Corpse Sect.
In the center of the gloomy square, five human heads swayed on a stone pillar two zhang high. Although the flesh of these heads had already withered, they still retained the pain and fear from before death.
Beneath the heads on the gray stone, several puddles of dried black blood remained.
"I never thought someone ranked fifth among the Seven Martial Wraiths would end up like this, truly unlucky." Several disciples passed by from the side. Someone looked up at one of the heads and couldn't help but sigh.
"Unlucky? He deserved it. The Thousand Mechanisms Guide is so precious, yet he actually lost it. If you ask me, even dying a hundred times wouldn't be too much for him."
"Yes, I heard that the Great Elder was nearly driven mad with anger at the time. The venerable elder was preparing to use the Thousand Mechanisms Guide to capture that escapee, but unexpectedly this idiot actually gave the Thousand Mechanisms Guide to the other party. It would be hard not to die!"
"Better he's dead. This way, another position among the Seven Martial Wraiths has opened up. This year, perhaps we'll have a chance too." The person walking on the far left sneered and said.
"Hahaha, Brother Wang is right. Speaking of which, we really should thank that Qin Shouren for helping us eliminate numbers five and seven."
"Shh, are you trying to get yourself killed? Speak softer."
"Yes, yes, I was too careless."
That person was startled upon hearing this and quickly looked around to make sure no outsiders heard. Only then did he relax and quietly asked Brother Wang, "Brother Wang, do you know how that matter is progressing now?"
Hearing this, the others also turned to look at 'Brother Wang'.
Brother Wang glanced at them, stopped walking, gathered them together, and said solemnly, "I'll secretly tell you. It's said that even the Sect Leader personally came out of seclusion for this matter. After discussing, they dispatched Martial Four, Martial Three, and Martial Two, three senior brothers to jointly handle this matter. Additionally, the Thousand Mechanisms Hall is also fully assisting..."
"What about First Senior Brother?"
"First Senior Brother? Hah, you think too highly of that Qin Shouren. First Senior Brother is attempting to break through that legendary thirteenth..."
"Heavens, the thirteenth!"
"..."
At Cloud Mist Mountain, on a hidden ancient tree in the outer area.
After two hours in the outside world and nearly two days of recovery in the Time Hall, Lu Li had finally rested enough. His True Qi had completely recovered. He slightly moved his body and immediately felt refreshed and invigorated.
Having recovered, Lu Li wasn't in a hurry to leave. Instead, he began planning for the future.
Although his current realm had reached the seventh level of Qi Refining, his life-preserving trump cards were still somewhat lacking. His brute strength and Gale Steps weren't bad, but Gale Steps also consumed too much True Qi. After a major battle, if he encountered strong enemies again, he would have almost no ability to fight back.
The most common life-preserving items during the Qi Refining period were talismans, followed by various endless techniques. However, casting techniques also consumed True Qi, so... in the end, talismans were still the most useful thing for him.
Given his current realm, low-tier and mid-tier talismans were already ineffective. That meant he could only seek high-tier talismans.
But the price of high-tier talismans was truly too high. A single ordinary technique-type talisman cost three hundred True Essence Pills. Even though he still had nearly twenty thousand True Essence Pills on him, he still felt it was somewhat painful to spend.
After thinking it over, Lu Li felt it was time to put cultivating the Great Evolution Forbidden Arts on the agenda.
The first chapter of the Great Evolution Forbidden Arts explained the path of talisman patterns, which was also the foundation chapter of the Great Evolution Forbidden Arts. Presumably, cultivating forbidden formation arts in the future would also be inseparable from this path of talisman patterns.
No sooner said than done.
Lu Li immediately entered the Time Hall again, took out the Great Evolution Forbidden Arts, and began contemplating it.
First Chapter: Hundred Explanations of Talisman Forbidden Arts.
It described common knowledge about various talisman inscriptions and the inscription methods for various talismans.
According to the book, the essential items for inscribing talismans were spirit paper, talisman brushes, demon beast essence blood, and various attribute True Qi. Normally, talismans with attribute attacks required corresponding True Qi.
For example, for a Fireball, besides requiring fire-attribute demon beast essence blood, fire-attribute True Qi also needed to be injected during inscription. This way, those geniuses with single spiritual roots were actually at a disadvantage in the path of talisman creation.
Some people also tried having others help inject True Qi when inscribing talismans, but this approach almost always ended in failure.
Seeing this, Lu Li couldn't help but think somewhat proudly, "It seems my chaotic, messy spiritual roots still have some use."
However, when he saw the introductions about spirit paper, talisman brushes, and demon beast essence blood, Lu Li's expression turned bitter.
He didn't know where to find spirit paper, didn't know what a talisman brush looked like, and didn't know how to refine demon beast essence blood.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel somewhat annoyed. If he had been more decisive back then and seized the essence blood refinement method from the female cultivator at the Dihu Town gathering, perhaps he wouldn't have this current trouble.
Of course, he was just thinking. If he truly encountered the same situation again, he wasn't sure he could bring himself to do it.
"Maybe... go to the cultivator market and take a look?"
At this point, Lu Li could only think of this one solution.
He took out a tattered map and looked at it. He discovered this place was already almost at the southernmost part of Eastern Province. Past this Cloud Mist Mountain and several hundred li further south was already the territory of Cloud Province.
If he were to return to the central Jinyang Cultivator Market in Eastern Province now, not to mention the time consumed, he was more worried about encountering people from the Corpse Sect.
Although the Corpse Sect's searching hawks hadn't been seen these past few days, the other party might not have given up pursuing him. If he were to return, it would be too risky.
But if he didn't go to Jinyang Cultivator Market, where should he go instead? Lu Li immediately found himself in a dilemma.
"If only I had a map marking where cultivator markets are."
Looking at the map in his hand, Lu Li thought somewhat gloomily. This map was too simplistic; it was just a map used by mundane people. It had no markings about cultivation markets on it at all.
"Hehe, today's harvest is truly not bad. I actually encountered an injured mid-tier red fox. This fur should be worth over a dozen True Essence Pills. What's more important is that I got ten Buddha-Heart Fruits. I can rest well for a month now."
Suddenly, rustling footsteps and a rough male voice reached Lu Li's ears.
"Yes, Big Brother. Speaking of which, I was the one who discovered those Buddha-Heart Fruits first." A voice that seemed to be claiming credit followed immediately.
"Brother Yushan's contribution in this matter is indeed not small. Big Brother, what do you think... maybe we should divide the things here? If we divide them outside, we might attract envious eyes." Another male voice also rang out.
It sounded like three people were speaking.
Hearing the sounds, Lu Li quickly withdrew from the Time Hall and carefully looked down. It turned out to be a bare-chested burly man and two slender youths slowly walking toward the big tree where Lu Li was.
It seemed that burly man was the 'Big Brother' mentioned by the two.
Lu Li glanced at the God-Concealing Jade at his waist and found the spiritual light had already disappeared. He quickly injected True Qi into it again, then tilted his head to continue watching the group.
Judging by their tone, they seemed to frequently appear in this Cloud Mist Mountain. Perhaps he could learn some useful information from them...
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