Chapter 512 401: Lu Ken (Part 2)

Lu Ken lowered his head slightly, a bit disappointed. He fumbled in his sleeve for a moment, then took out two enormous antlers as big as small trees, and said gently:

"I did not consider fully. These two antlers were shed when I reached Foundation Establishment—they are weighty and can be dismantled into weapons, refined into dozens of Qi Refining Magical Instruments..."

Lu Ken had originally intended to forge these into his own magic artifacts, always keeping them close. Now that he brought them out, there was a trace of reluctance in his posture. Yet Li Yuanjiao did not make things difficult for him; Bai Rong Fox's words were clear enough—this demon was one of Bai Rong Fox's kin, and for the sake of appearances, face must be given. He only asked:

"Taoist Fellow, do you know the 'Blood Sun Fruit'?"

"Blood Sun Fruit? The name sounds rather unfamiliar."

Hearing he sought something, Lu Ken relaxed considerably, and said with delight:

"Though I've never heard of such a precious medicine, Taoist Fellow has asked the right person. I am somewhat senior, counted with some weight among the demons; let me ask for you among the horde—there will be no problem!"

Li Yuanjiao nodded, describing one by one the appearance and properties of the 'Blood Sun Fruit' mentioned in Li Xizhi's letter, instructing Lu Ken to take note of them, before asking:

"How many years has Taoist Fellow lived?"

Having received the instructions, Lu Ken's heart was mostly at ease, feeling much lighter, and replied:

"Now more than five hundred years; if counted from the dawning of spiritual wisdom, more than three hundred."

"That's truly no easy thing!"

Li Yuanjiao replied. Though Lu Ken was over five hundred years old, he still appeared a man in his prime, robust and hale—evidently bestowed with a lifespan of a thousand years, causing others to envy him. Lu Ken sighed and said:

"Taoist Fellow speaks true; though we demons may have lengthy lifespans, how many can actually live long? Those without connections are captured and eaten early; as for us, with some backing, we're merely goods marked with a price tag."

Li Yuanjiao nodded to himself, musing inwardly:

'It seems most Demon Generals understand this well... yet are powerless to change their fates.'

Lu Ken chuckled, courteously saying:

"Before I gained sentience, I cultivated among the deer population on Mushroom Forest Plain. At that time, Green Pond had just established its sect, and the Yuan Clan had set foot on Mushroom Forest Plain for only a few decades... Later, the Mushroom Forest Demon Cave was broken by the Yuan Clan, so I came to Da Li Mountain."

"In the Da Li Demon Cave, I once had a bosom friend who sheltered me for centuries. Later, he failed his Zifu breakthrough and died, and thus I was released to serve as a Demon General—I've done so for decades now."

This stag demon, though long-lived, had spent most of his life cultivating in the forest and seemed to lack elaborate schemes, speaking freely. Li Yuanjiao cupped his hands and replied:

"So Taoist Fellow had connections within the cave."

"Nothing of the sort!"

Lu Ken shook his head and began:

"Taoist Fellow... if I may speak frankly, even the Sword Immortals of your noble family once served Green Pond—could they still receive Green Pond's protection today? The cave is no different, only far crueler. If I had not volunteered to leave, I would have been eaten sooner or later."

Li Yuanjiao nodded thoughtfully. Upon hearing he'd lived over three hundred years, a thought occurred; hurriedly he asked:

"Then Taoist Fellow knows of... the war three hundred years ago?"

"A matter of such magnitude—naturally I know. Old friends dwindled one by one; now, few remember these things."

Lu Ken nodded, replying to Li Yuanjiao's expectant gaze:

"The Jin Yu Sect and Qing Chi Sect joined forces to hunt down that Li Jiangqun, fighting with such violence that day and night were blotted out, Foundation Establishment cultivators encircled so tightly that no blood could escape, setting up formations to seal the Great Void... The Qing Chi Demon Sect, established for five hundred years, spent all its might in that war, its very roots shaken."

Li Yuanjiao frowned:

"Was it not the Three Sects and Seven Doors?"

"Three Sects and Seven Doors?"

Lu Ken was momentarily stunned, then said:

"How could it be! Certainly not... Xiuyue and Xueyi did not take part; Xuan Yue and Chang Xiao were established later. Apart from the Ling Yu Sect that sided with Li Jiangqun, only the Jin Yu Sect and Qing Chi Demon Sect united with Hong Xue, Li Chi, and Wu Zhu—the three lesser sects."

"Taoist Fellow, please elaborate!"

Li Yuanjiao urgently pressed on, and Lu Ken nodded:

"The battle was apocalyptic—Jin Yu and the Demon Sect fared somewhat better, but among Hong Xue, Li Chi, and Wu Zhu's Perfected Persons, few escaped being slain by Donghua Perfected Person... That Wu Zhu Sect's Perfected Person fled for ten thousand miles, all the way to the East Sea, spat blood and died abruptly, and the East Sea cultivators took advantage of his demise."

"The surviving Perfected Person of the Hong Xue Sect obtained Donghua Perfected Person's Immortal Sword, but likewise died on the road; the Immortal Sword's whereabouts since then, none know. For a time, South River and North River cultivators searched everywhere, wild speculations abounded."

Lu Ken, still haunted by the memory, spoke in a low voice:

"Though Donghua Perfected Person died, his actions eradicated the Taoist lineages of three sects. Green Pond and Jin Yu were cowed for a hundred years—indeed, he was the pride of heaven."

Li Yuanjiao took in this news and spoke softly:

"Yet... why did they want to kill Li Jiangqun?"

"Who could have guessed?"

Lu Ken shook his head, face masked with puzzlement, and answered:

"Li Jiangqun was clearly cultivating at his leisure upon the lake; Jin Yu and the Demon Sect would from time to time come begging a favor from him, and even Donghua Perfected Person aided others graciously... A tale lauded widely for a time; then overnight, faces turned, and his death became inevitable!"

The stag demon sighed and answered:

"The hearts of Zifu and Golden Core cultivators—how could others hope to fathom them? Like this Demon Calamity... All the Zifu from South River watched open-eyed... Who knows what they were scheming."

Li Yuanjiao nodded quietly, speaking offhandedly:

"What kind of magic artifact did Donghua Perfected Person use?"

"What else could it have been!"

Lu Ken laughed and said:

"A sword, of course..."

"Only a single sword?"

"Only that one sword."

Lu Ken nodded in confirmation:

"With a single sword, he slew a Zifu outright, dissolving Divine Skills; cut Da Li Mountain's foliage that it fell like rain, and Wangyue Lake's waters rose three feet."

"I was only at Qi Refinement then, but remember it sharply."

Lu Ken paused, an unforgettable expression crossing his features:

"Donghua Perfected Person was already at the peak of Zifu; died overnight—a full three nights, no moon graced the land, the sky black as ink. For those three nights, I could not cultivate, hiding in a cave, nothing but dread all about."

'No moon to be seen...'

Li Yuanjiao felt a trace of relief in his heart, sighing regretfully:

"Such a celestial phenomenon—perhaps the Golden Core was not far off."

He spoke words to agree with Lu Ken, though doubts remained in his heart:

'Only that one sword... So the Immortal Mirror was truly not Donghua Perfected Person Li Jiangqun's magic artifact! If it was from the Moonlight Origin Mansion... besides Li Jiangqun, could there be another?'

After chatting a few more lines with Lu Ken, Li Yuanjiao, somewhat absent, instructed:

"For that 'Blood Sun Fruit,' Taoist Fellow, please help seek it out. Should one be found, my Family will give ample reward!"

"Rest assured... rest assured..."

Lu Ken promised repeatedly, and Li Yuanjiao added:

"Do all you can to search—we need more than one; have no fear."

Lu Ken naturally understood his meaning, nodding again and again. Only then did Li Yuanjiao take to the clouds and leave.

Li Yuanjiao departed riding wind and cloud; Lu Ken let out a long breath, sat back in his seat, glanced at his stunned attendants, and waved a hand:

"All of you, be gone!"

The little demons all bowed and took their leave. Lu Ken looked at the fruit wine untouched by Li Yuanjiao, refilled his own Jade Cup with it, sipped for a while. The fox then rode demon wind, drifting near from afar, and halted before him.

"Greetings, young master!"

Lu Ken hurried to his knees. Bai Rong Fox, however, shook his head listlessly and replied:

"'Young master' means nothing now—our foster father is dead, you and I no longer have any backing... We merely eke out a living in this place, nothing more..."

Lu Ken lowered his voice and replied:

"So long as young master breaks through to Foundation Establishment, the Fox Tribe will grant you the surname Bai, and you shall return to the Demon Cave—do not belittle yourself..."

Bai Rong Fox did not follow his words, sprawled under a tree, legs propped up on the table, and changed the subject, asking:

"How did you find Li Yuanjiao?"

Lu Ken pondered a moment, then answered:

"I have met many demons, but rarely deal with humans. I only feel this man is like a flood dragon or serpent—not someone to offend... and to have his eyes on you spells trouble all the more. It is best to be on good terms with him."

Bai Rong Fox flicked his tail, replying:

"Fortunately you don't eat men, and with my favor involved, he will not harm you... When I go into seclusion, do your best, and cooperate as much as you can."

Lu Ken nodded. Bai Rong Fox yawned, murmuring:

"These ten or so years, my cultivation advanced swiftly. Soon I may pick a day for closed-door training; if I succeed in the breakthrough, it is best. If I fail, your spirit nature intact, go pledge yourself to the Li Family's gate..."

At these final words, he'd already drifted into slumber. Lu Ken sat back at the table, sipping fruit wine for a long while, lost deep in thought, his mind's workings unknown.