Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 143 Return to the Void Rune
"Hmm... Your description isn't entirely wrong, but the Returning Void Rune only serves to store mana, unlike the dantian which can nurture mana."

"Even if you don't use it for a long time, the magic inside will dissipate on its own. Of course, leaving it for three to five years is no problem."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming was overjoyed. This Return to the Void rune was practically tailor-made for him!
Because of the evil green robe, he never dared to use his magic power casually.

This made him very uncomfortable during magical duels, and sometimes, in life-or-death situations, he had to consider the consequences of using his magic.

However, if the Ruins of Return are inscribed, this worry will be eliminated.

When the evil green-robed man becomes agitated, he can simply unseal the magic within the runes to stabilize his opponent.

His true form can now unleash 100% of its combat power, no longer as timid and hesitant as it is now.

Seeing Li Xiangming's excited expression, Li Qianxiong smiled and gestured for him to calm down.

"Take care of the affairs of the animal trapping house in the next few days, then come back to Tailai Peak. Your second uncle will take you to the Shen family."

"The Shen family?"

Li Xiangming was somewhat surprised. When he first heard the name "talisman," he thought it was Li Huinan who had made the move.

"The Shen family has been studying runes for generations and is a famous rune family in Zhangning Prefecture. Your great-uncle learned rune techniques from the Shen family."

"Of course, what the Shen family taught your great-uncle was just the tip of the iceberg."

"Only your great-uncle was exceptionally talented, comprehending the essence on his own. He not only became a rare rune master, but also created a unique rune of the same name for our Li family based on the 'Flying Flame Wheel'."

"However, due to the lack of subsequent rune inheritance, and because your great-uncle was determined to enter the Golden Core stage, he put aside the rune path. Your great-uncle did not know advanced runes such as the Returning to the Void Rune."

"I see."

Li Xiangming nodded.

The art of talismans is easy to learn but difficult to master, and the branches of talisman patterns are also difficult to learn and master.

While Li Huinan is indeed talented, he lacks inheritance and guidance, making him clearly incomparable to a family of rune masters like the Shen family.

"The Shen family is willing to take action, so they must have spent a considerable amount of money, right?"

Li Xiangming asked cautiously.

"priceless!"

Li Qianxiong glanced at Li Xiangming and said, "Do you think the Guixu Rune is some kind of common item? Even if you give your Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Rope to the Shen family, you still can't get a spot like this."

"what?"

Li Xiangming was speechless. Even a top-grade magic weapon couldn't compare to a single talisman?
Seeing Li Xiangming's shock, Li Qianxiong explained, "It's not that the Guixu Rune is more valuable than the Qiling Huangtian Suo, but that these rune families don't allow such high-level runes to leak out. You can't do anything about it, even if you cut their heads off with a knife."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming remained silent.

The advanced runes of the Shen family, like the Li family's inherited spell "Flying Flame Wheel," are closely guarded secrets.

In every generation of the Li family, someone has studied the Flying Flame Wheel, such as Li Huinan of the Hui generation, Li Chengkang and Li Chenggeng of the Cheng generation, Li Qianxiong of the Qian generation, and Li Xiangyu of the Xiang generation, etc.

As far as Li Xiangming knew, there were five people in the Li family who possessed the Flying Flame Wheel.

Further back, the Li family has a history spanning several hundred years, and there are even more members who can use the Flying Flame Wheel.

But over the years, the Li family's Flying Flame Wheel has never been leaked.

At first, Li Xiangming was also puzzled, because the Li family had not only been wiped out, but had also experienced multiple life-or-death crises while moving around in Linan Road.

He didn't believe that no one coveted the Li family's golden elixir inheritance.

In fact, the Li family has been targeted more than once.

According to the family records, when the Li family was in Hanjiang Prefecture, they split into several branches due to conflicts.

Apart from Li Huinan's group, because they went south to Zhangning Prefecture early on and sought refuge with Hengyue Gate, they were not coveted by many.

The other branches that remained in Hanjiang Prefecture had all been forced to relocate by foreign enemies.

The Li family members were unusually adamant in their stance. Even when their own fathers and sons died in front of them, or even when they were willing to destroy their own souls, no one revealed a single secret about the Flying Flame Wheel or other core inheritances.

Li Xiangming was greatly shocked when he saw these records.

In his view, no matter how advanced the cultivation technique was, it was not as important as the lives of his clansmen. After all, he could still have his own if he handed it over.

However, family cultivators who are good at calculating gains and losses have an unshakable bottom line when it comes to protecting their lineage.

Better to be a broken piece of jade than a whole piece of tile.

This phenomenon is not unique to the Li family; any cultivation family that has existed for a long time has this kind of behavior.

The Shen family was the same; they valued the inherited runes more than their own lives, and nothing they did—whether they were given spirit stones or weapons—was effective.

Of course, low-level runes can still be obtained from the Shen family, as they make a living from this.

"Why would the Shen family agree to have the Return to Nothingness rune inscribed for me?"

Li Xiangming asked in confusion, "According to Li Qianxiong, the Guixu Rune is a rare and high-grade item."

"Because we are not outsiders, your great-uncle had a relationship with the Shen family and once married a commoner daughter to the Shen family, so our two families are considered to be related by marriage."

"Later, your Uncle Qianxia married a daughter of the Shen family and had a son named Xiangyu. Although Qianxia unfortunately died while exploring the Crimson Flame Spirit Fire, and Xiangyu's mother returned to the Shen family, our two families still have the connection through Xiangyu."

"Xiang Yu not only inherited the Crimson Flame Spirit Fire, but also the Flying Flame Wheel of my Li family. He himself is a top-grade fire-type dual spiritual root seed. In terms of talent alone, even your elder brother Xiang Ren has to give way to him."

"Therefore, the Shen family attaches great importance to Xiang Yu. Every three years, they personally test Xiang Yu's cultivation level and help him strengthen the sealing runes of the Crimson Flame Spirit Fire."

"Now that the three-year period is approaching, the family is going to send Xiangyu over. Given the special nature of the green robe you are wearing, the family has specially applied to the Shen family to have you go over with them to inscribe a Return to the Void rune."

"The Guixu rune is a good thing. The Shen family has never inscribed such a high-level rune for anyone outside the family except Xiang Yu. The family has spent a lot of time and effort to persuade them. You should cherish it."

"Yes!"

Li Xiangming nodded solemnly.

Although the patriarch only mentioned words, he knew that Li Qianxiong simply didn't want to put too much pressure on himself.

The family must have made many promises to the Shen family in exchange for this Ruin Rune.

Putting everything else aside, the favors alone would be enough to give the Li family a hard time.

Sometimes, personal relationships are the most valuable thing.
-
After seeing Li Qianxiong and the clan elders off, Li Xiangming was filled with excitement, finally managing to fleece the clan as well.

His hard work over the past few years has not been in vain.

After thinking for a moment, Li Xiangming gathered the members of the animal trapping house in Monkey Valley, intending to rearrange their work.

He divided the work of the animal trapping station into two main parts: exploring Puyin Mountain and hunting monsters. Two teams were assigned to each part, and the old police station's rotation system was adopted, with each team taking turns every two months.

"Third Brother, while I'm away, you'll be in charge of all the affairs at the animal trapping house."

Li Xiangming explained that Li Xiangchuan, as the deputy in charge, had arrived at Puyin Mountain a year earlier than him and was familiar with the animal trapping house and the surrounding environment, making him the best choice to take over as the current in charge.

"clear."

Next, Li Xiangming handed over his team to Li Xiangfeng and asked them to transfer the management of the Monkey Tavern to their families.

As a military organization, the Animal Capture Center shouldn't control the tavern indefinitely. As the saying goes, everyone has their own expertise, and the Monkey Valley's businesses should be managed by the City Brocade Office.

However, he still instructed the patrol station where Li Xianghua worked to take care of the Monkey Tavern.

The rogue cultivators near Puyin Mountain are unruly and often cause trouble. The Shijinfang is mostly staffed by cultivators in the early and middle stages of Qi Refining, so they may not be able to suppress these people.

As for the Puyinshan Guild Hall, it remained in the hands of the animal trapping house.

Because Puyinshan Guild Hall is not an institution, but a platform.

Even if the family gets involved, their role is limited to maintaining the platform.

However, the platform does not require maintenance, unless some important members are threatened with personal injury, in which case the Li family will provide appropriate protection.

Who will provide shelter? It's just a trap, so why bother?

Of course, Li Xiangming also had his own selfish motives. In time, when the Puyinshan Guild Hall grew stronger and the animal trapping house continuously sent seat fees to his family, wouldn't Li Xiangming, as the person in charge, have a much greater say?

After everyone left, Li Xiang handed over the communication talismans of Zhao Jindou and the other traveling merchants to Li Xiangfeng, who had been by his side the longest.

(End of this chapter)