Chapter Thirty-Two: Departure

Early the next morning, Li Yang sat cross-legged on the large blue stone at the entrance of the ruined temple, facing the rising sun. Beside him, three exotic beasts lingered—some squatting, some standing—each with a unique bearing. Faint crimson mist shimmered around their forms, hardly visible in the dawn light.

After half an hour, as the sun climbed higher, Li Yang opened his eyes and exhaled a heavy breath.

“Li, breakfast is ready!” As Li Yang rose, Jinling, who had been waiting nearby, hurried over, her face full of curiosity as she glanced at the three beasts on the ground.

“After such calamity has befallen the He family, what are your plans, Madam?” Around the campfire in the ruined temple, the three sat together, sipping bowls of rice porridge. Li Yang looked gently at Lady He, whose face was clouded with sorrow.

“Having gone through all this, I have seen things more clearly,” Lady He replied. “With what has happened to our household, we cannot stay in Nuqing County any longer. I intend to sell off the He family’s properties, take Jinling with me, and seek some peaceful haven far from war and turmoil, where we may live out our days in peace.” As she spoke, her gaze lingered on Li Yang, hope shining in her eyes.

Meeting her look, Li Yang gave an awkward, somewhat uneasy smile. Seeing his lack of response, Lady He glanced at him with a hint of reproach, her lips pursed, a trace of grief flickering in her eyes.

...

In the rear courtyard of the He residence in Nuqing County, Li Yang, cloaked in black, wore a veiled bamboo hat that concealed his skull-like face.

Gagging and whimpering, Lady He and Jinling stood pale and terrified before the carnage and bones strewn across the ground. After several dry heaves, they clamped their hands tightly over their mouths.

“Are you both all right? Perhaps you should begin arranging the sale of the family’s assets. Leave the matters within the estate to me,” Li Yang said, steadying Lady He and Jinling, his tone full of concern.

“Then... then we’ll wait for you at the gate. Here’s the key to the He family’s secret vault—it’s hidden in that old well.” As she spoke, Lady He seemed to recall something, her cheeks flushing as she cast Li Yang a flirtatious glance.

Taking the key from her, Li Yang scratched his head in embarrassment and walked toward the old well.

Not far from the well, Li Yang’s expression grew grave as he approached a piece of human skin lying on the ground. After a thorough search, he found nothing but some assorted sinister charms and ten bone rings of various hues. He came away empty-handed.

What a pity!

Disappointed at not obtaining the heretical cultivator’s legacy, Li Yang sighed. Though the arts practiced by such cults were often disordered and superficial, their practitioners’ cultivation could be formidable—far from ordinary.

The heritage of Li Yang’s family itself was inspired by ancient shamanic arts. Yet, constrained by the limitations of his ancestors, the later stages of their practice, though seemingly complete, were only rough outlines, possibly riddled with flaws—a long-standing concern for Li Yang.

After all, though all paths of cultivation ultimately converge, their beginnings are quite distinct and difficult to compare, leading to potential hidden dangers. The dual path of Heaven and Earth emphasizes refining Qi and nurturing the spirit; the Way of Ghosts and Spirits focuses on the spirit, complemented by Qi refinement; while the Human Immortal path centers on refining essence, with Qi as a supplement.

These five ancient paths, though ending at the same goal, each commence from different directions and cannot be matched step for step. The Li family’s legacy is even more peculiar: its internal practice is the core of the Human Immortal path, yet it is unlike the orthodox method. It begins with tempering the skin, progressing through a gradual, cyclical process.

Instead, it first cultivates the blood and Qi within, refining bones, muscles, and membranes, nourishing the entire body, and storing up vital energy. Thereafter, through ancient shamanic arts, one communes with Heaven and Earth and nurtures exotic beasts.

When the beasts’ bloodlines reach maturity, the practitioner then absorbs their cultivation, fusing it with Human Immortal techniques, integrating their divine abilities and bloodlines into his own, achieving the ultimate bodily transformation—the forging of an immortal body of gods and demons.

Take the six-winged golden centipede, for instance: its steel bones are perfect for tempering the skeleton, forging a body of indestructible diamond; the golden toad, which devours all, has skin tough as hide, ideal for the refining of the skin.

Such a method is truly unprecedented, combining the wisdom of countless predecessors and the dedication of generations of the Li family before it came into being.

The ten bone rings in the heretic’s possession were sealing artifacts, likely forged through special means to enslave evil spirits. Yet those spirits had long since vanished, rendering these tools worthless to Li Yang.

Shaking his head, he picked up a tattered scroll from the ground. It was the embryonic form of a ghostly artifact, but the hundred spirits within had already dissipated without a trace. Otherwise, it would have been useful for feeding the Nuqing Fowl.

The Nuqing Fowl, being of the phoenix line and essence of the sun, is not as particular as the true phoenix—requiring only phoenix trees for perching, bamboo seeds for food, and sweet spring water to drink. Yet, contrary in nature, Yin and ghostly energies are excellent supplements for it.

Having found nothing of value on the old man, Li Yang vaulted into the dry well behind him.

With a thunderous rumble, a hidden stone door swung open, revealing a secret world within.

On rows of dark wooden shelves were arrayed exquisite jades and curiosities. At the back stood a bookshelf holding the He family’s collected works through the ages. In such turbulent times, books were the foundation of a family. The scale of this collection proved the He family was no ordinary merchant clan—their ancestors must have been wealthy indeed.

In the corner lay chests filled with gold, silver, and jewels—treasures worth millions. The He family had long been among the richest in the region, their accumulated wealth vast. Yet compared to the rare treasures on the shelves, the gold and silver seemed almost cheap.

Sorting the valuables and carrying them out of the well, Li Yang stepped out of the He residence to find Lady He already waiting at the main gate.

“So, how did everything go?” Li Yang asked with a smile, seeing Lady He peering anxiously toward the house.

“Quite well. Magistrate Shi was gracious enough to invite several prominent families from town, and together we managed to convert all the shops and land into ready silver. As for our properties and shops in the provincial capital, my late husband managed those. I’m unfamiliar with them, and with the deeds lost along with him, I thought it best not to trouble over them.” Smiling, Lady He pointed to four carriages parked not far away.

“Managing the properties in the capital would be difficult at best. Disposing of those in Nuqing County is more than enough. I’ve finished up inside as well—just wait a moment, I’ll bring out the rest. By the way, where’s Sister Jinling?” Li Yang glanced around, not seeing Jinling.

“With so many valuables to transport, we couldn’t manage on our own. I sent Jinling to hire some drivers to help with the carriages.”

“How thoughtful of you, Madam. Please wait here while I bring out the remaining valuables.” With a light, flattering laugh, Li Yang turned back toward the He residence, seeing Lady He feign annoyance as he left.