Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Authority Lost

Wu Daniu focused on describing his experiences over the past three years.

Between the lines, it was evident that he experienced numerous close calls and repeatedly found himself mentally unbalanced, with even some regret.

Several times, if not for the thought of his wives and children at home, he would have faked death and fled.

Li Jizhou resonated deeply with this; in a past life, he too had been coerced by power, and entangled by emotional ties.

Those ties brought happiness, warmth, and motivation, but more often they were responsibilities, worries, and… weaknesses!

This life was destined not to touch them again!

After recounting the three years of experiences, Wu Daniu mentioned the Yang family’s three hundredth clan celebration again.

He stated that the disputes over the past three years made the Yang family’s leadership more determined to organize the celebration grandly. Even if it required some cost, they wanted to invite fellows from all over to the Yang family.

Li Jizhou understood that the Yang family wanted to use this to intimidate others by showcasing power.

According to calculations, it would be in another year and a half.

Wu Daniu invited Li Jizhou once more, saying the Yang family’s patriarch had given each family member a task, and if they could invite friends with strength and status, there would be hefty rewards.

He also mentioned that Lin Caiwei and Zhao Qian had already confirmed their attendance and hoped Li Jizhou would also come. At that time, the four of them who started from Inverted Mountain could reunite and share snippets of these past years.

Maybe they could even help each other a bit!

To this, Li Jizhou only gave a faint smile and let the topic pass.

The letter also mentioned something that piqued Li Jizhou’s interest.

The Thunder Spirit Crystal Ore issue garnered significant attention, and after the Qingshui River Yang family conflict ended, they too had plans.

A month ago, the Yang family specifically arranged for a Late Stage of Qi Cultivation elder to come to the southwest outer city of Inverted Mountain with several clan members.

They not only arranged for a few family members at the Early Stage of Qi Cultivation to try their luck at the Thunder Spirit Crystal Ore, but also rented shops in the southwestern outer city to sell Spirit Fish.

In the letter, Wu Daniu emphasized that if Li Jizhou was willing, he could contact the Yang family shop to find the elder he had pleaded with; Li Jizhou only needed to reach the Qi Cultivation Second Level’s perfection to be brought back to the Yang family next time.

He also mentioned that the Yang family’s third young lady went to Inverted Mountain,

vaguely hinting to Li Jizhou that she was the most beloved descendant of the Yang family’s patriarch; gaining her favor could lead to a bright future.

Originally, upon seeing Wu Daniu mention the Yang family elder could take him away from Inverted Mountain, Li Jizhou felt somewhat tempted.

After all, these families often entered and exited Inverted Mountain in groups with many people, and since it was from Wu Daniu’s family, the risk was relatively lower.

However, when he saw the information later about Yang Yutong, his initial interest extinguished instantly!

To avoid potential instability, he was unwilling to have further interactions with Ye Jingyu and Yang Yutong.

At the end of the letter, Wu Daniu tactfully inquired whether Li Jizhou had reached Qi Cultivation Second Level’s perfection and mentioned that Lin Caiwei had reached Third-level Perfection of Qi Cultivation and was preparing to break through to the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation in the next couple of years. If all went well, perhaps she could enter the Fourth Level of Qi Cultivation after the Yang family celebration!

Meanwhile, Zhao Qian, after returning to the Zhao family, with support from his father, the family head, had also been progressing quickly in his cultivation, reaching the Middle Stage of Third Level of Qi Cultivation half a year ago.

Furthermore, Wu Daniu’s letter expressed an intimate friendship with Zhao Qian, suggesting they had gotten along well in recent years.

“Cultivation is fundamental, procrastination is not an option!” Putting the letter aside, Li Jizhou sighed silently.

For three years, he had been distracted by practicing a fire attribute cultivation technique, indeed delaying the progress of his main practice, the Evergreen Skill.

Now he was still stuck in the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation Third Level, unexpectedly surpassed by Lin Caiwei.

Indeed, besides being distracted by practicing “Flame Phosphorus Skill,” the lack of sufficient and unstable Spiritual Qi here was a crucial reason.

However, there were both advantages and disadvantages.

At least now, with his talisman and poison technique, he had added a means of protection and an opportunity to leave Inverted Mountain.

Clearing his mind of distractions, Li Jizhou refrained from overthinking and returned to cultivating wholeheartedly!

Time leisurely passed over the span of three months.

The new season’s newsletter from the Celestial Secret Pavilion was updated.

During this time, Li Jizhou devoted himself to practicing the Evergreen Skill to elevate his realm; the rest of the time he focused on talismans, medicine and poison, and Body Refining with Melted Spirit Sand.

Time was relatively ample, allowing each pursuit without delay.

Temporarily pausing his cultivation, Li Jizhou used his Spiritual Sense to browse the newsletter jade slip.

“There’s no information regarding the mysterious realms within the Thunder Spirit Crystal Ore.”

This aligned with his deductions; those who obtained opportunities wouldn’t speak out, and those who didn’t had their memories erased and couldn’t say anything.

As he read, suddenly Li Jizhou sat upright.

[Two months ago, Master Lu and Master Zhuyuan had a huge fight, battling from the mining area all the way to the outer city, destroying several houses, and causing over a hundred deaths and injuries!]

[A month ago, Duan Tianxing, who claimed to be invincible under the Core Formation Realm of Inverted Mountain, unexpectedly ambushed an outsider Fake Pill Master, successfully seizing the Thunder Spirit Crystal he had just collected, and was ultimately hunted down by three Fake Pill Masters in collaboration deep into Inverted Mountain’s inner city, resulting in heavy casualties!]

[Half a month ago, due to disputes over the purchase of Thunder Spirit Crystals, two Masters clashed, battling from the mining area all the way to Inverted Mountain’s southern outer city area…]

This issue’s newsletter contents were evidently much more frenzied.

Li Jizhou immediately became alert.

“Daoist Venerable Mo Li’s authority is gradually disintegrating!”

Previously, powerful individuals at or above the Foundation Establishment Stage usually acted outside Inverted Mountain, clearly attempting to avoid challenging Daoist Venerable Mo Li’s authority.

Yet now, were these powerful figures acting so recklessly already?

“Is it that Daoist Venerable Mo Li’s authority is no longer, or have they just lost their reason?”

“Daoist Venerable Mo Li should have lived around two thousand years by now, with a lifespan of about two thousand five hundred years in the Divinity Transformation Stage; it shouldn’t be his time for demise, right?”

Regarding Daoist Venerable Mo Li, the thought flashed by in Li Jizhou’s mind, and he promptly discarded these thoughts, unwilling to dwell on individuals of such stature.

Having never reached such a realm, who knew what incomprehensible techniques and secret skills they might possess.

“I must prioritize leaving Inverted Mountain.”

Originally, he planned to accumulate more protective means and then safely leave by arranging as an Honored Guest Elder with the Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, but with such frequent big battles at Inverted Mountain involving important figures, the sense of urgency intensified.

However, towards the end of the newsletter, it seemed those prominent figures again reached some kind of consensus, temporarily restoring stability.

He thoroughly studied it once again, then put away the newsletter and headed straight to the Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion.

He needed to gauge Lu Zhenhua’s intentions!

“Brother, you are just in time, I just had a fortuitous opportunity for you!”

Just arriving at the Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion, Lu Zhenhua came out briskly to greet him.

“Brother Lu?” Li Jizhou was puzzled.

“Come, come, let’s talk in the loft!”

“Ling’e, bring the best tea!”

Soon after, Li Jizhou was pulled by Lu Zhenhua to the loft upstairs.

“Brother, I have a huge benefit to offer you now!”

“Please speak directly, Brother Lu!” Li Jizhou appropriately showed a look of pleasant surprise.

“The main pavilion has given me new authority to recruit deacons in Inverted Mountain at my discretion.” Lu Zhenhua proudly declared.

“Congratulations on your expanded authority, Brother Lu!” Li Jizhou stood up to offer congratulations.

“Hahaha, Brother, no need to be so formal, sit down.”

“Do you know what the monthly benefits of being a deacon in our Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion are?” Lu Zhenhua smiled craftily, keeping him in suspense.

“Could it be less than this amount?” Li Jizhou, pretending to be inexperienced, held up ten fingers.

Lu Zhenhua saw this, gave a deep, superior smile, slightly shook his head, and then used a fingertip wetted with tea to write the number fifteen on the table.

“So generous!” Li Jizhou feigned great astonishment.

“Hehe, if not, how could there be so many people eager to join?” Lu Zhenhua laughed heartily with pride.

“Originally, our Ten Thousand Talisman Pavilion had strict requirements for recruiting deacons, firstly requiring at least reaching the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, and secondly needing someone to vouch.

However, with me here, everything is manageable!”

After Lu Zhenhua finished, he looked at Li Jizhou with a smiling face.

How could Li Jizhou not know what he meant?

Handling matters required some benefits.

All these he understood and could accept.

It’s just that he didn’t want to be this so-called deacon!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep