Chapter 225: Meeting Varaha

Li Tongya rode the wind directly westward, crossing the Dayu Stream, which marked the border between Dongshanyue and the Li family's land. He flew over the palace in Shamo, venturing deeper into Shanyue territory.

As Li Tongya journeyed further west, the jungle grew increasingly dense. Villages appeared bleak, dilapidated, and rundown. Dirt roads were littered with abandoned skeletons, and the living, emaciated, crawled on the ground. They boiled grayish-white bones in broken pots until they pulverized, forming a pot of gray soup. All around them, jackals sat in a circle, howling as they waited for someone to collapse.

Li Tongya observed silently, noting the stark contrast: from the peace and prosperity of Lijing Town, with its new and flourishing households, to the impoverished families of Dongshanyue, even those with painted gates and embroidered doors, and finally to the Shanyue region, where skeletons littered the ground and jackals preyed on humans. He merely glanced, and the emaciated people around him looked up at him. Li Tongya continued westward, riding the wind.

Dozens of miles further west, human habitation gradually increased, though still presenting the same desolate appearance. Finally, he spotted a dark, imposing mountain with a proper temple built on its summit.

Li Tongya landed before the mountain. Here, many dark heads were impaled on wooden stakes. As soon as he touched down, they all opened their white eyes to look at him. Several heads with relatively intact mouths wailed loudly, shouting:

"A living person! A living person!"

Li Tongya waited quietly for a moment. A Shanyue person, dressed in a simple robe with disheveled hair and pale eyes, descended. He was a sixth-level Qi Cultivator. He squinted at Li Tongya, then, quite politely, cupped his hands and said:

"Senior, please follow me up the mountain."

Li Tongya smiled and shook his head, replying:

"Your master's spell is truly bizarre; I dare not ascend the mountain. Please ask him to come down instead."

The pale-eyed Shanyue person grimaced, pulled a head from a stake, turned, and ascended the mountain. The other heads closed their eyes, becoming grim and lifeless.

Li Tongya waited for a few breaths. A person dressed in luxurious robes, with a storage bag tied at his waist, descended from the mountain. He wore the attire of an immortal cultivator but had the appearance of a Shanyue person, holding a pitch-black gourd in his hand. He glanced at Li Tongya and exclaimed in surprise:

"Li Tongya? You've already achieved Foundation Establishment?"

"Greetings, Senior Feiluoya!"

This person was precisely the Shanyue Foundation Establishment cultivator from the time Wushan split, who had ceded the land of Dongshanyue to the Li family under pressure from the Xiao family. Seeing Li Tongya successfully achieve Foundation Establishment, he immediately became much more polite and said:

"Truly worthy of a sword immortal family! It's only been a few years, and you've already reached Foundation Establishment. I'm truly envious."

Despite his words, Feiluoya clearly harbored resentment from the past event. His expression was not pleasant, yet constrained by Li Tongya's background and strength, he refrained from showing anger and even forced a smile.

"Senior, you flatter me."

Li Tongya cupped his hands and replied:

"It's been many years since we last met. I deeply regret any offense caused back then, and it truly shames me. Yet, Senior holds no grudge, for which the Li family is immensely grateful."

"Haha," Feiluoya chuckled dryly. Li Tongya then exchanged a few more pleasantries, significantly improving Feiluoya's expression, who then still politely inquired:

"Brother Tongya, may I ask the purpose of your visit?"

Li Tongya nodded slightly and replied:

"Our two families are neighbors, and our relationship should ideally be better. However, due to past events, we haven't interacted, which I deeply regret. Senior's strength is formidable, and I deeply respect it, always hoping to mend our relationship."

"Not at all," Feiluoya responded modestly.

Feiluoya raised an eyebrow, his expression noticeably brightening. Then Li Tongya continued:

"A friend of mine requires a rare medicinal ingredient to extract its properties. He's offering a substantial reward but hasn't found the desired item. I thought that the Shanyue territory is rich in spiritual essence, and Senior must possess many rare herbs, which could allow you to earn a considerable sum."

Feiluoya chuckled heartily, believing he had grasped Li Tongya's true intention, and said with a laugh:

"I see, Brother Tongya, you're eyeing that substantial reward and intend to act as an intermediary to take a cut, aren't you?"

Li Tongya smiled faintly, nodded, and replied:

"Senior's insight is sharp; that's precisely it. Anyway, it's a way for us to earn money together. There are many rare herbs in Dali Mountain and Mushroom Forest Plain. My decision to approach Senior instead of others is also a gesture of goodwill, isn't it?"

Feiluoya considered this, finding Li Tongya's words indeed reasonable. He did, in fact, have several rare herbs accumulated that were useless to him. Li Tongya then continued:

"This is a long-term business, not a one- or two-day affair. If Senior wishes to mend relations with my family and earn this money, then let our two families cooperate."

Feiluoya laughed heartily and replied:

"Since Brother Tongya has put it that way, how could I possibly refuse?"

Since the last time he forced Feiluoya to retreat, Li Tongya had long perceived that this individual, who spent his days cultivating on Wushan and never engaged with the secular world, was outwardly fierce but timid within, and easily swayed. Having been intimidated by the joint forces of the Xiao and Fei families, Feiluoya was, in fact, terrified of Li Tongya. Through a bit of fabrication and twisting of facts, Li Tongya managed to transform a situation where he needed to ask for help into a win-win cooperation and a path to mend relations. He mused to himself:

"This person is skilled in curses and is also a Shanyue; he likely doesn't even know the market value of rare herbs. However, since he is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it wouldn't be right to outright cheat him. Rare herbs are priceless but have no fixed market value. In the future, I can acquire them at market prices and then use them for favors or for my descendants to consume. That would be a good approach."

Feiluoya acted swiftly, pulling out five or six wooden boxes and presenting them to Li Tongya one by one. Li Tongya examined them, noting that each radiated a strong aura and shimmered with colorful light. Upon closer inspection, he realized he didn't recognize a single one. Maintaining a calm demeanor, he used a hand seal to lift the smallest fruit for careful observation.

Feiluoya immediately felt a bit awkward and whispered:

"I'm afraid Brother will laugh if I say this, but... I don't know what this item is either. That's why I've never consumed it. It's been stored here for many years, and its medicinal properties are on the verge of dissipating. If you hadn't come, Brother Tongya, I wouldn't have any trustworthy living person in this area. This truly solves my urgent problem!"

Li Tongya cupped his hands and chuckled:

"Since Brother is so candid, I won't speak in riddles. This fruit's appearance matches the requirements of that person. Its quantity is a bit small, but it should just about suffice."

Feiluoya nodded, gritting his teeth, and said:

"Brother Tongya, in your estimation, is this fruit worth a hundred spirit stones?"

"One hundred spirit stones?!"

Li Tongya let out an involuntary laugh. Even though he didn't know much about such things, he knew that rare herbs could certainly not be acquired for a mere hundred spirit stones. He replied directly:

"I'll give you two hundred spirit stones first, Brother. I'll take this item, and once I ascertain its true value, I'll pay the difference, whether it's more or less, and send it to you!"

"Two hundred spirit stones!"

Feiluoya was instantly startled. Li Tongya's honest words immediately gave him a new perception of Li Tongya, leading him to trust him much more. Li Tongya, however, thought to himself with a cheerful smile:

"As for when I ascertain the price, and when I'll make up the difference or refund, won't that be entirely up to me? Feiluoya is truly an honest fellow!"

Feiluoya nodded repeatedly. Li Tongya counted out two hundred spirit stones and watched him joyfully accept them. Only then did he retrieve the jade box he had obtained from the ruins of Wangyue Lake Market to store the colorful spirit fruit.

Feiluoya reluctantly cast a glance at it, but then was suddenly startled and greatly astonished. He had extensive knowledge of formations and curses, understanding the intricacy of the jade box's patterns far better than Li Tongya. His eyes were wide, repeatedly darting towards the jade box.

Li Tongya, with his sharp intuition, instantly understood. His mind raced like lightning as he casually remarked:

"This jade box was gifted to me by a friend to help him collect rare herbs."

The more Feiluoya examined it, the more profound and marvelous he found it, murmuring:

"This is probably more than sufficient to contain Purple Mansion-level rare herbs... Brother, your friend..."

Li Tongya laughed heartily and replied:

"He is a Purple Mansion True Lord introduced by a sword immortal!"