Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 201 - 187: The Ghost of the Pagoda Tree Shade

Chi Zhiyun saw Duanmu Kui bowing towards Cloud Peak with great respect, yet there was no one visible on the peak. Doubt filled his heart, and after hesitating for a while, he turned to Chi Wei and said:

"Ancestor, what is this…? Could it be that a Golden Core Cultivator from another country has come?"

"No."

Chi Wei shook his head, activated his Divine Skills, and glanced towards the two blurry figures at Cloud Peak. His gaze swept over them lightly, not daring to linger, then turned to explain:

"The key to breaking through from Zifu to Golden Core lies in forging that indestructible sliver of Metal Nature, and then using it to catalyze Divine Skills to certify the Golden Core. Duanmu Kui excels in witchcraft, and even if he can't become a Golden Core, he could still forge Metal Nature. Those two figures are from Si Yin, guarding against the possibility that Duanmu Kui's breakthrough fails and his soul shatters and breaks free, causing that Metal Nature to coalesce into some kind of monster."

Having read the classics within the sect, Chi Zhiyun naturally knew that the "Metal Nature" of Golden Core was not the metal of the five elements, but rather was named for the immortality of metal. He was greatly puzzled and exclaimed:

"There are such good people?"

"It's a last resort."

Chi Wei sighed softly, and said in a low voice:

"You youngsters don't know. The ancient battles between Immortals and Demons disrupted many famed mountains' spirit veins, and countless Golden Core, even those more powerful than Golden Core, perished. All these people had certified their Metal Nature, turning into all sorts of evil creatures... Spreading poison to living beings is secondary, but these evil creatures arbitrarily occupy a bit of Metal Nature... naturally, there are those who covet it."

"Hence, some Immortals found an Upper Sect to capture these monsters and specially deal with this matter... It has been one of the few mysterious Upper Sects that has not gone into seclusion."

While Chi Wei spoke, Duanmu Kui's five Divine Skills in the sky merged into a stream of colored light, spewing out bursts of invisible fire. All the Zifus watching retreated a few steps vigilantly, while Duanmu Kui kept refining within that invisible fire by activating his Divine Skills.

"Duanmu Kui is following the path of combining water and fire, which is now quite rare. He has been granted spells by an Immortal and is more confident with these ancient methods."

Chi Zhiyun couldn't quite understand, but he stared dumbfounded at the colors of the Divine Skills, while Chi Wei nodded thoughtfully and watched intently.

In the Shanyue Region, no one had certified Golden Core for hundreds of years. The various methods passed down to certify Golden Core had claimed countless Zifus' lives, so much so that the Zifus reached an agreement – when attempting a breakthrough, invite the juniors to witness the event, so that both could benefit, and thereby discover the method for breakthrough.

Everyone watched attentively, but one of the two figures at Cloud Peak shook their head, whispering in a thin voice:

"Named the 'River Qi Decision', but it shouldn't be practicing 'Foolish Rushing Mountain'. It should have been 'Emperor's Command'."

"Indeed, this Duanmu Kui most likely has no hope left. Prepare to take action."

The two figures above were discussing, but none below could hear it. The invisible fire in the sky was burning more and more fiercely, using the Divine Skills as firewood. A faintly visible bright spot gradually condensed, causing all the Zifu to widen their eyes in envy as they watched the light. Duanmu Kui pushed his palm, and the essence of sun and moon surged towards the light.

A few illusory dewdrops slowly emerged above the light, lustrous and watery bright, dripping down a few times, making the light more brilliant. However, they abruptly stopped and remained motionless. After a stick of incense worth of time, the five Divine Skills had been burned up, and not another drop of dew fell.

"Alas..."

Chi Zhiyun watched, puzzled, while Chi Wei had already lowered his head in disappointment. The other Zifus looked at each other, their hearts pounding with fear as they looked at Duanmu Kui.

Duanmu Kui suddenly looked stunned, then took a deep breath, as if inhaling like a whale, and swallowed that bit of Spirit Light into his stomach. His expression was complex, and he burst into laughter, his voice sharply altering to a piercing thin tone, filled with satisfaction and contentment.

"I've succeeded!"

Chi Zhiyun looked up, and on Duanmu Kui's face, lines faintly emerged like a broken porcelain doll, which was quite terrifying. He laughed out loud on the spot, but Chi Wei, seeing this, was greatly alarmed and pulled Chi Zhiyun away for several miles.

"Let's go!"

The other Zifus, without even a greeting, fled away silently. The two figures in the sky appeared, and one spoke in a sharp, eerie voice:

"Duanmu Kui!"

Duanmu Kui seemed oblivious, rubbing his face. Pieces of skin scattered and fell off, which was quite horrifying. The spell light on his body disappeared, turning into wisps of ascending ghostly light.

"Duanmu Kui!"

The man called out thrice in succession before he exchanged a glance with his companion, sighed softly, and asked,

"Who are you?!"

It was then that Duanmu Kui lifted his head, the skin on his face already torn to shreds, revealing the ghastly white bones beneath. He cackled with a twisted laugh and shrieked,

"I am—"

"'The Locust Tree Ghost'!"

————

Li Tongya sat upright in the frigid secret chamber, holding a smooth Jade Stone in his hand. He had been presiding over Mulu City for the past few days, waiting to return home once everything was in order. His Spiritual Sense occasionally swept over several locations, vigilant against any troublemakers.

The Li Family had scavenged the Eastern Shanyue region and acquired three Qi Cultivation Level treasures, one of which was the Jade Stone in his hand. It had the effect of calming the Qi and concentrating the mind, accelerating cultivation; it was also effective for Qi Cultivators, and therefore was delivered to Li Tongya immediately.

The other two items were a Qi Cultivation Level long knife and a small shield, which Li Tongya gave to Li Xuanxuan and Li Xuanfeng, respectively, ensuring that Li Xuanxuan also had a Qi Cultivation Level Magic Artifact at his disposal.

"Not to mention the Spiritual Fields and manpower of Eastern Shanyue, the collection of Spiritual Objects and Magic Artifacts accumulating year after year is also considerable, much to the delight of the younger generation at home."

Li Tongya's Spiritual Sense sank into his Qi Sea. Cultivation at the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation gathered in his Sea of Qi Acupoint, forming a mist-like white vapor. Below it lay a tranquil lake, all condensed from True Yuan. Under the combined effects of the "Deep Sea Long Whale Script" and the "River Qi Decision," it was immense, like a vast river or sea.

Li Tongya had not yet shown any signs of forming his Immortal Foundation. He had read the "River Qi Decision" more than a dozen times, knowing all the crucial points by heart. He estimated it would take another ten years or so. As he focused on his cultivation, a voice suddenly exploded next to his ear.

"I am—'The Locust Tree Ghost'!"

Li Tongya was deep in concentration when the piercing shriek jolted him out of his introspective state. His complexion turned pale, and he exhaled a breath of stifled Qi, greatly alarmed, and thought to himself,

"Who is this person?!"

After a brief period of regulated breathing, Li Tongya pushed open the stone door, soared up into the sky, and saw several of the Li Family's younger Qi Cultivators looking gravely as they too rose on the wind. Chen Donghe, Li Xuanfeng, and others stood together in the air, staring silently toward the west.

Li Tongya looked in the same direction to see the west already covered with dark clouds, thunder booming, the brilliant and vast glows of Mana flashing incessantly, the thunderous noises resounding. His heart skipped a beat, and he muttered softly,

"They've arrived rather quickly. I fear it's the Zifu of Shanyue breaking through to the Golden Core. Whether this phenomenon signifies success or failure is uncertain..."

Li Xuanfeng flew up beside him with a somber expression. The Jin Geng Longbow on his back gleamed in the sunlight. He bowed slightly to Li Tongya and whispered,

"Judging by the days, it's probably the Zifu of Shanyue attempting to break through to the Golden Core. But I'm not sure why—by the looks of it, someone is fighting in the sky..."

"Indeed, Witch Mountain will scatter, and the Shanyue Region will fall into the hands of the Green Pond Sect."

Li Tongya paused and then added in a low voice,

"As for the reason for the fight, it may be that the Zifu of Shanyue has some enemies coming to settle scores. Such things are not uncommon. Zifu stands high above and it is not our concern. Still, we must inform the Xiao Family of this news..."

"Donghe, you go on the wind to the county center and inform the Xiao Family."

"Yes."

Chen Donghe nodded lightly and ascended on the wind, heading east along the ancient Lidao. Li Xuanxuan landed nearby, nodding in agreement with a worried expression, and replied,

"According to the Xiao Family, the Shanyue Region will be divided among the Foundation Establishment Shanyue who have pledged allegiance to the Green Pond Sect. It's just unknown which of those neighboring our family will be our next-door neighbor. The situation over the lake is about to change again..."