Another simulation

"How could there be a Buddhist Cultivator south of the Yangtze? How could Mu Suli be here?"

For no apparent reason, Li Fuchan felt a chill sweep across his scalp. He instinctively reached up to touch it, and only relaxed a little when he found his hair still there.

With a single glance from Mu Suli, the earth for a hundred miles around became Buddhist Land, and the heavens shone with Golden Light. Humans and demons alike became devotees of the Buddhist Cultivator. How could he not fear such divine power?

Only after he finally steadied his mind did he notice something amiss.

"Li Thunder" did not respond. Was that because he had yet to achieve Attaining the Dao?

The thought flashed through his mind, then he cast it aside.

Even if Mu Suli had yet to achieve Attaining the Dao, he was still a Buddhist Cultivator at the pinnacle of Inner Vision. "Li Thunder" would never fail to respond merely because he had not achieved Attaining the Dao.

It seems he must have done something when he achieved Attaining the Dao for Li Thunder to mark him down as an Evil Spirit.

At this moment, Li Fuchan urgently needed somewhere safe to settle.

He swept his peripheral vision over the six Demonic Cultivators eyeing him like hungry tigers, and the venomous ferocity he had only just suppressed surged back into his eyes.

If he wanted to secure the patronage and protection of an aristocratic clan as a man without standing, arriving at their door with these six Demonic Cultivators' heads would naturally be the finest calling card.

Granted, a band of Demonic Cultivators taking up the business of buying and reselling was truly laughable.

But their leader was a genuine Outer Scenery cultivator, difficult to kill or wound, difficult to catch or contend with. Against such a figure, even with the innate advantage of Thunder Arts that held the upper hand over him, Li Fuchan was decidedly no match. Moreover, the other five were all Demonic Cultivators who had reached full mastery of Aperture Opening. One or two of them might well possess unusual tricks.

"Fellow Daoist."

Li Hua's spiritual perception had already locked onto Li Fuchan. At the slightest unusual movement, he could kill him on the spot, allowing him no chance to wield the Thunderbolt. Earlier, he had only been briefly bluffed because he did not want to cause too great a disturbance.

Now that the lamb had entered the tiger's jaws, he could not let this man escape again.

Overseas cultivators really are outrageously brazen. A practitioner of Thunder Arts actually dared venture alone onto Great Night Lake.

As he was thinking this, a voice transmission suddenly sounded in his ear.

Li Hua looked at Li Fuchan, whose head remained lowered. After a moment's hesitation, he replied, "What advice do you have?"

Li Fuchan transmitted, "I am willing to offer a treasure. All I ask is to keep my Life Force."

An overseas cultivator, and a practitioner of the ancient path at that. He might truly have something valuable. But I cannot rule out the possibility that he means to lure me into a trap and kill me.

Li Hua's gaze discreetly swept over the other five.

When this scene fell into Li Fuchan's eyes, the suspicion in his heart immediately solidified:

An Outer Scenery cultivator who gathered five Aperture Opening Demonic Cultivators, yet only wanted to do some buying and reselling. Earlier on the lakeshore, I showed just a hint of ferocity, and he immediately backed far away, afraid of getting involved or causing a disturbance. Later, when I suddenly boarded the deck, all he wanted was to quell the trouble and placate me for the time being. Such cautious, timid behavior—he is undoubtedly a truly unaffiliated Demonic Cultivator, with no backing behind him. And he is not of one mind with these five, either. What a rare find.

"I can secure you a legitimate opportunity to trade at the Lakeside Market."

"Oh?" Li Hua's eyes stirred slightly. "Are you related to some clan's young master?"

"I will need a few calling cards."

"Heh."

Li Hua chuckled, his voice turning cold. "Exactly how many pieces?"

"Neither more nor less than five."

The smile remained on Li Hua's face, but his tone grew heavier. "Why should I trust you?"

Li Fuchan raised his eyes.

"Lightning. Li Thunder."

Li Hua's pitch-black eyes met his gaze squarely, only to find the other man's pupils a deep, heavy gray-black, as though filled with dense thunderclouds. Deep within those clouds, a bolt of lightning trembled faintly, poised to fall.

"Household Head, an Outer Scenery rogue cultivator has come seeking your patronage."

"Oh?" Ning Xiangyi set down his brush and raised his eyes. "Ji Hai, if you have come to report this personally, the man must be unusual."

Huang Jihai bowed. "He brought the heads of five Demonic Cultivators—the very band that attacked Eastwood Market not long ago. He has also handed over all their storage pouches."

"How curious." Ning Xiangyi's gaze sharpened slightly. "What does he want?"

Huang Jihai replied, "He asks to become a retainer of the Ning Family, seeking a safe place to live. And... permission to trade at the Lakeside Market."

Ning Xiangyi had become Household Head at thirteen. His talent was mediocre, and his cultivation had stopped at Aperture Opening, yet he served the Immortal Sect above and governed the common people below. The various clans were playthings in his hands, and all four branches respected and obeyed him. Twenty-six years had passed since then. With his deep reserves and formidable cunning, several suspicions naturally occurred to him at once.

Most likely an internecine fight among Demonic Cultivators, the big fish eating the little shrimp. Now he has come to the Ning Household to escape trouble and become a fish in our pond. But I fear this fish is a vicious creature we cannot keep, lest he devour the others.

Having turned the thought over, he returned his gaze to the documents on his desk and casually instructed, "Go through those Storage Bags and take inventory. Keep what we can use. Return what we cannot, or convert it into Spirit Stones for him. Give him some Pills and ten Spirit Talismans as well, and ask whether there is any weapon he wants. Have him take a letter from me to Eastwood Market and visit Senior Gu Liuru, requesting that he personally forge something... then tell him to leave."

"Household Head..."

Ning Xiangyi gently raised his head and looked at Huang Jihai, who stood below the steps and was already past fifty. His eyes narrowed, and a trace of a smile surfaced on his face. "Our household may be poor, but we can still afford your share, Ji Hai. If there is anything you want, you need only say so. There is no need to have an outsider promise it to you."

At these words, Huang Jihai shuddered all over, as though plunged into an ice cellar. Cold sweat streamed down him, and he dropped to his knees with a thud, saying frantically, "Please hear me out, Household Head! I have not accepted so much as a fraction of a bribe. It is only that this rogue cultivator has written out his cultivation method from memory and offered it as well."

Ning Xiangyi frowned slightly, rose, and descended the steps. He helped Huang Jihai up himself and asked, "What cultivation method?"

Huang Jihai hurriedly presented a booklet with both hands.

The Purple Firmament Thunder-Script Treasure Talisman Register.

Ning Xiangyi leafed through it, and understanding gradually dawned on his face. His tone softened considerably. "So it is Li Thunder. This path suppresses evil and upholds righteousness. In that case, I was overthinking things."

He set the booklet down and gave a new instruction. "Ji Hai, bring him to see me."

"Yes," Huang Jihai promptly answered, then hurried away.

Li Fuchan met Ning Xiangyi, who sought to win him over with a few deft words.

After all, cultivators of the ancient path were rare, especially those of a Dao Lineage as uncommon as Li Thunder. There was no need to fear that Li Fuchan was some villain or had dealings with Demonic Cultivators. Otherwise, Li Thunder would have struck him dead first.

Several times during their conversation, Ning Xiangyi praised him. Li Fuchan merely smiled faintly without answering, swallowing his tea along with the lightning that surged into his mouth.

Behave yourself. I even dared strike at a Wisdom King—how could I truly cooperate with a devil who had consumed Blood Qi? Everything I am doing is for your sake!

Afterward, the cultivation method and storage pouches were appraised for a total of twenty-two spirit stones. When the subject of weapons arose, he unceremoniously requested a handwritten letter from Huang Jihai, intending to visit Master Gu and have an Enchanted Sword forged.

Huang Jihai then led him to the separate residence the Ning Family had prepared for him. He set up a few restrictions, used illuminating light to burrow underground, and excavated a small chamber. Only then did he sink his consciousness into the depths of his soul.

The strand of Tribulation Qi being worn away by Li Thunder had already dwindled by more than half. In less than half a month, the work would be complete.

Looking at the three clearly manifested scenes, three identical images of death, Li Fuchan plunged into one without another word.

(An extra chapter—please keep reading!!!)