Chapter 80 The Mysterious Bead, the Demonic Cultivator of the East Sea

Yun Tiancheng took out a blue-green bead from his Storage Pouch and said to Chen Li, "Brother Chen, take a look at this bead?"

"What is the origin of this bead?" Chen Li asked.

Yun Tiancheng explained, "This bead was obtained by chance by the first generation ancestor of my Yun Family. It was said to stabilize the mind when breaking through to higher Realms, but none of the ancestors throughout the generations felt it had such an effect."

"For a hundred years, my Yun Family has remained a Qi Refining Immortal Clan. After a century of research, this bead is just like a common stone; there has been no harvest at all."

Chen Li activated the Soul Suppressing Art to steady his Soul and prevent anyone from attempting a Possession.

Then, he used his magic power to probe the bead. At first, he didn't feel anything, but as he increased his power and fully expanded his Divine Sense to probe inside—hmm?

There was something!

After a moment, he felt a trace of clear, pure Qi feed back into him, and he felt his Divine Soul being purified. Although it was very faint, it was definitely a good item!

Chen Li breathed a sigh of relief and said to Yun Tiancheng, "Old Ancestor Yun, do you really want to sell this?"

Yun Tiancheng saw that Chen Li's operation just now was very relaxed. Seeing Chen Li ask this question, he assumed Chen Li must have seen through something?

However, Yun Tiancheng did not regret it and said, "Yes, Fellow Daoist, please name a price!"

Chen Li thought for a moment. The Yun Family coming to deliver a treasure—there must be something going on, right?

"Old Ancestor Yun, we have known each other for nearly twenty years. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this bead a Family heirloom. For you to suddenly have the whim to trade it with me today, I'm afraid it's not that simple!"

Chen Li pushed the bead back and said, "Old Ancestor Yun, you might as well speak plainly!"

Looking at Chen Li's steady and cautious manner, Yun Tiancheng couldn't help but sigh inwardly. If he had been a bit more decisive back then, this man would have become his Family's excellent son-in-law!

"Brother Chen, the world has not been peaceful lately. I've heard that many East Sea Demonic Cultivators have already infiltrated various parts of the Southern Border. My Yun Family is weak. If the Yun Family ever encounters a disaster of total destruction, I only ask that Brother Chen help me protect one or two of our clansmen!"

Chen Li smiled and said, "Old Ancestor Yun must be joking. I am currently at the Seventh Level of Qi Refining, the same as you. Have you perhaps found the wrong person?"

Yun Tiancheng gave a bitter smile and said, "Brother Chen, there's no need to be modest. You are proficient in the path of Formations. When Zhang An was killed, I haven't forgotten the power of your Formations!"

Yun Tiancheng continued to add, "I also trust your methods and character. Having seen you take root here for over twenty years, I believe in you more than anyone else!"

Chen Li looked into Yun Tiancheng's eyes. He really wanted this bead as well. In that case, the risk was worth taking. After all, an item that could stabilize the mind would be of immense benefit for advancing to the Golden Core or Nascent Soul Realms.

Chen Li sighed and said, "Very well, then I thank Old Ancestor Yun. Take these three thousand Spirit Stones. As for what you said about looking after your clansmen, if such a day truly comes, I, Chen Li, will certainly lend a helping hand!"

Hearing Chen Li agree, Yun Tiancheng breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly declined the Spirit Stones.

"Brother Chen, I cannot take these Spirit Stones!"

Chen Li said that these three thousand Spirit Stones were only a small portion of the payment for the bead; the remaining major portion would be his fee for intervening if the Yun Family ever faced destruction in the future.

Yun Tiancheng could not refuse further, so it was settled!

Chen Li took the bead and asked, "Does this bead have a name?"

"The soul stabilizing bead."

Chen Li nodded, seemingly approving of the name. Upon parting, Chen Li gave Yun Tiancheng a paired sound transmission stone so that if that day ever came, he could be notified through it.

Yun Tiancheng accepted it joyfully and smiled at Chen Li, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Chen. I believe you will surely go very far!"

Under the spirit jujube tree, Chen Li watched Yun Tiancheng leave. He remembered when he had first planted the tree and Yun Tiancheng came to find him, asking if he wanted a wife?

That scene seemed like it was just yesterday, yet he hadn't realized that nearly twenty years had already passed. Things remain, but people change!

Back then, he was the head of the Yun Family, a steady and capable middle-aged Cultivator, believing that the Yun Family would surely improve under his leadership. When they killed Zhang An together, the resolve in Yun Tiancheng's eyes after making his decision was something Chen Li hadn't seen since.

Over these past twenty-odd years, the Yun Family had tried to stay on good terms with everyone, offending no one. For the sake of the Family's future, Yun Tiancheng must have considered many options, and he likely considered several candidates before bringing the bead here.

After putting away the bead, Chen Li watched Yun Tiancheng disappear into the distance before walking back into the mountain.

Recently, the Beast Hunting Sect had released news that East Sea Demonic Cultivators had infiltrated the territories of many Sects to the east. The cultivation forces near the East Sea had already been ravaged by many demonic practitioners. It was heard that tens of thousands of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment demonic Cultivators had infiltrated this time, warning all Cultivators to be on their guard.

However, the Nanwu Kingdom had not yet received news of demonic Cultivators committing evil acts; they likely hadn't infiltrated this far yet.

The early warning Formation System on the outskirts of Black Magpie Mountain operated normally every year, and the Defensive Formation Array was never shut off. There were at least dozens of sets of third-grade Spirit Trapping Formations on the perimeter. Chen Songli had been setting them up and improving the early warning Formation System over the years.

Returning to the mountain, Chen Li went back to the Zizai Pavilion to examine the bead.

Chen Li once again probed it with his full Divine Sense. Indeed, there was a trace of clear, pure Qi. It was likely that his cultivation was not yet high enough; he would study it further once his cultivation progressed.

A day later, he went into the Great Sun Seed Jade Immortal Cave. Thirty 400-year-old iron essence woods had been nurtured, and the second batch was already being accelerated.

He began mass-producing fourth-grade Spirit Trapping Formations, taking out Forbidden God Stones to begin the crafting.

...

Inside the Pill Refining Residence, Zhu Lingyue was studying the foundation establishment pill Formula. Tens of thousands of medicine cabinets were stacked within the cave, including over three thousand boxes of herbs for refining foundation establishment pills.

Chen Li filled these medicine cabinets with herbs at regular intervals. There wasn't even enough space in the cave, so he stored the accelerated herbs in Storage Pouches, with many still remaining inside them.

A few days ago, Chen Li had given her fifty Medium Grade foundation establishment pills, telling her she could begin Foundation Establishment once she was ready.

She was very moved, but she still said she wanted to try refining the foundation establishment pills herself first; if she failed, she would use his.

Chen Li nodded, but still gave her those fifty foundation establishment pills, telling her not to have too much of a psychological burden—they were an old married couple, so she should just take them!

Faced with this forceful love from her man, she had no choice but to accept it happily.

However, she also wanted to try refining foundation establishment pills. With enough herbs to practice, she believed even a pig could refine one.

Lighting the furnace, Zhu Lingyue began refining the foundation establishment pill...

Inside the Artifact Refining Residence, Chen Songxiao was at his workbench, having already crafted twenty crossbowss.

He had grown fond of Artifact Refining. Watching these Ores be refined into sets of Magical Artifacts and weapons gave him a wonderful sense of achievement. If he didn't finish refining the Ores, how could he go out Pulse Seeking again?

Chen Songli entered, and Chen Songxiao asked, "Big Sister, can these crossbowss be integrated into that early warning Formation System?"

Chen Songli looked at the twenty crossbowss Chen Songxiao had made, thought for a moment, and said, "I'll study it. The main problem is that these crossbowss are hard to hide."

"Mm. Big Sister, is that flame fire sword you were refining finished?"

Chen Songli nodded. "It's refined. Why, do you want to refine this sword too?"

Chen Songxiao nodded. Seeing Chen Songxiao's shy look, Chen Songli smiled and said, "Come, Big Sister will teach you!"

...

Inside Concentric Heart Hall, Chen Songyan was keeping Chen Songmei company.

"Second Brother, this food you made tastes so bad!"

Chen Songyan pinched her little cheek. "This was meticulously prepared by your Second Brother. Eat up!"

Chen Songmei took two more bites. "Hasn't Third Brother finished his seclusion yet?"

"Soon. You're just missing your Third Brother's cooking."

Chen Songmei giggled. After she finished eating, Chen Songyan wiped the rice from her mouth and carried her to fly on his sword within Black Magpie Mountain...

Chen Songmei enjoyed the freedom of the wind and shouted loudly, "I want to practice cultivation too!"