Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

Evil nature?

Chen Li couldn’t feel it.

Take Wen Hui, for example, who is just a bit whimsical in character. She has been married for several years, yet she still has a naïve and cheerful demeanor, which makes her quite easy to get along with.

Then the two of them chatted for a while longer.

Seeing that it was nearing noon, Xiao Yuan showed no signs of playing the host.

Chen Li thus took the initiative to bid farewell and leave.

Xiao Yuan stood up to send Chen Li off. Once the other party was far away, he turned back, closed the door, and let out a deep sigh.

Having both escaped from the Returning True Sect, Chen wore fine clothes and presented himself with an air of immortal elegance, exuding the scent of medicinal baths that signified Spirit Stones, with even his breath carrying the fragrance of top-grade medicinal pills.

Yet he himself was still bustling every day, worrying about his future livelihood.

"Alas, if only my storage bag hadn’t been stolen," he sighed what felt like the umpteenth time.

"Eh!" Just then, he suddenly let out a soft "Eh!"

There seemed to be a faint glimmer of light in the soil, catching the corner of his eye.

"What is this!"

He walked over and ground it with his foot.

Instantly, a Spirit Stone leapt into view.

With a thought, Xiao Yuan used his mana to draw the Spirit Stone quickly into his hand, and upon closer inspection, his heartbeat couldn’t help but speed up slightly: "This is actually a top-grade Spirit Stone."

...

"I hope that Spirit Stone gets found!"

Walking down the road, Chen Li thought to himself.

"I must make time to visit the Fire Cloud Sect soon. It’s better sooner rather than later, as delays only bring about more complications."

The entrance to the Fire Cloud Sect was not in Red Pillar City but two to three thousand miles away, in a fourth-tier spiritual land. He had only heard about it but never been there. The thought of heading to such a place made him feel a bit apprehensive.

"It’s just that I don’t know how approachable Ding Jian will be."

Chen Li reflected for a moment.

He had only met Ding Jian once before.

It was at the other’s Foundation Establishment celebration.

He had a green and wooden look, courteous and humble in front of these senior predecessors, giving a good first impression.

However, Chen Li was also aware that such ceremonial behavior often contained an element of performance and couldn’t be taken as certain.

Whether he were approachable or remembered the etiquette due a fellow sect member could only really be known after meeting him in person.

...

The next day.

Chen Li went to visit the husband and wife duo, Peng Yan Wenhui.

Compared to Xiao Yuan, the couple had a much more leisurely life, with a purchased estate and servants. Their entire yard was filled with all kinds of spiritual flowers and exotic plants, meticulously maintained and elegant.

"I heard from Xiao yesterday about Fellow Daoist Chen, and we were planning to visit in the next few days. I didn’t expect you’d come over first, and I’m truly embarrassed," Wen Hui said with a smile, dressed in a brightly colored robe adorned with many flowers, her slim waist supple, and her peach blossom eyes moist as if containing the mist of autumn.

Every gesture seemed seductive.

Fortunately, Peng Yan did not seem to mind.

Perhaps this was just the dynamic of an older husband with a younger wife.

"We’ve been friends for many years; being so formal would make us strangers," Chen Li said with a smile, then turned to Peng Yan, "Fellow Daoist Peng, seeing the Spiritual Power barely contained within you, I assume you’ve had another breakthrough!"

"Fellow Daoist truly has a discerning eye, I was indeed fortunate enough to advance to the third layer of Foundation Establishment not long ago," Peng Yan said with a beaming smile.

Peng Yan usually didn’t talk much and was not accustomed to socializing, but when it came to this topic, he became quite enthusiastic:

"I’ve been stuck on this level for over a decade. Despite several times in seclusion, I failed to break through. Perhaps it was surviving the recent life-and-death crisis that loosened the boundaries of my cultivation. It’s just that, alas, many of our fellow daoists have passed away!"

Hearing this, Chen Li also felt a pang of sorrow.

His friends were mostly in Luoluo City, but now they were either dead or scattered, and the number of acquaintances was dwindling.

...

After Chen Li had left.

"Fellow Daoist Chen’s cultivation is growing more profound by the day. I feel a kind of oppression in his presence," Peng Yan sighed.

"You still want to compare yourself with him? Weren’t you there during the battle at Tianxing Sect? Just in the blink of an eye, he annihilated three people, one of them in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. By then, his cultivation had already reached the third layer of Foundation Establishment," Wen Hui glanced at him and chided softly.

"Hehe, do you think the old ancestor might have been mistaken? After all, Fellow Daoist Chen hasn’t been at Foundation Establishment for that many years," Peng Yan suddenly said with a laugh.

...

Several more days passed.

Chen Li made his preparations, arranged his affairs at home, and then set off for the mountain gate of the Huoyun Sect.

A journey of two to three thousand li is not short.

In reality, with the speed of the Rainbow Transformation Skill, it would only take three to four hours.

Chen Li set out at dawn, and by the time he reached the foot of the gate of the Huoyun Sect, it wasn’t even noon yet.

The distant mountains covered in white snow were neither steep nor strange, looking quite ordinary, seemingly no different from that of the Returning True Sect. But the thought of more than a dozen or twenty Golden Core practitioners and even Nascent Soul cultivators residing above evoked a feeling of awe in his heart.

Chen Li landed early, climbed the steps, and walked to the reception platform at the mountain gate.

Here, cultivators came and went incessantly. In addition to those dressed in the Daoist robes of the Huoyun Sect, there were also many cultivators from other sects who came to visit family or friends. However, these people clearly could not enter the gate and could only have the gatekeeper pass on their messages.

Soon, it was Chen Li’s turn.

The gatekeeper was but a Qi Cultivation practitioner, yet Chen Li did not dare to neglect him and treated him respectfully, explaining his purpose.

"Ding Jian, Uncle Master Ding, I think I have heard of him. Isn’t he a new disciple that Elder Qian took some time ago... Please wait a moment, I will send a message." The gatekeeper quickly ignited a Communication Talisman to notify the inner gate, then turned to Chen Li, "It might take a while."

Chen Li had no choice but to wait on the spot.

Time slowly ticked by. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The sun overhead gradually leaned toward the west.

Feeling helpless, Chen Li stepped forward to urge once more.

It was only when it was almost dusk that a message arrived, leisurely.

"Uncle Master Ding is currently in seclusion. Please wait a while longer before coming back!"

A feeling of disappointment arose in Chen Li’s heart, and he could only return dejectedly.

He waited a month and then made his way again to the mountain gate of the Huoyun Sect. This time, he finally met him.

Ding Jian was still as youthful as before. Seeing Chen Li, a look of confusion appeared on his stolid face, "Fellow Daoist, you were looking for me. Do we know each other?"

Taken aback by the question, Chen Li had anticipated many possibilities.

But he had never thought that the other might have forgotten him completely.

He gave a slightly awkward smile and introduced himself, "You might have forgotten, I am a Guest Elder from the Returning True Sect. Six years ago, we met during your Foundation Establishment ceremony."

"Hmm, it seems a bit familiar," Ding Jian nodded woodenly, his face showing a perfunctory acknowledgment. "Then what business do you have with me?"

"This place is bustling with activity, not a place for conversation. Let’s find somewhere quiet to talk," Chen Li suggested.

Ding Jian hesitated for a moment before replying, "Alright, let’s go to the nearby woods."

Chen Li had no objections.

As they walked into the woods and confirmed no one could see them, Chen Li stopped and used a Silencing Talisman.

The faint light of the Silencing Talisman quickly enveloped their surroundings.

Perceiving Ding Jian’s disposition, Chen Li immediately dispensed with pleasantries and got straight to the point, "Fellow Daoist Ding, before the old ancestor passed away, he left his belongings to you, didn’t he? I desire the continued Cultivation Technique of the Golden Core section of the Longevity Skill, and I’m willing to pay a high price for it."

At these words, the corner of Ding Jian’s mouth involuntarily twitched as if he wished to laugh, "Forgive my poor eyesight, but may I inquire as to what your cultivation level is and your age this year?"

Chen Li knew he was being mocked, but as he needed a favor, he could only swallow his pride and respond with patience, "Foundation Establishment, fourth layer, nearly fifty-five years old."

"Fifty-five, and at the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment, that’s indeed not bad, but... Forget it, I won’t say anything superfluous. I don’t need the Spirit Stones. The Longevity Skill is of no use to me. Out of respect for our former sect affiliation, I’ll give it to you. I hope to see you achieve the Golden Core in my lifetime!"

As Ding Jian spoke, he rummaged through his storage bag, eventually pulling out a scroll and tossing it to Chen Li as one might discard trash.