Chapter 13 Part 1

Lian Yunzhi once again carried the half-dead Mu Cheng back to Spirit Mountain.

This time, however, when faced with his own large cave mansion and Mu Cheng’s small one, he hesitated for a moment before placing the blood-drenched Mu Cheng back in his own cave mansion.

Mu Cheng’s cave mansion was clean yet simple. The bed was made of grass stalks commonly found on Spirit Mountain, the pillow was an old piece of clothing Lian Yunzhi had casually left for him, and in the corner were neatly stacked some seemingly useless stones, spiritual herbs, and branches from Spirit Mountain—all garbage in Lian Yunzhi’s eyes.

Lian Yunzhi placed Mu Cheng on the grass bed and lowered his gaze to look at him.

Mu Cheng’s injuries were even more severe than he had imagined.

The magic artifact that had slashed his eyes seemed to be tainted with deadly poison. The venom had invaded his body, blackened his blood, and was inching toward his life force, causing him to lose consciousness, fall into a coma, and even weaken his breathing.

His ears, eyes, mouth, nose, and the pierced abdomen all began to bleed. The dark red blood quickly soaked his clothes and the grass bed beneath him, making him look as if he had been fished out of a pool of blood.

Lian Yunzhi had tried to save him, but the spiritual power he passed over immediately leaked out from his once-again pierced Dantian. The Spirit Replenishing Pills and Detox Pills he swallowed had no effect whatsoever.

And he was just a mortal. If Lian Yunzhi dared to feed him something like a Qi-Gathering Spirit-Replenishing Pill, which was of a higher grade, he would probably die from qi deviation on the spot.

He didn’t look like he would survive the night.

But Lian Yunzhi would not use an Immortal Pill on him again.

Although a Peerless Furnace Cauldron was rare, Lian Yunzhi only had one pill that could bring someone back from the brink of death.

Besides, the dual cultivation method with a human cauldron was not the orthodox path, after all. Mu Cheng’s path to immortality still had to be walked by himself.

Lian Yunzhi gave Mu Cheng one last glance.

A faint regret stirred in his heart, but he turned and left without looking back.

.

“Brother, save me!”

Lian Yunzhi’s Messaging Jade Token lit up again. The sender was still Fang Tianxin.

The Qi Refining Bird had stopped flying, and Fang Tianxin was stuck at the exit of the Xiao Yun Mountain Secret Realm. He asked if Lian Yunzhi had just exited the secret realm and could give him a ride if so, or come pick him up if not.

Lian Yunzhi: “…”

Lian Yunzhi happened to want to go out for some fresh air as well. He told him to “wait” and then performed Imperial Sword Flight toward the Xiao Yun Mountain Secret Realm.

.

The Chen Family had already come to take over the Xiao Yun Mountain Secret Realm, and the exit was crowded with Qi Refining cultivators.

Some craned their necks eagerly waiting for familiar Foundation Establishment cultivators to pick them up, while most wore bitter expressions as they cast swift movement spells on their legs, preparing to walk back themselves.

Lian Yunzhi’s appearance immediately drew everyone’s attention. Fang Tianxin even jumped up and waved at him: “Here!”

Lian Yunzhi performed Imperial Sword Flight to his side. Fang Tianxin didn’t jump on immediately but leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Can your sword carry one more person? Chen Zhiyuan doesn’t have anyone to pick him up either.”

Lian Yunzhi looked up and saw Chen Zhiyuan not far away, gazing at them with emotional eyes. When their gazes met, he immediately smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

“Sure,” Lian Yunzhi nodded. The Flying Sword beneath his feet expanded several times, becoming as wide as a boat. He said to Fang Tianxin, “You can invite other fellow Daoists aboard too.”

Fang Tianxin was instantly delighted. He picked a few close friends and invited several heavily injured Qi Refining cultivators who had no one to pick them up, quickly filling Lian Yunzhi’s Flying Sword to the brim.

Lian Yunzhi lengthened the sword a bit more and stood alone at the tip, keeping his distance from the others, before soaring into the sky with Imperial Sword Flight.

The Flying Sword steadily headed toward Four Directions City.

.

“Is this the power of Foundation Establishment Peak?” Fang Tianxin exclaimed in admiration. “Last month when you carried me via Imperial Sword Flight, you complained I was too heavy and told me to eat less. I didn’t expect you could carry so many people at once now.”

In truth, this was probably the effect of dual cultivation with Mu Cheng—his spiritual power now felt inexhaustible.

Lian Yunzhi glanced at Fang Tianxin: “Congratulations on reaching Qi Refining Ninth Layer.”

Fang Tianxin happily touched his nose, then modestly said, “It’s just one minor realm. I’m far behind you.”

Fang Tianxin seemed particularly excited today. Soon, he sidled up again and asked mysteriously, “Do you know why the Qi Refining Bird stopped flying?”

Lian Yunzhi’s tone was flat: “Why?”

Fang Tianxin: “I heard the Mu Family Head was ambushed at the Relay Station Market near the Qi Refining Bird station! I wonder who the powerhouse was… Do you think it was another cultivator from outside? I heard the Mu Family Head revealed Golden Core cultivation. How high must the attacker’s cultivation be? Golden Core? Nascent Soul? I’ve never seen a Nascent Soul Ancestor…”

Lian Yunzhi was somewhat surprised at how well-informed he was but said nothing, letting his mind wander to Spirit Mountain as he listened.

…He wondered if Mu Cheng was dead by now.

When Lian Yunzhi snapped back to attention, Fang Tianxin had abandoned him as an unworthy listener and turned to chat with the other fellow Daoists about the Beast Taming Sect Ruins.

“Beast Taming Sect Ruins?” Lian Yunzhi’s attention was caught.

Chen Zhiyuan turned to explain to him: “A bunch of demon beasts appeared in Ten Perils Mountain, and someone discovered the Beast Taming Sect Ruins inside. I hear there are many methods for taming demon beasts. We’re planning to go explore.”