Chapter 254: Long Long Xi Xiang Emerges From Seclusion

Whooosh~

The cold wind howled furiously, snowflakes drifted down, and the trees in the mountains let out a *swish-swish* of their own.

On the mountain path, Li Yuan stopped his steps from far off. Beast Hall covered a vast area with many disciples, and at the very least over a thousand elite Dragon-Tiger soldiers were stationed at various points throughout the mountains.

One could not tell how many open posts and hidden sentries there were — both to guard against poachers and to prevent fierce beasts from escaping their enclosures.

And apart from the disciples of Beast Hall's six branches, every day dozens or even over a hundred disciples from branches like Huntian and Dragon Chant received tasks from Beast Hall — patrolling the mountains, hunting beasts, or feeding fierce beasts about to give birth.

In a certain sense, Beast Hall was the most heavily guarded place in both Dragon and Tiger Mountains, and also the most dangerous.

This was not him

"Hope I don't come back empty-handed."

Li Yuan felt the gold notes in his chest. For the better part of a year he had been keeping an eye out for Spirit Beast King Blood, and he had combed every shop in Dao City without any luck.

"Junior Brother Li, over here, over here!"

Before Li Yuan had even reached the mountain gate, he heard a voice from afar. The few disciples guarding the mountain had already started walking toward him, but now they all retreated to the doorway of the wooden hut at the foot of the mountain.

A short, stout fellow came trotting over. He was bulky of build — short neck, big belly — yet moved with surprising speed. In a few bounds he had landed at the mountain gate, sending up great sprays of snow.

"Senior Brother Zhang."

Li Yuan cupped his fist in greeting, a smile on his face.

The fatty before him, who barely reached his shoulder, was named Zhang Ah-Da. Plain as he looked, sloppy as his name sounded, he was in truth no simple character.

He was the Branch Master of the Mad Lion Branch under Beast Hall, a man who had achieved success in Marrow Refining.

"Heard you were coming to Beast Mountain, I was so worked up I couldn't sleep a wink all night, just waiting for you. When I saw how heavy the snow was this morning, I was afraid you wouldn't come."

Zhang Ah-Da wore a slightly exaggerated smile, grabbed Li Yuan's arm in one hand, and was exceedingly warm.

"Senior Brother is too kind."

Such warmth at a first meeting caught Li Yuan somewhat off guard.

This was a Branch Master of Dragon-Tiger Temple — on his previous visits to Branch Master Lin Tingfeng of the Pure Gang Branch, he had received nothing like this treatment.

"What are you saying, Junior Brother?"

Zhang Ah-Da was very warm, beaming all over, and pulled Li Yuan straight into Beast Mountain, which left the few disciples guarding the mountain somewhat wide-eyed.

This fatty…

The inner disciples before the wooden hut exchanged glances, a subtle shift in their expressions.

"It's still early — shall we have a look around first? Junior Brother hasn't been to Beast Mountain before, Senior Brother can show you around a bit…"

On the mountain path, Zhang Ah-Da never let go the whole way, introducing Beast Mountain to him and the well-known spirit beasts among the ranges.

"Thwang!"

Suddenly, Li Yuan glanced to the side. He saw, from an extreme distance, an arrow streak up into the air, leaving a long trail behind it and startling great flocks of forest birds into panicked flight.

Crash-rattle!

A gale whipped the grass and trees, and a human figure darted through them, loosing arrow after arrow. With several *whoosh-whoosh* sounds, a snow-white-furred spirit leopard dropped with a *thud* into the snow.

"Fine archery!"

Li Yuan raised a brow. His eyesight was excellent, and even from afar he saw that the archer had fired four arrows in succession — yet not one had so much as damaged the spirit leopard's pelt, each shot only meant to cut off its escape. The killing shot had pierced clean through both ears.

"Quick, quick!"

Several figures rushed up in a flash — lifting the carcass, draining the blood, skinning it — all in one smooth motion.

"This is a Snow Spirit Leopard, free-range in the mountains, about fourteen hundred of them or so. Its pelt is smooth and supple and has the effect of repelling insects, very popular with the noble ladies of Dao City. A single skin like this is worth at least several hundred taels of gold."

Seeing Li Yuan's interest, Zhang Ah-Da explained from the side:

"By the rules of Yizhutang, only ten of these beasts are killed each year. This one… ah, Lin Kai, bring that Snow Spirit Leopard over here!"

Zhang Ah-Da beckoned with one hand.

The movements of those few disciples all stiffened for a moment. A tall young man, bow in hand, strode over quickly carrying the Snow Spirit Leopard's pelt.

"Branch Master Zhang."

The young man bowed and presented the pelt:

"This Snow Spirit Leopard was startled for no reason. This disciple took the task to hunt it down…"

"Probably those few Weizu Sect ancestors are acting up again, eh? These past few months, quite a few spirit beasts have gone mad — a lot of spirit fruits and spirit medicines have been ruined…"

Zhang Ah-Da weighed the pelt in his hand for a moment, then passed it to Li Yuan:

"Junior Brother Li, your daoist robe is a bit thin — this leopard skin should make a decent outer garment…"

"Many thanks, Senior Brother Zhang."

Li Yuan did not decline, and took it with a smile. He never refused another's goodwill — though of course, he always returned the favor in equal measure.

"Li… Li Yuan?"

The bow-bearing youth had already stepped back to one side, but only now did the realization hit him, and he jerked his head up to look at Li Yuan.

"Insolent! Who told you to call an elder by his given name?!"

Zhang Ah-Da's face darkened.

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"This disciple was momentarily Tang Tu."

Lin Kai, aware he had misspoken, hurriedly bowed in apology: "Please, Li… Uncle Li, do not take offense."

"Lin Kai."

Li Yuan did not feel offended at all. He also remembered now — this Lin Kai was on the Dragon-Tiger Rankings too, though his rank was a touch awkward: Lu Lu Bailing.

"Mm, go turn in your task."

Zhang Ah-Da's expression turned odd, as if something had occurred to him, and he waved the youth away.

Lin Kai bowed slightly with fist cupped, glanced once more at Li Yuan, and only then took his leave.

"This Lin Kai is an elite disciple of our Hundred Beasts Hall; for years he has hovered just outside the top hundred of the Dragon List. A few days ago, he succeeded in opening his meridians... hmm, just as your junior brother here saw his rank surge dramatically, he remains at one hundred and one..."

"So that's why he reacted so strongly upon seeing me."

Li Yuan felt speechless inside; he had only memorized the top hundred of the Dragon List and had little impression of those below.

"His mind still lacks stability. What difference does it make whether he enters the top hundred a day earlier or later? It's merely a matter of the share of spirit rice and spirit pills, not the top fifty or top ten..."

Zhang Adai was very enthusiastic, and Li Yuan did not stand on ceremony; the two exchanged words quite harmoniously.

Following him around a few mountain peaks for several rounds, Li Yuan arrived at Zhang Adai's residence. As the head of a division, Zhang Adai's dwelling was quite large.

Spanning three courtyards from front to back, the compound even contained a small hill and was fed by geothermal hot springs. Though it was already deep winter, flowers and plants were actually being raised in the courtyard, tended to by several maids.

The two entered the room; the wine banquet had already been prepared.

"I heard junior brother loves to drink. Come, taste this wine of mine, senior brother. How does it compare to Brother Long's?"

Zhang Adai had prepared several large jars filled to the brim with wine:

"Although these are all brewed from Hundred Herbs, the spirit plants and spirit fruits used differ, so the flavors are completely distinct. If you wish to drink strong liquor, I have that too; I can send someone to fetch it."

Who said I love to drink?

Before Li Yuan could correct the rumor, seeing Zhang Adai make a move to fetch the wine, he hurriedly stopped him:

"Just the Hundred Herbs brew will do."

Li Yuan had no interest in strong liquor; his preference for Monkey Wine and Hundred Herbs brew stemmed from their sweet taste on the tongue, a habit from his past life of loving beverages that he still retained.

"Come, drink."

Zhang Adai raised his cup.

Although monks and Taoists in the Dragon-Tiger Temple had merged, there were no rules prohibiting alcohol or meat; moreover, since the Hundred Herbs brew truly tasted excellent, disciples of the various halls had long formed the habit of drinking while discussing matters.

Li Yuan raised his cup in return; after several cups went down, the two had become quite familiar.

After several more cups went down, Zhang Adai was slightly tipsy; only then did he speak:

"I heard long ago of the great name of the Divine Weapon Valley, but I've heard it has declined considerably over these few centuries, having produced no Divine Artisans for a very long time. Junior brother, are you searching for spirit beast blood because you wish to forge a divine weapon?"

"What weapon-smith in the world does not wish to forge a divine weapon? I naturally do as well; it's just that my current skill in weapon-forging is slightly lacking, so I can only search for various materials for now."

Li Yuan had prepared his explanation before arriving:

"Spirit Beast King blood is the finest quenching material, yet it is extremely rare, so one must prepare in advance."

"Is that so? That makes sense. Preparing a single divine weapon often takes years, even a decade or more."

Zhang Adai drank the wine in his cup; his face was already flushed with alcohol, and he greatly enjoyed this drowsy sensation:

"Speaking of Spirit Beast Kings, there are indeed a few in the Hundred Beasts Mountain, but... those ancestors cannot be provoked..."

Upon mentioning 'those ancestors', Zhang Adai's drunkenness sobered up a bit.

Li Yuan knew that the 'ancestors' he referred to were the King of the Spirit Dragons and the King of the Spirit Tigers in the mountain; they were descendants of the mounts of two founding patriarchs, and no one dared provoke them except the Dao Master and the two Gate Masters.

"Junior brother certainly has no such thought; I merely heard that within the Hundred Beasts Mountain there are the Bai Tan Spirit Sheep King and the Spirit Fire Ling Ox King..."

"That is easy to discuss."

Zhang Adai breathed a sigh of relief inside; he had truly feared Li Yuan would be unclear-headed and insist on the blood of the Spirit Dragon or Spirit Tiger.

A few years ago, when Wan Chuan came begging for blood, he nearly got beaten to death by those ancestors within the mountain.

He was not yet a division head at the time, but the memory remained vivid.

"Hmm, speaking of which, I actually have quite a bit of Spirit Beast King blood in my possession, including the blood of the Bai Tan Spirit Sheep King and the Spirit Fire Ling Ox King..."

Zhang Adai lifted his wine cup; without squinting, his fat face was reduced to just two slits:

"Sect rules forbid killing Spirit Beast Kings. The spirit beast flesh and blood within the Hundred Beasts Hall were all obtained by us risking our lives to pick them up when they fought each other; acquiring them was not easy."

The price must be increased.

Zhang Adai did not say it, but how could Li Yuan not know his meaning? He immediately raised his cup:

"Naturally, I will not let senior brother suffer a loss."

Friendship is friendship; business is business.

"Junior brother is straightforward."

Zhang Adai drained the wine in one gulp, his face flushing red:

"Here is the deal: one jar of blood for sixteen hundred taels of gold, how about that? For two jars of blood, three thousand taels of gold will suffice."

"Thank you, senior brother."

Li Yuan paid the money very readily.

The Bai Tan Spirit Sheep King and the Spirit Fire Ling Ox King both belonged to the second-tier 'Ten Thousand Gold' category on the Yunshu Tower list.

For spirit beasts of this rank, the starting price is at least ten thousand taels of gold, with no upper limit, and often they have a price but no market.

This is absolutely a conscientious price.

"Straightforward."

Zhang Adai felt slightly pleased in his heart as he accepted the gold note.

The market price for Spirit Beast King blood is two thousand taels of gold, but blood is not flesh, bone, or skin; aside from special pills and quenching divine weapons, there are very few places it can be used.

Moreover, this blood of his was merely picked up casually during the turmoil in the mountain a month ago.

Therefore, in this transaction, no matter how he calculated it, he would not lose out.

He earned gold and could also befriend this new star of the Dragon-Tiger Temple in the process.

With the deal concluded, the atmosphere at the banquet grew even better; the two clinked cups back and forth. Soon, Li Yuan himself felt slightly tipsy, and only then did he casually inquire:

"By the way, does senior brother have any other Spirit Beast King blood?"

Leaving the Hundred Beasts Mountain, Li Yuan's steps were light. Although six thousand taels of gold had gone out, he felt not a twinge of pain in his heart, only delight.

His expectation before arriving was to at least purchase one kind of Spirit Beast King Blood belonging to the Five Beasts; buying two kinds at the banquet had already been enough to satisfy him, yet he never expected a surprise upon asking before leaving.

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Zhang Ada not only still had a jar of 'Cloud Sea Deer King Blood', but even knew the whereabouts of 'Spirit Wasteland Wolf King Blood' and promised to obtain it for him.

"Four kinds of Five Beasts King Blood, all acquired at once!"

Li Yuan's heart burned hot, regarding

"If Zhang Fatty doesn't run into trouble, then the Five Beasts Blood is only missing one kind..."

Li Yuan suppressed his restlessness and calculated.

Inside Hundred Beast Mountain there were not just four kinds of Spirit Beast Kings, but they were not among the Five Beasts.

"Among those Spirit Beast Kings on the Mount Hengshan Ten Thousand Beasts List, the Two-Headed Lei Quan King in Wind Thunder Valley would work, and the 'Pang Pang Liexue Boar King' in Blood Moon Forest would also do, hmm..."

Li Yuan moved very fast; before night fell he had already returned to his room. Upon entering, he saw the little tiger cub on the windowsill, the latter looking at him with full alertness, still in a rage.

"This little tiger cub..."

Before Li Yuan's thought could even flash through his mind, darkness surged before his eyes, and he retreated out of the courtyard accordingly.

The little tiger cub had already rushed over like a gale; its speed was very fast, and its strike was extremely precise, nearly tearing Li Yuan's face.

"Going crazy again, are you?"

The whole courtyard was filled with the sound of wind whistling; a little mouse poked its head out from the corner, seeing 'Cat Ancestor' figures everywhere in the sky, so terrified it nearly fainted to the ground.

"Swish!"

Li Yuan retreated another step, avoiding that claw strike while seven pairs of boots on the Weapon Command Talisman flashed in unison.

Snap!

In the next instant, his speed exploded upward; amidst the little tiger cub's shocked and angry gaze, he grabbed it by the scruff of its neck.

"Want to try going crazy again?"

Teasing the snarling little tiger cub, Li Yuan felt quite surprised in his heart.

Over the past half year, his Wu Gong had advanced greatly, and his control over weapons had also been updated and iterated, yet he was only a tiny bit faster than this little thing; that was somewhat terrifying.

"With my current speed, Grandmaster is hard to say, but Zhun Sect Master might not be faster than me; what breed is this little cub exactly?"

Li Yuan was very curious in his heart, but seeing that this little fellow was already extremely furious, he could only let go.

Swish!

Upon landing, the little cat cub instantly darted back into the room.

"The little tiger cub's rank is definitely sufficient, but it is not among the Five Beasts."

Li Yuan abandoned the thought; he wasn't sure whether the blood of other Spirit Beast Kings could substitute, nor did he wish to take risks.

"To be safer, I should still have Zhang Fatty help me look..."

Li Yuan shook his hand, discovering blood dripping from his arm; the little tiger cub held a grudge, and even after he let go, it had swiped two claws at him.

Back inside the room, the little tiger cub lay on the windowsill, while the little mouse trembled in the corner.

"Can't be tamed."

Li Yuan tossed down a bottle of pills; the little tiger cub didn't even turn its head, its temper very high. Li Yuan picked up the little mouse; over the past half year he hadn't paid much attention to it.

Now examining it closely, he found that although its size and weight hadn't changed much, it was much more solid than before, one could even say it was somewhat... muscular?

"It seems field mice are still suited for running in the mountains."

Li Yuan set the little thing aside, swallowed a few pills himself, and sat in meditation on the bed.

The night passed without incident.

"Junior Uncle Li, Great-Grandmaster has emerged from seclusion!"