'There is still a channel of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water [Earth Fiend Cold Spring] in the family that can be used.'
"[Tujun Sect]..."
Li Yuanjiao only felt a sense of familiarity and wondered aloud,
"It seems that old monkey cultivated in this sect, as ntioned in the 'White Monkey Travels.' The cultivation technique of this sect is cold and Yin in nature. My ancestors had extensive dealings with it, acquiring several secret techniques before it was destroyed by devil cultivators. In the end, they sohow ca into our hands."
This spell required various types of cold Qi and water, with nine kinds being just the beginning. Cultivating it was sowhat difficult, so Li Yuanjiao set it aside for now, planning to find out which clans had cold Qi and gradually start practicing.
...
Li Yuanjiao spent half a year in seclusion, stabilizing his cultivation level. He then took the family's Talisman Pill and easily made a breakthrough in the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation and was finally on the verge of Foundation Establishnt.
After breaking out of seclusion, he carefully inquired and found that most of the family's cultivators had gone into seclusion for cultivation.
This ti, the demonic disaster had left the clan in a much better state, with many of the owed clan salaries being paid out. Everyone who was at a critical juncture of life and death had made progress, or they had saved enough to purchase elixirs, and each made their own breakthroughs.
Li Qinghong, after the recent demonic struggles, had also made significant advancents in her cultivation level. However, the late stage of Qi Cultivating placed great emphasis on accumulation, and she had yet to break through to the eighth layer.
Only then did Li Yuanjiao co out of seclusion. The servants had already delivered a letter; it turned out to be from the Valley Smoke Temple. Chen Donghe had finally gathered a set of [Golden Sun Radiant Origin], and Li Yuanjiao was overjoyed. He left Li Qinghong to look after the house and went westward himself.
Traveling with joy, but by the ti he crossed [West Screen Mountain], rolling sands swept towards him. Li Yuanjiao arrived at the Valley Smoke Temple with a much darker expression.
The once continuous ancient city walls that spanned thousands of miles were now collapsed in several places, broken into three or four sections. The remaining walls were mottled and full of cracks.
Chen Donghe's complexion was still pale, looking like he had suffered new injuries on top of old ones. Flying up to him, Li Yuanjiao began the conversation:
"Young Master!"
Li Yuanjiao pointed at the walls, frowning in silence. Chen Donghe replied,
"It's the work of devil cultivators."
"This year, devil cultivators often cross the border; most just ride the wind and pass by, but so, greedy in heart, lay siege to the Valley Smoke Temple... During the battles, the ancient city walls were frequently affected, leading to their current state."
Chen Donghe sighed and continued,
"The delivery of this [Golden Sun Radiant Origin] was delayed by half a year for this reason. The city walls collapsed, and what could originally accommodate three people for Qi absorption, can now only hold two..."
Li Yuanjiao suddenly felt a headache. This was not an issue that could be resolved with a simple repair. The requirents for [Golden Sun Radiant Origin] included ancient defensive passes. If his family were to repair it, they might accidentally ruin this Qi absorbing site.
'Do we really need to send soone to protect it!'
But the direct lineage of his family already had few combatants, and deploying them here would hinder their cultivation, not to ntion the great danger involved.
"This place is too broken down, and Qi absorption efficiency is very low. It seems we need to send soone out to search for a new location..."
He now received the Jade Box that Chen Donghe handed over and gently opened it. Seeing the flowing golden light and reddish gold inside, he nodded and said,
"Does aunt know about Uncle's situation? After all, he was her brother, and she could co back to the clan for a visit... to pay homage."
Chen Donghe understood the hidden aning in his words: 'she could co back to the clan for a visit' ant that the [Golden Sun Radiant Origin] still needed to be harvested. Knowing how to read the room, Chen Donghe then said warmly:
"Please ask the young master to send her back for a visit. As the spirit vein is becoming increasingly difficult to harvest, Donghe needs to take advantage of the ti and will not accompany."
Li Yuanjiao silently nodded, instructed soone to call for Li Jingtian, and shortly after, a servant returned with a report. Li Jingtian refused to co ho, but paid her respects from afar and changed into white garnts as a sign of mourning.
Chen Donghe sighed softly, gave a slight bow to Li Yuanjiao as an apology.
Li Yuanjiao understood the implication and had no choice but to leave behind so elixirs and provisions. He rose into the air amidst the long smoke and setting sun, alone disappearing into the yellow haze.
It was only after Li Yuanjiao disappeared into the horizon that Chen Donghe straightened up, sat down leaning against the city wall, and stared at the slowly setting sun, feeling a deep sense of solitude.
He too was an old man in his sixties. With Tian Youdao gone, there were even fewer people left with whom he could reminisce about the past. He muttered to himself:
"The setting sun is blood-red, the Earth Vein is surging; it seems the Fire Vein has erupted again,"
The nurous Fire Veins of the great desert made it no place for mortals to live. Li Jingtian's health declined day by day, and his temperant grew more stubborn. Had he been younger, he might not have done such things that caused Li Yuanjiao difficulty.
'Xiao'er... a widow and orphan, I have no idea how they are faring now...'
The 'River Qi Decision' preferred water and lakes, and the years spent living in the great desert considerably slowed Chen Donghe's cultivation progress. He, however, was indifferent, rely sitting in silence upon the ashen city walls, humming a few lines of folk songs from his hotown.
…
Li Yuanjiao headed ho in silence. He sat still on the bluestone for an Hour before he felt his spirit recover sowhat, and his expression livelier. Soone below reported that Li Xijun had arrived.
"Let him co up."
After waiting a mont, Li Xijun, draped in a brocaded robe, swiftly made his way up. The Magic Artifact 'Evening Red Glaze' bestowed to him was carefully inlaid into his jade ring, swaying at his waist, and quite fetching.
"Xijun greets Uncle Zhong."
Li Xijun bowed with a fist, appearing quite at ease. Li Yuanjiao swept over him with his Spiritual Sense and imdiately understood, softly saying,
"Fetal Breathing Fifth Layer Yujing Wheel, you have indeed been diligent."
At sixteen, Li Xijun was at a ti like the rising sun. His aptitude was sowhat lesser than Li Ximing's, and presumably, Li Ximing at the Xiao Family was also close to consolidating his Yujing.
With humble words from Li Xijun, Li Yuanjiao knew he was there for a Prayer Talisman. He retrieved a jade bottle from his Storage Bag and handed it over.
Once both Li Xijun and Li Ximing take this Elixir, they will be Cultivators at the Fetal Breathing Peak, but the 'Golden Sun Radiant Origin' was only in one dose. Li Yuanjiao organized his words, speaking warmly,
"Jun'er, our family has acquired only one dose of 'Golden Sun Radiant Origin', and there are so issues with the Qi source in the desert. It might take over a decade for the next dose..."
Li Xijun nodded slightly, seeming a bit surprised. The situation once faced by his elder brother, Li Xihong, had now fallen on his shoulders. Yet his nature was completely different from that of his exacting elder brother, Li Xihong. He answered respectfully,
"Xijun will follow the elders' instructions!"
Without giving Li Yuanjiao any pretext to ease the situation, the latter could only fall silent for a mont. Li Xijun's brows furrowed, he hesitated for a couple of breaths, but eventually, unable to bear seeing his elder's expression of guilt, he smiled and said,
"Xijun, in fact, quite likes the 'Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique'. It's elegant and otherworldly, with a chill that suits sword-wearing quite well."
"The 'Golden Hall Bright Yuan Art' sounds like so suddenly wealthy landlord's practice, and it's dull in comparison."
Li Xijun made a joke, yet Li Yuanjiao found no laughter in it. The 'Cold Pine Dew Snow Technique' was but a Third Grade Cultivation Technique, while the 'Golden Hall Bright Yuan Art' was an ancient Fourth Grade thod. The choice of Spiritual Energy determined one's path for the next century.
Playing favorites, both the palm and back of the hand were flesh; it wasn't sothing to be glossed over with a laugh. Li Yuanjiao, filled with myriad emotions, was not adept at expressing them, and could only sigh,
"Once you've made a breakthrough and stabilized your cultivation, go down the mountain to collect that 'Cold Pine Dew Qi' and prepare for your breakthrough."
Pulling out the 'Tujun Kuiguang' from his Storage Bag, he handed it to Li Xijun as if to compensate, rarely speaking warmly,
"This is a new Fourth Grade spell our family has acquired. You study it carefully and cultivate slowly, when you can gather the cold qi and cold water then co find ."
The family's bottle of 'Earth Fiend Cold Spring' was not like the regenerative 'Cold Pine Dew Qi' of heaven and earth; Li Yuanjiao had no intention of using it initially. Only after carefully reading the spell and finding that it did not need much did he agree to use it.
"Thank you, Uncle Zhong, for bestowing the spell!"
Li Xijun nodded calmly and carefully read over the spell. He then swore the Xuanjing Spirit Oath, bowed with a fist, and left. Li Yuanjiao ca back to his senses, writing a letter which he handed to a servant, commanding in a deep voice,
"Go to Xianyou Peak and inquire about the young master's Cultivation Level. If he has already broken through to Yujing, he is to return imdiately."
"No."
He took back the note, scribbled on it for a while, then instructed,
"Tell him to write back; I will go to receive him myself."
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