According to Master Jiang's memories, Li Qingqiu had found the Cave Mansion of a cultivator less than half an hour after entering the mountain. It wasn't particularly well hidden; the mountain was simply far removed from the mortal world, and even the nearest village was over two hundred li away, so hardly anyone ever came here.
After passing through the winding passage, Li Qingqiu entered a cave chamber and furrowed his brow.
The chamber was completely empty!
Ghostly energy seeped from the Heavenly Rainbow Sword and gathered into Chu Jing's form. He frowned. "Someone got here first. Well, Master Jiang spent over twenty years in the imperial city without ever leaving Zhenyang City, let alone coming back to take a look."
Li Qingqiu swept his gaze around the chamber, his expression still calm. "Looks like another cultivator is about to appear in this world."
He wasn't particularly disappointed. Master Jiang had already gone through everything in the Cave Mansion. The Soul Refining Banner had been the most valuable treasure; the rest was only things like alchemical formulas, collections of pills, talisman paper, and manuals.
Master Jiang had been treacherous. He'd torn out several pages of the manuals he left behind. Anyone who found them could easily end up like Zhao Zhi. Failing to master them would be the best-case scenario; their temperament could grow increasingly volatile until they eventually went mad from cultivation.
"Let's go. It's time to head back."
Li Qingqiu turned toward the cave entrance. Chu Jing slipped into the Heavenly Rainbow Sword and guided it through the air. Nangong E and Lin Chuan said nothing more and immediately followed Li Qingqiu.
After leaving the Cave Mansion, Li Qingqiu whistled to summon Xiao Ba. He leapt out of the forest and landed on Xiao Ba's back, then headed