Chapter 440: To Golden Helmet (Yunmeng Qingxian, Clan Leader)

Li Xuanfeng, alone, donned his armor and robe, stepping onto a golden flying shuttle, and swiftly glided through the dark, surging waves.

Taking advantage of the raging sea storm, he found an excuse to quietly leave the Fenkuai Island market. He rode the wind eastward through thunder and heavy rain, using the water currents to travel a thousand miles until he reached the Zhulu Sea.

Even though the East Sea's weather was unpredictable and temperamental, a thunderstorm of this magnitude was rare. The night was deep, enveloped by endless, heavy dark clouds. The Zhulu Sea itself had turned a deep green, almost black, and as far as the eye could see, there was only boundless darkness.

The golden light on Li Xuanfeng's flying shuttle retracted, and he silently rode the wind forward. The heavy rain struck his black-gold spirit armor, shattering into mist upon contact with the spiritual light.

Goldentooth Island appeared faintly on the horizon. Li Xuanfeng quietly stopped, retreated for a moment, and then took the jade box from his storage pouch.

Although confident the monk would take the bait, Li Xuanfeng wasn't reckless. He first estimated a distance of one hundred miles, took the statue out of the jade box in advance, casually passed by the hundred-mile perimeter of Goldentooth Island, circled around once, then put it back into the jade box. He found another island to land on, waiting to see Goldentooth Island's reaction.

Goldentooth Island.

Situ Mo had suffered a great loss when he was ambushed by the Li family in conjunction with Kong Tingyun. However, after cultivating on the island for several years, he emerged to find that the situation wasn't as bad as he had imagined.

Firstly, he was fortunate to have been cautious, treating Kong Tingyun as the formidable opponent she was. Not only did he preserve his life, but he also sustained only minor injuries. That day, upon returning to the island, he repeatedly counted himself lucky.

Secondly, Mutuo was now in his hands.

He had initially thought Mutuo's death meant a significant loss of assistance. However, after only half a year on the island, one of the women Mutuo had favored gave birth to a child. Upon emerging from seclusion, Situ Mo immediately sensed something was amiss and quickly had the young child brought to him.

Indeed, the half-year-old child before him could already walk. With a scrunched-up, ugly face, it looked at him, clearly Mutuo himself.

Situ Mo was very curious and simply asked:

"Why didn't you return to the North? Even with this reincarnated body, it would take you decades to regain your Master's cultivation, wouldn't it?"

Mutuo, however, rolled his eyes, appearing quite irritable, and retorted directly:

"Is the North as safe as your Goldentooth Island?"

Only upon further inquiry did Situ Mo learn that the Wrathful Dao lineage in the North had long since descended into chaos. Mutuo's contingency plans in the North—statues, descendants, or spare physical bodies—were all being watched by numerous senior and junior fellow disciples, just waiting for his reincarnation.

With a change of mind, Mutuo had surprisingly returned to Goldentooth Island. Only then did Situ Mo realize that Mutuo's incessant womanizing during his initial arrival at Goldentooth Island had been to leave behind these contingency plans.

"After all, one who can cultivate to become a Master... certainly has means to preserve their life."

With Mutuo in his grasp, Situ Mo immediately felt much more relaxed, even somewhat gleeful:

"Mutuo has truly fallen into a ditch this time and must rely on me. From now on, it won't be about negotiation and compromise. This fellow will be forced to serve me for decades, acting as my lackey."

While Mutuo was not adept at direct combat, his life-saving techniques and divination skills were exceptionally strong. With a weakened Mutuo in hand, Situ Mo could practically avoid most risks.

"Kong Tingyun has finally been transferred back!"

Situ Mo was now much more at ease. He was extremely cautious; although Kong Tingyun typically wouldn't use such a foolish scheme again, he still steadfastly remained on the island, refusing to leave until his injuries were fully healed.

No matter how Mutuo or his guest cultivators tried to persuade him, even when news arrived from the sect that Kong Tingyun had been seen at other strongholds, he adamantly insisted on not leaving the island.

Situ Mo was no fool. The enmity between the Li family and himself was now openly declared. Even without Kong Tingyun, wasn't it easy for the Li family, with their power, to invite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators? Combined with those three from the Li family, if he were injured and ambushed again, he would suffer severe wounds, which would be a huge problem!

Situ Mo also harbored hatred for the Golden Hammer Sect, and by extension, for the world itself. He detested how the Golden Hammer Sect used the Ji family to harvest vital energy and then discarded them so casually. To draw a clear line, he even refused to use vital energy for healing or cultivation, making him view severe injuries with even greater gravity.

He had just emerged from seclusion and pondered for a moment when, unexpectedly, Mutuo rushed up to him, urgently saying:

"Situ Mo!"

Over the years, Mutuo had used vital energy to at least restore his appearance to its original state. Situ Mo found him repulsive but had no choice but to be patient, stating in a deep voice:

"What is it now? If you need vital energy, go buy it yourself at the market! Don't even think about my islanders!"

Mutuo, however, exclaimed excitedly:

"There's a treasure!"

After the red-faced monk hastily explained, Situ Mo listened patiently, then frowned and said:

"What nonsense treasure! It must be Kong Tingyun's doing, trying to lure us out!"

Mutuo opened his mouth to curse him as a bastard, but suddenly remembered that his caution had saved his life last time. He could only grumble resentfully:

"What's the big deal? Kong Tingyun returned to Yue State ages ago! Besides, what's the point of setting an ambush only a hundred miles away? If a fight breaks out, a spiritual light shot into the sky would be visible from the island instantly. Who ambushes like that?"

Situ Mo frowned, looking at the monk with a slight headache:

"What can this treasure do?"

As there was no one else around, Mutuo spoke frankly:

"Its uses are immense! My Wrathful Dao lineage has methods that can utilize a specific treasure to remotely control others and proclaim their sins. The effect is excellent!"

Mutuo continued:

"This technique can perform the Dao of Transformation. It's recorded in texts: some people enjoy eating venison and eat it daily. When illuminated by this treasure, their sins are revealed, and they are transformed into deer to suffer the same fate! It's an eye for an eye. If someone's cultivation is too high to be transformed, don't they have disciples? Or family members? Let them taste the retribution."

"This transformation isn't an illusion. If one is affected, they genuinely become a deer, as if born that way."

Situ Mo was horrified. He stared deeply at Mutuo, a chill running through him. Seeing how certain Mutuo was, and unable to find any fault in his words, he was silent for a moment before suddenly saying:

"What's the difference between eating humans and eating deer?"

"All beings are equal; there is no difference."

Mutuo flashed a mouthful of white teeth, as if the vital energy he had consumed just days before was nothing more than a few pieces of venison. Sensing Situ Mo's gaze, he shook his head and said:

"Therefore, eating deer is eating humans, an immeasurable sin... no one should eat... I..."

Situ Mo couldn't hold back and interrupted, cursing:

"You yourself consumed vital energy just a few days ago!"

Mutuo shook his head and said:

"Me? When I achieve the Dao, both these humans and deer will aid my cultivation and ascend to ultimate bliss. That would be a great blessing."

Situ Mo, suppressing his temper, glanced at him and said in a deep voice:

"Stop spouting nonsense. I can't stand to hear such talk. I'll first send someone to that location to check it out for you. Don't be so reckless."