Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 386 Method
Animal Breeding Peak.

Three or four people gathered in front of a cave, talking in hushed tones.

Suddenly, a huge man poked his head out from the side and asked in a deep voice, "What are you doing?"

"Mom!"

One of them was startled, but when he saw Gao Can's honest face, he breathed a sigh of relief and angrily questioned, "What are you doing here too?"

Gao Can looked aggrieved: "I sunbathe here every day."

The man, still angry, seemed to remember something and shouted, "Who gave you permission to come out? Weren't you locked up?"

"Xiangzhi!"

Li Xiangru, who was in charge, quietly stopped them.

Lee Sang-ji opened his mouth, but ultimately kept it closed.

Li Xiangru then swept a warning look over the others before turning to Gao Can and smiling gently, "We apologize for disturbing Brother Gao's rest."

Gao Can scratched his head: "It's okay, I was just curious."

"Brother Gao, go and rest. We're waiting for someone."

Li Xiangru said.

"Oh."

Gao Can understood that the other party was trying to get rid of him. Ma Wu often dealt with him like this. He wondered what Ma Wu was up to and why the chieftain hadn't come to pick him up yet.

As he pondered, Gao Can looked somewhat dejected, so he turned around and found a comfortable spot to lie down on the other side of the cave.

Soon after, a loud snore echoed around.

The people at the cave entrance all turned to look.

Li Xiangzhi said with particular dissatisfaction, "Fourth Brother, this guy injured so many of us, why is he still staying at home?"

"Yeah, and they've been released. What if they go berserk and hurt people again?"

Someone nearby immediately chimed in.

Li Xiangru frowned and slowly said, "Don't worry, Eleventh Uncle said his condition has stabilized and he won't hurt anyone again."

"He shouldn't be kept at home either, he's not even surnamed Li!"

Li Xiangzhi still pursed his lips and muttered, "And it's in such an important place as the Beast Breeding Peak."

Li Xiangru slapped him on the head: "What do you want to say to me? Go talk to Xiangming, he happens to be from your fourth branch! It was Xiangming who insisted that Gao Can stay, even the elders couldn't persuade him. You're so capable, go into the cave and find him right now!"

"I"

Li Xiangzhi glanced at the pitch-black cave entrance and shook his head repeatedly: "He is the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall and a Foundation Establishment cultivator. How could I dare to complain in front of him?"

Li Xiangru was even more furious: "Then how dare you stammer in front of me? Do you think my position as the deputy head of Guangfeng Hall is too low?"

"Not at all, you're our boss!" Li Xiangzhi said with a fawning smile.

"That's utter nonsense."

Li Xiangru cursed and swore.

At that moment, a commotion suddenly came from inside the cave, and the chatter of the group instantly ceased.

A short while later, Li Xiangming came out from inside.

"How's Xiangming?"

Li Xiangru quickly asked.

Li Xiangming glanced at him and shook his head: "It has some effect, but not much."

"Not even illusions?"

Li Xiangru was deeply troubled. If he couldn't control these children, it would undoubtedly be a huge burden for the Li family, and also a hidden danger that could not be ignored.

The Beast Breeding Peak can keep them locked up for a while, but not forever.

After all, this is an important place for the Li family to develop their beast-taming skills.

Even Li Xiangzhi knew that the Tongbei Sect disciples should not be placed here, and the clan elders were even more aware of this.

In just a few days, the clan elders collectively voiced their opposition.

Even the elders couldn't decide where to send these Tongbei Sect disciples.

We can neither keep them alive nor let them return to the mountains. Do we really have to kill them all?
The clan elders were unwilling to be the bad guy, so they asked Li Qianxiong to make the decision. As the head of the family, Li Qianxiong naturally couldn't take the blame, so he shifted the pressure to Li Xiangru.

Where does Li Xiangru have a way to satisfy both sides?

They had no choice but to find Li Xiangming to discuss countermeasures.

Li Xiangming was the one who started this trouble, so of course it was difficult for him to ignore it.

After learning from Qingyang Daoist that illusions might be effective, he rushed to Beast Breeding Peak to conduct an experiment.

These children of the Tongbei Sect had no physical injuries; they simply firmly believed in their identities as "Zipan" or "Zihong." Based on these identities, they were loyal to the so-called "leader." Li Xiangming and the Li family, who destroyed the Tongbei Sect and took them away, were naturally their enemies.

Don't be fooled by their current submissiveness to Li Xiangming; it's only because Li Xiangming has displayed absolute power. Once Li Xiangming or the Li family members relax their guard, these Tongbei Sect disciples will immediately rebel, attempt to escape, and return to their beloved "Tongbei Sect."

To break this situation, these children must be freed from their brainwashed identities and made to understand that the "Tongbi Cult" is actually a den of thieves with deep sins and is not worthy of their loyalty.

However, changing their perceptions is easier said than done.

Only illusion magic can do this. Li Xiangming could give them new names and a completely new experience through illusion magic, and even deceive them into leaving the Tongbei Sect and joining the Li family.

The problem is that these children are all cultivators with spiritual cultivation and divine souls within them.

Even mortals who are under the spell will only think they had a dream when they wake up.

Let alone a cultivator with extraordinary perseverance?

Even though Li Xiangming's illusions had captivated the children, the intense sense of unreality and disconnection still made them realize something was wrong when the magic dissipated.

Ultimately, Li Xiangming's brainwashing attempt failed.

But this doesn't mean that illusions are not a viable method.

Suppose that Li Xiangming not only gave these Tongbei Sect disciples new names, but also new backgrounds, such as parents, relatives, friends, hometowns, countries, social order, etc., thereby constructing a completely realistic illusionary world.

In this "real" illusionary world, the disciples of the Tongbei Sect relive their lives, and their mindset naturally changes.

If done properly, it can even turn a real experience into a dream.

Completely reverse their memories.

However, this task is no less difficult than reaching for the stars and the moon.

At least it's something that Li Xiangming, a self-taught illusion cultivator, couldn't do.

At most, he would insert some fabricated illusions into the minds of the Tongbei Sect disciples, planting seeds of confusion in them.

The seeds of confusion are not incapable of taking root and sprouting.

If Li Xiangming uses illusions to deceive these children over the years, it may distort their memories, making them feel favorably toward the Li family, or even pledge allegiance to the Li family.

However, this time span is far too long.

Li Xiangming could not afford to waste his time on these insignificant pieces.

That's why he shook his head directly.

Seeing that Li Xiangming's experiment had failed, Li Xiangru sighed deeply.

Li Xiangming didn't give up. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Is Yuan Bin still at home?"

"Yes, but not on Beast Breeding Peak; they've been placed in Changyang Valley!"

Li Xiangru replied immediately.

Although Yuan Bin was also a disciple of the Tongbei Sect, he revealed the location of the Tongbei Sect, which made him a meritorious person to the Li family. In addition, sending him to Hengyue Gate for temporary residence was not a difficult matter for the Li family.

Therefore, Li Xiangming did not intend to breach the contract, but instead brought him back to the Li family.

"Changyang Valley?"

Li Xiangming muttered something to himself, then looked at Li Xiangru and said, "Fourth Brother, keep an eye on these children. I'm going to Changyang Valley!"

"I also need to go!"

Just then, Gao Can peeked out furtively. Li Xiangming beckoned him over and asked, "How's your recovery going?"

Gao Can raised his arm, showing off his muscles: "Brother Li, look!"

Li Xiangming chuckled and said, "Then come with me."
-
"Brother Li, there are so many people!"

At the entrance of Changyang Valley, Gao Can shouted excitedly, instantly becoming the focus of everyone's attention.

"We arrived at a good time, just in time for the Changyang Valley Small Meeting held once every three months. These people are here to exchange information and resources."

Li Xiangming explained calmly.

"Oh!"

Gao Can responded, and perhaps because he was used to being watched, he completely ignored the gazes around him and continued to dance excitedly.

Suddenly, he ran to a vendor's stall, squatted down, and started muttering to himself about the goods on display.

The stall owner, a burly middle-aged man, was startled when a tall figure loomed over him, his imposing presence like a mountain pressing down on him. He broke out in a cold sweat and quickly stood up, shouting, "Who are you? What do you want to buy? Do you have any spirit stones?"

"Spiritual stone?"

Faced with a barrage of questions, Gao Can scratched his head and turned around: "Brother Li, I don't have any spirit stones. In the past, when I bought things, Ma Wu would pay for them."

Li Xiangming smiled and walked over slowly.

Upon seeing Li Xiangming's extraordinary bearing, the middle-aged man quickly flattered him, saying, "This gentleman is truly a reincarnation of the Dao Ancestor! He is handsome, dashing, and imposing. Even his attendants are so tall and mighty. He must have a successful path in the Dao and extraordinary cultivation. Come and see what we have here; it's all top-grade! I'm not bragging, but within hundreds of miles, no one has anything better than what we have!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding stall owners began to curse loudly.

The middle-aged man remained expressionless as he continued to promote the goods on his stall. He became particularly excited and eloquent when it came to a white jade gourd that looked exquisite.

"Master Yi crafted this top-grade magic artifact. Don't underestimate its size; it could easily hold the entire Rainbow Cloud Sea. I think you're a water cultivator, right? With such a treasure by your side, you can drown anyone you don't like with a vast ocean. Who can compete with you?"

The middle-aged man, his face flushed, stood up abruptly, almost shoving the white jade gourd into Li Xiangming's arms: "It's not expensive, really not expensive! For a mere three hundred spirit stones, you can get such a powerful high-grade magic weapon! If you miss this opportunity, you'll never get another chance!"

Li Xiangming glanced at the white jade gourd, feeling both annoyed and amused.

Master Yi's top-grade magic artifacts can sell for as much as 1,300 spirit stones, let alone 300.

When he attended the auction held by Yifeng Pavilion, he witnessed a top-grade treasure sword forged by Master Yi, which was eventually auctioned off for a sky-high price of 1,800 spirit stones.

If the white jade gourd truly had such value, the rogue cultivators in Changyang Valley would have gone mad long ago.

The stall owner probably won't live to see the next day.

As for the claim that it could contain a sea of ​​colorful clouds, that's utter nonsense.

Let alone one top-grade magic artifact, even a hundred or a thousand of them wouldn't be able to shake the Colorful Cloud Sea.

Li Xiangming has never been fond of people who speak recklessly like this.

However, the other party was able to guess his identity as a water cultivator, which suggests that he has some extraordinary abilities.

Li Xiangming sized up the other party, then focused his gaze on what Gao Can had taken a liking to—a shimmering golden ribbon! Upon slight touch, a cool sensation washed over him, somewhat like a material taken from a demonic beast.

Seeing that Li Xiangming was not interested in the white jade gourd, the stall owner was greatly disappointed and even slowed down his speech.

Nevertheless, he still smiled and said, "Sir, you have a good eye. This is a fine item extracted from the golden crown of the Azure-Eyed Golden-Crowned Python. It only costs five spirit stones!"

Li Xiangming put down the golden ribbon and raised his eyebrows: "What's the use of this thing?"

The middle-aged man was taken aback for a moment, his face showing embarrassment: "If you really want it, sir, just give me a spirit stone to settle things."

Li Xiangming snorted and took out a spirit stone from his side and threw it over.

A monster may have useful materials all over its body, but only a few of them can actually fetch a price.

For example, the Azure-Eyed Golden-Crowned Python is enormous, and its massive teeth can be used to craft magical artifacts.

However, the teeth of many other beast demons are stronger, sharper, and more suitable for weapon crafting.

Even disregarding the perspective of weapon crafting, the Azure-Eyed Golden-Crowned Python is not the first choice due to the difficulty of capturing the "Demon Tooth".

When the market is always flooded with more and better alternatives to the giant teeth of the blue-eyed golden-crowned python, even if it has value, its price remains low, or it even becomes scrap.

The ribbon supposedly pulled from the golden crown clearly belongs to this type of material.

Those legitimate demon-hunting teams would never touch these worthless things.

Of course, some people, after hunting down a monster, would love to strip it naked.

This has led to some "useless" materials ending up on the market, where they are used by unscrupulous merchants and vendors to attract attention and swindle people.

The Li family themselves are the owners of Changyang Valley and have been running it for nearly ten years, so they are used to this kind of behavior from the vendors.

If Gao Can hadn't wanted it, Li Xiangming wouldn't have been willing to give him even a single spirit stone.

"Brother Li, look!"

Gao Can wrapped the golden ribbon around his hand, fiddling with it until it finally wove into a golden flower, leaving Li Xiangming stunned.

He never expected that Gao Can, who was so burly, would also have such a skillful side.

"Does it look good?"

Gao Can asked expectantly.

"nice."

Li Xiangming smiled and suddenly remembered that when he got married, Gao Can seemed to have a special fondness for the big red flower on his chest.

This child does have a certain childlike innocence.

However, Li Xiangming did not come to Changyang Valley to go shopping.

He patted Gao Can's arm, signaling him to stay close to him.

After circling around for a while, we arrived at the edge of Changyang Valley.

Since the outer courtyard of the Service Institute was located in Changyang Valley, the Li family also developed many low-level spirit fields on the edge of Changyang Valley to facilitate the use of these manpower.

Looking around, one could see many Ling farmers employed by the Li family busy working in the fields.

Li Xiangming glanced at it twice, then turned around and went to a small wooden house, gently knocking on the door.

A short while later, a pale-faced young man came out.

"It seems your body is recovering faster than I expected."

Li Xiangming sized up Yuan Bin and said meaningfully.

Yuan Bin remained silent, but instead of blocking the doorway, he went back inside and sat down.

"Gao Can, you stay at the door and keep watch."

Li Xiangming gave an instruction and then went inside.

"What are you doing here? Are you ready to take me to Hengyue Gate?" Yuan Bin asked calmly.

"If you're in a hurry, you can leave now, but I have some questions for you."

Li Xiangming stared at Yuan Bin, "Regarding the method of controlling the Heart-Eating Gu."

"Heart-eating Gu?"

Yuan Bin frowned, then quickly realized what he meant, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. He interrupted with a cold laugh, "Do you think I, a controlled pawn, can control the so-called Heart-Eating Gu?"

"If you can't even control the Heart-Eating Gu, how can you train those young Tongbei Sect disciples?"

Li Xiangming pressed for an answer.

Yuan Bin closed his eyes and said, "I told you long ago, you'll be arriving too late."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming fell silent.

Because he was wary of the Tongbei Sect and feared being taken advantage of, he sent Long Yang to lead the vanguard.

As it turned out, he was overly cautious. On the contrary, Long Yang, who was alone, was worried about alerting the enemy and let a group of Tongbei Sect disciples leave.

The key figure capable of controlling the Heart-Eating Gu might be among these people!

If they can capture them, the Li family will most likely be able to learn about the mysterious force behind the Tongbei Sect in advance.

I regret it!
Li Xiangming sighed.

(End of this chapter)