Chapter 702: After Viewing Donglai's Scenery, Setting Out Anew

Not long after spring began in Donglai County, the morning was still adorned with fine snow, as a Rice Hat Wanderer paused outside the Li Mansion.

“Patriarch, someone claiming to be a Rice Hat Wanderer as per the appointment has arrived, requesting to meet you.”

“As per the appointment?”

Li Linfeng was slightly stunned, then spoke indifferently, “I understand, take him to the study in the side hall to wait.”

After the guards left, the indifference on Li Linfeng’s face disappeared, and he immediately showed a smile as he took out a Token to send a message.

The study in the side hall.

The Rice Hat Wanderer took off his Conical Hat and poured himself a cup of hot tea to drink. Not long after, the distant sound of wine swayed with a clear ring, as a ragged old man stepped on the snow.

“Xiaoyou, you finally came.”

“Senior Li.”

“Quickly sit down, our friendship is beyond these formalities.”

The old man laughed as he grabbed Su Mu’s sleeve to sit down. At the moment of contact, he was slightly startled. It was only a few months since they last met, and now this young master exuded an invisible threat.

This extremely faint threat was fleeting, but was nonetheless felt only when facing someone of the same Realm, which shocked Li Heng even more.

He didn’t believe that Su Mu’s strength could have grown so significantly in such a short time to match his own Realm, but being able to present a slight threat meant Su Mu’s talent was indeed extraordinary.

On the path of the growth of such a genius, investing no matter what was sure to be a profitable endeavor for the Li Family.

“It seems Xiaoyou has made significant progress in cultivation from these days.”

“Senior, you are too kind.”

After a few words of courtesy between them, Su Mu explained his purpose, “Senior Li, I’m here following our agreement. I wonder when it can be fulfilled?”

“Breaking through the Upper Three Grades is not easy; I still need some time for this matter. Xiaoyou can take this Token for now, and I will notify you half a month before the opportunity arises.”

Li Heng took out a sword-shaped Cyan Jade Pendant and handed it over, having noticed Su Mu’s intention to leave Donglai County.

“Alright!”

“Now that my Li Family has overcome a disaster, Xiaoyou is considered a benefactor of ours. Today, I will decide that you can personally go to the inner vault and choose two treasures to take away.”

“Thank you, Senior.”

Su Mu expressed his gratitude without refusing but also showed no intention of getting up to go to the inner vault. Seeing this, Li Heng took a sip of tea and spoke, “Xiaoyou, do you have any other matters?”

“Indeed, there is one more matter…”

Su Mu then briefly mentioned the matter of Li Kang and Li Lu, father and daughter, which Li Heng did not take seriously initially, expecting it to be something more significant.

“Alright, since they are descendants of the Li Family, it is naturally incumbent upon the family to take care of them. Xiaoyou need not worry about this.”

Upon hearing Li Heng promptly agree without hesitation, Su Mu thought for a moment and, with a flash of Spiritual Light, took out a bottle of Elixir.

“What is this?”

“It’s from the Wang Family of Qifeng Town, passed to me by the elder Baili Ye, who said it should be considered a compensation for the Li Family.”

“You encountered Baili Ye in Qifeng Town?”

Li Heng’s eyes flashed with intrigue. Baili Ye, once had ties to the Cyan Fish Gang, had a straightforward nature, was quite talented in Alchemy, and was well-loved by the former Alchemy Hall Master of the Gang, Master Zhou Cang.

Baili Ye was later persecuted by his fellow disciple and left the Cyan Fish Gang in anger.

At that time, Li Heng was coincidentally on a journey to explore the Dongxuan phenomenon, accidentally coming across Baili Ye being hunted by bandits and saving him, which was the beginning of their acquaintance.

“Great! It’s the Ancient Soul Pill for treating Sea of Consciousness injuries?!”

Li Heng took the Elixir and poured out a pill, his face brimming with joy. It was indeed a case of finding something by chance that he had sought but failed to find elsewhere, “Xiaoyou, you’ve truly helped me greatly. With this pill, within a year, I can attempt to break through the Profound Realm again.”

Ancient Soul Pill?

It turned out to be a pill for treating spiritual Sea of Consciousness.

It all clicked for Su Mu, who had guessed at the potency of that furnace of pills when he first set foot in the Li Family, suspecting they were most likely intended for Li Heng.

Back then, Su Mu did not take out the Elixir directly, both due to a lack of strength and a lack of understanding of Li Heng, as presenting the Elixir recklessly might have led to major troubles.

Several months later, Su Mu now possessed confidence, and although he was still no match for Li Heng, he believed he could somewhat protect himself even without the Sun Family Ancestor’s intervention.

Reflecting upon past events, his acquaintance with Baili Ye, the Pill Master, in Qifeng Town was an unexpected chance encounter, leading Baili Ye to entrust Su Mu with his life’s work, the “Ten Elixir Herbs Manual”.

It’s a duty Su Mu surely would not forget.

“Senior Li, could you tell me about Senior Baili Ye?”

Such trivial matters were naturally not something Li Heng would refuse; he then disclosed everything about Baili Ye, and when Su Mu learned that Baili Ye was from the Baili Family and more so Master Zhou Cang’s primary disciple, he was taken aback.

Initially, he assumed it was purely a matter of sharing the same surname, but he didn’t expect Baili Ye to have such connections with the Cyan Fish Gang and Master Zhou Cang.

“Thank you, elder, for the information.”

After that, Su Mu didn’t linger for long. Li Heng waved his hand, calling a person to bring Su Mu to the Li Family’s inner vault.

This time, Su Mu didn’t choose weapons or cultivation techniques, as he wasn’t lacking in those at the moment. After selecting, Su Mu took away three scrolls of ancient texts from the Li Family’s inner vault.

“It’s time to leave… and visit Qingzhou!”

…

“Great Elder, second sister, let’s announce for my brother to inherit the position of Cyan Fish Gang Leader soon.”

Returning to the Cyan Fish Gang, Su Mu found Qiu Mountain and his second sister, explaining the matter to the two of them.

“Feng’Er will soon exit seclusion; are you, Xiaoyou, in such a hurry?”

“Alright… In two days, it will be the Awakening of Insects, the festival of February, when all things emerge from the thunder; it will be a good day, so at that time, I’ll trouble the third brother to cooperate with us.”

Upon hearing this, Qiu Mountain had an intention to keep him, and the second sister Baili Hongtang, after a slight change in expression, readily agreed. She secretly sighed in her mind, knowing she couldn’t keep the third brother.

During the time the third brother had been in Donglai County, most of the time appeared extremely low-key to outsiders; no one would even notice that he was such an insignificant person.

At present, even within the Cyan Fish Gang, only she, her brother, and the third grandparent knew of the amazing feats Su Mu had accomplished that were enough to shake the entire Donglai County!

First was ascending Bai Jiao Mountain, causing phenomena not seen for hundreds of years, initially defeating Tao Family’s talent in the Donglai conference with one punch and killing Tao Family’s Law Enforcement Hall Master Tao Jidong.

Then, borrowing the Li Family’s White Flood Dragon Ancient Sword in the skies above Donglai County, he reverse-slashed the enraged Tao Family’s second ancestor Tao Shengjiang!

Afterward, the third brother was quieter for a period, disguising himself as Sun Li and became a small pill master in the Cyan Fish Gang, silently refining pills without engaging in any disputes.

In reality, he retrieved the White Flood Dragon Flipping River Map from the hands of the old bandit Gongyang and self-learned the entry-level without the cultivation technique outline or accompanying pre-required cultivation techniques in less than a month.

Subsequently refining the sixth grade pill, assassinating the tailing Ink Scale Hall Elder, impersonating his brother at the Cyan Fish conference to deter the old bandit Gongyang, went out to sea with them encountering an ambush by four big bandits and forced his way out, personally slaying one of the thirteen big bandits.

Then, even more astonishing, at the time of a crisis between water and fire, he collaborated with Master Zhou Cang to refine the Little Yellow Court Ancient Pill, reversing the situation by becoming his father Baili Hong and killing the old bandit Gongyang who had taken half-step into Grandmaster.

Ascending Profound Turtle Island and with Lord Jiang of the Qingzhou Demon Slayer Bureau, jointly exterminating thirteen big bandits including Liu Sha, Dugu Lie, and Wang Heng, all half-step Grandmasters, clearing the external seas entirely!

Any single event from these would be enough to shake the cultivation circles of Donglai County, and yet their family’s third brother has not yet reached the age of majority; his strength can already rank within the whole Donglai County, whether among the younger generation or the older.

But the third brother Su Mu himself is entirely indifferent to fame and fortune, not being influenced by reputation and fame, remaining true to his initial goals, either diligently cultivating every day or studying martial arts aiming for higher martial dao realms, possessing a heart steadfast and unyielding as a rock.

“No feast lasts forever… Third brother, you go first!”

A real dragon won’t tarry in ponds, Donglai County is too small, leaving is just a matter of time for third brother Su Mu; Baili Hongtang understands this, knowing she can’t hold him.

When the elder brother exits seclusion and takes over the Cyan Fish Gang, she will choose to leave as well.

“Sigh… Indeed, the Cyan Fish Gang’s little temple cannot contain Su Xiaoyou, this great figure; leaving is good, Su Xiaoyou has the sworn connection with Feng’Er and the Hongtang siblings, perhaps the Cyan Fish Gang could bask in Su Xiaoyou’s glory in the future!”

Qiu Mountain the Great Elder silently nodded, his eyes inevitably filled with reminiscence, he couldn’t help but recall how he too once possessed great ambitions in his youth.

But as time passed, age grew, all his youthful ambitions were worn away during the years, losing the sharpness of youth, which was why he initially accepted Baili Hong’s invitation to become the Cyan Fish Gang’s Great Elder.

He knew his martial dao was nearing its end, the road ahead was not one he could advance through mere cultivation, what Qiu Mountain could do was protect Baili Family and Cyan Fish Gang’s hundred-year foundations for Baili Hong.

And Su Mu’s talent far surpassed him, even geniuses would struggle to define Su Mu’s aptitude in martial dao, Qiu Mountain, in his life, has traveled to more than ten counties within Qingzhou, and even among the Qingzhou Ancient County’s numerous talents, Su Mu remains the most monstrous talent Qiu Mountain has ever witnessed!

Moreover, Su Mu’s extraordinariness wasn’t limited to martial dao; his brilliance in the alchemy dao was similarly unparalleled!

In the blink of an eye, two days later.

Donglai County was shaken, an explosive message spread across Donglai County, even reaching surrounding counties.

On this day, the Cyan Fish Gang held a succession ceremony, although the young master Baili Feng didn’t appear, the Cyan Fish Gang Leader Baili Hong directly passed on the position, claiming Baili Feng has embarked on the Grandmaster path.

And he himself, having toiled for dozens of years for the Cyan Fish Gang, today announces his resignation and plans to travel across lands, seeking higher martial dao realms!

The news from the Cyan Fish Gang shook many. The last time Baili Hong secluded himself for seven to eight years, emerging only to cause a sensation within Donglai County; presumably, this time, his travels will last even longer than his previous seclusion.

Ten years, twenty years, possibly even longer timespans, after all, despite martial artists not having long lifespans, they are ultimately cultivators, and although the life span of martial artists is shorter compared to other cultivators using different dharma gates, they remain akin to living gods from the mortal perspective.

Decades are not overly long in the pursuit of the Upper Three Grades path for a martial artist, only the Upper Three Grades path is exceedingly difficult, hence the Upper Three Grades are honored as great cultivators by the world.

Even for someone like Baili Hong, a martial dao genius, crossing this chasm is not a certainty, many lament this, realizing that a legendary figure in Donglai County may fade away!

And yet, this is merely a stretch of scenery along Su Mu’s life journey.

Having seen the splendors of Donglai, the young man, unchanged in his initial aspirations, sets out once more.