Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 172 Casualties
"It's just ahead."

The green cloud flying boat cut through the sky, and Li Xiangming, Li Xianghua and Li Xiangfeng stood on the flying boat with solemn expressions.

Since the time of Li Xiangru, the animal trapping guild has been operating in Puyin Mountain for nearly two years, yet there have been no casualties.

This is not because Puyin Mountain is without danger, but because the Li family acts cautiously and never rashly attacks unknown monsters.

Within Puyin Mountain, powerful and weak monsters coexist, making them difficult to distinguish.

Some demonic beasts are so weak that they can be eliminated with a wave of the hand, while others are as powerful as the Burning Sky Violent Ape in the Bone Fusion stage.

The demon-hunting team knows this all too well; they may return with a full haul today, but could be wiped out tomorrow.

The reason the Li family was able to maintain zero casualties was entirely due to their advance reconnaissance, drawing maps, and marking the territories of powerful monsters.

After Li Xiangming took over as the person in charge, he continued to use this strategy, avoiding the territory of powerful monsters in every beast-hunting mission.

Although he went to Pushui Market on business and handed over the animal trapping house to Li Xiangchuan, according to custom, Li Xiangchuan and the others should be in a safe place.

However, Li Xiangming felt something was amiss when he saw the map.

Because the location of Li Xiangchuan and the others on the map was the territory of the Illusory Butterfly when he accidentally entered it while escaping the pursuit of the Burning Sky Violent Ape.

This place, like the territory of the Burning Sky Ape, was previously designated as a restricted area by the hunting lodge.

However, after the last turmoil at Puyin Mountain, many demonic beasts migrated, and the Illusory Night Butterfly and the Burning Sky Violent Ape disappeared without a trace.

According to the new survey map, only a few ordinary monsters at the mid-stage of the Spirit Summoning Realm remain in the territory of the Rainbow Butterfly.

Thus, the people in the animal trapping house naturally had no more worries.

The task of catching animals was quickly assigned to this area.

But everyone overlooked the possibility that the Rainbow Butterfly might return.

"Xiangming, look!"

Li Xianghua suddenly shouted.

The three looked closely and saw several figures in the wilderness, their eyes red, fighting each other madly.

"It's our people."

Li Xiangfeng's expression changed drastically; he never expected to witness the horrific scene of members of the animal trapping house killing each other.

"stop!"

Li Xiangming's face was gloomy. He leaped off the flying boat, and his powerful magic stirred up a gale that knocked the people fighting to the ground.

But these people seemed oblivious, getting up and continuing to attack any visible target. They were exhausted and could barely use their magic, so they could only rely on magical artifacts to attack.

"It's an illusion, it really is the Illusory Night Butterfly."

Li Xianghua's face was grim. He quickly formed hand seals and unleashed the Primordial Rebirth Array, scattering everyone away.

"Xiangfeng, you stay and assist Xianghua."

Suppressing his anger, Li Xiangming gave an order and then flew forward.

He must find Li Xiangchuan and Li Qianzhong; they are not among these frantically fighting people.

Soon, Li Xiangming arrived at another battlefield, where the situation was even more dire, with chaotic fluctuations of magical energy everywhere.

Li Xiangchuan seemed to have lost his mind, frantically waving his palm-leaf fan in mid-air.

On the ground, Li Qianzhong knelt down, his body engulfed in flames.

"Uncle Qianzhong?"

Li Xiangming's eyes were bloodshot as he strode forward, but he had to stop as soon as he took a step.

The surrounding environment grew increasingly dark, and the night surged in like a tide, seemingly about to engulf him.

"Go away!"

Li Xiangming roared and used a secret technique from the "Illusionary Moon Manual" to dispel the surrounding illusions.

After the darkness dissipated, he saw an exceptionally beautiful butterfly demon. Its wingspan was three zhang (approximately 10 meters) wide, as thin as cicada wings, and decorated with intricate patterns that changed with the light, from dark blue to violet, and then to dark gold, making it mysterious and unpredictable.

"The Iridescent Dark Butterfly!"

Li Xiangming's eyes were filled with apprehension; ten elite members of the beast-catching unit were being manipulated at will by the other party.

Recalling Li Qianzhong's tragic state, he was filled with rage and unleashed the Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Rope, hurling it at the Illusory Colored Nether Butterfly.

The iridescent butterfly retreated repeatedly, flapping its wings and retaliating with countless powdery dust particles.

Li Xiangming flew into the air, water surging between his palms, turning into whirlpools.

The vortex grew larger and larger, gradually transforming into a waterspout that absorbed all the dust from the Illusory Night Butterfly. Using the moisture, Li Xiangming cast another spell, sending countless wisps of mist relentlessly pursuing the Illusory Night Butterfly.

Upon seeing this, the iridescent butterfly flapped its wings rapidly, creating a storm that dispersed the mist.

As a strong wind swept through, Li Xiangming squinted, only to hear countless shouts all around him.

There were those from Li Xiangchuan, those from Li Qianzhong, and those from other members of the animal trapping house.

Don't waste your energy.

Li Xiangming snorted coldly, completely unaffected. The Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Rope swirled up again, piercing through the gale and striking the Illusory Colored Nether Butterfly.

However, despite hitting the Illusory Night Butterfly, the other party remained unaffected.

Li Xiangming knew that the Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Rope had only struck the opponent's ever-changing illusions.

Clearly, this demon is no ordinary being.

At this moment, Li Xianghua and Li Xiangfeng had already subdued the remaining disciples of the Beast-Catching Hall and arrived.

Upon seeing the two, Li Xiangming shouted, "Xianghua, quickly form the Spirit Binding Array!"

To defeat such a monster, we must rely on the assistance of a formation.

Li Xianghua and Li Xiangming had worked together many times and had excellent chemistry. They immediately formed a hand seal and chanted a spell.

Instantly, the ground cracked open, and invisible forces surged from all directions, forming a huge net of spiritual energy that attempted to bind the butterfly demon's movements.

However, the butterfly demon seemed to have a premonition. With a jolt, it transformed into countless tiny specks of light, evading the capture of the spirit binding array, and continued to weave illusions in the air, attempting to confuse everyone.

Just as Li Xiangming was about to rush forward, he swayed and looked pale; he almost fell into the illusion.

"Xiangfeng, save Uncle Qianzhong first."

Li Xiangming stopped chasing the Illusionary Nether Butterfly. This thing was too special; ordinary spells were no match for it and instead dragged him into a deeper illusion.

Li Xiangming's impression of illusion magic had always been based on records in ancient books.

Although I have learned a little bit, the effect is not good in actual combat, and I often have to use it in combination with other spells.

But the Illusory Butterfly, with its illusion magic alone, was enough to wipe out the entire animal trapping house.

Even Li Xiangming, who was wearing the Dust-Free Pearl, secretly groaned.

The Dust-Removing Pearl not only has a remarkable effect on resisting evil thoughts, but also effectively enhances a cultivator's resistance to illusions.

In addition, he also possesses various methods for dispelling illusions from the "Illusion Moon Manual".

That's why he dared to confront the Rainbow Butterfly head-on.

But after several rounds, Li Xiangming found that he was completely helpless against his opponent. In fact, the illusions his opponent was using were becoming more and more frequent and more and more subtle, which made him feel a strong sense of crisis.

"Uncle Qianzhong, he..."

Suddenly, Li Xiangfeng's voice became sorrowful.

Li Xiangming turned around, his expression one of shock.

In fact, from the very beginning, his divine sense did not detect the presence of a living person on Li Qianzhong.

But Li Qianzhong is a cultivator after all, and perhaps he has special methods. Now it seems that I was overthinking things.

The Li family lost a skilled expert in the late stage of Qi Refining.

Thinking of this, Li Xiangming's gaze turned unusually cold.

"Xiangfeng, take Uncle Qianzhong and Xiangchuan with you."

"what?"

Li Xiangfeng looked up.

"Stop talking nonsense, we'll buy you some time."

Li Xiangming calmed himself down; the chances of killing the Illusory Night Butterfly were too slim.

Even if he joined forces with Li Xianghua and Li Xiangfeng, it was to no avail.

Because no one can resist the powerful illusions of the Illusionary Dark Butterfly.

Rather than risk a battle, it's better to retreat unscathed and preserve one's usefulness.

Even if it were to avenge Li Qianzhong, it should be done by someone from the Foundation Establishment stage within the family.

(End of this chapter)