Chapter 395: Gentle Guidance

"Not only the Xieshen Sect, there's also the Green Dragon Pavilion and the Qitadao Sect…"

Li Li Daoye was getting a headache. Regarding the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, there were rules among the several great Daoist sects. When he had listened in earlier, he had heard similar rumors.

If the Liehai Yu Xuanjing Hammer were exposed, the others were hard to say, but the Green Dragon Pavilion would certainly seek revenge for that old grudge.

"Got to think of a way…"

Li Yuan muttered to himself.

Weapon control augmentation was weapon control augmentation, and the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing itself had all sorts of wondrous uses, but the weapon space cut off inside from outside. He would at least have to take it out before he could explore and familiarize himself with it.

After the Yu Xuanjing Spirit acknowledged him as master, he had several times been unable to resist wanting to take out the hammer and try it…

"Let's wait a while."

His thoughts wandered for quite a while, but Li Yuan still held himself back. He truly didn't want to bring trouble upon himself. After all, the rice was in the pot—when you ate it didn't matter, did it?

"It's still that my strength isn't enough. If I were a Land Immortal, who cares about the Green Dragon Pavilion or the Xieshen Sect? Li Daoye will smash them flat in one wave!"

Li Li Daoye was very annoyed, truly understanding what was meant by 'the commoner is guiltless, but possessing jade brings disaster.'

He only wanted to quietly forge iron and practice martial arts. If it wasn't necessary, he didn't even come down the mountain, yet still there were people who kept thinking of finding trouble for him.

Hum~

After a long while, Li Yuan entered the Yu Xuanjing Mi Jing.

Wooo~

At the peak of the inverted-suspended mountain, the Yu Xuanjing Spirit let out a soft cry, feeling a kind of joy at being released from a little dark room.

Before the archway of the Yu Xuanjing Gate, Li Yuan calmed his mind and sorted through tonight's gains—mainly the threat of the Xieshen Sect, and the matter of incense fire.

"According to the Incense Fire Primer, the use of incense fire involves many methods. Alchemy, weapon-forging, and spirit-nurturing each require their own corresponding methods, but even within the Xieshen Sect, these are top secrets."

Li Yuan had very good comprehension.

Incense fire was like ingredients. To cook them into various different delicacies naturally required a 'recipe.' And according to the veiled hints in the Incense Fire Primer, this 'recipe' was the 'ritual.'

Even a great god at the Dharma Lord level could not, or did not dare, directly digest incense fire—perhaps they couldn't digest it at all.

"These rituals, apart from the Xieshen Sect, are probably only possessed by the imperial court. As for the Star-Plucking Tower, I don't know if they have any…"

Li Yuan murmured to himself.

Over these years, he had collected a batch of weapon items useful for the Xieshen Sect and the Bai Shen Fa, and had obtained various fragmentary scriptures from them to greater or lesser degrees.

Such as the Divine Eye, Divine Ear, and Divine Blood scriptures.

It was just that they were terribly fragmentary, and with his foundation and talent, he didn't dare attempt them lightly.

But as for ritual items, he hadn't obtained a single one to this day.

"Wang Wang Wenyuan can't be reached, and the Bronze Tower Master suspected to be the Star-Plucking Tower Master has also left…"

Li Yuan felt he had drawn his blade too early. If he had known that was the Star-Plucking Tower Master, he would at least have waited until Blood Replacement Great Completion before trying to draw his blade.

Gently stroking the Yu Xuanjing Spirit that was crying 'woo woo,' Li Yuan calculated in his heart:

"The incense fire on me—sixth-rank, one hundred and twenty-three strands; seventh-rank incense fire, twelve strands; eighth-rank incense fire, four strands…"

This was an enormous number.

High-rank incense fire wasn't easy to come by. Without a stable channel, using one strand meant one less. Li Yuan was very cautious about this.

"For now, the best choice is still merging the hammer…"

Glancing at the Yu Xuanjing Gate archway before him, Li Yuan planned in his heart.

His earliest plan for this incense fire was to merge several other divine weapons to enrich his weapon control arsenal—boots, bone ornaments, belts, armor, divine bows and the like taking priority.

But now, naturally, stacking talents was the highest priority.

"Besides, the trade-in business shouldn't be limited to within the sect anymore. With masters from all over the world gathered here, surely some good things can be scraped together, right?"

Li Yuan let out a long breath. He was preparing to borrow from the sect to get the business started first.

Whether it lost money or not could wait; missing the Various Dao Martial Competition meant that to gather so many masters from different sects again, he'd have to wait another thirty years.

Setting everything else aside, he prepared to perform the Thousand Forms Exchange at the fastest speed. Once he completely controlled the Yu Xuanjing Liehai Hammer, perhaps these troubles would solve themselves?

"Mm… I need to find Dao Lord Long. Mount Hengshan's Hundred Trades—he's got a hand in more or less all of them, filthy rich…"

……

……

The sixteenth floor of the Dragon Tiger Tower.

When Long Xi Xiang walked in with a dark expression, Nie Xianshan, Cang Cang Xianzhi, and Brother Helian Feng had all already arrived.

"That old thief She Long knows you and me too well. Several times he lurked, always just before or after we swept clean. If not for today's lucky accident, we probably still wouldn't have discovered him."

Long Long Yingchan pinched his long eyebrows:

"This matter warrants vigilance."

"Difficult."

Nie Xianshan shook his head:

"This old thief was once the master of Dragon Gate back in the day. Let alone the secrets in the mountains and cities, he probably knows quite a bit about the wondrous uses of the Dragon Tiger Nurturing Furnace."

The harm a traitor did far exceeded that of an outside enemy.

This point, everyone in the room understood clearly.

"This old thief values his life. Let alone Yu Yu Banzhou, even Yan Yan Tianxiong doesn't know where he is. In sixty years, he's never truly shown himself in person."

Long Long Yingchan's brows were tightly knit; he too found it thorny.

Over more than sixty years, he had pursued and killed She Long several times, but every time what he slew was only a true qi avatar—he could never find where his true body was.

Although a Grandmaster had the ability to track across ten thousand miles, wanting to catch a peak master who was wholly bent on hiding and hadn't shown himself in decades was extremely difficult.

"After the Various Dao Martial Competition, I will go down the mountain and slay this beast!"

Only then did Long Xi Xiang speak.

"We will discuss this matter later."

Cang Cang Xianzhi spoke, his brows furrowing slightly: "The most urgent matter now is the purpose of this old thief infiltrating Mount Hengshan..."

The room fell silent at once, and the expressions of the few present all changed.

"Fang Chao, Mount Mo Tian, Fayin Fayin Tongzi, Blood Vajra, She Long, Dharma Protector, Evil God, Dharma King. For the Xieshen Sect to be so relentless, it seems the rumor of the Rift-Sea Black Whale Hammer being in our Dragon-Tiger Temple is certainly not just a rumor..."

Cang Cang Xianzhi furrowed his brows.

The rumor of the Black Whale Hammer had spread for over a year, but the vast majority did not believe it; naturally, he did not believe it either.

But if the Xieshen Sect is coming again and again, this rumor may not necessarily be false.

Brother Helian Feng nodded: "Reasonable."

"Furthermore, there is also that Star-Picking Tower Master..."

Cang Cang Xianzhi glanced at Long Yunchan; the latter pinched his eyebrows, his face as calm as water.

"What Senior Brother Cang says is reasonable."

Nie Xianshan also chimed in: "The Black Whale Hammer Master is one thing, but if that Star-Picking Tower Master is also hiding within the sect, that would be a major issue."

"The words of the Xieshen Sect's demons cannot be fully trusted."

Long Xi Xiang frowned: "The Star-Picking Tower Master is one thing, but if the Black Whale Hammer Master is truly within the sect, how could he escape the Dragon-Tiger Life-Nurturing Furnace?"

Brother Helian Feng nodded: "Reasonable."

"Nothing is absolute. The Dragon-Tiger Life-Nurturing Furnace is indeed a Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, but what of the Black Whale Hammer? Does not that Star-Picking Tower Master also possess a Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing?"

Cang Cang Xianzhi shook his head, disagreeing.

"Reasonable."

Brother Helian Feng echoed in agreement.

"..."

Nie Xianshan suddenly felt speechless and looked at Long Yunchan:

"This matter cannot be ignored."

"The words of the Xieshen Sect's demons cannot be trusted."

After pondering for a moment, Long Yunchan finally spoke:

"However, for the sake of caution, later I will activate the Life-Nurturing Furnace to thoroughly investigate the sect. At that time, if anyone is truly hiding within the sect, they will have nowhere to hide."

"Reasonable."

Brother Helian Feng expressed his agreement.

Cang Cang Xianzhi's cheek twitched: "Junior Brother Brother Helian, if you have nothing to say, you can shut your mouth!"

"I just think it is reasonable."

Brother Helian Feng coughed lightly.

"Very well, it is decided."

The Daoist Master Long felt a bit of a headache; there were some things he truly did not wish to discuss with them.

"Junior Brother Brother Helian, you go to allocate the incense. In a few days, I will drive the Life-Nurturing Furnace to sweep the mountain and also shine a light upon the city!"

"Yes!"

With Long Yunchan's decision made, the others said no more, each taking their orders and dispersing.

Soon, only Long Yunchan and Long Xi Xiang remained in the room.

"Do you truly intend to activate the Life-Nurturing Furnace?"

Long Xi Xiang frowned.

"The Xieshen Sect has come to our door again and again; even Senior Brother Cang has doubts, let alone others? Let us simply put on a show for those few families, and sweep Mount Hengshan at the same time."

Long Yunchan rubbed the center of his brow: "At that time, let Li Yuan take his cat and wander elsewhere..."

"Hmm?"

Long Xi Xiang immediately frowned: "Letting that Tower Master Qin take cover is one thing, but Li Yuan..."

He had not finished speaking when Long Yunchan stared at him, leaving him unable to continue.

"I know exactly which day Tower Master Qin entered the sect. Junior Brother, how much longer do you intend to hide it from me?"

Long Yunchan sighed, feeling somewhat helpless in his heart.

"Hide what from you?"

Long Xi Xiang pretended not to know.

"Smack!"

Long Yunchan wasted no words; he flicked a finger, and a light curtain instantly stood before the two of them, within which was clearly Li Yuan's small courtyard.

The moon was bright and the stars sparse; through the residual light, one could vaguely see Li Yuan's figure sitting cross-legged inside the room.

"Hmm?"

Long Xi Xiang was somewhat moved: "Does Senior Brother perhaps believe that Li Yuan is the owner of that Rift-Sea Black Whale Hammer?"

"..."

Long Yunchan almost laughed out loud; this junior brother of his possessed supreme talent and pure will, but other things were somewhat lacking.

The ability to speak nonsense with a straight face was far beyond his own.

"You don't know?"

"I don't know."

"You haven't noticed?"

"I haven't noticed."

"Really?"

"Truly."

"Hah!"

Long Yechan laughed in earnest, immediately rolling up his sleeves: "Do you believe I would immediately activate the Life-Nurturing Furnace?"

"I don't."

Long Long Xi Xiang sneered: "A furnace of Dragon-Tiger Life-Nurturing Pills—would you be willing to part with it? If you aren't willing, how about I do it?"

"..."

The Daoist Lord Long had nothing to say; it was like a son selling his father's land without a pang of guilt.

It took him twenty years to gather enough ingredients for one furnace of Dragon-Tiger Life-Nurturing Pills: a thousand kinds of spiritual herbs and dozens of kinds of spiritual beast blood. He could not bear to part with it.

"This young man has a tight mouth; he hasn't let slip a single word."

Knowing he couldn't hide it, Long Long Xi Xiang went along with it; he hadn't intended to conceal it anyway, only feared that this old fellow, who was always weighing pros and cons, might cause some trouble.

After all, regarding the rules for the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing among the several Great Dao Sects, the Dragon-Tiger Temple was considered the initiator back then.

"Strictness is fine. At this critical moment, it's best not to create unnecessary complications. The imperial court's troubles aren't settled yet; if those few families start causing trouble again, even I would be powerless."

The Daoist Lord Long sighed, lamenting the difficulties of being the head of the household:

"I fear that once those few old fellows arrive, he may not be able to keep it hidden."

Long Long Xi Xiang remained silent for quite a while before speaking:

"How about you teach him 'Wind Tiger, Cloud Dragon'?"

Wind is formless, clouds are inconstant; 'Wind Tiger, Cloud Dragon' is the supreme concealment Gong Fa of the present age. Back then, he had relied on half of the 'Cloud Dragon' to infiltrate the Divine Ducheng.

"This?"

A flicker of amusement passed through Long Yechan's eyes, but his brows furrowed deeply:

"He is your disciple; how can I arbitrarily teach him Wu Gong? Let alone 'Wind Tiger, Cloud Dragon'—that is a secret not transmitted by the main lineage!"

Long Yechan swept his sleeve and turned away. Long Long Xi Xiang clenched his fist, yet still stepped closer: "As the Daoist Lord, how does teaching a disciple Wu Gong count as arbitrary transmission?

With Li Yuan's talent, even if he is not the master of the Black Whale Hammer, he still has hope to break through the Dao Son Trial, become the Dao Son of the Life-Nurturing Gate, and fully master the Life-Nurturing Furnace..."

Long Long Xi Xiang spoke flattering words.

"This..."

Long Yechan hesitated somewhat: "I said I would not steal your disciple..."

"In the past, when the old thief She Long defected to the Pan Sect due to the Dragon-Elephant Vajra Heaven, Master decided to abolish sectarian prejudice; supreme arts could be transmitted between the various lineages. You are not breaking the rules..."

Seeing him soften somewhat, Long Long Xi Xiang pinched his nose and lied: "As for the master-disciple relationship... I don't care about it. What are you afraid of?"

"Very well. Younger brother, it is rare for you to ask me for a favor."

Long Yechan let out a long sigh, yet his heart was resolved. After all these twists and turns, he had finally truly gotten a hold of this old rascal:

"Hmm, teaching him 'Wind Tiger, Cloud Dragon' is acceptable, but you must agree to one... three things..."