Maple Mountain Daoist Temple

This cat has some kind of special blood flowing through it, but it's not that simple. Li Qingyun obtained it three years ago from an old hunter and named it Yuanbao.

According to the old hunter, he found it while hunting on the mountain.

Having been a cat lover in his previous life, he naturally had to get one in this different world, especially since he had the means.

After the black cat Yuanbao grew up, it became even more mysterious. It seemed capable of sensing and deterring ghosts, and was strong and fast, able to scale walls, climb roofs, and sneak in and out of the Marquis's manor as if it were its own territory.

It even came with a "lucky cat" aura, occasionally bringing back all sorts of miscellaneous items for Li Qingyun.

For example, jewelry belonging to the Marquis's wife, Madam Cui; risqué books treasured by his elder brother, the heir; strange and eerie bottles and jars from Yin Xunshan; and even a hairpin belonging to Cui Wan'er.

It also brought back truly valuable items, such as the most prized product of the Qingyang River: "Qingyang Fish."

It could resist its innate feline instinct to eat fish and bring the spirit fish to Li Qingyun, showing considerable "affection" for its owner.

It was thanks to these two Qingyang Spirit Fish that Li Qingyun greatly accelerated his cultivation of Blood Essence and Yang Fiend.

Unfortunately...

Now, Yin Xunshan, or perhaps the Madam and heir behind him, wouldn't even let this big black cat go.

Seeing Yuanbao escape right under his nose, Yin Xunshan felt his face flush with embarrassment and angrily glared at Li Qingyun, who was in the way.

"A mere beast!"

He suddenly raised his hand, and a White Bone Nail flew out from his sleeve.

A flash of dark energy flickered, and with a whoosh, it disappeared into the jungle, pursuing the fleeing cat.

"Meow!"

A mournful cry suddenly sounded from deep within the jungle, and a flash of blood seemed to appear.

Then, the White Bone Nail, carrying wisps of blood energy, returned along the same path and once again disappeared into Yin Xunshan's sleeve.

"I've been displeased with this beast for a long time! My apologies, Third Young Master. I couldn't hold back just now. This beast was hit by my magical artifact and should be on its last legs!"

Yin Xunshan's face showed a smug expression as he provocatively looked at Li Qingyun.

"The Cui family of Hejian is truly overbearing. Even a mere servant under their command is so arrogant!"

A trace of imperceptible sharpness flashed across Li Qingyun's handsome face, but in the end, it only turned into two soft sighs.

He then slowly closed his eyes again, returning to his silent state.

Yuanbao is likely in grave danger. As its master, I can't protect you...

He had already witnessed Yin Xunshan's abilities on the way.

The old schemer was quite formidable. They had encountered some wandering spirits and demonic beasts along the road, all of whom he had dealt with in a few moves.

In this world, demons and monsters ran rampant, while cultivation sects held supreme status. Mortals could only achieve a relatively stable life under the protection of these extraordinary powers.

Between mortals and the aloof sects, various "watered-down" extraordinary families and so-called unorthodox forces had emerged.

The region of You Kingdom, where Li Qingyun resided, had a royal family that was essentially the most powerful aristocratic family in the mortal realm.

These forces entrenched themselves among mortals, willingly serving as the backing for major and minor sects, collecting and providing various resources.

The Cui family of Hejian was one such incredibly powerful aristocratic clan.

After Madam Cui married the Marquis Qinghe, Yin Xunshan, who was close to her, quickly became the head steward of the Marquis's manor.

In the past, this Steward Yin had kept a low profile, and Li Qingyun had no idea he was also a master capable of exorcising ghosts and subduing demons!

"Third Young Master, some people think too highly of themselves and fail to see reality. They don't realize they are like this kitten, insignificant, hahaha..."

Yin Xunshan looked at the silent Li Qingyun and couldn't help but laugh wildly.

Li Qingyun didn't open his eyes, nor did he get angry, but he committed the villainous servant's current expression to memory.

His expression was one of cool indifference, tinged with a hint of loneliness.

It was as if all his anger, unwillingness, and regret had sunk into the deep sea of his heart.

He seemed to have truly resigned himself to his fate.

"Hahaha, Third Young Master, that's more like it. If you knew this would happen, why bother in the first place..."

His change in demeanor was interpreted by Yin Xunshan as his pride finally being worn down.

His contemptuous laughter echoed in the carriage.

Each laugh seemed to trample the young man's last shred of dignity into the mud, crushing his pride inch by inch, turning him into a stray dog that could only whimper in pain, utterly incapable of resistance!

"Madam said that if you're going to cultivate, then cultivate properly. From now on, if there's nothing important, you don't need to return to the Marquis's manor."

"Yes, Madam also said that while cultivation is important, every month, Third Young Master, you must write a letter back to the manor to report your safety to the Marquis and Madam, and also provide a detailed report on your cultivation progress."

Yin Xunshan's gaze provocatively fixed on the young man as he slowly uttered these deeply insulting words:

"After all, you also carry the Marquis's blood. Even if you were a dog or a cat, Madam has always been kind-hearted and would care a little..."

Under the oppressive gaze, Li Qingyun, with his eyes slightly narrowed, finally nodded slowly.

Only then did Yin Xunshan reveal a satisfied smile.

At this moment, the head steward thought disdainfully: What extraordinary talent, what a brilliant strategist! In the eyes of Madam and the heir, he's just a bastard son who can be easily suppressed!

It was laughable that this innocent and somewhat adorable third young master had truly believed in recent years that he might receive the Marquis's Yang Sha teachings, and even have a chance to inherit the noble title.

Little did he know, in the eyes of the Madam and the Heir Apparent, he was nothing but a joke!

The Heir Apparent had lost his purity early on, making any hope of entering the path of refining fiends impossible. How could a mere son of a concubine dare to harbor any wishful thinking!

Maple Mountain blazed like fire, its dense forests painted in a thousand shades of red.

High atop the mountain peak, a temple exuding an extraordinary aura stood majestically.

Its upturned eaves and golden roof gleamed, standing out vividly against the fiery red maple leaves blanketing the mountain.

Thick plumes of incense smoke spiraled upwards like signal fires from below, a testament to the temple's bustling popularity.

At the foot of the mountain.

"Distinguished guests, please stop. For those offering incense, praying for demon suppression, seeking blessings for children, or simply visiting, please use the main path to ascend the mountain. This road behind me is for disciples of the temple..."

A young Daoist, clad in green robes and carrying a long sword on his back, slightly raised his thick eyebrows and gestured to halt the approaching luxurious carriage.

The carriage stopped, and Yin Xunshan, dressed in opulent attire, was the first to step down.

"Esteemed Yuzhen, we are not here as pilgrims. We are here to escort the young master of our estate into the temple to cultivate the Dao."

Before the young Daoist, Yin Xunshan unconsciously displayed a degree of humility. He cupped his hands in a respectful bow, then casually pulled back the carriage curtain, urging with a flippant smile:

"Third Young Master, it's time to head up the mountain!"

Under everyone's gaze, Li Qingyun, his face pale and devoid of much blood essence, slowly descended from the carriage, a large bundle slung over his arm.

The moment his feet touched the ground, Li Qingyun looked up towards the mountain path behind the young Daoist.

He saw that the mountain path was shrouded in a faint white mist, seemingly impenetrable even to sunlight. The scarlet maple leaves lining the path added to the serene and desolate atmosphere, exuding an air of otherworldly transcendence.

This instilled a sliver of hope in Li Qingyun.

In terms of power and mystery, these temple mountain gates far surpassed the mundane world.

He even suspected that the temples built in the mortal realm were merely the superficial facades of those mysterious cultivation sects.

The true sects, he believed, resided in blessed lands inaccessible to mortals.

Although his primordial yang was gone, and his chance of entering the orthodox path was lost, by joining Lingbao Temple, he still had at least a sliver of hope to touch upon extraordinary power again.

However, his Dao Bone had been examined by an expert invited by Marquis Qinghe shortly after his birth. The expert had lamented that he possessed no aptitude for cultivating the Dao.

This was likely one of the main reasons why the Cui family and the Heir Apparent felt at ease sending him to the temple.

Cultivating the Dao, in this world, had an extremely high threshold, which was why so many unorthodox paths had emerged, such as Li Qingyun's family's "Yang Sha Refining."