Chapter 295

The evening wind echoed in the courtyard, grass leaves drifted about, and the dim candlelight flickered. A middle-aged woman sat in the courtyard; her appearance was not outstanding, but she had a rather generous air as she leaned against the stone table.

The servant below bowed and knelt, trembling:

"We asked the Young Master, and he said the climate in Dongshanyue is pleasant and he does not wish to return."

Lu Lu Wanrong shook her head helplessly, sighed low, and said gently:

"Do I not know him? He is merely seeking witchcraft in that Dongshanyue land... thinking of opening his spiritual apertures. But his father has been away for a long time, and I cannot persuade him."

Li Li Xuanling had only one wife and had never taken a concubine. She bore two children for Li Li Xuanling, and the two children had completely different personalities. The elder sister, Li Li Qinghong, was bright and high-spirited, now at the third level of Qi Refining, while the second son, Li Li Yuanyun, had no spiritual apertures, was obscure, and had become increasingly gloomy.

Lu Lu Wanrong saw Li Li Yuanyun's changes in her heart and was extremely anxious. She had spoken to Li Li Xuanling several times, but every time Li Li Xuanling mentioned this legitimate son, he always thought of letting him be, as long as he did not harm anyone...

She was originally a sensitive woman who inexplicably felt a sense of guilt from her husband, who always showed much leniency toward Li Li Yuanyun, leaving her at a loss.

Even when she carried Li Yuanyun up the mountain years ago, apart from Li Li Tongya's overwhelming power that made her tremble and dare not look up, the others of the Brother Xuan generation, whether Li Li Xuanfeng or Li Li Xuanyuan, were always strangely good to Li Li Yuanyun.

"Perhaps I am overthinking it."

Lu Lu Wanrong shook her head, dispelling the thought, and said in a deep voice:

"What is said in the market?"

"Replying to my Lady, the news from the market has been sent back, and until now... there is still no news of the Third Master."

Lu Lu Wanrong was now nearly forty years old. Her talent was not high, and she was only at the third level of Fetal Breath cultivation, unable to keep up with her husband's pace. Because her surname was sensitive, she dared not acquire property or hold power and had always kept a low profile. But now that Li Li Xuanling had not returned for three months, Lu Lu Wanrong could no longer hold back.

She tightened her grip on the jade cup, her brow full of worry, and said in a deep voice:

"Three full months without news... My husband has always been cautious; something must have happened... How did the mountain respond?"

The servant knelt down with a thud and said in a low voice:

"Replying to my Lady, Mount Mount Lijing has been locked down from top to bottom. We are of low status and cannot see the Young Master."

Lu Lu Wanrong's heart skipped a beat, and a thick sense of unease rose within her. She hurriedly fetched pen and ink, wrote rapidly, and muttered:

"No, there must be a problem here. I must ask Li Qinghong."

————

Li Li Xuanling crossed the river again, shuttled through the sea of clouds for a while, caught a few people to ask for directions, confirmed the direction of Mount Mount Luoxia, and flew slowly on the wind, occasionally landing to walk. The journey was calm and peaceful.

This road followed the territory of the Xu State, where Daoist temples were still the majority. Li Li Xuanling checked the direction, wandered around, and had actually arrived near Mount Mount Bianyan. This was now the border between the Xiuyue Sect and the Tangjin Sect. The wasteland of the past had sprouted green vegetable shoots, which were quite pleasant in the misty rain. There were also pedestrians on the road, giving it a sense of liveliness.

"The Xiuyue Sect is, after all, the most upright among the three sects; it is truly rare..."

The Xiuyue Sect was one of the few among the three sects and seven gates that upheld the Immortal Mansion's past philosophy of avoiding the world to become immortals. Most disciples cultivated on the mountain and did not often walk in the world, so there were no famous cultivators. Apart from the True Person Behind Shangyuan, who was hailed as the best under Jin Dan, the other figures of the Xiuyue Sect were surprisingly obscure and unknown.

"Mount Mount Bianyan... there seems to be a Daoist temple. Years ago, that temple was forced by a demon to collect young boys and girls for the demon to eat. I wonder how it is now."

Under the rule of the Xiuyue Sect, mutual attacks between orthodoxies were strictly prohibited. Although there were many small clans and temples on the mountains, and private conspiracies, framing, and exterminations still occurred, the competition and harm were much milder than in other places.

Li Li Xuanling wandered around here for a while, looking at the mountain mist and the fine rain, and remembered the temple he had seen when he came to eliminate demons years ago. He thought to himself:

Although Li Li Xuanling was not a person who feared death and had already accepted this arrangement, he still wanted to live a few more days to see more of this world. He pondered:

"I have been riding the wind all the way, and my magic power is somewhat depleted. It would be better to take a look at this small temple, rest my feet, and then head north."

So he landed on the wind. Now that the world was peaceful, the small hall that had been firmly covered by illusion arrays in the past was now openly revealed. The stone statues on both sides were majestic, dripping with wet rainwater that flowed down their cheeks. Li Li Xuanling performed a spell and knocked twice on the gray-red wooden door with peach-wood talismans, laughing:

"A wild cultivator from the mountains has come to visit. I ask the Temple Master to open the door!"

Li Li Xuanling called out twice, but no one answered. He was slightly shocked and hesitantly raised his hand, but the gray-red door slowly opened.

"Creak—"

The hall door opened slowly without wind. The morning breeze, carrying fresh rainwater, poured into the hall. Li Li Xuanling stopped silently, staring blankly at the scene inside.

Outside the courtyard, the light rain fell and white cranes cried, but inside the hall, it was dim, the candlelight was faint, and an inexplicable smell of burning incense mixed with the stench of blood rushed toward him, making one feel uncomfortable.

Dark blood flowed on the ground, reflecting dots of golden light. The puppet-like clay statues were solemn and dignified, but beneath them lay a pile of corpses. The headless corpse of an old Daoist priest knelt before the hall, his gray-white hair scattered on the ground, fluttering gently with the wind.

The prayer mat in the center was covered by piles of Daoist corpses, stacked high in layers, their eyes wide open, yet there was not a shred of resentment; instead, there was a sense of peace and tranquility.

Sitting cross-legged quietly atop the mountain of corpses was a shirtless monk, his muscles lean, red, and clearly defined. His hands were pressed together, his eyes closed in meditation, and a golden mark appeared between his brows, flickering incessantly.

The ground covered in severed limbs and flesh obscured the gold-lacquered talismans. Blood dripped from the blood-red Daoist robes, making a ticking sound as it landed on the monk's near-perfect muscle lines in the center. He was completely unaware, motionless.

"Fahui..."

This person was the monk who had entangled Li Li Xuanling for no reason more than ten days ago when Li Li Xuanling passed through Duanchen Township in the Zhao State. Now, his blood energy soared to the sky, his aura fluctuated, and he sat cross-legged on the mountain of corpses, covered in blood.

Fahui's ears twitched. His resolute face was covered in dried blood. His eyelids moved twice, and he slowly opened his eyes. His pupils were filled with golden-red, brimming with scorching anger, as he stared quietly at Li Li Xuanling below.

"Serpent-dragon beast, I have been waiting for you for a long time!"