Chapter 94: Seeking Escape

Li Xuanling worked as a laborer in the stockade for over ten days. While the other slaves complained bitterly about their exhaustion, Li Xuanling, with his second-level Fetal Breathing cultivation, found the work easy; he merely had to pretend to be weary and worn out.

The slaves ate and slept in a pen-like enclosure built by the Shanyue, resembling a sheepfold. Feces and urine piled up, creating an unbearable stench. Over a dozen soldiers guarded the area. On his first night, Li Xuanling longed to kick off his shackles and slip away, but he remained for over ten days, stubbornly waiting for news of Li Jing-tian.

The Shanyue seemed to be preparing to establish a large stronghold here, intended to monitor and resist the Li family. Li Xuanling observed carefully, realizing that escaping would be easiest while transporting timber outside the stockade. This would put him far from the masters within; he could escape by killing only a few soldiers, without fear of being apprehended by the Shanyue masters in the stronghold.

"It would be easy for me to leave, but it will be very difficult for my elder sister to escape."

Li Jing-tian had been frequently entering and exiting tents these past few days, causing Li Xuanling much apprehension. He constantly lingered nearby, looking for an opportunity to help Li Jing-tian escape.

As he carried timber and moved around the stockade, Li Xuanling discreetly observed the layout. He then overheard two Shanyue tribal shamans chattering beside him:"Are we departing for Da Jueting tomorrow?""Indeed... I heard the King plans to build a large stone platform in Da Jueting to sacrifice to the shamans and consecrate his achievement of unifying the Northern Foothills...""After centuries of chaos, we finally have some peace."

Li Xuanling was instantly alarmed and thought to himself: "I must act no matter what. If we leave tomorrow and enter that large Shanyue city, it will truly be a dead end!"

Gently setting down the timber he held, Li Xuanling touched the magic mirror in his embrace. He immediately located Li Jing-tian and hurriedly set off to find her.

In the mirror, Lu Jiangxian, however, wore a strange expression. As Li Xuanling continuously moved westward, an aura, as if blood-related, slowly emerged in the distance.

"How is this possible?" Lu Jiangxian's mind was in a haze of confusion. Feeling the powerful aura in the distance, like a torch in the dark night, he was greatly shocked. "A Talisman Aura?!"

Deep within the distant mountains, it was precisely the familiar aura of a Talisman Aura that Lu Jiangxian sensed. The deep sense of familiarity immediately made him realize that this was a Talisman Aura bestowed by the magic mirror. It was not the gray talisman on Li Xiangping, but a gleaming yellow talisman.

Talisman Auras come in gray, white, cyan, yellow, corresponding to the cultivation realms of Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, and Golden Core, respectively. This yellow talisman could only be formed by the magic mirror after receiving offerings and incense from a Golden Core realm practitioner.

As Li Xuanling slowly moved, Lu Jiangxian was already able to establish a connection with that Talisman Aura. Yet, full of doubts, he remained silent. "This..."

Lu Jiangxian pondered for a moment, and a name slowly surfaced in his mind. "Li Jiangqun, the successor of the Immortal Estate!"

This thought was then quickly dismissed, and more doubts arose in Lu Jiangxian's mind. "Li Jiangqun only seemed to have Purple Mansion cultivation. During the siege back then, he only displayed techniques similar to other Purple Mansion cultivators from the Three Sects and Seven Gates. How could he possibly bestow a yellow talisman? Bestowing a talisman isn't as simple as using a Golden Core realm corpse; it requires sacrificing living demonic beasts, and the amount of incense needed is immense."

Lu Jiangxian racked his brains but couldn't figure it out. He merely sensed a faint aura of danger and thought to himself: "Under no circumstances should I easily go to Da Jueting. There might be some monsters or demons lurking there, and the Li Jiangqun incident is a clear warning! The target of the magic mirror is definitely not just the Three Sects and Seven Gates; there must be a larger power behind it."

Li Xuanling fussed about outside the tent for a long time, finally waiting for Li Jing-tian. He exchanged tasks with the slave delivering water and slowly carried the water to a large vat. Timing it perfectly, he deliberately encountered Li Jing-tian and her entourage.

Li Jing-tian, clad in animal skins and adorned with jade, subtly glanced at the clumsy Li Xuanling carrying water. Suddenly, she spoke: "Wait."

The surrounding Shanyue tribesmen immediately grinned obsequiously as they heard Li Jing-tian softly say: "Include him."

Immediately, two Shanyue tribesmen stepped forward and escorted Li Xuanling away. Li Xuanling walked with his head down for a while, listening to the two men chuckle: "You're a lucky one, stranger. The Great Commander has promised to grant this young woman ten slaves, and you're the first."

Li Xuanling instantly understood that Li Jing-tian was also looking for a way to communicate with him. He obediently followed them.

After a quick rinse, Li Xuanling was ushered into Li Jing-tian's tent. The Shanyue paid no mind to etiquette. Li Xuanling, still damp, stepped onto the mats and looked around. Seeing only Li Jing-tian, he let out a slight sigh of relief.

Li Jing-tian put down the items in her hand, hurried forward, and whispered in his ear: "I've found out news about the family head!"

It turned out that during these past ten days, Li Xiangping had stubbornly pushed westward into the heartland of the Shanyue, evading multiple pursuers. He appeared in various Shanyue villages, gathering desperate Shanyue refugees from Gani Xi's territory, causing widespread unrest in that area. Gani Xi was currently leading troops to plunder several families under the control of the Tang Jin Sect in the north. Upon hearing the news, he ordered Mujiaoman to return with his troops to suppress the rebellion, which was why they were departing tomorrow.

Li Xuanling was stunned. He looked up with an expression of disbelief and murmured: "What is the family head trying to do..."

He quickly shook his head, regaining his composure, and whispered: "Never mind that for now! When the crescent moon is directly overhead in the evening, I will move away from the stockade to gather timber and find an opportunity to escape. I'll then circle back to the forest east of here and make a sound. You can then pretend to go out of your tent to relieve yourself. I'll kill the Shanyue attendants near you and take you away."

Li Jing-tian was momentarily stunned, then replied softly: "Will that work? Be careful of the patrolling Shanyue."

"Don't worry!" Li Xuanling nodded and said gravely: "In the past ten days, I've thoroughly observed the tents of those Shanyue Fetal Breathing commanders; I won't alarm them."

Li Jing-tian thought for a few breaths, then nodded vigorously and quietly asked: "What if a large number of soldiers are alerted...?"

Li Xuanling hesitated for a moment and stammered: "Then I'll leave you and head east, and I'll draw them away."

Li Jing-tian shook her head and said softly: "If I'm captured and brought back, Mujiaoman won't do much. But you, possessing a spiritual aperture, are far more important. Nothing must happen to you."

Seeing Li Xuanling lower his head and remain silent, Li Jing-tian opened her mouth, then hesitated before asking: "What if Mujiaoman himself comes after us...?""What if that Qi Refining general pursues us?!"

Li Xuanling touched the magic mirror in his embrace. He was also uncertain about Mujiaoman's strength after taking a hit from the Grand Yin Profound Light. He said gravely: "The Shanyue are our family's enemies—barbaric, tattooed, and uncivilized. If we fall into their hands, it will certainly not end well! We might even be subjected to abuse and used to blackmail our family."

Gazing deeply at Li Jing-tian, Li Xuanling gritted his teeth and said fiercely: "If it truly comes to that! I will kill you first, then myself!"