Chapter 462: Muyun of Mount Yu (I)

Chapter 462: Muyun of Mount Yu (I)

Li Yuanjiao followed Yuan Huyuan to Mushroom Forest Plain. Yuan Huyuan led him to the mountain's summit, then excused himself to return to his clan to discuss the trade.

Li Yuanjiao waited on the summit for a while. During this time, he conversed with a direct descendant of the Yuan Family, a Qi Cultivator. The decent-looking young man was a good conversationalist, but Li Yuanjiao's responses were distracted and vague as his mind was preoccupied with skepticism.

Hooked Serpent...unique life matching technique from north...

He tapped lightly on the table with his fingers, feeling uneasy. Noticing Li Yuanjiao's preoccupation, the Yuan Family member fell silent, not daring to interrupt his thoughts. Li Yuanjiao took the time to piece together his thoughts with a rather unpleasant look on his face.

With the Purple Mansion Realm's divine ability and tangled fates, everything seems suspicious... I need to thoroughly understand the Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique before returning to investigate the Hooked Serpent again.

When Yuan Huyuan returned, Li Yuanjiao greeted him with a forced smile and asked eagerly, "Senior, how did it go?"

Yuan Huyuan swung his sleeve and replied with a grin, "All good."

Yuan Huyuan, being from the same lineage as Yuan Tuan, held significant sway within the Yuan Family. Despite being a Qi Cultivator, he had long overseen the family's affairs.

He presented two jade slips, explaining, "This is the Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique. Read through it carefully, fellow Daoist! The other slip contains the required cold qi gathering method. Let me know if you already have this at home."

Li Yuanjiao examined the jade slips. The core content was sealed with a secret art, leaving only the information in front and at the end of it accessible. After reading it for a moment, he began, "Senior, I have a few questions."

Yuan Huyuan, who was lost in thought, was startled by Li Yuanjiao's intense gaze and responded quickly, "What is it?"

"The Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique only mentions the loss of the spirit items if the spell fails, but not the fate of the demon creature. Since your esteemed family has performed this ritual many times, do you mind sharing it with me?"

Yuan Huyuan was taken aback by the question and then offered a rueful smile as he replied, "At best, it might be injured and suffer a shortened lifespan; at worst, it could result in death..."

Li Yuanjiao's smile faded slightly as he remarked, "This technique is indeed quite... costly to use."

Li Yuanjiao appeared slightly displeased on the surface, but inwardly, he was both relieved and satisfied.

Li Yuanjiao continued to listen intently as Yuan Huyuan suddenly smiled awkwardly and spoke in a low voice, "It's a pity my family failed several times in breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm, and we've gradually declined..."

Li Yuanjiao could easily sense his desolation. The Jiangnan of today was not the same as it was hundreds of years ago. Back then, cultivators were rare, spirit items were abundant, and the Immortal Mansion had just retreated from the world.

At that time, the Yuan Family's strength was not much different from what it is now. They were still prominent back then, so it was understandable that they now felt the frustration of being in decline.

Yuan Huyuan sighed deeply and said, "Back then, Purple Smoke was just a small temple, and the Kong Family was scrambling for a minor county magistrate position. Wanyu Sword Gate was under the rule of Dongli Sect. Chen Family of Lingyu Gate rented a cave dwelling on my family's territory and had to lower their pride over thirty Spirit Stones. The combined territories of those four sect and gates couldn't even match the size of my family's market... And now... now..."

In an era where snake dragons turned into pure dragons, the Yuan Family squandered their opportunities bit by bit. This has always been a source of pain for many of the Yuan Family's elders. Yuan Huyuan could only sigh repeatedly, unable to finish his sentence.

Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly. The Yuan Family's luck had indeed been average, which eased his suspicions somewhat.

At least the Six Dams Life Matching Unique Technique itself isn't a trap. This technique has a longer history than Azure Pond...

He moved on to the next technique provided by the Yuan Family, which could be used for gathering the Forest Dark Cold Qi. Stowing away both jade slips, he took out the pill and said softly, "Please send a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator to assist me with capturing the demon creature, Senior. Once the task is completed, I'll hand over this pill, and you'll help me unlock the secret techniques on the jade slip."

Yuan Huyuan quickly nodded and replied, "Sure. Please wait a moment, I've already invited a cultivator from the clan to join us."

After a brief wait, a strong bearded man with thick eyebrows landed in the yard. He gave Li Yuanjiao a quick look, then cupped his fist and greeted respectfully, "I am Yuan Chengdun. Greetings to Clan Head and fellow Daoist!"

Yuan Huyuan introduced him, "This is my clan nephew, Yuan Chengdun. His immortal foundation is Sprawling Azure Mountain and he's skilled in subduing demons. With him, capturing the little pig demon will be an easy task."

Yuan Chengdun was quite renowned during the devil plagues. Li Yuanjiao had heard of him before and was thus very pleased. He stepped forward and cupped his fist respectfully, returning the gesture.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist!"

Yuan Chengdun, carrying two short sticks on his back, was a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. He seemed like a reserved man, offering only a slight nod in response.

Li Yuanjiao asked a few casual questions before leading him to the lake.