Chapter 509: 斫骨换血

It was Xiao Yuansi who had arrived. His face was gentle, and his cultivation had reached its peak. A faint herbal fragrance emanated from him just by his presence. The cloud patterns on his sleeves were pale gold, and his expression was mild.

"No need to be polite..."

Li Ximing had gone to the Xiao family several times to look for him, but always found no one. Later, the Xiao family even sealed off their mountain, making it even harder to see Xiao Yuansi. Now, feeling quite emotional, he asked several questions in a row.

"How is Master's cultivation now? Is he preparing to break through to the Purple Mansion realm?!"

"Not quite there yet."

Xiao Yuansi gently answered each question. In the short time Xiao Yuansi had been present, Li Xijun had already formed some guesses. He thought:

"It seems Mumi Li and Ju Wu were both lured out of the mountain by Xi Shangweng. The Xiao family must have some intentions, making this special trip."

The Li family's trip was only to Wushan; what else was there that would warrant Xiao Chuting sending someone? The young man in white shook his sleeves and first expressed his thanks:

"Thank you, Senior, for your assistance."

Xiao Yuansi gently waved his hand. Both understood whether he was being thanked for capturing Mumi Li or for luring the human and the demon out of the mountain. Then, Li Xijun smiled and said:

"This junior is currently troubled, not knowing the depths and taboos of Wushan. Since Senior happens to be passing through, I hope you can offer some guidance."

"Alright, let's go take a look together."

Xiao Yuansi glanced at him in surprise, chuckled softly, and readily agreed. He said softly:

"It's truly refreshing to converse with Xijun."

Xiao Yuansi paused. The red light that Mumi Li had transformed into in his hand could no longer hold, changing into a smooth, bare head connected to a short segment of spine. It opened its mouth to beg for mercy.

Xiao Yuansi pointed a finger at its brow. Mumi Li instantly lost its senses, hazy and dreamlike. Xiao Yuansi opened his sleeve, and Mumi Li, like white snow meeting light, melted into his sleeve.

After collecting the person with a spell, he spoke with a slight apology:

"My family's True Master has a few things to ask this Shanyue."

With things at this point, Li Ximing also understood that Xiao Yuansi had come for Wushan. They flew over together and saw a narrow-eyed monk flying towards them. In his hand, golden light had condensed into a chain, tightly suspending a black panther-like demon.

Ju Wu had only fled a few miles when Kong Heng was already waiting nearby. The demon, having suffered some minor injuries, could not escape from the Master's hands and was captured and brought back in moments.

"Master is here."

Li Ximing went to meet him. Xiao Yuansi glanced at Kong Heng and said softly:

"Bring this demon into the formation; it might be useful."

Kong Heng looked at Li Xijun and nodded slightly, then silently landed beside the others and replied:

"Kong Heng greets Senior."

Xiao Yuansi nodded, looking at the dark formation underfoot. Li Xijun brought Ju Wu over and said in a deep voice:

"Open the great formation."

Ju Wu stiffened his neck, unable to utter a single word. He looked menacing, outwardly fierce but inwardly cowardly. Li Xijun glanced at him, then pointed to Xiao Yuansi nearby and said softly:

"This is Senior Xiao from the Purple Mansion Immortal Clan, a True Master's nephew. Even if Jiao Zhongzi returns for revenge, he would still fall into the True Master's hands. There's no need to worry."

Seeing a slight change in Ju Wu's expression, he continued:

"Or is Jiao Zhongzi cultivating overseas, preparing to break through to the Purple Mansion realm? Do you think he has the confidence to succeed?"

Ju Wu's expression changed several times. Jiao Zhongzi had been missing for many years, and he actually didn't know where the person was. Looking at the others, Mumi Li was most likely dead. This demon had some affection for Mumi Li, and with his friend killed, he sorrowfully closed his mouth and refused to speak.

When Li Xijun drew his sword and pressed it against his neck, chillingly cold, Ju Wu decisively spoke and replied:

"To enter and exit this formation, a shamanic talisman is needed. It's on me. Loosen the restraints a bit, and I will retrieve it for the Immortal."

With all the cultivators present, any one of them could take his life. Li Xijun wasn't afraid of any tricks he might pull, so he had Kong Heng loosen the restraints. The demon swept its gaze over everyone, then looked at the "Purple Mansion descendant" standing with his hands behind his back.

It opened its panther mouth, extended a bloody-red long tongue, and spat out a brown shamanic talisman. With a summon towards the pitch-black great formation, light instantly vanished and mist dispersed, revealing the large mountain within the formation.

Li Xijun nodded slightly. It wasn't that the group couldn't break the formation and leave, but this detour essentially preserved this rare shamanic formation. In the future, there would be no need to construct another great formation to protect this mountain.

As soon as the group approached the mountain, they felt the magical winds dissipate, as if falling into mercury. Ju Wu, having opened the great formation just moments ago, his attitude changed abruptly, and he quickly said:

"Wushan once stored a supreme treasure. Over the years, mulberry trees grew everywhere here, and the spiritual energy became stagnant. Once immortal techniques passed through, their pure spiritual energy would drastically decrease. The most affected was the art of wind-riding."

"Is it 'Answering the Beggar Child Under the Mulberry Tree'!"

Xiao Yuansi slightly frowned. He had a flying shuttle magic tool, and it wasn't impossible for him to fly here, but considering the others, he said softly:

"Let's go up from the foot of the mountain then."

The group descended to the foot of the mountain and indeed saw mulberry and pagoda trees everywhere, a pitch-black expanse. White jade formed steps on the mountain, and springs gushed forth, flowing down in bluish-green streams, making a gurgling, crystal-clear sound. Many jade stones, having endured the vicissitudes of time, their brilliance dimmed, revealed ancient hues.

Li Ximing praised it. The group ascended the steps, and upon reaching the platform, Li Xijun, holding his sword, swept his spiritual sense across and saw a group of pig-like creatures lying sprawled haphazardly below the platform.

These pig-like creatures had limp limbs, their eyes dull and vacant, appearing utterly mindless. Around their necks were jade collars enchanted with formation patterns, emitting a faint glow. Their bodies were naked and covered with various patterns.

Their cultivations varied, the lowest being at the peak of Fetal Breathing, and the highest at the late stage of Qi Refining. However, all were dazed and foolish, lying on the ground.

Seeing the group's silence, Ju Wu awkwardly stepped forward and explained:

"Practicing shamanism often requires blood sacrifices. These are specially cultivated... sacrifices."

Kong Heng had traveled far and wide and was very knowledgeable. Having seen such things frequently in the north, he closed his eyes tightly, a faint look of anger on his face, and said in a deep voice:

"Human livestock."

Li Xijun listened in silence. The so-called "human livestock" were a type of commodity similar to 'rice meat' and 'blood delicacies', but were mostly made from cultivators, using various spiritual objects and medicinal stones as catalysts to transform them into this state.

"Looking at this, all the Qi Refining cultivators of the Northern Shanyue are here."

Li Xijun added, and said softly:

"The Northern Shanyue don't harvest blood energy or resentment. So they used their population to accumulate Qi Refiners, and then practiced the way of human livestock..."

Xiao Yuansi looked at them for a moment, remaining silent. He gently lifted his sleeve and shook out a medicinal cauldron from within.

This medicinal cauldron was entirely grayish-white and looked quite sturdy. A gray wind emerged from the cauldron, stirring among the human livestock, causing a chorus of screams. Flesh and skin flew everywhere, revealing stark white bones. Chunks of flesh on the pig-like creatures' faces peeled off, and their eyeballs rolled onto the ground.

In one breath, flesh and skin peeled off; in another, they dissolved into puddles of blood on the ground; and in yet another, even the bones were blown into dust.

Xiao Yuansi then made another incantation hand-seal. The blood water surged and flowed into the cauldron, completely consumed. The jade stones were pristine white, without a trace left, as if the human livestock scattered everywhere had never existed.

'What a powerful magic tool...'

The two brothers exchanged glances. Kong Heng sighed softly and said gently:

"Supreme Xun Wind... Senior, what excellent means."

Xiao Yuansi shook his head, seemingly preoccupied. He continued ascending the jade steps and saw a jade wall along the cliff face.

The wall was covered with numerous incantations—either transformation, blood sacrifice, gu poison, or curses. Most of them required blood energy, resentment, and sacrifices to be performed. All were at the Fetal Breathing or Qi Refining level, and not very useful for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Ju Wu quickly said:

"Over hundreds of years, Duanmu Kui occasionally had sudden inspirations and lectured on shamanic arts. A total of six times, all recorded on this wall."

Xiao Yuansi carefully read through them and memorized all of them. Li Xijun, however, looked casually, waiting for his own people to record them. He looked around but didn't see the spells Mumi Li had used earlier, so he asked a question.

Ju Wu replied:

"That green-faced ghost was something Mumi Li conjured up himself... Foundation Establishment level orthodox incantations and wondrous transformation methods... He hid them very tightly; how could he be willing to teach them!"

Ju Wu seemed to have studied in Wushan as well. Speaking of this matter, he was full of complaints, only saying:

"He got the immortal book and could effortlessly cast Purple Mansion level shamanic spells. Back then, he alone suppressed Chi Wei, Zhang Tianyuan, and Qing Jifang. As for us, we don't even have a single Foundation Establishment shamanic art!"

'It's no wonder the Wushan disciples immediately submitted to Qingchi overnight after Duanmu Kui's death...'

Li Xijun listened carefully. It seemed Duanmu Kui never truly regarded the Wushan disciples as his own. The Wushan disciples had long shared a consensus, harboring resentment. If they hadn't been truly powerless against Duanmu Kui, it's even possible some would have abandoned Wushan and defected to Qingchi while Duanmu Kui was still alive.

As they spoke, Xiao Yuansi had already finished memorizing all the jade tablets. He stepped forward and spoke softly:

"'Answering the Beggar Child Under the Mulberry Tree' is likely a Dharma Scripture of Rank Seven or higher. In this world, perhaps only a few secluded grotto-heavens and Luoxia Mountain's cultivation methods can compare, and its material itself is extraordinary."

Upon reaching the mountaintop, they saw a jade platform with numerous jade pillars of varying heights standing tall, engraved with formation patterns that gathered spiritual energy. It appeared to be a cultivation ground.

These jade pillars varied in height. At the highest point was a jade throne, seemingly arranged according to status. In the very center was a jade pool, where the blood had dried up, turning into black stains, and a pile of white bones lay within, looking gruesome and ugly.

Xiao Yuansi stopped in his tracks, quickly stepped forward, found the second tallest jade pillar, and knocked on it a few times in sequence.

Then, the jade pillar emitted dazzling light, its formation patterns lit up one by one, and it spat out a stone slab. Xiao Yuansi gently took it, and with a light stroke of his hand, he wiped away the layer of magical light that covered it.

Seeing the astonished gazes of the others, Xiao Yuansi remained silent for a moment, then quickly spoke:

"Among the shamanic practitioners, there was a person who was a friend of my uncle, Xiao Chuchou. His name was Di Lutianfu. He specialized in talisman arts and also cultivated demonic arts, possessing considerable strength."

Speaking of Xiao Chuchou, a complex look of profound pain flashed across his face. His hands unconsciously clenched into fists, his breathing slightly quickened, and he continued:

"Some time ago, his lifespan was nearing its end, and he intended to break through to the Purple Mansion realm. He flew to my family's residence to seek us and entrust his affairs. Upon learning that my uncle had already passed away, he then sought me out. As he attempted to break through to the Purple Mansion, he likely wouldn't survive, and having no children, he left all his belongings behind. He also mentioned that he had hidden items in Wushan, so I came to retrieve them."

Seeing Li Xijun nod, he handed the jade tablet to Li Xijun and said softly:

"You all can look at this first. I'll go retrieve the other items."

'This is the reward.'

Li Xijun took it and expressed his thanks. Xiao Yuansi then flew to a secluded part of the mountain. Li Ximing gathered around to look, and saw that the jade tablet was carved with a set of ancient secret techniques.

"Bone Chopping and Skin Changing."

This secret technique mainly recorded the Six Paths Blood Implantation art. It required a certain level of cultivation to perform. One could capture a demon alive and use its cultivation to empower oneself by "pouring into the crown," which required personally 'carving out bones and stripping skin', then infusing the demon's blood and flesh into one's own body, thereby achieving the goal of seizing another's cultivation for one's own use.

This technique required finding a demon that could be a 'Dao companion' for cultivation. Once successfully completed, the cultivation could be seized and incorporated into one's body. For an immortal cultivator, this meant possessing two Dao foundations in one body, with strength instantly greatly increasing. Of course, there would be no possibility of breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm again.

"So it's a demonic art of 'different abodes, same furnace'."

Both of them had keen insight and quickly saw the implications. It was merely another way of consuming others' Dao foundations. Various sects collected such methods, and several demonic masters during the demonic disaster had practiced it.

It was rarer within the country, but cultivation methods were more widespread overseas, with even fewer taboos. Many cultivators of the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao practiced this art, most often using humans for refinement, which had a higher success rate and whose immortal foundations were more compatible.

Li Ximing had ambitions for the Purple Mansion realm. He glanced at it, not interested, and quietly stepped back to study the jade pillars. Li Xijun, however, took it and looked at it for a moment, reading two lines:

"When casting the spell... extreme pain beyond anything in the world, almost obliterating one's consciousness. Once mastered, one might be affected by demonic nature... leading to changes in temperament."

Li Xijun was immediately taken aback.

One must know that every word in cultivation methods is precious, and every passage is as concise as possible, which is why the author's origin is often omitted. For it to even mention pain is noteworthy, let alone "extreme pain beyond anything in the world." It must surely surpass the Golden Cauldron Cave, famous for its suffering.

"What a pity, too many drawbacks... otherwise, it could be used..."

Li Xijun truly had some thoughts. After all, not everyone was Li Xuanfeng. If a family accumulated resources, waiting for a Purple Mansion cultivator to emerge, then a guardian powerful enough, even invincible among Foundation Establishment cultivators, would be very important. This cultivation method was one such path.

"Although this cultivation method has too many drawbacks, it is a good method. The family can pay attention to collecting one or two such techniques."

He began copying the jade tablet, pondering in silence. Li Xijun considered himself without hope for the Purple Mansion realm, and without ambition or selfish desires. If he could protect his elder brother Li Ximing and his grand-nephew Li Zhouwei, he would feel fulfilled.

"If my path to the Purple Mansion realm is cut off, then so be it. If I can exchange it for unparalleled combat strength at the Foundation Establishment level, like Patriarch Xuanfeng, then even if Ximing fails to break through, I alone can support the family."

Li Ximing didn't notice, but Kong Heng, familiar with Li Xijun, saw it clearly from the side, guessing his thoughts. He wondered inwardly:

'I heard that Li Yuanyun could not achieve cultivation in his lifetime, becoming utterly desolate and dying in a border town, receiving the least favor from the clan... Yet he gave birth to such proud talents as the Xijun brothers... How interesting...'

As the few people pondered their own thoughts, Xiao Yuansi had already drifted back, his expression invigorated, seemingly having gained much, with a hint of a smile on his face.

"Senior!"

Li Xijun respectfully returned the jade tablet. Xiao Yuansi glanced at it and casually put it away. He wasn't in a hurry to leave, but said softly:

"Xijun, does your esteemed clan have the idea of unifying Moonlake?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Ximing felt slightly awkward, and Li Xijun pondered in silence. The atmosphere instantly cooled slightly. Kong Heng, seeing that something was amiss, quietly stepped back and began to chant scriptures with closed eyes.