts accumulated throughout his life.
In the next life, he could retrieve them directly.
Quickly achieving the initial accumulation.
...
Several days later.
In the backyard.
Chen Sheng wore a black Magic Robe for practice.
As usual, he began practicing the "Red Flood Dragon Burning River Seal."
Through years of repeated practice.
The second seal, the 'Wave-Breaking Seal,' he could barely cast, though far from mastering it.
At present.
Chen Sheng's mana slowly circulated inside him.
Like a spring tide ready for release.
"Wave-Breaking Seal emphasizes leveraging skillful strength to stir, rather than forcibly seizing. It's a pity the water vein here is weak, making it hard to fully exert strength."
The secrets of the Spell emerged in his mind.
The Seal Technique in Chen Sheng's hand changed instantly, with his fingertips wrapped in a faint crimson halo.
He flipped his wrist, and the halo in his palm abruptly condensed into a palm-sized crimson seal shadow.
The seal shadow appeared ordinary, yet carried a scorching, heavy force.
"Rise."
Chen Sheng softly exclaimed, flicking his wrist.
The seal shadow shot through the air.
In flight, it suddenly transformed into a vast seal, firmly striking the stone grind in the courtyard.
With a soft "puff," the stone grind shattered into pieces, forcefully sinking several feet.
This power surpassed all his previous techniques, worthy of being called a trump card.
Chen Sheng's eyes lit up:
"Good! Indeed a Top Grade Daoist Skill!"
"Well worth the hard work of cultivation."