Chapter 859: Ping Yao Li Family
The Nan Shan market lay far from River State City, reachable only by teleporting to Gan Yuan City and traveling onward. Ye Mo knew using the teleportation formation would alert the All Pill Tower. While Song Yangzhu and Ye Ling would likely be safe, he preferred to avoid detection. He opted for Li Baisen's flying pike, adding a few days to his journey but a worthwhile trade-off.
Now at Foundation Establishment level 3 peak, Ye Mo traveled much faster than when Ye Ling and Song Yangzhu piloted the pike. He covered half the distance in two days. On the third afternoon, near Gan Yuan City, he spotted a white snow fox, its speed reminiscent of those in the Mei Nei Snow Mountains, but far exceeding them. Knowing snow foxes often find spirit items, he instinctively pursued it.
The fox's speed, however, proved deceptive. It vanished in an instant, though remaining within Ye Mo's spirit sense range. He initially believed capture would be simple, but two hours later, he realized the fox was leading him astray, its pace far surpassing his own.
As he considered abandoning the chase, a surge of power alerted him. He retracted his spirit sense and even the flying pike, sensing the overwhelming power of two Golden Core state cultivators. He immediately employed the Three Birth Chant's stealth ability and retreated.
Before he could fully withdraw, the two cultivators appeared. Ye Mo instantly fell prone, suppressing his spirit sense and remaining motionless.
“Ji Changsheng, we’re both Zheng Yuan Sword Sect cultivators. I gave you the Cao Huan Fruit, why are you trying to kill me?” a woman’s voice pierced the air. Peeking cautiously, Ye Mo recognized Song Yangzhu and Ye Ling's master, Li Yuqian. He wondered why Ji Changsheng sought her life. Both appeared heavily wounded, though Ji Changsheng fared better.
Ji Changsheng sneered, “You gave me the fruit, but kept one. Do you understand the Cao Huan Fruit's significance to our Li family? A nascent soul state cultivator! Leave a drop of your life essence blood, and you may live.”
The Cao Huan Fruit, a rare level 6 spirit herb, rarer even than a face-preserving fruit, was crucial for reaching nascent soul state, used in crafting Cao Huan pills. A fully matured plant yielded nine fruits. Ye Mo, while coveting it, knew obtaining it was beyond his reach.
Li Yuqian refused, “Keep dreaming! You're surname is Ji. How are you of the Li family?” Surrendering her life essence blood meant becoming another's puppet.
Ji Changsheng sneered, displaying a jade card inscribed with "Li." Ye Mo recalled a similar card from Li Baisen, suggesting a familial connection. A cold sweat broke out; had Li Changsheng pursued him, escape from River State City would have been impossible.
Ji Changsheng, at least Golden Core tertiary stage, presented a palpable threat. "Should I call you Li Changsheng? Even if you're Li family, was it necessary to kill Elders Han and Yu? You took the Cao Huan Fruit! Why kill sect members?” Li Yuqian roared.
Li Changsheng laughed, sheathing his sword and drawing a golden single-edged blade. "After leaving my family, I resided in Ping Yao City. The Zheng Yuan Sword Sect, a double-edged sword sect, coveted our Li family's Illusion Cloud Six Strikes. Yu Zhenfei and Han Mu robbed us; we Li family descendants swore vengeance, a bloodbath in Ping Yao City. Killing them is merely the beginning!”
Li Yuqian trembled, “You’re from the Ping Yao Li family? Li Baisen, too?”
Li Changsheng seethed, "Give me your life essence blood, and I'll spare you. The Zheng Yuan Sword Sect will fall; only the Li family will remain. You possess a Cao Huan Fruit; join us, and reach nascent soul state.”
Li Yuqian's face paled. Li Changsheng boasted, "I possess five fruits. Besides Li Baisen and myself, three more Golden Core tertiary stage cultivators are within the Li family, at least two reaching nascent soul state. We'll establish a four-star sect; the Zheng Yuan Sword Sect will be nothing! If you know what's good—"
Li Yuqian interrupted, "Keep dreaming! Even in death, I won't surrender!" She attacked.
Li Changsheng sneered, "I've mastered the fifth strike of the Illusion Cloud Six Strikes. Let's see how many you can block."
Ye Mo realized Li Yuqian was also Golden Core tertiary stage, a testament to the Cao Huan Fruit's potency. Li Changsheng, seemingly at Golden Core peak, held the advantage. Ye Mo decided to wait; their injuries would present an opportunity. A massive explosion erupted as Li Changsheng's first strike clashed with Li Yuqian’s sword. Li Yuqian spat blood; even from a distance, Ye Mo felt the killing intent.