svetikya Chapter 470 380: Hooked Snake
Chapter 470 380: Hooked Snake
The world within the mirror.
On his journey from desolate mountains and forsaken temples to Shankei County, Lu Jiangxian had read one hundred and thirty-one Fetal Breathing Techniques, thirty-six Qi Cultivation Techniques, and two Foundation Establishment Techniques, all piled up in front of him, a veritable mountain of texts.
'And here comes two more Foundation Establishment spells, the "Yi Wood Talisman Technique" and the "Mountain Mist Peak Sea Technique", representing the Taoist Foundations of "Full Yi Wood" and "Mist Returning to Darkness" respectively...'
The scrolls in front of Lu Jiangxian had already stacked up into a small hill, and he carefully studied the Runyang Method, part of the Tulong Jian's Divine Skills, which was the longest secret technique he had read and truly opened his eyes.
'It's the first time I've seen a person naturally endowed with a fate number.'
Li Yuanjiao let Tulong Jian go, naturally because Lu Jiangxian did not interfere, allowing Li Yuanjiao's thoughts to be swayed and sparing the man.
Under the illumination of the Dharma Mirror, Tulong Jian's figure was bathed in a brilliant red halo, its aura was incredibly shocking; Li Yuanjiao could not see it, but Lu Jiangxian could see it very clearly.
'If Tulong Jian were to die at Li Yuanjiao's hands and disrupt his path, it could cause major issues once Zifu investigates the cause...'
Having come into contact with many of the Zifu, Lu Jiangxian knew well that while the Zifu could not account for all the transformations in the world, nor could they watch someone every day, having attained the Divine Skill of Fate, they were naturally aware of the general direction of the upcoming situation.
Li Yuanjiao should not have discovered him, but man's fate could not withstand the Immortal Mirror. Had Li Yuanjiao killed Tulong Jian and seized the Runyang Method, it might well have disrupted the grand scheme of Zifu.
Although Xiao Chuting was present, serving as a buffer between Lu Jiangxian and the Zifu who would naturally suspect Xiao Chuting, who in turn would suspect the Li Family's Zifu, Xiao Chuting was already walking on thin ice. Lu Jiangxian feared that the old man might not be able to withstand the pressure, and he also feared that some Zifu might simply direct their suspicions towards the Li Family.
'But what exactly is this fate number... It's quite unlike Divine Skills, affecting others without leaving a trace!'
Lu Jiangxian had witnessed with his own eyes how the blood-colored fate number behind Tulong Jian surged and changed Li Yuanjiao's intent from murder to recruitment, and even Li Yuanjiao's silhouette began to emanate a bloody glow. Little did Li Yuanjiao know of his own suspicions, which had inadvertently turned the potential annihilation of Tulong Jian's household into a costly avoidance of disaster.
'It faintly resembles the shadow of "Cultivating Qi Devouring Spirit", as if... two fates were compromising with each other... but if Li Yuanjiao also possessed a fate number, why have I never seen it?'
'Is it fate playing with man, or man playing with fate...'
......
Li Yuanjiao, for his part, was flying through the clouds, captivated by his newly acquired treasure, immersed in its intricacies. Unwittingly, he had flown into the boundary of the Xuan Yue Sect.
His mood was consistently joyful and carefree, with an inexplicable sense of pleasure from a narrow escape, which further reinforced his belief that Tulong Jian had a fate number. He stopped in front of the formation, stowing away his magic artifact.
Kong Tingyun emerged after a few moments, now adorned in a light yellow Feather Clothing, far more formal than when they last met. She smiled and said:
"Brother Jiao has arrived! Tingyun has been waiting for a long time."
Li Yuanjiao greeted her with customary courtesy, and Kong Tingyun said:
"Taoist Fellow, follow me to Salty Lake and we can discuss the details on the way."
The two took to the air, but Li Yuanjiao posed a question first:
"How has your sect fared with the treasures from the sea?"
Kong Tingyun smiled, her eyes crinkling, and answered:
"Certainly a grand harvest. An affair such as dividing the Cave Heaven's bounties, even scraps from between Green Pond's fingers are enough for a feast."
Seeing no surprise in her manner, Li Yuanjiao nodded. He looked ahead to the dark great lake that reflected specks of gold under the fierce sun. Kong Tingyun then said:
"I had a confrontation with that fishhook snake. It's rather difficult to deal with. It feared the Immortal Sect behind me and didn't dare to fight to the death. It hurriedly fled a hundred miles away and took up residence elsewhere. I didn't dare to probe further for fear of driving it away."
Kong Tingyun explained:
"We shall search separately. The fishhook snake is not difficult to find, especially with its family in tow. Half a day should be sufficient, we just need to be careful not to startle the creature."
"There's no need to go to such trouble."
Li Yuanjiao shook his head, hovering over the lake surface, which instantly became turbulent as jiao serpents undulated beneath, occasionally revealing a black scale or claw.
Soon, a dark green prawn leapt out, its body contracted, trembling as it was lifted aloft by the waves. Li Yuanjiao asked softly:
"Where is the fishhook snake?"
After listening closely, Li Yuanjiao tossed the prawn back into Salty Lake and declared:
"Seventy-two li to the east from here lies a desolate hill within a lake, where the fishhook snake is in seclusion."
"I forgot about your 'Vast Sea' Divine Skill!"
Kong Tingyun praised him and they took to the air once more. Li Yuanjiao then asked:
"You mentioned earlier that the fishhook snake was driven away by Bishui Jiao. What kind of creature is Bishui Jiao?"
Kong Tingyun replied:
"Tingyun inquired with the Red Jiao Island overseas, and this Bishui Jiao is not particularly strong, but represents a Jiao Palace from the sea floor, and with such deep connections, it managed to drive away the fishhook snake..."
Li Yuanjiao, more concerned about the Foundation Establishment magical creatures in the sea, wondered aloud:
"Are there many creatures in the sea without backgrounds like this fishhook snake?"
Kong Tingyun nodded slightly and said:
"Countless magical creatures exist overseas, and the East Sea is filled with Demon Caves. Not to mention the East Sea, even in Salty Lake there are many, but the fishhook snake is merely the most vulnerable among them."
As they talked, the desolate hill appeared in the distance. Kong Tingyun formed a Talisman with her hands and clouds of mist rose beneath their feet. Li Yuanjiao murmured:
"I possess a Qi-concealing magic artifact."
Kong Tingyun's eyes lit up with understanding, and she nodded, responding:
"Tingyun will go ahead, and Brother Jiao can follow later."
Li Yuanjiao watched her take to the winds and dive into the water. He activated the Mysterious Pattern Bottle, carefully scanning the vicinity to ensure no humans or magical creatures were lying in wait, before he too descended into the waters.