《Family Cultivation: I Farm and Raise Fish under the Sea》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Mystic Moon Island Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Mystic Moon Island The Cultivation World. As part of the Endless Sea Domain, the vastness of Zhuilong Sea stretches across hundreds of thousands of miles. The sea area is dotted with various islands, large and small, like stars scattered across the sky, too numerous to count. Mystic Moon Island, a medium-sized island, has been under the control of the Cultivation Family, the Lu Family, for several hundred years now. In a cave at the foot of the central Qingling Peak on Mystic Moon Island, a man was sitting cross-legged on a mat. The man appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old with an unrestrained temperament and handsome features. His eyes were slightly closed, and wisps of Spiritual Energy rose above his head. ¡°After over a month of seclusion, I¡¯ve finally broken through to the sixth layer of Qi Refinement.¡± A moment later, Lu Li opened his eyes, feeling the mana within his body increased yet again, his face alight with joy. He was originally an ordinary office worker on Blue Star, who had unexpectedly transmigrated to this sea area of the Cultivation World after getting drunk, having already been here for seventeen years. From the initial nervousness and discomfort to now, he had completely adapted to this region of the Cultivation World. Fortunately, his talents were passable, with the affinity of his Gold and Water Spirit Roots reaching 69 points, which was considered above average. ¡°I wonder if I can begin the initial refinement of this strange treasure now that I¡¯ve broken through.¡± With a thought from Lu Li, an item shaped like a pot appeared in his hand. The object was only as tall as a palm and looked completely unremarkable with its rust-covered surface. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that this object had come with him through his transmigration, constantly in the depths of his mind, he might have believed it was nothing more than an ordinary item. After years of nurturing it with his mana, he felt an ever-deeper connection with it and was just one step away from leaving his mark on it. This filled him with a vague sense of anticipation. Lu Li took a deep breath, and carefully began to channel his mana and Divine Sense towards the artifact to imprint it. Just as his Divine Sense touched the body of the pot, something unexpected happened. The entire artifact suddenly emitted a grey light and began to float from his hands, hovering in mid-air. ¡°I succeeded!¡± Lu Li¡¯s face beamed with happiness. As he had guessed, there were significant gains after this breakthrough. Just then, the artifact suddenly transformed into a streak of light and rushed towards him. Before he could react, it disappeared into the depths of his mind. ¡°Demon-Refining Pot!¡± A short while later, Lu Li stroked his chin, contemplative. At that moment when the artifact had entered his body, a stream of information suddenly appeared in his mind. ¡°It looks like there¡¯s a high probability that this treasure is related to Demon Beasts.¡± With another thought, the Demon-Refining Pot reappeared in his hand. He ran his hands gently over some beast engravings on the body of the pot, feeling a cool sensation from his fingertips. Seeing nothing unusual, Lu Li opened the pot¡¯s lid to find its inside wasn¡¯t large and was completely empty. At this sight, he suddenly had some plans in mind. He then stored the Demon-Refining Pot and resumed his seated meditation for Qi Cultivation to consolidate the cultivation level he had just broken through. Several days later. With the buzzing of an Array, a young figure instantly appeared outside the cave, dressed in a flowing white robe. Lu Li casually made his way to the middle of the mountain with his hands clasped behind his back. Mystic Moon Island was named for its crescent-like shape. The island, located on the southern edge of the Zhuilong Sea, covered more than a hundred miles. Underneath the center of Qingling Peak on the island lay a second-order, mid-grade Spirit Vein, rich in Spiritual Energy. Lu Li took a deep breath of the Spiritual Energy, and his entire body felt like it was on the verge of ascending, the Spiritual Energy growing more abundant the higher he ascended the mountain. Along the way, he encountered several family cultivators, all smiles and amiable. Family cultivators were often more united than those of Sects, even their competition was within rules. ¡°Brother Six, you¡¯ve finally left seclusion.¡± Just then, a beautiful young woman approached on the mountain path. The woman was about sixteen years old with a slim figure, wearing a green palace dress that gave her an agile look. ¡°Huh¡­ Brother Six, did your cultivation level break through again?¡± Feeling the stronger Spiritual Pressure emanating from Lu Li, Lu Yuling was surprised. Lu Li smiled. ¡°By luck, I have broken through. Sister Nine, if you practice diligently, I¡¯m sure you too can improve quickly.¡± Lu Yuling pouted in response. ¡°How can I compare with you, the little genius of the Lu Family? Although our Spirit Roots are not much different¡­ ¡°I¡¯m only at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, whereas you¡¯ve reached the sixth level. I¡¯m afraid only Sister Qing Qing can surpass you among the younger generation of the Lu Family.¡± ¡°Are you heading to receive the offering, Ninth Sister? It would be good to go together with Sixth Brother,¡± Lu Li smiled, then deftly changed the subject, fearing that they might otherwise get drowned in his resentment. Lu Li, precocious from a young age, deeply understood the importance of strength in the Cultivation World and had practiced diligently since childhood. Combined with his decent aptitude, he quickly surpassed his peers and earned the title of a young genius within the Lu Family. As for the true situation, probably only he himself understood, for in terms of Spirit Root, he was far inferior to Lu Qingqing¡¯s eighty points of affinity. His achievements to this day were all due to his painstaking cultivation. A group of cultivators of the same age respected and feared him. Remembering some interesting events from his childhood, Lu Li¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile. While they conversed, they arrived halfway up the mountain. A great hall built of green wood stood before the two. A plaque several feet long hung above the doorframe, engraved with three big red characters: ¡°Household Affairs Hall.¡± The two walked in side by side. Inside the hall was very spacious and tidy, with a desk placed in the center. A beautiful young woman lay lazily on a Taishi Chair behind the desk, her body undulating up and down with the rocking chair. The air was filled with a faint scent of flowers and herbs. ¡°Third Aunt, we have come to collect this month¡¯s offering,¡± Lu Yuling called out with a clear and pleasant voice. Third Aunt, Lu Yuting, opened her eyes, her face hazy. ¡°So it¡¯s Yu Ling and Li, the lad. You¡¯re quite early today.¡± ¡°Good day, Third Aunt.¡± Lu Li bowed with his hands clasped together, feeling somewhat helpless. ¡°Tell me, Li, who¡¯s more beautiful, me or your mother?¡± Lu Yuting blinked, teasingly asking Lu Li. Lu Li¡¯s expression turned slightly awkward. ¡°The youngster dares not to casually discuss his elders.¡± In his eyes, since Third Aunt Lu Yuting¡¯s failed Foundation Establishment, she had become rather eccentric. As a direct granddaughter of the Family Ancestor from the older generation, Third Aunt Lu Yuting could be said to have been born with a golden key. The Family Ancestor had even exchanged the only Foundation Establishment Pill of the previous generation for her. However, contrary to her wishes, Lu Yuting ultimately failed at Foundation Establishment. Although she broke through to the twelfth layer of perfect Qi Refinement because of it, there was still a vast difference from Foundation Establishment. Hearing his words, Lu Yuting yawned and said, ¡°Really boring.¡± Then she threw two cloth bags onto the desk. Lu Li picked up one of them and, after checking its contents, was about to leave. Suddenly, he saw Lu Yuling with a puzzled look. ¡°Isn¡¯t it 4 Spirit Stones and 4 Qi Refinement Pills for mid-stage Qi Cultivation? How come there¡¯s one missing of each?¡± Lu Yuting smiled, ¡°From now on, the stipend of everyone will be reduced for the coming years, except for Lu Qingqing.¡± ¡°Of course, the portion for the Li kid will be made up by the Family Ancestor himself, he is the only exception.¡± ¡°If you have the ability, you can also get the Family Ancestor to make an exception for you.¡± Lu Yuling¡¯s face paused, and she cast a somewhat resentful look at Lu Li. Everyone agreed to share the hardships together, and yet you¡¯re the exception. She gathered the Spirit Stones and left with Lu Li. Watching their retreating figures, Lu Yuting fell into deep thought. ¡°This Li kid is extremely obstinate. I wonder what the Family Ancestor sees in him to make an exception.¡± Walking along the mountain trail, Lu Li became somewhat silent. ¡°It seems the Family Ancestor is planning to prepare for the Foundation Establishment Pill once more. The days ahead will probably be tough for our clan members,¡± Lu Yuling spoke softly. Lu Li also felt a weight in his heart. This generation¡¯s Lu Family Ancestor, Lu Tiande, was already over one hundred and fifty years old, not far from the two hundred-year lifespan limit. If no one could succeed in Foundation Establishment in the next decades, the fate of the Lu Family was not hard to predict. Other cultivator families on nearby islands would not pass up such an opportunity. At this moment, Lu Li felt an urgency within him. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Green Spirit Python Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Green Spirit Python After parting ways with Lu Yuling, Lu Li returned to his cave dwelling. Just as he was about to sit down for his meditation practice, a Communication Jade Scroll flew into the cave. Lu Li took the Jade Scroll and pressed it against his forehead. A voice resonated deep in his mind. ¡°Come to the mountain peak immediately!¡± Hearing this, Lu Li dared not to delay and immediately rose and exited his cave. He then proceeded towards the mountaintop. Although he had seen Patriarch Lu Tiande a few times during clan meetings, this solitary summons filled him with some confusion. This was his first visit to the summit. After crossing the waist of the mountain, he saw a large number of Green Spirit Woods planted on both sides of the mountain path. These Green Spirit Woods were arranged in a peculiar pattern, connecting with the earth¡¯s energy and forming the famously formidable ¡°Green Wood Earth Element Xuan Guang Array¡± of the Lu Family. This Array was a high-grade second-order formation created by the first-generation patriarch. It had protected the Guardian Family for hundreds of years, enduring several crises that nearly led to the clan¡¯s extinction. Before long, Lu Li came to a halt in front of a majestic cave dwelling atop the mountain. ¡°Come in.¡± A powerful and sonorous voice sounded as the Array in front of the cave opened. Lu Li slowly walked in. The cave was large and neatly arranged, its floor paved with jade stones. Looking up, he saw an elder in a green robe, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, smiling at him. The elder had white hair and beard and radiated a formidable spiritual pressure, as deep as the abyssal sea. ¡°Junior Lu Li pays his respects to the Patriarch!¡± Lu Li hurriedly stepped forward to give a formal bow, with utmost respect. ¡°Do you know why I have sought you out?¡± Lu Tiande looked at Lu Li with a probing gaze. ¡°It must be about a clan mission,¡± Lu Li replied with a smile, slightly embarrassed. As a member of the Lu Family, typically one would receive a family mission upon reaching the middle stage of Qi Cultivation, yet he had chosen to stay and cultivate within the family land until he had reached the sixth layer of Qi Refinement. ¡°Had I not inspected you in your childhood myself, I might have suspected that some other cultivator had seized your body. Despite your youth, you conduct yourself with great maturity,¡± Lu Tiande joked with a smile. Hearing this, Lu Li suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, realizing one should never underestimate anyone. Fortunately, he had been well-behaved since childhood, merely appearing a bit precocious. ¡°May I ask for your direction, Patriarch? My duty to contribute to the clan is unquestionable.¡± Lu Li declared with solemn oath. Lu Tiande nodded, obviously pleased. ¡°I¡¯ll let your Aunt Yun Ting arrange this matter.¡± At that moment, Lu Tiande suddenly waved his hand, and a large sky-blue egg and two Jade Scrolls landed on the stone platform in front. The egg was the size of a human head, surrounded by a green radiance. ¡°What is this?¡± Lu Li looked at the giant egg on the platform with surprise. ¡°This egg is from a second-order Green Spirit Python.¡± ¡°The one on the side is a second-order Artifact Refiner¡¯s legacy, containing some insights on Artifact Refining, while the other Jade Scroll is a Water Element Cultivation Technique,¡± Lu Tiande explained with a hint of a smile. Looking at the items on the platform, Lu Li felt a strong desire, but he remained silent for the moment, waiting. ¡°You really know how to keep your composure, young man. Countless others would kill for these items.¡± Lu Tiande taunted with a laugh. ¡°I will bestow these upon you.¡± Lu Li bowed, showing his gratitude, ¡°I dare not refuse such generous gifts from an elder, and I thank you, Patriarch!¡± ¡°Alright, take the items and hurry down the mountain.¡± Lu Li picked up the two items and immediately turned and left the cave dwelling. Looking at the retreating figure of Lu Li, Lu Tiande fell into contemplation. ¡°Grow quickly. All I can do for you now is just this much.¡± At that moment, Lu Yuting walked out from the side hall. ¡°Grandfather, you think highly of the Li boy?¡± Lu Tiande sighed, ¡°In this generation, other than Lu Qingqing, it is Lu Li. Let¡¯s give him a bit of fate.¡± ¡°The other families are becoming more and more restless, just waiting for this old man to pass away.¡± ¡°Granddaughter has reached the complete twelfth layer of Qi Cultivation. With one more Foundation Establishment pill, there is an eighty percent chance of success, securing the future to protect the family for another hundred years,¡± Lu Yuting said through gritted teeth, voicing her inner thoughts again. Lu Tiande simply shook his head, his expression growing desolate. ¡­ Lu Li returned to the interior of his cave dwelling, feeling somewhat heavy-hearted. Meeting the Patriarch this time gave him an eerie feeling; the value of these three items was not insignificant. He assumed the Patriarch must have also summoned Sister Qing Qing, making him wonder what she was given. Once his emotions had settled, he took out the Cultivation Technique Jade Scroll. ¡°Vast Sea Kun Void Technique¡± ¨C The Qi Cultivation Chapter. A message surged into the depths of his mind. After a moment, Lu Li had fully accepted the cultivation technique and slowly set down the Jade Scroll. ¡°It¡¯s actually a high-level technique.¡± Lu Li¡¯s face showed delight. His ancestor also possessed the Water Spirit Root, so this must be the cultivation technique the ancestor practiced. Once mastered, this technique would grant him immense mana, far stronger than that of the Water Cloud Technique. There was also a secret technique within, the ¡°Triple-Spirit Refinement Technique,¡± capable of greatly purifying mana¡ªtruly extraordinary. Finally, it included a water-element sword technique, the Azure Water Light-Splitting Sword Technique, which was also quite formidable. There were also some annotations and precautions. ¡°The ancestor really thought of everything.¡± Lu Li complimented inwardly. The next day, at dawn, Lu Li made his way to the Household Affairs Hall early in the morning. Inside the great hall, he saw Lu Yuting still lazily leaning against the chair, and he greeted her with clasped hands. ¡°Third Aunt, this junior has come to receive a family task.¡± ¡°The tasks are all listed here, take your pick.¡± Lu Yuting, without looking up, tossed over a list made of beast skin. Lu Li carefully examined the contents. ¡°Team up for a year of sea demon beast hunting¡­¡± ¡°Oversee the Bright Sun Island market for two years¡­¡± ¡°Set out to sea in search of Purple Sun Grass¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°Guard Golden Qilin Island for three years¡­¡± ¡°Third Aunt, I have made my choice, I¡¯ll take the task of guarding Golden Qilin Island.¡± Lu Li said respectfully. This task suited him perfectly as creating spirit beasts, switching cultivation techniques, and experimenting with the demon beast refining pot would all require a great amount of time. Without much further discussion, Lu Yuting handed him a Jade Scroll. ¡°Go to the island within fifteen days for the handover. Some precautions are in the Jade Scroll.¡± Lu Li took the Jade Scroll and walked out. Halfway there, he saw a burly man in his thirties walking toward him. This person was Lu Heng, with a cultivation level around the seventh layer of Qi Refinement. Lu Heng greeted Lu Li with a hearty smile, ¡°Sixth Brother, here to take on a task? How about hunting demon beasts together with your Second Brother?¡± Lu Li smiled, ¡°I have already taken on the task of island guarding, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t join Second Brother in hunting demon beasts at sea.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still as ¡®stable¡¯ as ever. Guarding the island doesn¡¯t pay much, it¡¯s only good for safety.¡± Lu Heng looked a bit perplexed. This Sixth Brother had gained some reputation within the family; it was surprising how quickly he almost caught up to him in cultivation in just a few years. After chatting a little more, the two said their goodbyes. In the following days, apart from studying the ¡°Vast Sea Kun Void Technique¡± meticulously, He went to the family¡¯s Artifact Hall to exchange for some low-level artifact refining materials and some demon beast carcasses. Then, he visited his parents¡¯ cave and left a message. His father Lu Chen and mother Ye Yuchan were both Qi Refinement tenth-level cultivators, both stationed on Bright Sun Island, guarding the family¡¯s shop. Thinking of his father Lu Chen, Lu Li sighed softly. His parents were always very good to him since he was young. His father had been injured in the lung meridian during a training mishap and hadn¡¯t recovered to this day; they placed all their hopes for Foundation Establishment on him. ¡­ Ten days later, at dawn. Greeting the morning light, Lu Li mounted his escaping light and flew towards a dock on the west side of Mystic Moon Island. Apart from the cultivators of the Lu Family, there were many ordinary mortals on Mystic Moon Island, exceeding two hundred thousand. Most of these people¡¯s ancestors were cultivators of the Lu Family, and generations have thrived here, with descendants possessing cultivation potential returning to the family. At this moment, the western dock was bustling with people preparing to fish at sea. On the other side, there was a clear distinction with the cultivators¡¯ residences. Just then, a streak of escaping light dashed from afar, drawing the frequent attention of a group of commoners. ¡°Grandpa, is that an Immortal Master? So amazing.¡± On the dock, a little girl asked crisply. The elder beside her also looked on with a nostalgic expression. Once the escaping light settled, an elegant figure was revealed. Lu Li surveyed his surroundings while hovering in mid-air, then withdrew his flying sword and landed on a platform by the sea. ¡°Senior, are you setting out to sea?¡± Seeing him approach, a young cultivator on the dock greeted him, with a cultivation level around the early phase of Qi Refinement. ¡°Off to Golden Qilin Island.¡± Lu Li nodded. These cultivators were mostly low-level Guest Elders of the family or Lu Family members with inadequate talent. The young cultivator then went to a green wooden boat and manipulated a spell to activate the controlling array. ¡°Senior, please.¡± Lu Li leapt up and landed firmly at the bow of the boat. Soon, the wooden boat sped away like an arrow loosed from its bow. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Hatching the Beast Egg Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Hatching the Beast Egg The wooden boat was not large, but it moved swiftly, propelled by the Spiritual Stones and an Array. The hull was constructed from a type of Iron Stone Wood, which was extremely durable. It could easily withstand small waves, but it would likely be insufficient against an attack from Demon Beasts. Lu Li stood at the bow, the sea breeze caressing his face, carrying a trace of warmth that made him feel drowsy. The air still carried a humid, salty scent. Not far away, various seabirds searched for food on the sea surface, making chirping noises. Although it wasn¡¯t his first time seeing the ocean, each encounter was still awe-inspiring. The vast, infinite sea was calm yet teeming with life. Beneath the sea was even more fascinating, with various Demon Beasts roaming and abundant spiritual materials. But for Human Clan Cultivators, the ocean depths were still largely inaccessible. Years ago, out of curiosity, he had stealthily dived to the seabed around Mystic Moon Island, but at just two hundred meters deep, the pressure became unbearable for him. ¡­¡­¡­ Several hours later, a small island joyfully appeared in view. The island was not large, about twenty miles or so in diameter, with lush vegetation and numerous birds. On Golden Qilin Island, there was a first-grade mid-level Spirit Vein beneath Sunset Peak on the west side of the island. Before even getting close, Lu Li sent a Communication Jade Scroll toward Sunset Peak, shooting it forward. Shortly after, a streak of light darted from the distance. A middle-aged cultivator in a black robe appeared instantly by the seaside. ¡°Mr. Lu has finally arrived; I have been waiting for a long time,¡± Wang Ping said with a smile on his face. ¡°It¡¯s been several years since we last met; Mr. Wang still looks as graceful as ever, having broken through to the sixth layer of Qi Refinement,¡± Lu Li replied with a smile. This man was a Guest Elder of his family, and they had met a few times before. ¡°Ha ha¡­ I am nothing compared to Mr. Lu¡¯s extraordinary talents. Are you here to check on the Spiritual Objects at Sunset Peak?¡± Lu Li nodded. According to family rules, this was a necessary step to prevent any potential disputes. While talking, the two of them flew towards Sunset Peak on the island. Soon, they reached an Array at the base of the mountain. Wang Ping took out a black Token. He cast several Magic Spells, and the Token quickly emitted a white light that shot into the Array, causing ripples to spread through the Big Formation and revealing a pathway. ¡°This is the control Token for this Array; I will hand it over to Mr. Lu,¡± he said, passing the Token over. Lu Li did not hesitate and took it directly. They walked straight into the Array, and along the way, Wang Ping took the opportunity to explain it. ¡°This Array is called the Earth Spirit Trapping Array, a first-grade high-quality Array with impressive defensive capabilities. You can simply activate its defensive functions using the control Token.¡± ¡°Mr. Lu just needs to get more accustomed to it,¡± he added. Lu Li nodded; this Array was crucial for his safety in the coming years and could not be neglected. The two continued walking up the mountain. Sunset Peak was not large, covering only a few miles, but it was lush and vibrant. The spring at the mountain peak flowed slowly down to the foot of the mountain. Near the middle of the mountain, there were several acres of spirit fields filled with Spirit Tooth Rice, though the plants were still just seedlings. Apart from the spirit fields, to the left of the mountain peak, there were several Spiritual Mulberry Trees, whose leaves could feed some Spiritual Silkworms. With these Spirit Trees, the Spiritual Silkworms produced a significant amount of silk each year. The silk could be used to create mid-grade first-order Defensive Magical Artifacts and also brought some income to the family. After Wang Ping had shown Lu Li around, he initiated a conversation, ¡°Have you inspected everything, fellow Daoist? If everything is in order, I will return to finalize the handover.¡± Lu Li nodded, ¡°Then, please do as you wish, fellow Daoist. Please forgive me for not being a more attentive host.¡± After saying their goodbyes, Wang Ping flew towards the base of the mountain. Watching him leave the Array, Lu Li immediately took out the controlling Token and began refining it. He soon had initially refined the Token, and following that, he cast several controlling Magic Spells. The Token shone brightly in an instant. At that moment, the Array began to shift rapidly, with the surroundings¡¯ wind and clouds transforming and some illusory objects appearing to shift places. In no time, it transformed into a different appearance, with some critical points of the Array also instantly changing positions. After finishing all this, Lu Li slowly exhaled. Going forward, as long as he spent some time each day refining the Token, he would become proficient and be able to unleash the full power of the Array. It was also out of his caution, as one could never guarantee that the previous Cultivator who used the Array hadn¡¯t left any traps behind. Caution is the parent of safety. Afterwards, he flew to the top of the mountain and entered a simple cave dwelling. The cave was not large and was furnished very simply. The main hall had only two meditation cushions and a stone table. On each side, there was a Spirit Beast room and an Artifact Refining Room. First, he went into the Spirit Beast room, which was filled with a unique odor, and the floor still had remains of Spirit Grass that beasts liked to eat. Lu Li first cleaned the floor, then he took out a small nest and carefully placed the Green Spirit Python Egg inside. After completing all this, he also placed several Water Attribute Spirit Stones and a few pieces of Ice Jade around the beast egg. At that moment, thin strands of Spiritual Energy began to gather around the egg, then slowly seeped into the shell, which was very pleasing to him. The Green Spirit Python, as a second-order Spirit Beast, had a fifty percent chance that its offspring could breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and with proper nurturing, it would be a great aid in the future. If it was the offspring of a third-order Demon Beast, it would definitely reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, and there was even a thirty percent chance it could become a third-order Demon Beast. Of course, some few lucky individuals among the Demon Beasts could mutate or even surpass their parents. As a Water Attribute Spirit Beast, its strength increased significantly in the ocean, which is why the Lu Family Ancestor managed to suppress a family for over a hundred years at the Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage. According to family records, ¡°A snake turns into a python in a hundred years, and into a lesser dragon in five hundred years.¡± As a Dragon Seed, its strength was extraordinary. Not to mention the Hornless Dragon in the depths of the Endless Sea Domain, its Divine Skills were impressive, turning seas and rivers upside down in the ocean. Moments later, he gathered his scattered thoughts. Then, he walked up to the beast egg, bit his finger to squeeze out a drop of Essence Blood, and then started to inscribe mysterious Runes on the egg. In just a few breaths, the surface of the egg was covered with Blood Runes. After completing all this, Lu Li stopped and quietly observed. The surface of the beast egg began to emit a greenish glow, similar to breathing, while the Blood Runes on the surface gradually dimmed, being absorbed into the shell. This was a Blood Covenant control technique. After just forty-nine days, the Ritual would be complete. The hatched spirit beast would be utterly loyal, unable to betray or dissolve the Blood Covenant; if the master died, the spirit beast would also perish, which was extremely domineering. Such a technique could only be successfully refined while the spirit beast was still na?ve and ignorant. After everything was done, Lu Li left the Spirit Beast Room and came to the main hall to sit down cross-legged. With a thought, the Beast Refining Pot appeared in front of him. Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Refining Monsters Illusion Spirit Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Refining Monsters Illusion Spirit Lu Li slowly channeled his mana into the Mystic Item Pot. He watched it slowly levitate in front of him, emitting a faint light. Then, two golden Runes flashed into his mind. Although he did not recognize them, he instantly understood their meaning within his mind. ¡°Mystic Item Illusion Spirit?¡± Lu Li¡¯s face showed a contemplative expression. Next, he used his Divine Sense to open the mouth of the pot, and with a pat on his Storage Bag, the corpse of a large Demon Beast appeared on the ground. It was the body of a Crab Demon at the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation, still exuding a condensed evil spirit, clearly having not been dead for long. Its two front pincers looked formidable and awe-inspiring. Lu Li aimed the mouth of the pot at the Crab Demon¡¯s corpse and with a thought, activated the ¡°Mystic Item¡± Rune. The Demon Corpse slowly drifted toward the Mystic Item Pot, shrinking as it neared the mouth until it was but the size of a fist and completely entered the pot. He picked up the Mystic Item Pot, looked at the bottom, and there lay a miniaturized version of the Demon Beast¡¯s corpse¡ªquite intriguing. Lu Li covered the mouth of the pot and once more invoked the ¡°Mystic Item¡± Rune. The Mystic Item Pot trembled slightly, its light flickering unpredictably. Soon enough, it ceased any movement. Looking at the Mystical Treasure in front of him without any noticeable change, he shook the pot with his hand and felt a slight swaying of liquid through his hand. ¡°Just as I thought.¡± Seeing his guess confirmed, a hint of joy appeared on Lu Li¡¯s face. He slowly opened the mouth of the pot¡ªthe Crab Demon¡¯s corpse had already vanished, leaving behind only a pool of clear water. The water was clear and bright, with strands of mist rising from it, carrying a refreshing fragrance. Such a rapid process, the Demon Beast had been transformed into a pool of clear water in just a moment. Lu Li was quite astonished. What followed was to verify what this ¡°spring water¡± could do. He dared not taste it himself. Should it contain other peculiar malevolent auras or unknown substances, the risk could far outweigh the benefits. He stood up and walked out of his cave, flying toward the spirit fields on the mountainside. Before long, he arrived above a ridge. The air was filled with a fresh fragrance, mixed with the scent of the earth, which was exceedingly comforting. These Spirit Tooth Rice seedlings were of a medium grade, containing some Spiritual Energy when mature. Long-term consumption could aid in Qi Cultivation, making it a hot commodity in the Cultivation World. Lu Li squatted down in front of a seedling and cautiously poured the ¡°spring water¡± from the pot, watering the nearest few seedlings. After completing these tasks, he went out to catch a wild monkey and brought it up the mountain. There was no shortage of wild animals on Golden Qilin Island where thousands of mortals lived. Holding the wild beast by the nape, he walked into the Artifact Refining Room within the cave. The half-human tall grey monkey in front of him was shivering in fear. Not waiting for its resistance, he forced a few mouthfuls of Spiritual Liquid into the creature¡¯s mouth. It coughed and teared up, looking at him with a face full of fear. Afterward, Lu Li released the creature and, setting up a restraint rune, left the Artifact Refining Room. Now, all that remained was to observe quietly. The next day, early in the morning. Lu Li went directly to the Artifact Refining Room only to see a wild monkey crouching in a corner, still lively despite having not eaten for a long time. Upon seeing Lu Li enter, it immediately started to scream shrilly, sheer terror on its face. ¡°Eh?¡± Lu Li felt somewhat surprised, sensing a faint Demon Energy from the wild monkey that was not easy to perceive without close observation. It was flickering in and out of visibility like a rootless weed that could disappear at any moment. It was fortunate he hadn¡¯t impulsively drunk the Spiritual Liquid yesterday; pollution of his own mana would have been very troublesome. It seemed the Spiritual Liquid was harmless to Demon Beasts and might even have considerable benefits. Later, Lu Li stopped concerning himself with it and stepped out of his cave, approaching the spirit fields. He focused his gaze and saw that the seedlings which had been watered with spirit water didn¡¯t show much change from the previous day, except they seemed a bit more vigorous. ¡°Well, let¡¯s experiment again later. It seems that this Spiritual Liquid is mainly useful for demon beasts and doesn¡¯t have an obvious effect on spirit grass.¡± Lu Li didn¡¯t insist further. Just as he prepared to return to his cave, he saw several figures dressed as fishermen gathered at the base of Sunset Peak, walking around outside the array. He frowned and leaped down the mountain in a single bound. Lu Li deactivated the array and stepped out, only to see an old man dressed in a wealthy merchant¡¯s clothes leading a few middle-aged men standing on an open field. There was also a young woman accompanying the elder. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Lu Li asked indifferently. Lu Qing, looking at Lu Li emerging, showed a face filled with panic, ¡°We simple country folks have disturbed the Immortal Master; truly, we deserve death.¡± ¡°When Immortal Master Wang left, he mentioned once that a new Immortal Master would come to protect Golden Qilin Island. We¡¯ve taken the liberty to come and pay our respects.¡± After speaking, he respectfully presented some local products. ¡°Hm¡­ I appreciate your sentiment. I am a cultivator of the Lu Family, stationed here for the next three years. Unless it¡¯s a matter of great importance, do not come to disturb me.¡± Lu Li nodded. Just as he was about to leave, the elder cautiously spoke up, ¡°This is my granddaughter Xiao Die; she is nimble and handy. May I know if the Immortal Master could use an attendant?¡± He even pulled the young woman to his side. She was slender, not weathered by the elements like the fishermen, her complexion slightly flushed, gazing expectantly at Lu Li. Lu Li smiled wryly, ¡°No need. I am quite accustomed to being free and easy.¡± He promptly refused and then turned to step back into the array, fully aware of the elder¡¯s suggestion. Though he was not an ascetic cultivator, ordinary mortal women were not within his consideration. Seeing Lu Li refuse, both the elder and the young woman appeared disappointed. ¡°Sigh¡­ Xiao Die does not have such good fortune; this Lu Family Immortal Master seems to be a paragon of integrity, quite different from Immortal Master Wang, and also much younger.¡± Tears swirled in Xiao Die¡¯s eyes, ¡°Grandfather, I understand; I shouldn¡¯t have entertained such inappropriate thoughts.¡± ¡­ After Lu Li returned to his cave, he eagerly headed to the spirit beast room. The beast egg amongst the pile of spirit stones seemed more vibrant than yesterday, and the spiritual energy around it had increased. He approached the beast egg and again etched the Blood Sacrificial Rune into it. After the runes slowly receded into the egg, he took out the refining demon pot and slowly poured some Spiritual Liquid onto the beast egg. The egg began to emit a faint light, as if coming to life, and the Spiritual Liquid subsequently seeped into the egg, with Lu Li even sensing a hint of joy from something small within. Time flies like an arrow, and five days later, in the spirit beast room. Lu Li stood in front of the beast egg, which now had a much stronger aura and its Life Energy was extremely vigorous. The Spiritual Liquid in the refining demon pot had finally been used up. This greatly surprised him. For the past few days, he had been watering the beast egg with Spiritual Liquid every day, each time until it couldn¡¯t absorb any more. The conversion efficiency was incredibly astonishing. Most of the essence of demon beasts lies in their flesh, which explains their extremely powerful bodies. There were few ways for Human Clan Cultivators to deal with demon beast corpses; aside from crafting Magic Artifacts and Medicine Pills, the only other use was to directly consume their flesh. However, this would waste a lot of spiritual energy within the demon corpses, and the cultivator would only gain a slight amount of mana after consumption, with an efficacy of less than twenty percent. In comparison, the refinement process of the refining demon pot utilized demon corpses with a much higher efficiency; the effect was practically heaven-defying. However, some spiritual energy would still dissipate upon a demon beast¡¯s death, so it was impossible to achieve one hundred percent utilization, although he estimated it might be around fifty to sixty percent. With this thought, a rush of exhilaration surged through him. In the future, as long as he had a large number of demon beast corpses, his Lifebound Spirit Beast would become one of the biggest supports on his cultivation path. There might even be some hope for the Green Spirit Python transforming into a ¡°dragon.¡± However, demon beast corpses were quite rare, and purchasing them required a substantial amount of spirit stones. Setting aside whether there were enough spirit stones, buying too many might raise suspicions, which could be problematic. It seemed he needed to give this careful consideration. Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5 2 Runes Chapter 5: Chapter 5 2 Runes Lu Li came to the main hall, sat down on a cushion, and took out the Demon-Refining Pot. He then pulled out a sea serpent corpse from his storage bag. After aiming the pot¡¯s mouth at the serpent-like demon beast on the ground, he activated the Demon-Refining Pot, and quickly the body was absorbed inside. Next, he activated the second rune, ¡°Illusion Spirit,¡± and then began to quietly wait. After a while, there was no reaction at all. ¡°Huh? Something seems off.¡± ¡°Could there be something wrong with this rune? Or is it restricted by cultivation level?¡± He directly opened the pot to look inside, only to see that the giant snake¡¯s body had completely disappeared. What¡­ what exactly happened? Lu Li grew somewhat puzzled, it seemed like a success, or had he done something wrong? He studied again for a while but discovered no clues, deciding to give up and try again later. He then put away the wondrous treasure, and at that moment, something bizarre occurred. With a buzzing noise, a large demon snake materialized around Lu Li, enveloping him entirely. The giant viper was lifelike, emitting waves of evil aura, each of its scales clearly visible. At a thought from Lu Li, the giant snake immediately began to move, its demon body shifting capriciously with his will, extremely nimble, as though it was his own body. ¡°This¡­ is amazing.¡± Lu Li¡¯s face was filled with surprise, his whole mind shaking. At that moment, he suddenly understood the profound utility of the Illusion Spirit Rune, a perfect match with the Demon-Refining Rune. With it, one could transform into various demon beasts to roam the ocean depths, explore Immortal Mansions and search for Spiritual Objects, slay demon beasts, then refine them into ¡°Spiritual Liquid.¡± The ¡°Spiritual Liquid¡± in turn nurtured the Green Spirit Python; as the creatures grew stronger, they could go on to slay more demon beasts¡­ This was simply a perfect closed loop. As long as the lifebound spirit beast had a profound base, endlessly fed with Spiritual Liquid, it might even transform into a ¡°Dragon Seed.¡± The giant viper, or even the Hornless Dragon, and with the accompanying ¡°Dragon Power,¡± the entire sea could become his own garden; Golden Core and Nascent Soul were no longer out of reach. Lu Li¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t stop trembling; he felt as though a glorious pathway lay at his feet. ¡°Steady, steady¡­¡± He took a deep breath, slowly calming his excited heart, the treasure was simply too astounding. It wasn¡¯t time to explore the deep sea yet; he forcefully suppressed the restlessness in his heart. It would be better to wait until after the lifebound spirit beast¡¯s egg had hatched; having a companion at the bottom of the sea would be beneficial. The seabed was no safe place; it teemed with numerous demon beasts, and without sufficient preparations, one might end up as demon beast food. It was a good time to switch cultivation techniques since practicing the sword techniques also required a lot of time. As long as he cultivated the ¡°Azure Water Light-Splitting Sword Technique¡± to a minor level of accomplishment, his attack power would greatly increase, and his safety in the seabed would be much improved. After some time, Lu Li thought to exit the transformative state, and the giant snake immediately turned into a green mark, imprinting itself on the Demon-Refining Pot. If he didn¡¯t need to transform into this beast again in the future, he could simply refine it, which was very convenient. Having stored the Demon-Refining Pot, he then began to prepare for meditation and cultivation. He took out the ¡°Vast Sea Kun Void Technique¡± Qi Cultivation chapter from the Jade Scroll and started to comprehend it carefully. He had been studying this technique for over ten days and had already grasped all the subtleties of the mid-stage Qi Cultivation. Next, he would officially begin the switch in cultivation, and because both were Water Element Cultivation Techniques, the transition was relatively easy. ¡°The heart as vast as Kun, the origin as one¡­¡± Lu Li carefully pondered on the core principles of the technique, took a deep breath, and then began to practice according to the first level of Qi Cultivation. A large amount of Spiritual Energy from the air surged toward him, and his original Mana quickly became the new technique¡¯s Mana. The newborn Mana was very weak, but it was exceptionally pure and resilient; as he continued with his practice, this Mana rapidly grew stronger. Not much time had passed before Lu Li¡¯s breath diminished by a segment, reverting back to the fifth level of Qi Cultivation. The newly born mana had also grown stronger, having already reached the first level of Qi Cultivation, he then began to operate his cultivation technique. ¡­ Ten days later, inside the cave. Lu Li sat cross-legged upon a meditation cushion, his eyes slightly closed, his body emitting a strong and vast aura. He felt the surging mana within his body, the fifth level of the Vast Sea Kun Void Technique had already been mastered, it was simply a change of cultivation path and not very difficult. The fifth level of the Vast Sea Kun Void Technique was much more powerful than the sixth level of the Water Cloud Jutsu he had practiced before, but this still did not satisfy him. Having already experienced a breakthrough once, he believed this time should naturally follow suit. Thinking thus, he began to take action and took out an exquisite porcelain bottle. He poured out the Qi Cultivation pills inside, only two were left, and he threw them all into his mouth. ¡°Gulp¡­¡± As soon as he swallowed them, the mana within his body immediately began to boil, letting out a roaring sound. He began to fully operate his cultivation technique, aiming to advance to the sixth level of Qi Cultivation. Not long after, his own breath suddenly increased by a large margin, the cultivation technique began to slowly operate along a new trajectory, and he returned to the sixth level of Qi Cultivation. A faint smile appeared on Lu Li¡¯s face as he explored the mana within his body, which gave him a great surprise ¨C it had become more than twice as strong as before. Indeed, a high-level cultivation technique was truly extraordinary, he thought to himself. Over these ten days, besides diligently converting to the Vast Sea Kun Void Technique, he also went daily to inscribe Blood Sacrificial Runes on the Beast Egg and water it with Spiritual Liquid. After these days of effort, the Spiritual Energy and the vitality within the Beast Egg had become even stronger. Not only that, but now Lu Li could fully feel the little one¡¯s presence. Every time it felt his approach, it would convey a joyful emotion, everything was developing methodically. Following that, Lu Li consecrated the Array Formation Token anew, deepening his control over the array, then he left the cave and came to an open space at the peak top. He took out a mid-grade Flying Sword, the Aminokaze. The sword was about three feet long, a sky-blue color throughout, covered in mysterious runes, and the tip hinted at a touch of sharpness. The Aminokaze was a gift from his mother Ye Yuchan when he had just broken through to the fourth level of Qi Cultivation, accompanied by a mid-grade Defensive Magical Artifact, the Green Origin Cauldron, with quite remarkable defensive power. This sword was also among the top in the mid-grade magic artifacts, fitting for his current use. As for controlling a high-grade magic artifact during the middle stages of Qi Cultivation requiring more mana and unable to be stimulated to the utmost, in combat, it did not offer much of an advantage. With one defensive and one offensive top mid-grade magic artifacts, this was also top-level equipment among the family¡¯s cultivators. Generally, Defensive Magical Artifacts were several times more expensive than attack magic tools, and among them, cauldron-type magic artifacts were the priciest, nearly reaching the same value as common high-grade magic artifacts. Then, Lu Li began to practice the new cultivation technique, the Azure Water Light-Splitting Sword Technique. This sword technique was divided into four levels: introductory, minor achievement, major achievement, and perfection. The Jade Scroll described that upon reaching perfection, the sword light could split into seventy-two strands, arranging into the Earth Evil Muddled Sky Array, possessing incredible might, and the final move where the sword light unified was extraordinary. Lu Li began to stimulate the Aminokaze, and saw that sword shadows began to permeate the open space, and before long, a fierce wind began to howl, converging into a vortex of Spiritual Energy. Having a few years of practice with other sword techniques as a base, mastering this sword technique was quite smooth. He had already reached the introductory level in just half a day. With the Azure Water Light-Splitting Sword Technique activated, the Aminokaze emitted a brilliant blue light, its tip exuding extreme sharpness, rapidly pulsating in a chilling manner. Lu Li nodded in satisfaction, after reaching the introductory level, he only needed to persist in daily practice, which was a matter that couldn¡¯t be rushed. Once he achieved minor achievement, its might would greatly increase, becoming yet another ace in his hand. Next, he continued to practice the sword technique for a while until more than half of his mana was depleted, then he began to sit in meditation and cultivate his Qi. Cultivation is like rowing upstream, only with daily, uninterrupted toil can one bravely push forward and climb upwards; he had practiced this way for many years, and it had long become a habit. Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter Six: First Journey into the Depths of the Sea Chapter 6: Chapter Six: First Journey into the Depths of the Sea Time flew like an arrow, and in a blink of an eye, more than a month had passed. During this time, Lu Li would carve the Blood Sacrificial Rune and water the Beast Egg every day. He also practiced his Cultivation Technique and Sword Technique, leading a very fulfilling life. At noon, Lu Li walked into the Spiritual Beast Room and carefully examined the Beast Egg in front of him. The egg radiated a bright translucence all around it, its Life Force growing stronger and more vigorous, feeling like a blazing flame even from a distance. The Blood Sacrificial Rune had already reappeared, covering the entire shell, looking very mysterious. Due to the long-term consumption of Essence Blood, his complexion had turned somewhat pale, but fortunately, it had completely ended, and he would recover well after several months of rest. Lu Li stepped forward, picked up a few discarded Spirit Stones from around the Beast Egg, replaced them with new ones, and then left the Spiritual Beast Room. Afterward, he came to the edge of the Spirit Field outside his cave, and activated the ¡°Cloud Rain Skill¡± Magic Spell. A breeze passed by, and clouds quickly gathered in the sky, soon followed by a light drizzle of rain. The young spirit plants, nourished by the rain, appeared even fresher and more luscious. Having done all this, he began to practice his Sword Technique again, aiming to reach a minor level of mastery soon. The days slowly slipped away like this. One day, Lu Li returned to the Spiritual Beast Room. The scene before him made him frown. The Spiritual Light on the Beast Egg had dimmed considerably, and even the flame of life had weakened a lot. These abnormalities left him very surprised. He surveyed the surroundings; the few Water Attribute Spirit Stones he had placed a few days before were still brimming with Spiritual Energy. This made him even more puzzled. ¡°Could it be¡­?¡± Suddenly, Lu Li thought of a possibility. Several days passed by, and indeed, the changes in the Beast Egg confirmed his suspicion. He stood inside the Spiritual Beast Room with a somewhat odd expression on his face. The condition of the Green Spirit Python now vaguely resembled something Lu Li had read about in an ancient book, ¡°the birth of a Beast King.¡± It is said that some Demon Beasts are born with astonishing potential and, after hatching, will become Demon Beast Kings. The Demon Beast King not only possesses incredible strength, surpassing its peers, but also holds a sliver of hope for its bloodline¡¯s ancestry to be restored. However, this challenge is quite difficult; failure to overcome it would result in a stillborn. Lu Li watched the Beast Egg quietly, his face starting to grow tense. It seemed that the Spiritual Liquid had greatly enhanced the potential of the Beast Egg, giving it a chance to become a Beast King. If the hatching of the Beast Egg failed, the loss would be significant. This challenge could only be faced by the egg itself; Lu Li had done almost everything he could. In the following days, the Life Force of the Beast Egg continued to decay. Lu Li stood in front of the Beast Egg, feeling extremely anxious. The shell began to lose its luster, and the flame of life seemed to flicker like a dying flame, about to extinguish at any moment. If not for the faint fluctuations he could still sense, he might have thought it was a dead egg already. Lu Li sighed; it seemed the Green Spirit Python would not make it, and his considerable efforts would be in vain, leaving him temporarily dejected. He turned and walked out. In the following month, he visited the Beast Egg daily, which remained in that half-dead state. Lu Li had completely lost hope, it seemed this was a failed hatching. One day, early in the morning. Lu Li came to the Spiritual Beast Room again to check on the situation. Suddenly, he felt something unusual inside the Beast Egg, the flame of life twitched slightly. He almost doubted his own eyes, then began to hold his breath and concentrate on the Beast Egg. Indeed, after a short while, the flame of life inside the Beast Egg twitched once more, then surged significantly, reaching half of its original strength. ¡°Success!¡± Lu Li was instantly exhilarated; his long days of effort finally paid off. At that moment, a small whirlwind suddenly started within the Spiritual Beast Room. The Spiritual Energy around began to rapidly converge and slowly entered into the Beast Egg. ¡°Hungry¡­¡± At the same time, a thought suddenly emerged deep within Lu Li¡¯s mind, which he perceived clearly. Without hesitation, he took out the refining demon pot and refined another Demon Corpse. Before long, a portion of Spiritual Liquid was formed once again. Afterward, he walked over to the beast egg and slowly poured the spiritual liquid onto the shell. Soon, a satisfied consciousness transmitted into his mind. Lu Li smiled, it seemed the other party had completely taken shape, and its intelligence was not low either. Worthy of being a Demon Beast King. Having done all this, he then walked out. In the following days, besides familiarizing himself with the arrays and practicing sword techniques every day, he watered the beast egg. That day, when Lu Li came to the spirit beast room, he noticed the life force of the beast egg had become several times more vigorous than before. It radiated a translucent brilliance like colored glaze and even emitted a faint spiritual pressure. It looked like the spirit beast was about to be born. After confirming this information, Lu Li couldn¡¯t help but feel overjoyed. He sat cross-legged on the ground, quietly waiting. Several hours passed, and suddenly there was a light ¡°crack¡± sound, and a few cracks appeared on the top of the shell. Before long, a pitch-black snake¡¯s head emerged, flickering its forked tongue as it looked around. When the little snake saw Lu Li, its eyes revealed an excited light. A sense of closeness also came from the depths of Lu Li¡¯s mind, and he quietly observed the spirit beast. Then the little snake swiftly broke through the shell, and its whole body came out. It started to bite the eggshell next to it and gobbled it up in no time at all. After eating, its body suddenly grew a section, transforming into a small-sized python about the thickness of an arm and half the height of a person. Then it crawled over to Lu Li and coiled around him. Lu Li carefully felt the spirit beast¡¯s breath; it was born at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation, breath astonishingly powerful. ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be called Iron Pillar.¡± He immediately took out the Spiritual Beast Bag and collected it inside; the other party did not resist at all. In the following months, Lu Li fed the spirit beast and practiced cultivation techniques and sword techniques every day. Until recently when the spiritual liquid was completely depleted, the Green Spirit Python also underwent great changes. Lu Li stood outside the cave on the mountain peak, carefully sizing up the Green Spirit Python. The body of the python was more than a zhang long, about the thickness of an adult¡¯s lower leg. The pitch-black scales all over its body shone with a dim light, appearing to have strong defense. The python¡¯s head was triangular-shaped, and at this moment, it was flickering its tongue, its pair of cold eyes causing one to shudder. Months had passed, the Green Spirit Python had reached the fifth level of Qi Cultivation, and the surrounding spiritual pressure was truly astonishing. At that moment, Lu Li took out Aminokaze and began practicing his sword technique. With mana energized, the surrounding spiritual energy began to ripple, and several hours later, Aminokaze suddenly blazed with light, in the blink of an eye turning into twelve sword shadows, forming a small Sword Array. ¡°The sword technique has finally achieved a minor level of proficiency!¡± A few days ago, he had felt a bottleneck, and today he had indeed broken through. ¡­ Nightfall brought a bright moon and sparse stars, with silence all around. Lu Li arrived at the northwestern edge of Golden Qilin Island, above a coast. This sea region belonged to the periphery of the Sunset Dragon Sea. Getting closer to the north meant gradually going deeper into the Inner Sea, while the south was known as the Land of Ruins, where the spiritual energy was chaotic and extremely dangerous. He walked to the seaside and with a leap, his entire body plunged straight into the sea. The moment he entered the water, he felt a coldness envelop his body, a salty and damp smell flooding his nose and mouth. Below the sea surface was even more dark and obscure. Lu Li quickly operated the Water Repelling Technique until a spiritual light enveloped him, making him feel much better. He swam gradually deeper, occasionally turning his head to observe the surroundings. Now and then, he could feel some fish swimming past him. Around him, seaweed and various plants revealed their fine details under the sweep of his Divine Sense. As he delved deeper, and around four hundred meters deep, he felt the spiritual energy depleting very rapidly. The pressure around him also suddenly increased a lot; he knew this was probably the limit for normal Cultivators. Cultivators with full Qi Cultivation and those above Foundation Establishment could definitely dive deeper, but in comparison to the tens of thousands of meters deep ocean, it was still far from enough. Thus, the ocean was the forbidden area for Human Clan Cultivators, and at the bottom of the sea, Human Clan Cultivators could usually only exert seventy to eighty percent of their strength, which was very dangerous when encountering a Demon Beast of the same level. But for Lu Li, this was an opportunity sent from heaven, the entire vast ocean would become his hunting ground. After testing it out, Lu Li didn¡¯t push himself further. He directly operated the Demon Refining Pot, and his whole body suddenly transformed. A huge demon snake appeared at the bottom of the sea, and at that moment, he felt the pressure on his body suddenly lessen, everything around becoming much more familiar. Lu Li, controlling the demon body, continued to swim towards the deeper parts of the sea bottom. Chapter 7 - Chapter 6: Chapter Six: First Journey into the Depths of the Sea Chapter 6: Chapter Six: First Journey into the Depths of the Sea Time flew like an arrow, and in a blink of an eye, more than a month had passed. During this time, Lu Li would carve the Blood Sacrificial Rune and water the Beast Egg every day. He also practiced his Cultivation Technique and Sword Technique, leading a very fulfilling life. At noon, Lu Li walked into the Spiritual Beast Room and carefully examined the Beast Egg in front of him. The egg radiated a bright translucence all around it, its Life Force growing stronger and more vigorous, feeling like a blazing flame even from a distance. The Blood Sacrificial Rune had already reappeared, covering the entire shell, looking very mysterious. Due to the long-term consumption of Essence Blood, his complexion had turned somewhat pale, but fortunately, it had completely ended, and he would recover well after several months of rest. Lu Li stepped forward, picked up a few discarded Spirit Stones from around the Beast Egg, replaced them with new ones, and then left the Spiritual Beast Room. Afterward, he came to the edge of the Spirit Field outside his cave, and activated the ¡°Cloud Rain Skill¡± Magic Spell. A breeze passed by, and clouds quickly gathered in the sky, soon followed by a light drizzle of rain. The young spirit plants, nourished by the rain, appeared even fresher and more luscious. Having done all this, he began to practice his Sword Technique again, aiming to reach a minor level of mastery soon. The days slowly slipped away like this. One day, Lu Li returned to the Spiritual Beast Room. The scene before him made him frown. The Spiritual Light on the Beast Egg had dimmed considerably, and even the flame of life had weakened a lot. These abnormalities left him very surprised. He surveyed the surroundings; the few Water Attribute Spirit Stones he had placed a few days before were still brimming with Spiritual Energy. This made him even more puzzled. ¡°Could it be¡­?¡± Suddenly, Lu Li thought of a possibility. Several days passed by, and indeed, the changes in the Beast Egg confirmed his suspicion. He stood inside the Spiritual Beast Room with a somewhat odd expression on his face. The condition of the Green Spirit Python now vaguely resembled something Lu Li had read about in an ancient book, ¡°the birth of a Beast King.¡± It is said that some Demon Beasts are born with astonishing potential and, after hatching, will become Demon Beast Kings. The Demon Beast King not only possesses incredible strength, surpassing its peers, but also holds a sliver of hope for its bloodline¡¯s ancestry to be restored. However, this challenge is quite difficult; failure to overcome it would result in a stillborn. Lu Li watched the Beast Egg quietly, his face starting to grow tense. It seemed that the Spiritual Liquid had greatly enhanced the potential of the Beast Egg, giving it a chance to become a Beast King. If the hatching of the Beast Egg failed, the loss would be significant. This challenge could only be faced by the egg itself; Lu Li had done almost everything he could. In the following days, the Life Force of the Beast Egg continued to decay. Lu Li stood in front of the Beast Egg, feeling extremely anxious. The shell began to lose its luster, and the flame of life seemed to flicker like a dying flame, about to extinguish at any moment. If not for the faint fluctuations he could still sense, he might have thought it was a dead egg already. Lu Li sighed; it seemed the Green Spirit Python would not make it, and his considerable efforts would be in vain, leaving him temporarily dejected. He turned and walked out. In the following month, he visited the Beast Egg daily, which remained in that half-dead state. Lu Li had completely lost hope, it seemed this was a failed hatching. One day, early in the morning. Lu Li came to the Spiritual Beast Room again to check on the situation. Suddenly, he felt something unusual inside the Beast Egg, the flame of life twitched slightly. He almost doubted his own eyes, then began to hold his breath and concentrate on the Beast Egg. Indeed, after a short while, the flame of life inside the Beast Egg twitched once more, then surged significantly, reaching half of its original strength. ¡°Success!¡± Lu Li was instantly exhilarated; his long days of effort finally paid off. At that moment, a small whirlwind suddenly started within the Spiritual Beast Room. The Spiritual Energy around began to rapidly converge and slowly entered into the Beast Egg. ¡°Hungry¡­¡± At the same time, a thought suddenly emerged deep within Lu Li¡¯s mind, which he perceived clearly. Without hesitation, he took out the refining demon pot and refined another Demon Corpse. Before long, a portion of Spiritual Liquid was formed once again. Afterward, he walked over to the beast egg and slowly poured the spiritual liquid onto the shell. Soon, a satisfied consciousness transmitted into his mind. Lu Li smiled, it seemed the other party had completely taken shape, and its intelligence was not low either. Worthy of being a Demon Beast King. Having done all this, he then walked out. In the following days, besides familiarizing himself with the arrays and practicing sword techniques every day, he watered the beast egg. That day, when Lu Li came to the spirit beast room, he noticed the life force of the beast egg had become several times more vigorous than before. It radiated a translucent brilliance like colored glaze and even emitted a faint spiritual pressure. It looked like the spirit beast was about to be born. After confirming this information, Lu Li couldn¡¯t help but feel overjoyed. He sat cross-legged on the ground, quietly waiting. Several hours passed, and suddenly there was a light ¡°crack¡± sound, and a few cracks appeared on the top of the shell. Before long, a pitch-black snake¡¯s head emerged, flickering its forked tongue as it looked around. When the little snake saw Lu Li, its eyes revealed an excited light. A sense of closeness also came from the depths of Lu Li¡¯s mind, and he quietly observed the spirit beast. Then the little snake swiftly broke through the shell, and its whole body came out. It started to bite the eggshell next to it and gobbled it up in no time at all. After eating, its body suddenly grew a section, transforming into a small-sized python about the thickness of an arm and half the height of a person. Then it crawled over to Lu Li and coiled around him. Lu Li carefully felt the spirit beast¡¯s breath; it was born at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation, breath astonishingly powerful. ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be called Iron Pillar.¡± He immediately took out the Spiritual Beast Bag and collected it inside; the other party did not resist at all. In the following months, Lu Li fed the spirit beast and practiced cultivation techniques and sword techniques every day. Until recently when the spiritual liquid was completely depleted, the Green Spirit Python also underwent great changes. Lu Li stood outside the cave on the mountain peak, carefully sizing up the Green Spirit Python. The body of the python was more than a zhang long, about the thickness of an adult¡¯s lower leg. The pitch-black scales all over its body shone with a dim light, appearing to have strong defense. The python¡¯s head was triangular-shaped, and at this moment, it was flickering its tongue, its pair of cold eyes causing one to shudder. Months had passed, the Green Spirit Python had reached the fifth level of Qi Cultivation, and the surrounding spiritual pressure was truly astonishing. At that moment, Lu Li took out Aminokaze and began practicing his sword technique. With mana energized, the surrounding spiritual energy began to ripple, and several hours later, Aminokaze suddenly blazed with light, in the blink of an eye turning into twelve sword shadows, forming a small Sword Array. ¡°The sword technique has finally achieved a minor level of proficiency!¡± A few days ago, he had felt a bottleneck, and today he had indeed broken through. ¡­ Nightfall brought a bright moon and sparse stars, with silence all around. Lu Li arrived at the northwestern edge of Golden Qilin Island, above a coast. This sea region belonged to the periphery of the Sunset Dragon Sea. Getting closer to the north meant gradually going deeper into the Inner Sea, while the south was known as the Land of Ruins, where the spiritual energy was chaotic and extremely dangerous. He walked to the seaside and with a leap, his entire body plunged straight into the sea. The moment he entered the water, he felt a coldness envelop his body, a salty and damp smell flooding his nose and mouth. Below the sea surface was even more dark and obscure. Lu Li quickly operated the Water Repelling Technique until a spiritual light enveloped him, making him feel much better. He swam gradually deeper, occasionally turning his head to observe the surroundings. Now and then, he could feel some fish swimming past him. Around him, seaweed and various plants revealed their fine details under the sweep of his Divine Sense. As he delved deeper, and around four hundred meters deep, he felt the spiritual energy depleting very rapidly. The pressure around him also suddenly increased a lot; he knew this was probably the limit for normal Cultivators. Cultivators with full Qi Cultivation and those above Foundation Establishment could definitely dive deeper, but in comparison to the tens of thousands of meters deep ocean, it was still far from enough. Thus, the ocean was the forbidden area for Human Clan Cultivators, and at the bottom of the sea, Human Clan Cultivators could usually only exert seventy to eighty percent of their strength, which was very dangerous when encountering a Demon Beast of the same level. But for Lu Li, this was an opportunity sent from heaven, the entire vast ocean would become his hunting ground. After testing it out, Lu Li didn¡¯t push himself further. He directly operated the Demon Refining Pot, and his whole body suddenly transformed. A huge demon snake appeared at the bottom of the sea, and at that moment, he felt the pressure on his body suddenly lessen, everything around becoming much more familiar. Lu Li, controlling the demon body, continued to swim towards the deeper parts of the sea bottom. Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Unity of Sword and Light Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Unity of Sword and Light Lu Li sized up his surroundings. A dim yellow light flickered on the fleshy walls around him, with only a narrow passageway leading straight to the outside. Beneath his feet was a sticky liquid, where a group of fish, shrimp, and seaweeds were dissolving at a speed visible to the naked eye. ¡°Such powerful corrosiveness.¡± Lu Li reverted to his original form, only to see his Daoist robe rapidly disintegrating. He immediately released the Green Spirit Python and drew out the Aminokaze. As soon as the Iron Pillar was released, it became very excited and started roaring loudly, making wooing noises. Lu Li immediately conveyed the attack order to it and stood on the python¡¯s head, then performed the ¡°Azure Water Light-Splitting Sword Technique.¡± Suddenly, more than a dozen pale sword lights appeared in the stomach space of the Giant Toothed Whale. ¡°Ha!¡± Lu Li circulated all his mana, and the sword lights shone brightly before shooting out in all directions. Iron Pillar, not to be outdone, whipped its massive tail fiercely forward. ¡°Woo¡­¡± With a shrill scream, the stomach wall was crazily slashed by the Sword Qi. At that moment, he suddenly felt a great suction force from the outside world; the Giant Toothed Whale was obviously trying to expel Lu Li. Lu Li circulated his mana and firmly embedded the sword hilt into the stomach wall, pinning himself inside like a nail. This was an opportunity sent from heaven; if he got out now, the outcome would be hard to predict. Lu Li felt that his previous attack hadn¡¯t hurt the Giant Toothed Whale seriously; it was merely a flesh wound. If he were outside, breaking through its defense would have been very difficult. He quickly circulated his mana to its limit and exerted all his power to execute a killing move from the sword technique, ¡°Sword Light as One.¡± In mid-air, more than a dozen sword lights suddenly merged into one, forming an enormous sword aura. ¡°Hum¡­¡± The Aminokaze hummed, and a three-foot-long blade aura emerged at its tip, exuding an extreme sharpness. Lu Li controlled the Aminokaze, following the direction of the Giant Toothed Whale¡¯s heartbeat, and madly charged forward. All the surrounding flesh was rapidly shredded like rotting wood before an unstoppable blade. At that time, a series of pitiful screams came from the giant whale. Its entire body spun wildly in the depths of the sea, a lot of blood scattering in all directions, turning the nearby waters red. Before long, Lu Li reached a massive heart, and with a flash of the sword light, he directly smashed it. As the heart burst apart, the Giant Toothed Whale quickly fell silent and slowly sank into the depths of the sea. ¡°What strong defense.¡± Feeling the mana nearly depleted within him, Lu Li revealed a smile of a narrow escape from death. Then, he put away the Flying Sword, transformed back into a giant serpent with the Green Spirit Python, and swam out from the whale¡¯s mouth. Once outside, he saw the whale¡¯s body lying quietly on the sea floor shelf, feeling very delighted. Although Barbaric Beasts had flesh far less dense than Demon Beasts, the sheer size of this creature made up for it. By his estimate, the beast could match the corpses of at least a dozen Qi Cultivation seventh-layer Demon Beasts. Lu Li took out his demon-refining pot and pointed it at the Giant Toothed Whale below. Upon activating the runes, the whale¡¯s corpse began to shrink rapidly, soon disappearing into the mouth of the pot. After finishing all this, he put away the Iron Pillar and prepared to return to Golden Qilin Island. Today¡¯s gains were sufficient, and continuing to explore with his mana almost exhausted would be dangerous. As for the northern seas, they were likely beyond his reach at the moment. ¡­ Just as Lu Li was making his way back along the same route, several hundred miles northeast of Golden Qilin Island, a large blue ship was stationary on the sea surface. At the bow stood four Cultivators, three men and one woman. The girl had a very playful and cute appearance, dressed in a green palace attire, her face bursting with excitement. Lu Yuling spoke with a smile to the man beside her, ¡°Big brother, can we really hunt Demon Beasts in this sea area? I heard there¡¯s a type of Dan Pill that can lure them out?¡± It was her first time following the family on a sea adventure to hunt demon beasts, and she was extremely excited, asking questions nonstop along the way. ¡°Indeed, but the process is very dangerous.¡± Lu Heng smiled. The two Guest Elders also nodded in agreement, wearing approving expressions on their faces. One of them was Wang Ping, who had previously guarded Golden Qilin Island. The other, a middle-aged man at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, had a bitter look on his face because he was to serve as the ¡°bait¡± this time. ¡°Fang Tao, you need not worry too much. How about you take a third of the profits this time?¡± Lu Heng gently reassured the other man. ¡°I¡¯ve already agreed, so there¡¯s no reason for me to back down now.¡± Fang Tao clenched his teeth. The four people reached an agreement and were just about to take action. At that moment, a magnificent giant ship appeared on the sea ahead, swiftly sailing towards them. At the bow stood a man around twenty-five or twenty-six, dressed in a brocade robe, and around him stood three Cultivators looking like guards. The man had reached the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, while the three around him were all roughly at the sixth level. Upon seeing the four members of the Lu Family, Chen Tianqi said with a haughty face, ¡°This area is already claimed by my Chen Family. You should go hunt for demon beasts elsewhere.¡± Upon hearing these words, Lu Yuling¡¯s expression turned cold, ready to speak up, but she was stopped by Lu Heng. ¡°It¡¯s just a sea area. Since Mr. Chen would like it, then we¡¯ll just move to another.¡± Lu Heng¡¯s eyes concealed a cold light as he spoke indifferently. He then maneuvered the azure boat to slowly sail away towards the back. Watching the four people leave, Chen Tianqi did not stop them, watching them with an indifferent face. The man beside him couldn¡¯t help but speak up, ¡°Young Clan Chief, are you not willing to let them go?¡± Chen Tianqi laughed coldly, ¡°Even if the four wanted to escape, we couldn¡¯t keep them all. That old ghost of the Lu Family is not dead yet.¡± ¡°A Foundation Establishment Cultivator nearing his end is quite terrifying. We just need to wait quietly.¡± Far away, the Lu Family members were somewhat silent. ¡°This person is Chen Tianqi, the Young Clan Chief of the Chen Family, and also the second most talented person of this generation. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m no match for him.¡± Lu Heng¡¯s gaze emitted a faint glimmer. ¡°If we had started a fight just now, little sister, you would have been in great danger.¡± Lu Yuling was filled with indignation, ¡°This Chen Family is really getting too much.¡± ¡°That so-called second most talented person doesn¡¯t look better than my Sixth Brother. To only be at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation at such an age and still have the face to be the Young Clan Chief.¡± Hearing this, Lu Heng also smiled, ¡°Li is just being too modest. I wonder how he¡¯s doing on Golden Qilin Island by now. He¡¯s probably not getting enough to satisfy his daily cultivation needs.¡± Lu Yuling was a bit puzzled, ¡°Sixth Brother might as well come out and join us in killing Demon Beasts, where there are more Spirit Stones and resources.¡± Lu Heng also showed his agreement, ¡°Let¡¯s kill another Demon Beast and then head back. That would make a profit of about a hundred or two hundred Spirit Stones for the month, not bad at all.¡± ¡°These Demon Beasts are just too hard to find; you can¡¯t kill many in a month.¡± Lu Yuling looked somewhat dispirited. Being the least advanced in her cultivation, she also got a smaller share. ¡­¡­ Lu Li returned to his cave on Golden Qilin Island under the moonlight. He checked his gains and found that this time he had collected nine Ice Spirit Fruits, as well as the body of a Barbaric Beast, which was an astonishing harvest. Converted to Spirit Stones, it amounted to several hundreds, a day¡¯s gain that was more than what an ordinary Qi Cultivation cultivator would get from deep-sea hunting in a month. He then went to the secret chamber to start his Qi Cultivation meditation. Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Qi Refinement Level 7 Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Qi Refinement Level 7 The next day, at dawn. Lu Li opened his eyes, feeling the mana within his body had improved yet again, which made him extremely satisfied. The sensation of his strength increasing bit by bit was truly enchanting. He took out an Ice Spirit Fruit and swallowed it whole. A very sweet taste instantly filled his entire mouth, juice splattered everywhere, and wisps of coolness circulated through his body. Then, a warm current surged from his stomach, slowly spreading throughout his body. After the warm current subsided, he paid close attention to the changes. ¡°Not bad, my mana has increased, and even my strength has grown considerably, quite noticeably.¡± If this fruit were to be consumed regularly, the effects would likely be astonishing, and the hope for Foundation Establishment would greatly increase. Generally, Qi Cultivation disciples over sixty years old would slowly lose bodily functions, and the hope for Foundation Establishment would decline year by year. Moreover, Foundation Establishment has ¡°three barriers,¡± Divine Sense, the physical body, and mana all need to meet the standard for Foundation Establishment. If an old body with weakening life force is forced into Foundation Establishment, the majority end up dead and their path annihilated. One of the reasons why Foundation Establishment pills are so precious is that they can allow those who fail at Foundation Establishment to survive. ¡­¡­¡­. Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, the end of the year arrived. Inside a secret chamber in the Sunset Peak cave. Lu Li sat cross-legged on a cushion, his surroundings brimming with Spiritual Energy crazily rushing into his body, causing his meridians to swell. He exerted his full effort to circulate the Vast Sea Kun Void Technique, aiming for the seventh layer. Before long, an aura much stronger than before emerged in the secret chamber. Lu Li opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. ¡°After nearly half a year of arduous cultivation, I have finally reached the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation.¡± During this past half-year, he had dived into the sea floor several times; aside from a few instances, he usually returned with some gains. He only dared to roam within a thousand miles of Golden Qilin Island, and his cautious nature kept him from exploring further into the distant sea floor. Thanks to a large number of Spirit Fruits from the sea floor, his cultivation progressed day by day, and even his physical body became extremely strong, enough to match a mid-stage Qi Cultivation Demon Beast. That was just the short-term effect; if he were to consume Ice Spirit Fruits regularly and in large quantities, the result would likely be even more astonishing. He felt the surging mana inside his body and was very satisfied. This Cultivation Technique was truly extraordinary; with his current seventh-layer Qi Cultivation mana, it was almost equivalent to an ordinary eighth-layer Qi Cultivation level. As for the top-tier Cultivation Techniques from the large sects of the Immortal Sect, their might was hard to comprehend, probably known only to a few true inheritors of those Sects. Moreover, the past half-year saw the Green Spirit Python grow much, which was quite pleasing. Lu Li stepped out of the cave and released ¡°Iron Pillar.¡± ¡°Ooooo¡­¡± Upon being released, Iron Pillar couldn¡¯t help but emit sounds of joy. Compared to before, its python body had undergone a transformation like heaven and earth. Its nearly twenty-foot-tall body exerted a significant oppressive force, with scales as dark as ink, arranged neatly and tightly, its defensive power extremely formidable. Its cultivation had also reached the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation. It lowered its head to look at Lu Li, its eyes instantly softened, affectionately entwining around him. Lu Li felt the spirit beast¡¯s presence, giving him an oppressive feeling; in the deep sea, he probably wouldn¡¯t be its match. As a Demon Beast King, naturally possessing a profound foundation, it was not impossible for it to fight beyond its level. This half-year, he fed the Green Spirit Python daily with Spiritual Liquid refined from Sea Floor Demon Beasts, with most of the liquid being used up on it. Iron Pillar did not disappoint, becoming his strong support. Lu Li let Iron Pillar play freely as he headed to a spirit field on the mountainside. The entire spirit field was filled with Spirit Rice; each grain was plump, thoroughly translucent and glistening, and the air was rich with a fragrant aroma. He summoned his Magic Artifact, swiftly harvested several acres of Spirit Rice, then turned over the soil of the spirit field and planted new rice seeds. After completing this, he cast the Cloud Rain Skill over the entire spirit field. He looked at the fruits of his labor, a look of satisfaction on his face. This was already the third harvest of Spirit Rice this year. Spirit Tooth Rice was a mid-grade first-order Spirit Rice, aiding mid-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators in increasing their mana, with one harvest per year. Due to Lu Li¡¯s long-term use of the Spiritual Liquid from the refining pot to irrigate them, the ripening speed of the Spirit Tooth Rice was greatly accelerated, a result of his accidental experiment. Over the past half year, the reason for the rapid advancement in his Qi Cultivation to the late stage could also be attributed to the prolonged consumption of Spirit Rice. ¡°This time, the harvested Spirit Rice shall be handed over to the family.¡± Having packed up the Spirit Rice, Lu Li planned to submit it to Third Aunt during the annual family meeting at the end of the year. Just as he was about to return to his cave, he suddenly noticed several mortals anxiously pacing outside the array of Sunset Peak. Lu Li frowned and leaped down to the base of Sunset Peak. He opened the array and walked out. He then saw the elder named Lu Qing, along with several middle-aged men, standing outside the array, looking very anxious and uneasy. ¡°Is there something urgent you need assistance with?¡± Upon seeing Lu Li emerge, Lu Qing and the others were overjoyed. ¡°At last, Immortal Master Lu has come out; this old body has important matters to report. I am truly flustered to disturb the Immortal Master¡¯s cultivation.¡± Lu Li, with a calm expression, replied, ¡°Just tell me what the issue is, and cut to the chase.¡± Lu Qing, with a sorrowful face, said, ¡°Strange occurrences have been happening on Golden Qilin Island; every so often, our clansmen and livestock die, and their deaths are extremely terrifying. The island¡¯s inhabitants are panic-stricken.¡± ¡°We had no choice but to trouble the Immortal Master. After many attempts, we finally managed to meet you.¡± Lu Li nodded his head, ¡°Have the local authorities looked into it?¡± If it were just ordinary mortal killings, he had no interest in intervening. ¡°The head of the local authorities, Elder Xing, had a look and determined it wasn¡¯t the work of humans; I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s an evil creature breeding on the island!¡± Lu Qing and the others promptly knelt on the ground, their faces filled with terror. ¡°Please, Immortal Master, rid us of this evil presence and restore peace to the island.¡± ¡°Then I shall accompany you to take a look.¡± Lu Li walked slowly forward with his hands clasped behind his back. Seeing Lu Li agreed to take action, the group followed behind him with joy on their faces. To the northeast of Golden Qilin Island, near the sea, there was Golden Scale Town, a small town with just a few thousand inhabitants, mostly Lu Family mortals who had lived there for generations, making a living from the sea and leading a life of poverty. Before long, Lu Li and the others arrived at a street. The street was flanked by orderly stone houses, with the ground paved in large stones. Some houses had incense burners out front, and white cloth hung from the door curtains, creating a somewhat cluttered appearance. It was the middle of the day, yet the street was depressingly quiet. Lu Li, accompanied by the group, walked through the street and arrived in front of a much larger building. Two stone lions were placed in front of the house. Before even entering, they saw a sturdy middle-aged man who bore some resemblance to Lu Qing walking rapidly out. ¡°Immortal Master Lu graces us with his presence; this humble person is overcome with apprehension.¡± Lu Qing, too, stood beside him with a smile on his face, ¡°Immortal Master Lu, this man is my son; he¡¯s responsible for the security on Golden Qilin Island.¡± Lu Li nodded and walked straight in. ¡°Are those bodies still here? Lead me to them,¡± Lu Li asked. Mentioning the bodies, Lu Qing wore an expression of fear, ¡°They are currently in the backyard; we dared not dispose of them ourselves for fear of the evil creature.¡± He then led the way to the backyard. The group passed through the main hall and into a courtyard. Approaching, Lu Li could sense a faint evil aura permeating the air. In the back of the yard lay seven or eight bodies covered with white cloths. At that moment, Lu Li stepped forward, and had someone uncover the cloths, revealing several shriveled corpses. Their manner of death was extremely tragic, blood completely drained from their bodies, leaving them like withered husks. On their necks were two large holes, from which the evil aura seemed to emanate. ¡°This matter is now known to me; I will wait here in the coming days for the evil creature to appear again,¡± Lu Li calmly informed the group. With those words, he turned and walked away. Lu Qing and the others, hearing this, showed faces of joy; the events of the past few days had left them restless and filled with dread. Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Demon Corpse Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Demon Corpse Night fell, the moon was bright and the stars sparse. On top of a stone tower about ten meters high on Golden Qilin Island. Lu Li sat cross-legged, waiting quietly. The corpses that appeared during the day were clearly the work of zombies, which puzzled him greatly. There was no land suitable for maintaining corpses on the island, so how could zombies have formed? However, he felt that the evil spirit around the corpse¡¯s neck was not strong, and its aura seemed only about mid-level in Qi Cultivation, which suddenly piqued his interest. Several hours later, as the sky began to lighten slightly, nothing had happened. ¡°It looks like there¡¯s no harvest today.¡± For the next two days, he continued to wait atop the stone tower, but unfortunately, he observed no abnormalities. ¡°Could it be that this zombie just passed by accidentally and went somewhere else?¡± After several days with no incidents, he grew somewhat suspicious. He decided to wait a few more days. On the third night, the moonlight was like water, and all around was silent. The shadows of the forest in front reflected on the ground twisted like devilish silhouettes, quite eerie. Lu Li still sat atop the tower, overlooking the entire island. Time slowly passed, and soon it was the hour of the ox. Just when Lu Li thought the night would be uneventful, a gust of wind suddenly swept through from the edge of the forest, making the leaves rustle with a ¡°sasha¡± sound. Lu Li¡¯s eyes snapped open, a gleam of sharpness emerging from the corners. ¡°Here it comes!¡± He looked toward the edge of the forest where a tall figure leaped out, jumping several meters high, extremely agile as it quickly approached the island. ¡°Ah~ It¡¯s actually a Demon Corpse!¡± Lu Li found it strange, as Demon Corpses, unlike zombies, were very agile, clearly a cultivator refined through a secret technique. He focused his gaze, the Demon Corpse¡¯s face was greenish-purple with two large fangs exposed, emitting a terrifying evil spirit that was quite alarming. ¡°Good thing it¡¯s only about mid-level in Qi Cultivation.¡± Lu Li didn¡¯t think further, he leaped down, landing steadily on an open space. He summoned the Aminokaze Sword, channeling his mana to control the blade fiercely slashing toward the Demon Corpse. The blade flashed with dazzling light, turning into lightning as it swiftly approached the Demon Corpse. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The Demon Corpse sensed the danger and roared angrily, its mouth emitting black evil spirit as if about to solidify. It suddenly spat out a dark green liquid targeting the approaching Flying Sword. This was the corpse poison and evil spirit accumulated within it for many years, utterly malevolent. Such an emission cost it years of vital energy, only the overpowering pressure from the Flying Sword forced it to act desperately. After spitting out the corpse poison, the Demon Corpse¡¯s aura visibly weakened. The corpse poison and evil spirit quickly met with the Flying Sword in mid-air. ¡°Sizzle¡­¡± As they made contact, a thick smoke poured from the sword. ¡°You dare act ferociously, little Demon Corpse.¡± Lu Li smiled faintly, exerting his mana to the fullest, the blade¡¯s light intensifying, quickly piercing through the poisonous miasma and ruthlessly cutting into the Demon Corpse¡¯s left arm. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± An arm was severed, and the Demon Corpse let out a painful howl. Then it rapidly turned and fled toward the sea behind, swiftly reaching the shore and diving into the ocean, disappearing from sight. From Lu Li¡¯s intervention to the Demon Corpse¡¯s escape, it was only a matter of moments. The noise of their clash reverberated across Golden Qilin Island, making some of the commoners tremble in fear at the Demon Corpse¡¯s roars. Lu Li sheathed his Flying Sword and quietly followed. He intentionally spared its life, wanting to see where this demonic creature had come from. He reached the shore, subdued his mana, and dove into the sea, following the trace of aura left behind. A man and a demon rapidly headed toward the northeast of Golden Qilin Island. Hours later, the sky was gradually lightening. From the depths of the ocean, Lu Li looked afar, and suddenly a desolate small island appeared upfront. The island was only a few hundred meters in diameter, with jagged rocks scattered across its bare expanse devoid of any vegetation, permeating an aura of decay. The demon corpse swiftly emerged from the sea and, with a few leaps, landed on the island then quickly vanished from sight. Not long after, Lu Li arrived at the island. He stood on a broken rock at the shore, surveying the entire island. Other than the rocky beach, there was only a desolate valley at the center of the island¡ªa lifeless sight all around. The air was thin with Spiritual Energy, clearly lacking any underground Spirit Vein. ¡°The demon corpse disappeared here. It seems there¡¯s something fishy about this island.¡± Lu Li leaped up and flew toward the central valley of the island. Moments later, he arrived at the center of the valley. The surroundings were still barren, void of any vegetation. He frowned as he sensed a faint yet lingering malevolent aura in the air. It grew stronger as he approached a cave ahead. ¡°It seems the demon corpse has taken refuge here without any surprises.¡± Lu Li summoned the Green Origin Cauldron, activating it with mana, enveloping his body in a shining protective light. Then, he walked straight in. It was a pitch-black pathway, just wide enough for one person to pass through. There was a slight chill in the air, and the stone walls on either side were covered with scratch marks, the ground beneath his feet somewhat soft. The evil aura intensified the further he walked. Lu Li cautiously moved forward. Soon, he reached the end of the corridor. Stepping out, the space suddenly opened up to a vast cave lit by a few dimly glowing Fluorescent Stones set on the ceiling. ¡°Ah¡ªthere¡¯s actually an array here.¡± Lu Li looked at the center of the cave, shrouded in heavy mist. He approached the array and closely examined it, only to see a large fragment missing on the right side¡ªan obviously damaged array. It appeared that this demon corpse had escaped from here. Armed with a Defensive Magical Artifact, Lu Li entered through the broken part of the array. As soon as he stepped in, he saw the demon corpse looking at him in terror, one of its arms completely gone. Beside the demon corpse stood a piece of black wood, with various items and a Storage Bag scattered around on the ground. Lu Li looked down at the Storage Bag, his mind bewildered. ¡°Could this be where a senior fell?¡± Curious but ready to kill his opponent, Lu Li was about to strike when suddenly, a wave of Divine Soul fluctuations emanated from the wood. ¡°Hold on, young friend.¡± A somewhat ethereal soul emerged from the wood. The person transformed into a kindly looking old man, appearing very benign. Seeing this, Lu Li was startled, yet his expression remained calm, ¡°Respected senior, who are you, and why stop me from killing this beast?¡± A cultivator who could project his Divine Soul and remain intact must surely be at the Foundation Establishment level or beyond. ¡°I am Master Qing Song, a Purple Mansion Cultivator from the Profound Sun Sect, who fell here several hundred years ago due to an attack by the Demon Path.¡± ¡°If you could assist me in a small matter, young friend, I have generous gifts for you.¡± Lu Li pondered the old man¡¯s words. He had heard of the Profound Sun Sect, a prominent sect in the Dragonfall Outer Seas, with Golden Core cultivators among its ranks. But the details of a Purple Mansion Cultivator¡¯s death were beyond his knowledge. Thinking this, Lu Li smiled noncommittally, ¡°I possess little power, senior. What do you need me to help you with?¡± With his hands clasped behind his back, Master Qing Song¡¯s face bore an inscrutable expression, ¡°My dwelling is a piece of Soul Nourishing Wood on the ground. Start by taking it and escaping this place with me¡­¡± ¡°All kinds of Cultivation Techniques, Secret Techniques, Artifact Refining Techniques, and chances within a cave are in the Storage Bag below¡­¡± Hearing this, a flicker of desire crossed Lu Li¡¯s face. Yet, he gripped the Aminokaze sword in his hand even tighter. ¡°Such a small favor, I accept,¡± he said. Then, he slowly walked forward. Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Each with Their Own Scheme Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Each with Their Own Scheme Having walked half the way, a sudden change occurred. ¡°Crack¡­¡± Lu Li suddenly swung his sword fiercely at the elder, his intense sword qi recklessly scattering, producing a buzzing sound. Just as Lu Li was about to make his move, the elder, as if prepared, charged towards Lu Li like lightning, both moving in a strangely synchronized manner. At this point, Master Qing Song stopped pretending and revealed a face full of madness, his whole body emitting a terrifying aura. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Not bad, lad, you¡¯ve got a bit of the demon offspring look. But you¡¯re still too green in front of this old ancestor, I¡¯ll take this body without hesitation¡­¡± As soon as he spoke, the sword light swiftly slashed towards Qing Song¡¯s soul. At the moment of contact, Qing Song¡¯s soul immediately split in two. Strangely, the split Primordial Spirits weakened significantly but still rushed fiercely towards Lu Li¡¯s mind. ¡°Jie jie¡­ Old ancestor has the Soul Splitting Secret Method, just merge with the old ancestor willingly.¡± Seeing this, Lu Li¡¯s expression changed; these old monsters were indeed unfathomable. Unnoticeably, he activated the Demon Refining Pot hidden deep in his mind, which emitted a faint light. In just an instant, Qing Song¡¯s two soul clusters had rushed into Lu Li¡¯s mind, swiftly converging into a soul body. Just as Qing Song was about to devour Lu Li¡¯s Primordial Spirit deep within his mind, he suddenly felt a strong suction force. This caused his entire soul body to involuntarily fly forward. ¡°What is this cursed thing?¡± Qing Song looked up and saw an ancient pot-shaped object floating in the center of the mind, emitting a mysterious faint light. ¡°Young friend, spare me this once; I know many secrets that can aid you¡­¡± Qing Song¡¯s face showed extreme panic as he started to incessantly beg for mercy. Lu Li remained unmoved and continued to activate the Demon Refining Pot; within moments, the opponent was forcibly sucked onto the body of the pot. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Upon contact with the Demon Refining Pot, Qing Song¡¯s entire soul body rapidly emitted black smoke and he screamed in agony. In just a few breaths, the opponent¡¯s soul body directly turned into a wisp of green silk, dissipating into the surrounding space. At this moment, Lu Li had a somewhat odd expression on his face. ¡°I never expected that some scattered memory fragments of this demon would still remain.¡± At the instant the demon vanished, a flood of chaotic memories entered his mind. This individual was not the real Master Qing Song; his name was Sky Splitting Demon, but due to significant memory loss, it was unclear why the demon had come to be in this situation. The Demon Corpse was also a Qi Cultivation Cultivator nearby whom he had killed and turned into a Demon Corpse to set up this trap. Lu Li sealed away the memories of the Sky Splitting Demon and picked up the Storage Bag from the ground. Then, he maneuvered his Flying Sword towards the injured Demon Corpse in the corner. The intense sword light flickered fiercely at the tip of the sword. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The Demon Corpse desperately resisted but in vain; amidst the sounds of wretched roars, its head was sliced off. Dark green liquid splattered all around, and soon the headless Demon Corpse lay motionless. After finishing all this, he gathered up the remains of the broken Array, and then left. ¡­ At the moment the Sky Splitting Demon¡¯s Divine Soul perished, tens of thousands of miles away, on a deserted island in the ocean, within an underground cave. ¡°Eh? I can no longer sense that split soul.¡± A man cloaked in a black robe slowly opened his eyes. Under the powerful aura he emitted, the surrounding Blood Pool stirred up waves. At that time, a man clad in a black cloak entered. ¡°Lord, everything is ready, we can act at any time¡­¡± The powerful man in the black robe slowly nodded, a cold light flashing in his eyes. ¡­ Nighttime, silence pervaded. Inside the cave at Sunset Peak. Lu Li sat cross-legged on a mat, carefully perusing through the memory fragments of Sky Splitting Demon, his face filled with emotion. Many memories were already very disordered, but he could still find some useful information. ¡°Blood Spirit Drill? Blood Jutsu, Blood Boiling Secret Technique¡­¡± Before long, he discovered numerous Demon Secret Skills. Many of them required the consumption of vast amounts of Essence Blood to master, but he found them to be quite practical. Lu Li then slowly sorted out some useful information from them. Several hours later, when he finished viewing all memory fragments, he slowly exhaled. This Sky Splitting Demon was clearly a veteran and mighty demon. From a humble beginning, he rose by killing and plundering, exploring caves¡­ leveraging his own wisdom to cultivate up to the Purple Mansion stage, which was extraordinary. How to choose targets, how to leave tracking marks, and even how to dispose of loot afterward broadened his horizons. Lu Li couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how truly cunning and sly the Sky Splitting Demon was, never revealing his true power in public, and retreating thousands of miles immediately if an attack failed. However, those who frequently walk by the river cannot keep their shoes dry. The demon accidentally fell into an Array masterminded by Master Qing Song, and although he desperately escaped, he was severely injured, leading to his eventual demise on a deserted island. ¡°However, this Hidden Spirit Secret Technique does seem quite interesting.¡± Lu Li¡¯s eyes twinkled slightly. Some of these Demon Secret Skills could make up for his shortcomings. After making up his mind, he took out the Storage Bag. Since this demon had not nourished the Storage Bag with Mana and Divine Sense for a long time, it had become unclaimed. He emptied the contents, and soon the ground was covered with various bottles and jars. A pungent smell filled the air. ¡°Ugh, that stinks! What is this stuff?¡± Lu Li held his breath to see if he could find some useful items. After a while, only some residue and a few damaged Demonic Magical Artifacts were left on the ground. It seemed that many things could no longer be used due to a long lack of nourishment by Spiritual Energy. However, this Storage Bag was more than ten times larger than his own, which was perfect to start using. After cleaning up the ground, Lu Li started to meditate and cultivate. ¡­ More than twenty days flashed by. In the early morning, with gentle sunlight. Inside the cave at Sunset Peak. Lu Li stood up and his body shook slightly a few times, his aura suddenly dropped to about the fourth level of Qi Cultivation. Then his body began to swell, and his features rapidly changed, transforming into a rugged, burly man. ¡°This Hidden Spirit Secret Technique is really good, worthy of being the foundational secret technique that allowed the old demon to rampage through the Cultivation World.¡± Feeling the change in himself, Lu Li commented with satisfaction. Over the past twenty days, he had been trying to cultivate a few secret techniques. Today, he finally succeeded in mastering the last one. After mastering the Hidden Spirit Secret Technique, he could conceal his actual cultivation level. Unless cultivators were a major realm above him, it was extremely difficult to detect. However, this secret technique also had its flaws; firstly, it couldn¡¯t change the aura and soul fluctuations. It still couldn¡¯t compare to the ¡°Transformation¡± function of the Artifact-Raising Pot, which could mimic even the aura with inconceivable effects. Lu Li then experienced the ¡°Blood Spirit Drill¡± ¡ª a stream of Aura of the Blood Fiend, condensed from his Essence Blood, sealed within his chest. With stimulation, it could shoot out like a Flying Sword, very covert. The strength of ¡°Blood Spirit Drill¡± depended on the amount of Essence Blood he sacrificed, but one drop was its limit. This secret technique made him sense a whiff of danger. However, this technique consumed Essence Blood too excessively; ordinary cultivators usually possessed only nine drops. Because Lu Li¡¯s physical body was astonishing, comparable to a mid-stage Qi Cultivation Demon Beast with seventeen drops of Essence Blood, which might increase further. Yet, even then, he dared not frequently use Essence Blood to refine secret techniques. One refined technique as a trump card was enough. The remaining Blood Jutsu and Blood Boiling Techniques weren¡¯t very difficult and he had successfully grasped the basics in just a few days. After a brief trial, Lu Li walked out of the cave. He went to irrigate the Spirit Rice on the hillside and was about to visit the Artifact Refining Room to start learning Artifact Refining. Having been on Golden Qilin Island for nearly a year, some spiritual ore he had prepared initially was still in his Storage Bag. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Just then, a loud thunder sounded from the sky and the defensive Big Formation around Sunset Peak started shaking violently. Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Enemy Attack Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Enemy Attack ¡°Oh no, there are evildoers attacking the Array!¡± At the moment the Array shook with vibration, Lu Li sprang into action. He first quickly stimulated a Communication Jade Scroll, and then took out the control Token for the Array. After infusing it with Mana, he stabilized the Array. This series of actions was exceedingly rapid and handled with great expertise, causing even those outside the Array to be somewhat astounded. Only then did Lu Li have the chance to observe the situation outside the Array. He saw three men and one woman, four Cultivators, spread out around the perimeter, frantically attacking the Array Light Screen with their Magic Artifacts, causing ripples to spread. The three male Cultivators had about the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation, with the leader being a burly man with a rough face, looking to be in his forties. He was fiercely pounding the Array Light Screen with a Four-sided Seal-shaped Magic Artifact. ¡°All Fellow Daoists strike with full force! This mountain is guarded only by a sixth-layer Qi Cultivation Cultivator. We have at most half an hour.¡± Du Ze, while controlling his Magic Seal, shouted to the three beside him. The woman on the far left agreed with a nod, ¡°We¡¯re only a little more than two hundred li away from Mystic Moon Island. Half an hour is enough time for the Lu Family to send a rescue.¡± This woman, dressed in a purple tube-top dress with a fiery figure, undulated as she spoke, exuding charm, her Cultivation likely around the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation. Liu Zhenru, while attacking the Array with her Flying Sword, called out to Lu Li with a charming voice, ¡°Little brother, it would be better to obediently open the Array. This girl will take good care of you, you won¡¯t feel the slightest pain.¡± Having said that, she then jutted out her proud posture, prompting the two thin men beside her to frequently glance her way. Still, their eyes betrayed a hint of wariness. Seeing this, Lu Li smirked coldly, continuing to channel Mana into the Token in a steady flow; his hands danced rapidly, and with several Magic Spells cast, the Array began to change incessantly. With his continuous support of Mana, the Earth Spirit Trapping Array became extremely sturdy and showed no signs of being breached. As time slowly passed, the few people outside the Array were becoming anxious. ¡°That kid can¡¯t hold out much longer. Let¡¯s not hold back anymore.¡± Du Ze¡¯s face showed some worry. After saying this, he spat a mouthful of Essence Blood onto the Magic Seal, causing the high-grade Magic Artifact to suddenly shine brightly, its power greatly increasing. Seeing this, the remaining three did not hesitate to use their trump cards, and for a moment, treasures glowed and Mana splashed in all directions. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The four Magic Artifacts smashed hard onto the Array Light Screen, causing the Array to shake violently, with ripples spreading everywhere like water waves. Liu Zhenru was overjoyed at this sight, ¡°This man is running out of Mana. After breaking the Array, I want him, and we¡¯ll take less of the spoils from the hill.¡± She then pointed at Lu Li inside the Array and seductively licked her lips. Du Ze nodded with a wicked smile, ¡°After breaking the Array, that kid will be handed over to Mr. Liu to deal with.¡± ¡°Being ¡®loved¡¯ by Mr. Liu is his good fortune.¡± Liu Zhenru was quite pleased, captivated by the handsome appearance of the man opposite her. The other three also wore confident expressions, simultaneously increasing the output of their Mana. As time passed, the Array Light Screen began to flash wildly but still could not be completely breached. Lu Li stood at the foot of the mountain, coldly watching the few people outside the Array, putting on a very weak front. He also held a Spirit Stone in his hand, taking Medicine Pills from time to time. It was almost half an hour now, and his Mana had not been consumed much. If his cultivation had not broken through, he might have found it a bit challenging. Seeing that the Array was always on the verge of collapse but never broke, Du Ze and his companions couldn¡¯t help but become even more anxious. ¡°There¡¯s something strange about this Array. Let¡¯s give it one last strike!¡± Liu Zhenru shouted, no longer as composed as before. After saying this, she swallowed a Medicine Pill, her aura lifting a little, and the Flying Sword above her head shone brightly. The other three also simultaneously began to use their final moves. Just at that moment, an unexpected change occurred. ¡°Buzz, buzz¡­¡± A small Flying Boat was approaching Sunset Peak at high speed from a few hundred meters to the southeast of Golden Qilin Island. ¡°Damn it! Lu Family Cultivators are coming to the rescue. Retreat!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Du Ze immediately put away his Magic Artifact and turned to flee towards the northwest. Almost the moment the Flying Boat appeared, the other three reacted as well, quickly retracting their Magic Artifacts and fleeing in all directions. Lu Li put away the control Token and immediately stepped out of the Array, pursuing in the direction of Liu Zhenru. At the same time, from the corner of his eye, he watched the Flying Boat chase after Du Ze. Liu Zhenru, feeling the power of the Blood Fiend Pill beginning to take effect inside her body, suffered from a prickling pain coursing through her meridians, her heart filled with bitterness. ¡°This time I¡¯ve really suffered a great loss; healing my injuries will take several months.¡± ¡°I never expected the Lu Family¡¯s reinforcements to arrive so quickly, there were never any mistakes in the past.¡± As she was mired in countless thoughts, she suddenly sensed a tunneling light pursuing her from behind. Turning her head, her face showed a hint of killing intent. Could it be that he actually dares to treat me like I¡¯m soft clay to be molded? Who gave him the courage to pursue and attempt to kill me? The effect of the Medicine Pill continued to intensify, greatly boosting her tunneling technique, but she was still unable to completely shake off the chase behind her. After passing dozens of miles, she stopped above the sea surface. She waited quietly for the person following her. For her, further escape was futile; she thought to take advantage of the utmost potency of the Blood Fiend Pill to fully deal with the enemy. This place was neither too close nor too far from Golden Qilin Island, so the Lu Family¡¯s reinforcements would be too far to reach in time. Not long after, she saw Lu Li stop not far ahead. ¡°Yo¡­ Mr. Lu, why the relentless pursuit? Couldn¡¯t bear to part with me? If you agree, I am willing to accompany you to Nirvana.¡± Liu Zhenru looked at Lu Li with seductive eyes, and while speaking, she even removed the light gauze from her body, revealing a seductive outline. Lu Li, upon seeing this, felt his throat go dry. This enchantress has powerful powers of seduction. ¡°Enchantress, meet your end!¡± He did not hesitate to summon his Flying Sword while also releasing the Iron Pillar. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± With hissing sounds filling the air, a behemoth snake dozens of feet high coiled above the sea surface, its dark scales gleamed with a black luster, and it exuded a powerful aura. ¡°Mr. Lu, I ask for mercy. I am willing to become your concubine; please spare me this once.¡± At the sight of the spirit beast, Liu Zhenru¡¯s heart tightened instantly; she began begging for mercy. Feeling the fierce and deadly Qi of the late-stage QI Cultivation snake, she knew she was no match; if it had been just Lu Li alone, she might have stood a chance to fight. ¡°Kill!¡± Lu Li remained unmoved. The Flying Sword, as quick as lightning, slashed toward her head. At the same time, Iron Pillar lashed out with its tail, fiercely attacking her side. The Sword Qi rapidly split into twelve strands in the sky, forming a small Sword Array, trapping her within. Threads of sharp Sword Qi roamed freely along the blades, exuding endless sharpness. ¡°It¡¯s actually a Sword Array!¡± Liu Zhenru turned pale with shock, hastily taking out a pink Cloud Handkerchief-shaped Magic Artifact, enveloping herself within. At the same time, she pleaded desperately: ¡°I am willing to be your slave, if only Mr. Lu would consider the difficulty of my cultivation¡­¡± Having said that, she untied the only pink garment covering her, revealing the whiteness of her front. Seeing the Sword Array, she knew she could not escape and didn¡¯t expect this man to have such means at his disposal. And there was no need to mention the intimidating giant snake nearby. ¡°Who sent you? Speak, and I will consider it,¡± Lu Li said. Seeing that she was standing bare on the sea surface, he could not help but take a few more glances. Seeing Lu Li¡¯s gaze, Liu Zhenru felt a flicker of joy and a glimmer of hope for survival. She batted her eyes seductively: ¡°More than ten days ago, a black-robed Cultivator found me and several others, providing information about Golden Qilin Island¡­¡± ¡°This person also promised a high-quality Magic Artifact as a gift upon success, and all the Spiritual Objects on the island would belong to us.¡± ¡°Do you know the exact identity of this person?¡± Lu Li asked. ¡°This servant does not know,¡± she replied. ¡°Hmph¡­ then you are of no use!¡± A murderous look on his face, Lu Li channeled his Flying Sword and ferociously slashed toward her. Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Ruthless Annihilation Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Ruthless Annihilation ¡°You¡¯re a liar, you promised to spare my life!¡± ¡°I only said I would consider it, and now that I have, I think killing you is more convenient.¡± Having said that, Lu Li¡¯s murderous intent didn¡¯t wane as he quickly circulated his sword technique, with piercingly sharp Sword Qi weaving through the void. ¡°Cur, I¡¯ll be waiting for you down below. We¡¯ll meet soon enough, ha ha¡­¡± Seeing no hope for survival, Liu Zhenru began to curse loudly. At the same time, she expended all her strength to raise the Cloud Light Handkerchief in defense against the surrounding Sword Qi. ¡°Sizzle¡­¡± Countless Sword Qi seemed to be cutting into the Cloud Light Handkerchief, emitting a series of piercing screeches. It was not until this moment that Liu Zhenru began to regret her situation, realizing her opponent had long broken through the latter stages of Qi Cultivation and his strength was far beyond what she could handle. Surrounded by a relentless onslaught of Sword Qi slicing into the Cloud Light Handkerchief, she felt her mana draining rapidly. Her complexion grew as pale as paper, and she began to falter. Before long, the Cloud Light Handkerchief above her head started to flicker between light and dark, obviously nearing its limit. Seeing this, Lu Li poured all his strength into the sword technique, and a colossal Sword Qi instantly appeared above the ocean, radiating a fearsome aura. ¡°Slash!¡± The Sword Qi, like lightning, swiftly sliced towards the other¡¯s Defensive Magical Artifact. ¡°Crack!¡± With a loud crash reverberating through the sky, the Cloud Light Handkerchief was instantly split in two by the Sword Qi and quickly fell onto the sea¡¯s surface. The Sword Qi, undiminished after destroying the artifact, continued its descent upon Liu Zhenru. Facing the sudden Sword Qi, Liu Zhenru¡¯s expression turned ashen, and in a moment of utter despair, she was instantly bisected, her body then shredded into pieces by the fierce Sword Qi. Crimson blood immediately stained a small patch of the surrounding seawater. Lu Li retrieved her Storage Bag and the damaged magic artifact, then turned around and flew towards Golden Qilin Island. Midway through his flight, he seemed to remember something, his body quivered slightly, and his aura weakened, taking on the appearance of someone in the sixth level of Qi Cultivation. It didn¡¯t take long before Golden Qilin Island could be seen in the distance. As soon as Lu Li landed on the island and reached Sunset Peak, he saw a white-haired old man standing in front of an array. The old man, dressed in a light blue Daoist robe and of a slim build, had cultivation around the twelfth level of Qi Cultivation and was looking at him with a kindly expression. ¡°Fourth grandpa, I didn¡¯t expect you to come to my aid.¡± ¡°I just happened to be on Mystic Moon Island, and when I received your message, I borrowed the ancestor¡¯s Flying Boat to rush here,¡± replied Lu Hongchang, smiling. ¡°You¡¯re quite bold, boy, to dare chase after a Demon Cultivator. If something went wrong, this old man would have a hard time explaining to the ancestor.¡± Lu Li also smiled lightly, ¡°I just took a quick chase and came back; there was no danger.¡± Lu Hongchang nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t be so rash in the future. Our family¡¯s hope for the next generation of Foundation Establishment Cultivators rests on you and Qing Qing.¡± ¡°Grandson has taken the lesson to heart.¡± Lu Li nodded earnestly. ¡°Be cautious these days. Other than Golden Qilin Island which you defend, several of our family¡¯s smaller islands have been attacked,¡± Lu Hongchang said with a grim expression. ¡°Two small islands have been breached, the spiritual materials on the mountain looted, and two family protectors slain by Demon Cultivators.¡± Hearing this, Lu Li¡¯s heart also grew heavy, sensing something out of the ordinary, and that¡¯s not to mention the elders and the ancestor picking up on it as well. After a brief conversation, Lu Hongchang boarded the Flying Boat and set off for Mystic Moon Island. ¡°It seems this Hidden Spirit Technique is still very effective, even Cultivators at the peak of Qi Cultivation can¡¯t detect the slightest hint.¡± Lu Li thought to himself. He then proceeded to the cave dwelling at the top of Sunset Peak. After sitting cross-legged and practicing cultivation for a while, he started to inspect his recent gains. He took out the Storage Bag, gently probed it with his Divine Sense, and headed towards a cluster of unfamiliar marks. After several purges, the original owner¡¯s marks were soon erased. He opened the Storage Bag and poured out the contents. A large pile of miscellaneous items was laid out on the ground. Besides some female clothes and personal belongings, there were over nine hundred Spirit Stones and a mid-grade Flying Sword Magic Artifact. There were also some Medicine Pills in various bottles and jars, some of which were emanating an Aura of the Blood Fiend. It seemed that this person had been preparing to purchase a high-grade Magic Artifact, and this time Lu Li had lucked out. A high-grade Magic Artifact cost at least a thousand Spirit Stones, which meant many cultivators who had just reached the later stages of Qi Cultivation still used mid-grade Magic Artifacts. As for top-grade Magic Artifacts, they were even more expensive and were generally used by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Indeed, ¡°committing murder and arson earns a golden belt,¡± but this person¡¯s fate also served as a warning to Lu Li that those who rob and kill will eventually meet their match. After summarizing his experience for the day, Lu Li gathered all the useful items from the ground and began his daily cultivation practice. The following day, early in the morning. Lu Li arrived at the Artifact Refining Room, ready to start learning the Artifact Refining Technique. Among the four arts of Cultivation, he chose to start with Artifact Refining first, simply because it was relatively easier than learning Arrays. Moreover, refining a suitable Lifebound Magical Artifact would greatly enhance his combat abilities. He first took out the Artifact Refining insights gifted to him by his ancestor and studied the key points carefully. He had also frequently reviewed these insights over the past year, and only today did he feel confident enough to begin refining artifacts. Lu Li took out a grey Artifact Refining Furnace Tripod and placed it on the ground. Upon activating it with mana, the Furnace Tripod quickly expanded and transformed into a tripod about the height of a person. The surface of the tripod was carved with beast patterns, emitting a faint glow. This Artifact Refining Tripod was only a low-grade Magic Artifact Furnace Tripod, which he had exchanged for contribution points from his clan at the beginning of the year; it was sufficient for learning Artifact Refining. He placed several redwood logs underneath the Furnace Tripod and ignited them with mana, producing intense flames. This Redwood was a type of low-level spirit wood, widely used in Alchemy and Artifact Refining. The temperature of the flames was only slightly lower than that of earth fire, which was more than enough for refining ordinary low- and mid-level Magic Artifacts. As time passed, the Furnace Tripod began to glow red. Seeing that the fire was about right, he immediately placed several chunks of Mystic Iron Stone inside. Then he added some Mithril and Iron Essence. When the high temperature melted them, they turned into a pool of multicolored molten metal. With a series of quick gestures from his hands, the impurities in the ores were stripped away. These gestures were part of the second-tier Artifact Refiner inheritance; other than removing impurities, they included shaping and inscribing Runes. As for the later Earth Fiend and Heavenly Gang Spiritual Restrictions, he didn¡¯t have any of those. They were rare Spell Restrictions used in the crafting of Magic Treasures and Spiritual Treasures. Before long, most of the impurities were removed from the pool of molten metal, leaving behind a clear and transparent liquid. Without pause, Lu Li cast several shaping spells, and the metal liquid quickly morphed into the shape of a Flying Sword. He then applied the Fire Control Technique to suppress the temperature of the flames slightly. Soon the Flying Sword solidified, emitting wisps of cold light. Afterward, he cast several sharp and sturdy Rune spells into the air, the Runes quickly merging into the body of the sword. Finally, he poured a clump of Traceless Water over the surface of the blade. ¡°Sizzle¡­¡± With the sound of hissing, plumes of white smoke emerged in the Artifact Refining Room. Once the smoke had cleared, Lu Li quietly observed the finished product in his hands. With a gentle twist of his hand. ¡°Crack.¡± A crisp sound rang out as the Flying Sword broke cleanly into two sections at the fracture. ¡°The first attempt indeed ended in failure.¡± Lu Li carefully reflected on his deficiencies and mistakes. Instead of immediately starting again, he once more reviewed the Artifact Refining insights bestowed by his ancestor, comparing them with his own process. Gradually, he gained many insights. This had been his habit for a long time: he always liked to reflect on failures and then seek the opportunity for success. Several hours later, Lu Li slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, reigniting the flames, and began his second attempt at Artifact Refining. Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Returning to the Family Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Returning to the Family ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Not long after, with a loud bang, a cloud of black smoke suddenly emerged from the secret chamber. ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± ¡°The furnace exploded this time!¡± Lu Li fiercely exhaled a breath of exhaustion and wiped the black ash off his face before he dumped out all the residue from the furnace and cleaned its interior thoroughly. ¡°It might be that impurities were not completely removed, and I was too hasty in embedding the runes.¡± He carefully recalled the steps he had just taken, pinpointing a hint of the cause of the failure. At the same time, he went over the process of artifact refining several times in his mind, making his techniques more proficient. Half an hour later, Lu Li started to try again. Unexpectedly, he failed again. The successive failures somewhat disheartened him, making him start to doubt whether he had the talent for artifact refining. Soon, he adjusted his attitude, acknowledging that if artifact refining were so easy, high-level artifact refiners would not be so rare. Next, he experienced failure another nine times. Each failure made him meticulously ponder the reasons for his failures, then he further deepened his understanding by comparing his experiences to his ancestor¡¯s insights on artifact refining. At that moment, Lu Li felt he grasped a faint glimmer of enlightenment. He immediately began again without stopping. This time, the process went exceptionally smoothly, whether it was removing impurities or shaping and tempering¡ªthere was a supremely smooth feeling, accompanied by a unique artistic beauty. Soon, it came down to the last step. Lu Li, with hands dancing the magic spell, swiftly embedded it into the body of the sword, ¡°Hum¡­¡± With a light sound, a pitch-black three-foot flying sword flew out, its tip flashing with a sharp light. Lu Li picked up the flying sword, stimulated his mana, and it emitted a sword light of about one foot. ¡°Haha¡­ I finally succeeded.¡± This time, he finally succeeded in refining a low-level magic artifact, marking his official status as a first-grade low-level artifact refiner. Lu Li did not pause excessively, he began to keenly recall that faint enlightenment and the feeling of smoothness. Moments later, he started the furnace to refine another magic artifact. Indeed, he succeeded in refining another low-level flying sword. Next, he began to practice low-level defensive magical artifacts. Although defensive magical artifacts were somewhat harder to create than attack magic tools, with the experience of his recent success, he only failed four times before succeeding. Moments later, Lu Li held a jet-black shield-shaped magical artifact, satisfaction written all over his face. ¡°Going forward, refining mid-level and high-level magical artifacts will just be a matter of perseverance.¡± It seems I will need to gather more top-grade materials for artifact refining. Soon after, Lu Li stowed away the magical artifacts and the furnace tripod, beginning his daily cultivation. ¡­¡­ In the blink of an eye, a month had passed. Lu Li sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion, slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air. During this month, aside from the indispensable daily cultivation, it was all about refining magical artifacts. The artifact refining materials he had brought from his family were now completely used up, considerably enhancing his refining experience. Now he could stably refine low-level magical artifacts. ¡°Time passes so quickly, it¡¯s already the end of the year, and this year happens to be when the family gathering is held.¡± Lu Li counted the days, pondering to himself. The Lu Family held a family gathering every three years, serving both as a summary of the developments over these three years and as a projection of future plans. He had attended several times before and was very familiar with it. Of course, the most important part was the family banquet, which featured lots of spiritual wine, spirit fruit, and spiritual materials, making him look forward to it. Lu Li got up and walked out of his cave dwelling, ready to water the spirit rice. Suddenly, a wave of fluctuations came from the defensive array below the mountain, followed by a communication jade talisman flying up. Lu Li received the jade talisman and swept his divine sense over it. ¡°Lu Li, fellow daoist, you can return to the family for the gathering now. The family has sent two Guest Elders to temporarily hold the fort at Golden Qilin Island.¡± Lu Li was slightly startled, not expecting their timing to be so coincidental. With a thought, he immediately activated the Hidden Spirit Technique, leaped from the mountain, and saw two familiar figures below. One was indeed Wang Ping, who previously held the fort at Golden Kirin Island, and the other was a somewhat plump middle-aged cultivator. Both were around the sixth layer of Qi cultivation. Lu Li opened the array, smiling at the two, ¡°Wang Ping and Shen Shuyuan, fellow daoists, you¡¯ve arrived quite early.¡± Wang Ping and the other laughed as they entered, ¡°We both haven¡¯t had many tasks lately, so it¡¯s perfect timing to replace you, fellow daoist.¡± Lu Li nodded and handed the control token to Wang Ping. After a brief handover with the two, he walked out of the Array and embarked on his return journey to Mystic Moon Island. Watching Lu Li¡¯s departing figure, the two showed a hint of envy. ¡°The direct descendants of a family indeed have it good, so young yet already on par with us.¡± Wang Ping sighed, a bit wistful. ¡°I¡¯m afraid this person also has some hope for Foundation Establishment, unlike you and I.¡± Shen Shuyuan also looked dejected, ¡°I have no hope for Foundation Establishment, and after many years, I will probably just be a handful of dust.¡± ¡°However, this person may lack a bit of an ambitious heart. He has made only slight progress in a year; the hurdle of Foundation Establishment is not so easy to overcome.¡± Wang Ping nodded in agreement, ¡°We cultivators are meant to defy the heavens, and should face difficulties head-on by going to the sea to slay Demon Beasts, which hones ourselves and accumulates Cultivation Resources¡­¡± At noon, the sunlight splashed over the sea, and the gentle breeze stirred up sparkling waves. Not far from Mystic Moon Island, a small azure boat was cutting through the waves, slowly approaching the island. At the bow stood a young man in a white Daoist robe, looking quite ethereal as the breeze fluttered his robes. Lu Li looked towards Mystic Moon Island ahead, feeling somewhat sentimental. A year had passed in the blink of an eye, and the island remained the same as always, without much change. On the shoreline, some mortals were busily working for their daily sustenance, bustling with activity. Not far away, at a small dock, a few low-level Qi Cultivation peripheral clansmen were leisurely sunbathing. As lower Spirit Roots, breaking through the later stages of Qi Cultivation in their lifetimes was very challenging; they had long grown accustomed to a leisurely daily life. Seeing Lu Li approaching the dock, a young man quickly walked over. ¡°Senior Lu Li, I will take care of the boat here.¡± ¡°Um.¡± Lu Li nodded and casually tossed a Spirit Stone. He somewhat remembered this young cultivator who had taken him to Golden Qilin Island by boat before. Qin Feiming caught the Spirit Stone and bowed, ¡°Thank you, Senior.¡± Once ashore, Lu Li mounted his Flying Sword and flew towards Qingling Peak. He didn¡¯t return to his own cave, but directly flew to a villa halfway up the mountain. It wasn¡¯t long before Lu Li stopped outside an exquisite courtyard. The courtyard wasn¡¯t large, about several dozen meters in circumference. It was surrounded by a Defensive Array, and its sides were filled with lush trees, presenting a vibrant scene. Just as he was about to send a Communication Jade Token, the Array suddenly fluctuated. A dignified and elegant lady in a purple palace dress walked out. ¡°You¡¯re home, why are you still standing outside?¡± Ye Yuchan somewhat reproached, yet her face couldn¡¯t hide the joy. Saying so, she walked up to Lu Li and took his hand, leading him into the courtyard. Lu Li smiled, ¡°Has dad come back?¡± He had grown up cherished by his parents, and the three shared a close bond. Ye Yuchan glanced at Lu Li, ¡°He¡¯s inside. Haven¡¯t seen you in over a year, and you don¡¯t even care about your mother.¡± Lu Li could only offer an embarrassed smile, opting to remain silent. ¡°My son has grown quite a bit taller, and his cultivation has improved significantly, truly worthy of being the family¡¯s second seed with the potential for Foundation Establishment.¡± Ye Yuchan expressed with delight. Lu Li felt somewhat awkward, ¡°I¡¯m still far behind Sister Qing Qing.¡± ¡°I know, I know¡­ my son is just low-key.¡± Ye Yuchan showed indulgent maternal affection. The two chatted and laughed as they entered a house. At that moment, a gaunt middle-aged man with a somewhat pallid face walked out. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Lu Chen lightly coughed a few times, smiling at Lu Li, ¡°Li¡¯er is back; not bad, your cultivation hasn¡¯t fallen behind.¡± ¡°Father, your health¡­¡± Lu Li looked worried. Ever since his father had injured his lung-channel in a magic duel, it had always been like this. ¡°It¡¯s an old issue; it¡¯s nothing serious, I¡¯ve gotten used to it over more than twenty years.¡± Lu Chen appeared reassured. The two fell silent for a moment. Ye Yuchan, seeing this, broke the quiet, ¡°Alright, Li¡¯er just got back. Let¡¯s not think about these unhappy matters right now; we¡¯ll always find a way eventually.¡± Saying so, a hint of murderous intent flashed through the corner of her eye as she turned. Lu Li nodded, and after a good conversation with his parents, he returned to his own cave. Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Family Gathering Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Family Gathering Late at night, in a courtyard on the hillside. ¡°What are you planning to hide this matter for much longer?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Let¡¯s talk about it later, if Li could establish his foundation¡­¡± ¡°Hmph, sooner or later we¡¯ll have to settle this matter with the Chen Family.¡± Ye Yuchan¡¯s face was frosty. In the following days, Lu Li spent his time either cultivating in the cave or accompanying his mother in the courtyard on the hillside. The spiritual energy of the second-order Spirit Vein was much stronger than that of Golden Qilin Island, which had become somewhat insufficient for him, requiring the aid of medicine pills every time he cultivated. Time flew by until the day of the clan gathering. Early morning. Lu Li walked out of the cave and headed towards the back mountain. Along the way, he encountered several clan members who greeted him kindly. Each clan meeting was held in a grand hall on the back mountain, a tradition of the Lu Family to highlight the selfless contributions of some ancestors and to strengthen the clansmen¡¯s sense of belonging to the family. For hundreds of years, numerous ancestors of the Lu Family had left their acquired secret techniques in the Dharma Transmission Hall, gradually deepening the foundation of the Lu Family. Lu Li confidently made his way along the mountain path. Halfway there, he saw a stunning figure appear at the fork ahead. The woman, in her twenties, wore a light-colored Daoist robe, her stature proud and her demeanor elegant, her cultivation around the eighth level of Qi Cultivation. ¡°Is it comfortable for you, the youngest brother, to be stationed at Golden Qilin Island for the first time? I heard you even faced an attack by evil cultivators.¡± Lu Qingqing approached, looking concerned. Seeing her, Lu Li smiled, but his expression was somewhat uneasy, ¡°You worry too much, Sister, everything was fine thanks to the timely rescue by our family.¡± Every time he saw Lu Qingqing, he remembered the fear of being dominated by her when he was a child, and even now the memory made him shudder. Lu Qingqing, being several years older than him, had been extremely curious as a child and insisted on using Lu Li for her experiments. Back then, Lu Li was too young to resist¡­ Of course, the two also had a very good relationship, often running wild across Mystic Moon Island. Sensing Lu Li¡¯s aura, Lu Qingqing frowned, ¡°Younger brother, it seems you¡¯ve been slacking off in your cultivation lately.¡± Lu Li smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve been learning artifact refining recently.¡± He replied casually, without revealing anything about the Hidden Spirit Technique. Lu Qingqing sighed, ¡°Li, you should prioritize cultivation. You need to take up a portion of the family¡¯s responsibilities. Of all the younger generation in the Lu Family, only you and I have hopes of achieving Foundation Establishment.¡± Lu Li nodded. In the midst of their conversation, they reached an open space. A majestic and solemn hall stood in the center of the plain. The hall, dozens of meters long, was built from a pale-blue wood. Due to being permeated with spiritual energy, the wood had not rotted for hundreds of years. Lu Li sniffed the air, detecting a faint fragrance. The two entered the hall together. Several family cultivators were already scattered inside, and his parents were sitting in one corner. On a high platform in the distance, densely packed ancestral tablets filled the space, very solemn, with the most central one bearing the name of Lu Changge, the first ancestor of the Lu Family. At this moment, some of the elder family members smiled warmly upon seeing the two arrive. As prominent figures of their generation, they naturally stood out. ¡°Li, Qing Qing, come over here.¡± Ye Yuchan smiled. Lu Li and Lu Qingqing approached and sat down behind a table where their mother was. He began to look around; the family cultivators present were still the same as in previous years. The Lu Family had practiced an elite training system for hundreds of years. Only family descendants with medium or higher affinity for Spiritual Energy are considered core members, others are peripheral members with no right to attend the clan meeting. Those with a Spirit Root affinity under 20 are considered useless for cultivation, 21-40 are low-grade Spirit Roots, 41-79 are medium-grade Spirit Roots, and 80 and above are high-grade Spirit Roots. In the entire Lu Family, only Lu Qingqing has reached high-grade talent. In Lu Li¡¯s generation, only nine people possess medium or higher qualifications, and they all refer to each other as siblings. Among them, a few had parents who were ordinary islanders and were only taken to Qingling Peak for uniform cultivation after their Spirit Roots were detected. Lu Yuling was among them. Soon, some cultivators from the family walked in one after another, and the hall began to buzz with activity. Lu Li glanced around and counted eighteen people present, including the nine from his generation, leaving only the old ancestor and three clan elders in their eighties who had not yet arrived. A girl in a pink dress was also among them. After arriving at the hall, Lu Yuling looked around. Upon seeing Lu Li and Lu Qingqing sitting in a corner on the left, her eyes lit up, and she walked over. ¡°Qingqing Sister, Sixth Brother, you both came really early.¡± Lu Yuling came briskly and sat down next to them. Lu Li smiled slightly, ¡°Ninth Sister, your cultivation level has indeed grown quickly; you¡¯re almost at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation.¡± Hearing this, Lu Yuling became excited, ¡°Hunting spirit beasts on the sea not only allows us to gather resources faster but also enhances our combat experience.¡± ¡°Sixth Brother, have you considered joining us? I¡¯ve earned nearly a thousand Spirit Stones this year.¡± ¡°If you delay a few more years, Sixth Brother, I might catch up to you, what¡¯s so great about Golden Qilin Island¡­¡± She boasted somewhat. Lu Li smiled upon hearing her words, ¡°I¡¯m used to being lazy alone; I¡¯ll consider it after completing the task of guarding Golden Qilin Island.¡± He calculated in his mind that the sea exploration this year had almost garnered him ten thousand Spirit Stones, and that was just within a few hundred miles of the shallow sea. A large amount of Spiritual Liquid had been fed to spirit beasts, causing Iron Pillar to advance by leaps and bounds. If he mentioned this, it might scare both Lu Yuling and the family members to death. Of course, he had no intention of revealing this, as accidental leakage could cause serious trouble. While they were conversing, a powerful figure accompanied by three white-haired elders walked in. It was the old ancestor Lu Tiande and the three clan elders. ¡°Descendants pay respect to the old ancestor, wishing him eternal blessings.¡± Lu Li stood up along with everyone else and bowed his head respectfully. Lu Tiande chuckled, ¡°Today is just a regular clan meeting, no need for excessive formalities.¡± He then walked up to the high platform, took out three sticks of Spiritual Incense, and solemnly placed them in the incense burner. ¡°Descendant Lu Tiande prays to our ancestors.¡± ¡°May the Lu Family prosper and flourish!¡± ¡°May the descendants of the Lu Family continue unbroken!¡± ¡°May the Lu Family¡¯s luck endure forever!¡± ¡­ Lu Tiande looked solemnly at the ancestral tablets of the family elders, Lu Changge, Lu Qingfeng¡­ those who had made significant contributions to the family. Lu Li, being among the attendees, also felt as though a mystical lineage bond linked everyone present. This was the path of family inheritance. Without the protection of the family, his cultivation wouldn¡¯t have progressed so smoothly. ¡°In the future, I¡¯ll try to help develop the Lu Family as much as possible.¡± Lu Li thought quietly to himself. After venerating the ancestors, Lu Tiande descended from the platform and sat at a table below, the three clan elders following suit. ¡°Please, everyone, take your seats.¡± The clan members all sat down cross-legged, and at that moment, some beautiful mortal maids walked in carrying platters of fruit and jugs of wine. After placing a jug of Spiritual Wine and a small plate of Spiritual Dates on everyone¡¯s table, they withdrew. Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Gifts Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Gifts Lu Li took out a Spiritual Date, bit into it, and a stream of sweet and delicious juice splashed freely. He then picked up the Spiritual Wine and took a sip. ¡°Indeed, the family¡¯s Monkey Wine is still so mellow.¡± The Spiritual Dates came from a first-rank Spiritual Date Tree at the top of Qingling Peak, yielding several hundred fruits each year, which tasted quite good. This Monkey Wine was made from a variety of Spirit Fruits, and Lu Hongyi, the fifth Grandfather, was a Spirit Wine Master. At every familial clan meeting, he always looked forward to these Spiritual Wines. It was a pity the yield was so small, otherwise, he might be able to exchange some. At this moment, the family members all started drinking the Spiritual Wine and eating the Spirit Fruits, and the atmosphere began to warm up. This was also the result of the old ancestor¡¯s easygoing nature; the family atmosphere was very comfortable. At this time, Lu Tiande prepared to check the progress inspection of the younger generation¡¯s cultivation. With a sweep of his Divine Sense, he was momentarily stunned. Seeing this, the others were also somewhat puzzled. Then through Divine Sense transmission, he mockingly scolded Lu Li, ¡°You lad, are quite cautious, showing a bit of the old ancestor¡¯s style.¡± Lu Li knew he couldn¡¯t hide from the eyes of the old ancestor and chuckled sheepishly, ¡°The lad had some fortune and got this secret technique; it has become somewhat of a habit.¡± Since the old ancestor did not expose him publicly, he had no need to worry. ¡°Come to the peak after the clan meeting,¡± Lu Tiande sent another message. He then happily addressed everyone, ¡°This year, the cultivation of the younger generation of the family hasn¡¯t fallen behind, and as your ancestor, I am greatly comforted.¡± The crowd was somewhat confused; it seemed that apart from Lu Qingqing, the few others had only made slight progress. Lu Tiande didn¡¯t point it out and just gave a faint smile. He then asked the family managers to report the financial situation of the year. Lu Yuting promptly stood up to report, ¡°Old ancestor, this year our family has a total income of 18,325 Spirit Stones from twelve small islands and several stores.¡± ¡°This is the net income after dispensing the Spirit Stones as tributes.¡± Hearing this, Lu Tiande frowned. These Spirit Stones were still required to be turned over by the thousands to the nearby Purple Mansion Family, the Li family. The remaining Spirit Stones were needed to maintain the Arrays, purchase Spirit Grass, and Cultivation Resources; it was just barely enough to get by. ¡°This year the family¡¯s two islands were plundered, leading to some overall decrease in income.¡± Now, the family¡¯s income was decreasing every year, and everyone was starting to grow anxious. ¡°This Li family demands a large tribute of Spirit Stones every year, making it difficult for us Foundation Establishment Families to progress.¡± Lu Tiande waved his hand, ¡°It¡¯s the same with the other three families; it has been like this for centuries, so you don¡¯t need to complain now.¡± Lu Li also felt a bit somber inside. In the nearby maritime territories, the Lu, Chen, Wang, and Lin four Foundation Establishment Families were all within the Li family¡¯s power dynamics, needing to tribute a large number of Spirit Stones every year. Of course, the Lu Family could choose not to pay tribute, but then it¡¯s likely that the Lu Family would be ¡®coincidentally¡¯ slaughtered to the last by Purple Mansion Demon Cultivators passing by. This had happened before. Lu Li was very clear; as the hegemon of the nearby thousands of miles, the Li family had dozens of subordinate Foundation Establishment Families under them. To prevent these subordinate Foundation Establishment Families from breaking through to Purple Mansion and affecting the Li family¡¯s interests, the amount of Spirit Stones each had to tribute was carefully calculated. If anyone dared to resist, their fate would not be good. The patriarch Master Fufeng, Li Haofeng, of the Li family was not an ordinary character. Seeing everyone a bit silent, Lu Tiande spoke again to comfort them, ¡°You all need not worry too much; once Lu Qingqing achieves Foundation Establishment, the situation within the family will certainly improve.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone just nodded, and the clouds in their hearts dissipated a bit. Lu Qingqing glanced at Lu Li beside her, feeling immense pressure as the family¡¯s hopes were placed on her shoulders. Seeing this, Lu Li also nodded at Lu Qingqing. After an exchange of glances, Lu Qingqing unexpectedly felt a trace of stability in her heart. The clan meeting didn¡¯t last long; by noon, everyone began to disperse. ¡­ In the afternoon, the sunlight was warm. Inside the cave dwelling at the mountain peak. An old man and a young man were seated cross-legged. It was Lu Li and Lu Tiande. After attending the clan meeting, Lu Li went to the old ancestor¡¯s cave. ¡°Li, lad, your Magic Spell is quite interesting,¡± Lu Tiande said, curious. ¡°As I observe, Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivators can¡¯t detect your true cultivation level, can they?¡± Lu Li smiled faintly, ¡°Old ancestor, your insight is like a torch; the lad got it by chance near Golden Qilin Island.¡± Saying this, he told the old ancestor about the events on the desolate island, except for the matter of the Demon Secret Skill pot; he simply mentioned obtaining some secret technique inheritance. ¡°The kid plans to keep these secret techniques within the clan. Although they are Demon Secret Skills, they are still quite extraordinary.¡± Lu Tiande nodded in satisfaction, ¡°The ancestor hasn¡¯t taken you in vain, you may leave the Flying Sword and Defensive Magical Artifact here, and come back to claim them after a few days.¡± Lu Tiande didn¡¯t harbor any rigid mindset regarding the right or wrong of the magic or orthodox paths; any secret technique that could kill the enemy was a good secret technique. ¡°You should be careful too, it¡¯s not peaceful recently.¡± Lu Tiande looked concerned. ¡°Back in the day, there were many in the clan with stronger Spirit Roots than me, but in the end, only this old ancestor has made it this far; most of the other clan members have perished.¡± Lu Li said with an air of flattery, ¡°The kid has always taken the ancestor as a role model.¡± Lu Tiande scolded with a laugh, ¡°You¡¯ve become slicker, kid. When did you learn to butter someone up like this?¡± Just then, the Green Spirit Python in Lu Li¡¯s Spiritual Beast Bag suddenly became restless, giving off an eager longing to come out. ¡°Could it be feeling the aura of its mother?¡± Lu Li knew Iron Pillar was born to the ancestor¡¯s spirit beast and was a bit agitated upon sensing its mother¡¯s aura for the first time. He directly released Iron Pillar, and a several zhang long giant python suddenly appeared in the cave, exuding a powerful aura. ¡°Eh?¡± Lu Tiande was surprised to see this. The Green Spirit Python was already at the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation; its aura was even stronger than that of an ordinary spirit beast at the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation. ¡°Could this be a Beast King?¡± Lu Tiande asked Li, somewhat doubtful. Lu Li nodded. ¡°You¡¯re really fortunate, young man, to come across the birth of a Beast King. This spirit beast will have an incredible potential in the future.¡± As a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Lu Tiande rarely lost his composure, but this time he was genuinely shocked. He also released his own spirit beast. A large python appeared in the cave and then quickly shrank to about several zhang in size. Upon sensing its mother¡¯s aura, Iron Pillar quickly coiled around her. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The mother python also let out an excited hiss. At this moment, a Communication Jade Token came from outside the cave. Lu Tiande took the jade token and then opened the cave¡¯s array. With fluctuations in the array, Lu Qingqing walked gracefully into view. ¡°What is this?¡± She was shocked to see the two giant pythons. She recognized the ancestor¡¯s spirit beast. But the other was unfamiliar to her, although the aura it emanated was very similar to her own spirit beast, but it was much more ferocious. Even she felt a great sense of oppression. At this time, the spirit beast in her Spiritual Beast Bag also began to grow restless. Lu Qingqing released her spirit beast, a similar Green Spirit Python appeared in the cave, though its aura was very weak, only at the third layer of Qi Cultivation. The smaller python wasn¡¯t scared, and it quickly crawled toward the two giant pythons. ¡°The Green Spirit Python belonging to Lu Li was also born to my spirit beast. Together with yours, it only gave birth to two.¡± Lu Tiande smiled slightly. Lu Qingqing was shocked, ¡°What¡¯s the situation with my sixth brother¡¯s spirit beast? How come its cultivation is so high?¡± Lu Li replied with a light smile, ¡°This spirit beast has had some serendipity of its own, making rapid progress along the way.¡± Lu Qingqing looked at Lu Li weirdly and said, ¡°Since they¡¯re both born of the same mother, is it that my spirit beast¡¯s fate is too poor?¡± ¡°If there¡¯s any trick to it, do teach your sister. I won¡¯t treat you poorly.¡± Lu Li¡¯s face turned a bit awkward, as he had no tricks to speak of; he couldn¡¯t exactly say that the spirit beast just ate and slept and ended up like this. To say such would be as if he was deliberately mocking his fourth sister. At this time, the ancestor Lu Tiande relieved him, ¡°Young Li¡¯s spirit beast was born a Beast King; its potential is astounding and incomparable to regular spirit beasts.¡± Lu Qingqing was disbelieving upon hearing this. She couldn¡¯t imagine that her sixth brother would be so fortunate. This spirit beast would definitely break through the Foundation Establishment stage. Even the chance of it reverting to its ancestral lineage and evolving into a ¡°Dragon Seed¡± was not out of the question. This filled her with envy. Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter Seventeen: Another Undersea Adventure Chapter 17: Chapter Seventeen: Another Undersea Adventure Several days later, within the cave at the foot of the mountain. Lu Li sat cross-legged on the ground, slowly exhaling a murky breath, ending a day of cultivation. ¡°The Spiritual Energy from a second-stage Spirit Vein is indeed more abundant.¡± Feeling the slight increase in his Mana within his body brought him great satisfaction. In recent days, aside from leaving some Secret Techniques with his clan, he had exchanged some Artifact Refining materials and Qi Cultivation later stage Medicine Pills at the Household Affairs Hall. He even exchanged a few contribution points for that incomplete second-stage Array, and together with the Demon Path Secret Techniques, he had amassed over seven thousand contribution points. These contribution points were quite substantial, as a Foundation Establishment Pill in his clan only required twenty thousand contribution points. Apart from upgrading the Flying Sword and the Green Origin Cauldron for the elder, most of these points were spent on purchasing Medicine Pills and Artifact Refining materials. Lu Li took out the Aminokaze, which hadn¡¯t changed much in appearance, only its aura was much sharper. The blade radiated a faint green glow, like ripples of light flowing around it. He reaffirmed his bond with it for a while before placing it back into the Storage Bag. Then, he continued to refine a top-grade Defensive Magical Artifact for a while, mastering the handling of both Magic Artifacts. After completing all this, Lu Li exited the cave, mounted his tunneling light and flew towards the coast of Mystic Moon Island. ¡­ Golden Qilin Island, outside the Array at Sunset Peak. ¡°Haha¡­ Daoist Lu Li, you¡¯ve arrived quite quickly.¡± Wang Ping and another came out smiling. Lu Li smiled back, ¡°There haven¡¯t been any anomalies on the island recently, have there?¡± ¡°The two of us guarding here have experienced calm seas, with no further attacks from Demon Cultivators.¡± Wang Ping¡¯s expression was grave, clearly aware of the recent widespread attacks on many islands. Lu Li nodded, handed over the Array control Token, and then they went their separate ways. Arriving at the cave at the summit of Sunset Peak, he meditated for a while, then prepared to head out to sea again. Time quickly passed, and by night, the bright moon hung high. The glowing moonlight showered the sea surface, casting dim and multiple reflections. Lu Li stood at the shore, enjoying the cool sea breeze¡ªdifferent, refreshingly comfortable. With a leap, he dived into the sea and swam towards the depths, operating the Demon Beast pot to transform into a colossal sea turtle. Soon, he arrived above the continental shelf of the seabed. He maneuvered the Demon Beast body, slowly heading northeast. Recently, he had always changed direction; within six hundred miles to the northwest, everything was almost fully explored. This sea turtle, in the later stages of Qi Cultivation, was the one he had slain in a previous undersea journey. Carefully observing his surroundings, Lu Li moved slowly forward. The early spring seawater was bitterly cold; seaweed and rocks were everywhere, with much fewer fish and shrimp. After a year of undersea exploration, he had uncovered many patterns. Golden Qilin Island was situated at the outer edge of the sea, surrounded by rather barren waters. Within five hundred miles north, there were only Demon Beasts below mid-stage Qi Cultivation. Beyond five hundred miles, he occasionally encountered later-stage Qi Cultivation Demon Beasts¡ªspiritual materials also became more valuable. Previously, because his cultivation had not broken through, most of his time was spent wandering within five hundred miles of the nearby sea area. This time, Lu Li prepared to explore deeper regions gradually. Time slowly elapsed, and after several hours, Lu Li released his Divine Sense, cautiously scanning the surrounding environment. Since his breakthrough enhanced his Divine Sense, the range of exploration had grown larger. Even under the pressure of the deep sea, he could barely manage over a hundred meters. ¡°We¡¯re nearing the five-hundred-mile marker ahead.¡± These last few hours, Lu Li had only slain a few early-stage Qi Cultivation Demon Beasts, yielding little gain. He continued swimming forward, then dove deeper into the more profound reaches of the sea. Before long, he sensed a trace of Demon Energy. Ahead, within a hundred meters, there appeared a dark black Crab Demon, its cultivation only in mid-stage Qi Cultivation, with scales shining black, and its two pincers looking fiercely powerful. Lu Li¡¯s face lit up with joy, it seemed that the resources in the deeper parts of the ocean were indeed more abundant. He swiftly swam towards the Crab Demon, and before the creature could react, he suddenly unleashed a Flying Sword. The sword, glowing dazzlingly, slashed towards the torso of the Crab Demon. ¡°Roar¡­¡± As a tragic scream erupted, the Crab Demon was instantly bisected, its red and white fluids staining the surrounding sea water. The Aminokaze, having been upgraded to a high-quality Magic Artifact, indeed had greatly increased in power. Under the same operation of Mana, it was many times stronger than before, which surprised him. After collecting the Demon Beast¡¯s corpse, he continued swimming forward. In just one hour, he encountered two mid-Qi Cultivation sea snakes and several Ice Spirit Fruits. This further confirmed his speculation. Lu Li quietly began to explore along the seabed riverbed. The algae and small fish and shrimps in front of him gradually increased, and the seabed rocks also grew much larger, forming small hills. Even the undercurrents surrounding him grew much more turbulent, making a ¡°whooshing¡± sound. Lu Li maneuvered through the underwater hills, careful to observe his surroundings. He then explored for several more hours but surprisingly found nothing. ¡°This isn¡¯t right!¡± He felt some doubt in his mind. Just as he thought today was over and began to prepare for the return journey, suddenly a huge current noise came from the side. Lu Li turned his head and felt a chill run down his spine. He saw that a few hundred meters ahead, four huge whale Barbaric Beasts were charging forward with an unmatched oppressive force. ¡°Tiger-head whales and in a group too, no wonder there are no Demon Beasts around.¡± Lu Li didn¡¯t have time to think as he immediately fled towards the nearby reefs. With his previous experiences, he dared not stay where he was; these Barbaric Beasts had very strong senses. The four tiger-head whales sensed the presence of prey and chased after Lu Li frantically. Even some of the seabed rocks in front of them were smashed to smithereens, showing extreme brute force. Lu Li didn¡¯t dare stop and madly fled forward, his body weaving through the rocks, hoping to slow down the pursuit of these Barbaric Beasts. Even so, the four tiger-head whales were still gradually closing in, as if they wouldn¡¯t rest until they caught their prey. Lu Li sensed the four Barbaric Beasts getting closer and felt very anxious. These few beasts were all above the ninth level of Qi Cultivation; if it were just one, he might have managed to fight it off, but against four, he could only temporarily avoid their edge. Just when he was somewhat panicking and not watching where he was going, suddenly a dark cave entrance appeared in the deep riverbed in front of him. He was overjoyed and dived headfirst into the cave. ¡°Boom¡­¡± As soon as he entered the cave, he felt a huge impact coming from the riverbed outside. ¡°These Barbaric Beasts really won¡¯t rest until they get what they want, but thankfully this tunnel is sturdy.¡± Lu Li felt helpless and quickly dove towards the depths of the cave, leaving several Barbaric Beasts swimming unwillingly at the entrance. He carefully looked around; it was a very long and narrow passageway. The width was only about several meters, pitch black inside, the walls covered with various seaweeds. Lu Li slowly explored, and after swimming several miles, his Divine Sense finally reached the end of the passageway. He swam out of the passageway and immediately felt a sense of openness. He found himself in a huge underwater cave. The cave was three hundred meters in diameter, the seabed very flat, with plants but no other Demon Beasts. ¡°Is there actually fresh water here?¡± He tasted a faint sweetness in his mouth, along with a hint of Spiritual Energy, and was shocked. It was a few thousand meters under the sea, unusually presenting fresh water. Lu Li carefully observed his surroundings, searching for the source of the fresh water, feeling very intrigued. Soon, he locked his gaze on a spring in the center of the cave. The spring was continuously bubbling forth, pushing the surrounding seawater away. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18 The Fragmented Spirit of the Immortal Mansion Chapter 18: Chapter 18 The Fragmented Spirit of the Immortal Mansion Lu Li swam slowly toward the spring¡¯s eye. The spring¡¯s eye was not large, only about ten feet in diameter. The closer he got, the more he felt a burst of icy Spiritual Energy that invigorated his spirit. Before long, he reached the top of the spring¡¯s eye. Lu Li activated the Demon Refining Pot to transform into a slightly smaller sea serpent, then submerged himself. ¡°Sss¡­ This spring water is so cool!¡± As soon as he dove in, he felt a bone-chilling cold assaulting him, making him shiver uncontrollably. The surrounding walls were cylindrical in shape, and there was a faint glow emanating from the sides. He continued to dive downward when several small red fish approached him. Lu Li focused his gaze, and his expression changed. The little fish were completely red, their eyes sparkled with spiritual light, and their scales were very tight, with a slight trace of gold at the tail. ¡°Could these be the top-grade spiritual materials, the Dragon Pattern Fish? How could such things be here?¡± Legends said that this kind of spirit fish contained a strand of Dragon Clan bloodline, and consuming it over a long period could greatly strengthen one¡¯s muscles, blood, and Qi. It had significant benefits for Demon Beasts when eaten. Lu Li was somewhat uncertain, he moved forward, channeling his Mana, and firmly grasped the body of the spirit fish to examine it closely. The spirit fish struggled desperately in his hand, with such force that it suddenly spat out a jet of water that scattered his Mana. ¡°Indeed, it is a Dragon Pattern Fish.¡± Feeling the struggle in his hand, he was overjoyed. Lu Li gave chase once again, and with an effort, he captured it. He continued diving further down and encountered a few more spirit fish; none escaped his clutches. It wasn¡¯t long before Lu Li reached the bottom of the spring¡¯s eye. Two peculiar items immediately caught his attention. There was a broken crescent-shaped shard in the middle of the spring¡¯s bottom, emitting faint russet light, with an irregularly jagged edge. Beside it lay a bead-like object, the size of a fist, with a misty halo around it. Seeing this object, Lu Li¡¯s breathing started to hasten. ¡°Could this be the Spiritual Spring Eye? No wonder there are Dragon Pattern Fish here.¡± The ledger of spiritual objects in his clan stated that this item was mostly spherical in shape, emitting a faint luminescence, and was very cold to the touch. A first-rank Spiritual Spring Eye can absorb the Earth¡¯s essence and exhale Spiritual Energy, and even without a Spirit Vein, it can be equivalent to a high-grade first-rank Spirit Vein. As for those above the first rank, they were even more precious, and most importantly, this object was very convenient to carry. ¡°It looks like my luck is good today.¡± Lu Li¡¯s face lit up with joy, and just as he was about to move forward to collect it, a surge of fluctuation came from below. ¡°Finally, someone has come. Your illusionary technique is quite interesting; it can even disguise your soul¡¯s fluctuations.¡± At that moment, a ghostly voice entered his mind. ¡°Who¡¯s there? Stop playing tricks!¡± Lu Li tensed up, immediately drew his Flying Sword, and looked around guardedly. Having his greatest secret exposed with just a few words, he could hardly contain the murderous intent boiling within him. ¡°Making a big fuss over nothing. What top-level Secret Technique hasn¡¯t this old Taoist Ancestor seen before?¡± As he spoke, a spirit resembling a monkey sprang out from the shards at the bottom of the spring¡¯s eye. The Spirit Monkey had a very silly and adorable appearance, yet it spoke with an ancient, weathered tone. At this moment, it was crossing its arms and looking at Lu Li with a sidelong gaze. ¡°Who are you?¡± The sudden appearance of a monkey spirit startled Lu Li greatly. ¡°Listen well, I am the Senior Immortal of the Upper Realms, Li Hong, who fell into such a state due to being harmed by enemies¡­¡± The Spirit Monkey raised its head, full of arrogance. ¡°What do you want?¡± Lu Li put away the Spiritual Spring Eye and turned to leave. ¡°Hey, hey, hey¡­ don¡¯t go!¡± The Monkey saw Lu Li completely disinterested and turned to walk away, which made him somewhat panicked. For tens of thousands of years, he had finally encountered a person and did not want to give up easily. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to become immortal?¡± he asked. ¡°I don¡¯t!¡± replied Lu Li as he continued to walk away. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to learn the top divine skills of the upper realm?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t!¡± Seeing that Lu Li was not behaving as expected, the Spirit Monkey¡¯s soul howled in rage. ¡°I am the remnant soul of an Artifact Spirit of a Pure Yang Immortal Treasure. The Immortal Lord Li Hong was my master¡­¡± he said, but upon seeing Lu Li still uninterested and about to leave, his face became blank. ¡°Wow¡­ boy, you¡¯ve angered this old ancestor! I know the path of Innate Demon Gods, and your mere mortal body that has just started Qi Cultivation will forever only struggle in the cycle of reincarnation¡­¡± Lu Li heard the desperate shouts from behind and a slight smile formed at the corner of his mouth. ¡°The Innate Way? What¡¯s that?¡± He turned around and walked towards the Spirit Monkey. ¡°Hmph!¡± The Spirit Monkey snorted coldly, clearly still very upset. Lu Li wasn¡¯t in a hurry either, and the two of them just quietly looked at each other. After a short while, the Spirit Monkey gave in. ¡°Forget it, this old ancestor doesn¡¯t wake up often, so I won¡¯t stoop to your level,¡± it said. ¡°You seem to practice the Golden Core Qi Cultivation path, which was created by several Taoist Ancestors countless eons ago.¡± Lu Li nodded indifferently, waiting for what was to come. The Spirit Monkey paused before continuing, ¡°At the beginning of Chaos, when Demon Gods were born, they were already the most superior Chaos Demigods.¡± ¡°And in some minor worlds, Innate beings birthed by the worlds correspond to what you call the Foundation Establishment Stage.¡± ¡°Over time, however, as the Innate Qi dispersed, no more Innate beings were birthed. But, as the saying goes, life finds a way¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference between the Innate Way and the latter Foundation Establishment?¡± inquired Lu Li, suddenly very interested. ¡°Innate beings of the same stage are much more powerful. The initial stage Innate beings are equivalent to the late stage of Foundation Establishment in your realm, and the peak Innate beings equate to the Purple Mansion Realm of Qi Cultivation.¡± The Spirit Monkey paused again and added, ¡°However, that is only if one has mastered divine skills; acquiring those is difficult, and learning them is extremely arduous.¡± Lu Li nodded and asked a critical question. ¡°Can I learn it?¡± ¡°Not now, your physical body is too weak!¡± observed the Spirit Monkey as it glanced at Lu Li. ¡°When can I learn?¡± ¡°You have a slight chance only when your essence, Qi, and spirit reach the mortal body¡¯s limits; it¡¯s a dead end to forcibly cultivate.¡± The Spirit Monkey somewhat mockingly added, ¡°I haven¡¯t even said I¡¯ll teach you yet.¡± Lu Li¡¯s expression remained calm: ¡°Tell me, what are your conditions for leading me here?¡± He didn¡¯t believe the other party would have no demands and dared not learn anything for free. Seeing Lu Li interested, the Spirit Monkey suddenly seemed somewhat sorrowful, ¡°If I pass this Cultivation Technique to you, you must swear by your Daoist heart that if you have the chance to cultivate to the level of a Heavenly Immortal, you must inherit all the karma of my master.¡± Lu Li stood quietly, not immediately agreeing. The Spirit Monkey silently waited. Lu Li pondered for a while, ¡°Didn¡¯t your master cultivate into an Innate Demon God?¡± ¡°No, the God Demon Tribulation is extremely terrifying and is accompanied by the Inner Demon Tribulation, which is more than ten times stronger than the Heavenly Immortal Tribulation¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think too much; not even a single Heavenly Immortal has been born in this realm. Perhaps you are the destined one for this old ancestor.¡± Lu Li¡¯s mind was abuzz with thoughts; this was clearly a tremendous opportunity, and missing it might be a lifelong regret. He¡¯d deal with the future when it came. He was still just a minor Qi Cultivating cultivator now, and the matter of becoming immortal was too far off. With this thought, he silently nodded to himself. Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Vow of the Dao Heart Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Vow of the Dao Heart ¡°I, in the name of my Dao heart, swear that after obtaining all the legacies of the Immortal Rainbow Monarch, I will inherit all of its causations, violators will have their Dao hearts obliterated¡­¡± Lu Li directly issued the oath of Dao heart in front of the Spirit Monkey. He also played a smart move here, focusing on after obtaining all the legacies of the Immortal Monarch, if the old monkey had any reservations it wouldn¡¯t count as him breaking the oath. Hearing Lu Li¡¯s oath, the Spirit Monkey showed a hint of satisfaction. ¡°Do you think you can deceive this old ancestor with such tricks? As long as you keep your promise, this old ancestor, Kong Shan, will hold nothing back.¡± ¡°Then may I ask, Elder Kong Shan, do you have any Cultivation Techniques or secret techniques that a poor Daoist like me can learn right now?¡± Lu Li asked in an even tone. ¡°This¡­ I, the old ancestor, have a fragmented Divine Soul, and many memories are incomplete and unclear.¡± Kong Shan was somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Were all your previous words just to deceive me?¡± Lu Li¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Absolutely true, many fragments of this old ancestor¡¯s Divine Soul are within this realm, and I can sense them within thousands of miles¡­¡± ¡°There are two pieces nearby.¡± ¡°Do you not have any Cultivation Techniques for innate spirit beings either?¡± ¡°I swear on my soul that there are definitely memories of Cultivation Techniques within that fragment.¡± Kong Shan vowed confidently. ¡°However, many of the secret techniques require the cultivation level of a Heavenly Immortal at the very least, and most of them you are unable to cultivate.¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Li nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll wait until my cultivation is higher before searching for them.¡± ¡°I, the old ancestor, am going to sleep now; if there is anything, I will send you a message through sound transmission.¡± At this time, Kong Shan¡¯s soul body began to dim, and then it slowly sank into the fragment. Lu Li put away the small segment of the fragment and examined it closely; in its complete state, it should be a ring-shaped item. He didn¡¯t think too deeply about it and put away the fragment before swimming upwards. It didn¡¯t take long for him to reach the passage he had been in before. He slowly passed through the tunnel and reached the entrance, then sent his Divine Sense outside to scout. After searching nearby for a while and not finding any trace of the four Barbaric Beasts, he let out a sigh of relief. Worried that the four Barbaric Beasts might still be roaming nearby, he didn¡¯t immediately venture out. After spending over an hour by the entrance without noticing anything unusual, he stealthily slipped away. Then, he headed back towards Golden Qilin Island, the entire journey was tranquil and no further dangers presented themselves. After some time, with full speed, the silhouette of Golden Qilin Island emerged in the distance. At this time, the sun had just risen, casting endless brilliance across the sea, tinting the entire expanse of sea and sky with a golden hue. Lu Li reached the shore and returned to his human form. He leapt up to fly towards Golden Qilin Island against the sunrise. After crossing the Array, he arrived inside his cave and exhaled a turbid breath, calming his excited mood. This treasure hunt had been extremely fruitful, not only had he found more than ten Dragon Pattern Fish and a Tier 1 Spiritual Spring Eye, but he had also discovered a fragment of an Immortal Treasure. It seemed that searching for Immortal Treasure fragments would also need to be scheduled for when his cultivation was higher in the future. Then, stepping out of the cave, he went to a source of water near the mountain summit. He quickly dug a pit tens of meters in diameter using his Mana and carved an Array around it for protection. Next, he diverted the waters of Sunset Peak into the pit, and soon a deep pond was fully formed. He took out more than ten Dragon Pattern Fish and placed them all into the pond. After entering the pond water, the Dragon Pattern Fish seemed lethargic, not as lively as before. Lu Li then took out the Spiritual Spring Eye and put it into the bottom of the pond water. The moment he placed it in, the entire pond quickly cooled down, and mists began to emanate from the surface of the water. In the warm sunlight, it radiated a mesmerizing array of colorful light. The surrounding Spiritual Energy also began to rise, improving significantly from before. With the Spiritual Spring Eye in place, the group of spirit fish immediately became lively, swimming freely in the water. Lu Li continued by feeding them some Demon Attraction Grass, pleased to see the group of spirit fish quickly surging up to compete for food. As a common Spirit Grass, the Demon Attraction Grass was favored by most spirit beasts and Sea Demons, and was planted in some of the spirit fields on the mountain. It seemed it wouldn¡¯t be long before these spirit fish would quickly reproduce. After completing these tasks, he carved additional protective restrictions nearby and then turned and left. In the following days, apart from sitting in meditation to cultivate, Lu Li spent his time feeding the spirit fish and occasionally refining Magic Artifacts. At night, he would venture into the deep sea to explore, each time gaining new findings. These days were very uneventful yet fulfilling, and a year passed in the blink of an eye. One day, in the early morning, inside the cave. Lu Li sat on the cushion, his body¡¯s Spiritual Energy rampantly surging. A small vortex of Spiritual Energy formed above his head, with a large amount of Spiritual Energy flooding into his body. He exerted all his effort to rotate his Cultivation Technique, his entire meridian system bulging slightly. ¡°Break!¡± After an unknown period of rotation, Lu Li felt a moment of opportunity and shouted loudly, Mana in his body began to boil. ¡°Crack¡­¡± There was a slight sound from within his body, as if something had shattered, and a more powerful Mana appeared within. He quickly followed the eighth layer of the Vast Sea Kun Void Technique to solidify his freshly achieved Cultivation. ¡°Finally, Qi Cultivation at the eighth level.¡± A smile crept onto Lu Li¡¯s lips. Feeling the surging Mana within him, now more than twice as strong as before, he instantaneously felt that all the hardships had been worth it. Now, his Qi Cultivation at the eighth level¡¯s Mana could even compare with some cultivators at the ninth level. Throughout the year, his days were filled with sea exploration and Artifact Refining cultivation, which left him a bit weary yet also content. After his breakthrough, he went straight to the secret chamber, flopped down, and quickly fell into a deep sleep. Hours slipped by in a flash. When Lu Li woke up, he felt refreshingly clearheaded, as if his entire soul had become much more transparent. He stepped out of the cave to the side of the Cold Pond at the mountain¡¯s summit and saw a huge demon python standing there, vigilantly scanning its surroundings. After a year of being fed an extensive amount of Spiritual Liquid, Iron Pillar had also advanced by leaps and bounds, now having reached Qi Cultivation at the eighth level as well. Ever since feeding it a Dragon Pattern Fish half a year ago, it had become addicted, drooling over the pond water every day. If not for the prohibitions Lu Li had set earlier, it would have long since slipped in to steal a feast. After nearly a year of feeding, there were already dozens of Dragon Pattern Fish, and that was with him regularly fishing out a few to eat. Seeing Lu Li emerge, Iron Pillar slithered over joyfully, with an ingratiating look on its face. ¡°Master, this servant desires to eat spirit fish.¡± Lu Li, hearing this delicate transmission, couldn¡¯t help but feel helpless. Half a year ago, he discovered that Iron Pillar was, in fact, a female python. As its intelligence greatly expanded since reaching the later stage of Qi Cultivation, it now equated to a human in their teens, no wonder it was a Demon Beast King. Ordinary demon beasts at the late stage of Qi Cultivation only had the intelligence of a child. ¡°Alright, today we will fish out a few more for you to eat.¡± Lu Li smiled. Hearing that there would be more spirit fish to eat, Iron Pillar immediately drooled. Lu Li took out four spirit fish and went to a clearing to clean them. Then he cooked them with Spirit Rice in a vessel. Before long, an extremely rich aroma wafted over the entire summit of Sunset Peak. Top-grade spiritual materials only needed simple cooking to become incredibly delicious. He gave two fish to Iron Pillar, then bit into a fully-cooked spirit fish himself. The sweet and savory flavor filled his entire palate, making him almost wish to gulp down the entire spirit fish in one go. Although it wasn¡¯t his first time eating them, each experience was highly memorable. It didn¡¯t take long for both man and beast to finish off the spirit fish completely. Lu Li felt warm flows emerging from his abdomen, quickly circulating throughout his body. He felt his muscles and physical body strengthen a bit more. Over the past two years, by consuming a large amount of Spirit Fruit and spirit fish, his physical body had become extremely impressive, now quite comparable to a late-stage Qi Cultivation spirit beast, teeming with Essence Blood, and even his Divine Sense had greatly enhanced. He always remembered what Kong Shan had said, that only when essence, energy, and spirit reached the peak could one cultivate the Divine Demon Body. Until now, he faintly had some understanding. Perhaps the ¡°Triple-Spirit Refinement¡± secret technique within the Vast Sea Kun Void Technique might reach the limit of ¡°energy,¡± although this would need further verification. As for Essence Blood, it could only be nourished by the plentiful Spiritual Fruits and spiritual materials from the deep sea. He was somewhat puzzled about Divine Sense. Matters involving the soul often tended to be mysterious, and he had never heard of a Cultivation Technique specifically for training Divine Sense, only passive enhancements. It seemed that in the future, he would need to pay attention to Spiritual Medicines and Spiritual Objects that ¡°nourish the soul.¡± Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Evil-eyed Water Ape Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Evil-eyed Water Ape ¡°` At night, all was silent. By the coast, Lu Li dove headfirst into the sea, transformed into a sea turtle, and slowly swam toward the seabed. It wasn¡¯t long before he arrived above the seabed riverbed. He had explored the deep sea countless times before, and everything around him was very familiar. He found his direction and navigated through the colorful seaweed and rocks, skillfully swimming forward. Nearby underwater creatures that sensed his presence all kept their distance. Several hours later, he came to the sea area near Golden Qilin Island, about five hundred miles away. Lu Li dived into a familiar undersea passage and swam toward deeper waters. As he swam, he surveyed his surroundings where the seaweed and shrimp were noticeably larger. In the water, he could clearly feel strands of cool Spiritual Energy. From nearby came the sound of ¡°whoosh whoosh¡± as countless underwater currents collided in a symphony around him. Past this dividing line, Lu Li became more cautious. He quietly began his exploration of the deep sea. Before long, he suddenly noticed a light flashing a few hundred meters ahead. ¡°There¡¯s something!¡± he thought to himself and stealthily swam towards the source of the light. Soon, he reached the place where the light originated. ¡°A high-quality Ice Spirit Fruit.¡± Lu Li picked the Spirit Fruit, feeling the compelling Spiritual Energy and the threads of coolness emitting from it, his face brimming with joy. It was unexpected to find such a significant discovery so soon after setting out to sea. It seemed that his luck today was not bad at all. After collecting the Spirit Fruit, he continued swimming deeper into the sea. Time slowly passed by. The search lasted several more hours. Apart from finding six or seven Spirit Fruits, there were just some ordinary Mystic Iron Ores. Lu Li leisurely swam near a red rock when he thought that was all he would get today, suddenly a surge of Demon Energy came from the front. He took a careful look and saw a huge monkey-shaped Demon Beast charging towards him; it had clearly already spotted him. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± The Demon Ape, holding a black rod in its hands, looked ferocious, with blood-red eyes and an intimidating evil aura emanating from its entire body. ¡°Qi Cultivation level nine, Evil-eyed Water Ape!¡± Lu Li tensed up at the sense of the Demon Ape¡¯s formidable presence. He did not dare to be careless and immediately released Iron Pillar. ¡°Ow¡­¡± A satisfied, piercing scream rang out as a giant python as thick as a barrel and several meters tall appeared in the depths of the sea. Iron Pillar had clearly been stifled in the Spiritual Beast Bag and was not afraid at all upon seeing the Demon Ape, immediately swishing its tail and dashing forward. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± As the Demon Ape saw another giant python appear, it grew even more furious and without hesitation collided head-on with the python. With a loud collision sound, the deep sea currents surged frantically. Rocks around them were swept away in disarray. Lu Li lay quietly on the seabed, waiting for an opportunity to act. Although the Demon Ape had a higher cultivation level, Iron Pillar, being a Demon Beast King, did not show any sign of weakness. The two fought on equal footing. Lu Li observed their battle and furrowed his brow. Iron Pillar still lacked combat experience and was merely relying on brute strength to fight the Demon Ape. Even so, it gradually gained the upper hand. ¡°Ow ow¡­¡± The Evil-eyed Water Ape roared fiercely and lifted the black iron rod in its hand to smash it down hard on Iron Pillar. Iron Pillar did not panic and met the attack head-on. With a great surge of strength, it swung its tail at the Demon Ape. ¡°Boom rumble¡­¡± The surrounding seawater began to churn violently, and the Demon Ape couldn¡¯t help but retreat backward. Iron Pillar clearly had the advantage in this strike. ¡°` Lu Li¡¯s heart steadied, and he quietly readied his Flying Sword, preparing to deliver a fatal blow at any moment. At this moment, the Demon Ape grew even more furious, its Demon Energy wildly dispersing as it charged toward Iron Pillar with another roar. The two deep-sea giants clashed again, scaring away nearby creatures in a frenzied escape. ¡°Eh¡­¡± Lu Li was somewhat surprised. Did the Water Ape not know to flee? Time slowly passed, and both Demon Beasts¡¯ momentum began to wane. Just as the Demon Ape was exhausted and yet to recover, he decisively made his move. ¡°Sizzle¡­¡± A dazzling beam of light appeared suddenly in the depths of the sea, as if heralding the dawn of creation. Even the water surrounding the sword¡¯s tip was cleaved, as it carried a domineering force towards the enormous ape. Lu Li directly employed the secret Sword technique ¡°Sword Light Fusion.¡± ¡°Roar¡­¡± The gigantic ape seemed to sense the impending threat of death, and with great effort, it mustered a sliver of energy to swing its colossal rod toward the sword. ¡°Crack!¡± With a crisp snap, the Black Iron Rod was split in two instantly. Then, with unrelenting force, the sword light continued towards the Demon Ape¡¯s neck. The Demon Ape¡¯s eyes flashed with fear and reluctance as it watched the Flying Sword approach, powerless to stop it. ¡°Ah!¡± The Flying Sword struck, and a distressing shriek echoed through the deep sea as the Demon Ape¡¯s head soared skyward. The surrounding water was dyed a deep red. Lu Li retrieved the Flying Sword and swam forward to collect the Water Ape¡¯s body into the refining demon pot. Then, with some reluctance from Iron Pillar, he also packed it away. This time, Iron Pillar had made substantial contributions; otherwise, Lu Li alone would not have been able to kill the Water Ape in the deep sea. With one man and one beast, the target was too large in the seabed, and despite Iron Pillar¡¯s resistance, it had no choice but to comply. Lu Li continued to swim forward. Before long, he arrived at a dark cave entrance. The cave was several zhang in radius, surrounded by water plants and quite concealed. ¡°Eh, there¡¯s still a faint trace of Demon Energy lingering here.¡± ¡°Could it be the cave of that giant ape?¡± Just as he was ready to enter and have a look, a ¡°zzt zzt¡± sound suddenly reached his ears. The sound was mournful, as if several young beasts were crying. Lu Li extended his Divine Sense and discovered two smaller Water Apes lying in the depths of the Water Mansion, shivering. Their eyes were full of fear as they stared at the cave entrance, evidently, they had heard their mother¡¯s wail. Lu Li charged in and took control of the two young Water Apes before securing them in the Spiritual Beast Bag. He also instructed Iron Pillar not to harm the two youngsters. These two young Water Apes could still fetch a tidy sum in the market. As second-tier bloodline Demon Beasts, Evil-eyed Water Apes were naturally powerful in water. There was a chance that when the young beasts grew up, they could break through to Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts and awaken their Innate Divine Ability, ¡°Evil Eye,¡± which was quite extraordinary. Of course, they were nothing compared to his Green Spirit Python, so he had no plans to tame these two little ones. After securing the young beasts, Lu Li began to search the Water Mansion. Soon, he made some discoveries. In the back of the Water Mansion, several Ice Spirit Fruits radiated a faint spiritual light. On the side, there were some peculiar ores, presumably collected by the giant ape. Now all belonged to Lu Li. He swiftly gathered the Spirit Fruits and ores, and swam out of the Water Mansion. He continued along the riverbed, not daring to go too deep; encountering a Qi Cultivation perfection could prove very dangerous. Lu Li swam along, quite pleased with his haul. Just as he was tallying his bounty, a strong surge of Demon Energy came from ahead. Lu Li¡¯s heart tightened, and just as he was about to release Iron Pillar, a thought suddenly surged through the refining demon pot. ¡°Pan Shi, little brother, where have you been these past few months? Big brother has had a hard time looking for you!¡± ¡°Even the ancestors are worried about you, continuously sending people out to find you!¡± Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21: The Spirit Turtle Clan Chapter 21: Chapter 21: The Spirit Turtle Clan Lu Li wore an extremely peculiar expression on his face, not expecting that the Demon Refining Pot had such a function. Feeling a surge of inspiration, he silently swam forward without uttering a word. Soon after, a large sea turtle appeared in front of him. Its black shell, robust limbs, and a pair of eyes resembling copper bells emitted a powerful aura. This demon looked extremely similar to Lu Li¡¯s transformed self; they must be from the same clan. However, its cultivation was as high as the tenth level of Qi Cultivation, with waves of Spiritual Pressure that felt incredibly profound. Lu Li arrived in front of the giant turtle without speaking. Seeing this, the giant turtle suddenly became quite agitated, ¡°Little brother, don¡¯t you recognize Brother Pan Di anymore? Were you hurt by those damn stinking snakes¡­¡± Lu Li was startled inwardly; the intelligence of this giant turtle Sea Demon clearly wasn¡¯t high, seemingly akin to a human child of six or seven years old. He choked up a bit as he spoke, ¡°Brother Pan Di, I was chased and in my panic fled to other seas, and only today have I encountered you.¡± After that, he began to sob. Upon hearing this, the giant turtle flew into a rage, a malicious aura violently swirling around him, ¡°They¡¯re looking for death; do they think the Spirit Turtle Clan has no one?¡± ¡°Our Ancestor is also at the peak of the Qi Cultivation realm, unafraid of them. Little brother, come with me to our Ancestor for judgment¡­¡± Lu Li breathed a sigh of relief inside. Thank goodness it was just the Qi Cultivation Stage; if it was a Foundation Establishment Demon Beast, their intelligence would have increased quite a bit, and it might not be so easy to fool. As for the Purple Mansion Demon Beasts, their intelligence would be greatly expanded, essentially no different from humans, and Golden Core Demon Beasts could even transform into human forms with overwhelming power, collectively referred to as Demon Clan. Lu Li had a thought and silently followed the giant turtle as they continued to swim forward. The two demon beasts made their way along the seabed riverbed. On their journey, they encountered some initial-stage Qi Cultivation demon beasts, all of which kept their distance from the two. After passing a massive reef, Lu Li surveyed the surrounding environment. The algae and sea grasses around were even denser, and the seabed sediment had become much firmer. He sensed that the Spiritual Energy in the sea water was also stronger. Several hours later, Lu Li continued to swim with the giant turtle, by now hundreds of miles away from the Water Ape Cave Mansion. Suddenly, the giant turtle in front spoke up, ¡°Little brother, our Ancestor might punish you for abandoning your post for so many days.¡± ¡°When the time comes, don¡¯t say a word; Big Brother will help you¡­¡± Lu Li replied, deeply moved, ¡°Brother, you are too good to me.¡± ¡°Between brothers of over a hundred years, Big Brother will support you no matter what.¡± Pride lit the giant turtle¡¯s face. ¡°Big Brother still has some standing in front of our Ancestor.¡± Lu Li nodded, appearing to rely entirely on his Big Brother¡¯s decisions while secretly making up his mind. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Big Brother, with our brotherhood of over a hundred years, I¡¯ll make sure you depart without pain.¡± In a short while, the two beasts arrived above a vast ocean trench. Lu Li followed closely behind, crossing the trench. A colossal seabed basin came into view. Looking up, the whole basin spanned for hundreds of miles. Its irregular edges formed an elliptical bowl. Inside the basin, numerous caves of various sizes, countless seaweeds, and reef rocks stood tall, forming a vibrant underwater world. Not far off, near one of the cave entrances, some giant turtle demon beasts were coming and going, about a dozen of them. Most were at the early stages of Qi Cultivation. ¡°It seems this is the settlement of the Sea Turtle Clan,¡± Lu Li thought to himself. ¡°Let¡¯s go, to the Spirit Turtle Cave to see our Ancestor.¡± Pan Di led Lu Li towards the basin. Upon entering the basin, Lu Li felt a chill around him as strands of Spiritual Energy wrapped around the surrounding seawater. ¡°There must be a Spirit Vein underground! It¡¯s at least a first-grade top quality.¡± He felt that the concentration of Spiritual Energy was very exceptional, much stronger than his own Golden Qilin Island. Lu Li slowly followed the giant turtle towards the central cave mansion of the basin. Along the way, several late-stage Qi Cultivation sea turtles greeted them with amiable faces. He cautiously observed the surroundings; the closer they got to the center of the basin, the more profound the Spiritual Energy became. ¡°` ¡°Who would have thought that this place is actually a second-order low-grade Spirit Vein.¡± Lu Li felt somewhat surprised. He knew the resources beneath the sea were abundant, but he hadn¡¯t expected a group of first-order Demon Beasts to occupy a second-order Spirit Vein, although it was just low-grade, it was still quite astonishing. These Demon Beasts, having cultivated for a long time above a second-order Spirit Vein, had a greatly increased chance of reaching Foundation Establishment, no wonder the Sea Demons were inexhaustible. If he could occupy some of these resources, his cultivation speed could greatly increase. ¡°It seems that my journey to Sea Turtle Clan Territory needs some careful consideration.¡± With thoughts swirling in his mind, Lu Li followed the giant turtle through several large cave entrances without attracting attention. Before long, Lu Li came to a stop in front of a massive cave entrance. The entrance was over thirty feet in diameter, immaculately clean and tidy, with the ground covered in bright and shining gems. Bursts of Spiritual Energy whistled out from inside, making Lu Li¡¯s pores slightly open. ¡°Come on, the Ancestor has been slumbering inside.¡± Pan Di led the way in. Lu Li closely followed him. As soon as he stepped through the entrance, he saw a huge Sea Turtle lying at the center of the cave mansion, very conspicuous. The Sea Turtle was more than twice as big as his illusory form. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Sea Turtle Ancestor was snoring, its body rising and falling, with the surrounding seawater swirling into vortices. Lu Li felt the imposing Spiritual Pressure of the Sea Turtle Ancestor, his chest feeling somewhat oppressive. This Giant Turtle Ancestor was a Qi Cultivation-completed Demon Beast, with very formidable combat power in the deep sea. ¡°Pan Shi has returned, I, the Ancestor, commanded you to patrol the edge of the Spirit Turtle Basin, why do I not see you.¡± The Giant Turtle Ancestor slowly opened its eyes, its tone somewhat icy. At that moment, a tremendous aura pressed down on Lu Li, and he tensed up immediately. Before he could speak, Pan Di beside him hurriedly took the initiative to say, ¡°I beseech the Ancestor to give justice to our brothers; my brother Pan Shi has been diligently patrolling the edge of the territory, but those damned sea snakes deliberately picked a fight and injured my brother¡­¡± ¡°Those disgusting things even said they wanted to wipe out our Spirit Turtle Clan!¡± Lu Li internally gave Pan Di a thumbs up; this big brother really wasn¡¯t bad. Upon hearing this, the Giant Turtle Ancestor instantly became furious, ¡°Did they really say that?¡± ¡°Absolutely true!¡± Pan Di replied with an oath. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The Giant Turtle Ancestor let out an angry roar, ¡°We will settle scores with them later, Pan Shi should still patrol the edge of the basin, I, the Ancestor, need to sleep¡­¡± Lu Li was startled, thinking that a fight was about to break out. ¡°Little brother, let¡¯s go out, the Ancestor is not going to punish you now.¡± After saying this, Pan Di took Lu Li and swam towards the cave mansion¡¯s exit. Upon leaving, a quick glance made Lu Li catch his breath. He saw several white, jade-like stones piled up beside the Giant Turtle Ancestor, with plenty of top-grade Ice Spirit Fruits placed alongside. Lu Li was very familiar with Ice Spirit Fruit. The jade-like stones alongside made his breathing speed up. The stones were snow-white, emitting a crystal-clear and bright light. ¡°Could this be the water attribute spiritual material, Hundred-Year Ice Jade?¡± Hundred-Year Ice Jade, as a second-order water attribute spiritual material, was commonly used to refine top-grade water attribute Magic Artifacts, significantly enhancing the artifacts¡¯ power. His Aminokaze was water attribute as well. Seeing Lu Li¡¯s movements, Pan Di became somewhat nervous: ¡°These are treasures the Ancestor has collected for over a hundred years, don¡¯t be foolish.¡± ¡°The Ancestor always sleeps near here.¡± It sighed then said again, ¡°We, the Spirit Turtle Clan, just live long; besides sleeping and slowly increasing our cultivation, we don¡¯t really have any other good methods.¡± ¡°These shiny things emit an aura that is very useful to us.¡± Lu Li nodded and followed Pan Di out of the cave mansion. ¡°It seems that this item is not so easy to get my hands on!¡± With thoughts turning over in his mind, he gradually formed some plans. ¡°` Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Starting to Stir Up Trouble Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Starting to Stir Up Trouble Subsequently, they swam towards Pan Di¡¯s cave. On the way, Lu Li casually made conversation and quickly found out the location of his own cave. Lu Li entered the cave, lay down on the muddy seabed, and quietly pondered his next course of action. After a short while, he bade Pan Di farewell and swam towards the outskirts of his territory, officially beginning his inspection journey under the watchful gaze of Pan Di, who looked on with concern. A month went by quickly. During this time, aside from patrolling the edges of the Spirit Turtle basin, Lu Li returned to his cave to meditate and practice cultivation. In his spare time, he even refined magic artifacts, and with his unremitting efforts, he finally managed to craft mid-grade magic artifacts. This month of patrolling also gave him a preliminary understanding of some of the surrounding circumstances. Without a clear grasp of the situation, he did not rashly make a move, like a seasoned hunter lying in wait silently. Late at night, at the edge of the Spirit Turtle basin. Lu Li patrolled along the perimeter, slowly swimming northeast. An hour later, a vast connected mountain range loomed ahead of him. The underwater mountain range continued endlessly for hundreds of miles, covered in seaweed, teeming with fish and shrimp, and bursting with vitality. According to his knowledge, this Tianxuan Mountain Range served as the Sky Blue Snake Clan¡¯s territory, neighbors with the Mystic Turtle clan, both of which held deep-seated hatred for each other. Lu Li arrived near a reef and transformed, his entire body changing into a Sky Blue Snake about ten feet long. This Sky Blue Snake was one he had stealthily hunted on the outskirts of the Tianxuan Mountain Range over the past month, with a cultivation around the fourth level of the Qi Cultivation Stage. He controlled the snake¡¯s body, slowly swimming towards the heart of the mountain range. Swimming forward, he could sense the subtle differences between this place and the Spirit Turtle basin. The sea mud and reefs were covered in a kind of brown-red algae, and snakes were seen entering and exiting the mud holes everywhere. Feeling Lu Li¡¯s presence, they were frightened and scurried in all directions. Lu Li took a deep breath of seawater, and threads of icy Spiritual Energy flowed into his body. This place was indeed similar to the outskirts of the Spirit Turtle basin in terms of Spiritual Energy, likely also a second-order lower-grade Spirit Vein. He swam towards the center of the mountain range, encountering more Sky Blue Snakes at the Qi Cultivation Stage along the way. Since Lu Li¡¯s aura belonged to the same clan, they paid him no heed. In this manner, he swam for over half an hour. Lu Li arrived near a huge reef and concealed himself. This location was some distance from the central part of the mountain range, specifically chosen after several days of observation. He quietly hid in the deep sea algae, reining in all traces of his aura, and his Divine Sense carefully scanned the Sky Blue Snakes passing by. Several hours passed, and although more than a dozen Sky Blue Snakes swam near him, the target he was waiting for had yet to appear. Just as he was starting to think there would be no gains that day, a surge of Demon Energy suddenly emanated from ahead. Lu Li fixed his gaze and was instantly overjoyed. He saw a Sky Blue Snake more than ten feet long and as thick as an arm swimming towards him. Unlike the other Sky Blue Snakes, this one was covered in red patterns and was not very powerful, with a cultivation around the fourth level of the Qi Cultivation Stage, and it emitted an air of nobility. Lu Li slowly swam out from the algae, pretending to encounter it by chance. Seeing one of its kind, the Flower Snake looked puzzled, ¡°Who are you? Why are you here?¡± Lu Li answered calmly and unhurriedly, ¡°Prince, I often wander around here and have admired your grand posture several times, which has left me in awe. Do you remember me, Prince?¡± This month, he had deliberately come across this very unique Sky Blue Snake several times. From conversations with other snakes, he had learned its identity, leading to today¡¯s ¡°chance meeting.¡± Hearing this, the patterned snake was quite flattered and looked at Lu Li with some confusion, ¡°Your aura seems familiar to me, Prince. What brings you to me today?¡± ¡°Prince, I recently discovered a magical glowing jade stone on the outskirts of the mountain range¡­¡± ¡°Jade stone? Is it that kind of milky white stone that glows and feels cold to the touch?¡± The patterned snake immediately showed interest. Lu Li quickly continued, ¡°That¡¯s probably it. If the Prince finds this treasure and offers it to the elder, the elder will certainly be very pleased.¡± ¡°But this Prince sneaked out, if¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be back soon, and nobody will know!¡± Lu Li replied with a tantalizing tone. The patterned snake¡¯s eyes instantly lit up, ¡°Then lead the way quickly, if there is really a treasure, the Prince will surely reward you generously.¡± Perhaps it was the scent of kin that greatly lowered the other¡¯s guard. Seeing the plan succeed, Lu Li slowly let out a breath of relief, suddenly feeling a sense of guilt as if he was deceiving a child. Following that, Lu Li led the Flower snake, one in front and one behind, toward the outer perimeter of the mountain range. He carefully avoided some of the Sky Blue Snakes in the Qi Cultivation Stage as he advanced. Before long, Lu Li brought the Little Flower Snake to the outermost part of the mountain range, beside a reef. ¡°Where is the treasure?¡± The Flower snake had been very impatient along the way. Had it not been for Lu Li¡¯s gentle persuasion, it might have given up already. Now that it had reached the edge of its territory, it could no longer contain itself. ¡°Your Highness, don¡¯t be anxious, I will present it to you now!¡± Having said that, Lu Li swiftly summoned the Aminokaze, and a dazzling sword light emerged underwater, charging toward the Flower snake. ¡°Crack¡± The Little Flower Snake didn¡¯t even have time to react before it was cleaved in two, the corners of its eyes still brimming with endless rage and fear. The severed body struggled at the bottom of the muddy sea, as the surrounding waters were dyed a deep red. Lu Li quickly collected the body of the Flower snake, then roamed around the edge of the Tianxuan Mountain Range for a good while, filling the sea area with the scent of the Flower snake. Before long, he brought the corpse of the Flower snake to the edge of the Spirit Turtle basin and found a cave entrance to crawl into. Then, he placed the body of a turtle demon, in the middle stage of Qi Cultivation, and the bisected corpse of the Flower snake together on the ground. After completing all this, Lu Li lurked not far from the cave entrance. He did not go far, mainly to prevent the carefully prepared scene from being ruined by passing Demon Beasts. The intense smell of blood was bound to attract other Demon Beasts. Time slowly passed, and a day later. A Sky Blue Snake at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation swam toward this cave entrance and soon entered the cave. ¡°Roar, roar, roar¡­¡± The Sky Blue Snake let out endless roars of anger, taking the bodies of the Little Flower Snake and the turtle demon with it as it left. ¡­¡­ Tianxuan Mountain Range, inside a cave. ¡°Report to the commander, the Prince has perished along with the turtle demon¡­¡± ¡°What!¡± One of the Sky Blue Snakes in the late phase of Qi Cultivation, upon receiving the message, hastily went to the elder cave. ¡°Report¡­ report to the elder, His Highness the Prince was killed by the turtle demon in the Spirit Turtle basin.¡± ¡°What did you say!¡± ¡­ ¡°Report to the great ancestor, a group of Mystic Turtles have pressed into our territory, claiming they want to exterminate the entire Sky Blue Snake Clan, the Prince has been killed, sob, sob¡­¡± ¡°Roar, roar, roar¡­¡± Deep within the cave, the Sky Blue Snake ancestor was instantly engulfed in endless rage, with colossal Demon Energy surging violently. ¡°Immediately gather the clansmen, exterminate those damned creatures!¡± ¡°As you command, great ancestor.¡± ¡°Kill, kill, kill¡­¡± At the edge of the Spirit Turtle basin, Lu Li watched the departing figure of the Sky Blue Snake, his lips curling into a faint smile. He calmly swam toward the center of the basin. Soon, he arrived back inside his own cave and lay down, quietly waiting. Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23 The Great Battle Begins Chapter 23: Chapter 23 The Great Battle Begins Pan Di arrived at Lu Li¡¯s cave in a flustered state. ¡°Brother Pan Shi, the Ancestor urgently summons the clan members to gather.¡± Lu Li smiled knowingly and then followed Pan Di to the meeting place. Soon, the two arrived at a vast open space in the center of the basin. At that moment, the Spirit Turtle Ancestor was lying on the ground, its entire body emitting a tremendous aura of malevolence. Lu Li and Pan Di found a spot and lay down. He surveyed the surroundings, and one by one, turtle demons arrived at the location. In a short while, the entire area had gathered over a hundred giant turtle demon beasts. There were as many as eight who had reached beyond the tenth level of Qi Cultivation, while most of the rest were in the late and middle stages. The field gradually became noisy as a large group of turtle demons wondered what the Ancestor had summoned them for. Seeing that the able-bodied clan members had all arrived, the Spirit Turtle Ancestor Qingtian suddenly let out an angry roar, ¡°Just now, I received news that those stinking sea snakes are mobilizing en masse and are headed towards the Spirit Turtle Basin.¡± ¡°Our clan members responsible for patrolling the territory suffered heavy casualties, we must avenge them!¡± ¡°Boys, prepare for battle, kill those damned creatures.¡± ¡°Roar, roar, roar¡­¡± Upon hearing this, a group of giant turtles below immediately became enraged, all clamoring to slay the entire Sky Blue Snake Clan. Lu Li quietly lay on the ground, beginning to loudly chime in, ¡°The might of the Ancestor is invincible, wipe out that scum¡­¡± With Lu Li taking the lead, the atmosphere below heated up even more, and they began to shout collectively. ¡°The might of the Ancestor is invincible, wipe out that scum¡­¡± Qingtian, seeing this, was very pleased and gave Lu Li an approving look. ¡°Move out!¡± After speaking, he took the lead and rushed towards the edge of the Spirit Turtle Basin. A horde of demon beasts began to boldly march toward the edge of the basin. Even the surrounding seawater was stirred, the raging current fiercely flowing with bursts of howling. In his avatar as a seventh-level Qi Cultivator, Lu Li was positioned in the middle. He followed slowly among the group of Spirit Turtles. Just then, Pan Di swam over, ¡°Brother, be careful during this battle, the enemy is aggressive and this fight might not be easy.¡± Lu Li was startled upon hearing this and was inexplicably moved. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, big brother, I¡¯ll be cautious.¡± ¡°Big brother will keep an eye on you on the battlefield, after our mother¡¯s death we have depended on each other for over a hundred years, I won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡± Pan Di¡¯s tone was somewhat sorrowful, and after speaking, he swam towards the front. Watching his figure, Lu Li suddenly felt emotional, unexpectedly finding the emotional bonds among demon beasts so pure. He had originally thought about taking any opportunity to kill his ¡°big brother,¡± but now it seemed he should let him off. ¡­ Meanwhile, the Sky Blue Snake Ancestor was leading a large group of clan members over the edge of the mountain range, boldly advancing towards the Spirit Turtle Basin. Besides the Sky Blue Snake Ancestor, there were also eight Qi Cultivation peak level giant snakes, with both sides being equally matched. ¡°Boys, if we don¡¯t wipe out that group of stinking turtles today, we will not rest!¡± The Sky Blue Snake Ancestor was furious, its only son had been cruelly killed, and the other party even wanted to erase the Sky Blue Snake Clan from existence. Normally, both sides mostly coexisted peacefully, but at this moment it could no longer tolerate it. Before long, the two groups unexpectedly encountered each other on the outskirts of the Spirit Turtle Basin. Lu Li looked up, the leading giant snake was seventy to eighty feet long, its waist as thick as a barrel, and its large eyes like bronze bells emanating a frightening murderous intent. This demon had reached the twelfth level of Qi Cultivation and was currently staring aggressively at the Spirit Turtle Ancestor¡¯s side. ¡°Old turtle, we had an agreement long ago to not interfere with each other, yet you not only killed my only son but also declare you want to annihilate my clan, do you take the Sky Blue Snake Clan for mud?¡± The Sky Blue Snake Ancestor¡¯s snake head was ferocious, its malevolent aura wildly uncontrolled. ¡°Spit, you stinky snake, you killed my patrolling clansmen and invaded our territory, so what if I killed your only son!¡± The Spirit Turtle Ancestor was also filled with rage. As turtle demons, they were usually more gentle, but they also harbored the ferocity of demon beasts, and now having been attacked in their own territory was like lighting a powder keg. ¡°Kill!¡± At that moment, Lu Li suddenly spat out a streak of Sword Qi, slaying a mid-stage Qi Cultivation giant snake on the side, completely opening the curtain to the great battle. Lu Li, seeing that the two beasts had not yet fought, fearing changes, directly escalated the situation. As expected, with the provocation of blood, the Sky Blue Snake side completely lost their reason. ¡°Kill, kill, kill¡­¡± The Sky Blue Snake Ancestor, seeing its clansman killed on the spot, went berserk. Leading the charge towards the Spirit Turtle Ancestor. ¡°Boom¡­¡± With a loud bang, both sides fully engaged in battle. The scene became extremely chaotic as every Demon Beast found its own opponent. The surrounding sea began to fiercely rush backward, filled with shouts of killing, collision noises, and screams engulfing the entire battlefield. Spirit Turtle Ancestor and Sky Blue Snake Ancestor fought king against king, utterly engrossed in the slaughter. Intense Spiritual Energy wildly sprayed around, urging members from both sides to distance themselves as the battlefield expanded. Lu Li carefully surveyed the surroundings and began to slowly head towards the outer perimeter. Except for the initial explosion he had triggered at the beginning, he hadn¡¯t launched any other attacks. The Demon Beasts on the periphery were often only in the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation. As time passed, the fierce battle continued, and gradually, bodies began to settle on the seabed¡¯s mud. Vast amounts of demon blood dyed the surrounding sea a deep crimson. Stimulated by a large amount of blood, the Demon Beasts became even more frenzied. Just as Lu Li reached the edge of the periphery, a giant snake with red eyes suddenly lunged at him to kill. Lu Li remained very calm¡ªhe didn¡¯t fight back and instead quickly fled towards the center of the basin. The giant snake grew even more furious, relentlessly chasing him. Before long, the two had moved away from the central battlefield in a chase. When Lu Li saw that there were no Demon Beasts around, he summoned his Flying Sword and slashed at the giant snake. ¡°Ah!¡± A piercing scream rang out, and the giant snake was decapitated, its eyes still filled with endless fear. Lu Li quickly collected the body, then hurried towards the central basin. Soon, Qingtian Ancestor¡¯s cave came into clear view. Upon arriving at the entrance of the Ancestor¡¯s cave, he saw two mid-Qi Cultivation stage giant turtles standing guard. ¡°This is the Ancestor¡¯s cave, no one is allowed inside.¡± The two giant turtles looked on alert. ¡°The Ancestor has sent me to seek aid; you must quickly lead all clan members to support the Ancestor.¡± ¡°This cave will be guarded by me!¡± Lu Li commanded authoritatively, his whole demeanor stern. Feeling the pressure of Lu Li¡¯s late-stage Qi Cultivation, the giant turtles dared not resist. ¡°Your command!¡± After saying so, they hurried to gather the remaining clan members. Once the two beasts had left, Lu Li charged into the Ancestor¡¯s cave. ¡°Ha ha¡­ I¡¯ve struck it rich!¡± Upon entering, he saw about ten pieces of Hundred-Year Ice Jade quietly lying on the ground, surrounded by a large number of top-grade Ice Spirit Fruits. Lu Li swiftly stored everything into his Storage Bag and then turned to flee. Following that, he hurried towards the edge of the battlefield. An hour later, he arrived at the site of the fierce battle. The nearby sea was dyed red with blood, creating a blur, with massive amounts of Spiritual Energy and Spells forming wild vortexes throughout the area. Since the entire Spirit Turtle Clan had mobilized, they held a slight advantage. But still, it was tough to determine the victor in a short period. Lu Li did not dare linger; he quickly fled towards the middle of the Tianxuan Mountain Range. Before long, he reached near the cave of the Sky Blue Snake Ancestor. He transformed himself into a late-Qi Cultivation stage giant snake and then fled towards the cave. ¡°Disaster! The filthy Clan of Turtles has mobilized in full force, and the Ancestor is at a disadvantage. I have been sent to seek reinforcements¡­¡± Lu Li ran and shouted as he went, his tone very urgent. By then, some of the Sky Blue Snakes who had stayed behind began to emerge. ¡°What? Those damned scumbags!¡± ¡°Gather all clan members, immediately support the Ancestor!¡± A late-Qi Cultivation stage Sky Blue Snake was fiery with rage. He immediately went to muster the clan members and charged towards the battlefield. Seeing that the others had left, Lu Li quickly made his way into the cave of the Sky Blue Snake Ancestor. As soon as he entered, he saw the ground littered with Spirit Fruits and spiritual materials. ¡°Purple Sun Fruit, Ice Spirit Fruit, Hundred-Year Ice Jade¡­¡± Lu Li, containing his excitement, stuffed everything into his Storage Bag. Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Wandering on the Edge Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Wandering on the Edge After he had done all this, Lu Li quickly rushed toward the battlefield. Like an indefatigable old ox. He knew there was an even greater harvest waiting for him. Soon, he arrived at the edge of the battlefield. By then, the whole battlefield was completely blood-red, filled with various fragments that congested the sea area, making it impossible to see anything clearly. Lu Li reached the silty bottom and slowly sank into it. He slowly tunneled through the seabed, gathering the corpses of nearby Demon Beasts into his Demon Refining Pot. In no time at all, he had collected more than ten Demon Beasts¡¯ bodies. He slowly headed toward the center of the battlefield. His Divine Sense cautiously reached out, only to see two huge Demon Beasts fiercely battling at the very center. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Sky Blue Snake Ancestor swept fiercely with its tail, its body radiating murderous aura as it fiercely clashed against Spirit Turtle Ancestor. Spirit Turtle Ancestor was not to be outdone and charged forward headfirst. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A massive collision sounded, and the surrounding seawater surged wildly, pressing against the Demon Beasts on both sides. The two ancestors had been fighting for several hours, both completely abandoning spell attacks, solely using their proudest Demon Bodies. The two beasts had similar strength, making it difficult to determine a winner, as the battle grew increasingly intense, entering a frenzied state. Lu Li hid deep within the seabed¡¯s silt, occasionally poking his head out cautiously to collect Demon Bodies, getting closer to the center where the Demon Beasts were stronger. As time slowly passed, the battle continued. Both sides¡¯ Demon Beasts had blood-red eyes and were enveloped in an Aura of the Blood Fiend, filling the entire battlefield with a terrifying aura. ¡°Send a few people swiftly to Water Ape Cave to call our allies for assistance!¡± At that moment, the Ancestor suddenly communicated to the members of the Spirit Turtle Clan on the battlefield. Several giant turtles heard this and quickly retreated toward the rear of the battlefield. Sky Blue Snake Ancestor also showed no weakness and notified its subordinates to call their allies. Lu Li lurked deep in the seabed, watching the battle between both sides grow fiercer and firmer, gradually entertaining the idea of retreating. He had already collected more than forty Demon Beasts¡¯ corpses, and the further inside he went, the more likely he was to be discovered, making it increasingly risky. As the allies of both sides were soon to arrive, making the battle fiercer, retreating safely was becoming dangerous. Thinking this, he hesitated no more and his body gradually retreated toward the periphery of the battlefield. Soon, he left the edge of the battlefield and without looking back, headed in the direction of Golden Qilin Island. A few hours after he left, the battlefield suddenly expanded several times in size. The allies of both sides joined in. Gradually, it evolved into a mixed battle of several clans, and the battlefield¡¯s Aura of the Blood Fiend grew even more horrific. This battle lasted for half a month, with more and more allies called by both sides. Until every Qi Cultivation Demon Beast clan in the exterior western seas of the Falling Dragon Sea joined in. Groups of Demon Beasts, driven wild by the bloodshed, gradually lost their rationality. A massive number of Demon Beasts died, and many others advanced by devouring their kin, turning the battle into a feast for Demon Beasts. ¡­ In the early morning, Lu Li, facing the afterglow of the sunrise, arrived at his cave. He sat cross-legged, opening his Storage Bag and lightly ticking off his gains from this trip. The floor was covered densely with secret Spirit Fruits and spiritual materials. There were more than a hundred top-grade Ice Spirit Fruits. There were also seventeen or eighteen pieces of Hundred-Year Ice Jade, each the size of a fist. And there were dozens of top-grade Purple Sun Fruits that enhanced Mana and the bodies of more than sixty Demon Beasts. This harvest was astonishingly immense, probably enough for his Qi Cultivation to reach perfection. With this batch of Spirit Fruits, his physical body could also rapidly upgrade to match that of his peers among the Demon Beasts. Perhaps even taking his body a step further to the extreme limit of a mortal body, to cultivate the Way of Innate Spirit. Thinking this, he felt a rush of excitement. He then put away the Spiritual Objects and began his daily cultivation. More than twenty days later, at the eastern sea of Mystic Moon Island. ¡°It¡¯s strange, haven¡¯t caught a single Demon Beast in half a month, not even a Qi Cultivation Rookie one.¡± Lu Yuling stood on the ship, looking quite depressed. Beside him, Lu Heng was also very puzzled, ¡°Second brother has been hunting here for over ten years and has never encountered such a situation.¡± ¡°And the cultivators around us are the same, not a single Demon Beast, it¡¯s extremely bizarre.¡± Not far from the two, cultivators from the Lin Family and the Wang Family also stood on their ships, equally baffled. Wang Liming and Lin Yuanlong had never encountered such a bizarre situation before. ¡°Could something have happened to the Sea Floor Demon Beasts?¡± Wang Liming looked puzzled. This man wore a white robe with a somber face. ¡°Maybe there is a treasure under the sea?¡± Lin Yuanlong smiled non-committally beside him. ¡­ Meanwhile, Lu Yuling and his companion continued searching the sea until, more than a month later, they finally caught their first Demon Beast. Most of the cultivators in this sea area experienced the same. This bizarre situation was passed from mouth to mouth among Qi Cultivators and later earned a resounding name: the February ¡°Demon-less¡± Days. Lu Li was unaware that he had caused such a stir. He was in his cave, eating Spirit Fish and Spirit Fruit, his mouth dripping with oil. The entire cave was filled with an extremely rich aroma. He had even let Iron Pillar out to frolic. Such comfortable days continued for a few more days. Lu Li felt that the impact of the situation had almost dissipated, and he prepared to venture into the sea again to scout things out. He came to the Cold Pond, gathered most of the Spirit Fish and the Spiritual Spring Eye, and then flew out of the mountain. Every time he left, he would collect the Spring Eye; if a Demon Cultivator broke through Golden Qilin Island while he was away, that loss would still be acceptable. But it would truly pain his heart if the Spiritual Spring Eye were stolen. Soon, Lu Li reached the coast and dived into the sea. Then, transforming his Demon Body, he quickly headed toward the Spirit Turtle Basin. An hour later, he arrived at the periphery of the Spirit Turtle Basin. As he ventured deeper, unexpectedly, he didn¡¯t encounter a single Demon Beast. Only when Lu Li reached the middle of the basin did he come across a few injured giant turtles, making the place look desolate. Lu Li surveyed his surroundings, finding it starkly different from the previously vibrant environment. Soon, he arrived outside the cave dwelling of the Spirit Turtle Ancestor. At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly burst forth. ¡°Ah Boy, you¡¯re still alive, woo woo¡­¡± Pan Di saw Lu Li and suddenly burst into tears, his face stricken with grief. ¡°The Ancestor is nearly gone, the Eight Elders have all died. The Ancestor plans to let the Big Brother assume the position of Clan Leader.¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Li was stunned, overwhelmed at how terribly the Spirit Turtle Clan had suffered, dwindling to just a few. But this ¡°Big Brother¡± was really lucky to have survived such a fierce battle. ¡°Big Brother need not worry, the Sky Blue Snake Clan isn¡¯t doing much better; we can seek revenge later!¡± He said, comforting him while planting the seeds of hatred in Pan Di¡¯s mind. Upon hearing the words ¡®Sky Blue Snake¡¯, Pan Di said fiercely, ¡°We must take this revenge!¡± After a while, Pan Di looked at Lu Li with a hesitant expression: ¡°Big Brother wants to pass the position of Clan Leader to you. I just want to sleep every day and not manage the clan.¡± ¡°Little brother, I¡¯m of low cultivation; the clan members probably won¡¯t accept me!¡± Lu Li was somewhat tempted. Though severely weakened, the benefits of being the chieftain of the Spirit Turtle Clan were clearly substantial. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ah Boy, if anyone dares to oppose you, Big Brother will kill them for you! Right now, Big Brother has the highest cultivation in the entire clan.¡± Pan Di¡¯s aura trembled. Seeing Pan Di¡¯s domineering attitude, Lu Li felt rather awkward but eventually nodded, and then followed Pan Di toward the cave dwelling of the Ancestor. Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Spirit Turtle Clan Leader Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Spirit Turtle Clan Leader Both of them approached the Ancestor to explain their purpose, and it was not long before the Ancestor nodded in agreement. Lu Li looked at the Ancestor lying on the ground, his heart filled with silent mourning. Only to see the Spirit Turtle Ancestor¡¯s body riddled with scars big and small, a sight shocking enough to startle anyone. Even the shell on his back was covered with dense cracks, constantly oozing fresh blood, indicating how fierce the past battle must have been. The Spirit Turtle Ancestor, with his dying breath, said to the two, ¡°Pan Shi, from now on, the Spirit Turtle Clan is entrusted to you. Pan Di, you must assist him well. This is the Clan Leader Token¡­¡± After speaking, he took out an amulet-shaped object from beneath him. Pan Di¡¯s voice choked up as he replied, ¡°Your descendants will heed the Ancestor¡¯s last wishes!¡± Beside them, Lu Li was startled the moment the Ancestor took out the amulet. Yet his expression remained unchanged, his tone firm as he replied, ¡°Rest assured, Ancestor. I will certainly revitalise the Spirit Turtle Clan.¡± After saying this, he took the Clan Leader Token, feeling a rush of icy coolness as soon as it touched his hand, which greatly sobered him. ¡°This Clan Leader Token is made from at least two hundred-year-old Ice Jade.¡± The Spirit Turtle Ancestor, having entrusted everything, could no longer hold on and fell to the ground with a turn of his head. ¡°Wuu wuu¡­¡± Pan Di began to cry bitterly, and after a long while, he turned to Lu Li and said, ¡°Young brother, let¡¯s bury the Ancestor in the back mountain.¡± ¡°Big brother, let your little brother handle this small matter. I promise to choose a feng shui treasure spot for the Ancestor¡¯s burial. You¡¯re also seriously injured, so you¡¯d better go to sleep and heal,¡± Lu Li said sincerely. Mentioning sleep, Pan Di¡¯s sorrow seemed to fade a lot. ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­ Ah Boy, you¡¯ve always been so good to me! I leave the Ancestor in your hands.¡± Moments later, Lu Li watched Pan Di¡¯s departing figure and immediately stored the Spirit Turtle Ancestor¡¯s body in a Demon-Refining Pot. In no time, it turned into a pool of Spiritual Liquid. The Ancestor¡¯s spirit of selfless dedication deeply moved him, as he exhausted his last drop of blood for the entire Spirit Turtle Clan. Then, Lu Li went outside the cave and began to gather the remaining clan members of the Spirit Turtle Clan. Before long, a few surviving turtles arrived in the open space outside the cave dwelling. Lu Li looked over the scene; the area had become sparsely populated, with only about thirty huge turtles remaining, most of which were in the early and middle stages of Qi Cultivation. Recalling the forceful and spirited departure of the Spirit Turtles for war, a once tightly-packed group of over a hundred. ¡°My children, the Ancestor has fallen, and from now on, I shall take command of the Spirit Turtle Clan.¡± Having said that, Lu Li took out the Clan Leader Token, and his late-stage Qi Cultivation power suddenly erupted, intimidating everyone present. The thirty-some turtles, largely wounded, felt their morale plummet and lowered their heads in the presence of Lu Li¡¯s power, not daring to resist. The surviving two late-stage Qi Cultivation turtles looked somewhat evasive but did not dare to challenge him to his face, and could only submit. ¡°Greetings to the old Ancestor!¡± The two Demon Beasts called out immediately. Seeing someone taking the lead, the rest of the turtles also started shouting, and for a moment, the momentum was quite impressive. Lu Li nodded with satisfaction and then issued his first command. ¡°From now on, no member of the clan is allowed to be lazy and sleep; everyone must fully search for Spirit Fruit and high-quality Ice Jade, as well as various ores.¡± After speaking, he placed a piece of dark Iron Ore on the ground. ¡°Your command is our wish!¡± Although the turtles were very puzzled, they dared not defy the old Ancestor¡¯s authority and agreed. Lu Li paused before speaking again. ¡°From now on, the entire clan will implement an assessment system. The last two turtles will be punished and sent to patrol the edges of the basin near the Tianxuan Mountain Range¡­¡± ¡°The first place will receive a reward from this old Ancestor.¡± As soon as his words fell, he took out a Demon Feeding Pill. Soon, a strange fragrance began to permeate the water. The turtles all looked eagerly at the Medicine Pill in front, growing restless; had it not been for the fear of the old Ancestor¡¯s majesty, they might have already rushed to snatch it. ¡°We will heed the old Ancestor¡¯s Dharma Decree!¡± With the temptation of the Medicine Pill, they began to echo in agreement, and soon the momentum became thunderous. Lu Li then dismissed the turtles, and watching them depart with enthusiasm, he was very satisfied. ¡°Indeed, only competition and incentives are the sources of motivation.¡± In the following days, Lu Li, apart from occasionally visiting Golden Qilin Island, spent most of his time wandering his territory. He always came back with some gains, and his giant turtle subordinates also worked hard. A large number of Spirit Fruits and ores were collected and sent to Lu Li¡¯s cave dwelling. Laying in the cave with an endless supply of resources coming to him, such days were too comfortable. This day, Lu Li lay inside the cave, inhaling and exhaling Spiritual Energy. Wisps of rich Spiritual Energy gathered above his head, forming a small vortex that slowly sank into his body. ¡°Truly worthy of a second-order Spirit Vein, the effect is extraordinary when he cultivates alone.¡± Every day, he felt his strength improving, and he was on the verge of reaching the ninth level of Qi Cultivation. Mind you, the Cultivation Technique he practiced was extremely resource-intensive, yet he was still able to make rapid progress; even the clan¡¯s ancestors might not believe it if they heard. Such a cultivation privilege was something that even the legitimate heirs of great clans couldn¡¯t possess. While Lu Li¡¯s mind raced with thoughts, a voice came from outside the cave. ¡°Little Turtle respectfully seeks an audience with the Ancestor.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a mid-phase Qi Cultivation giant turtle swam in, humbly saying, ¡°Reporting to the Ancestor, I discovered the stone you extracted back then during my patrol today.¡± ¡°Is it this kind?¡± Lu Li took out a piece of Xuan Tie Stone and placed it on the ground. The giant turtle cocked its head and thought for a moment, ¡°It looks similar, but the color seems darker.¡± ¡°You just hand it over directly to me, consider it an achievement for you.¡± Lu Li¡¯s expression remained calm; it was merely a piece of Essence of Mystic Iron, capable of forging a mid-level Magic Artifact, much more valuable than the Xuan Tie Stone. Hearing this, the giant turtle showed a troubled look. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there any difficulty, or is there a Demon Beast squatting there?¡± Lu Li asked with some confusion at the sight. ¡°Reporting to the Ancestor, there are too many of them, bigger than the Ancestor¡¯s cave, and I can¡¯t move them,¡± said the giant turtle pitifully. ¡°What!¡± ¡°Could it be an Essence of Mystic Iron vein?¡± Lu Li¡¯s heart surged with waves of emotion. One piece of Essence of Mystic Iron he didn¡¯t mind, but if there was an entire vein of Essence of Mystic Iron, how many Spirit Stones would that be? His entire gaze instantly shot flames of fervent heat. ¡°Quickly¡­ take me to see it, you have made a great contribution this time; once I¡¯ve confirmed it, you will not be spared a reward.¡± Not daring to delay, the giant turtle quickly swam outside the cave. Together they traveled, and soon reached a large reef area to the northwest of the Spirit Turtle Basin. After passing dozens of large reefs, Lu Li followed the giant turtle to the top of a trench. It was a gigantic trench, stretching for dozens of miles, both sides overgrown with various seaweeds and aquatic plants, with large schools of fish and shrimp frolicking nearby for food. At the eastern end of the trench, a huge stone was exposed on the seabed, emitting a dark, secluded glow. ¡°It¡¯s true, Essence of Mystic Iron! It¡¯s as big as the cave itself.¡± Lu Li looked at the mining front, his breathing become somewhat rapid; this was just what was exposed above the sea, who knew how much more was beneath. ¡°I¡¯ve struck it rich¡­¡± Lu Li said, visibly excited, ¡°You quickly gather the clansmen, I have something to announce.¡± Saying that, he took the giant turtle and headed towards the Spirit Turtle Clan¡¯s territory. On the way, Lu Li was very satisfied with the giant turtle and did not hesitate to reward him; after all, the proper application of rewards and punishments could better motivate the spirit beasts. ¡°What is your name?¡± ¡°I am called Pan Xiao.¡± ¡°From now on, you will be known as Pan Da!¡± ¡°The Ancestor will also reward you with thirty Demon Feeding Pills, continue to work hard in the future.¡± ¡°Pan Da obeys!¡± Hearing about the reward of thirty Demon Feeding Pills, the giant turtle showed a look of excitement, as for it, the countless stones were not as good as a single Medicine Pill. Never would it have guessed that the Ancestor had such a preference, and its motivation increased even more. Seeing the other party so cooperative, Lu Li also felt very gratified. It wasn¡¯t long before Lu Li arrived at the clan¡¯s territory. Pan Da went to gather the clan members, and once all had assembled, Lu Li on the spot rewarded Pan Da with a Medicine Pill and promised one each day for the next thirty days. The venue immediately became abuzz, with everyone asking what exactly had happened. Pan Da proudly recounted the day¡¯s events to the clan members. All the giant turtles on the field were envious upon learning of this, and after the assembly dispersed, they rushed out, wishing they could take Pan Da¡¯s place. After assigning the mining task, Lu Li returned to the cave to begin inhaling and exhaling Spiritual Energy. Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Setting Out to Tianxuan Mountain Range Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Setting Out to Tianxuan Mountain Range A few days later, Lu Li was crouched in the cave, looking at the small pile of Essence of Mystic Iron before him, and frowned. Most of the clan members had been mining non-stop for several days and had only gathered this much; the efficiency of the mining was simply too low. Now he didn¡¯t have any good solutions, as the Essence of Mystic Iron was too hard even for many of the giant turtles who damaged their teeth just trying to bite a piece off. It seemed he would have to make a trip to the Sky Blue Snake Clan after all; surely, with their help, the mining speed would be greatly improved. During this period, he had only occasionally heard news of the other clan. Compared to the Spirit Turtle Clan, the Sky Blue Snake Clan was much better off; although the old ancestor had fallen on the spot, there were still over ten individuals in the latter stages of Qi Cultivation. Lu Li left his cave dwelling and headed towards the Tianxuan Mountain Range. Before long, he had reached the outskirts of the Tianxuan Mountain Range. He shifted his form, transforming into the appearance of a Sky Blue Snake with cultivation around the latter stages of Qi Cultivation. Then, he released Iron Pillar, and together they swam towards the cave dwelling of the old Sky Blue ancestor. Along the way, they encountered many injured members of the Sky Blue Snake Clan; the atmosphere was somewhat somber. Seeing Lu Li¡¯s stage in Qi Cultivation, many of the Sky Blue Snakes moved aside to let him pass. Soon enough, Lu Li, accompanied by Iron Pillar, arrived outside a massive cave. ¡°You little demon, the old ancestor¡¯s cave is not a place to barge into!¡± Two Sky Blue Snakes guarding the entrance of the cave shouted loudly at their arrival. At the same time, they were also somewhat puzzled; hadn¡¯t this fellow disappeared after the chaotic battle? How did he suddenly reappear? ¡°Hmph!¡± Lu Li snorted coldly, his late-stage Qi Cultivation¡¯s presence intimidating everyone present. ¡°The old ancestor has fallen, and the position of Clan Leader should rightfully be inherited by the strongest. Today, I am here to lead the Sky Blue Snake Clan. Does anyone have any objections?¡± The two giant snakes exchanged glances, hesitating. Feeling the intense oppressive force emanating from Lu Li and the unfamiliar presence of the giant python beside him, they felt somewhat at a loss. Especially the massive python that invoked a fear deep in their bloodlines. ¡°The little snake has no objections.¡± The two Sky Blue Snakes lowered their heads, submitting at the feet of Lu Li. Just then, a giant Sky Blue Snake suddenly appeared a few hundred meters away from the cave¡¯s southeast direction. This snake was three Zhang tall and covered with large and small wounds, staring coldly at Lu Li with an overwhelming aura of viciousness engulfing the entire area. ¡°Eh¡­ There¡¯s actually a tenth-level Qi Cultivation survivor from the Sky Blue Snake.¡± Lu Li was somewhat puzzled. ¡°Youngster, the position of Leader of the Sky Blue Snake Clan is not something you can covet; unless you can defeat me!¡± said the giant snake as it slithered over, its tone icy cold. Lu Li¡¯s face turned frosty, ¡°You¡¯d better worry about surviving under my subordinate before making any other claims.¡± He wouldn¡¯t agree to fight this giant snake in the deep sea, even if the opponent was injured. He could consider a fight on the surface of the sea. ¡°Ao ao ao¡­¡± Following Lu Li¡¯s command, Iron Pillar roared, eager to charge. He had been feeling stifled within the Spiritual Beast Bag for too long. In just a few breaths¡¯ time, Iron Pillar moved as fast as lightning, reaching a spot not far from the giant snake. ¡°Sss¡­¡± It operated its innate Spell, and a Water Jet Technique blasted from its mouth, filled with powerful Demon Energy and the Aura of the Blood Fiend. In a blink, it was upon the giant snake. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± The giant snake, not to be outdone, condensed a Demon Energy of its own to meet the approaching Water Jet Technique. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± A violent collision erupted, with the fierce Demon Energy splattering wildly and stirring up dark currents. However, both remained completely unaffected, standing their ground without budging an inch. In this clash, Iron Pillar had not been at a disadvantage, which greatly boosted its confidence. As the offspring of a Demon Beast King with a profound innate strength, Iron Pillar was not intimidated, despite the opponent¡¯s cultivation surpassing its own by a good margin. It roared again, sweeping its powerful tail, stirring up the surrounding seawater into a violent surge. The giant snake charged headlong to meet it. Once again, the two engaged in brutal melee combat. As the strongest aspect of a demon beast lies in its physical prowess, the two fought ferociously with astounding momentum. Gradually, the surrounding sea began to show a tinge of crimson. Under the stimulation of the scent of blood, the two grew ever more ferocious, showing no signs of weakness. The giant snake, though injured, still managed to put up a fight on par with Iron Pillar thanks to its Qi Cultivation at the tenth level. The two sides continued their fierce battle for several hours before their momentum gradually subsided. From behind, Lu Li closely watched the giant snake¡¯s movements. It was the moment the giant snake showed signs of weakening that he made his move. When he struck, it was earth-shattering. A blood-colored Sword Qi, quick as lightning, slashed towards the giant snake¡¯s head. It was his hidden Demon Secret Skill, the ¡°Blood Spirit Drill.¡± Thanks to the prolonged nurturing with a large amount of Essence Blood, the power of the ¡°Blood Spirit Drill¡± had reached its limit, and even he was uncertain about its full strength. This was also due to the long-term consumption of Ice Spirit Fruit, which had left his Essence Blood extremely abundant. The blood-colored Sword Qi reached the top of the giant snake¡¯s head in just a few breaths. Before the opponent could react, it struck its head. ¡°Crack!¡± After a loud noise, the snake¡¯s head soared into the sky, panic flashing in its eyes, and the giant snake¡¯s body immediately crashed down to the seabed. The surrounding seawater turned a bright red. ¡°Not bad for power!¡± Lu Li nodded in satisfaction, looking at the effects of his strike. Of course, the timing of the strike also played a part. Had the opponent been prepared, the results wouldn¡¯t have been so astounding. Judging by the current power, once his Qi Cultivation reached completion, this Demon Secret Skill, with his impressive Essence Blood, would likely be terrifyingly powerful. Then, an instant kill on a Qi Cultivation perfected opponent by surprise wouldn¡¯t be impossible. Lu Li then collected the snake¡¯s body and sent two giant snakes to gather their clansmen. It wasn¡¯t long before two giant snakes swam back trembling, followed by dozens of Sky Blue Snakes. Next, Lu Li effortlessly subdued the entire Sky Blue Snake Clan and took Iron Pillar to the old ancestors¡¯ cave. He looked at the few scattered Spirit Fruits in front of him with some confusion and called over the guardians of the cave. Before Lu Li could ask, one of the Sky Blue Snakes carefully said, ¡°A higher-up visited not long ago and took away many treasures from our clan.¡± ¡°Oh? What cultivation level does this higher-up have, and where do they come from?¡± Lu Li¡¯s gaze shifted. ¡°Reporting to the king, the higher-up comes every ten or so years. He is a strong member of the Green Spirit Python Clan with a Qi Cultivation completion.¡± After finishing, they glanced at Iron Pillar beside them, full of fear. Lu Li felt odd, not expecting it to be a member of Iron Pillar¡¯s own clan. ¡°This matter is now known to me. From now on, you two lead half the clan to mine ores in the Spirit Turtle Basin.¡± ¡°Do not attack the Spirit Turtle Clan proactively, or face death!¡± ¡°We will carefully follow the king¡¯s command.¡± The two giant snakes exited the cave with obedience written on their faces. After subduing the Sky Blue Snake Clan, Lu Li transformed into a giant turtle and arrived next to the Essence of Mystic Iron ore vein of the Spirit Turtle Clan. As for Iron Pillar, he was sent to oversee the Sky Blue Snake Clan. At that moment, more than twenty giant turtles were voraciously ¡°gnawing¡± at the ore. It took more than half an hour to mine a small piece, a challenging task. Seeing Lu Li arrive, they all looked eager to please. They were desperate for the Medicine Pills from their clan leader and started mining fervently. It wasn¡¯t much later that Iron Pillar arrived with a host of Sky Blue Snakes in tow, approaching the ore vein. The giant turtles nearby immediately became defensive and glared with hostility. Had it not been for Lu Li¡¯s suppression, the two clans would have been at war again. ¡°From now on, the Sky Blue Snake Clan will also mine here. None of you may attack without authorization; violators will be put to death!¡± Lu Li spoke with a cold tone. Both clans¡¯ Demon Beasts were his assets, and he couldn¡¯t afford further conflict. Initially, he had considered simply wiping out the Sky Blue Snake Clan and turning them into Spiritual Liquid, but now he had a better plan. ¡°We obey the Clan Leader¡¯s orders!¡± Hearing this, all the turtles nodded in agreement, their heads retracting. After that, the Sky Blue Snake Clan began to mine on the west side. Both clans harbored deep hatred, but under Lu Li¡¯s suppression, no one dared to overstep. Seeing the matter settled, Lu Li went to the cave to collect all the Essence of Mystic Iron and then returned to Golden Qilin Island. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Qi Refinement Level 9 Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Qi Refinement Level 9 Time flowed like water. Another year had passed. In the early morning, within the cave on Sunset Peak. Lu Li sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, and above his head, waves of Spiritual Energy rose, forming a small vortex of Spiritual Energy. Before long, Spiritual Energy from outside began to flow slowly towards Lu Li. The Spiritual Energy vortex grew larger and larger, forming a funnel shape that crazily poured into his body. As the inflow of Spiritual Energy accelerated, Lu Li started to run his Cultivation Technique with all his might, and the Mana inside his body rushed and roared like rivers and seas. Even his meridians started to ache. ¡°Break for me!¡± Not much later, a crisp crackling sound came from within his body, as if some barrier had shattered. Subsequently, an even stronger Mana began to circulate endlessly within him, and his aura surged tremendously. ¡°I¡¯ve finally made the breakthrough to the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation!¡± Lu Li opened his eyes, feeling the Mana inside his body which had nearly doubled, filling him with great joy. With his current Mana, he probably wouldn¡¯t be inferior to some Cultivators who had perfected Qi Cultivation. The tenth layer of Qi Cultivation is considered full Qi Cultivation, where general Cultivators can consume Foundation Establishment Pills to break through their Cultivation level. As for the twelfth layer of Qi Cultivation, it only has about seventy to eighty percent more Mana than the tenth layer, so the gap isn¡¯t too large. Over the past year, besides going to collect Essence of Mystic Iron from the Spirit Turtle Clan every so often, he had been sitting in meditation for Qi Cultivation within his cave. Thanks to the abundant resources of Spirit Fruits in the deep sea, he was able to rapidly advance to the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation. At the same time, Lu Li¡¯s physique had also become extremely astonishing, almost nearing that of a full Qi Cultivation Demon Beast. Of course, this was inseparable from the tribute of the two Demon Beast clans. Ever since he introduced an assessment system at the beginning of the year, the two Demon Beast clans suddenly became much more enthusiastic, which made him very satisfied with his own wise decision. Lu Li¡¯s Divine Sense sank into his flesh, feeling the quantity of his Essence Blood, and it astonished him. There were a full seventy-two drops of Essence Blood quietly lying in the depths of his heart. Generally, a Cultivator in the later stages of Qi Cultivation would only have as many as twelve drops, whereas he had several times more. Because his physique was abundantly fed with Essence Blood, even his Divine Sense benefited a lot, being several times stronger than ordinary late-stage Qi Cultivation. Then, Lu Li turned his Divine Sense to the three strands of blood-colored murderous aura in his chest. The murderous aura condensed into small sword shapes, carrying a hint of terrifying sharpness. Even he himself felt a very dangerous aura. With the nourishment of a vast amount of Essence Blood, the power of the Blood Spirit Drill Secret Technique had reached its limit. If his body could withstand it, he would have liked to condense and refine a few more. Next, he took out the Aminokaze and a piece of Hundred-Year Ice Jade, and started to refine the Flying Sword. With the activation of his Mana, the spiritual materials immediately emitted a lustrous, translucent glow, with wisps of misty aura beginning to twine around the sword body¡­ Not long after, with the Spiritual Energy of the spiritual materials depleted, the power of the Flying Sword was enhanced a bit more. For the past six months, he had been using Water Attribute spiritual materials to refine the Flying Sword every day. With a vast amount of spiritual materials ¡°feeding¡± it, the Aminokaze had already reached the limit of an upper-grade Flying Sword. However, due to limitations of its original materials, it was impossible to break through to a Top Grade Magic Artifact. Also, only Foundation Establishment Cultivators would use Top Grade Magic Artifacts, and with his strength, he was not yet able to fully unleash the power of a Top Grade Magic Artifact. Afterward, Lu Li put away the Flying Sword and sat in meditation for a while to consolidate his newly achieved Cultivation. He got up and walked out of his cave, arriving at the edge of the Cold Pond. There a Demon Python of the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation was coiling around the pool. The Demon Python was fifteen meters tall and thicker than a water barrel, emitting a terrifying, murderous aura. It hissed with its tongue, and its eyes flickered with an icy cold sharpness. Seeing Lu Li emerge from seclusion, it joyously coiled around him. ¡°Master, you¡¯ve finally come out, I¡¯ve missed you so much¡­¡± Lu Li watched as its enormous body pressed towards him, feeling helpless. A tingling cold sensation came from the snake¡¯s body, slick and smooth, and strangely not foul-smelling, but with a hint of fragrance instead. Lu Li carefully observed its scales; palm-size scales were neatly layered over its entire body, engraved with mysterious patterns that resembled coiling dragons, too noble for words. At the same time, the scales were even showing some signs of turning white. ¡°` ¡°Could Iron Pillar have turned into a white snake after its Foundation Establishment?¡± ¡°` Thinking of this, Lu Li¡¯s face took on a somewhat strange expression. He put away Iron Pillar and then walked over to the Cold Pond, where he proceeded to collect the Spiritual Spring Eye. He also did not overlook the spirit fish inside. After that, he quietly waited at the foot of Sunset Peak. As the three-year task period came to an end, he had already sent a message to his family a few days ago, and he¡¯d received a reply that a clan member would come to take over his duties today. After a short while, a tunneling light from outside Golden Qilin Island approached. Lu Li looked up and was slightly startled. He hadn¡¯t expected his seventh brother, Lu Qingshan, to come and guard Golden Qilin Island. This person had an ordinary appearance and had always been quite dull since his youth, having just recently broken through to the sixth level of Qi Cultivation. Lu Li immediately operated the Hidden Spirit Technique, slowly pressing down his own aura, revealing only the Qi Cultivation of the early eighth level. After all, breaking through three levels in three years was quite alarming, and achieving such rapid progress with his average aptitude would likely lead to malicious speculation from those with ulterior motives. Although the family was very harmonious, he could not guarantee it wouldn¡¯t be leaked. Currently, only the old ancestor in the entire family knew the extent of his cultivation realm. Soon after, Lu Qingshan arrived in front of the Array. Lu Li opened the Array and welcomed him in. ¡°Who would have thought that it would be my younger brother Qingshan coming to guard Golden Qilin Island.¡± Lu Qingshan entered the Array, smiled politely, and said, ¡°Sixth brother has guarded the island for three years and your cultivation hasn¡¯t fallen behind. I greatly admire you.¡± ¡°Sixth brother should probably plan ahead as soon as you return to the family. In a few months, it will be time for the four families to redistribute the shares of the Red Copper Ore vein.¡± Lu Li nodded upon hearing this, as he was already well-prepared. The Red Copper Ore vein of Spirit Crane Island was jointly mined by the four Foundation Establishment Families of the Lu, Wang, Chen, and Lin, and every ten years, the younger generation of the families would compete in magic combat to divide the ore vein shares. Among the younger generation of the Lu Family, probably only he and Lu Qingqing could fight for the family. After the two of them finished handing over the spiritual materials of the island, Lu Li bid farewell and left. Lu Qingshan watched Lu Li¡¯s departing figure with some emotion. He had learned a secret technique for probing from a young age and felt an extremely domineering sharpness from his sixth brother, which set his Divine Sense alarmingly off. ¡°Never would I have imagined that in just three years, sixth brother has changed so drastically.¡± ¡­ At noon, the water outside Mystic Moon Island shimmered beautifully. A small black boat was rapidly approaching Mystic Moon Island, riding the waves. A young and handsome man in a flowing white robe stood at the bow, looking graceful and unrestrained. Lu Li gazed at Mystic Moon Island before him; another year had passed and there seemed to be little change on the island. Some low-level cultivators guarded the pier, surrounded by ordinary people bustling about, busily fishing for shrimps and fish from the sea, as if nothing had ever changed since ancient times. These people, seeing Lu Li walking on water, looked on with envy. As the small boat reached the shore, Lu Li quickly erected a tunneling light and flew towards Qingling Peak. In a short while, he arrived outside the Household Affairs Hall, located halfway up Qingling Peak. He walked in and saw Lu Yuting lying lazily on a Taishi Chair, basking in the sun. A fragrance lingered in the air. ¡°Little Li is here; time really flies, three years have passed in a blink.¡± Lu Yuting opened her eyes and showed a hint of appreciation, ¡°Not bad, your cultivation has barely fallen behind, and here is your reward for this task.¡± She then took out a Token and several Medicine Pills, placing them on the table. ¡°Thank you, Third Aunt.¡± Lu Li gave a formal bow and then collected the items before walking out of the Household Affairs Hall. The reward for this task was a mere three hundred contribution points and some Qi Cultivation Pills, better than nothing. As he was about to return to his cave, a beautiful young girl approached him. ¡°Big brother Six, you¡¯ve finally returned. The upcoming ore vein division will be held at the Lu Family, and you and Sister Qing Qing are under much pressure; our Lu Family has lost several times in a row already.¡± Lu Yuling¡¯s face showed some concern. Her cultivation was only at the peak of the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, and was not enough to fight for the family. Lu Li smiled faintly, ¡°Ninth sister, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure the old ancestor has already made plans.¡± At that moment, a thought crossed his mind, and he seemed to have an idea. He then took out a young Evil-eyed Water Ape. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Riding the Wind and Breaking the Waves Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Riding the Wind and Breaking the Waves ¡°Jiujie often sells Demon Beast exuviae outside; do you know how much such a beast might fetch at auction?¡± Lu Li¡¯s face was all smiles. ¡°Is this¡­ a Water Ape spirit beast cub?¡± Lu Yuling looked at the young beast before her, its white fur covering its entire body, a pair of eyes brimming with liveliness to the extreme, leaving her utterly astonished. ¡°This is a second-tier Demon Beast bloodline cub; Brother Six really has good fortune.¡± ¡°A freshly born second-tier Demon Beast cub can usually sell for about four thousand Spirit Stones in the market. However, this cub is slightly older, so it might be worth over two thousand Spirit Stones.¡± Lu Li nodded. He also knew that the younger the cubs were at the time of sale, the higher the price they commanded since it was possible to inscribe Blood Sacrificial Runes on them. The older the cub, the more fiercely it would resist, making the inscription more difficult. ¡°How about helping Brother Six make a trip to the market to sell it?¡± Seeing Lu Yuling¡¯s somewhat envious expression, he spoke teasingly. Lu Yuling was very torn upon hearing this. The item was quite valuable, and she could not possibly ask Brother Six to give it away for free, after all, in the world of cultivation, personal gain was paramount. Yet the moment she saw the young beast, she had taken a liking to it. ¡°How about Brother Six sells it to your little sister? I still have one thousand Spirit Stones, plus over six hundred family contribution points.¡± After saying this, she looked at Lu Li somewhat embarrassedly. Lu Li smiled, ¡°Just take this one to the auction house and sell it.¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Yuling¡¯s face darkened slightly, her heart filled with an indescribable discomfort. Then she saw Lu Li¡¯s teasing expression and watched him take out another Water Ape cub from his Storage Bag, leaving her stunned. ¡°Let¡¯s do it as you just said, this one can be sold in the market for Brother Six.¡± Lu Li was all smiles. Lu Yuling, realizing she had been teased, showed a face full of embarrassment and annoyance, ¡°Brother Six just loves to tease people.¡± After saying this, she quickly stored the two Water Ape cubs in the Spiritual Beast Bag and then turned around, her face beaming with joy as she flew towards the mountain¡¯s exterior. Seeing her hasty departure, Lu Li shook his head helplessly. He returned to his cave and began his daily meditation and cultivation practice. The next day, early in the morning. Lu Li received a Communication Talisman from the old ancestor early on. He did not dare to dally, getting up and flying toward the cave at the mountain peak. When he arrived at the top, Old Ancestor Lu Tiande had already deactivated the Array around his cave. Walking into the cave, he saw Lu Tiande sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his complexion somewhat ashen. ¡°Li is here.¡± Hearing the noise, Lu Tiande slowly opened his eyes. ¡°I summoned you today to hear your thoughts on the upcoming strategic battle between the four families.¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Li¡¯s expression was one of reverence, ¡°This junior will certainly do his best.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Lu Tiande sighed softly, ¡°This battle will determine the mining veins¡¯ shares for the next ten years, involving no minor interests, and the family¡¯s current financial situation is not very optimistic¡­¡± ¡°Old Ancestor, I know you have always kept a low profile. If we can achieve a good ranking this time, I will award you seven thousand family contribution points.¡± Lu Li¡¯s face was stunned, then he spoke respectfully, ¡°This junior will certainly give his all. It¡¯s also an honor for the younger generation to contribute to the family.¡± Lu Tiande was very gratified by his words, ¡°Since Old Ancestor Lu Changge founded the Lu Family here hundreds of years ago, this old man does not ask for much. I wish neither to glorify the family further nor to see its lineage come to an end here.¡± ¡°You needn¡¯t worry too much, as long as I haven¡¯t fallen, those other families wouldn¡¯t dare to openly to confront you or anyone else directly.¡± Lu Li nodded, highly respectful. Yet in his heart, he was thinking about those seven thousand contribution points; he had long had his eye on a set of second-tier Array Plates in the family treasure vault. ¡°` Alas, it needed over eight thousand contribution points; this time, there finally seemed to be hope. At this moment, Lu Tiande¡¯s tone shifted. ¡°However, in this upcoming competition of magic, it¡¯s unlikely that with your cultivation level, you will get first place.¡± As soon as Lu Li entered the cave, he had sensed Lu Li¡¯s Qi Cultivation at the ninth layer, which stirred a storm in his heart, though his face remained calm. Lu Li clasped his hands: ¡°Please enlighten me, Elder Ancestor.¡± Lu Tiande paused before continuing to speak. ¡°The Chen Family has been preparing for over ten years and has raised a spirit beast; by now, that Moon Howling Wolf has probably reached the tenth level of Qi Cultivation.¡± ¡°With the strength of this beast, Chen Wuluo has greatly increased his power. Lu Qingqing, not skilled in magical combat, will likely find it difficult to contend. Whatever you need, just ask.¡± Lu Li nodded, ¡°In this competition, talismans and Medicine Pills for restoring mana cannot be used, so I don¡¯t really have much to ask for.¡± At that moment, Lu Tiande suddenly produced a drop of Essence Blood. ¡°This is a drop of Essence Blood forced out by my Foundation Establishment Spirit Beast, which you might find useful.¡± Lu Li stared at the Essence Blood radiating a red glow in front of him, a look of surprise on his face: ¡°This Essence Blood is extremely precious; I hope your spirit beast is unharmed.¡± During their conversation, the Iron Pillar in Lu Li¡¯s Spiritual Beast Bag became somewhat restless. ¡°My spirit beast will be fine after a period of rest, and besides, if I were to fall, my Lifebound Spirit Beast would perish as well. ¡°You¡¯ve always been quick to accept advantages when they come your way; what¡¯s different this time?¡± Lu Tiande chided with a smile and then handed over the Essence Blood. Lu Li accepted the Essence Blood and then released the Iron Pillar. A massive serpent appeared in the cave, its body covered with white patterns, its mouth slightly flattened, looking quite noble. The moment Iron Pillar appeared, it immediately swallowed the Essence Blood from Lu Li¡¯s hands, then curled up on the ground, its face showing contentment. ¡°Is this¡­ the aura of a White Python?¡± The instant Iron Pillar appeared, Lu Tiande¡¯s face went blank. Then after a moment, he shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s still lacking quite a bit, possessing only a very faint trace of ¡®Dragon Seed¡¯ aura.¡± ¡°However, after this beast breaks through to Foundation Establishment, there¡¯s a very high chance it will transform into a ¡®Dragon Seed¡¯. Its Divine Skills will be astonishing in the sea. You really are fortunate, young man.¡± Lu Li also showed a face of joy; Iron Pillar had only recently started to change. After being fed a large amount of Spiritual Liquid, Spirit Fruit, and Demon Attraction Grass for a long time, Iron Pillar had slowly begun to transform. Lu Tiande was also wreathed in smiles: ¡°Though this beast is only at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, it no longer fears the other party¡¯s Demon Beast.¡± ¡°You have truly given Elder Ancestor a great surprise. With this spirit beast, even competing for first place is not impossible; I have indeed underestimated you. ¡°Heh heh¡­ the other party¡¯s years of preparation will be for naught, and I am curious to know what Old Thief Chen¡¯s thoughts will be then.¡± Lu Li smiled slightly: ¡°Elder Ancestor, do you have a Secret Technique to suppress Iron Pillar¡¯s aura?¡± Lu Tiande pondered for a moment: ¡°There is a method, drawing Array Talismans can suppress its aura. Once Elder Ancestor takes action, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators would be hard-pressed to detect it. Come here when you find time in the following days.¡± After speaking, he began to take out spiritual materials and get to work. He picked up a piece of black Spirit Jade, ground it into powder, and then stirred it with spirit water. After a quarter of an hour, he started to cast spells. Lu Li watched Elder Ancestor¡¯s movements intently. He saw the other party take out a talisman pen, dip it in spirit ink, then rapidly began to inscribe on Iron Pillar¡¯s body. Not long after, countless mysterious Runes covered Iron Pillar¡¯s entire body and then were slowly absorbed into its flesh. ¡°All done. After just a few more days of inscription, it will suffice, though this method will only last for a few years.¡± Lu Tiande chuckled, then put away the talisman pen. Lu Li then put Iron Pillar back into the Spiritual Beast Bag, and after talking for a bit longer, the two walked out of the cave. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Chen Family of White Mist Island Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Chen Family of White Mist Island More than a thousand miles east of Mystic Moon Island, there lies a medium-sized island, shrouded in white fog year-round, known as White Mist Island. The Chen Family is the Cultivation Family that guards this island. In a cave at the foot of White Dragon Summit in the center of the island. At this moment, two figures were conversing. One old, one young, both dressed in blue Daoist robes. The young man, in his twenties, was at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, his expression exceedingly delicate. ¡°With this spirit beast, I am bound to be first in the Four Families¡¯ competition this time.¡± Chen Wuluo declared confidently. ¡°The Lu Family has lost several times in a row and will probably just make up the numbers again this time, Lu Qingqing is definitely no match for me.¡± The elder also coldly smiled, ¡°Wait another thirty or so years for the old ghost of the Lu Family to die, and that Spiritual Peak will be ours.¡± ¡°What about the other two families? They probably won¡¯t be content with the Chen Family monopolizing it.¡± Chen Wuluo was somewhat puzzled. ¡°Ancestor has his plans for this matter. As the Family¡¯s top Foundation Establishment Seed, you only need to focus on establishing your foundation.¡± The elder revealed a meaningful smile. ¡­ In the following days, except for his daily visits to the ancestor¡¯s cave to inscribe hidden runes on the Iron Pillar, Lu Li spent all his time meditating in his cave. Time slowly passed, and soon it was a few days before the Four Families¡¯ competition. This time, as the host, Lu Family, Lu Li had already received a message to set out early. On this day, in the morning, Lu Li stepped out of his cave and flew towards a location below Qingling Peak. It didn¡¯t take long for him to arrive at the edge of the venue, and he looked up. At this point, several family cultivators were already sparsely standing in the center of the field. Among them, two possessed the strongest aura, Third Aunt Lu Yuting and Clan elder Lu Hongchang. Lu Yuting was dressed in a striking red dress that accentuated her voluptuous figure, extremely alluring. Beside her, Great Uncle Lu Hongchang, with his hands behind his back, appeared utterly serene. Seeing Lu Li approaching, he smiled warmly, ¡°Li has arrived.¡± Lu Li stepped forward, smiling, ¡°To think Great Uncle is leading us this time, aren¡¯t you staying on the mountain accompanying the Ancestor?¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± Lu Hongchang laughed heartily, ¡°This old man¡¯s worn bones can still contribute to the family; that¡¯s a blessing.¡± Lu Li listened with admiration. As a family elder, he had dedicated himself to the family for decades, still thinking of contributing even as his life was nearing its end¡ªLu Li admitted he couldn¡¯t do the same. At that moment, Lu Yuting giggled mischievously, ¡°Li, don¡¯t get beaten to death this time, or the Ancestor will be heartbroken.¡± Her entire upper body moved with the laughter, revealing her charm. Lu Li, somewhat helpless, managed a smile, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Third Aunt. I will be careful.¡± Out of everyone in the Lu Family, besides revering the Ancestor, he was most ¡°afraid¡± of this Third Aunt. Ever since he was young, she had always teased him for fun; it had almost become her hobby. ¡°Boring¡­¡± Seeing Lu Li¡¯s stern demeanour, Lu Yuting shrugged and stopped talking. Just then, two stunning women appeared at the end of the mountain path. Both in white dresses, walking hand in hand¡ªone looking lively, the other noble and cold. It was Qing Qing and Yu Ling. As Yu Ling grew up, her figure and beauty soared, earning her the name ¡°Lu Family¡¯s Twin Pearls¡± within the family. Upon seeing Lu Li, both nodded their heads with a smile. After a short while, several other people arrived, including Lu Heng, the second brother. ¡°Now that everyone is here, let¡¯s set off,¡± Lu Hongchang spoke directly. He then took out a white flying boat-shaped magic artifact. The flying boat was only the size of a palm, emitting a silver glow all around, extremely magnificent. Lu Hongchang tossed the flying boat upwards, then with the stimulation of his mana, the boat flew against the wind and swiftly transformed into a flying boat over twenty meters long. ¡°Everyone, come aboard.¡± Upon finishing his words, he flew towards the front of the flying boat, sat down cross-legged, and then placed a medium-grade spirit stone onto the pillar in front. The crowd, upon seeing this, flew towards the flying boat. Lu Li followed closely behind, finding a small room next to Lu Qingqing and sat down cross-legged. This majestic miniature flying boat magic artifact was named the Silver Moon Flying Boat, which he had ridden several times before, known for its incredible speed. The pillar at the head of the flying boat was the control hub, embedding a spirit stone would enable it to travel a thousand miles a day. The body of the boat was also carved full of defensive arrays, capable of defending against some attacks from Qi Cultivation Demon Beasts; the Lu Family had only two such boats, the other was a medium-sized flying boat magic artifact passed down by ancestors. Lu Li was meditating with his eyes closed when suddenly the telepathic message from Lu Qingqing reached his mind, her tone full of concern. ¡°Sixth brother, during this magic duel do not overexert yourself, if it¡¯s not feasible then concede immediately, it¡¯s normal for you, still young, not to match those who have cultivated for longer.¡± ¡°I will be careful, fourth sister, you too must not be careless.¡± Lu Li nodded, feeling a bit of warmth in his heart. The flying boat was very fast, and in just the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they reached their destination. Everyone disembarked from the flying boat, and Lu Hongchang led everyone flying towards the center of the deserted island below. This island was a tiny deserted island, located thirty miles to the east of Mystic Moon Island. The island was strewn with rocks everywhere, appearing bald and barren, and had always served as the ground for the Lu Family and three others to conduct their magic duels. In the center of the deserted island was a man-made platform. The platform was tens of meters long and wide, the ground specially treated to be very sturdy, surrounded by protective arrays. Before long, under Lu Hongchang¡¯s lead, everyone arrived at the east side of the platform and stopped. ¡°The magic duel is two days away, meditate here for now.¡± Lu Hongchang¡¯s voice was loud and clear as he led by example and sat down cross-legged. Lu Li also found a spot at the edge, next to Lu Yuling and Lu Qingqing, and sat down cross-legged. Lu Yuting, seeing this, also came to sit on the ground next to the three, and then somewhat mysteriously started a telepathic conversation. ¡°Li, has the ancestor given you any backup plans?¡± During this period, every time she visited the ancestor, she felt that he was very confident, and finally she could not help but ask. Lu Li responded with a slight smile, ¡°There is a backup plan¡­¡± ¡°What is it, let¡¯s hear it.¡± Lu Yuting looked at him curiously. ¡°That is relying on the skills of a youngster to sweep the opponents away¡­¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ don¡¯t say it then, but if I find out later, you will regret it¡­¡± Lu Yuting glanced at Lu Li disapprovingly, then ground her teeth and threatened. Lu Li felt a bit helpless inside, now that telling the truth was too doubtful. ¡­ Time slowly passed, and soon it was the day of the magic duel. Early morning. The early sun rose, casting a golden radiance over the entire sea area, causing dazzling ripples on the surface of the sea. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Lu Li was sitting on the ground when suddenly he heard rumbling sounds of sonic booms in front of him. He looked up only to see three small flying boats quickly flying towards the deserted island. In just a few breaths, they stopped above the small island. Shortly after, a large group of cultivators descended from the three flying boats. Soon the whole area became bustling. A crowd of people grandly flew towards the ground, with each family choosing a position to sit down cross-legged. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30: The Magic Duel Begins Chapter 30: Chapter 30: The Magic Duel Begins Everyone had just settled down when an elder from the Chen Family in the west approached. ¡°Lu the old ghost, you¡¯re not dead yet?¡± The person who spoke was dressed in a green robe, about eighty years old, and his cultivation was around the 11th level of Qi Refinement. Lu Hongchang stood up and coldly smiled, ¡°Chen the old ghost, you¡¯re still clinging to life, how could I possibly precede you in death?¡± Chen Mo¡¯s face darkened upon hearing this, ¡°As the host of this event, it is by rule that both you and I should serve as referees.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s proceed as usual. All participants in the magical combat are not to use any healing Medicine Pills or talismans, and can only use their own Lifebound Spirit Beasts¡­¡± Lu Hongchang nodded. Lu Li quietly observed the cultivators around. Directly opposite were a group of cultivators from the Chen Family, and aside from the elder Chen Mo who had first spoken, two others were particularly eye-catching. One had a gloomy complexion with maliciousness in the corners of his eyes, and his cultivation was around the 9th level of Qi Cultivation. This person must be the Foundation Establishment Seed of the Chen Family, Chen Wuluo. Another was slightly weaker in cultivation, only at the 8th level of Qi Cultivation, but of an older age. This person was indeed Chen Tianqi, whom Lu Yuling had mentioned encountering conflicts with at sea. Feeling Lu Li¡¯s gaze, Chen Wuluo revealed a faint cold smirk. Lu Li ignored it and shifted his gaze to the remaining two family¡¯s cultivators. Like the Chen Family, they were led by an elder at the 11th level of Qi Cultivation, accompanied by two Foundation Establishment Seeds and some Guest Elders. While Lu Li was surveying everyone, Chen Mo and Lu Hongchang suddenly flew onto the platform. ¡°The magical combat begins now, and no killing is allowed after one concedes¡­¡± ¡°The first match, Lu Qingqing versus Lin Ye.¡± Both emitted their strong auras freely, intimidating everyone present. No sooner had the words left their mouths, Lu Hongchang and Chen Mo flew back down. Lu Qingqing and Lin Ye rose simultaneously and flew towards the combat platform. Lu Li had already known the rules of the competition. Each family¡¯s number one seed would fight first, with the victor earning a point and the loser none. Then, the number two seeds would do the same. If the scores were tied in the end, the number two seeds could challenge the number one seeds, and the winner would be deemed the first place of this event. Finally, the shares of the mining veins for the next ten years would be distributed according to the scores. He watched the two on the platform; Lin Ye¡¯s cultivation was not inferior to Lu Qingqing¡¯s, and this match looked to be a tough battle. The number one seeds of the four great families all possessed superior talents, but none had the Top Grade affinity above 90 points or a Heavenly Spirit Root. The quality of the number two seeds was more mixed. With his Spirit Root talent, Lu Li was quite ordinary by comparison, but his cultivation level was the highest. As he pondered internally, there was suddenly a change on the scene. Lu Hongchang and Chen Mo made their move, triggering the surrounding Array. A deep blue Array Light Screen enveloped the four sides of the platform in an instant, its surface rippling like water waves. Upon seeing this, the two on the platform immediately summoned their Defensive Magical Artifacts to protect themselves. Then, they each summoned their attack magic tools. Their momentum fiercely increased, and their powerful auras clashed in the void. Moments later, as their momentum reached its peak, they both made their moves, evidently both eager to seize the initiative. Lu Qingqing circulated her Mana, activating her Flying Sword. The fiery-red Flying Sword burst with light, the blade exhaling sharp Sword Qi. She then abruptly lunged towards Lin Ye in the front. The opponent, not to be outdone, also raised a black Flying Knife Artifact, clashing directly with the sword in the air. ¡°Boom¡­¡± In an instant, the two magic artifacts collided mid-air, emitting a huge buzzing noise as the fierce forces spread wildly, causing ripples to surge across the Array Light Screen. Lu Li watched the battle on the stage intently. The Flying Sword and the black knife artifact were locked in a stalemate for a while before the sword was slightly overpowered, retreating back a bit. ¡°Indeed, the opponent¡¯s cultivation seems to be deeper. It seems this battle may not go in our favor.¡± Lu Qingqing also understood her situation. Clearly, the opponent¡¯s cultivation was not low, and his combat experience was also rich; she had no choice but to give it her all. She made another move, channeling her Mana with full force. The sword emitted a piercing screech, transforming into a phantom fire phoenix dancing in the sky, its presence astounding. ¡°Sword intent materialization? Isn¡¯t that a technique only those above Foundation Establishment can use?¡± Lu Li was somewhat astonished, but he quickly dismissed the idea. It was merely a facade, capturing the form but not the essence. On the platform, Lu Qingqing struggled to control her Flying Sword, Mana depleting rapidly. She was not yet fully proficient with this sword technique, clearly struggling to keep up. Her face glistened with delicate beads of sweat. ¡°Break!¡± With a delicate shout, the phoenix swiftly attacked Lin Ye, its momentum extraordinary. ¡°Kill!¡± Seeing this, Lin Ye also gave it his all, his flying knife instantly revealing its sharpness as it charged towards the phoenix¡¯s apparition, his aura even more formidable than before. ¡°Boom¡­¡± As a violent sound echoed through the heavens, the Array Light Screen shook violently as if it were about to shatter. Lu Hongchang and Chen Mo both took action to reinforce the array. Lu Yuling and the people of the Lu Family all looked towards the stage with anxious faces. On the stage, the phoenix¡¯s apparition and the Flying Saber Artifact remained locked in a stand-off in the sky. Both intensified their output of mana, and as time progressed, they each started to show signs of strain. Lu Qingqing¡¯s chest heaved dramatically, her complexion turning somewhat flushed. Lin Ye was also struggling, his breathing becoming irregular, the gap between them not very large. Another half a stick of incense had passed. Lu Qingqing¡¯s mana was nearly depleted, and the phoenix¡¯s apparition could no longer be sustained, dissipating into the air. ¡°I concede.¡± Lu Qingqing let out a slight sigh. She knew that continuing the battle would hardly result in victory, as she was just a bit inferior. ¡°Mr. Lu yields!¡± Lin Ye smiled faintly and clasped his hands together in courtesy. Both simultaneously withdrew their magic artifacts, standing on the platform. Seeing this, the Lu Family members below the stage felt somewhat disappointed, although it was to be expected. At this moment, the two judges opened the array and flew onto the stage. ¡°This battle is won by Lin Ye, earning one point.¡± ¡°The next battle, Chen Wuluo versus Wang Mochen.¡± After announcing this, the two judges flew down from the combat platform. Lu Qingqing returned to the Lu Family team; due to the excessive consumption of mana, her complexion was a bit pale. ¡°I¡¯ve disappointed everyone, losing the first battle.¡± With that, she sat down somewhat dejectedly. Lu Yuling next to her spoke up to comfort her, ¡°Big sister, don¡¯t worry too much, there are still several matches to go. Just focus on recovering your mana.¡± Lu Li also encouraged her softly, ¡°It¡¯s just one match. In this competition, our Lu Family only needs to maintain the top three to aim for second.¡± Lu Qingqing was startled by these words, not expecting Lu Li to be so ¡°open-minded.¡± A smile soon crept onto her lips. The rest of the Lu Family members also chimed in with their support. Lu Yuting also teased, ¡°Young Lu, you¡¯ve got a good attitude.¡± For a moment, the gloom on everyone¡¯s faces lifted significantly. The Chen Mo and the people of the Chen Family watching this couldn¡¯t help but show a look of disdain. It seemed that the Lu Family had grown accustomed to this. In this competition, the first place would undoubtedly belong to the Chen Family, as expected. While the discussions were buzzing below the stage, Chen Wuluo and Wang Mochen flew onto the high platform. Lu Li sensed the aura of both. Although both were at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, Chen Wuluo¡¯s aura was clearly much stronger. As expected. Upon stepping onto the platform, Chen Wuluo immediately suppressed his opponent firmly below, his Flying Sword dancing in the air, emitting beams of Sword Qi, while Wang Mochen struggled to hold on. It wasn¡¯t long before Wang Mochen could no longer continue and said, ¡°I concede.¡± ¡°Mr. Wang yields!¡± Chen Wuluo smiled elegantly and lightly leapt down towards the stage. ¡°This battle is won by Chen Wuluo.¡± The two judges announced the verdict loudly. At this time, Chen Wuluo returned to his original place, and those around him of the Chen Family began to compliment him. ¡°Chen Wuluo is truly the Foundation Establishment Seed of our clan, the first place is now without suspense.¡± Hearing the praises, Chen Wuluo also basked in the admiration. He looked at the members of the Lu Family, his expression carrying a hint of chilliness. The Lu Family members too showed dissatisfaction, as the two families had always been in competition due to their proximity to the spirit island. For centuries, their relationship had not been good. Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31: First Glimpse of Sharpness Chapter 31: Chapter 31: First Glimpse of Sharpness At this time, the two referees flew onto the platform again. ¡°Next up, Lu Li against Lin Hui.¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Yuling urgently called out to Lu Li, ¡°Sixth brother, it¡¯s your turn now.¡± ¡°Little Li, be cautious. There¡¯s no shame in admitting defeat if you can¡¯t win; just don¡¯t get killed by accident¡­¡± Lu Yuting also unusually gave another word of caution. The members of the Lu Family also showed agreement on their faces. Winning or losing was one thing, but preserving one¡¯s life was crucial; they emphasized maintaining a good mindset. Lu Li nodded indifferently, ¡°The kid understands.¡± Having said that, he leaped up and flew to the center of the high platform. His white robe fluttered with the wind, revealing a handsome face with a faint smile, exuding an air of casual grace. At this time, Lin Hui also flew onto the platform, standing opposite Lu Li. Lu Li quietly scrutinized the opponent; the man was around thirty years old, his aura just stepping into the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, still somewhat unstable. It was clear he had forcefully broken through by consuming Medicine Pills; the opponent was well-prepared. ¡°Mr. Lu, please enlighten me.¡± Lin Hui slowly spoke. ¡°Please!¡± Lu Li returned the gesture, then drew out the Aminokaze. With mana stimulated, the sword radiated dazzling light and the tip pulsed with Sword Qi, commanding an extraordinary presence. Ever since he had used a large quantity of spiritual materials to refine the Aminokaze, its might had greatly increased, reaching the extreme limit of a high-grade Magic Artifact. Seeing Lu Li¡¯s imposing Sword Qi, which was exceedingly sharp, Lin Hui felt his heart tighten. ¡°The intelligence was wrong? Wasn¡¯t this person said to be mediocre?¡± He inwardly cursed the members of his family who had gathered the intelligence. This sharp Sword Qi and the vast aura clearly indicated he had broken through the eighth level of Qi Cultivation long ago. Lin Hui didn¡¯t have time to think further and directly drew out a dark brown Flying Sword to meet the challenge. The members of the Lin Family below the platform were also somewhat surprised; in their minds, this person was only of average talent, barely breaking through the eighth level of Qi Cultivation. Now, the aura of the opponent was obviously very dominant. The members of the Lu Family, too, watched the platform with faces filled with joy, unexpectedly thrilled by Lu Li¡¯s surprise performance. Only the members of the Chen Family showed some astonishment. ¡°Eh, I didn¡¯t expect that besides Lu Qingqing, the Lu Family had this person.¡± Chen Wuluo was quite curious. ¡°But that¡¯s all there is to it. If the opponent only relies on such cultivation to challenge me, then it¡¯s simply seeking humiliation.¡± The cultivators of the Chen Family also agreed one after another. In their eyes, the gulf between the opponent and Chen Wuluo was like a moat that could not be crossed. The opponent¡¯s appearance was just a minor surprise and did not damage the grand scheme. At this time, the situation on the platform had already changed. Lu Li circulated his mana, his aura rampantly spreading and pressing towards the opponent. Lin Hui also mustered his full strength, but even so, he still fell short by a large margin compared to Lu Li. The two faced off for a while. Lin Hui was completely on the losing end. If he waited any longer, he feared he would have no chance of winning. Biting his teeth, he immediately took the initiative, controlling his Flying Sword to strike at Lu Li. Lu Li, seeing this, remained calm; with mana ignited, the Aminokaze emitted a fierce Sword Qi that pulsed through the void like lightning, slashing towards the opponent¡¯s Magic Artifact. ¡°Bang¡­¡± In an instant, the two Magic Artifacts collided, and a loud noise erupted, the opponent¡¯s Flying Sword sent flying dozens of meters away. ¡°What!¡± Feeling the massive recoil within his body, Lin Hui was shocked. ¡°Such vast mana!¡± Just one strike, and he felt a wave-like force of mana fiercely surging towards him, causing a feeling of constriction in his chest. It seemed this person was the Lu Family¡¯s hidden trump card. This time, it seemed he was bound to lose. Realizing this, Lin Hui felt bitterness in his heart; the Foundation Establishment Pill seemed to be slipping further from his reach. Below the platform, the members of the Lu Family saw Lu Li taking the upper hand and showed joy on their faces. The shadows of previous failures began to dissipate a lot. Lu Yuting was also shocked, thinking to herself, ¡°Could it be that what this kid said before was true?¡± She couldn¡¯t help entertaining this ridiculous thought. On the platform, Lu Li, seeing his hit was effective, did not pause. He operated the Flying Sword to slash again at the opponent¡¯s head. The fierce Sword Light flickered wantonly on the blade, shimmering like golden light. No fancy tricks, just sheer overwhelming force! Seeing the Flying Sword attacking once more, Lin Hui¡¯s face showed a look of fear. He had no choice but to once again raise his Flying Sword to meet the attack. With a ¡°puff,¡± just as they collided, a huge backlash of Mana struck, causing him to suddenly spit out a mouthful of fresh blood. Following another fierce collision, Lu Li displayed a completely overwhelming force. ¡°I concede!¡± Lin Hui conceded repeatedly. He knew he was completely no match for his opponent and feared that if the battle continued, he might accidentally lose his life here. ¡°Mr. Lin, you¡¯re too kind!¡± Lu Li said with a smile on his face, then immediately sheathed Aminokaze and flew down to the audience area, looking relaxed and at ease. ¡°Victory goes to Lu Li in this battle!¡± The two judges immediately ascended the platform to announce the verdict. Lu Li returned to his spot and sat down cross-legged. This battle he had won with ease; his Mana was scarcely spent. Lu Hongchang commented with a look of admiration, ¡°Little Li, well done. If you win all your battles today, our Lu Family will definitely not be at the bottom.¡± ¡°You have the primary merit in this battle.¡± Lu Yuting was also filled with curiosity, ¡°No wonder our ancestor values you so much. You¡¯ve been keeping secrets from your aunt, haven¡¯t you? Are you itching for a spanking¡­¡± Lu Li immediately felt helpless, ¡°I tell the truth, and yet Third Aunt doesn¡¯t believe me¡­¡± Even Lu Yuling beside him was visibly excited. ¡°Next, it¡¯s up to our sixth brother to take on three of their men.¡± Lu Qingqing also looked over, her eyes firm. Lu Li exchanged a glance with her and said nothing. Everything was understood without words. At that moment, the voice of the judges resonated from the platform. ¡°The next battle will be between Chen Tianqi and Wang Chi.¡± Soon, the two of them flew up to the stage. Once the Array was activated, the two sides immediately engaged in fierce combat. With a realm slightly superior, Chen Tianqi¡¯s Flying Sword danced wildly, relentlessly forcing his opponent down. The Wang Family¡¯s cultivator could only struggle bitterly on the platform, and after a short while, he shouted with reluctance, ¡°I concede.¡± Following the judges¡¯ declaration, Chen Tianqi earned another point for his family. After stepping down from the platform, the Chen Family members looked at the Lu Family with provocation on their faces. The first day of the magical duels had ended, and the Chen Family had won two battles, making them the most prominent competitors at that moment. The participants began to meditate to recover their Mana, preparing for the next day¡¯s battles. ¡­ The following day, early morning. The sunrise began, and its glow spread across the land. After a night¡¯s rest, the duelists had all fully recovered. Soon, the battles would begin again. ¡°The first battle, Lu Qingqing versus Wang Mochen.¡± As the announcement was made, Lu Qingqing leapt up and took her place in the center of the platform. Her gown flowed like a blooming flower, complementing her delicate beauty, yet her expression was ice-cold. Wang Mochen also flew to the platform, standing not far from Lu Qingqing. The man had a tall build and a resolute face. ¡°Mr. Lu, please honor me with your instruction.¡± After bowing to each other, they began their duel. Lu Qingqing drew her Flying Sword, and with a surge of Mana, a blaze of red light appeared, manifesting into the phantom of a Phoenix as she launched her attack straight at her opponent. She went all out with her first move, not bothering with any probing attacks! She knew that this person¡¯s cultivation was just slightly below hers and was determined to settle the fight in one move. Seeing this, Wang Mochen had no choice but to confront her. He summoned his Flying Sword, channeled his full Mana, and sent Sword Qi crashing towards the fiery Phoenix phantom, like a dragon swooping down. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud explosion echoed, and intense Mana scattered wildly, causing the surrounding Arrays to tremble. The two Magic Artifacts battled equally in mid-air. Upon seeing this, Lu Qingqing increased her Mana output, pushing her energy to the limit. The fiery phantom gradually neared her opponent. Before long, Lu Qingqing¡¯s Flying Sword gained the upper hand. Just as she was about to deliver the final blow. Her opponent suddenly spoke up, ¡°I concede.¡± Lu Qingqing let out a slow breath, aware that continuing the battle would be immensely strenuous. Even if she could win, she would likely be injured, and her opponent probably realized this as well, which is why he chose to withdraw early. It was better not to affect the subsequent battles. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Final Battle Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Final Battle After winning, Lu Qingqing flew down from the stage, sat down at her original spot. The Lu Family members also congratulated her one by one, their faces filled with joy. Next up was Chen Wuluo¡¯s battle against Lin Ye. The two had not been on stage for long when Chen Wuluo quickly secured a victory, earning another point for the Chen Family. The Chen Family members were very proud of themselves. Then, the second seeds from each family began their battles. ¡°Next battle, Lu Li versus Wang Chi.¡± Upon the command, both contenders flew onto the high platform. After the battle began. Lu Li unleashed the Aminokaze sword, exerting full force from the start and charging at his opponent. It only took a few rounds for his opponent to be overwhelmed and soon unable to defend himself, conceding defeat. Returning to his spot, faced with the Lu Family¡¯s praises, he simply smiled faintly and began to meditate. Soon, the final battle was upon them. Chen Tianqi vs. Lin Hui. The two engaged in intense combat. In the end, Lin Hui narrowly claimed victory. At this time, a trace of gloom appeared on the faces of the Chen Family members. ¡°That young man is quite peculiar.¡± Now that the Chen Family and the Lu Family had the same score, if something unexpected happened next¡­ Thinking of this, the Chen Family members looked sharply at Lu Li. Lu Li glanced at them, a hint of chill flashing deep in his eyes. Time slowly passed. Before long, the third day arrived. At dawn, the rising sun bathed everything in golden light. Everyone opened their eyes, their hearts stirred. Today would ultimately determine which family would take first place. Lu Hongchang and Chen Mo nodded, flying onto the platform. ¡°The first match, Chen Wuluo versus Lu Qingqing.¡± Both loudly declared, their voices echoing across the entire island. Afterward, they both returned below the platform. Hearing that Lu Qingqing would face Chen Wuluo, the Lu Family members showed a bit of worry on their faces. Lu Yuling¡¯s expression was even a bit panicky, she had heard that this person possessed a very powerful spirit beast, and Sister Qing Qing might not be able to compete. As far as she knew, Lu Qingqing¡¯s Green Spirit Python had just reached the fourth layer of Qi Cultivation, hardly a significant asset. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if the fourth sister is defeated, she will retreat unharmed.¡± Seeing this, Lu Li spoke to comfort her. Lu Yuling nodded at his words, yet concern still lingered deep in her eyes. In contrast, the Chen Family members appeared relaxed and confident, seemingly well-prepared. Chen Tianqi and Chen Mo¡¯s lips were tinged with a hint of coldness. While everyone had different thoughts in their minds, Lu Qingqing stood up and lightly leapt onto the platform. Her flowing black hair fluttered in the wind, and her white robe fell like a waterfall, portraying an ethereal and graceful figure. Chen Wuluo also jumped onto the platform, believing himself to be suave, the smile on his face sinister. ¡°Lu Qingqing, you are no match for me, just concede defeat now. Magic artifacts can be unforgiving, and it would be unfortunate if you were hurt¡­¡± ¡°Hmph, spare the chatter!¡± Lu Qingqing coldly snorted, responding with a fiery red flying sword. The sword¡¯s body emitted bursts of rainbow light, sending forth an extremely fierce aura. ¡°Kill¡­¡± She channeled her mana, her sword qi slashing towards him like lightning. It reached him in just an instant. Chen Wuluo scoffed dismissively. A pitch-black flying sword appeared out of thin air, releasing a strong aura that quickly met her flying sword. ¡°Boom¡­¡± With a loud clash, the fierce mana dispersed wildly. Waves rippled across the surrounding array light screen as if tides were spreading outwards. With that strike, the fiery red flying sword was forced back several meters. Evidently, Lu Qingqing¡¯s initial plight was not optimistic. Seeing this, Lu Yuling and the others grew even more worried. Conversely, the expressions of the Chen Family were filled with assured victory, as if they had already secured first place in their minds. On the platform, seeing her first strike fail, Lu Qingqing fully powered up the flying sword. Her sword tip emitted sword qi several feet long, seemingly slashing through the fabric of space. ¡°Kill!¡± She once again controlled the flying sword to slice forward, the fierce aura causing the array to fluctuate. Chen Wuluo remained at ease, directly retrieving a contracted spirit beast from his Spiritual Beast Bag. A snow-white wolf-like Demon Beast instantly appeared on the platform. The Demon Wolf stood three meters tall, its fur brilliantly white and emitting an extremely strong Demon Energy. This Demon Beast had stepped into the tenth layer of Qi Cultivation. The cultivators from various families below the stage all wore faces of surprise. ¡°I had heard long ago that the Chen Family had been preparing for this for over a decade.¡± ¡°This Demon Beast must have consumed tens of thousands of Spirit Stones to rapidly reach this realm, what a grand gesture!¡± An elder leading the Wang Family¡¯s team couldn¡¯t help but speak. Lu Li looked at the Demon Wolf on the stage, his expression cold and severe. Demon Beasts generally have very long lifespans, but their improvement is rather difficult. Only by feeding them Spiritual Objects regardless of the cost can one swiftly enhance their cultivation. Considering Iron Pillar, the resources consumed were only more and not less compared to the opponent, and that was how it quickly caught up. In the moment the Demon Wolf appeared, the situation on the stage suddenly changed. Lu Qingqing¡¯s heart tightened. Her spirit beast¡¯s cultivation was not enough, releasing it would only be a burden. She gritted her teeth, her entire body¡¯s Mana recklessly stimulated, as the fiery red Flying Sword transformed into a phoenix shadow and charged toward Chen Wuluo. For her, the only chance was a full-powered strike, capturing the king first to capture the thief. Seeing this, Chen Wuluo smirked disdainfully. He obviously knew the opponent¡¯s plan and directly exerted his full power, bringing out his Flying Sword to meet the fiery phoenix illusion. The Demon Wolf too leapt into the air, striking toward the sky. ¡°Sizzle¡­¡± A piercing shriek resounded, chaotic Mana wildly dispersed, and the surrounding Array Light Screen started shaking violently. The two Flying Swords entangled fiercely in the void, and at that moment the Demon Wolf struck out with a paw, its strong Demon Energy impacting upon the blade of the sword. Lu Qingqing¡¯s face turned pale, a trace of cold sweat appearing on her face. The fiery phoenix illusion only managed to hold on for a few breaths before it was shattered. ¡°I¡­¡± Just as she was about to concede defeat, Chen Wuluo suddenly controlled his Flying Sword and attacked. In just an instant, it was nearly above Lu Qingqing¡¯s head. If this strike were to fall, she would likely be decapitated in an instant. ¡°Chen Wuluo, you¡¯re courting death!¡± Seeing this, Lu Hongchang became instantly furious, quickly performing the hand signals, preparing to open the Array. But this would also take a few moments, if¡­ The remaining members of the Lu Family were also extremely angry, watching Chen Wuluo on the stage. Lu Yuling¡¯s heart was filled with extreme anger, her face flushed red. Her voice trembling slightly, she asked, ¡°Sister Qing Qing won¡¯t be hurt, right?¡± Lu Li watched Chen Wuluo on the stage, his gaze cold to the extreme, while also feeling somewhat puzzled inside. ¡°Could it be that our ancestor didn¡¯t give Fourth Sister some life-saving items?¡± While the Lu Family was consumed by rage, the Chen Family¡¯s people each revealed a slight smile. It would be great if they could ¡°accidentally¡± eliminate the opponent¡¯s Foundation Establishment Seed. The cultivators from the other two families all wore expressions of watching a good show. Just as Lu Hongchang activated the Array, a sudden change occurred on the stage. With the Flying Sword close at hand, Lu Qingqing¡¯s heart was filled with rage, yet her expression remained unchanged. She directly took out a Vajra Spirit Guarding Talisman from her Storage Bag. Under the instant stimulation of Mana, a golden light shield formed, encompassing her within. ¡°Bang¡­¡± The Flying Sword struck against the light shield, causing ripples to burst forth, but it was unable to break through. ¡°I concede¡­¡± Lu Qingqing reluctantly spat out a few words. Seeing his strike was unsuccessful, Chen Wuluo did not attack again. The previous strike had adhered to the rules, and if he were to forcefully attack again, it might lead to a major battle between the two families on the spot, an unworthy loss. However, it was excellent to have forced the opponent to use a precious Spirit Talisman. ¡°Mr. Lu, thanks for the graciousness!¡± He smiled slightly, leaping down from the stage. Amidst the Chen Family¡¯s compliments and cheers, he sat down cross-legged, his lips curling with a hint of ridicule. At this moment, Lu Hongchang also came onto the stage. ¡°Qing Qing, are you alright?¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ A quite precious Spirit Talisman was used.¡± Lu Qingqing looked somewhat despondent. This Spirit Talisman, valued at over two thousand Spirit Stones once activated, could withstand attacks from Qi Refinement Realm cultivators for several hours, specifically bestowed to her by the ancestor for self-protection. ¡°As long as you are unharmed, it¡¯s fine, Spirit Stones can be earned again.¡± Lu Hongchang was very open-minded. Saying this, he then accompanied Lu Qingqing back to their original place. At this moment, the Lu Family members each began to console her. Lu Li and Lu Yuling also exhaled in relief, thankful the ancestor had been prepared. Soon, it was time for the final battle. ¡°Lu Li versus Chen Tianqi.¡± As the clan elders of both sides called out, the magic combat was about to begin. Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Sword Qi Across the Sky Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Sword Qi Across the Sky Lu Li instantly rose to his feet, leaping up and flying onto the battling platform. A gentle breeze passed by, fluttering his white Daoist robe and making him appear quite carefree. Chen Tianqi also made a show of casually flying onto the platform, standing opposite Lu Li. As soon as the two men reached the stage, the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, and the atmosphere became somewhat tense. ¡°Buzz¡­¡± With the activation of the array, the duel officially began. Lu Li circulated his mana and drew forth the Aminokaze and the Green Origin Cauldron, his momentum forcefully pressing toward his opponent. Chen Tianqi was not to be outdone, he also summoned his magic artifact, and without making a move, his aura rolled towards Lu Li with equal crushing force. The two forces collided fiercely, raising gales in the air that whipped their robes into a fierce rustling sound. Lu Li displayed a Qi Cultivation prowess of eighty percent, roughly on par with his opponent. However, this man was much older. Before long, the momentum of both had peaked, and the air was increasingly thick with the scent of gunpowder. The two men were at each other¡¯s throats, and a major battle was on the verge of breaking out. Lu Li did not want to wait any longer and made his move directly. It was an earth-shattering start. ¡°Slash!¡± A sword beam as sharp as could be transformed into a dragon, swiftly slashing towards his opponent. With an unmatched fierce momentum carrying the utmost killing intent, the energy surrounding the sword seemed to tear through the void. It reached above Chen Tianqi¡¯s head in an instant. He used only a portion of his mana for this strike, and due to the Aminokaze being refined to the limit, it appeared quite extraordinary. Chen Tianqi felt the astonishing presence on the Flying Sword, and his heart tightened. He too circulated all his mana, and as the Flying Sword¡¯s Sword Qi breathed in and out, it transformed into a long rainbow that met the approaching Aminokaze. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A violent collision sounded, with chaotic mana splashing wildly around. It struck the Array Light Screen surrounding them, raising wave after wave. At the very first contact, Chen Tianqi¡¯s Flying Sword was fiercely knocked back several meters. A massive impact traveled through the sword. Chen Tianqi felt some difficulty breathing in his chest. ¡°This man is strong!¡± Waves surged in his heart; just one probing exchange made him feel an overwhelming sense of inability to cope. ¡°Could it be that this man is the trump card Lu the old ghost had prepared?¡± Two days ago, although the opponent¡¯s strength had amazed him, after today¡¯s exchange, he knew the depth of it. Chen Tianqi cursed the cultivators of the Lin and Wang families in his heart; when he had messaged them the day before, they had kept silent. Below the platform, Lin Hui and Wang Chi smiled coldly, seeming a bit schadenfreude. They had felt from the beginning of the exchange that this person was extremely difficult to deal with. Now it was Chen Tianqi¡¯s turn to truly feel it. If Chen Tianqi put on a good show, wouldn¡¯t it make both of them lose face? At this time, a shadow loomed over the faces of the Chen Family members. Chen Mo and Chen Wuluo¡¯s expressions turned somewhat ugly. ¡°Could it be that something unexpected will happen this time?¡± But then thinking of their own Qi Cultivation tenth level spirit beast gave them considerable confidence. Comparatively, the Lu Family members, seeing Lu Li gaining the upper hand, all had smiles on their faces. Even Third Aunt Lu Yuting showed a rare hint of approval. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder the old ancestor valued this young man so highly.¡± While the crowd below had divergent thoughts, the platform above underwent yet another change. Lu Li¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile, having gained insight into his opponent after a probing strike. No longer holding back, he began to circulate mana to stimulate the Flying Sword once again. One saw multiple sword shadows forming around the Aminokaze, quickly turning into more than a dozen sword beams as solid as reality. The sword shadows swiftly connected with the Flying Sword, creating a huge sword force that instantly enveloped Chen Tianqi. Fine Sword Qi, emanating a destructive aura, weaved between the sword shadows and the sword itself, sketching a beautiful and misty picture of deadly elegance. Endless killing intent wove and overlapped within the Array, growing stronger and more fierce. ¡°Sword Array!¡± Chen Tianqi¡¯s face instantly filled with terror, his complexion turning somewhat pale. Enveloped within the Sword Array, the extremely sharp Sword Qi whirled about, sending chills through his entire body. In a panic, he hurriedly sacrificed his Defensive Magical Artifact, holding it above his head. The earthen-yellow cauldron emitted a radiant and precious light. Even so, it did little to enhance his sense of security. This person had actually mastered a Sword Array, and feared it had even reached the minor accomplishment stage. Lu Li manipulated the Sword Array to attack the opponent¡¯s Defensive Magical Artifact. ¡°Zsst¡­¡± The sharp Sword Qi frenziedly sliced at the opponent¡¯s Magic Artifact¡¯s spirit light, like relentless waves of the sea. In just the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, the Magic Artifact¡¯s spirit light had significantly dimmed. Chen Tianqi felt the mana within his body rapidly depleting and grew very anxious. ¡°I must hold on! Only if I win this battle will I have a chance of achieving Foundation Establishment.¡± ¡°Although his Sword Array is strong, it must consume an enormous amount of mana¡­¡± He clenched his teeth, desperately supplying mana. Clearly, his strategy was to outlast his opponent by draining his own reserve of mana. Realizing he couldn¡¯t hold out much longer, he grew fierce and directly stimulated his Essence Blood to operate the Demon Prohibition Technique ¡°Blood Fiend Transformation.¡± Suddenly, a massive surge of mana welled up within him. With this mana, they both became entangled in a tense deadlock for a time. Seeing this development, Lu Li smiled inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged. He clearly understood his opponent¡¯s thought process. He wasn¡¯t in a hurry, calmly supplying mana to maintain the Sword Array while also squeezing out a few beads of sweat on his face. In the arena, countless strands of Sword Qi rampaged wildly, like a fierce storm, engulfing Chen Tianqi within it. A huge precious cauldron magic artifact hovered in the air, emitting a glowing light, flickering uncertainly as if it could extinguish at any moment. Below the stage, the Chen Family members felt somewhat reassured seeing the stalemate. Although unexpected, the individual from the Lu Family posed no significant threat, judging by the power displayed and only appeared slightly stronger than Chen Tianqi. Chen Mo, seeing Chen Tianqi trigger the forbidden technique, wore a look of approval. ¡°Tianqi is quite decisive; he¡¯s a promising young seedling.¡± Cultivators from the Lin and Wang Families watched with a look of eager anticipation, their expressions tinged with surprise. They had not expected the Lu Family to have kept a hand hidden. Members of the Lu Family felt joy at the scene in the arena, but it was mixed with a hint of worry. ¡°I wonder if Brother Six has enough mana to defeat the opponent¡­¡± Lu Qingqing and Lu Yuling watched the situation on stage with some concern. Seeing the bloody hue on Chen Tianqi¡¯s face, it was clear he had used some sort of secret technique. But Lu Yuting, beside them, smiled lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that kid Lu Li has all sorts of tricks up his sleeve; he¡¯s probably well-prepared.¡± She had long known about the cultivation technique granted to Lu Li by their ancestor, a technique she also knew about, but as she wasn¡¯t of the Water Element spiritual root, it was not her fate to practice. However, she had never heard of such vast mana that could be cultivated from this technique. Listening to Third Aunt¡¯s words, Lu Yuling and Lu Qingqing¡¯s worries were somewhat alleviated. At the same time, they were puzzled¡ªcould there be some secret they weren¡¯t aware of? Time slowly passed. The impasse on the stage persisted. The endless Sword Qi, as if never ceasing, frantically sliced at the Magic Artifact, emitting a grating humming sound. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can last!¡± Watching Lu Li struggling to maintain the Array, a touch of madness surged in Chen Tianqi¡¯s heart as his Essence Blood rapidly evaporated. The robust mana inside him continuously surged forth, bolstering his confidence a little. Lu Li, controlling the Sword Array, supplied mana at an even pace, while his face intentionally showed a touch of ashen pallor. Yet his heart was brimming with glee. For a moment, the two stood in a strange stalemate. Violent Sword Qi recklessly splashed around the Array, rippling waves of radiant light. Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Final Duel Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Final Duel ¡°` Time passed, another half-quarter of an hour. Chen Tianqi saw that Lu Li still appeared unsteady, as if about to collapse, and couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit impatient. ¡°Could this person have also unleashed a Forbidden Technique?¡± He felt that the Essence Blood within his body had been depleted by several layers, his complexion turning extremely ashen. Another while passed. Chen Tianqi saw that the Sword Qi was still emerging in the void, seemingly never-ending. Although much weaker than before, it was still beyond his current capacity to defend against. He couldn¡¯t help feeling a sense of despair. ¡°I¡­¡± Just as he was about to concede defeat, a sudden change occurred on the field. The surrounding sword shadows fiercely dissipated into streams of light converging onto the blade, and the Aminokaze shone with an extremely dazzling light. A sword light several feet long undulated in the void, terrifying to behold. This transformation was completed in the blink of an eye, then swiftly struck down at Chen Tianqi¡¯s head like lightning. Lu Li was constantly observing his opponent¡¯s condition and seeing that Chen Tianqi was about to yield, he struck with full force in an instant. ¡°Ah¡­ The scoundrel was actually feigning! My life is over!¡± Chen Tianqi let out an angry roar, his face filled with terror, finally realizing that the opponent¡¯s Mana exhaustion was just a pretense. All happened too suddenly, leaving him no time to prepare; he could only pour all his remaining Mana into the Magic Artifact above his head. Hoping it could block this fatal blow. ¡°Villain, how dare you!¡± Chen Mo¡¯s face was filled with rage. Members of the Chen Family too looked furiously up at Lu Li and the Lu Family members below, their eyes burning with murderous intent. ¡°Hmph¡­ what, you want to start a fight? My Lu Family is ready to accompany you to the end!¡± Lu Hongchang, seeing the situation, coldly snorted with an overwhelming presence. As long as he breathed, not just anyone could bully the descendants of the Lu Family! Hearing Lu Hongchang¡¯s words, the members of the Lu Family rose to their feet, their powerful aura suppressing the entire scene. Among them, Lu Yuting¡¯s Qi Cultivation at full circle was the most shocking. At this critical moment, Lu Yuting also revealed her protective nature, indicating that only she was allowed to ¡°bully¡± the youngsters of the Lu Family. Lu Qingqing and Lu Yuling were also very surprised; in everyone¡¯s eyes, Lu Li had always been low-key, and they hadn¡¯t expected him to have such astonishing methods. The cultivators from the Lin and Wang Families looked surprised at the platform, realizing that the person from the Lu Family still had strength to spare. On the other side, Chen Mo and Chen Wuluo saw the atmosphere drop and neither had the courage to start a fight right then. Their eyes flickered, preparing to break the Array. The Lu Family was also ready to strike at any moment to prevent a surprise attack. All this happened in the span of a breath below the platform. On the battle stage. Lu Li controlled the Aminokaze, turning it into a huge ray of sword light, fiercely slashing towards the opponent¡¯s Defensive Treasure Cauldron. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud collision sounded as the cauldron was cleaved open by the sword, turned toward the Array Light Screen behind it, creating violent ripples. The Aminokaze¡¯s momentum lessened somewhat but continued to slash towards Chen Wuluo. Chen Tianqi, facing the approaching Flying Sword, felt a chill throughout his body, as if plunged into an ice cave. He quickly took out several Defense Talismans, and upon their instantaneous activation, several Spiritual Energy Shields appeared above his head. ¡°I concede!¡± At the same time as the talismans were activated, he called out loudly in a hurry. But the sword had already reached above his head, penetrating several defensive shields before slashing down at him. Though its force was much diminished. Seeing the sword blade about to strike his head, Chen Tianqi had no choice but to twist his body aside. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Along with a scream, an arm instantly fell to the ground, blood spattering the battle platform. Chen Tianqi clutched his severed arm, his face filled with terror as he looked at Lu Li. Just now, he had clearly felt the breath of death; if he hadn¡¯t reacted quickly, it would have been more than an arm. This man truly dared to kill him! Lu Li, seeing that his strike had not killed his opponent, wasn¡¯t annoyed. He quickly retracted the Flying Sword, not striking again, as that previous hit could be excused, but another might result in an immediate battle between the two families, and the situation would be difficult to manage. ¡°Mr. Chen, my apologies, I couldn¡¯t hold back in time¡­¡± ¡°` Lu Li wore a smile on his face, completely harmless to man and beast. At this moment, Chen Mo also opened the Array and joined Chen Tianqi¡¯s side. Members of the Lu Family also gathered around Lu Li. The atmosphere between the two parties tensed instantaneously, like drawn swords and ready crossbows. ¡°Chen, old ghost, what do you mean by this? As I¡¯ve said before, if a war is what you want, the Lu Family is ready to oblige!¡± Seeing this, Lu Hongchang did not mince words. ¡°Hmph¡­ such vicious scheming in one so young.¡± Chen Mo let out a cold hum, his eyes glinting with a chilly light. ¡°With Chen Wuluo and Zhu Yu as precedents, I see nothing inappropriate here.¡± Lu Hongchang smiled slightly, clearly in a good mood. Chen Wuluo¡¯s earlier actions had left the members of the Lu Family nursing a grudge, and to turn the tables with a taste of their own medicine had offered some sweet retribution. At this moment, an elder from the Lin Family began to mediate: ¡°It can also be understood that the younger members of the Lu Family might not have held back in the heat of the moment, and they did not pursue the matter further. It might be best to let this go, to avoid damaging our collective harmony.¡± Anyone with eyes could see this was an outright fabrication, yet the Chen Family members were powerless to contest it. The consequences of starting a war now were unpredictable. With this in mind, Chen Mo let out a cold hum and led his people down from the platform. Chen Tianqi picked up his arm from the ground and left the battlefield. As he departed, he cast a hate-filled glance at Lu Li. This battle had severely disrupted his path; though his arm could be reattached, the injury to his physical body was not so easily healed. Furthermore, with his Essence Blood damaged, a full recovery might take over a decade. By the time his Qi Cultivation was complete, he would be over sixty years old, making Foundation Establishment all the more elusive. Such enmity was irreconcilable under heaven! Back at his spot, Chen Tianqi glared venomously at Lu Li. Lu Li¡¯s mouth curled with a hint of coldness. It seemed a more permanent solution to rid himself of this man would have to be found. Lu Li rejoined the others at a distance and sat down cross-legged to begin restoring his Mana. Meanwhile, the elders of the four families met on the platform. An elder from the Wang Family commented with a hint of envy, ¡°Mr. Lu, with the scores of the Chen Family and Lu Family now even, will you choose to challenge them again?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Lu Hongchang nodded in agreement. Before stepping down from the platform, he had received a message from Lu Li to challenge Chen Wuluo the next day. ¡°Then by the rules, tomorrow will determine the final rankings.¡± Afterward, the four returned to their respective places. At the Chen Family¡¯s assembly point, Chen Wuluo sneered. He couldn¡¯t believe this person would truly dare to come and meet his end. If that was all the Sword Array amounted to, then it was insufficient; he was no Chen Tianqi. ¡­ The next day, at dawn. The morning sun had just begun to rise. Lu Li slowly exhaled a murky breath, having fully recovered his Mana after a day¡¯s rest. At that time, Lu Hongchang and Chen Mofei ascended the platform. ¡°The final battle, Chen Wuluo versus Lu Li.¡± Then, the two flew back to their places. Lu Li leapt up energetically and flew onto the battlefield. The frenzy of the wind whipped his white robe, making a rustling sound. He stood on the platform, hands clasped behind his back. His tall, straight figure stood like a mountain, emanating a sense of steadiness. From below, Lu Yuling watched Lu Li with admiration, only now realizing just how deeply her sixth brother had concealed his strength. Lu Qingqing was also delighted; the family finally had a younger member capable of sharing some of the burden. ¡°Good looks, but in the end, everything depends on actual strength.¡± Unsatisfied, Chen Wuluo scoffed. Then he flew up to the battlefield. The two began their standoff. Their auras clashed, producing sounds of howling winds. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Divine Might of the Iron Pillar Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Divine Might of the Iron Pillar Lu Hongchang and Chen Mo triggered the array, and a transparent light screen instantly enveloped the entire battle platform. ¡°Kill!¡± Chen Wuluo¡¯s heart was already burning with fury, and he couldn¡¯t help but make the first move with all his strength. A splendid sword light descended from the void, slashing towards Lu Li like a roaming dragon. The sword qi howled through the air, emitting an extremely sharp aura, causing the surrounding array to start fluctuating. In just an instant, the flying sword reached in front of Lu Li. Lu Li did not panic; Aminokaze soared up to meet the flying sword overhead. With mana running at full force, a pale sword light breathed at the tip of the sword, conveying a sense of overwhelming dominance. ¡°Boom!¡± A loud collision thundered through the skies, and the two flying swords each recoiled backwards. Chaotic sword qi splattered wildly as the array¡¯s light screen began to tremble uncontrollably. This exchange of blows was surprisingly dead even! The people from the Chen Family below all looked incredulous. Chen Wuluo, their clan¡¯s top Foundation Establishment Seed, was only young yet already at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation. The fact that this person could match Chen Wuluo without falling behind made them feel a sense of foreboding. ¡°Could there be an upset this time?¡± Although the Chen Family had prepared very well, Chen Mo couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit anxious. On the other hand, the Lu Family¡¯s people were visibly elated, with Lu Qingqing and Lu Yuling looking at Lu Li with continued amazement. The surprises he had given them over the past few days were so great that they had become somewhat numb. ¡°Could there really be a chance to take first place?¡± The two exchanged glances, unexpectedly filled with anticipation. The cultivators of the Wang and Lin families looked on enviously at Lu Hongchang and Lu Yuting. Who would have thought that the Lu Family, on the brink of decline, could have such a person emerge? On the battle platform. Seeing the even match, Chen Wuluo felt as if he had suffered a great insult. His face turned beet red, and his heart was ablaze with anger. He, Chen Wuluo, possessed superior talents and was expected to reach the Purple Mansion level in the future, yet he couldn¡¯t gain the upper hand against mere vermin¡ªthis was an unbearable humiliation. ¡°Die!¡± Chen Wuluo roared, his flying sword transforming into a huge dragon-shaped phantom, lunging at Lu Li. He had exerted all his tricks with this strike. ¡°Hmph! All bark and no bite.¡± Lu Li snorted coldly, his sword light trembling and instantly splitting into twelve sword shadows, forming a huge Sword Array that enveloped the dragon phantom. The fierce sword qi surged like waves through the void. Strikes of sword qi pounded on the dragon phantom, emitting a series of piercing screams. Chen Wuluo struggled to control the phantom, flusteringly trying to break free from the Sword Array but was unable to escape. A massive wave of frustration washed over him as he realized that the other¡¯s mana was not inferior to his. With each exchange, he felt a powerful surge of mana emanating from the opponent¡¯s sword. He had significantly held back against Chen Tianqi! Chen Wuluo knew that if things continued this way, he risked capsizing in the gutter. He held nothing back, releasing his spirit beast immediately. A large wolf-shaped Demon Beast appeared on the battle platform. Its white fur was like snow, and its presence was majestic and imposing. ¡°Owoooo¡­¡± The white wolf unleashed a series of roars upon arrival, its potent Demon Energy intimidating the entire arena. As soon as the Demon Beast appeared, the Chen Family below revealed a confidence in their impending victory. Chen Mo¡¯s face bore a cold smirk, thinking that while the Lu Family¡¯s man was somewhat unexpected, it didn¡¯t matter in the grand scheme of things. In contrast, the Lu Family grew worried. Lu Qingqing and Lu Yuling exchanged looks; although they knew Lu Li had a Beast King, they did not know its strength and whether it could cope with this Demon Beast. Their confidence waned. The cultivators from the other two families simply enjoyed the show, indifferent to whoever won or lost. Just then, the platform underwent a sudden change. Lu Li slapped the Spiritual Beast Bag. A huge python emerged onto the battle platform, issuing a series of hissing sounds. The python, several zhang high with a body as thick as a barrel, was jet-black with many white stripes, exuding an air of nobility. Upon its arrival, it unleashed a powerful Aura of the Blood Fiend, and the Qi Cultivation at the ninth level radiated uninhibitedly. ¡°` Iron Pillar made his entrance, his pair of eyes icy to the extreme as they fixed on the Demon Wolf opposite him, his aura not the least bit inferior. Clearly cooped up in the Spiritual Beast Bag for too long, he seemed eager to engage in a fierce battle immediately. Lu Li stood beside Iron Pillar, a mocking expression on his face. ¡°Do you think your Chen Family is the only one with a spirit beast?¡± Chen Wuluo tensed up upon seeing this scene. He sensed a hint of the Foundation Establishment aura on this demon python, which made his heart skip a beat. Obviously, the opponent couldn¡¯t possibly be a Foundation Establishment Demon Beast. There was only one other possibility. This demon had devoured the Essence Blood of a Foundation Establishment Demon Beast! The old ghost of the Lu Family really had some tricks up his sleeve. In an instant, Chen Wuluo thought he had figured it all out. He was aware of the Foundation Establishment Demon Beast of the Lu Family, the Green Spirit Python, and never expected the Lu Family Ancestor to take such a bold step. ¡°This is troublesome.¡± Chen Wuluo¡¯s face was extremely unsightly. Below the stage, Chen Mo was shocked, somewhat in disbelief. ¡°Is the Lu Family Ancestor not planning to buy Foundation Establishment Pills anymore?¡± For this Demon Beast to grow to such a level in a short period of time, tens of thousands of Spirit Stones would be essential. A deep concern rose in his heart as their plan seemed to clash with the actions of the Lu Family Ancestor. In contrast, the members of the Lu Family first showed surprise, then a surge of immense joy appeared on their faces. The Lu Family unexpectedly had a chance to seize the first place, and everyone shared in the honor. Lu Qingqing and Lu Yuling also showed faces brimming with excitement. Even Lu Yuting and Lu Hongchang were somewhat taken aback. Though they knew that Lu Li had a contingency plan, they didn¡¯t expect it to be so astonishing. Even the cultivators from the Lin and Wang families, observing from the sidelines, were shocked. The battle took a surprising turn, full of twists and turns. On the stage, Chen Wuluo took a deep breath. ¡°Boy, even if this demon has consumed the Essence Blood of a Foundation Establishment Demon Beast, it¡¯s still no match for my Moon Howling Wolf,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll show you what an insurmountable chasm is.¡± ¡°Qi Cultivation at the ninth level and Qi Cultivation at the tenth level are completely different things!¡± However, the response he received was only one word. ¡°Kill!¡± At Lu Li¡¯s command, Iron Pillar ferociously charged toward the Moon Howling Wolf. Before even getting close, it lashed out with its tail, sweeping with a formidable aura of malevolence. Because of years of battling in the deep sea, Iron Pillar was not only experienced in combat, but his body was also enveloped in the Aura of the Blood Fiend, which daunted opponents before even fighting. Sensing the malign aura of Iron Pillar, the Moon Howling Wolf showed a trace of fear in its eyes. Urged by its master, it too charged forward, leaping into the air and striking out with its massive demon claw, as if a mountain was pressing down. ¡°Boom¡­¡± In an instant, the two beasts collided. A tremendous crash resounded as both creatures retreated. Iron Pillar was knocked back seven or eight meters, while the Moon Howling Wolf was actually pushed back more than ten meters. The wild Demon Energy scattered unrestrainedly, causing the surrounding Spiritual Energy Shield to tremble violently. ¡°Not good, the Array is struggling to hold!¡± The crowd watching below was horrified. The four clan elders hastily joined forces to reinforce the Array. It was only with the intervention of these individuals that the Array gradually stabilized. Seeing this, Chen Wuluo¡¯s heart sank. The demon actually had the upper hand¡ªcould the Essence Blood of a Foundation Establishment Demon Beast be so formidable? ¡°Ah¡­¡± He roared in his heart, frustrated and unwilling, commanding the Moon Howling Wolf to attack once again. Iron Pillar, not showing any weakness, lifted its massive tail and swept it towards the claw of the Moon Howling Wolf, the air crackling with the sounds of its strikes. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Once again, the beasts were locked in fierce combat. For a time, the stage was ravaged by Demon Energy, the battle reaching a frantic state. Those watching below increased their output of Mana to stabilize the Array. As time slowly passed¡­ The Demon Wolf gradually started losing ground. Iron Pillar¡¯s combat experience was extremely rich, not something the opponent could match, and besides, it was a Demon Beast King; its strength was not inferior to its foe. Iron Pillar¡¯s body leaned to the right, dodging the Demon Wolf¡¯s swipe, then swept its tail toward the Demon Wolf¡¯s belly. The opponent failed to evade in time and was flung tens of meters away, crashing hard against the Array Light Screen. ¡°` Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Achieving Victory Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Achieving Victory Chen Wuluo¡¯s face filled with fear. He activated his Flying Sword and slashed towards Iron Pillar, and the huge Sword Qi surged in the air. ¡°Your opponent is me.¡± Lu Li directly controlled Aminokaze, and under the ¡°Unity of Sword and Light,¡± it transformed into a stunning rainbow that slashed towards the opponent¡¯s Flying Sword. ¡°Bang!¡± With a loud noise, both Flying Swords violently retreated. Iron Pillar, seeing this, attacked the Demon Wolf once more. For a moment, the entire platform was ravaged by strong energies, and the Array Light Screen began to undulate wildly. Before long, Iron Pillar completely dominated, opening its huge bloody maw and fiercely biting the back of the Moon Howling Wolf, then with one sweep of its tail, it sent it flying tens of meters. ¡°Aooo aooo aooo¡­¡± With a painful howl that pierced the heavens, the Demon Wolf crashed heavily against the Array Light Screen, its breath becoming very weak. Chen Wuluo¡¯s face filled with fear. ¡°Could it be that I am going to lose?¡± His heart was filled with immense anger, yet he was helpless. He could only strenuously maneuver his Flying Sword to fend off Lu Li¡¯s attacks. At this moment, Iron Pillar, with unabated momentum, attacked Chen Wuluo. The fierce Sword Qi struck Iron Pillar¡¯s scales but failed to injure it fundamentally. As it drew close, Iron Pillar suddenly swept its tail. The opponent¡¯s illusion of a True Dragon immediately dissipated into smoke, and it crashed heavily against the edge of the Array. ¡°Pfft!¡± Chen Wuluo felt a massive burst of Demon Energy assault him, causing him to spit out fresh blood. His complexion instantly turned pale. ¡°I admit defeat.¡± Feeling the cold murderous intent of the demon python and the scant Mana left in his body, he had no choice but to admit defeat, his face showing reluctance. ¡°Mr. Chen is considerate!¡± Lu Li gave a light smile and put away his Flying Sword. Afterward, Lu Hongchang and Chen Mo opened the Array and welcomed the two fighters down. ¡°Hmph, the Lu Family Ancestor indeed has cunning strategies, I hope you can maintain this in the future.¡± Chen Mo snorted coldly, taking Chen Wuluo back to their starting position. Lu Hongchang chuckled and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for the Chen Family to worry, this time my Lu Family has won.¡± ¡°According to the agreement, for the next ten years, the mining shares will be solely owned by my Lu Family.¡± Finally, a victory was scored, and the entire Lu Family was caught up in immense joy. As the major hero of this victory, Lu Li, returning to his original spot, distinctly felt the warmth of everyone¡¯s enthusiasm. Lu Qingqing and Lu Yuling had extremely surprised expressions. Even Lu Hongchang¡¯s face was full of praise. Even Third Aunt Lu Yuting took a serious turn, ¡°Li boy, you really made the Lu Family proud this time.¡± ¡°Old Ghost Chen¡¯s strategy failed; he must be fuming.¡± ¡°Serving the family is an undeniable duty.¡± Lu Li modestly responded. At that moment, he sensed an unusual gaze from the side. Turning his head, he saw a woman in a purple palace dress from the Wang Family looking at him with some astonishment. The woman, in her twenties, had delicate features and a well-proportioned body, her Qi Cultivation around the sixth level. Seeing Lu Li look over, she even flashed him a slight smile, a somewhat seductive gaze. Beside him, Lu Yuling, sensing the situation, giggled, ¡°Wang Ziyuan seems to have taken a liking to Brother Six now, should your little sister help you?¡± Lu Li¡¯s expression became a bit odd. He had heard of this person; she had a somewhat notorious reputation nearby, sought by quite a few cultivators. At this time, various other cultivator families began to bid their farewells and leave. The Chen Family left without a word, their expressions somewhat unpleasant. Watching them leave, Lu Hongchang also released the Flying Boat, preparing to return. Everyone leapt up and boarded the Flying Boat. Activating the control Array, the Flying Boat quickly flew towards Mystic Moon Island. On the other side, the Chen Family boarded their Flying Boat, all maintaining silence. ¡°It¡¯s not Chen Wuluo¡¯s fault this battle was lost; it¡¯s the slyness of the Lu Family Ancestor.¡± ¡°To think he secretly nurtured a demon python and even fed it the Essence Blood of a Foundation Establishment Demon Beast.¡± Chen Mo spoke in a chilling tone, ¡°This time when I return, I¡¯ll make sure to explain everything to the Ancestor.¡± Upon hearing the Elder¡¯s words, Chen Wuluo¡¯s expression improved slightly. He, of course, would not admit he was inferior to that boy from the Lu Family. ¡°Not bad, this person is not worth worrying about, but if the Lu Family has acquired so many resources, what if¡­¡± Chen Mo smiled coldly, ¡°The Ancestor has plans for that situation.¡± ¡­ Not long after, the members of the Lu Family returned to Mystic Moon Island. As soon as Lu Li returned to his cave, he headed straight to his secret chamber and promptly fell asleep without attending to anything else. The next day, in the early morning, Lu Li began his sitting meditation for Qi Cultivation. He planned to keep a low profile for a while to avoid drawing unwelcome attention. For the following ten or so days, he continued his meditative cultivation within his cave. These days, the results of the clashes among the four families were buzzing through the nearby seas. Many thought the spirit beast developed specially by the Lu Family¡¯s Ancestor was solely to contend with the Chen Family. This led some to sense the depth of the Lu Family Ancestor¡¯s strategic thinking. Consequently, Lu Li also gained quite a reputation in the surrounding seas. Of course, because of the Lu Family Ancestor, many truths were also obscured. Everyone assumed it was merely the emergence of another promising young member of the Lu Family. That was it. This relieved Lu Li, knowing well that standing out prematurely without sufficient power would definitely draw piercing eyes. Thankfully, outsiders thought it was just the backup plan of the Lu Family¡¯s Ancestor, and he had merely gained a small amount of fame. Over the next few years, it would be best to let the matter gradually fade away. Now that he had earned a significant amount of contribution points, he planned to return to the sea. Some of his previous ideas could now be fully implemented. Farming underwater, the thought alone was quite novel. Yes, he planned to cultivate a spirit field underwater, creating a foundation for his future. However, he lacked a powerful Array for protection, and now was the perfect time to exchange his family contribution points for one. It was a good time to lay low, and the Spirit Turtle Basin was a promising refuge. Lu Li rose from his cave and headed towards the mountain peak. Along the way, many clansmen and guest elders greeted him warmly, their eyes now holding a few more shades of respect than before. Indeed, only strength could command respect. Lu Li felt somewhat emotional. It didn¡¯t take long before he arrived at the entrance to the Ancestor¡¯s cave. Before he could send a Communication Talisman, a gentle voice sounded from inside, ¡°Li, come in.¡± Lu Li entered. Upon looking up, he saw Lu Tiande smiling at him, his eyes brimming with admiration. ¡°Haha¡­ You did well this time, severely denting the prestige of the Chen Family. I¡¯ve disliked them for a long time.¡± ¡°I heard that old ghost from the Chen Family¡¯s face twisted in rage, years of preparation gone to waste.¡± The smile on Lu Tian¡¯s face was unmistakable. ¡°Speak, what brings you to see this old man today?¡± With my good mood, as long as it¡¯s nothing too excessive, I¡¯ll grant your request. ¡°Ancestor, I wish to exchange for a second-tier Array.¡± Lu Li smiled slightly, not beating around the bush. Within the family, spiritual materials and objects beyond the second tier were kept in the Ancestor¡¯s secret vault. Only more common spiritual objects could be exchanged through Lu Yuting. Hearing this, Lu Tiande nodded, ¡°Did you bring enough contribution points?¡± Lu Li handed his family¡¯s Jade Token to Lu Tiande. ¡°Here is the remaining fifteen hundred, plus the seven thousand from winning the clash, just enough.¡± At that, Lu Tiande joked, ¡°You must have had your eyes on that lower-grade, second-tier Array Plate for a while now.¡± ¡°Without a lack of contribution points, I wouldn¡¯t have taken action.¡± Lu Li looked slightly embarrassed, ¡°As a member of the Lu Family, it¡¯s naturally my duty.¡± Lu Tiande said nothing else and turned to go deeper into the cave. Not long after, he returned with a set of Array Plates. Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Celestial Sea Illusion Spirit Array Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Celestial Sea Illusion Spirit Array ¡°The Celestial Sea Illusion Spirit Array left by the first-generation elder is for you to use well¡­¡± Lu Tiande said, holding the massive Array Plate with a trace of reminiscence. He then took out a Jade Scroll. ¡°Inside are the detailed methods of arrangement, which I¡¯m giving to you as well.¡± Lu Li¡¯s face lit up with joy as he received the Array Plate and Jade Scroll. The thing he had been longing for was finally in his hands. Now, the sea-bottom plan could finally be put on the agenda. However, he was still missing a key item. At this point, seeing that Lu Li had taken the Array Plate but had not left, Lu Tiande was somewhat puzzled, ¡°Is there anything else you need?¡± Lu Li replied a bit embarrassedly, ¡°Elder mentor, do you have a top-grade Magic Artifact to suppress the Big Formation?¡± Lu Tiande was startled by the request, ¡°You really know how to ask, a high-grade Magic Artifact is usually sufficient to suppress the Array¡¯s focal point.¡± ¡°The junior is just hoping to bring out the Array¡¯s strongest power,¡± replied Lu Li with a slight smile. He then took out a pile of Essence of Mystic Iron and Hundred-Year Ice Jade, placing them on the ground. ¡°I¡¯d like to exchange these items for it, what do you think?¡± ¡°What is this¡­?¡± Lu Tiande was shocked by the items on the ground. ¡°Did you raid a Vein of Mystic Iron and rob a Demon Beast¡¯s cave in passing?¡± The Essence of Mystic Iron on the ground wasn¡¯t too precious, but there was quite a lot of it. The Hundred-Year Ice Jade, however, was quite rare and could be used to refine a top-grade Magic Artifact, enhancing its power, making it very popular in the market. These items were typically found deep at the bottom of the sea, making them difficult to mine in large quantities. Lu Li smiled slightly, ¡°These are all the rewards from sending Iron Pillar to search at the sea bottom.¡± He couldn¡¯t possibly reveal his biggest secret, not even a hint given to his family. Some things are better kept inside, as speaking them could risk exposure. ¡°You really are bold,¡± said Lu Tiande, his expression changing to surprise but without suspicion. ¡°Previously, many have tried, sending spirit beasts to the sea to explore for treasures.¡± ¡°Do you know why no Cultivators dare do this now?¡± ¡°I do not know?¡± Lu Li asked, puzzled. Lu Tiande chuckled, ¡°Those self-proclaimed smart Cultivators all suffered great losses, with spirit beasts dying miserably at the bottom of the sea.¡± ¡°At first, there were some gains, but later, whenever Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts appeared in the domains of Qi Cultivation Demon Beasts searching for Spiritual Objects, the Sea Floor Demon Beasts would dispatch to rob and kill¡­¡± ¡°Eventually, no one dared to do it anymore.¡± Lu Li¡¯s expression turned serious, ¡°But what about sending Qi Cultivation Stage spirit beasts?¡± Lu Tiande gave Lu Li a strange look, not understanding why the youngster was so obsessed with the sea bottom. ¡°Most of the Demon Beasts living at the sea bottom move in groups, and Qi Cultivation Stage spirit beasts, lacking in intelligence, have an even more astonishing mortality rate.¡± ¡°You better be careful not to lose that spirit beast with remarkable potential.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Lu Li nodded. He then looked at the elder mentor eagerly. Somewhat helpless, Lu Tiande took out a Four-sided Seal that was a top-grade Magic Artifact. ¡°This Magic Artifact was obtained when I killed an enemy Cultivator, what you have here is still not quite enough¡­¡± Lu Li smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll owe you for now, and I will make up for it in the future.¡± He hadn¡¯t brought out all the Spirit Fruit and spiritual materials at once, as they were too astonishing. Then he took the top-grade Magic Artifact, holding it in his hands, cherishing it immensely. The palm-sized seal was golden-yellow and emitted a faint treasure light. It was also engraved with magical beast patterns all around, and its surface was covered with dark lines. Touching it, it felt substantial and slightly cool to the touch. He then put away his magic artifact, having achieved all of his objectives for this visit to the ancestral cave. ¡°Junior will take his leave now.¡± ¡°Get out of here, and remember the spiritual objects you owe to the ancestor.¡± Lu Tiande scolded with a chuckle. Watching Lu Li¡¯s departing figure, he fell into contemplation. He had a premonition that the rise and fall of the Lu Family might very well hinge on Lu Li, a youngster who knew when to advance and when to retreat, much to his liking. That was why he spared no effort to support him wholeheartedly. If anyone else even thought about taking a top-grade magic artifact from him, they could forget about it. Was the great name of Lu Bamao not a name earned in vain? Lu Tiande¡¯s lifelong dream was to see the rise and great development of the Lu Family. Yet, as the years passed, the gradual decline of the Lu Family left him feeling helpless. Only now did he see a glimmer of hope, which greatly comforted his heart. After leaving the cave, Lu Li flew toward the mid-mountain area. He then used some spirit stones to exchange for a good deal of spiritual rice seeds and some demon attraction grass seeds within the clan. Having finished all this, he directly rode the tunneling light toward the seaside. Sword flying with the wind, he reveled in nature¡¯s scenery and couldn¡¯t help feeling a surge of high spirits. In the distance, the azure sea and sky merged into one, with a few clouds sprinkled above, and a slight salt-laden breeze caressed his face. At the edge of the island, a large group of mortals, like industrious ants, looked up at the high-flying tunneling light with newfound longing. He freely soared through the skies. Before long, he was out of Mystic Moon Island. After flying another ten or so miles, he scanned his surroundings and saw no abnormalities. Lu Li plunged into the sea and then tunneled toward the deep seabed. Moments later, he arrived at a point more than a thousand meters deep. Only then did he begin to feel a bit of pressure. It seemed that the benefits of long-term consumption of the Ice Spirit Fruit were just starting to show. Now his physical body was extremely robust, almost catching up with that of a demon beast at the later stages of Qi Cultivation. However, his internal organs were still lacking. If he ventured deeper, they might not withstand the pressure. Yet, if he continued to consume a large amount of spiritual materials from the sea floor, there would come a day when he could roam freely in the seabed like a demon beast. After verifying this, Lu Li didn¡¯t push himself further and transformed into a huge sea turtle, swimming toward the riverbed at the seabed. It wasn¡¯t long before he arrived above a hidden trench on the seafloor. He then found the right direction and swam all the way to the Spirit Turtle Basin. The deep seawater was slightly cool, and the riverbed was surrounded by myriad rocks and red corals. Colorful fish and prawns flitted through the rocks. It was a vibrant underwater world. Sensing Lu Li¡¯s presence, they all scattered in fright. He wasn¡¯t in a hurry, leisurely swimming along the riverbed towards the northwest. Several hours later. A vast submarine basin came into view. There were various holes of different sizes around the edge of the basin. Several Qi Cultivation stage beginner-level spirit turtles were wandering nearby, looking for food. Occasionally, a few serpent demon beasts swam by, and they surprisingly coexisted peacefully. Lu Li was quite satisfied with this, it had not been in vain that he had repeatedly issued orders not to attack each other. These were all his assets; it would be a joke if the two species began to fight. Lu Li didn¡¯t linger and swam directly toward the cave of the Spirit Turtle Basin. As soon as he entered a reef area, two spirit turtles at the beginning of the Qi Cultivation stage noticed him. ¡°Disciples pay their respects to the ancestor.¡± The two spirit turtles lay on the mud, trembling under the coercion of the strong presence. ¡°Hmm¡­ Cultivate well, later you¡¯ll go to the Vein of Mystic Iron and mine with the clan, there¡¯ll be a great reward from this old ancestor.¡± Lu Li retracted part of his aura and offered a few words of encouragement. Immediately, a glint appeared in the eyes of the two spirit turtles; they had heard about the miraculous effects of the ancestor¡¯s medicine pills and were greatly desirous of them. Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Formations Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Formations Lu Li crossed the reef, and under the reverent gaze of the two Spirit Turtles, headed towards the central cave. Along the way, he encountered some members of the Spirit Turtle Clan, who looked at him with some fear. In the world of Demon Beasts, the strong were respected, and the clan leaders often held the power of life and death, which made some mid-to-late-stage Qi Cultivation Demon Beasts deeply respectful. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to them and quickly arrived in front of a huge cave after passing through countless cave mouths and reefs. The entire cave was embedded under a small underwater mountain. A portion inside was hollowed out to create this cave. ¡°This Spirit Turtle Ancestor really knows how to pick a location.¡± Lu Li felt somewhat emotional every time he came to the cave. This cave was the place in the entire Spirit Turtle Basin where the Spiritual Energy was most abundant. It was surrounded by mountains, which made it very concealed and greatly enhanced its security. But now it all belonged to him. However, it still needed some modifications to meet his requirements. He then called Pan Di over and had several Spirit Turtles gathered. Then, according to his instructions, they began to transform the cave. Four Spirit Turtles came to the edge of the cave and started voraciously nibbling at the surrounding rocks. In no time, large and small rocks piled up on the ground. The other two Spirit Turtles then carried all the debris out, working quite efficiently. Lu Li nodded in satisfaction. It seemed that the execution of these Demon Beasts was quite good. Although their intelligence was not very high, they meticulously completed even simple instructions. In this way, under the frenzied devouring of several Spirit Turtles, the cave expanded several times over in just a few hours. Seeing that Lu Li had no intention of telling them to stop, the several Spirit Turtles still dared not halt. Although they were quite puzzled, they didn¡¯t dare to ask because of the Ancestor¡¯s authority. Time passed once again for several hours. ¡°It¡¯s enough, clean up this place and then come for your reward,¡± Lu Li transmitted lightly. Hearing this, the Spirit Turtles¡¯ eyes lit up, and they all sprang into action with great enthusiasm. After quickly finishing, they eagerly looked at Lu Li. Lu Li directly took out a few Medicine Pills and distributed them. Rewarding for contributions and punishing for mistakes were the fundamental methods he used to control this group of Demon Beasts. Now, it seemed to work very well; his prestige in this place had been growing day by day. He had completely taken control of the entire Spirit Turtle Clan. The few Spirit Turtles excitedly ate the Medicine Pills and then left the cave. Lu Li surveyed the newly modified cave. It was many dozens of times bigger than before, and the surrounding seaweed and debris had already been cleaned up. It gave a feeling of sudden openness. The walls all around were filled with uneven marks. The seawater still carried a smell of residual reef. Lu Li came to the center of the cave, lay down, and closed his eyes, but his mind was active. He had already looked through the Jade Scroll given by the Ancestor on his way. But he still needed to ponder it more. Even though he now had a specific Array Plate and method for setting up the formation, he couldn¡¯t afford to be careless at all. If he accidentally damaged it, he would never find any replacement for it. Several more days passed, during which he did nothing but refine the Array Plate and study the method of setting it up. On this day, in the early morning. Lu Li opened his eyes, revealing an expression of realization. After several days of deliberation, he finally fully understood it. With the Array Plate, laying down the Big Formation was not difficult. If he had to set up even a low-grade formation without the Array Plate, it would be impossible. He got up, ready to start laying down this long-awaited Big Formation. Lu Li took out twelve Array Plates from the Storage Bag and placed them on the ground. Each Array Plate was exactly the same size as a grinding wheel, emitting a faint treasure light from its surface, but the Runes on them were completely different. If one stared at them, it could cause a dizzying sensation. Following the steps, he picked up an Array Plate engraved with a ¡°leaf¡± pattern and slowly headed toward the northwest direction of the cave. He arrived at a flat area above. He then carefully checked the surrounding Spiritual Energy, found it abundant, and no disturbance detected, and then he dug a small pit to place the Array Plate into. Then he took out a Spirit Stone and placed it into the central arc of the Array Plate. Next, he gently activated the Spirit Control Rune on the Array Plate. He saw streams of Spiritual Energy gradually gathering towards the Array Plate, stably encircling it. Lu Li observed this and nodded in great satisfaction. The most important part of placing the Array Plate is choosing a spot where the Spiritual Energy is stable. If the Spiritual Energy were chaotic, it could easily damage the Array Plate. After the successful activation of the Spirit Control Rune, the Array Plate was considered successfully placed. He then moved to the center, picked up another Array Plate marked with a crescent moon, and swam towards the due north direction. After finding another suitable spot, he carefully observed the position and distance relative to the first Array Plate. This step was crucial, as stated in the Jade Scroll. If the second Array Plate was successfully placed, everything else would follow in order. He carefully reviewed the steps to set up the Array several times in his mind. After controlling the distance, he similarly dug a small pit and slowly placed the Array Plate into it. Then it was also embedded with a Spirit Stone to activate the Spirit Control Rune. As streams of Spiritual Energy slowly gathered and resonated with the first Array Plate, his face showed joy. ¡°Finally succeeded!¡± Over the next few hours, Lu Li systematically placed all the Array Plates around the edge of the cave. They were positioned according to the twelve directions. With the twelfth Array Plate placed, a sudden change occurred. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A series of great rumbling noises rose to the sky, and a deep blue light screen suddenly soared upward, enveloping the entire cave, looking extremely magnificent. Then, the light screen slowly merged into the surrounding seawater. However, he could distinctly sense the presence of the Array. ¡°This Big Formation is finally preliminarily set up.¡± Then, he circulated his Mana, activating the Array. ¡°Hum¡­¡± With a soft humming sound, the surrounding seawater began to surge wildly. It started to flow continuously out of the Array. In a short time, the seawater inside the cave had significantly reduced. ¡°What a powerful Array!¡± Lu Li marveled in his heart. Another half hour passed, and soon, there were no traces of seawater around, as if he was on dry land. The mud and seaweed were clearly visible. Numerous underwater channels crisscrossed in all directions. Lu Li transformed back into human form and stood on the ground, amazed by everything around him, feeling no pressure from the seabed. After all, this is thousands of meters under the sea, where even Foundation Establishment Cultivators wouldn¡¯t dare tread lightly. He moved to the center of the cave, ready for the final step. He directly took out a small four-sided seal-shaped Magic Artifact from his Storage Bag. The Treasure Seal was only the size of a fist, covered in many Exotic Beast Runes, and emanated a golden glow. Unlike top-grade Magical Artifacts, the aura from a supreme-grade Magical Artifact was obviously much stronger, a substantial presence hitting him hard. This Magic Artifact was clearly a Gold Attribute Magical Artifact, perfectly matching this Water Element Big Formation, greatly enhancing the Array¡¯s power. He placed the Treasure Seal in the core position of the Array, and under the activation of Mana, A beam of light shot skyward, and then the Treasure Seal disappeared into the void. Although invisible to the naked eye and Divine Sense, he could clearly sense the presence of the Magic Artifact. This Array set up over a Spirit Vein, being a Water Element Defensive Array, and with the supreme-grade Magic Artifact as the core, its power had reached the limit. He estimated that even Demon Beasts at the later stage of Foundation Establishment would find it hard to break through this Array. After doing all this, he felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment. This place would become his base for survival and the first step towards the summit of the path of immortality. After countless years, looking back would bring its own joy. The path is long, but he would become steadier as he went along¡­ Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Cultivating the Spirit Field Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Cultivating the Spirit Field After setting up the Array, Lu Li opened several secret chambers. Then he had a good sleep. Several days of relentless contemplation and arrangement of the Big Formation truly exhausted him. When he woke up, he felt refreshed and his soul seemed much clearer. It seemed that cultivation still required a balance of relaxation and effort. Lu Li stepped out of the secret chamber and moved to the central open space. He surveyed his surroundings. The giant cave within this mountain could potentially be cultivated into dozens of acres of spirit fields. Of course, there was no need for so many spirit fields initially; about ten acres would suffice. With the current Spirit Stones he had, even cultivating ten acres was quite strenuous. This was under the condition that there was a second-grade Spirit Vein underground, and the mud above it contained Spiritual Energy. If he were to cultivate spirit fields from scratch, it would require a massive investment of Spirit Stones. Therefore, in the cultivation world, there were so many on the Demon Path and wicked cultivators, as why struggle to create when one could simply seize what already exists? He took out a hoe-shaped Magic Artifact, which was pitch-black and a special tool used by Spirit Plant Cultivators. It was quite affordable, costing only a few dozen Spirit Stones. Then he walked to the northwest direction and started to dig into the ground. ¡°Ssst¡­¡± He easily turned up a small amount of mud, which was very loose as it had been submerged under the sea for years. Moreover, the soil, being nourished over a long time by the Spirit Vein, had become extremely fertile. If there were no Array to lock in the Spiritual Energy, it would probably transform into a spirit field on its own. This saved Lu Li a great deal of Spirit Stones. Now, he only needed to methodically cultivate it and then nurture it with Spirit Stones. With the containment of the Array, the spirit field would likely transform successfully very soon. In the future, he alone could enjoy a second-grade spiritual mountain, which was quite exciting to think about. Even the direct disciples of sects did not have such an opportunity. He started cultivating with full enthusiasm, like a tireless farmer. Several days later. When Lu Li stood on the edge of the spirit field in the northwest, he felt a great sense of accomplishment. The ten acres of spirit field had been completely cultivated. The pitch-black soil rolled over in layers. The air was filled with the musty smell of the earth. In the center of the spirit field, there appeared a pond a few feet wide, with crystal-clear water where misty vapor circled on the surface, resembling a heavenly realm. Besides cultivating the spirit field, he had also dug a huge hole and connected directly to an underground river from the sea, from which the pond¡¯s clear water flowed. He also placed the Spiritual Spring Eye deep within the pond. Lu Li walked to the edge of the pond and released over a hundred spirit fish into the water. The spirit fish immediately became active upon touching the water, swimming joyously around. Luckily, these spirit fish were full of Spiritual Energy; ordinary fish would have died long ago if they had been out of water for so long. He had been observing the spirit fish during this period, and fortunately, they were only a bit listless. Then Lu Li took out a large pile of Spirit Stones. The last time Lu Yuling had sold the juvenile spirit beasts at the market, they had fetched over two thousand Spirit Stones, adding to his existing holdings, he had just over four thousand. ¡°It looks like I need to find an opportunity to handle some resources.¡± He thought to himself. Cultivating the spirit field and purchasing Medicine Pills now required a large number of Spirit Stones, and his family did not have such an enormous amount to exchange. Moreover, spending so much at once probably wasn¡¯t a good idea. Thinking this, Lu Li made some plans. He picked up a Spirit Stone, crushed it, and then sprinkled it evenly at the corner of the field. Then he proceeded to do the same with each stone, and soon, the entire spirit field was treated. He estimated that in just a few dozen days, this spirit field would completely transform into a lower-grade first-stage spirit field. Then, planting Spirit Fruit and Spirit Rice would be no issue at all. Of course, if one wanted to enhance it to a second-grade spirit field in a short period of time, they would need a massive amount of Spirit Stones. ¡­ Over a month later. Lu Li stood at the edge of the spirit field, his face bright with joy. As he had expected, the transformation of all ten acres of the spirit field was complete. A misty aura rose from the pitch-black soil. Using his Divine Sense to probe, he saw that the Spiritual Energy above the soil was abundant. According to his observations, the spirit field was still increasing its Spiritual Energy. Due to the Array¡¯s seal, the Spiritual Energy inside the cave had significantly increased, condensing into wisps of mist, drifting around. ¡°It seems it won¡¯t be long before the spirit field naturally transforms into a mid-grade first-order spirit field,¡± he reflected, watching the drifting Spirit Fog slowly sink into the ground. After all, this cave housed a second-grade Spirit Vein, which greatly promoted the spirit field. Naturally, transforming it into a high-grade first-order spirit field would take a long time. Only by using a large number of Spirit Stones could it transform into a high-grade first-order spirit field in a short amount of time. As for a second-grade spirit field, one shouldn¡¯t even think about it in the short term. Merely using Spirit Stones was far from enough; it also required the assistance of the Five Elements Essence and spiritual materials. For him, a first-order spirit field was already sufficient. He could think of ways to upgrade it when his Cultivation was higher. Lu Li walked to a corner of the spirit field and took out a bag of Spirit Rice seeds. The Spirit Tooth Rice was white as jade, with strands of Spiritual Energy swirling around it, looking extremely vibrant. These seeds were merely low-grade, first-order rice seeds¡ªquite common. Unlike Medicine Pills, their biggest advantage was that they could be consumed in large quantities daily without worrying about any toxicity or resistance. Long-term consumption could also greatly benefit Cultivation and was widely present in the Cultivation World. As for high-grade, first-order rice seeds, they were very rare and often served as strategic materials for Cultivation Families and Sects, rarely leaked to the outside. The high-grade Spirit Rice sold outside was treated to kill the vitality, rendering it unusable as seeds. Before heading to sea, Lu Li had exchanged for some seeds from his family. He went over to the field ridge and, using a spell, formed a large Spirit Energy hand, scattering several handfuls of Spirit Rice seeds across the spirit field. He probably planted about five acres. For the remaining space, he planned to plant some Spirit Fruit and Demon Attraction Grass. After planting the Spirit Rice, he continued by transplanting some Ice Spirit Fruits and Purple Sun Fruits, and planted about an acre of Demon Attraction Grass seeds. These Spirit Grasses and Spirit Fruits were all high-grade first-order. Planting them now was merely enough to maintain their vitality. To make them grow rapidly, it seemed he would need to upgrade the spirit field. ¡°It looks like some plans need to be scheduled sooner,¡± he thought. After finishing all this, Lu Li released Iron Pillar. As soon as Iron Pillar appeared outside, it became very excited and started making loud neighing sounds. The white stripes along its python body were more conspicuous, covering most of its body. Seeing its master next to it, it showed a face of affection, lowering its head to gently rub against Lu Li¡¯s chest. Lu Li smiled and instructed it to guard the Spirit Fish near the Cold Pond. Then he proceeded to the cave to meditate and cultivate. He sat cross-legged on the cushion, feeling streams of Spiritual Energy ruthlessly rushing into his body, feeling very chilly. ¡°Enjoying a second-grade Spirit Vein by myself is indeed extraordinary.¡± Further stimulated by the deep sea location, the Water Attribute Spiritual Energy was extremely active. With just a slight circulation of his Cultivation Technique, the surrounding Spiritual Energy would swarm towards him, a vast difference from the past days. At this rate, he estimated it would not take long for him to break through to the tenth level of Qi Cultivation again. Such speed was utterly astonishing, almost comparable to that of a Top Grade Spirit Root. Next time he met Lu Qingqing, his Cultivation level might surpass hers. Lu Li quietly closed his eyes and began a deeper seclusion for his Cultivation. Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Qi Refinement Level 10 Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Qi Refinement Level 10 Cultivation knows no years. In the blink of an eye, a year had passed. This day, in the early morning, within the secret chamber of the Sea Cave at the Spirit Turtle Basin. Lu Li was sitting cross-legged on a cushion, his eyebrows knitted tightly. Outside, Spiritual Energy was madly surging toward him, forming a small vortex of Spiritual Energy. Gradually, more and more Spiritual Energy gathered, turning into wisps of mist, enveloping his entire being, creating a dream-like illusion. It was unknown how much time had passed. Lu Li felt the mana within his body surge tumultuously like ocean waves, battering his meridians. It made him feel somewhat swollen. ¡°Break for me!¡± He operated the Cultivation Technique with all his might, and in an instant, the barrier of the tenth level of Qi Refinement quietly shattered, then began operating along the new technique¡¯s pathways. A surge of energy, stronger than before, emanated from his body. ¡°After a year of seclusion, I have finally made a breakthrough.¡± Several hours later, Lu Li consolidated his newly formed mana and slowly opened his eyes. He examined the new mana and found it was about twice as strong as before. Now his mana was comparable to that of an ordinary cultivator at the twelfth level of Qi Refinement. Adding his mastery of Demon Secret Skills gave him additional confidence. Lu Li rose and walked out of the secret chamber. Outside the cave, he saw a black and white giant viper coiling near the Cold Pond, seemingly deep in slumber. After a year of growth, Iron Pillar had reached the peak of the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, with white patterns covering half of its body, which looked somewhat peculiar. Sensing Lu Li¡¯s aura, Iron Pillar suddenly opened its eyes, crawling over with a face full of joy. ¡°Master, I want to eat fish.¡± Suddenly, a delicate voice echoed in Lu Li¡¯s mind. He walked to the edge of the Cold Pond, where he saw over a hundred Spirit Fish swimming energetically. Before his retreat, he had instructed to feed the Spirit Fish periodically. It seemed that Iron Pillar had done well, faithfully fulfilling his duty. ¡°Today your master is in a good mood, so I¡¯ll scoop up a few for us to eat.¡± Lu Li smiled and then scooped up eight, very boldly. Soon, the entire Sea Cave was filled with enticing aromas. The man and the beast immediately began to feast. Lu Li alone devoured five fish, completely ignoring Iron Pillar¡¯s resentful eyes. ¡°You glutton, you must have stolen some on the sly before, still competing with your master.¡± Lu Li scolded jokingly. After eating, feeling his body grow slightly stronger, he felt tremendously satisfied. Well-fed and well-drinked, he went to the edge of the Spirit Field. The sight before him made him frown. The Spirit Rice on the Spirit Field still showed no signs of germination or growth. He had left his seclusion once mid-way but couldn¡¯t find the reason and had set it aside. Now almost a year had passed, and the Spirit Rice was still unchanged. He turned his head and observed the Ice Spirit Fruit next to him; it was vibrant with Spiritual Energy, completely revitalized. ¡°Could it be that the seabed is unsuitable for Spirit Rice to grow?¡± He began to doubt. Lu Li crouched down, picked up a grain of Spirit Rice, and observed it carefully. Its surface was circulating with Spiritual Energy, still white as jade, with no changes. Even its vitality showed no signs of decline, which was quite strange. He then pondered hard for a few days but still could not figure out anything. This dampened his spirits somewhat. Lu Li continued to water the Spirit Rice with Spiritual Liquid for a few more days, yet no change was observed. That morning, just when he thought that planting Spirit Rice in the seabed was utterly hopeless, something suddenly occurred to him. ¡°Could it be¡­?¡± His eyes brightened and he immediately sprang into action. Lu Li took out his Flying Sword and fiercely slashed toward the stone wall above. ¡°` ¡°Boom¡­¡± With a loud bang, a large boulder was chopped off and fell to the edge of the cave. Next, he swiftly struck, chopping off large rocks each time, and before long, he had carved out an opening at the top. Above him, strands of light filtered down, illuminating the interior of the cave slightly. He then continued to enlarge the opening until, moments later, there was nothing obstructing overhead. After all this, he cleared all the debris. That was when he realized he had been somewhat foolish before. Although the Spirit Tooth Rice preferred the shade, it also needed the essence of the sun and moon. This was also due to his lack of experience, as he was not a professional Spirit Plant Cultivator. Lu Li then went inside the cave to cultivate while waiting. Another ten days passed. He approached the edge of the spirit field and took a close look, seeing that acres of Spirit Tooth Rice had sprouted tender shoots. Lush and pleasing to the eye. Indeed, his previous verification was correct. The result also greatly pleased him, as his future plans could now proceed smoothly. The following days passed leisurely. Before he knew it, half a year had gone by. Due to the abundance of Spiritual Energy underwater, spirit fruits and spiritual materials were continuously available, and his cultivation had advanced a bit. During this time, he frequently went out with Iron Pillar to hunt solitary Demon Beasts. The entire Spirit Turtle Basin, spanning a thousand miles, became their hunting ground. Each trip resulted in gains. Luckily, the Qi Cultivation Demon Beasts seemed inexhaustible, and their extensive killing did not draw anyone¡¯s attention. Lu Li walked out of the cave, approaching the spirit field. He saw that the panicles of the Spirit Tooth Rice were densely packed with Spirit Rice. Shining with a snow-white brightness, the sight was quite spectacular. The entire cave was filled with the fragrant scent of the harvest. Due to the prolonged and abundant irrigation with Spiritual Liquid over the past six months, the ripening period for the Spirit Rice was significantly shortened. Of course, the high quality of the spirit field also played a role; this field was about to transform into a mid-grade spirit field. Wisps of Spiritual Energy visibly emerged from the soil, which was somewhat magical. Lu Li came to the edge of the Cold Pond and saw Iron Pillar coiling on the ground. Its aura began to fluctuate unsteadily. ¡°Could it be¡­¡± Before long, his guess was confirmed. The aura of the Iron Pillar suddenly intensified significantly. ¡°Ao¡­¡± A high-pitched cry emitted from its mouth, carrying a hint of a ¡°dragon¡¯s chant.¡± Its body was covered in large, white scales that looked smooth and delicate. It seemed that, after breaking through the tenth level of Qi Cultivation, Iron Pillar¡¯s bloodline had strengthened slightly. Lu Li had heard that Demon Beasts undergoing the Foundation Establishment need to survive a Minor Heavenly Tribulation, and outsiders can¡¯t assist, which made him somewhat concerned. The Heavenly Tribulation of a Beast King transforming is definitely extraordinary; he speculated that this time Iron Pillar was likely to transform into a ¡°Dragon Seed¡± and awaken some Divine Skills of the Dragon Clan. In the deep sea, its power would be greatly enhanced. After witnessing Iron Pillar¡¯s breakthrough, Lu Li approached and touched its scales. Between smooth and silky, they felt entirely different than before. He turned his gaze to Iron Pillar¡¯s abdomen. He could see four slightly bulging bumps at the one-third sections of both ends of the abdomen, not easily noticed unless looked at closely. ¡°Could this be¡­?¡± Lu Li had previously seen some information about ¡°Dragon Seed¡± in a Jade Scroll detailing Demon Beasts. Vipers, four-legged snakes with fierce toxins, contain a trace of Dragon Clan lineage, carrying a weak Dragon Power to suppress some unicorn-type Demon Beasts, which makes them very dominant in the deep sea. Of course, they are far from a True Dragon, possessing only one-thousandth of a True Dragon¡¯s bloodline, which is still remarkable. It¡¯s just the first crucial step; if it advances further, it would be considered a Dragon Descendant, something not found in this sea area. It is said that in the deep outer sea, there is a Golden Core Stage giant viper, terrifying in the water, such that even several Golden Core Venerables dare not pursue it into the sea. Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41 The First Fragment Chapter 41: Chapter 41 The First Fragment Iron Pillar had greatly increased his strength in the sea after his breakthrough. Lu Li had also gained a formidable ally, and it was time to move forward with some plans. He took out the Immortal Treasure Fragment and awakened the soul within. ¡°Kid, what do you need from this old ancestor for waking me up?¡± A ghostly soul emerged from the fragment, speaking in a somber tone. ¡°Ancestor Kong Shan, can you sense the general direction of the other fragments?¡± Lu Li didn¡¯t beat around the bush. Spirit Monkey started to size up Lu Li, which caused it some surprise. ¡°Li, your cultivation speed is not slow; it¡¯s only been a few years, and I was just taking a nap.¡± Lu Li smiled but didn¡¯t explain, ¡°The kid is ready to look for the Immortal Treasure Fragments; please sense them, old ancestor.¡± The reason he prioritized this was due to his immense curiosity about the innate Cultivation Technique mentioned by the ancestor. What kind of technique could be described by the Spirit Monkey as a lifeline beneath the Heavenly Dao and held in such high regard? At this moment, Spirit Monkey activated a Secret Technique to sense the specific directions. Soon, Kong Shan knew the approximate location. He then pointed to the northeast for Lu Li, ¡°Follow this direction for about three thousand li, and I will give you a signal when you are near.¡± Lu Li nodded, put away the fragment, and along with Iron Pillar, exited the Array. He swam towards the northeast. As he journeyed forward, he passed through massive seabed reef formations. Various colors of coral set each other off, presenting a vibrant scene on the ocean floor. The sound of turbulent undercurrents reached his ears. Along the way, ordinary Demon Beasts that sensed his presence scattered in fear. Thus, he swam for several days. Lu Li stopped at a massive ocean trench. ¡°This should be around three thousand li; a few hundred li ahead should be the destination,¡± he thought. At that moment, a thought entered the depths of his mind. ¡°Kid, the old ancestor can now clearly sense the exact location.¡± ¡°It¡¯s about three hundred li to the northeast from here, go and have a look.¡± Lu Li nodded. He continued swimming forward, being even more cautious and careful. The subsequent days were normal until the last few hundred li, which made him feel quite eerie. Rarely could he spot any traces of Demon Beasts, and even large fish and prawns were seldom seen. A sense of foreboding grew within him. Several hours later. Lu Li stopped in front of a massive underwater mountain range. The sight of the towering peaks about several tens of li away was awe-inspiring. Eerily, the vicinity was utterly quiet, devoid of any sounds of marine creatures hunting. He pressed his entire body into the seabed silt and moved forward quietly, making very little noise. Before long, he reached the outer periphery of a huge mountain. Just as he was about to search for the Immortal Treasure Fragment, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his body stiffened. From behind the mountain a kilometer away, three Giant Toothed Whales slowly appeared, languidly wandering forward. Each whale was hundreds of meters long with a Qi Cultivation nearing perfection, incredibly menacing. ¡°It seems this place is inhabited by a group of Barbaric Beasts on the ocean floor; I¡¯m lucky I didn¡¯t rush out. If I were trapped inside, escaping would be difficult,¡± Lu Li thought. He concealed his aura completely, burying his body amidst a cluster of red coral, the surrounding muddy scent masking his own. Just then, the three Giant Toothed Whales slowly swam in the direction above Lu Li¡¯s head. However, they detected nothing unusual, and the whales eventually separated and swam away through three underwater trenches. Sensing the whales moving farther away, Lu Li breathed a sigh of relief. He continued to lie at the bottom of the coral cluster and didn¡¯t rush to emerge. He still couldn¡¯t be sure if there were only three Giant Toothed Whales on one side of the mountain range. Lu Li quietly waited; days later, the three Giant Toothed Whales returned to the side of the mountain peak from above his head. Over the next few days, the Giant Toothed Whales went out to hunt at intervals. Just as he was preparing to take advantage of the outing of the three Giant Toothed Whales and go treasure-hunting, another Giant Toothed Whale suddenly burst forth. It was completely different from the previous ones. This completely confirmed his earlier guess. ¡°It¡¯s good that I hid underwater for a while.¡± Lu Li slowly exhaled a breath of relief. Seeing the Giant Toothed Whale swim over his head, he didn¡¯t dare to leak a trace of Qi, breath held and body tensed as he lay flat on the spot. Sensing that the whale had swum away, he quickly got up and swam toward the mountain peak. Just then, Kong Shan transmitted a thought: ¡°It¡¯s right ahead, not far!¡± Lu Li nodded and accelerated forward. As he swam, he surveyed the surroundings¡ªa barren seabed strewn with rocks, devoid of any plants or corals, utterly desolate. Soon, he arrived in front of the massive mountain peak. The foot of the mountain, tens of miles wide, was cluttered with rocks, merging into a vast range with countless other mountains. On the west side of the mountain base, there was a huge cave entrance. The entrance, over thirty meters wide, was surrounded by scattered stones, and its inside was pitch-black, bottomless. ¡°It seems this is the place Kong Shan sensed.¡± Lu Li¡¯s eyes shone brightly as he gazed at the distant cave entrance. During his journey, he had received transmissions from Kong Shan several times, and this time he finally confirmed the specific location. Time was precious, and unsure if the Giant Toothed Whales would suddenly return, he no longer hesitated and swam straight toward the cave entrance. Along the way, he moved swiftly; the surroundings unnaturally quiet except for the sound of water stirred by his movements. Just as Lu Li was about to approach the cave entrance and explore its depths, suddenly, a huge roaring sound came from the northwest. He turned his head and immediately felt a tightness in his chest, his body breaking out in cold sweat. He saw yet another Giant Toothed Whale at full Qi Cultivation appear not far off to the side. Its massive body charged toward Lu Li, crushing everything in its path with brute force. Another one! Lu Li didn¡¯t have time to think; he turned and ran back as fast as lightning. There was no way he was about to rush into the cave to grab the Immortal Treasure Fragment. If he were trapped in the cave, he would truly be caught between the devil and the deep sea. He fled frantically back the way he had come, completely ignoring the reefs in front of him and forcefully crashing through them. The Giant Toothed Whale pursued relentlessly behind him, stubbornly clinging to his trail as if determined to catch him. After a while, Lu Li noticed the Giant Toothed Whale was drawing closer. The pressure from behind increased significantly. He surveyed his surroundings, trying to find the best route to escape. Turning to battle it now was also very dangerous, especially if the other whales made a sudden return. With his and Iron Pillar¡¯s strength, handling one Giant Toothed Whale wasn¡¯t too difficult. While he was pondering, he suddenly spotted a large ring-shaped reef tunnel ahead. Lu Li dived into it. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Just as he emerged from the ring-shaped tunnel, a huge crashing noise sounded. Accompanied by an immense oppressive force, the Giant Toothed Whale smashed through the massive reef and charged at Lu Li again. However, due to the obstruction of the reefs, the distance between them expanded considerably. Thus, Lu Li moved through a forest of reefs, entering every tunnel he encountered, fleeing quickly. The Giant Toothed Whale behind him smashed through one giant reef after another, relentlessly pursuing him. An hour later, the chase continued for hundreds of miles. Only then did Lu Li start to calm down. Those group of Giant Toothed Whales wouldn¡¯t catch up soon; he just needed to concentrate on shaking off the pursuer. Chapter 42 - Create ChapterCreate Chapter Create ChapterCreate Chapter Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Hard Fight with the Giant Toothed Whale Lu Li stopped above the seabed sediment and with a slap of his Spiritual Beast Bag, a black and white python instantly appeared in the deep sea, standing side by side with him. ¡°Roar¡­¡± At the moment it appeared, Iron Pillar let out an excited roar, having felt everything that was happening outside while in the Spiritual Beast Bag. Knowing its master was being pursued, it was filled with rage, wishing it could immediately go out and engage in a fierce battle. Seeing the Giant Toothed Whale charging straight at them, Iron Pillar was not afraid and suddenly surged ahead. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud collision sounded as Iron Pillar sidestepped the gaping maw of the Giant Toothed Whale and then swept its massive tail towards the creature¡¯s eyes. ¡°Roar¡­¡± In pain, the Giant Toothed Whale twisted around and rammed towards Iron Pillar again, then opened its giant maw, ready to swallow it whole. Seeing this, Lu Li, worried for Iron Pillar¡¯s safety, immediately activated his mana, unleashing the Blood Sword Energy from his chest. ¡°Whoo¡­¡± A breath rushed forward. A sinister sword light, radiating with a blood-red evil aura, slashed towards the head of the Giant Toothed Whale, as fast as lightning. It arrived in front of the Giant Toothed Whale in an instant, and before the creature could react, it fiercely struck the whale¡¯s head. ¡°Roar, roar, roar¡­¡± As cries of agony resounded, a wound more than thirty feet long, like a ravine, appeared on the side of the Giant Toothed Whale¡¯s head. Blood gushed from the wound, the surrounding tissues became necrotic, and even the nearby seawater was dyed a deep red. Having been dealt such a heavy blow, a trace of fear appeared in the Giant Toothed Whale¡¯s eyes. It chose not to engage in battle again and turned to flee, vanishing from Lu Li¡¯s sight within a few breaths. Lu Li had no intention of pursuing and killing it; mainly because he and Iron Pillar might not be able to capture it. If they took too long, the Giant Toothed Whale¡¯s pack might arrive following the scent, which would be troublesome. He immediately put away Iron Pillar and then returned the way he came. Now that he was aware of the information from this fragment, obtaining it completely would probably require more struggles. Lu Li swam forward on his way, and all was quiet, with no further incidents. In no time, he was back at the Spirit Turtle Basin¡¯s cave. As soon as he returned to the cave, Lu Li resumed his human form and went straight to a secret chamber to have a good sleep. He had been mentally tense for some time, which had exhausted him. When he awoke, it was already two days later. Lu Li felt completely refreshed and his spirit had fully recovered. He immediately rose and walked out of the cave, transformed into his demonic form, and went to ¡°Big Brother¡¯s¡± cave dwelling. Seeing Lu Li arrive, Pan Di slowly awoke and was immediately startled. ¡°Clan Leader, what brings you here today?¡± Lu Li did not beat around the bush, ¡°You go and gather all the tribesmen. I have orders to give.¡± Upon hearing this, Pan Di immediately set out and swam toward the exit of the cave. He did not ask the reason; to a Demon Beast, the Clan Leader¡¯s command was above all else. Seeing him leave, Lu Li released Iron Pillar and instructed it to take command of the Sky Blue Snake Clan and bring them along. Lu Li arrived at a vast clearing to wait in silence. Before long, many Spirit Turtles and Sky Blue Snakes arrived in succession, with their camps clearly divided. Under his suppression, although they were still highly hostile towards each other, no large-scale chaos ensued. In the end, Iron Pillar and Pan Di each brought a large group of Demon Beasts to the clearing. Lu Li swept his gaze across and was very pleased to see a dozen Demon Beasts in the late Qi Cultivation Stage. During this period, several Demon Beasts with profound foundations had finally broken through to the late Qi Cultivation stage under his deliberate cultivation and were now very useful. Added to the ones that had originally survived, and the conquering of some small tribes, the number was barely sufficient. At this time, the Demon Beasts from both tribes looked towards Lu Li with some confusion in their hearts. Seeing that the tribes had assembled, Lu Li spoke with an authoritative tone, ¡°I have summoned you all today because I intend to expand our tribe¡¯s scale and conquer the nearby Demon Beast groups.¡± Upon hearing these words, the Demon Beasts from both sides began to stir. A Giant Toothed Whale in the late Qi Cultivation Stage expressed its doubt, ¡°But¡­ the emissary who came from the depths of the outer sea last time decreed there should be no large-scale conflicts.¡± ¡°Everything will be shielded by this old one. We only need to conquer three tribes, which will not attract too much attention.¡± Lu Li had long thought of a strategy. Although there were Demon Beasts at the Foundation Establishment level and above in the depths of the outer sea, small-scale battles would not too far spread. Both tribes of Demon Beasts nodded in agreement after hearing Lu Li had already given the command, their eyes flickering with a hint of bloodthirsty aura. ¡°We are willing to follow the Ancestor!¡± The rage of both tribes had been building to a peak over time and needed to be violently vented, as Demon Beasts were naturally bloodthirsty. Furthermore, under Lu Li¡¯s consistent use of both kindness and might, none of the beasts dared to resist. ¡°Then, let¡¯s set out.¡± Lu Li issued the departure command with swift resolution. He and Iron Pillar took the lead, guiding the swarm of Demon Beasts toward the northeast. Along the way, the group of Demon Beasts was ferocious, and the coral clusters and rocks they encountered were shattered into pieces, their approach utterly brutal. Solo Demon Beasts in the Qi Cultivation Stage were so terrified that they hid deep within their caves, not daring to make a sound. Several hours later, the vast group of Demon Beasts came to the edge of a massive underwater Chaotic Stone Forest. The entire field stretched for dozens of miles, studded with large and small boulders. Numerous caves were scattered atop the sea floor sediment, arranged around a colossal central cave. Lu Li stopped at the edge of the Chaotic Stone Forest, with the large group of Demon Beasts calmly halting behind him in an orderly manner. His gaze swept across the terrain, which was desolate; apart from chaotic rocks, not even a few strands of seaweed could be seen on the ground, let alone fish, shrimp, and other sea creatures. Occasionally, a few huge, black, octopus-like Demon Beasts emerged around the smaller caves. The creatures were pitch-black as ink, with heads over ten feet wide and many large tentacles writhing menacingly in the water. At the edge of the field, several late-stage black octopus Demon Beasts had already noticed the commotion ahead. Seeing a Beast King leading a large group of Demon Beasts approaching, they quickly fled toward the central giant cave. One of the late-stage Demon Beasts swam towards Lu Li. ¡°Clan Leader, this place is the territory of the Dark Water Octopus Clan.¡± ¡°Their strength is not weak, and their Clan Leader is also a fully cultivated Qi practitioner, though not as strong as the deceased Spirit Turtle Ancestor.¡± Pan Di spoke with an even tone. Lu Li nodded but did not immediately give the order to attack. He watched quietly as the other party came forward. If he could subdue the Dark Water Octopus Clan without fighting, that would be ideal. He always adhered to the principle of diplomacy before combat, using reason to persuade others. It didn¡¯t take long for a massive Dark Water Octopus to approach Lu Li. ¡°May I ask, Great King¡­ what business brings you to the Dark Water Octopus Clan¡¯s Giant Stone territory?¡± The black octopus saw the large group of late-stage Demon Beasts, all brimming with a combative aura, and its tone stuttered a bit. Lu Li spoke calmly, ¡°I have come today to invite you to join the Spirit Turtle Clan. Wouldn¡¯t it be splendid to share in riches and honor together?¡± He delivered these grand and righteous words with ease, assuming an air of moral high ground, while simultaneously pressing forward with an overwhelming presence. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Subdue the Black Water Chapter Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Subdue the Black Water Chapter ¡°This¡­¡± Feeling Lu Li¡¯s formidable aura, the Black Water Octopus tightened all over, and its breathing became somewhat labored. ¡°Your Majesty, please calm your anger, a little demon like myself cannot make decisions on such great matters, how about I call for our king to come?¡± Lu Li nodded indifferently, not making things difficult for this demon. Seeing that Lu Li was agreeable, the Black Water Octopus breathed a sigh of relief and swiftly retreated towards the back, as if it were escaping from a flood of ferocious beasts. Lu Li watched the other party leave, commanding the demon beasts to stand their ground. A strong aura stirred the surrounding seawater, creating howling sounds. Half an hour later. A giant-sized black octopus demon beast, leading a group of Qi Cultivation stage clan members, was majestically advancing forward. This demon had extraordinary cultivation, at the twelfth level of Qi Cultivation, its body over thirty meters long, and a dozen giant tentacles thrashing wildly, its eyes the size of grindstones, flashing with cold light. At this moment, it was being surrounded by a group of demon beasts, full of momentum. After a while, the Black Water Octopus Ancestor arrived in front of Lu Li, seeing a large group of demon beasts in the late Qi Cultivation stage before him, he grew tense. ¡°Where is the Spirit Turtle Ancestor? Who wants to subdue this old ancestor?¡± ¡°The Spirit Turtle Clan and Sky Blue Snake Clan are now under my control, specially inviting your Black Water Octopus Clan to join us to discuss important matters¡­¡± Lu Li spoke with a chilling tone. At the same time, his aura suddenly pressured those around him. The demon beasts from the two clans responded in unison, their demonic energy soaring into the sky, causing the surrounding seawater to start churning wildly. Upon seeing this, the Octopus Ancestor¡¯s aura weakened. Seeing that the enemy was strong, and there was no chance of winning a great battle, he suddenly felt somewhat faint-hearted. Especially the leading two demon beasts, one giant python posed a significant threat. The other was even more astonishing, an aura of sharpness seemed to burst forth, giving it a sensation of facing death. ¡°Your Majesty, please do not be angry. This demon is willing to join, but according to the rules of the Demon Clan, the strong prevail!¡± ¡°Send someone from your side to defeat me, and thereafter, the whole clan will be at your Majesty¡¯s disposal.¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± Lu Li¡¯s face remained impassive. Then, he directly said to Iron Pillar beside him, ¡°This battle is yours, and if you win, I¡¯ll reward you with five spirit fish.¡± Hearing there was food, Iron Pillar¡¯s eyes lit up, then he quickly turned his eyeballs, ¡°Ten fish!¡± ¡°You glutton, eight fish, and no bargaining.¡± Lu Li scolded with a laugh. ¡°If you lose, you won¡¯t even get fish bones.¡± Upon hearing this, Iron Pillar¡¯s aura surged explosively, then he swam out of the formation, heading towards the front. The Black Water Octopus Ancestor also swam out from his formation, heading towards the central clearing. Before long, the two sides met in a dark trench on the seabed. ¡°Boom¡­¡± As soon as they met, both sides¡¯ auras burst forth violently, shaking the surrounding seawater into a frenzy, emitting a howling sound. Even the chaotic rocks on the seabed were swept away, and the surrounding seawater became murky. The two demons confronted each other for a while, like the tip of a needle against wheat, their auras still soaring crazily. Lu Li watched the confrontation of the two demons without much worry. With Iron Pillar¡¯s current strength, he was entirely comparable to his opponent. Although only at Qi Cultivation level ten, the gap between Qi Cultivation level ten and twelve was not huge, and as a natural-born king, his profound foundation was enough to bridge this gap. Moreover, Iron Pillar had been hunting and battling deep-sea demons throughout these years, fighting his way to Qi Cultivation level ten, his battle experience was extremely rich. Indeed, what happened next confirmed his guess. At the scene, after both demons had pushed their auras to the limit, they both made their move at once. Clearly, both wanted to seize the initiative, and without using any flashy spells, they directly employed the body, the pride of the Demon Clan. The Octopus Ancestor mobilized all its demonic power, the dozens of giant tentacles ferociously striking at Iron Pillar. Summoning the sound of tsunamis, its momentum was astonishing. Iron Pillar remained very calm upon seeing this, he suddenly leaped up, dodging the opponent¡¯s tentacles. Swift as lightning, he reached above the opponent¡¯s head, then channeling all his demonic power, his serpentine tail ferociously swept down towards the Octopus Ancestor¡¯s head. With the enhancement of demonic power, the tail shone with a gray-white light, carrying a massive evil aura, the patterns at the end of the tail making it look particularly dazzling. In just an instant, the massive tail reached above the opponent¡¯s head. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Only a massive collision echoed through the depths of the sea. The Black Water Octopus Ancestor crashed towards the ocean floor¡¯s silt, the surrounding water madly rushing in, swirling with countless sediments, obscuring visibility. ¡°Oww¡­¡± The Black Water Octopus Ancestor roared in agony. Then, he swiftly stood up and charged towards Iron Pillar above, clearly losing some reason in his rage. He activated over a dozen tentacles again, discreetly yet unrevealed, forming a giant cage and covering Iron Pillar with it. This time, he had learned his lesson, considering how fast the opponent was, he decided to trap it. Clearly, the Black Water Octopus Ancestor had a good plan, but what followed completely caught him off guard. Iron Pillar¡¯s tail flicked lightly, his entire body quickly dodging sideways with the grace of a startled swan, slick as a gliding dragon, swiftly leaping out of the opponent¡¯s encirclement. Lu Li watched this scene and couldn¡¯t help but marvel. Iron Pillar¡¯s combat sense was increasingly sophisticated, completely mocking the opponent at will. He began quietly watching Iron Pillar¡¯s performance, which was very pleasing to the eyes. Iron Pillar, having dodged, flashed to the rear right again. Like a bolt of lightning, he moved to the opponent¡¯s rear flank. Before the other could react, he activated his demonic power once more, furiously smashing down on the Black Water Octopus Ancestor¡¯s head. And at the same spot as before! ¡°Ah!¡± With a scream, the Black Water Octopus Ancestor was heavily slammed onto the ocean bed, the stones below scattering and shooting everywhere, emitting piercing screeches. Despite his thick skin and flesh, after receiving two consecutive heavy blows at the same spot, he was starting to falter. His head wound was now a bloody mess, oozing tendrils of azure blood, dyeing a small area of the surrounding sea. Iron Pillar, seeing this, seized the opportunity to beat the falling foe savagely, taking advantage of his weakness. He dodged to the side again in a flash, appearing like a ghost behind his opponent. Lu Li, seeing this, was also somewhat surprised. He even saw a hint of a dragon in Iron Pillar¡¯s movements. The speed was indeed peculiar, even faster than when he himself flew through the air. ¡°Could the bloodline inheritance really be so amazing?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Currently, Iron Pillar had only awakened a sliver of bloodline power, yet he was so formidable. Just how powerful must the Hornless Dragon Clan in the depths of the Inner Sea be? He collected his thoughts and looked back at the battlefield. Iron Pillar was completely playing with the Black Water Octopus Ancestor, easily dodging every attack, then fiercely slamming right onto the opponent¡¯s head. The Black Water Octopus Ancestor¡¯s head wound was now deep enough to expose bone, with screams continuing incessantly. After a while longer, unable to hold out any more, the Black Water Octopus Ancestor had to admit defeat. ¡°Great king, have mercy, Little Demon submits.¡± Continuing the fight would likely cost him his life, let alone the fact that a ¡°giant demon¡± was eyeing him eagerly. He wisely chose not to resist stubbornly. After all, the Demon Clan respected strength above all, and joining the winning side wouldn¡¯t be a loss, although he could no longer be as carefree as before¡­ Iron Pillar, hearing this, did not attack again, then swam over to Lu Li¡¯s side. Head held high, he had an expectant look, waiting to be praised. Lu Li found this amusing: ¡°Well done, there will be plenty of spirit fish for you when we return.¡± With that, he gave no more attention to the proud Iron Pillar, instead swimming towards the Black Water Octopus Ancestor. Seeing his much more subservient attitude, he was very satisfied. It seemed that, no matter where, ¡°force¡± was the ultimate argument anyhow. ¡°Take these Medicine Pills then.¡± Lu Li utilized the Water Repelling Technique, retrieving two white Medicine Pills, one Spiritual Beast Pill, and one Healing Pill, all small and translucent, with a thread of medicinal fragrance wafting in the surrounding sea. As soon as he took them out, the opponent fixated intensely on the Spiritual Beast Pill in his hands, his expression fervent. Wary of Lu Li¡¯s power, the Black Water Octopus Ancestor didn¡¯t dare make a move. He was somewhat in disbelief, ¡°These are for Little Demon?¡± He had killed Human Clan Cultivators long ago and obtained such pills from them; these could greatly purify his bloodline, leaving a deep impression on him. ¡°Mmhmm¡­¡± Seeing Lu Li nod, he happily accepted the Medicine Pills: ¡°From now on, the Black Water Octopus Clan will follow the Ancestor¡¯s orders.¡± Seeing his agreeable reaction, Lu Li was very satisfied and nodded. The strategy of striking then offering a treat worked remarkably well. Constantly giving benefits could make these demons lose their fear; this was a truth he had realized during his years of ruling his tribe. Maintaining a balance between force and strategy was the true path. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Recruiting Two More Tribes Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Recruiting Two More Tribes Seeing that the other party had accepted the Medicine Pill, Lu Li said without a doubt, ¡°After you heal, bring the clan members who are in the later stages of Qi Cultivation with us.¡± ¡°Little Demon obeys!¡± The Black Water Octopus Ancestor showed a respectful face. He then returned to the cave to start healing. The injury wasn¡¯t serious this time, and with the Medicine Pill, he would recover in about ten days. Lu Li and his group of Demon Beasts waited in place. About ten days later, the Black Water Octopus Ancestor led a group of Qi Cultivation later-stage clan members swimming forward. After a short time, they arrived in front of Lu Li. The group of Demon Beasts was very respectful, ¡°Ancestor, we are all prepared and can obey orders at any time.¡± ¡°Um¡­ you follow behind, let¡¯s set off!¡± At Lu Li¡¯s command, a group of Demon Beasts grandly swam towards the northeast. Several hours later, Lu Li and his group of Demon Beasts arrived near the Coral Sea. This place was exactly the territory of the Crab Clan, whose strength was not much different from the Black Water Octopus Clan. Lu Li repeated his old trick, and soon the team grew a bit larger. This time it went even smoother, without any fight; seeing that the Black Water Octopus had already submitted, they were very frightened and immediately led their entire clan to join. Next, Lu Li led the Demon Beasts on the road again. At a trench, they recruited the Green Light Water Ape Clan, achieving their target completely. Lu Li stood above a trench, looking around at a large group of subordinates. After recruiting three clans, they gained three more Demon Beasts in the perfect stage of Qi Cultivation and dozens in the later stage. Various races of Demon Beasts densely stood in the depths of the trench, quietly watching Lu Li ahead, waiting for his command. Lu Li¡¯s aura suddenly burst forth, his formidable killing intent intimidating the entire scene. Then, with a majestic face, he said, ¡°This time, all Qi Cultivation later-stage members of your three clans will all move out and join me in killing the Deep Sea Barbaric Beasts thousands of miles ahead.¡± He pointed towards the northeast with his finger, his tone leaving no room for doubt. The Demon Beasts hearing this were stunned, showing a bit of fear. This time, the Black Water Octopus Ancestor cautiously stepped forward and said, ¡°Ancestor, are you going to the Cloud Mountain Range? That place is a den of Barbaric Beasts, and it may be quite tricky to deal with.¡± ¡°Oh? How much more do you know about this place? Tell me everything.¡± Lu Li was somewhat surprised, not expecting that his subordinates would know so much about this area. With a nod from Lu Li, the Black Water Octopus Ancestor paused and then spoke again, ¡°Three thousand miles from here is a huge mountain range inhabited by many Barbaric Beast Clans, with as few as five or six and as many as dozens. These Barbaric Beasts sometimes come to Little Demon territory to hunt for food, so I know a bit about it.¡± Hearing this, Lu Li already had some understanding. ¡°These Barbaric Beasts recklessly hunt your kinsmen in your territory. Have you never resisted?¡± He asked with some skepticism, glancing at the other party, scaring them a bit. Seeing this, Lu Li found it somewhat amusing; it seemed they had been cowed by Iron Pillar. ¡°Reporting to the Ancestor, these Barbaric Beasts always hunt in groups; Little Demon is no match.¡± The Black Water Octopus Ancestor spoke with considerable indignation. At this time, the other two clans¡¯ ancestors also agreed. ¡°We two clans have also suffered greatly, and we are almost becoming the Barbaric Beasts¡¯ hunting grounds¡­¡± The Demon Beasts were somewhat roused at this moment. ¡°Are you willing to accept this? Today, I have gathered you to deal with a small group of Barbaric Beasts.¡± Lu Li began to incite the Demon Beasts. ¡°I promise that in this battle against the Barbaric Beasts, each clan leader will get a share of the Blood Feast.¡± He knew that Demon Beasts were bloodthirsty, and giving them a little incentive would make them fight fervently, also saving him a lot of effort. After all, the main force in this battle would rely on these newly recruited subordinates; if these Demon Beasts hesitated to advance, it would be a big headache for him. Hearing about the Beast Blood Feast, a hint of bloodlust appeared in the eyes of the Demon Beasts, and a deadly aura began to swirl around them. For them, the flesh rich in Demon Energy was the source of their evolution, closely related to their strength, and extremely important. Yet, the Barbaric Beasts were extremely formidable, and the upcoming battle would likely result in heavy casualties, which made them somewhat hesitant. Seeing this, Lu Li¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile; it seemed the Demon Beasts were getting tempted. He prepared to throw in a bit more incentive. ¡°If we win this battle, I will give each Clan Leader five Spirit Grass.¡± After saying this, he pulled out a piece of Demon Attraction Grass from his Storage Bag. ¡°Whew¡­¡± Upon seeing this, all the Demon Beasts immediately felt their blood boiling, and a desire emerged from the depths of their souls. All of their eyes turned red as they stared at the Spirit Grass in Lu Li¡¯s hand, even their breathing becoming rapid. Seeing that the time was right, Lu Li put away the Spirit Grass. He knew that the allure of Demon Attraction Grass for the Demon Beasts was unmatched, and consuming it over a long period could slowly enhance the power of their bloodline. The quality of the Spirit Grass determined the effects, which also related to the potential of the Demon Beasts. When several ancestors saw the Spirit Grass disappear, they showed faces full of regret and shouted with exuberant vigor, ¡°Little Demon obeys the Ancestor¡¯s command!¡± In an instant, an astonishing aura stirred the currents around the ocean trench, emitting a deafening roar. ¡°Depart!¡± Lu Li waved his hand grandly and shouted with a powerful voice. Then he took the lead and swam forward. A grand procession of Demon Beasts followed behind him, their aura magnificent, scaring off some of the solitary Demon Beasts nearby, who scattered and fled. The Demon Beasts charged forward, smashing any coral in their path to rubble. The nearby seas filled with a mix of demonic aura and mud, obscuring the view. Lu Li led the way forward without encountering any reckless Demon Beasts. Days later, at the outskirts of a massive mountain range. Lu Li stopped with his band of Demon Beasts, looking at the towering peaks ahead with a murderous intent in his heart. Just then, three Giant Toothed Whales sensed the overwhelming Demon Energy and protruded their huge heads from one side of the mountain. Their eyes, as large as millstones, gleamed with bloodthirsty intent. They were also puzzled¡ªhow had this food delivered itself to them? Their intelligence was not high, and without much thought, they charged directly, stirring up massive waves with formidable momentum. Seeing only three emerge, Lu Li was pleased; it seemed a few had gone to hunt. Without hesitation, he immediately gave the order. ¡°Attack!¡± The Demon Beasts, having waited for a long time, charged at the command. Lu Li and Iron Pillar stood still, quietly watching the action ahead. Lu Li had not sent Iron Pillar into battle, mainly because there were too many Demon Beasts perfect in Qi Cultivation¡ªit was dangerous, and it was more suitable to let these loyal subordinates charge into battle. It wasn¡¯t long before the two sides met unexpectedly. Led by the Black Water Octopus Ancestor, a large group in the late stages of Qi Cultivation fiercely advanced forward. Numerous tentacles waved crazily in the depths of the sea, emitting screeching sounds, their presence immensely mighty. The other two clans¡¯ ancestors were not to be outdone, also leading from the front and charging into the Barbaric Beast Clan. The Sky Blue Snake Clan and the Spirit Turtle Clan, being the weakest, joined the battle at the end. In an instant, both sides were completely locked in a brutal combat. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45 The Slaughter of the Giant Toothed Whale Chapter 45: Chapter 45 The Slaughter of the Giant Toothed Whale Lu Li, with Iron Pillar hidden beneath a coral reef, watched the nearby battlefield. Three Clan Leaders of the Demon Beasts faced off against a Giant Toothed Whale each. Behind each Elder, a massive group of late-stage Qi Refinement Demon Beasts followed. Members of the Spirit Turtle Clan and Sky Blue Snake Clan were scattered among the three teams. The entire team moved with incredible momentum, their presence formidable and the sight spectacular. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A tremendous collision thundered through the depths as the three Elders directly smashed into the opposing Giant Toothed Whales. Their bodies were forced crazily backward, and upon seeing this, a group of Demon Beasts rushed forward like moths to a flame, colliding with the three Giant Toothed Whales. ¡°Aooh¡­¡± The Giant Toothed Whale let out a pained scream as gouts of blood fell into the surrounding waters, staining them a deep crimson. After this collision, the Elders too were injured, with blood streaming out of their wounds. However, they had successfully halted the onrush of the Giant Toothed Whales. The Clan Leader of the Blackwater Chapter quickly took the lead again, moving forward with a group of his kin to firmly surround a Giant Toothed Whale above a sea trench. Deprived of their charging speed, the Giant Toothed Whales struggled within the Demon Beast groups, finding it difficult to break through. Just as they were about to break free, the Octopus Elder would push them back with his massive tentacles. Although both sides were at the peak of Qi Cultivation, due to the Giant Toothed Whale¡¯s vast size, it still had a not insignificant advantage. If it weren¡¯t for the fearless charges of a large group of late-stage Qi Refinement Demon Beasts, the Octopus Elder alone would have been no match. The other two Leaders did the same, each clan¡¯s forces leading a group of late-stage Qi Cultivation Demon Beasts to firmly encircle a Giant Toothed Whale in the middle. Thus, both sides fought a fierce and shrouded battle in the region, with killing intent surging towards the sky, mixing the sea with mud and blood into a murky mess. Several hours later, both parties still displayed formidable resolve, showing no signs of exhaustion. Upon seeing this, Lu Li grew anxious. Continuing like this, it could take days to decide a victor, with too many variables at play. If other Giant Toothed Whales were to be drawn here, that would spell disaster. Thinking this, he prepared to take action. Iron Pillar, affected by the battlefield¡¯s malicious energy and sensing the fluctuations in his master¡¯s emotions, became restless, his eyes filled with a bloodthirsty light. Lu Li soothed him for a moment, then fixed his gaze steadfastly on the battlefield ahead. On the battlefield, to the west. The Octopus Elder once more swung his tentacles fiercely towards the head of a Giant Toothed Whale. The surrounding water roared like tsunamis with undiminished momentum. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Another loud noise ensued as the Giant Toothed Whale was struck harshly by the Octopus Elder, slowing even more before a large group of Blackwater Chapters charged at it. Seeing no way to break free, the Giant Toothed Whale grew even angrier, biting one of the late-stage Qi Cultivation Blackwater Chapters in half and spilling fresh blood across the entire sea area. It then went into a frenzy, violently attacking the surrounding Demon Beasts. Instantly, the battlefield turned tragically brutal. With the relentless interference of the Octopus Elder, the Giant Toothed Whale was unable to escape the encirclement, but its own losses were significant as its kin began to fall one by one. After a while. Lu Li saw the Giant Toothed Whale being suppressed again, taking advantage of the moment when the enemy¡¯s new strength hadn¡¯t yet surfaced, and suddenly emitted a blood-red Sword Qi. ¡°Zii¡­¡± The Blood Sword Energy, carrying an extremely terrifying aura of malevolence, streaked through the water as fast as lightning, heading for an injury on the head of a Giant Toothed Whale to the west. In just a moment, it reached above the whale¡¯s head. Then it mercilessly crashed into a wound at the top of the whale¡¯s head. ¡°Aooh¡­¡± An agonized scream echoed through the depths, and a massive, over-fifty-zhang wound opened atop the Giant Toothed Whale¡¯s head, with surrounding tissues reduced to a bloody mess. Next, blood burst crazily out of the top of the Giant Toothed Whale¡¯s head, the stench of it permeating the entire battlefield. Struck by such a heavy blow, the Giant Toothed Whale¡¯s vitality began to wilt considerably, and it seemed it could no longer hold on. The Octopus Ancestor saw the situation and was immediately overjoyed, while it grew even more fearful of the ¡°Spirit Turtle Ancestor¡±¡®s methods. It led its clansmen in swarming forward, preparing to utterly annihilate the Giant Toothed Whale. Lu Li, having seen the power of that strike, was also highly satisfied. With his massive amount of Essence Blood sacrificed, the power of this Demon Secret Skill had grown increasingly formidable. ¡°Iron Pillar, go and kill that injured Giant Toothed Whale,¡± he commanded directly. Iron Pillar, hearing this, was excited. He then charged out ferociously, having been eager for action after watching the battle for so long. In just a few breaths, he crossed the battlefield and arrived above the Giant Toothed Whale. Then, like a dragon darting through water, he brutally slammed into the wound on its head. ¡°Puchi¡­¡± Iron Pillar¡¯s strike actually went straight through the head, piercing the entire head of the Giant Toothed Whale, a most fatal blow. ¡°Aooo aooo aooo¡­¡± Another piercing scream rang out, the wound on the head of the Giant Toothed Whale widened once again, spilling fresh blood all over this area of the sea. Subsequently, its massive body started to sway as if it were about to fall at any moment. ¡°It looks like the battle is about to end,¡± Lu Li observed the battlefield, clearly knowing that the Giant Toothed Whale was nearing its end. Following that, Iron Pillar led the Demon Beasts in launching their final attack. Not long after, the Giant Toothed Whale finally collapsed on the seabed. A massive thud echoed through the seabed, churning the entire area into murky turmoil. Lu Li, seeing this, swam over with a satisfied expression on his face. ¡°You all go and support the other two clans; we¡¯ll divide the spoils later,¡± he said decisively. The Octopus Ancestor heard this and, although its face showed some unwillingness as it looked at the body on the seabed, it didn¡¯t dare to defy him. The memory of that Sword Qi still fresh in its mind, leaving it deeply unsettled. ¡°As you command, Little Demon!¡± After saying this, it led its clansmen towards the Crab Clan¡¯s battleground. The battlefield of the Crab Clan, like that of the Octopus Ancestor, was also exceedingly brutal. Now the Giant Crab Ancestor was covered in wounds, with many clansmen dead or injured, the surrounding waters turned a deep crimson. However, the Giant Toothed Whale was also not small in its injuries, its momentum had weakened considerably. Despite the desperate resistance of the Giant Crab Ancestor, it still hadn¡¯t broken through the encirclement. Seeing that the Octopus¡¯ Clan had already decided the victor and was coming to its aid, the Giant Crab Ancestor¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡°My sons, kill for your Ancestor,¡± it commanded. The Demon Beasts, sensing the situation, charged with momentum like a rainbow, fearlessly attacking the Giant Toothed Whale. Soon, the Octopus Clan joined in. Under the combined assault of the two clans of Demon Beasts, the Giant Toothed Whale started to become increasingly feeble. Iron Pillar stood not far to the side, staring intently at the foe, ready to deliver a fatal blow. Half an hour passed. The Giant Toothed Whale had become unstable, its body full of large and small wounds, a blur of blood and flesh. Seeing a glimpse of exhaustion in the whale, Iron Pillar suddenly shot out. As quick as lightning, he arrived in front of the Giant Toothed Whale and surged into a wound, then emerged unscathed on the other side of the whale. ¡°Ao¡­¡± A thunderous scream erupted, and the Giant Toothed Whale instantly lost the ability to move, slowly sinking into the depths of the sea. Seeing Iron Pillar once again repeat his technique and kill the opponent, Lu Li was very satisfied. He swam in front of the Demon Beasts and ordered them to join in the hunt of the last Giant Toothed Whale. The Demon Beasts dared not resist and hurriedly made their way to the last battleground, their eyes lingering on the body at the bottom of the sea with some reluctance. Soon, the Elders of several clans gathered together and completely surrounded the last Giant Toothed Whale. Not much later, the last Giant Toothed Whale also fell upon the seabed, this time Iron Pillar opted not to strike. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar Seeing that victory was certain, Lu Li approached the Demon Beasts and slowly began, ¡°You all go to the outer edges of the mountain range and lie in wait to ambush the last two Giant Toothed Whales that haven¡¯t returned. Those two are your spoils of war from this battle.¡± ¡°Is Your Majesty serious?¡± The Blackwater Zhang patriarch¡¯s face lit up with joy. Though they coveted the body of the Barbaric Beast underground more, nobody dared to suggest it. Now, hearing these words, the spirit of the gathered Demon Beasts was reignited. The five clans of Demon Beasts setting out to slay the two Giant Toothed Whales stood a great chance of victory. Lu Li nodded, ¡°When I speak, I mean it. Go¡­¡± This was his plan all along; without sharing the loot, commanding the Demon Beasts in the future would likely be challenging, and he wouldn¡¯t need to personally exert effort to hunt those two Giant Toothed Whales¡­ ¡°Your subordinates obey!¡± The Demon Beasts roared in response, their fervor echoing mightily through the depths of the ocean. Soon after, the three Clan Leaders led the later-stage Qi Cultivation Demon Beasts toward the outer mountains. Watching the three Clan Leaders lead the horde of Demon Beasts into the distance, Lu Li then went to the side of the three Giant Toothed Whales and activated the Demon-Refining Pot to collect them. ¡°This haul brings in a substantial amount of Spiritual Liquid, enough to sustain for quite a long time.¡± He was very satisfied with this. He then put away the Demon-Refining Pot and swam toward the cave entrance on a nearby peak. Before long, he arrived at a darkened cave entrance. The entrance was about sixty to seventy feet in diameter, oval-shaped, and bare all around, devoid of any seaweed or suchlike. Lu Li scanned the vicinity with his Divine Sense and discovered no anomalies. Moreover, the tunnel inside was very long; his Divine Sense couldn¡¯t even reach the bottom. Gathering his thoughts, he dove headfirst into the cave. Upon entering, he immediately felt darkness envelop him, with threads of coldness seeping through the surrounding waters. He swam patiently toward the depths of the tunnel. Time flowed slowly, and a quarter-hour passed. The rocky walls around him began to shine with increasing luster, resembling exquisite works of art. Lu Li swam forward with patience. Suddenly, he saw the end of the tunnel ahead. ¡°At last, I¡¯ve reached the bottom.¡± A thrill of joy crossed his mind. He then sped up and swam towards the tunnel¡¯s end. Approaching the cave entrance, Lu Li dived forward and entered into a spacious cavern. The cavern spanned dozens of feet, filled with irregularly shaped rocks, and the Spiritual Energy here was exceptionally abundant, oddly so. Gigantic stalactites hung from the ceiling, and at the center was a depression where a black object was quietly resting. Seeing this item sparked a light in Lu Li¡¯s eyes; it was not much different from the fragment of the Immortal Treasure Spirit in his hand, albeit slightly smaller. ¡°Correct, it¡¯s this item. If I put it in my Storage Bag, this old ancestor will be able to absorb the remnant soul inside.¡± Just then, the voice of the Immortal Treasure Spirit echoed in his ear. Without hesitation, Lu Li advanced, picked up the item casually, put it in his Storage Bag, and then swam towards the cave¡¯s exit. It wasn¡¯t long before Lu Li reached the outside of the peak, looking thoughtfully at the towering mountain rising from the sea. He then swam slowly toward the sea surface. Moments later, he reached the surface of the ocean. He transformed back into human form, surveying his surroundings. This was a small deserted island, lush with vegetation and abundant with birds and animals, brimming with vibrant life, yet it had no Spirit Veins, and the Spiritual Energy was exceptionally weak. Lu Li leaped onto the edge of the deserted island. He carefully sensed something and slowly flew toward the island¡¯s center. It was not long before his gaze brightened; he sensed an aura similar to that of an underwater cave, which was faint, as if it were on the verge of disappearing any moment. He followed the scent and flew forward. Suddenly, he arrived in front of a small cave entrance. After a closer inspection, he discovered a trace of Demon Energy lingering, but it was not strong, only about the level of late-stage Qi Cultivation. He took out a treasured cauldron and placed it above his head, then walked toward the entrance of the cave. ¡°Ssst¡­¡± At that moment, the Demon Beast within the cave seemed to discover the intrusion and charged out right away. Lu Li focused his gaze. What emerged was a giant pangolin Demon Beast, clad in golden scales and with eyes filled with malevolence aimed directly at Lu Li. Lu Li promptly drew out the Aminokaze and slashed fiercely with his sword. The sword¡¯s light, like a rainbow, swiftly reached the creature¡¯s head. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± ¡°` Only a scream was heard as the pangolin demon beast¡¯s head was severed from its body, revealing a pool of deep red blood on the ground. ¡°There are demon beasts here even without a spirit vein?¡± He was somewhat puzzled. After killing the demon beast, he made his way down the passage. Before long, he traversed a narrow corridor and arrived at a small underground cave, where the odd scent grew stronger. Lu Li followed the scent and fixed his gaze in its direction. He saw that at the center of the cave, there was a shallow pit containing a clump of milky white liquid. The liquid was crystal clear and shrouded in wafting mists of aura, with a thick and fragrant aroma lingering in the air, extremely peculiar. ¡°Could this be¡­ Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar?¡± Lu Li could hardly believe it, his face full of astonishment. Moving closer to observe, the closer he got, the more intense the fragrance became. The spirit milk appeared milky white with a radiant luster circulating within it; it truly was the second-order heavenly material and earthly treasure described in the Jade Scroll¡ªEarth Origin Spiritual Nectar. Just two drops of this substance could restore all the mana of a Qi Cultivation perfection cultivator, and even a layer or so for those in the Foundation Establishment Stage, remarkably extraordinary. Once he had confirmed it several times, Lu Li was overjoyed. It seemed that the pangolin was just an ordinary beast that stepped into the ranks of demon beasts after obtaining the heavenly material and earthly treasure. The amount of Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar was rather astounding; it likely would not run out for dozens of years. He hastily took out a few exquisitely made porcelain bottles, specially crafted for holding heavenly materials and earthly treasures, then crouched down and began to pour the spirit milk from the ground into the bottles. In a short while, he had entirely collected the spirit milk from the ground, filling ten or so bottles¡ªabout ten liters in total. After he had collected all the Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar from the small pit, wisps of aura began to emerge slowly, gathering around the area. ¡°It seems that in a few hundred years, a new batch will form.¡± Lu Li watched the situation on the ground, quite amazed. He then set up a layer of simple restrictions around the area and went to the entrance of the passage to use an array plate to set up a simple Mysterious Formation. Only after doing all this did he leave the cave. Passing through the passage, he followed the original path back and quickly arrived at the seashore. He then carefully observed the surroundings, memorizing the location deep in his mind. Finally, he plunged into the sea, transforming into a giant turtle and swam towards the depths of the ocean floor. Meanwhile, as Lu Li was returning to the Spirit Turtle Basin, thousands of miles away on the ocean surface. Two gaunt figures stood at the bow of their boat, looking a bit desolate. ¡°Have we yet to find that thief¡¯s trail?¡± Chen Tianqi felt the discomfort in his right arm, a cold gleam flashed in the corner of his eye, and endless hatred welled up in his heart. ¡°Cousin, that kid is very cunning; he hasn¡¯t shown his face for so long, as if he disappeared.¡± A green-robed Taoist beside him had a cold expression. ¡°Sigh¡­ Lately, demon beasts have become harder to hunt down, and most of the family resources are with Chen Wuluo. How much can we even get¡­¡± Chen Tianqi sounded somewhat dejected. ¡°At this rate, not to mention Foundation Establishment, we won¡¯t even be able to afford the medicine pills to heal our wounds.¡± The green-robed man was silent for a moment before offering some comfort, ¡°The wisdom of demon beasts at the late stage of Qi Cultivation is increasingly growing, making them not as easy to hunt as before. This is the case throughout this sea area. We should make plans soon.¡± Chen Tianqi nodded, then neither of them spoke again. Not far from this sea area, Lu Yuling and Lu Heng, along with their party, were also somewhat distressed, their faces showing a bit more weathering. ¡°Second Brother, let¡¯s stop demon hunting for a while, shall we? The profits are getting lower and lower. Maybe we should try a different water area?¡± Lu Yuling frowned. Since she stepped into the late Qi Cultivation stage, her need for spirit stones had greatly increased, especially now that she had acquired a spirit beast, the current profits could hardly maintain her cultivation. Hearing this, Lu Heng also showed a worried look: ¡°We even lost a family sponsor in the last battle. It¡¯s becoming increasingly difficult¡­¡± ¡°Little sister has also saved up some spirit stones, right? Why not choose a skill to try out, hunting demons on the sea is not a long-term solution.¡± Lu Yuling nodded at the suggestion, not saying anything more. ¡­ In the Spirit Turtle Basin, inside a secret chamber of the cave. Lu Li directly awoke the ancestor Kong Shan. A Spiritual Ape Soul suddenly appeared inside the secret chamber. Its soul body seemed to have deepened a bit, no longer as ephemeral as before, and its eyes were clearer. ¡°Ancestor, how is it going?¡± His eyes conveyed a trace of anticipation. The Spirit Monkey nodded: ¡°Bring a blank Jade Scroll, and the ancestor will inscribe it for you.¡± Hearing this, Lu Li immediately took out a Jade Scroll from his storage bag and placed it in front of the Spirit Monkey. The Spirit Monkey immediately began to cast spells, its hands dancing, and the soul body pulsated. After a while, it stopped. ¡°It¡¯s done. The ancestor reminds you, if your essence, energy, and spirit have not reached their peak, you must not cultivate, or it would be dangerous to your life. For now, you can familiarize yourself with the preliminary cultivation technique, which will benefit you greatly.¡± ¡°Preliminary cultivation technique?¡± Lu Li nodded, slightly puzzled, and picked up the Jade Scroll, pressing it against his forehead. ¡°` Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Taiyin Refining Diagram Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Taiyin Refining Diagram ¡°Boom¡­¡± Lu Li felt as if the deep recesses of his mind were being struck by a bell tolling at dusk and dawn. A series of extremely peculiar visions and memories of cultivation techniques flooded his mind. He seemed to see, in the far reaches of the universe, an enormous star whose vast celestial body emitted a pure white light, exuding a supreme aura that commanded all the stars under heaven. Then, a figure stood in the mid-air, beginning to move. With arms encircling the sun and the moon, standing on one leg in a very strange posture, the figure¡¯s movements quickly began to change, transitioning through eighteen different positions, ultimately speeding up until it became a series of afterimages¡­ Lu Li¡¯s mind gradually sank into it, and then he felt his own essence blood start to surge, prompting him to hastily stop watching. ¡°The Taiyin Refining Diagram? Such a powerful magic skill, just watching it can make one¡¯s essence blood boil over, and if one were to rashly cultivate it now, they would probably explode and die.¡± In the end, he saw the name of this cultivation technique, which consisted of just thirty-two Divine Maps, and he hadn¡¯t even met the requirements for the first one. Then, Lu Li looked at the ¡°preceding cultivation technique¡± behind it, which was even more peculiar. It was more a sacrificial dance than a cultivation technique. A figure was seen dancing around a fiery red bonfire, using both hands and feet, containing within the movements a profound principle of the Great Dao and a very special sense of beauty. ¡°The ancient Sacrificial Technique?¡± Lu Li put away the Jade Scroll, voicing his doubts to the Spirit Monkey. ¡°Correct,¡± the Spirit Monkey nodded. ¡°Reversing the innate path of a Demon God with a mortal body is extremely difficult, only possible with the help of the power of the supreme stars.¡± ¡°Since the birth of heaven and earth, two supreme stars have illuminated countless worlds in the Eternal Sands Realm, and this Small Thousand World¡¯s sun and the Taiyin Star are but mere reflections of their projections. Only by using the power of sacrificial techniques can one draw forth a sliver of their power¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Li suddenly understood: it was about using the power of sacrificial techniques to draw down the power of the supreme stars, to step by step improve his own foundation, and ultimately to meet the conditions for cultivating the Taiyin Refining Diagram, thereby reversing the innate path. ¡°Why not sacrifice to the sun?¡± He casually asked. The Spirit Monkey gave Lu Li a strange look, ¡°That could work, as long as you¡¯re not afraid of being reduced to ashes by the True Sun Fire.¡± ¡°However, you have a Water Spirit Root, cultivating the Power of Taiyin does have some benefits; your resistance to extreme cold forces will be much stronger.¡± But Lu Li was somewhat puzzled at this point, ¡°This technique is of the pure Yin path, and solitary Yin does not last long. Could there be any hidden dangers?¡± The Spirit Monkey was somewhat surprised, ¡°You¡¯re not bad, kid. This technique was created by the upper realms and has no problems at all.¡± ¡°As for the imbalance of Yin and Yang, it doesn¡¯t matter. When you pass the God Demon Tribulation, Yin will generate Yang, and by then, when Yin and Yang unite, naturally there will be no dangers.¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t get through it, you¡¯ll naturally turn to dust anyway, so why worry about that so much?¡± Lu Li was taken aback by this response, which seemed, strangely, to make perfect sense. However, the power of this technique was indeed earth-shattering, and meeting the cultivation requirements would be challenging. ¡°Does the ancestor know where another fragment is located nearby?¡± The Spirit Monkey replied with a calm face, ¡°If this old ancestor¡¯s senses are not wrong, it may be in a broken Small Thousand World.¡± ¡°As for the entrance, it¡¯s not far. About two thousand miles to the southeast from here, the old ancestor can sense a faint fluctuation.¡± Hearing this, Lu Li furrowed his brows, then carefully searched his memory for a map of this maritime region. Moments later, he got some results. According to the sea charts known to the Lu Family, the place that Kong Shan mentioned was a medium-sized island called Fierce Sky Island. There indeed was a spatial node on the island, connected to a broken Small Thousand World, which several Purple Mansion Families nearby jointly controlled. The island itself had no Spirit Vein resources, but that broken Small Thousand World did contain Purple Sun Ginseng, a main ingredient for Foundation Establishment pills. Every few decades, a group of Qi Refinement Realm cultivators would be sent in to search for Spiritual Medicine. Due to the incomplete laws within the Small Thousand World, only Qi Refinement Realm cultivators could enter. As part of the alliance under the Purple Mansion Family¡¯s jurisdiction, the Lu Family also had a few slots. As for how many resources one could obtain, that would depend on individual ability. ¡°It seems that later on, I¡¯ll have to take a trip inside.¡± Lu Li thought to himself. Although he didn¡¯t need Foundation Establishment Pills, his parents could make good use of them. Inside, there were the Immortal Treasure Fragments that he needed. But there was no urgency at the moment, as his experience told him it would likely still be some years. After that, Lu Li put away the fragments and prepared to start practicing the ¡°Sacrificial Technique.¡± He came to the center of the cave, sat cross-legged, and quietly looked up at the sky above. As he was under thousands of meters of sea, the sunlight was very weak. Threads of light spilled down, but they brought no warmth. It was still daytime, it seems he needed to wait for night to fall. He started to meditate and practice Qi Cultivation, quietly waiting. Time slowly passed by. Soon night arrived. Lu Li opened his eyes and saw the bright moon hanging in the sky, its pristine moonlight spilling over the entire world. Even on the surface of the sea, there appeared a huge reflection of the moon, creating a mesmerizing sight. He then stood up, took out several pieces of spirit wood of the same size, and stacked them on the ground, completely in accordance with the images in his mind, without the slightest error. He then ignited the spirit wood with a spell. ¡°Sss¡­¡± A cluster of orange-red flames suddenly appeared in the air, rising heat waves all around. He then started to follow the steps in the Cultivation Technique, beginning the ¡°sacrificial ritual.¡± He first put his hands together, his movements very solemn, then he started to dance, muttering some mysterious words. As time went on, his movements grew faster, leaving trails of afterimages on the ground. The motion of his entire body seemed to contain some profound principle. Even the central flame started to leap in the void, quite peculiar. After a while, The moonlight from the high skies gradually converged towards the bottom of the sea, strands of moonlight entwined around the cave, eventually gathering above Lu Li¡¯s head. ¡°Boom¡­¡± At that moment, Lu Li felt as if a thunderclap rang out from deep within his soul, followed by an astonishing chill emerging from deep within his body, making him shiver. He dared not stop, continuing to grit his teeth and persevere. If he were to stop now, he would likely have to start all over again, a loss outweighing the gain. Gradually, the moonlight in the void surged, slowly flowing into Lu Li¡¯s head. Lu Li felt his body becoming cooler and cooler, his whole soul seemed clearer, and the impurities and toxins within his body were being washed away, making his entire body lighter. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed. He slowly opened his eyes. ¡°The ancestral sacrificial techniques are indeed extraordinary,¡± Lu Li said with admiration. Using the mighty Power of the Stars to cause a fundamental transformation within oneself, the Foundation Establishment Pills were still external aids and were far inferior. And this was only his first practice, and he already felt much more clear-headed, even his Divine Sense had grown stronger. Continuing like this, as long as he intensified his practice in the future, he would eventually meet the requirements to cultivate the first Divine Map. Lu Li let his Divine Sense slowly sink into his body, feeling the changes within, his face full of joy. Within the depths of his heart, eighty or so drops of Essence Blood flowed quietly, exuding a powerful aura, extremely astonishing. The first practice had the best results, even increasing his lifeblood Essence Blood by a few drops. It was well known that the increase of a cultivator¡¯s Essence Blood was extremely difficult, closely related to one¡¯s own root essence, and past a certain point, each additional drop was as tough as scaling the heavens. He estimated that ninety-nine drops of Essence Blood might be the limit for all beings. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Trip to the Market Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Trip to the Market Over the next ten days, except for rainy weather when there was no moonlight, Lu Li spent each day practicing this cultivation technique. Although the effects were not as strong as the first time, each session brought slight improvements, which would eventually lead to a transformation over time. Patience was necessary as this was a gradual process. One day, while Lu Li was meditating and practicing Qi cultivation, he felt the Array shift. He stood up and walked out of the cave, where he saw several Spirit Turtles lying respectfully outside the Array with a large pile of Essence of Mystic Iron in front of them. He then deactivated the Array and stepped out. ¡°Little Demon pays respect to the great ancestor; these are the ores mined by my subordinates during this period.¡± Seeing Lu Li emerge, the demons spoke one after another. ¡°Mm¡­ well done, continue to strive in your mining.¡± Lu Li nodded and then took out several Spirit Grasses to reward them. After swallowing the Spirit Grasses, the Spirit Turtles gleefully swam away into the distance. Seeing the demons leave, Lu Li collected the ores from the ground, scanned his Storage Bag with his Divine Sense, and was astonished by the vast quantity of Essence of Mystic Iron inside, estimated to be worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. ¡°It seems I need to make a trip to the marketplace to dispose of these, as advancing the spirit field requires a large amount of Spirit Stones.¡± With a plan in mind, he immediately started to execute it by swimming towards the sea surface. It wasn¡¯t long before he neared the sea surface. He reverted to his original form, activated the Hidden Spirit Technique, and quickly began to transform his appearance into a slender, lean man with a gentle demeanor, reducing his cultivation level to about the seventh level of Qi Cultivation. Then, he leapt up and tunneled through the sky. His teal Daoist robe fluttered wildly in the fierce wind, making a whistling sound. Lu Li found his direction and tunneled northeastward. ¡­ Jiayuan Square was located on a small island called Taiping Island, a tiny market square frequented by Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators from nearby areas to buy Spiritual Objects. At noon that day, a blue tunneling light swiftly approached Taiping Island. As it neared the island, the light stopped, revealing a gentle-faced man. Lu Li looked towards the Defensive Array ahead and fired a Communication Jade Token. After a short wait, the Array was deactivated, and two plump middle-aged cultivators with Qi Cultivation of the sixth level emerged. Seeing the visitor¡¯s formidable cultivation, the two cultivators were very cordial, ¡°May I ask if you plan to stay at Jiayuan Square for a long time or just briefly to purchase some Spiritual Objects?¡± ¡°Ten days will suffice.¡± Lu Li nodded. He was aware of some market regulations; short stays of less than half a month didn¡¯t require any Spirit Stones, but longer stays did, as the Spirit Vein wasn¡¯t free for cultivators to use. ¡°This way, senior.¡± The two opened the Array and courteously welcomed Lu Li inside. With hands clasped behind his back, Lu Li stepped through the Array and headed into the center of the island. Taiping Island wasn¡¯t large, spanning only a few miles. It had but a single high-grade first-order Spirit Vein, far inferior to the richness of the Spirit Turtle Cave Mansion. Jiayuan Square was in the center of the island. Lu Li slowly walked towards the market. It wasn¡¯t long before he entered through the gateway of the market, the ground paved with large bluestone, smooth and even. On both sides of the street, shops were neatly arranged, selling various magic artifacts and talismans suitable for the Qi Cultivation Realm, all appearing quite refined. At noon, more cultivators began to appear on the streets, most of them in the middle phase of Qi Cultivation with a few at full Qi Cultivation causing reverent glances from those around. He walked down this street towards the stalls in the back. Soon, he reached a square where several cultivators were setting up their stalls, and the square was getting increasingly crowded. Lu Li found a stall near a corner and sat down cross-legged. He slapped his Storage Bag, placing several mid-phase Qi Cultivation standard Flying Swords and some raw Essence of Mystic Iron ores on the stall, clearly portraying himself as an Artifact Refiner. After this period of intense Artifact Refining, he was now stable in making mid-grade first-order magic artifacts. The items on his stall weren¡¯t many, only worth around two thousand Spirit Stones. He had already made up his mind, at most only selling items worth over two thousand Spirit Stones at each market, and he would sell them incrementally over more than twenty occasions. By doing so, even if someone was attentive, it would be hard to notice anything unusual, since there were numerous mini-markets around, and tens of thousands of Spirit Stones distributed, it wouldn¡¯t catch anyone¡¯s eye. Lu Li was not in a hurry and began to quietly wait. Before long, a middle-aged man in the later stages of Qi Refinement approached. He was tall and had an extremely fierce presence. The man picked up a golden Flying Sword and carefully examined it for a while before asking, ¡°Kid, how are you selling this Flying Sword?¡± ¡°Seven hundred Spirit Stones.¡± Lu Li was sparing with his words. ¡°A regular mid-grade Flying Sword goes for around five hundred, you¡¯re asking seven hundred? I¡¯ll take it for four hundred Spirit Stones!¡± Fang Qin was brimming with arrogance. ¡°Scram!¡± Lu Li shouted, showing a hint of coldness. At this point, some of the surrounding cultivators, attracted by the noise, also came over. Among them, a Qi Refinement eighth level elder, accompanied by a young woman in a red dress in the middle stage of Qi Cultivation, was particularly eye-catching. Then the elder walked up to the stall and said, ¡°This Artifact Refining Master¡¯s Magic Artifact is very well made; it¡¯s almost approaching a superior-grade Magic Artifact. The price is quite fair.¡± ¡°Hmph¡­ Gu Li, are you sure you want to antagonize me?¡± Fang Qin said coldly. He, of course, knew the Magic Artifact was good and that selling it would net him a tidy profit. He had intended to use his imposing presence to deeply press the vendor, but an intervention had triggered his murderous intent. The surrounding cultivators watched with expressions eager for drama. This Fang Qin was a tyrant in the market, capitalizing on his ninth level of Qi Refinement to bully some vendors. Gu Li was also slightly cold; he had been dissatisfied with this individual for a long time. His granddaughter had been secretly targeted by him, which infuriated him yet filled him with dread. Today he finally confronted him. ¡°If you¡¯re not buying, put down the Magic Artifact and get lost!¡± Lu Li was becoming impatient; this person was already affecting his business. ¡°Fine¡­ you, young man, are formidable. It has been a long time since anyone dared to speak to me like this.¡± Fang Qin¡¯s expression was extremely cold, yet he did not lash out on the spot. Although he had some connections with the cultivators in the market, he could not openly break the rules here, as the Law Enforcement Team was not to be trifled with. He could only put down the Flying Sword and walk towards the back. As he left, a mysterious smile appeared on his face. Lu Li picked up the Flying Sword that the other person had touched and sneered to himself. The man had tampered with it, very covertly. Had he not known some Demon Path methods, he might not have even discovered it. Lu Li promptly stored the Flying Sword in his Storage Bag and continued to set up his stall. At this moment, the elder who had spoken earlier approached with the girl in the red dress. ¡°Grandfather, these Magic Artifacts are all good, buy one for your granddaughter,¡± Gu Yueer shook the elder¡¯s arm vigorously, seemingly unstoppable until her goal was achieved. Gu Li was somewhat helpless. He then smiled at Lu Li and said, ¡°Pardon my appearance, friend. How much for this fiery red Flying Sword?¡± Gu Li had immediately selected a Flying Sword from the corner of the stall. Lu Li¡¯s expression changed slightly; the elder had a discerning eye. This Magic Artifact was indeed the best mid-grade Magic Artifact present, and he was proud of it. ¡°Six hundred Spirit Stones.¡± He spoke faintly, returning the favor for the earlier support, although he did not need it. Gu Li¡¯s expression brightened, ¡°Thank you, fellow Daoist.¡± Knowing this was a friendly price, he did not try to bargain further. He then took out a pile of Spirit Stones, counted them, and laid them on the stall. ¡°Moonlight, this sword is exquisite; it¡¯s yours to use until the late stage of Qi Refinement.¡± Gu Yueer, receiving the Flying Sword, was overjoyed. Her gaze towards Lu Li also held some admiration; despite his young age, his Artifact Refining skills were impressively advanced. Lu Li then collected the Spirit Stones and resumed waiting. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Zhuang Guxue Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Zhuang Guxue An hour had passed, and Lu Li reopened his stall and managed to sell a Magic Artifact and a few pieces of Essence of Mystic Iron. It was a rather successful day. Just as he was about to close up, a young woman, roughly twenty years old and dressed in white, suddenly sat down cross-legged at the neighboring stall, capturing his attention. She had a delicate and beautiful face, a voluptuous figure, and her stage of Qi Refinement seemed to be around the eighth level. Her manner was extraordinary. The air was filled with a faint fragrance. Lu Li glanced over and saw that she had taken a few Array Plates from her Storage Bag and placed them on the stall before she started to meditate. ¡°This person is actually a rare Array Master.¡± Lu Li was somewhat surprised. Despite her young age, the Array Plates on her stall seemed to be extremely sophisticated, all being first-grade top-quality arrays. ¡°I wonder if this person can set up second-grade arrays.¡± He pondered this in his mind. He wasn¡¯t in a rush to speak and continued to quietly wait at the stall. By evening, only one cultivator had spent over a thousand Spirit Stones to buy an Array Plate from the woman, and then no further patrons stopped by. The square gradually emptied of cultivators. Just as the woman was preparing to close her stall, Lu Li called out to her, ¡°Guo An sends his greetings. I hope I¡¯m not being presumptuous in asking if you would be capable of setting up a second-grade array?¡± Hearing someone addressing her, Zhuang Guxue frowned slightly, ¡°I can only set up first-grade arrays; I¡¯m afraid I cannot meet your requirement.¡± She was about to leave after saying this. Lu Li stood up and approached her, ¡°If you do have a second-grade array, I would be willing to purchase it with a Magic Artifact.¡± Seeing his approach, Zhuang Guxue¡¯s expression immediately turned cold; she had seen too many male cultivators like him. Pretending to want to purchase arrays, but in reality, attempting to get closer to her. It truly annoyed her. Seeing her refusal, Lu Li didn¡¯t get upset but simply bid farewell and left. The two were not acquainted, it was just a tentative inquiry. Yet, it made him suspect that this person might have an extraordinary talent for arrays, perhaps not far from being able to handle second-grade arrays. Seeing Lu Li depart so cleanly and sharply, Zhuang Guxue was momentarily stunned. Was this person actually interested in purchasing Array Plates? However, since they were strangers, she dared not rashly sell the ancestral arrays. After leaving the array market, Lu Li proceeded straight towards the coast. In no time, he arrived above a stretch of ocean. He flew leisurely forward, seeming to be waiting for something. Suddenly, two streaks of tunneling light appeared behind him, rushing towards him at high speed. Lu Li stopped and stared calmly at the tunneling light not far away, a hint of coldness leaking from his lips. Once the tunneling light halted, a man and a woman appeared side by side, standing on the surface of the water. The man was Fang Qin, whom Lu Li had encountered earlier in the market and was now staring at him with a cold expression. The woman, about thirty years old and wearing a red dress, had a figure that was quite eye-catching and her eyes carried a hint of allure. ¡°Yo, such a handsome young man. It¡¯d be a pity to kill you outright. Perhaps let your sister here show you some affection first.¡± The woman chuckled. Beside her, Fang Qin¡¯s face was full of murderous intent, ¡°Kid, remember in your next life not to offend just anyone.¡± Having said that, he immediately summoned his Flying Sword, channeled his Mana, and sent a sweeping Sword Qi towards the top of Lu Li¡¯s head. Lu Li, not one to waste words, quickly summoned the Aminokaze, and his Flying Sword swung fiercely forward. The pure white blade¡¯s light flickered at the tip, emitting a powerful aura. ¡°Bang¡­¡± The two Magic Artifacts collided violently, creating a huge roar. The Aminokaze instantly knocked the other¡¯s Magic Artifact into the sea and continued its ferocious assault towards the opponent. ¡°What! Elder, this is all a misunderstanding¡­¡± Fang Qin felt the momentum of the Flying Sword and his face changed drastically, realizing that this man¡¯s abilities far surpassed his own. The woman beside him was instantly terrified, no longer maintaining her earlier composure. ¡°Fang Qin, you¡¯ve killed me! Didn¡¯t you say he was just an ordinary Loose Cultivator?¡± Before they could plead further, the Flying Sword instantly headed for the man¡¯s head. Fang Qin had just managed to summon a Defensive Magical Artifact, but it was swept away by a single strike, then the Flying Sword continued relentlessly towards his head. ¡°Ah¡­¡± A scream pierced the sky as a rounded head soared upward, a hint of regret lingering in its fading eyes, while the headless body soon toppled onto the sea surface. The woman beside him hadn¡¯t yet recovered from the shock, her face deathly pale. ¡°Senior, please spare my life, I¡¯m willing to serve you¡­¡± She hurriedly knelt on the surface of the sea, begging for mercy time and again. Lu Li¡¯s expression turned cold, and without another word, his Flying Sword spun and swiftly left another corpse on the sea surface. He was about to leave after collecting the two Storage Bags. Suddenly, there was some movement ahead. He turned his head to see a giant cyan boat rapidly approaching. On the boat, a woman in a purple palace dress stood at the bow, her face somewhat detached and cold, yet her figure was exceedingly enticing, forming a stark contrast. Two men stood around the woman, both at about the tenth level of Qi Refinement. Their eyes, however, held a trace of bewilderment, becoming fiercely fervent as they turned to look at the woman. Sensing the woman¡¯s aura, Lu Li¡¯s heart tightened, as she was young but already at the twelfth level of Qi Refinement. As Lu Li was assessing the three on the boat, the giant vessel was already at his side, clearly coming for him. At that moment, the woman on the boat gave a secretive smile, ¡°Fellow Daoist, your strength is commendable. How about serving Meier as a servant? I promise countless benefits.¡± The two men beside her, seeing the woman¡¯s smile, appeared utterly infatuated. Lu Li, sensing something was off, prepared to leave. But then, he suddenly felt a strange fluctuation. Xiao Meier chuckled continuously, her demeanor turning utterly seductive, ¡°No one has dared to be so presumptuous towards a beauty.¡± With that, she released a pink spiritual seal, rushing towards Lu Li. Then she unexpectedly began to dance at the bow, as if countless succubuses were moving through the ship, emitting a series of enchanting sounds. Lu Li watched, feeling a sudden dryness in his mouth, yet his mind became guarded. ¡°Such a powerful demonic technique, able to invoke the deepest desires of a Cultivator.¡± It appeared that the two men had already been marked. The instant the mark entered his body, he guarded his spiritual platform fervently, maintaining his lucidity. Thanks to his vigorous Essence Blood and strong Divine Sense, he had a substantial resistance to the seduction techniques. Seeing that Lu Li¡¯s spiritual platform remained unshaken, Xiao Meier began to panic. She increased her mana output, pushing the Profound Yin Enchantment Technique to its limits, attempting to shatter his heart completely, to subordinate him beneath her skirt. At that moment, Lu Li suddenly expelled a stream of Blood Sword Energy, swiftly slashing toward the woman like lightning. ¡°Blood Spirit Drill Secret Technique, who are you?¡± Xiao Meier¡¯s face drastically changed, then she promptly brought out a round shield-shaped Defensive Magical Artifact and set it before her. ¡°Clang¡­¡± A crisp collision sound rang out, as the glow of the Defensive Magical Artifact started to dim extremely. Xiao Meier instantly turned pale and ceased the operation of the Profound Yin Enchantment Technique. Just then, a pink seal flew back from Lu Li¡¯s body, instantly entering hers. ¡°Not good, the Demon Seed is backlashing!¡± Xiao Meier spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, her facial expression extremely ugly. Seeing this, Lu Li no longer lingered. The woman was too strange for his taste; he quickly turned and tunneled toward Spirit Turtle Basin, disappearing from Xiao Meier¡¯s view within a few breaths. All this happened in the blink of an eye, the two men hadn¡¯t even reacted when the skirmish had already ended. Xiao Meier watched as Lu Li¡¯s figure disappeared into the distance, a face full of regret showing. ¡°Who knew I, Xiao Meier, would fall to such an unknown entity today, with my cultivation it was almost impossible to fail¡­¡± At this moment, she recalled the evaluation of this technique by the elders of her sect. ¡°Although this technique is powerful, one must be extremely careful when planting a Demon Seed in a Cultivator, or else the backlash consequences are unbearable.¡± Now she had tasted the bitter fruits. Xiao Meier felt the Demon Seed in the depths of her mind, absorbing her mana and growing steadily stronger. The Demon Seed emitted a faint luminescence, constantly disturbing her consciousness. ¡°This cannot be known to anyone in the sect, otherwise, let alone aiming for the position of a true successor, even my life might not be spared.¡± Xiao Meier gritted her teeth and instantly summoned her Flying Sword, slashing towards the two men beside her. The two men, up until the Flying Sword was upon them, still wore faces full of endless affection, quite eerie. After dealing with the two men, Xiao Meier turned and left towards the back. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Superior Spirit Field Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Superior Spirit Field Over the next several days, Lu Li would go out every so often to sell some Essence of Mystic Iron and Magic Artifacts. After scouring micro-markets within thousands of miles, he finally managed to sell off most of the spiritual materials he had on hand. The process was convoluted, but the gains were very gratifying. This day, Lu Li came to the center of his cave and took out all the Spirit Stones he had accumulated over this period. A small mountain made up of Spirit Stones appeared on the floor, emitting a soft glow, totaling tens of thousands. The concentration of Spiritual Energy in the air suddenly increased significantly. At this point, he took out the Storage Bags belonging to Fang Qin and the woman, dumping everything inside out. Aside from four Magic Artifacts, there were various bottles and jars. Scattered around were some items of women¡¯s clothing. There were only a few hundred Spirit Stones in total. ¡°Truly two paupers,¡± Lu Li couldn¡¯t help but comment. He began sifting through the items on the ground, looking for any useful Spiritual Objects. ¡°Eh¡­ What¡¯s this?¡± Lu Li picked up a small cloth bag, squeezed it with his hand, and it seemed to contain some seeds, which piqued his interest. He untied the opening of the bag and poured the seeds out. He saw a clump of fiery red seeds piled up on the ground. The seeds were oval-shaped, brimming with Spiritual Energy and bursting with life. Lu Li picked up one seed, examining it carefully. The surface of the seed had some fine textures and was transparent overall. He brought it close to his nose and sniffed, a hint of rice fragrance wafted to him. ¡°Could this be¡­¡± Lu Li¡¯s face showed disbelief as he recalled the various spiritual materials chronicled within his family¡¯s records. Finally, he confirmed his suspicion. ¡°Ha ha¡­ It¡¯s actually the first-grade, high-quality Blood Jade Rice Seed!¡± A surge of elation swelled up in him in an instant. He recalled the records of the Blood Jade Rice Seeds, which as high-quality first-grade seeds, required very fertile spirit fields. From planting to harvesting, it needed two years, and long-term consumption could not only enhance Mana but also nourish the Divine Soul, which was extraordinary. ¡°Could this person have robbed a Spirit Plant Cultivator?¡± Lu Li was somewhat puzzled. He stopped pondering and stood up, walking towards the edge of the spirit field. Arriving at the edge of the field, he took out Spirit Stones, crushing them into fine powder, and then buried it into the spirit soil above. In just over an hour, the soil of ten-plus acres was all dealt with, and tens of thousands of Spirit Stones were buried within the spirit field, and now it was time to wait for the field¡¯s transformation. Two months later. Lu Li went to the edge of the spirit field, using his Divine Sense to probe the spirit soil. The Spiritual Energy was intense inside, with wisps of Spiritual Energy appearing as if to vaporize, rising from the surface of the spirit field. ¡°It¡¯s finally upgraded to a high-quality spirit field.¡± He felt extremely delighted. He then took out a bag of Blood Jade Spirit Rice Seeds, planting them one by one. Before long, aside from the two acres of land on the edge planted with Spirit Grass and Spirit Fruit, he had planted the rest with Spirit Rice. After completing all this, he activated his Mana, his hands forming spell gestures, and a breeze blew by, gathering a cloud in the sky. Soon, a light rain started to fall, and the rainwater contained traces of Spiritual Energy, tasting quite sweet. This Spring Rain Transformation Technique was essential for a Spirit Plant Cultivator, a spell he had learned not long ago, barely sufficient for casting. After the rain spell, Lu Li moved aside to practice his Sword Technique. After these years of uninterrupted hard work, he felt his Sword Technique was nearing mastery. Today, as he cast his spells, he suddenly felt an epiphany. He drew out his Aminokaze Sword, and under the guidance of the Sword Technique, more than ten sword shadows instantly filled the space, with sharp Sword Qi weaving through the void. Suddenly, the Sword Array shifted, transforming into thirty-six sword shadows, and the power of the Sword Qi surged, carrying a destructive force. ¡°I¡¯ve finally broken through.¡± Lu Li was very satisfied, his sword technique had greatly improved in power with this achievement. At the Qi Cultivation Stage, aside from True Disciples of major sects, he probably needn¡¯t fear any ordinary cultivators at full circle, but of course, he shouldn¡¯t be careless either. The following days passed by leisurely. Aside from daily meditation and Qi cultivation, he was watering the Spirit Rice. With abundant watering of Spiritual Liquid, the maturity period of Spirit Rice became shorter and shorter. Now, half a year had passed, and the Spirit Rice was about to mature, with Lu Li¡¯s supply of Spiritual Liquid nearly exhausted. A few more days passed, and he went to the edge of the spirit field. The entire field was filled with dense spikes of rice, bearing many plump grains of Spirit Rice. The whole spirit field shone with a blood-red radiance. He took out his Flying Sword and harvested all the Spirit Rice. Then, he took out a few pounds of Spirit Rice, put it into a vessel, and began to cook. Soon, a rich and pure fragrance filled the entire cave. Seeing that the Spirit Rice was cooked, he put it into a bowl and began to eat heartily. With every mouthful, he felt a sweetness spreading throughout his mouth, with the aroma of Spirit Rice going straight from the tip of his nose to the bottom of his heart. A warm current soon emerged in his body, making his Divine Soul feel like it was floating towards transcendence. In no time, he finished the whole portion of Spirit Rice. ¡°Not bad at all.¡± This top-quality Spirit Rice had effects that were simply incomparable to ordinary Spirit Tooth Rice. Even with his current physical foundation, he felt a slight improvement. Although not much, the effects would be significant with long-term consumption. Most importantly, there was an improvement in his Divine Sense, which felt significantly stronger. Lu Li stored all the Spirit Rice into his Storage Bag, planning to cook a bit every day to enjoy and not intending to sell any of it. Even True Disciples of major sects didn¡¯t enjoy such a treat, consuming tens of thousands of Spirit Stones worth in a year. After eating his fill, he sat cross-legged in his cave abode and began to meditate on cultivation, with the aid of plentiful spiritual materials, feeling a slight loosening in his realm. Time slowly passed by. More than three months later. In the secret chamber of the Spirit Turtle Basin cave abode. Waves of Spiritual Energy surged crazily, streaming towards the chamber. Soon, a giant Spirit Cocoon formed, wrapping Lu Li in the middle. The Spiritual Energy in the air condensed like mist and poured down towards Lu Li¡¯s head. After an indeterminate amount of time. Lu Li felt his Mana reaching its limit, with his meridians starting to swell. He operated his cultivation technique for the eleventh layer of Qi Refinement with all his strength. ¡°Break!¡± With a roar in his heart, there was a crackling sound from within his body, the bottleneck was instantly broken, and a much stronger aura than before burst forth, creating a whirlwind of Spiritual Energy. ¡°I¡¯ve finally broken through.¡± Lu Li slowly opened his eyes, his face full of joy. With the help of a second-order Spirit Vein and a large amount of spiritual materials, his cultivation began to advance rapidly. After consolidating his cultivation level, Lu Li walked out of the cave abode. Then, leaving the array, he moved towards Mystic Moon Island. It had been a long time since he returned, and he hadn¡¯t completed the clan¡¯s tasks; continuing like this might breach the rules. It was a good time to visit the clan and check on things now that he had a breakthrough. Several hours later, Mystic Moon Island came into view. Lu Li transformed back into human form and suppressed his aura to around the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation, then rode the tunneling light towards the island. Having been away for a long time, everything on the island seemed unchanged, and the commoners by the coast looked at Lu Li¡¯s tunneling light with awe. He arrived at Qingling Peak, passed through the array, and flew towards the mountainside. Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Defending the Vein Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Defending the Vein Lu Li walked into the Household Affairs Hall and saw Lu Yuting lying on a chair, basking in the sun with a lazy expression on her face. Upon seeing the visitor, Lu Yuting slowly opened her eyes and said, ¡°Li boy, you¡¯re here. I have some results regarding the information on Chen Tianqi you asked me to look into last time.¡± ¡°Oh? Where is this person?¡± Lu Li¡¯s expression remained calm. He had wanted to find an opportunity to kill this man for a long time, so he kept asking his family to track the other¡¯s movements. After all, there¡¯s no such thing as a thief who can guard against theft every day, and the enmity between the two was irreconcilable. It would be wise to eliminate him sooner rather than later. A mysterious smile curled on the corners of Lu Yuting¡¯s lips, ¡°That fellow is somewhat miserable lately, guarding the Red Copper Ore vein on Spirit Crane Island. Don¡¯t you do anything foolish¡­¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Lu Li nodded slightly, very composed. ¡°Is there a task to guard Spirit Crane Island in the clan this time? I¡¯ll take it.¡± Lu Yuting nodded, ¡°There¡¯s one more spot available, requiring one year of guarding, and you can earn three hundred contribution points.¡± Having said that, she took out a Jade Token and handed it over. Lu Li received the Token and turned to leave. But Lu Yuting did not forget to remind him as he left, ¡°Remember to do it cleanly, and don¡¯t make a fuss.¡± Lu Li said nothing and flew straight toward the foot of the mountain. With his current strength, the opponent was merely a one-slash affair, he just needed to find the right opportunity. Watching Lu Li¡¯s retreating figure, she had some doubts in her heart. This boy had always been the type to return an eye for an eye, and she had always been aware that there would be a day like this, and she had been keeping a watchful eye on the movements of the Chen family boy. Spirit Crane Island is a small island located about a thousand miles northeast of Mystic Moon Island. The island has a small vein of Red Copper Ore that produces some ore each year. This ore is used in crafting many middle-grade and high-grade Magic Artifacts, and it sells very well. To prevent Demon Cultivator attacks on this island, a first-order high-grade Defensive Array had been laid around it, with four families each sending two late-stage Qi Refinement Cultivators to guard the island. At noon, the sunlight was brilliant. On the sea not far from Spirit Crane Island, a small green boat was slowly sailing towards the island. A young man stood at the prow of the boat, his white robe fluttering in the breeze, very unrestrained. As Spirit Crane Island came into view, Lu Li leaped up and flew towards the island. In no time, he arrived in front of a Defensive Array and then sent a Communication Jade Token into the Array. Moments later, the Array rippled slightly, and a middle-aged man who had reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement came out. Seeing the figure outside the Array, Yan Muyun was momentarily taken aback and then said with a smile, ¡°It turns out to be Li Dao visiting to guard this place, quite unexpected indeed.¡± Lu Li smiled and nodded, handing over the Jade Token for the task, ¡°Mr. Yan, it¡¯s been many years. You look even more distinguished.¡± Yan Muyun laughed heartily, ¡°I can¡¯t compare to someone with your exceptional gifts. I¡¯ve already given up on Foundation Establishment and can only look forward to the younger generation.¡± Saying this, he opened the Array to welcome Lu Li inside. The two stepped into the Array and flew together towards the northwest peak. Before long, they arrived on a mountaintop. In the center of the mountaintop plateau, there were two small pavilions, hundreds of meters apart. Not far from the foot of the mountain, a group of raggedy commoners were coming in and out of several mine entrances, their backs laden with dark red ore. At this time, Yan Muyun spoke with an indifferent face, ¡°Our duties are not many, besides maintaining the normal operation of the ore vein, we also need to familiarize ourselves with the operation of the Array to withstand attacks from Demon Cultivators.¡± Having finished, he took out a black Token and handed it to Lu Li. Lu Li nodded, accepting the control Token, which seemed to be made of Essence of Mystic Iron, feeling slightly cold to the touch. ¡°In a few days, the Cultivators from the other families will arrive, and we will all go to the center of the island to familiarize ourselves with the operation of the Array.¡± Yan Muyun smiled faintly. ¡°Mr. Yan, notify this poor Daoist when the time comes.¡± Lu Li nodded in agreement and placed the control Token into his Storage Bag. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they parted ways, with Yan Muyun choosing the rightmost pavilion while Lu Li headed towards the left. Soon, he arrived in front of a green, two-story pavilion. This small pavilion was built from a type of lower-grade spirit wood and was very sturdy. He took out his mission proof, activated it, and the Array in front of him fluctuated and then opened. Lu Li immediately walked in; the first floor wasn¡¯t very spacious, spanning only about ten zhang in diameter, with the faint scent of spirit wood lingering in the air. Lu Li sat cross-legged and began to meditate and cultivate. Before long, he frowned, as long-term cultivation under a second-grade Spirit Vein had made him somewhat uncomfortable with the diluted Spiritual Energy present here. He took out several jin of Spirit Rice and began to cook it. After a short while, a rich fragrance filled the entire space. Seeing that the Spirit Rice was cooked through, he began to devour it eagerly, and it wasn¡¯t long before he had eaten it all cleanly. Feeling waves of Spiritual Energy emerging within him, he felt highly satisfied. ¡°Luckily, I brought plenty of Spirit Rice, otherwise I really wouldn¡¯t know how to get through this year; shifting from luxury to frugality is too difficult.¡± After his meal, Lu Li prepared to start refining Magic Artifacts again. Having fed a vast amount of ores over the years, his Artifact Refining skills had improved greatly, and he was just a step away from refining high-quality Magic Artifacts. He took out his Artifact Refining cauldron and ignited the spirit wood with Mana. A tangerine-hued flame danced at the base of the cauldron like a fiery sprite, with waves of heat emanating into the air. Lu Li took out several pieces of Red Copper Ore and Secret Silver Essence, placed them in the cauldron, and soon they melted into a pool of liquid metal. He then added several pieces of Essence of Mystic Iron, melting them together into a colorful liquid. His hands moved swiftly, casting one spell after another. The liquid became increasingly clear, with impurities being removed. When the metal reached the right moment, he began to slowly control the temperature, and soon the liquid in mid-air started to cool down. He quickly cast several shaping spells, and moments later, a small and exquisite Flying Sword took shape. Lu Li poured the Endless Water over the sword body; as soon as it made contact, plumes of white smoke rose from the sword, filling the whole space. Finally, he cast several sharp and sturdy Rune spells, and with a few flashes of light, the Flying Sword immediately revealed a hint of cold gleam. Seeing the Flying Sword fully completed, Lu Li held it in his hand with a delighted expression. With Mana surging through it, the sword emitted inches of pale sword light, extremely sharp. ¡°I¡¯ve finally succeeded in refining a high-quality Magic Artifact.¡± He looked at the high-quality Flying Sword in his hands, almost unable to let go of it. In the following days, Lu Li spent his time either cooking Spirit Rice or improving his proficiency in Artifact Refining. Having succeeded once, he was now able to consistently refine high-quality Flying Swords, which signified his formal entry into the ranks of a high-grade Artifact Refiner. This also laid a solid foundation for refining his own Lifebound Flying Sword in the future. However, the refinement of a Lifebound Flying Sword required great care, at least second-grade spiritual materials and spiritual ores. Even after successful refinement, one couldn¡¯t rest easy, as it needed to be nurtured daily with Essence Blood Power. Only then could it exhibit the greatest might of a Lifebound Flying Sword, and even upon advancement in cultivation, allowing the Flying Sword to ascend into a Lifebound Magical Treasure, stronger than ordinary Magic Treasures. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Re-encounter with Chen Tianqi Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Re-encounter with Chen Tianqi Several days had passed. This day, Lu Li had just finished his meal of Spirit Rice and was basking in the sun in front of the attic. The warm sunlight poured over him, making him feel somewhat drowsy. Just then, a Communication Jade Token suddenly flew in. Lu Li received the token and, after reading the message, opened the Array and walked out. Not far ahead, Yan Muyun was looking at him with a smile that was as refreshing as a spring breeze. ¡°Mr. Lu has hardly left the attic for a long time, your cultivation is truly diligent. It¡¯s no wonder you¡¯re not far from the ninth layer of Qi Refinement at such a young age.¡± Lu Li replied humbly, ¡°Mr. Yan is too kind with his praise. Compared with the seeds of the Foundation Establishment from the major families, I still have a long way to go.¡± ¡°Are the cultivators from the other families already gathered for today¡¯s visit?¡± Yan Muyun nodded upon hearing this, ¡°That¡¯s right, the cultivators sent by the other three families have already arrived days ago. Will Mr. Lu be prepared to accompany me today?¡± Lu Li nodded his agreement, and the two of them flew towards the center of the island. It wasn¡¯t long before they arrived at a large mountain-top plaza. The plaza was tens of meters in radius, the ground paved with giant green stones, and a few meditation cushions were placed around the perimeter. At this moment, six figures were sitting upright on the cushions, one of whom was Lu Li¡¯s old acquaintance, Chen Tianqi, who looked significantly older. Next to Chen was a cultivator in a black robe with a rugged complexion, whose level of cultivation was only about the seventh layer of Qi Refinement. The Lin and Wang Families had sent middle-aged cultivators, both of whom were around the ninth layer of Qi Refinement. Chen Tianqi¡¯s expression darkened as he saw Lu Li and Yan Muyun arriving, but then he restrained himself and did not show any displeasure. Lu Li glanced at Chen Tianqi and gained a higher opinion of him. It was unexpected that through this turn of events, the man had become more cunning. However, this posed little trouble for him, as Chen¡¯s cultivation was far from being a match for his own. Lu Li and Yan Muyun stepped forward and each took a seat on a cushion. At that point, a tall cultivator from the Wang Family, seeing everyone had arrived, spoke up with a smile on his face, ¡°Now that all the friends here have gathered, let¡¯s jointly refine the Array Formation Tokens and get some preliminary control over the Eight Gates Locking Sky Array.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement, after all, that was the main purpose of today¡¯s gathering. Subsequently, several cultivators took out their Array Formation Tokens and began to refine them together. All sorts of glows appeared in the void, and the Array Formation Tokens emitted strange vibrations. Moments later, eight gigantic light pillars shot into the sky, reaching the blue vault of heaven above, and soon disappeared into the void. Down at the foot of the mountain, the surrounding Array Light Screens began to glow intermittently, brightening and dimming, as if there were ripples of water flowing on them. ¡°This Eight Gates Locking Sky Array is a first-grade top-quality Array, and its defensive strength is remarkable. If we become skilled in controlling it, even several cultivators at the pinnacle of Qi Refinement wouldn¡¯t be able to break through it quickly.¡± Wang Siping, who had spoken first, explained to the group once more. ¡°All the friends present only need to practice more from now on.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. Afterwards, they put away their control tokens. At this time, a cultivator from the Lin Family, dressed in a black robe, laughed and suggested to the group, ¡°Today, as the friends here have all gathered, why not hold an exchange meeting?¡± He then took out some Spirit Talismans and Medicine Pills and placed them before him. ¡°Indeed, that suits us perfectly.¡± Wang Siping, fully in agreement, also took out several Spirit Grasses and placed them on the ground. As everyone followed suit, various Spiritual Objects were displayed for sale, and the air became filled with the fragrance of Spiritual Energy. Lu Li glanced over, but did not find any items of interest to him. He then symbolically took out a few medium-grade Magic Artifacts and placed them in front of him, being very low-key. The place grew lively as people began to trade spiritual materials, with Yan Muyun beside him exchanging two bottles of Mana Recovery Medicine Pills. ¡°Mr. Lu, don¡¯t you need some Medicine Pills for Mana recovery?¡± With Lu Li showing no interest, Wang Siping felt a bit puzzled. ¡°I had already prepared adequately before coming here.¡± Lu Li smiled. His Storage Bag contained Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar enough to last him for decades; why would he need any Medicine Pills? Of course, he was not going to trade these spiritual materials. ¡°Is Mr. Lu possibly skilled in crafting top-grade Magic Artifacts?¡± Wang Siping saw that the middle-grade magic artifacts on Lu Li¡¯s stall were very well-crafted and was somewhat surprised. ¡°Currently, I can only forge middle-grade magic artifacts.¡± Lu Li said with a slight smile. Upon hearing this, the crowd also showed a hint of regret, as although these middle-grade magic artifacts were good, everyone was in the late stages of Qi Refinement and urgently needed top-grade magic artifacts to enhance their foundations. ¡°Mr. Lu, to be able to forge middle-grade magic artifacts at such a young age, your future is boundless.¡± A cultivator of the Lin Family said with evident admiration. ¡°You flatter me, Mr. Lin.¡± Lu Li responded modestly, appearing quite low-profile. Seeing the crowd showering compliments one after another, Chen Tianqi revealed a hint of coldness from the corner of his eye. Afterward, everyone traded for some spiritual objects, and all but Lu Li made some gains, each wearing a happy expression. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day then.¡± Wang Siping announced seeing that the trade meeting had successfully concluded. Subsequently, everyone bid their farewells and left. Lu Li directly rode his tunneling light and flew towards the loft on the left. ¡­¡­ In the following days, life was very peaceful. Every day, aside from forging magic artifacts and cultivating his sword technique, he would consume Spirit Rice to assist his cultivation. In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed. On this day, the sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze wafted. After completing his cultivation, Lu Li walked out of his loft, ready to check on the mining situation. He slowly proceeded along the mountain path towards the foot of the mountain. The breeze tousled his hair, bringing with it waves of warmth, making him very comfortable. Near the entrance at the base of the mountain, groups of mortals moved staggeringly towards a base on the western side of the mountain foot, like ants. At the base on the west side, there was a pavilion where a young man with a sharp chin and monkey cheeks sat, looking down condescendingly at a group of mine slaves. Next to the man were several piles of red ore. ¡°Get to work, all of you. These are for the Immortal Master. If anyone messes up, they¡¯ll have to answer to my whip.¡± Yu Ergou brandished a thorny whip with a sinister smile while looking at the mine slaves. The mine slaves in front of him were indignant but dared not speak out. Although Yu Ergou was hateful, he had the support of the Immortal Master, beyond the offense of these mortals. At that moment, the appearance of two figures at the mouth of the mountain path caught everyone¡¯s attention. A middle-aged man dressed in tattered clothes, carrying a huge basket on his back filled with ore, was so weighed down that his entire body was bent. The man was also holding the hand of a girl about twelve years old, who had a pretty face and similarly carried a smaller basket on her back, gritting her teeth in obvious pain. The two were making their way towards the pavilion in an unsteady manner. Soon, they arrived before Yu Ergou. ¡°Yan Ziming, you really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you. Just agree to give me your daughter, and your quota will be greatly reduced in the future.¡± Yu Ergou said arrogantly. Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man¡¯s face was full of anger, and his fingernails dug viciously into his palms. ¡°You can forget about that ever happening.¡± Yan Miaowei also glared at Yu Ergou with rage. The surrounding mine slaves were angry but powerless to help. Just then, Lu Li arrived near the pavilion and frowned upon seeing what was unfolding in front of him. He didn¡¯t want to meddle in the affairs of mortals as long as they didn¡¯t interfere with the normal operation of the mines. At this moment, a group of mine slaves noticed Lu Li¡¯s arrival and, frightened, knelt to the ground. Yu Ergou, startled, hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly. ¡°I deserve to die for not knowing the Immortal Master was gracing us with his presence.¡± Yan Ziming and his daughter also knelt down, their eyes looking at Lu Li with a glimmer of hope. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Alien Insect Eggs Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Alien Insect Eggs Lu Li paid no attention to the crowd, merely gathering the ores from the ground before turning to leave. Just then, Yan Ziming, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly spoke out, ¡°Please, Immortal Master, save my daughter. We were framed¡­¡± His tone was filled with sorrow as he bowed continuously to Lu Li, his forehead bleeding from the impact. Next to him, Yan Miaowei also knelt beside her father, her clear, large eyes brimming with tears. ¡°Do you both wish to die? How dare you presume to seek favor from the Immortal Master?¡± Before Lu Li could react, Yu Ergou, seeing the situation, immediately turned pale with fear. Upon seeing this, Lu Li frowned slightly but did not respond, simply continuing forward. He had little desire to meddle in the grievances of mortals; the nearby island was full of countless unresolved mortal complaints. Seeing that Lu Li ignored them, Yu Ergou¡¯s face lit up with delight, turning to stare hatefully at the father and daughter, his gaze as threatening as a predator¡¯s. Yan Ziming¡¯s face instantly showed a look of despair, and Yan Miaowei cried pitifully. ¡°Immortal Master, please wait, this humble one has a curious object to offer.¡± Seeing that Lu Li was about to leave, Yan Ziming bit his lip and called out loudly. ¡°A curious object?¡± At the end of the mountain path, Lu Li, hearing this, suddenly became interested. He turned around and slowly walked back to the two of them, emanating a trace of a cultivator¡¯s imposing aura, his expression somewhat stern. ¡°Do you understand the consequences of deceiving a cultivator?¡± Overwhelmed by this pressure, Yan Ziming felt a tightness in his chest, struggling to breathe. ¡°I dare not deceive you, Immortal Master. This object was found in the depths of a mine.¡± He spoke extremely respectfully, reaching deep into his collar to pull out two black orbs from his pocket, holding them above his head and extending them forward. These walnut-sized orbs emitted a luminescent light, quite peculiar. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lu Li sensed faint fluctuations of Spiritual Energy from these orbs and was surprised; these items were likely related to cultivators. However, the fluctuations were very weak. Had he not scanned them directly with his Divine Sense, he would have missed them. He took the two orbs and examined them closely in his palm. Their surfaces were covered with interlocking black and white patterns, rough to the touch, and he could sense a slight Life Energy inside, suggesting they might be eggs of some creature. He carefully searched his memory for information about beast eggs but could not match any to these objects. This piqued his interest even further. Seeing that Lu Li was investigating, Yan Ziming felt extremely nervous, while Yan Miaowei looked on with hopeful eyes. Only Yu Ergou on the side felt like an ant on a hot pan, anxious inside but unable to voice his distress. ¡°After today, I must deal properly with these two!¡± He bitterly swore to himself. At that moment, Lu Li spoke in a calm tone to the two, ¡°This object does have some uses. I shall accept it. Speak your requests, and as long as they are not too excessive, I shall grant them.¡± Upon hearing this, the faces of Yan Ziming and his daughter lit up with ecstatic joy, whereas Yu Ergou collapsed to the ground in a heap. ¡°Could you test my daughter¡¯s Spirit Root first, Immortal Master?¡± Yan Ziming asked cautiously. ¡°Didn¡¯t the island conduct a comprehensive test a few years ago? Was your daughter not tested then?¡± Lu Li was somewhat puzzled. ¡°Just at that time, I had an incident, so my daughter missed it.¡± Saying this, Yan Ziming¡¯s expression turned a bit pained. Lu Li nodded, stepped forward, and approached Yan Miaowei. He extended his hand and placed it above her head, quietly circulating a strand of Mana to seep into her body. Feeling the warm touch on her forehead, Yan Miaowei¡¯s face suddenly blushed. She gazed quietly at Lu Li in front of her, feeling very nervous. After a while, the strand of Mana circulated through her body smoothly, quite effortlessly. ¡°Eh¡­ this person actually has the talent for cultivation.¡± Lu Li was somewhat surprised. He didn¡¯t expect that the first time he tested someone¡¯s Spirit Root, he would encounter a mortal with the potential for cultivation. However, he could only tell that the person had talent for cultivation; as for the affinity with Spiritual Energy, that could only be tested within the clan. Judging by the smoothness of the mana just now, it seemed likely that he was of medium-grade talent. At this moment, Yan Ziming, who was kneeling on the ground, was also looking at Lu Li with a face full of expectation, feeling extremely anxious. ¡°Your daughter has the talent for cultivation, and her aptitude is quite good.¡± Lu Li gave a slight smile, his expression becoming very kind. This little girl will most likely become a Guest Elder on the island in the future, so forming a good relationship now wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. Upon hearing this, Yan Miaowei and Yan Ziming instantly showed ecstatic expressions. ¡°This humble person thanks the Immortal Master for his compassion, and dares to request the Immortal Master to take my daughter as a disciple.¡± Holding Yan Miaowei¡¯s hand, Yan Ziming knelt on the ground and kowtowed deeply. Lu Li was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, ¡°Your daughter will also join the Lu Family and become a Guest Elder in the future. Our family does not have a master-disciple tradition.¡± ¡°Master, please accept Miao Wei; Miao Wei will be very obedient¡­¡± Yan Miaowei looked hopeful. Although she was young, she knew that the master-disciple relationship was closer than that of a Guest Elder. Yan Ziming also spoke very respectfully, ¡°Can my daughter be both a Guest Elder and your disciple?¡± He was also scheming in his heart; this Immortal Master seemed much younger than the previous one and probably had a greater future. He would feel much more at ease with his daughter under his protection. Seeing this, Lu Li thought for a while and then nodded in agreement, ¡°Well then, since I have taken your Spiritual Objects, let her be a nominal disciple.¡± In the Cultivation World, nominal disciples were very different from Direct Disciples. Nominal disciples could even be numerous, receiving essentially no support, often dismissed with just a Cultivation Technique. Hearing this, Yan Ziming and his daughter felt a bit disappointed but still nodded in acceptance, knowing they could not force the matter further¡ªthis was already the best outcome. Yan Miaowei, her face beaming, kowtowed deeply on the ground, ¡°Disciple greets Master.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ as your master, my name is Lu Li. You may follow me in cultivation for a while and later become a Guest Elder on Mystic Moon Island.¡± Lu Li smiled and helped her up. ¡°But¡­ my father¡­¡± Yan Miaowei¡¯s face struggled; she admired the Path of Immortality greatly but couldn¡¯t bear to part with her father¡¯s love. Lu Li looked at his disciple in front of him and highly approved of her. It seemed this disciple valued relationships highly and was a promising student. He didn¡¯t want to take in an ungrateful disciple. ¡°From now on, let Yan Ziming be the overseer.¡± Lu Li spoke indifferently, his tone leaving no room for doubt. Hearing this, Yu Ergou¡¯s face immediately turned ashen, and he lost all hope of fortune. The surrounding group of mine slaves all looked enviously at the father and daughter. It seemed they were truly about to rise to great heights. ¡°Disciple thanks the Master; I will surely listen to Master¡¯s words from now on¡­¡± Yan Miaowei said firmly. Lu Li smiled and then led Yan Miaowei towards the mountain¡¯s summit pavilion. ¡°Miao¡¯er, follow the Immortal Master in cultivation, and don¡¯t worry about your father¡­¡± Seeing Yan Miaowei leaving with Lu Li, Yan Ziming advised. Tears swirled in Yan Miaowei¡¯s eyes, ¡°Child knows, father also take care of your health¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Once you embark on the path of cultivation, find some Medicine Pills for common folk to nurture your father¡¯s body, healing any fatigue will be nothing.¡± Lu Li spoke reassuringly, smiling, though he didn¡¯t have any Medicine Pills suitable for mortals. ¡°Understood, Disciple knows.¡± Yan Miaowei nodded firmly. Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Teaching the Disciple Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Teaching the Disciple Lu Li brought Yan Miaowei to the attic at the mountain summit. He settled her in the neighboring room. He took out a beginner¡¯s book on family cultivation knowledge and handed it to her, it contained information on various meridians and acupoints. ¡°Memorize the cultivation knowledge in this book first.¡± Yan Miaowei received the book and nodded seriously. Seeing this, Lu Li also let out a sigh of relief, thankful that she could read, which spared him a lot of trouble. ¡­ Ten days later. In the great hall of the mountain summit attic. Lu Li formally began to teach her how to cultivate. Yan Miaowei was seen sitting cross-legged on a cushion, with her eyes slightly closed, looking very solemn. Lu Li gently placed his right hand on her forehead, channeling a strand of his mana into her body to explore. ¡°Hold your breath and focus, rotate according to the first layer of the Qi Cultivation Technique¡­¡± Hearing the encouraging voice next to her ear, Yan Miaowei did not dare to neglect and began to slowly rotate the cultivation technique. After some time, she suddenly felt a bit of mana emerging inside her, slowly flowing in the depths of her meridians, which felt very comfortable. ¡°I¡¯ve done it!¡± Yan Miaowei was instantly overjoyed. Lu Li withdrew his mana and nodded, ¡°Cultivate well in the future, do not slack off.¡± ¡°Disciple will heed Master¡¯s teaching.¡± Yan Miaowei looked obedient. Lu Li, seeing that his disciple had gotten started, did not attend to her any further. He went deep into the secret chamber and took out the two round eggs. His divine sense gently swept over them and he could clearly sense a trace of life force, as if a small life was beating inside them, which was quite magical. For now, not knowing what type of Demon Beast Eggs they were, he decided to try incubating them. Lu Li took out some dried grass and made a small nest with it, and placed some spirit stones around it. Finally, he gently placed the two round eggs in the center and wrapped them with dried grass. This dried grass, which was dried spirit grass from the bottom of the sea and contained traces of spiritual energy, was specially used for the incubation of beast eggs. After doing all this, he took out a demon refinement pot, and slowly poured a few drops of spiritual liquid around the two round eggs. The spiritual liquid slowly penetrated into the eggs, starting to emit a luminous glow. After observing for a while and seeing no changes, he left the secret chamber. The following days passed very plainly. Every day, besides playing with his little disciple, he would come to water the round eggs. During their prolonged time together, Yan Miaowei gradually opened up, becoming much livelier and no longer as silent as before. Moreover, under his unremitting efforts, the life force of the two round eggs also greatly increased. However, he found it strange that the beast eggs showed no sign of hatching. Such days quickly passed into half a year. One day, as the sunrise began, golden light spread across the entire mountain summit. Lu Li lay in a rocking chair basking in the sun, the warm sunlight shining on his chest, making him feel a pleasant warmth, his demeanor extremely leisurely. ¡°Master, Master¡­ your disciple has finally learned the Fireball Technique¡­¡± Yan Miaowei ran over from the west side of the summit, calling out continuously with a joyful expression. Lu Li slowly opened his eyes, looking at his lively and lovely disciple, and smiled faintly. He seemed to see in her the same excitement he had felt when he learned his first spell, almost making it hard for him to sleep. ¡°A girl over ten years old, still so impatient and unpresentable.¡± He half-laughingly scolded her. Hearing this, Yan Miaowei was not frightened and ran straight over: ¡°Your disciple was just too excited, the spell is quite powerful.¡± The half-year together had made her understand her master¡¯s personality. As long as she did not do anything rebellious, her master was very easygoing. Now she had also become quite ¡°bold,¡± occasionally clinging to him and acting spoiled. Lu Li smiled, ¡°Then show your master the spell, but remember, if you fail, there is a ¡®punishment¡¯.¡± Yan Miaowei was not afraid and her eyes lit up: ¡°If your disciple succeeds, could you reward Miao Wei with a Flying Sword?¡± Ever since she knew that her master was an Artifact Refining Master, she had been pestering him, wishing for a Flying Sword of her own. Riding a sword and controlling the wind, eliminating demons between heaven and earth is the ultimate dream of every cultivator, and it was her motivation to practice hard. Now, seeing that her master was testing her, she was not at all panicked and had confidence in her heart. ¡°Alright, I agree to that.¡± Lu Li fondly touched the top of her head. This little disciple was quite to his liking; she had taken over some chores during this time and they had grown quite close. Yan Miaowei¡¯s mouth curved into a slight smile. She let go of Lu Li¡¯s arm and walked to a flat area six or seven meters away. Her hands quickly moved to form magic spells, creating afterimages, and suddenly a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation transmitted through the air. Then, a large orange fireball appeared in the void. ¡°Fireball Technique, go!¡± Yan Miaowei shouted, controlling the huge fireball to smash onto a large rock ahead to her left. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Following a huge roar, the rock instantly shattered into pieces and scattered on the ground. ¡°I succeeded!¡± Yan Miaowei jumped up excitedly, her face slightly flushed. She then ran to Lu Li¡¯s side and hugged his arm, looking like she was seeking praise. Lu Li was somewhat helpless, laughing and chiding, ¡°In the future, when fighting others, you cannot shout out the name of the spell.¡± ¡°Your disciple understands.¡± Yan Miaowei nodded firmly. ¡°Master must be tired, let me massage your shoulders for you.¡± Saying this, she moved to Lu Li¡¯s back, ready to start the massage. ¡°That¡¯s enough, your master isn¡¯t tired, here¡¯s the magic artifact for you.¡± Lu Li smiled and decided not to tease her further. He took out a fiery-red flying sword from his storage bag directly. The flying sword was about a few feet long, radiating fiery-red flowing light around it, with a chilling gleam at the tip, an extraordinary aura emanating from it. This sword was a mid-grade flying sword and also one of his proud creations. The reason he hadn¡¯t bestowed an upper-grade flying sword upon her was for fear that she would become overambitious, and also because it might attract the attention of those with ulterior motives. With her current level of cultivation, this flying sword would be sufficient for many years. Yan Miaowei fell in love with the magic artifact at first sight. She shamelessly approached Lu Li¡¯s side and took the flying sword with a face full of joy. ¡°Disciple thanks Master, I will definitely cultivate diligently from now on and won¡¯t tarnish Master¡¯s reputation.¡± ¡°Your master doesn¡¯t have much of a reputation, just don¡¯t let me down,¡± Lu Li said with a smile. Yan Miaowei smiled, holding the flying sword, and couldn¡¯t wait to run towards the flat peak behind, remembering to call back before leaving, ¡°Disciple understands, I am going to refine the flying sword now¡­¡± Lu Li watched her figure fade into the distance, feeling quite sentimental. When he first met her at the foot of the mountain, she was timid and obedient; now, in the blink of an eye, she had become much more restless. And because she had had an ample supply of food over this period, Yan Miaowei¡¯s figure had filled out, and she was starting to look quite the beauty. After basking in the sun for a while, seeing that the day had heated up as it advanced, he went back inside the loft. ¡­ In the following few days, Yan Miaowei refined the flying sword a bit, then couldn¡¯t wait to emerge from seclusion. It was about time for her to settle some matters, as she had never forgotten the humiliation she once endured, grateful that meeting her master had changed everything¡­ The next morning was sunny and bright. Yan Miaowei used the Wind Control Skill to fly down the mountain. Like the Fireball Technique, this spell was also a basic one and not difficult to learn; she had gotten the hang of it in just over ten days. She rose into the air, fluttering between the mountains and forests, flying swiftly toward the pavilion at the foot of the mountain, like a sprite in the sky. Chasing the blue skies and white clouds, she flew unrestrainedly through the landscape, feeling incredibly liberated. Before long, she reached the end of the mountain path. Yan Miaowei slowed down and saw that not far ahead, her father was leisurely lying on a rocking chair, basking in the coolness, looking very comfortable. Since he hadn¡¯t overexerted himself recently, his complexion had grown ruddier. Several hundred meters away, a group of miners was strenuously moving rocks, presenting a stark contrast. At that moment, a group of miners noticed Yan Miaowei approaching, looking at her with reverent sidelong glances. Among the miners, there was a familiar figure, Yu Ergou, who now looked at Yan Miaowei with terror. He now understood that they were worlds apart, that she could squash him as easily as an ant. The thought filled him with fear, and his legs trembled, leaving him collapsed on the ground, while the surrounding miners looked on at Yu Ergou with schadenfreude. Yan Miaowei ignored everyone and quietly made her way to the pavilion ahead, planning to surprise her father. But before she could approach, Yan Ziming sniffed the air, as if he detected a very familiar scent. He turned his head to look, and a huge surprise filled his entire being. He saw his daughter standing nearby in a white dress, tall and graceful, smiling at him with an air of ethereal grace. ¡°Miao Wei, weren¡¯t you studying spells with the Immortal Master? Did you get into trouble and get sent down?¡± His expression turned worried, as if concerned about the well-being they owed to Lu Li, the Immortal Master. ¡°How could that be¡­ Master has been very kind to me and even gave me a flying sword.¡± Yan Miaowei approached, took out the flying sword, and played with it in her hands, not wanting to let it go. Relieved, Yan Ziming marveled at the fiery-red flying sword in his daughter¡¯s hands, ¡°This flying sword looks very precious, remember to always listen to your master¡­¡± ¡°Daughter will never forget Master¡¯s kindness in giving me a new lease of life¡­¡± Yan Miaowei nodded firmly. Seeing that his daughter was sensible, Yan Ziming felt proud. ¡°Today, my daughter has come to kill that dog thief, Yu Ergou!¡± Yan Miaowei¡¯s face was frosty. ¡°You may deal with that matter yourself, now that you¡¯re an esteemed Immortal Master. I have been ¡®taking care of¡¯ him for you during this time.¡± Yan Ziming said with a smile. Yan Miaowei nodded at his words and then proceeded towards the nearby distance. Before long, she stood before the miners. The miners, seeing her, knelt to the ground, but in their hearts, they were extremely envious. The father and daughter were indeed blessed by fate, transforming from commoners to the privileged, something others could not even dream of. Yu Ergou, not far away, was utterly despondent, having made a mess on the ground. ¡°Lady, spare my life, I was blind and didn¡¯t see your greatness¡­¡± He cried miserably, begging loudly for mercy. The miners looked contemptuously at Yu Ergou, distancing themselves a few steps, as if avoiding a plague. ¡°Hmph!¡± Yan Miaowei snorted coldly, channeled her mana, and instantly, a large, orange-yellow fireball appeared in the air, then swiftly hurtled towards Yu Ergou. ¡°Aah¡­¡± A scream echoed, and Yu Ergou was reduced to ashes in an instant. The surrounding people watched in fear, the power of an Immortal Master truly extraordinary. After finishing this, Yan Miaowei flew back to the mountaintop. Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55 The Ants Eggs Chapter 55: Chapter 55 The Ant¡¯s Eggs Early morning, inside the attic on the mountain peak. Lu Li came to the depths of the secret room and quietly observed the round egg at the center of the small nest. Surrounding it, a radiant glow circulated, and the Spiritual Energy within had also grown much stronger. Upon probing with his Divine Sense, it seemed as though the small life inside was breathing, its heartbeat fluctuating in a truly miraculous way. However, what puzzled him was that this Beast Egg had been in this state for several months now, showing no signs of change or of hatching. ¡°Could it be lacking some critical condition?¡± Lu Li pondered in his heart, when he seemed to think of something. He then directly took out the Immortal Treasure Fragment and rather brutally awakened the spirit within. The Spirit Monkey opened its eyes, somewhat bleary, ¡°Kid Lu Li, what is it this time? It hasn¡¯t been many days, and every awakening costs the ancestor a sliver of primordial energy¡­¡± Lu Li smiled and ignored the other¡¯s complaints, pointing towards the Beast Egg and asking, ¡°Ancestor, do you know what this is?¡± The Spirit Monkey turned its head to look, carefully observing the two Beast Eggs in the small nest. ¡°Eh? This is actually the young egg of an ancient ant-leech.¡± The Spirit Monkey appeared quite surprised. Upon seeing this, Lu Li¡¯s expression brightened; it turned out as he expected¡ªthe ancestor, having seen a lot, might know about this item. ¡°What is the ancient ant-leech?¡± He was somewhat puzzled, having heard of ¡®ants shaking big trees,¡¯ but he was truly unclear about what this ancient ant-leech actually was. The Spirit Monkey paused for a moment: ¡°To put it simply, it is the ancestor of the ant-leech, the first generation of ancestral insects; its strength is not bad when it matures.¡± ¡°It can rank over a thousand on the Chaotic Insect List; obviously, if it¡¯s in this world, it would be quite extraordinary.¡± Lu Li heard this and was overjoyed; he couldn¡¯t believe this little disciple had brought him such a big surprise. ¡°Ancestor, do you know how to hatch this object?¡± He spoke very politely. After thinking carefully for a while, the Spirit Monkey said, ¡°To hatch this object, you need a Spirit Grass called Void Spirit Grass to help.¡± ¡°This grass emits a stimulating scent that makes the eggs extremely active.¡± ¡°Void Spirit Grass?¡± Lu Li looked puzzled; he had never heard of this herb, and it wasn¡¯t mentioned in the family¡¯s Spirit Grass records either. It seemed that he would have to visit the Lu Family and ask the ancestor about it later on. ¡°Alright then, ancestor is going back to sleep¡­¡± With that, it plunged back into the fragment. Lu Li put away the fragment and then approached the eggs. He carefully placed the two eggs into the Spiritual Beast Bag and then collected the nearby Spirit Stones. After completing all this, he swallowed a Medicine Pill and began his daily meditation and cultivation. In this place, the Spiritual Energy was thin, and he could only rely on Medicine Pills and Spirit Rice to maintain the growth of his cultivation. Days passed by slowly. In the blink of an eye, another month had gone by. Lu Li always remembered the purpose of his coming here and was carefully investigating the other¡¯s whereabouts. What puzzled him was that his quarry did not venture out and had become much more low-key, staying inside the Array to cultivate, which made it difficult for Lu Li to find an opportunity to act. He was not annoyed, however, waiting quietly, like an old hunter, always searching for his chance. One day, early morning, as the sun was rising. Just as Lu Li stepped out of the attic, he saw Yan Miaowei flying on her Flying Sword in a wobbly manner, quite comical. When Yan Miaowei saw Lu Li come out, she flew over excitedly. ¡°Master, I¡¯ve learned Sword Flight,¡± she exclaimed. Lu Li smiled, ¡°You¡¯re lying flat on the sword to fly, you¡¯re still far from it.¡± ¡°Today your Aunt Yu Ling will come, she¡¯ll take you to Mystic Moon Island to cultivate, this place with its thin Spiritual Energy is not suitable for you to stay for long.¡± A few days ago, he heard that Lu Yuling had returned to the family, so he sent a message to her; today was the agreed day. Yan Miaowei¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears upon hearing this, ¡°Disciple cannot bear to leave Master behind.¡± The bond shared over the past several months had grown daily, with Miaowei coming to regard Lu Li as family. Lu Li consoled her with a smile, ¡°Master cannot stay for much longer either, do not act like a young maiden.¡± Miaowei nodded, dabbing away the tears at the corner of her eyes. ¡°Disciple wishes to take Father back home for a visit.¡± ¡°Well, then let your father designate someone else to oversee the work.¡± Lu Li agreed to this minor request without hesitation. During this time, Yan Ziming¡¯s circumstances under their care had improved dramatically compared to his previous life of toil, and he had regained his former glory. Seeing Lu Li agree, Yan Miaowei hesitated, as though she had something more to say. ¡°If you have something to say, just speak up. As long as it¡¯s not too outrageous, Master will agree to it,¡± said Lu Li gently. Looking at Lu Li with teary eyes full of gratitude, Miaowei said, ¡°My father was framed and ended up in this place. I heard the person responsible has an Immortal Master for support¡­¡± Lu Li remained composed, ¡°No worries, Master will give you an Identity Jade Token. That person should give Master some face.¡± Although he did not know who this person was, as a Guardian Cultivator on the Lu Family¡¯s island, their cultivation level wouldn¡¯t be too high. Saying this, he took out a pristine Jade Token, engraved with a large ¡°Li¡± on its back, conspicuously visible. Miaowei accepted the Jade Token, but felt somewhat anxious inside. The Guardian Cultivators of Little Crane Island had always been formidable in her mind. Would this Jade Token truly be useful? She harbored great doubts, yet did not dare to ask outright, fearing she might cause her master to lose face. Just then, a tunneling light approached them swiftly from afar. It arrived in front of them almost instantaneously. Revealing a beautiful female cultivator dressed in a white gown. ¡°So, brother, this is your new disciple? She seems rather clever,¡± Lu Yuling observed Yan Miaowei with a hint of a smile. She then took out a bottle of Medicine Pills and handed them over, ¡°Consider this a gift for becoming a disciple. Your ninth grand-uncle is quite poor, unlike your master¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Miaowei hesitated to accept, turning to look at Lu Li. Only upon seeing him nod did she joyfully receive the Medicine Pills. ¡°Thank you, Grand Uncle.¡± ¡°Alright, take your father and your Yu Ling grand uncle and leave the island,¡± said Lu Li with a smile. Lu Yuling gave a slight smile and led Miaowei down the mountain. When they reached Yan Ziming, he handed over his duties, and they all headed towards the coastal edge. Soon they left the island and boarded a small Spirit Boat. Miaowei stood at the bow, somewhat restrained. ¡°Please, Grand Uncle, accompany my father and me to Little Crane Island.¡± ¡°You¡¯re Yan Miaowei, right? Your master has mentioned you in the Jade Talisman, saying you¡¯re clever and nimble. The relationship between your master and I is deep, so there¡¯s no need to be too formal,¡± Lu Yuling said with a smile. ¡°Are you from Little Crane Island? How did you end up in the mine?¡± Miaowei¡¯s expression darkened as she answered, ¡°Three years ago, my father was framed over the sudden demise of the City Lord on the island. That person had some connections with the island¡¯s Immortal Master¡­¡± ¡°Oh? Is there such a matter?¡± Lu Yuling frowned slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this island is not far from Mystic Moon Island, and if you run into trouble, you can come to your Grand Uncle.¡± ¡°However, it¡¯s unlikely you will need to. Such trivial matters don¡¯t even require your master¡¯s personal intervention.¡± Miaowei was taken aback upon hearing this, her thoughts racing. Could her master¡¯s claims be true? Was even the Guardian Cultivator obliged to show respect to her master? She had only just stepped onto the path of cultivation and was ignorant of her master¡¯s level of powers, nor had she dared to ask. From her first day on the path of cultivation, Lu Li had warned her never to casually inquire about a Cultivator¡¯s level of cultivation, for it was a great taboo. Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Little Crane Island Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Little Crane Island Little Crane Island is very close to Mystic Moon Island, only a hundred miles away. This island has a circumference of about ten miles and is a small island, with only one low-grade first-order Spirit Vein, thin Spiritual Energy, and scarce resources. On this day, at noon. A small green boat carrying two people rapidly approached the island, a man and a woman who looked somewhat similar, clearly father and daughter. Yan Ziming looked at the familiar reef and jungle not far away, feeling emotional, never expecting to set foot on his homeland again. Beside him, Yan Miaowei thought of a ¡°nightmare¡± from years ago, and her heart felt very cold. The two had different thoughts, and before long, the boat reached the shore. The two walked towards the island together. In the center of Little Crane Island, there was a very impressive mansion with two stone carvings of Alien Beasts in front, and a golden plaque above the door curtain that read ¡°Wu Mansion.¡± At this moment, in the back garden of Wu Mansion. A portly middle-aged man was lying in a chair basking in the sun, looking very lazy. Beside him stood a beautiful woman, peeling fruit to place in the man¡¯s mouth. Wu Shenghui ate grapes and smelled the scent of the beauty beside him, feeling very comfortable. ¡°Fortunately, I am acquainted with a cultivator from the Lu Family, which got me this easy job.¡± This island was very close to the main island of the Lu Family, basically safe from attacks. Once, he was also an ambitious young cultivator, dreaming of Foundation Establishment and even the Path of Immortality. However, lacking Spirit Stones and aptitude, having reached only the fifth level of Qi Refinement in middle age, he had completely given up and now realized his previous life was wasted. ¡°What Foundation Establishment, it¡¯s all illusory, better to buy some kidney-strengthening and vitalizing Medicine Pills¡­¡± Thinking of this, he raised his hand to gently touch the softness of the woman beside him, making her face blush. ¡°Immortal Master, today your one-hundred-thirtieth consort isn¡¯t feeling well, perhaps you should check on her¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Wu Shenghui thought for a moment; he had many women, but this one had indeed made a lasting impression. ¡°Let¡¯s go see her then. Her family once presented my elder with a gift, I remember it well.¡± ¡°Has her brother been causing trouble recently? I¡¯ve already helped her father secure the position of City Lord; that should be enough favor.¡± He turned his head and asked. The woman smiled sweetly, ¡°That young man is causing a stir on the island, using your name to create numerous troubles.¡± Wu Shenghui¡¯s expression remained neutral, ¡°He¡¯s just a mortal; as long as he doesn¡¯t provoke cultivators, it should be fine. I still have some influence in the Lu Family.¡± After landing on the island, Yan Miaowei and her father headed towards the center of the island. Before long, they arrived in front of a lavish mansion on the west street. Looking up at the door curtain, inscribed with the words ¡°Cai Mansion,¡± their expressions turned ashen. ¡°It seems that this person has occupied our property for a long time, clearly with premeditation.¡± Yan Ziming looked at everything familiar in front of him, a surge of anger rising in his heart. Just then, a group emerged from the gate. A young dandy dressed man was walking out with a group of servants. Seeing the two by the door, Cai Tao¡¯s expression changed. ¡°You are¡­ Yan Ziming? Weren¡¯t you already dead?¡± He rubbed his eyes, as if he had seen a ghost. ¡°Hmph!¡± Yan Miaowei snorted coldly, today we, father and daughter, specifically came back to settle accounts with your Cai Family. ¡°Seeking death, you had a way to heaven and you didn¡¯t take it, yet you dared to come back.¡± Cai Tao¡¯s face was filled with malice, then he began giving orders to the servants by his side. ¡°Go, kill the two of them, and there will be a great reward from this young master.¡± A group of servants, upon hearing this, rushed towards the two with sinister smiles. Yan Ziming looked worried upon seeing this; these servants were trained in martial arts, and he was uncertain how well his daughter¡¯s spell casting skills had developed¡­ Yan Miaowei gave a cold smile and immediately started channeling mana, as fireballs began to appear out of thin air and hurtled towards the servants around her. ¡°Ah¡­¡± As screams of terror rang out, the servants who couldn¡¯t escape in time were instantly turned to ashes. The remaining two looked at Yan Miaowei with faces full of horror. ¡°She¡¯s an Immortal Master!¡± Cai Tao also came to his senses, first showing fear and then quickly trying to compose himself. ¡°You two, go quickly and summon Immortal Master Wu¡­¡± He hastily instructed the remaining servants. The two did not dare to delay and ran towards the street behind them. At this time, the people inside the mansion, hearing the commotion, all poured out. They gathered around a middle-aged man with a wealthy demeanor at the center. The man, in his forties and dressed in a brocaded robe, had a very steady temperament. Cai Minghu, upon hearing the noise, had just stepped out the door when he saw his former colleague standing outside the mansion, and his expression changed instantly before returning to normal. As Cai Tao saw his father emerge, he quickly went forward and explained the situation to him. While the Cai family members were talking, Yan Ziming and his daughter watched Cai Minghu with cold indifference, as if looking at a dead man. At this moment, Cai Minghu managed a smile and said to Yan Ziming, ¡°Mr. Yan, long time no see. This is your Immortal Master niece, I presume? I am willing to apologize and even cede the position of City Lord to you, hoping for your consideration of our past relationship¡­¡± He was very anxious inside, but his expression remained very gentle. Thinking that his son had already gone to summon Immortal Master Wu and only needed to stall for a moment more. Yan Miaowei, not interested in wasting words, immediately started manipulating a magic spell, preparing to make her move. A huge fireball appeared from thin air and hurtled towards the two men of the Cai family. As the fireball was about to hit, Cai Minghu and his son showed faces of terror, closed their eyes, and thought their end was near. Just then, another scorching fireball shot from a distance, arriving faster and directly scattering Yan Miaowei¡¯s spell. After a while, when no pain came, they were puzzled. When the two opened their eyes, their faces lit up with joy. They saw a middle-aged man walking towards them, accompanied by several beautiful women. It was the much-anticipated Immortal Master Wu. Upon seeing their savior arrive, both members of the Cai family were overjoyed. By Wu Shenghui¡¯s side, a voluptuous woman quickly walked over. ¡°Dad, brother, are you alright? With Immortal Master Wu here, no one can harm you.¡± After saying this, she gave a cold glance at Yan Miaowei nearby. Wu Shenghui also stepped forward, his expression quite neutral: ¡°This fellow Taoist seems unfamiliar, not a Guest Elder of the Lu Family.¡± Seeing Yan Miaowei, he felt suddenly relieved; the strike that had countered the spell had come from him. This person¡¯s cultivation level was low, having just entered Qi Refinement not long ago. She wasn¡¯t among the Lu Family¡¯s Guest Elders, and as long as she wasn¡¯t a Lu Family cultivator, he had nothing to fear. Usually cautious, he now spoke more boldly: ¡°Fellow Taoist, you should leave now; I won¡¯t make things difficult for the two of you.¡± Seeing the cultivator who guarded Little Crane Island appear, Yan Miaowei felt tense, especially under his immense spiritual pressure, which made breathing somewhat difficult. By her side, Yan Ziming was also in cold sweat. Pulling at his daughter¡¯s sleeve, he wanted her to retreat, fearing she would be at a disadvantage, as she hadn¡¯t been cultivating for long. At that moment, Yan Miaowei took out the Identity Jade given by her master and slowly positioned it in front. She felt apprehensive, unsure if the jade token would earn them some respect. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Apology Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Apology The onlookers saw Yan Miaowei¡¯s actions and all felt a bit disdainful, thinking, what use could a broken jade token be? Cai Hui and the father-son duo of the Cai Family also had a confident look, clearly under the belief that this unknown cultivator could not possibly defeat Immortal Master Wu. At this moment, Wu Shenghui, looking at the jade token in front of him, felt his heart suddenly tighten. The jade token was immaculate, with edges covered in leaf-shaped markings¡ªit was obviously an Identity Jade of a core disciple of the Lu Family. As a Guest Official Cultivator of the Lu Family, who often dealt with them, he was more than familiar with it. He took a closer look at the character carved on the jade token, and immediately his heart pounded like a drum as cold sweat streamed down his face. On it was a prominently carved ¡°Li¡± character. Wu Shenghui still felt a stroke of luck and his tone became much softer, ¡°May I ask where this jade token came from, fellow Daoist?¡± Yan Miaowei was surprised by the change in attitude, ¡°This was bestowed upon me by my master. He said that the cultivators of the Lu Family would give him some face. Is that not so?¡± ¡°Fellow Daoist, this is all a misunderstanding¡­¡± Wu Shenghui¡¯s face suddenly became awkward, and his voice grew weaker. The other party¡¯s words completely shattered his illusions; thinking of the origin of this person from the Spirit Crane Island¡¯s ore veins, it was almost certain that she was that person¡¯s disciple. At the same time, he felt a bit of exasperation towards the other party, If they had such strong backing, why didn¡¯t they show their hand earlier, sparing him the embarrassment. ¡°The people of the Cai Family have nothing to do with me, fellow Daoist. You may deal with them as you please.¡± Wu Shenghui barely squeezed out a smile, laced with a hint of flattery. Upon hearing this, Yan Miaowei¡¯s expression immediately stiffened, and she felt a surge of confusion. Could it be that her master was truly a powerful clan head? At this moment, the people of the Cai Family were all in disbelief. This unfamiliar cultivator had simply produced a jade token, and it had caused such a drastic change in Immortal Master Wu¡¯s demeanor. Cai Hui hurriedly came forward and cried, ¡°Husband, you can¡¯t just ignore my father and brother! It¡¯s just a jade token, what use can it be?¡± ¡°Slap!¡± Upon hearing these words, Wu Shenghui was instantly incensed, and he fiercely slapped Cai Hui. He struck her hard to the ground, and her mouth bled profusely, a pitiful sight. ¡°Consider your actions well!¡± After saying that, he nodded at Yan Miaowei and then turned to leave without further ado. Leaving only Cai Hui and the people of the Cai Family behind. Seeing this, Cai Minghu felt a sense of despair. Even Immortal Master Wu feared the backer of this person; their Cai Family was probably finished. As the other party walked away, Yan Miaowei put away the jade token, then looked at the people of the Cai Family with a chilling expression. She always remembered the hardships she and her father had borne; if not for meeting her master, they might have turned into a pile of white bones sooner or later. Without any hesitation, Yan Miaowei cast her spell again, and countless fireballs suddenly appeared in the void, shooting towards the three members of the Cai Family at high speed. ¡°Ah¡­¡± As a tremendous scream echoed, the three were engulfed in horror and turned into ashes. The surrounding servants trembled with fear and knelt on the ground. ¡°Father should call back the old servants, let¡¯s go home.¡± Yan Miaowei smiled. Yan Ziming, with tears at the corner of her eyes, walked towards the familiar mansion. ¡­¡­ Having returned to his courtyard, Wu Shenghui still felt restless. The beautiful woman beside him saw that he was still somewhat anxious and couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled, ¡°What status does the owner of that jade token have to make my husband so apprehensive?¡± Wu Shenghui let out a sigh, ¡°You don¡¯t understand, that person is a powerful contender for the next Patriarch. If I offend him, would I, your husband, have any way to survive?¡± The beautiful woman turned deathly pale upon hearing this. In her mind, her husband was already an extremely important person, and it was unthinkable that someone even more formidable existed. Wu Shenghui paced back and forth in the courtyard, feeling agitated. ¡°This won¡¯t do; if that person believes I ordered the murder of his disciple¡¯s family, I won¡¯t be able to clear my name.¡± ¡°The husband can take some gifts to pay a visit; who does this person get along with the best? Ask them for a favor¡­¡± The woman thought carefully and offered a suggestion. Wu Shenghui¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this, ¡°This is an excellent idea, my wife truly is my wise counsel. Tonight, I will surely cherish you well.¡± The beautiful woman¡¯s face turned red as she gave the other party a white eye. Wu Shenghui dared not delay any moment, and after preparing everything, he flew toward Mystic Moon Island. Mystic Moon Island, inside a cave at the foot of the mountain. Lu Yuling was in a secret chamber practicing Qi Refinement when suddenly she felt a ripple coming from the array. After she walked out of the secret chamber, she discovered a Communication Jade Token quietly lying on the ground. Picking up the Jade Token, her Divine Sense scanned it, and she couldn¡¯t help feeling puzzled. ¡°Wu Shenghui? I¡¯m not close with this person, yet he would come to visit me specifically?¡± Lu Yuling didn¡¯t know what medicine the other party was selling, so she opened the array. At this time, a middle-aged man walked in with a smile plastered on his face. Seeing that Lu Yuling was cultivating in her cave, Wu Shenghui breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that he hadn¡¯t come for nothing. ¡°I am truly presumptuous for visiting unannounced today and disturbing fellow cultivator¡¯s practice; it¡¯s truly a sin.¡± Lu Yuling smiled slightly, her voice as refreshing as the breath of an orchid, ¡°Fellow Wu overstates it. Being part of the same clan, we should indeed communicate.¡± Her tone was gentle, making one feel like they were immersed in a warm spring breeze. Although she was very puzzled inside, her expression remained unchanged. Seeing that Lu Yuling was very polite, Wu Shenghui also felt somewhat relieved inside. Although she was from a distinguished family, she didn¡¯t act arrogantly and made a good impression. He paused, his tone somewhat awkward, ¡°I¡¯m here today because there¡¯s something I wish to trouble fellow cultivator with¡­¡± ¡°Feel free to speak, Fellow Wu.¡± Lu Yuling gave an appearance of all ears. ¡°Here¡¯s the thing¡­¡± Wu Shenghui then recounted the incident that had just happened, without any exaggeration. A moment later, after listening to his explanation, Lu Yuling looked bemused. She didn¡¯t expect this man to be so timid; she was aware of the incident he spoke of and thought a simple acknowledgment in favor of her sixth brother would have put the misunderstanding to rest, but instead, he had come to visit her. Such caution in a cultivator was indeed rare. When Wu Shenghui had finished detailing the matter and saw her indifferent expression, he felt a pang of tension inside. Was she unwilling to help? Then, with a smile, he took out a medium-grade Defensive Magical Artifact from his Storage Bag. ¡°Please accept this artifact as my apology, and I hope fellow cultivator can help explain for me.¡± Once he finished, he also placed a bottle of Medicine Pills on the table. His heart ached at the cost, but his smile didn¡¯t waver in the slightest. Seeing his gesture, Lu Yuling responded with a smile, ¡°Your gesture is ¡®quite significant,¡¯ Fellow Wu, I understand. I will take care of this matter.¡± ¡°Many thanks to Fellow Lu Yuling. I won¡¯t disturb you any further.¡± Wu Shenghui respectfully bowed and then slowly walked toward the outside of the array. Once she saw that he was far away, Lu Yuling could no longer hold it in and burst into laughter, bending at the waist and laughing without caring for her image. ¡°This person really is as timid as a mouse, quite the eye-opener.¡± She collected the Flying Sword and Medicine Pills and walked back to the secret chamber. She would mention today¡¯s incident to her sixth brother whenever there was a chance. After Wu Shenghui left Mystic Moon Island, looking at the azure sea and blue sky, a huge weight seemed to lift from his heart. Although the loss was substantial, when he thought of his wives at home, his heart was instantly eased. With no hope for Foundation Establishment himself, today he could at least pave the way for his descendants. Having received his gifts, the other party would surely speak a few words on his behalf within the clan, and his task of guarding Little Crane Island could likely continue. Other cultivators laughed at him for his timidity, but who understood his methods? Many bold cultivators had already turned over several layers of soil on their graves. In the following days, the matter of Wu Shenghui spread wildly among the Lu Family¡¯s Guest Officials. This man once again became the talk of the town, and the name ¡°Timid Wu Shenghui¡± echoed in all directions for a time. However, many years later, people couldn¡¯t help but sigh at his deep foresight. When the descendants of Wu Shenghui joined the Lu Family on their fast-rising path, they couldn¡¯t help but pay immense respect to their ancestor, Wu Shenghui. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Annihilating the Pursuers Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Annihilating the Pursuers The loft at the summit of Spirit Crane Island. Lu Li opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a turbid breath. Feeling the mana within him advance slightly, he couldn¡¯t help but reveal a smile; the daily intake of Spirit Rice was continuously improving his cultivation. He got up and walked towards the outside of the loft, ready to collect the ores mined in the past few days. Soon, he reached the pavilion at the foot of the mountain. The surrounding miners knelt down in fright upon seeing him. Lu Li waved his hand and gathered a pile of ore into his Storage Bag, about to turn away. Suddenly, the Array vibrated violently, with waves of light rippling like water across the screen, flickering in and out. ¡°Not good, we¡¯re under attack!¡± At that moment, Yan Muyun flew down quickly towards the foot of the mountain, shouting loudly on his way, his sonorous voice echoing all around. It didn¡¯t take long before he arrived near Lu Li, his face full of vigilance as he looked outside the Array. Lu Li had already reacted the instant the Array fluctuated. He immediately took out the control Token and rapidly cast spell after spell, quickly stabilizing the Array somewhat. Yan Muyun, who was beside him, did not dare to delay either, quickly taking out his Token to stabilize the Array. ¡°Mr. Lu, we must go to the center of the island and meet up with the other Cultivators to see who dares to attack our Array.¡± His expression was icy. Lu Li nodded and then the two of them flew towards the center of the island. It didn¡¯t take long before they arrived at an open ground in the center of the island. By now, the Cultivators of various families had already gathered, led by Wang Siping, all watchfully eyeing the area beyond the Array. Looking in the direction of their gaze, Lu Li was instantly alarmed. He saw a large group of Cultivators standing densely outside the Array, all in black robes, exuding an oppressive aura. He scanned them and noticed there were four Cultivators at the peak of the Qi Refinement Realm and more than a dozen in the late stages. The man at the forefront had an ominously cold aura with a sinister face. ¡°If you know what¡¯s good for you, open the Array quickly and leave your Storage Bags behind, and I will let you go without harm.¡± The sinister man spoke very arrogantly. ¡°Hmph! Dream on, you Demon Path filth!¡± Wang Siping sneered disdainfully; he didn¡¯t believe the enemy¡¯s lies. If they opened the Array, their lives would be in jeopardy. Then he said to Lu Li and the others nearby, ¡°Fellow Cultivators, do not panic. I have sent out a distress signal; we only need to hold on for half an hour.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. Chen Tianqi, however, wore a somewhat strange expression. Outside the Array, the sinister man did not get angry upon hearing this, but instead showed a mysterious smile. ¡°I¡¯ve already given you a chance. Now, don¡¯t bother begging for mercy.¡± ¡°Attack!¡± Following the lead man¡¯s command, the Demon Cultivators each brought out their Magic Artifacts to attack the Array, and all at once demonic smoke billowed and malevolent auras wildly sprayed everywhere. ¡°I implore all Cultivators to stabilize the Array immediately; reinforcement will soon arrive.¡± Wang Siping shouted loudly, then sent spell after spell into the control Token. The Token then emitted dazzling light and surged towards the Array. The others, not daring to neglect, quickly followed suit, except for Chen Tianqi, who remained still. Lu Li, controlling the Array Formation Token, looked at Chen Tianqi with a calm expression, his gaze resembling that of looking at a dead man. He had not found an opportunity to kill this man until now, but with the situation at hand, it was like deliverance had come to him. Blaming everything on the Demon Path villains seemed just perfect. ¡°Chen Tianqi, what are you doing!¡± Seeing him motionless, Wang Siping shouted angrily; with one less gate, the Eight Gates Locking Sky Array¡¯s power was greatly diminished, and it would likely not hold up for long against the Demon Cultivators. Even another Cultivator from the Chen Family looked puzzled. With a pained expression, Chen Tianqi said, ¡°Fellow Cultivators, an old injury of mine has resurfaced, and there seems to be a problem with my Cultivation Technique; I can hardly mobilize any mana¡­¡± Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes starting to flicker. None of them were fools; whether Chen Tianqi¡¯s words were true no longer mattered. The breach of the Array seemed inevitable, and they needed to consider how to break out of the encirclement. Seeing Chen Tianqi¡¯s explanation, Lu Li sneered repeatedly in his heart. Yan Muyun also wore a look of fear; with his low cultivation, it seemed unlikely he would be able to escape. Just then, the Array started shaking violently, clearly nearing its limit with one gate missing. Outside, the group of Demon Cultivators looked at the group inside with crazed, murderous intent. ¡°Fellow Cultivators, take care!¡± Wang Siping, realizing that the Array could not sustain much longer, openly said his farewells to the group. He then coldly looked at Chen Tianqi, ¡°I will report this matter to the family, and justice will be served in time.¡± Chen Tianqi¡¯s expression remained very calm, his mind already filled with towering killing intent. He had no regrets for embracing the ways of demon cultivation, as long as he could eliminate his arch-enemy, everything was worth it. At that moment, as everyone had their own thoughts, the demon cultivators outside the array were preparing to give the array one final strike. ¡°Kill!¡± The sinister-looking man led the attack, and suddenly a soul banner shaped magical artifact appeared in his hand. With mana unleashed, countless yin spirits flew out from the magical artifact, rolling menacingly towards the array. ¡°BOOM¡­¡± A massive collision sounded through the skies, various magical artifacts instantly slammed into the array light screen, causing the array to violently shake, its light dimming drastically. ¡°Zzz¡­¡± After holding up for only a few breaths, the array was finally breached. ¡°Go!¡± In the instant the array was broken, Wang Siping immediately took off in a tunneling light towards the southeast, as fast as lightning, showing great expertise. The rest did not fall short, each finding their direction and fleeing in all directions. ¡°Send a few to loot this place, the rest follow me in pursuit.¡± The sinister-looking man issued the command, and then led a group of cultivators in the chase. Lu Li rode his tunneling light, speeding towards the northwest. Looking in Chen Tianqi¡¯s direction, which wasn¡¯t far to the true north, he solemnly settled on a plan in his mind. He could feel the three late-stage Qi Refinement and one peak Qi Refinement demon cultivators pursuing him from behind, but he wasn¡¯t in a hurry, just leading them on, continuing his flight. After fleeing for about another ten miles or so, Lu Li suddenly stopped, standing quietly above the sea surface, watching the group of demon cultivators approaching from behind. A moment later, the four stopped nearby, surrounding Lu Li completely. The leader at peak Qi Refinement Realm had a chilling face: ¡°Kid, you can¡¯t escape, give up the resistance, and I¡¯ll grant you a swift end. Otherwise, you¡¯ll get to taste my Fire Refining Demon Soul¡­¡± The other three demon cultivators also sneered, as if they were looking at a corpse. Lu Li wasted no more words, directly summoning the Aminokaze sword. ¡°Cling¡­¡± With mana activated, the flying sword exuded fiercely sharp Sword Qi, carrying a powerful aura as it lunged at the demon cultivators ahead. At the same time, he slapped the Spiritual Beast Bag and released Iron Pillar. The several zhang long serpent appeared instantly on the sea surface, radiating astonishing killing energy. All this happened in the blink of an eye. Seeing this, the leading demon cultivator¡¯s face changed dramatically. ¡°Damn it, this guy is at peak Qi Refinement!¡± He hurriedly summoned his Defensive Magical Artifact to guard, while the other three demon cultivators were also shocked, their breaths stifled by the overwhelming spiritual pressure. Even the giant serpent demon beast radiated an imposing aura, making everyone feel an irresistible force. ¡°BOOM¡­¡± In an instant, the Aminokaze sword reached the leading demon cultivator, and with a loud noise, the opponent¡¯s shield artifact was swept away. The man immediately felt an overwhelming force, as if his chest was pressed by a huge boulder. ¡°Not good!¡± He looked terrified, the depth of this person¡¯s mana was rarely seen in his life, comparable to a True Disciple of the Demon Sect. He hurriedly circulated his mana, preparing to stabilize his Defensive Magical Artifact. After one strike from Lu Li, the opponent was already struggling to fend off, Lu Li once again fully operated the flying sword, activating a secret technique, and a huge sword light appeared on the sword body. Then, as quick as lightning, it struck towards the leader of the demon cultivators¡¯ head. ¡°Ah¡­¡± With a scream, the man was split in two amidst fear, his blood dyeing the small patch of sea below red. All of this happened in an instant. The other three demon cultivators saw their leader couldn¡¯t even withstand a single move and were instantly terrified. ¡°Run!¡± The three of them shouted. But before they could react, the Aminokaze sword instantly transformed, turning into numerous enormous sword shadows that enveloped the three demon cultivators. ¡°This is¡­ Sword Array!¡± The three men were scared pale, their voices trembling. They had ambushed countless Qi Refinement cultivators, but this was the first time they encountered such a terrifying figure, perhaps even a True Disciple of the Demon Sect was no match. Lu Li didn¡¯t waste time, directly drove the Sword Array, countless sharp Sword Qi whirling through the void at the enemies, the killing aura within the array rolling like smoke. The three desperately operated their Defensive Magical Artifacts, but in a moment, they were churned into pieces by the Sword Qi. Lu Li collected their Storage Bags, activated the Hidden Spirit Technique, morphed into a man with a gloomy face, then changed into a black robe, his entire presence growing eerily ghostly. After doing all this, he turned and pursued in Chen Tianqi¡¯s direction. In a few breaths, he disappeared above the sea. Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Crushing Chen Tianqi to Death Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Crushing Chen Tianqi to Death Lu Li followed the direction, quickly tunneling forward. Half an hour later, he arrived at a strange expanse of sea. He saw, afar off, a green tunneling light was slowly flying, with no demon cultivators chasing behind. This person was Chen Tianqi! At this moment, Chen Tianqi felt exceedingly refreshed in his heart, thinking that by now, that dog thief Lu Li had probably been reduced to ashes by the demon cultivators. Thinking that his great vengeance was avenged, he couldn¡¯t help but feel spiritually clear. ¡°With the resources those demon brats gave me, perhaps I could catch a glimpse of the path to Foundation Establishment.¡± His Divine Sense swept through the spiritual materials inside his Storage Bag, feeling very pleased. As for the cultivators from the other sects, they could only be buried with him; he felt no psychological burden about this. Just then, he suddenly felt waves of Spiritual Energy fluctuations coming from behind. He stopped his tunneling light and turned his head to look. He saw a man in black robes with a gentle and subdued face tunneling toward him rapidly, which made him feel angry. ¡°Weren¡¯t all the matters already settled? These demon leaders are untrustworthy!¡± Seeing that the other party was approaching with an aggressive presence, it was clear that the comer meant no good. He immediately took out his Flying Sword to start combatting. Not far away, Lu Li rode on his tunneling light and rapidly approached. Within a few breaths, he was close to Chen Tianqi, looking at him with a cold face. ¡°Didn¡¯t your leader inform you of the truth? Still coming to hunt me down?¡± Chen Tianqi¡¯s expression was icy cold. Lu Li didn¡¯t bother with further words, directly offering up the Aminokaze, fully operating the secret technique, and a dazzling slash of Sword Qi manifested in the void. Then, like lightning, he slashed at Chen Tianqi¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s actually you! Lu Li, you cur!¡± The moment Aminokaze appeared, Chen Tianqi instantly recognized the identity of the comer. Feeling the might of his opponent, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. He hurriedly offered up his Defensive Magical Artifact to fend off the attack desperately, with a giant magic artifact appearing above his head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! It was the demon cultivators!¡± Lu Li cracked a smile, unconcerned about revealing his identity, convinced that his opponent must die today. He controlled the Flying Sword to viciously strike at the giant artifact. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A huge collision sound echoed through the skies, as the giant artifact was blown away more than ten meters, its radiance dimming significantly. Chen Tianqi felt a stuffiness in his chest as blood rushed up his throat, his Mana within also rolling tumultuously. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re not in the late Qi Refinement Realm, you¡¯ve been playing me!¡± The might of this strike far surpassed the late Qi Refinement Realm, even the fully refined Qi elders in his clan could not match this person. Even if he were slow on the uptake, he understood now. ¡°This man has been hiding his strength all along! In just a few short years, he¡¯s already reached the peak of Qi Refinement!¡± A huge wave rose in his heart, his shock and horror evident for all to see. ¡°Unfortunately, this information about him can no longer be passed on to my clan.¡± Seeing the Flying Sword approach and feeling the fierce Sword Qi, he couldn¡¯t help but feel despair, knowing that today he was likely doomed. ¡°I¡¯m unwilling, I¡¯ve yet to attain the Path of Immortality!¡± Chen Tianqi let out a roar of despair. With a cold sneer, Lu Li turned the Flying Sword forward, and with that, a round head soared into the sky, as crimson liquid sprayed across a small area of the surrounding sea. He packed up the other¡¯s Storage Bag, preparing to leave. Suddenly, he felt a wave of Spiritual Energy behind him. Turning his head to look back, he saw two tunneling lights, one chasing the other, quickly approaching. Lu Li was reluctant to get involved and was about to leave the area. But then his eyes flashed, and he noticed that the magic artifact controlled by the woman in front of him was the first red Flying Sword he had sold. The woman was the very Gu Yueer they had encountered earlier in the market. At this moment, she was fleeing desperately forward, her face filled with panic. A black-robed middle-aged man was leisurely chasing her from behind, as if toying with his prey. The man had reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement, much stronger than Gu Yueer¡¯s seventh level. ¡°It seems that Gu Yueer¡¯s cultivation has already advanced to the late stage of Qi Refinement after some time apart.¡± Lu Li stood still, watching the two in front of him. At this time, Gu Yueer had noticed Lu Li not far ahead and, with an anxious face, cautioned him, ¡°Fellow Daoist, please leave quickly; there are many demon cultivators ahead!¡± Saying so, she quickly tunneled toward Lu Li. Lu Li felt helpless inside. This silly girl was in danger herself yet still concerned for others. Now she¡¯s even drawn the enemy to me, leaving me no way to run. Shortly after, Gu Yueer arrived not far from Lu Li¡¯s side, standing above the sea. The middle-aged man pursuing her had already noticed Lu Li, his face twisted in a sinister smile, ¡°Kid, don¡¯t play the hero saving the beauty in your next life!¡± Lu Li¡¯s expression froze briefly, too lazy for words. He directly summoned his Flying Sword and attacked the man. The wild Sword Qi raged chaotically, astonishingly fearsome. The middle-aged man, sensing its power, was taken aback, realizing he had kicked an iron plate; this person¡¯s cultivation was far above his own. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, my master is behind us, the genuine heir of the Heavenly Demon Sect, Demon Prince of Moon¡­¡± He begged for mercy while hurriedly summoning a Defensive Magical Artifact above his head. Lu Li paid no heed and slashed with his sword, dispelling the man¡¯s defensive magic with a fierce sword light, and without lessening the momentum, continued the strike toward the man¡¯s head. ¡°Ahh!¡± A dreadful scream rang out as the middle-aged man¡¯s body was decapitated, his headless corpse falling onto the surface of the sea. All this happened in the twinkling of an eye, leaving Gu Yueer standing nearby, her eyes wide with shock. Unexpectedly, the strange cultivator she had run into was so powerful that even a Qi Refinement ninth-level demon cultivator was no match for him. ¡°Why does this person¡¯s figure seem so familiar, yet she couldn¡¯t recall?¡± She was somewhat puzzled. At this moment, a medium-sized large boat was quickly approaching the two. Standing at the prow was a young man in a white robe, with a delicate face and a very cold aura. He was at the twelfth level of Qi Refinement. The group of cultivators dressed as attendants all showed humble expressions, encircling the man like stars around the moon. The large boat slowly drew near the two. ¡°Was it you who killed my servant and saved my prey?¡± Lu Qingyang looked indifferent, but his tone was domineering. ¡°You have some skill. Come over and let me place a restriction on you, kneel and bow a few times, and we¡¯ll consider the matter settled.¡± The group of attendants looked at the two as if they were already dead. Gu Yueer was also tense; the man¡¯s aura was deep and terrifying. Lu Li said nothing. The Aminokaze emitted sword lights as he decisively slashed toward the man, remarkably bold in his approach. ¡°How dare you!¡± Lu Qingyang shouted loudly; no one had ever defied him like this before. He drew a golden Flying Saber Artifact and, channeling his mana, the flying saber shone dazzlingly as it charged toward the oncoming Flying Sword. This strike was meant to utterly annihilate him! The attendants nearby watched the man with reverent eyes. As a true heir of the Demon Sect, he was an invincible force in the Qi Refinement Realm. They had already seen too many who overestimated their strength, so it was commonplace to them. Gu Yueer was also panic-stricken, deeply worried in her heart. In that instant, the Flying Sword and Flying Knife fiercely collided. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Demon Prince of Moon Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Demon Prince of Moon ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud collision sound echoed through the skies, an extremely fierce aura spreading wildly. The fierce Gang Wind appeared from the void, causing everyone nearby to wince in pain. With that single strike, the Flying Sword stood firm in the void, its momentum undiminished; meanwhile, the Flying Saber Artifact was suddenly forced to retreat. Lu Qingyang felt a huge wave of Mana transferred from his own artifact, causing his chest to feel stuffy. He then looked at Lu Li in shock. In this strike, he had actually been at a clear disadvantage. Although he hadn¡¯t used his full strength, the outcome was completely unexpected. He, Lu Qingyang, one of the ten True Disciples of the Heavenly Demon Sect, had actually lost face in this secluded corner, anger stacking up inside him to its limits. How could he face the other True Disciples if he didn¡¯t kill this man today! The surrounding servants were all shocked, having never encountered such a situation before, where a minor cultivator in this sea region could actually suppress the Demon Prince of Moon. Gu Yueer was also overwhelmed, each encounter with this stranger drastically changing her understanding. ¡°Die!¡± Lu Qingyang¡¯s face was crimson with raging fury. He fully stimulated the Flying Saber Artifact, and a shockingly fierce blade energy appeared at the tip of the dagger, its momentum extremely terrifying. The Flying Saber, like a thunderous dragon, charged towards Lu Li¡¯s head with a fierce killing intent. Lu Li¡¯s expression remained calm, fully charging the Aminokaze Sword. Pale sword light weaved around him, every trace of Sword Qi extremely sharp. ¡°Kill!¡± The Aminokaze Sword suddenly lashed out towards the oncoming Flying Saber. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Another earth-shattering sound spread in all directions, the fierce Mana wildly swept towards the surroundings. The Flying Saber Artifact was forced to retreat once more, while the Aminokaze Sword was slightly superior. The bystanders hurriedly deployed their Magic Artifacts to fend off the scattered Mana, their faces filled with shock as they looked at Lu Li. A True Disciple of the Heavenly Demon Sect had actually been completely suppressed by an unknown cultivator! Gu Yueer¡¯s expression had gone completely numb, overwhelmingly shocked that the cultivator she had randomly encountered possessed such strength, and was even willing to intervene and help. Lu Qingyang felt the Mana from his artifact surge like ocean waves, a huge wave rising in his heart. He had fully exerted himself, but he was still at a disadvantage. ¡°Who are you! You¡¯re definitely not some unknown figure!¡± Apart from the True Disciple tier of various Sects, he, Lu Qingyang, was unmatched by anyone. Lu Li¡¯s face remained incredibly calm, and he did not reply. He spat out a beam of blood-red Sword Energy. The Sword Energy was as fast as lightning, carrying a massive Aura of the Blood Fiend as it chopped towards the opponent¡¯s head. ¡°What! A Demon Secret Skill!¡± Lu Qingyang was instantly horrified, no longer maintaining his previous composure. He also activated his secret technique, the Seven Fiends¡¯ Sword Condensation Technique, spewing a black Sword Energy from his mouth, rapidly meeting the incoming Blood Sword Energy. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise followed as the two Sword Energies collided fiercely and then vanished into the void, with the surrounding area suddenly swept by a fierce Gang Wind. ¡°Go!¡± Lu Li, unwilling to tarry any longer in battle, shouted to Gu Yueer, and then the two of them quickly retreated. In just a few breaths, they had disappeared from everyone¡¯s sight. Lu Qingyang watched the two leave, his face still filled with shock for a long time. He did not order a pursuit; this person¡¯s strength was too frightening, completely not inferior to his own. The surrounding group of Devil Servants all wore disbelieving expressions. The always superior Demon Prince of Moon had actually been defeated, defeated by an unknown figure! Lu Qingyang remained silent for a moment and then promptly ordered a retreat, the huge vessel slowly heading back. ¡­ In a strange sea region. Lu Li stood above the sea surface, looking helplessly at Gu Yueer not far away. ¡°You are already safe, why are you still following me?¡± Tears welled up in Gu Yueer¡¯s eyes, ¡°My grandfather was killed by them; I have nowhere else to go now. Are you from a family or a Sect, could you perhaps introduce me¡­¡± ¡°I am an Alchemist, and I won¡¯t let it be difficult for you.¡± Lu Li was taken aback by the news and hadn¡¯t expected that the old man had already perished. ¡°Condolences to you, my fellow daoist, I¡¯m merely a nominal Guest Elder under the Lu Family of Mystic Moon Island.¡± Thinking that the other was an Alchemist, his eyes lit up, and he casually mentioned his status as a Guest Elder. ¡°How may I address you, fellow daoist?¡± Gu Yueer nodded. ¡°I am Guo An.¡± Lu Li¡¯s face remained impassive before he turned and walked away. At that moment, Gu Yueer suddenly called out to him. ¡°Please wait, fellow daoist.¡± Lu Li stopped, looking at her with a puzzled expression. Gu Yueer¡¯s face was marked with misery; she then took out two spirit eggs from the Spiritual Beast Bag. The eggs were smooth and shiny, one glowing a hundred miles bright red and the other completely snowy white. ¡°To repay the great kindness of Daoist Guo, I would like to gift these two Snow Cloud Chicken spirit eggs to you, fellow daoist. They were left to me by my grandfather, and I have no use for them.¡± Seeing this, Lu Li¡¯s expression changed slightly; the two eggs were clearly different, a male and a female, that could hatch a group of spiritual materials, of no small value. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I might kill you and steal these treasures, fellow daoist?¡± ¡°Daoist Guo is a good person, not like those Demon Path robbers.¡± Gu Yueer raised her eyebrows. Lu Li¡¯s expression turned a bit awkward, then he accepted the two spirit eggs handed to him. It seemed that Gu Yueer, having always been under her grandfather¡¯s protection, was still somewhat na?ve. He then took out a top-quality, red Flying Sword and handed it over. ¡°I won¡¯t take too much advantage of you, fellow daoist. Let this Flying Sword be my gift in return.¡± Seeing the Flying Sword before her, Gu Yueer was astonished. With its fiery-red body in a dazzling cascade of color, it was clearly no ordinary artifact. She loved it at first sight, especially since she had just broken through the late stages of Qi Refinement and no longer needed to purchase a Magic Artifact. ¡°Thank you, fellow daoist.¡± She accepted the Flying Sword with a delighted expression. Seeing that she had taken the sword, Lu Li no longer lingered and turned to fly away. ¡­¡­¡­ Over ten days later. Gu Yueer arrived at Mystic Moon Island and, with her outstanding alchemy skills, smoothly joined the Lu Family. She began to inquire everywhere about Guo An. However, to her surprise, there was no such person in the ranks of the Lu Family¡¯s Guest Elders, and even the appearance didn¡¯t match. It made her quite puzzled. ¡°Could he not actually be a Guest Elder of the Lu Family?¡± ¡°Then why did he encourage me to join the Lu Family?¡± Unable to understand, now that she had settled down, she stopped pondering over it and turned to the Alchemy Hall to begin her daily practice of alchemy. ¡­¡­¡­ Heavenly Demon Sect, within a cave. Lu Qingyang had been quite out of luck recently, as the tale of his defeat by an ordinary Cultivator at the Gala Sea Domain spread far and wide within the sect. It had utterly humiliated him, and rage roiled in him like volcanic fury. To think a Devil Servant dared betray him, did they really think his sword was not sharp enough? Being in the Demon Sect, he knew one truth well: only the merciless survive, not just towards enemies, but towards oneself as well. For the Seven Fiends¡¯ Sword Condensation Technique, he had endured over a decade in the Ice Cave, gathering the Aura of the Blood Fiend to achieve his current status. And yet, his recent foray into the sea had met with such a setback. Lu Qingyang then left the cave, determined to vent the fire in his heart. At that moment, a man with a cold expression approached. ¡°Lu Qingyang, if you¡¯re not up to it, step aside. To be defeated by an obscure Cultivator, what a disgrace to the face of our True Disciples of the Demon Sect.¡± The words left Lu Qingyang chill, a murderous intent boiling in his heart. It was the truth, and he didn¡¯t bother to argue. You¡¯ll meet this person sooner or later, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. Lu Qingyang sneered to himself repeatedly. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Return to Family Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Return to Family Spirit Turtle Cave Mansion, Lu Li came to a secret chamber and placed the spirit egg in a small nest. He then took out several storage bags and prepared to inventory the contents. He circulated his divine sense, fiercely stabbing towards the foreign divine senses within the storage bags. Soon, he had dispersed all the foreign divine senses left in the storage bags and then dumped out the items inside. Various demonic magical artifacts and bottles and jars scattered across the floor. A foul odor made him frown deeply. Lu Li looked at the items left by Chen Tianqi, quite surprised to find thousands of spirit stones and two superior grade magical artifacts along with some middle-grade ones. There were also various ores, it seemed these were traded by demon cultivators, and now they all came cheaply to him. Afterward, he collected the spiritual objects and flew towards Mystic Moon Island. Upon arriving near the island, he suppressed his aura to the complete refinement of Qi Refinement Stage Eight and headed straight for Qingling Peak. He had just reached the array outside when he saw Lu Yuling open the array and come out. ¡°Sixth Brother, are you all right? Another guest elder has fallen, and the clan set out immediately upon receiving the distress signal. If it weren¡¯t for your life plate showing no abnormalities, I¡¯m afraid the elder ancestor would have taken action,¡± said Lu Yuling, her face full of concern. Lu Li smiled, ¡°Sixth Brother is lucky, the pursuing demon cultivator wasn¡¯t strong, so I escaped.¡± The two talked as they walked toward the inside of the array. At this moment, Lu Yuling suddenly said, ¡°Today, our generation of the family happens to be all on the island, Sister Qing Qing is planning to organize an exchange meeting¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. It¡¯s good that all nine ranks are gathered, just notify Sixth Brother when the time comes.¡± Lu Li nodded. Lu Yuling gave Lu Li a strange look. His Sixth Brother always blurted out some bizarre words. Lu Li smiled faintly, not speaking again, and then the two parted ways. ¡­ Several days later, in the early morning, at sunrise. Lu Li walked out of the cave mansion and headed towards a square at the mountainside. Today was the day he had agreed to meet with Yu Ling. The morning air, filled with a light fragrance, was very pleasant. He walked leisurely along the mountain path, soon reaching the edge of a square. The site was not large, spanning only dozens of paces; the ground was paved with white boulders, very sleek. At the moment, eight figures were already there, only Lu Li was left. Lu Li scanned the crowd. Aside from his close relations Lu Qingqing, Lu Yuling, Lu Heng, and Lu Qingshan, the remaining few were also present. Specifically, Lu Mingzhang, Lu Mingxin, Lu Jinghua, and Lu Qihua. Aside from Lu Qingqing whose cultivation was the highest at Qi Refinement Stage Ten, the others were around Qi Refinement Stage Seven to Nine. Seeing Lu Li walk over, everyone turned their heads. Feeling the powerful spiritual pressure around Lu Li, they felt quite pressured. At this moment, Lu Yuling, smiling, said, ¡°Sixth Brother, how do you cultivate? You¡¯re almost at Qi Refinement Stage Nine, this is making it seem like we¡¯ve been neglecting our cultivation¡­¡± The crowd, hearing this, paused, showing a slight embarrassment. Lu Li chuckled softly, came over, and sat next to Lu Qingqing. Beside them, Lu Qingshan, who had trained in the perception secret techniques, felt a crazed warning in his heart. He vaguely sensed an incredibly astonishing sword qi hidden around him, giving him a gut-wrenching feeling. ¡°Sigh¡­ Now the family is encountering difficulties, and we are severely lacking in spiritual materials, causing our cultivation to slow,¡± sighed Lu Qingqing. If not for the extra supplements from the elder ancestor, she wouldn¡¯t have progressed so quickly. The others also showed gloomy expressions. Lu Yuling gently said, ¡°Things will get better after Sister Qing Qing reaches Foundation Establishment. By then, with a Foundation Establishment cultivator guarding the clan¡¯s big formation, everything will turn around.¡± Lu Li also nodded. Over the years, he had seen the development of the Lu Family. Even they, the nine core family members, were barely maintaining their cultivation. Of course, if it weren¡¯t for his spirit field base under the sea, he wouldn¡¯t have progressed so rapidly either. He couldn¡¯t provide the family with a large amount of spiritual materials. If any hint of that were to leak, it could spell disaster. Everything could only be changed gradually after he completed his Foundation Establishment. For now, he could only provide some support to the closest ones, Lu Qingqing and Lu Yuling. At this moment, Lu Qingqing spoke again, ¡°Since everyone is here in the clan, let¡¯s have a small trade fair.¡± After saying this, she placed some Magic Artifacts and spiritual materials on the ground. Everyone else followed suit, and soon the ground was covered with various Spiritual Objects, with waves of Spiritual Energy rising into the air. Lu Li arranged a few medium-quality Magic Artifacts on the ground. At this point, everyone started exchanging Spiritual Objects that they could use. Even Lu Li exchanged a Magic Artifact for some ore. ¡°Sixth Brother, the medium-quality Magic Artifacts you refined are quite exquisite. Can you refine high-quality Magic Artifacts now?¡± Lu Yuling asked with curiosity. Everyone around turned their gaze with equal curiosity. Lu Li smiled modestly, ¡°It¡¯s not very stable yet.¡± Lu Yuling looked surprised. It had only been a few years, and he was already close to becoming a high-quality Artifact Refiner. ¡°Not only is Sixth Brother progressing rapidly in his cultivation, but his Artifact Refining skills are also quite extraordinary. I can¡¯t even refine low-grade Medicine Pills¡­¡± Everyone around was equally shocked. Artifact Refiners were quite popular among Cultivators, and being able to stably refine medium-quality Magic Artifacts meant one could start earning Spirit Stones. Lu Qingqing¡¯s beautiful eyes sparkled with admiration. This younger brother had always been low-key but always brought her pleasant surprises. Afterward, everyone exchanged some insights on Spells. This time, Lu Li was very modest as he was not very familiar with Spells. It wasn¡¯t until noon that everyone started to leave, feeling greatly benefited. Just as Lu Li was about to get up and return to his cave mansion, Lu Qingqing called out to him. ¡°Li Brother, our ancestor asked me to notify you to visit the cave mansion at the mountain top.¡± Lu Li looked puzzled and then followed Lu Qingqing towards the mountain top. Before long, the two arrived outside the cave mansion. As soon as Lu Li entered, he saw the ancestor, Lu Tiande¡¯s expression was a bit grim, and a strong Spiritual Pressure was emanating from him. Upon seeing them arrive, Lu Tiande spoke softly, ¡°This ore vein attack is very suspicious. The family is investigating with all their might. If we get results, I will send Third Aunt with a team to hunt down the Demon Cultivators. You should also gain some experience.¡± Lu Li nodded and then reported the collusion between Chen Tianqi and the Demon Cultivators. ¡°I will discuss this with the other families. The Chen Family will have to pay the price this time.¡± Lu Tiande¡¯s expression was stern. At that moment, the Iron Pillar in Lu Li¡¯s Spiritual Beast Bag sensed its mother¡¯s aura and became restless. He let it out. A giant python several meters long appeared in the cave mansion, its cultivation having reached Qi Refinement Level 11. Its body was covered in white stripes, extravagant and beautiful. There were some bulges appearing on the two ends of its body, and even its mouth had flattened. Thanks to being continually fed with Spiritual Liquid, Iron Pillar¡¯s cultivation had risen another level. Seeing this, Lu Tiande also released his spirit beast. Soon, the two giant pythons were entwined together, very affectionate. Lu Qingqing looked at Iron Pillar with surprise. ¡°This spirit beast is about to transform into a Dragon Seed, isn¡¯t it?¡± Looking at its divine demeanor, she was very envious. Beside her, Lu Tiande also nodded, ¡°But the Dragon Transformation Heavenly Tribulation is not easy to overcome. You need to prepare a lot more.¡± ¡°Understood, sir.¡± Lu Li nodded solemnly. He knew from the scriptures that when Demon Beasts break through Foundation Establishment, a Heavenly Tribulation would descend, the deeper the bloodline, the stronger the Tribulation. With Iron Pillar¡¯s bloodline, the upcoming Dragon Transformation Heavenly Tribulation combined with Foundation Establishment would probably be terrifying. He needed to prepare well. Should he carelessly lose this spirit beast, the loss would be too great. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Void Spirit Grass Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Void Spirit Grass At that moment, Lu Li asked, ¡°Elder, do you know what Void Spirit Grass is?¡± ¡°Void Spirit Grass? This type of Spirit Grass is quite rare, a second-order Spirit Grass, and we do not have it within our family.¡± Lu Tiande thought carefully and then looked at Lu Li, somewhat puzzled. Seeing his expression, Lu Li took out the two insect eggs. ¡°These two insect eggs were obtained by chance, it is said that they need Void Spirit Grass to hatch.¡± Lu Tiande stared at the insect eggs in Lu Li¡¯s hands, clicking his tongue in wonder. The eggs emitted a lustrous glow, and their Spiritual Energy was much more abundant than before. With his hundred years of experience, he was momentarily unable to identify what kind of Demon Beast¡¯s eggs they were. Lu Qingqing, who was standing by, was also greatly surprised; she had never heard of these two eggs in any records and could tell they were extraordinary. ¡°Sixth brother, you really have some good fortune.¡± She glanced at Lu Li enviously. ¡°Elder, do you know where this Spirit Grass typically grows?¡± Lu Li asked again. Upon hearing this, Lu Tiande warned, ¡°This kind of Spirit Grass often grows in the deep sea trenches, usually near underwater volcanoes.¡± ¡°Indeed, when the Spirit Grass matures, it emits some irritant gases, but elder, I have not heard of it being used to hatch Beast Eggs.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let your Lifebound Spirit Beast explore the sea bottom; the loss would not be worth the gain.¡± Lu Li solemnly nodded his head, ¡°Junior understands moderation.¡± Seeing his seriousness, Lu Tiande finally felt relieved. He had high hopes for Lu Li¡¯s spirit beast, for if it could successfully transform into a dragon someday, it would ensure the safety of the Lu Family for hundreds of years. Afterward, the two of them asked their elder for advice on some issues regarding cultivation. By evening, they left the cave. At this time, Lu Qingqing turned her head and smiled sweetly, ¡°Brother Li, cultivate well; the family is counting on us in the future.¡± Lu Li nodded, then took out a bottle of Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar from his Storage Bag and passed it to her. ¡°These spirit milk, junior happened upon them at the market¡­¡± Lu Qingqing took the porcelain bottle, opened it to see, and was immediately shocked by the surging Spiritual Energy at the mouth of the bottle. ¡°Is this Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar? How many Spirit Stones did this cost? Let your fourth sister give it to you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need; it¡¯s not worth many Spirit Stones. Fourth sister is not adept at spell combat, but with this spirit milk, your safety is greatly increased. Consider it a small gesture from your little brother¡­¡± Lu Li smiled sincerely. Hearing this, Lu Qingqing was very moved, ¡°Thank you, sixth brother.¡± The two had a very close relationship since childhood, and she did not overdo it with her reaction, simply cherishing the sentiment in her heart. After chatting for a while, they parted ways. Lu Li walked along the mountain path, thinking of Lu Yuling, the girl who often ventured to the sea to hunt Demon Beasts, which was very dangerous. He decided to give her a bottle as well. He arrived at Lu Yuling¡¯s cave, and after exchanging some words, he left the Spiritual Nectar on the table. Soon after, she excitedly saw Lu Li out of the cave. Eventually, Lu Li came to his parents¡¯ cave and left an information Jade Scroll, then placed four bottles of spirit milk deep within a secret chamber. After completing these tasks, he left the cave and flew towards the seaside. Having moved about ten miles away from Mystic Moon Island, he plunged into the sea, transforming into a giant turtle, swimming towards the Spirit Turtle Basin. ¡­ A month later. In the Spirit Turtle Basin. Lu Li opened his eyes and exhaled slowly. The Spiritual Energy at the bottom of the sea was deeper; he enjoyed a second-order Spirit Vein all to himself, feeling his cultivation progress every moment. He stepped out of the cave and walked to the edge of the spirit field. There was a small shed erected nearby. Two completely white chicks were chasing each other on the ground, full of joy. These two chicks were what had hatched from the Spirit Eggs Gu Yueer gave him. Each day, he would feed them some Spiritual Liquid, and surely in some time, they would lay some Spirit Eggs of their own; then it would be chickens laying eggs, and eggs hatching into chickens¡­ He would soon need to expand his breeding base. It seemed he needed to gather more Spiritual Liquid. At that moment, Lu Li¡¯s Divine Sense moved, and he summoned Iron Pillar. A completely white giant python quickly slithered to his side and affectionately rubbed its head against his forehead. ¡°Come, follow your master as we look for Void Spirit Grass in the deep sea.¡± Lu Li mounted Iron Pillar, and the man and beast dashed out of the cave. The ten-plus meters long demon beast body was quite astonishing, and Lu Li, sitting atop its head, did not feel cramped for space at all. The smooth scales were very delicate, carrying a touch of coolness. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Iron Pillar carried its master with great excitement, for the deep sea was its hunting ground. It wasn¡¯t long before they left the cave and swam south. Two thousand li north of the Spirit Turtle Basin was the territory of the Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts, which was not yet within their reach. The closer they got to the south, the closer they were to the Sea of Ruins. Legend had it that in ancient times, powerful beings used the Sea of Ruins as a battlefield, causing the spiritual energy within to remain chaotic to this day, with broken Big Formations and erupting underwater volcanoes; dangerous places were everywhere. Lu Li planned to explore the edges of the Sea of Ruins. As long as he didn¡¯t step inside, it should still be very safe. Iron Pillar carried Lu Li, charging straight ahead and shattering the coral reefs in front of them into powder. The surrounding demon beasts were frightened and fled in all directions. Because of his long-term consumption of Spirit Rice and Spirit Fruits, and being tempered by the Star Power, Lu Li¡¯s physical body was strong enough to rival a demon beast of his level. Now, even using his own body in the deep sea was quite effortless. Of course, if it were tens of thousands of meters deep, it probably wouldn¡¯t be manageable. If he practiced the Tai Yin Body Refining in the future and transformed his body again, the deep sea would probably no longer be able to stop his steps. The entire deep sea would become a hunting ground for him and Iron Pillar. Lu Li felt the currents swirling around him, making a howling sound. Red coral clusters could be seen everywhere, thriving and robust. The two continued to swim towards the south. Half an hour later. Lu Li suddenly felt a surge of Demon Energy coming from the front, about the level of the 12th layer of Qi Refinement. He urged Iron Pillar to rush over quickly. With a fierce swish of its tail, Iron Pillar shot forward like lightning. Soon, they arrived near an underwater mountain range. Lu Li was surprised by the scene before him. He saw a Sky Blue Snake seemingly searching for something on the seabed, with clever and lively eyes. He even sensed a trace of a cultivator¡¯s aura on it. Clearly, this was a Sky Blue Snake spirit beast. ¡°Iron Pillar, go kill it!¡± Lu Li looked extremely cold. The entire deep sea was his and Iron Pillar¡¯s private ground; anyone who dared to send a spirit beast to search for Spiritual Objects would be annihilated. Lu Li always convinced others with reason. Iron Pillar¡¯s eyes were filled with murderous intent as it charged with an imposing aura towards the Sky Blue Snake spirit beast in front. The spirit beast on the other side had already noticed them. When it felt the astonishing pressure from Iron Pillar, carrying a hint of Dragon Power as well, its eyes began to show panic and unease. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± It let out a loud hiss and turned to flee backward, not daring to fight at all. However, before it could escape, Iron Pillar struck like lightning. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The two giant snakes collided instantly, and the surrounding seawater surged crazily, issuing a howling sound. Iron Pillar dodged the opponent¡¯s attack with a twist of its head and then quickly swept its tail towards the opponent. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± A loud scream was heard as the Sky Blue Snake¡¯s body smashed onto the seabed, and it began to convulse. Streaks of crimson blood immediately appeared on its scales. With that strike, the opponent had completely lost the ability to resist. Iron Pillar¡¯s combat prowess was incredibly formidable after long periods of fighting. Moreover, as a Demon Beast King that was about to undergo transformation, this battle ended with it seconds-killing the opponent. Seeing the opponent was unable to rise, Iron Pillar once again moved above the Sky Blue Snake¡¯s head and smashed its tail down fiercely, bursting the snake¡¯s body, its remains scattering across the seabed. ¡°What a waste, all the essence is lost; not knowing the value of firewood and rice until becoming the head of a household.¡± Lu Li chuckled and scolded, then collected several sections of the body into the Demon Refinement Pot. The two resumed their journey. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Hunting the Spirit Beast Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Hunting the Spirit Beast At the very instant the Sky Blue Snake met its demise. Somewhere in the unnamed seas of the outer ocean. A middle-aged man stood at the bow of a ship, a mouthful of blood suddenly gushed out, followed by a face filled with fury. Beside him, another man in white robes asked with some confusion, ¡°Fellow Daoist, what happened?¡± ¡°My spirit beast, the Sky Blue Snake, has fallen to the bottom of the sea!¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s face was stricken with grief, as if knives were slicing through his heart. It had cost him a great deal of Spirit Stones to raise that spirit beast to the peak of the Qi Refinement Realm, and now it was all gone. ¡°It was perfectly safe the last few times, and each time some Spiritual Objects were even found.¡± The other man in white was also somewhat bemused. He knew that this spirit beast had even consumed the Primordial Soul Flower, which greatly increased its spiritual intelligence and brought him a good number of underwater spiritual materials; he couldn¡¯t believe that it had actually perished. ¡°Could it be the work of a Foundation Establishment Demon Beast?¡± Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man fell silent, and both men lapsed into silence. ¡­¡­ Deep beneath the sea, Lu Li temporarily gave up looking for Spirit Grass. Over the next year, he rode Iron Pillar on tours all over the place, appearing within a radius of thousands of miles around Mystic Moon Island. With Iron Pillar¡¯s strength, there were very few threats to it at the Qi Refinement Realm. The two scoured the sea far and wide for the Cultivators¡¯ spirit beasts, with concerted effort; that year, they slaughtered hundreds. Spirit beasts were often found not far from islands; Lu Li even managed to accumulate some experience in finding them. Until recently, the underwater spirit beasts had gradually become scarce, clearly due to some rumors spreading. As Lu Li wielded his blade without restraint, some Cultivators on the islands dared not send their own spirit beasts to the sea floor anymore. A group of Cultivators had paid a bitter price. This caused many chain reactions, and underwater Spirit Fruits and Spiritual Objects began to surge in price. At Taiping Island, within Jiayuan Square. ¡°What! You¡¯re selling ten years¡¯ worth of Ice Spirit Fruits for eighty Spirit Stones? Are you out of your mind?¡± ¡°Take it or leave it, the price will go up even more in a few days.¡± The young man sneered uninterestedly. During this period, the output of Spirit Fruits was diminishing, and no Cultivators dared to send their spirit beasts to the sea anymore. Scenes like this unfolded in some marketplaces. They ignited numerous discussions among Cultivators, suspecting that some Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts had acted and were waiting for the commotion to subside before dispatching them to the sea again. Some time later, they were disappointed again as another group of Cultivators suffered heavy losses and began to curse bitterly. Lu Li, however, had already surmised this and in the following period, he and Iron Pillar went out to sea every few days to hunt, specifically targeting spirit beasts. After half a year of frenzied slaughter, no one dared send their spirit beasts into the sea carelessly anymore, and Lu Li¡¯s demon-refining pot filled with Spiritual Liquid once again. The Cultivators on the island were increasingly filled with complaints; some crucial Spirit Fruits had long lost their sources, and no one knew when these days would end. As for the one who started it all, he was now riding Iron Pillar and heading south towards the ruins. Lu Li had already planned that in the next decade, every few days he would venture out to search for spirit beasts. He could not control other places, but Mystic Moon Island was his domain, and the underwater Spiritual Objects were his future advancement sustenance; naturally, he would not allow outsiders to lay their hands on it. ¡­¡­ More than ten days later. At the edge of Deep Sea Rift Valley in the Southern Ruins. Lu Li stood atop Iron Pillar¡¯s head, looking at the vast crevasse ahead, his face expressing contemplation. An odd scent wafted through the sea water, mixed with hints of sulfur from underwater volcanoes. For more than ten days, the two had been scouring the edge of the Rift Valley and had finally detected something unusual here. Just as he was about to enter the crevasse with Iron Pillar in search of Void Spirit Grass, a huge black snake suddenly swam out. This Demon Beast had pitch-black skin like ink, decorated with red patterns, its cultivation at the tenth level of Qi Refinement, a member of the Black Water Mystic Snake family, a first-order sea monster. ¡°Iron Pillar, go kill it.¡± Lu Li ordered Iron Pillar to attack. Hearing the command, Iron Pillar immediately sprang forward as fast as lightning. In just a moment, it was beside the giant snake, its massive tail raised and slammed directly onto the creature¡¯s head. ¡°Thump¡± Before it could react, Iron Pillar¡¯s tail brutally smashed onto its head, instantly causing the skull to burst open, the blood staining the surrounding water red. A moment later, the giant snake lay dead in the deep sea. Lu Li collected the corpse and continued his search forward. Not long after, they encountered a few more Black Water Mystic Snakes, each of which Iron Pillar killed one by one. ¡°It seems this is indeed the old nest of a group of Black Water Mystic Snakes. If nothing goes wrong, the Spirit Grass should be here.¡± Lu Li gradually went deeper, the peculiar smell lingering constantly, and he already had some judgments in his heart. He rode Iron Pillar and killed his way toward the opposition¡¯s nest. Before long, they arrived near a huge sea trench. By this time, the ancestor of the Black Water Mystic Snakes had already received the news and swam over furiously with a group of subordinates. Lu Li didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment and directly ordered Iron Pillar to kill their way through. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The Mystic Snake ancestor was furious, its eyes filled with murderous intent. Two intruders rampaging within its clan¡¯s territory had completely enraged it. It charged forward, with a group of its people rushing towards the front. ¡°Boom¡­¡± With a loud collision, the Mystic Snake ancestor and Iron Pillar instantly clashed. Just as they collided, the body of the Mystic Snake ancestor was forcefully pushed back, and fear filled its heart. It had sensed a trace of Dragon Power coming from the other¡¯s body. Iron Pillar saw the opponent show a weakness and once again brought down its tail to smash at the adversary. ¡°Bang!¡± Another loud noise, the Black Water Mystic Snake screamed in agony, as it was fiercely smashed onto the seabed riverbed. All this happened in the blink of an eye. The group of Black Water Mystic Snakes saw what happened and scattered in all directions. Even their king had been defeated in an instant, which left them utterly terrified. Strike the iron while it¡¯s hot, Iron Pillar saw the other party was severely injured, and immediately pounced down fiercely, smashing it against a huge rock at the edge with its tail. The rock was shattered into pieces, and the Black Water Mystic Snake ancestor lay motionless at the side. It was clear it wouldn¡¯t survive. Lu Li stepped forward, killed it with a sword, and then took it into the demon refining pot. After doing all this, he rode Iron Pillar and swam toward the Deep Sea Rift Valley. It didn¡¯t take long before they arrived near a giant fissure. The more they swam inside, the more intense the odd scent became. ¡°It seems the Void Spirit Grass must be near here.¡± And indeed, just as he had anticipated. The two continued to wander forward, and before long, they saw a blue Spirit Grass growing within a fissure not far away. The Spirit Grass was several inches tall with nine leaves, each leaf like a sharp sword, glowing with a bright luster. Lu Li swam forward and quietly observed, noticing that the leaves were covered in twisted patterns. A strong, pungent odor emerged in the sea. This was indeed the Void Spirit Grass that the elder had spoken of. It seemed that this scent was what could stimulate the hatching of the insect eggs; truly, the Great Thousand World was full of wonders. Lu Li put it into his spirit plant bag and continued to swim forward. Soon, he found another Void Spirit Grass. In the following days, Lu Li, together with Iron Pillar, kept searching this rift for traces of Void Spirit Grass. They gathered seven or eight Spirit Grasses in total and then prepared to return to the Spirit Turtle Cave Mansion. This kind of Spirit Grass was rare to use and somewhat plentiful in quantity. He mounted Iron Pillar and swam towards the Spirit Turtle basin. ¡­¡­¡­ Several days later, by the spirit field in the seabed cave mansion. Lu Li looked at the several Spirit Grasses planted in the spirit field and nodded in satisfaction. After watering them with some Spiritual Liquid, he went to the center of the clearing and began to sit in meditation for cultivation. All he needed was to wait for these Spirit Grasses to mature before using them to incubate the insect eggs. Time slowly passed, and it soon came to night. Threads of moonlight shone around the cave, turning the entire cave mansion into a place that seemed like a fairyland. Lu Li began to practice the Sacrificial Technique, surrounded by wisps of Moonlight, forming a huge Spirit Cocoon. He felt a chilly sensation coming from inside his body, as his flesh began to slowly transform, with impurities also being expelled from his body. After this period of cultivation, he felt he had made quite a lot of progress. It seemed that it wouldn¡¯t take long before he could break through again. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Qi Refinement Level 12 Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Qi Refinement Level 12 Time passed, and over half a year later. In the secret chamber within the Spirit Turtle Basin cave, Lu Li was seated on the cushion, feeling the surging mana expanding his meridians to the point of slight swelling. He circulated his cultivation technique with all his might, as spiritual energy from outside the cave flocked to him, forming a vortex as his own aura grew stronger and stronger. ¡°Breakthrough!¡± After an unknown period, Lu Li emerged from deep concentration and shouted in his heart. His momentum suddenly increased, sensing the mana in his body increase by several folds and a smile appeared on his face. ¡°At last, I¡¯ve broken through to the twelfth level of Qi Refinement.¡± His divine sense slowly sank into his body, only to see ninety drops of potent essence blood flowing within the depths of his chest¡ªseveral times more than that of an ordinary cultivator. Even the range of his divine sense far exceeded that of a regular cultivator. While ordinary cultivators at the peak of Qi Refinement had a divine sense range of about one mile, his stretched to a full two miles. It seemed that the long-term consumption of Spirit Rice and spiritual materials had also greatly enhanced his divine sense. It goes without saying that the unique cultivation technique played a role as well, with the Moonlight Body Refinement strengthening his physical foundation daily. The three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit are interconnected; with the nurturing of essence blood and mana, the divine sense also significantly strengthened. Lu Li finished surveying his own condition and estimated that he would still need some time to reach the limit of essence, energy, and spirit. After all, enhancing the divine sense was exceedingly difficult, and no method for its improvement was known throughout the Cultivation World. The soul often touched upon the very origin of a cultivator, making enhancement extremely arduous, requiring slow and steady cultivation. Lu Li rose and walked out of the cave. He came to the edge of the Central Spiritual Field. The top-grade Spirit Rice was lush and filled the entire field with vitality. Not far away, the Void Spirit Grass was also thriving. Its verdant leaves shimmered with a lustrous glow. During this time, he had already begun harvesting Void Spirit Grass to incubate insect eggs. At that moment, a group of snow-white chicks ran towards Lu Li from afar, pecked at his feet a few times upon getting closer, and already showed a hint of aggression. Lu Li smiled; the two Snow Cloud Chickens, nourished by a large amount of Spiritual Liquid, had already begun hatching their chicks. It seemed it wouldn¡¯t be long before he could taste the flavor of Snow Cloud Chicken. He walked over to the edge of the Central Cold Pond. A snow-white python was coiling near the pond, eagerly eyeing the spirit fish inside, with a trickle of fluid at the corner of its mouth. Had it not been for the restrictions Lu Li had placed, the fish would have probably been eaten by the python long ago. Feeling the presence of its master, Iron Pillar excitedly crawled over and affectionately rubbed against Lu Li¡¯s chest. Over the past half year, with the nourishing of abundant Spiritual Liquid, Iron Pillar had reached the limit of Qi Refinement, standing just a step away from becoming a Foundation Establishment Demon Beast¡ªin this span, some Loose Cultivators¡¯ spirit beasts on the island also contributed a considerable amount of Spiritual Liquid. However, ever since its breakthrough, it had become somewhat restless and anxious. Lu Li guessed it might be due to the Dragon Transformation Heavenly Tribulation, which made it sense tremendous pressure in its destiny. Lu Li stroked the head of Iron Pillar, soothing its restless heart slightly. Seeing its increasingly flattened head and more delicate scales, Lu Li felt a sense of amazement. He wondered what it would look like after it passed the Heavenly Tribulation. An expectant feeling arose within Lu Li¡¯s heart. Then, he walked towards the southeast corner of the cave. And not long after, he arrived in front of a small hut. The modest construction was just big enough for one person to enter, entirely built from a type of spiritual wood known as Iron Wood. This little hut was specially constructed for hatching insect eggs. Lu Li entered the hut. In the center of the cramped space, there was a platform. Atop the platform lay a small nest made from numerous strands of Void Spirit Grass, with two freshly hatched larvae lying quietly inside. The larvae were snow-white, radiating spiritual light, and had a pair of wings on their backs as thin as cicada wings, giving them an extremely lively appearance. Sensing the presence of their master, the two little creatures frantically flapped their wings, very lively, but because they had just been born not long ago, they were still unable to fly. During this time, Lu Li had focused on cultivation as well as inscribing Blood Sacrificial Runes on the two insect eggs, and now that they had hatched, he felt quite a close connection to them. He walked forward and dripped a few drops of Spiritual Liquid onto the bodies of the two larvae. Watching the Spiritual Liquid slowly seep into the bodies of the larvae, he then placed a few stalks of Demon Attraction Grass around their nest and, after doing all this, he withdrew. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, several months passed. When Lu Li returned to the Insect Room, the sight in front of him was rather astonishing. He saw a large swarm of small insects buzzing around the two Insect kings, emitting waves of humming sounds. The original two Insect kings were now Demon Beasts at the initial stage of Qi Refinement, while the other small insects had just touched upon a trace of Demon Energy. With Lu Li¡¯s generous feeding, it likely wouldn¡¯t be long before the number of spiritual insects would multiply several times over, reaching tens of thousands, and their cultivation levels would also rise. At that moment, he took out a low-grade Flying Sword and placed it on a stone platform. His Divine Sense began commanding the two Insect kings to attack the Flying Sword. Under the control of the two Insect kings, a swarm of small insects fiercely pounced on the Flying Sword, beginning to gnaw at it furiously. ¡°Szzzz¡­¡± The grating sound echoed through the air, the Flying Sword¡¯s glow rapidly dimmed, followed by cracks appearing on the blade, and soon it vanished without a trace. ¡°How powerful!¡± Lu Li was truly surprised. These were merely larvae that hadn¡¯t completely stepped into the Qi Refinement Realm, yet their might was already so formidable. It seemed that soon there would be another major consumer of Spiritual Liquid to account for. After the verification was complete, he placed some Demon Attraction Grass on the stone platform and then withdrew. Lu Li went to the depths of the secret chamber and began his daily cultivation. The following days were exceedingly tranquil. Apart from feeding the spiritual insects and meditation, a daily serving of Spirit Rice was indispensable. Iron Pillar was occasionally let out to hunt Demon Beasts to replenish the supply of Spiritual Liquid, and everything had gotten on the right track. This batch of Spirit Rice had been harvested, amounting to roughly two thousand pounds, which would last him for a very long time. Such leisurely days went by in a flash, and a month had passed. That day, as Lu Li was sitting in meditation refining Qi, he suddenly felt the Communication Jade Token vibrate. He left the secret chamber and went to the edge of the Cold Pond, stowing the sleeping Iron Pillar into the Spiritual Beast Bag, then he exited the Array and made his way towards Mystic Moon Island. Several hours later, the entirety of Mystic Moon Island came into view. Lu Li suppressed his aura to the ninth layer of Qi Refinement and then leaped into the air, flying towards Qingling Peak. Almost another year had gone by, and there was no noticeable change on the island. Some mortals were catching various fish and shrimp along the seaside, and Cultivators of low aptitudes were still guarding the Spirit Boats at the dock. They all looked enviously at Lu Li¡¯s tunneling light. Before long, Lu Li had passed through the Array and arrived at the mountainside. He made his way into the Household Affairs Hall as if he knew it well and then saw Lu Yuting looking at him with a slight smile on her face. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived quite quickly this time.¡± Lu Li smiled, ¡°The ancestor gave early instructions, how dare I delay? Is it that those demon brats have shown up again?¡± ¡°Indeed, this time the four families are acting separately to sweep out any Demon Cultivators lurking within their own territories.¡± Lu Yuting¡¯s eyes held a murderous look. Lu Li¡¯s expression was calm, ¡°How many family Cultivators will be going out to battle this time?¡± ¡°For now, I can¡¯t reveal any information.¡± Lu Yuting appeared quite mysterious. ¡°You should stay on Qingling Peak for these few days.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Lu Li nodded with a smile. Important missions often couldn¡¯t reveal any information in advance. If the slightest hint of information were to leak, it might well lead to catastrophic disaster. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Rampage Across the Battlefield Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Rampage Across the Battlefield Several days later, at the foot of Qingling Peak, on a plaza. Several members of the Lu Family stood in the center of the field. Lu Li was among them, and with a quick glance, aside from Lu Qingqing and Lu Yuling, there were a few Guest Elders of the family. Upon seeing the level of cultivation Lu Li displayed, everyone was surprised, with the exception of Lu Qingqing, Lu Li now had the highest cultivation level. The cultivation levels of the Guest Elders were all around the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refinement. As for Lu Yuting, who was supposed to lead the team, she had yet to appear. The group quietly waited on the plaza. Before long, a blue tunneling light approached from afar and stopped in front of everyone. A beautiful figure was revealed¡ªit was Lu Yuting, the leader of this mission. ¡°We¡¯ve recently tracked down a nest of Demon Cultivators. Our mission is to annihilate them!¡± She spoke to everyone with a grim face. A group of Demon Cultivators had attacked the Lu Family¡¯s islands time and again, clearly infuriating her. At this moment, Lu Yuling expressed some doubts, ¡°Third Aunt, are just the few of us enough to eliminate the Demon Cultivators?¡± Lu Yuting smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. After lengthy investigations, we¡¯ve found that this stronghold is only a minor one, with only two at the peak of Qi Refinement and several late-stage Qi Refinement Demon Cultivators. It¡¯s not very dangerous.¡± After saying this, she pulled out a small silver Flying Boat and tossed it upward. The Flying Boat immediately unfolded with the wind and soon turned into a flying vessel about seventy to eighty feet long and more than a foot wide. The surface of the Flying Boat was covered with runes, emitting a silver light. ¡°Let¡¯s set off!¡± Lu Yuting led the way to the front part of the boat, sat cross-legged on a platform, then inserted a Spirit Stone into a stone pillar in front of her. This stone pillar was the control hub of the entire Flying Boat. As long as the Spirit Stone didn¡¯t run out, the craft could fly continuously, covering a thousand miles a day without any difficulty. Afterward, everyone flew to the Flying Boat. Not long after, they all found a small room and settled down in a cross-legged position. Lu Li entered a room towards the back and began to rest with his eyes closed. After a moment, he felt a slight jolt around him, as the Flying Boat began to speed forward. Hours later. The Flying Boat stopped in an unfamiliar sea area. Lu Yuting led everyone as they flew down, and then she packed away the Flying Artifact. The group stood in mid-air, the atmosphere somewhat tense. ¡°Just over ten miles ahead is the stronghold of those Demon Cultivators. We will break their Array at top speed and then slay our enemies.¡± Lu Yuting said resolutely, turning to address everyone. Everyone nodded solemnly. They then advanced towards the front, colorful tunneling lights darting quickly through the sky. After a short while, the group appeared not far from a small deserted island. Looking down, Lu Li saw a small island about a kilometer away from him. The island was small, covered with yellow boulders, and appeared barren; at its center was a small mountain peak, which was hollowed out, revealing several entrances. ¡°Kill!¡± Lu Yuting instantly gave the order and then took the lead in attacking the island. Lu Li followed closely behind the others. Shortly after, the group arrived at the edge of the deserted island. They each brandished their Magic Artifacts and smashed them fiercely against the Array in front of them. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud noise resounded, and the Array Light Screen in front began to tremble violently. ¡°This Array has no support of a Spirit Vein; while the enemy is still unresponsive, let¡¯s strike again and completely break through it,¡± Lu Yuting shouted loudly. She then fully activated her Flying Sword, its blade emitting dazzling Sword Qi as it struck at the Array ahead. The people beside her quickly followed suit. At this point, the Demon Cultivators inside the Array had begun to notice the disturbance. ¡°Enemy attack!¡± With a loud shout, a middle-aged man clad in a black robe led the charge, his cultivation at the peak of Qi Refinement, with seven or eight men at the late stage of Qi Refinement following behind him. A group of demon cultivators quickly summoned their magic artifacts to kill beyond the array. But before the demon cultivators could react, the array suddenly underwent a massive change. The crowd, under the leadership of Lu Yuting, fully activated their magic artifacts, and a moment later, treasures shone up to the heavens, colliding with the Array Light Screen with a powerful aura. Lu Li had also pushed the Aminokaze sword to the limit of the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, its sharp Sword Qi running rampant, drawing frequent glances from the crowd. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A tremendous impact sound thundered through the heavens, and the array began to shake wildly. Soon there was a light crack, and the light screen abruptly shattered, scattering the chaotic Spiritual Energy in all directions. The sudden turn of events caused the demon cultivators¡¯ faces to change instantly. Unexpectedly, the attackers had broken through the high-grade first-level array so quickly. This caught them somewhat off guard. ¡°Kill!¡± Lu Yuting¡¯s face was filled with a murderous aura as she struck at the demon cultivator at the peak of Qi Refinement in the forefront. The others also summoned their magic artifacts and charged into battle, each finding their own opponent. The battlefield was instantly awash with mana splashing everywhere, treasures shining up to the heavens, and dust and smoke rolling as the sounds of fierce combat filled the air. In not so much time, the fighters gradually separated. Lu Li summoned the Aminokaze sword and approached a young demon cultivator at the late stage of Qi Refinement. He circulated mana to form a huge Sword Array, trapping the other firmly within. The young demon cultivator paled in horror and hastily summoned a Defensive Magical Artifact over his head. ¡°A Sword Array!¡± Lu Li maneuvered the Sword Array, releasing streams of Sword Qi which danced through the void, slicing at the opposing artifact¡¯s spirit light, producing an incredibly piercing noise. In just a few breaths, the opponent¡¯s artifact spirit light began to dim. The young man¡¯s face showed utter despair. He hadn¡¯t expected to randomly face an opponent so strong. Could it be that heaven sought his destruction? Lu Li was expressionless as he gently stirred the Sword Array again, sending out a howling Sword Qi which knocked the opponent¡¯s Defensive Magical Artifact to the ground. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± A pitiful scream rang out. Countless sharp Sword Qi swarmed in, instantly reducing the opponent to a mushy mess, with red liquid spilling all over the ground. Lu Li turned to survey the battlefield, once again maneuvering the Flying Sword as he flew toward Lu Yuling. He saw her locked in battle with a cold-looking demon cultivator at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement, the Flying Sword clashing with a huge seal Magic Artifact in the air above, causing thunderous roars. The two were evenly matched in cultivation, for the moment neither able to secure a victory. Seeing Lu Li flying over, Lu Yuling was shocked, not expecting her sixth brother to have dealt with his opponent so swiftly when her own battle had just started to heat up. The opposing demon cultivator, seeing Lu Li coming to the aid, was terrified but dared not retreat. Lu Li didn¡¯t waste words and directly summoned the Aminokaze sword, slashing at the opponent¡¯s head, the Sword Light Integration Secret Technique activating, a massive Sword Qi appearing in the void with a tremendous momentum. The young demon cultivator¡¯s face showed sheer despair, hurriedly raising a Round Shield Magical Artifact to defend himself, not daring to even think about fleeing since they had been subjected to Divine Soul Restrictions ¡ª an unauthorized escape would mean soul extraction agony. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud collision sounded, the Round Shield Magical Artifact was knocked away in an instant, and then the Flying Sword, undiminished in momentum, slashed toward the opponent¡¯s head. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± A scream rang out, and under the fearful gaze of the demon cultivator, the Flying Sword instantly split him in two, his body scattering across the ground. Lu Yuling, standing by, was extremely shocked to see Lu Li dispatch the opponent with a single move. She remembered that he hadn¡¯t been this powerful at the last four families¡¯ mage battle, but in just a few short years, it felt worlds apart. Lu Li picked up the opponent¡¯s Storage Bag and tossed it to Lu Yuling nearby. ¡°Don¡¯t say your sixth brother stole your prey.¡± ¡°Thank you, sixth brother.¡± Lu Yuling happily caught the Storage Bag, feeling very grateful inside. Her Cultivation Resources had been extremely scarce lately, she could barely even afford to keep her spirit beast, so this Storage Bag was a timely relief. ¡°Sixth brother, let¡¯s team up.¡± She smiled sweetly and joined Lu Li¡¯s side. Lu Li knew what she was implying and, intending to take care of his little sister, he didn¡¯t refuse. Together, they flew off toward the front left¡­ Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66 Unstoppable Momentum Chapter 66: Chapter 66 Unstoppable Momentum Lu Li swept his gaze across the battlefield, feeling somewhat puzzled. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it said that there were two Qi Refinement perfectionists?¡± There was only one on the entire battlefield, currently in fierce battle with Lu Yuting and was clearly at a disadvantage. Lu Yuting controlled a silver-white Flying Sword, which emitted a fierce aura like a roaming dragon, severely suppressing the opponent. The mana collisions resulting from their clash sprayed wildly, with everyone else keeping their distance from the two fighters. Lu Li put aside his thoughts for the moment and immediately led Lu Yuling toward another part of the battlefield. Not far from them, a middle-aged Guest Elder was in a fierce fight with a Demon Cultivator, both sides equally matched and locked in an intense struggle. Lu Li wielded Aminokaze, suddenly slashing toward the opposing Demon Cultivator with a sword light so colossal it seemed like it would tear through the void. The opposing family¡¯s Guest Elder was surprised by this, not expecting Lu Li to have defeated his own opponent so swiftly. By the time the demon cultivator across from him had reacted, it was already too late; the Flying Sword struck like lightning, instantly landing on his Defensive Magical Artifact above his head. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud noise followed as the opponent¡¯s Defensive Magical Artifact was struck down in an instant, with Aminokaze¡¯s relentless force swiftly chopping towards the cultivator¡¯s head. ¡°Ah¡­¡± With a look of terror on his face, the man in the black robe was instantly bisected, blood spilling all over the ground. Lu Li quickly picked up the Storage Bag on the ground and handed it directly to Lu Yuling beside him. The Demon Cultivators¡¯ Storage Bags didn¡¯t contain much in the way of spiritual materials; after acquiring the undersea spirit field base, he found little interest in them, so they were perfect for giving Lu Yuling a little boost. Lu Yuling took the Storage Bag with an excited face and said, ¡°Thanks, Sixth Brother, you¡¯re always the one who treats me the best.¡± Her beautiful eyes looked at Lu Li with great gratitude, remembering the familiar face from their childhood running wild over Mystic Moon Island, the Sixth Brother who had always taken care of her¡­ The middle-aged Guest Official Cultivator watched with a bemused expression, their behavior seemingly like they had come specifically to steal ¡°business.¡± Indeed, his suspicions were soon confirmed. Lu Li, accompanied by Lu Yuling, charged once more towards the frontlines where the Demon Cultivators were. Aminokaze was activated again, and in an instant, another was slain. Then, with practiced ease, he picked up the Storage Bag and threw it to Lu Yuling beside him. Lu Yuling, her face flushed with excitement, unceremoniously accepted the Storage Bag once more, their actions displaying remarkable proficiency. The only one left was another family¡¯s Guest Elder, standing there with a look of astonishment. At this time, due to Lu Li¡¯s rampage, a group of Demon Cultivators noticed the anomaly and looked at him with faces full of fear. The leading Demon Cultivator started to become very anxious, and seeing this, Lu Yuting¡¯s face brightened: ¡°Quick, Li, finish off that group of devils, and then we will join forces to take down this one.¡± Not far away, Lu Qingqing also watched the scene with surprise. Seeing the favorable momentum on the battlefield, she no longer spared her mana and fully powered her Flying Sword, the Sword Qi wildly radiating, putting the opposing Demon Cultivators at a disadvantage. Hearing Third Aunt¡¯s words, Lu Li didn¡¯t hesitate and promptly led Lu Yuling forward again. The two of them quickly moved through the battlefield, Lu Li¡¯s every strike like lightning, effortlessly slaying a Demon Cultivator in one blow, and before long, there were no more Demon Cultivators left on the field except for the final leader. Lu Yuling, following close behind Lu Li, picked up so many Storage Bags that her hands grew tired, hanging five or six bags from her waist, looking rather comical. Her face flushed, her heart filled with excitement, but as she received the last bag, she felt a bit embarrassed, thinking to herself, ¡°Sixth Brother is just too ¡®generous.''¡± As a team, she didn¡¯t have to exert much effort; other than cheering him on, there wasn¡¯t much for her to do, as the Demon Cultivators stood no chance against a single sword strike. She wondered when she would become as formidable. The other Guest Elders were all standing in shock, already thinking that they would have to use all their skills in the upcoming fights, or else they wouldn¡¯t even get to drink the soup. Lu Li also casually took a few Storage Bags to hang at his waist. Then, alongside Lu Qingqing, they charged toward the last Demon Cultivator leader not far away. Seeing everyone rushing to her aid, Lu Yuting smiled brightly, ¡°Li, you¡¯re doing great! Help me encircle and kill this brute, and don¡¯t let him escape.¡± The leading Demon Cultivator had already noticed the sudden changes on the battlefield and was extremely anxious, letting out roars of rage. Since his plan hadn¡¯t been completed, he didn¡¯t dare to retreat rashly and had to keep battling fiercely with Lu Yuting. Now, seeing the reinforcements arrive, he became even more agitated. Lu Li looked at the Demon Cultivator with a stern face and then turned to say to Lu Yuling and the other, ¡°You two stay by Third Aunt¡¯s side to prevent him from injuring Yu Ling in his desperation. I¡¯ll go to the back and cut off this man¡¯s retreat path, and we¡¯ll kill him together.¡± ¡°Indeed, Yu Ling¡¯s cultivation level isn¡¯t high enough.¡± Lu Yuting fully agreed. As for Lu Li, she wasn¡¯t worried at all; the guy was full of ¡°schemes¡± and never did anything he wasn¡¯t confident about. Hearing everyone¡¯s agreement, Lu Li quickly moved to the side and in the blink of an eye, he appeared behind the middle-aged Demon Cultivator, then fully activated Aminokaze, exerting a strong oppressive force. Seeing this, the middle-aged man¡¯s face darkened. There was no escape now, and he could only fight desperately. He took out a banner-shaped Magic Artifact, and with a burst of Essence Blood, the artifact suddenly shone with a blood-red light as a group of vengeful souls rushed out, surrounding him with the overwhelming Aura of the Blood Fiend and pouncing toward Lu Li. After spitting out the Essence Blood, the complexion of the middle-aged man instantly turned pale, as if he had aged a great deal. ¡°Damn it¡­ If this plan isn¡¯t successful this time, this lord will suffer a huge loss¡­¡± ¡°It will take several years to recover this Prime Essence Blood.¡± The middle-aged man cursed in his heart, but he no longer had a choice; if he couldn¡¯t withstand the attack, he would fall right here. From the moment the man took out the Magic Artifact to the spitting out of the Essence Blood, everything happened in just a split second. Seeing this, Lu Li sneered. As he operated the Sword Technique, Aminokaze violently shook, and the Flying Sword instantly turned into dozens of sword shadows, enveloping both the Demon Cultivator and a group of vengeful souls within a Sword Array. He gently urged his Mana, and countless Sword Qi crazily weaved through the void, striking hard at the group of vengeful souls, eliciting a series of piercing screams. In just a moment, the large group of vengeful souls before him was directly slain, only leaving behind four Qi Refinement-completed souls wailing continuously within the array, their essences greatly dimmed. Under the relentless pressure, the four vengeful souls were unable to break out of the Sword Array, and their empty gazes began to reveal a hint of fear. ¡°What! It¡¯s actually a Sword Array!¡± The middle-aged man, seeing this scene, instantly turned pale with shock, and a sense of despair quickly filled his heart. This Hundred Ghost Banner was his pride, created over decades with countless Essence Blood and vengeful souls, nurturing four Qi Refinement-complete entities. Originally, it was meant to be a powerful method after Foundation Establishment, but to his dismay, it was easily trapped here and couldn¡¯t last much longer. He didn¡¯t hesitate any longer, quickly poured out a few blood-red Medicine Pills, swallowed them, and soon his complexion began to turn blood-red as his Mana surged around him. ¡°Kill!¡± Another Essence Blood spat out, and the four vengeful souls, bathed in the blood, instantly regained their vitality and furiously rushed toward the edge of the Sword Array. Lu Yuting and the other two up ahead saw the middle-aged Demon Cultivator start to fight desperately, and they prepared for the worst. They began to fully activate their Defensive Magical Artifacts, with rays of light enveloping themselves. Meanwhile, Flying Swords also relentlessly slashed toward the enemy. A band of clan Guest Officials also stood by their sides, offering their Magic Artifacts to strike at the Demon Cultivator. The middle-aged man suddenly felt an increased pressure and, thinking that the ¡°plan¡± should be just about complete, started to entertain thoughts of retreat. All he wanted now was to kill the Cultivator behind him and flee to reconsider his plans. But unexpectedly, something he didn¡¯t anticipate happened once again. Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Sword Qi Soaring Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Sword Qi Soaring The four Ghost Kings bathed in essence blood suddenly had their momentum greatly increased, each charging toward the four directions of the Sword Array. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Sword Qi struck fiercely against the soul bodies, causing bursts of loud rumblings. ¡°Howl¡­¡± After taking such heavy hits, the four Ghost Kings began to furiously roar. Despite their desperate scrambling, they still couldn¡¯t break out of the Sword Array. After numerous charges, all they did was cause the Sword Array to start shaking a bit. Lu Li rapidly channeled mana into Aminokaze, gradually stabilizing the Sword Array. Even as the four Ghost Kings exhausted all their tricks, not a single sign of breaking through the Sword Array was evident. In no time, after several attempts, the four Ghost Kings began to lose their edge and no longer held their former imposing aura. The Ghost Kings were covered in dense, numerous scars, and even their soul bodies dimmed a bit, appearing greatly weakened. The middle-aged Demon Cultivator was constantly monitoring the situation behind him. Seeing that even after expending his own essence blood, the four Ghost Kings still couldn¡¯t break through the opponent¡¯s Array, he was greatly shocked, his face revealing traces of despair. ¡°Could it be that this seat will fall here today?¡± The middle-aged Demon Cultivator¡¯s expression then hardened, ready to stimulate a Forbidden Technique once again, but suddenly there was a change behind him. Lu Li, seeing that his opponent was driven to desperation, did not hesitate any longer. He began to operate the Sword Array with all his might. The extremely sharp Sword Qi rapidly wove through the void, carrying destructive force as it fiercely struck the four Ghost Kings. ¡°Aow¡­¡± The four Ghost Kings immediately let out painful howls, their crimson armors crazily sliced by the Sword Qi, leaving behind numerous sword marks that were harrowing to look upon. In just a few breaths¡¯ time, the four Ghost Kings could no longer hold on. Their soul bodies began to flicker, their momentum significantly reduced. Capitalizing on their weakness, Lu Li transmitted mana with all his might, and the Sword Array¡¯s power surged immensely, the entire space cloaked in the fierce Sword Qi, with an awe-inspiring presence. Countless Sword Qis, like bolts of thunder, rapidly slashed towards the four injured Ghost Kings. The middle-aged Demon Cultivator sensed danger for the Ghost Kings behind him and was extremely anxious. Who would have thought this person could be so powerful! This caught him off guard, and now retreating wasn¡¯t so easy. In contrast, Lu Yuting and the other two looked elated, surprised to see Lu Li successfully holding back the four Ghost Kings, they all looked over in amazement. Lu Yuting, along with the others, channeled their attack magic tools with full force, savagely attacking the opposing Demon Cultivator, preparing to deliver the final blow. Under the siege, the middle-aged Demon Cultivator was already overwhelmed. No longer hesitating, he directly activated the Demon Prohibition Technique ¡°Blood Burning Technique.¡± His nearly depleted mana was suddenly boosted, continuously flowing into him like an adrenaline shot. ¡°Ha!¡± The middle-aged Demon Cultivator shouted loudly, the Flying Sword above his head shining with blood light, fiercely slashing forward, repelling the several Flying Swords in front of him. ¡°Everybody be careful, this person is fighting with his back against the wall!¡± Affected by the attack, Lu Yuting and the others started to become unstable, shouting out loud in warning. Seeing his attack effective, the middle-aged Demon Cultivator did not linger, preparing to directly activate Blood Jutsu. Just then, a sudden change came from behind. Lu Li had been observantly watching the situation, and seeing the man determined to fight desperately, he held back no longer. Several breaths of astonishing Sword Qi ferociously struck the four Ghost Kings, grinding them to dust, leaving only an area saturated with malevolent energy. All this happened in an instant. The middle-aged Demon Cultivator was suddenly frightened out of his wits. Not daring to delay, he quickly activated Blood Jutsu, tunnelling rapidly to the side. Lu Yuting, seeing this, became anxious, ¡°No good, he¡¯s trying to escape!¡± A cold smile appeared on Lu Li¡¯s lips. He had been closely watching the opponent; as soon as he started to activate Blood Jutsu, the Flying Sword suddenly transformed into a huge sword shadow, swallowing pale sword light, rapidly slashing towards the fleeing blood shadow. Before the middle-aged Demon Cultivator could escape far, the Flying Sword harshly slashed into the blood shadow. ¡°Ah¡­¡± A wretched scream echoed as the blood shadow in the sky was instantly bisected, revealing a headless corpse that fiercely slammed into the ground and turned into a pile of indistinguishably mangled flesh. From the Demon Cultivator¡¯s flight to Lu Li¡¯s intervention, it all happened in the blink of an eye. People only then began to react, their faces filled with shock as they looked at Lu Li. Lu Yuting wore a face full of admiration, ¡°Well done, Little Li.¡± Lu Qingqing, too, had eyes filled with amazement, unable to believe that not only had Li¡¯s cultivation progressed incredibly fast, but his combat awareness was also astonishing. Seeing this, Lu Yuling looked at Lu Li with a face full of worship; throughout this pursuit of the Demon Cultivator, she had thoroughly witnessed the strength of her Sixth Brother. Lu Li picked up the Storage Bag from the ground and approached everyone with a smile on his face. Lu Yuting scanned the surroundings, her tone cold, ¡°Let¡¯s all enter the mountain together and thoroughly sweep the area.¡± The Guest Elders at her side were already eager to try. They had not even gotten a taste of the battle this time; all of the Demon Cultivators had been snatched up by Lu Li and Lu Qingqing, which had left the group quite frustrated. Of course, they didn¡¯t dare to blame the two of them, only lamenting their own lack of strength. Now, with Lu Yuting¡¯s order, the Guest Elders flew towards the mountain in the center of the island. With this, Lu Yuting didn¡¯t stop them and turned to Lu Li and the others with a smile, ¡°There may only be a few Demon Cultivators left inside. It will be more efficient to search separately. Lu Li, you take Yu Ling, and I will take Qing Qing. If there is any situation, contact us immediately with the Communication Jade Token.¡± Everyone nodded at her words. Then they split into two groups, flying towards the center of the island. In the heart of the desolate island lay an unnamed hill. The hill spanned several miles in radius, its surroundings rocky and barren, not a weed in sight, showing a bleak and bare landscape. Lu Li and his group approached the nameless hill and soon found themselves in an open space. Looking up at the mountain before them, six cave entrances led straight into the bowels of the mountain, all emanating a deep red hue that seemed bottomless. Wisps of the Aura of the Blood Fiend leaked from the cave entrances, eerily chilling. Lu Yuting frowned as she looked at the several entrances. ¡°The Guest Elders have already taken the caves on the left; let¡¯s each take two,¡± she suggested. Lu Li nodded and led Lu Yuling towards the cave entrance on the far right. ¡­ Deep within the mountain, In the center of an open space was a massive Blood Pool. The Blood Pool was filled with extremely thick and dense blood that bubbled continuously. A nauseating scent of blood permeated the air. A pigeon-faced old man in a red robe sat at the edge of the Blood Pool, seemingly sensing something, his mouth curling into a cold smile. ¡°What a waste; they didn¡¯t even last an hour, but fortunately, I was prepared.¡± With this, the pigeon-faced elder¡¯s hands danced, casting Magic Spells swiftly. ¡°Gurgle¡­¡± The Blood Pool surged with a bright blood light, the blood within began to roil madly. ¡°My dear sons, the freshest food has come once again.¡± The pigeon-faced elder cackled sinisterly; from the bottom of the Blood Pool, more than ten withered figures suddenly emerged, deeply unsettling. These were clearly a group of Blood Corpses, their cultivation levels all around the peak of Qi Refinement. Each Blood Corpse had blood-red eyes bulging outwards, and they were still wearing Daoist robes, indicating their previous lives as Cultivators. They emitted an extremely powerful Aura of the Blood Fiend. ¡­ Lu Li led Lu Yuling cautiously into the cave, treading carefully towards the depths of the mountain. The cave was bitterly cold, with a faint blood light casting a grim atmosphere, causing Lu Yuling to frown deeply. Then, the two of them brought out their Defensive Magical Artifacts, enveloping themselves in a shimmering protective light. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Blood Corpse Attack Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Blood Corpse Attack Before long, the two of them passed through a narrow passage and arrived at the center of a large hall. The hall was more than ten zhang in diameter, surrounded by dark giant stones piled up, with ordinary jade stones laid on the ground, which still bore traces of crimson liquid and some rotten flesh. Lu Li glanced around and frowned. Inside the hall, there was nothing except for four round cylindrical pillars standing in each corner. The pillars were made entirely of blood-red jade, engraved with various strange patterns of beasts, emitting a faintly eerie aura. His Divine Sense carefully scanned the surroundings, aside from these four pillars, there was only a deep, bottomless hole to the northwest. ¡°It seems that by passing through this hole we reach the lair of the Demon Cultivators,¡± Lu Li whispered to Lu Yuling beside him. Lu Yuling nodded in agreement, ¡°Brother Liu, these pillars are very strange, we should destroy them.¡± ¡°I was thinking the same thing.¡± With a cold gleam in his eye, Lu Li immediately summoned his Flying Sword and slashed towards the jade pillar ahead. ¡°Hum¡­¡± The Flying Sword emitted a pallid and fierce sword glow, making a buzzing sound from the Array, carrying a strong killing aura, and fiercely rushed toward the top of the pillar. In an instant, it reached the jade pillar, but just as the Flying Sword touched the pillar, there was an abrupt change. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± The entire space started shaking as if in an earthquake, the surrounding jade pillars emitted a bright blood light instantly, and beast patterns on them appeared as if coming to life, with eyes filled with a hint of killing intent, extremely eerie. Immediately after, blood light began to spray wildly from the four pillars, forming a giant blood net, engulfing the two of them. ¡°Not good! There is still an Array here, Third Aunt and Qing Qing might be in danger,¡± Lu Li steadied himself with Lu Yuling, looking at the sudden changes around him, his heart went cold. Lu Yuling¡¯s expression changed, replying somewhat uncertainly, ¡°Presumably, the ancestor must have bestowed protective items on Qing Qing and Third Aunt. Let¡¯s break this place quickly and unite with them.¡± Without further hesitation, Lu Li fully activated his Mana, with colossal sword glows swallowing around Aminokaze, the momentum impressive. Aminokaze, carrying fierce Sword Qi, did not hesitate to slash towards the jade pillar ahead. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± A loud crashing sound resounded, and immediately a huge sword mark was left on the pillar, the Array that trapped them started to shake wildly. Just as Aminokaze was attacking the Array, at the bottom of the earth, next to the Blood Pool, the dove-faced elder was astonished. ¡°Who exactly is this person? With a single strike, he nearly broke the Blood Fiend Soul-Extinguishing Array set by this old ancestor, he¡¯s as frightening as a true disciple from the Demon Sect, too peculiar.¡± ¡°Such a person actually appeared in the Gala Sea Domain! No, I must quickly deal with the others. This person will surely be the biggest variable in this event.¡± The dove-faced elder danced his hands in casting Magic Spells, and over ten Blood Corpses quickly turned around, leaping towards the hole ahead, jumping several zhang away in a few breaths and disappearing into the depths of the earth. ¡­ On the other side, Lu Yuting and Lu Qingqing also suddenly noticed the change of the pillars around them, their faces turning grave. Lu Yuting¡¯s pretty face held a murderous intent, ¡°Let¡¯s break this Array and meet up with Li, I fear they won¡¯t last much longer.¡± Lu Qingqing also nodded in agreement. Instantly, she stimulated the Flying Sword in the air, fiercely slashing towards the jade pillar ahead. The red sword glow blinked in the void, appearing to cut through everything. Lu Yuting no longer held back, wildly driving her own Flying Sword, with Qi Refinement full of powerful auras freely dispersing, and together, both of them slashed towards the front jade pillar. ¡°Rumble¡­¡± A series of loud crash sounds echoed deep underground, both their Flying Swords were instantly knocked back several zhang away, the Array merely trembled slightly before stabilizing again. The jade pillar¡¯s top did not even bear a scratch. Seeing this, both of them felt a chill in their hearts, sensing something ominous. ¡°Not good, this Array is extraordinary, we¡¯ve fallen for the trap set by these Demon Cultivators, I wonder how Yu Ling and Li are faring.¡± Lu Yuting looked worried, and at the same time, felt extremely culpable for being overly confident. Lu Qingqing, standing beside them, was no longer calm and composed, her face full of worry. ¡°The ancestor only granted me items to preserve my life, not any powerful attack methods¡­¡± Lu Yuting sighed, ¡°It¡¯s rare even for a major sect to have powerful attack methods usable by Qi Refinement cultivators. The ancestor doesn¡¯t have them either. Now, all we can do is attack the array with all our might, hoping to find a breach and hoping that Li and Yu Ling can hold on a bit longer.¡± Just as the two were about to stimulate their Flying Swords to attack the Array again, a sudden change occurred up ahead. Four humanoid monsters, in the complete stage of Qi Refinement, suddenly charged out from the depths of the cave. These creatures were tall, with flushed faces and two large protruding fangs sticking out of their mouths, their bodies emitting an astonishing Aura of the Blood Fiend. ¡°Blood Corpses! How can there be so many here, all in the complete stage of Qi Refinement!¡± Seeing this, Lu Yuting and her companion were instantly frightened to paleness. Sensing the cultivation level of the Blood Corpses, panic immediately set in, and they could no longer maintain their usual composure. Although previously trapped by the array, they still firmly believed that they could break it and reunite with Lu Li, feeling somewhat confident. But the appearance of several Qi Refinement complete Blood Corpses instantly shattered their last shred of confidence. As panic rose in their hearts, the four Blood Corpses, fast as lightning, charged toward them, bringing a powerful evil aura. In just an instant, they reached the two, two in the front and two in the back, completely surrounding them in the middle of the field. Then they opened their massive blood-filled mouths and violently lunged at the two, a foul stench mixed with a strong smell of blood making them furrow their brows. Lu Yuting and her companion dared not delay, immediately activating the treasure cauldron above their heads, encasing themselves securely within it. The cauldron emitted a glowing light, dissipating the darkness around them, providing them a slight relief. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The four Blood Corpses let out furious roars and charged directly toward the treasure cauldron. They collided instantly. ¡°Cling¡­¡± A crisp collision sound echoed through the underground, the Defensive Treasure Cauldron above their heads spinning steadily, the emitted light keeping the Blood Corpses at bay. Upon this impact, Lu Qingqing, having a slightly lower cultivation, suddenly turned pale and, disregarding everything else, activated the Defensive Magical Artifact again. Immediately afterward, Lu Yuting and her companion took out their Flying Swords, attacking the four Blood Corpses¡­ Meanwhile, not far from where Lu Yuting and her companion were fighting, a group of family Guest Elders faced huge trouble. The four Qi Refinement complete Blood Corpses with frightening evil aura firmly surrounded several of them. Their faces were deathly pale, filled with unwillingness. ¡°Are we really going to fall here today?¡± A middle-aged Guest Elder looked utterly despairing. The four Blood Corpses suddenly pounced at the group, and soon, screams of agony echoed, and after a short while, it went completely silent, leaving only fragments and blood scattered chaotically on the ground. ¡­ ¡°Ah?¡± Over here, after an unsuccessful strike, Lu Li was somewhat puzzled. This array seemed rather sophisticated. With his current level of mana, even going all out, he couldn¡¯t break through it. Lu Yuling, standing by his side, looked at him shockingly, as if she was seeing him for the first time. ¡°Brother Six, you¡­¡± She felt mana from him as vast as the ocean, incredibly powerful and far surpassing Third Aunt and the clan elders, making her hardly believe it. Lu Li smiled, not bothering to explain, instead, he patted the Spiritual Beast Bag and let out the Iron Pillar. ¡°Roar¡­¡± A snow-white giant python appeared instantly in the hall. Its scales were smooth and fine, decorated with black stripes all over its body. It boasted a powerful aura of a Qi Refinement complete stage, enormously fierce. ¡°Is this the Green Spirit Python born from our Ancestor Spirit? It¡¯s cultivation is already so astonishing.¡± Lu Yuling, sensing the aura emitted by the white python, appeared horrified. Her own Water Ape was acquired from Lu Li, and was only in the middle stage of Qi Refinement and had already consumed plenty of resources. This near dragon-transformation Green Spirit Python simply refreshed her understanding. She knew now was not the time for inquiries, pressing all her thoughts to the bottom of her heart. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Iron Pillar Fierceness Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Iron Pillar Fierceness ¡°Kill!¡± Lu Li gave the command to the Iron Pillar, then he himself also summoned the Aminokaze, fully activating the Flying Sword. The extremely fierce sword light instantly manifested in the void, exuding a terrifying presence. He manipulated the Aminokaze, slashing again toward the Jade Pillar in front, and the Iron Pillar, unwilling to show weakness, let out a thunderous roar and charged ahead, ready to shatter the Array alongside its master. In this lightning-fast moment, an unexpected change occurred. ¡°Roar¡­¡± An astonishing roar echoed from the depths of the cave entrance, carrying with it the dire Aura of the Blood Fiend as it surged toward the hall. Following that, four humanoid shadows shot out like lightning, their huge fangs matched with blood-red eyes, exuding a fearsome aura. As soon as the four Blood Corpses sprang out, they immediately went after the giant python and the Flying Sword, clearly aiming to prevent them from destroying the Array. ¡°Blood Corpses?¡± Seeing the creatures emerge in that instant, Lu Li¡¯s expression was somewhat puzzled. These Blood Corpses were clearly being manipulated by someone, and had been nurtured over a long period to reach such a state. ¡°It seems that the depths of the entrance are indeed the secret lair of that hidden Demon Cultivator.¡± Lu Yuling, seeing this, her expression changed as well, sensing the powerful aura of full Qi Refinement emanating from the four Blood Corpses, she felt a faint sense of worry in her heart. ¡°Iron Pillar, kill them!¡± Lu Li¡¯s expression was cold as he swung the Aminokaze swiftly like lightning toward one of the Blood Corpses at the side. ¡°Howl¡­¡± With an excited roar, the Iron Pillar charged fiercely toward the foremost Blood Corpse. Naturally belligerent, the Iron Pillar had been cooped up guarding the underwater cave lair for some time and was eager for a fight. It arrived before the Blood Corpse like a thunderbolt, summoned all its strength, and swung its pristine white tail viciously at the Blood Corpse¡¯s head. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± The opposing Blood Corpse showed no sign of weakness, charging at the Iron Pillar with dark glowing nails, reaching forward in a vicious scratch. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± In an instant, they collided, creating a deafening noise. A powerful miasma sprayed wildly, and the surrounding floor began to crack and crumble into disarray. ¡°Howl¡­¡± Upon contact, the Blood Corpse let out mournful howls. Their hard claws were completely unable to break through the Iron Pillar¡¯s scales, instead, the Iron Pillar was shook, retreating continuously, and both its arms drooped, clearly badly injured. Seeing this, the Iron Pillar lifted its tail again, slamming it down on the Blood Corpse¡¯s head with enormous force, and struck it before it could react. ¡°Crack¡­¡± A crisp sound rang out, the Blood Corpse¡¯s head shattered like a breaking boulder, splattering dark liquid everywhere, which was immensely disgusting. The battle between the two was over in an instant. Meanwhile, Lu Li¡¯s Aminokaze also reached the Blood Corpse¡¯s head. The pale and sharp Sword Qi flickered in the void, fiercely slashing at the Blood Corpse in front. ¡°Howl¡­¡± Sensing the impending danger, the Blood Corpse let out an angry roar, revealing a sense of human-like terror as it extended its claws in defense. ¡°Crack¡­¡± Both black and red arms of the Blood Corpse were instantly severed by the Sword Qi, leaking a stench-filled liquid onto the ground. The Aminokaze then swung again, fiercely lopping off the Blood Corpse¡¯s head, and as a bright flash passed, the head shot into the air, and black liquid spurted out in torrents, leaving the headless body to collapse on the ground moments later. From the moment Lu Li and the Iron Pillar made their move to the slaying of the two Blood Corpses, it all happened in the blink of an eye. Lu Yuling, who had just summoned her Defensive Magical Artifact to defend herself, saw the two Blood Corpses be dispatched by Lu Li and the spirit beast as effortlessly as chopping vegetables. She was utterly shocked; waves seemed to surge within her heart. These were Blood Corpses at the peak of Qi Refinement, made from the bodies of Cultivators and extremely horrifying, such that even the Third Aunt would have to be cautious around them. Yet, they were slain with such ease. As she felt an immense shock in her heart, the battle resumed on the field, and the remaining two Blood Corpses didn¡¯t even last for a few breaths. Iron Pillar, not yet satisfied after killing one Blood Corpse, actually charged directly at the remaining two. It was actually facing two at once! Iron Pillar lifted his massive tail, carrying an extremely powerful murderous aura, like Mt. Tai crushing down, and smashed towards the two Blood Corpses in front of him. In an instant, it arrived above their heads. ¡°Ow ow ow¡­¡± The two Blood Corpses, seeing their companion instantly slain, revealed a hint of dread but didn¡¯t shrink back, instead converging towards the giant tail. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± As soon as the giant tail and the two bloodied hands made contact, a tremendous collision sound erupted, with vile auras wildly splattering, leaving the surroundings in complete disarray. The two Blood Corpses were suddenly forced back, obviously outmatched by Iron Pillar. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Iron Pillar roared once again, its body bolstered by demon energy, the massive tail swelled suddenly and, like thunder, smashed again at the two Blood Corpses. ¡°Bang¡­¡± With a huge noise, the two Blood Corpses were instantly smashed back over ten meters, violently colliding into the Array Light Screen before falling to the ground, where they lay motionless for a long time, a truly pitiful sight. Under that strike, the two Blood Corpses had clearly been smashed beyond repair by Iron Pillar; their organs and cores were pulverized, and black-red body fluid slowly oozed onto the ground. Lu Li, seeing this, smiled with satisfaction and then put all her effort into wielding Aminokaze, cutting with a fierce Sword Qi, and suddenly slashing towards a Jade Pillar in front of her. ¡°Boom¡­¡± With one strike, the Jade Pillar instantly collapsed, the fierce Sword Qi reducing it to rubble, with fragments scattered all over the ground. Only then did Lu Yuling beside her react, from the extermination of the four Blood Corpses to the breaking of the Array, everything had happened too swiftly. Her heart was filled with shock, her face had already turned numb, as if seeing her Sixth Brother for the first time, his strength completely beyond her imagination. At that very instant when the four Blood Corpses were exterminated. Deep beneath the ground, by the edge of the Blood Pool. The pigeon-faced old man was shocked, a tidal wave of emotion surging in his heart. ¡°Impossible! My Blood Corpses didn¡¯t even last a few breaths, could there be a treasure provided by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?¡± ¡°Hmph, let¡¯s see how many times you can use your treasure. Once the eight Blood Corpses join forces, I¡¯d like to see how you¡¯ll escape¡­¡± The old man sensed that one of the Blood Corpses had already annihilated the enemy and was on its return, a chill crossed his face. ¡­¡­. Lu Li put away Iron Pillar, and with a smiling face, said to Lu Yuling, ¡°Ninth Sister, let us together strike at the Demon Cultivator¡¯s den and then regroup with Qing Qing.¡± Lu Yuling, somewhat numb, nodded her head and followed Lu Li towards the deep and dim cave mouth. Both of them, protected by a Defensive Magical Artifact, made their way through the depths of the underground. Darkness surrounded them, and chills wafted through the air, the stench of blood increasingly strong, causing both to frown. Lu Yuling stuck close to her Sixth Brother, as if only this proximity could offer her some peace of mind. Lu Li, stimulating the giant cauldron above their heads, slowly moved forward, meticulously scanning their surroundings with Divine Sense. In short order, they arrived at the end of the cave entrance. He stepped forward directly, leading the way. They came upon a vast hall, surrounded by an icy aura, with an extremely foul smell hanging in the air. In the center of the venue, there was also a small Blood Pool emitting red bubbles, with a surge of malevolent aura rising from within. There was also a man enshrouded in a black robe sitting cross-legged beside the Blood Pool, making it difficult to discern his features. Upon entering, Lu Li¡¯s Divine Sense firmly locked onto this person. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Demon Cultivator Shock Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Demon Cultivator Shock ¡°Boy, you arrived quite fast, have you used up the life-saving object given by the Foundation Establishment elder?¡± The dove-faced elder sensed the presence of the two, his face extremely grim. ¡°If you kneel down and surrender now, offering up your bodies, I will spare you from the torment of the demonic fire.¡± He fixed his gaze on Lu Li, who stood in front of him, completely ignoring Lu Yuling behind him. Lu Yuling quietly watched the elder in front of her, as if looking at a fool. After this battle, she had infinite confidence in her sixth brother; as long as the opponent wasn¡¯t a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, they couldn¡¯t possibly be his match. The dove-faced elder sensed Lu Yuling¡¯s gaze and was very displeased, snorting coldly. ¡°Little girl, I don¡¯t like the way you¡¯re looking at me. I¡¯ll make sure to deal with you properly later!¡± He said as he stood up and produced a blood-red flying knife. Mana stimulated, the knife emitted a crimson sword aura that fluctuated in the void with a shocking presence. He looked at the two, as if waiting for a hint of fear to show on their faces, but he was disappointed. Not only did the two show no fear, but the man even revealed a mocking expression. This infuriated him. ¡°Die!¡± He shouted, and the flying knife, fast as lightning, slashed directly toward the two, arriving in front of them instantly. Lu Li sneered and fully stimulated the Aminokaze. A huge sword aura manifested in the void, emitting a terrifying presence. ¡°Kill!¡± The flying sword, like thunder, unexpectedly struck the flying knife that was sent earlier. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The moment the two magic artifacts collided, fierce mana sprayed recklessly, stirring the Blood Pool around them. The ground seemed as if it had been plowed, turning into a complete mess. At the initial collision, the Flying Saber Artifact was forced to retreat violently, hitting a nearby stone wall, producing thunderous noises. ¡°What! From which true sect are you, you¡¯re definitely not a nobody!¡± Feeling a great vibration from his magic artifact, the dove-faced elder¡¯s eyes bulged, staring at Lu Li in shock. ¡°An ordinary Qi Refinement completion could never have such strength!¡± His response was met with a cold sneer, then the flying sword once again aimed for his head, carrying a powerful aura. ¡°No good!¡± The dove-faced elder¡¯s complexion changed drastically, and somewhat frantically, he summoned a Defense Shield above his head. Lu Li, expressionless, once again motivated the Aminokaze, the sharp Sword Qi sweeping wildly, slashing viciously at the elder¡¯s head. Lu Yuling watched the scene like she was watching a dead man. This scene had just occurred, the Blood Corpse couldn¡¯t even block a single sword strike, which was still fresh in her memory, and now it was about to happen again. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The Aminokaze, with its tremendous momentum, fiercely struck the opponent¡¯s Defensive Magical Artifact. The shield¡¯s light instantly dimmed and then, unbelievably, it was violently knocked backward. The dove-faced elder felt that under the opponent¡¯s attack, the magic artifact had lost control, and a massive backlash struck him, filling him with terror. ¡°Fellow Daoist, spare my life, I have a big secret to tell!¡± Facing life and death, the elder actually began to beg for mercy. He truly did not want to die, having not yet glimpsed the Path of Immortality, he couldn¡¯t bear to fall so easily! Lu Li sneered coldly, uninterested in any secrets. The Aminokaze once again turned, its sword aura fluctuating before slashing toward the elder¡¯s head. It reached above the opponent¡¯s head in just an instant. ¡°Die!¡± His tone was chilling as the flying sword suddenly slashed down. The dove-faced elder, with a panicked face, activated several Defense Talismans, positioning them in front of him, hoping to block for a moment. Sadly, it was not to be. The flying sword, carrying immense Sword Qi, fiercely hit the Spirit Energy Shield formed by the talismans. ¡°Crack¡­¡± A few light sounds emerged as the flying sword directly broke through several layers of Spiritual Energy Shield, its momentum undiminished as it headed for the elder¡¯s head. ¡°Spare my life¡­¡± The elder¡¯s eyes were bursting from their sockets, feeling the sharp aura of the flying sword chill him to the bone, his face filled with despair. Lu Li paid no heed and the flying sword directly slashed down. ¡°Ah¡­¡± A loud scream echoed through the ground, a massive head soared to the heavens, and blood gushed like a column. The surroundings turned into a complete mess. Shortly after, a small green light burst from the depths of the corpse. Lu Li stirred his sword aura once more, directly shattering the man¡¯s Primordial Spirit, utterly obliterating his Divine Soul. Beside him, Lu Yuling showed an expression that said she had expected just this outcome, having guessed the ending long ago. ¡°We should look for Third Aunt and Qing Qing, I don¡¯t know if they are injured or not.¡± She looked somewhat worried. Lu Li nodded, picked up the storage bag from the ground, scanned the surroundings with his divine sense, and then led Lu Yuling towards a cave entrance on the side. ¡­ Inside the dim hall. Lu Yuting and Qing Qing were struggling desperately under the siege of eight blood corpses. A group of blood corpses surrounded them from all directions, ferociously attacking a giant cauldron magic artifact in front. The magic artifacts above their heads began to wobble under the fierce attacks of the blood corpses, flickering dim and bright unpredictably. Lu Yuting¡¯s expression was pained, her face covered in cold sweat. She took out the Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar that Qing Qing had given her, swallowed a drop, and immediately her mana recovered significantly, stabilizing the magic artifact above her head. At the same time, she vehemently slashed her flying sword towards a blood corpse in front. ¡°It¡¯s good that we had this bottle of Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar from the young Lu, allowing us to hold on for so long,¡± ¡°But this kid having such a benefit and not thinking of Third Aunt, despite my affection for him,¡± Even in the midst of crisis, Lu Yuting still harbored some resentment. Qing Qing clung tightly to Lu Yuting, her expression very worried. ¡°I don¡¯t know how little Li and Yuling are doing, if this continues our mana will eventually run out¡­¡± Lu Yuting also knew the situation was critical, and they must find a way out soon. Being trapped here would mean certain death, but with the numerous blood corpses, it wasn¡¯t easy to break through the encirclement and shatter the array. ¡°It seems we only have an option to stimulate the forbidden technique and fight with our lives.¡± Just as Lu Yuting was about to make up her mind and fight desperately, suddenly there was a disturbance at the cave entrance behind them. She turned her head and her face lit up with joy. She saw Lu Li leading Lu Yuling, both emerged from the tunnel passage, their magic artifacts above their heads, and their aura very stable. She immediately abandoned the idea of triggering the forbidden technique, as the side effects were too severe to use unless absolutely necessary. She then shouted loudly to the two, ¡°Young Li, help us break this array.¡± ¡°Be careful with this group of blood corpses after breaking the array, they are extremely difficult to deal with.¡± She did not forget to remind them. Lu Li smiled and nodded, ¡°I understand, Third Aunt, don¡¯t worry.¡± He channeled his mana with full force, and Aminokaze emitted a dazzling sword light, striking fiercely at a jade pillar in front. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A loud crashing sound echoed, the jade pillar was instantly split into pieces, with rubble scattered all over. Sensing that Lu Li had broken the array with one strike, and his momentum was astonishing, Lu Yuting and Qing Qing were both shocked. Trapped amidst the blood corpses, they hesitated to ask, burying their doubts in their hearts. Seeing the situation, a group of blood corpses immediately split several of their number to attack Lu Li and Lu Yuling. Lu Li once again released Iron Pillar, a massive white python appeared out of thin air, its presence formidable as it met the group of blood corpses head-on. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Iron Pillar, with murderous aura, channeled all its strength, sweeping its tail fiercely at several blood corpses, sending them tumbling backwards. Then, it charged forward again with undiminished vigor. ¡°Bang Bang¡­¡± Following that, loud bangs resonated through the hall. In a short time, a group of blood corpses lay scattered and motionless on the ground, black liquid spilling everywhere. Iron Pillar coiled in the center of the carcasses, its murderous aura still evident, as if still unsatisfied with the fight. Lu Li¡¯s face bore a smile, true to the bloodline of a king, now truly displaying a hint of the ¡°Dragon Seed¡¯s¡± prowess. He was very much looking forward to what it would be after a full transformation. Seeing Lu Li¡¯s spirit beast quickly annihilate a group of blood corpses, Lu Yuting and Qing Qing looked at Iron Pillar and Lu Li with shocked expressions, wanting to ask questions but ultimately unable to speak, their feelings complicated. Beside them, Lu Yuling displayed a look of seeing nothing new. At this moment, Lu Yuting turned to Lu Yuling and Qing Qing, her tone serious, ¡°You must not reveal anything about young Li to anyone, violators will be dealt with by the family rules!¡± Lu Yuling and Qing Qing solemnly nodded. ¡°We understand.¡± The two immediately grasped the implication, knowing that with foreign clans watching closely, it would spell trouble if they discovered a talent like Lu Li in the Lu Family. Seeing their understanding, Lu Yuting also slightly relaxed. Her gaze towards Lu Li was full of admiration. ¡°At last, our Lu Family is rising!¡± She felt a glimmer of hope for reaching the Golden Core of the Purple Mansion through Lu Li, having always made strengthening the Lu Family her mission. Lu Li¡¯s remarkable performance was highly gratifying for her. However, she did not ask any questions, as every cultivator had their own fortune. Given their relationship, it was not possible to probe forcibly. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Tallying the Harvest Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Tallying the Harvest At that moment, Lu Li slowly walked up to Lu Yuting and another person. He took out the spare Storage Bag from his waist and, with a smile, handed it to Lu Yuting, ¡°Third Aunt, please exchange some of these items inside for Spirit Stones. The kid needs a large amount of Spirit Stones.¡± For nearly twenty years, these few had been his closest and most trustworthy people within the Lu Family. Now, it was much more convenient for Third Aunt to handle some spiritual materials. The family¡¯s channels were safer than secretly selling them in the market. Lu Yuting took the Storage Bag and, after a brief scan with her Divine Sense, was extremely shocked. ¡°This¡­ so many spiritual materials, and also Spirit Rice and spirit fish¡­¡± ¡°Did you kid rob a Major Sect!¡± Lu Yuting jokingly scolded with a smile, without delving deeper. ¡°I¡¯ll convert all these to Spirit Stones, without letting you suffer any loss. Some of the Top Grade Magic Artifacts can be sold in the family store.¡± ¡°You kid, you¡¯ve been able to refine Top Grade Magic Artifacts so quickly and still kept it from us. From now on, let me handle these.¡± ¡°However, becoming a Top Grade Artifact Refiner is not easy. You can use the Earth Fire Room on Family Island for free.¡± Having said that, she immediately took out a Jade Token and handed it over. The Jade Token, size of a palm, was as white as jade, with several flame markings carved on the front. For a junior with boundless potential, she was also sparing no effort in her support. Lu Li took the Jade Token, smiled, and nodded. Then, he took out a bottle of Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar each for Lu Qingqing and Lu Yuting. Both of them were thrilled to receive the Spiritual Nectar, since if it weren¡¯t for a bottle of Spiritual Nectar sustaining their Mana this time, the consequences could have been unimaginable. ¡°Let¡¯s quickly explore this place and take away all the Spiritual Objects here.¡± Lu Yuting quietly spoke to everyone at this moment. The three of them nodded in agreement upon hearing this. Afterward, the group walked toward the entrance ahead. Before long, the group passed through the gloomy passage and arrived inside a large hall, where several passages appeared at the far end. In the center of the hall, there was a damaged Blood Pool, leaking crimson liquid, and the ground was a mess, clearly having just undergone a major battle. ¡°Li, it was you who exterminated this demon, right?¡± Lu Yuting looked at the broken bodies lying on the ground and the massive sword marks, feeling a complex mix of emotions inside. If it weren¡¯t for Li showing off his skills today, even if they could have escaped, they might have been seriously injured. She still blamed herself for being too careless. Lu Li just smiled and did not explain much. ¡°Let¡¯s search this place separately. Yu Ling and I will go to the right, and Third Aunt with Qingqing to the left, how about that?¡± Lu Yuting nodded in agreement, ¡°Let¡¯s do as Li said, after scavenging this place, meet outside the mountain.¡± The group then split up again, each heading in their respective directions. Lu Li and Yu Ling approached a large entrance on the right side underground. The entrance was very deep, tens of meters in circumference, smelling strongly of blood mixed with the scent of soil. Lu Li and Yu Ling walked in together. The interior was somewhat cold, surrounded by walls of stalactite, and the ground was very moist, with the soil feeling somewhat soft when stepped on. Lu Li deployed a Defensive Magical Artifact over their heads and slowly explored forward. Before long, a faint light appeared ahead. The two followed the light all the way to the bottom of the passage. Crossing the passage, they came upon a massive underground square. Lu Li turned his head to survey the surroundings. The entire square stretched dozens of meters, filled with pillars made of stalactite. The pillars were densely covered with Exotic Beast Runes, very peculiar. Faint, weak wailing sounds were also emanating through the air. Lu Li and Yu Ling followed the sounds toward the deeper part of the square. There, they saw building-like structures resembling prisons erected at the deepest part of the square. The buildings, made entirely of fine iron, emitted a dark glow. These dozens of prisons were holding a group of Qi Refinement Realm, middle and late stage Cultivators, both men, and women. At that moment, these Cultivators were each held by giant black iron chains around their necks, their Storage Bags nowhere in sight. Furthermore, their auras were very weak, even their Mana seemed to be restricted. Seeing Lu Li and Yu Ling approaching, the group of Cultivators glared at them with hatred. ¡°You demon spawns, you will surely be eradicated¡­¡± People began to spit out curses, obviously mistaking the two for allies of the Demon Cultivators. In the prison on the far right, there was a pale-faced woman, about twenty years old, frail, wearing a white dress stained with traces of blood, and beside her was a transparent tube-like item. The woman sat on the ground, head bowed, silent, as if she had already given up hope. Lu Li looked at the transparent tube beside the woman, his heart chilled, and he had a guess. If he was not mistaken, this device was used to extract the blood of Cultivators to feed a group of Blood Corpses, and the other Cultivators had the same device. ¡°These Demon Cultivators are really inhumane! Treating Cultivators like livestock.¡± At this moment, Yu Ling, upon hearing the curses from the crowd, was furious. ¡°We are Cultivators from the Lu Family. We¡¯ve just exterminated the Demon Cultivators and came to rescue you. You really are unreasonable!¡± Hearing this, the group of Cultivators all showed disbelief. Having been imprisoned for a long time, they had already lost hope of getting out. Hearing that someone had actually come to rescue them, hope suddenly surged in their hearts. ¡°Are you really Cultivators from the Lu Family?¡± Their eyes revealed a glimmer of hope. The woman also raised her head at this moment, showing a very fragile expression but with a hint of stubbornness. Lu Li did not answer and directly activated the Aminokaze. The massive sword light flashed in the void, slashing towards the lock on the front door. Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 71: Tallying the Harvest_2 Chapter 72: Chapter 71: Tallying the Harvest_2 ¡°Boom¡­¡± Several loud sounds echoed as the locks on the prison doors were all chopped off, followed by the Flying Sword severing all the chains binding the prisoners. At this moment, everyone realized it was all real, that they still had a chance to escape, causing some of the younger cultivators to burst into tears. The woman, however, remained calm and spoke in a hoarse voice to Lu Li and his companion, ¡°Thank you, two cultivators from the Lu Family.¡± The cultivators nearby started to thank them one after another. The plaza began to get noisy. ¡°Since you all have been freed, we shall take our leave first.¡± Lu Li spoke indifferently, preparing to explore further with Lu Yuling. Just then, a young woman in front of them suddenly called out to the two. ¡°I am Jiang Shuhua, a loose cultivator. May I have your protection to join the Lu Family?¡± Lu Li was momentarily startled, then nodded, ¡°I am Lu Li, and this is my cousin Lu Yuling. Cultivator Jiang only needs to pass the Guest Elder assessment to join smoothly.¡± At this, four more men stepped forward wanting to join the Lu Family, and Lu Li nodded in agreement. The Guest Elders and the family both benefited mutually without interfering in the core interests of the family, so taking in a few people had no impact. Afterward, five cultivators followed, and the rest began to sit cross-legged to recover their mana. Lu Li led the way towards the rear of the area. Soon, they arrived in front of a large arch-shaped cave. Stepping inside, one could see closely packed spiritual materials and spiritual ore on stone platforms, along with various medicine pills, all stored in numerous bottles and jars. The air was filled with a strange, pungent smell. Lu Li waved his hand grandly, collected everything, and then left the place. ¡°Let¡¯s go, meet Third Aunt and Qing Qing outside the mountain.¡± Seeing that no items were left around, he turned to Lu Yuling and spoke. Following that, the group steadily made their way towards the mountain exit. ¡­ On the left side of an underground plaza, Lu Yuting also rescued a group of cultivators. The two entered a cave and, seeing the ground filled with spiritual objects, were overjoyed. They began collecting them eagerly. At this moment, Lu Qingqing walked over to an area where medicine pills were stored, looking puzzled at a finely crafted porcelain bottle in front of her. She opened the porcelain bottle and poured out the medicine pills. A crimson medicine pill immediately appeared in her palm, the size of an eyeball with very delicate textures, emitting an extremely strong, odd smell. ¡°What is this?¡± Lu Qingqing was very puzzled and stepped forward, placing the medicine pill in front of Lu Yuting. Lu Yuting frowned upon seeing the blood-red medicine pill in her palm. ¡°This is a Blood Demon Pill, an extremely cruel Demon Pill made by extracting a trace of yang energy from a newborn baby along with many cultivators¡¯ essence blood and spiritual medicine¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s said to have effects similar to those of the Foundation Establishment Pill, but I am not very familiar with its specific side effects.¡± Lu Qingqing frowned, clearly she would not choose to consume such a pill, so she quickly put it away in the Storage Bag. After gathering all the spiritual objects in the cave, the two headed outside. ¡­ On an open ground outside the mountain, Lu Li and his companion stood quietly waiting. Not long after, they saw Lu Yuting lead a group of people out one by one. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we set off to return to Mystic Moon Island.¡± Lu Yuting walked over to Lu Li, took out a Flying Artifact, and tossed it upwards. The artifact swelled against the wind, quickly turning into a small Flying Boat, hovering above in mid-air. She immediately leaped up towards the front of the Flying Boat, arriving at the control center to place Spirit Stones into it, then sat down cross-legged. Following her, everyone flew into a small space and sat down. Several hours later, Mystic Moon Island was visible in the distance. Everyone disembarked from the Flying Boat, and Lu Yuting, after putting away the Flying Boat Magic Artifact, led several people towards the family Guest Elder residence. Upon leaving, Jiang Shuhua looked back at Lu Li and his companion with a grateful expression. Lu Li smiled and immediately soared on tunneling light towards down the mountain¡¯s cave. Upon entering the cave, he found everything unchanged, the central hall¡¯s stone table covered in dust. It seemed his parents had not returned to Mystic Moon Island during this period. He walked deeper into the secret chamber, starting to take stock of the spoils from this journey. First, using Divine Sense to remove all seals on the Storage Bag, then pouring out all the contents. Immediately, over ten different types of magic artifacts appeared on the open ground, along with various ores and spiritual materials. On the edges were some bottles and jars, containing some Demon Pills once opened, letting a foul smell fill the air. At that moment, a pure white and translucent object caught his attention. The object was spherical in shape, about the size of a human head, emitting a warm, jade-like glow. Waves of spiritual energy surrounded it, emanating from its edges with extraordinary presence. ¡°Is this¡­ the Spiritual Vein Heart?¡± Lu Li looked at the object with a face full of surprise. He reached out and picked up the Spiritual Vein Heart, closely observing it. It seemed as though endless spiritual energy was circulating within, and a cool sensation was coming from his palm. Just as he was marveling at it, the Spirit Monkey¡¯s soul body awakened. ¡°Kid, this is just a first-tier Spiritual Vein Heart, but it¡¯s not bad.¡± ¡°Ancestor, do you know how to obtain this item?¡± Lu Li was somewhat puzzled. ¡°Just use a secret technique to extract the core of the spirit vein, it¡¯s not too difficult.¡± ¡°However, once the Spiritual Vein Heart is extracted, the spiritual mountain is completely ruined.¡± The Spirit Monkey tilted its head. It then engraved this secret technique onto a Jade Scroll and handed it to Lu Li. ¡°These demon cultivators really have no bottom line. Aren¡¯t they afraid of retribution and divine punishment?¡± Lu Li¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°Retribution? This item is still in this realm. Burying it into a spirit vein is just changing its location. What divine punishment could there be?¡± The Spirit Monkey looked unconcerned. ¡°As for forming karma with others, it¡¯s even simpler. As long as you are strong enough to kill all those with whom you have karmic ties, there is no karma!¡± ¡°Otherwise, how could there be so many powerful beings and ancestors on the Demon Path?¡± Lu Li fell silent upon hearing this. It seemed that the upper realm was not a place of peace; everything respected the powerful. ¡°Can this Spiritual Vein Heart enhance the grade of the spirit vein if buried deep underground?¡± He planned to place the item deep within the seabed spirit vein. ¡°It¡¯s quite difficult to upgrade a second-tier spirit vein; this item can only slightly increase the spiritual energy.¡± The Spirit Monkey Ancestor spoke in a very flat tone. Upon hearing this, Lu Li gathered all the items on the ground, along with the Spiritual Vein Heart, into his Storage Bag. Disposing of all these spiritual objects would probably amass several thousand spirit stones, making this a fruitful harvest. As for Lu Yuting and another, they likely had a similar haul. It seemed these demon cultivators were indeed wealthy. He then began to meditate and cultivate. Before he knew it, more than ten days had passed. During these ten days, the news that the Lu Family had decisively defeated the demon cultivators had spread far and wide in the nearby seas, significantly boosting the Lu Family¡¯s reputation. The other three families, however, suffered great losses, with only one leader from the Chen Family badly injured and escaping back. The cultivators from the other two families all perished in the demon cultivator¡¯s lair. This caused a stir among the cultivators in the surrounding seas. Everyone thought that the Lu Family Ancestor had exerted great efforts, providing powerful spirit talismans to the younger generation, allowing the Lu Family to return victorious. However, not a single detail about Lu Li leaked out; it seemed that Third Aunt Lu Yuting was quite reliable. Upon receiving the news, the ancestor Lu Tiande laughed heartily, openly declaring that the Lu Family had promising descendants. Even the various members of the Lu Family were completely baffled, thinking it was the ancestor who had prepared a contingency for everyone. ¡­ In a cave on White Mist Island of the Chen Family, Chen Mo sat cross-legged on the ground, his face pale and looking extremely distressed. This strike had caused heavy losses to the Chen Family; unexpectedly, these demons had been well prepared. ¡°Heard that not a single core cultivator from the Lu Family perished? Is the news true?¡± ¡°Indeed, I have confirmed it personally.¡± The young cultivator beside him replied respectfully. ¡°Damn, now my Chen Family has become the laughing stock.¡± Chen Mo¡¯s face was grim. ¡°So, with the Lu Family Ancestor squandering resources like that, eventually they won¡¯t be able to afford Foundation Establishment pills¡­¡± The young man also agreed. ¡°I suppose this is the Lu Family¡¯s last struggle.¡± Thousands of miles away, on a medium-sized island, the Wang Family¡¯s elders also had gloomy expressions. The loss this time was too great, and the ancestor was preparing to personally take action. If not for fear of Foundation Establishment demon cultivators lying in ambush, they would have already attacked. ¡­ Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 72: Spiritual Vein Heart Chapter 73: Chapter 72: Spiritual Vein Heart Spirit Turtle Basin, inside the cave mansion. Lu Li sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. Feeling the essence blood inside his body increase by another drop, he felt extremely satisfied. It had been over two months since the last battle against the demon cultivator had taken place. After staying on Mystic Moon Island for a few days, he directly headed to the Spirit Turtle Cave Mansion. ¡°Still, this place is more comfortable to live in, with a second-stage spirit vein for my sole use and an ample supply of spiritual energy.¡± He rose and walked toward the outside of the secret chamber. During this time, he had done nothing but water the spirit rice and spirit grass daily and feed the ant larvae. After prolonged feeding, the ant larvae had all transformed into Qi Refinement Realm Demon Beasts, and their numbers had reached over ten thousand, initially forming a battle force. Moreover, his cultivation technique, ¡°Triple-Spirit Refinement Art,¡± had been started. With each refinement, his mana became purer. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t take long to reach the limit.¡± Soon, Lu Li reached the insect room. Inside, countless ant larvae flew around, not fearing his arrival; they all flew towards him and encircled him, as if they were dressing him in insect clothing. Lu Li made a mental command to two insect kings. A group of ants quickly gathered, forming several fist-sized spheres before all flying into his sleeves, concealed. ¡°These groups of ants will only need timely feeding in the future, and when the time comes, their enhanced strength will be a significant aid.¡± After collecting the spiritual insects, he immediately turned and left. Walking toward the most westerly part of the cave mansion. Soon, he arrived near a vast cave entrance. The entrance spanned several zhang in radius, surrounded by piles of dark brown rocks, from which an astonishing amount of spiritual energy was currently emanating. This was a tunnel that he had specifically instructed Iron Pillar to dig, leading directly to deep within the spirit vein. The mountain was extremely hard; thus, Iron Pillar had dug for many days to reach the bottom of the mountain, nearly touching the spirit vein beneath. If not for his promise of more than twenty spirit fish, it might have taken even longer, leaving Iron Pillar quite aggrieved. Lu Li slowly entered the cave and headed to the bottom. As soon as he stepped in, he felt a coolness all around him as a massive amount of spiritual energy rushed toward his face. The surrounding rock walls were nearly transformed into a semi-jade state, emitting a luminous glow. He proceeded slowly along the passage and soon reached deep inside the cave. There, a huge expanse filled with jade-like crystals wholly occupied the space. Clouds of spiritual energy twirled in the air, almost forming a mist. ¡°It seems this place isn¡¯t far from the heart of the spirit vein to have nurtured such a state.¡± Lu Li hesitated no longer, drew his flying sword, and struck towards the forward jade. ¡°Clang¡­¡± A crisp sound echoed as a small chunk was harshly cut from the center of the jade wall, leaving a small indentation. Lu Li took out the Spiritual Vein Heart from his storage bag, the item glowing white as jade in his hand, emitting a slight coolness. He slowly pressed the Spiritual Vein Heart into the indentation, quickly fitting it inside. Then, a miraculous thing happened. The Spiritual Vein Heart seemed to turn into a bizarre liquid and slowly flowed into the jade. It disappeared into the indentation shortly. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was an illusion, but he felt that the spiritual energy of the place had slightly intensified. After finishing this, he turned and walked outside. Ever since he had heard the old Spirit Monkey ancestor mention this item, he had kept it in mind, leading to today¡¯s actions. ¡°If there were a large number of Spiritual Vein Hearts, I wonder if the spirit vein here could transform?¡± ¡°As this place is the foundation of his abode, if he could elevate the grade of the spirit vein, he would surely try everything possible.¡± Lu Li thought silently to himself. However, the Spiritual Vein Heart was very rare; he couldn¡¯t go about like a demon cultivator, attacking spiritual mountains everywhere to extract the Spiritual Vein Heart; he could only pin his hopes on the undersea spiritual mountain. His mind whirling with thoughts, he quickly arrived at the edge of the Cold Pond. There, Iron Pillar was circling an open area, his body white as jade radiating a faint glow, his black stripes already quite dim, and his mouth corners were flattening, showing signs of transformation. However, fearing a mishap, Lu Li repeatedly instructed him not to rush to undergo the Heavenly Tribulation, suggesting that he wait for Lu Li to find some Spirit Pill for the tribulation later. If he were unprepared and failed the tribulation, the consequences would be unbearable. Seeing his master arrive, Iron Pillar gently swayed his tail, crawling over and rubbing Lu Li¡¯s forehead affectionately. Lu Li patted Iron Pillar¡¯s head and then walked to the edge of the Cold Pond, where hundreds of spirit fish were swimming and feeding. He directly scooped out more than ten fish, quite boldly. He also took several pounds of Spirit Rice, cleaned them, and started cooking in a vessel. Soon, a rich fragrance filled the entire undersea cave mansion, making Iron Pillar drool beside him. Just then, a group of young chicks ran over joyfully. Seeing the two, they weren¡¯t scared but pecked at Lu Li¡¯s sole a few times. Lu Li scattered some Spirit Rice on the ground, and a group of snowy-white chicks began fiercely competing for food, quickly finishing it and running away. These Snow Cloud Chickens were the offspring of two breeder chickens, growing extremely fast under the nourishment of copious Spiritual Liquid, soon starting to hatch chicks. It wouldn¡¯t be long before he could taste chicken meat. He also thought about gathering some spiritual materials to take to Bright Sun Island for his parents, who had not returned to their clan in this time and were very busy with their shop. Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 72: Spiritual Vein Heart_2 Chapter 74: Chapter 72: Spiritual Vein Heart_2 Seeing that the spirit fish were fully cooked, Lu Li opened the container and scooped them all out; the piping hot fish emanated tantalizing wisps of fragrance, prompting both their appetites to surge. After giving Iron Pillar seven spirit fish, the two began to devour their meal. As soon as the fish entered his mouth, Lu Li was greeted by a burst of flavor, the meat incredibly delicate, and a whiff of spiritual energy ascending within it, exceptionally refreshing. He devoured the entire spirit fish in mere moments, sparing nothing, even the bones were digested, leaving no waste. Iron Pillar squinted with pleasure, finishing one fish with each bite, swiftly polishing off every piece and then gazing longingly at the two remaining fish in Lu Li¡¯s bowl. Sharing half each, Lu Li wouldn¡¯t pamper him, swallowing the last two spirit fishes in two bites under his resentful gaze. Then he started pouring spirit rice into his bowl and began to eat heartily. Moments later, he belched satisfyingly, feeling waves of warmth emanating from his stomach, a face of fulfillment on display. ¡°Such days are truly the life of immortals, even the true disciples of the sect couldn¡¯t enjoy this.¡± However, the grade of this spirit rice seems a bit low, it¡¯s beginning to become a bit dull after eating so much. It would be nice if, at some point, he could get some second-grade spirit rice and spiritual materials to try. He thought to himself. In the future, when the grade of this spiritual vein increases, even the array would need to be replaced, ideally with a fifth-grade big formation¡­ After eating and drinking his fill, Lu Li started fantasizing. ¡°Ow¡­¡± Just then, Iron Pillar broke his blissful fantasy with a shriek. He then let out a wry smile, gave a big pout to Iron Pillar beside him, and, under its puzzled and wronged gaze, slowly walked toward the cave. The following days passed rather uneventfully. Aside from watering the spirit rice, feeding the spirit fish and chicks, his days were spent cultivating secret techniques undisturbed by the outside world, immensely satisfying. In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. During this period, through continuous cultivation of the Sacrificial Technique and extensive refinement by the moonlight, his essence blood and flesh were progressing daily, and even his divine sense had grown to about three miles. Moreover, he felt that his mana was nearly reaching its limit, and the Triple-Spirit Refinement secret technique was always being cultivated, everything was already on the right track. Lu Li¡¯s divine sense slowly sank into his chest, and he saw ninety-five drops of essence blood flowing inside, emitting a powerful aura. Now his physical body was almost more formidable than a demon beast of the same level, and he wasn¡¯t far from reaching ninety-nine drops of essence blood. Once his mana, divine sense, and essence blood all reached their limits, he could completely begin his sublime transformation, evolving into a naturally nourished pure body. He was constantly impressed by the potency of the Moonlight Shape Refinement technique, just the preliminary technique had benefited him tremendously, it was hard to imagine what it would be like after forming the first divine map. Just as his thoughts were sprawling, the communication jade token in his storage bag began emitting a faint glow. Lu Li scanned it with his divine sense and found that it was a message from Lu Yuling. He stood up, walked out of the cave with Iron Pillar, and flew towards Mystic Moon Island. ¡­ Near Mystic Moon Island, a blue tunneling light howled through the air, and as it reached the airspace above the island, an elegant figure stopped, the breeze teasing his hair to reveal a handsome face. Below, a group of low-level cultivators and mortals saw this person and showed faces of reverence. Lu Li looked ahead at the familiar island mountains and felt somewhat sentimental. Half a year had passed, and everything seemed the same; the mortals on the dock were still those people, just aged quite a bit. He urged on his flying sword and bolted toward the front. He soon arrived at his own cave at the foot of the mountain. Just then, the array transmitted a slight fluctuation. Lu Li opened the array, and Lu Yuling walked in with a smile. ¡°Big brother, can I borrow some spirit stones?¡± Lu Yuling asked, her face reddening, somewhat embarrassed. Lu Li was puzzled, knowing that after their last extermination of a demon cultivator, this young girl must have had a considerable bounty. Now her cultivation level had also increased a lot, having entered the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, presumably, those spiritual objects had greatly assisted her. ¡°Is there something you need, little sister?¡± Lu Yuling smiled, ¡°The Bright Sun Island¡¯s auction that occurs once every five years is about to begin. I heard there might be Beauty Pills¡­¡± Lu Li was momentarily stunned, realizing that it was indeed about that time. They had both experienced it once before, led by the elders in their family. It was surprising that five years had passed so quickly. ¡°I actually need one myself. I¡¯ll also see if there are any second-grade or higher spiritual ores for auction.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be attending too, let¡¯s decide after bidding,¡± he said with a smile to Lu Yuling. Beauty Pills were second-grade medicine pills; the required herbs were just older, the price not too outrageous. ¡°Thank you, big brother.¡± Lu Yuling expressed her gratitude upon hearing the words. Then, the two exchanged pleasantries for a while before the other party stood up to take their leave. There was still about a month until the auction on Bright Sun Island, but it wasn¡¯t until twenty days later that Lu Li left the cave and headed to the agreed-upon location. Moments later, he arrived at a plaza at the foot of the mountain. At that time, a few radiant figures were seated in the center of the venue, specifically Lu Yuting, Qing Qing, and Lu Yuling. Clearly, they had already heard the news about the Beauty Pill. ¡°Li, kid, I heard you¡¯re buying medicine pills for us? You really are quite wealthy to not forget your Third Aunt, truly worthy of being my good nephew,¡± Lu Yuting smiled, obviously aware of Lu Li¡¯s family resources, and did not stand on ceremony with him. Lu Li approached everyone and asked softly, ¡°Some family members should be attending this auction, right?¡± At that moment, Lu Yuling interjected, ¡°The others set off a few days ago.¡± Then, Lu Yuting took out a Flying Artifact, threw it upward, and the artifact expanded in the wind, transforming into a small Flying Boat suspended mid-air. ¡°Let¡¯s set off.¡± She led the way to the bow of the boat, inserted Spirit Stones into the control hub, and then sat down cross-legged. Everyone quickly moved toward the Flying Boat. In a while, they all found rooms and sat down cross-legged. ¡°Hum¡­¡± Lu Li heard a soft humming sound and felt a slight shake in his body as the Flying Boat swiftly moved forward. ¡­¡­ Bright Sun Island, as a medium-sized island, covered an area of several hundred miles with a second-grade high-quality Spirit Vein, making the Spiritual Energy very abundant. The island belonged to the Li family from the Purple Mansion Family, and there was a small to medium-sized marketplace on the island where one could occasionally buy some high-level Spiritual Objects. The Lu Family owned two shops in the marketplace, a general store, and a tavern, which brought in some income every year. Lu Li¡¯s parents had been running these two shops on the island for a long time. At noon. A small Flying Boat quickly approached Bright Sun Island. Within a few breaths, it stopped not far away. A man and three women descended, all exuding powerful auras, causing several loose cultivators nearby to look on. Lu Yuting stowed away the Flying Boat and led everyone down to the ground. Soon, the group arrived at the entrance of the marketplace, showed their credentials, passed through an Array, and walked onto the island. Lu Li followed behind everyone, looking around at all the lush, vibrant vegetation everywhere. A main street led straight into the interior of the marketplace, with many cultivators bustling about on either side. In no time, they reached the end of the street and stepped into the marketplace. Shops were densely lined up on both sides of the street, filled with various spiritual items, magical tools, and spiritual materials, all appearing very sophisticated. More and more cultivators were gathering around, and the streets were getting crowded. Of course, cultivators dared not start fights inside the marketplace, as those who challenged this rule had long turned to ash. Before long, the group reached the end of the street and stopped in front of a shop named Qingling Pavilion. The shop was neither large nor small, tastefully decorated with two floors, and the shelves on either side were filled with various Spirit Talismans and magical tools. A young woman in the midst of Qi Refinement stood by the central counter. She was about thirty years old and an outer clan member of the family. Lu Ying sensed someone approaching, looked up, and saw it was a group from her clan rushing outside to greet them. ¡°It turns out to be Elder Yuting leading the group today; it¡¯s my duty shift.¡± She greeted respectfully. At that moment, Lu Li stepped forward, smiling, and asked, ¡°Is my mother inside?¡± ¡°Elder Ye is on the second floor.¡± Upstairs, Ye Yuchan seemed to sense something and came down. When she saw Lu Li outside, her eyes lit up and she quickly walked over. ¡°My son is here. Have you lost weight again recently?¡± She scrutinized Lu Li closely, unable to hide the affection in her eyes. Lu Yuting and the others also had smiles on their faces. Following this, Ye Yuchan softly said to everyone, ¡°There are still a few days until the auction; let¡¯s rest in the attic.¡± Everyone nodded and then entered the shop, heading upstairs, leaving mother and son alone. Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 73 Ye Yuchans Surprise Chapter 75: Chapter 73 Ye Yuchan¡¯s Surprise In the evening, in a room of Qingling Pavilion. Lu Li and Ye Yuchan were sitting on chairs, having conversed for a long while, the smile on Ye Yuchan¡¯s face never ceasing. At that moment, she suddenly pulled out a Storage Bag, handing it over to Lu Li with a smile, ¡°Li¡¯er, here are some Spiritual Objects that your mother has prepared for you during this time. You can bid on anything you need at the auction¡­¡± Hearing this, Lu Li was deeply moved, ¡°I don¡¯t need them, I still have plenty of Spiritual Objects on me.¡± ¡°You child, what are you talking about? What could you possibly have amassed from guarding the islands for a few years?¡± Ye Yuchan was clearly disbelieving. Lu Li smiled and handed over the Storage Bag that he had prepared earlier. Ye Yuchan, slightly skeptical, took the Storage Bag and swept it with her Divine Sense, her face filled with disbelief. ¡°This is¡­ top-quality Spirit Rice, spirit fish, and many types of ores¡­¡± She took out several exquisite porcelain bottles, opened them and was profoundly shocked. Wisps of Spiritual Energy rose from the mouth of the bottles. She sniffed it and immediately felt invigorated, her whole being somewhat more alert. After repeated inspections, Ye Yuchan finally confirmed that this was Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar. ¡°Apart from your Third Aunt and Qing Qing, Yu Ling girl, don¡¯t let anyone else know about these items.¡± She didn¡¯t inquire about where these spiritual materials came from, instead, she earnestly advised Lu Li. ¡°I understand, Mother.¡± Lu Li nodded smilingly. Let these items stay with Mother, including what was meant for Father. I no longer lack resources and don¡¯t need Mother to keep exhausting herself earning Spirit Stones. Upon hearing this, Ye Yuchan¡¯s eyes reddened, ¡°My son has truly grown up; the family will rely on you in the future.¡± She didn¡¯t stand on ceremony with her own son, after storing away the Spiritual Objects, they conversed for a long while before parting ways. Time slowly passed, and several days later. Lu Li walked out of the pavilion and headed towards the street ahead. These past few days, he had stayed in the pavilion to meditate and occasionally wandered the market, though he didn¡¯t find any suitable items. Of course, he never brought out any of his own Spiritual Objects for trade. The medium-sized market was a complex mix, and getting targeted by someone with ill intentions would be a great hassle. Lu Li slowly made his way to the end of the street. The ground was paved with huge bluestone tiles, very smooth, and the shops on both sides were neatly arranged. Many cultivators flowed ceaselessly on the street, occasionally Qi Refinement Experts crossed, causing other low-level cultivators to steer clear. Foundation Establishment Cultivators were really rare here, as this place was only a medium-to-small sized island. The auction in the latter half of the year was specifically targeted for Foundation Establishment Experts. Lu Li maintained his cultivation around the tenth layer of Qi Refinement, inconspicuous, with no cultivators foolish enough to trouble him. Soon, he arrived at the end of the road, in front of a massive building. The building was over ten zhang wide and two stories tall, constructed entirely from golden boulders, looking very imposing. A large wooden door swung open to both sides, with a signboard hanging at the top of the curtain reading ¡°Treasure Pavilion¡± in gilt letters. Just as Lu Li reached the entrance, a young man in the middle stages of Qi Refinement came out with a smile. ¡°Sire, are you here to attend the auction? The entry fee is forty Spirit Stones.¡± Lu Li nodded expressionlessly, silently cursing ¡®swindler!¡¯, then handed over the Spirit Stones. The young man reverently handed over a Jade Token, ¡°Sire, please enter, this is your admission token.¡± Lu Li took the Jade Token and entered the venue. Inside, the space was very spacious, divided into two floors, with some private boxes on the roof, probably reserved for Foundation Establishment Experts. In the center, there was a high platform where a white-haired elder was sitting; he was the cultivator hosting this auction with a cultivation of the twelfth level of Qi Refinement. On the first floor, there were hundreds of seats on either side; he checked the number on his Jade Token and then found his seat. At that time, some cultivators had already arrived in the hall, sitting in meditation quietly, waiting for the auction to officially start. Lu Li scanned the surroundings, seeing Lu Yuting and others among them, they exchanged smiles and then took their seats. As noon approached, more cultivators arrived steadily, and soon both sides of the seats were full. He also saw an old acquaintance, Chen Wuluo from the Chen Family, sitting not far from him. Chen Wuluo had also noticed Lu Li; he turned his head, flashed a cold smile, and a hint of frost glinted in the corner of his eye. Cultivators from the Lin Family and the Wang Family were also not far on the west side. Wang Ziyuan from the Wang Family, known as ¡°Friendship Flower,¡± also noticed the members of the Lu Family, looked at Lu Li not far away, and flashed a sweet smile. This left Lu Li somewhat puzzled; the two had no real interaction. Just then, seeing that most people had arrived, the elder on the stage solemnly announced, ¡°Thank you all esteemed cultivators for gracing this event; the Treasure Pavilion¡¯s once-in-five-years auction now officially starts.¡± ¡°Same old rules apply, no malicious threats against other cultivators, no disrupting the order of the venue. Violators will be expelled by Treasure Pavilion, and severe cases will result in direct punitive action.¡± The elder exerted a sudden surge of energy forward; his Qi Refinement full completion cultivation made some of the attendees shiver. Seeing the timing was right, the elder retracted his aura and smiled at the crowd, ¡°The first item in this auction, a top-level Fire attribute high-grade Flying Sword called Fire Rainbow Sword, the starting bid is one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones, with each bid increment not less than one hundred Spirit Stones.¡± As the elder¡¯s voice fell, a beautiful female cultivator carrying an elegantly crafted redwood tray came from behind. Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 73 Ye Yuchans Surprise_2 Chapter 76: Chapter 73 Ye Yuchan¡¯s Surprise_2 The wooden dish shone with a fiery-red flying sword, three feet in length, its blade pulsating with a spiritual light, exceptionally extraordinary. The elder picked up the flying sword, and as mana surged through it, sharp sword light flickered in and out of existence in the void, with waves of heat rising from the blade, causing the surrounding air to grow somewhat dry and hot. ¡°This sword was refined by a second-rank Artifact Refiner, Master Gong; it has reached the upper limits of a first-rank high-quality flying sword. Everyone can see its effects for themselves.¡± No sooner had the elder¡¯s voice fallen than the atmosphere in the room heated up instantly. ¡°One thousand eight hundred spirit stones.¡± ¡°Two thousand spirit stones.¡± ¡­ ¡°Two thousand five hundred spirit stones.¡± Quickly, the price soared, only cooling down when a middle-aged man bid two thousand five hundred spirit stones. The elder on stage was quite pleased with the situation. Lu Li watched quietly as the crowd shouted their bids, remaining silent. Although the flying sword was fine, it still fell short compared to the Aminokaze, which had been refined with a large quantity of spiritual objects. Just then, a resounding voice permeated the entire venue, ¡°Two thousand six hundred spirit stones. I, Chen Wuluo of the Chen Family, shall take this sword!¡± He then stood up and thanked everyone, his demeanor was rather domineering. The middle-aged man who had been bidding against him immediately stiffened, and out of respect for the presence of a Foundation Establishment Family, he did not immediately bid again. The elder¡¯s face grew cold upon seeing this; the first item concluding with such an outcome was an affront to the Treasure Pavilion, was it not? Even if the other party was a direct member of a Foundation Establishment Family, such behavior could not be tolerated. Chen Wuluo stood at the edge of the venue, proud and haughty, seeing that no one else dared to bid. But just as the elder was about to speak, a sudden change occurred. ¡°Two thousand seven hundred spirit stones.¡± A clear, calm voice spread throughout the venue, causing everyone to look towards its source with surprised faces. They saw a cloaked woman wearing a blue dress, sitting on the edge of the venue with an elegant posture. She¡¯d been the one bidding. Hearing the voice, Lu Li instantly felt a sense of familiarity, as if it came from someone he once knew. Cultivators possessed extraordinary memories; usually, even after a brief interaction, they would remember it for a very long time. He took a moment to think, and finally confirmed the identity of the person. At that moment, Chen Wuluo, seeing someone daring to compete with him, grew colder. ¡°Three thousand spirit stones.¡± He abruptly raised the bid by several hundred, as if determined to win at all costs. ¡°Three thousand one hundred spirit stones.¡± The woman¡¯s tone remained indifferent. Seeing this, the elder smiled broadly as the two drove up the price; the sword had exceeded expectations. Chen Wuluo¡¯s face turned icy; he couldn¡¯t believe that someone would completely disregard the face of the Chen Family. ¡°Three thousand eight hundred spirit stones.¡± He bit out another price through clenched teeth. Yet the woman remained indifferent, ¡°Three thousand nine hundred spirit stones.¡± ¡°Hmph¡­¡± Seeing this, Chen Wuluo let out a cold snort, not bidding again. The surrounding people were all looking at the two in astonishment, unable to believe that the Chen Family cultivator had backed down. Lu Li¡¯s mind stirred slightly, thinking that this Array Master was indeed wealthy; three thousand spirit stones was already an outstanding price for that sword. The elder on stage was also beaming, the first magic artifact fetching a high price bolstered his confidence for the upcoming auctions. At this time, a woman carrying the wooden dish with the flying sword walked down, handing the sword to the woman at the front. After the exchange of spirit stones, she returned to her place. The second item was promptly auctioned, a high-quality defensive magical artifact. The atmosphere among the crowd surged even higher, with many people starting to bid. Having already tested the limits of the Treasure Pavilion once, Chen Wuluo did not suppress the bidding crowd this time; after all, the pavilion too was backed by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. However, he made a mental note of the woman. Every time the woman placed a bid, Chen Wuluo would raise the price, and the two continued to clash in the venue. The elder¡¯s smile grew even wider with each exchange. With neither gaining a significant advantage, the two eventually ceased their aggressive bidding. But the auction had just reached its halfway point when Chen Wuluo left the venue. Before departing, he cast a cold glance at the woman and Lu Li. Lu Li felt a bit wronged inside; he had not placed a single bid this time, yet he had still caught the attention of the other party. After Chen Wuluo¡¯s departure, the auction continued. The elder raised his voice once more, ¡°The next item for auction is a bottle of Beauty Pills, with a starting price of two thousand spirit stones¡­¡± Before the elder could finish speaking, a pretty-faced female cultivator quickly bid, ¡°Two thousand one hundred spirit stones.¡± ¡°Two thousand two hundred spirit stones.¡± Another woman bid. Surprisingly, not a single man in the crowd placed a bid. The Beauty Pill was of little use to them, its price sufficient to buy a high-quality magic artifact; physical appearance was of little concern to male cultivators, whereas the dozen or so female cultivators present showed great interest. The price steadily climbed, and since Lu Li had already given a heads up to Lu Yuting and her companions, they did not bid. ¡°Two thousand eight hundred spirit stones.¡± Another woman spoke softly. Lu Li was not in a hurry and quietly watched the women compete. Moments later, another woman in a red dress bid, ¡°Three thousand two hundred spirit stones.¡± This bid seemed to quiet the room. The competing female cultivators exchanged looks; the price was nearing its limit. Just when everyone thought the woman in the red dress would win the bid, another composed voice rang out. ¡°Three thousand three hundred spirit stones.¡± Surprised to hear a man¡¯s voice in the bidding, the crowd turned to look, their faces full of astonishment. The group of women also looked at Lu Li in surprise. C Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 73 Ye Yuchans Surprise_3 Chapter 77: Chapter 73 Ye Yuchan¡¯s Surprise_3 After Lu Li made his bid, there was a moment when no one else offered a higher price. Several women began to murmur among themselves, finding it quite unusual for such a young man to spend thousands of Spirit Stones on Beauty Pills. ¡°Is there anyone else who would like to bid? If there are no more bids, then this pill will go to this fellow cultivator.¡± Suddenly, the elder on the stage swept his gaze across the audience, and seeing that no one else was bidding, he declared Lu Li the successful bidder. Then a young woman came over with a tray and handed a beautifully crafted porcelain bottle to Lu Li. Lu Li took the porcelain bottle, opened the lid, and a unique, delicate fragrance immediately assaulted his nose, refreshing his spirit. After confirming the Medicine Pills, he took out more than three thousand Spirit Stones to pay the woman and completed the auction. The auction continued. Following that, various Spiritual Objects were successively bought by bidders, with Lu Yuling and her group purchasing some Spiritual Objects as well, though Lu Li chose not to bid again. Soon, it was time for the last item. ¡°A second-tier fire attribute spiritual material, Fire Gold Stone, starting bid two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones,¡± the elder announced loudly. Upon hearing this, Lu Li had no intention of bidding. Although it was a second-tier spiritual material, it was not compatible with the Aminokaze. The item was precisely for the refinement of a fire attribute Flying Sword, which could greatly enhance the sword¡¯s power. Just as the elder finished speaking, the woman who had bid on the Flying Sword made her bid, obviously well-prepared. ¡°Three thousand Spirit Stones.¡± ¡°Three thousand two hundred Spirit Stones.¡± ¡­ The crowd began bidding one after another, and the scene became extremely heated. The price of this spiritual material kept rising and soon reached three thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones. ¡°Four thousand Spirit Stones.¡± The woman spoke again, her tone cold but with a determination to win. Seeing that the price had peaked, others in the crowd hesitated. After a while, seeing no further bids, the elder loudly declared, ¡°This item goes to this fellow cultivator.¡± Zhuang Guxue felt relieved when she successfully bid for the spiritual material. After paying the Spirit Stones, she stored the item in her Storage Bag. On the site, several cultivators noticed that the group of women had won several items in a row, revealing their considerable wealth, which began to attract attention. ¡°This auction has now successfully concluded. Thank you, fellow cultivators, for your participation¡­¡± At this moment, the elder announced the end of the auction with a smiling face. The people rose from their seats and began to head towards the exit. Lu Li mingled with the crowd, inconspicuous. In no time, he left the auction house and headed towards Qingling Pavilion. Just then, a pretty woman followed him¡ªshe was the very first to bid on the Beauty Pills. Lu Li stopped, a hint of puzzlement on his face. The pretty woman Zhou Xia smiled and said, ¡°Greetings, fellow cultivator. May I purchase a Beauty Pill from you for four hundred Spirit Stones?¡± Lu Li nodded calmly, took out one Medicine Pill, and handed it to her. He had more than enough pills, and selling one to her was not an issue¡ªit might even be a good deed. ¡°Thank you, fellow cultivator.¡± Zhou Xia gratefully bowed, and then the two parted ways. Lu Li continued on his way, and upon arriving at his own loft, Lu Yuting and the others were already waiting in the living room. Seeing Lu Li enter, they all looked at him with anticipation. Lu Li smiled, took out the porcelain bottle, and distributed a Medicine Pill to each person before consuming one himself. He planned to save the remaining two for his parents and also prepare one for his young disciple. After distributing the Medicine Pills, he took out some Magic Artifacts from his Storage Bag, placing them on the shelf, ready to sell for Spirit Stones. After a long term of extensive use of the Sea Floor Spirit Ore, his Artifact Refining skills had grown significantly, and the high-quality Magic Artifacts he now produced were quite refined. Then, after spending a few more days in the market, just as they were preparing to return to Mystic Moon Island, an unexpected turn of events occurred. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 74: Break Out of the Encirclement! Chapter 78: Chapter 74: Break Out of the Encirclement! ¡°Boom¡­¡± Just then, a series of tremendous roars came from the horizon, and the Array Light Screen began to flicker wildly. Countless wave-like patterns appeared overhead, as if it might shatter at any moment. ¡°Damn it, someone is attacking the Array!¡± Lu Li instantly realized what was happening, a shock running through his heart. This was an island of medium size, guarded by two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, clearly indicating that the attackers could not be Qi Refinement Cultivators, and one or two Foundation Establishment Cultivators would not be able to shake the Big Formation. ¡°There is a large number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators besieging the market!¡± He determined this in his mind in an instant. Then, he looked up at the horizon afar, a torrential wave rising in his heart. He saw six men in black robes standing in the void, spread out in an arc, enclosing the entire Array. The aura emanating from each of the six men was powerful, making Lu Li feel as though a great mountain was pressing on his chest, the pressure immense. He was not yet a match for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Behind the six Foundation Establishment men stood hundreds of Qi Refinement Cultivators, mostly at the peak of their cultivation, clearly well-prepared by the opposing side. At this moment, Lu Yuting and the others had also realized what was happening, their faces struck with horror as they looked at the group of figures outside the Array. ¡°It¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and their intent is not good.¡± Ye Yuchan approached Lu Li anxiously. Lu Qingqing and the others also came over, and they gathered together outside the shop. Nearby, Cultivators from various families and Loose Cultivators grasped the situation as well, their faces filled with dread as they looked outside the Array. Just then, at the market¡¯s center, suddenly two white-haired old men flew out. Both men had a lofty demeanor and extraordinary aura; they were Foundation Establishment Cultivators sent by the Li Family to guard Bright Sun Island. As soon as the attackers had begun their assault on the Array, the two men had reacted. Li Xiangyun and Li Zhengyang flew up into the sky, coldly watching the crowd outside the Array. ¡°Which Demon Path force are you from to dare attack our Li Family¡¯s Bright Sun Island? Are you not afraid of provoking a great war between the righteous and the demonic?¡± Li Xiangyun said first, his tone extremely cold. The strongest in aura among the middle-aged Demon Cultivators stepped forward and arrogantly said to the two, ¡°Open the Array, and I¡¯ll let you two leave safely! Otherwise, today will mark your demise.¡± The man¡¯s look was rugged, his body radiating an extremely powerful oppressive force, the group of Demon Cultivators following his lead. ¡°Hmph, dreaming, Demon Path thieves!¡± Li Xiangyun said with a cold laugh, clearly not buying the man¡¯s lies. He then turned around, and loudly addressed all the Cultivators within the market, ¡°Whether you are family Cultivators or Loose Cultivators, none of you are to leave. Everyone must come to the central square and hold this Array. It will take no more than an hour and a half before the Li Family Cultivators notice the anomaly and come to our aid.¡± Upon hearing this, a group of Qi Refinement Cultivators immediately showed bitter expressions but dared not disobey the two¡¯s orders, reluctantly agreeing. Upon hearing this, Lu Yuting quietly said to the others, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the central square and resist the Demon Cultivators outside the Array, then find an opportunity to act. The family Cultivators will not retreat; we can¡¯t withstand the wrath of the Li Family.¡± Lu Li and the others nodded their heads. Just then, Lu Chen from another shop had just arrived beside them. He handed a Storage Bag to Lu Li, his expression extremely solemn, ¡°Li, all the Spiritual Objects from the two shops are gathered here. If the Array is broken, we will try to cover your breakout¡­¡± Lu Li did not refuse, accepting the Storage Bag straight away. The situation was urgent, and it was not the time for explanations. Should the Array actually be broken, he could not possibly let everyone cover his own escape. As long as they kept away from the few Foundation Establishment Cultivators, breaking through the encirclement wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. It was clear that the six Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators were targeting the Li Family¡¯s Cultivators and the market¡¯s Spiritual Objects; they considered these Qi Refinement novices beneath their notice. It was the group of Qi Refinement Demon Cultivators who were the main force pursing the others. In the chaos, so long as they didn¡¯t expose themselves too much, they likely wouldn¡¯t attract the attention of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Just as Lu Li was lost in a myriad of thoughts, Lu Yuting led the group quickly towards the central square of the market. Around them, a group of Cultivators turned into various tunneling lights, heading toward the central square. Soon, the square was filled with the figures of hundreds of Cultivators, densely packed along its edges. Most were at the middle to late stages of Qi Refinement, with some at the peak, considerably weaker compared to the Demon Cultivators outside the Array. Lu Li looked up and around. Not far away, several Cultivators from the Chen Family surrounded Chen Wuluo, standing in place, while the Lin and Wang families¡¯ Cultivators stood at the southern edge of the square. Feeling the gazes of the Cultivators, Chen Wuluo turned his head to find the Lu Family members, a cold smile breaking across his face. At this moment, the lead Demon Cultivator outside heard Li Xiangyun¡¯s response, his expression chilling further. ¡°Kill!¡± Without hesitation, he issued the command to attack, aware of the value of time ¨C it would not take long for the Li Family to receive the message and respond. Then the man took out a pitch-black Flying Sword, and with Mana stimulated, the sword¡¯s glow spanned several feet in the void, its aura horrendously fearsome. With immense oppressive force, he fiercely slashed at the Array Light Screen. The other five Foundation Establishment Cultivators followed suit, and for a moment, the sky was filled with rolling murderous aura, and various Demonic Magical Artifacts wildly flew about. The group of Qi Refinement Cultivators behind also took out their Magic Artifacts, cooperating with the few Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators to strike at the Array Light Screen together. ¡°Boom¡­¡± In an instant, countless Magic Artifacts fiercely struck the Array Light Screen, wave after wave of light spreading wildly across it, flickering unpredictably. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 74: Break Out of the Encirclement!_2 Chapter 79: Chapter 74: Break Out of the Encirclement!_2 Li Xiangyun and his companion immediately cast several magic spells toward the central control pillar in the plaza. Soon, the jade pillar began to emit dazzling light that shot into the sky and instantly merged into the array light screen. Gradually, the array stabilized. ¡°Fellow cultivators, act now to intercept the Qi Refinement cultivators outside and relieve the pressure on us two,¡± they ordered. ¡°This Star River Sky Water Array is a second-tier, top-grade big formation, strong enough to hold until our Li Family Cultivators arrive.¡± ¡°The Li Family will surely not forget everyone¡¯s friendship! If anyone dares to secretly defy us, hmph¡­¡± As Li Xiangyun reached the last sentence, his face turned cold, his threat unmistakable. The cultivators around changed expression and dared not procrastinate, promptly summoning their magic artifacts to attack beyond the array. Lu Li and his group also conjured their attack magic tools, slashing outwards at the array, each selecting a Demon Cultivator¡¯s magic artifact to intercept. ¡°Boom boom boom¡­¡± In a moment, the sounds of collisions and battle cries were endless, and the array light screen shook violently under the attacks of several Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators, the tremendous force making it feel as though everyone inside was under the weight of a mountain, making breathing difficult. A powerful aura of malevolence filled the nearby battlefield, the void instantly became filled with dust and smoke, shrouding the entire Bright Sun Island. Lu Li specifically chose a Qi Cultivation tenth-layer Demon Cultivator to face off against, and with Aminokaze, intercepted the opponent¡¯s red flying saber artifact outside of the array light screen. No matter how much the other increased their mana output, Lu Li was always a bit stronger, fighting evenly matched and inconspicuously in the midst of the entire battlefield. The middle-aged Demon Cultivator on the other side showed a bizarre expression, then suddenly reduced his mana output, though his flying knife artifact shone even brighter, clearly just for show. Lu Li cooperated well, letting Aminokaze¡¯s aura pour out but without triggering much of its power, creating an impression of tremendous force. The two thus tangled in the void, knife light and sword qi clashing wildly, putting on a brilliant display. It was clear both were seasoned fighters; in this large-scale battle, recklessly consuming mana was asking for death. Lu Yuting and the others beside them also chose Demon Cultivators of similar cultivation levels, successfully intercepting the opposing artifacts. The Qi Refinement cultivators in the vicinity each picked an opponent, tacitly not attacking outright, but merely putting on a convincing show. Not far from Lu Li, cultivators from the Chen Family and the Lin and Wang families were also involved. Seeing Chen Wuluo and others, Lu Li couldn¡¯t help but sneer inwardly. And so time passed slowly, and half a quarter hour later. Outside the array light screen, countless magic tools stirred crazily in the void, various treasures and malevolent auras scattering wildly, the battlefield becoming increasingly chaotic. With the help of these Qi Refinement cultivators, Li Xiangyun and his companion had managed to stabilize the array. However, the prolonged transfer of mana had left both looking a bit pale. They each took out a medicine pill to restore mana and swallowed it, with a medium-grade spirit stone still held in their hands. Feeling the slow restoration of mana inside their bodies, Li Xiangyun revealed a confident expression and sneered coldly at the several Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators outside the array. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to break through this formation, so stop wasting your efforts. If the Li Family elders arrive¡­¡± ¡°Is that so? Then I shall wait and see!¡± the leading Demon Cultivator scoffed dismissively. The six Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators once again fully activated their attack magic tools, their powerful auras imposing, intimidating everyone present. Six top-grade magic artifacts loomed in the void, and the overwhelming Demonic Qi and sky-reaching malevolence converged, stirring the surrounding sea and raising huge waves. ¡°Kill!¡± The six artifacts accumulated their momentum to the limit, striking the array light screen with the weight of ten thousand jun. ¡°Crack¡­¡± Only a dissonant sound that split the void was heard as the six artifacts struck the array light screen, causing the entire formation to tremble wildly, ripples spreading out in all directions like water waves. But moments later, it returned to its original state. ¡°Hmph¡­ You¡¯re wasting your effort,¡± Li Xiangyun, seeing that the array was still solid, finally relaxed and mocked the Demon Cultivators. Meanwhile, the two continued to tirelessly send mana toward the control center. For a time, the battle reached a stalemate. The few Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators outside the array weren¡¯t in a hurry, continuing their strange, methodical assault. Lu Li scanned the situation on the field, feeling that something was amiss. If things continued this way, these Demon Cultivators couldn¡¯t possibly breach the array. If the support from the Li Family arrived, it would be of no benefit to the attackers. Obviously, they couldn¡¯t be so unwise; there must be something they were relying on to be so confident and bold. Soon, he began to relay a message to his parents and Lu Yuting, ¡°If the situation changes, escape immediately in the direction away from the Foundation Establishment cultivators, there¡¯s no need to deliberately head toward Mystic Moon Island¡­¡± Lu Yuting¡¯s expression changed slightly upon hearing this, ¡°Li, have you sensed something?¡± Afterward, Lu Li shared some of his guesses with everyone. Ye Yuchan looked worried, ¡°Li¡¯s words make sense, these Demon Cultivators can¡¯t be that foolish.¡± Thinking it over, they all felt a sense of heaviness in their hearts. What happened next confirmed Lu Li¡¯s conjecture. At that moment, Lu Yuting spoke seriously, ¡°Yu Ling is not highly skilled; please look after her, Li.¡± Ye Yuchan and Lu Chen were taken aback, wondering, ¡°Lu Yuting has the highest cultivation level, why ask Li to take care of Lu Yuling.¡± Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 74: Break Out of the Encirclement!_3 Chapter 80: Chapter 74: Break Out of the Encirclement!_3 Under the pressing crisis, the two didn¡¯t even speak to ask questions but suppressed their doubts in their hearts. Another period of time went by, as long as it took to drink a cup of tea, but the situation remained in a deadlock. Just when Li Xiangyun and his companion thought they had the victory in hand, the situation on the field suddenly underwent a dramatic change. ¡°What are you doing!¡± Li Xiangyun¡¯s face turned to one of instant horror as he let out a roar of anger. He saw six Qi Refinement Realm Cultivators rushing towards the central control Array Core, and before the two Li family Foundation Establishment Cultivators could stop them, they self-detonated at the base of the Jade Pillar. ¡°Boom¡­¡± A massive explosion echoed to the heavens, the Array Core began flickering unpredictably, and the light curtain shook wildly, as if it would shatter at any moment. ¡°Scoundrels, you¡¯ve ruined my great plan!¡± Li Xiangyun and his companion were furiously enraged. Although the second-tier Array was very strong, it could only defend against external enemies; its internal defensive strength was not so formidable. Under the self-destruction of several Qi Refinement Cultivators, the impact was evidently significant. Li Xiangyun and his companion frantically channeled Mana into the Array Core, hoping to stabilize the Array. Unfortunately, the outcome left both of them disappointed. The Cultivators within the Array were all showing expressions of terror, and some unrest started to appear among them, clearly the abrupt change had made them consider their options. Lu Li had been observing his surroundings the whole time and noticed the initial movements of the group. Still, he was utterly unable to stop them from self-destructing. Ye Yuchan and others beside him also showed faces of concern; all of this was predicted by Lu Li, apparently, the opponents were prepared in advance. At this moment, the several Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators outside of the Array seized the hard-earned opportunity, fully activated their attack magic tools, and powerful Demonic Qi surged upward as the magic artifacts fiercely smashed towards the Array. ¡°Bang¡­¡± With a loud noise, due to the instability of the core and the enemy¡¯s assault, the Array suddenly dimmed and then the Array Core itself split apart. The Array had been thoroughly breached! ¡°Go!¡± At the moment the Array shattered, Lu Li immediately mounted the Aminokaze and flew toward the northwest. Lu Yuting and others followed closely behind, blending into the escaping crowd, completely inconspicuous. The surrounding Cultivators also sprang into action, flying en masse towards the outside of Bright Sun Island. While protecting Lu Yuling and fleeing, Lu Li surveyed the situation around him. He saw six Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators had completely encircled the two Li family Cultivators. ¡°All of you, go after those fleeing Cultivators. How much spoils you get depends on your own abilities,¡± said the middle-aged leader of the Demon Cultivators, his face chillingly cold as he addressed the group of Qi Refinement Demon Cultivators. As soon as the words fell, a group of Demon Cultivators chased after the targets, turning into streaks of rainbow light that quickly vanished into the void. Seeing that they were surrounded, Li Xiangyun and his companion¡¯s faces tightened. Instantly, they retrieved their Defensive Magical Artifacts and positioned them above their heads. Rich treasure light enveloped them, yet it provided not a hint of security. The leading Demon Cultivator was apparently a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator and was slightly stronger than Li Xiangyun, who was also in the late stage. As for Li Zhengyang, who was only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, he was nearly on par with the remaining five Demon Cultivators. ¡°Kill!¡± The leading Demon Cultivator issued the death order, and soon a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators engaged in fierce combat, filling the void with murderous aura and stirring up massive waves. Observing the scene behind, Lu Li actually sighed in relief. Thankfully, the group of Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators didn¡¯t care for these Qi Refinement Realm weaklings, merely sending a group of Qi Refinement Demon Cultivators to pursue them. The two from the Li family could probably hold out for a while, by which time Lu Li and his companions would have long since fled. Whether the two Li family Cultivators could break through the encirclement depended on their own fortune. Lu Li, watching the large group of Qi Refinement Realm Demon Cultivators pursuing from behind, felt no concern and continued to lead Lu Yuling and the others swiftly across the surface of the sea. Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 75: Sweeping Through Demons! The Shocked Ye Yuchan! Chapter 81: Chapter 75: Sweeping Through Demons! The Shocked Ye Yuchan! Around Bright Sun Island, atop the vast azure expanses of the sea, gales howled, whipping up a thousand layers of ocean waves. Countless tunneling lights of various colors furiously streaked across the sea, accompanied by shouts, clashes, and an overwhelming aura of malevolence that pervaded the area. Lu Li and the others dodged around fleeing cultivators while observing the pursuers behind them. They saw more than ten Qi Refinement cultivators from the Demon Path eagerly closing in on them. Leading them was a middle-aged Demon Cultivator in a blood-red robe, his body wrapped in blood-red malevolent energy, casting an extremely ominous gaze towards Lu Li and his group. Qin Yuansheng stared intently ahead at a group of cultivators, a chilling murderous intent brewing in his heart. He led his fellow Demon Cultivators specifically targeting family clans¡¯ cultivators, often gaining substantial loot, experienced from numerous past skirmishes. This time, he had set his sights on several beautiful female cultivators ahead, instantly recognizable as clan cultivators. Thinking of the loot to come, excitement flared in his heart. Lu Yuting and her group continuously hurriedly traveled south, constantly pursued by the relentless group of Demon Cultivators, their expressions icy cold. It seemed these demons considered them easy targets. At that moment, Lu Chen suddenly transmitted a message to the group, ¡°Let us not engage in battle. About several miles ahead is a deserted island where I have already set up an Array.¡± ¡°With the hindrance of the Array, shaking off the pursuers should not be difficult.¡± Nearby, Ye Yuchan also nodded in agreement, clearly aware of the plan. Both were frequent travelers between the clan and the market at Bright Sun Island, encountering numerous ambushes. Without a few tricks up their sleeves, they would have been eradicated long ago. Of course, the other clan cultivators were similarly experienced, each possessing their own survival tactics. It all came down to who was stronger compared to the Demon Cultivators. Upon hearing this, Lu Yuting and others around her revealed joyful expressions, and they all increased their mana to swiftly move towards the island ahead. Lu Li silently moved alongside the group, but his mind was actively scheming. With his capabilities, repelling these Demon Cultivators wasn¡¯t difficult, but it was tricky to capture them all. If that caused any information leak, attracting the attention of the Demon Path sects, it could be very dangerous. Now, with an Array in place capable of momentarily trapping these Demon Cultivators, it presented a precious opportunity. With that thought, he watched the pursuers behind him, his lips curling into a cold smile. The group quickly moved away from Bright Sun Island, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief as the pressure from the Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators was indeed significant. Along the way, Lu Yuling, with the lowest cultivation, fully activated her tunneling light, rapidly consuming her mana. Whenever she couldn¡¯t keep up, she swallowed a drop of spirit milk and astonishingly kept pace with the others. Qin Yuansheng, watching the group of cultivators ahead, felt a bit stunned. A female cultivator in the late stages of Qi Refinement was able to maintain her tunneling light at full power without lagging behind, unusually impressive. ¡°Could this person possess some heavenly treasure?¡± A sudden thought surged through his mind, igniting a burning desire within him. He began to wholeheartedly activate his magic artifact, chasing after the group ahead. As the group continued their chase, they soon covered dozens of miles. By then, Lu Li and the others reached an unfamiliar maritime region, and a few hundred meters ahead appeared a small island. The island was rather secluded, coupled with no spirit veins present, making it rare for any cultivator to recognize it as unusual. The island was small, roughly a few miles in circumference, filled with rugged, giant green stones, presenting a barren and decrepit landscape. In the center of the barren island was a small valley, near the west side of which the ground was very even. ¡°That is the island. Let¡¯s head to the valley at the center and rely on the Array there to shake off these demons.¡± Ye Yuchan, gazing at the barren island ahead, saw the arrangements still in place and her face lit up with joy. Everyone nodded, and together they flew toward the center of the barren island. Soon after, they arrived at the plain on the west side of the valley. Lu Li scanned the surroundings. The ground was paved with giant green stones, quite smooth, and surrounded by mountains on all sides, making it rather secluded. At that moment, Lu Chen, who had just landed on the plain, swiftly maneuvered his hands, launching a series of spells into the air. Numerous lights spread out all around, and soon the surroundings began to change. ¡°Rise!¡± Suddenly, transparent columns of light shot skywards and vanished into thin air. The environment suddenly transformed into a vast desert, with endless rolling sands soaring towards the sky. After setting everything up, Lu Chen placed a top-quality magic artifact into the central Array eye, cast a few more spells, and the magic artifact slowly disappeared into the void. ¡°This Earth Evil Illusion Spirit Array is a top-tier first-grade Array. Although there are no spirit veins to support it, it¡¯s enough to hold off these Demon Cultivators for a while.¡± Lu Chen explained to the group with a satisfied face. With the Array set up, he felt much more reassured. The group also showed delighted expressions and quietly stood within the Array, waiting. Moments later, Qin Yuansheng led a group of Demon Cultivators to the small valley. Looking at the scene in front of him, he sneered. ¡°Do they really think this Array can stop a whole group of Qi Refinement cultivators? That¡¯s just wishful thinking!¡± Relying on their strength, he led the way toward the valley and into the Array, with the rest of the Demon Cultivators quickly following suit. Seeing that the Demon Cultivators had entered the Array, Lu Chen swiftly cast several spells on the control token. Suddenly, with a heaven-spinning and earth-turning motion, the group was instantly transported out of the Array. The group of Demon Cultivators stood within the Array on a patch of open ground, their faces filled with murderous intent. Despite being inside the Array, none showed any sign of panic. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 75: Sweeping Through Demons! The Shocked Ye Yuchan!_2 Chapter 82: Chapter 75: Sweeping Through Demons! The Shocked Ye Yuchan!_2 ¡°Break through this array quickly, don¡¯t let those little ladies escape!¡± Qin Yuansheng shouted loudly, his lips revealing an extremely cruel smile. He immediately brought out a soul banner-shaped magic artifact and, with all his might, numerous demon heads flew out from the Demon Banner and charged towards the four sides of the array. The group of demon cultivators around him quickly followed suit, over ten magic artifacts dancing in the void, ruthlessly smashing against the array light screen. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The massive sound of impact thundered through the heavens, the array beginning to shake madly, the light screen rippling like water waves, rapidly spreading outwards and then emitting flashes of light that flickered uncertainly. Seeing the attack taking effect, Qin Yuansheng¡¯s expression became even more arrogant. ¡°Another strike, completely break through this array, they won¡¯t get far!¡± ¡°This array won¡¯t hold much longer, we should hurry and escape,¡± Lu Chen said with some gravity to the people beside him, seeing that the array was trapping the group of demon cultivators yet still somewhat unstable. However, Lu Yuting and the others fell silent for a moment, glancing at Lu Li beside them, leaving Ye Yuchan and another puzzled. They saw Lu Li not meaning to flee but instead, he was stimulating his Sword Qi to attack the demon cultivators within the array. The fierce Sword Qi was breathing in the void, emitting a strong aura. ¡°Li¡¯er, don¡¯t be rash, there are too many of them, and we are no match for them at all!¡± Ye Yuchan and his companion were extremely anxious at the sight, looking over at Lu Yuting and the others and growing even more suspect and puzzled. They saw Lu Yuting and her companions appearing completely composed, not the slightest bit anxious. What happened next completely overturned their understanding. They saw Lu Li pushing Aminokaze to its extreme, the immense sword light was terrifying, slicing towards a peak Qi Refinement demon cultivator within the array with an astonishing momentum. ¡°Slash!¡± Aminokaze was as quick as thunder; it instantly reached the edge of the array and slashed towards one of the robed men. The robed man sensed the attack and quickly urged his defensive magical artifact to activate above his head, casting a faint fluorescent light to envelop his body. A group of demon cultivators, seeing the cultivators outside the array not fleeing but beginning to attack, could not help but show joy on their faces. Qin Yuansheng¡¯s complexion was extremely cold, and he said arrogantly to the demon cultivators beside him, ¡°They are courting death. If they took the opportunity to escape, it might have troubled us. Now with their attack, the array has a loophole. Knock down their magic artifact and thoroughly break through the array¡­¡± Outside the array, Ye Yuchan and his companion sensed Lu Li¡¯s attack and were surprised. In the years they had not seen each other, his cultivation had improved to peak Qi Refinement, and furthermore, the mana around him was very profound, clearly a solid foundation. ¡°Can Li¡¯er handle these demon cultivators?¡± Although Ye Yuchan was very surprised by Lu Li¡¯s cultivation, he was still somewhat worried; there were more than a dozen peak Qi Refinement demon cultivators, powerful. Lu Chen beside him was also looking at Lu Li with worry, but Lu Yuting and the others nearby were showing faint smiles. This made the two of them even more confused. While everyone had their own thoughts, Aminokaze suddenly struck the defensive magical artifact of the opponent. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± A huge collision sound rang out, and the demon cultivator¡¯s shield-shaped defensive magical artifact was instantly repelled more than ten meters away, crashing hard onto the array light screen behind, with fierce mana spraying wildly. After repelling the magical artifact, Aminokaze¡¯s momentum was undiminished, suddenly slashing towards the man, reaching above the man¡¯s head in an instant. ¡°Save me!¡± Tumultuous mana backlash surged, the man instantly spewing a mouthful of blood, feeling the Sword Qi in front of him piercing painfully across his face. He revealed a face full of despair, not expecting the opponent to be so strong, unable to withstand even a single move. But before the surrounding demon cultivators could react, Aminokaze, quick as lightning, pierced through the man¡¯s body. In a flash, a large head soared into the sky, still with a hint of unwillingness at the corners of the eyes. ¡°Waste!¡± Qin Yuansheng coldly muttered upon seeing this, thinking it was due to the opponent¡¯s carelessness. ¡°Knock down his Flying Sword immediately, then break the array!¡± He controlled the demon heads from the Hundred Ghost Banner to rapidly attack the Flying Sword; the scene was tumultuous, filled with an aura of vehemently evil energy. The demon cultivators one after another brought out their magic artifacts, quickly slashing towards the Flying Sword. Outside the array, Ye Yuchan and his companion, after witnessing Lu Li instantly kill a person, were first surprised, but then seeing the others rising to attack in a mob, revealed a hint of worry. Lu Li saw the intent of the group of Demon Cultivators and let out a cold laugh. Aminokaze instantly turned, avoiding the siege of the crowd, and then once again stimulated the secret skill ¡°Sword Light Unity¡± with full force. A huge pale sword light appeared on the sword¡¯s body and fiercely slashed towards a Demon Cultivator at the side. Ever since the Sword Array was greatly improved, this secret skill became increasingly unpredictable, slaying ordinary Qi Refinement completers as if slicing through melons and vegetables. The group of Demon Cultivators felt the massive aura and tensed up inside. ¡°This kid is just bluffing, he doesn¡¯t dare to confront us head-on.¡± Although Qin Yuansheng felt a bit alarmed by the opponent¡¯s presence, seeing that the other party avoided the killing encirclement of their group, a trace of confidence returned to his heart. The Aminokaze moved as fast as lightning, slashing again towards another Demon Cultivator at the side, instantly colliding with a massive cauldron Magic Artifact. ¡°Bang¡­¡± The cauldron Magic Artifact dimmed for a moment, and was repelled over ten meters away, the man losing control of his Magic Artifact. At the same time, a wave-like force of Mana came from the cauldron, causing a sweet taste in his chest and he soon spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. The man looked at the Flying Sword in front of him with an incredulous expression. It was only then that he realized the death of their first companion was not due to carelessness! Lu Li¡¯s Flying Sword turned once again, and in an instant, another head soared into the sky, half a body spurting blood like a fountain. The surrounding Demon Cultivators, seeing another beheaded in an instant, began to look fearful and uncertain. Waves as tall as the sky surged in Qin Yuansheng¡¯s heart, and his eyes widened in round astonishment, ¡°Who the hell are you? Which sect¡¯s True Disciple are you?¡± He had also seen a few True Disciples of the Demon Sect make their moves, but it was impossible for them to instantly slay two of their companions, especially when everyone was on guard. This made him start to regret; now that the Array was unbroken and a strong enemy was in front, the situation suddenly became extremely critical. Outside the Array, Ye Yuchan and another saw Lu Li instantly behead another person, their faces looking as if they had seen a ghost, and they scrutinized Lu Li carefully, unable to hide the doubt on their faces. However, Lu Yuting and the others beside them appeared as if they had expected this, making Ye Yuchan wonder if they had already been aware of something. While everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Lu Li made his move again. When he made his move, it was earth-shattering! Huge Sword Qi once more surged at the tip of the sword, carrying an unstoppable momentum, and viciously slashed towards the Demon Cultivator on the far right. It fiercely struck the opponent¡¯s Defensive Magical Artifact, casting it aside, and then without losing momentum, moved to slay the man. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Another scream sounded, and yet another headless corpse fell to the ground, the sharp Sword Qi leaving deep sword marks on the ground, as if plowed by a hoe. Another instant, another slaying! The Demon Cultivators within the Array all looked terrified, as if they were plunged into eternal ice, endless fear and coldness springing up from the depths of their hearts. Even the slowest among them had realized by now that this person was probably on par with the top True Disciples, capable of sweeping through their group alone! They had actually pursued this man before ¨C truly tired of living. Thinking of this, they all began to feel regret. Outside the Array, Ye Yuchan witnessed her son behead another Qi Refinement completed Demon Cultivator as if slicing through melons and vegetables, her heart was already overwhelmed with shock, beginning to feel somewhat numb. Lu Yuting and the others beside her were also very surprised, not expecting Lu Li¡¯s strength to have risen since the last time. Even Lu Chen¡¯s eyes sparkled with a fervent light, as some things had been weighing on his heart for a long time, but now he finally saw a glimmer of hope for revenge in Lu Li. At this moment, Qin Yuansheng, seeing the fierce aura of the Flying Sword, felt a chill throughout his body, and mustered his last bit of courage, ¡°Everyone, fully stimulate the Forbidden Technique, breaking the Array there¡¯s still a chance at life, pass on the intelligence about this man, and it will be a great achievement for us!¡± The group of Demon Cultivators, hearing Qin Yuansheng¡¯s words, summoned a bit of fighting spirit and began to fully stimulate the Blood Boiling Technique. As enormous Mana surged within their bodies, they were instantly filled with a powerful sensation throughout, regaining a sliver of hope for survival. However, what happened next completely shattered their illusions, sending the Demon Cultivators¡¯ hopes crashing to the ground. Lu Li saw this situation and sneered. He directly patted the Spiritual Beast Bag. Instantly, a white gigantic python appeared at the edge of the Array. The python had a flat head, its scales extremely fine, with four prominent bulges on its body, emitting an extremely noble presence. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Iron Pillar, the moment it appeared, excitedly roared aloud, as if eager to immediately fight the Demon Cultivators ahead. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 76: Annihilated! Crushing! Chapter 83: Chapter 76: Annihilated! Crushing! ¡°Is this¡­ the progeny of the Green Spirit Python from our ancestor?¡± Ye Yuchan saw a white giant python suddenly appear on flat ground, its aura shockingly powerful, making her chest feel somewhat stifled. She looked at her son with a face full of horror and then turned her head to glance at Lu Yuting and the others, a bit bewildered. Seeing that the three of them had normal complexions and were calmly nodding their heads, it was clear they had already been privy to this information, this made her even more surprised. At this moment, it wasn¡¯t the right opportunity to ask questions; she didn¡¯t inquire but instead looked forward with great anticipation to the giant python¡¯s next performance. Beside her, Lu Chen, who saw this sudden change, had an expression as if he¡¯d seen a ghost. This surprise was truly too unexpected. He and Ye Yuchan exchanged a slow glance, their eyes unable to completely hide a thick sense of excitement. ¡°My son Lu Li has the capacity for a Golden Core! Even his spirit beast is astonishing.¡± Ye Yuchan was simply overjoyed internally. At the moment when everyone¡¯s excitement surged, there was a sudden shift in the scene. ¡°Iron Pillar, kill!¡± Lu Li coldly issued the command to the spirit beast. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Upon hearing the command, Iron Pillar let out an enraged roar that caused everyone¡¯s eardrums to ache, even carrying a hint of a ¡°dragon¡¯s chant.¡± It then excitedly charged toward the inside of the array, already unable to restrain itself since being in the Spiritual Beast Bag; its desire to kill was surging to an all-time high! In an instant, Iron Pillar arrived within the array. It lifted its massive tail and viciously swept it toward a Demon Cultivator ahead. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A scream sounded as the mighty tail smashed down on the opponent¡¯s Defensive Magical Artifact, sending the artifact flying over ten meters away before continuing its powerful momentum towards the male cultivator. Before the opponent could react, he was struck and burst apart instantaneously, turning into a cloud of blood mist. Qin Yuansheng had just activated a Forbidden Technique, and upon seeing a snow-white giant python suddenly crash in and slay a person within moments, dispersing a formidable aura of murderous intent, everyone¡¯s face showed terror. ¡°Is this¡­ a Dragon Seed on the verge of evolving?¡± He observed the somewhat flattened head of the giant python and the slight bulges on its body, and even its scales were extremely fine ¨C this stirred up a tidal wave in his heart. ¡°Could today be the day of my demise?¡± Qin Yuansheng¡¯s heart felt dead, his blood-drained face looking somewhat ghastly. ¡°Fellow Daoists, let¡¯s fight for our lives, or else there won¡¯t be the slightest chance.¡± He fiercely sprayed several mouthfuls of Essence Blood onto his Flying Sword, the sword suddenly shining brightly, a three-foot sword light flickering at the tip, slashing towards the giant python like thunder. The remaining Demon Cultivators followed suit, each spewing several mouthfuls of Essence Blood onto their Magic Artifacts; the power of the artifacts increased tremendously, the air was filled with a thick scent of blood. Under Qin Yuansheng¡¯s leadership, a group of Demon Cultivators manipulated their artifacts to fiercely attack the giant python ahead. Ye Yuchan and the companion outside the array saw a group of Demon Cultivators besieging it and turned their heads to look at Lu Yuting and the others; seeing their confident demeanors, the trace of concern on their faces also dissipated. It seemed that young Li¡¯s spirit beast probably had an astonishing combat ability. What followed indeed confirmed her guess. Iron Pillar, facing the assault of more than ten Magic Artifacts, didn¡¯t dodge and instead circulated its full demonic power; its body suddenly swelled up a bit, coiling powerfully on the ground, its aura extremely domineering. It once again lashed its massive tail like a Mount Tai pressing down towards the more than ten Magic Artifacts ahead. ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± The thunderous collision resounded through the sky; the artifacts struck its scales, creating numerous sparks, then a group of Demon Cultivators¡¯ artifacts were forcefully smashed back against the Array Light Screen behind them, making the array emit waves of light. The Demon Cultivators¡¯ all-out attack unexpectedly failed to penetrate the giant python¡¯s defense! This result made Qin Yuansheng and his fellow Demon Cultivators completely unable to accept it; despair began to fill their hearts. As a being on the brink of transforming into a Dragon Seed, Iron Pillar¡¯s bodily defense was astonishingly strong, its scales on par with top-quality Magic Artifacts. Lu Li had anticipated this. He struck again with an icy expression, sending Aminokaze flashing like lightning towards a Demon Cultivator on the left. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Accompanied by a plaintive scream, a large head soared into the sky; despair and reluctance were still visible in the eyes of the Demon Cultivator as Lu Li once again cut down an enemy. Iron Pillar did not pause, charging once more towards the group of Demon Cultivators and raising its colossal tail to sweep fiercely at them. Sounds of sonic booms filled the air, the intense forceful presence causing Qin Yuansheng and others to despair. In a panic, they circulated their Defensive Magical Artifacts above their heads, beams of light enveloping the group, but this could not bring them the slightest sense of safety. ¡°Bang¡­¡± Another series of heavy thuds sounded; Qin Yuansheng¡¯s Defensive Magical Artifact above his head shook wildly, the light fluctuating between bright and dim. Sensing the massive backlash from the artifact, a tightness seized everyone¡¯s chest. Seizing the moment of weakness, Lu Li found the right opportunity, with Aminokaze once again flashing like lightning as he struck down another young man in front. ¡°Sss¡­¡± The sword¡¯s light whistled past, leaving a headless corpse on the ground; fresh blood surged out and soaked the surrounding giant green stones. Seeing this, Qin Yuansheng¡¯s face paled even though the Forbidden Technique had been activated; he was still far from being a match for this person. Within the array, Iron Pillar saw its master instantly cut down another, its face excited as it burst into the midst of the Demon Cultivators like a fierce tiger among a flock of sheep. It lifted its colossal tail and smashed it down crazily at all the Demon Cultivators in sight, with no specific target, hitting anyone it saw, already in a frenzied state. The mountain-like immense strength mixed with astonishing demonic power caused the Demon Cultivators untold misery. Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 76: Total Annihilation! Crushing Destruction!_2 Chapter 84: Chapter 76: Total Annihilation! Crushing Destruction!_2 Not long after, some people could no longer hold on. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Screams rang out as numerous Defensive Magical Artifacts were smashed out of control and brutally struck the Array, creating ripples wave after wave. Then, the serpent¡¯s tail, like a huge hammer, fiercely smashed onto a group of Demon Cultivators, instantly bursting their bodies into a mass of bloodied chunks, leaving the ground in complete disarray. Lu Li was not far behind, Aminokaze insanely danced within the Array, as fast as lightning, slashing towards each and every Demon Cultivator. Every strike was sure to take the life of a Demon Cultivator, and the coordination of the two was akin to a bare massacre, the scene exceedingly bloody. Soon, only the last Demon Cultivator was left in the open field. Qin Yuansheng¡¯s face showed endless regret. ¡°Who are you, really! With such strength and still hiding it, you are truly insidious to the extreme!¡± Lu Li sneered coldly and ignored the other party. Aminokaze instantly turned, its Sword Qi ferocious at the blade¡¯s tip, thundering towards the man opposite. Qin Yuansheng, sensing the strong aura of the Flying Sword, felt a chill all over his body, his skin stinging. He stimulated his soul banner Magic Artifact with all his might, vainly attempting one last struggle. Shadowy demon figures charged fiercely toward the Flying Sword, the aura of demon destruction rolling in. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The two forces collided instantly, the Flying Sword brutally impacted the bodies of several demon heads, piercing through armor, eliciting agonized howls as their soul bodies dimmed noticeably. Continueing without losing momentum, the Flying Sword quickly slashed towards the man ahead. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Qin Yuansheng had already expended most of his mana and was defenseless against the incoming Flying Sword, his face revealing panic. The Flying Sword pierced through his chest in an instant, leaving a huge gap, with crimson liquid spattered all over the ground. The giant green stones on the ground appeared to have been plowed, marked with intersecting sword cuts, a complete mess. With the last Demon Cultivator slain, Ye Yuchan and her companion still wore looks of shock; the battle had ended in a short amount of time, which was astonishing. Even though Lu Yuting already knew of Lu Li¡¯s strength, seeing him go all out for the first time shocked her no less than Ye Yuchan and her companion. Everyone¡¯s faces were somewhat numb. Lu Li smiled and offered no explanation. He picked up the scattered Storage Bags on the ground, then softly spoke, ¡°We should temporarily put away this Array.¡± Lu Chen finally came to his senses, and with several magic spells cast into the void, several round Array Plates appeared on the ground. He quickly collected the Array Plates on the ground into his Storage Bag. Just as everyone was about to leave¡­ Suddenly, a ripple of mana came from several miles ahead. Lu Li looked up. He saw four tunneling lights suddenly appear in the sky not far to the side, quickly flying towards them. A woman in a green dress with a panicked face was tunneling through the air, her Qi Refinement level around stage nine. Wang Ziyuan was extremely anxious; her Spirit Light Escape Talisman was almost exhausted, and she had yet to shake off the three Demon Cultivators behind her, which filled her with despair. The three pursuing middle-aged men had Qi Refinement at the complete stage, with the man in the center having cold, hook-like brows and eyes, his face mockingly eying the prey not far ahead. ¡°It¡¯s Wang Family¡¯s Wang Ziyuan, we should ignore her. Her family has nothing to do with ours,¡± Lu Chen said from a distance. His group had already recognized the fleeing figure and confirmed her identity from afar, but none wished to complicate matters further. The two families had many disputes over various spirit islands and spiritual ore, and there had been frictions for hundreds of years. Although not mortal enemies like the Chen Family, there was no need to create more trouble. Lu Li nodded in agreement. He was not the type to play the good Samaritan and rescue a potential rival, even though he did not fear the Demon Cultivators behind him. Just then, as Wang Ziyuan was in a frantic panic, she suddenly spotted Lu Li and the others ahead and her face lit up with joy; she turned and flew directly towards them. The three Demon Cultivators also noticed the change and scanned with their imposing Divine Senses. Realizing that among the people ahead only one was a Qi Refinement complete stage Cultivator, they pursued without hesitation, confident in their strength. Seeing this, Lu Li revealed a cold smile in his heart. Lu Yuting and the others didn¡¯t look too pleased either. Before long, Wang Ziyuan had already arrived near the group, landing on a flat area with a delicate face. Her figure was very enticing, and though she looked somewhat frantic, it only added a different kind of charm. ¡°Lu Family¡¯s fellow Daoists, please save me, and I will never forget the great kindness¡­¡± Her voice was very weak, her eyes like pools of spring water, pitifully looking at Lu Li in front of her. Wang Ziyuan was inwardly proud, thinking that she had found a life-saving straw today, and was sure that with just a little effort, the others would be like any other man and play the hero to rescue the beauty. She wasn¡¯t foolish; these people were all closely related to Lu Li, and securing his help meant safety¡­ Lu Yuling beside her felt discontent and inwardly cursed, ¡°Hmph, Wang Ziyuan, that shameless hussy¡­¡± As different thoughts filled their minds, the three Demon Cultivators also descended from the sky and landed confidently opposite the group. ¡°Leave the two women behind, and you can scram!¡± The lead cold-faced man spoke authoritatively the moment he landed, pointing his finger at Lu Qingqing and Wang Ziyuan ahead. Seeing that Lu Li and his group weren¡¯t weak and a fight would not likely secure all captives, he thought himself merciful in his offer to let them go. Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 76: Total Annihilation! Crushing Destruction!_3 Chapter 85: Chapter 76: Total Annihilation! Crushing Destruction!_3 ¡°` Seeing that the crowd was utterly unmoved, several beautiful women even looked at him as if looking at a dead man, which infuriated him. The three of them all brought out their magic artifacts, with an overwhelming surge of malevolent aura rushing toward them, carrying with it a powerful oppressive force. Lu Li couldn¡¯t be bothered with idle talk. He simply opened his mouth, and a streak of blood sword energy burst forth like thunderous lightning, aiming to kill the leading demon cultivator, the aura terrifying to the extreme. It reached the middle-aged man in an instant. With the current strength of his body and essence blood, the might of this secret technique had improved to a staggering extent, preliminarily possessing a sliver of Foundation Establishment power. ¡°Not good!¡± The leading demon cultivator sensed the terrifying sword energy, a sense of impending death enveloping his heart, causing his body hair to stand on end. He immediately sprang into action, instantly placing a black defense shield in front of him. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud collision sounded as the blood sword energy directly struck the black shield. The shield magic artifact instantly had a fist-sized circular hole punched through it, malevolence lingering around it. Afterward, the sword energy continued relentlessly, chopping towards the man¡¯s head. ¡°Which Major Sect¡¯s True Disciple are you?¡± Seeing the blood sword energy instantly cut through his own artifact and even carry a hint of destructive aura, the leading demon cultivator regretted pursuing the chase. He looked at Lu Li in front of him with sheer horror, his mind awash with a tidal wave of emotions. Faced with life and death, he had no time for further thought. He instantly took out a talisman, and upon activation, a huge transparent shell appeared around him, radiating a shimmering light. ¡°I must block this strike!¡± He had spent a great deal of money on this spirit talisman. It could withstand a full-force attack from a Qi Refinement cultivator for the duration of half a cup of tea, giving him just enough time to immediately activate the Blood Jutsu and escape with his life. The leading demon cultivator had it all planned out, but what unfolded next completely shattered his illusions. ¡°Boom¡­¡± The sword energy fiercely chopped down on the spiritual energy light shield, followed by a slight ¡®crack¡¯ sound as the spiritual energy shield was instantly cleaved through, disintegrating into chaos and dissipating into the surroundings. After that, the blood sword energy still lightning-fast, chopped down towards the man¡¯s head. ¡°Ah¡­ What kind of technique is this, to possess a hint of the power of Foundation Establishment!¡± Seeing the costly talisman broken in an instant, he gazed at the approaching sword energy with a face of despair, the pain piercing through his body, screaming out in agony. In the blink of an eye, the blood sword energy pierced through the other¡¯s skull, instantly reducing the upper half of his body to a blurred mess of flesh and blood. At this point, the other two demon cultivators had just begun to react when their leader had already fallen onto the sea surface. Both of them looked at Lu Li in front of them with shock on their faces. To have killed a cultivator at the peak of Qi Refinement in an instant, such a feat was terrifying to hear of, probably on par with the strongest True Disciple of a Demon Sect! Just as the two were about to activate their Blood Jutsu to flee, a sudden change occurred. Lu Li tossed the Aminokaze upwards, swiftly arriving above the two demon cultivators¡¯ heads. With a flash of the Flying Sword, it instantly transformed into a massive sword array. Dozens of swords formed from spiritual energy circled together, creating an enormous formation with a formidable aura. Countless sword lights immediately surrounded the two. With a gentle command, dense sword qi appeared on the tips of the swords, wildly slashing through the void. The two demon cultivators watched in despair. They both brought out defensive magical artifacts above their heads. ¡°Hisss¡­¡± Countless sword qi sliced upon the two enormous cauldrons, emitting a screeching noise. But within just a few breaths, the spiritual light of the two artifacts began to dim, flickering uncertainly. ¡°` Lu Li, upon seeing the situation, urged his mana once again. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Following two screams, countless amounts of Sword Qi directly slashed through the magic artifacts of the two men, then proceeded to cut towards them. In an instant, it turned the bodies of the two individuals into myriad powdery fragments, turning into clusters of blood-muddled bits scattered atop the sea. From the moment Lu Li made his move to the three Demon Cultivators being slain, it all happened in the blink of an eye. Wang Ziyuan looked on with a face full of shock at Lu Li before her, her heart unable to calm for a long time. ¡°With such techniques, even a Purple Mansion Golden Core holds great promise, if I were to send this information back to my clan¡­¡± She thought secretly to herself. Beside her, Ye Yuchan saw her son unleash all his techniques, the terrifying Blood Sword Energy, which even made her somewhat frightened. The shock of everything left her feeling somewhat numb; the day¡¯s stunning events were more than she had experienced in the past decades. At that moment, Wang Ziyuan, having regained her composure, smiled faintly, carrying a hint of seduction, and said to Lu Li, ¡°I thank you, Daoist brother, for saving my life. I have nothing with which to repay this act¡­¡± As she spoke, she bowed gracefully, intentionally contouring her perfect figure. Lu Yuting and the others felt uncomfortable. This person¡¯s reputation in the nearby seas had always been poor, which made them somewhat disdainful. Was she now openly attempting to seduce their Lu Family¡¯s genius ¨C did she think they didn¡¯t exist? ¡°There¡¯s no need for thanks; you don¡¯t owe me anything!¡± Lu Li responded with a cold smile. Listening, Wang Ziyuan¡¯s expression froze and then she looked at him with a face full of shock. Suddenly, a fierce Sword Qi slashed towards her before she could react, instantly striking her body. ¡°Why!¡± The Sword Qi instantly pierced through her chest, leaving a massive hole amidst the mangled flesh and blood. Wang Ziyuan¡¯s expression carried a hint of unwillingness and confusion, as she slowly fell onto the sea¡¯s surface. ¡°Everything was according to plan¡­¡± Until her consciousness began to blur, she couldn¡¯t understand why he would suddenly strike to kill. Previous men had held her in the palm of their hand¡­ ¡°Well done; that vixen deserved to be cut down directly.¡± Lu Yuling remarked with great satisfaction upon witnessing the scene. Lu Chen also nodded in agreement, ¡°Lu Li¡¯s information must absolutely not be leaked. Killing her was for the best.¡± Lu Qingqing, although agreeing internally, had a somewhat peculiar expression. This sixth brother acted without hesitation, showing no mercy for women¡¯s beauty, such a strong aura of decisiveness and killing intent. Lu Li picked up the Storage Bag from the ground and spoke softly to everyone, ¡°You all go back to Mystic Moon Island first; I still have some matters to take care of.¡± ¡°Be careful, Li¡¯er.¡± Although Ye Yuchan looked somewhat concerned, she didn¡¯t speak out to stop him. Lu Chen nodded, ¡°After you¡¯ve finished dealing with things, return to Mystic Moon Island as soon as possible.¡± Having said that, he led everyone towards Mystic Moon Island, and in a short while, they disappeared above the desolate island. Only after they had gone far away did Lu Chen speak to Ye Yuchan softly, ¡°You needn¡¯t worry too much. With Li¡¯er¡¯s techniques, as long as he is careful, there won¡¯t be much danger.¡± Ye Yuchan nodded, ¡°Our Li¡¯er has grown up, the two of us unconditionally support our son in few matters.¡± ¡­ Lu Li watched quietly as everyone left, activated the Hidden Spirit Technique to transform into a sinister-looking man, then turned and rode his Flying Sword towards the side, disappearing¡­ Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 78: Astonishing Harvest Chapter 88: Chapter 78: Astonishing Harvest After a month, inside the cave on Mystic Moon Island. Lu Li opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. Feeling the mana within his body that could no longer progress, he nodded in great satisfaction. Long-term cultivation of the secret technique ¡°Triple-Spirit Refinement¡± had brought his mana to the peak of the Qi Refinement Realm, and was four times that of an ordinary cultivator. Even the purity of his mana had greatly enhanced, making him feel a sharpness within himself. Lu Li¡¯s mind sank into the depths of his chest, where he saw ninety-seven drops of extremely powerful essence blood flowing within. Nine blood-red Sword Qi floated among them, emitting an extremely terrifying aura. ¡°My physical body is almost completely refined, now only the Divine Sense remains,¡± he murmured to himself. At that moment, he directly awakened the elder ancestor within a relic. Soon after, a hazy figure of a Spirit Monkey appeared in mid-air, looking somewhat sleepy. ¡°Li kid, what do you need from this old ancestor?¡± the Spirit Monkey asked with confusion. Lu Li smiled and politely shared some of his doubts with the elder. After pondering for a while, the Spirit Monkey said in a faint voice, ¡°Divine Sense, as the external manifestation of the soul¡¯s essence, is extremely special and its growth is very difficult.¡± Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°However, once your physical essence blood and mana are perfected, the nurturing speed will significantly increase; with the help of Moonlight and Starlight Power, it should only take a few years to reach perfection¡­¡± Hearing this, Lu Li breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t require decades; a few years were manageable. ¡°If you can¡¯t wait, you could charge directly at Foundation Establishment using the path of Qi Refinement, given your physique there¡¯s no chance of failure,¡± the Spirit Monkey said with a teasing air. ¡°Would there be any hidden dangers if I do that?¡± Lu Li asked, intrigued. The Spirit Monkey smiled, ¡°Once you establish foundation via the Qi Refinement path, the difficulty of cultivating the Divine Demon Body will increase significantly. The unification of essence, qi, and spirit into an innate being is not so easy¡­¡± Lu Li immediately rejected this suggestion. Now, so close to the final step, it would be unwise to give up halfway. To break through using the Qi Refinement path would at most make him an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator, making it extremely difficult to fight across levels. According to the Taiyin Refining Diagram¡¯s cultivation technique, cultivating the first Divine Map would bring earth-shattering changes in strength. He, naturally, would not choose to forsake the essentials for the less important. Moments later, Lu Li asked, ¡°Ancestor, do you have a method for refining top-grade lifebound magical weapons?¡± The Spirit Monkey tilted its head and pondered for a moment, ¡°For an innate being walking the Demon God path, the best lifebound weapon is one refined by the Blood Refining Divine Weapon method.¡± ¡°Using one¡¯s own powerful essence blood for nurturing, which will grow in power with the master through every powerful enemy slain, until it becomes a postnatal supreme treasure.¡± ¡°As for a lifebound magical treasure of the Qi Refinement path, it¡¯s not very necessary for you.¡± ¡°With the Divine Power Heavenly Earth Transformation of the Demon God Body, a single punch could shatter a slightly inferior lifebound magical weapon; using external methods to inscribe heavenly and earthly prohibitions isn¡¯t the perfect path.¡± Lu Li¡¯s expression shifted upon hearing that, ¡°A postnatal supreme treasure?¡± The Spirit Monkey looked nostalgic, ¡°Correct. A postnatal supreme treasure is the limit that all magical weapons can achieve.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just unfortunate that such treasures, which have returned to the innate, have long since disappeared.¡± Lu Li nodded, having already decided to refine a Blood Refining Divine Weapon. He also had some ideas about its form and planned to start the refinement after gathering materials post-Foundation Establishment. At that moment, he removed several storage bags from his waist¡ªabout twenty in total, large and small spreading over the ground, a rather grand sight. Cycling his Divine Sense, he dispelled all extraneous Divine Senses within, pouring out the items inside. Soon, the ground was cluttered densely with spiritual objects and magical artifacts. Various demonic magical artifacts and medicine pills, some spirit stones piled into several small heaps, roughly estimated to be over twenty thousand pieces; even the spiritual energy in the air had increased slightly. Together with the dozens of various magical artifacts on the ground, there were tens of thousands of spirit stones in total, proving the saying, ¡®A horse does not get fat without grazing at night, and a man does not get rich without windfall.¡¯ As Lu Li was taking stock of his gains, news of the outcome of the great battle at Bright Sun Island had already spread everywhere. Two of the Li Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators fell on the island, causing some of the supporting Foundation Establishment Cultivators to lose their tempers and kill some nearby, unlucky Qi Refinement Realm cultivators to vent their anger. Meanwhile, the encounter between Lu Qingyang and Luo Kuiyu with a mysterious cultivator near the seas of Bright Sun Island was also buzzing with rumors. Many cultivators were very curious about the result of the two returning heavily wounded, speculating who could possess such strength to force two true inheritors of the Demon Sect to flee in embarrassment. Soon, the mysterious black-robed man became quite famous throughout the outer seas. People speculated whether he might be a secretly nurtured Foundation Establishment Seed of the Li Family, but the Li Family Cultivators provided no clarification, making many all the more intrigued. Blood Demon Sect, within a cave at the base of a mountain. Luo Kuiyu¡¯s face was contorted with extreme anger. During this time, news of him being instantly defeated by the mysterious man spread throughout the entire Demon Sect, causing his prestige to sharply decline. Some even said he was unworthy of his position as a true inheritor of the Demon Sect, fueling his resentment towards Lu Qingyang even more. After he had ruthlessly killed several cultivators who came to challenge him, he gradually stabilized his footing. As for Lu Qingyang of the Heavenly Demon Sect, he was actually pleased when he heard the news, having vigorously spread it himself; now finally, someone was sharing the burden, making him look less incapable. ¡­ White Mist Island, Chen Family. At this moment, Chen Mo and a middle-aged man were sitting cross-legged in the hall¡¯s open space. ¡°Clan Leader, this time at Bright Sun Island, our Chen Family suffered heavy losses. Only Luoluo and a few others managed to escape back¡­¡± Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 78: Astounding Harvest_2 Chapter 89: Chapter 78: Astounding Harvest_2 Chen Mo sighed deeply, his expression tinged with sorrow. The Chen Family Head¡¯s face also looked rather grim, ¡°Additionally, the losses suffered by the Lin and Wang families are not much different from ours.¡± ¡°Has there been any investigation into the Lu Family¡¯s situation?¡± Chen Mo paused for a moment, his face full of anger, ¡°The Lu Family must have had some damn good luck, all their core family members returned unscathed, only a few peripheral members were killed.¡± The Chen Family Head¡¯s expression turned cold, ¡°Recently, the Lu Family seems a bit unusual, ever since the mine vein battle, everything has been smooth sailing for them, we better keep a close watch on them.¡± Chen Mo nodded, and soon the air fell silent again. ¡­ After Lu Li finished sorting the Spiritual Objects, he flew out of the cave mansion towards the mountainside. It didn¡¯t take long before he arrived outside the Household Affairs Hall. There, he saw Lu Yuting lying lazily in a chair, her eyes half-closed. ¡°Li¡¯er, what brings you to Third Aunt today?¡± Lu Li smiled, walked into the hall, and took out all the Spiritual Objects and Magic Artifacts from his Storage Bag. ¡°Could you please exchange all these Magic Artifacts and spiritual materials for Spirit Stones?¡± Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°You really struck it rich this time, this must be worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones.¡± Lu Yuting laughed, picked up the Spiritual Objects from the table, and then said with a serious expression, ¡°Keep a low profile during this period, the matter of that mysterious man is being hotly discussed, and often there are Foundation Establishment Cultivators exploring nearby¡­¡± Lu Li solemnly nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± These matters couldn¡¯t be concealed from Third Aunt, and probably Lu Yuling and others had already guessed them. But these people certainly wouldn¡¯t disclose it. Seeing that Lu Li didn¡¯t become arrogant over this, she felt very reassured. After a moment, Lu Yuting spoke again, ¡°The Floating Realm is about to open again, do you have any plans?¡± Lu Li¡¯s expression was indifferent, ¡°This exploration, I¡¯ve decided to go to this ruined small world.¡± He didn¡¯t explain his reasons, knowing that with his strength, where Foundation Establishment Cultivators couldn¡¯t enter, the danger wasn¡¯t too great. If he missed this opportunity, it might not be accessible again for decades. Lu Yuting was stunned; she thought Lu Li was going to recommend a few people to go, but didn¡¯t expect that he would participate himself. After thinking about it, she didn¡¯t speak out to stop him. ¡°The opening is in two years. With you and the Green Spirit Python together, there aren¡¯t many threats to your safety, just be more cautious about some Forbidden Lands. It would be better if you can gather some Spiritual Medicine, but don¡¯t force it if you can¡¯t, your safety is paramount¡­¡± Lu Yuting emphasized repeatedly, her face full of concern. She now regarded Lu Li as the greatest hope for the rise of the Lu Family, naturally not wanting to see him take any risks. A warmth surged in Lu Li¡¯s heart, and he nodded heavily. ¡°I understand.¡± Afterward, the two conversed for a while longer, and he then took his leave. ¡­ Time slowly passed, and in the blink of an eye, two years had gone by. In the Spirit Turtle Cave Mansion, on an open ground. Lu Li was sitting on the ground with Iron Pillar, eating Spirit Fish and Spirit Rice, with a rich aroma wafting through the air. During these two years, he stayed within the Spirit Turtle Cave Mansion, living a very leisurely life. Every day besides planting Spirit Rice and feeding Spirit Fish, he was meditating and cultivating. His mind slowly sank into his body, feeling the ninety-nine drops of Essence Blood deep in his chest, an extremely strong aura emanated from deep within his flesh. Ever since his body reached perfection two months ago, he felt his Divine Sense strength increasing daily, this continuous strengthening enamored him deeply. Perhaps in a few years, his Divine Sense would be fully perfect, which made him slightly anticipate. After finishing the Spirit Rice, Lu Li got up and walked towards the edge of the spirit field, soon arriving on top of a field ridge. He saw that the spirit soil on the ground was a deep brown color, with strands of Spiritual Energy rising above it, which was quite astonishing. Nourished by a large number of Spirit Stones and an underwater Spirit Vein, this first-grade spirit field had been elevated to its limit. The output¡¯s top-grade Spirit Rice quality was also exceptionally fine, and the quantity was quite considerable. He estimated it had improved about two tiers compared to when he had just advanced. At that moment, a group of snow-white chickens ran over, and seeing Lu Li, they weren¡¯t scared but instead pecked at him furiously, as if seeking revenge for their kind. Lu Li smiled. These Snow Cloud Chickens certainly held grudges; since eating some of their companions, every time they saw him, they chased after him to peck, as if to avenge their kin. With a gentle kick, Lu Li shooed the group of Snow Cloud Chickens away and walked towards the Insect Room. A moment later, he arrived outside. He saw hundreds of thousands of tiny bugs flying in the air, some of them in the later stages of Qi Refinement, which was quite astonishing. After years of uninterrupted cultivation, this group of insects had become another one of his trump cards. He then issued a command. A group of skin beetles immediately sprang into action, forming several fist-sized spheres, flying towards Lu Li¡¯s sleeve and quickly vanishing inside. Just as he stored away the spiritual insects, an abnormal signal came from the Communication Jade Token inside his Storage Bag. Lu Li walked to the edge of the Cold Pond, put away the Iron Pillar, exited the Array, and then swam towards Mystic Moon Island. An hour later. Mystic Moon Island was clearly in sight. In the awe-filled gazes of a group of Cultivators, Lu Li soared on his Flying Sword towards Qingling Peak. Moments later, he arrived at the Household Affairs Hall situated midway up the mountain. ¡°Third Aunt, is it almost time to depart?¡± Lu Li asked with a smile. Judging by the days, it should be about time. He had been waiting for news these past few days and had returned to Mystic Moon Island immediately upon hearing any. Lu Yuting smiled, ¡°We¡¯ll depart in half a month. You should stay on Mystic Moon Island during this period.¡± Lu Li nodded, then left the Household Affairs Hall and headed for his cave dwelling. Inside the cave at the foot of the mountain, he took out the Immortal Treasure Fragments and once again awakened the remnant soul of the Spirit Monkey. A dark figure appeared in the void, emitting a faint glow. ¡°Kid, are you preparing to go to that broken small world? Can the old ancestor sense the precise location of the fragments?¡± Lu Li got straight to the point. The Spirit Monkey nodded, its expression somewhat joyous. ¡°Wait until the old ancestor¡¯s memory recovers more, some Divine Skills will also come to mind.¡± ¡°Wait until you cultivate the Innate Spirit Body, relying on Divine Skills to exert the greatest strength.¡± Lu Li smiled and nodded, ¡°This time, old ancestor shouldn¡¯t sleep, we¡¯re departing in half a month.¡± In the following days, he meditated and cultivated in his cave dwelling. ¡­ Inside a cave dwelling on White Mist Island, Chen Mo spoke with a serious face to Chen Wuluo, ¡°This plan of our family has been in preparation for decades, relying on that method, you¡¯re sufficient to dominate the Floating Realm. Remember to rush to¡­¡± Chen Wuluo confidently replied, ¡°Junior understands. This time will definitely lay the foundation for our Chen Family¡¯s rise.¡± After learning about some of the family¡¯s arrangements, his confidence soared. As long as he successfully acquired that ¡°item,¡± he would no longer fear the True Disciples of both the righteous and demonic paths. ¡­ Inside a grand hall at the Heavenly Demon Sect¡¯s station, ten True Disciples stood around the hall, radiating extremely powerful auras. These ten disciples were the strongest few selected from tens of thousands of those who had completed Qi Refinement, and Lu Qingyang was among them. An old man stood in front of the crowd. The old man¡¯s hair and beard were all white, dressed in a black robe, his body emitting the strong Spiritual Pressure of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. ¡°This time the Floating Realm opens, have you decided to go?¡± ¡°The sect has already received news, the Divine Skill left by the descendant of Venerable Tianxuan was lost in this realm¡­¡± The True Disciples exchanged glances, their hearts burning with eagerness. At this moment, Lu Qingyang respectfully spoke, ¡°Is it the Water Technique among the Five Elements Jutsu relied upon by Venerable Tianxuan to traverse the world?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± The old man faintly nodded. Hearing this, the disciples hurriedly spoke up, ¡°Junior wishes to go.¡± The old man¡¯s expression remained calm, ¡°Besides Heavenly Demon Prince Mu Chen, four more spots will be decided by drawing lots¡­¡± ¡°The sect cannot let all the Foundation Establishment Seeds of this generation enter.¡± ¡°Your competitors are not only the other three major Demon Sects but also the Four Great Sects of the righteous path, as well as some strong Loose Cultivators and Business Association members. This news has already spread among the high levels of the various sects.¡± Some disciples shivered upon hearing this, realizing that the True Disciples of other sects were also formidable. Among the crowd, a man in white continuously smiled proudly; he was Heavenly Demon Prince Mu Chen, fearing no one! It wasn¡¯t long before the participants were confirmed. Lu Qingyang was fortunate to be part of the departing team. Similar to the Heavenly Demon Sect, other major righteous and demonic sects also mobilized their True Disciples, causing the entire outer sea to burst into commotion. On Bright Sun Island, inside a cave dwelling. Zhuang Guxue nodded firmly, ¡°Aunt Mei, I must go on this trip to the Floating Realm!¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Only a faint sigh echoed in the air, quickly restoring calm. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 78: Astonishing Harvest Chapter 88: Chapter 78: Astonishing Harvest After a month, inside the cave on Mystic Moon Island. Lu Li opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. Feeling the mana within his body that could no longer progress, he nodded in great satisfaction. Long-term cultivation of the secret technique ¡°Triple-Spirit Refinement¡± had brought his mana to the peak of the Qi Refinement Realm, and was four times that of an ordinary cultivator. Even the purity of his mana had greatly enhanced, making him feel a sharpness within himself. Lu Li¡¯s mind sank into the depths of his chest, where he saw ninety-seven drops of extremely powerful essence blood flowing within. Nine blood-red Sword Qi floated among them, emitting an extremely terrifying aura. ¡°My physical body is almost completely refined, now only the Divine Sense remains,¡± he murmured to himself. At that moment, he directly awakened the elder ancestor within a relic. Soon after, a hazy figure of a Spirit Monkey appeared in mid-air, looking somewhat sleepy. ¡°Li kid, what do you need from this old ancestor?¡± the Spirit Monkey asked with confusion. Lu Li smiled and politely shared some of his doubts with the elder. After pondering for a while, the Spirit Monkey said in a faint voice, ¡°Divine Sense, as the external manifestation of the soul¡¯s essence, is extremely special and its growth is very difficult.¡± Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°However, once your physical essence blood and mana are perfected, the nurturing speed will significantly increase; with the help of Moonlight and Starlight Power, it should only take a few years to reach perfection¡­¡± Hearing this, Lu Li breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t require decades; a few years were manageable. ¡°If you can¡¯t wait, you could charge directly at Foundation Establishment using the path of Qi Refinement, given your physique there¡¯s no chance of failure,¡± the Spirit Monkey said with a teasing air. ¡°Would there be any hidden dangers if I do that?¡± Lu Li asked, intrigued. The Spirit Monkey smiled, ¡°Once you establish foundation via the Qi Refinement path, the difficulty of cultivating the Divine Demon Body will increase significantly. The unification of essence, qi, and spirit into an innate being is not so easy¡­¡± Lu Li immediately rejected this suggestion. Now, so close to the final step, it would be unwise to give up halfway. To break through using the Qi Refinement path would at most make him an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator, making it extremely difficult to fight across levels. According to the Taiyin Refining Diagram¡¯s cultivation technique, cultivating the first Divine Map would bring earth-shattering changes in strength. He, naturally, would not choose to forsake the essentials for the less important. Moments later, Lu Li asked, ¡°Ancestor, do you have a method for refining top-grade lifebound magical weapons?¡± The Spirit Monkey tilted its head and pondered for a moment, ¡°For an innate being walking the Demon God path, the best lifebound weapon is one refined by the Blood Refining Divine Weapon method.¡± ¡°Using one¡¯s own powerful essence blood for nurturing, which will grow in power with the master through every powerful enemy slain, until it becomes a postnatal supreme treasure.¡± ¡°As for a lifebound magical treasure of the Qi Refinement path, it¡¯s not very necessary for you.¡± ¡°With the Divine Power Heavenly Earth Transformation of the Demon God Body, a single punch could shatter a slightly inferior lifebound magical weapon; using external methods to inscribe heavenly and earthly prohibitions isn¡¯t the perfect path.¡± Lu Li¡¯s expression shifted upon hearing that, ¡°A postnatal supreme treasure?¡± The Spirit Monkey looked nostalgic, ¡°Correct. A postnatal supreme treasure is the limit that all magical weapons can achieve.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just unfortunate that such treasures, which have returned to the innate, have long since disappeared.¡± Lu Li nodded, having already decided to refine a Blood Refining Divine Weapon. He also had some ideas about its form and planned to start the refinement after gathering materials post-Foundation Establishment. At that moment, he removed several storage bags from his waist¡ªabout twenty in total, large and small spreading over the ground, a rather grand sight. Cycling his Divine Sense, he dispelled all extraneous Divine Senses within, pouring out the items inside. Soon, the ground was cluttered densely with spiritual objects and magical artifacts. Various demonic magical artifacts and medicine pills, some spirit stones piled into several small heaps, roughly estimated to be over twenty thousand pieces; even the spiritual energy in the air had increased slightly. Together with the dozens of various magical artifacts on the ground, there were tens of thousands of spirit stones in total, proving the saying, ¡®A horse does not get fat without grazing at night, and a man does not get rich without windfall.¡¯ As Lu Li was taking stock of his gains, news of the outcome of the great battle at Bright Sun Island had already spread everywhere. Two of the Li Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment Cultivators fell on the island, causing some of the supporting Foundation Establishment Cultivators to lose their tempers and kill some nearby, unlucky Qi Refinement Realm cultivators to vent their anger. Meanwhile, the encounter between Lu Qingyang and Luo Kuiyu with a mysterious cultivator near the seas of Bright Sun Island was also buzzing with rumors. Many cultivators were very curious about the result of the two returning heavily wounded, speculating who could possess such strength to force two true inheritors of the Demon Sect to flee in embarrassment. Soon, the mysterious black-robed man became quite famous throughout the outer seas. People speculated whether he might be a secretly nurtured Foundation Establishment Seed of the Li Family, but the Li Family Cultivators provided no clarification, making many all the more intrigued. Blood Demon Sect, within a cave at the base of a mountain. Luo Kuiyu¡¯s face was contorted with extreme anger. During this time, news of him being instantly defeated by the mysterious man spread throughout the entire Demon Sect, causing his prestige to sharply decline. Some even said he was unworthy of his position as a true inheritor of the Demon Sect, fueling his resentment towards Lu Qingyang even more. After he had ruthlessly killed several cultivators who came to challenge him, he gradually stabilized his footing. As for Lu Qingyang of the Heavenly Demon Sect, he was actually pleased when he heard the news, having vigorously spread it himself; now finally, someone was sharing the burden, making him look less incapable. ¡­ White Mist Island, Chen Family. At this moment, Chen Mo and a middle-aged man were sitting cross-legged in the hall¡¯s open space. ¡°Clan Leader, this time at Bright Sun Island, our Chen Family suffered heavy losses. Only Luoluo and a few others managed to escape back¡­¡± Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 78: Astounding Harvest_2 Chapter 89: Chapter 78: Astounding Harvest_2 Chen Mo sighed deeply, his expression tinged with sorrow. The Chen Family Head¡¯s face also looked rather grim, ¡°Additionally, the losses suffered by the Lin and Wang families are not much different from ours.¡± ¡°Has there been any investigation into the Lu Family¡¯s situation?¡± Chen Mo paused for a moment, his face full of anger, ¡°The Lu Family must have had some damn good luck, all their core family members returned unscathed, only a few peripheral members were killed.¡± The Chen Family Head¡¯s expression turned cold, ¡°Recently, the Lu Family seems a bit unusual, ever since the mine vein battle, everything has been smooth sailing for them, we better keep a close watch on them.¡± Chen Mo nodded, and soon the air fell silent again. ¡­ After Lu Li finished sorting the Spiritual Objects, he flew out of the cave mansion towards the mountainside. It didn¡¯t take long before he arrived outside the Household Affairs Hall. There, he saw Lu Yuting lying lazily in a chair, her eyes half-closed. ¡°Li¡¯er, what brings you to Third Aunt today?¡± Lu Li smiled, walked into the hall, and took out all the Spiritual Objects and Magic Artifacts from his Storage Bag. ¡°Could you please exchange all these Magic Artifacts and spiritual materials for Spirit Stones?¡± Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°You really struck it rich this time, this must be worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones.¡± Lu Yuting laughed, picked up the Spiritual Objects from the table, and then said with a serious expression, ¡°Keep a low profile during this period, the matter of that mysterious man is being hotly discussed, and often there are Foundation Establishment Cultivators exploring nearby¡­¡± Lu Li solemnly nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± These matters couldn¡¯t be concealed from Third Aunt, and probably Lu Yuling and others had already guessed them. But these people certainly wouldn¡¯t disclose it. Seeing that Lu Li didn¡¯t become arrogant over this, she felt very reassured. After a moment, Lu Yuting spoke again, ¡°The Floating Realm is about to open again, do you have any plans?¡± Lu Li¡¯s expression was indifferent, ¡°This exploration, I¡¯ve decided to go to this ruined small world.¡± He didn¡¯t explain his reasons, knowing that with his strength, where Foundation Establishment Cultivators couldn¡¯t enter, the danger wasn¡¯t too great. If he missed this opportunity, it might not be accessible again for decades. Lu Yuting was stunned; she thought Lu Li was going to recommend a few people to go, but didn¡¯t expect that he would participate himself. After thinking about it, she didn¡¯t speak out to stop him. ¡°The opening is in two years. With you and the Green Spirit Python together, there aren¡¯t many threats to your safety, just be more cautious about some Forbidden Lands. It would be better if you can gather some Spiritual Medicine, but don¡¯t force it if you can¡¯t, your safety is paramount¡­¡± Lu Yuting emphasized repeatedly, her face full of concern. She now regarded Lu Li as the greatest hope for the rise of the Lu Family, naturally not wanting to see him take any risks. A warmth surged in Lu Li¡¯s heart, and he nodded heavily. ¡°I understand.¡± Afterward, the two conversed for a while longer, and he then took his leave. ¡­ Time slowly passed, and in the blink of an eye, two years had gone by. In the Spirit Turtle Cave Mansion, on an open ground. Lu Li was sitting on the ground with Iron Pillar, eating Spirit Fish and Spirit Rice, with a rich aroma wafting through the air. During these two years, he stayed within the Spirit Turtle Cave Mansion, living a very leisurely life. Every day besides planting Spirit Rice and feeding Spirit Fish, he was meditating and cultivating. His mind slowly sank into his body, feeling the ninety-nine drops of Essence Blood deep in his chest, an extremely strong aura emanated from deep within his flesh. Ever since his body reached perfection two months ago, he felt his Divine Sense strength increasing daily, this continuous strengthening enamored him deeply. Perhaps in a few years, his Divine Sense would be fully perfect, which made him slightly anticipate. After finishing the Spirit Rice, Lu Li got up and walked towards the edge of the spirit field, soon arriving on top of a field ridge. He saw that the spirit soil on the ground was a deep brown color, with strands of Spiritual Energy rising above it, which was quite astonishing. Nourished by a large number of Spirit Stones and an underwater Spirit Vein, this first-grade spirit field had been elevated to its limit. The output¡¯s top-grade Spirit Rice quality was also exceptionally fine, and the quantity was quite considerable. He estimated it had improved about two tiers compared to when he had just advanced. At that moment, a group of snow-white chickens ran over, and seeing Lu Li, they weren¡¯t scared but instead pecked at him furiously, as if seeking revenge for their kind. Lu Li smiled. These Snow Cloud Chickens certainly held grudges; since eating some of their companions, every time they saw him, they chased after him to peck, as if to avenge their kin. With a gentle kick, Lu Li shooed the group of Snow Cloud Chickens away and walked towards the Insect Room. A moment later, he arrived outside. He saw hundreds of thousands of tiny bugs flying in the air, some of them in the later stages of Qi Refinement, which was quite astonishing. After years of uninterrupted cultivation, this group of insects had become another one of his trump cards. He then issued a command. A group of skin beetles immediately sprang into action, forming several fist-sized spheres, flying towards Lu Li¡¯s sleeve and quickly vanishing inside. Just as he stored away the spiritual insects, an abnormal signal came from the Communication Jade Token inside his Storage Bag. Lu Li walked to the edge of the Cold Pond, put away the Iron Pillar, exited the Array, and then swam towards Mystic Moon Island. An hour later. Mystic Moon Island was clearly in sight. In the awe-filled gazes of a group of Cultivators, Lu Li soared on his Flying Sword towards Qingling Peak. Moments later, he arrived at the Household Affairs Hall situated midway up the mountain. ¡°Third Aunt, is it almost time to depart?¡± Lu Li asked with a smile. Judging by the days, it should be about time. He had been waiting for news these past few days and had returned to Mystic Moon Island immediately upon hearing any. Lu Yuting smiled, ¡°We¡¯ll depart in half a month. You should stay on Mystic Moon Island during this period.¡± Lu Li nodded, then left the Household Affairs Hall and headed for his cave dwelling. Inside the cave at the foot of the mountain, he took out the Immortal Treasure Fragments and once again awakened the remnant soul of the Spirit Monkey. A dark figure appeared in the void, emitting a faint glow. ¡°Kid, are you preparing to go to that broken small world? Can the old ancestor sense the precise location of the fragments?¡± Lu Li got straight to the point. The Spirit Monkey nodded, its expression somewhat joyous. ¡°Wait until the old ancestor¡¯s memory recovers more, some Divine Skills will also come to mind.¡± ¡°Wait until you cultivate the Innate Spirit Body, relying on Divine Skills to exert the greatest strength.¡± Lu Li smiled and nodded, ¡°This time, old ancestor shouldn¡¯t sleep, we¡¯re departing in half a month.¡± In the following days, he meditated and cultivated in his cave dwelling. ¡­ Inside a cave dwelling on White Mist Island, Chen Mo spoke with a serious face to Chen Wuluo, ¡°This plan of our family has been in preparation for decades, relying on that method, you¡¯re sufficient to dominate the Floating Realm. Remember to rush to¡­¡± Chen Wuluo confidently replied, ¡°Junior understands. This time will definitely lay the foundation for our Chen Family¡¯s rise.¡± After learning about some of the family¡¯s arrangements, his confidence soared. As long as he successfully acquired that ¡°item,¡± he would no longer fear the True Disciples of both the righteous and demonic paths. ¡­ Inside a grand hall at the Heavenly Demon Sect¡¯s station, ten True Disciples stood around the hall, radiating extremely powerful auras. These ten disciples were the strongest few selected from tens of thousands of those who had completed Qi Refinement, and Lu Qingyang was among them. An old man stood in front of the crowd. The old man¡¯s hair and beard were all white, dressed in a black robe, his body emitting the strong Spiritual Pressure of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. ¡°This time the Floating Realm opens, have you decided to go?¡± ¡°The sect has already received news, the Divine Skill left by the descendant of Venerable Tianxuan was lost in this realm¡­¡± The True Disciples exchanged glances, their hearts burning with eagerness. At this moment, Lu Qingyang respectfully spoke, ¡°Is it the Water Technique among the Five Elements Jutsu relied upon by Venerable Tianxuan to traverse the world?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± The old man faintly nodded. Hearing this, the disciples hurriedly spoke up, ¡°Junior wishes to go.¡± The old man¡¯s expression remained calm, ¡°Besides Heavenly Demon Prince Mu Chen, four more spots will be decided by drawing lots¡­¡± ¡°The sect cannot let all the Foundation Establishment Seeds of this generation enter.¡± ¡°Your competitors are not only the other three major Demon Sects but also the Four Great Sects of the righteous path, as well as some strong Loose Cultivators and Business Association members. This news has already spread among the high levels of the various sects.¡± Some disciples shivered upon hearing this, realizing that the True Disciples of other sects were also formidable. Among the crowd, a man in white continuously smiled proudly; he was Heavenly Demon Prince Mu Chen, fearing no one! It wasn¡¯t long before the participants were confirmed. Lu Qingyang was fortunate to be part of the departing team. Similar to the Heavenly Demon Sect, other major righteous and demonic sects also mobilized their True Disciples, causing the entire outer sea to burst into commotion. On Bright Sun Island, inside a cave dwelling. Zhuang Guxue nodded firmly, ¡°Aunt Mei, I must go on this trip to the Floating Realm!¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Only a faint sigh echoed in the air, quickly restoring calm. Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 79 Floating Realm Chapter 90: Chapter 79 Floating Realm Yin Yang Demon Sect. As one of the Four Great Demon Sects of the entire Dragondrop Outer Sea, the sect was filled with powerful cultivators, with several Golden Core Venerables among them. As for Nascent Soul Monarchs, there were none in the entire outer sea; only within the Inner Sea could such peerless strong individuals be found. At this time, within a cave dwelling at the foot of the sect¡¯s mountain. Xiao Meier sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, her brow furrowed tight, waves of Spiritual Energy rising from above her head. Yet her complexion was somewhat pale as if she was in great pain. ¡°Alas¡­¡± She slowly opened her eyes and sighed helplessly. Over these past few years, even though she had been suppressing the Demon Seed within her body with all her might, she still couldn¡¯t prevent it from slowly growing stronger. It could only be temporarily suppressed by a Secret Technique, but the underlying threat could not be fundamentally resolved. ¡°It looks like the person who can resolve this is the same person who caused it. I have to attempt to make contact with him.¡± Over the years, she had been gathering information about this man, having heard of the deeds of Lu Qingyang and Luo Kuiyu, which made her highly suspect that they were the same person. However, the man¡¯s strength had increased too rapidly, and within a short time, he had completely overpowered Lu Qingyang, shocking her enormously. With her own strength still inferior to Lu Qingyang¡¯s, let alone confronting the mysterious man who had injured them both. Go to ????????????????????.co Thus, she had refrained from making contact with him until now when she could no longer suppress it. ¡°It seems that the journey to the Floating Realm is inevitable now. I presume he will be there too¡­¡± ¡­¡­ In a blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed. Early in the morning, as the sun began to rise. Inside the secret chamber of the cave dwelling, Lu Li slowly opened his eyes. His Divine Sense passed through his Storage Bag and communicated to Kong Shan, the ancestor, ¡°Ancestor, is there a way to suppress this youngster¡¯s aura?¡± The issue was that the foundation of this body was too astonishing. Standing among a crowd was like a torch, very eye-catching. There were bound to be Foundation Establishment Cultivators present this time, and it would be quite troublesome if he were to be carelessly detected. After hearing this, the Spirit Monkey thought carefully. A moment later, it drifted out of the Storage Bag. ¡°Ancestor here will take action, using a secret technique to suppress the Qi within your body. Unless a Golden Core cultivator personally investigates, it will be very difficult to detect any abnormalities¡­¡± Having said that, it quickly began moving its hands, with strands of magical incantations appearing in the void and then quickly merging into Lu Li¡¯s surroundings. Only after a quarter of an hour did it finally stop. At this moment, the aura around Lu Li dimmed considerably, turning into an utterly unremarkable appearance, all radiance internally retracted. Lu Li, feeling the aura he emitted, was very satisfied. ¡°This secret technique can only be maintained for a few years, but that should be sufficient.¡± The Spirit Monkey tilted its head, smiled, and then slowly retreated back into the Storage Bag. ¡°Youngster thanks the ancestor.¡± After thanking him, Lu Li got up and walked out of the cave. Once out of the cave, he flew towards the mountainside. In no time at all, he arrived at a huge square. At this moment, several figures were already standing in the middle of the field, Lu Yuting was among them. In addition, there were three middle-aged Guest Elders, all around the tenth to eleventh level of Qi Refinement, evidently the people going to the Floating Realm this time. None of the Lu Family¡¯s core disciples had chosen to go, as it was extremely dangerous inside the Floating Realm due to their insufficient strength. These three must be quite old and seeking a chance to reach Foundation Establishment. Seeing Lu Li arrive, the three of them smiled warmly. Over the years, they had noticed Lu Li¡¯s rapid advancement, and he was a strong competitor for the next Clan Leader, far beyond their influence and not someone they could afford to offend, especially since his cultivation had already surpassed theirs. ¡°Little Li, we¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡± Lu Yuting smiled. ¡°This time, only the four of you from the family are going, be extremely careful once inside.¡± After speaking, she took out several Jade Scrolls and handed them over. ¡°These are some intelligence reports gathered by our clan over the years.¡± ¡°Thank you, Elder Lu.¡± The three Guest Elders accepted the Jade Scrolls respectfully. Lu Li thanked her with a smile, walked forward, took the Jade Scrolls, and placed them into his Storage Bag. Then, Lu Yuting took out a palm-sized Flying Boat and threw it upwards. The Flying Boat spread against the wind and quickly grew into a small Flying Boat over ten zhang long. It was the very Flying Boat Magic Artifact that Lu Li had ridden before. Lu Yuting took the lead and flew towards the bow of the boat, soon sitting cross-legged at the bow, and then inserted a Spirit Stone into the control slot. The remaining four went one after another, finding rooms and taking their seats aboard the Flying Boat. Lu Li found a window seat, looking at the distant blue sea and sky, a large flock of seabirds circling and chirping overhead, feeling quite content. Before long, he felt a slight vibration through his body as the scenery before him quickly receded. The Flying Boat directly entered above the clouds and swiftly headed in a northeast direction. ¡­ Several hours later, the Flying Boat stopped in a strange sea region. Lu Yuting led the way flying out, ¡°Just over ten miles ahead is our destination, Lien Kong Island. Let¡¯s all head down.¡± Upon hearing this, the group flew out and soon landed on the sea surface below. Lu Yuting then put away the Flying Boat and led everyone forward in flight. Before long, they stopped in front of a medium-sized island. Lu Li looked up to find the island quite vast, with lush vegetation and various birds flying and chirping in the woods, a scene brimming with vitality. Yet the island lacked Spirit Veins, simply a regular island. If not for the existence of a spatial node, it would probably serve just as an island for ordinary humans to procreate. Lu Li followed behind the rest towards the island, and soon they stopped at the edge of the island. At this moment, Lu Yuting took out a Communication Jade Token and shot it towards the Array ahead. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 79 Floating Realm_2 Chapter 91: Chapter 79 Floating Realm_2 Before long, a tall middle-aged man came out. ¡°Which family¡¯s cultivators are you?¡± The middle-aged man spoke in a very calm tone. Lu Yuting very politely took out an identity jade token. ¡°We are cultivators from the Lu Family. Our slots to proceed to the Floating Realm have been confirmed.¡± The man took the jade talisman, checked it, and indeed it was issued by their family. He nodded. ¡°There are only a few days left until the opening date. No fighting with others on the island¡­¡± ¡°We will certainly abide by the island¡¯s rules.¡± Lu Yuting responded with a warm smile, looking utterly sincere. Subsequently, the middle-aged man turned and cast several magic spells, sending beams of spiritual light into the array, quickly revealing a pathway. The middle-aged man led the way inside. Lu Li and the others followed him, stepping into the pathway, heading towards the island. The ground was paved with giant blue stones, very smooth. Dense trees filled both sides, the noon sunlight densely packed, extremely secluded. Before long, the group passed through the pathway and arrived at the periphery of the island. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°You may choose any residence ahead. Gather at the center of the island after a few days¡­¡± After speaking, he turned and walked towards the edge of the array, waiting for the next wave of cultivators. Lu Li looked up and saw rows of two-story cottages made of giant blue logs neatly arranged not far ahead, their style very exquisite. ¡°Choose a place for yourselves. We¡¯ll gather here on the opening day.¡± Lu Yuting said to everyone with a smile. The group nodded and then walked towards the cottages in front. Lu Li chose a house on the left near the edge. After entering, the interior was quite spacious, and a faint smell of wood filled the air. He set up a barrier and then began to meditate. The spatial node on this island was under the jurisdiction of the Flowers Sect, usually manned by several subordinate families of the Purple Mansion and the Flowers Sect. On the opening day, the Flowers Sect would send people to unlock the central restriction of the island, allowing everyone to enter the Floating Realm. Such spatial nodes under the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Ten Thousand Treasures Commerce Alliance each had one as well; all cultivators from the righteous and demon paths and loose cultivators would be transported in together, leading to fierce competitions. Days passed in the blink of an eye. Lu Li walked out of the house and headed for the agreed spot with a few others. Soon, everyone gathered and made their way towards the center of the island. At this time, many cultivators¡¯ figures had appeared on the island, a dense crowd numbering thousands. Most were cultivators in the late or complete stages of Qi Refinement; even cultivators from several families near Mystic Moon Island were included. An old acquaintance, Chen Wuluo, also gathered in the group. Upon seeing the people of the Lu Family, a hint of cold light flashed across his face. Cultivators from the Lin and Wang families were also among the group. A vast crowd of cultivators marched towards the island¡¯s center. Lu Li and his companions blended unnoticed in the crowd. Before long, the group reached the center of the island. A huge square appeared in the central clearing, its ground paved with jade stones, radiating a pristine luster. In the center of the square was a platform surrounded by eight giant jade pillars, each inscribed with mysterious runes. This structure was clearly the transmission array to the Floating Realm, protected by an array on the outside. A crowd quietly gathered around the square. Half an hour later, a red Flying Boat directly flew towards the island from the sky. Moments later, it stopped above everyone¡¯s heads. At this time, a group of beautiful women flew out, led by four middle-aged beauties, their bodies radiating strong spiritual pressure, evidently Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Flowers Sect. Circling these four middle-aged beauties were seven young women, all at the pinnacle of Qi Refinement, all sect¡¯s Foundation Establishment Seeds, quite extraordinary. Among them, the most eye-catching was a woman in a red dress. The woman had a lovely face and a very slim figure, her presence the most robust, indeed this generation¡¯s Saintess of the Flowers Sect, Wang Shengxue. As soon as these individuals appeared, they attracted countless gazes from those present. Everyone looked at Wang Shengxue with fervent eyes. At that moment, the four Foundation Establishment cultivators led a few people to descend slowly onto the clearing and quietly waited. Moments later, another medium-sized Flying Boat arrived. Similarly, a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator descended, accompanied by four young men. ¡°The cultivators of the Flowers Sect have arrived quite early.¡± The middle-aged man smiled and greeted the beauties below. ¡°As the hosts, we are indeed closer.¡± The leader, a beautiful woman clad in purple palace attire, smiled. Both sides exchanged a few pleasantries, and then the middle-aged man and a few young disciples waited on an empty piece of land. The leader among them, a young man with a gentle face and a slender figure, had an arrogant expression and his spiritual pressure was even slightly stronger than that of the Flowers Sect¡¯s Saintess. This man was the famous Jiang Taixu from the Qingxu Sect, the top Foundation Establishment Seed of this generation. Another half an hour passed. Two more Flying Boats arrived. The last two groups to disembark were the cultivators from Fiery Sun Valley and Heavenly Sword Sect. Both groups were led by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with several disciples. The leading disciple from Fiery Sun Valley was a tall young man named Ma Guangping, whose cultivation was very impressive, although slightly lesser than that of the Flowers Sect¡¯s Saintess. The leading disciple from Heavenly Sword Sect was a young man named Gao Yanhua, who had an ethereal demeanor and carried a Flying Sword on his back, his aura extremely fierce. Both of them were among the top individuals who had completed their Qi Refinement in their respective sects, and they were quite famous. The Qi Refining cultivators watching various true disciples around them all tightened up inside. Lu Li watched the arrivals with some confusion in his heart, wondering if there was something hidden behind all these true disciples entering together. Although he was not afraid of the so-called Saintess or Foundation Establishment Seeds, with his physical foundation and techniques, defeating Jiang Taixu would not be a difficult task. Seeing that all four major orthodox sects had arrived, the beautiful woman in purple palace attire slowly stepped forward. ¡°This opening of the Floating Realm, all cultivators will enter with their Identity Jade Tokens, and they can only return after one year¡­¡± Having said that, the four beautiful women moved forward, their hands swiftly casting numerous Magic Spells toward the stage, and momentarily, the Array Light Screen enveloping the high platform disappeared. ¡°Everyone, proceed to enter the high platform in order.¡± The Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Qingxu Sect shouted loudly. Hearing this, everyone walked up to the four women of the Flowers Sect in turn, handing over their Jade Tokens, before then flying up to the high platform. Soon, the entire platform was filled with the figures of hundreds of cultivators. Lu Li and his party, seeing the large number of people, decided to wait for the next entry. As the platform was full, the four beautiful women once again manipulated their Magic Spells. Streams of spiritual light shot toward the surrounding Jade Pillars, and in an instant, with a flash of light, all the people on the platform disappeared without a trace. Soon, the next batch of cultivators began to enter, and after more than ten iterations, it was finally the last group¡¯s turn. The Lu Family members were among them. ¡°Li, be careful and act cautiously.¡± Seeing Lu Li was about to set off, Lu Yuting repeatedly urged from the side. ¡°I understand.¡± Lu Li nodded firmly, then flew up to the platform with several Guest Elders. As soon as they had positioned themselves, the Transmission Array lit up with spiritual lights, and after a whirl of heaven and earth, they disappeared from the open ground. Just as the members of the Lu Family had left, Chen Mo from the Chen Family suddenly approached and gave Lu Yuting a faint smile. ¡°How about our two families agree on a friendly wager during this journey to the Floating Realm?¡± Lu Yuting smirked inwardly, though her expression did not change: ¡°Oh? What are you thinking?¡± Chen Mo maintained his composure, ¡°Let¡¯s see which family¡¯s members gather more valuable Spiritual Medicine. The loser will give the winner 20 percent of their collected Spiritual Objects and two superior Magic Artifacts. How does that sound? Our fellow cultivators here can bear witness.¡± Seeing that there seemed to be some issue between the two, other cultivators from the Lin and Wang families also approached. Lu Yuting responded indifferently, ¡°I agree.¡± However, inside, she was very puzzled about what this old fox Chen was relying on. But recalling her nephew¡¯s strength, she felt somewhat reassured. Seeing Lu Yuting agree, Chen Mo¡¯s face was filled with a smile, appearing extremely confident. ¡­ Thousands of miles away on a desolate island. A group of cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect stood in the center. Beside them stood cultivators from three other Great Demon Sects. They were from the Blood Demon Sect, the Yin Yang Demon Sect, and the Corpse Refining Sect, one of the other four Great Demon Sects in the outer sea. The four leading disciples all emitted a strange aura, their spiritual pressure extremely powerful. Even Lu Qingyang and Luo Kuiyu seemed insignificant in front of these individuals. Xiao Meier nearby was even more apprehensive. ¡°Now that everyone is here, let¡¯s enter.¡± A middle-aged Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Heavenly Demon Sect spoke indifferently. The other Foundation Establishment Cultivators nodded. Then, a group of Demon Cultivators began entering the high platform. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 80: Meeting Zhuang Guxue Again Chapter 92: Chapter 80: Meeting Zhuang Guxue Again Lu Li only felt a blur before his eyes, and his entire body seemed to be spinning at high speed, making him somewhat dizzy. But in an instant, he recovered. He turned his head to survey his surroundings and found himself at the edge of a forest. The trees behind him were extremely sturdy, too thick for two people to encircle with their arms. Countless ancient trees converged into a vast jungle, the lush foliage densely woven together, as if it could blot out the sun and sky. Even the Spiritual Energy in the air was extremely abundant, enough to rival a second-order Spirit Vein. Lu Li flew up high into the sky, carefully recalling the map given by Third Aunt, and confirmed his own position to be at the southeastern outskirts of the Floating Realm. His Divine Sense scanned the surroundings and found nothing unusual, and for the time being, there were no other Cultivators present. He then went into the depths of the jungle and took out his Aminokaze sword, starting to dig into the dirt on the ground. It didn¡¯t take long for him to uncover a pit more than ten meters deep. Lu Li descended to the bottom of the pit, buried himself entirely with the surrounding soil, and even covered the top with a layer of green grass using his Divine Sense. Afterward, he immediately circulated his Hidden Spirit Technique, completely suppressing his aura. Even if other Cultivators used their Divine Sense, they would find it very hard to detect his tracks, and the area quickly became peaceful. Despite his caution, at the initial entry into this realm, the number of Cultivators was at its peak. If he were to be besieged by hundreds of Cultivators, even he would likely have to flee. With a full year to stay in the Floating Realm, there was no rush for the moment. Go to ????????????????????.co Hiding for a month, after several rounds of chaotic battles, surely the number of Cultivators would decrease significantly. It would not be too late to venture out then. Just as he had buried himself not long ago, a commotion suddenly came from above. ¡°Don¡¯t let him escape, this person is a core disciple of a family clan, and he is rather wealthy¡­¡± A vigorous shout echoed through the sky. More than seventy Cultivators, all at the peak of Qi Refinement, were chasing after a man in white ahead of them. All had long suffered oppression from various family clans and Sects in the outside world, and now they were eager to eliminate this person immediately and divide his Spiritual Objects. The man in white had an icy expression, unable to believe that he had encountered a large group of Cultivators closing in on him upon arrival in this realm, proving his luck to be at its worst. Here, all status and identities were useless. Only strength could determine everything. Lu Li quietly hid in the deep pit, sensing the intense Mana fluctuations above him but always remaining silent. At this moment, no one in the crowd detected his presence. Soon, the group chased and fled toward the southeast. Lu Li slowly exhaled a breath, feeling somewhat relieved at his own cleverness, as a large group of Cultivators at the peak of Qi Refinement stage would have even made him feel anxious. Time slowly passed, and in a blink of an eye, a month had gone by. In a dense jungle, on a clearing, the soft dirt suddenly swelled, and a man with a gentle and cold face leaped out. It was Lu Li, who had changed his appearance. During this month, he had been hiding in the pit all along, and his presence went undetected even after several large-scale chases and battles overhead. Not until recently did the number of encounters start to decline, aligning well with his predictions. He flew up to a treetop to check his surroundings. Seeing that there was no one around, he twisted in the air and flew off towards the northwest. He cautiously flew in the high sky, his Divine Sense constantly scanning for anomalies around him, while the wind whipped his robes, making a rustling noise. This place was at the outermost perimeter of the southeastern area of the Floating Realm. The entire broken small world was divided into outer, middle, and inner layers. Anyone who was just teleported in would find themselves at the outermost region. There are eight small Transmission Arrays in the outer layer leading to deeper parts, which open after set intervals. Lu Li¡¯s destination was the core area of the southeast, the Moon Dragon Pond, which was thousands of miles away from his current location. Lu Li was not in a hurry and moved slowly through the low sky. Some solitary Cultivators who saw his tunneling light would stay far away, and no one foolish enough to provoke him appeared. It was only after he had traveled several hundred miles that he noticed something unusual. Below was a vast swamp, lush with aquatic plants and abundant in bird life. At the edge of the swamp, a fiery red Spirit Grass was growing on the ground, emitting faint Spiritual Energy fluctuations. It was one of the twenty-seven types of auxiliary medicine used in the concoction of Foundation Establishment pills and appeared to be hundreds of years old. Not far from the Spirit Grass, a six to seven zhang long black crocodile Demon Beast was lying on the swamp, exuding a fierce demeanor. The beast was a Black Armored Crocodile, with cultivation around the peak of Qi Refinement stage, covered in black armor with exceptionally strong defense. Lu Li descended from the sky and cautiously approached the swamp. At the same time, his gaze coldly shifted towards a small hill about a hundred meters away to the right. Seeing the intrusion into its territory, the Black Armored Crocodile¡¯s Demon Energy surged, and its blood-red eyes locked onto Lu Li ahead. At this moment, an unexpected change happened. A dark figure burst out from the hillside, and a Flying Sword in his hand shot out instantly, slashing towards Lu Li. Zhao Heng had been ambushing in this place, relying on the Demon Beast in front to attract the attention of Cultivators, and he had ambushed several groups of Cultivators already, garnering a bountiful harvest. Seeing another unlucky victim approaching, his heart was filled with joy. ¡°This is much more convenient than painstakingly gathering herbs. If I rob a few more fools, I can afford a Foundation Establishment pill,¡± he thought gleefully. ¡°Seeking death! To dare lay an ambush for me!¡± Lu Li¡¯s face was icy. His Divine Sense was incredibly strong, and he had long detected the person¡¯s trace. Instantly, the Aminokaze sword was conjured, as fast as lightning it clashed with the black Flying Sword ahead. He struck after it was launched! ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡± Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 80: Meeting Zhuang Guxue Again_2 Chapter 93: Chapter 80: Meeting Zhuang Guxue Again_2 In an instant, two Magic Artifacts violently collided, a tremendous sound reverberated in all directions, and overflowing Mana whipped up fierce winds, causing the grass and trees nearby to topple chaotically. ¡°What! You are a True Disciple of the Sect!¡± The moment they made contact, Zhao Heng saw his own Flying Sword being knocked dozens of meters backward, while a massive surge of Mana rebounded through his body, making his chest turn sweet with pain. With his Qi Refinement completion strength, he couldn¡¯t withstand even a single move! His face filled with shock, he stared at Lu Li in front of him, filled with regret. ¡°Fellow Daoist, this is all a misunderstanding!¡± Lu Li paid no heed, let out a cold laugh, and his Flying Sword turned once more, streaking towards the young man like lightning. In his panic, Zhao Heng hurriedly sacrificed a Defense Shield in front of him, but it was in vain. The Flying Sword instantly struck the shield artifact, dispersing it, and then mercilessly pierced through his chest, leaving a massive, bloodily indistinct hole. Zhao Heng looked at the wound in his chest, and as his consciousness slowly sunk into darkness, the regret in his heart drowned him. One often walks by the river, how can one not have wet shoes? This time he had indeed run into tough resistance. Lu Li picked up the Storage Bags from the ground, there were seven or eight of them, which made him quite satisfied. It seemed the other¡¯s spoils were quite rich! Too bad they all became his dowry. Go to ????????????????????.co At this moment, Lu Li¡¯s Flying Sword turned again and the secret technique integrating sword light was instantly triggered. A pale, fierce beam of Sword Qi flitted through the void, several inches long, its aura extremely alarming. ¡°Kill!¡± The Aminokaze Sword, as quick as lightning, slashed towards the Black Armored Crocodile. The Black Armored Crocodile, seeing the Flying Sword coming towards it, was suddenly overwhelmed by a sensation of death. A trace of fear emerged in its eyes, and then it opened its gaping maw, sending out a water-blue Sword Qi, like thunder, charging towards the oncoming Flying Sword. A fierce presence manifested in the void; this blue Sword Qi was the essence of its over a hundred years of cultivation, prepared for its future Demon Core condensation, but at this life-or-death moment, it couldn¡¯t care about that anymore. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± A loud collision echoed; ferocious Mana splashed rampant, and the water-blue Sword Qi was instantly cleaved, turning into a clump of blue transparent liquid, scattering all around. Then, the momentum of the Aminokaze Sword Qi continued unabated, fiercely slashing towards the top of the adversary¡¯s head. ¡°Aah¡­¡± The Flying Sword instantly pierced through the Black Armored Crocodile¡¯s skull, leaving a bloody gaping hole, from which copious amounts of blood spurted out, staining the surrounding weeds a deep crimson. Before long, the Black Armored Crocodile closed its eyes in unwillingness. After slaying the Demon Beast with a single blow, Lu Li placed its body into the Demons Refining Pot and then headed towards the Spirit Grass in front. He soon arrived there. A Spirit Grass with nine leaves stood before him, about a few inches high, emitting a lustrous glow. Being one of the two most important auxiliary medicines, Fire Spirit Grass was also quite precious in price. Otherwise, the man who had fallen would not have used it as bait. Lu Li carefully dug up the Spirit Grass along with the surrounding soil and placed it into a Jade Box, then stored it in his Storage Bag. Having done all this, he stood up and continued flying forward. ¡­ Three days later, in a dense jungle. Lu Li placed another auxiliary medicine into his Storage Bag, with a Fox Demon¡¯s corpse lying beside him, its head already a bloody mess. Over the past few days, he had been rushing to Moon Dragon Pond, collecting some Spirit Grass along the way. He had also encountered some cultivators who had tried to assassinate him, and the consequence was that a few more Storage Bags hung from his waist. Now, with more than ten Storage Bags hanging on him, it was quite eye-catching. This caused some cultivators to walk around him when they saw this situation, which gave him some peace. Just as he was about to leave after collecting the Demon Beast¡¯s body, surges of Spiritual Energy suddenly came from ahead. He looked up and saw four tunneling lights fast approaching the jungle in front of him, one leading while three followed. Lu Li didn¡¯t want to meddle, about to turn and escape when he suddenly caught a glimpse of the fleeing woman ahead who seemed somewhat familiar. Upon closer inspection, he saw a woman in white with exceptionally beautiful features flying frantically towards him. This person was none other than the Array Master Zhuang Guxue, whom he had met several times in the market; over the years, her cultivation had also reached Qi Refinement completion. Like the three middle-aged men who were doggedly pursuing her from behind, they all smirked sinisterly at Zhuang Guxue ahead, as if harboring some ill intentions. Filled with growing anxiety over the rapidly approaching tunneling light behind her, Zhuang Guxue¡¯s heart raced. She had just killed a Demon Beast and collected the Spirit Grass, and her Mana had not yet recovered when she ran into the three men. Otherwise, relying on the advantages of her Arrays, she would not have been in such a dire situation. ¡°Falling into their hands, even a peaceful death would be a luxury!¡± Just as despair filled her heart and she prepared to fight to the death, she suddenly noticed a man standing at the edge of the forest ahead. The person gave her an extremely familiar feeling, and after recalling for a moment, she confirmed his identity. Zhuang Guxue, as if grasping at a lifeline, disregarded the lack of their acquaintance and started shouting for help, ¡°Mr. Guo, save me¡­¡± While calling out, she flew and stopped not far from Lu Li. The three men chasing her also stopped not too far behind them. ¡°Kid, leave your Storage Bag and scram immediately. You¡¯re green behind the ears, yet you fancy playing the hero to save the damsel in distress. Aren¡¯t you afraid you¡¯ll break your teeth¡­¡± The middle-aged man leading them looked at Lu Li with disdain. The remaining two men also looked on with scorn, their eyes leering at Zhuang Guxue in front of them. This woman was truly a rare Top Grade! Zhuang Guxue¡¯s expression was somewhat anxious. Her mana had already been greatly depleted, and she was unsure if they could fend off these men with their combined strength. If they couldn¡¯t hold out, even at the cost of her life, she could not drag him down¡­ Just as she was fraught with anxiety, a sudden change occurred on the field. Lu Li sneered, directly calling forth the Aminokaze. Under the operation of a secret technique, a massive Sword Qi appeared out of thin air, as swift as thunder, its murderous intent aimed at the middle man, racing towards him. In an instant, the Qi reached the three assailants. ¡°Not good! This man is a True Disciple of a Major Sect!¡± The attackers sensed the vast aura emanating from the Flying Sword and looked at Lu Li in shock. They quickly summoned their Defensive Magical Artifacts to protect themselves. ¡°Bang¡­¡± The Flying Sword smashed through the middle man¡¯s Defense Shield and continued its relentless attack. ¡°Ah¡­¡± A cry of agony rang out as the Flying Sword penetrated the man¡¯s chest in an instant, leaving behind a corpse that fell backward, a hint of regret in his dying gaze. The remaining two men hadn¡¯t even reacted yet when one of their peers had already fallen. They looked at Lu Li in terror, about to flee. But then they saw the Flying Sword shudder violently, and a massive Sword Array appeared in the void, encircling both men at the center. Lu Li gently stirred his mana, and countless Sword Qi surged forward, slashing at the two men. The men looked utterly despairing as they raised their Defensive Magical Artifacts above their heads. ¡°Zzzt¡­¡± Countless strikes of Sword Qi sheared against the Defensive Magical Artifacts, emitting a piercing screech. In just a few breaths, the radiance of the two artifacts began to dim, flickering erratically. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Moments later, as their artifacts fell to the ground, two screams followed, and only scattered fragments remained on the ground, the area around them descending into disarray. All of this happened in the blink of an eye! Zhuang Guxue had just managed to summon her Magic Artifact to fight with all her might, but before she could make a move, the battle was already over! She watched the man beside her in shock, unable to believe that this ¡°old acquaintance¡± possessed such strength¡ªlikely not even True Disciples from the various sects could compare. ¡°Mr. Zhuang, I trust you are unharmed.¡± Lu Li picked up the Storage Bags from the ground and spoke to Zhuang Guxue with a smile on his face. Zhuang Guxue was somewhat embarrassed; she had been a bit selfish in the past, and now, owing her life to him, she didn¡¯t know how she could ever repay him. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Guo, for saving my life. I misunderstood you years ago.¡± She said as she directly took out a huge Array Plate from her Storage Bag. The large Array Plate was surrounded by eighteen smaller ones, and countless mysterious Runes were engraved around its edges, emitting a faint treasure light. ¡°My ancestors were a family of Array Masters, and this second-order top-notch Array was left by them. As thanks for saving my life, I present it to you today¡­¡± She gently stroked the Array Plate, her face filled with reminiscence. ¡°This¡­ is too valuable.¡± Lu Li hesitated to accept it, as a second-order top-notch Array was extremely rare and probably worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. At the same time, he was also puzzled. ¡°Being an Array Master, you wouldn¡¯t lack Spirit Stones, so why come to this realm?¡± Zhuang Guxue looked puzzled, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a True Disciple of a Sect? Don¡¯t you know?¡± Hearing this, Lu Li grew more puzzled and did not explain his identity. Seeing that Lu Li did not seem to be pretending, Zhuang Guxue appeared baffled. ¡°Rumors speak of a Divine Skill left in this realm, the ¡®Spirit Water Profound Light Escape¡¯, a well-known part of the Five Elements Jutsu that once mastered, allows one to traverse the world with ease.¡± Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 81: Killing Chen Wuluo Chapter 94: Chapter 81: Killing Chen Wuluo Lu Li¡¯s heart jolted upon hearing this, as he hadn¡¯t expected such secrecy. Ordinary escape skills were extremely precious, not to mention the renowned Five Elements Jutsu. As for why the major sects hadn¡¯t sent disciples to search in these years, it was probably because this broken small world was exceptionally unique. The Floating Realm would only stabilize slightly at several spatial nodes every few decades, and this opening just happened to coincide with such a period. ¡°It seems that the last time the Floating Realm was open, some unknown events transpired.¡± As Lu Li was lost in his multitude of thoughts, Zhuang Guxue suddenly passed over the Array Plate with a smiling face. ¡°Mr. Zhuang, please accept this. I am about to break through to the second level of Array Master, so I won¡¯t lack for Arrays to use in the future.¡± Seeing this, Lu Li could only accept the Array Plate, then he took out two exquisitely crafted small porcelain bottles from his Storage Bag. ¡°These spirit milk were acquired by chance; I present them to you, Mr. Zhuang, as they may increase your odds of victory in fights here.¡± Zhuang Guxue took the porcelain bottles with some confusion, opened one, and a rich, fragrant scent rushed to her nose, invigorating her spirit and even restoring some of her mana. ¡°Is this¡­ Earth Origin Spiritual Nectar?¡± She looked at Lu Li in shock, as such a thing was extremely rare, needless to say in such a chaotic place, its presence greatly increased the probability of survival. ¡°Thank you for the spirit milk, Mr. Zhuang.¡± Go to ????????????????????.co Zhuang Guxue bowed gracefully, her voluptuous body perfectly outlined, causing Lu Li to take a few more glances. ¡°Mr. Zhuang, please be careful. This Divine Skill isn¡¯t so easy to compete for.¡± Lu Li consoled somewhat. Hearing this, Zhuang Guxue¡¯s expression darkened; she knew he spoke the truth¡ªher strength was hardly enough to compete with those True Disciples. She would have to wait for the right opportunity. Afterward, the two exchanged a few words, shared maps of the area with each other, and then parted ways. Lu Li watched her fading figure as she left, then turned and flew forward. He glided slowly over the treetops, vigilant of his surroundings, the wind billowing his robes, creating a rustling noise. He directed a part of his Divine Sense to study the map given by Zhuang Guxue, finding several unfamiliar locations that complemented his own knowledge. On the necessary route to Moon Dragon Pond, there was a strange valley where one could collect some auxiliary Spiritual Medicine, and occasionally cultivators would find the main herb, Purple Sun Ginseng. This place wasn¡¯t far off the main path, only a few hundred li, so it was worth it to try his luck. Having made up his mind, Lu Li continued to fly forward. ¡­ Time slowly passed, and several days later. Lu Li stopped atop a tree canopy, checked the map, and then flew a short distance to the side. Only a few hundred li away was the valley in question. During these days, all had been calm, and some cultivators who saw the full Storage Bag at his waist avoided him with a look of fear. He flew cautiously. Several hours later. Lu Li landed steadily on top of a large canopy. Looking up, he saw that the entire valley was surrounded by mountains, its area about tens of li, with ancient trees growing everywhere, their canopy so dense it seemed rather gloomy. He could occasionally see figures of cultivators on the ground, searching meticulously for Spiritual Medicine. His Divine Sense swept across the area but met with great resistance¡ªclearly, Forbidden Techniques were in place here. Lu Li flew down from the tree canopy and headed towards the valley in front. Before long, he reached a small path in the woods, found a safe route on the map, and then slowly stepped into the valley. The moment he entered, he felt a chill over his body, a cold air assaulting him from all directions. The air was filled with a foul stench, and the cries of strange birds abounded, somewhat eerie. ¡°This is an uncommonly yin place.¡± Lu Li felt the faint yin energy in the air, puzzled. He continued searching along the path, deliberately avoiding the other cultivators, heading toward the northwest corner of the valley. ¡­¡­ While Lu Li was exploring ahead, in a secluded cave in the northwest of the valley. The cave was small, only about several zhang in diameter, damp all around and with a hint of foul stench. In the middle of the cave was a black coffin, carved with blood-colored runes, exuding an extremely evil aura. Chen Wuluo stood in front of the coffin, his face full of joy. ¡°After countless hardships, I¡¯ve finally found it. Lu Family¡¯s boy, I¡¯d like to see how you¡¯ll die this time!¡± He took out the Blood Jade Plate he¡¯d already refined, and as he cast several Magic Spells on it, strands of blood light began to swirl around it, then appeared midair, emitting a strong red glow. ¡°Boom¡­¡± At that moment, the lid of the coffin was suddenly flung open, and a withered yellow arm shot out instantaneously. Then, an evil figure leaped out of the coffin, landing firmly on the ground and sending out rumbling noises. The creature was a zombie, and not just any, but one that was about to successfully transform into a Copper Armor Corpse. The zombie was clad in ancient yellow armor, with the lower half of its body completely bronze in color, its eyes a sinister red, and its massive fangs incredibly alarming. Upon its entrance, it emitted a wave of grievous Yin aura around it. ¡°Haha¡­ Heaven is truly helping me!¡± Chen Wuluo was ecstatic upon seeing the Half-copper armored corpse. One should know that a Copper Armor Corpse was equivalent to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, tough and difficult to deal with, given its hardy flesh. Although this zombie hadn¡¯t fully transformed, it was still extraordinary, capable of contending even with top True Disciples from Major Sects. This method was something his family prepared for decades, using the body of a Qi Refinement cultivator who had reached the peak of the Metal attribute, alongside this breeding ground for the corpse, to achieve success. The restrictions had already been carved into its body, and the Blood Jade Talisman in his hand could control it perfectly. Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 81: Killing Chen Wuluo_2 Chapter 95: Chapter 81: Killing Chen Wuluo_2 Chen Wuluo once again cast several magic spells towards the jade talisman, and his divine sense penetrated it, only to see the zombie quickly leaping towards the cave entrance, vanishing from the clearing in the blink of an eye. He sighed in relief that the usual methods still held control, then he walked towards the cave entrance. ¡­ Lu Li explored slowly towards the northwest, surrounded by lush ancient trees, his footsteps creaking on fallen leaves, and the air carried a trace of a strange atmosphere. He had encountered several cultivators along the way, all of whom tactfully avoided him. At that moment, Lu Li suddenly sensed an anomaly not far ahead. A withered yellow figure burst out from the depths of the dense forest like lightning and reached him in an instant, assaulting him with a powerful aura of Zombie Sha. Lu Li¡¯s flying sword in his hand activated instantly, and a pale blade of light manifested in the void, swiftly slashing towards the figure ahead. ¡°Bang¡­¡± A loud noise resounded through the depths of the jungle, and the creature was forcibly pushed back more than ten meters, coming to a steady stop. ¡°Eh?¡± Lu Li, feeling the rebounding force from the sword, was very surprised, this was a sensation he hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time. Since his divine skills began to manifest, he rarely met any being that could withstand him alone. Go to ????????????????????.co Their confrontation had happened in the blink of an eye. Now, he had the chance to get a clear look at his opponent. At this glance, he was utterly startled. It was a copper armor corpse nearing transformation. No wonder its physical body was so tough that even the Aminokaze couldn¡¯t cut through its armor. Just as the zombie had steadied itself, a young man emerged from behind. The two locked eyes, each stunned on the spot. Lu Li realized that the person was Chen Wuluo. After searching fruitlessly for him previously, he hadn¡¯t expected him to show up here, effectively a godsend. Chen Wuluo, looking at the suspended Aminokaze, also instantly recognized the identity of the newcomer. Despite the change in the latter¡¯s appearance, he would recognize that aura anywhere. ¡°Ha ha¡­ just as I was at my wit¡¯s end, there you are, Lu family¡¯s boy. This time I¡¯ll see how you¡¯re going to die!¡± ¡°Kneel and beg nicely, and I might grant you a quick death.¡± He was ecstatic, unable to believe his luck. He had only just acquired a copper armor corpse, and now he had the chance to kill a major foe. He, Chen Wuluo, was about to step on Lu Li¡¯s corpse on his way to the Golden Core and Nascent Soul¡­ Lu Li, watching Chen Wuluo caught in his wild fantasies, wore an odd expression. Suddenly, he threw the Aminokaze sword high into the air. It split into dozens of sword shadows, trapping the zombie within them. As mana surged, fierce sword qi, fast as lightning, slashed towards the central zombie. Seeing this, Chen Wuluo sneered coldly and directly cast several magic spells towards the jade talisman. In a moment¡¯s time blood light flared, and the zombie let out an enraged roar, attacking the edge of the sword array. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Countless streaks of sword qi struck the zombie¡¯s ancient bronze armor, emitting sparks, followed by endless black Sha aura erupting from within the zombie, snuffing out the sword qi. ¡°Boy, with those tricks of yours, you still can¡¯t harm my copper armor corpse!¡± Chen Wuluo, seeing his zombie unscathed, was brimming with arrogance. ¡°Oh¡­ Copper armor corpse? If it were really that, I would surely steer clear. But this half-done product of yours dares to bluster here?¡± Lu Li sneered. Without a pause, his hands continued to vigorously command the sword array, the surging sword qi like waves of the sea, engulfing the entire zombie. The intense and sharp aura kicked up wild winds around, causing the leaves of nearby trees to rustle noisily. Chen Wuluo, eyeing Lu Li coldly, said, ¡°Boy, spare me your verbal bravado. Watch how my copper armor corpse breaks your sword array¡­¡± Again, he controlled the zombie to attack the edge of the sword array. Although he was greatly alarmed by the aura of Lu Li, which was even more powerful than some true disciples, giving him a sense of insurmountability, He would not concede in demeanor or in words. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± The zombie in the sky roared continuously and suddenly lunged towards the sword array. The extremely sharp sword qi screeched as it cut across the earthen-colored armor. Despite the zombie¡¯s struggles, it continually failed to break through the sword array. After several attempts, the surrounding part of the formation began to wobble, and a mass of black Sha aura enveloped it, making it impossible for the sword qi to inflict damage for the time being. The two fought fiercely in the jungle, the heavy impact noises resounding to the heavens, and a group of cultivators felt the disturbance, rushing over. They were astonished at the sight of the half-copper armored corpse within the sword array. And, equally shocked while looking at Lu Li not far away, nobody expected that someone could trap such a thing. Sensing Lu Li¡¯s powerful aura, the more than a dozen spectating cultivators felt as if a mountain pressed on their chests, and their breath became labored. ¡°This man is a top expert on par with Jiang Taixu!¡± A tidal wave surged in peoples¡¯ hearts. The unfamiliar man possessed such prowess! At this moment, seeing the crowd of onlookers growing, Lu Li hesitated no longer. Opening his mouth, a blood-red sword qi violently spewed out, striking towards Chen Wuluo like lightning, its momentum astonishing. In an instant, it arrived in front of him. ¡°What!¡± Startled by the sudden turn of events, Chen Wuluo was horrified. The blood sword energy in mid-air made him feel the threat of death, his entire body breaking out in sweat, and he struggled to catch his breath. He quickly placed a defensive magical artifact in front of him, pouring mana into it, enveloping himself in a bright azure glow. ¡°Bang bang¡­¡± Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 81: Killing Chen Wuluo_3 Chapter 96: Chapter 81: Killing Chen Wuluo_3 Blood Sword Energy fiercely struck against the Defensive Magical Artifact, which immediately recoiled backward, no longer under Chen Wuluo¡¯s control. After knocking away the magical artifact, the Sword Qi¡¯s speed did not decrease as it aimed directly at the opponent¡¯s head. Sensing a massive backlash of Mana from the defensive artifact, Chen Wuluo spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and his aura paused momentarily. He looked despairingly at the Sword Qi approaching him. In just a few short years, this person had cultivated to such an extent. He was deeply unwilling in his heart, and at the last moment, he placed the Jade Talisman right in front of him¡­ ¡°Puchi¡­¡± The Sword Qi instantly penetrated Chen Wuluo¡¯s head, and his upper body was instantly turned into a mess of flesh, with crimson liquid scattered all around, even the floating Jade Talisman was reduced to powder. All of this happened in an instant. The surrounding cultivators only then reacted, their faces changed instantly, and fear began to arise in their hearts. At that moment, the zombies in the Sword Array were no longer controlled and madly rushed toward the edge of the array. ¡°Roar roar roar¡­¡± A bronze-glowing arm suddenly reached out, its jet-black nails hard as steel, carrying an immense evil force, it smashed hard on the edge of the Sword Array. With that strike, the Aminokaze began to shake violently, and even Lu Li felt a trace of pressure. Go to ?????????????????.co At that moment, Lu Li decisively dismantled the Sword Array. He put up a Defensive Magical Artifact over his head and released the zombies directly. ¡°Roar¡­¡± Freed from the array, the zombie roared repeatedly, its killing aura soaring, but its gaze at Lu Li carried a trace of fear, clearly having suffered greatly during its containment in the Sword Array. Right after freeing itself, the zombie didn¡¯t dare to attack Lu Li and instead charged at a middle-aged man to the side. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Moments later, a scream sounded as the zombie savagely tore through the man¡¯s Defensive Magical Artifact, and its fangs fiercely clamped onto the person¡¯s neck. In just a few breaths, the middle-aged man turned into a dried corpse and fell to the ground. This sudden calamity left the bystanders completely unresponsive, and they all watched in terror at the freed zombie. ¡°This person has a ruthless heart, deliberately letting the zombie out¡­¡± The crowd began to curse loudly. Seeing this, Lu Li sneered, ¡°I don¡¯t know any of you; am I obliged to block the zombies for you?¡± ¡°Your lack of strength leading you to be killed by zombies is none of my business.¡± At that time, the Half-copper armored corpse, like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, charged with an unstoppable momentum toward the group of cultivators around. It even specifically avoided Lu Li, as if it knew better than to provoke him, a light of intelligence flickering in its eyes. ¡°Ah¡­¡± In an instant, another cultivator had their Essence Blood completely drained and turned into a dried corpse on the ground. ¡°Escape!¡± Everyone was gripped by terror and began to flee towards the outside, all casting hateful glances at Lu Li as they left. But before the group could get far, the zombie once again charged at a man to the side, and within a few breaths, another person was drained dry. Afterward, every strike from the zombie dried up another cultivator, with none able to resist the slightest, causing severe casualties in a short time; only a few managed to escape. Seeing the people flee far away, the zombie glanced at Lu Li, then quickly leaped into the depths of the forest, swiftly disappearing without a trace. Lu Li turned and walked away, not forgetting to pick up a pile of Storage Bags on the ground before he left. After all, wasting resources is not a virtue! Just as Lu Li was about to exit the valley, everything that had happened here quickly spread throughout the entire valley. In no time, various rumors were rampant, with tendencies to spread to the outer regions. As the zombie wreaked havoc in the valley, draining the Essence Blood from one cultivator after another before fleeing the site. A group of cultivators began to heavily criticize Lu Li¡¯s actions, even giving him a resounding nickname, ¡°Zombie Demon.¡± From there, the deeds of the Zombie Demon spread far and wide.