Longevity Begins With Zongmen Handyman

Chapter 55: Cloud Illusion Mountain Range

Li An decided to first find Gu Hong, with two considerations in mind.

First, he must avoid the calamity facing Xuanyang Sect, as he would most likely perish if he were to encounter it.

Second, after leaving Xuanyang Sect, he must find a way forward for himself in advance.

In fact, it was most comfortable to live under the shade of the great tree that was Xuanyang Sect.

There was a stable monthly allowance, stable storefronts in the market to sell spiritual talismans, and security.

These were things that other places couldn't provide.

If he truly became a wandering cultivator, his income from selling talismans would likely plummet!

A storefront in the market was invaluable. Even those cultivation families outside could only have a few storefronts in the market. The fact that Li An could secretly sell talismans using Xuanyang Sect's storefronts was an important reason why he was able to cultivate steadily over the years.

Spirit stones were not lacking!

Moreover, having experienced his past life, Li An deeply understood how difficult the life of a wandering cultivator could be.

Constant fighting, ups and downs, living from hand to mouth, not even having a stable place to cultivate.

It was too risky!

If Xuanyang Sect were to fall and he hadn't made preparations in advance, he would have almost no way out!

Xuanyang Sect was located in the northern part of Dali, and apart from the three major Foundation Building forces, the rest were cultivation families at the Foundation Building stage. Would these forces dare to take him in? The Yin Yang Demon Sect had swept through many Foundation Building cultivation families. If they were to take in someone like Li An who had a deep grudge with the Demon Sect, it would be like courting death.

Even the likes of the Beast Sect and the Divine Sword Sect, even if they were willing to accept the "remnants" of Xuanyang Sect, they would definitely treat them as outsiders and exploit them to the fullest. They wouldn't risk a confrontation with him and the Demon Sect.

Just thinking about it was despairing.

After much consideration, he already had an idea in his mind.

But this idea needed to be verified.

That's why he decided to find Gu Hong.

For decades, this was the first time he had "gone on a long journey," but he was experienced and dressed himself in ordinary clothes, with an ugly appearance that clearly marked him as a low-level cultivator. He even used his cultivation to simulate a manic and sinister aura, giving people the feeling that he was not someone to be trifled with.

And because he avoided contact with others and stayed away from disputes along the way, he arrived safely.

Cuimoon Valley was nearly two hundred miles away from Qingyang Market. Three days later, Li An finally arrived.

Before him was a tranquil mountain valley, with extraordinary scenery and abundant spiritual energy, only slightly weaker than Qingyang Market.

There were protective formations arranged in the valley.

Li An had already returned to his original appearance and called out towards the valley from a distance.

Before long, a familiar figure had already come out to greet him. It was Gu Hong!

When she saw Li An, her face was filled with joy!

Although she was delighted, she still checked carefully from behind the formation to confirm that the person in front of her had no demonic aura and was not a transformed demonic cultivator. Only then did she open the protective formation and let Li An in.

"Fellow Daoist Li, why have you come?" she asked, walking up quickly.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, the matter you mentioned to Li An a few months ago, after much consideration, Li An has decided to accompany you to Cloud Illusion Mountain Range!" Li An smiled.

A trace of inexplicable emotion appeared in Gu Hong's eyes. The reason she hadn't set off all this time was because she had been looking for someone.

To go to Cloud Illusion Mountain Range, she needed to find a reliable person to accompany her.

But she had been writing to a senior martial brother for a long time, and that senior martial brother had yet to return, causing her great anxiety.

Now that Li An had arrived, she could finally set off.

"Brother Li, come, let's go see our master. He has wanted to meet you in person for over ten years."

Gu Hong spoke up and immediately led Li An to meet her master, Gu Songxi.

Gu Songxi was actually quite young, only a little over a hundred years old, and should have had another hundred years of life expectancy. However, his temples were already white, he looked thin and pale, and personally greeted Li An, pouring him a cup of tea.

This surprised Li An!

"Young friend, you saved Hong'er from the hands of the demonic cultivators back then, and also crafted talismans for me. Now you are willing to risk your life to venture into dangerous territory... Such great kindness and virtue, I will never forget!" Gu Songxi sighed emotionally. "Are you interested in learning the way of alchemy?"

Li An's heart stirred and he said, "I am somewhat interested, but unfortunately, I lack talent..."

"Even if you lack talent, with your character, there may still be hope!" Gu Songxi waved his hand. "If Li Young Friend doesn't mind, after you return, I am willing to pass on my alchemy skills to you. How about it?"

Li An quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Li An is fortunate!"

He knew very well that Gu Songxi's words were perhaps half sincere and half a promise to help Li An. But in the end, it was still a good thing.

Gu Songxi burst into laughter, and Gu Hong beside him was also very happy.

The few of them chatted leisurely.

Li An also roughly understood that Gu Songxi was injured by one of his senior martial sisters, which was related to some grudges within Gu Songxi's own sect.

Early the next morning, Li An set off with Gu Hong and headed for the Yunhuan Mountain Range.

...

The Yunhuan Mountain Range stretched endlessly, spanning tens of thousands of miles, almost across the entire Northern Region.

Half a month later, Li An and Gu Hong barely arrived at the outskirts of the Yunhuan Mountain Range.

The Yunhuan Mountain Range was rich in resources, with many spiritual herbs, mineral veins, and spiritual beasts. However, it was also very dangerous. It was said that even Gold Core cultivators had to think twice before entering the core area, and ordinary people could only explore the outskirts.

Along the way, Gu Hong revealed some information to Li An. Besides preparing alchemy pills, talismans, and treasures, her biggest confidence was a set of mobile arrays that could be activated at any time!

However, this set of arrays required at least two people to operate together, so she had been waiting for someone.

She was well-prepared, and Li An was reassured.

After entering the Yunhuan Mountain Range, they encountered more spiritual herbs and spiritual beasts along the way. In just three days, Li An had already harvested three top-grade spiritual herbs.

They also encountered several Qi Refining mid to late-stage spiritual beasts. Li An barely made a move in front of Gu Hong, a Foundation Building expert.

On the fourth day, they encountered a second-stage early-stage spiritual leopard. After a bloody battle, the leopard retreated. Li An and Gu Hong wasted many talismans and runes.

On the sixth day, they finally arrived at Gu Hong's destination—

It was a bare mountain peak, very conspicuous in the green forest. The mountain only had some unknown yellow weeds and shrubs growing on it. Halfway up the mountain, there was a pitch-black cave.

"There should be a spring of yellow springs within this mountain. The Elemental Soul Beast most likely guards it," Gu Hong said. "This beast has a powerful soul and keen perception. It is also skilled in soul attacks. You and I need to protect ourselves with Soul-Sealing Talismans and repel its attacks with Thunderbolt Talismans. After getting close, we can use the array to kill it—"

Li An nodded in agreement.

But suddenly, he turned his head and looked towards a certain place in the forest.

Gu Hong was only slightly slower than Li An and also turned her head. She saw a man and a woman walking out of the forest.

The woman appeared to be in her forties, wearing a red dress that was very alluring, exuding a mature charm. The man, on the other hand, looked very young, probably in his twenties, with a face that showed signs of exhaustion, and sunken eye sockets.

"Are you two Fellow Daoists planning to kill the Elemental Soul Beast?" The woman took the initiative to speak, smiling. "We also have the same intention. Shall we go together?"

...

(End of this chapter)