Chapter 68 Tracing the Pulse

At Zizai Pavilion on Black Magpie Mountain, Chen Li was once again drinking tea.

During Chen Li's nine months of seclusion, the impact of the Foundation Establishment incidents in the Boundless Forest gradually faded. Life had to go on, so many people began to hunt demonic beasts again.

In the past month or two, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators had hunted Fifth-level Demonic Beasts, and the Beast Hunting Sect continued to exchange cultivation resources as before.

So recently, many Cultivators also secretly went hunting, being extremely cautious.

They specifically looked for isolated Fifth-level Demonic Beasts. If a single strike failed, they wouldn't pursue; they wouldn't hunt clustered Fifth-level Demonic Beasts; they wouldn't bother with fast-fleeing demonic beasts; and they resolutely refused team invitations.

In short, caution makes a long voyage safe.

Chen Li had recently been thinking of taking his fourth son to the Boundless Forest to see what the Pulse Seeking could find.

The Beast Hunting Sect in the Taihu Mountain Range had many veins: Ore veins, Spirit Stone veins, Spiritual Veins, and so on.

Among the immortal cultivation families in the Nanwu Kingdom, the Golden Core Yang Family and the Luo Family possessed Spiritual Veins. Most of the remaining Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans had at least one Ore vein, but the immortal cultivation families in the entire Yuanwu Prefecture did not have a single vein, making them terrifyingly poor.

Therefore, conflicts and disputes among the immortal cultivation families in Yuanwu Prefecture were rare, because everyone was poor.

With a cultivation place that had a Spiritual Vein, one wouldn't need to consume pills daily like Chen Li currently did. Everyone in the Chen Family basically hadn't undergone much arduous cultivation recently.

Currently, most immortal cultivation families without Spiritual Veins relied on arduous cultivation, or Spirit Stone cultivation, or consuming pills to improve their cultivation.

Relying on cultivated spiritual fields, which yielded thirty to forty Spirit Stones per acre annually, if a Family didn't possess any impressive immortal cultivation techniques, they would generally face extreme difficulties and be unable to sustain themselves after one or two generations.

At high noon, sunlight bathed Black Magpie Mountain.

Chen Songli was researching Formations in her Immortal Cave, while Chen Songyan was either cultivating his Iron Fire Ants or doing something else in his Immortal Cave; Chen Li hadn't called for him yet.

Inside Concentric Heart Hall, Chen Songxiao watched Chen Li approach, while Chen Songmei was sound asleep.

"Father," Chen Songxiao greeted.

Chen Li nodded. "The situation in the Boundless Forest has stabilized quite a bit recently. You can now use your star fixing plate."

Chen Songxiao's eyes lit up. He said, "Father, are you taking me to seek a pulse?"

Chen Li nodded and said, "You should prepare. I'll tell Songli and Song Xuan a few things."

Chen Songxiao thought for a moment and said, "Father, I'll go alone. I'm already at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer!"

Chen Li shook his head and said, "You're too young and inexperienced. The Boundless Forest is extremely dangerous! I'll take you to train first."

Chen Songxiao couldn't refuse Chen Li's forceful love and could only agree.

Seven days later, Chen Li called out Chen Songli, and also called Chen Song Xuan. He didn't call Chen Songyan.

Chen Li explained the situation and left behind a 3.8th Grade Formation Array and a Fourth Grade Formation Array.

Chen Songli immediately stated, "Father, rest assured, I am now at Qi Refining Fifth Layer, and with some activation Spirit Stones, I am capable enough to operate a Fourth Grade Formation Array!"

Chen Li nodded; he had confidence in Chen Songli.

He said to Chen Song Xuan, "You can decide on Family matters yourself. Songxiao and I will leave quietly and not disturb anyone else."

"Understood, Father, rest assured!"

Chen Li said, "You don't have to worry. We won't go too deep into the Boundless Forest. Just communicate promptly with the sound transmission stone!"

"Oh, and please take care of Songmei. Your mother is in Breakthrough to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining; do not disturb her unless it's a critical moment!"

For someone in seclusion cultivation, interrupting that single breath can easily affect their Dao Heart and create psychological trauma. Chen Li felt it was best not to disturb her if possible.

Chen Songli and Chen Song Xuan nodded, both indicating that there was no problem.

"Father, remember to bring vitality replenishing pills!" Chen Songli interjected.

Finally, Chen Li also laughed, "Haha, I've brought them, fully prepared! You don't need to be nervous, I'll be back in at most a month or two!"

...

...

A day later, in the Boundless Forest, Chen Li, who had cultivated the Illusionary Form Technique to Perfection, cast a Dharma Art on Chen Songxiao. Both transformed into middle-aged Cultivators, and Chen Li also suppressed his cultivation to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

It was Chen Songxiao's first time traveling so far from home, and he felt both excited and nervous. Along the way, Chen Li rode his sword, carrying Chen Songxiao. While Mid-stage Qi Refining Cultivators could also fly on swords, they couldn't sustain it as long as Chen Li.

Chen Songxiao, looking down at the Boundless Forest from mid-air, was stunned. It was so vast! So far! Stretching endlessly!

Chen Li accompanied Chen Songxiao, watching the youthful longing and innocence appear on Chen Songxiao's middle-aged face. Chen Li smiled slightly without speaking.

Chen Songxiao watched for a while before his mood finally calmed down a bit. He said to Chen Li, "Father must be amused. This deep forest is truly awe-inspiring!"

"Haha, this is just a part of it. Only by going deeper will you realize how insignificant an individual is!"

Chen Songxiao nodded, took out the star fixing plate, and said, "Father, I'll cast the spell now!"

Chen Li nodded. Chen Songxiao made a hand seal towards the Fourth Grade star fixing plate, then rotated it, then made another hand seal. Chen Li waited patiently.

Chen Li had also read books on Pulse Seeking and similar topics. This step of Chen Songxiao's was to seek Qi, to see which direction had a higher Spiritual Qi ratio. Spells would be cast in all directions.

Half an hour later, Chen Songxiao exhaled. He had studied the theory for a long time, but this was his first practical application, so he was quite nervous. However, he lived up to his learning and found a high-intensity signal.

"Father, the high-intensity signal is in the Kun - Southwest direction," Chen Songxiao said, pointing in a direction.

Chen Li rode his sword, carrying Chen Songxiao, and sped off in that direction.

Chen Songxiao observed the star fixing plate's signal all the way. When they were a hundred kilometers deep into the Boundless Forest, the signal strength remained unchanged.

Upon reaching two hundred kilometers, Chen Songxiao observed a change in direction. "Father, the direction has changed. It's Dui - directly West."

Chen Li understood, changed direction, and sped off again. At five hundred kilometers, the direction changed once more. "Father, the direction has changed. It's Li - directly South!"

Chen Li changed direction again. He had also read about the Pulse Seeking Technique before, and knew that during the Pulse Seeking process, the intensity of the direction constantly changes. It's impossible for it to remain in one direction; one must constantly observe when the signal strength weakens and then search for the strongest one again, pushing forward continuously.

Chen Li led Chen Songxiao another eight hundred kilometers deep. Chen Li thought that if they went beyond fifteen hundred kilometers, he would stop seeking.

"Father, the direction has changed. It's Xun - Southeast," Chen Songxiao reported the direction again.

Chen Li changed direction again, having already penetrated eleven hundred kilometers. Chen Li had been calculating the distance, his Divine Sense extending three li.

Chen Songxiao also felt his father occasionally observing their surroundings. He also understood the dangers of the Boundless Forest from his explorations over the past few days, having seen quite a few scattered Fourth-level Demonic Beasts.

However, Chen Songxiao knew that since his father hadn't called a halt, it meant they could continue deeper.

He also calmed himself down. The occasional low growls of demonic beasts and the profound silence of the deep forest, where he could only hear his own heartbeat, completely disenchanted him with the Boundless Forest.

When he first came to the Boundless Forest, as a youth, he wanted to conquer it, but after venturing deep into it, he felt only profound reverence!

Chen Li flew for another period, now reaching twelve hundred kilometers. Chen Songxiao looked at the star fixing plate, "Father, the direction has changed again. It's Zhen - directly East."

Chen Li nodded. The due east direction was a lateral movement, not a continued deepening.

But after another hundred kilometers of lateral movement, Chen Songxiao said again, "Father, the direction has changed. It's Kun - Southwest."

Chen Li frowned slightly and gave Chen Songxiao a warning, saying, "If we go another three hundred kilometers and still find nothing, we'll retreat!"

Chen Songxiao also said, "Understood!"

Chen Songxiao now saw more and more scattered Third- and Fourth-level Demonic Beasts, and knew they were getting deeper. He hoped the direction wouldn't change again for the next three hundred kilometers.