Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 270 Encounter
Li Xiangming was in a hurry to leave less than an hour after arriving at Green Cloud Cave, which filled Zhang Min with doubt.

She asked him several times, but Li Xiangming shook his head each time.

The two gradually fell silent.

Upon arriving at the underground riverbed, Zhang Min led Li Xiangming back along the same route.

However, this time, she did not use the water-splitting pearl.

Li Xiangming couldn't help but ask, "Senior Sister, where is your Water-Dividing Bead?"

"I lent it to your Senior Brother Shao."

Zhang Min replied.

Shao Zhen?

Li Xiangming's expression changed.

He swam across the underground river with Zhang Min, and then went straight to Fairy Green Cloud's residence.

During this period, Zhang Min only left his sight when she gave him a briefing or when he met with her.

During these two time periods, when did Shao Zhen borrow the water-dividing pearl?

What is its purpose?
"What's wrong?"

Zhang Min was unaware of Li Xiangming's thoughts. Seeing the change in his expression, she still comforted him, "It's alright. We are both at the ninth level of Qi Refining. We can still get out without the Water Dividing Pearl. It will just take more magic power."

Li Xiangming hesitated for a moment, but ultimately just nodded.

The two entered the underground river one after the other. Although there were no water-splitting beads, Li Xiangming could still provide some protection by summoning his Water Element Flag.

"Junior brother still has the Water Element Flag."

Zhang Min's gaze shifted; the Water Element Flag was one of the signature magical artifacts of the Green Cloud Cave.

If Fairy Green Clouds wants to establish a sect, she naturally won't simply put up a flag and carve a plaque.

She also made many preparations, such as finding a weapon refiner from the Longyuan Sect to replicate the Five Elements Water Virtue Flag from the Five Elements Suppressing Wilderness Flag, and creating ten Water Element Flags as a foundation.

Although it was a replica, Fairy Green Cloud was in high spirits at the time, and she did not offer any discounts on the materials and spirit stones she provided.

Having received ample benefits, the weapon refiners naturally dared not cut corners, and all the Water Element Flags they crafted for Green Cloud Cave reached the level of mid-grade magic weapons.

After that, Green Cloud Cave successively found weapon refiners to make many more Water Element Flags.

The Water Element Flag gradually became the signature magical artifact of Green Cloud Cave.

However, due to cost savings.

Most of the Water Element Flags are low-grade or even inferior magical artifacts, unusable.

Zhang Min knew that the Water Element Flag in Li Xiangming's hand was personally bestowed by Fairy Green Cloud and was one of the original ten Water Element Flags, so it couldn't be too bad.

But in the end, it was only a mid-grade magic weapon, which was obviously not worthy of Li Xiangming, who had already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining.

"It can still be used for a while."

Li Xiangming smiled slightly and glanced at the Water Element Flag in his hand.

This ritual object had been with him for ten years, but of course, that wasn't the reason he kept it.

Although magical artifacts are of great benefit to cultivators, they cannot be used casually simply by finding them.

First, you must make the ritual implement recognize its owner. Only when you gain the recognition of the ritual implement can you drive it.

But this step is only a basic requirement for using the magical artifact.

To make a ritual implement as easy to use as one's own arm, it requires years of repeated rituals and refinements.

The so-called refining is when a cultivator imprints their divine sense onto their magical power and feeds it to the magical artifact little by little.

Only when the magical artifact is imbued with the master's magical power and divine consciousness can it unleash its full potential.

This step is destined to take a long time for the cultivators.

Furthermore, although a cultivator's magical power and divine sense can be slowly restored, once separated, they cannot be retrieved.

This also means that, within a certain period of time, the amount of magical power and divine sense that a cultivator can use is always limited.

Magic power signifies cultivation; those who possess a realm but lack cultivation are worthless.

Divine sense is the most relied-upon sensory organ for cultivators, without exception.

A blind cultivator can protect himself, and so can a deaf cultivator, but a cultivator without divine consciousness won't even know how he died.

Therefore, cultivators must always carefully consider how to allocate their magical power, divine sense, and other resources.

For cultivators, constantly splitting their divine consciousness to refine magical artifacts would only be a heavy burden.

Although the importance of magical artifacts has become increasingly prominent as the cultivation world has developed.

In reality, a cultivator can only master three to five magical artifacts at the very least.

In pursuit of combat power, most people will only lightly refine a few defensive magical artifacts, while focusing their main efforts on their main combat magical artifacts.

For example, Lee Sang-in.

But he went to an even more extreme point, focusing solely on refining the "Cloud Slayer" flying sword.

During the battle, one relies entirely on magic to protect oneself.

However, all the cultivators in the Li family are skilled in magic.

There's nothing wrong with what Li Xiangren did.

After obtaining the Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Rope, Li Xiangming, like Li Xiangren, regarded it as his greatest reliance and did not deliberately seek other magical artifacts.

However, the Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Chain has only been in its possession for four or five years, and it is not yet possible to achieve complete understanding.

Shui Yuanqi still holds some value for him.

How could Zhang Min have imagined all this?

In her mind, Li Xiangming received her plea for help and rushed to Green Cloud Cave immediately.

The fact that the Water Element Flag is still kept today undoubtedly shows a deep affection for the sect.

But after meeting his master, Li Xiangming immediately asked to leave.

This left Zhang Min completely baffled.

What exactly did Master say to his junior brother?
Just as she was deep in thought, Li Xiangming suddenly gripped her hand tightly, his body accelerating rapidly like an arrow shot from a bow, leaving a clear trail in the water.

"Junior Brother Li, what's wrong?"

Zhang Min cried out in surprise, but Li Xiangming suddenly stopped, catching her off guard, and she crashed headfirst into his solid back.

"Senior sister, it seems we've been a step too late."

Li Xiangming's voice was low and deep, revealing a hint of urgency.

Zhang Min hurriedly looked up and saw a shadowy figure approaching from the water.

She couldn't help but ask, "What exactly is going on?"

"If even you don't know, how would I know?"

Li Xiangming shook his head. The two of them were currently in an underground river in the eastern part of the Luoyang Mountains. The water system here was complex and extremely hidden.

How could there possibly be anyone passing by?

Li Xiangming didn't need to think to be certain that these people came from Green Cloud Cave.

One can also glean some insight from Fairy Green Cloud's attitude.

Green Cloud Cave did not welcome him; in fact, they wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible.

Zhang Min also realized this, her face turned deathly pale, and she muttered, "How could this be?"

Regardless of the circumstances, Li Xiangming was originally from Green Cloud Cave.

Although he and Fairy Green Cloud were not actually master and disciple, they were nominally master and disciple.

Why did Master intercept and kill Junior Brother Li?
Zhang Min couldn't understand it, and Li Xiangming was also full of confusion.

But he wasn't going to sit idly by and wait for his doom.

Judging from the feedback from his divine sense, there were no fewer than seven or eight people chasing after him.

Four or five people then surrounded them.

Staying here will only lead to certain death.

There was no time to confirm the route with Zhang Min, so Li Xiangming, relying on the faint memories remaining in his mind, took the lead and broke through to the left.

Upon seeing this, the cultivators in front immediately sent two of them to intercept them.

Li Xiangming kept his eyes and ears open, trying his best not to engage in battle with them. Instead, he increased his speed, intending to leave the area first.

In the water, many fighting techniques are greatly reduced.

Fortunately, Li Xiangming is a water cultivator and can win by using water-based magic.

However, everyone present was a water cultivator.

Fighting them would be pointless, except for wasting one's own magical power and getting surrounded.

Seeing Li Xiangming trying to escape, the group gave chase with all their might. One of the young cultivators, sleeves rolled up, disregarded the depletion of his magical power and charged ahead, attempting to block Li Xiangming's retreat.

"court death!"

A fierce glint flashed in Li Xiangming's eyes. He was unwilling to take action simply because he didn't want to fight this unprepared battle.

But that doesn't mean he was afraid of the other party.

Since the opponent was so aggressive, Li Xiangming did not hold back at all and immediately unleashed the Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Chain.

The Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Rope was originally a top-grade water-based magic weapon. Now, in the turbulent undercurrent, it was exceptionally active, like a nimble water snake, and instantly wrapped around the calf of the sleeveless cultivator.

The sleeveless monk hadn't even reacted yet when a sharp pain shot through his calf, at which point he cried out in agony.

Li Xiangming led Zhang Min straight past him.

He stared intently at Li Xiangming with his large, bell-like eyes, wanting to make a move, yet also wanting to say something.

But in the end, he accomplished nothing.

Because the Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Rope suppressed his magic power and bound him like a dumpling in just a few breaths.

After Li Xiangming passed by, the Weeping Spirit Desolate Heavenly Chain released his body.

However, by this time, he was bleeding from all seven orifices and was clearly not going to live.

"What a strange magical artifact."

The others gasped in shock upon seeing this.

Even those who were closely following Li Xiangming couldn't help but slow down a bit.

Seeing their hesitation, Li Xiangming immediately withdrew the Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Rope and sped away.

At the same time, he made a hand seal, and seven or eight water snakes as thick as an arm fell off his body and rushed towards the remaining four people.

Given the ferocity of the Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Chain, the four of them did not dare to be careless even when facing Li Xiangming's ordinary spells. They were in a flurry of activity, which greatly slowed down their progress.

Seeing this, Zhang Min couldn't help but glance at Li Xiangming.

Faced with the interception of five people, her junior brother killed one of them in a single exchange and held off the remaining four, successfully breaking through the encirclement.

This composure and strength are probably no less than any of the true disciples of Green Cloud Cave.

Li Xiangming had no time to discuss the details with Zhang Min. Although he had escaped the pursuit, he was not optimistic.

Because he clearly remembered that the five people had just surrounded them from the front.

This means that they entered the underground river before we did.

So, how do we determine that there are only five of them?
When Li Xiangming revealed his speculation and learned that the two were still in an ambush, Zhang Min trembled.

But she wasn't afraid. Instead, she bit her lip and tried her best to explain, "Junior Brother Li, these people might not be disciples of Green Cloud Cave. I know Green Cloud Cave; they wouldn't attack us."

Currently, in addition to the original disciples, Green Cloud Cave has also gathered a group of Shanyun Sect disciples.

Zhang Min's meaning was very clear: this was a conspiracy by the Shan Yun Sect.

Li Xiangming glanced at her but didn't say anything.

He didn't believe that Green Cloud Cave would hunt him down.

However, given Green Cloud Fairy's strange attitude, he dared not easily trust either side, including Zhang Min.

Li Xiangming's silence prompted Zhang Min to open her mouth.

But in the end, she sighed and offered no further explanation. In fact, she had no clue whatsoever and was filled with doubt.

The two traveled for a while longer and were about to reach the deep pool they had just arrived at when a deafening explosion suddenly rang out.

A powerful shockwave followed, like a ferocious monster, rushing towards them.

"not good!"

Li Xiangming's heart tightened, and he immediately wrapped the two of them with the Water Element Flag and sank them down.

It's obvious that someone activated a fireball above.

As one of the second-tier talismans, the Flame Burst Talisman's destructive power against Qi Refining cultivators is self-evident.

Although detonating a Fireball Talisman in water greatly reduces the damage from its flames, the magical shockwave from the explosion remains unaffected and is instead amplified.

The magic shockwave is actually a spell.

It was merely a spell without any attributes and in a chaotic manner, far less powerful than a normal spell.

But quantitative change leads to qualitative change.

The amount of mana a cultivator outputs when casting a single-target spell is not even in the same league as the amount of mana remaining in a talisman.

Under the immense flow of magical energy, both Li Xiangming and Zhang Min felt extremely uncomfortable.

Fortunately, under Li Xiangming's control, the Water Element Flag vibrated continuously, dissipating wave after wave of impacts, and neither of them was injured.

As the explosions gradually subsided, the surroundings returned to deathly silence.

Just then, a young cultivator dressed in a white cloud-patterned Taoist robe appeared silently beside them.

"Long Yang, is that you?"

Zhang Min clenched her teeth, her voice filled with anger.

Li Xiangming immediately recognized the other party as the Shanyun Sect disciple who had questioned him earlier!
At the same time, he realized that this cultivator named Long Yang had been watching his every move.

From the moment he met Fairy Green Cloud, Long Yang had already decided that he should leave Green Cloud Cave.

That's why they set up an ambush beforehand, intending to leave themselves in the dark underground river.

However, Li Xiangming saw that Fairy Green Cloud only stayed for a short while, and immediately asked Zhang Min to see him off after it ended.

This group was still faster than me, and their efficiency was terrifying.

The intentions of the two sides meeting under these circumstances are self-evident.

Li Xiangming struck first, his Weeping Spirit Desolate Heaven Rope lashing out like a ghost at Long Yang.

Not to be outdone, Long Yang held up a jade bottle and erected a magical shield, which blocked all of Li Xiangming's attacks.

Not only that, he also took out two unknown talismans and threw them at Li Xiangming's feet.

Having witnessed the power of the Flame Burst Talisman, how could Li Xiangming dare to be negligent?

He quickly pulled away, but Long Yang kept up the chase.

In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged several blows.

Just as the two were getting into a real fight, Zhang Min suddenly made a move, cooperating with Li Xiangming to force the young cultivator back.

She turned around, her face anxious, and said, "Junior Brother Li, Long Yang couldn't possibly be here alone. I'll hold him off for you, you go first!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming hesitated for a moment.

He could also see that Long Yang was frequently using talismans, clearly trying to conserve his magic power and drag out the battle.

If they continue fighting, they will only fall into the trap set by the Shan Yun Sect.

But if Zhang Min were left to face Long Yang alone, her situation would be even more perilous than his own.

"You must leave quickly. Shan Yun Sect cannot attack me; their only target is you."

Zhang Min suddenly realized something, and her expression became even more anxious.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming felt a slight unease, but he immediately left without further hesitation.

Long Yang naturally wouldn't allow it. His eyes turned cold, and he swayed as he tried to stop him.

Although Zhang Min, also a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining, was not known for his fighting skills, he was not someone to be trifled with.

She pulled out the black hairpin from her black hair, blew on it lightly, and the hairpin instantly expanded, its magical power surging.

Under Zhang Min's cover, Li Xiangming used the water's momentum to rush towards the surface like a fish.

Just as he was about to break through the water, a cold glint flashed across his vision.

Li Xiangming felt a chill run down his spine, and alarm bells rang in his mind.

Without hesitation, he immediately pinched the teleportation talisman in his hand.

With a flash of golden light, Li Xiangming's figure appeared ten feet away.

However, the sense of crisis has not disappeared.

Before Li Xiangming could regain his footing, he heard Zhang Min exclaim, "Junior Brother Li, get out of the way!"

Before he could finish speaking, Li Xiangming seemed to be struck by something, his whole body shuddered, and he instantly collapsed to the ground.

Even the Water Element Flags surrounding him lost control and fell down.

"Junior brother!"

Zhang Min covered her mouth, her face pale, and immediately abandoned her entanglement with Long Yang, rushing towards Li Xiangming at lightning speed.

But at that very moment, another cold glint appeared, like a shooting star chasing the moon, so fast that it caught everyone off guard, and struck Li Xiangming directly.

(End of this chapter)