Chapter 449: Chapter 299: The Ghost Peak’s Hidden Weapon, Silver Serpent Spear, Green Snake Leaves the Island, The Lady Comes Seeking (Part 2)

[Skill Level: 56/100]

[Broken Demon Spear]

[Skill Level: 15/35000 Perfection]

[Description: You have understood the ’Ghostly Presence’ trait. Like a fierce ghost haunting you, illness accompanies you, nightmares follow, your lifespan decreases, and your weight dwindles. But due to possessing the ’Ghostly Fierce Garment’, the ghostly presence is hard to invade, and all negative effects are rendered useless to you.]

Li Xian’s learning realm deepens, progressing steadily in all paths, mastering the Five Elements miraculous evasion with notable proficiency; the Broken Demon Spear has also reached Perfection, its spear momentum unpredictable, endowed with various traits, making his strength unfathomable.

In the blink of an eye, October has arrived, the sultry weather gradually cools, reaching late autumn and early winter. The crops in the fields mature with a fragrant aroma, the golden rice ears are lovable. It’s a busy agricultural season.

Huge fruits appear on roadside trees. Dongran Lake abounds with "crabs", "fish", "shrimp". Autumn is the "shrimp season", around the island, palm-sized fat shrimps can be seen everywhere. Even a three-year-old child, with an iron net scooping the lake, can fill a basin, enough for dinner.

This is the "Tail Stiff Shrimp", a top ingredient of Dongran Lake. The sects around the lake like the Li Mountain Sword Sect and Overturning River Sect all love to eat "Tail Stiff Shrimp".

The shrimp’s meat is firm, and its fat is rich. Just simple cooking makes an exceptional delicacy. Unfortunately, they must be cooked immediately after leaving the water, each moment’s delay diminishes the freshness.

If left overnight.

The rich fat turns into rancid water, making it unpalatable. By the lake shore, you can see ordinary folks holding "long sticks", vigorously striking the lake surface. Water splashes everywhere, and the Tail Stiff Shrimp get stunned, floating to the surface.

Since the Tail Stiff Shrimp must be eaten right after leaving the water, the islanders do not greedily catch more than necessary, only enough for the family to eat, then they put them in baskets and cook them at home. Li Xian, curious, picks up a wooden stick and strikes the lake surface.

With this strike, the force is considerable. The water splashes several spans high, groups of Tail Stiff Shrimp float to the surface. Li Xian has a large appetite, collects ten shrimps, filling the basin he returns to Cyan Ox Residence.

[Skill Level +1]

[Skill Level +1]

[Skill: Cooking Skill]

[Skill Level: 25/10000 Perfection]

Li Xian exhausts his ingenuity, preparing the Tail Stiff Shrimp to be colorful, fragrant, and flavorful with various styles. That moment the fatty oil enters the mouth, the freshness is endless and indescribable. Nangong Liuli can’t help but sigh, being trapped by the Flower Cage Sect does have some slight advantages.

This is a quiet life, accumulating foundation.

This day.

Chief Shi finally has spare time to visit Li Xian. He touches his pulse, inspects his physical condition, only feeling his blood like lead mercury, his spirits vigorous, the injury clearly recovered, thus he is relieved.

He chats with Li Xian for a while, asking about Li Xian’s "Broken Demon Spear" practice progress. Li Xian withholds slightly, merely saying he’s reached "Great Success". Chief Shi repeatedly marvels at Li Xian’s exceptional talent, indicating his compatibility with this spear technique, perhaps obtaining the true teachings of the Candle Sect.

Then he says: "If I recall correctly, there is a ghost peak within the island, and in the cracks of the rock is stuck a silver spear. You may have exquisite spear techniques but lack a suitable weapon, which is not quite perfect. If you have thoughts, you can go retrieve it, this object has been vacant for years, originally masterless. But there may be dangers, you must consider for yourself."

Li Xian asks: "Oh? What kind of spear is it? Why is it stuck in the ghost peak?" He knows "Ghost Peak" is located northwest of the island, a perilous place.

Shi Yufei strokes his beard and paces, saying: "Dongran Lake is mysterious and unpredictable, hiding many peculiarities. Every July fifteenth, ghostly events multiply. You are new here, perhaps unaware."

Li Xian thinks: "I am very aware, ghosts have made their way to my home."

Shi Yufei continues: "The silver spear at the Ghost Peak has a very mysterious origin, deeply wedged into the rock crevices, rumored to be left by ancient powerful figures. Also rumored to emerge during the rampant ghost occurrences of July fifteenth. It’s a rare exotic spear, but the specifics are difficult to examine. I once personally visited Ghost Peak to investigate the silver spear, hmm... though oddly traveled, the material is quite unique, but lacks divinity, and is guarded by a giant serpent, so I left it in place. Mentioning it now, I feel it might suit you."

"If you go, there could be danger. Yet as martial artists, there’s nothing without risk, it may also serve as an opportunity to practice, testing your adaptability."

Li Xian laughs: "Thank you for reminding me, if given the chance, I will certainly take a look." Shi Yufei casually mentions with a smile and nods.

...

...

Li Xian watches Shi Yufei leave.

Thoughtful: "My Peach Blossom Spear is crafted by a peach tree spirit. The shaft is sturdy, quite resilient, but feels light and unsatisfying when wielding, and the spearhead is ordinary iron, not sharp. If truly encountering a formidable foe, it might not suffice. The Sinking River Sword is of excellent quality, having the [Playing with Water] trait, but through frequent use, the blade slightly stalls. Even the finest treasure sword, if used excessively and not maintained, will eventually wear out. If that silver spear is indeed exceptional, it might truly become my weapon."

Deciding to inspect that mysterious silver spear. If it suits, I shall attempt to take it.

That night. Li Xian speaks with Nangong Liuli about the matter. Nangong Liuli recalls the "Ghost at the Gate", feeling slightly perturbed, deeply worried. But knowing Li Xian is unafraid of ghostly beings, also clever and meticulous surpassing her own abilities, if he wishes to go, he must have some confidence. Thus, she does not obstruct, simply sincerely reminding him to be extremely cautious. If hurt, she would deeply lament. Li Xian nods in agreement.

The next day.

Li Xian prepares sufficient water and dry provisions, estimating the round trip to take one to half a day, then heads northwest.

Leaving Peach Blossom Town, the scent of flowers fills the air. Among the Water Altar Island, abundant blossoms often conceal danger. These are the "flower formations" arranged by the Flower Cage Sect. Li Xian travels along the path, passing through ’Willow Flower Town’, ’Clear Source Town’... as the traces of people gradually diminish.

After half an hour, he arrives at the foot of Ghost Peak.