The price for a Celestial Secret Inference on a Child of the Heavenly Dao and its resulting Celestial Secret Retribution is not something an average Celestial Secret Master can withstand.

"Yes, it’s the Human Dragon Form," Elder Tianji said with a bitter smile. "I knew this principle all too well, yet I couldn’t resist your request for an inference. Now, with this failed inference, I suffered from Celestial Secret Retribution, losing two hundred years of lifespan in vain."

"Fellow Daoist Tianji, what exactly is going on? Can you explain it clearly to Ji? Even if responsibility is required, Ji will not shirk it!" Ji Wuheng, filled with panic, looked at Elder Tianji, pleading for a more precise answer.

"This child is under the protection of an Instrument of Cause and Effect, rendering the Celestial Secret Inference futile. The loss of lifespan is already fortunate; if the other party deliberately targeted us, even my life wouldn’t suffice, and the Celestial Secret Mirror might even be harmed!" Elder Tianji said coldly, explaining to Ji Wuheng.

Upon hearing this, Ji Wuheng gasped in shock. He never expected an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator to be so terrifying, even possessing a Karma Supreme Treasure to obscure the celestial secrets.

Even with the Celestial Secret Mirror, cast personally by Elder Tianji using Celestial Extreme Inference, to conceal such secrets would require at least a Tier Six Spiritual Treasure or Tier Seven Daoist Soldier.

"I’ve brought this upon myself, and I advise you all not to provoke this child!" Elder Tianji looked at Ji Wuheng with a warning in his eyes, kindly reminding him.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Tianji. The Ji Family will remember this favor. I will send someone to deliver Spirit Elixir of Longevity to compensate for your loss; please forgive me, Fellow Daoist Tianji." Ji Wuheng gratefully bowed to Elder Tianji, expressing his thanks.

Elder Tianji, with an annoyed look, gave Ji Wuheng a glance, waved his hand dismissively, and indicated he could leave without further speaking!

"Fellow Daoist Tianji, recover well, I won’t disturb you any further!" Ji Wuheng stood up, bid farewell to Elder Tianji, and hurriedly left, eager to report the inference result to the Patriarch.

Soon after, Ji Wuheng returned to the Ji Family. He quickly entered the family hall to report the inference results to the Patriarch.

"Patriarch, the inference results this time are quite unfavorable, ..." Ji Wuheng reported to Patriarch Ji Zhantian with a grave expression on his face.

Ji Zhantian raised his head, surprise flashing in his eyes as he looked at Ji Wuheng and said, "Oh? The inference failed, and the child is under the protection of an Instrument of Cause and Effect?"

"Yes, Patriarch." Ji Wuheng nodded, "Elder Tianji said this child is protected by an Instrument of Cause and Effect, making the Celestial Secret Inference impossible."

"Elder Tianji lost two hundred years of lifespan; the Ji Family acknowledges this favor. Go to the family treasury and select several Longevity Elixirs to send over!" Ji Zhantian sighed, helplessly instructed.

"Understood! However, Patriarch, how should we deal with this child?" Ji Wuheng nodded and asked, concerned, as he looked at Ji Zhantian.

Upon hearing this, Ji Zhantian also found it difficult for a moment. Without finding the roots of Li Mu, they couldn’t decisively seek revenge. A Nascent Soul Cultivator of such talent, not even the Ji Family has one. That boy must be backed by a powerful force; otherwise, how could he possess such talent and resources?

However, due to Kumu, the Ji Family had to form a deep hatred with this child. Such an enemy, if not eliminated early, would be an unsolvable disaster once he matures.

...

Ji Zhantian’s eyes were filled with all sorts of worries, and he finally sighed deeply, looking at Ji Wuheng, and arranged helplessly, "First, let the Hidden Guard monitor his whereabouts. As for the rest, let’s discuss a strategy at the next Elder Council!"

Ji Wuheng nodded and left to make arrangements.

On the Nameless Island, the Earth Element Spirit Ship soared into the sky.

In the vast sea realm, the islands were star-studded, like magnificent pearls scattered across the rippling blue sea.

At this moment, Li Mu stood on the deck of the Earth Element Spirit Ship, looking far into the distance, searching for an island with a high-tier spirit vein.

The Ji Family’s inference on him this time was fortunately blocked by the Time Fortune Spirit Turtle, but Li Mu knew this luck would not last forever.

The Ji Family was one of the Eight Great Cultivation Clans in the Central State Spirit Realm, with a thousand-year legacy and immense power, with mysterious methods that no one could guarantee.

Moreover, calling the Ji Family the local bully of the Central Continent Spirit Realm wouldn’t be an exaggeration. With such a behemoth watching him, Li Mu wouldn’t be foolish enough to travel there recklessly thousands of miles away to seek death.

Li Mu immediately changed his itinerary, not rushing to the Central Continent Spirit Realm but planning to find a high-tier spirit vein island, completely seclude himself, continue cultivating spirit plants, and wait until he advances to the Divinity Transformation before considering further.

"Lord Li, where are we going!" Xue’Er walked up to Li Mu’s side, asking with concern.

Li Mu turned to look at Xue’Er, with a slight smile, explaining, "We are on the way to Ten Thousand Stars Island."

"Ten Thousand Stars Island?" Xue’Er repeated curiously, "What kind of place is that?"

"It’s located in a vast sea area in the northeast of the Southern Wilderness, with tens of thousands of islands scattered, hundreds of which are high-tier islands, home to the domains of the Ten Thousand Islands Sect and the Sea God Sect." Li Mu explained in detail.

"Oh." Xue’Er nodded as if she understood, "So, what are we doing there?"

Li Mu laughed, handing the Sea Chart Jade Scroll to Xue’Er: "This jade scroll records the route from the Southern Wilderness to the Central Continent Spirit Realm and also details the distribution of various forces along the way. Take a look yourself."

Xue’Er took the Sea Chart Jade Scroll, her Divine Sense slightly moving, scanning it briefly.

Xue’Er frowned slightly, puzzled, and asked, "Lord Li, weren’t we going to the Central Continent? Why are we heading to Ten Thousand Stars Island now?"

Li Mu looked at Xue’Er and smiled calmly: "We are indeed on the way to the Central Continent, but before that, we must stop by Ten Thousand Stars Island for a while."

"Lord Li, is it because you’re worried about the Ji Family?" Xue’Er asked with concern.

"The Ji Family is nothing to worry about; I’m just planning to find an island and live in seclusion for a while, wait until Qing Yue safely passes Thunder Tribulation, and then consider going to the Central Continent!" Li Mu gave Xue’Er a slight smile, comforting her.

Upon hearing this, Xue’Er couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. These days, seeing Li Mu deep in thought made her both anxious and worried, yet unsure of what Lord Li was troubled by. Getting a detailed answer, she couldn’t help but feel slightly relieved.

"Don’t worry about such things. Have you improved recently in your cultivation? How’s your progress?"

Seeing Xue’Er’s little worries, Li Mu was touched, then turned serious and asked sternly.

Xue’Er had gifted potential and even activated the Celestial Fox Bloodline within her, but she was naturally active and full of ideas, making it difficult for her to calm down and cultivate. Although she had been diligently cultivating, she had been stuck at Tier Five for a while, unable to break through.

Li Mu understood Xue’Er’s character, knowing the bottleneck in her cultivation. The path of cultivation requires steady progress and hard practice. Although Xue’Er had the talent, she often got distracted by external matters, causing her cultivation effect to be unsatisfactory.

"Lord Li, I just came out from closed-door cultivation and wanted just a tiny bit of relaxation!" Xue’Er, when asked by Li Mu, became a little nervous, pouting and replying with grievance.

With these words, Li Mu frowned slightly, appearing displeased. Xue’Er indeed just came out from closed-door cultivation, but it was only for a moment. However, cultivation is not something that can be done overnight. It requires perseverance, a point that Xue’Er did not yet realize.

"Moreover, I see that you haven’t been cultivating much yourself, so why are you always urging me to cultivate?" Xue’Er stealthily glanced at Li Mu, looking aggrieved and asked in return.

Looking at Xue’Er’s aggrieved expression, counter-accusing him, Li Mu couldn’t help but find it amusing. He understood Xue’Er’s intentions but didn’t directly respond, knowing he held certain cards and methods that Xue’Er was unaware of.

Haha!

I have cheats, do you?

Can you compare with me? When I cultivate a batch of spirit plants, I can break through a great realm, can you?

Seeing the dissatisfied Xue’Er, Li Mu smiled slightly, asking confidently: "You want to compare with me? I may not have been cultivating much, but I am confident that I will break through to the Divinity Transformation Realm within fifty years, can you break through to Tier Six within a hundred years? If you are confident you can, I will henceforth not ask about your cultivation affairs."

With these words, Xue’Er was at a loss for words. She indeed did not dare to promise that she could break through to Tier Six within a hundred years. This Tier Six Transformation Stage is a chasm that has blocked countless high-tier demon beasts.

For Human Race Cultivators, it’s the same; no Nascent Soul Cultivator can confidently assert when they will break through to Divinity Transformation, especially not within such a short time.

However, Xue’Er did not doubt Li Mu’s words. Having followed him for years, she had witnessed too many impossible miracles with him.

"Alright! Alright! I’ll go cultivate!"

Xue’Er pouted, turned, and reluctantly returned to the cabins to resume closed-door cultivation.