Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 485 Make a friend
After replenishing their supplies in the town, the group returned to the caravan.

"Everyone get ready, we're about to set off again. The journey ahead will be even more treacherous, so please remain vigilant."

Looking at the group who had finished resting, Nangong Yuan spoke loudly.

Li Yunjing and the others nodded, boarded the carriage, and rode the "Fiery Horse".

With a command from Nangong Yuan, the caravan slowly drove out of the oasis town and once again stepped into the vast desert.

The wheels rolled on, kicking up clouds of dust.

Some of the cultivators in the town looked thoughtfully at the departing caravan...

"After we cross this desert, we will enter 'Tianzhou,' which is even more dangerous, as it is a region jointly controlled by several demonic sects."

On the way, Nangong Yuan briefed Li Yunjing and Fu Chao on the situation ahead.

Like the Shenxiao Dao Sect, the territory of the "Netherworld Ghost Sect" is that of a behemoth sect, controlling many other sects and families.

"Tianzhou" is a chaotic place. The sects there have a bad relationship with the Nangong family. When they arrived here, the caravans became even more discreet, not daring to take the main road and instead taking some remote paths to avoid enemies.

The group talked along the way, and three days later, after crossing the desert, the caravan entered the jungle.

Upon arriving here, we encountered new troubles.

An eerie mist filled the jungle, and the roars of monstrous beasts could be heard from time to time.

"Everyone be careful, there may be danger lurking in this fog. Stay close to the group and don't get separated."

Nangong Yuan took out a compass and carefully observed the movement of the needle. "Once we cross this mountain, we will reach the territory of our Nangong family. Then, our lives will be much easier."

The group proceeded cautiously through the jungle. Li Yunjing and Fu Chao rode horses, while everyone else dismounted and chose to walk.

As for flying, no one chose that method.

Even when Nangong Yuan ordered someone to take off and go check ahead, no one was willing.

In such a foggy place, visibility is very limited, and there are also these old, primeval forests. Who knows what dangers might lurk there?
Didn't Nangong Yuan give prior instructions that there might be danger within this fog?

Naturally, no fool would insist on stepping forward.

At this moment, the people at the front of the group were all from the Nangong family scouting ahead. The hired people did not have the courage, much less the obligation.

"laugh……"

Suddenly, a giant python pounced down from the tree, its target being a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Nangong family in front of the caravan.

"what……"

The man screamed in agony as he was swallowed whole and bitten in two.

"not good!"

"Beast! Seeking death!"

"Kill it!"

……

The cultivators were enraged, especially the members of the Nangong family, who all attacked. With a series of booming sounds, magical artifacts and spiritual weapons flew everywhere, slashing at the giant python and cutting it into pieces.

Li Yunjing, Fu Chao, Yu Yunyi, and Lü Ruoxi remained expressionless, coldly watching the scene before them without moving an inch.

Some of the Foundation Establishment cultivators who had been hired also remained silent; it was just a giant python, and there was no need for so many people to attack at the same time.

The rest of the journey was almost impossible to complete.

They hadn't gone far when the ground suddenly shook violently, and a pangolin-like monster, as large as a mountain, burst out of the ground.

The beast was covered in hard scales, as if it were wearing an indestructible armor. Its eyes, like copper bells, flashed with ferocity as it charged straight at the caravan.

"Everyone, hold your ground and form a defensive formation!"

Nangong Yuan's expression changed drastically, and he shouted loudly.

The group sprang into action, each employing their own spells to defend themselves while simultaneously bombarding the enemy with their magical artifacts.

Unfortunately, their attacks were almost entirely ineffective. The pangolin's scales were nearly impossible to cut through, and any magical weapons that struck it could only make a "clanging" sound before being deflected.

"Boom!"

This pangolin, relying on its indestructible body, curled into a ball and rolled over. Some weaker Qi Refining cultivators were sent flying everywhere by the impact, while some unlucky ones were crushed by the pangolin and turned into meat patties.

The monster charged straight at the wagons carrying resources.

"Crack! Click!"

The carriage, crafted from magical artifacts, was smashed to pieces almost instantly. Numerous metal ores and medicinal herbs fell out of the large wooden crates on the carriage, scattering all over the ground.

"Beast!"

Seeing the transported supplies scattered all over the ground, Nangong Yuan flew into a rage. After cursing, he immediately grabbed a long spear and thrust it into the pangolin's head.

"Chiji..."

The pangolin, in pain, let out a roar and frantically twisted its body, knocking the surrounding cultivators to pieces.

However, the shot did not pierce the scales; its powerful penetrating force only caused the pangolin a moment of pain.

"Old Fu, go and chop a couple of times, just to show your appreciation!"

Seeing this, Li Yunjing smiled slightly.

"Okay!"

Fu Chao understood what Li Yunjing meant.

He smiled slightly, shouted, and, not to be outdone, raised a dark green spirit sword and leaped up, aiming to stab at the pangolin's rear end.

"when……"

Unfortunately, the pangolin was curled up, leaving no openings. This attack actually made Fu Chao's arm go numb slightly. If he hadn't gripped it tightly, the spirit sword would have flown out.

At this moment, everyone saw that the people from the "Ten Thousand Poisons Sect" had made their move. None of them knew what was going on, but they felt bad not to step in. They couldn't just watch their employer take action on his own!

A group of Foundation Establishment cultivators acted simultaneously and coordinated perfectly. Among them were ice-type cultivators who used ice magic to freeze the pangolin.

Seeing this, the other cultivators unleashed their fire-based magical abilities, using a combination of ice and fire to scorch and freeze its scales. With a "crack," the scales finally shattered under the attack of the two different forces.

Without the protection of its scales, how could a pangolin possibly stand a chance against humans?

A concentrated barrage of colorful attacks landed on the pangolin, and the beast finally let out a miserable scream and collapsed to the ground.

Although the monster was killed, the caravan also paid a heavy price.

In this battle, dozens of cultivators lost their lives, and many others were injured.

Before everyone could catch their breath, the surrounding fog grew thicker and thicker, almost completely obscuring their vision.

A series of sharp whistling sounds came, and a group of bat-like monsters rushed out of the mist. They were extremely fast, and wherever they went, they brought a bloody wind.

"Buzzing..."

Waves of sound swept over.

In an instant, countless cultivators felt as if their eardrums were about to explode, and many people's brains were buzzing, causing them unbearable pain.

"Not good! Watch out! These are 'Pig-faced Bats,' social monsters. Most of these monsters are at the first or second tier. Everyone, block your hearing and kill them quickly!"

Upon seeing the sonic attack, Huang Yun's expression changed, and she couldn't help but shout, signaling everyone to follow her instructions.

Li Yunjing also felt a sound wave pierce his mind, causing a jolt, but it was just a prick and he returned to normal.

These "pig-faced bats" were not of the third rank and posed no threat to Li Yunjing.

Yu Yunyi, Lü Ruoxi, and Fu Chao turned pale and looked pained.

Li Yunjing glanced at them and, seeing that the three were unharmed, paid them no further attention.
Pain is also a form of training!

The three of them still lacked practical combat experience. This kind of sonic attack is rare and hard to come by, so it's good for them to get used to it. This way, they will be more at ease when they encounter this kind of expert in the future.

"what……"

These "pig-faced bats" specifically target injured cultivators, tearing at their necks with their sharp teeth. Blood flows from the wounds, through their sharp mouthparts, and into the "pig-faced bats'" bellies.

Chaos erupted within the caravan as hundreds of "pig-faced bats" attacked, causing many cultivators to stumble and fall, their screams echoing throughout the caravan.

"Woooooooo..."

Seeing this, Huang Yun took out her flute again and began to play. Waves of sound rippled out from her magic weapon, forming ripples that dispersed the sound wave frequency created by the "pig-faced bat".

"Quick! Everyone, attack together! Kill these 'pig-faced bats,' my wife won't last much longer!"

Nangong Yuan looked anxious and kept shouting.

"Yes!"

Several experts from the Nangong family quickly used their magic to slay the "pig-faced bats" in the sky while the sonic attack was fading. These bats were gregarious demonic beasts, and apart from their powerful sonic attacks, they had no strong offensive or defensive capabilities. Now that the cultivators had a chance to catch their breath, they immediately attacked, and swarms of "pig-faced bats" were killed and fell to the ground.

"go with!"

Seeing this, Li Yunjing shook the "Ten Thousand Poison Banner," transforming it into a giant green cloth that flew in the air. With a tremor in mid-air, hundreds of "pig-faced bats" were sucked into the "Ten Thousand Poison Banner" and disappeared.

With this move, half of the "pig-faced bats" disappeared from the sky.

The remaining cultivators were greatly encouraged. With a shout, they charged forward, unleashing their magical treasures and a variety of supernatural powers and spells to bombard the "pig-faced bats".

With Li Yunjing's assistance, in no time at all, the "Pig-faced Bats" were almost completely wiped out. Apart from a few that escaped, the rest of their corpses covered the ground.

At this point, the number of people in the caravan had decreased significantly, almost to half, with less than a third being Qi Refining Realm cultivators.

The remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators were also exhausted.

Li Yunjing looked around, glancing at the Foundation Establishment cultivators for a moment, a cold smile playing on his lips.

They had previously encountered an attack by "pig-faced bats," which affected almost everyone.

This also allowed Li Yunjing to figure out everyone's strength by observing their auras.

Li Yunjing noticed that some of the people hidden in the Nangong family's caravan were unusual!
These people have been hiding their true abilities!

Of course, these people did not have the aura of disciples of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect," and he did not know their specific purpose. However, they were definitely not good people who were hiding their tracks like this, and they all had ulterior motives.

Li Yunjing needs to be more careful.

After identifying the dangerous target, Li Yunjing secretly informed Yu Yunyi, Lü Ruoxi, and Fu Chao.

The three of them glanced at their target without making a sound, then pretended nothing had happened.

As for the Nangong family, there was naturally no need to notify them.

"Thank you so much, Brother Li, for your help. Otherwise, we would have suffered a great loss!"

After cleaning up the battlefield, Nangong Yuan brought the spoils of war to Li Yunjing's side, presented him with a "treasure bag," and repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Li Yunjing.

"It's only right! Fellow Daoist Nangong, there's no need to be so polite. If you encounter any difficulties, just ask me for help!"

Li Yunjing was unusually polite, saying a few words.

This wasn't just a journey together; Li Yunjing had developed a certain fondness for Nangong Yuan.

Instead, they were about to reach the territory of the Nangong family, and they would need Nangong Yuan's help to get through smoothly. There was no need for him to put on a stern face, which would displease Nangong Yuan and create more trouble.

As Li Yunjing learned from Nangong Yuan's introduction, there was a Nascent Soul Realm expert in this family.

In terms of strength, they are even more powerful than the Fu and Yu families!

Just look at how arrogant Fu Chao is, and you'll know the Fu family's status in the cultivation world of the Ming Dynasty.

The Nangong family is even more powerful than the Fu family. How could they not be domineering in their own little territory?

At this point, maintaining a good relationship with Nangong Yuan will minimize trouble.

Nangong Yuan's status is not high; he is from a collateral branch of the Nangong family. However, due to his good talent, he still holds a certain position within the Nangong family.

Li Yunjing found this person useful and they got along quite well.

We're at least friends on the surface.

"Alas! The journey has been fraught with danger. If it weren't for Brother Li and the fellow Daoists of the 'Ten Thousand Poisons Sect,' our Nangong family would have suffered great losses."

Nangong Yuan sighed and began to speak slowly.

As for how much of it was genuine, that's another matter.

"Hehe! The four of us are going to pass through the 'Youyue Kingdom' and continue north to the 'Endless Mountains' for training. We'll also earn some spirit stones from you along the way, and buy some pills for self-defense. It's a good thing, there's no need for any thanks!"

Li Yunjing laughed and said, "Besides, we get along quite well and are friends, so you shouldn't be so polite!"

These words deeply moved Nangong Yuan, and he also had some thoughts of winning over this master of the "Ten Thousand Poisons Sect".

In the world of martial arts, how can you not have friends?
“Brother Li’s words make sense. It is my good fortune to get to know Brother Li.”

Nangong Yuan smiled sincerely and said, "If Brother Li ever needs anything in the future, as long as it is within my power, I, Nangong Yuan, will go through fire and water for you."

As he spoke, he secretly observed Li Yunjing's reaction.

In his heart, however, he kept calculating and thinking about how to further win over this extraordinary expert from the "Ten Thousand Poisons Sect".

"Brother Nangong, you're too kind."

Li Yunjing nodded slightly with a smile on his face, "The Nangong family has a huge influence in this area, and we need Brother Nangong to take care of us."

Li Yunjing casually posed this question, wanting to test Nangong Yuan's sincerity.

Nangong Yuan's heart stirred; he understood that Li Wutian needed something from him.

If he could take this opportunity to win over Li Wutian and the others to his side, it would greatly help improve his status in the family.

"Brother Li, you're too kind! Since we're friends, these things aren't a problem."

Nangong Yuan feigned generosity and said, "Once we return to the family, I will make all the necessary arrangements and help clear the route so that Brother Li and your family can reach the 'Endless Mountains' as quickly as possible."

He secretly clicked his tongue in amazement. Had the people of the "Ten Thousand Poisons Sect" gone mad?
How dare a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator go to the "Endless Mountains"?
However, he wasn't one to ramble on, nor did he feel it was necessary to offer any advice. So he changed the subject, leaving Li Yunjing and the others to choose their own fate.

We're all adults; there's no need for others to dissuade us!
"Then thank you very much, Brother Nangong."

Li Yunjing was secretly delighted, but on the surface he remained calm. "However, we do not want to accept the benefits from the Nangong family for no reason. If Brother Nangong needs our help in the future, as long as it does not violate the rules of my 'Ten Thousand Poisons Sect', we will certainly not refuse."

His words were so well-spoken that they left Nangong Yuan completely bewildered.

"Brother Li, you're so generous! I, Nangong Yuan, am determined to be your friend."

Nangong Yuan laughed heartily, overjoyed.

As he spoke, he took out a jade slip from his pocket and handed it to Li Yunjing, saying, "This is a map. Taking it might make it easier for you to get to the 'Endless Mountains'."

Li Yunjing took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense, discovering that it indeed contained a geographical map of the area near "Tianzhou".

The document also marked some factions and briefly described some dangerous locations.

"That bastard Nangong Yuan is hiding something from me. This is a simple diagram!"

Li Yunjing smiled and thanked him, but inwardly cursed Nangong Yuan for his stinginess.

"Brother Nangong, I am truly unworthy of such a generous gift."

Li Yunjing said.

"Brother Li, this is nothing."

Nangong Yuan waved his hand, "We still have a long way to go in the future, and it is only right that we help each other."

The two exchanged a smile, seemingly inseparable, but in reality, each harbored their own ulterior motives.

Yu Yunyi, Lü Ruoxi, and Fu Chao, who were standing to the side, almost burst out laughing as they watched Li Yunjing toy with Nangong Yuan with such ease.

"That guy is really bad!"

Yu Yunyi and Lü Ruoxi exchanged a wink with Li Yunjing, thinking to themselves.

"Let's go! Let's keep going!"

Having reached a preliminary agreement, Nangong Yuan was overjoyed and waved his hand, signaling the convoy to continue its journey.

More than ten days later, they finally emerged from the old forest and appeared on a plain. In the distance, they even saw villages, indicating that there was no danger here.

"call……"

Almost everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

We've been traveling for almost a month now, covering a distance of over 20,000 li (approximately 10,000 kilometers).

This circle is almost as big as the circle around Earth.

Li Yunjing couldn't help but secretly admire it. Just crossing the Southern Continent would take an unknown amount of time, let alone touring the entire "Tianlan Star".

This planet is just too big to be habitable.

It is so vast that even cultivators would find it difficult to travel the entire world.

"Huh? There are some corpses ahead?"

Suddenly, Nangong Yuan saw dozens of corpses lying haphazardly ten miles away.

"You, go forward and take a look."

After a moment's thought, Nangong Yuan pointed to a Foundation Establishment cultivator he had hired and gestured for him to step forward.

(End of this chapter)