Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 25 Qingyang Temple

After spending two days at Tailai Peak, Li Xiangming obtained the talisman and the Fiery Ice Iron Arrow, and went to the police station to report for duty with satisfaction.

I haven't been on duty in Mao District for two days, and I don't know if the monsters there have caused any trouble.

"Big brother!"

Upon entering the police station, Li Xiangming was the first to greet everyone.

"You've come at the perfect time; I was just about to look for you."

Li Xiangren smiled and waved, then placed a jade slip on the table.

"This is?"

Out of curiosity, Li Xiangming probed with his divine sense and was immediately stunned.

"You want me to be an envoy to Qingyang Temple?"

"Yes."

"What is this Qingyang Temple?"

"Four hundred miles to the east, there is a newly built Taoist temple. The abbot is an alchemist. Two months ago, he visited us and asked to borrow the earth fire."

"You didn't agree at the time?"

"Lending out the earth fire is no small matter, so the family is naturally being cautious."

Li Xiangren said helplessly.

Nodding in understanding, Li Xiangming continued, "What do you need me to do? Just deliver a message?"

On the jade slip on the table was only a verbal message from Li Qianxiong, which mentioned that he had agreed to lend the Earth Fire to Qingyang Temple.

"Passing on the message is one thing, but since the other party has formally visited our Li family, we also need to go through the formalities and, incidentally, solidify the relationship between our two families."

At this point, Lee Sang-in hesitated.

"what happened?"

"The head of the family asked you to persuade Qingyang Temple to accept those children from other families."

It turns out that Li Qianxiong was looking for Qingyang Temple.

Li Xiangming picked up the jade slip, lost in thought. It was his own suggestion to foster people in the surrounding small forces through financial assistance, so it was reasonable for him to carry it out.

He just didn't mention it at the time, and he thought that someone had already been chosen as the head of the family.

It was him again, no wonder I gave him two days off.

"I understand, but I might not be able to take care of the police station's work this time."

"Don't worry, I'll adjust the arrangements. We'll go to Mao District when you get back. Be careful."

"Ah."

After bidding farewell to Li Xiangren, Li Xiangming left Tailai Peak alone.

He did not bring the children with him, even though they were the main purpose of his trip. However, as an envoy of the Li family, he could not appear too eager.

Qingyang Temple is nestled between Danggui Mountain and Puyin Mountain. Looking at the map, Li Xiangming felt that the name was very familiar.

The gray-robed Taoist who shared hardships with me in Pushui was apparently named Qingyang.

Could it be such a coincidence?

After a moment of contemplation, Li Xiangming decided against making unfounded guesses. He trekked through mountains and rivers, crossing endless forests and wandering the wilderness for a day and a night before finally arriving at his destination.

Qingyang Temple is not large, and its wooden and stone structure is somewhat reminiscent of the work of a talisman maker.

Creating talismans is an ingenious idea in the cultivation world. As we all know, magical power can create things, but ordinary magical power will dissipate when it is used up, and the things created will no longer exist.

The creation talisman can extend the creation time by infusing it with special earth-based magic.

This thing can build a house in one go, and it won't collapse for fifty years, provided you know how to build a house, otherwise the result will be a mess.

"anyone there?"

The Taoist temple gate was tightly closed, and several large water vats were placed at the entrance, filled with water lily seeds.

Li Xiangming knocked on the door and stood quietly in front of the vat.

However, there was no response for quite a while.

He probably went out, right?
Li Xiangming probed the temple with his divine sense and found no fluctuations of magical power.

This place is nothing short of desolate and wild. Building a Taoist temple here is merely a temporary stopover; the real purpose is still Puyin Mountain.

He had most likely gone into the mountains. With that in mind, Li Xiangming wasn't in a hurry. He found an open space outside, closed his eyes to rest, and waited for the Taoist temple master to return.
-
On the outskirts of Puyin Mountain, a tall Taoist priest carrying a wild rabbit walks along a rugged mountain path.

Suddenly, he stopped and sighed, "You've followed me all this way, could it be that you're eyeing the treat I have?"

They were recognized, and two human figures appeared in the weeds behind them.

"It's just curiosity. In Puyin Mountain, which is full of monsters, the appearance of a living person is bound to make people think."

A short, stocky middle-aged man laughed heartily.

His companion beside him was stern and unsmiling, with a bald head that gave him the appearance of a fierce Vajra.

"It would be truly shocking if the 'Three Heroes and Four Tigers' of the Mang Cult appeared here!"

The Taoist priest looked the two of them over and suddenly spoke.

As soon as he finished speaking, the bald cultivator disappeared and reappeared behind the Taoist, his iron arms attempting to lock the Taoist's throat.

In the nick of time, the Taoist shrank back, and a long sword appeared in his hand without him even noticing. He then stabbed the other man in the backhand.

With a muffled groan, the bald cultivator staggered backward, looking down to see that his clothes were torn at the waist, leaving a white mark.

"What a skillful use of external martial arts."

Daoist Gao exclaimed in admiration, then flexed his wrist and twirled his sword with exceptional skill.

"Does the Taoist priest know us?"

At this moment, the short, stocky man also stepped forward, his face ashen.

"I used to have dealings with your Mang Sect in Zhangning Prefecture. If I'm not mistaken, you are the 'Four Tigers', right?"

The Taoist priest said calmly.

Suddenly, he thought of something and changed his words, saying, "No, Golden Tiger has already died at the hands of Hengyue Sect, so you should be called 'Three Tigers' instead."

Touched on a sore spot, the bald tiger behind him could no longer hold back, its eyes wide with rage, ready to strike.

"Wait a minute, third brother."

The smiling tiger interrupted his companion, equally angry but holding back: "I didn't expect the Taoist priest to be so well-informed. That's right, we are now the 'Three Tigers.' May I ask your esteemed name?"

The Taoist priest raised his long sword and drew a mark on the ground: "I have no intention of interfering with your Mang Sect, nor do I want to be disturbed by you. This is roughly what is meant by 'keeping to oneself'."

"If you are worried about me and insist on fighting, I am ready to fight you anytime."

The Taoist priest was very tough. He shifted his gaze and faced two opponents without showing the slightest fear.

The smiling tiger hesitated. The person in front of him had forced the third brother back with just a brief move, so his cultivation level was likely higher than the other two.

Taking action rashly carries a high risk.

Thinking of this, he cupped his hands and said, "I wouldn't dare. We brothers are just passing through this mountain and have no intention of disturbing the Daoist."

"Please leave, Taoist priest, and don't mention us brothers to outsiders."

"So best."

The Taoist priest nodded and turned to leave.

The bald tiger behind him watched his retreating figure, clenched his fists, and a hint of hatred flashed in his eyes.

"Third brother, hold on."

"He's the only living person in this area, and Lao Si is very likely to have died at his hands."

The bald tiger was panting heavily.

Smiling Tiger remained silent, thinking of his four brothers, who roamed the world and lived a carefree life.

Now that two of them have been killed, the "Four Tigers" have become "Two Tigers," making them a laughing stock in the sect.

Thinking of the ugly faces of those villains in the church, even the ever-present smile on the smiling tiger's face couldn't be maintained.

However, he was quite shrewd and quickly composed himself, patting his companion on the shoulder and saying, "Since he recognizes us, he should also recognize Lao Si. If Lao Si had died at his hands, he wouldn't be so calm upon suddenly seeing us."

"What if he's faking it?"

Bald Tiger was still unwilling to give up. Among the "Four Tigers," he had the best relationship with the fourth one, White-faced Tiger.

"Let's keep an eye on him for a few days. I don't believe his acting skills will always be this good."

A fierce glint flashed across the smiling tiger's face. He couldn't avenge the golden-haired tiger, but he had to avenge the white-faced tiger. Otherwise, the remaining "two tigers" would have no place in the sect.

(End of this chapter)