Void Cultivation

Chapter 350: Chapter 349- Unscathed

Grey arrived at Port 89 and made his way toward the large medicinal shop located directly across the harbor. Despite it being the dead of night, the streets were far from empty. Numerous figures could still be seen moving to and fro beneath the dim lantern lights that lined the port.

Most of them were cultivators, while only a small minority were ordinary mortals. Unless one possessed a profound cultivation base or traveled under the protection of others, venturing out this late as a mundane person was practically inviting disaster upon oneself.

The nights around the harbor were particularly dangerous. Merchants, adventurers, disciples, and rogue cultivators constantly traveled between the docks and the city, creating a steady flow of traffic. Few people had the time—or the desire—to concern themselves with whatever happened in the dark alleys hidden between buildings.

As a result, despite the number of people moving through the streets, the atmosphere remained eerily quiet.

Only the occasional sound of footsteps striking the cold cobblestone roads echoed through the darkness.

Taking a glance at the city around him, Grey couldn’t help but release a faint, forlorn sigh.

The tension he had sensed before leaving the sect several months ago had not lessened. If anything, it had become even more apparent.

And it seemed he wasn’t the only one who felt it.

Many people hurried along with stiff expressions and tense shoulders, eager to finish their business before retreating to the safety of their homes or sect compounds. Even the cultivators appeared unusually vigilant, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.

It was as though an invisible pressure hung over the city.

Eventually, Grey pushed open the doors of the medicinal shop and stepped inside.

Immediately, a mixture of countless scents assaulted his senses.

The aroma of medicinal herbs, spiritual flowers, dried roots, monster materials, and refined pills blended together into a powerful fragrance that would have left an ordinary person dizzy after only a few breaths.

However, Grey merely inhaled calmly.

As a practitioner of the Dao of Poison, his sense of smell had long surpassed that of ordinary cultivators. He could distinguish individual ingredients from the mixture with ease.

The scent of Crimson Heart Grass lingered near one shelf.

Moon Dew Flowers had recently been delivered.

Several expensive purification herbs were being stored somewhere deeper inside the building.

Even a few rare poisonous ingredients hidden away in sealed containers failed to escape his senses.

His gaze swept across the shop before eventually stopping.

Sitting alone at a table in the far corner was a young girl with auburn hair.

Her expression was filled with anxiety as she absentmindedly toyed with a cup of tea in her hands. Yet even that anxious expression was insufficient to conceal her beauty.

The moment Grey noticed her, she seemed to sense his gaze as well.

Her eyes lifted.

Their gazes met.

For a brief moment, neither moved.

Then, several moments later, Grey found himself seated across from her with a complicated expression on his face.

This close, he could clearly perceive the changes that had occurred to Ange during his absence.

The first thing he noticed was the faint medicinal fragrance naturally emanating from her body.

The scent was incredibly pure and refreshing.

Merely breathing it in caused Grey’s stomach to churn slightly.

Although he no longer carried any corrosive substances within his body, numerous impurities had accumulated throughout his recent adventures. Yet under the influence of her scent, those impurities seemed to be quietly dissolving.

Even his shadow reacted strangely.

The dark silhouette beneath him, which had become little more than an unnatural black shape over the years, squirmed slightly.

As though Ange’s very existence irritated it.

Grey’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly.

Her cultivation had advanced as well.

The spirit power flowing from her body was far stronger than before.

He could tell at a glance that she had recently opened her twenty-fifth Spirit Perforation and successfully manifested her first Spirit Fire.

Wisps of spiritual energy leaked from her opened perforations and merged with the surrounding atmosphere, causing her presence to appear vibrant and alive.

Compared to the young apprentice he had left behind months ago, Ange now possessed the bearing of a true cultivator.

Silence lingered between them for several seconds.

Neither seemed certain how to begin.

Eventually, Ange gathered her courage and spoke first.

"So... you’re back..."

Her voice carried traces of excitement and relief.

Yet beneath those emotions, Grey could sense something else.

Something she was trying very hard to hide.

Grey simply nodded before revealing a small smile.

When he had left the sect several months ago, he had only recently awakened his first Spirit Fire after enduring countless dangers within Green City.

At the time, he had been weak, uncertain, and completely unaware of what awaited him beyond the sect’s borders.

His thoughts drifted back to the Soul Pill Ange had gifted him before his departure.

That single pill had played an enormous role in his journey.

Not only had it strengthened his soul, but it had also greatly assisted his breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Realm. Furthermore, it accelerated the opening of his Spirit Perforations far beyond what an ordinary cultivator could have achieved.

In many ways, Ange had unknowingly become one of the cornerstones of his current strength.

"Thank you for the Soul Pill," Grey said sincerely. "It helped me more than you can imagine."

Ange froze.

Memories of that day immediately resurfaced in her mind.

Back then, she had given him the pill without expecting anything in return.

Truthfully, she hadn’t even been certain she would ever see him again.

A faint blush gradually spread across her cheeks.

"Oh... that..." she stammered before looking away. "It wasn’t anything important."

Despite her words, the smile forming on her face betrayed her happiness.

Seeing her reaction, Grey couldn’t help but smile as well.

For a brief moment, it felt as though he had returned to the days spent within Luo’s medicinal shop.

Back then, the two of them had spent countless hours studying herbs, learning pill formulas, and enduring Luo’s endless lectures.

Those memories suddenly felt much closer than they had moments ago.

The awkwardness between them gradually faded.

Their conversation soon began to flow naturally.

Ange eagerly questioned him about his journey.

Where had he gone?

What had he seen?

Why had he remained away for so long?

Meanwhile, Grey asked about her cultivation progress, her experiences within the sect, and how life had changed during his absence.

The more they talked, the more relaxed they became.

Laughter occasionally escaped their lips.

Smiles appeared frequently.

Stories were exchanged.

Memories were revisited.

Before either of them realized it, several hours had passed.

The dark sky outside gradually brightened.

When Grey finally glanced through the nearby window, he saw the first rays of sunlight emerging over the horizon.

The city was beginning to awaken.

Workers, merchants, and disciples were already filling the streets once more.

The hustle and bustle of daily life was returning.

Realizing he still had matters to attend to, Grey reluctantly stood from his seat.

After chatting with Ange for a little while longer, the two exchanged farewells.

Then Grey left the medicinal shop and stepped back onto the bustling streets.

Taking one final glance at the harbor, he adjusted his robes and began walking toward the Detective Agency Department.

There were still many matters awaiting Grey’s attention back at the sect. He needed to complete his registration once again, repair his damaged magic ship, and continue improving his cultivation. Beyond that, he also had to find a way to unlock the mysterious ancient technique hidden within his Sea of Consciousness.

Lost in thought, Grey walked carefully along the side of the bustling street. Even at this late hour, cultivators and merchants continued to move through the port without rest.

Suddenly, a terrifying force descended upon him without warning.

Before Grey could react, his feet left the ground as an invisible power seized him and hurled him high into the sky.

Grey’s expression immediately darkened.

Having remained vigilant ever since arriving at Port 89, his first instinct was to prepare for battle. The possibility of the middle-aged man seeking revenge had never left his mind. Although sect rules prohibited foreign cultivators from attacking or killing sect disciples, Grey understood that rules alone could not guarantee his safety.

In the event that the sect failed to intervene in time, he needed the strength to protect himself.

The moment he sensed danger, his cultivation base erupted.

Three brilliant spheres of Spirit Fire appeared around him, illuminating the surrounding darkness. The air crackled violently as waves of spiritual energy spread outward.

A faint purple glow emerged within Grey’s eyes.

Dark violet aura gathered around his right hand before rapidly condensing into a transparent purple sword.

At the same time, a crescent purple moon flickered within his pupils, and a terrifying suppressive intent surged from his body, sweeping through the surrounding area like an invisible storm.

Grey had intentionally concealed this trump card during his previous confrontation with the middle-aged man. If the man truly intended to ambush him now, he would not be prepared for the sudden appearance of the purple sword.