After the path was cut off

Xuan Li listened quietly to the two brothers talking without making a sound.

Clearly, Li Wangchuan knew more than he said.

He probably knew that Baixi Town was besieged by two Foundation Establishment evil cultivators, and even knew that one of them had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have so readily ordered Li Wangxiang to take his men away.

The mortal settlement Li Wangchuan mentioned must not exceed 100,000 people. Where does this refer to? A True Lord? A Celestial Abode?

The eeriness of Baixi Town also cannot withstand close scrutiny.

What should have been a living hell was instead managed to appear peaceful.

Such peace cannot be cultivated by evil practitioners alone.

There must be someone cooperating in this.

The only person who could cooperate was Li Wangchuan.

Once this thought came to mind, many things that were previously unclear suddenly became connected.

Over the years, were those who were harvested by evil cultivators truly unfortunate, or were they already included in the "deserving to die" category by Li Wangchuan?

Those people in the village who harbor evil intentions beneath their peaceful exteriors—did they turn to evil cultivation on their own, or were they gradually driven into this state by Li Wangchuan?

This scene subtly stirred up a sealed old memory deep within its spiritual core.

It seems there was once a person who, because of arranging the life and death of others, could never find peace in the long years that followed.

Xuan Li looked at Li Wangchuan again, and a strange feeling of pity suddenly welled up in his heart.

This old man is pitiful and pathetic.

His heart is concerned for all living beings, and his compassion is excessive.

Striving for survival, they ruthlessly wielded the butcher's knife.

If he had been even more ruthless, he might not be suffering like this. But if he had truly been ruthless, none of the people in this town would be alive today.

Xuan Li finally let out a soft sigh in his heart.

This family's personalities are truly inherited from one another.

But such a temperament would be too bitter in this world.

The oil lamp flickered gently, making Li Wangxiang's profile appear even more somber.

How could he possibly stand by and watch his brother go to his death?

But precisely because of this, he understood even less why his brother had become so desperate.

There must be a deeper reason behind this.

Li Wangxiang was about to press for answers when Xuan Li spoke first. It would be far too cruel for Li Wangchuan to say such things aloud himself.

"Outside Baixi Town, a heretical cultivator who has reached the peak of Foundation Establishment is surrounded."

Li Wangxiang's expression changed drastically.

"Foundation Building Completed?"

"Mirror Master... are you sure you've made your choice?"

Xuan Li did not answer, but simply turned the mirror around.

The next instant, the blood pool, the alchemy furnace, and the figure sitting cross-legged inside the furnace were silently reflected in the sky above the main hall.

The figure was entirely blood-red, with his blood energy condensed like liquid. The most striking feature, however, was the three flickering lights within the Crimson Palace.

Li Wangxiang stared at the three points of light, his breathing becoming heavier.

How could he admit his mistake?

That was the scene he had pondered countless times day and night before his foundation was shattered.

Three streams of energy, three golden seeds. The foundation for molten gold has been laid, and the Great Qi has been established.

"This person..."

Li Wangxiang's voice was slightly hoarse.

"Seeking gold."

Xuanli's mirror light dimmed slightly, and he finally realized the truly troublesome part of the matter.

These days it has been keeping an eye on news about those above the Golden Core stage on Ziwei Star, but it is struggling to find out more.

Li Wangxiang and it were not master and servant, and the other party's soul was special and his memories could not be accessed. Therefore, it only knew the outline of this level of knowledge.

However, after Li Wangxiang's reminder, it deduced some of the truth.

"Having completed the foundation building, one is qualified to refine the gold element."

"Looking at his physical presence and the atmosphere in the furnace, it's clear that his pursuit of gold is mostly related to his physical energy."

"No wonder he's managed to grow Baixi Town to its current size."

Li Wangxiang, however, was even more worried.

"The pursuit of gold is never solely based on cultivation level."

"There must always be a path, a vision, and a 'merit' that is enough to support the gold element."

"This Baixi Town..."

"It's probably just a stage he set up for himself to make money."

There was no sound in the main hall for a moment.

Even Li Wangchuan closed his eyes.

He wasn't surprised. Having been in this situation for years, he had actually anticipated this move. Now, all he wanted was for his brother to protect Qinghan and Jingshan as they left, preserving a spark of hope for Baixi Town.

But Li Wangchuan was ultimately just a mortal.

He could see that Baixi Town was a trap, but he couldn't see what this trap was pressing down on his path of cultivation.

Li Wangxiang, however, was different; he grasped the key point almost instantly.

"The Method of Finding Gold..."

His throat moved slightly, and his voice became low.

"Where did he get it?"

The moment those words were spoken, even Xuan Li's mirror light froze slightly.

Li Wangxiang raised his eyes and said, word by word:

"The metal element is unique."

"Methods for finding gold used by our predecessors should not be used by our successors."

"This kind of knowledge has never been passed down; it can only be created through special writing."

"not to mention--"

"That's still a method of seeking wealth through blood and energy."

"Without someone of high standing to guide him, he would never have fallen into the hands of a heretical cultivator."

As he finished speaking, his face gradually paled.

"Golden Elixir".

"He has a golden core behind him..."