Searching for a Place to Cultivate
The exit was in a forest. It was currently late autumn, so the entire mountain was dyed red. Red, yellow, and green merged together to form an ever-changing landscape. The bright sunlight landed before him, and he blinked his eyes and sucked in a deep breath of the fresh air above ground.
Sure enough, the surface was more suitable for survival. The Zombie Daoist's dwelling was too deep underground, so he could not come out often for fresh air. It would be best if he could find a cave that was relatively well-hidden and build a large house on top of it. Afterwards, he could go underground whenever he wanted, and he could come out whenever he wanted. Wouldn't that be great?
Of course, the Zombie Daoist did not naturally like staying underground. He had his own considerations. If he built his dwelling too shallow, it would be very easy for the Hawkwolf Guard to attack his base and raid his lair. The location of his dwelling was very particular as well. When Li Qingshan cultivated there, he would feel his true qi circulate much faster, and his Fengchi acupoint could sense that the spiritual qi of the world in the cave was much denser than other places.
Spiritual veins crisscrossed underground. The dwelling must have been located on a certain spiritual vein, just like the word "earth" in the four words "wealth, companionship, method, and earth". Although it was not at the level of a legendary blessed land, it was still very beneficial to cultivation.
However, Li Qingshan's path of cultivation was not one of gradual, gradual progress. Instead, he relied on tremendous amounts of pills to forcefully build up his cultivation. The significance of the spiritual land was not particularly great to him. It was not like he would show himself before he finished all the pills on him anyway.
Opening the mental map of the Green province, Li Qingshan confirmed his location. He was a hundred kilometers south-east of Jiaping city. He was close to leaving the territory of the Hawkwolf Guard of Jiaping city, which was exactly what he wanted.
Fifteen kilometers to the south was a small city. It was called Salt Mountain city because it was located on a mountain of salt.
The value of salt mines was no less than gold and iron. Although practitioners did not pay much attention to it, it was a place that people in the Jianghu would fight for. Whether it was to occupy a salt mine or to transport salt, experts were needed to protect them. Therefore, the practice of martial arts was very strong. Everyone on the street was armed with blades and swords.
The greatest organisation in the city was the Proud Sword manor. They claimed to have three thousand disciples, and the lord of the manor, Yu Shukuang, was a first-rate master of the current age, a leading figure in the orthodox world. His wielding of the sword had reached perfection, and he slaughtered all of the weak. He was basically the true controller of Salt Mountain city. Even the district magistrate had to bow to him when he saw him.
However, Great Hero Yu also had his own worries. Most of the worries of the strong were when they encountered someone stronger than them and felt helpless.
"Villa Master Yu, I'll be taking these children with me." A middle-aged man spoke. He was dressed in green and carried a longsword in a green scabbard. His collar and cuffs were embroidered with patterns of green vines. His aura was that of a third layer Qi Refinement cultivator. There were four children around twelve or thirteen years old standing beside him. All of them looked excited and reluctant.
Yu Shukuang smiled along. "Alright. Please feel free to take them with you, brother Liu. These children will definitely have a better future in the Green Vine mountain."
These children were his most outstanding disciples of the young generation. Two of them came from poor backgrounds, and he had even spent money and effort to nurture them for a few years, just so that he could add a few more masters to the Proud Sword sect in the future. However, he had never thought that they would end up benefiting someone else. This disciple of the Green Vine mountain had come over, and all he had to do was say a few words before taking them away. How could he not feel pained?
Cultivation sects also required outstanding talents to replenish their blood. However, Qi Practitioners were few in number at the end of the day, so it was impossible for them to go around looking for suitable talents. Directly going to the various large gangs of the jianghu became an extremely time-saving and labour-saving method. Many cultivation sects would even establish their own gangs just to expand their influence and make it easier for them to recruit disciples.
"Our Green Vine mountain obviously won't take advantage of you for free. Here's a Qi Gathering pill. It'll benefit you greatly when you break through to the innate realm." Liu Fengrui placed down an embroidered box. There was a Qi Gathering pill in the box pitifully, but he acted like he was rewarding Yu Shukuang arrogantly.
Yu Shukuang cursed inside. Do you really think I'm a country bumpkin who hasn't seen the world? Qi Gathering pills were commonly used by Qi Practitioners. With his wealth, even buying several dozen would not be a problem. It would not be of much help when he broke through to the innate realm. However, he acted like he was flattered. "That's far too precious!"
At this moment, a disciple reported, "Manor lord, someone wants to see you."
Yu Shukuang said furiously, "Can't you see that I'm receiving an esteemed guest?"
The disciple said pitifully, "But he said he's your friend, manor lord."
Liu Fengrui said, "If that's the case, I'll be taking my leave first."
Yu Shukuang stood up in a hurry to send him off. He nodded and bowed along the way as he sighed inside. Zijian, oh Zijian, don't disappoint me. Cultivate well and come back to support me.
After arriving at the main entrance, Yu Shukuang glanced out of the corner of his eye. He saw a figure as tall and burly as an ox sitting on a long bench, waiting. He wore a large, conical hat on his head, obscuring his appearance. Beside him was a large bamboo basket with a lid, so it was impossible to tell what was inside.
The disciple whispered, "Manor lord, that's him!"
Yu Shukuang was confident that he did not have a friend like that, or it would be impossible for him to not remember such a special figure. No, it should be said that he had never seen such a burly figure in his life.
The figure stood up with a whoosh and blocked Yu Shukuang's path. "Great hero Yu, long time no see."
In that moment, Yu Shukuang basically felt his vision darken. The heavy voice was rather familiar, "You are?"
Li Qingshan raised his hat slightly. Although his figure and skin had changed drastically, and even his face had become rather strange, Yu Shukuang still recognised him with a single glance. He cried out, "You're!"
Liu Fengrui ignored Yu Shukuang and directly boarded the carriage and left. He had never taken great hero Yu seriously the entire time.
Yu Shukuang was not in the mood to feel angry right now. The Tiger Butcher had come looking for him, so what good could it be? For a moment, he was stunned.
"Let's talk inside!" Li Qingshan smiled. Originally, he wanted to express some goodwill, but when he revealed his long fangs, he seemed even more vicious and malicious. Yu Shukuang shuddered. He followed Li Qingshan back into the manor unknowingly. He had no idea what he had done wrong today.
Li Qingshan had specially searched for a city that was slightly larger on the map and did not have Qi Practitioners. That would make it easier for him to buy food and drink, which was why he chose Salt Mountain city. However, his appetite was just too great. If he went to buy it himself, it would be far too troublesome, and it would easily raise suspicion. If the informants of the Hawkwolf Guard saw him, it would be very inappropriate. As a result, he was in urgent need of someone with local influence to help him deal with these matters.
He could vaguely remember that Yu Shukuang had once invited him to Salt Mountain city as a guest in an extremely friendly restaurant in Lakeside city back then. As a result, he had come looking for him.
Yu Shukuang dispersed the disciple tactfully. He asked, "Sir Li, why have you come all the way here?"
Li Qingshan said, "There are a few matters that I'd like to trouble you with!" He casually placed down a stack of silver notes. "There's around a million taels of silver here. You can treat it as a deposit."
"Sir, you can't do that. As long as I, Yu Shukuang, have a use for me, I'll do anything, no matter what." Yu Shukuang beamed with joy, but what he thought was, who would be bold enough to accept the Tiger Butcher's silver?
"Take it!" Li Qingshan said indifferently.
"Yes!" Yu Shukuang immediately stowed the silver away. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. Who would be bold enough to refuse the Tiger Butcher's silver?
Li Qingshan said, "There's a manor in the mountains to the south-east of the city. I want to buy it and stay there for a while. I'll use this silver."
"Yes! I'll get someone to handle it right now. No, I'll handle it personally. I guarantee that you'll be able to move in tonight. "Yu Shukuang patted his chest and guaranteed.
"I don't want anyone to know I'm here, including your relatives and friends, especially your daughter. If news of this gets out …"
"Definitely not. If I tell anyone else about this, then I, Yu Shukuang, will be destroyed by the heavens …" Yu Shukuang immediately raised his right hand and swore an oath.
Li Qingshan interrupted him. "There's no need for you to swear. I don't rely on this. As long as you're willing to help me, I won't mistreat you. I won't be like that person earlier, who only gave you a Qi Gathering pill. "
Yu Shukuang was both ashamed and surprised. Li Qingshan had actually heard the conversation in the main hall three hundred meters away from the entrance.
Li Qingshan said, "Where's the Qi Gathering pill?"
Yu Shukuang took out the embroidered box in a hurry. Li Qingshan accepted it and tossed the Qi Gathering pill into his mouth. "The quality is quite good."
Yu Shukuang's face sank. Qi Gathering pills were extremely precious pills to masters of the jianghu who cultivated inner force like him. They could easily be sold for a hundred or two hundred thousand taels of silver outside. He was just bluffing when he said he wouldn't mistreat him.
Li Qingshan took out a new pill from his hundred treasures pouch and placed it in the embroidered box. "Do you recognise this pill?"
Yu Shukuang's eyes immediately widened. "This is … a Hundred Grasses pill!" This was much rarer and more precious than Qi Gathering pills. It was basically priceless. Even two hundred thousand taels of silver could not buy it. If he could ingest one, his chances of breaking through to the innate realm would increase slightly.
Li Qingshan passed the embroidered box back to Yu Shukuang. "You can treat this as a deposit. I hope we can work well together." Fear and profit had always been the best methods to control people. Li Qingshan just happened to lack both.
An hour later, Li Qingshan obtained the deed to the estate. He stood up and bade farewell. "Oh right, don't call me by my name in the future."
"Then what should I call you?"
Li Qingshan thought about it. "Just call me Niu Er!
Yu Shukuang was experienced in the jianghu as well. He could tell that Li Qingshan wanted to conceal his name a long time ago, but he did not agree with Li Qingshan's taste in naming.
Li Qingshan said, "Also, send ten tables, no, twenty tables of food every day in the future." After cultivating underground during this period of time, his mouth had almost become bland.
Standing in the estate in the col, the entire estate had already been cleaned. It had even been sprinkled with water. He had no idea how Yu Shukuang had managed to do it. The surroundings were shaded by the mountains and forests. The scenery was elegant, yet very quiet. At the same time, it was close to Salt Mountain city. It was the ideal place for cultivation for Li Qingshan.
Li Qingshan placed down the bamboo basket on him, and Little Ann climbed out. He looked around and seemed very satisfied.
Li Qingshan took out the underground mental map and compared it with the mental map of the Green province once again. The map indicated that there was a cave that just happened to pass through here. It was only a few meters deep in the earth. As long as he put in some effort, he could make a tunnel.
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