Li Yuanjiao rode the wind across the northern foothills of Mount Dali. Beneath his feet, mountain peaks and clouds flitted past as spiritual mist surged from the Xuanwen Flask. Clasped hands behind his back, he glided upon the mist, his expression calm as still water.
'Xijun should be able to arrange things... Though the old man is stubborn, he is, after all, advanced in years and lacking energy. A gentle approach ought to coax him out.'
Li Yuanjiao's brow furrowed. He had always harbored a bit of displeasure toward Li Xuanxuan's disregard for his own health.
'Insisting on dragging himself along like this...'
Li Yuanjiao suddenly remembered his youth, when his mother, Mu Yalu, had sat alone with him in the courtyard. Mu Yalu was still young back then, her lustrous hair draped loosely over her shoulders as she spoke softly:
"Your father... is a dull man... In this life, he loves only one thing—and that is the Li family. Later, Xiu'er was barely added to that.
"Even toward himself... Li Xuanxuan has little fondness, perhaps even a sense of bitter disappointment that he failed to amount to much. He never cherishes his reputation, thinking so poorly of himself that he rates his own worth below a few spirit stones."
Back then, Li Yuanjiao had not understood the meaning of those words. Seeing his father Li Xuanxuan in such a state today, he finally understood:
'Of everyone in the Li family, he looks down only on himself. Ever since the Patriarch died, he has long lost any will to live.
'Drawing talismans tirelessly day and night... he has a death wish, yet simply does not dare to die.'
Li Yuanjiao saw it clearly in his heart, yet could not voice it. Before his mother Mu Yalu died, she had not cast a single glance at Li Xuanxuan, nor had Li Xuanxuan shed a single tear. Caught in the middle, Li Yuanjiao had felt both grief and anger.
"Let it be."
Li Yuanjiao did not wish to dwell on it and cast his thoughts aside. After advancing through the mountains for a while, he saw two brown deer fly up toward him, their coats sleek and glossy. One on the left, one on the right, they called out together in honest, naive voices:
"This humble demon greets the High Immortal!"
Both deer monsters were at the late stage of Qi Refinement. Their heads were buried almost completely into the clouds, not daring to look at him, only casting a fleeting, terrified glance toward the Qingchi Sword.
Li Yuanjiao gave a slight nod. The deer demon on the left hastily said, "This lowly one is under the Monster General. The Master has specially prepared a banquet and respectfully invites the High Immortal to come over!"
Seeing how polite it was, Li Yuanjiao nodded while growing wary, resting a hand quietly on his sword. Though the White Banyan Fox had vouched for him, he did not know the deer demon's true strength; if it harbored ill intent, things would be difficult to resolve peacefully.
He had not brought out the magical mirror for this journey. Fortunately, sword intent remained sealed within the Qingchi Sword, so slaying a deer demon would be no problem.
'Since it sought an introduction through the White Banyan Fox, it shouldn't be foolish enough to ambush me. If it truly is that unwise, I will have no choice but to unleash the sword intent.'
With that, he rode the wind forward. Flanking the path, demon beasts bowed their heads low, lined up in neat, respectful rows to welcome him. Most were musk deer, roe deer, red deer, and sika deer, symmetrical with matching coat colors on either side—having copied the ways of the human race to perfection.
Li Yuanjiao rode the wind in with a strange feeling. Beneath a colossal white banyan tree, three low tables were arranged. At the head was the White Banyan Fox, reclining on the table with its hind legs propped up, a spirit peach dangling from its mouth, looking exceptionally comfortable.
To the side stood a middle-aged man with brown hair and dark eyes, his long hair loose, carrying a large shield on his back. He possessed a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation and was presumably the deer demon.
Spirit peaches, spirit apricots, fruit wine, and fresh flowers were arranged neatly on the tables. As soon as Li Yuanjiao landed, the middle-aged man transformed from the deer demon immediately stepped forward to greet him, speaking very politely:
"I am Lu Ken of Mount Dali. Greetings, Fellow Daoist."
The middle-aged man had a small face and round eyes, his hair an unusual brownish-yellow that was likely left over from his shapeshifting. His eyes were clear, devoid of any cruelty or bloodthirstiness.
"Li Yuanjiao of Qingdu."
Li Yuanjiao sized him up. Seeing clear qi swirling between his brows, completely unlike the pig demon, he felt a bit more favorable toward him. He first bowed toward the White Banyan Fox and said respectfully, "Yuanjiao greets Senior."
Not to mention that Li Yuanjiao had already witnessed the White Banyan Fox's methods in the cave, the fox's friendship with Li Tongya alone was enough to warrant his utmost respect. Even after reaching Foundation Establishment, he put on no airs and remained thoroughly polite.
The fox nodded at him, flipped over, scurried behind the table in a flash, and replied, "The matter with that pig demon from last time has been settled. The pig demon's assets weren't quite enough, so I chipped in a few spirit stones to invite this fellow daoist over."
The White Banyan Fox pointed at the deer demon and introduced him: "This is Lu Ken, an old friend of mine in the cave. A gentle demon. From now on, your family is free to operate in the surrounding area."
Li Yuanjiao voiced his thanks and hastily took out ten spirit stones from his storage bag to reimburse the White Banyan Fox. The fox took six, tucked them away, and nibbled on a spirit peach as it said, "You two chat. I have important business to attend to."
With that, it rode the wind and took its leave. Only then did the deer demon Lu Ken turn back and speak:
"Earlier, this humble demon cultivated in the southern foothills and had long heard of your noble clan's renowned prestige. Seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary."
Li Yuanjiao merely gave a slight nod. Lu Ken guided him to his seat, then took out a jade box, presented it forward with both hands, and said with a smile:
"This is the Qianyan Ming Fruit, a precious herb, offered as a modest greeting gift from this humble demon. As I will be cultivating in the northern foothills from now on, I will trouble your noble clan for guidance..."
Li Yuanjiao opened the jade box to see an orange-red stone bead lying within. It carried no scent, and its glow was faint. Lu Ken hastily added:
"Fellow Daoist, do not judge it by its humble appearance. This fruit is of immense benefit to cultivators of the earth and stone paths. It aids cultivation, assists in breakthroughs, and possesses many wondrous uses when forging magical instruments. Taken directly, it can also staunch bleeding, stabilize injuries, and preserve life."
Li Yuanjiao shook his head slightly and replied, "For Fellow Daoist to cultivate to Foundation Establishment, you must be of considerable years. The State of Yue has few cultivators of the earth and stone paths, with Xuanyue being the sole sect among them. As for this precious herb... my family also possesses a Wanling Flower, which is now fairly well-known and likewise capable of preserving life. Thus, it is of little use to us."
Lu Ken lowered his head slightly in disappointment. Groping in his sleeve for a moment, he produced two massive antlers that resembled small trees and said gently:
"I was thoughtless. These two antlers were shed when I reached Foundation Establishment. They are quite hefty and can be dismantled to forge weapons—enough to craft dozens of Qi Refinement magical instruments..."
Lu Ken had originally intended to forge these into his own magical instruments and had kept them safely stored; bringing them out now, he looked rather reluctant to part with them. Li Yuanjiao, however, had no intention of making things difficult for him. The White Banyan Fox had made it clear that this creature was one of its own, so face had to be given. Thus, he merely asked:
"Does Fellow Daoist know of the Blood Tun Fruit?"
"Blood Tun Fruit? That name is quite unfamiliar."
Hearing that Li Yuanjiao had a request, Lu Ken relaxed considerably and said with joy, "Though I have never heard of this precious herb, Fellow Daoist has certainly asked the right person. Being somewhat advanced in years, I carry some weight among the monsters. Having me inquire among them on your behalf will naturally be no problem at all!"
Li Yuanjiao nodded and described one by one the appearance and traits of the Blood Tun Fruit as written in the letter sent back by Li Xizhi. Once Lu Ken had committed them to memory, Li Yuanjiao asked:
"How old is Fellow Daoist?"
Having received his request, Lu Ken's anxieties were mostly dispelled, and feeling far more at ease, he replied, "I am now over five hundred years old. If counted from the time I gained sentience, it has been over four hundred years."
"Truly no easy feat!" Li Yuanjiao remarked.
Though Lu Ken was over five hundred years old, he still bore the appearance of a middle-aged man in the prime of his life. Evidently, his lifespan reached up to a thousand years—something that would make any human cultivator green with envy. Lu Ken sighed:
"Fellow Daoist speaks truly. Though we monsters enjoy long lifespans, how many can actually live out their years? Those without backing are captured, killed, and eaten early on. And even those like us who possess some backing are merely goods with a clear price tag."
Li Yuanjiao nodded inwardly, thinking:
'It seems most of these monster generals understand the situation all too well... they are simply powerless.'
Lu Ken gave a self-deprecating smile and said politely, "Back before I had awakened, I cultivated alongside the deer herds on Xunlin Plain. At that time, Qingchi Sect had just been established, and the Yuan clan had only been settled on Xunlin Plain for a few decades... Later, when the Xunlin Monster Cave was broken by the Yuan clan, I came to Mount Dali.
"There was originally someone in the Dali Monster Cave who was my bosom friend, through whose protection I survived for centuries. Later, he failed in his breakthrough to Purple Mansion and perished, his Dao extinguished. I was subsequently demoted to a monster general, a role I have held for several decades now."
Though this deer demon had lived a long time, he had mostly cultivated in the forests and did not appear scheming, speaking quite candidly. Li Yuanjiao cupped his hands and said:
"So Fellow Daoist once had backing within the cave."
"Far from it!"
Lu Ken shook his head and said, "Fellow Daoist... to put it bluntly, your noble clan's sword immortal once served Qingchi as well, but can you now enjoy Qingchi's protection? It is the same within the cave, only far more cruel. If I had not voluntarily requested to leave the cave, I fear I would have been carved up and devoured sooner or later."
Li Yuanjiao nodded. Hearing that he was fully five hundred years old, a thought immediately crossed his mind, and he hastily asked:
"Does Fellow Daoist also know of... the great war four hundred years ago?"
"With such tremendous upheaval, how could I not know? As old friends withered away one by one, few are left today who know of that matter."
Lu Ken nodded. Seeing the expectant look in Li Yuanjiao's eyes, he replied, "The Jinyu Sect and the Qingchi Gate joined forces to besiege and slay that Li Jiangqun, fighting until the sun and moon lost their light. Foundation Establishment cultivators formed an impenetrable encirclement, laying formations to seal off the Great Void... In the five hundred years since the Qingchi Demonic Gate was established, only in that single battle did it exhaust all its strength, shaking its very foundations."
Li Yuanjiao frowned and asked, "Was it not the Three Sects and Seven Gates?"
"The Three Sects and Seven Gates?"
Lu Ken was startled, then said, "How could that be! Naturally not... Xiuyue and Xueji presumably did not take action... Xuanyue and Changxiao were established only later. Aside from Lingyu Gate, which stood on Li Jiangqun's side, there were only Jinyu Sect and the Qingchi Demonic Gate allied with the three gates of Hongxue, Lichi, and Wuzhu."
"Fellow Daoist, please elaborate!"
Li Yuanjiao pressed on immediately. Lu Ken nodded and said, "Back then, they fought until the sun and moon grew dark. Jinyu and the Demonic Gate fared somewhat better, but the masters of the Hongxue, Lichi, and Wuzhu Gates were slaughtered by Master Donghua until hardly any remained... That master of Wuzhu Gate fled fully ten thousand li, escaping all the way to the Eastern Sea, only to spit blood and collapse dead just the same, bestowing a windfall upon the cultivators of the Eastern Sea.
"The surviving master of Hongxue Gate obtained Master Donghua's immortal sword, yet he likewise perished halfway through his journey. Ever since, the immortal sword has vanished without a trace, sending cultivators south and north of the river searching everywhere, letting their imaginations run wild."
With lingering dread, Lu Ken lowered his voice: "Though Master Donghua died, he brought about the extinction of three gates' lineages and left Qingchi and Jinyu terrified for a century. He truly was a supreme talent of the heavens."
Digesting this information, Li Yuanjiao said in a low voice, "Only... why did they want to kill Li Jiangqun?"
"Who could have imagined it?"
Lu Ken shook his head, his face full of perplexity as he replied, "Clearly, Li Jiangqun was minding his own business cultivating on the lake. From time to time, Jinyu and the Demonic Gate even came to beg for his help, and Master Donghua courteously assisted them... It was celebrated as a fine story for a time, yet overnight they turned against him! They insisted on his death!"
The deer demon sighed and replied, "How could ordinary people fathom the minds of Purple Mansion and Golden Core cultivators? Just like this demonic disaster... all the Purple Mansion cultivators south of the river simply look on with folded arms... Who knows what schemes they are harboring?"
Li Yuanjiao nodded secretly, then asked nonchalantly, "What magical instrument did Master Donghua use?"
"What else could it be!"
Lu Ken laughed. "A sword, of course..."
"Only a sword?"
"Only this one sword."
Lu Ken nodded and answered, "A single sword that struck down Purple Mansion cultivators dead on the spot and wiped out divine abilities; a single sword that showered Mount Dali in rain of falling leaves and raised the waters of Lake Wangyue by three feet.
"Back then, I was only at Qi Refinement, and the impression it left on me was profound."
Lu Ken paused, an unforgettable look surfacing on his face: "Master Donghua was already at the pinnacle of Purple Mansion. When he perished in a single night, the bright moon was nowhere to be seen across the realm for three nights, and the sky turned black as pitch. For fully three nights I could not cultivate, hiding in my cave, gripped by sheer terror."
'The bright moon was nowhere to be seen...'
Li Yuanjiao felt a weight lift from his heart, sighing with regret, "With such anomalies of heaven and earth, he was likely not far from the Golden Core."
While agreeing with Lu Ken aloud, doubt lingered in his heart:
'Only this one sword... The Immortal Mirror truly is not Master Donghua Li Jiangqun's magical instrument! If it belongs to the Yuehua Yuan Mansion... could there have been someone else besides Li Jiangqun?'
After conversing with Lu Ken for a few more moments, Li Yuanjiao, now absentminded, urged him, "Please help me search for that Blood Tun Fruit, Fellow Daoist. If you can find even one, my clan will certainly reward you handsomely!"
"Rest assured... rest assured..."
Lu Ken gave his full assurance. Li Yuanjiao nodded and said, "Do your utmost to search for it, Fellow Daoist; my clan needs more than just one, so there is no need to worry."
Lu Ken naturally understood what he meant and nodded repeatedly. Only then did Li Yuanjiao ride the wind away.
As Li Yuanjiao departed riding the clouds and mist, Lu Ken let out a breath of relief. Sitting back in his seat, he glanced at his subordinates, who were exchanging glances, and waved his hand:
"Disperse, all of you!"
The pack of lesser demons bowed and withdrew. Looking at the fruit wine Li Yuanjiao had left untouched, Lu Ken poured it back into his own jade cup and sipped it for a while. Soon, the fox rode a demonic wind from the distance and came to a stop before him.
"Greetings, Young Master!"
Lu Ken hastily bowed. The White Banyan Fox shook its head in boredom and replied, "What Young Master or no Young Master? Now that Adoptive Father is dead, neither of us has a patron... We are merely lingering on in this place, dragging out our meager lives..."
Lu Ken lowered his voice and replied, "As long as Young Master breaks through to Foundation Establishment, you will receive the Bai surname of the fox clan and be able to return to the monster cave. Do not belittle yourself..."
The White Banyan Fox did not take up the topic. Reclining under the tree with both hind legs propped on the table, it changed the subject and asked, "How is that Li Yuanjiao?"
Lu Ken pondered for a moment and replied, "I have seen many monsters, but have rarely dealt with humans. I only feel that this man is like a flood dragon or serpent—not someone to offend... Being targeted by him would be even worse... It is best to maintain good relations with him."
The White Banyan Fox flicked its tail and replied, "Fortunately, you do not eat humans, and with my favor on the line, he will not act against you... When I enter seclusion, look out for yourself and cooperate with him closely."
Lu Ken nodded. The White Banyan Fox yawned and mumbled, "These past ten-odd years, my cultivation has progressed swiftly. I can already pick a date for secluded cultivation. If the breakthrough succeeds, that is best; if it fails, your innate spirit remains intact, so just submit to the Li family's threshold..."
Before the words finished, it had already drifted off into a daze of sleep. Lu Ken sat back at the table, sipped his fruit wine, and fell into deep contemplation for a long time, his thoughts inscrutable.
Chapter 401