First Encounter with Bandit Cultivators!

Thus, the four members of the Li Clan traveled together with the Zhang Clan's grandfather and grandson for part of the journey.

Riding a Unicorn Zebra, Li Qingyuan leaned close to his father and asked, "Father, why didn't Grandpa Zhang break through in Qu Mountain Marketplace?"

"After all, carrying a Spirit Nurturing Pill over such a long journey home always carries the risk of being targeted by bandit cultivators."

Li Dingzhou said softly, "Do you think everyone is like you? For you, breaking through realms comes as naturally as water flowing into a channel, with scarcely any obstacles."

"For those of us with Five-Element Spirit Roots and Four-Element Spirit Roots, many cultivators find it difficult to advance into Late Qi Condensation even after spending their whole lives cultivating. It is a major bottleneck."

"Your Grandpa Zhang is already old. Reaching Qi Condensation Level 7 will not be easy for him. Not only does he need a Spirit Nurturing Pill, he also needs the help of his family's spirit vein."

"Furthermore, before attempting a breakthrough, he must take pills that nourish the meridians and accumulate spiritual power. Only then can he take the Spirit Nurturing Pill and break through in one stroke."

Li Qingyuan suddenly understood. "So that's how it is."

Most heads of Third-rate Qi Condensation Families had reached their fifties or sixties. Only at sixty-seven did they qualify to attempt Late Qi Condensation, and by then, their potential was basically exhausted.

For them, attempting Late Qi Condensation was nearly equivalent to a Qi Condensation Tenth Layer Perfection cultivator in their sixties or seventies attempting Foundation Establishment. They not only needed pills, but also the aid of a spirit vein.

Moreover, before challenging a bottleneck, they needed to spend time tempering their own spiritual power, preparing themselves mentally, and so on.

Li Qingyuan thought, Fortunately, I have a high-grade Three-Element Spirit Root. As long as I have enough spirit stones and resources, there are no bottlenecks in the Qi Refining Stage. Foundation Establishment is within reach.

"How should I address this elder sister of the Li Clan?" Zhang Yuanluo rode over on a horse-type demon beast, also at the First-Tier Early Stage.

Zhang Yuanluo looked around twenty-four or twenty-five. He wore white robes, his features were well-defined, and while he was not particularly handsome, he had a sunny, open demeanor—the sort many young girls liked.

Li Qingyuan was currently dressed as a woman, so he could only continue pretending. "Li Qingqing."

Zhang Yuanluo sized Li Qingqing up and thought, This elder sister from the Li Clan has the delicate charm of a small household jade. Her features are refined, her temperament gentle, and her conduct proper.

Zhang Yuanluo searched for a topic of conversation and said, "Great-aunt, you brought Sister Qingqing along with you. I presume it is because Sister Qingqing is exceptionally intelligent and has excellent cultivation talent, so you hold great hopes for her."

Li Qingyuan's expression turned awkward. This man... something is wrong with him.

"Cough." Li Qingyuan coughed and said, "Brother Zhang is joking. My aptitude is mediocre, far inferior to yours."

To the side, Li Dingzhou held back his laughter so hard his face twitched.

The group galloped onward, covering three hundred li a day. Whenever they passed Mortal Towns or villages, they spent a little money to rest awhile.

In this manner, two days passed without wind or waves.

Early on the third day, the six of them set out once more.

Pointing ahead, Zhang Yuanluo explained, "Sister Qingqing, once we pass through the stone forest ahead and travel another hundred li, we will reach my Zhang Clan of Green Peak Mountain."

Li Qingyuan replied blandly, "Oh."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Suddenly, three streaks of light shot out from the stone forest in an assassination attack.

Li Guangao and Zhang Xuantong, both Qi Condensation Sixth Layer Perfected, cried out, "Enemy attack! Dodge!"

As soon as the words fell, Li Guangao, Zhang Xuantong, and Second Elder Li Guangzong immediately formed hand seals and circulated their spiritual power. Having no time to activate their magic tools, they instinctively cast Tier 1 Spells to block the attack.

Three magic tools came hurtling toward the three strongest cultivators.

Earth Armor Technique!

Li Guangao and Li Guangzong instantly cast the Earth Armor Technique to defend themselves. Their earth-attribute spiritual power barriers barely blocked the enemy magic tools' attacks, buying them one breath of time.

One breath was enough.

Diamond Talisman!

The two took out Diamond Talismans and activated the protective aura around their bodies, successfully blocking the enemy's ambush strike.

However, Zhang Xuantong, the Zhang Family Head, was not so fortunate. His attacker was at Qi Condensation Level 7 and had already entered Late Qi Condensation.

The enemy's all-out assassination strike was too much for Zhang Xuantong to block with a hastily cast spell. He also had Defensive Type talisman papers on him, and they were Mid-grade First-tier.

Yet even after the talisman paper was activated, it still could not stop the enemy's Flying Wheel Magic Tool.

Sharp teeth ringed the flying wheel. It sliced past him and severed Zhang Xuantong's right arm.

"Ah!" Zhang Xuantong let out a miserable scream.

Had he not twisted aside in time at the final moment, the Flying Wheel Magic Tool would already have struck his heart meridian, and he would have died and his Dao dissipated.

Heavily injured, Zhang Xuantong stared in terror. "Qi Condensation Level 7? A Tier 1 High-grade Magic Tool?"

Zhang Yuanluo hurried to his side, asking worriedly, "Grandfather, your hand?"

Li Guangao asked anxiously, "Old fellow, can you still hold on?"

Everyone gathered together, closing in back-to-back as they vigilantly watched all directions.

Li Qingyuan thought, Damn it, I ran into bandit cultivators the first time I left home? Do I really have to be this unlucky?

The Cultivation World's public safety—no, the Cultivation World practically had no public safety to speak of.

"Hahaha, Zhang Family Head, my second sister needs to borrow your Spirit Nurturing Pill. Would you be willing to part with it?"

A middle-aged burly man slowly emerged from the stone forest. He stood more than eight chi tall, broad-backed and bear-waisted, with a face full of scars.

A cross-shaped scar on his face looked savage and terrifying, stretching from the corner of his eye to his chin. Combined with his face full of scars, it made him exceptionally ugly.

Behind this middle-aged man stood a Female Cultivator dressed revealingly and heavily made up, as well as a lewd-looking Male Cultivator who was short and skinny as a monkey.

Zhang Xuantong's expression changed. "It's you—Spirit Breaking Blood Wheel, Tumei."

Li Guangao's face darkened like water. "Damn it, we were actually targeted by this fellow."

Li Qingyuan sighed. "Qi Condensation Level 7 won't be easy to fight."

Second Elder said, "It is more than just difficult. Whether any of us can survive today is hard to say."

"Spirit Breaking Blood Wheel, Tumei. He was originally a Rogue Cultivator. By a stroke of fortune, he stepped into Late Qi Condensation in recent years and became a bandit cultivator who brought disaster upon the region."

"I heard that not long ago, the three Tumei siblings joined hands and fought a Qi Condensation Eighth Layer cultivator to a draw, making their names ring far and wide."

Li Guangao said, "The magic tool in Tumei's hand is First-grade High-rank and incomparably sharp. That is why he can contend with Qi Condensation Eighth Layer cultivators to some extent."

Li Qingyuan knew that Tier 1 High-grade Magic Tools were expensive. Let alone ordinary Rogue Cultivators, not even every Late Qi Condensation Cultivator of a Second-rate Qi Condensation Family possessed one.

Many Qi Condensation Level 7 and Qi Condensation Eighth Layer cultivators had spent all their resources and spirit stones upon breaking through. They needed to accumulate them for a very, very long time before they could purchase a Tier 1 High-grade Magic Tool.

Li Dingzhou asked, "Clan Leader, what do we do now?"

Zhang Xuantong immediately said, "Rest assured, this old man will never drag you into this."

After speaking, Zhang Xuantong said loudly, "Tumei, these five are cultivators from another clan. They merely accepted my invitation to visit my Zhang Clan as guests."

"Grand—" Zhang Yuanluo had only begun to speak when Zhang Xuantong's stern gaze cut him off.

Zhang Xuantong said, "This old man can hand over the Spirit Nurturing Pill, but you must let them go. This matter has nothing to do with them."

Tumei chuckled. "Do you take me for a fool?"

"If I let them go, will they go report us to the Liu Clan's immortal family and have our three siblings wanted across the entire island?"

Li Guangao said, "Fellow Cultivator Tu, please rest assured. This old man will never report you."

Tumei chuckled. "I, Tumei, have always believed that only the dead can keep secrets."

Zhang Xuantong took out the Spirit Nurturing Pill and held it in his palm. Spiritual power surged, and cracks appeared on the pill.

"Wait!" Seeing this, the three Tumei siblings panicked. He hurriedly said, "Zhang Family Head, don't act rashly. We can discuss this properly."

The heavily made-up woman stepped forward and nestled against Tumei's chest, saying sweetly, "Big Brother, this Spirit Nurturing Pill concerns whether your little sister can advance into Late Qi Condensation. It also concerns our future after we join the Black Mountain Bandits."

"What do you think? Should we agree to Zhang Family Head's request?"

Upon hearing this, Tumei pondered. With only me having entered Late Qi Condensation, joining the Black Mountain Bandits with such strength, I fear I still won't become a mountain stronghold commander. But if Second Sister breaks through as well, we will certainly be valued and put to good use.

Late Qi Condensation cultivators were formidable figures anywhere on Willow Crane Island.

"Fine!" Tumei said. "I agree to Zhang Family Head's request."

A pleading expression appeared on Zhang Xuantong's face. "Guangao, Luo'er is in your hands."

Zhang Yuanluo burst into tears. "No, I'm not leaving, Grandfather, I'm not leaving."

"At worst, we'll fight them to the death."

Zhang Xuantong said, "Silly child, you are the future Clan Leader of the Zhang Clan. The family cannot be without you."

"Guangao, go quickly!" Zhang Xuantong urged.

Li Guangao sighed faintly and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, old brother. For the sake of my Li Clan, I also have reasons why I must leave."

"Let's go!" Li Guangao grabbed Zhang Yuanluo, attached two Lightness Talismans to him, then flew away on his sword at high speed.

Li Guangzong, Li Dingzhou, and Li Qingyuan also attached Lightness Talismans one after another. They circulated their spiritual power with all their strength and fled through the air, swift as streams of light, vanishing into the depths of the stone forest.

As for the demon beasts used for transportation, they were too slow.

They were fleeing for their lives. Some things had to be abandoned when they needed to be.

After Tumei gave a signal, his second sister and third brother mounted their magic tools and pursued them.

Zhang Xuantong's expression changed. "Tumei, you are breaking your word?"

"Do you believe this old man will crush the pill immediately and let you return empty-handed?"

Tumei chuckled. "If you crush the pill now, I'll immediately chase after them and slaughter every last one of them."

"Among them is your direct grandson, isn't there?"

"And don't try any tricks on me, either. Otherwise—" Tumei threatened, "Otherwise, I'll slaughter your entire Zhang Clan of Green Peak Mountain."

"You!" Zhang Xuantong was so furious that he spat blood.