Chapter 349: Chapter 218: The Demon Sect’s Situation, Passing Away One After Another

...

「Three days later.」

Luo Yunshu entered a cave abode on Changqing Mountain Peak and officially went into seclusion to break through to Foundation Establishment.

Li Chang’an stood guard outside, acting as her Protector.

Luo Kun was also there.

His withered, old face was fraught with tension. His fists clenched and unclenched, and he couldn’t calm his heart.

"There’s no need to worry. Yunshu is in good condition. She should succeed."

Li Chang’an sighed inwardly as he looked at Luo Kun’s aged appearance.

When they first met all those years ago, Luo Kun had already looked to be over sixty.

Now, he was even more decrepit and gray-haired. The flame of his life was like a candle in the wind, liable to be extinguished at any moment.

His lifespan had long since been exhausted. He had relied on a Lifespan Extension Pill to live for another decade or so, and now, he was holding on by a single thread.

Before he knew it, several hours had passed.

The cave abode’s gate slowly opened, and the aura of Foundation Establishment wafted out.

"She did it! She did it!"

Luo Kun was overcome with emotion, tears streaming down his old face as he danced with joy like a child.

From this day forward, the Luo Family officially became a Foundation Establishment Clan.

Just like the Zheng Family, Cao Family, and Wu Family of the past, they had become a regional hegemon!

「A month later.」

Luo Yunshu held a Foundation Establishment Ceremony.

The surrounding Qi Refining Influences and Sects all came to offer their congratulations.

Li Chang’an also presented a gift.

Luo Yunshu came to his side, raised her lovely face, and asked in a small voice, "Ancestor, may I cultivate on Changqing Mountain from now on? The Spirit Vein at the foot of the mountain is a bit too weak for me."

"You may. You can open a cave abode on the mountainside."

"Thank you, Ancestor! I wish you—"

Before she could finish, her lips were sealed once more.

...

「Three days after the ceremony ended.」

Luo Kun lay on his bed, on the verge of death.

He was gaunt and withered, his pupils were cloudy, and his vision was a blur. Dimly, he saw the familiar figure of a young man.

"Li... Li, have you come to listen to my lecture on the Talisman Dao?"

His voice was weak and his mind was muddled. In his daze, he thought he was back in Qinghe all those years ago.

Li Chang’an sat beside him and nodded gently.

"Yes, Elder Luo. I have some questions about the Path of Talismans and Seals."

"Good, good... Listen closely. The Path of Talismans and Seals..."

A gratified smile appeared on Luo Kun’s face.

He began to explain his understanding of Talismans, his voice gradually fading away...

...

「Seven days later.」

Luo Kun’s funeral was held at the Luo Family estate.

Li Chang’an was invited to the funeral. He silently wished his old friend a smooth journey on the Reincarnation Path.

After the funeral, he returned to Changqing Mountain to continue his cultivation.

Not long after, a letter was delivered to Changqing Mountain.

Li Chang’an opened the letter and read it carefully.

’So Daoist Zhou has also passed away.’

The letter was from none other than Zhou Shangshan, the man Li Chang’an had saved in the Black Dragon Mountain Range.

His lifespan had already been running short, and he had reached its end not long ago.

Before his death, he wrote this letter to Li Chang’an.

"Daoist Li, by the time you read this letter, this old man will likely have already set foot on the Reincarnation Path."

"It is a pity that with so many internal family affairs, I was unable to bid Daoist Li a formal farewell..."

Li Chang’an’s gaze shifted as he continued to read.

He had thought it was just a farewell letter.

But soon, his expression grew solemn.

The letter mentioned that a major problem had arisen within the Zhou Family, yet no one in the entire family seemed to have noticed.

"Daoist Li, this old man feels that something is not right within the Zhou Family, but I cannot put my finger on what it is."

"The appearances and personalities of some family members are clearly the same as before, yet this old man finds them completely unfamiliar, as if they have become different people."

"This old man wanted to investigate, but my time was short..."

Reading to the end, Li Chang’an’s expression became grave.

This letter was both a farewell and a request.

Zhou Shangshan wrote that many members of the Zhou Family gave him an eerie sense of unfamiliarity.

The entire Zhou Family seemed to be eroding from within by a strange power.

"Daoist Li, this old man knows you are no ordinary person. If you have the ability, I ask that you help the Zhou Family."

So Zhou Shangshan wrote at the end of his letter.

Li Chang’an frowned slightly, lost in thought for a long time.

He had already been planning to contact the Zhou Family, simply because both the Profound Water Turtle and Dahuang would need a large amount of Treasures to break through to Tier Three in the future.

But this letter made him hesitate.

’Based on the letter’s description, the Zhou Family must be quite dangerous right now.’

Li Chang’an had no desire to take risks.

In the Cultivation Immortality Realm, there were far too many bizarre and strange occurrences.

He wasn’t about to risk his life for some advancement Treasures.

’I’ll set this matter aside for now.’

Li Chang’an shook his head slightly and placed the letter deep within his Storage Pouch.

...

「A few days later.」

Li Chang’an went to the Black Market to hunt for bargains as usual.

While there, he learned some news.

The Five Poison Wanderer Lineage was buying up Cultivator corpses in large quantities, especially those of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, to breed Poisonous Insects.

The reason for this was that their years of conflict with Yellow Crane Immortal City had caused the Five Poison Wanderer Lineage to suffer heavy losses, and they urgently needed to cultivate a large number of new Poisonous Insects. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

’The Five Poison Wanderer Lineage hasn’t had it easy these past few years.’

Li Chang’an was quite pleased to see the Five Poison Wanderer Lineage’s decline.

However, he hoped they would cause more damage to Yellow Crane Mountain before their lineage completely collapsed.

Before long, he entered a hidden room in the Black Market.

This hidden room was one of the Huanghe Alliance’s temporary strongholds.

Li Chang’an had intended to ask about Ye Hao, but just as he walked in, he heard an angry shout.

He saw Xiao Wantang, her face flushed with fury, rebuking, "Yan Zhou, has the Five Poison Wanderer Lineage gone too far? Why are you using the corpses of the Huanghe Alliance’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators to breed Poisonous Insects?"

"It’s simply making the best use of things. Why are you so angry, Daoist Xiao?"

A gaunt young man spoke up.

This man was Yan Zhou, the second disciple of the Five Poison Wanderer and the younger brother of Yan Feng.

Several cultivators from the Five Poison Wanderer Lineage stood beside him, facing off against the members of the Huanghe Alliance.

For the past few years, although the two sides had chosen to cooperate in their fight against Yellow Crane Immortal City, conflicts still frequently erupted between them.

The root of today’s conflict lay with the Five Poison Wanderer Lineage.

They had actually stolen the corpses of Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Huanghe Alliance who had died in battle!

When Xiao Wantang and the others found them, the corpses were already crawling with a dense swarm of Poisonous Insects.

Yan Zhou said coldly, "Daoist Xiao, the enemy is strong right now. We should make rational use of every resource. You must understand that corpses are also resources. How can we let them go to waste?"

"You..."

Xiao Wantang was seething with uncontrollable anger, her eyes practically shooting flames.

The other members of the Huanghe Alliance also wore looks of indignation.

The members of the Five Poison Wanderer Lineage, however, didn’t seem to care, as they had long been using the corpses of their own people to cultivate Poisonous Insects.

’Without Ye Hao, this Huanghe Alliance is already going downhill.’

’Arguing like this over a few corpses... It’s ridiculous.’

’...’

The numerous Fake Foundation Establishment disciples secretly communicated via Sound Transmission.

Li Chang’an stood to the side, intercepting many of their transmissions.

After all, these disciples were only Fake Foundation Establishment, having temporarily reached their state by relying on Tier Two Poisonous Insects; they were not at true Foundation Establishment.

Intercepting their Sound Transmissions was not difficult.

Suddenly, one of them sent a Sound Transmission to Yan Zhou: ’Senior Brother Yan, breeding Poisonous Insects with corpses is far slower than with living people. If I bring back a living Foundation Establishment Cultivator, will Master reward me with a Foundation Establishment Treasure?’

Li Chang’an’s heart stirred, and he glanced discreetly at this cultivator.

This person was none other than Mu Caiwei’s younger brother.

Mu Hua!

He continued his Sound Transmission: ’Senior Brother Yan, my sister is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. She has always trusted me completely. I have a way to poison her and knock her out!’

Next, Yan Zhou seemed to reply with a few sentences.

Li Chang’an was unable to intercept his Sound Transmission.

However, a look of delight appeared on Mu Hua’s face, and he repeatedly gave his assurances.

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother Yan, I will definitely bring my sister here!"

With that, he hurriedly left the secret room.

Li Chang’an watched his retreating back and couldn’t help but think of Jia Huairan.

Back then, Jia Huairan had sold his wife and son for Foundation Establishment Resources. Now, this Mu Hua was selling his own sister for the same. Their dispositions were much the same.

They would stop at nothing for the sake of cultivation!