34: Chapter 34 Encounter Battle

The Spirit-Seeking Mouse climbed the cliff wall and stopped near the cave, its pair of nimble eyes darting around.

"There are Cultivators fighting a Yao Beast!"

Li Xuanzhou waved his hand and instructed everyone: "Conceal your aura and hide. Changqing, come with me to investigate the cave."

The two of them concealed their figures and quietly crept into the cave, their spiritual light retracted, their auras blending in with the rocks and vegetation.

After entering five zhang into the cave, they hid behind a jagged boulder. With their Divine Sense like threads, they carefully probed into the depths of the cave. The roaring sounds of Yao Beasts and Magical Artifacts were constant, and five figures wearing the same attire could be vaguely seen fighting against two bear-type Yao Beasts.

"Great-Uncle Thirteen, it is the Lu Family Cultivators."

"So it is that old thing Lu Tianshan leading a team to hunt Yao Beasts. Let us go out first." Li Xuanzhou felt secretly delighted and communicated with Li Changqing using his Divine Sense.

The opponents of the Lu Family Cultivators were the two bear-type Yao Beasts entrenched deep within the cave.

One was particularly massive, with a shoulder height of nearly one zhang. Its fur stood up like steel needles, presenting a dull, iron-gray color. Its eyes flashed with violent blood-red light in the dim environment. This was an Iron-Backed Violent Bear, with cultivation at the Peak of the 1st Order.

The other was slightly smaller but more agile, with brownish-black fur. Its claws were surrounded by a faint earthy-yellow halo. It was a Rock-Claw Bear skilled in manipulating earth and stone, with cultivation at the Late Stage of the 1st Order.

Deep in the cave, there was an Earth Origin Fruit Tree, with three ripe Earth Origin Fruits growing on it.

The Earth Origin Fruit was dark gold in color, with Dragon-scale-like patterns on the surface. It was a High Grade 1st Order Spirit Medicine and was of great help to the cultivation of Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators.

The five Lu Family Cultivators consisted of one at the 10th Layer of Qi Refining, two at the 8th Layer, one at the 7th Layer, and one at the 6th Layer. The two with lower cultivation were clearly in a bad state and could only provide auxiliary attacks from the rear.

Speaking of the Lu Family, one must mention the three neighbors of Anping County. Anping County, where the Li Family is located, borders Linhai County, Sifang County, and Didou County. Among these forces, the Li Family is on good terms with the Liu Family of Sifang County, is at odds with the Lu Family of Didou County, and in recent years, the relationship with the Seawater Gang of Linhai County has also gradually deteriorated.

The Lu Family of Didou County has four Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators and has been at odds with the Li Family for over a hundred years. In the open and secret struggles between the two sides over these years, several Qi Refining clansmen have died on both sides.

After exiting the cave, Li Xuanzhou immediately ordered everyone to hide at the cave exit and said: "Inside are the Lu Family Cultivators. When they come out later, do not hold back at all. Kill them."

"Kill them? Great-Uncle Thirteen, don't the clan elders usually teach us that we cannot be rogue Cultivators who kill and seize treasures? Wouldn't that be too cruel?" Li Changle's face showed difficulty, and he was hesitant.

"The Lu Family and our Family have always been in a hostile relationship. This time, we have an opportunity to weaken the Lu Family's vital strength. We must not miss this chance."

Li Changle again showed hesitation and said: "Great-Uncle Thirteen, I remember you once said that one should be upright and walk the Righteous Path. This kind of sneak attack from behind is not considered a decent practice, right!"

"Changle, this is your first time entering the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range. You are still young, haven't seen blood, and don't understand. One must be adaptable. The Lu Family and we are enemies; when facing enemies, one must use any means necessary. They have already consumed a large amount of Qi while fighting the Yao Beast. This is a heaven-sent opportunity. If you do not act later, you will not be given a single Spirit Stone from this harvest."

"Changqing, when we act later, remember to have your Spirit Beast, the Flying Purple Nether Scorpion, launch a Divine Sense attack immediately. The others should focus fire on Lu Tianshan, striving to kill him in one blow. The others are not worth worrying about."

"Changle, whether it is the Righteous Path or the Evil Path, it is all up to the Cultivator to decide. Look at this pair of fist-glove Magical Artifacts in Great-Uncle Thirteen's hands; they can both kill and save people. Killing does not necessarily mean it is the Evil Path, and saving someone does not necessarily mean it is the Righteous Path. As a Li Family Cultivator, if you are soft-hearted when dealing with enemies, that is the Evil Path for the Family and clansmen. Killing the enemy to reduce the Family's losses is the Righteous Path for the Family."

"Fifteenth Brother, Great-Uncle Thirteen is right. Over these years, the Lu Family has been secretly sabotaging our Family. Sixth Granduncle died at the hands of Lu Family Cultivators. Do not have any psychological burden about killing them. Moreover, in the Cultivation World, killing and seizing treasures is like picking flowers, and slaying Yao Beasts to take their cores is like drinking dew. You need to adapt as soon as possible."

Li Changqing also persuaded Li Changle from the side.

Li Changqing had no psychological pressure regarding killing members of the Lu Family. Before obtaining the creation bottle, Li Changqing could be called a workaholic in cultivation. Not only had he followed the Family in and out of the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range several times to hunt Yao Beasts, but he had also found excuses to enter the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range alone to train.

Killing and seizing treasures are very common things in the Cultivation World. Even if there is no hatred between the two parties, for the sake of profit, for the sake of cultivation Breakthroughs, and for the sake of increasing lifespan, how many people would care about the so-called Righteous Path or Demonic Path?

Although Li Changle found it somewhat difficult to accept, he still agreed. He had never killed anyone before, let alone killed and seized treasures.

He had studied the Family history since he was young, and the education he received was to walk the Righteous Path and not to commit arson, murder, or robbery. Now that he was asked to kill and seize treasures, his mindset could not change for a moment.

Subsequently, everyone took out their handy Talismans, concealed their auras near the cave entrance, and laid an ambush.

A cup of tea's time passed, and the sounds of fighting within the Immortal Cave gradually diminished until it became completely quiet.

Li Changle's heart was in his throat. He had never killed anyone before, and he was somewhat tense both mentally and physically.

Time passed quietly. More than half an hour had passed, and just as everyone began to feel anxious, there was movement inside the Immortal Cave.

"They are coming," Li Xuanzhou transmitted with his Divine Sense, his voice cold.

Five figures moved slowly inside the Immortal Cave. The leader was none other than Lu Tianshan, the Lu Family's 10th Layer Qi Refining Cultivator, and the other four were all injured.

When the Lu Family team completely walked out of the cave entrance, Li Xuanzhou's eyes turned sharp. The Li clansmen hidden in various positions immediately cast incantations, and the Talismans they had pre-prepared in their hands were suddenly activated.

An invisible spiritual power field surged out like a tide, and the fog in the canyon instantly became as thick as glue. The Flying Purple Nether Scorpion activated its Bloodline Divine Ability—Soul Devour. The figures of the Lu Family Cultivators suddenly stagnated, and their circulation of Qi showed a clear sense of sluggishness.

"There is an ambush!"

Lu Tianshan reacted extremely quickly. With a sharp shout, a red protective spiritual light lit up around him, and a flaming Flying Sword emerged in response. But his clansmen clearly had lower cultivation than him and were injured; under the interference of the Flying Purple Nether Scorpion, their reactions were half a beat slow.

Screams rang out immediately. The protective Magical Artifacts of the remaining four Qi Refining Cultivators were pierced by the Talisman attacks before they could be fully activated, and three of them died on the spot. Only one Lu Family Cultivator at the 8th Layer of Qi Refining barely managed to sacrifice a shield, but he was also shaken to the point of vomiting blood by the power of the Talismans.

At the same time, Li Xuanzhou killed his way out from the flank. He was skilled in Body Refining, cultivated the "Earth Fire Body Tempering Technique," had a powerful Physical Body, and his hands were equipped with a pair of High Grade Magical Artifact fist-gloves.

He crashed into the cave entrance like a meteorite, aiming directly at this 8th Layer Qi Refining Lu Family Cultivator. The Lu Family Cultivator had just defended against the Talisman attack and, before he could react, swung his blade to meet him. The blade edge clashed hard against Li Xuanzhou's fist-shaped Magical Artifact, which was covered in dark red spiritual light.

"Clang!" Amidst the sound of metal clashing, the Lu Family Cultivator's long blade Magical Artifact was actually bent from the shock. His tiger's mouth split open, and his face showed horror. Li Xuanzhou's offensive was continuous, and his second punch had already smashed into his chest. The protective spiritual light shattered in response, and the sound of bones breaking was clearly audible.

Seeing four clansmen lost in an instant, Lu Tianshan's anger and fear were intertwined. He knew he had to break the encirclement of the group. The flaming Flying Sword turned into a fire dragon, attempting to find a weak point to break through.