Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

Spring rain was like silk.

The misty drizzle from the sky, fine as ox hairs, fluttered down, rendering the peaks in the early morninga hazy layering of drizzle-like gauze, faint and ethereal, like fog or mist.

A few pieces of wet joss paper scattered beside the road, accompanied by a faint, sorrowful wailing, added a touch of melancholy to the spring rain.

"Father, your daughter is living well now, and my husband treats me kindly. Rest assured, and stay with mother more..." Zhang Shuniang’s eyes were moist, and after speaking, she bowed with deep respect and kowtowed three times.

Chen Li stepped forward to pay his homage.

He was filled with sorrow!

Alas, Brother Zhang, rest assured that I will definitely take good care of Shuniang. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

A breeze blew by, lifting several pieces of paper money into the air before the grave, circling around in place and reluctant to fall, as if there really was a response.

But even if Zhang Yan truly had spirit beneath the earth, witnessing this scene would probably bring him comfort... right?

"The rain is getting heavier, let’s head back," Chen Li said.

"Mm, husband!" Zhang Shuniang wiped her tears and responded, taking Chen Li’s arm.

The couple shared an umbrella, walking slowly down the wet mountain path.

...

A few days later.

Chen Li visited the place where the Yu Family had once settled.

As expected, it was completely deserted, with no one to be seen.

Looking at the weeds that were nearly a person tall, it was clear by estimation that this Loose Cultivator residential area had been abandoned even before Green River District began to be cultivated.

He flew around the nearby forest but saw no sign of people.

"Sigh, I hope they’re safe and sound," Chen Li sighed to himself.

No sooner had he returned to the sect’s gate than he sensed an unusual atmosphere; disciples were hurrying to and fro, their faces all revealing a cautiousness. He pulled aside a disciple to inquire.

Only then did he learn that the Sect Leader of the Hongshan Sect had come to visit the Returning True Sect with a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators, the purpose of which was unknown.

The relationship between the Hongshan Sect and the Returning True Sect had always been fairly good.

Initially, the Artefact Sect, Returning True Sect, and the Hongshan Sect allied in the great battle against the Longevity Sect, advancing and retreating together, somewhat like allies.

However, such high-level affiliations were something Chen Li, as a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator and an outside Guest Elder, could only vaguely perceive without full understanding.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Li pushed these thoughts aside and waved for the trembling disciple to leave.

He passed through the Five Elements Illusionary Formation and entered the courtyard.

"This broken Formation!"

The Five Elements Illusionary Formation didn’t have much defensive power, just a simple combination of an illusion array and a maze.

Not to mention that the Penetrating Vision Skill could easily break it, but even if one repeatedly walked through it a few times, any ordinary person would be able to come and go as they pleased, rendering it effectively useless.

Chen Li had long wanted to replace it.

Unfortunately, he simply didn’t have the money!

"Master!"

"Master, you’re back!"

Bai Wei and two maids were busy processing medicinal materials in the courtyard. Seeing Chen Li, they all stood up to greet him respectfully.

"Mm," Chen Li nodded and headed toward his cave dwelling.

"Master, we’re nearly out of medicinal materials, only two portions left," Bai Wei hurried over to say.

"I know," Chen Li replied.

The thought of having to spend money again gave him a headache.

During the Qi Cultivation Stage, he had hardly worried about money, but upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, he found himself getting poorer and poorer.

He couldn’t afford magic artifacts or formations.

Even when he thought about buying a large-capacity storage bag, he would hesitate again and again, dragging his feet, until it seemed indefinitely postponed, with no clue as to which year of the monkey or month of the horse it would take place.

"This Body Refinement drains a lifetime of wealth!"

Chen Li counted his costs in silence. As soon as he entered, Zhou Hong hurriedly came up to him and said, "This morning while you were out, someone came by, saying the Sect Leader ordered you to go to the council hall. There won’t be any trouble, right?"

"Don’t worry, there shouldn’t be anything wrong!" Chen Li reassured her.

And with that, he left the house and rushed to the council hall.

When he arrived,

he found people practicing and sparring on the open ground in front of the hall, causing a great uproar.

The Golden Core Ancestor was standing to the side, chatting and laughing with a middle-aged cultivator in a crimson robe, undoubtedly the Sect Leader of the Hongshan Sect. They were surrounded by Foundation Establishment cultivators from both sects, standing distinctively apart like stars surrounding the moon.

Chen Li stepped forward to apologize.

The Golden Core Ancestor waved him off casually, and Chen Li quickly joined his own sect’s group, blending into the crowd.

Only then did he get the chance to observe the battle.

The two competitors, one male and one female, were both Foundation Establishment cultivators. The male was Feng Qi, and the female, a young cultivator from the Hongshan Sect.

They fought using completely different styles.

Feng Qi’s form had swelled in size compared to his normal state, his muscles bulging and veins protruding, resembling a small giant.

His bare fists were wrapped in condensed qi, punching like the wind, each blow heavier than the last, crashing down like mountains. Above the Hongshan Sect cultivator, a mysterious orb dangled, barely withstanding with its defenses.

Under the bombardment of Feng Qi’s powerful punches, the orb’s defense sparked with vast spiritual light, appearing unsteady and on the verge of collapse.

The young female cultivator from the Hongshan Sect seemed petrified with fear, her face pale as she stood frozen on the spot, having completely forgotten to counterattack.

"Alright, alright, let’s stop here. We concede this match," the Sect Leader of the Hongshan Sect, unable to watch any longer, said aloud.

"Haha, much obliged, much obliged!" the Golden Core Ancestor laughed heartily.

As their side easily won, everyone followed the Ancestor’s lead, all smiles.

The other party had an ugly expression on their face.

Another match followed soon after.

"Sun Yuemei, second level of Foundation Establishment, which esteemed disciple of the Hongshan Sect would like to offer guidance?" Sun Yuemei was petite and exquisite, with fair skin and wearing a tender yellow form-fitting robe, looking spirited and vigorous.

Very quickly, a male cultivator from the Hongshan Sect leaped forward.

"Han Qinglei, second level of Foundation Establishment..."

After exchanging courtesies to start off the match, they wasted no further words and began their sparring.

This fight was by the book, with styles similar to each other.

Both first used talismans for defense. Chen Li discerned that they were employing Second Order, fourth level talismans, specifically the Water Yuan Shield and the Thick Earth Shield, followed by the whirling and howling of magic artifacts, cutting through the air with sharp vigor.

He watched intently, not blinking, imagining himself in the fight, then soon relaxed.

Han Qinglei clearly had far more combat experience than Sun Yuemei. It wasn’t long before Sun Yuemei began to be at a disadvantage, repeatedly hit by the flying sword.

Just a moment passed.

Her defenses were broken. She hurriedly leapt and dodged to evade the lightning-fast flying swords, just about to deploy another talisman for defense when she saw Han Qinglei’s eyes bulge, a hazy glow of illusion lighting up faintly within them.

The next moment.

Sun Yuemei’s expression changed drastically, gazing at Han Qinglei with a look of tender infatuation, cooing ’Han’ in a lingering and mournful way like a plaintive cry, and then she began to undo her clothes without heed...

Han Qinglei did not attack, instead avoiding her gaze, decently and respectfully leaving the platform.

"Haha!"

This time the Hongshan Sect burst into laughter, while the expressions on the side of the Returning True Sect turned ugly as they glared in anger.

"What kind of technique is this, secret technique or spell?" Chen Li frowned deeply: "It’s eerily strange!"

"Such embarrassment, wake up now!" The Golden Core Ancestor’s face turned green as he barked an order.

His light reprimand contained the power to awaken the mind, and Sun Yuemei on the platform instantly shuddered, snapping out of her rosy fantasy, as if waking from a dream. Recalling everything that happened, her face flushed with shame, finding no place to hide. She quickly picked up her robe that had been discarded, threw it on haphazardly, and left covering her face.

She didn’t even return to her team and flew away directly instead.

"It seems this young miss has taken a liking to our young Han! The Seven Emotions Burning Skill, seduction burning like flames. Joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, disgust, desire – these seven emotions. And to think it incited..." The Sect Leader of the Hongshan Sect stroked his beard and chuckled.

"Humph, deviant and heretical methods." The Sect Leader of the Returning True Sect snorted coldly.

...

’The Seven Emotions Burning Skill, huh?’ Chen Li perked up his ears and listened attentively.

This secret technique is truly...

terrifying!

To think it could make someone who was just fighting lose her mind completely, disregarding the situation, and disrobing in front of everyone, devoid of any fighting capacity.

Luckily, he had the Protector God Mirror, so he wasn’t too worried about such attacks.

...

One fight followed another.

All were battles among those at the early stages of Foundation Establishment, with wins and losses on both sides.

Varieties of attacking methods were displayed one after the other, broadening Chen Li’s horizons; in this sort of arena-style combat, there was hardly any time for spells—Second Order spells took too long, and First Order spells were largely useless, not inflicting enough damage.

Chen Li quietly asked Guo Xingquan beside him and found out that the two sects were preparing for a marriage alliance.

A female Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Returning True Sect would marry into the Hongshan Sect, and at the same time, a female Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Hongshan Sect would also marry into the Returning True Sect.

And this sparring competition was held for this reason.

Chen Li immediately sensed something unsettling!

Recently, the land disputes between the Hongshan Sect and the Tianxing Sect had escalated, with several Foundation Establishment cultivators reported dead from both sides. In such a time, a marriage alliance between the two sects was certainly for specific political purposes.

The fights lasted for over a dozen rounds before concluding.

As a Guest Elder, Chen Li naturally did not need to participate.

With two Golden Core cultivators supervising, the combatants from both sides mostly stopped at the point of contact, without anyone getting hurt, maintaining a harmonious atmosphere.

Of course, Sun Yuemei, who had left early in humiliation, probably did not share that sentiment.

Many began to size up the female cultivators in the other team, whispering to each other, critically appraising them.

A banquet was arranged for midday.

At the table, Chen Li and Ding Jian sat together. Compared to the polite and respectful demeanor at the Foundation Establishment ceremony, he now had become much more reserved and proud, interacting little, and when faced with the enthusiastic toast of others, he drank only a sip or two.

After having his fill at the banquet, Chen Li mingled and exchanged a few words with some familiar Foundation Establishment cultivators.

After the meal, seeing that some Foundation Establishment cultivators began to leave, he decisively followed suit and slipped away.

This obviously matchmaking-oriented gathering had no charm for him to linger.

He was summoned just for the formality.

...

The Hongshan Sect delegation stayed at the Returning True Sect for three days before leaving.

It was said that the marriage had been settled.

The wedding ceremonies were to be held separately in the coming days.

From the Returning True Sect’s side, the bride to be sent over was Sun Yuemei.

After the Seven Emotions Burning Skill had caused such a scene, she could no longer stay at the Returning True Sect, luckily Han Qinglei also had intentions for her, turning it into a fortunate match.

Meanwhile, Chen Li’s Rainbow Transformation Skill was finally mastered.

But as a second-level, initial stage Flight Skill, it didn’t yet have much use in Chen Li’s list of techniques.

For speed, it couldn’t compare to the Max-Level Yuan Magnetism Evasion Skill, and for consumption, it was no match for the Wind Control Skill; at least until it reached max level, it would have little application.

ps: Sorry, I was going to take a short nap last night, but ended up sleeping right through...