Sea Snake Daoist

Poison Dragon Ridge.

The Spirit Beast Valley outside the Marketplace.

Li Shuidao and Li Yijun, who hadn't seen each other for more than half a year, seemed to have endless things to talk about.

"Since we can ride White Feather Cranes and travel freely throughout Poison Dragon Ridge, we should keep in touch with our clanmates. That way, we'll have someone to help us when the trial comes," Li Shuidao said, his gaze sharp.

"Hahahaha... You think of it, and how could the family not? Did you know one of our elders at the Spirit Refining Realm has opened a cave abode in Poison Dragon Ridge? It's the stronghold of our Li Family cultivators. Whenever a Li Family cultivator wants to take part in a trial, they always go there to make contact first."

Li Shuidao's eyes widened in surprise. "So one of our Li Family elders at the Spirit Refining Realm has opened a cave abode in Poison Dragon Ridge? How come I've never heard of this?"

"You're only at the early stage of Spirit Awakening. Going to take part in a sect trial would be suicide. Why would the family tell you? Once you reach the middle stage of Spirit Channeling Realm and have Mana, the family will naturally tell you."

"That's true. Who is this elder?" Li Shuidao asked curiously.

"This elder is a legendary figure in our Li Family—Li Tianwu. His nickname is Sea Snake Daoist."

"Do you know that not every Spirit Refining Realm cultivator qualifies to open a cave abode in Poison Dragon Ridge?"

"Of course I know. Only those ranked on the Heavenly Ranking qualify to open a cave abode in Poison Dragon Ridge. Any cultivator who opens a cave abode on Poison Dragon Ridge, within the Five Poisons Sect, is a formidable expert with great hopes of reaching the Void Nascent Realm."

"Where exactly is Sea Snake Daoist's cave abode?" Li Shuidao continued.

"When Doctor Tianliang came to see me last time, he seemed to mention it was near the little finger of Six Finger Mountain."

"Where in Poison Dragon Ridge is Six Finger Mountain?"

"It's on the northern slope. Next time, we can ride our cranes over and take a look..."

Half an hour later...

A woman in red arrived at the Spirit Beast Valley. Li Yijun cried out, "Senior Sister!" and respectfully escorted her away.

An hour later...

Golden-Faced Gentleman and Qin Yue'e also arrived at the Spirit Beast Valley.

Afterward, Li Shuidao piloted White Feather Crane through the air, while Golden-Faced Gentleman and Qin Yue'e sat on its back, chatting about the treasures they had bought at the Marketplace that day.

Li Shuidao said nothing, listening quietly with his ears perked up...

Back at his cave abode, Li Shuidao went about his usual routine, cultivating as if he had forgotten he already possessed Mana.

The next day.

In the afternoon.

Li Shuidao went out alone, piloting White Feather Crane for some fresh air.

White Feather Crane flew straight to the Marketplace and landed in the Spirit Beast Valley outside it.

After waiting for about the time it took half an incense stick to burn, Li Yijun arrived too.

Li Shuidao hurried over to greet him. "Brother Yijun, have you had a chance to look around the Marketplace?"

"Don't even mention it. I've been here more than ten times, and I still haven't gone in once."

"Could we each watch one of the spirit beasts while the other goes to look around the Marketplace?" Li Shuidao ventured, hoping to find cultivation techniques there.

"Don't even think about it! White Feather Cranes are practically our ancestors. If we lose one, the least that'll happen is we'll have our Spirit Companions confiscated," Li Yijun said, quickly waving his hands.

"Then let's go to Sea Snake Daoist's cave abode."

"Fine."

The two White Feather Cranes spread their wings and flew toward Six Finger Mountain on the northern slope.

The two soon caught sight of "Six Finger Mountain." Six peaks rose toward the sky like six giant fingers of different lengths. Clouds and rosy mists drifted around their summits, creating a magnificent scene.

The two graceful White Feather Cranes circled among the mountains.

"This is the little finger. There are at least a dozen cave abodes nearby. Which one belongs to Sea Snake Daoist?" Li Yijun called out.

"Follow me!" Li Shuidao took the lead, bringing White Feather Crane down toward a cave abode at the foot of the mountain.

"What are you doing? If we go to the wrong cave abode, aren't you afraid some expert will take offense?" Though alarmed, Li Yijun followed him down.

Li Shuidao headed straight for a cave abode at the foot of the mountain. It had the same courtyard layout, with a gray-brick, tiled building, but outside it lay a pond about three mu in size.

The pond was dark green. Its color alone showed how deep it was. The waters of Black Mountain were usually shallow, and deep pools were rare.

A deep pool like this was most likely connected to the Spirit Companion Sea Snake Daoist kept.

The two White Feather Cranes landed outside the cave abode's gate, and Li Shuidao and Li Yijun jumped down from their backs.

"We are descendants of the Li Family of Divine Wood City, here to pay our respects to Sea Snake Daoist," Li Shuidao called out.

The gate to the cave abode slowly opened, revealing a middle-aged man dressed in a black brocade robe. His face held a wary, assessing look. "I've never seen the two of you before. How did you find my cave abode?"

Li Yijun hurriedly cupped his hands. "Half a month ago, I met with Doctor Tianliang. He mentioned that our clan had an elder called Sea Snake Daoist, a master on the Heavenly Ranking who lived here at the foot of Six Finger Mountain."

At the mention of Li Tianliang, Sea Snake Daoist's face immediately broke into a smile. "So you really are Li Family disciples. Ride your cranes inside and leave them in the courtyard. Don't go near Snake Lake."

"Thank you, Elder."

Sea Snake Daoist, Li Tianwu, waved his hand. "We're all clanmates. No need for formalities. Come in, quickly."

The Li brothers entered the main hall of the cave abode. Inside, the tables and chairs were arranged in a simple yet elegant style.

Sea Snake Daoist sat in the seat of honor, while Li Shuidao and Li Yijun stood respectfully before him.

"What are your names? How long have you been disciples? Why has Li Tianliang never mentioned you to me?" Sea Snake Daoist asked.

"My name is Li Shuidao. I've been a disciple for over half a year, and I'm under Golden-Faced Gentleman."

"My name is Li Yijun. I became a disciple at the same time as Shuidao, and I'm under Poison Hand Old Man."

Sea Snake Daoist, Li Tianwu, nodded with satisfaction. "You've only been disciples for a little over half a year, yet you've already become spirit beast handlers. That shows you're both quite clever and know how to please your masters. Keep it up, and you'll have a chance to earn merit for the family."

"We understand," the two said in unison.

"Do you know how to earn merit for the family?" Li Tianwu suddenly asked.

"Work hard to improve our cultivation, and if the family ever needs help, step in," Li Shuidao said after thinking for a moment.

"Hahahaha... You'd have to reach at least the late stage of Spirit Channeling Realm before the family could make use of you," Sea Snake Daoist laughed loudly.

The Li brothers exchanged a glance. Li Shuidao asked in confusion, "Is there another way?"

"Of course. If you can obtain your own master's exclusive technique and hand it over to the family, you'll leave a glorious mark in the family genealogy," Sea Snake Daoist said calmly.

"Ah! Having our names recorded in the genealogy—that's such a great honor! It means the clan head will recite my name during ancestral rites," Li Yijun said excitedly.

Li Shuidao: "..."

"Though our Li Family is a thousand-year-old lineage, we have very little foundation within the Five Poisons Sect. The family mainly has snake cultivation techniques, thanks entirely to me combining the techniques of the Azure Sea Sect and the Five Poisons Sect to create my own secret art. Our family has other Spirit Companion techniques, but they're all common fare, available for purchase at the Marketplace..."

"Both your masters are experts on the Heavenly Ranking, and neither ranks below me. Poison Hand Old Man's Hundred Poisons Centipede Hand is especially renowned. Golden-Faced Gentleman is even more impressive. He has an internal-breath technique that can easily expel poison from the body, even when it has reached the five viscera. You must seize the opportunity and learn all their exceptional techniques..." Sea Snake Daoist advised them earnestly.