Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The Mystery of Time

Putting this matter aside, Li Jizhou took out the Jade Talisman from the Celestial Secret Pavilion.

Free information from the previous season was given.

The second-tier intelligence report covered the powers within a range of ten thousand miles around Inverted Mountain.

The main focus was still on information about Inverted Mountain, followed by cultivation families near Inverted Mountain, like the Yang family by Qingshui River where Big Bull Wu resides, and the Zhao family by Twin Lakes where Zhao Qian is.

Besides Inverted Mountain, the largest power in the area belongs to the Wang family of Fenglin, one of the five major families of Qi Kingdom!

Last quarter’s report had a significant portion dedicated to information about the Wang family.

The Wang family marketplace was harassed by the Demon Sect, with heavy losses suspected to be related to remnants of the Yu family from five hundred years ago.

Fortunately, the Wang family’s ancestor emerged, driving back strong enemies and securing the marketplace.

However, there are rumors that the Wang family ancestor was injured as a result and had a significant reduction in lifespan.

“The Yu family…”

Li Jizhou shook his head slightly.

As a child, he often heard his father talk about past events in the cultivation realm and was somewhat aware of the Yu family.

It is said that eight hundred years ago, the Thunder Flame Sect of Qi Kingdom was at its peak, overwhelming the entire national cultivation realm.

At that time, the Thunder Flame Sect had absolute control, enforcing strict laws and making the entire nation bow down with little room for rebellion.

The entire territory of Qi Kingdom was under Thunder Flame Sect’s jurisdiction, and although all cultivators in Qi Kingdom had to pay taxes to the sect, it was indeed safe, as long as you did not offend the major powers, you could live out your remaining years peacefully.

Even though resources were heavily monopolized by the Thunder Flame Sect, and the gap between the wealthy and poor was enormous, there were still many low-level cultivators who were grateful to it.

Until that man’s appearance, overturning mountains and leading to the downfall of the Thunder Flame Sect!

Legend has it that Daoist Venerable Mo Li was a loose cultivator from Qi Kingdom two thousand years ago, who somehow fostered a life-and-death enmity with the Thunder Flame Sect, and after twelve hundred years, achieved the state of Divinity Transformation.

Then he returned from the Central Domain to Qi Kingdom, annihilated the Thunder Flame Sect, avenging a two-thousand-year-old grievance.

As for the Yu family, their past prosperity was due to the granddaughter of the ninth generation of the Thunder Flame Sect’s ancestor marrying into the Yu family.

In those days, the Yu family was akin to royalty, exerting influence subtly overshadowing the three major sects.

But after the Thunder Flame Sect’s downfall, the three sects of Qi Kingdom, along with the remaining five major families, claimed to conclude karmic retribution for Daoist Venerable Mo Li and pursued the Yu family relentlessly!

After a century of hunting, the remnants of the Yu family fled abroad and disappeared without a trace.

The intelligence report vaguely hinted that the Yu family might have joined the Demon Dao!

“Eight hundred years… The once magnificent Thunder Flame Sect has ultimately faded away with time!”

“If the Yu family has joined the Demon Dao, could the remaining descendants come to Inverted Mountain?”

Looking through the information about the Wang family of Fenglin, Li Jizhou let his mind roam to this possibility.

After all, it’s said that eight hundred years ago, when Daoist Venerable Mo Li annihilated the sects of the mountain, the tremendous divine might of Divinity Transformation instantly reduced tens of thousands of Thunder Flame Sect disciples to ashes.

Being the pinnacle force dominating Qi Kingdom’s cultivation realm for over millennia, the Thunder Flame Sect had many resources within, and its treasures, rare wonders were all buried in that catastrophe.

The three sects and five great families, perhaps deterred by Daoist Venerable Mo Li’s might, have never coveted, even strictly forbidding their disciples from setting foot within even half a step of Inverted Mountain,

And ordinary loose cultivators struggle to withstand the lingering divine might left by Daoist Venerable Mo Li on Inverted Mountain, leaving the Thunder Flame Sect’s sect site suppressed by Inverted Mountain and still sealed away for eight hundred years.

“There must be opportunities for Foundation Establishment and Core Formation inside, possibly even Nascent Soul opportunities… If the remnants of the Yu family get their hands on the treasure trove, they could have the strength to avenge their past extermination!”

With these thoughts, Li Jizhou furrowed his brow slightly.

The Yu family coming to Inverted Mountain was certain, the only uncertainty was the timing.

Once they arrive, chaos will undoubtedly engulf Inverted Mountain.

Moreover, even if the Yu family doesn’t come, the treasure trove of the Thunder Flame Sect remains, making this place a powder keg.

It could explode at any moment!

“Leave as soon as possible!”

Li Jizhou was tempted by the treasure trove of the Thunder Flame Sect, but considering the dangers and the conflicts of interest from various parties, he had long decided to give it up in his heart.

After analyzing the information about the Yu and Wang families, Li Jizhou went on to focus on the information within Inverted Mountain.

Last quarter, eighteen individuals approached Jade Moon Lake at the bottom of Inverted Mountain, including two Fake Pills, nine Foundation Establishment Peak, five Foundation Establishment Middle Stage with dwindling lifespans, and two Late Stage of Qi Cultivation Peak with dwindling lifespans.

There was an increase compared to the previous quarter.

Without exception, three days later, their corpses floated to the surface of Jade Moon Lake in a state of terror.

In addition, there were 26 combat incidents in the inner city of Inverted Mountain last quarter, resulting in 4 deaths and 38 injuries.

The outer city saw 107 combat incidents, with over a hundred dead and injured!

An increase of twenty percent compared to the previous quarter…

Finally, there was a summary of fights that occurred after leaving Inverted Mountain in the chaotic lands outside.

The data is astounding.

Following the information, there were also some strange people and events.

[The loose cultivator Duan Tianxing, who occupied the Clear Wind Dojo in the inner city of Inverted Mountain, strongly repelled the Fake Pill cultivator Zhou Qilong who came to claim the dojo, with his greatest card revealed to be a Quasi-Third Tier Vajra puppet, offensive and defensive!]

[Guo, a loose cultivator from Cuiyuan Residence in the inner city, failed at Core Formation, his foundation severely damaged, he left Inverted Mountain overnight, destination unknown, leaving Cuiyuan Residence occupied by a mysterious loose cultivator!]

[The direct disciple of the longest-residing loose cultivator Fang Daoji in the inner city had his Spirit Root revealed, suspected to be a Celestial Spirit Root!]

…

Besides these, there were also some gossip and amusing anecdotes.

[Embarrassing the Immortals! The Yang family by the Qingshui River, to bolster family population, secretly drugged their son-in-law Immortal to encourage more births!]

[A Joyful Union Sect woman hosting a tournament to find a husband, and surprisingly, no man dared to respond, lamenting the city had no male courage!]

[The Pill Cauldron Pavilion’s escort team, a hundred miles outside Inverted Mountain, was ambushed by cultivators, suffering heavy losses, the Protecting Elder also flighted far away in defeat!]

The bottom of the intelligence report also contained information released by organizations or individuals, including teaming up to explore secret realms, issuing missions, finding Dao companions, and accepting disciples, grouped and varied.

Having browsed through the quarterly intelligence report, Li Jizhou gained a clearer understanding of his surroundings.

No longer worrying unnecessarily, he devoted himself to cultivation wholeheartedly!

Seven days later, Chen Yuankang knocked on the door.

“Xiaoli, thank you for carrying me back, here’s a little token of my gratitude, please accept it.” Chen Yuankang’s injuries were not completely healed, and he took out a Demon Beast hind leg from his storage bag.

“Senior Chen, you’re too kind, I was just paid five taels of Spiritual Sand by Pharmacist Zheng.” Li Jizhou waved with a smile, with his past life experience of Foundation Establishment Peak, he did not plan to form too many unnecessary personal relations before the Foundation Establishment Stage.

“Ah! One thing is separate from another, what Pharmacist Zheng gave you is his, I naturally have to thank you, take it!” Chen Yuankang insisted on handing the Spiritual Flesh to Li Jizhou.

“Thank you very much, Senior Chen.” Li Jizhou accepted the spiritual meat with gratitude.

“Haha, alright, keep cultivating, once I’m healed, I’ll treat you to a drink.” Chen Yuankang left with a smile.

It seemed Chen Yuankang needed more time to recover, during this period, Li Jizhou felt a greater sense of security.

Time flew by,

half a year later…

Li Jizhou suddenly opened his eyes.

“It’s that feeling again!”

As of today, he had been cultivating for exactly two years!

He just felt the same obscure sensation as he did a year ago.

This sensation had never occurred during his cultivation in the previous life.

“There was no breakthrough, and my Spiritual Sense hasn’t advanced greatly… What on earth is it?” His Spiritual Sense examined every part of his body.

A year ago, that feeling perplexed him and after much introspection he ultimately dismissed it as an illusion.

But this time, he was certain that the feeling he just experienced was genuine!

There must be something special.

Again and again, this time Li Jizhou meticulously examined himself inwardly, from the outer layer of skin and flesh, to the internal organs…

“Hmm? This is…”

Suddenly, just as Li Jizhou was beginning to think he might not find anything, he noticed something in the deepest part of his Dantian!

In the depths of his Dantian, filled with vibrant wood-attributed Spiritual Qi, were two faint green rings.

“Growth rings?”

They were strikingly similar to the growth rings of ancient trees.

In an instant, realization dawned on Li Jizhou, that corresponds with the feeling from a year ago!

“If I hadn’t looked carefully, these rings, identical in color to the Eternal Spring Magical Power, would be hard to notice!”

No wonder they have life-extending capabilities!

The complete Evergreen Skill really is extraordinary.

Growth rings involve the mystery of age, and age touches the Time Law,

This technique, directly points to the Great Dao!

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