Chapter 501: The secrets are hidden

This Immortal Master Zhang’s cultivation method… is actually from Mount Luofu.

The other several Eighth-Rank Cultivators from Daoist sects also bore the shadow of Mount Luofu, but it was merely a shadow. It should be that their ancestors, going back to their Master and grand-Master, combined with some Opportunity they themselves might have had, unknowingly learned some things from Mount Luofu, which were then passed down.

But this Zhang Xin’s cultivation is a thorough Mount Luofu cultivation method. If he didn't only have the cultivation method but no spell arts, Li Qi would even think this person was a disciple of Mount Luofu.

Listening to these people's conversations, Li Qi also clearly distinguished the identities of the four.

That Old Taoist, the one named Wang, was the kindest. From his appearance, he had no greed, and he even intended to protect Mount Luofu’s land and water. It was just that facing three people, it was difficult to say too much, as it would easily create enemies. He was not someone who didn't know how to adapt, so he used a clever trick to persuade the others.

Observing his cultivation, it seemed he had just entered the Eighth-Rank, but his foundation was solid. Although his Yang Spirit had not reached the state of Pure Yang, in terms of means and strength, Li Qi felt that he was probably the strongest one present.

Not necessarily. That Immortal Master Zhang cultivates the Mount Luofu cultivation method. Although he has no spell arts, he is definitely much stronger than an ordinary Eighth-Rank.

Moreover, looking at Immortal Master Zhang, he didn't act like the other two. Instead, he echoed that Daoist Wang, persuading the other two, effectively solidifying the 'protection' measure.

As for the remaining two, they should be complete Trash, submerged by the ways of the world, fallen into greedy delusion without knowing it, fond of wealth and Spirit Treasures, yet not knowing why they like them, developing power not for the Dao, but merely for showing off.

Hmm, there's nothing good to say about these two. Complete Trash, no need to pay them any mind.

Li Qi observed their character from here and made a decision in his heart. However, just as he was about to reveal himself, he saw that the Eighth-Rank Daoist named Zhang secretly performed a hand seal, making a slight adjustment to the thousands of people forming the Dharma Carriage.

This slight adjustment caused the direction of the Dharma Carriage to deviate a little, and… it was deviating towards the center of Mount Luofu.

“It’s related to Mount Luofu, absolutely.” Li Qi canceled his plan to reveal himself.

Now he was interested. This group, actually hiding someone related to Mount Luofu, and even instigating others to advance towards the center of Mount Luofu?

Then, his previous 'agreement' was not essentially about protecting this area of Mount Luofu, but rather about uniting this group so they wouldn't have conflicts?

This person named Zhang, without a sound, actually wanted to command these thousands of Daoists to go to the center of Luofu together?

What was his intention?

Was the faint resonance between this Dharma Carriage and the center of Mount Luofu due to this person?

Li Qi made a decision in his heart, pulled the Old Horse, and exited the Dharma Carriage. Everything was silent, with no one noticing.

Being one with natural, he was already a part of the world, so naturally, there would be nothing special about him, just like a roadside stone, unlikely to be noticed.

“Let’s go, Old Horse, we’re going to find Yu’er.” Li Qi mounted the Old Horse and said so.

“Ah? Why find Sister-in-Law?” Old Horse was puzzled.

“Go find her. She knows the details of Mount Luofu much better than the two of us. The matters here still need to be handled by her. Perhaps something can be dug out.” Li Qi said.

Old Horse nodded, indicating he understood.

So, one person and one Dragon quickly set off, and in just a few minutes, they arrived in front of Shen Shuibi.

The rabbit always got engrossed in her work, extremely focused. She was currently squatting in front of a Sixth-Rank calamus.

This Spiritual Plant was very famous, even Li Qi had heard of it; he had read about it in books.

The “Records” state: “Someone, Li Shaojun, went south to Luofu. Upon reaching this stream, he picked a calamus, one inch with twelve sections, and consumed it. He ascended to immortality on the twenty-fifth day of the seventh month. Calamus, there is a stream east of Panyu, where calamus grows, all one inch with nine sections. There was also a person named An Qisheng who picked and consumed it and ascended to immortality, leaving behind only jade slippers. Furthermore, Han Zhong, after consuming calamus for thirteen years, grew hair on his body, could read ten thousand words a day, and recited them all, and was not cold naked in winter. Also, calamus grows on rocks, one inch with nine sections and above, the purple-flowered ones are especially good. Growing in ponds and swamps, its roots are twisted and jointed like a horse whip.”

Besides eating, this thing can also be used for rituals. During festivals, disasters, or illnesses, calamus and mugwort can be burned for exorcism and disease removal. Hanging calamus and mugwort on doors and windows can also prevent Ghost Gate from entering, making it a very useful Spiritual Plant.

However, it cannot be eaten raw. It is poisonous and can easily lead to death.

But if properly prepared by a Cultivator skilled in pharmacology and made into a Medicinal Pill, it has miraculous effects. Records state: “It soothes the heart Qi, clears the mind, pleases the mood, benefits the will, cleanses evil and filth, thus the nine orifices become spiritual, and the Qi of the organs naturally obtains its nourishment. It is not a warm-drying substance, but can nourish the true Yin of the five organs. And it is commonly said that calamus can open the heart orifice, and its clear fragrance can help people refresh their spirits, thus making ears and eyes bright and the nine orifices unimpeded.”

To achieve this, it is actually refined into Spirit Medicine, utilizing its power to brighten eyes and ears, and open the nine orifices, to help people Break through Bottlenecks and overcome shackles, having miraculous effects on Breakthroughs in rank.

For those who have been stuck at a Bottleneck for a lifetime, about to die of old age if they don't Break through, or those with no hope of Breaking through in this life, taking one such Medicinal Pill is a gamble. If they die from the poison, so be it; if they Break through, even better.

Li Qi waited beside her for the rabbit to carefully collect this Sixth-Rank calamus, and couldn't help but sigh.

While sighing, a doubt also arose in his heart.

This place, Mount Luofu… is indeed a rich land.

Spiritual Plant cover the mountains and plains, even Sixth-Rank Spiritual Plant can grow. Generally speaking, such Spiritual Plant have a high probability of transforming into plant spirits, and then suddenly Awakening sentience one day, becoming monsters.

But in Mount Luofu, it seems the environment is too good, and the Spiritual Plant grow too fast, so the Spiritual Plant Li Qi saw showed no signs of becoming spirits, but still thrived and continued to climb in rank.

Besides these Spiritual Plant, there are other fragrant herbs and trees, each with its own spiritual peculiarity. Various floral scents, medicinal scents, and tree scents fill the mountains with fragrance. Luofu is a thicket of many fragrances, and its trees are mostly pungent and strong. Any withered branch or broken trunk, even if the outer bark is rotten, the inner core is very fragrant. Various tree scales are named frankincense, and trees like maple, cinnamon, chicken vine, and water pine, it is said: “Mount Luofu is a fragrant mountain, its fragrance keeps the mountain people busy. A boat carries fragrance down the fragrant stream, and fragrance is like dust filling the human world.”

It is truly a well-deserved treasure land.

As one of the Ten Great Grotto-Heavens, such a place… when the people of Mount Luofu still existed, no one dared to covet it, but now that Mount Luofu has fallen, why are there only a few Eighth-Rank Cultivators coming to clean up?

Shouldn't there be several Fourth-Rank and Fifth-Rank Cultivators coming to occupy the mountain and declare themselves kings?

Third-Rank and Fourth-Rank Cultivators might not necessarily come, because they basically already have their own foundations. Moreover, Mount Luofu disappeared less than ten years ago, which is almost an instant for high-rank Cultivators. Even if they wanted to occupy it, they would probably wait until the dust settled.

Before they make a move, the ones truly impatient to occupy it are those daring Fourth-Rank and Fifth-Rank Cultivators.

But now, let alone Fourth-Rank and Fifth-Rank Cultivators, there isn't even a Seventh-Rank. Only a bunch of Trash who haven't even heard of Mount Luofu have rushed over. This is truly strange.

Li Qi pondered and deduced the situation, just standing there and waiting for a while.

A few minutes later, Shen Shuibi finally finished collecting the Spiritual Plant, completely intact, with ten out of ten of its efficacy preserved.

This was not a simple task. To pick a Spiritual Plant and maintain its medicinal properties requires long-term dedicated cultivation. Most pharmacists who can retain ninety percent are already considered very skilled.

However, being a direct descendant of Mount Luofu, being even more skilled than

very skilled

is only natural.

“What’s wrong? Haven’t we divided the work? Why are you coming to find me again? Are you already itching for something in such a short time?” Shen Shuibi put away the Spiritual Plant and walked to Li Qi’s side with a smile.

“Of course not. Even if I’m itching, it’ll wait until we get home. I found some of those Cultivators from before outside. They’re coming in here under the banner of expelling thieves.” Li Qi said with a smile, and then began to tell Shen Shuibi everything he had just learned.

From the specific situation of the matter, to what happened after Old Horse was beaten, to the conversations he overheard nearby, he told Shen Shuibi everything in detail.

However, Li Qi did not voice his subjective conjectures. Those irrelevant things would only affect Shen Shuibi’s judgment. It was better to lay everything out and tell her everything, and she would make her own judgment.

Shen Shuibi, however, fell into deep thought after hearing these words.

Someone was still acting under the banner of Mount Luofu. She didn't feel much about this, after all, Mount Luofu indeed had a reputation, and although it had fallen now, there were still some legacies here. It was just that before… no one came to claim them.

Besides being busy, the greater possibility was probably 'fear'. The moment the human emperor sword fell, their former home completely became a dead land. Most people probably didn't want to see this scene, and every time they returned, they would feel a kind of fear.

The fear of having truly witnessed the human emperor sword's edge was almost impossible to suppress…

However, it felt much better now, perhaps because seeing Li Qi act as if nothing had happened gave her a feeling of: “Li Qi is fine.”

If Li Qi was fine, that meant… that matter had truly passed.

However, besides the utilization aspect, what truly touched her was that there were still people genuinely thinking of 'repaying' Mount Luofu, still trying to leave a tiny bit of something for Mount Luofu.

This point even made Shen Shuibi a little moved.

As for that Zhang Xin, and the resonance with the interior of Mount Luofu… perhaps they needed to go and see for themselves.

With this thought, Shen Shuibi immediately put down what she was doing and said, “It’s better to go and see for ourselves. The things outside won’t be lost if left here, but the center of Mount Luofu… I think it’s still quite dangerous. If there really is a resonance, there might be other gains.”

“Indeed. Then let’s observe from the side and see what these people are ultimately trying to do.” Li Qi nodded and readily agreed to Shen Shuibi’s suggestion.

After all, it was Mount Luofu, her things, so she should make her own decisions.

Once decided, the two people and one Dragon quickly arrived outside the Dharma Carriage, concealing themselves, watching these people perform.

To be honest, this kind of peeking… felt quite strange.

This suddenly gave Li Qi a feeling.

Were those 'Heaven's Will' also watching them like this?

Li Qi only had one pair of eyes and could only see the performance of one Dharma Carriage. How many eyes did 'Heaven's Will' have?

However, if he put himself in that perspective, Li Qi seemed to feel that Heaven's Will was not so terrifying anymore.

For Li Qi, the truly terrifying thing about Heaven's Will was that you never knew when the things around you would become 'arrangements', and these 'arrangements' were not deliberate.

Everything was a coincidence, but this coincidence just happened to lead to the outcome that 'Heaven's Will' desired. All decisions were made by Li Qi and these people themselves; they were all what they wished for.

But everyone acted for their own purposes, just like Li Qi for Mount Luofu's detachment, the Demonic Prince seeking an opponent to forge his Dao foundation, the Demonic Clone for his own independence, Ao Guangxiao for finding his nephew's remains, Cang Hou and the Dao of Reason treasure ship for the True Dragon corpse, Moro Yan and others should also have their own purposes, which Li Qi did not know.

Everyone had their own plans, but all these plans, when gathered together, became 'Heaven's Will'.

This kind of thing was what Li Qi feared the most. To be able to do this, it was as if everything in the world was under control, and every person, every event, could only be completed with 'Heaven's Will's' permission.

So, when Li Qi put himself into this spectator's perspective, he found that… 'Heaven's Will' didn't seem to need to control everyone.

If these people had nothing to do with Mount Luofu, then he wouldn't even bother to look at them.

In other words, he was actually not as important as he imagined. If he lived a low-key life and acted carefully, being a reclusive turtle, then perhaps he could find peace.

Then… perhaps this time returning to Shaman God Mountain, he could truly cultivate well, without needing to rush.

This promotion to Sixth-Rank could be said to be completely unplanned. The sequelae brought by such a promotion were ridiculously huge. Although he was Sixth-Rank, he would have to spend thousands or tens of thousands of times more time in the future to make up for today's rapid advancement.

In fact, this could become a huge barrier, lying across Li Qi's Third-Rank Dao path, possibly preventing him from ever overcoming it in this life.

But, there was no choice. Otherwise, he would have died.

Thinking this, Li Qi and Shen Shuibi simultaneously looked down.

The Dharma Carriage below continued to advance, its direction becoming increasingly precise. In a few more hours, it was estimated to enter the center of Mount Luofu.

The center of Mount Luofu was the main bodies of Mount Luo and Fu Mountain, not the surrounding extended mountain ranges.

However, Fu Mountain was suspended in the air, so Mount Luofu had a true center, which was the contact point directly opposite the peaks of the two mountains.

That place was Zhu Ming Cave, the Yang pole of Mount Luofu, corresponding to the Yin pole Ghost Gate.

“That Zhang Xin, his cultivation method, is echoing with Zhu Ming Cave. There are also arrangements inside.” At this moment, Shen Shuibi suddenly said.