The Mirror Legacy

Chapter 591: Starry Night Over The Cloudy Sea (I)

Chapter 591: Starry Night Over The Cloudy Sea (I)

Tu Longjian, dressed in black, lowered the long hammer resting on his shoulder and stored it in his storage pouch before stepping forward. He glanced at Li Yuanjiao and thought to himself, Back then, I only saw the light of this artifact but never met this benefactor in person. It's possible he was already killed and the artifact was taken. I'll need to test him carefully to avoid any mistakes.

He stepped forward, cupped his fist slightly, and greeted softly, "Greetings, fellow Daoist!"

The figure shrouded in the Profound Patterned Spirit Mist remained highly alert, immediately putting away the jade bottle and turning toward Tu Longjian. A slightly hoarse voice emerged from within the mist, "I have gathered enough of this fire baleful qi. The rest is yours."

He seemed unwilling to cause trouble and gave a short response before turning to leave. But Tu Longjian couldn't let him go so easily. He stepped forward again, smiling as he said, "Fellow Daoist, do you recall the heir of Slaughter Jun? We met briefly on the borders of Profound Peak back then."@@@@

Tu Longjian kept his words vague, fearing the man might have killed his benefactor and stolen the artifact. The figure in the mist paused briefly and asked doubtfully, "You... are Tu Longjian? You have already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm!"

Hearing this, Tu Longjian did not relax his guard. Many people knew his name. He cautiously replied, "Senior, do you recall the spell I carried with me back then? What kind of spell was it?"

Li Yuanjiao hesitated for a moment. He of course remembered the Yang Nourishing Technique, a spell his family had used to convert Long Marching Fire Essence into a usable Grade Four cultivation method. Using a slightly uncertain tone, he replied, "Yang Nourishing Technique?"

"Ha!" At this confirmation, Tu Longjian finally felt sure he was speaking to the right person. Genuine joy lit up his face as he exclaimed, "Senior, I have been searching for you everywhere!"

The Profound Patterned Spirit Mist around Li Yuanjiao's figure dissipated slightly, revealing his appearance. He studied Tu Longjian carefully for a moment before saying softly, "Your accomplishments now are a continuation of Slaughter Jun Dao lineage. That is a good thing."

Rather than emphasizing the favor he had done, Li Yuanjiao chose to highlight his connection to the Slaughter Jun Dao lineage. After all, the reason he had spared Tu Longjian back then was due to his ties to the Dao lineage. Hearing this, Tu Longjian's eyes reddened slightly. He nodded and said, "Indeed. If my master and elders could see the man I have become today, they would surely smile. That would be enough for me."

After a brief pause, Tu Longjian retrieved a reddish token from his robes. Black on the top and red on the bottom, its flowing lines caused Li Yuanjiao to narrow his eyes slightly. Tu Longjian gently held the token aloft, performing a hand seal as he activated it, and asked, "May I ask senior's name?"

The fire baleful qi immediately surged toward the token, pouring into it in a steady stream. Within a few breaths, the baleful qi was completely absorbed. Tu Longjian put the token away, and only then did Li Yuanjiao fully disperse the mist concealing his face.

"Li Yuanjiao," he answered.

The grotto heaven was incredibly dangerous, so it was impossible for Li Yuanjiao to bring the Immortal Mirror inside. Without saying much, he handed the artifact to her and said softly, "There may be Purple Mansion Realm cultivators guarding the perimeter of the island. Be vigilant."

Li Qinghong understood Li Yuanjiao's concern: using the Immortal Mirror to detect spirit treasures could appear as though she possessed foreknowledge, potentially arousing suspicion. She nodded and replied softly, "I understand."

Li Yuanjiao took off, soaring into the sky and gradually disappearing. Li Qinghong remained at her post amidst the waves for a while before returning to her temporary dwelling on the sea.

Li Yuanjiao's errand took only a few hours, and he soon returned to Green Pine Island. He found Tu Longjian holding a golden hammer in one hand and a small storage pouch in the other, examining it carefully.

A headless corpse kneeled before Tu Longjian, its body covered in green spots emitting a strong pine-like fragrance. In the brief moment since Li Yuanjiao landed, the spots had begun sprouting, growing into small branches and leaves.

As Li Yuanjiao descended, Tu Longjian cupped his fist slightly and said, "An unwise fool crossed my path earlier. I have already dealt with him."

He chuckled and added, "The grotto heaven is about to manifest, and the activity in the great void will surely be spectacular. Even if a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator dies, it will not cause much of a stir, which saves us from drawing unnecessary attention."

Li Yuanjiao nodded, glancing at the corpse. Whatever anomaly the body had caused had been suppressed, leaving no clue of the deceased's cultivation level. Tu Longjian approached with a cheerful expression and said, "Senior, why not walk with me around the island?"

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At the edge of the island, Li Xuanfeng stood silently in midair, holding his bow without speaking. On the ground below, Zhong Qian and Kan Ziyu were carefully arranging a formation. Nearby, Lin Chensheng hovered in the air, observing quietly.

Lacking knowledge of formations, both Li Xuanfeng and Lin Chensheng merely waited. Zhong Qian and Kan Ziyu remained deeply focused on their work. Suddenly, Lin Chensheng's low voice echoed in Li Xuanfeng's ears, "Daoist Xuanfeng, are you a branch of Daoist Master Yuan Su's lineage?"

Li Xuanfeng remained unmoved, responding softly with a voice carried by mana, "That is correct. May I ask where you are from?"

Lin Chensheng's expression remained calm as he replied, "I am the nephew of Daoist Master Houfu."