Chapter 216: Beacon Country Cultivator
Chapter 216 - Beacon Country Cultivator
A few days later.
A big dark green turtle, stepping on waves and hiding in the air, neighboring the Bamboo Leaf Mountain Workshop.
"The situation is not optimistic."
On the back of the large turtle, a warm and handsome white male cultivator sat on his knees, surveying a depressed, almost half-ruined Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market.
Lu Chang'an traveled to Golden Cloud Valley, preparing to find Zhang Tieshan to trade the secret method of transforming pills.
The Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market, and even the Fei Yue Lake Mu Family, although not a necessary route, is in the general direction.
Before leaving Liang, Lu Changan planned to revisit his hometown on the way, and meet up with his late friend Li Erqing, whom he met when he was young.
Lu Chang'an had practiced here for ten years when he was in the middle stage of Qi Refining, guarding the store, quietly drawing talismans, and building up his reserves.
In this market, for the first time in his life, he went to Wushan with a female cultivator he had a crush on, and experienced a wonderful time.
The prosperity of the auction back then is still fresh in his mind.
Even the Xuan Shui Turtle was hatched in this market.
"Your Excellency is Senior Lu......"
Inside the broken second-order formation on Bamboo Leaf Mountain, a green-clothed man at the early stage of Foundation Establishment cautiously sized up Lu Chang'an.
"You recognize Lu?"
Lu Chang'an was a hundred feet away and glanced at the green-clothed Foundation Establishment man who didn't dare to come out of the formation so easily, presumably the township's guardian cultivator.
"My name is Zhao Gang, a newly promoted Foundation Establishment from Golden Cloud Valley, I had met Senior Lu in Yellow Dragon Immortal City when I was young."
The green-clothed Foundation Establishment man, presenting himself as a junior, appeared respectful.
Although they are both Foundation Establishment cultivators, their cultivation and status are worlds apart.
Lu Changan's age is nearly a hundred years older than him, so it is normal to call him senior.
"What happened in Bamboo Leaf Mountain recently?"
Lu Chang'an asked casually.
The stores in the marketplace were mostly destroyed, leaving scorch marks and dried blood everywhere.
"Back to senior Lu, some days ago, the 'Maple Leaf Yellow Family' was exterminated by enemy cultivators in a night attack, leading to further loss of control of the Bamboo Leaf Mountain workshop market, which was looted by robbing cultivators and neighboring cultivators......."
"The clan's law enforcement cultivators arrived and stabilized the situation. Now, this workshop market is guarded by me and the surrounding Immortal Cultivation Clan's Foundation Establishment Cultivators, in collaboration." The green-clothed Foundation Establishment man stated the causes and consequences.
"Cultivators lurking in the Beacon Country are so rampant?"
Lu Chang'an huffed.
The area around Bamboo Leaf Mountain, although not considered the hinterland of Liang, is also in the internal area, a long way from the front line. "Alas, the main thing is that the front line is tight, several big clans try to intercept as much as possible, but inevitably there are some fish that slip through the net."
The green-clothed Foundation builder smiled sarcastically.
Lu Changan actually knew the reason.
A month ago, on the frontline battlefield, the Liang clan suffered another small defeat and was opened up to some gaps.
Now, some small groups of elite cultivators from the enemy country have infiltrated into the back of the battlefield within Liang, plundering wealth and resources.
They are targeting small and medium sized Immortal Cultivation Clans, Spirit Vein Dojos, as well as the poorly guarded markets of the sects.
These small groups of enemy elite cultivators, mainly at the Foundation Stage, are spreading out, aiming to destroy Liang's logistics and create chaos.
Understanding the situation, Lu Chang'an was ready to leave and head to Fei Yue Lake.
The green-clothed Foundation Builder, with a worried face, bowed and pleaded
"Senior Lu, nowadays the sect's power is tied up by the frontal battlefield. There is a lack of law enforcement personnel in the surrounding area, so I am asking for your assistance in guarding the area. In terms of reward, I believe that Elder Golden Cloud Valley will not treat Senior Lu poorly."
"Mister Lu has an urgent matter to attend to, forgive me for not being able to help."
Lu Chang'an refused without mercy.
During his journey, he had encountered several clan cultivators who were checking him out, and it wasn't the first time he had refused the same request back.
He had also seen that ordinary cultivators who were left alone were forcibly recruited by the sect.
Lu Chang'an, as a late stage Foundation Establishment, has a reputation and travels on a big turtle, the sect cultivators on the road do not dare to make things difficult for him.
Putting aside the relationship with the clan elders, most of the law enforcement cultivators encountered on the road were not as strong as him in terms of cultivation and apparent strength, and behaved in a polite and disciplined manner.
The green-clothed Foundation Builder was a bit disappointed, but when he thought of the rumor of the "turtle talisman master", his heart was relieved.
"Can senior Lu sell some talismans to me."
He proposed with a bright idea.
"Yes." Lu Chang'an nodded his head and didn't refuse this time.
Not long after, another Foundation Establishment Cultivator flew out from the marketplace.
The two Foundation Establishment cultivators made a deal with Lu Changan.
Lu Chang'an sold a dozen of his poor quality second-order talismans.
At the same time, he also sold the remnants of a second-order mid-grade puppet.
Nowadays, Lu Changan had very few puppets on him that were lower than the top grade of the second rank.
Before leaving Wu Qi Mountain, he didn't take away the batch of early puppets that had been guarding Little Turtle Peak all year round, including two Second Order puppets.
Having formations and puppets for defense made it easy for Qi Feng to survive the weak period before Foundation Establishment.
......
"Can Elder Zhang of your clan be in Golden Cloud Valley now?"
Before leaving, Lu Changan inquired.
In recent months, he had written a letter to Zhang Tieshan, stating that he was going to pay a visit, but he didn't get a reply.
Lu Changan suspected that Zhang Tieshan was at the frontline battlefield and did not receive the letter.
"Not sure. I came out from the mountain gate two months ago and did not see Elder Zhang."
The green-clothed Foundation Builder's gaze flickered slightly and did not give an accurate reply.
Lu Chang'an knew in his heart that as a sect cultivator, he did not dare to easily divulge the specific whereabouts of the top management to the outside world.
Lu Chang'an flew away from Bamboo Leaf Mountain on a turtle and pondered for a moment.
"By the looks of it, Zhang Tieshan is indeed not in Golden Cloud Valley in the near future, the probability is that he is either fighting at the frontline or on some other outgoing mission."
Lu Changan had a bit of a headache, even if he went to Golden Cloud Valley, he might not be able to see Zhang Tieshan in the short term.
Going to the frontline to find Zhang Tieshan?
Lu Chang'an is not that stupid, he directly denied it.
A veteran talisman master like him in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, going to the frontline is no different from a meat bag beating a dog.
He would probably be requisitioned by the clan elders.
"Wait for half a year at most."
Lu Chang'an quickly made a decision.
When sect cultivators go to the frontline to kill, there is often a rotation.
If they are injured too much, they may also return to the clan to recuperate and take charge of the rear guard security.
Zhang Tieshan has been on the front line for a long time. Within half a year, the possibility of his return is not small.
In addition, Lu Changan could also ask the sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators that he knows to send a message to the frontline to try to make contact.
......
After half a day.
Lu Changan arrived at the magnificent Fei Yue Lake. It was the middle of the night, and the Mu family at Lake Fei Yue was heavily guarded, with their array in an energized state.
Lu Chang'an had not yet gotten close enough to discover the hidden guard formation.
Once there is a fluctuation of mana near Lake Fei Yue's territory, it will be detected by the Mu family.
The Mu Clan cultivators patrolling the shores of Fei Yue Lake were all on guard, not daring to take things lightly.
Obviously, the annihilation of the neighboring "Maple Leaf Yellow Family" has sounded an alarm for the Mu Clan.
It's not just the Mu family.
Due to the lack of manpower in the clan, the control of the clan has declined severely, and the neighboring cultivation forces are in fear of being targeted.
"The Mu family's clan protection formation, back then, asked the teacher fairy to set up the transformation, in the case of defense, even if the enemy country's Foundation Establishment elite to come to a team, a short period of time is difficult to attack."
Lu Changan surveyed for a moment, secretly nodded.
Compared to the neighboring markets and Immortal Cultivation Families, the formation protection of the Mu Family in Lake Fei Yue is the strongest.
Since it was late at night and a special time, Lu Changan didn't disturb them hastily.
The next morning.
Lu Chang'an took the Xuan Shui Turtle and visited the Mu Family of Fei Yue Lake.
The Foundation Establishment Ancestor who came out to greet Lu Chang'an was not Li Erqing.
"Uncle Lu."
It was a clear and slender familiar figure with a hint of surprise in her voice.
Mu Bing Yun was dressed in an ink-colored loose vestment, her face had not changed much, she was about twenty-seven or eighteen years old, and she was more mature and stable.
The timbre of her voice is not as girlish as that of the previous year, but it has the magnetic pleasantness of a dignified female cultivator, and the majesty of a Foundation Establishment Ancestor is not lost in her charisma.
"Bing Yun, I haven't seen you for many years, your progress is not small."
Walking closer, the two of them looked at each other, Lu Chang'an's expression was frank, with a smile on his face.
Mu Bing Yun mood slightly ups and downs, in an instant return to calm, pursed lips light smile, calmly talk to each other.
"The Xuan Shui Turtle has grown so big that it can fly and carry people?"
Soon, Mu Bing Yun was attracted by the big turtle in front of her, her starry eyes overflowed with luster, and she gladly went forward and touched the Xuan Shui Turtle's big head.
The turtle recognized Mu Bing Yun and rubbed her hand affectionately.
Afterwards, Mu Bing Yun also sat on the back of the Xuan Shui Turtle, and returned to the cave on Yue Xin Island with Lu Chang An.
"Li Erqing is not in the clan land?"
"Uncle Erqing collaborated with the Golden Cloud Valley law enforcement cultivators to inspect the surrounding area for enemy cultivators."
After the conversation, Lu Changan learned: nowadays, only Mu Bing Yun, a Foundation Establishment Stage, is in charge of the Fei Yue Lake clan land.
Lu Chang'an was not in a hurry to see Li Erqing.
He was in no hurry to see Li Erqing. Anyway, he still had to wait for Zhang Tieshan to come back, so there was no harm in being a guest of the Mu family for a few days.
In addition to guarding the clan's land, Mu Bingyun, as a second-ranked senior talisman master herself, has shared a lot of talisman-drawing tasks for the Golden Cloud Valley.
In addition to Zhang Tieshan's relationship, Fei Yuehu's two Foundation Establishment members didn't go to the frontline to participate in the war, while the Qi Refining middle and late-stage members of the clan were dispatched to the battlefield.
Mu Bing Yun cultivated to the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, talisman skills after these years of sharpening, has touched the threshold of the second-stage top-grade talisman master.
Inside the cave, the two of them talked to each other over tea, from morning to sunset.
During this time, Mu Bing Yun resigned from all affairs within the clan.
Lu Changan gave Mu Bingyun a few pointers on cultivation and talisman drawing, but not beyond the level of his own cultivation.
Seeing that it was getting late, Lu Changan got up to say goodbye, not wanting to stay in Mu Bing Yun's cave.
"Uncle Lu, why do you need to avoid it? Back then, when Bing Yun was attacked by the Black Night Fisherman, she also stayed at Uncle Lu's cave."
Mu Bing Yun smiled sweetly and said frankly.
"There is no need, the Mu Clan land, there are many guest rooms. You, as an elder of a clan, have to maintain your own majesty and image."
Lu Chang'an waved his hand and said.
At this time, he sensed the change in Mu Bing Yun's mindset, no longer as young and apprehensive as a girl once was, and could handle the family's affairs, including personal feelings, with ease.
"Then Uncle Lu will be a guest at Fei Yue Lake for some time,"
Mu Bing Yun did not force, to Lu Chang'an in the moon island arranged a separate courtyard dojo.
......
For the next half a month, Lu Chang'an was a guest at Moonheart Island.
Due to the difference in status and position, Lu Changan only went in to see the small courtyard by the lake where the Qi Refining Stage lived back then once. Mu Bing Yun visited Lu Chang'an from time to time, and would consciously leave after sunset.
Even so, Lu Chang'an's pseudo-dan level of divine sense, occasionally caught the moon island individual gossip.
Until this day, Li Erqing returned to Fei Yue Lake.
"Brother Lu!"
Li Erqing, who had a white beard, the first thing he did when he returned to his clan was to go straight to Lu Chang'an's compound, unable to hide his surprise.
Over the years, due to the impact of the war, Lu Chang'an and Fei Yuehu did not interact much, and Li Erqing had not seen him for many years.
Li Erqing has aged a lot, over 50 years old, and when he smiles, the lines on his face become more and more obvious.
The slightly rounded face of Li Erqing was once rich.
Lu Changan realized that Li Erqing's youthful age had become a thing of the past and was transitioning into his twilight years.
"Erqing, all these years you have been assisting the Mu family and did not go to the Xuemeishan Li Clan, but you have impressed big brother."
Lu Changan patted his shoulder and said in relief.
"Lu big brother, these years have passed, you almost 10% unchanged."
Li Erqing stared blankly at the youthful and familiar white man in front of him, his mood was very complicated.
Lu Changan not only looks unchanged, but also cultivated to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
Who would have thought that he was once ahead of Lu Chang'an in the Qi Refining Stage, and was the first to be promoted to the Foundation Stage.
Now, Li Erqing's cultivation is stuck at the peak of the early stage of Foundation Establishment, making it difficult for him to advance an inch.
"Alas, if I had known that, I would have practiced the Nutritious Life Technique back in the day." Li Erqing said.
"Hehe, your big brother looks ageless, not only rely on the health care work, but also have a good mentality, cultivation has been steadily refined."
"This is too difficult."
"Of course, you also have to take a Resident Face Pill, as big brother does."
Lu Chang'an said with a twist of words.
Li Erqing:......
The hall house of the other courtyard.
Lu Chang'an and Li Erqing chatted late into the night, reminiscing about the past, gossiping about their descendants, and worrying about the war situation.
During the conversation, the name Li Erqing mentioned most often was "Li Congren", and he couldn't hide his pride.
Lu Chang'an had to admit that Li Congren was indeed very successful.
He led a line of clansmen to expand in the remote and bitter cold land, and in a short period of 20 to 30 years, he created an immortal cultivation family with a good strength.
The Xuemeishan Li Clan is based in the northwest of Liang, and has made good friends with the Zhou Family and merchants from neighboring countries.
Lu Chang'an is preparing to go to the Jing Kingdom to complete his dan, and he will have to use Li Congren's channels to gain convenience at that time.
Lu Chang'an did not mention this matter to Li Congren in his letters, but he did ask about it a few years ago.
......
"By the way, what is Mu Jiu'an's situation now?"
Lu Changan suddenly thought of Li Erqing's ninth son, Mu Jiuan, who was apprenticed to a JieDan cultivator when he was young and later joined the Golden Sun Sect of the Beacon Kingdom.
The main force invading Liang is the Golden Sun Sect and its affiliated immortal forces.
The Golden Sun Sect has two YuanYing True Monarchs and is the oldest sect in the neighboring Immortal Cultivation Countries.
"Jiu'an he......"
At the mention of Mu Jiuan, Li Erqing looked hesitant and wanted to say something.
Lu Chang'an's spirit flashed and his heart made a guess.
"If it is inconvenient, there is no need to say, big brother understands your pain."
Li Erqing and Lu Chang'an had known each other for over a hundred years, and were willing to open up to him about many things.
"This matter, I have not spoken to the second person, including Bing Yun and Congren......"
Li Erqing took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and set up a layer of prohibition in place.
He sensed that with Lu Chang'an's intelligence and life experience, from his reaction, he might have guessed a few parts of the truth of the matter.
Seeing this, Lu Chang'an reinforced another layer of isolation restriction.
"Jiu An, who has lurked within Liang, had secretly contacted me."
Li Erqing lowered his voice, sweat oozing from his forehead, and spoke out the secret hidden deep in his heart.
Even though Lu Chang'an had guessed, he could not help but be moved!
"Jiuan said that Liang will lose this war! Let me make an early decision......" "Have you...... ever promised?"
Mu Jiu'an secretly contacted his father, for what purpose, Lu Chang'an did not need to think.
"Betraying the Liang Immortal Cultivation World and colluding with an enemy clan is not something that little brother would dare to do."
Speaking out the secret of his heart, Li Erqing was like releasing a heavy burden.
Li Erqing's decision is related to the survival of the Mu family, the pressure he has to bear can be imagined.
If he colludes with the enemy and waits for the opportunity to move, then the Golden Sun Sect will not only be able to protect the family, but also get a great reward.
If you don't agree, Mu Jiu'an won't be able to protect the Mu family, but at most he will be able to save his closest relatives.
If the incident is discovered by the Liang clan, the Mu family will face a catastrophe.
Lu Changan sighed and did not comment on Li Erqing's choice.
As an outsider, he could not give advice.
No matter which choice is made, there are great risks and variables.
......
Three days later.
Lu Changan left Fei Yue Lake and traveled by turtle.
The night before leaving.
Lu Chang'an, Li Erqing, and Mu Bingyun were in the family's forbidden land, discussing in secret for a long time.
Lu Chang'an and the Mu Family, once again made a deal.
This deal involved a quasi third-order talisman, a second-order top-grade puppet, and a Face Resurfacing Pill.
The face-repairing pill was not for Mu Bingyun to take, but to prepare for the future.
One day in the future, if the Golden Sun Sect comes over, through Mu Jiu'an's connections, he will be able to please the high ranking dignitaries of the Golden Sun Sect by supplying the Face Repairing Pill.
This is the only strategy Lu Chang'an has given, or rather a back way out.
Lu Chang'an basically calculated the above transaction at cost price.
In addition, he secretly gave Li Erqing a talismanic treasure before parting.
For Lu Chang'an nowadays, ordinary talismanic treasures are no longer considered a powerful tool.
When he unleashes the fledgling of a magic treasure, or a close-quarters strike from his Body Refining Technique, they are comparable to ordinary talismanic treasures.
Lu Changan had previously gifted Zhao Siyao a treasure talisman. In order to avoid the attention of those who cared, he changed the way he did it this time.
......
He flew thousands of miles away from Lake Fei Yue.
Lu Changan looked out in the direction of the Golden Cloud Valley, there were still a few days to go, and he didn't know if he could contact Zhang Tieshan.
I heard from Li Erqing that Zhao Siyao was in Golden Cloud Valley recently, preparing for her dan formation.
When Lu Changan passed by a bay of water, he had a sudden sensation.
The Xuan Shui Turtle underneath his seat was shocked for no apparent reason.
"What a strong aura."
Lu Chang'an could vaguely smell a trace of blood.
Overlooking the watery bay below was a cultivation family where a second-order spirit vein was located.
Inside the broken formation, the pavilion tumbled down and the fire had yet to be extinguished.
"Could it be......"
Lu Changan's face changed slightly, thinking of the extermination of the Maple Leaf Yellow Family, he immediately flew around the road.
He had only circled around for half a mile when he detected a lock of False Dan level divine sense.
"Hehe, found an interesting little guy."
An old voice came from near the water bay of the exterminated family.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Half a dozen of Foundation Establishment Stage figure breaths leapt out from the sand dunes shrouded by the masking formation beside the water cove.
These Foundation Establishment cultivators are all elites of the same rank, with pure gongfu breaths, exceeding the several major clans in Liang, and dominated by the middle to late Foundation Establishment stage.
In addition, there were also False Dan real people who did not show up.
"Beacon Kingdom cultivators?"
Lu Chang'an frowned slightly, he actually encountered a group of elite cultivators from an enemy country, and it looked like they had just destroyed an Immortal Cultivation Clan not long ago.
"Tsk tsk, with a second-rank Xuan Shui Turtle as his mount, this guy should have a bit of history."
Six or seven Foundation Establishment cultivators flanked him, their faces teasing, as if they had caught a fish that had escaped the net.
Lu Chang'an was locked by the False Dan Realist in the dark, intending to determine the other party's position first.
Right at this moment, an abrupt voice came:
"...... You are Uncle Lu?"
A young man of the Golden Sun Sect in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, was stunned and lost his voice, with an expression of astonishment, surveying the white-clothed man on the turtle's back.
Comments