Chapter 236: A Surprise from Little Mouse (Combined Chapter)

Creak—

The door cracked open, and a young man dressed as a Retainer poked his head out and glanced around a few times:

"Are you all here to ask for lodging?"

"Hmm?"

Feng Feng Zhongyi frowned slightly: "Is this a relay station of the Four Symbols Sect?"

These days, relay stations came in two kinds: one built by the imperial court, and one built by sects in various places. The former only served passing officials for rest, while the latter provided for disciples of their own sect, as well as friendly martial world figures.

This relay station, according to the map's markings, was in Youzhou, Jingping Prefecture, a relay station of the Four Symbols Sect. The Four Symbols Sect had some ties with the Divine Weapon Valley, so lodging could be borrowed.

"F-Four Symbols Sect?"

The Retainer froze, and hurriedly shrank back.

"Elder, something seems off?"

Fang Fang Yunxiu frowned slightly. Feng Feng Zhongyi took out the map, looked at it, then tucked it back into his robes, and glanced back at the group:

"This map is quite old, probably has some errors. Let's find another place to stay."

The others all nodded. Sleeping outdoors while traveling the martial world was perfectly normal.

Just as the group was preparing to leave, the main door swung wide open, and an old man dressed as a steward stepped out from behind it, cupping his hands:

"I am Lu Ping of the Seven Fiends Sect. May I ask who you all are?"

"Seven Fiends Sect?"

Wang Wang Peiyao leaned close to Li Yuan and whispered: "Those two Dragon Tiger inner sect experts from the Dechang Prefecture Dragon Tiger Banquet earlier, Gu Yang and Liu Liu Huahong, I believe they came from the Youzhou Seven Fiends Sect."

Li Yuan nodded.

Just as in the eight prefectures of Huizhou, only four had Fu Sect titles bestowed by the imperial court, so in the seven prefectures of Youzhou, only three Fu Sect titles were recognized by the imperial court. Jingping Prefecture had no Fu Sect, and both the Seven Fiends Sect and the Four Symbols Sect were among the larger sects in this area.

From the looks of it now, the Seven Fiends Sect seemed to have eclipsed the Four Symbols Sect?

"So this is the Seven Fiends Sect's relay station."

Feng Feng Zhongyi cupped his hands slightly: "We are merely passing through and have disturbed you all. We hope you'll forgive us."

The Four Symbols Sect's relay station had become the Seven Fiends Sect's. He was curious, but had no mind to investigate to the bottom. With a cupped-hand salute, he prepared to leave.

"From your accents, you've come from Huizhou, yes?"

The steward understood in his heart. Only after watching the group turn did he say: "A year ago, the Four Symbols Sect sealed its gates and closed its mountain for some reason, and most of its relay stations changed hands..."

"Many thanks for the warning."

The steward had no intention of asking them to stay, and Feng Feng Zhongyi had no mind to linger in conversation either. He nodded and turned to leave.

These days there were no real-time updated maps, and getting lost was very common. None of the group paid it much mind.

Li Yuan's heart stirred slightly. His peripheral gaze swept past the estate's main gate, and through the half-open door, he caught a glimpse of a blade's gleam tinged with blood.

"The Xieshen Sect really is everywhere."

Li Yuan shook his head inwardly.

The foremost sect of the Great Fortune was none other than the Xieshen Sect. Even though openly everyone cried out against them, in fact, along his journey, in every city he had stopped in, he had seen no shortage of similar blade gleams.

The Xieshen Sect had its own enterprises too, not just selling blades—elixir circulation was also very widespread.

"The Seven Fiends Sect's influence is really something—they even built their relay station into an estate."

Wang Wang Peiyao remarked softly.

She was very fond of gathering all kinds of intelligence. Whether it was martial world anecdotes or information on various sects, she knew at least a little of each.

Once they had gone some distance, she began talking about the Seven Fiends Sect. Liu Zheng, Gao Gang, and others also gathered around to listen, treating it as a way to pass the time.

"In the land of Youzhou, the Seven Mysteries Sect holds supremacy. However, the Seven Mysteries Sect has also been in decline for many years and hasn't produced a Grandmaster. But I heard that the current sect master, 'Yun Yun Haisheng,' decades ago was said to have refined marrow and exchanged blood, a strong figure with hopes of becoming a Grandmaster."

Wang Wang Peiyao spoke softly. The journey was dull, and she had flipped through the intelligence she had gathered again and again along the way, enough to recite it from memory.

"It's said that the Seven Fiends Sect has very deep ties with the Seven Mysteries Sect. That Gu Yang and Liu Liu Huahong, I heard they followed the Seven Mysteries Sect's path before entering Dragon Tiger Temple..."

After disembarking, the group was very talkative, mainly because everyone on the boat had been holed up and wouldn't come out.

At first only Wang Wang Peiyao was speaking, but afterward, quite a few people joined in. Even Fang Fang Yunxiu came over. Having traveled far and wide for many years, she also had some understanding of the Seven Mysteries Sect.

"I've heard people say that the Seven Mysteries Sect's Yun Yun Haisheng is listed on the 'Heroes Ranking.' Too bad that ranking is only available in the prefecture cities..."

"Heroes Ranking? Tch, another one put out by that Yunshu Tower, right? They really love making rankings. Those experts actually enjoy being arranged and categorized?"

"What martial artist doesn't want to make a name across the world? Yunshu Tower's great rankings don't go below the prefecture level, but the world has twenty-eight prefectures! Make it onto a great ranking, and wouldn't your name shake the world?"

"Yunshu Tower has three great rankings: the Divine Ranking, the Heroes Ranking, and the Outstanding Talents Ranking. If in this lifetime one could make the Outstanding Talents Ranking, then..."

At the mention of rankings, quite a few disciples grew interested. Each spoke so animatedly their saliva flew, eyes shining, as if they wished they themselves could be listed at once.

"Chasing fame and fortune."

Elder Li inwardly spat in disdain, and immediately recalled the scroll of the Outstanding Talents Ranking that Yunshu Tower had once gifted him.

The Mount Hengshan Outstanding Talents Ranking, drawn from all the prefectures and sub-prefectures, of genius martial artists under sixty years of age—his ranking seemed to be six hundred and forty-one?

"Yunshu Tower's intelligence work is pretty mediocre. With my current Wu Gong... ah well, it's just a worldly name."

Listening to the group's animated discussion, Li Yuan muttered inwardly, feeling that this Outstanding Talents Ranking had serious errors and omissions, or rather, a huge lag in timeliness, and was of limited reference value.

However...

He thought of the number one on the Outstanding Talents Ranking—the personal disciple of Shenbangda Sect Grandmaster Long Long Yingchan, the Dragon Tiger Dao Child Long Long Xinglie, known as 'Invincible Under Sixty.'

"Invincible under sixty across all the prefectures and sub-prefectures beneath Mount Hengshan's domain?"

Thinking about the Outstanding Talents Ranking, Li Yuan inwardly sighed. Setting aside everything else, when it came to bragging, Yunshu Tower was the professional—little phrases one set after another.

"Elder, some ten-plus li ahead, there's a broken-down temple."

At this moment, a disciple who had gone ahead to scout spurred his horse back.

"Mm, let's go take a look first."

Feng Feng Zhongyi responded, and the group followed.

The saying "better sleep in a wild grave than lodge in a broken temple" simply didn't apply to them. A party of several dozen, with plenty of Body-Forging Great Completion cultivators and even a team led by a Channel Opening expert that didn't dare enter — if those travelers had to sleep in a graveyard, so be it.

The group moved quickly, and before long they had arrived before the broken temple.

Weeds ran riot, the walls were crumbling, the roof leaked, and the place was thick with cobwebs and the droppings of unknown beasts. Apart from the little field mice that burrowed the moment they hit the ground, everyone was more or less frowning.

After a cursory cleanup, Li Yuan looked up at the blurred characters on the temple eaves: "Shenzang Mingwang — seems to be from the Gods Registry too? Why is the incense faith so faint?"

Once inside the temple, Li Yuan immediately understood.

"What a taste…"

Every time it came to this, Li Yuan's admiration for the believers of the myriad gods of the Great Fortune Dynasty welled up from the heart.

On the crumbling stone altar sat a stone-carved deity statue.

Though long neglected, one could still vaguely make out the outline — it looked like a person, flayed of skin, muscle, and bone, with only the four limbs and entrails piled into a heap. It was more than just unsettling.

"Ah!"

Wang Wang Peiyao was startled and spun around in a flurry.

"This statue…"

Liu Zheng couldn't quite hold back either: "Compared to this statue, the Thousand-Eye Bodhisattva truly looks solemn and majestic…"

"Making a fuss over nothing — what's the big deal?"

Gao Gang followed them in. He glanced at his junior brothers and sisters making a fuss, and grunted:

"Visit a few more wild temples and you'll know Shenzang Mingwang is already a kind-faced, gentle-hearted one…"

"This…"

The few exchanged uncertain glances.

"Enough chatter — light a fire, drive out the smell!"

In the courtyard, Feng Feng Zhongyi had already barked an order, and only then did the group get busy.

"Fourth-rank incense faith — a bit weak, but enough to fire up the furnace three or five times, right?"

Li Yuan narrowed his eyes. Whenever he passed a wild temple on the road, he more or less had to pop in for a look, but fourth-rank incense faith was still rare.

"Grab it on the way out."

Before nightfall, bonfires had been lit both inside and outside the temple. Li Yuan pulled out some dry rations, glanced around, and noticed the little field mouse had vanished without a trace.

"Little rascal — not even afraid of running into a cat."

Settling down by the fire, Li Yuan broke off his dry rations and chewed slowly. Feng Feng Zhongyi, meanwhile, took out a map and studied it carefully, preparing to replan their route.

Wang Wang Peiyao had sidled up at some point. Seeing Li Yuan flipping through a scroll, she stole a glance and couldn't help exclaiming: "Mount Hengshan Heroes Ranking?"

"Senior Brother Li has the Heroes Ranking?"

Wang Wang Peiyao's shout drew quite a crowd — even Fang Fang Yunxiu came over.

"Jiazi Invincible Long Long Xinglie…"

……

"Huizhou accent."

At the Seven Slaughters Sect relay station, the steward shut the courtyard gate and bowed slightly: "Second Master, could this group be the ones from the Divine Weapon Valley?"

"Most likely."

A scholarly-looking elder in a buttoned-front long gown gave a slight nod and turned to walk toward the rear courtyard.

This relay station was no small affair — five courtyards deep from front to back, and the rear courtyard was sizable as well, even laid out as a not-too-big, not-too-small martial arena. A powerfully built elder stood there, spear in hand.

"Big Brother."

The scholarly elder strode over quickly.

"Come!"

The powerfully built elder raised a hand, and a long saber flew out of the arena: "Your elder brother has gained another insight — let's exchange a few moves!"

The scholarly elder reached out and caught the long saber, saying in a low voice:

"Big Brother, they've arrived!"

"The Divine Weapon Valley group?"

The powerfully built elder frowned slightly: "Who's leading the team?"

"Doesn't look like Han Han Chuijun or Kuyue, but should still be a Channel Opening achiever. The rest traveling with them are all quite young, though there should be a few Body-Forging ones…"

The scholarly elder paused briefly: "That Li Yuan should be among them."

"The Li Yuan suspected to have taken a Grandmaster as his master?"

The powerfully built elder's brows knit tight. He paced a few steps with his spear, then turned back to look at the scholarly elder, somewhat hesitant:

"This involves a Grandmaster — do we take this job or not?"

"So what if it's a Grandmaster? As long as we do the job cleanly and leave fast, even a Grandmaster would chase us to the ends of the earth over a disciple who hasn't even formally entered the sect?"

The scholarly elder toyed with the long saber, his eyes glinting: "I hear that Long Xi Xiang was once gravely wounded and has become absent-minded and forgetful…"

"True enough, but there's still that Han Han Chuijun…"

The powerfully built elder was still somewhat hesitant.

Over the past half year, the bounty on that Li Yuan within the tower had been raised again and again, but takers were few. For one, Huizhou was far away; for another, neither a Grandmaster nor Han Han Chuijun, who had risen to great fame in recent years, were people one wanted to provoke.

But this target had come right to their door — if they didn't take it, it did feel somewhat unwilling.

"At this price, if it were Han Han Chuijun leading, we might still have to hesitate. But it's just one Channel Opening — what's there to hesitate about?"

The scholarly elder kept his voice low, his eyes bright.

"What price?"

Suddenly, a voice came.

"Who?!"

The burly old man's expression shifted. He suddenly looked up and saw, on the eaves of the roof, a black-robed old man standing with his hands clasped behind his back. As the cold wind blew, beneath his disheveled hair, a cold, ghastly mask was visible.

From a great distance, in the night, the eyes of the masked man burned like torches, chilling to behold.

"Ghost-Faced Asura Han Han Chuijun!"

The two men in the courtyard changed drastically in expression. Without a second thought, they retreated violently, shouting: "Since Brother Han has come, we shall of course give way. We won't take this job…"

"Misunderstanding…"

"From the Life-Urging Tower, or the Star-Plucking Tower? Oh, so it's you lot…"

On the eaves, Han Han Chuijun swept his gaze over the boiling estate. His eyes shifted, as if he had recognized the two men.

The next instant, he dove down like a grey falcon, his shadow covering the entire relay station:

"The Twin Evils of Pingshan? Since we've met, your bounties are mine!"

The wind howled for an instant,

Then, screams rose into the sky along with flames.

……

"Hm?!"

Inside the broken temple, Li Yuan was sitting cross-legged in cultivation, circulating his inner Qi, when he suddenly heard a clamor outside. He snapped his eyes open and saw flames shooting into the night sky in the distance.

"This is?"

Li Yuan walked out of the broken temple.

Feng Feng Zhongyi and the others also looked toward the fire.

Flames shot skyward, thick smoke billowed; even from over a dozen li away, it could be faintly made out.

"Is that the relay station of the Seven Fiends Sect?"

Someone cried out in alarm, having recognized where the fire had started.

"This…"

Fang Fang Yunxiu's brows knit slightly. The Seven Fiends Sect's power was no less than that of the Fire Dragon Temple, and in all the prefectures of Youzhou, there were few who would dare make a move against them.

"Elder?"

Someone looked toward Feng Feng Zhongyi. The latter moved swiftly, already having picked up his pack, and swept his gaze over the group:

"Encountering a feud on the road — avoid it if we can!"

"Move!"

Feng Feng Zhongyi sensed something was wrong and left decisively. Their journey was only about traveling fast; they had no wish for complications.

The others glanced back from time to time at the burning place, yet one after another they picked up their blades, swords, and packs, and hurried to catch up.

Li Yuan was half a beat slower, mainly because he had returned to the broken temple to store the stone statue into the Soldier-Bearing Space. Once the incense merit was stripped away, he tossed it back onto Dingxin Dingxin Shitai.

"That little mouse…"

Li Yuan called out softly twice, but got no response, and his brows furrowed at once.

But hearing Feng Feng Zhongyi's shout, he could only hurry out of the broken temple. That little mouse was clever and adept at tracking scents, so he wasn't worried about it getting lost.

However, before he had gone far, he heard the whistle of rushing wind.

He glanced back and saw, in the night, a figure treading the wind, moving with extreme speed…

"Old Han?"

Li Yuan's eyesight was sharp. Borrowing the light of the towering flames, he quickly recognized who the newcomer was, and his heart settled at once.

"Was this Old Han's doing?"

Whooosh~

The night wind howled as Han Han Chuijun strode over, the smell of blood still lingering on him.

"Master."

Li Yuan hurried forward to meet him and bowed in salute.

Feng Feng Zhongyi and the others, who hadn't gone far, also turned back one after another. Seeing Han Han Chuijun, they were both surprised and in awe.

"It's you, Elder?"

Fang Fang Yunxiu's tone was very certain.

"What?"

Han Han Chuijun was slightly taken aback: "You mean that fire? When I passed by, I heard someone shout 'fire!' — probably a careless servant, the kitchen caught fire, eh?"

"……"

"It's been dry lately, so a fire is quite possible."

Feng Feng Zhongyi walked over and cupped his hands in a slight salute: "Elder Han, this is?"

"I had business passing through. On the way, I saw the great ship cleaving the waves and knew you were nearby, so I came looking."

Han Han Chuijun's words were watertight.

In his ways, unless necessary, he always acted without speaking of it — unless it was one of his own like Lord Master Gongyang Yu.

"This…"

Though everyone guessed something in their hearts, they could only exchange glances.

"Alright, disperse."

Han Han Chuijun waved a hand and walked toward the broken temple. Seeing this, the others dispersed, set down their packs, and rekindled the bonfire.

"Thank you, Master."

Inside the broken temple, Li Yuan bowed in salute. How could he fail to guess that Old Han had been following behind him all along?

"You little rascal are quite sharp."

Han Han Chuijun rubbed his two fingers together, and a spark flew into the just-extinguished fire pile. With a casual pat, the flames leapt up.

"You've worked hard, Elder."

Li Yuan hurriedly pulled out jerky and started roasting it.

"Over the past half year, the bounty on you in the various assassin organizations kept rising. I followed along, wanting to see exactly which one was secretly placing the bounty."

Li Yuan brought over some straw, and Han Han Chuijun sat down cross-legged.

"Someone is still placing a bounty on me?"

Li Yuan was slightly startled; for over a month now, he hadn't gone to the Star-Plucking Tower hideout.

"You entering Dragon-Tiger Temple is naturally a good thing for us, but for others, it may not be."

Han Han Chuijun's eyes were dark and deep: "I originally thought it was only Pang Liexue Mountain and San Yuan Wai, but now it seems there are likely others as well…"

"Others?"

Li Yuan thought for a moment, frowning: "Dragon-Tiger Temple?"

Over these past few years, he had spent most of his time forging iron; the few he had truly offended had all been dealt with long ago. Any new enemies must be coming for the identity of a Grandmaster's disciple.

Or, people from the Xieshen Sect?

"Most likely."

Han Han Chuijun nodded: "Within Dragon-Tiger Temple, there are no few who covet the Grandmaster's inheritance. Along the way, I killed several dozen assassins, but unfortunately none of them knew who their employer was…"

Several dozen?

Li Yuan clicked his tongue, then hurriedly thanked him.

He had indeed kept his guard up the whole way, and later, when nothing happened, he gradually let it down — never expecting that Old Han had quietly taken care of everything behind the scenes.

"Too bad, no real experts."

Han Han Chuijun sounded a bit regretful.

He felt that in recent years, his fishing skills had grown rusty. He clearly knew there was a big fish, yet simply couldn't reel it in, which honestly made him quite uncomfortable.

"What about Seven Sha Gate?"

Li Yuan asked.

"Nothing to do with Seven Sha Gate. Those two were assassins from the Life-Urging Tower; in earlier years they wormed their way into Seven Sha Gate as guest ministers, but weren't valued."

Han Han Chuijun dismissed it: "I had originally planned to let a few slip through for you to practice your hand on, but later thought there was no need — it would only delay the journey."

Li Yuan gave a wry smile.

"Over a month now, and the one behind it still hasn't made a move. It seems they won't be making one…"

"Are you leaving, Elder?"

"When have I ever left a job half-done?"

Han Han Chuijun tore off a strip of meat and chewed it slowly: "In any case, I also want to go into Mount Hengshan city and have a look…"

"That's good then."

Knowing someone was thinking of him from behind, Li Yuan certainly didn't want Old Han to leave at this point. Hearing him say this, he immediately felt relieved.

"Speaking of which, you practice your Wu Gong very diligently. Even I back in the day was no more than this."

Shifting the topic, Han Han Chuijun was somewhat appreciative. Though he hadn't boarded the ship this whole way, he was thoroughly aware of everything that had happened on the Wave-Breaking Vessel.

"Having witnessed your moves, Elder, and a Grandmaster's at that, this disciple only felt his Wu Gong was insignificant — how could I not be a bit more diligent?"

Li Yuan shifted his gaze. After the Soldier-Binding Register advanced to the seventh tier, his perception of weapon-light had grown sharper, and the radiance of the Crimson Flame Flood Dragon Armor was genuinely a bit blinding.

"Not a small improvement."

Han Han Chuijun examined his little disciple, and couldn't help feeling stirred within.

He was an expert in Yi Xing; after a careful look, he discerned Li Yuan's before-and-after changes. In just over a month, this kid had actually added another Yan Yan Sanxing.

This speed made even him feel a bit of dread.

If this pace could be maintained, wouldn't he be able to gather Yi Bai Xing in just a few years?

This…

"A slight improvement."

Li Yuan was very modest.

In this month-plus of focused cultivation, every branch of his Wu Gong had improved, but the fastest, naturally, was the alteration of his root bone.

With the Root-Bone Chart in hand, he could push any Wu Gong to the Great Perfection realm extremely quickly. It might not be as solid as other martial artists who'd bitterly cultivated for years or decades, but the alteration of his root bone was real and tangible.

"…Enough."

Seeing the boy's utterly dismissive expression, Han Han Chuijun's eyelid twitched, and he said with a dark face:

"Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound has also been initiated?"

"Initiated."

Li Yuan straightened his waist and back, and his abdomen immediately emitted a "whoosh whoosh" sound, like the threatening growl a wildcat makes before attacking.

He didn't mobilize qi and blood or internal Qi, but rather used breathing to mobilize the viscera to produce the sound. Certain ventriloquist arts had similar methods.

"Not bad."

Han Han Chuijun found it hard to be dissatisfied; he even felt a slight sense of frustration. He considered himself a once-in-a-century genius of Dragon-Hibernation Prefecture, but before this kid…

"Master, this disciple has some doubts while practicing Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound…"

Old Han's arrival was naturally a pleasant surprise for Li Yuan. He hurriedly asked out, one by one, all the doubts he had accumulated during this period.

Han Han Chuijun answered them one by one.

Question and answer, master and disciple chatted for fully half the night. The people outside the courtyard didn't dare enter, and could only open their packs and set up crude tents on the spot.

"Master, this visualization method…"

"Visualization method."

Han Han Chuijun paused slightly: "Martial cultivation begins with qi and blood, all the way until Yi Xing reaches mastery. Internal Qi concerns Yi Xing Great Completion, and then Opening the Meridians. When Opening the Meridians reaches Great Completion, one must 'transform internal Qi into True Qi.' Only with this step can one temper the viscera, temper the marrow, and even replace the blood…"

"From Blood Exchange to Yin-Yang, this step requires 'spirit.' This spirit is not the kind enshrined in temples, but rather the mind, the soul, the spirit-soul... different schools have different names for it, but they're all more or less the same."

Li Yuan listened quietly. Although Old Han had never practiced Organ Refinement, his martial arts foundation far surpassed Li Yuan's own, and his understanding of the various realms often gave Li Yuan the feeling of being enlightened with a single word.

"Visualization is a method to train the 'spirit,' and may well be the only method."

"Look into my eyes!"

Han Han Chuijun suddenly raised his head.

Li Yuan focused his gaze and saw that the light in his eyes suddenly blazed. At first it seemed as if flames were burning, then a blue light flickered, and faintly, one could see a dragon silhouette soaring amidst the lightning.

"Many people believe that one only touches upon the spirit after Blood Exchange is complete, but in fact, Organ Refinement, Marrow Refinement, and Blood Exchange already involve the spirit. If the spirit is not strong enough, one cannot control the increasingly powerful qi, blood, and physique."

Han Han Chuijun taught by word and deed, and Li Yuan nodded repeatedly. Although Li Yuan had his own guesses and associations, they were not as thorough as what Old Han said.

"Dragon Tiger Temple has all manner of visualization methods. Once you enter the sect, you can learn them slowly. Before visualization reaches mastery, no matter how much you practice, you won't suffer qi deviation."

Seeing that Li Yuan still wanted to ask, Han Han Chuijun hurriedly yawned, signaling that he was tired:

"Go on."

Li Yuan was somewhat reluctant, and bowed his way out.

This broken temple had four rooms in total, front and back. He casually found a corner, sat cross-legged, and silently digested what he had heard.

'This kid...'

Han Han Chuijun glanced at him, leaned against the wall corner, and closed his eyes. Fighting and killing were no great drain on him, but after more than a month of sleeping rough, he was genuinely weary.

……

"Huu!"

"Haa!"

In the corner, Li Yuan sat cross-legged in stillness, eyes closed, visualizing.

In the Land of Spiritual Light, the visualized Spirit Self was no longer practicing punches either, but likewise sat cross-legged, pulling at its own left foot—this was the visualization of 'Divine Foot.'

"Seeking the Spirit, Seeing the Spirit, Depicting the Spirit, Worshipping the Spirit, Seeking the Spirit, Soul Transformation... the subsequent realms of the Divine Foot Scripture. Without a manual, it would likely be very difficult to even begin cultivating it."

Li Yuan murmured to himself.

Of all the Wu Gong he had practiced during these days of quiet cultivation on the ship, the one that had progressed the slowest was undoubtedly the Divine Foot Scripture.

Because he lacked the subsequent cultivation method, Li Yuan could only remain at the introductory stage. Although his visualization had become more skilled, he still had not touched the threshold of 'Seeing the Spirit.'

Even though in his visualization his left foot had already lit up, and he could tangibly feel the changes in his left foot.

"Seeing the Spirit, Seeing the Spirit... I can't exactly cut my foot open to look. Since this Divine Foot Scripture begins with visualization, then 'Seeing the Spirit' must also start from visualization..."

Li Yuan guessed in his heart:

"Perhaps 'Seeing the Spirit' means having the 'visualized Spirit Self' enter the body to 'see'?"

He had made similar guesses many times, and had even attempted them within the Shan Xuan Bing Mi Jing, but without any harvest. What held him back was still his spiritual power.

"Spiritual power, apart from bitter cultivation, can only be increased by controlling more bone ornaments, belts, and the like."

After meditating for a long time, Li Yuan suddenly sensed something amiss. He opened his eyes and saw the little mouse, covered in dirt, had somehow snuck back and was scratching at his calf.

"Hungry?"

Li Yuan reached out a hand, and the little mouse darted out of the broken temple in a flash. Seeing he hadn't followed, it even turned its head and squeaked twice.

"What is it?"

Li Yuan's eyes lit up—could this little thing have found some good treasure?

"Squeak squeak!"

The little mouse turned its head and chittered twice.

Li Yuan rarely saw it so eager. His heart stirred, and he followed it out. His footsteps were very light, entering and leaving without a sound.

In the neighboring temple, Han Han Chuijun seemed to sense something and opened his eyes, but paid it no mind, then closed them again.

……

……

The broken temple sat at the foot of a mountain, beside an unnamed mountain range. In the night, it was pitch black.

The little mouse sprinted at full speed, quite fast, occasionally looking back with a very nervous expression.

"Did it really find something good?"

Li Yuan followed, keeping a moderate distance.

Whoosh!

The little mouse darted through a patch of forest, and the squeaking of mice around them suddenly grew dense.

"Became the Mouse King in just a moment?"

Li Yuan was somewhat surprised, suspecting this little thing had some skill for commanding the swarms of mice.

He moved quickly, and the little mouse was no slower. Soon, he had passed through several dense groves, when suddenly he stopped.

From a great distance, he heard faint, indistinct beast roars.

Not just one—rising and falling one after another, and not seeming to be of just one kind...

Li Yuan tapped his toe and covered twenty or thirty meters in a leap, tapped once more on the cliff face, and by the faint starlight, he saw a deep valley, and outside it, wildly writhing black shadows.

"Goodness me, a beast tide!"

Li Yuan landed on an old tree and looked around.

Among those black shadows were venomous insects, venomous snakes, swarms of rats, wolf packs, leopards, fierce tigers... all manner of common and uncommon creatures. Many venomous bugs that didn't belong to this season had surged forth from who knew where.

There were even several pythons and birds that clearly didn't look like ordinary wild beasts...

"There are even spirit beasts?"

Li Yuan looked around and saw that all kinds of snakes, insects, rats, and ants were still pouring in densely, and flocks of various birds occasionally dropped down from the sky.

Several thousand, tens of thousands of various wild beasts had formed a beast tide outside the deep valley. Among them were natural enemies of one another, yet they did not fight, only surging ceaselessly toward the deep valley.

Yet it seemed as if out of fear, it truly did not dare to surge into the deep valley.

"Could it be that some heaven-sent treasure is about to emerge?"

Li Yuan grabbed the little mouse, sensed the pair of boots within the Palm Soldier Register, tapped his foot lightly, and skirted along the cliff face toward the back of that deep valley.