Abducting Evil Cultivators!

"Father, I heard Qingqing and Qingbao saying that cultivators have been mysteriously disappearing from Willow Crane Island lately. Is that true?"

When Li Qingyuan returned home and saw Old Dad, that was the first thing he asked.

Though Li Qingyuan had immersed himself in cultivation and talisman drawing these past few years, he also understood that the path of cultivation required both tension and release, and that one's state of mind needed to remain calm and relaxed.

Therefore, every two or three months, Li Qingyuan gave himself a day off, using it to relax and adjust his mindset.

On this day off, he neither cultivated nor drew talismans. He wandered all over Cloud Mist Mountain to clear his mind, and even played with youths like Qingqing and Qingbao.

Every child with a spiritual root was one of the Family Immortal Seedlings. Most had elders who were family cultivators, so naturally they heard news and gossip from all sides.

Li Dingzhou sighed and said, "It's true."

"Last month, when we went to the Market to sell Demonic Beast Materials, we heard quite a lot about Abducting Evil Cultivators."

Li Qingyuan froze. "Abducting Evil Cultivators?"

"Could it be human trafficking?"

Li Dingzhou shook his head. "Probably not. Those who disappeared weren't Immortal Seedlings."

"Those Evil Cultivators are said to target cultivators at Qi Condensation Fourth Layer and above, only making moves against those in Mid Qi Condensation or higher."

"It is said that across all of Willow Crane Island, dozens—perhaps over a hundred—Mid Qi Condensation cultivators have already been abducted. There are even a few Late Qi Condensation experts among them."

"Ah?" Li Qingyuan was startled. "Even Late Qi Condensation experts were caught up in this?"

Li Qingyuan thought, Was the outside world already this dangerous?

I had wanted to find an opportunity to go out and see whether I could exchange my talisman paper for Spirit Stones.

It would be best if I could buy materials for drawing Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper and arm myself.

Li Dingzhou said, "Don't worry. This matter has already been jointly reported by several Qi Condensation Families to a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan."

"The Liu Family, a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan, enjoys the annual tributes of all the major Qi Condensation Families. Naturally, they also bear the responsibility of protecting those families and maintaining order on Willow Crane Island."

Li Dingzhou added, "If everyone was in danger and too afraid to leave home, the Markets under the Liu Family would have a hard time staying in business too."

Li Qingyuan said, "I hope the Liu Family resolves the matter of the Evil Cultivators soon."

Li Dingzhou stood up. "Enough of that. Your father needs to head out and converge with Second Elder and the others."

Li Qingyuan hurriedly said, "Father, wait a moment."

"Your son will give you a few talisman papers to keep you safe."

As he spoke, Li Qingyuan took out more than ten talisman papers.

Li Dingzhou accepted them one by one without standing on ceremony.

He had long known that his son, Li Qingyuan, was not only a cultivation genius but also a talismanic arts genius. Over the past two months, he had even become capable of drawing Tier 1 Mid-grade Talisman Paper.

Looking at the talisman papers, Li Dingzhou said joyfully, "Tier 1 Mid-grade Talisman Paper, Genuine Quality—comparable to the full-force strike of a Qi Condensation Fifth Layer cultivator."

"There are even three Fine Quality talisman papers?"

There were four each of Diamond Talismans, Wind Blade Talismans, and Explosive Fire Talismans.

For each type of talisman paper, three were of Genuine Quality, while one was of Fine Quality.

At present, Father Li Dingzhou was at Qi Condensation Fourth Layer. First-grade Low-rank Talisman Paper was of little help to him, while Tier 1 Mid-grade Talisman Paper was exactly what he needed.

As if possessed, Li Qingyuan took out the only Genuine Quality Flame Ice Soul Severing Talisman and said, "Father, take this talisman paper. Do not use it unless it is absolutely necessary."

"Remember that!" Li Qingyuan's face was solemn.

Li Dingzhou put away the Flame Ice Soul Severing Talisman. When his Spiritual Sense swept over it, his expression changed in shock. "This talismanic spiritual pressure... could it be First-grade High-rank...?"

Li Qingyuan made a shushing gesture. "Shh!"

"Father, you only need to remember what your son said."

Li Dingzhou swallowed, steadied himself, and said, "Yuan'er, rest assured. Unless it is a critical moment, your father will absolutely not use this talisman paper."

"Father is leaving!"

Li Dingzhou packed his bundle and slowly walked away, saying, "Remember to tell your Mother that I've gone out hunting."

"Alright, Father," Li Qingyuan replied.

Watching his father disappear into the distance, Li Qingyuan silently thought, I hope there will be no need to use the Flame Ice Soul Severing Talisman.

Alas, my strength is still too low. It's hard even to leave the house.

Li Qingyuan left home, returned to the Small Courtyard where he lived alone, and continued cultivating.

He breathed in spiritual energy and refined Spirit Stones.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

Within a stretch of Marsh Forest, the Li Clan Hunting Team trekked through the deep mountains and ancient woods. Li Dingzhou was among them, positioned only behind Second Elder.

Second Elder Li Guangzong laughed. "I never expected this hunt to go so smoothly."

"In only half a month, my Storage Bag has already been filled. Some of you even need to carry Demonic Beast Materials on your shoulders and in your hands."

Li Dingzhou carried a demonic beast's head in his left hand, with a layer of beast hide slung across his back.

These Spirit Beast Materials could be used to forge tools, refine formations, or made into talisman-paper materials. All of them could fetch a good price.

He smiled. "It is all thanks to Second Elder's excellent guidance. You are the most experienced hunter in our family."

"When a family has an elder, it is like having a treasure. With your wise guidance, along with all the brothers and sisters working together, our Hunting Team can usually return with full loads."

Second Elder Li Guangzong burst into laughter. "Nephew Dingzhou, who would have thought that beneath those thick brows and big eyes, that righteous face of yours, you'd know how to butter people up too? Hahaha!"

The family members all laughed as well, and the atmosphere was cheerful.

A thousand meters away, within a dense forest.

Several black-clad masked figures hid in the shadows. The leader spoke. "Heh, they've finally arrived."

"The Li Immortal Clan Hunting Team has kept me waiting long enough."

A Veiled Woman asked, "Brother, should we launch a sneak attack, deliberately retreat, separate them first, then break them one by one?"

The man said calmly, "We have already investigated the Li Immortal Clan Hunting Team thoroughly."

"Their leader is only at Qi Condensation Fifth Layer. There are three Qi Condensation Fourth Layer members. The remaining seven are Qi Condensation Third Layer ants, who can be wiped out with the flick of a finger."

He paused, then added, "Besides, we possess the Tier 1 Mid-grade Magic Tool, the Spirit Binding Net. It can ensnare even Qi Condensation Sixth Layer cultivators. They have no chance of resisting."

The man ordered, "When you hear my command, swarm them."

"Kill every Early Qi Refining cultivator."

"Capture the four Mid Qi Condensation cultivators alive and bring them back to the family."

The Veiled Woman and the other two cultivators cupped their fists respectfully. "Yes."

The leader used his Spiritual Sense to draw forth a flying sword from his Storage Bag. It hovered and circled in the air, his Qi Condensation Sixth Layer cultivation fully revealed. Spiritual power flowed into the sword as he waited patiently.

The Li Immortal Clan members chatted and laughed as they traveled.

"Something's wrong. Killing intent." Li Dingzhou's expression changed. Having cultivated martial arts to the level of an Innate Martial Master, he sensed killing intent even more keenly than ordinary Mid Qi Condensation cultivators.

Clang!

Li Dingzhou drew his saber and said, "Everyone, be careful."

"Stay on guard."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone froze, then immediately did as he said.

Li Dingzhou's sensitivity to murderous danger and killing intent had helped them many times.

Thus, they chose to trust him at once and all raised their guard.

Whoosh!

A streak of sword light shot forth, swift as lightning and unstoppable.

Pfft~! Pfft~! Pfft~!

In a single instant, the sword light pierced through and killed three people. Three Qi Condensation Third Layer cultivators of the Li Clan were instantly slain by the ambushing sword light.

Second Elder flew into a rage. "You villain, how dare you kill my clansmen?"

"Go!"

Using Spirit Stones as a catalyst, Second Elder poured spiritual power into his magic tool and sent his flying sword shooting toward the target.

The newcomer controlled his magic tool and easily knocked aside the flying sword wielded by Second Elder. He sneered, "An old fool who doesn't know his own limits."

"Your cultivation is low, and your magic tool is this shabby too—a mere damaged Tier 1 Mid-grade Magic Tool."

Second Elder's face changed drastically. "Qi Condensation Sixth Layer?"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

At the same time, after the Masked Man made his move, one woman and two men struck instantly. All three were at Qi Condensation Fifth Layer, each driving a magic tool into battle.

Li Dingzhou's face turned horrified. "One Qi Condensation Sixth Layer cultivator, and three Qi Condensation Fifth Layer cultivators."

"Could they be the Abducting Evil Cultivators?!"