Chapter 417: Setting Sun (I)

Chapter 417: Setting Sun (I)

"I know," Li Yuanjiao said, waving his hand dismissively.

He picked up the storage pouch he got from the Embryonic Breathing Realm devil cultivator he had killed earlier on his way home and began sifting through its contents quietly.

"The clan's vault still holds the mid-stage Qi Cultivation Realm Azure Blades... We can sell them to build the emergency funds. As for that Six-Stone Cloud Plate... It's a rare dharma shield produced by the Azure Pond. We should keep that for ourselves," he said thoughtfully.

After considering his options, he finally put the pouch away, adding, "Considering this was an Embryonic Breathing Realm cultivator, the capacity of his pouch is small—hardly the size of a tabletop. Everything inside is probably worth only ten Spirit Stones in total."

Despite this, the devil cultivator was actually considered wealthier than most of his peers in the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Li Yuanjiao stowed the items just as Li Qinghong, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.

"The second lineage has nothing much to offer, but I have nine Spirit Stones. You can have them, Big Brother."

Without waiting for a response, she handed the stones to Li Yuanjiao, who accepted them silently.

"Thanks, I owe you."

Li Xizhi was his only son. Selling dharma artifacts was the limit of what he could leverage from the clan without causing a scandal. In other families, such actions might have led to accusations of selfishness and provoked internal strife, and it is not something that could be settled with a mere discussion.

Li Qinghong merely shrugged and chuckled.

"They're yours now."

They looked at each other for a moment before a smile broke across their faces. As soon as Li Yuanjiao put away the pouch he was going through, he took a few more Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts out of the store room. He unfolded a map and scanned it briefly, intending to find a marketplace.

"Now that the Cloud Crowned Peak market is destroyed, it takes much longer to reach other marketplaces," he murmured while analyzing the map before him. He initially planned to head to the Yuan Family's market but after estimating the distance, he realized that the Smoke Valley Market to the west in the desert was much closer.

"I'll head to Smoke Valley Market then! With communications being so unreliable now, this is a good chance for me to meet up with Uncle Donghe."

————

Li Yuanjiao packed his belongings on the mountain hastily before departing. The snowfall intensified, drifting like goose feathers and blanketing the town and mountains in white. Li Xijun, accompanied by a group of elders, bid farewell to Li Ximing before returning to the mountain himself.

He walked in the snow with his hands clasped behind his back. His thin and bright clothing stood out against the increasingly ethereal landscape.

Unlike his elder brother Li Xicheng, who was burdened with many clan responsibilities, Li Xijun enjoyed an easier role at the Clan Affairs Courtyard. He spent his days training in seclusion, occasionally descending the mountain to slay demons.

After walking about a dozen li, Mount Yuting loomed ahead, its peak covered in snow and peppered with green pines.

Continuing along the western shore, a towering mountain that split the sky soon came into view. The terrain was rugged and narrow with a stark, rocky summit, and the spiritual energy here was sparse. Known as Xiping, this mountain marked the boundary between the arid desert and Moongaze Lake; it also served as the frontier between the Azure Pond Sect and the Golden Feather Sect.

After traversing Mount Xiping, the climate immediately turned hot and dry. Days of flying brought the gradual emergence of yellow sands, and soon, an imposing pass loomed ahead—Smoke Valley Pass, an ancient stronghold in Yue State, now occupied by the Golden Feather Sect's Smoke Valley Temple.

As Li Yuanjiao approached the pass, his spiritual sense detected the heat and light of a powerful grand formation, ready to activate at a moment's notice.

"Li Yuanjiao from Lijing's Li Family has arrived to pay respects. Please open the grand formation, Temple Master!" he said as he transmitted his voice via mana.

Moments later, a Daoist priest emerged from the formation. His cultivation was modest, at the third heavenly layer of the Qi Cultivation Realm. However, his half-yellow and half-white robe looked somewhat unusual. Nevertheless, he greeted Li Yuanjiao with a broad smile.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist! I am Bai Yinzi from Smoke Valley!"

Li Yuanjiao returned the smile, observing the priest's overly humble demeanor and eager expression.

"Are you here to see Daoist Donghe? Come with me inside, fellow Daoist!" the man said in a welcoming manner.

Although Chen Donghe had resided here for many years, Li Yuanjiao was still too wary to follow the man inside. His gaze lingered on Bai Yinzi's face before chuckling and resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"I prefer to stay here. Please get Uncle Donghe to come out here," he said.

Bai Yinzi's face fell slightly as he wiped the sweat on his face, his lips quivering as he replied hesitantly, "I'm afraid that won't be convenient! Daoist Donghe has sustained injuries and shouldn't be moving around... It's better for you to come inside, fellow Daoist."

Li Yuanjiao laughed and replied, "Is that so?"

Bai Yinzi breathed a sigh of relief, his smile returning. However, as Li Yuanjiao advanced a step forward, his expression abruptly hardened, turning fierce.

"Such audacity!" he boomed.

He had already unsheathed the Qingche Sword. The blade gleamed brightly, emitting a piercing whistle as Li Yuanjiao executed the Celestial Moon Slash technique.

Bai Yinzi felt a sharp cut on his face. With a horrified cry, he hastily summoned his earth-yellow Tortoise Shield dharma artifact, pleading miserably, "You've misunderstood me, fellow Daoist! Spare me... please!"

Li Yuanjiao, however, was not inclined to trust this man. Thoughts raced through his mind like lightning.

Is Uncle Donghe still inside? He's trying to lure me into the formation... there must be no other Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators around. I must hold him hostage and see if I can negotiate for Uncle Donghe's release. If that doesn't work out, I can at least avenge him!

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, his sword arc struck the shield. This Tortoise Shield, likely a prized dharma artifact of the temple and appearing to be of high-grade Qi Cultivation Realm, wailed under the impact. The Qingche Sword, a Foundation Establishment Realm dharma weapon, proved far superior.