Qingxuan Sect, Sect Master Hall.
The Nascent Soul Old Ancestor – Qingfeng Shangren, Sect Master Qingyi, and several Nascent Soul Elders, Qingyang, Qing Chen, Zhou Hong, and Chen Yuan, gathered in the hall to discuss matters.
“So, Fire Tian Venerable of Shanhe Sect came here looking for ‘Jian Chen’?” Qingfeng Shangren looked at the Nascent Soul Elders, confirming.
“Yes, the missing person information provided by Fire Tian Venerable largely matches ‘Jian Chen’ who rescued us,” Qingyang True Lord confirmed.
Qingfeng Shangren nodded, pondered for a moment, then looked at Sect Master Qingyi and instructed, “Tell them to pay a little attention if they find any Golden Core cultivator who Cultivates Five Elements Technique.”
“Senior Brother, ‘Jian Chen’ has shown great kindness to us. You’re not planning to tell Fire Tian Venerable this news, are you?” Qingchen True Monarch asked worriedly.
“You don’t know much about that ‘Jian Chen’; his origins are unknown. What good would it do even if we told them? It would only cause more trouble. Just pay a little attention and make it look like we’re doing something. After all, we can’t afford to offend Shanhe Sect!” Qingfeng Shangren sighed, glancing at Qingchen True Monarch with exasperation.
Hearing this, the True Monarchs breathed a sigh of relief. They certainly didn't want to be ungrateful.
Every action has its consequences, and every outcome has its cause.
Li Mu’s previous rescue of Qingyang True Lord and the others brought him good fortune; Qingxuan Sect did not extensively search for ‘Jian Chen’ because of Fire Tian Venerable.
With Fire Tian Venerable of Shanhe Sect leaving, Qingxuan Sect quickly returned to peace.
Knowing that Fire Tian Venerable of Shanhe Sect was searching for him with the Sixth Order Blue-Scaled Thunder Lion, Li Mu became even more cautious, even stopping the hunting activities with Little Gold and Little Tile.
The two Profound Rank concealment Cultivation Technique, Turtle Breath Concealment Spirit Art and Five Elements Concealment Breath Art, exchanged at Tai Xuan Peak’s Contribution Hall, were both raised to max level. He ran them daily, disguising himself as a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator who Cultivated fire-elemental Cultivation Technique. Except for necessary outings for supplies and accepting Artifact Refining missions, he rarely left his home, staying hidden on Yue Qiong Peak.
Later, Li Mu refined a Fourth Order Clone Puppet. He quickly used the Clone Puppet for resupplying Materials and accepting Artifact Refining missions, and he rarely left Yue Qiong Peak again.
Years flew by, and in a blink of an eye, thirty-five Years passed.
During these thirty-five Years, Li Mu politely declined all events requiring him to leave Yue Qiong Peak, such as the Qingxuan Sect Disciple Grand Competition, Sect Grand Ceremony, Yun Xiaozi’s invitation to travel, and so on, citing closed-door Cultivation.
Among the tens of thousands of Inner Sect Disciples and core high-level Elders of Qingxuan Sect, almost no one had seen Li Mu, the Artifact Crafting Elder, for so many Years, except for Yin Xianwen and Yun Xiaozi.
Moreover, Yue Qiong Peak, shrouded in mist all year round, gradually became mysterious.
One female and two male Inner Sect Disciples were flying on swords. As they passed Yue Qiong Peak, a slightly older Foundation Establishment Disciple quickly reminded, “Junior Sister Lin, don’t fly there. That’s Yue Qiong Peak.”
“Why not?!” The young female Cultivator, with a naive face, stopped her sword and turned to ask, puzzled.
“Yue Qiong Peak is where an Elder, whose identity is unknown, Cultivates in seclusion. He has set up a large number of formations and maze . If you go further, you will easily get lost inside,” the older Foundation Establishment Cultivator quickly reminded.
“That’s right! An eccentric Senior lives on this Peak. Don’t disturb him, Junior Sister Lin, come back quickly.” Another male Foundation Establishment Cultivator also advised.
“Alright!”
Seeing the two Senior Brothers looking solemn, Lin Siqi quickly agreed and flew away with them.
Lin Siqi looked back at the mysterious Yue Qiong Peak, vaguely seeing red light flashing within, emanating a mighty Aura.
As the three Inner Sect Disciples left, Li Mu’s expression on Yue Qiong Peak relaxed slightly, and his gaze softened.
If they had continued to approach, Li Mu would have had no choice but to use his methods to subdue them first, then knock them out and throw them out of Yue Qiong Peak.
At this moment, what was happening on Yue Qiong Peak could not be known by any outsiders.
On Yue Qiong Peak, hundreds of acres of Spiritual Field were enveloped by the Five Elements Formation.
Three-Tier Earth Origin Ginseng, Three-Tier Qilin Fruit, Three-Tier Wood Dragon Vine, Three-Tier Golden Sword Grass, and Three-Tier Jade Pure Green Lotus, five types of High Grade Spirit Plant, were all thriving under the nourishment of their corresponding Five Elements Formations.
In the Gold Essence Formation, Golden Element Spirit Swords in human form swam in the air, and Three-Tier Golden Sword Grass, golden in color and emitting faint Sword Qi, grew remarkably well.
In the Fire Element Formation, the Three-Tier Qilin Fruit Spirit Plant was fiery red, bearing numerous red fire fruits, not far from ripening and falling.
In the Earth Element Formation, the Three-Tier Earth Origin Ginseng was lush with branches and leaves, absorbing Earth Element Spiritual Qi, and its Medicinal Pill fragrance permeated the air.
...
The entire Yue Qiong Peak was filled with a vast amount of Five Elements Spiritual Qi, almost overflowing.
Over the Years, Li Mu had re-cultivated more than two hundred acres of Spiritual Field, all successfully upgraded to Superior Spiritual Field. Afterward, he planted all of them with Three-Tier Five Elements Spirit Plant, set up Five Elements Formations, and invested countless Five Elements Materials, transforming the entire Yue Qiong Peak into a Five Elements Ling Peak.
To conceal the large amount of overflowing Five Elements Spiritual Qi, Li Mu invested regardless of cost, setting up large maze and illusion formations, thereby covering the unusual state of Yue Qiong Peak.
Fortunately, Yue Qiong Peak was a relatively secluded Ling Peak within the core of the Qingxuan Sect Headquarters, with few Disciples passing by.
As for those who inadvertently spread rumors, Li Mu secretly dealt with them one by one, knocking them out and sending them to remote locations.
Thirty-five Years passed, and the reputation of Yue Qiong Peak being inhabited by an eccentric Elder who disliked strangers gradually spread among the Inner Sect Disciples.
The ripening time for Three-Tier Five Elements Spirit Plant is around twenty Years. With Li Mu's unrestrained investment and the deployment of Five Elements Formations, the growth time of these Five Elements Spirit Plant was compressed to fifteen or sixteen Years.
This batch of Three-Tier Five Elements Spirit Plant was already Li Mu’s second large-scale planting, with about one hundred acres of each type.
The previous batch of ripened Five Elements Spirit Plant provided a large amount of Innate Five Elements Spiritual Power, successfully raising Li Mu’s Cultivation from Early Stage Golden Core to Late Stage Golden Core, and the Yin Yang Five Elements Scripture - Golden Core Chapter level to six.
This was equivalent to a hundred Years of arduous Cultivation for other Golden Core cultivator.
Now, it would only take one or two more Years for this batch of Spirit Plant to ripen.
Once this batch of Spirit Plant ripened, it would be the day he advanced to the Nascent Soul Realm. Li Mu was very much looking forward to it and patiently continued to hide on Yue Qiong Peak, vowing not to leave the mountain easily until he reached the Nascent Soul Realm.
“Woof woof!”
In the stone courtyard, the Crimson Wolf excitedly barked around a Puppet, as if begging for food.
The Puppet, holding a steaming clay pot, scooped a few pieces of Yao Beast meat into the Crimson Wolf’s food bowl, satisfying its request.
The Crimson Wolf buried its head in the bowl and began to devour the food.
Hearing the commotion, Li Mu’s figure flashed, appearing at a stone table in the stone courtyard.
The Puppet had already prepared lunch; three dishes and one soup were laid out on the stone table: braised Yao Beast meat, stewed meat soup, stir-fried spiritual bamboo shoots… steaming hot and fragrant.
As soon as Li Mu's figure appeared, a white light shot out from the room.
“Squeak!” A foot-long Little White darted onto the stone table, squeaking at Li Mu, indicating that it also wanted to eat.
“You little fellow, you’re getting more and more gluttonous. Can’t you even go hungry for a little while?!”
Li Mu looked at Little White begging for food, sighing exasperatedly, and took out a soul gathering bottle from his storage ring, tossing it to it.
“Squeak!” Little White happily sprang up, caught the soul gathering bottle in mid-air, and then bounced back into the stone house.
Since Little White absorbed the Divided Soul of the Soul Transformation Cultivator, Fire Tian Venerable, it had fallen into a deep sleep, only waking up five Years ago.
Little White's Aptitude had greatly improved; originally only having Fifth Order potential, it gained the potential to Breakthrough to Sixth Order. However, its demands for food and quality had also increased significantly.
Left with no choice, Li Mu could only use contribution points to exchange for large quantities of High Grade Yao Beast souls in the Sect to prepare its rations, and he even reduced the refining of Spiritual Artifact with Artifact Spirits.
However, just after sending Little White away with a Fourth Order Yao Beast soul, Li Mu was quickly entangled again.
Two small figures, one gold and one black, flew together in front of him, their two big eyes looking at him eagerly.
It was Little Gold and Little Tile, miniaturized, their bodies shrunk to half a zhang in size.
Li Mu disliked their large size and excessive Fourth Order Aura, as letting them roam freely on Yue Qiong Peak could easily attract other Sect Disciples. He also couldn't keep them in a Spirit Beast Pouch for long, so through the Spirit Control Contract Seal, Li Mu taught them the Body Shrinking Technique and Concealment Breath Technique.
After learning the Body Shrinking and Concealment Breath techniques, Little Gold and Little Tile could maintain a height of half a zhang in non-combat state, and their Fourth Order Yao Beast Aura was also restrained.
However, while their bodies had shrunk, their appetites had not.
Without going hunting for Yao Beast, exchanging for Yao Beast meat with contribution points was far from satisfying their appetites. Helplessly, Li Mu could only switch to feeding them Third and Fourth Order Spirit Beast Medicinal Pill.
Looking at the two eager creatures, their eyes filled with longing, Li Mu helplessly took out two bottles of Spirit Pill from the nine storage spiritual pearl, Gold Vein Pill and Earth Spirit Pill, and handed them to them respectively.
“Squeak squeak!”
“Woah!”
Little Gold and Little Tile each took their Medicinal Pill bottles, thanked Li Mu, and then turned and left contentedly.
Watching the two fellows leave with their Medicinal Pill bottles, Li Mu gave a wry smile. Without hunting, the cost of raising two Fourth Order Yao Beast was simply too great.
Most of the large amount of Spirit Stone wealth obtained from the nine Demonic Lords over the Years had been spent on these two.
Once he reached the Nascent Soul Realm, he would take them hunting to work, making them spit out all the Spirit Pill they had eaten, principal and interest.
Li Mu thought resentfully, looking at the two who ate Spirit Pill as if they were meals.
“Master, this is the last dish, steamed silver Dragon fish.” The Puppet placed a plate of steamed fish on the stone table, transmitted a Divine Sense message to Li Mu to introduce it, and then stood respectfully to the side.
“Hmm! You don’t need to serve me anymore, go organize the Materials in the Material Room!” Li Mu nodded, glanced at the Puppet, and instructed.
“Yes!” The Puppet respectfully acknowledged the order and turned to walk towards the Material Room.
Watching the Puppet leave, Li Mu showed a satisfied expression.
This Puppet was refined by him using the Demonic Lord’s Nascent Soul, after erasing his Divine Sense, with a soul wood core as the soul source. Its body was made from rank 5 star wood. Not only did it have strength comparable to the Fourth Order Peak, but it also possessed a certain degree of self-awareness. Through the Spirit Control Contract Seal and dual control of Puppet artifact patterns, there was absolutely no risk of rebellion.
The tasks Li Mu taught it were all very easy for it to pick up. Now, it could competently cook, take care of pets, organize daily hygiene, and various other tasks, having truly become a good helper in his life.
Li Mu happily enjoyed the delicious food prepared by the Puppet.
Half a quarter of an hour later, Li Mu finished lunch. There was no need for him to clean up; the Puppet would consciously tidy up and wash dishes later.
Li Mu flew down onto a reclining chair under a spiritual peach tree, swaying the chair, and habitually took a nap.
After finishing lunch, the Crimson Wolf walked to Li Mu’s side and lay down, imitating him by closing its eyes to rest.
Li Mu smiled, reached out, and gently stroked the Crimson Wolf’s head.
He enjoyed the quiet, leisurely life.
Thirty-five Years passed, and Li Mu completely settled down on Yue Qiong Peak. Besides occasionally needing to care for the Three-Tier Five Elements Spirit Plant, he even reduced the number of times he refined Spiritual Artifact, drew Spirit Talismans, and refined Puppets.
Enjoying the days of being served by the Puppet,
Li Mu spent most of his time lying in his rocking chair, reading books, stroking the Crimson Wolf, and leisurely passing the time.
Day by day, he waited for the days to pass, waiting for the Spirit Plant to grow.
Li Mu glanced at the character virtual frame out of the corner of his eye. Unbeknownst to him, he was already in his seventies!
【Character: Li Mu】
【Gender: Male】
【Lifespan: 78 / 1850】
【Spiritual Root: Five Elements Saint Body】
【Heavenly Talent: Identifying Myriad Spirits, Plant Spirit Absorption】
【Cultivation: Late Stage Golden Core: 165W / 9000W】
【Cultivation Technique: Yin Yang Five Elements Scripture (Heaven-Grade High Grade) Level 24: 24W / 18000W, Nebula Observation Chart (Heaven-Grade High Grade) Ten: 1 / 300W, Profound Heaven Sword Formation (Earth-Grade High Grade) Level 13: Perfection, Spirit Devouring Body Nourishing Art (Earth-Grade High Grade) Level 9: Perfection, Spirit Control Contract (Earth-Grade Low Grade) Level 9: Perfection, …】
【Skills: Qingfeng Huanyu Technique (Level 9): Perfection, Sword Control Technique (Level 9): Perfection; Symbol Making Art (Level 5), Refining Skill (Level 5), Array Formation Skill (Level 5), …】
Minor Divine Ability: Great Five Elements Escape Technique, Five Elements Illusionary Body, Illusion to Reality, Divine Refining Spirit Melting, Gathering Star Strike, Devouring Spirit Tempering Bone, Sword Heart Transformation Intent, Thousand Feet Sword Domain, Divine Soul Star Transformation, Gathering Star Condensing Spirit, Yin-Yang Eyes, Yin-Yang Meridian Restoration. …
Free Proficiency Points: 287.1 million points
...
After reading the character attribute information, compared to his nearly two-thousand-Year long Lifespan as a Late Stage Golden Core, his age of seventy-eight felt like early childhood.
Other Golden Core cultivator usually only live five or six hundred Years, with a long-lived one reaching about seven hundred Years. Only by Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm can their Lifespan increase to over a thousand Years, around two thousand Years.
However, after Cultivating the ancient Cultivation Technique - Yin Yang Five Elements Scripture, breaking through Foundation Establishment, and forming a Golden Core, his body underwent continuous marrow cleansing, first achieving the Five Elements Spirit Body, then the Five Elements Saint Body, making his Lifespan three to four times longer than that of other ordinary Golden Core cultivator.
He also raised the Spirit Devouring Body Nourishing Art to max level, which also improved his physical Aptitude and Lifespan to a certain extent.
When he advances to Nascent Soul, Li Mu believes his Lifespan will likely increase to over three thousand Years.
“Living too long is a bit boring!”
Li Mu laughed self-deprecatingly, his mood a little complex.
After advancing to Nascent Soul, he decided to travel around again.
Guarding the Spirit Plant growth on Yue Qiong Peak for so many Years, Li Mu felt a bit restless after being still for so long.
However, those Five Elements Spirit Plant still needed another one or two Years to ripen, so Li Mu could only force himself to calm down and continue guarding Yue Qiong Peak.
Li Mu, somewhat bored, released his Divine Sense and used the Star Concealment technique to discreetly observe what was happening within the Qingxuan Sect.