Hunting the Murderer

"You flatter me, Fairy Wu. I am not that amazing."

Liu Dong said modestly.

"Fellow Daoist Liu is too modest. Fairy Wu is right. Fellow Daoist Liu, could you be Spirit Body Cultivator? I've heard that some Spirit Body Cultivator cultivators are born with more Law Power than other cultivators, and their Law Power can increase several times over once they reach a certain level of cultivation."

Wang Yifeng asked curiously.

Five Spirit Roots are the most useless aptitude. Most cultivators have Three Spirit Roots, and those with Dual Spirit Roots are better off. A Heavenly Spirit Root is a genius of a sect and a future Core Formation expert. As for Spirit Body Cultivator, they are extremely rare, appearing only once every ten thousand years.

"Spirit Body Cultivator? Daoist Wang, you must be joking. If I possessed a spirit body, even Spirit Transformation cultivators would be happy to take me under their wing. Why would I need to be Rogue Cultivator, wandering around everywhere?"

Liu Dong disagreed.

In the entire Gan Yang Realm, the number of Spirit Body Cultivator is extremely limited. Spirit Body Cultivator possess innate supernatural Divine Ability and are said to face no bottlenecks before reaching the Spirit Transformation.

The Wang Clan of Begonia Valley was originally just a small clan, but they had a stroke of good fortune when a Spirit Body Cultivator appeared. In less than four hundred years, he cultivated to the Spirit Transmutation Realm, possessing extraordinary strength, and led the Wang Clan to glory. It is said that he has already ascended to the Spirit Realm.

"That's true. Fellow Daoist Liu has no reason to lie to us. By the way, Fellow Daoist Liu, let me introduce you. This is Fellow Daoist Shen. Fellow Daoist Shen is proficient in the art of controlling insects and taming beasts. If you have Spirit Beast Spirit Insect to raise, you can ask Fellow Daoist Shen for guidance on breeding methods."

Bai Yuxian said.

A look of surprise appeared in Liu Dong's eyes. He said, "I do have a question I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist Shen about cultivating Spirit Insect."

"I wouldn't presume to ask for your guidance; it's merely an exchange of ideas. Please, Fellow Daoist Liu, speak freely."

Shen Long said modestly.

Liu Dong nodded and started talking about the cultivation of Spirit Insect, from daily feeding to advancement. Shen Long answered all his questions without reservation, as these were not core secrets.

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Shen, I've heard that Spirit Insect Spirit Beast can mutate. Is there any way to increase their chances of mutation?"

Liu Dong asked curiously.

"Some elixirs can achieve this, but they are ultimately external things. It is still very difficult for Spirit Insect and Spirit Beast to mutate. It's not that feeding them elixirs will necessarily cause them to mutate."

Shen Long said.

"Is mutation that difficult? Giving them high-level Demon Core of their own kind could increase the chances of mutation, right?"

Liu Dong asked.

Shen Long nodded and said, "It's useful, but not 100% useful. The mutation of Spirit Insect is a probabilistic event, and the direction of the mutation is uncontrollable. You may have to spend a lot of cultivation resources to make the Spirit Insect Spirit Beast mutate. However, the Divine Ability gained by the mutation are very useless."

The Spirit Control Sect has many such examples. That's why a Mutated Spirit Insect or Spirit Beast with powerful Divine Ability is very precious. Of course, Spirit Bird can also mutate, and the difficulty is just as high.

Liu Dong nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Fellow Daoist Shen, are there any other ways to increase the chances of Spirit Insect Spirit Beast mutating?"

"Of course, we can use Formation, Secret Talisman, and Spirit Wine. However, these kinds of things are very niche and difficult to make. Just collecting the materials takes a lot of time."

Shen Long said.

"As long as there's a way, things are fine."

Liu Dong didn't take it seriously.

Shen Long smiled calmly, and they chatted for more than an hour before returning to their respective homes.

······

In a Quiet Manor, Bai Yuxian was reporting to Bai Changguang.

"This person looks ordinary, perhaps his cultivation Cultivation Method is special, or he has the help of Spirit Insect, or he may be Spirit Body Cultivator. We can't figure out his origins."

Bai Yuxian said.

"His background doesn't matter, as long as he has no grudge against our Bai Clan. Treat them well. That Little Friend Shen is quite knowledgeable; he's likely a disciple of a Core Formation Cultivator. Don't neglect him; these people are your future connections."

Bai Changguang said earnestly.

"Yes, Ancestor Changguang."

Bai Yuxian agreed.

······

A secluded Blue-tiled Courtyard, inside which stands a two-story blue pavilion and a Cyan Stone Pavilion.

Fairy Cold Flame sat in the stone pavilion, and Wu Sisi was reporting to her.

"We should set off now, hoping to find the great fortuitous opportunity that Heavenly Mystery Rogue spoke of."

The Fairy Cold Flame's face showed longing.

Heavenly Mystery Rogue is a master of divination and is the number one diviner in the North Sea Cultivation World. His reputation is widespread, and his divinations are extremely rare. She went to great lengths to ask Heavenly Mystery Rogue to help with the divination, and the divination showed that Fairy Cold Flame had a great fortuitous opportunity.

"Yes, Master."

Wu Sisi agreed, her expression solemn.

Fairy Cold Flame took out a white, shimmering Dharma Disk, cast a spell, and after a few gestures, put away the white Dharma Disk. She and Wu Sisi then left.

······

Half a year passed quickly.

The Flying Cloud Assembly had long since ended, and the Artifact Refiner who had come from all over were leaving the Marketplace one after another, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of people in the Marketplace.

In a quiet Blue-tiled Courtyard, Bai Yuxian and Su Jianghai sat in a Cyan Stone Pavilion, talking about something.

"By the way, Yu Xian, Fellow Daoist Shen hasn't helped you hatch the Spirit Insect yet?"

Su Jianghai asked curiously.

"Not yet. He said he's working on it and will let me know as soon as it hatches."

Bai Yuxian said that he had given up hope.

"Anyway, you can't hatch it, so it doesn't matter. At least you've made friends with Fellow Daoist Shen, Fellow Daoist Shen is truly talented."

Su Jianghai offered words of comfort.

Shen Long was eloquent, proficient in insect and beast control techniques, and also Alchemist. He was powerful, approachable, and many Foundation Establishment Cultivator were willing to befriend Shen Long.

Bai Yuxian nodded, about to say something, when he took out a Dharma Disk that shimmered with yellow light, cast a spell, and his face lit up with joy.

He stood up, strode towards the courtyard gate, opened it, and invited Shen Long in.

"Oh, Fellow Daoist Su is here too."

Shen Long greeted him with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, we were just talking about you. If that Insect Eggs can't hatch, then forget it. Don't waste resources."

Su Jianghai said.

"Yes, Fellow Daoist Shen."

Bai Yuxian echoed.

"It has hatched; I have fulfilled my mission."

Shen Long took out a White Spirit Beast Bag and handed it to Bai Yuxian.

Bai Yuxian opened the White Spirit Beast Bag, and a beam of white light flew out, landing on the ground and revealing a snow-white spider, which was the Snow Crystal Spider.

"It's finally hatched! Thank you for your hard work, Fellow Daoist Shen."

Bai Yuxian said.

"Yu Xian, Fellow Daoist Shen must have expended a lot of resources to hatch this Insect Eggs. You should at least show your appreciation; you can't let Fellow Daoist Shen's help go unrewarded."

Su Jianghai reminded him.

Bai Yuxian realized what was happening and said, "Yes, yes, Fellow Daoist Shen, it's my treat. Let's have a few drinks. This is just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it!"

He took out a yellow Storage Bag and handed it to Shen Long.

"No need, it was nothing. I have other things to take care of. See you again sometime."

Shen Long politely declined.

Favors are the hardest to repay. He deliberately delayed hatching the Snow Crystal Spider Insect Eggs for more than half a year, just to make Bai Yuxian owe him a favor. Of course, whether or not Bai Yuxian acknowledges this favor is up to him.

"Alright! Fellow Daoist Shen, if you need my help, please don't hesitate to ask."

Bai Yuxian said.

"Certainly, fellow Daoists, please wait."

Shen Long clasped his hands in a fist salute, said something, and turned to leave.

After leaving the Marketplace, Shen Long released the Snow Wind Sparrow Snow Wind Sparrow and walked onto its back.

The Snow Wind Sparrow let out a clear, sharp chirp, flapped its wings gently, and flew into the sky, quickly disappearing into the horizon.

······

The Green Python Mountain Range is located at the border of the Chu Kingdom and Wei Kingdom. It has 100,000 peaks of varying sizes. When viewed from above, the mountain range resembles a giant python coiled on the ground, hence its name.

In the middle of the mountain range, there is a Giant Valley surrounded by mountains on three sides. Outside the valley stands a Cyan Stone Stele more than ten feet high, with the three large characters "Green Python Valley" engraved on it.

This is Marketplace controlled by the Golden Flame Sect. Most of the people who come here are Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and high-level cultivators are rare.

A blue light appeared on the distant horizon, then stopped with a flash, revealing a blue-glowing flying boat. A handsome Blue-Shirted Youth stood aboard the Blue Flying Boat.

The Blue-Shirted Youth was indeed Shen Long, but he had altered his appearance using the Hundred Illusion Mask, making it difficult for cultivators of the same level to discern his true face.

He had already inquired and found out that the General Headquarters of the Golden Flame Sect was located in the Golden Flame Mountain Range, which was quite far from the Green Python Valley.

Shen Long came here this time to find the real culprit who killed his parents.

He made a hand seal, and the Blue Flying Boat slowly landed on the ground.

Shen Long put away the Blue Flying Boat and headed towards the Green Python Valley.

Upon entering the Green Python Valley, a wide and clean street comes into view, lined with shops on both sides, including medicine shops, weapon shops, Talisman shops, and more—everything you could want.

Shen Long occasionally went into some shops to inquire about the goods. After a short while, he appeared in a nine-story golden pavilion with the three large characters "Golden Flame Pavilion" written on the plaque. This was a shop opened by the Golden Flame Sect and was also the largest shop in the Marketplace.

Shen Long went inside, and came out in less than a quarter of an hour.

He had already found out that there were no things needed by Core Formation Cultivator here, such as Golden Core Jade Liquid and Third Rank Talisman. As a result, the chances of Core Formation Cultivator in the Marketplace were very low.

Shen Long's current task is to find his target and capture him.

He wandered Marketplace, rented a small courtyard house, and settled down.

For the next two months, Shen Long stayed in the Marketplace, strolling around every day and occasionally buying some cultivation resources. He seemed to be doing nothing out of the ordinary.

On this day, Shen Long was strolling around the street as usual. When he passed a fork in the road, a portly Yellow-Robed Elder walked towards him. His clothes had a Golden Flame pattern on them, which was the symbol of the Golden Flame Sect.

The Yellow-Robed Elder had a round face and small eyes, and a kind and approachable appearance.

Li Lei, a Dharma Protector elder of the Golden Flame Sect, possesses cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage stage.

Shen Long brushed past Li Lei, patting a White Spirit Beast Bag at his waist. It was Spirit-Tracking Beast Spirit-Tracking Beast, which he used to lock onto Divine Sense.

Shen Long quickly returned to his residence, changed his appearance and clothes, and hurriedly left, arriving at the street near the exit of the Marketplace.

There's a Teahouse not far away; the second floor offers a perfect view of the Marketplace exit.

Shen Long requested a private room on the second floor, ordered a pot of Spirit Tea, and greeted the waiter. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator named Xu Hao came over and led him to the private room. In fact, he had not made any other appointments with the other cultivators.

Shen Long opened the window and could clearly see the cultivators entering and Marketplace.

He sat down and picked up his teacup to drink.

Three days passed, and the Spirit Beast Bag containing the spirit Spirit-Tracking Beast shook slightly.

Shen Long's eyes lit up. He put down his teacup, paid the bill, and left.

Li Lei and a tall, thin young man in a red shirt walked towards the outside of the Marketplace, looking somewhat anxious, as if they had urgent business to attend to.

After leaving the Marketplace, Li Lei summoned a Yellow Flying Boat, which carried them into the sky.

Shen Long followed, summoning a Blue Flying Boat, and went after them.

He released the Hundred-Eyed Golden Cicada, which locked onto Li Lei's location.

After flying two hundred miles, Shen Long made a hand seal, and the Blue Flying Boat immediately emitted a dazzling blue light, giving chase.

In less than fifteen minutes, he caught up with Li Lei.

"Fellow Daoist Li, please wait."

Shen Long shouted loudly.

Li Lei frowned, made a hand seal, and the Yellow Flying Boat came to a stop.

"Fellow Daoist, what can I do for you?"

Li Lei asked in confusion. He didn't know the other party at all, but since the other party was only in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and this was the territory of the Golden Flame Sect, he didn't take it too seriously.

As Dharma Protector of the Golden Flame Sect, Li Lei had made the acquaintance of many Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and some of them asked him for favors.

"My name is Shi Yun, and I have a request."

Shen Long said politely, then opened his Divine Sense and scanned the surrounding dozens of miles, but found no one else.

Li Lei's expression softened, and he asked, "Fellow Daoist Shi, please speak freely."

"I would like to borrow the heads of two fellow Daoists."

As soon as Shen Long finished speaking, he patted a golden Spirit Beast Bag at his waist with his right hand. A buzzing sound rang out, and more than 50,000 Gold-Eating Ant flew out of the Spirit Beast Bag, spun around, and condensed into Golden Flying Knife, heading straight for Li Lei and the young man in red.

As the two tried to defend themselves, a sharp, piercing screech rang in their ears, like a heavy hammer blow to their heads, leaving them dizzy and disoriented.

By the time they came to their senses, a dense barrage of Golden Flying Knife had shattered their Body-Protecting Spirit Light, severed their hands, and caused them to bleed profusely. Their Storage Bag were also covered in Gold-Eating Ant.

Two large, shimmering nets descended from the sky, covering the two of them and quickly tightening to bind them.

They struggled desperately, but to no avail; without their hands, they couldn't even use their magical Law Artifact.

Shen Long released the Snow Wind Sparrow, which flew to their side, grabbed their bodies with its sharp claws, and flew towards the ground.

Shen Long put away the Yellow Flying Boat and then flew down to the ground.

"This is our Golden Flame Sect's territory. Who exactly are you? Our sect leader is Core Formation Cultivator."

Li Lei shouted loudly.

The incident happened suddenly. The opponent possessed the ability to use Divine Sense Attack, and he had no Divine Sense Attack Law Artifact Talisman to counter them, so he was instantly subdued.

Without wasting words, Shen Long sent the Snow Wind Sparrow into a cave, and he followed it inside.

Before long, they appeared in a cave that was about an acre in size.

The Snow Wind Sparrow released its claws, and the two fell to the ground, bleeding profusely.

Shen Long took out a Banner Flag that shimmered with white light, infused it with Law Power, and the banner immediately lit up with a white light. With a slight flick of his wrist, a large wave of bone-chilling cold swept out and struck Li Lei and the young man in red. Their bodies froze at a visible speed, turning into two ice sculptures.

Shen Long put away the Snow Wind Sparrow, came to their side, took out an Earth Escape Talisman, crushed it, and a Yellow Light Screen appeared, covering the three of them before disappearing underground.