Scavenging

Li Qi was somewhat surprised when he heard the name.

Mount Luofu...

He certainly knew that Mount Luofu was one of the Ghost Gates.

The Five Ghost Gates and the Five Directional Ghost Emperors.

The brothers Shen Tu Yu Lei, the Eastern Ghost Emperors, governed Duoshuo Mountain.

The Northern Ghost Emperor rules over Luofeng Mountain.

The Central Ghost Emperor governs Baodou Mountain.

The Western Ghost Emperor rules over Baozhong Mountain.

And... the Southern Ghost Emperor, who rules over Mount Luofu.

Mount Luofu originally consisted of only one mountain, called Mount Luo.

Suddenly one day, a Flying Peak appeared from the direction of the East Sea, which is called "the immortals floating and coming Xianghe".

Thus, a floating, flying peak, combined with the original Mount Luo, became known as Mount Luofu. It boasts fifteen ridges, twenty-two peaks, nine hundred and eighty waterfalls and springs, and its caves are unparalleled among mountains. A poem once wrote:

"More than four hundred cliffs line the sea, their roots connecting to Penglai Island and the shade of Tiantai."

If the lark were moved to the Central Plains, Song and Hua Mountains would become nothing more than a small mound.

This poem explains the origin. The Records of Famous Mountains states. "The veins of Mount Luo come from Dayu Mountain; Fushan is an island of immortal Immortal Mountain, which comes from the sea and merges with Mount Luo, hence the name Luofu."

As one of the Ten Great Grotto-Heavens of Daoism, Qian Tong Gouqu Mountain has Fenshui Islet on top, which is called the Spring Source Blessed Land. The Heaven and Earth Great Source is strong in it, and one can make a thousand miles a day by cultivating there.

Many great figures hailed from Mount Luofu. The famous Daoist master Baopuzi was a practitioner and founder of Mount Luofu. He was skilled in alchemy and writing books, and the Pill Furnace he used was the Sun Moon True Lead Cauldron.

He elucidated the path to ascension, the principles of self-cultivation, Yellow and White Arts. He wrote a book in thirty volumes, twenty of which are titled "Inner Chapters" and ten of which are titled "Outer Chapters." He called himself Baopuzi, and named the book after him, hence the name "Baopuzi." It is a very famous Daoist classic, but its whereabouts are now unknown.

At the same time, this is also... the hometown of rabbits.

Li Qi and his companion, along with the dragon, put away the Ghost Chariot and landed here.

This is the outer perimeter of Mount Luofu. From here, you can clearly see the beauty of this Daoist grotto.

Twenty-two peaks rise steeply and precipitously, shrouded in cold mist and dense trees. A distant fairy temple nestles amidst the clouds, while vines and creepers brush the ground, creating a shady canopy.

Deep within the white clouds, one can almost see layers of green moss covering the courtyard.

In the sky, one can see a Flying Peak that spans five hundred miles and covers the sky. The Flying Peak hangs above the sky. It is an upside-down mountain, wide at the top and pointed at the bottom.

At the pointed end, below, like a reflection on the water, there is a similar mountain peak, only a normal one, corresponding to the floating mountain in the sky.

This is the complete Mount Luofu. Between the two mountains, it is like a reflection in a lake, or like yin and yang fish reflecting each other, forming such a wonderful scene.

Shen Shuibi stood there, gazing at the Xianghe Mount Luo and Fushan mountains, where yin and yang seemed to merge, and for a moment she was lost in thought.

Li Qi didn't disturb her, and Old Ma, naturally aware of the atmosphere, transformed into the size of a palm and wrapped around Li Qi's wrist.

However, Shen Shuibi was not lost in thought for long. She quickly woke up, shook her head slightly, and said, "Below is Mount Luo, which contains blessed land. Above is Fushan, which contains Spirit Spring. The place where the peaks of the two mountains touch is Zhu Ming Cave, which is one of the Ten Great Grotto-Heavens. Underneath Mount Luofu is the Ghost Gate, the Southern Ghost Emperor. You may not know his name. He is called Du Ziren. We came out of his Ghost Gate."

"So, the Ghost Gates are actually interconnected?" Li Qi asked.

"You could say it's interconnected, since they're both connected to the Underworld. However, it's not without distance; you still need to travel for a while, but it's much shorter than traveling directly from the Heavenly Realm," Shen Shuibi replied.

Then, looking at Mount Luofu in the distance, she suddenly said, "Li Qi, how about we delay for a few Chen and go in to take a look?"

Li Qi put his hand on her shoulder and said, "What's the big deal about going in and taking a look? I'll go with you wherever you want to go. Shall we just go in?"

"Shall we just go in? But there's no need to proceed cautiously and stealthily. Old Ma, you should have the power of Demon Dragon now, enough to dispel some Yin Ghost and demons. That way, the journey will be more pleasant." Shen Shuibi said to Old Ma.

Old Ma's body suddenly grew larger, transforming from the size of a leaf to ten zhang long, enough to carry two people.

Li Qi didn't hesitate either, taking Shen Shuibi's hand and mounting the Old Ma.

But then Old Ma coiled his body and launched himself forward! He surged forward with the force of wind and thunder!

Its speed was several times faster than before, even faster than Li Qi's cruising speed.

As expected, professionals are professionals. Li Qi may be able to surpass Old Ma's top speed for a short period of time, but his cruising speed over a long journey is still far inferior to Old Ma's.

Meanwhile, Old Ma was moving forward at a rapid pace, traversing many of the branch mountain ranges of Mount Luofu.

These Spirit Vein Immortal Mountain and spiritual veins are usually inhabited by many Daoist practitioners who refine elixirs, cultivate Daoism, and discuss matters of ascension to immortality. It is still the same now, and it seems that... the collapse of Mount Luofu did not have a significant impact on them.

Or, even if that original group of people all died, over the years, many more Daoist practitioners have come over and continued to occupy these branches.

After all, it is a branch of Mount Luofu, with abundant Heaven and Earth Great Source and a more efficient absorption and release of Spiritual Qi. If one could be touched by the blessed Spirit Spring that falls from Mount Luofu, that would be an even greater fortuitous opportunity.

Li Qi rode the Demon Dragon through the skies above these Immortal Mountain and Spirit Vein, he could occasionally sense gazes from below, though it seemed the people below harbored no hostility towards him.

That's true. This is Mount Luofu's territory. What hostility could they possibly have?

Riding on the Old Ma, looking down at the many Pill Furnace, as well as the cultivators exercising, chopping wood, carrying water, and practicing Swordsmanship and fist techniques in rows, Li Qi felt, in a daze, that the place was full of vitality and thriving.

However, looking at Shen Shuibi's expression, Li Qi realized that compared to the heyday of Mount Luofu, these things outside were nothing but weeds.

Just like a royal palace, when it is truly thriving, it is orderly and the palace is dignified, like the sun and the sky, which no one dares to look up to.

Now, only a few weeds have grown in the ruins of the palace.

Although it can still be considered 'vibrant', it pales in comparison to the solemn grandeur of Mount Luofu in the past...

Forget it, there's no point in saying anything.

Li Qi and his companions continued flying forward, covering approximately three hundred miles.

From here, we begin our journey into the former gate of Mount Luofu.

If you came here decades ago, you should have stopped here. Back then, the Heavenly Gate of Mount Luofu was still in operation, and it directly used Technique Method to isolate the inside from the outside. To enter, you had to visit via the Heavenly Ladder.

But now these restrictions are gone, so you can easily see the inside. All the strange and supernatural things, places that were previously inaccessible, can now be freely viewed.

As Shen Shuibi flew, she pointed to the scenery below and casually introduced the mountains to Li Qi.

Feiyun Peak, Jade Goose Peak, Magu Peak, Huizhen Peak, Huixian Peak, Jinxiu Peak, Hawksbill Peak...

Then, they began to distinguish each of the grottoes one by one.

Yele Cave, Shixue Cave, Huangdonglong Cave, Zhuling Cave, Huangyuan Cave, Butterfly Cave, and the most famous Zhu Ming Cave, all boast exceptional natural wonders.

The forest is filled with the chirping of orioles, the fluttering of butterflies, the dew-laden blossoms, and the fragrance of a hundred flowers in the gentle breeze.

The stone wall, draped in the glow of the sunset, still hangs halfway; the pine breeze whispers like a zither. Occasionally, the cry of a crane rises from the mountain peak.

Waves ripple across the clear sky over Donghu Lake, a wisp of mist hangs over the green hills. This true realm belongs to immortals.

Li Qi looked around and realized that this was indeed the vicinity of one of the Ten Great Grotto-Heavens. He could almost feel his cultivation improving with every breath he took, even comparable to the outer areas of Wushen Mountain.

It's not the outer area of Shaman Path, but the outer area of Wushen Mountain, next to that truly sacred mountain that stands tall in the world.

"Ah, there are some treasures over there, probably things we didn't have time to collect. Old Ma, let's go down and take a look." Shen Shuibi suddenly pointed down and said.

"A treasure?" Li Qi looked in the direction Shen Shuibi was pointing.

Old Ma was very fast. He landed in the ravine below as soon as Li Qi saw him.

Two magical herbs sway in the mountain stream.

The herb resembles a small mulberry tree, growing to three or four feet tall, with red branches and leaves. It sprouts and falls like bean pods around the new moon and full moon, seemingly possessing some kind of cyclical power.

Shen Shuibi squatted down, reached out, and began to pick the herbs. As she picked, she said, "This herb is called Crimson Grass. Its juice is like blood and can dye things crimson. If you add gold or silver to its juice and grind it with a stone, it will turn into a round paste. When you drink it, it becomes Golden Paste and Jade Nectar wine. Drinking it will prolong your life and make you live to be five hundred years old."

Her technique was swift and skillful, clearly not the first time she had done something like this. The dexterity of her fingers surprised Li Qi; so this is how rabbits gather herbs.

However, the rabbit seemed unaware of Li Qi's gaze and continued to look at another spiritual herb beside it, saying, "This one is the Soul Returning Grass, also known as Earth Gall. Its leaves are like mustard greens and its flowers are like ground tea. If you crush it with a clam and rub it on the wound, it can bring the dead back to life. This is a unique spiritual herb found in the Ghost Gate area, and it is very useful."

"However, it is said to bring the dead back to life, but in reality it is only to temporarily recall the soul. If the soul has already become a ghost, or the body has been severed, it cannot be brought back to life. But it is an excellent medicine for calming the mind when used to make medicine. When traveling far away, it can stabilize the Yin Spirit and prevent it from drifting too far away."

Li Qi Steamed Bone Powder, but only theoretically. He had memorized various processing methods and harvesting techniques by heart, but unfortunately, he had never actually handled them. He figured they would likely break if touched, so he didn't do it himself. Instead, he watched Shen Shuibi harvest herbs from the side.

Isn't the Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine just that adorable?

A few minutes later, Shen Shuibi finished collecting the two spiritual herbs, packed them away, stood up, clapped her hands, and brushed off the dust.

After her body was repaired by the Imperial Flowing Sap and she has been recuperating in recent years, her Immaculate Body has almost fully recovered, so the dust is just floating on the surface and can be easily removed with a pat.

"What are we collecting these for? They're all seventh-grade spiritual herbs; they shouldn't be hard to buy," Li Qi asked as he stepped forward.

Shen Shuibi rolled her eyes at him. "Don't talk nonsense. Mount Luofu is being rebuilt now, and everything needs to be renovated. We are short of money right now. You don't even want what you find on the roadside. Do you really think you are very rich?"

Li Qi felt embarrassed by these words and didn't know what to say.

"Now that I'm back here, although I'm heartbroken, I'm not so confused about the situation. I still have many things to do with money right now, so I might as well take this opportunity to pick up as many of these things as possible. I'm also planning to go to the mountain gate later to see how many treasures are left and bring them back with me," Shen Shuibi said.

Li Qi was speechless. He had thought Shen Shuibi had come here because she was homesick and wanted to see the place where she grew up. He never expected her idea to be so practical; she was actually planning to search through the last of her family's possessions...

However, it is quite suitable.

What's the use of leaving them here? It would be better to take them all back. That way, they can ease the longing among the people of Mount Luofu. If we find any items with sentimental value, we can take them back to the mountain gate and preserve them properly. It's better than leaving them here.

Thinking of this, Li Qi nodded and said, "That's how it should be. Then let's search around and see what else is left in the mountains, and bring it back with us."

"Okay, shall we split up?" Shen Shuibi suggested.

Li Qi then began to make plans as usual. "Well, the three of us will each search three directions, with due north and southeast as the boundaries. You go to the north, I'll go to the southeast, and the rest of the area will be Old Ma's responsibility. He's fast. Let's not touch the central area for now. I see a faint golden light and sharp energy rising over there, which means there's something ominous. Once we've dealt with the things outside, we'll go inside together."

"We can't handle things like spirit herbs, so we'll just mark them for Old Ma. The spirit herbs marked with Yin Qi are reserved for you," Li Qi explained, outlining the plan.

Shen Shuibi and Old Ma naturally had no problem. After understanding how to divide the work, the two of them and the dragon quickly split up and began to patrol the area around Mount Luofu.

They made no attempt to conceal their whereabouts along the way, especially Old Ma, who brazenly unleashed his Dragon Qi in order to repel the surrounding Yin Ghost and demons.

Li Qi is now a sixth-rank official, Shen Shuibi is even a fifth-rank official. Although they do not deliberately release their aura when they move, they are accompanied by the laws of the Dao in their every move. That is the effect of the manifestation of the small world. It has no effect, but it brings a special temperament, so nothing would dare to attack them.

However, to outsiders, this scene of looting looked remarkably like that of robbers.

... Actually, they were no different from bandits; they ransacked the place, taking away all kinds of spiritual herbs, divine gold mines, relics, Law Treasures, talismans, and even incantations.

Shen Shuibi manipulated the silk threads formed from qi, gracefully gliding across the sky, but she didn't miss a single thing; they were all tethered and carried away by the silk threads.

Li Qi followed the Shaman's approach, directly stomping his foot to summon the local Mountain Spirits and Wild Monsters, asking them to help search the entire mountain, and afterwards giving them Cultivation Method.

So, all the spirits and monsters in the mountains and fields went to run errands for Li Qi.

Only Old Ma was a beast of burden; he could neither command Mountain Spirits and Wild Monsters nor be as quick-witted and agile as Shen Shuibi, so all he could do was run faster.

However, while they were searching the mountain, among the Daoist temples on the outskirts of Mount Luofu—

The Daoist temple was very quiet and secluded, with only an old Daoist priest, two young Daoist priests, three rooms and a hall arranged in a circle, without any special decorations.

The old Daoist priest muttered incantations, looked up at the sky, then looked into Mount Luofu, his face showing worry. "Alas, Mount Luofu has always treated people well, so why are people still digging up their graves after they ascended and disappeared?"

(Just a dozen or Extended Net Moon...)