After leaving Tianji Pavilion, Li Mu had spent most of his Spirit Stones, but he had acquired many previously lacking Spiritual Plants and gathered all the seeds for Fourth-Grade Five Elements Spirit Plants. This trip to Tianji Pavilion was not in vain.
However, information about Heavenly Fire was too high-grade and extremely expensive. Even though Li Mu was quite wealthy, he was unwilling to be taken advantage of, so he did not purchase it.
After leaving Tianji Pavilion, Li Mu planned to find an inn for temporary lodging.
Just then, Li Yuan, leading a Second-Grade Spirit Horse, walked directly towards him.
Upon seeing Li Mu, Li Yuan immediately put on a smile and respectfully cupped his hands towards Li Mu, "Senior, we meet again. What a coincidence!"
Li Mu smiled faintly, thinking, what coincidence? This fellow was clearly coming for him!
"What do you want?" Li Mu asked, looking at the other party with a smile, getting straight to the point.
Li Yuan had a good personality, was skilled at interacting with people, and made many friends. Li Mu had a decent impression of him, and his own strength was also quite good; he was a decent fellow.
"Senior, are you looking for the way to Tianji Pavilion? If you don't mind, I can lead the way for you," Li Yuan said respectfully, looking at Li Mu.
"No need, I've already been there," Li Mu replied indifferently.
"Then, Senior, where are you planning to go now...?" Li Yuan asked, shamelessly, unwilling to give up.
"I'm going to find a place to rest. What do you want?" Li Mu frowned, looking at Li Yuan.
"That's wonderful! Senior, if you don't mind, my mansion has a vacant courtyard. It's currently uninhabited. Although the place is small, it's much better than an inn and has a protective Formation, making it extremely safe," Li Yuan said, cupping his hands with utmost sincerity and looking at Li Mu with anticipation.
Offering courtesies without reason means there must be something amiss.
In the cultivation world, although a Golden Core cultivator was already a strong expert, there were no fewer than several hundred Golden Core cultivators in Luo Tian City.
This Li Yuan was a bit too enthusiastic.
This made Li Mu wary. His expression stiffened, and he asked coldly, "Speak! What do you want this Lord to help you with?"
A hint of difficulty flashed in Li Yuan's eyes. He didn't dare to be frank and said with a slight hesitation, "It is my honor to be acquainted with Senior, and it is my fortune to be able to serve you. How would I dare to ask Senior for anything?"
"Not going to speak!" Li Mu's expression turned serious, radiating unspoken anger as he asked.
Li Mu was indeed quite interested in the other party's courtyard. Compared to staying in an inn, having his own courtyard was more suitable for him.
Li Mu liked peace and quiet, and inns and restaurants were indeed a bit inconvenient.
Li Yuan's forehead broke out in cold sweat under Li Mu's penetrating gaze. He dared not beat around the bush any longer and quickly cupped his hands, "Senior, I do indeed have a request. Five days from now, in the Sky Demon Mountain Range, I have already invited friends from all directions, as well as two Golden Core cultivators from my Li Family. We are preparing to acquire a Fourth-Grade Spiritual Plant, the Fire Spirit Grass, to refine a Divine Pill for Dispelling Cold and remove the cold poison from our Old Ancestor."
"But this Fourth-Grade Spiritual Plant is guarded by a Bloodthirsty Lion Scorpion, which has Peak Fourth-Grade strength. Originally, two Golden Core Elders from my Family were going to deal with it, but I still feel it's insufficient. I hope Senior can help. As long as we can obtain this Fourth-Grade Spiritual Plant, Junior is willing to give one hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones as a thank you," Li Yuan said, looking at Li Mu with trepidation.
Actually, he hadn't intended to invite Li Mu at first, only to befriend him. However, this Senior's gaze was truly awe-inspiring, so it was better to go with the flow and invite him along, which would offer a greater chance of success.
However, even if the other party refused, it didn't matter. Successfully befriending a powerful expert and gaining strong support would be for the best.
"Why invite me? Why not invite a Nascent Soul True Lord, or hire someone from Tianji Pavilion? This Fourth-Grade Spirit Medicine shouldn't be a problem for them, right?"
Li Mu didn't consider Foundation Establishment Stage and Golden Core cultivators as threats, but being cautious as always, he still felt it was more appropriate to clarify the matter.
Li Yuan sighed, looked around, then cast a sound-insulating Spell and whispered, "Senior, to be honest, you've just arrived in Luo Tian City and aren't clear how deep the waters are here. Our Li Family is only a second-rate Family in Heavenly Luo City, and there are many forces that want to eliminate us. Currently, our Li Family only has one Nascent Soul Old Ancestor left. If others knew the Old Ancestor was poisoned, they would certainly take advantage of our Li Family's misfortune."
"If the news of the Old Ancestor's incident leaks out, it would be a disaster for our Li Family. Senior, you've just arrived in Luo Tian City, so Junior dares to ask for your help."
"We absolutely dare not let others know. As for purchasing Spirit Medicine from Tianji Pavilion, it's not that we haven't asked, but it will take more than half a month for the next batch of goods to arrive here!"
"Now, every day that passes, the poison in the Old Ancestor's body will deepen. In the later stages, even if the poison is successfully removed, his cultivation might regress. Therefore, we can only seek help from all sides."
"Please Senior, lend a helping hand. As long as Senior is willing to help with this, we will absolutely not shortchange Senior on High-Grade Spirit Stones."
Li Yuan looked at Li Mu with extreme sincerity, explaining in detail, almost kneeling to beg Li Mu.
Li Mu frowned, unmoved. A mere one hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones weren't worth him getting involved in such troublesome matters. He could easily obtain any amount of High-Grade Spirit Stones by selling some of the resources he possessed. He needed other special spiritual items.
"I don't need Spirit Stones, but if you can produce other things, I can consider helping," Li Mu said after a moment of thought, proposing different terms.
Li Yuan's expression changed slightly, but he still cupped his hands respectfully and asked, "May I ask what kind of spiritual items Senior needs? Our Li Family will do our utmost to satisfy you."
"Dragon Flood Dragon bones, Dragon Flood Dragon souls, or high-grade extreme Yin and extreme Yang Spirit Grass and Spirit Medicine?" Li Mu hinted.
Most of the Spiritual Plants purchased from Tianji Pavilion this time had been replenished, but the number of high-grade Yin-Yang Spiritual Plants was still insufficient.
Li Mu planned to stay in Luo Tian City for a period of time to gather all the high-grade Spiritual Plant seeds before moving on.
Upon hearing Li Mu's request, a look of joy immediately appeared on Li Yuan's face. He quickly said, "Senior, yes, yes, yes! Decades ago, our Old Ancestor went to Wangxing Sea to seek Artifact Refining Materials and coincidentally encountered a Fifth-Grade Bihai Mad Flood Dragon. He killed it and then sold its corpse to Tianji Pavilion."
"As for the Dragon Flood Dragon soul, the Old Ancestor originally planned to refine its Dragon soul into the main soul of a spirit banner and keep it himself, but due to a lack of Materials, the Dragon Flood Dragon soul is still with the Old Ancestor. If you can help collect the Spirit Grass, asking him for this Dragon Flood Dragon essence soul will absolutely not be a problem."
Upon hearing this, Li Mu's eyes lit up, and he was very pleased.
It was truly a case of someone sending a pillow when one was sleepy. Currently, he already had the Bihai Mad Flood Dragon, and what he lacked was its Dragon Flood Dragon soul. He never expected it to be in Li Yuan's Old Ancestor's possession.
"Excellent! Lead the way. I want to meet your Old Ancestor."
Li Mu didn't want to waste time. This Dragon Flood Dragon soul was a must-have. As long as he could gather a complete Dragon Flood Dragon soul and Dragon Flood Dragon bones.
Then, killing that bloodthirsty demonic Cultivator and obtaining his living blood would allow the Bloodthirsty Mad Flood Dragon Bone to be repaired.
At that time, the Two Dragons Binding Immortal Formation could be fully unleashed.
This Formation possesses extremely strong illusionary and enemy-trapping effects. Even a Formation master like Li Mu, upon entering it, would not be able to easily break it, showing its power.
Most importantly, by utilizing this Formation, it can also form a killing Formation. Coupled with the sword momentum of the Five Elements Sword Formation, its power can reach another level.
It can surround, trap, and kill.
This Formation will definitely become another powerful trump card.
"Senior, please allow me to first inform the Elder of the Family!" Although Li Yuan was a direct descendant Prodigy of the Li Family, the Family was currently managed by two Golden Core True Persons, and he had to obtain their consent first.
"No matter, just take me to your Family first," Li Mu said with a slight smile, not minding.
Li Yuan gritted his teeth. He had already revealed the Old Ancestor's matter to the other party, and now he was in a difficult position. He decided to take matters into his own hands and bring this Senior back to the Family, taking a gamble. The Old Ancestor's injuries in their Li Family could no longer be delayed.
Soon, Li Yuan led Li Mu back to the Li Family.
Along the way, Li Yuan explained some of the power dynamics of Heavenly Luo City to Li Mu.
The Li Family's residence was in the second district of Luo Tian City. Luo Tian City had strict hierarchical divisions.
From a high vantage point, one could glimpse a bit of it.
The urban area of Luo Tian City is divided into three sections, like a giant disk situated on the earth, with three channels completely separating and dividing the three major regions.
The surrounding Spiritual Mountains and Spiritual Lands make up the third region, where various forces and third-rate Families are located. It is also the place where most Loose Cultivators reside. However, most of the Cultivators here are at the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Stages, with only a small number at the Golden Core Stage.
Second-rate forces and second-rate Families.
Located in the central second region of Luo Tian City, the architecture here is prosperous. One can see luxurious Immortal Caves surrounding Spiritual Mountains, rising from the ground and occupying an extremely vast area, incomparable to the third region.
The Rank of Cultivators here is far greater than in the outer region, with most Golden Core Stage and Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators residing here.
Mostly in the form of Families.
There are a total of eleven Families here. The Li Family is at the bottom, and at its Peak, there were three great Nascent Soul True Lords within the Family. It's a pity that one failed in Soul Transformation and died in the Soul Transformation Lightning Tribulation.
Another one, after countless Years, ascended to immortality a hundred Years ago.
Now, only one remains, which is the Old Ancestor mentioned by Li Yuan.
Besides the Tianji Pavilion, there are also three great Families and two great Sects.
The three great Families are the Liu Family, the Ouyang Family, and the Lin Family.
Each of them has one Early Stage Soul Transformation Cultivator.
After that, there are the two great Sects, Illusory God Sect and Hexian Sect. These two Sects are merely branch Sects here.
Under Li Yuan's detailed introduction, Li Mu gained a preliminary understanding of Luo Tian City's situation.
...
While speaking, Li Yuan led Li Mu to the Li Family.
Li Yuan led Li Mu into the Li Family's main courtyard, a large luxurious residence built around a Spiritual Mountain with a High-Grade Spiritual Vein.
"Senior, please rest for a moment. I will inform the Elders of the Family," Li Yuan led Li Mu into the main hall, cupped his hand to Li Mu, and then instructed a maidservant to attend to Li Mu and serve Spiritual Tea.
Li Mu leisurely tasted the Spiritual Tea, while his Divine Sense quietly spread out to investigate the situation of the Li Family.
Under the 'Star Concealment' Divine Ability, his Divine Thought quickly made a discovery. Beneath the Li Family's luxurious residence, in a hidden stone chamber dozens of feet underground, a third-Rank Divine Sense shielding Formation was set up.
This mere third-Rank Formation did not alarm the Formation. Li Mu's Divine Sense quietly passed through the Dharma Eye of the simple Formation and entered inside.
He quietly discovered an old Nascent Soul True Lord sitting cross-legged on a fire lotus, above the fiercely burning flames. His body was still covered in frost, and he shivered from time to time, his face pale green.
Within the surrounding beacon Formations, several faint Spiritual Fires converged into a stream, concentrating on the fire lotus.
The Spiritual Fire burned, and abundant Fire Innate True Qi surrounded the Elder, attempting to dispel the cold poison from his body.
However, the effect was negligible.
Although he could not ascertain the cold poison the other party was afflicted with, it seemed this Nascent Soul Old Ancestor would not last much longer.
Li Mu put down his teacup and looked towards the side room.
He saw Li Yuan rushing over with a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows, large eyes, a powerful aura, and carrying a heavy broadsword, looking ready to depart immediately.
"Fellow Daoist, you've waited long!"
The broadsword man saw Li Mu, cupped his hands heartily, and greeted him warmly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time."
Li Mu slightly stood up and returned the greeting.
"Li Yuan has explained everything to me. Fellow Daoist is truly willing to accompany us and help us eliminate that Bloodthirsty Scorpion. We are willing to..." The thick-browed Cultivator looked at Li Mu gratefully and said impatiently.
Halfway through his words, Li Mu raised his hand to interrupt him, smiling, "Do you have the authority to make decisions? Or let your Old Ancestor come out and speak with me!"
The Cultivator in front of him was clearly one of the Li Family's Golden Core Elders. His words could not represent the Li Family's Nascent Soul Old Ancestor.
When his Divine Sense was released just now, Li Mu understood this at a glance.
Li Yuan had only gone to find these two Golden Core Elders, but had not discussed this matter with the Li Family's Old Ancestor.
If he completed the Li Family's task, and in the end, the Nascent Soul Old Ancestor turned hostile and refused to acknowledge it, a good deed would turn into a bad one, which would not be good!
In this world where strength is respected, intrigue and betrayal are common. Li Mu did not feel that the words of a Golden Core Elder carried enough weight!
"This... Fellow Daoist, my Family's Old Ancestor is currently doing his best to resist the cold poison in his body and cannot be distracted even for a moment. My Silver Axe Broadsword is well-known in Luo Tian City; I will absolutely not do anything treacherous. As long as Fellow Daoist lends a hand..."
The Li Family Elder frowned slightly, still preparing to guarantee with his character. After all, this trip was to kill the Bloodthirsty Scorpion and obtain the Fire Spiritual Plant.
Even with their two Golden Core cultivators, one at the Middle Stage Golden Core and he at the Perfection Golden Core, facing the Bloodthirsty Scorpion still made them uneasy, and the outcome was uncertain.
And in Luo Tian City, they truly couldn't find any helpers who could assist them.
This time, Li Yuan finding an external expert was a great help.
If they could invite this Middle Stage Golden Core Fellow Daoist to help, then with three Golden Cores joining forces against the Bloodthirsty Scorpion, their chances of victory could reach seventy percent.
This matter was of great importance.
Seeing the other party's incessant chatter, Li Mu directly took out a Medicinal Pill from the Painting World Treasure Mansion.
The Medicinal Pill was ruddy in color. The moment it was taken out, the Innate Fire Spiritual Qi around it slowly pulsed, and the temperature steadily rose.
Other Five Elements Qi avoided it.
Upon seeing this Pill, his eyes suddenly lit up, and his breathing became rapid: "Cold Dispelling Divine Pill..."
The Li Family Elder, as well as Li Yuan and the other members of the Li Family, all burst forth with dazzling brilliance in their eyes.
The Cold Dispelling Divine Pill is a fourth-Rank Spirit Medicine.
It can dispel all cold poisons in the world and is a High-Grade Spirit Medicine that Cultivators afflicted with cold poison Qi search for once every hundred Years.
This Medicinal Pill is extremely difficult to refine, and it is often one of the Spirit Medicines that many Families compete for in various Auctions.
They had searched high and low for the Fire Spiritual Plant but had yet to acquire it.
Unexpectedly, a Golden Core cultivator who coincidentally sought assistance actually had a finished Cold Dispelling Divine Pill.
"Heaven truly does not wish for my Li Family to perish!"
The Li Family Elder stepped forward excitedly, his expression already a little out of control.
Li Mu brought his five fingers together and put away the Medicinal Pill.
This Medicinal Pill was coincidentally one of the Medicinal Pills harvested from the Painting World Treasure Mansion, with a quantity of over fifty.
"This is a Medicinal Pill I refined. Let's make a deal with your Old Ancestor. Have him come out and see me!"
Li Mu continued to taste the Spiritual Tea, feigning a profound and mysterious demeanor. The reason he falsely claimed to be an Alchemy Great Master was to avoid some unnecessary trouble for himself.
Alchemy Cultivators, like Artifact Refining Cultivators, are respected by thousands wherever they go and are objects that must be appeased.
Alchemy is even more difficult than Artifact Refining, so Alchemy Cultivators are even fewer than Artifact Refining Cultivators, and thus more noble.
Li Mu revealed his identity as an Alchemy Great Master. At that time, even if the Li Family Old Ancestor was reluctant to part with the Flood Dragon Soul, he would have to obediently offer it.
"Please forgive my ignorance, Alchemy Great Master. May I ask for your esteemed name?"
At this moment, the Li Family Elder's attitude was extremely respectful, even revealing a strong desire to curry favor.
This was understandable.
Though both were Golden Core cultivators, the status of a master of the hundred arts of cultivation was as different as heaven and earth.
An Alchemy Great Master capable of refining fourth-Rank Spirit Medicine held a status high enough to sit as equals with a Nascent Soul True Lord. If one could refine fifth-Rank High-Grade Medicinal Pills, even a Venerable Deity Transformation would treat them with courtesy.
"My surname is Ye, and my given name is Tianhong."
Li Mu casually made up a name. He was currently using the Spiritual Fox Mask for disguise. Once the transaction was over, his appearance would change, and they would no longer recognize him.
Li Mu dealt with the impersonation with an incredibly relaxed expression.
"So it's Master Ye. I will now ask the Old Ancestor to come out. Master Ye, please wait a moment. Li Yuan, please entertain Master Ye well." The Golden Core Elder quickly instructed Li Yuan, then swiftly turned and left, heading to the underground chamber to relay the news of the Alchemy Great Master's visit and invite the Li Family Old Ancestor to meet the guest.
With an Alchemy Great Master personally here, their Nascent Soul Old Ancestor of the Li Family was saved!