Chapter 593 447 Breakthrough (Blue Fish aaa Alliance Leader Extra (1/2))

"Only this formation can make the monster wary... I really have no other place to take refuge."

He glanced at Li Xuanfeng's expression, discreetly flattering him before removing a Storage Bag from his waist and presenting it with both hands:

"These are obtained from the monster's den, I am willing to return them all to senior!"

Li Xuanfeng took a brief look and, not knowing what sort of elements were arranged inside, didn't open it but dismissed the offer with a wave of his hand:

"Keep it for yourself, what you've acquired is yours."

Zhong Qian looked at him in disbelief, sensing the firmness in his demeanor and his intimidating and fierce attire, and felt he had grasped a bit of Li Xuanfeng's character. He respectfully complied:

"As you command, senior!"

He paused awkwardly for a moment, speaking in a low voice:

"It's just… I still hope to stay on the island awhile longer... I fear falling prey to the monster if I leave now..."

Right after Zhong Qian finished speaking, he quickly added:

"I won't stay for free; I am willing to compensate for all the damages caused by the monster..."

"There's no need."

Li Xuanfeng replied tersely, causing the young man's expression to shift slightly. Then Li Xuanfeng casually spoke:

"Await my departure from the island to slay it, then leave on your own."

"What?!"

Zhong Qian's face was filled with shock, he looked at him incredulously, taking in his ferocious Black Gold Armor, the calm and sharp look in his eyes, and the exaggerated, eagle-wing-like longbow on his back, murmuring in his heart:

"Is this... which executioner from the Demon Sect... so domineering..."

...

Sect Spring Island.

In recent years, Sect Spring Island has made great strides in developing its land and water, constructing many palaces and great formations. The number of cultivators increased significantly, buoyed by the resources and several inheritances left by Li Yuanjiao before his retreat, allowing Sect Spring Island to flourish.

Atop a high mountain on the island, the stone door was tightly closed, with the sound of spring water trickling. At dawn, light green mist erupted from the mountain and drizzled down, an unusual phenomenon signifying Foundation Establishment cultivation in retreat. The islanders gradually came to call this mountain Morning Mist Mountain.

With Foundation Establishment cultivators residing there, the island's inhabitants were considered people instead of mere passerby snacks. Every day at dawn, lifting their heads to see the light green mist, men, women, old, and young would feel greatly comforted.

Inside the mountain, where time stood still, Li Yuanjiao had been in retreat for three years. The vast sea within his Qi Sea grew ever more profound, surging upwards and forming two ferocious jiao snakes, dancing and swirling within the Qi Sea.

"Foundation Establishment Middle Stage... achieved."

Settling down for some serious cultivation, Li Yuanjiao felt clear-headed and refreshed after exhaling a breath. Given his nature, after his breakthrough in Foundation Establishment, he should have sought a blessed land for a retreat of ten or twenty years. Still, he could not afford such leisure now.

The breakthrough process was not difficult; after all, Li Yuanjiao was a Fourth Grade talent at Foundation Establishment. The "Vast Sea," or rather, the "Jing Dragon King" from the East Sea, had a naturally fast cultivation progression, making reaching the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage effortless.

"At the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage... Mana has doubled again, and now I can summon two Water Jiaos…"

Having experienced it for a while, Li Yuanjiao was quite satisfied. The "River Qi Decision" was, after all, only a Third Grade cultivation technique. It was an advantage compared to Loose Cultivators during Qi Cultivation, but once reaching Foundation Establishment, everyone he faced was an Immortal Sect disciple, by comparison, he was at a disadvantage.

In South River, Immortal Sect disciples typically practiced Fourth Grade cultivation techniques, while direct lineage and Zifu descendants cultivated Fifth or even Sixth Grade techniques. Li Yuanjiao, with his mere Third Grade technique, had sealed the subtle inferiority of his Immortal Foundation the moment he established his Foundation.

Li Yuanjiao didn't care much, rising to leave the cave mansion. Zong Yan and the others were already waiting at the door, and once the anomaly on the mountain had dissipated, he knew that Li Yuanjiao had ended his seclusion and stood outside with great respect.

Standing to the side was only a thin-eyed, long-faced monk dressed plainly, with slightly pale lips parting lightly:

"Congratulations, senior!"

Li Yuanjiao nodded lightly. Seeing that Kongheng also appeared to have made progress, he offered his congratulations and flew away on the wind. Outside, life was thriving and the scene was bustling.

Li Yuanjiao scanned around but did not spot a single temple or stone statue. Looking at Kongheng by his side, his expression was slightly puzzled as he said softly,

"It does indeed resemble an immortal sect."

He had neglected the island for several years, and with Kongheng, the mage, setting up the formations, he was prepared to see temples everywhere upon leaving seclusion. It was somewhat unexpected. Zong Yan, perceptive to the mood, said in a low voice,

"Mage Kongheng does not build temples... We have advised him... even just to cast a golden body to accept worship..."

Over these years, Kongheng had been healing and saving people on the island and was greatly revered. The islanders clamored to cast a golden body and erect temples for him, but he rejected them all. As the master and servant began to discuss, he chanted softly,

"Cast golden lacquered giants to intimidate the common people with their grand and fearful appearance, erect massive temples to confuse the masses with the art of burning incense and mesmerizing beliefs—such are not the ways of Liaohe."

Li Yuanjiao pondered for a moment, gave him a look, and asked,

"If so, how does the mage convey the Daoist lineage?"

Kongheng's eyes narrowed slightly. His years of doing good and cultivating on the island seemed to have improved his cultivation level. He clasped his hands together and said softly,

"The supreme law needs no transmission, no form, no scripture. If you perceive it with wisdom, you will obtain the Liaohe Daoist lineage. We in Liaohe bow to no one, cultivating our nature on our own."

Standing by, Zong Yan stroked his beard and mused quietly,

"Mage... No wonder the Liaohe Daoist lineage is gradually becoming less sought after... In this day and age... everyone seeks a miraculous technique that allows one to make progress each day. The Liaohe Daoist Lineage... Alas!"

Zong Yan smiled wryly. He had a sworn son who admired Kongheng and wanted to be his disciple, so he had sought out Kongheng several times. He now shook his head and said,

"The Liaohe Daoist lineage is indeed too difficult... It is said that cultivators of the Maha lineage need only recite the Mahamanta once to gain a bit of cultivation level, whereas Liaohe needs to comprehend all the vicissitudes of life just to barely begin. How can they compare..."

Kongheng stayed silent, merely smiling slightly with lowered eyebrows. Li Yuanjiao thought of the Wang Family Sword Immortal from the north—he had heard that their lineage was just as difficult. Setting that aside, he asked,

"Has something happened? Why is the sky so dark... stretching for ten thousand miles?"

Li Yuanjiao looked out and saw dark clouds, unending and boundless. Zong Yan only shook his head and replied,

"How would we be qualified to know about such things... Sect Spring Island is located in a remote place, and we seldom go to the market, let alone hear any news."

Li Yuanjiao released his Spiritual Sense, and two blue Water Jiao spiraled up from beneath his feet. He keenly sensed that the Immortal Foundation's functioning was no longer as smooth and swift as it had been in the past.

'In the East Sea, cultivation used to be more than half as fast as in the South River, but now it's less than half...'

He took off on the wind, observing the lightning within the clouds. Zong Yan continued,

"That Hui Yao from the algae came here half a year ago, saying he wanted to inquire about news. We told him that the lord was in seclusion and sent him away."

"A cultivator also arrived from outside some days ago... claiming to be from within the sea... and delivered a letter."

He took out a letter from his sleeve, and Li Yuanjiao nodded to receive it. This demon owed him a favor and felt threatened, yet still kept worrying about wandering around. Using a secret technique, Li Yuanjiao unlocked the letter and read it carefully.