Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 571 Four Directions Valley

Li Xiangming, who hadn't used any magical power to protect himself, was immediately pinched and felt a sharp pain. However, his expression remained unchanged, and he coldly said, "You can think of it this way: he has found your chieftain's wife."

"The chieftain's wife?"

Gao Can froze upon hearing this word.

Ma Wu said that the chieftain was the son-in-law of Huanyun Village.

Yes!

The chieftain was also married.

Having figured this out, Gao Can released Li Xiangming and slumped to the ground, ignoring the bloodstains on his clothes.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally said in a muffled voice, "Brother Li, the chieftain wants a wife, he doesn't want me anymore, does he?"

Li Xiangming didn't know how to explain, so he changed the subject: "They will be very happy. Do you want them to be happy?"

Gao Can raised his head slightly: "I hope so."

Li Xiangming squatted down in front of this big, clumsy guy and said earnestly, "Chief Liu also hopes that you can live a happy life."

After saying that, he took a small cloth bag from his side and handed it over: "This is what your chieftain left for you."

Gao Can tremblingly took the storage bag with the familiar scent in front of him, his eyes instantly turning red, and he hugged his knees and wailed, attracting the frequent attention of the surrounding demon-suppressing camp cultivators.

Li Xiangming offered no further words of comfort.

In fact, Liu Xiongyu's storage bag was left for him, and there wasn't a single word about Gao Can in his last words. This child could only rely on himself from beginning to end.

He hoped that Gao Can could get through Liu Xiong Yu's ordeal on his own.

After getting up, Li Xiangming found Xu Jin again and instructed him, "Take me to see Master Shen."

Xu Jin had anticipated this scene, but dared not refuse. The two left Gushe Ridge one after the other and traveled to Luyang Mountain, which was more than 400 miles away.

During this time, Li Xiangming did not question Xu Jin and the others about why they did not return to the Demon Suppression Camp, and Xu Jin did not dare to bring it up. Both sides tacitly skipped the topic.

After entering the deep mountains, Xu Jin explained, "Although Mount Luyang is large, there are no spiritual sites within it, so it has never been occupied by other forces. It wasn't until three years ago that a talisman master named Yan Xianlin cleared a valley here and named it Sifang Valley. We are settling down in Sifang Valley."

A talisman master?
Li Xiangming's heart stirred, but he didn't ask any further questions.

Sifang Valley is not square as its name suggests; instead, it is narrow and long, similar to the narrow canyon outside Green Cloud Cave, where sunlight never reaches, whether morning or evening.

There isn't even a valley entrance here; if ordinary people want to enter or leave, they have to climb vines that are over 240 feet high.

Of course, this is not a difficult task for cultivators.

Xu Jin leaped down, grabbing onto vines to absorb the force, then swung to other vines, quickly reaching the bottom of the valley; Li Xiangming, whose magical power far surpassed Xu Jin's, flew directly to the ground at an even faster speed.

After gaining a firm footing, Li Xiangming looked around.

The stream flowed beneath his feet, and steep cliffs rose every five or six steps on either side. Forget about planting grain or hemp; even land suitable for building houses was extremely limited. He estimated that at most three to five hundred people could live in the valley.

However, according to Xu Jin, the Yan family only had four cultivators and more than seventy mortal clansmen, so the valley was not cramped, although the living conditions were a bit harsh.

The Yan family certainly didn't like to suffer.

Sifang Valley is bad in every way, but it is secluded enough.

Or rather, it's safe enough!
There are quite a few native monsters in Luyang Mountain, but none of them have ever attacked Sifang Valley in the past three years. After Master Liaoshen and his group visited the Yan family and obtained permission to stay temporarily, they even avoided the peak period of the beast tide on Lingyue Peak.

It is evident that Sifang Valley possesses unique value.

"Who are you?"

The two had only taken a few steps when they were immediately stopped by a childish voice.

Li Xiangming looked up and saw an eight- or nine-year-old boy on a brown rock protruding from a distant cliff, holding a short crossbow and aiming it intently at him while pulling on a vine.

"Baoshu, it's me! Don't be impulsive!"

Xu Jin quickly spoke up, shouting, "Distinguished guests have arrived! Quickly invite your grandfather and father to come and greet them!"

The boy moved slightly, but did not put down the crossbow, nor did he leave.

At this moment, two streaks of light approached from afar and finally landed by the stream. The leader was about forty years old, with a handsome face and extraordinary bearing. Half a step behind him was a female cultivator of similar age with a beautiful face.

The man first glanced at Xu Jin, then looked away, his gaze settling on the stranger beside him. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. "My name is Yan Fuzhao. May I ask who this distinguished guest is?"

Li Xiangming cupped his hands in greeting and introduced himself: "Li Xiangming from Dangui Mountain. I apologize for disturbing you, Fellow Daoist Yan."

Danggui Mountain?
Yan Fuzhao's expression changed. He didn't know Li Xiangming, but he was very familiar with the Li family of Dangui Mountain. He immediately bowed and said, "As expected of an honored guest, please come into the valley for a chat, Fellow Daoist Li."

After saying that, he turned around and waved: "Baoshu, come over and greet me."

Yan Baoshu leaped over the cliff and stared at Li Xiangming with curiosity. He then bowed, just like an adult.

However, the female cultivator beside Yan Fuzhao asked in a deep voice, "What is the purpose of the Li family's distinguished guest's visit to Sifang Valley from afar?"

Li Xiangming raised his eyebrows and replied politely, "I am an old acquaintance of Master Liaoshen. I have come here to meet him. I ask the fellow Daoists of the Yan family to make an exception for me."

An old acquaintance?

The woman frowned even more, about to speak, when Yan Fuzhao tugged at her sleeve and smiled at Li Xiangming, "Liaoshen is also a distinguished guest of our Yan family. Fellow Daoist Li is his friend, so you are a distinguished guest among distinguished guests. Please!"

Li Xiangming glanced at the two men and stepped forward.

The Yan family was unaware of his cultivation level, but he learned from Xu Kou that the Yan family was a minor Qi Refining clan. Even if the two people in front of him had complicated thoughts, he figured they couldn't threaten him.

Walk a few hundred steps further, and you'll reach the end of Sifang Valley.

Here, a few houses are scattered about, and dozens of sparkling stones are embedded in the stone walls on both sides, illuminating the valley day and night. Several children are playing and laughing on the road, which gives off a sense of leisure and tranquility.

This feeling is extremely precious in Pudong today.

"Liao Shen greets Hall Master Li!"

Suddenly, a clear shout came from not far away, as loud as a bell.

Li Xiangming turned to the side and saw a fair-skinned middle-aged cultivator slowly approaching him. He couldn't help but smile and say, "Master, it's been over a month since we last met. How have you been?"

The middle-aged cultivator stopped, his expression somewhat strange. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head and said with a wry smile, "I'm sorry to trouble Hall Master Li with your concern, but Master Liao Shen has already returned to secular life. From now on, you can just call me Liao Shen."

Li Xiangming was taken aback for a moment, and couldn't help but look the other person up and down.

Although he knew that Master Shen's appearance as an enlightened monk was somewhat deliberate, he had long been used to it. He never expected that the other party would take off his monk's robes, and even the string of Buddhist beads on his chest would be gone.
"Master, you..."

Li Xiangming couldn't help but speak up.

Just then, a timid woman stepped forward and took Master Shen's arm.

Li Xiangming swallowed the words he was about to say and turned to look at Xu Jin.

Xu Jin quickly lowered his head, staring intently at his toes, as if he were unaware of what was happening.

Upon seeing this, Li Xiangming opened his mouth.

He explained why Master Shen stayed at Mount Luyang to fight the demons instead of returning to Mount Danggui; and why the Yan family reacted strangely after he mentioned Master Shen.

It turns out that Master Liaoshen has retreated into the secular world!

What a fine family the Yan family is!
This is an attempt to poach his employees.

For a moment, Li Xiangming felt both annoyed and amused.

But what could he say?

Does that mean it won't work?

You, Shen Sheng, are a member of the Demon Suppression Camp in life and in death; you are a ghost of the Demon Suppression Camp in death.

Li Xiangming clenched his fists and looked at Master Shen, who was also looking over at him.

The two stared at each other for a long time, neither of them speaking again.

But in the end, it was Li Xiangming who broke the silence: "Whether you are a monk or Liaoshen, I have something to say to you."

(End of this chapter)