Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 287 The Green Cloud Fairy Appears
"This is where?"

Li Xiangming opened his eyes, looking completely bewildered.

The memory of using the Crimson Cloud Talisman still lingered in his mind.

The Crimson Cloud Talisman truly lived up to its reputation as a top-tier second-order talisman, blasting the underground riverbed to pieces.

However, even so, it still failed to stop Zhao Yue from using thunder magic.

Faced with the overwhelming horde of lightning snakes, Li Xiangming had no choice but to jump into the underground river.

The river could not stop the ravages of lightning, but staying on the shore was also a dead end. Entering the water, with the abilities of the Black Water Serpent, might save his life.

Sure enough, he is now unharmed.

"That's right, the Blackwater Serpent!"

Ignoring his dizziness, Li Xiangming hurriedly began chanting the incantation.

Soon, the Blackwater Serpent appeared out of nowhere, nimbly climbing up Li Xiangming's trouser leg and finally coiling around his forearm.

"It wasn't for nothing that I put so much effort into you."

Li Xiangming gently stroked the scales of the Blackwater Serpent, his heart filled with emotion.

If we include the time he was injured by the Six Yin Divine Finger, this is the second time the Black Water Serpent has saved him in Hao County.

I just don't know where the Blackwater Serpent took him.

His original plan was to return the way he came and exit Green Cloud Cave.

However, Zhao Yue was relentlessly pursuing him, and he didn't have time to reach the secret passage, so he went down into the river ahead of time.

The underground rivers in Green Cloud Cave are intricate and complex; a slight deviation can lead to disorientation.

Moreover, the guide was a Blackwater Serpent with limited intelligence.

It is almost impossible for it to send itself back to the First Line Sky Canyon.

Li Xiangming looked around and found himself seemingly in a stone cave. The cave ceiling and surroundings were covered with naturally formed stalactites, which had grown underwater for countless years and were of various shapes, like works of art.

The pebbles on the ground were smooth and shiny, each emitting a faint blue light, clearly not ordinary.

He walked a few more steps in the direction where the Black Water Serpent had appeared and found a small pool.

The pond water was crystal clear, and a few pale blue water lilies floated on the surface, swaying gently in the dim light and emitting a faint fragrance.

"It doesn't look like it was formed naturally."

Li Xiangming quickly concluded that the pool and its surroundings were overly elaborate.

Could it be that I have stumbled into the cave of some reclusive cultivator?

But this place is only so big, it doesn't look like anyone lives here.

Just as he was deep in thought, the Black Water Serpent slid off his shoulder and nimbly darted into the pool. In a short while, its figure disappeared beneath the surface of the water.

"Illusion array?"

Li Xiangming was taken aback. He had been practicing illusion techniques for seven or eight years, yet he hadn't noticed a single clue.

He couldn't resist reaching out his palm and dipping it into the water, his fingertips immediately touching the slippery tail of the Blackwater Serpent.

Clearly, the little guy was waiting for him.

Without further hesitation, Li Xiangming took a deep breath and stepped into the pool.

The pool was formed by an illusion array; its true form should be the entrance to a cave.

As soon as Li Xiangming entered the shop, he felt as if he had passed through an invisible barrier and began to fall continuously.

But he was not alarmed, because the Blackwater Serpent had arrived first, which meant that the cave was not deep, but just hidden.

The cave's scenery is much the same as the outside, with stalactites everywhere and stones emitting a blue light.

However, these stones were not polished into smooth pebbles.

It's probably because the project is too large.

Because the space here is hundreds of times wider than the caves outside, the end of one cave connects to another new cave, large caves contain smaller caves, and the smaller caves are separated from the large caves, forming an intricate maze.

In the labyrinth, irregular stone pillars rise from the ground, supporting the entire cave structure.

The babbling water flows over the surface of the stone pillars, whether it is the work of the stalactites or the seepage of the external river is unknown.

In short, these waters converge into streams, running rampant throughout the entire cave area.

Li Xiangming had only walked for a short while when his trouser legs were already wet and his steps became heavy.

Only the Blackwater Serpent tumbled and rolled freely in the water, seemingly quite satisfied with its environment.

Li Xiangming ignored the Black Water Serpent's playful antics, his curiosity fully ignited, and he expanded his divine sense to its maximum extent.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, he involuntarily quickened his pace.

Soon, Li Xiangming arrived at a new small cave.

The space here is not spacious; you can see the end of it at a glance.

His gaze was immediately drawn to the pool of water in front of him.

The pool was small, with an oval surface less than two zhang in diameter, steaming hot, like a fairyland.

This is actually a hot spring!
What surprised Li Xiangming even more was that a bronze alchemy furnace was suspended above the hot spring, fixed in the air by six thick chains, and the furnace body emitted strong spiritual energy fluctuations.

"What is this?"

Li Xiangming immediately flew forward and carefully examined the alchemy furnace.

The surface of the alchemy furnace was covered with densely packed runes, each one appearing ancient and mysterious.

The six chains were also covered with unknown talismans.

These methods were clearly intended for what was inside the furnace.

Li Xiangming was very curious and tried to probe it with his divine sense, but to no avail.

The runes on the alchemy furnace seemed to be able to isolate his divine sense.

The Blackwater Serpent also swam over, appearing unusually restless, constantly swishing its tail and flicking its tongue, seemingly filled with longing for what was inside the alchemy furnace.

Li Xiangming stopped the Black Water Serpent, unaware of what was inside the furnace. Opening it rashly could be dangerous.

But he was also very curious. After hesitating for a while, he looked around and found no trace of anyone. So he took out the Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Rope and tied it to the lid of the alchemy furnace from a distance.

With a forceful pull, the alchemy furnace vibrated slightly, and the surrounding iron chains rattled.

"There's a show!"

Li Xiangming felt that there was not much resistance in his hand, so he suddenly pulled, and the furnace lid was blown off with a "bang".

A dazzling blue light shot into the sky from the furnace, paused briefly in the air, and then disappeared rapidly in one direction.

"The Enlightenment Spring?"

Li Xiangming cried out in surprise. That fleeting glimpse was enough for him to see the true nature of the blue light.

The legendary Enlightenment Spring was right in front of him!
No, it has now disappeared from his sight.

Li Xiangming was both angry and anxious. He hurriedly issued an order to the Blackwater Serpent and gave chase with all his might.

If he let the Enlightenment Spring escape like that, he would slap himself to death.

The Enlightenment Spring moves extremely fast and is very agile.

Li Xiangming alone might really be unable to deal with it.

Fortunately, he still had the Blackwater Serpent.

Even in shallow streams, the Blackwater Serpent moves with the ease of a fish in water and the power of a tiger, its speed no less than that of the Enlightenment Spring.

Under Li Xiangming's planning, the Blackwater Serpent could often arrive at the cave where the Enlightenment Spring was located ahead of time, use its transformation ability to turn into a huge creature, and block the cave entrance.

At this point, the Enlightenment Spring had no choice but to turn back, escape through the crevice, and head towards other cave entrances. However, although there are many caves here, they are still limited in number.

Under the relentless pursuit of Li Xiangming and the Blackwater Serpent, they were eventually trapped in a sealed cave.

At this moment, the Enlightenment Spring seemed to realize the danger and its speed increased, leaving afterimages in the cave with its blue light.

However, no matter how it changed direction, Li Xiangming and the Blackwater Serpent were always able to adjust their strategies in time and gradually shrink the encirclement.

"Want to go?"

Li Xiangming gritted his teeth; he was determined to capture the Enlightenment Spring no matter what.

He took out a handful of Qi-restoring pills from his storage bag, and disregarding the pills' toxicity, stuffed them all into his mouth, hoping to recover even a little bit of his magical power.

After much turmoil, the momentum of the Enlightenment Spring finally weakened.

Seeing that it was still trying to struggle, the Blackwater Serpent suddenly leaped out of the water, its huge body drawing an arc in the air, opening its massive mouth and swallowing the Enlightenment Spring in one gulp.

Unable to escape, the Enlightenment Spring struggled a few times in the mouth of the Black Water Serpent, but was quickly suppressed by the power within the Black Water Serpent and stopped moving.

Upon seeing this, Li Xiangming was overjoyed and quickly approached the Black Water Serpent, carefully taking the Enlightenment Spring from its mouth.

At this moment, the Enlightenment Spring had become much calmer, and the light emanating from it had softened, no longer as violent as before.

Li Xiangming examined it closely, feeling extremely pleased.

The true form of the Enlightenment Spring is just a small blue drop of water.

However, this thing was nurtured and transformed by heaven and earth, and is the source of spiritual energy.

Once you possess it, it's an unparalleled blessing.

Ever since learning about the drawbacks of the evil green robe, Li Xiangming has been extremely anxious.

If he cannot establish his foundation, his lifespan will be no different from that of an ordinary person, a mere hundred years. For a cultivator who seeks longevity, this is undoubtedly a tragedy.

A century-long journey is meaningless.

Qi cultivators in ancient times could live to be a hundred years old.

But they are not qualified to become immortals.

Because the cultivation methods at that time were not perfect.

Currently, the cultivation world is at its peak.

Various legends about attaining enlightenment and ascending to heaven circulate among the people, captivating their imaginations.

Although these seemingly detailed legends are mostly fabricated.

Li Xiangming could not confirm whether true immortals existed.

But he knew that Golden Core cultivators had a lifespan of five hundred years, and Nascent Soul cultivators could live for twelve hundred years.

Above that are the three realms of Deity Transformation, Body Integration, and Mahayana.

Among these realms, cultivators in the Mahayana stage are even more renowned as ancient monsters.

Compared to a mere century, how is a lifespan of ten thousand years any different from that of an immortal?
Moreover, the advancement of one's cultivation level not only means a longer lifespan, but also greater martial prowess and status.

Golden Core cultivators are already unstoppable, while Nascent Soul cultivators can dominate a region within the Dao Palace.

In short, Li Xiangming longs to continue on his path.

The prerequisite for this is to eliminate the threat posed by the evil Green Robe.

He had tried countless methods and inquired everywhere about various treasures that could suppress evil spirits.

But before coming to Hao County, he never imagined that he would obtain the legendary Enlightenment Spring.

It was still so easy.

It's easy to imagine how excited and thrilled Li Xiangming was at that moment.

However, as if confirming the saying that joy turns to sorrow, a faint voice came: "Those who can be close to the Enlightenment Spring are few and far between."

As the sound rang out, the Enlightenment Spring in Li Xiangming's hand seemed to be summoned by something, suddenly breaking free from his control and turning into a blue light that flew towards the source of the sound.

"Who?"

Li Xiangming turned around abruptly, his eyes filled with vigilance.

At this moment, a female cultivator with long, flowing hair appeared and walked slowly towards the cave. Her steps were light and elegant, and each step seemed to blend perfectly with the atmosphere of the cave.

"Master?"

Li Xiangming opened his mouth.

The visitor was none other than the owner of Green Cloud Cave—the Green Cloud Fairy.

And it wasn't some imposter like Zhao Yue, because he could clearly sense the Foundation Establishment magic power fluctuations emanating from the other party.

At this moment, how could Li Xiangming not understand?

I have stumbled upon the secluded retreat of Fairy Green Cloud, a place she never reveals to the public.

The hot spring and alchemy furnace that I just saw were all carefully arranged by Fairy Green Cloud.

As Xu Zibu said, the Enlightenment Spring has always been under the control of Green Cloud Cave, but it is not in a fixed location. Instead, it is personally kept by Fairy Green Cloud.

Thinking of this, Li Xiangming smiled bitterly to himself.

All my efforts have been in vain.

After all, how did he manage to snatch the Enlightenment Spring from Fairy Green Cloud?
Fairy Green Cloud frowned slightly: "You call me master?"

Seeing that Fairy Green Cloud seemed not to recognize him, Li Xiangming's face flashed with embarrassment, and he cupped his hands in greeting: "Disciple Li Xiangming greets his master!"

"Li Xiangming?"

Fairy Green Cloud pondered for a moment, then seemed to remember something and asked, "Are you that little child from the Li family?"

Li Xiangming's face became even more embarrassed. He knew that in Fairy Green Cloud's memory, he might still be a child.

This also indirectly shows that he was not valued by Fairy Green Cloud.

But he remained respectful: "I am indeed your disciple."

In the world of cultivation, differences in cultivation level often signify differences in social class.

In front of the Green Cloud Fairy, who had already established her foundation, Li Xiangming had no room for equal dialogue. Even though she took away the Enlightenment Spring from his hand, he dared not utter a single complaint.

After confirming Li Xiangming's identity, Fairy Green Cloud's impression of him gradually became clearer. She recalled accepting the Yellow Dragon Pill from Li Xiangming, and her expression softened: "Didn't you go back to the Li family? How come you're here?"

Li Xiangming truthfully recounted: "I received a letter from Senior Sister Zhang requesting help and learned that Green Cloud Cave was in crisis, so I rushed here hoping to do my part. Unexpectedly, I encountered Zhao Yue, was injured, and fell into the underground river, where I was carried by the current."

"Zhao Yue?"

Fairy Green Clouds looked surprised. "How did you manage to fight her? Hmm, your cultivation has actually reached the ninth level of Qi Refining?"

"I have been cultivating diligently and my cultivation level has improved."

Li Xiangming said modestly, then hurriedly added, "By the way, Zhao Yue is impersonating you, Master, and causing trouble in Green Cloud Cave. Senior Sister Zhang couldn't bear to see Green Cloud Cave's foundation fall into the hands of outsiders, so she led the disciples to rise up in resistance, but they are now being suppressed by the Good Cloud Sect. In addition, outsiders such as the Mang Sect have led their forces in and broken the Lesser Profound Yin Spirit Array. The situation in Green Cloud Cave is now extremely critical!"

Li Xiangming briefly recounted the recent events that had occurred at Green Cloud Cave.

However, Fairy Green Cloud seemed not to hear, and only stared at Li Xiangming.

After a long while, she came to her senses and said, "You're not bad at fighting Zhao Yue."

Li Xiangming was stunned, not understanding what was going on.

He did fight Zhao Yue, but was beaten and forced to flee in a sorry state.

To be honest, there's nothing to praise about it.

After hearing her own instructions, why is Fairy Green Cloud praising herself instead of quickly leaving the Green Cloud Cave to rescue the Mang Sect?
He raised his head slightly, observing the expression on Fairy Green Cloud's face.

Green Cloud Fairy seemed to notice his gaze and smiled faintly: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

(End of this chapter)