Enter the Immortal Path, Master a Hundred Arts Chapter 38: Luring the Snake from Its Hole! (Please Add to Your Collection)

The Longhong Mountains, located in the western region of the Guiyuan Kingdom, are composed of nine perilous cloud-piercing peaks. Within this mountain range lies a third-tier spiritual vein stretching for a thousand miles. Hundreds of years ago, the Heaven Crane Sect discovered this vein, took root, and has continued to develop ever since. Under the jurisdiction of the Heaven Crane Sect are three palaces, six halls, nine prefectures, and twelve manors, all thriving in a display of prosperity.

At this moment, within the Heaven Hall at the summit of the primary peak of the Longhong Mountains, an elder with long eyebrows and a white beard, possessing an ethereal and immortal air, looked down at his disciples and grand-disciples.

"How are the negotiations regarding Jinyanzi joining our Heaven Crane Sect progressing?" The elder’s voice, resonant as a bell, echoed through every corner of the hall.

The middle-aged cultivator closest to the elder bowed and replied, "Old Ancestor, there has been a complication with Jinyanzi. He sent word two days ago, requesting that we dispatch two Foundation Establishment elders to escort him."

"Did something happen?"

"According to reports from our branch hall in Anhe City, a rogue cultivator abducted Jinyanzi in the street, and his whereabouts remain unknown. It was during that period of disappearance that Jinyanzi sent us the plea for help."

The elder took this matter seriously. With the materials for the fourth-tier Yin-Blood Pill nearly gathered, they were in dire need of an alchemist. Jinyanzi’s inclusion would be of great help for the future refining of this pill.

"Since Jinyanzi is in trouble, the Heaven Crane Sect cannot sit idly by. Send six inner-sect elders to Anhe City immediately to provide support and ensure he is brought back to the sect."

The middle-aged cultivator hesitated, then spoke, "Old Ancestor, would sending six eighth-level Foundation Establishment elders be overkill? Furthermore, I have heard that Jinyanzi does not have a very good reputation."

Given Jinyanzi’s level as a second-tier alchemist, it was impossible for him to refine a fourth-tier Yin-Blood Pill. When they first discussed his joining, the man’s exorbitant demands had left a poor impression on the sect. However, the Heaven Crane Old Ancestor did not see it that way.

"Do not underestimate an alchemist of any tier. Their connections are the key to the collaborative refining of the Yin-Blood Pill."

"I am having you send six elders specifically to demonstrate the sincerity of the Heaven Crane Sect."

In the Guiyuan Kingdom, it is no easy task to find a fourth-tier alchemist. The Heaven Crane Old Ancestor had to prepare for the worst. If he could not find a fourth-tier alchemist before his lifespan neared its end, then collaborative alchemy would be the final resort.

Collaborative alchemy involves multiple alchemists working together to refine a high-tier pill. Alchemy has three critical steps: refining materials, fusing materials, and condensing the pill. Each stage has extremely high requirements for the alchemists. Some low-tier alchemists, when seeking to acquire high-tier pills, often enlist several other alchemists to share the workload. The advantage of this is reduced pressure and significantly lower time costs. Yet, precisely because of the multi-person collaboration, the requirements for detail are incredibly strict. A moment of carelessness could result in the destruction of the pill and the death of the practitioners.

The middle-aged cultivator dared not say more and departed to carry out the order.

***

In the Spiritual Herb Hall, the alchemy furnace glowed red with rolling heat. This was the fourth batch of Kunyuan Pills that Li Feng had refined. Each batch sold at auction fetched a price that remained consistently high. In less than a month, the Spiritual Herb Hall’s accounts had grown by over a hundred thousand spiritual stones in net profit. Hong Ling was beaming with joy every day, while Li Feng’s own coffers were overflowing.

Looking at his storage bag growing increasingly plump, Li Feng felt growing anxiety. There had been no movement from the Heaven Crane Sect. Just as he was planning to focus on the competition for the Alchemy Workshop, his long-silent communication device chimed. Li Feng was overjoyed—the Heaven Crane Sect had responded.

According to the message, the Heaven Crane Sect was dispatching six elders to provide support. They needed to know Jinyanzi’s specific location. Without hesitation, Li Feng sent the coordinates for the Ten Thousand Mountains. He fabricated a lie, telling the sect that he was trapped within the mountains and unable to escape. The sect did not suspect anything and informed him they would arrive within three days.

Li Feng could no longer concern himself with alchemy or other matters and sprinted to the second floor. Cui Cui, seeing Li Feng in such a rush, blushed, thinking he wanted to be intimate again. "Brother Li, it's broad daylight; someone might hear us."

Li Feng did not explain, only saying, "You are coming on a long journey with me. A great opportunity awaits you."

"A great opportunity?" Cui Cui was confused. "Shouldn't we tell Sister Hong?"

"We'll tell her when we get back."

Li Feng pulled Cui Cui along and quietly slipped out of the city. Once outside, he summoned his flying sword and sped toward the Ten Thousand Mountains with her. The second-tier flying sword had been gifted to him when he became an elder of the Tianqi tribe. He had since refined it and could drive it at will. The sword lacked offensive power and had mediocre defense, but as a mode of transportation, it served its purpose.

The flying sword was fast. Within half a day, they arrived in the Ten Thousand Mountains. Li Feng did not pause for a moment, heading straight toward the cultivator ruins.

***

The cultivator ruins remained unchanged. Since Li Qing, no one else had discovered this place. Li Feng settled Cui Cui in the burial chamber of the ruins' owner. Relying on the rich spiritual energy leaking from the top-grade spiritual stone coffin, it would be enough to help Cui Cui step into the first level of Qi Refining.

He repeatedly instructed Cui Cui, demanding she remember his instructions. Though bewildered, Cui Cui was very diligent, repeating the script Li Feng taught her over and over.

Li Feng asked quickly, "Why did you come to the Ten Thousand Mountains?"

Cui Cui: "To find my kin."

Li Feng: "Why are you being hunted?"

Cui Cui: "My parents were murdered by cultivators of the Heaven Crane Sect, and now they want to root out the survivors."

"Do you hate the Heaven Crane Sect?"

"I do! I want to avenge my parents, but heaven is unjust to me and did not grant me great talent."

Cui Cui’s acting was excellent, and she delivered the lines smoothly. Li Feng, striving for perfection, pointed out a few flaws. "Your eyes must be filled with tears; only then will it be sincere."

Cui Cui nodded earnestly and continued to study the role. She did not understand why she had to say these things, but since Brother Li asked for it, there must be a reason. During these days, after their intimate "close-contact" interactions, their relationship had become extraordinary.

Li Feng finished all the preparations he could make in advance and then began a long, patient vigil. A few days passed in the blink of an eye. The day the Heaven Crane Sect elders were to arrive finally arrived. Taking advantage of the fact that he knew their position while they were unaware of his, Li Feng quickly located the six Foundation Establishment elders.

He transformed into the likeness of Li E Tian, suddenly flew out from the shadows, and unleashed a barrage of countless talismans.

"Oh no, we've been ambushed!" Seeing the talismans flying from all directions, the Heaven Crane Sect elders’ expressions shifted in terror. They immediately formed a defensive formation to block the attack.

The massive amount of second-tier talismans was easily neutralized. The six men assumed at least ten people were lying in wait here. However, when they saw the person who appeared, they were both shocked and suspicious. Judging by the sheer number of talismans, this did not look like an attack one person could produce. Yet, standing before the six of them, there was only one.