Chapter Thirty-Nine: Journey to Black Mountain

Originally, he thought it wouldn’t be too difficult to find materials for forging a first-grade treasure, but most were merely second-grade, and occasionally a third-grade appeared. Yet after searching through most of Deyang City, Li Mu found that not a single suitable material for a treasure could be found. At most, he managed to locate one or two types of materials. When he inquired about others, he was met with confusion: “Star Iron? What kind of material is that? Our shop is small, but even what we lack, I doubt exists anywhere in the Cloud Mountain Realm.” “Sparrow Tail? Customer, with your physique, perhaps you could venture into the Demon Realm yourself to catch one.” “Lake Monster Eye? Customer, it’s not hunting season now, and in our Cloud Mountain Realm, we hardly ever hunt anyway. This material is unavailable.”

After much searching, only the Flame Gourd counted as three materials found, just lacking the Green-Yellow Gourd to complete the set. The Green-Yellow Gourd was a second-grade divine fruit, a rare material, impossible to find in Deyang City. It was said the Green-Yellow Gourd matured once every thirty years, with one plant bearing seven divine fruits, among which there was always a superior one.

Feeling somewhat disappointed, Li Mu returned to the Wood Jade Hall.

Sun Qi, who was in the shop, stared at him for a long time.

Li Mu asked, puzzled, “Sun Qi, what are you doing?”

“Brother Mu, you’ve reached the Spirit Building stage?” Sun Qi was stunned beyond belief.

Li Mu frowned, “Didn’t I tell you before I left?”

“I know, but I just couldn’t imagine it would happen so soon,” Sun Qi shook his head, overwhelmed. “Brother Mu, you truly are the most unpredictable person I’ve ever met. It’s always hard for others to cultivate, and advancing to Spirit Building is difficult, yet in just a few months, you’ve progressed as though pouring water or eating food. It hardly seems real to me.”

“You must work hard as well,” Li Mu smiled lightly. “All the spirit crystals you need for cultivation can be taken from Wood Jade Hall. From tomorrow, we will start selling two kinds of pills again, but you must help me manage the shop. Spirit crystals are no issue.”

“You’ve crafted new pills?” Sun Qi was dumbfounded.

“More or less. Gather these herbs for me, make sure they’re third-grade,” Li Mu said casually.

Both pills came from the jade piece obtained from Shen Bingxue. One was the third-grade Heavenly Spirit Pill, remarkable for treating poison under various circumstances and hard to come by. The other was the second-grade Spirit Nurturing Pill, wondrous for healing injuries. Both belonged to rare pills, but were widely applicable—cultivators could use them, and they would sell anywhere.

With the recipes, blending a little was no trouble; for Li Mu, it was merely a matter of spending some time. During the Qi Condensation stage, he didn’t easily take them out, but now that he had reached Spirit Building, the risks were much reduced, so he could confidently sell them.

Sun Qi nodded calmly and summoned several helpers to buy the pills.

Li Mu went up to the second floor, where Li Ying was still reading, visibly delighted. Seeing her cheerful face, Li Mu did not disturb her but went straight to the cultivation room.

As for the five-element cultivation method, the Three Spirit Formula was not very difficult to comprehend. Li Mu followed the method, cycled qi for several rounds, and memorized it completely. With a few more days, he would be able to practice it steadily.

He had also prepared several Spirit Building stage techniques, familiarizing himself rapidly with their use.

Time was exceedingly tight, and certain matters had to be dealt with without delay.

A few days later.

A cluster of pure white clouds soared across the sky at a height of several dozen meters, moving swiftly. This was the “Traveling Cloud,” a common flying treasure, first-grade—besides its speed, it had no other use.

Standing atop the Traveling Cloud were two figures: Li Mu and Li Mie.

“When we reach our destination, I’ll deal with the evil cultivator. As for the other bandits, you take care of them,” Li Mu controlled the Traveling Cloud, his gaze fixed ahead.

The destruction of Creek Village by the bandits remained a knot in his heart, one he was determined to untangle. Thus, after reaching the Spirit Building stage and familiarizing himself with cultivation techniques and treasures, he called on Li Mie to join him in eradicating the bandits. Li Mie had not yet reached Spirit Building, only recently entering the later stage of Qi Condensation. Li Mu originally thought he could handle it alone, but Li Mie insisted, so he consented.

Li Mie stood unsteadily, barely able to cope. “Understood, big brother Li. Don’t worry, I won’t challenge the Spirit Building stage evil cultivator.”

“Good, but you must be careful,” Li Mu cautioned earnestly. “Is your equipment ready?”

“All set.” Li Mie touched the jade pendant hanging from his chest.

Li Mu now had enough spirit crystals; other Spirit Building stage cultivators rarely bought single-use treasures, but he intentionally purchased two so each could carry one.

The journey there took over two months, but returning would be just two days.

Looking at the ruins of Creek Village, Li Mu sighed softly, unable to linger, and headed directly toward Black Mountain. The sprawling Black Mountain extended nearly three thousand miles, a winding road stretching from the base to the summit, where a hundred or so houses could be seen in the distance, faintly visible.

The Traveling Cloud was swift, but couldn’t reach the peak. Li Mu landed at the foot of the mountain, put away the Traveling Cloud, and descended to the ground.

He walked about a hundred meters along the path when a figure suddenly appeared before him, blocking the way.

“Who dares trespass in my Black Mountain!”

The roadblocker wore a robe, his appearance rough and broad, with a goat beard covering most of his face.

With a single glance, Li Mu recognized him as a Spirit Building stage cultivator—not to be underestimated.

But behind him, Li Mie’s face flushed red, tears of rage welling in his eyes. “Bandit, I’ll destroy you!”

Hatred blazed; Li Mie immediately identified the man as one of the evil cultivators who destroyed the village. Despite the distance back then, that goat beard was unmistakable.

Ignoring Li Mu’s earlier warning, Li Mie brandished his blade, its light flashing a yard, charging straight at the evil cultivator.

His momentum was fierce, but the evil one remained unrushed, sneering loudly. With a mere spat from his mouth, a blood bead shot out and spread into a web overhead, instantly trapping Li Mie.

When the blade’s light struck the blood bead web, it dissipated instantly, and the blade itself was left pitted and uneven, as if corroded by acid. The blood bead web ruined the weapon.

Inside the blood bead web, Li Mie was about to be dissolved and killed.

But suddenly, his body shone brightly. The jade pendant on his chest burst forth with a purple halo, enveloping him entirely, providing complete defense.

The blood bead web failed to penetrate the light ring, remaining outside, unable to harm him for the moment; even if it moved, he was immobilized.

Li Mu had no time to blame him. With a wave of his hand, he cast Ice Crystal Technique, sending a chill directly at the evil cultivator.

The evil one recognized the spell, knowing its force, and spat another blood bead to counter the cold.

Crack!

The blood bead and icy air vanished simultaneously, turning into countless icy blood shards scattering across the sky.

Li Mu pressed forward, waving his hand again, sending another stream of cold air.

The evil cultivator frowned deeply. His blood beads were not easily produced, each forged from hundreds of lives; once frozen into shards, they could not be recovered. He felt some pain at the loss.

He had no other treasures to use, and couldn’t recreate them. Even with spirit crystals, it was difficult to purchase them in Deyang City.

“Damn it! Today was supposed to be easy—I was hoping for some sect disciple to bring me a treasure, but all I got was gate duty! Now I encounter such troublesome cultivators—what rotten luck!”

He cursed inwardly, but facing the barrage of icy air, he had no choice but to spit another blood bead, his heart aching.

The battle resumed, blood beads and cold flying everywhere.

Amidst the shower of blood beads, the evil cultivator was frozen solid.

He could hardly believe his own eyes, staring at Li Mu through the ice layer, mouth agape as if asking, “How is this possible? How can a cultivator cast two spells simultaneously? This can’t happen!”

Li Mu offered no explanation. The Ice Crystal Technique, when used against Spirit Building stage cultivators, lasted only moments and couldn’t be wasted.

“Seal of Eternity, go!”

A bronze-gold seal flashed out, instantly expanding overhead, looming like a hill.

“Down!”

The Seal of Eternity smashed down, crushing the evil cultivator into a mound of flesh.