Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Two months later, Li Su departed from the Li Family and returned to the Flying Immortal Sect to continue refining pills. Since Qin Xiaoyue had married him, she had provided him with all the herbs she had obtained in the secret realm. Li Su planted some of these herbs in an array he had set up and brought the rest to the Flying Immortal Sect for pill refinement. Properly sealed in pill bottles, these pills could be preserved for a long time.
After two months of refining pills, one day, the sect’s master craftsman completed the repair of the five formation flags for Li Su.
“Elder Li, please inspect them. How do you find their condition?” the craftsman asked.
Li Su examined the repaired formation flags and found them in excellent shape.
“Thank you, Master Mu,” Li Su expressed his gratitude.
Master Mu smiled and replied, “It was my pleasure. These were minor tasks.”
…
With the formation flags repaired, the next step was to gather spirit stones. Li Su had some spirit stones, receiving 1,000 annually, which he primarily used for his concubines. He also had 10,000 spirit stones given by the Sect Leader. Initially, he had borrowed 5,000 spirit stones from the Blazing Sun Sect, with some going to Su Yun and a few of his concubines for potential breakthroughs after taking the pills. The rest he stored in the family’s warehouse to reward promising descendants with spiritual roots.
“It’s time to consult with the Sect Leader,” Li Su decided.
After careful consideration, Li Su decided to approach the Sect Leader. He believed the 10,000 spirit stones stored within the Grand Extending Sword Formation should be sufficient for their upcoming task. Still, he couldn’t ignore the possibility of significant consumption. What if it wasn’t enough? Li Su planned to bring the Sect Leader with him to ensure their preparedness. She had already reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core stage, making her a formidable asset in case of unexpected circumstances during the activation of the Grand Extending Sword Formation, especially if they encountered demonic cultivators.
Li Su went to the back mountain where the Sect Leader was. She was not secluded this time, as further cultivation wouldn’t significantly increase her true essence. Instead, she was focused on preparing for the critical breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage, adjusting her state of mind and readiness for this pivotal step.
“Do you need spirit stones?” Li Su inquired upon his arrival.
“Yes, Master,” the Sect Leader replied. “I’ve managed to decipher that formidable killing formation. With enough spirit stones, I can control the formation and eliminate the demonic cultivators lurking underground.”
“Deciphered it?” The Sect Leader’s skeptical gaze settled on Li Su, hinting at her suspicions. While she believed in his integrity, the power of the killing formation she had witnessed was staggering. It surpassed even the protective formations of the Flying Immortal Sect and was beyond the capability of ordinary formation masters. It had the potential to severely harm and trap a Nascent Soul cultivator. To understand such a formation required immense expertise, and even a talented practitioner guided by a formidable master would need centuries to grasp its intricacies.
Li Su’s swift cultivation advancement was already remarkable, but claiming to have deciphered the formation was indeed cause for doubt. Li Su was under 200 years old, and his numerous concubines and offspring would have consumed much of his time. From the Sect Leader’s perspective, where would he find the time to study formations?
“Yes, Master. If you accompany me, you’ll see for yourself,” Li Su responded without engaging in further debate.
After scrutinizing Li Su’s expression again, the Sect Leader fell silent and proceeded to the sect’s warehouse. She collected a substantial quantity of spirit stones, demonstrating her willingness to investigate the matter personally.
This journey was solely for Li Su and the Sect Leader, and they took a flying boat to the Blackwood Forest before descending underground.
“Master, please follow me closely and be careful not to stray,” Li Su cautioned.
“Understood,” the Sect Leader replied.
Li Su led the way deeper into the cave. They couldn’t enter directly because Li Su had left the formation disc inside, and no one was within to control the killing formation. The entire formation operated automatically.
Indeed, if Li Su attempted to enter from a different location, the killing formation would attack him, as it didn’t recognize individuals without active control. Bringing the formation disc with him was also not an option, as it would leave the formation vulnerable if any demonic cultivator attempted to breach it.
Some formation marks could be carried to avoid the formation’s attacks, but they would hinder Li Su’s ability to reach the control area while carrying them. Moreover, bringing these marks into the formation could lead him to the area where the demonic cultivators were.
As they ventured further into the cave, the Sect Leader observed that Li Su was not being attacked by the killing formation, causing her initial suspicions to wane.
Could it be that he truly deciphered this formation? she pondered.
In the eyes of the Sect Leader, Li Su became an even more enigmatic figure.
“Master, be cautious!” Li Su’s voice suddenly broke the silence.
The Sect Leader turned her attention and realized that her ancient sword had vanished. Her thoughts about Li Su had momentarily distracted her, causing her to stray from the correct path. Fortunately, Li Su had promptly guided her back on course.
Li Su released his hand from the Sect Leader’s waist, and at that moment, he couldn’t help but notice the softness of her waist. A fleeting thought crossed his mind, The waist of a woman, the blade of a killer.
The Sect Leader sensed Li Su’s touch on her waist and initially felt somewhat uneasy, but the feeling quickly faded.
“Master, the path into the formation is difficult. Would you like me to lead the way?” Li Su suggested.
Indeed, entering the formation was no simple task. The path was narrow, and any misstep could trigger the deadly formation.
The Sect Leader agreed, maintaining her composure and saying, “Very well.”
Li Su then grasped the Sect Leader’s small hand, causing her to momentarily pause. However, she swiftly regained her composure, ensuring she appeared unaffected.
“Master, follow in my footsteps and keep your body from veering off course,” Li Su instructed.
With a firm grip on the Sect Leader’s delicate hand, Li Su led the way, cautiously taking each step. The Sect Leader followed closely behind, and the two slowly progressed towards the control area of the deadly formation. While they no longer needed to decipher the formation, their progress was slow due to Li Su’s careful pace while guiding the Sect Leader.
The reach of this deadly formation was quite extensive. After nearly twenty minutes of cautious advancement, Li Su and the Sect Leader finally entered the space within the formation.
Upon entering, the Sect Leader’s gaze fell upon two skeletal figures.
“Master, these are the ancestors who trapped the demonic cultivator,” Li Su explained, providing a detailed account of the situation. The Sect Leader now understood the origins of the deadly formation, the demonic cultivator, and the Sacred Command.
“Master, are you familiar with the whereabouts of the Falling Cloud Sect and the Purple Pole Sect?” Li Su inquired, taking the opportunity to ask so that he could retrieve the skeletal remains of the two individuals later.
“I’ve heard of them. You should be able to inquire about their locations once you cross Mangkang Mountain. However, it’s advisable not to attempt crossing Mangkang Mountain until you’ve reached the later stages of the Golden Core, if not the Nascent Soul stage,” the Sect Leader advised.