Seeking Reinforcements

Although I still have some reservations about the idea of someone working for the company and then smuggling themselves into the Immortal Realm to become a lazy bum, the number of foodies in Li Family Village is indeed increasing, so perhaps it's time to find an extra side hustle to generate income.

After all, the technology on the other side of the 'door' has reached an absurd level. Cruiser clones go without saying, and even that mud-cookie synthesizer from the shuttle would be a god-tier artifact in this world, right?

So far, Li Fan and the Mood System are still on a temporary employment relationship, helping them search for celestial books and pots in exchange for some junk from the lottery. But the true power of this Mood System can be seen from how easily they eliminated the remaining staff of the company; it's far more than just turning into two aliens to make sarcastic remarks.

The mood system is being extremely cautious, and hasn't revealed to Li Fan what they're planning to do yet, concealing their true background and purpose from the very beginning. It seems that before Li Fan becomes a contract worker and officially signs the contract, he probably can't establish a deep, all-weather strategic partnership with the system. Before that, they also have to consider the risk of the other party 'withdrawing investment and running away'.

If he could earn some 'money' through a side hustle, he could exchange it for some truly useful things from the 'gate'. And the smuggled-in lazybones should also be able to provide some intelligence from the 'gate', so if the other side really attacks and the mood system wisely withdraws to protect itself, he won't be caught off guard.

Thus, Li Fan's collaboration with the system expanded beyond 'finding books' to include a new element: 'raising fish'.

Of course, when the Tax Bureau audit your taxes, you can't say that you're cooperating with illegal immigrants, right?

So theoretically, Li Fan is the one raising fish and purchasing 'cloning and production enhancement technology' and 'biological gene customization services' from the system. Even if the Public Security System detects that 'smuggled immigrants have been infiltrated' into the data chain by hackers, what does that have to do with Li Fan? He's just a fish farmer!

Even Li Fan's start-up capital is easy to explain; it was obtained by exchanging that 'pot'. Since he couldn't come up with the 'money' from the other side of the door anyway, he simply bought value-added technology services.

Of course, this matter is not as simple as it sounds. At least for Li Fan, he first needs to set up the fish farm. And it's not as simple as just digging a hole, catching some fish, and pouring in some water.

Although we already have two virgins to act as cloning agents, we still need at least a dedicated cloning factory, right? We also need the supporting facilities for the cloning factory, enough 'Non-Thing' for fish food, and we have to consider that the deviation value cannot be too high to attract the company's attention. Sooner or later, we will have to set up a feed factory.

Those feeds are actually nanorobots created by the system based on the genetic modification and recombination of organisms in the Taiji Realm by the 'Beast's Child'. These nanorobots are the key to transforming the Golden Scale Fish into a container that can receive people from other worlds.

Of course, there won't be too many stowaways in the early stages, so the demand for feed won't be high, and the system can deliver it. However, considering future development and the natural wear and tear on nanobots and Dao bodies, achieving local production is inevitable.

Although the two boys could provide engineering and technical support, Li Fan still had to do the hard work himself, such as clearing the land, moving materials, setting up formations, and building houses.

However, Li Fan cannot handle the factory-building business in the short term. Firstly, the Yang Fish Child has not yet adapted to the ecosystem and needs some time to prepare, further adapt to the Dao body, coordinate a body that can satisfy customers, and incidentally cultivate some random Cultivation Method for self-protection.

Secondly, something happened at Ink Bamboo Mountain.

As dawn broke, before Li Fan had even made breakfast, a sudden thought struck him. He noticed a streak of talismanic fire sweeping across the sky above Li Family Village, rapidly heading south. Sensing that Li Fan had set up an array within the Ephemeral Flower Garden and activated the guardian dojo of Ink Mountain, it immediately turned and flew down to seek help from the nearest location!

Yes, it's a plea for help. This message was originally sent from Bamboo Mountain to Middle Valley Dojo, but it turns out that an enemy infiltrated Qingting Peak in Bamboo Mountain last night and injured Qingting Sou!

I just heard someone was planning to cause trouble, and they actually showed up at my door that very night! How can I tolerate this? Absolutely not!

Li Fan immediately set off, activating the talisman array. While sending talismanic messages to the south, he told Kun and the others to stay in the village and not to wander around. Then, he used his escape light to head straight for Qingting Peak to provide support.

Due to the surging demon tide and tense war in the south, most of the cultivators of the nine peaks of Bamboo Mountain were in the south. Each peak probably only left a few people to guard the sect, recruit new people, and guide the disciples in their cultivation Cultivation Method.

The original lineage of Qingting Peak had long been severed. Because the summit was covered by thunderclouds all year round, it was a place for cultivating thunder magic. Later, the mountain lord handed this place over to the Shenxiao Sect Qingting Sou, who had been expelled from the sect by the Shenxiao Sect.

Although the disciples of the Nine Peaks of Bamboo Mountain are all of one mind and their masters will guide and look after them, in a rural place like Ink Bamboo Mountain, even Li Fan only knows the Palm Thunder move. It is probably only Qingting Sou who has the true teachings of thunder magic. Therefore, he can only stay behind to guide the disciples in the cultivation of thunder magic and also take care of the entire Bamboo Mountain area.

Immediately flying to the territory of Qingting Peak, Li Fan spotted the bright light talisman sent by the disciples of Ink Bamboo Mountain for help from afar. Upon closer inspection, he saw a village nestled at the foot of Qingting Peak, amidst water and forest. This was likely a newly reclaimed settlement for a group of refugees from the north. Several small demons were attacking the village's perimeter, while some villagers guarded the walls with spears and crossbows. Judging from the light of the distress talisman and the magic array set up in the village, Qingting Sou was clearly inside.

Li Fan immediately rushed down, flicked his sleeve and threw out a Qiankun Flying Dragon Sword, clearing away the demon horde blocking the entrance.

"I am Qingyue, the guardian of Moshan Town! I have come to your aid! Where is the invading enemy now!"

The villagers looked at each other, then pointed to a pile of scraps of meat at the door.

That's impossible. These are just ordinary demons, probably wild monsters that have taken human form in the nearby mountains. Qingting Sou a master of the Shenxiao Sect, and Xuan Tian calls him a man who can go toe-to-toe with Li Fan. Anyone who can hurt him must be a master.

Seeing that the villagers were unaware of the situation, Li Fan didn't waste any words and went straight to the courtyard where Qingting Sou was recuperating. There was a Qi Refining Stage youth standing at the entrance of the courtyard, holding a wooden sword in his arms and a Bright Light Talisman in his hand. He was nervously staring at the entrance, looking like he had been guarding it all night. His face was covered in blood, and he didn't dare to blink for a long time.

However, Li Fan could tell that the boy was very tired, so he knocked him unconscious with a single finger, gave him half of a Purple Golden Core to help him recover, and then stood at the door and said, "Qingting Sou, do you still remember the boy in straw sandals from Xiping Prefecture?"

The person inside then released the protective array, coughed twice, and said, "I am ashamed, please come in, Master."

Li Fan entered the room and frowned. Qingting Sou was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) with a sword talisman and a thunder Thunder Talisman in his hand. He had taken off his Daoist robe and was badly injured, as if he had been swept away by the claws of some ferocious beast, his abdomen ripped open. He had treated the wound hastily, bandaging it with bandages and ink thread, but a lot of flesh was missing. Fragments of bone were scattered everywhere, and wriggling internal organs could even be seen at the opening.

"Heh heh, I'm old and useless now." The old man chuckled, refusing the Changchun Pill offered by Li Fan. "No need for a sage like you to waste your time."

Li Fan sighed and switched to a golden cicada.

Qingting Sou couldn't help but roll his eyes. "I meant my injuries aren't serious, not that I'm going to die!"

"Huh? You're alright? Oh, fellow Daoist, you've also practiced some 'unorthodox methods,' haven't you?" Li Fan understood, so he blinked and gave him another handful of epiphyllum petals.

"... You really have a lot of good stuff. Thank you then."

Qingting Sou nodded in thanks, took the flower petals, chewed them, and absorbed the evil energy to slowly restore his Dao body.

Li Fan nodded, leaned against the wall, and waited for the other person to recover their breathing before asking, "What's going on?"

"Last night I sensed someone had infiltrated the mountains. I discovered they were four Nascent Soul Realm experts. I originally intended to use the Shenxiao Sect's movement techniques to secretly follow them, but they saw through my plan. I was only hit once before I was shattered to pieces and crashed off the cliff."

Qingting Sou gestured with his chin toward the unconscious boy outside, "If I hadn't feigned death and that kid hadn't found me, I'm afraid my life would have been in real danger this time."

Despite the suppression of his cultivation level, he nearly killed the old Xuanmen disciple in one move? And he was also familiar with the Shenxiao Sect's escape techniques?

Li Fan frowned for a moment, "Is it an enemy of the Xuanmen?"

Qingting Sou shook his head, opened his Daoist robe and gestured to the injury on his chest. "No, it doesn't look like the Daoist magic of the Xuanmen, nor is it a battlefield technique. Instead, it has the style of a Jianghu person, vicious and deadly, leaving no room for mercy."

At first, I thought they were martial arts masters with Martial God body, but upon closer inspection, something didn't seem right. Those people didn't use set martial arts techniques, their punches didn't create any gale force, and their appearances were strange and unusual, with some monstrous, demonic features. It seemed more like... the Black Lotus Sect."

Li Fan was taken aback. "The Black Lotus Sect? The remnants of the Luo Sect from back then?"

Qingting Sou's lips twitched. "No, I can at least be sure that they are not remnants of the Luo Sect from back then. At most, they learned those... 'remnants' Cultivation Method and developed them. The Luo Sect did indeed have many powerful killing moves that were leaked out back then, which may be why they look somewhat similar to the Black Lotus Sect."

Li Daoyou, I've heard that many of the seniors of Moshan perished at the hands of the Black Lotus Sect back then. Perhaps the Mountain Master has devised a way to deal with it, so you must be careful!

What can the mountain master do to deal with it? He fought to death with 480 heavy Gang fists. He tore his head apart and drank together...

Li Fan was increasingly confused. "But if they are remnants of the Black Lotus Sect, what's the meaning of them coming to cause trouble for Qingting Peak at this time? Shouldn't they be coming to me? Could it be that they've chosen the wrong sect? But that can't be... Could it be that you've recently acquired some Cultivation Method?"

Qingting Sou also speculated, "They're probably not here for revenge or to steal treasure; they're here to kidnap someone."

Oh, you may not know this, but this year's disciple selection has already concluded. Any new disciple who ascends to the Nine Peaks and joins any sect can be accepted as a disciple of Ink Bamboo Mountain. They will then be divided into nine groups, initially stationed on various peaks for further study, rotating monthly. Each peak master will review these groups to see if any are suitable to become true disciples. They will also learn the Daoist Tradition of Bamboo Mountain. After nine months, they can choose a sect to formally become disciples."

Qingting Sou paused, then sighed, "If nothing unexpected happens, they're after this batch of new disciples. The six people cultivating on my Qingting Peak have all been captured by them, and I can no longer sense the protective talismans distributed to the disciples."

"Sigh, I never thought I couldn't even protect my own disciples..."

Li Fan comforted him, "Fellow Daoist, don't blame yourself. You fought against four opponents and managed to save one of them, which is already quite good."

"Him? No, it's not him." Qingting Sou smiled bitterly. "That lad wanted to become a disciple, but he truly lacked the affinity for immortality. He wandered around Qingting Peak for several days, unable to even begin the path, yet unwilling to leave the mountain, so he stayed there. Unexpectedly, he escaped this calamity and even saved my life. Alas, misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise..."

Is this even possible? Does this mean they have a predestined connection to the divine, or not...?

However, now is not the time to be distracted. Li Fan asked while calculating.

"Fellow Daoist, do you know which direction those people went and how long they've been gone? I received your plea for help to Zhonggu early this morning, and you came all the way from Moshan. Why haven't the reinforcements from Bamboo Mountain and Lou Guan Tower arrived yet?"

Qingting Sou frowned and shook his head. "Since they're targeting those disciples, I'm afraid the other peaks were also attacked last night. If the guards of each peak didn't notice the infiltration, that's fine, but if they run into those people head-on, I'm afraid the outcome will be dire..."

"Don't worry about me, Master. I'm not going to die. Let's look north first. The experts from Lou Guan are gathered at the Middle Valley Dojo; they probably won't be heading south."

"Alright, fellow Daoist, please take care."

Seeing that Qingting Sou's wounds were slowly healing and there was no sign of things getting out of control, Li Fan knew that those from the Xuanmen sect had a different level of cultivation and vision, and their fates were incredibly strong, far beyond what ordinary rogue cultivators could match.

So he took to the air, taking out his Si Nan to check it while quickly disappearing to the various peaks of Bamboo Mountain to confirm the situation.

Just as Qingting Sou had said, the new disciples from the other peaks were also lost!

After asking around, Li Fan learned that these newcomers were, after all, apprentice disciples who had not yet formally entered the sect and become apprentices. Most of them lived in the courtyards provided for Outer Sect Disciple at the foot of various peaks, and were guided by senior brothers in the Foundation Establishment stage, receiving basic Qi Refinement Stage guidance. Some of them even had to learn to read, write, practice horse stance, and even chop wood, carry water, and plant herbs.

Who would have thought that a dignified Nascent Soul Realm expert would secretly sneak into Ink Bamboo Mountain to abduct children? Truly, heaven has no mercy on anyone...

The cultivators guarding each peak were caught off guard and unable to defend themselves. Fortunately, Qingting Sou was quite skilled and was able to detect the situation on the spot and counter-track it. Most of the others didn't even realize what was happening until they discovered that a group of people were missing. They then hurriedly searched around the Fourth Department, running around in a frantic state.

However, those experts who came to abduct children were no ordinary people. They could enter and exit the sect's barrier in Bamboo Mountain as if it were empty, and they ran all over the nine peaks in one night. Their plans were meticulous and their actions were swift. Moreover, they used magic to conceal their whereabouts. Even after a whole night, Li Fan had been searching for a long time with his Si Nan, but he still couldn't find a clear location.

However, these people probably haven't left yet.

No chess player would be so idle as to send four Nascent Soul Stage experts to do something like stealing a child.

Li Fan estimated that this was similar to the Divine Cult randomly opening the restrictions of Yunmeng Marsh, which was to distract Ink Bamboo Mountain and divert their manpower; their real target should be elsewhere.

Where else could it be? Ink Bamboo Mountain has so little property, it's a desolate wilderness, there's really nothing worth stealing. Anything of value is probably hidden in Ink Bamboo Mountain Grotto-Heaven and the secret realm of the Thousand-Faced Immortal.

So to put it bluntly, Ink Bamboo Mountain is now in a similar predicament to Hengshan. Even if they knew that this group was abducting children within the mountain gate, experts like the Abbot, Xiao Yao, Real Person Liang would definitely have to guard those key forbidden areas of the sect and could not easily make a move.

Meanwhile, the main force of Ink Bamboo Mountain was tied down in the border states and the Ten-thousand-mountains, leaving only some Golden Core disciples guarding the mountain. They were constantly on the move, putting out fires and running around frantically. Ink Bamboo Mountain had indeed lost its ability to react, and it had no time to care what those outsiders wanted to do.

Having figured it out, Li Fan was no longer in a hurry. He circled in the sky, concealing his aura and cultivation, holding the Si Nan, turning it left and right, his hands constantly making calculations, his fingertips almost dancing like phantoms.

After all, he is now the only mobile force in Ink Bamboo Mountain, and he cannot be held back by something like finding a child; he must be ready to provide support at any time.

No matter what these people's targets are, they will eventually show their true colors. I've made up my mind that as soon as they make a move, I'll rush over and kill all these troublemakers.

Anyway, as long as enough people are killed, and the other side doesn't have the technology to clone Nascent Soul Stage, the forces harassing Ink Bamboo Mountain from the shadows will eventually be unable to withstand such losses and will have to stop sooner or later.