Chapter 99: Cursed Technique

Li Tongya exited the cave dwelling. Huaqian Mountain was already completely silent. The Lu family had sealed off many courtyards and arrested all the Ji family members on Huaqian Mountain. The stone paths were speckled with bloodstains.

After a turn around the mountain, he saw Lu Sisi and the bald man descend with the wind, carrying Ji Dengqi's corpse in their hands. Seemingly pleased with their success, they smiled as they approached Li Tongya and said:

"We were quite lucky. Huazhong Mountain was in chaos. The Ji family only had one peak Fetal Breath stage cultivator. The young family head, barely in his twenties, knew to smash the inheritance jade slips, so we crushed his skull. Of the six jade slips, we managed to save three."

Li Tongya nodded. Recalling the bottle of spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the cave dwelling, he knew it was likely prepared by Ji Dengqi for this young family head. He said gravely:

"We can discuss the jade slips later."

He pointed to the small courtyards on the mountain and the cave dwelling behind him, and continued:

"The Wan family was quite extravagant back then. I've looked around the mountain. There are quite a few spiritual fields on Huaqian Mountain; their annual yield should be around a hundred catties of spiritual rice. That spiritual spring is also of excellent quality. Even if we convert them at 30% of their value, they would still be worth over two hundred spiritual stones. Can you afford that, Brother Lu?"

Lu Sisi laughed heartily. He took out twelve small black flags with white patterns from his storage bag and replied:

"Does Brother Li recognize these?"

Li Tongya retreated several steps, cautiously ascended into the air, and hesitantly asked:

"Formation flags?"

"Precisely!"

Seeing Li Tongya's wary expression, Lu Sisi knew that his act of revealing the formation flags had been too sensitive and caused a misunderstanding. He quickly explained:

"These formation flags are the Wan family's treasured heirloom – the White Feather Purple Catalpa Flags. They were Wan Huaqian's preferred magical artifacts and were later left on Huaqian Mountain to form the Earth-Locking Huaqian Formation. A few years ago, the Ji family acquired them. Valuing them at around two hundred spiritual stones is certainly not an issue!"

Lu Sisi had visited Lijing Mountain and knew that the Li family's mountain-protecting formation was poor and crude. The Li family had just suffered a surprise attack by Gani Xi, and everyone, from top to bottom, exuded a strong sense of unease. They desperately needed a reliable mountain-protecting formation, and his words naturally struck Li Tongya's soft spot.

Li Tongya gave a wry smile and shook his head. "The White Feather Purple Catalpa Flags are merely formation flags for the Qi Condensation stage. No matter how miraculous, they are only worth about a hundred spiritual stones. Senior, you are overstating their value." Although the proposition was extremely tempting, spending two hundred spiritual stones on a set of formation flags was too extravagant.

"In that case, I'll add another fifty spiritual stones!"

Lu Sisi took out another fifty spiritual stones from his pouch and handed them all to Li Tongya. He said earnestly:

"I'm being quite generous here. You've already gained something from the cave dwelling, so your trip hasn't been in vain!"

Li Tongya pondered for a moment, quietly put away the items in his hand, and, giving Lu Sisi face, replied:

"The Lu and Li families will be neighbors from now on. There's no need to be too particular about details."

"Indeed."

Lu Sisi also handed the three jade slips to Li Tongya. His smile grew wider, and he said softly:

"We've already copied these jade slips. These are the original cultivation methods. Please take them."

Li Tongya understood that the man was implying he had not given him copied or altered cultivation methods to trick him. He took the jade slips, his spiritual sense probing them for a careful examination. He nodded and smiled:

"Senior Lu, your magnanimity is admirable. I will take my leave."

After speaking, he nodded to the bald man and rode the wind away without looking back.

Watching Li Tongya depart, the bald man also cupped his hands and said:

"Brother Lu, the matter here is concluded. Huazhong Mountain now belongs to my family. The Yu family to the north is powerful. I hope you will look after us in the future."

"Farewell, Brother An."

Lu Sisi nodded slightly, watched as the man rode the wind into the sky. Only then did he turn and enter the cave dwelling. Gazing at the clear, shimmering spiritual spring before him, he let out a soft breath. His face was filled with joy:

"We finally acquired this spiritual spring! The Cave Spring Pure Qi now has a source. Our descendants won't have to cultivate those common, low-grade methods anymore!"

***

Lijing Mountain.

Just as Li Tongya landed, he saw Li Xuanxuan pacing anxiously. Upon seeing Li Tongya, he immediately let out a long breath and said respectfully:

"Second Uncle!"

Li Tongya nodded with a smile, took out the long staff, tossed it to Li Xuanxuan, and said gently:

"See if it suits you."

Li Xuanxuan did not yet possess a magical artifact, and his eyes lit up when he saw the long staff. He took it and examined it for a moment. This long staff was only a Fetal Breath stage artifact, but for the Li family, it was quite good. Li Tongya himself still used a Fetal Breath stage longsword.

He then looked at the Ji family cultivator's Qi Condensation stage storage bag. It was only two feet square and contained mostly miscellaneous items, two spiritual stones, and talismans and elixirs that were merely Fetal Breath stage.

"Leave it for Xuanfeng."

Li Xuanfeng was at the fifth level of the Fetal Breath stage, Jade Capital Wheel, and could already use a storage bag. Li Tongya took back his own storage bag and left this one for Li Xuanfeng.

"These are considered excellent formation flags for the Qi Condensation stage."

Li Tongya activated the twelve White Feather Purple Catalpa Flags, admired them for a while, put them into his bag, and then took out the three jade slips.

Li Tongya took out the first jade slip and probed it with his spiritual sense.

*Golden Radiance Righteous Edge Art*

This cultivation art should be the Ji family's inherited art, likely brought back by that Ji family woman. It was a third-grade righteous method, on par with the family's *River Qi Art*, and drew upon the sharp, metallic qi emanating from within and around the Gold Jade mine.

"There's only one major Gold Jade mine in Yue State," he mused, "located at the mountain gate of the Tangjin Sect. All this sharp, metallic qi originates from the Tangjin Sect."

Li Tongya took out the jade bottle from the cave dwelling and swept it with his spiritual sense:

"Shimmering with brilliance, sharp as a blade—that's the sharp, metallic qi."

Putting these two items away, Li Tongya then examined the remaining two jade slips.

One was the *Clear Spirit Transformation Art*, but it was merely a first-grade method, utilizing minor clear spiritual qi. Li Tongya shook his head, put it away, and stored it for future use.

The other was *Autumn Talisman Refining Notes*, a notebook left by a peak Qi Condensation stage cultivator, recording many ingenious applications of basic talisman arts. The author was named Si Boxiu, and it was unknown how the Ji family acquired it.

"Si Boxiu... I wonder what relation he has to Si Yuanbai."

Li Tongya quickly read through it and saw this written at the end of the text:

"The essence of talismans primarily lies in the Moon Blossom Origin Palace. Among its techniques, the methods of transforming talismans into formations and sigils into qi are particularly profound. If one could master these arts..."

"Moon Blossom Origin Palace... Sigil qi..."

Li Tongya sighed softly. He had long known that the Dharma Mirror was likely connected to the Moon Blossom Origin Palace, and now he was even more certain. Yet, he felt little joy.

"Getting entangled in such karma, I wonder if it will bring fortune or disaster."

***

"Bastard!"

Mujiaoman furiously smashed the head before him with a palm, seized the Mountain Yue tribesman in front of him, and roared through gritted teeth:

"Useless! How is this Li Xiangping?! He's a human, and you bring me the head of a Yue person?!"

He punched the tribesman, who began to vomit blood uncontrollably. Mujiaoman's eyes were bloodshot, and he was consumed by rage.

That day, after failing to catch Li Tongya, he had also let the human woman escape upon his return. Mujiaoman naturally understood that the woman was most likely from the Li family, and was instantly filled with regret.

"If only I had known, I would have used a shamanic spell to put her to sleep. My meddling only allowed her to escape!"

Mujiaoman slowly sat back down. He no longer had the mind to think about her. He was now facing a much more troublesome and thorny issue—the elusive and omnipresent Li Xiangping.

"This bastard is like a bird with eyes on his butt and the top of his head," he muttered. "This bastard is a hungry wolf. He's a locust without markings..."

This human, Li Xiangping, had already circled the hinterlands more than a dozen times. The first time news of him arrived, he had armed over a thousand people and was decisively defeated. The next time news arrived, he was already in the south, leading people to kill tribal elders and distribute their food.

The few Qi Condensation stage cultivators stationed there were bewildered and disoriented by his tricks, running frantically from place to place. Yet, Li Xiangping always managed to withdraw before they arrived, only to advance again after they left.

Mujiaoman suffered sleepless nights. Finally, a head purported to be Li Xiangping's was delivered to Mujiaoman's military tent. Mujiaoman breathed a huge sigh of relief and declared Li Xiangping dead. Yet, Li Xiangping then organized refugees in the west, even daring to continue south.

Mujiaoman immediately dispatched troops and decisively defeated him, but found no trace of any human among the enemy forces. Instead, news of Li Xiangping's appearance came from all directions daily. Mujiaoman even began to doubt Li Xiangping's cultivation level.

In the following days, the situation escalated. Every day, heads supposedly belonging to Li Xiangping were sent to his tent, but they were all heads of Mountain Yue people. The western defense line was attacked twelve times in a row, almost forcing him to retreat to the east. The entire northern Mountain Yue region began to spread rumors of the omnipresent Li Xiangping.

When news arrived last night, Li Xiangping had already reached the Great Jueting, gathering nearly ten thousand refugees and forcing Mujiaoman to send reinforcements. As soon as Mujiaoman's main army moved, he could calmly retreat eastward.

"Only the Great King can truly kill this omnipresent locust!" his subordinate cried. "Marshal, he is not a Fetal Breath realm cultivator. He is a hungry wolf with sharp senses! He is a demon, making the refugees follow him as if enchanted..."

The tribal shaman under his command spoke, trembling. A deep sense of powerlessness arose in Mujiaoman's heart. Gani Xi, who was still on the front lines at the Tangjin Sect, remained silent, which instead filled Mujiaoman with deep fear.

"I don't care what he is!" Mujiaoman said coldly: "Either he dies, or I die."

He inquired overnight about the whereabouts of the Sigil Shaman in Dawu Mountain, offering women, spiritual items, and many other things. Surprisingly, one Sigil Shaman was moved and agreed to act.

Mujiaoman's letter was carried by a large eagle to the front lines, and then brought back by the eagle. Gani Xi only replied with ten words:

"Agreed. Either he dies, or you die."

Mujiaoman, trembling, sought out all the tribal shamans in the Great Jueting. He loaded women, spiritual items, and the captured child of the Li family bloodline, as requested by the Sigil Shaman, onto large carts, and headed at full speed towards Wushan Mountain.

Along the way, some tribesmen even joyfully came forward seeking credit, holding Mountain Yue heads and claiming they were Li Xiangping's. Mujiaoman was so enraged he almost killed them.

"Damn it, what kind of monster is this?"

Mujiaoman sat lost in thought on the large cart, when he heard someone softly call from outside:

"Marshal! Marshal! We've arrived at Wushan Mountain!"

Mujiaoman got off the cart. Seeing the jade steps made of white jade before him, he tremblingly took off his shoes and ascended the mountain barefoot.

The path was pitch dark. Mountain winds howled, and owls screeched. Mujiaoman dared not raise his head. Silently counting in his mind, he ascended one thousand six hundred and twenty-two steps until he reached a large platform, also made of jade, so polished it reflected like a mirror.

Mujiaoman immediately knelt to the ground. He saw reflections on the ground of more than a dozen figures seated high on jade platforms. All were dressed in luxurious robes, appearing more like human cultivators.

"This is the general. Explain the situation."

A cold voice emanated from the highest seat. Mujiaoman quickly recounted the speech he had memorized overnight. He heard sharp, whispering sounds from his left and right.

"What's going on! Do we have to deal with mortal affairs now?"

"What do you know? If you disturb Master's great plan, you'll be eaten!"

"Hmph, these people are truly useless, they can't even handle one Fetal Breath realm cultivator!"

Mujiaoman kept his head pressed tightly to the ground, not daring to utter a single word. Finally, the person at the highest seat spoke:

"Since none of you fellow disciples wish to act," he said, "then we shall resolve this with a curse. It will save us an extra trip."

A voice from below immediately inquired:

"Master once said we are not to interfere with earthly affairs through our spells. Brother, this action... we should still be cautious!"

"It's fine." The person at the highest seat shook his head and replied:

"This person is not a Mountain Yue. Moreover, among many spells, this prayer curse is the safest. It will certainly have no adverse effects. That person couldn't possibly have learned prayer curses, nor will it summon any monsters through curse."

The person who asked the question nodded and then ordered:

"Bring up those sacrifices!"

Then, several demonic beasts, black-furred, as fat as pigs, and seemingly dazed, were brought up. Their vigorous aura was surprisingly all at the peak Qi Condensation stage. From the reflection on the ground, Mujiaoman saw thick calluses on the beasts' hooves and horizontal stripes on their bodies, signifying slavery. He secretly wondered:

"Why would they draw horizontal stripes on demonic beasts..."

Before Mujiaoman could think clearly, the ground before him suddenly trembled. The jade stone in the center of the platform abruptly moved, revealing a massive circular pit. He glanced down and saw that it was filled with boiling blood and floating human bones.

"A curse of crippling, a curse of imbecility, or a curse of death?"

Someone on the left spoke up, and then the person at the highest seat said softly:

"To be safe, let's go with the curse of death."

The person nodded, performed several hand seals, and slowly began to speak in a hoarse voice:

"By the invocation of the Profound Bright Righteous Sigil, there is a rebel army, wicked ghosts, and demonic beings, stirring chaos and disturbing my common people... I respectfully beseech the Great Righteous Sigil Law, to blind their eyes, turn their bones to ash, and strip away their flesh and blood..."

Mujiaoman, listening from below, was stunned. His emotions suddenly became inexplicably complex. Among the Mountain Yue, there had always been a tradition of not using curses in military conflicts or tribal disputes. He deeply despised his own affected and despicable methods. Yet, at the same time, he reassured himself deep down.

"He is a human."

The illegitimate boy from the Li family had his head severed, his blood flowing into the pool. The pig-like demonic beasts struggled in the blood pool, splashing up crimson blossoms of blood. Mujiaoman smelled the heavy scent of blood and was suddenly reminded of the day he and Gani Xi rebelled and killed the king.

They had killed a king who was also like a fat pig, distributed a full granary of food, and watched the common people cheer with joy. Gani Xi had laughed heartily, while Mujiaoman had been scared to death, asking Gani Xi why he had rebelled.

Gani Xi, straddling a large horse, pointed his long whip at the cheering Mountain Yue people and laughed loudly:

"For the people."

Now, the northern foothills were pacified. Gani Xi was still fighting endlessly abroad. And outside the Great Jueting, there were already ten thousand refugees. Mujiaoman was struggling on all fronts. He simply could not understand how Li Xiangping managed to raise such a large army within enemy territory.

"Great King, does any of this still have meaning...?"

He closed his eyes slightly, holding back tears, his legs trembling. For the first time, he foresaw the true nature of things earlier than his Great King.