Chapter 24: The Old Madam Was About to Divide the Luggage

The situation suddenly became very serious, extremely serious.

The Old Madam shut herself inside. She probably fell into deep self-doubt.

As for Ji Chang and Xu Shen, they even canceled their favorite daily activity of strolling outside to sunbathe at noon. No one knew what they were thinking.

Only Senior Sister Jiang had it bad, having to care for three little ones, guide two intermediate disciples in learning Dao Techniques, worry about her own master, and finally, worry if that repelled Demon Man would return.

The Floating Cloud Sect finally reached the point where it was about to disband and divide the luggage.

However, Li Si did not cause trouble. He even boldly walked around the deserted village during the brighter noon hours, and released the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl to scout the surroundings. Although it was the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl that attracted the Demon Man a few days ago, he couldn’t abandon all tasks just because of one risk.

Li Si did not forget that an Evil God Cultist escaped near the Northern Mountain the day before yesterday. Calculating the time, it should be about time for large groups of Evil God Cultists to come cause trouble.

He wondered if a calamity of this level would interest the Old Madam.

Alright, joking aside, with the Thunderlight Five-Calamity Slaughter Array there, he didn’t think the Evil God Cultists could pose much threat. Still, after some fighting, they would probably have to relocate their mountain sect once.

After walking around outside the village, Li Si retrieved the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl, frowning slightly. He had just searched a ten-kilometer radius around the village, including the valley in the Northern Mountain, but found nothing, not even traces of that Demon Man.

This was troublesome, as he couldn’t keep wandering outside the village. Releasing the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl inside the village would make him a fool.

After some thought, Li Si still risked several trips to the Western Mountain. It wasn’t for anything else—specifically to hunt Alien Trees and Anomalous Weeds, and also collect some Strange Stones and other Anomalous Weed seeds.

He had a purpose for doing this.

First, to store food. He wasn’t afraid of the Evil God Cultists coming. With the Thunderlight Five-Calamity Slaughter Array, unless they were particularly powerful, he could kill as many as came.

His main worry was that Demon Man which was originally a Golden Core cultivator.

That thing was formidable. Even the Thunderlight Five-Calamity Slaughter Array couldn’t kill it. If it just kept pestering them, what would they do then?

If they got trapped at their doorstep, the first problem would be hunger, especially since everyone’s Magic Power relied on these foods.

Second, Li Si was also subtly telling everyone through this method: I, Chief Li, have become stronger than before. This was just the right cover using that Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill.

Of course, Li Si came prepared. He had the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl and wasn’t afraid of sudden ambushes.

So, taking advantage of noon, the Floating Cloud Sect’s temporary lack of leadership, and Senior Sister Jiang being too busy to mind him, he strode out, making trip after trip to bring stuff back.

At this stage, hunting Anomalous Weeds and Alien Trees was nothing to him. What he lacked was a legitimate, open way to explain his improved strength, and that Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill came just at the right time.

Because now, probably even the Old Madam wouldn’t have the mind to consider his strength.

Let alone Senior Sister Jiang.

In any case, for most of the afternoon, Li Si went back and forth four times. He brought back a total of fifty-two Alien Trees, two hundred thirty-seven Anomalous Weeds, and also three Strange Stones weighing fifty jin each. With these, brewing the Great Soul-Returning Broth wouldn’t trouble the Old Madam—all that was missing was the medicine cauldron.

When Li Si returned from his last trip, his actions were finally noticed by Senior Sister Jiang. Especially when she saw the pile of Aberrant Wood Husks and Mutant Grass Molts like a small hill, Senior Sister Jiang was completely stunned.

“Junior Brother—you, you, you—”

“Senior Sister, don’t be surprised. These are all things I hunted from the Western Mountain while the light was good. Actually, I should thank you for your care, getting the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill for me from the Master. So now I’ve become much stronger.”

Li Si said joyfully, like showing off a treasure, innocent as a child. Well, he was a child, only fourteen years old—what more could you expect?

“Th- these were all hunted by you?” Senior Sister Jiang’s mouth hung open, at a loss, very shocked. She naturally knew that after taking the Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill, Li Si would be much stronger than before. Maybe even his mastery of Dao Techniques would become more proficient because of it. But, but this scene was still too shocking for her. Killing so many Anomalous Weeds and Alien Trees would accumulate so much pollution toxicity. She feared this junior brother’s lifespan, which had just increased, would now drop again.

“Senior Sister, stop standing there dazed. It’s getting dark. Quickly collect these Aberrant Wood Husks and Mutant Grass Molts. I think this food is enough for us for two or three months. Senior Sister, my strength is low, I can’t solve the Master’s worries, but I can do what I’m capable of.”

Li Si spoke happily, without any scheming appearance, especially his smile. In Senior Sister Jiang’s eyes, though he wasn’t very handsome, he looked so sunny. Even glancing one more time eased the worries of the past few days. And these well-behaved words, how heartwarming they sounded.

However, Senior Sister Jiang still put on a stern face and said seriously:

“Junior Brother, don’t do this again in the future. It’s very dangerous outside. I’m worried that Demon Man might come back. If you sneak out and accidentally encounter it, what would we do?”

“Alright, Senior Sister. Then I’ll take the night watch tonight.”

“I’ll still do it. You take the daytime, I’ll take the night. Sigh.” Senior Sister Jiang sighed, becoming even more melancholy.

Seeing this, Li Si didn’t say anything more, but decided in his heart that from now on, he must completely eradicate the Sorrow Mushrooms and Worry Mushrooms. Otherwise, with Senior Sister Jiang’s heavy-hearted state like this, even with the Formation Array protection, a single careless moment could still cause her to be affected.

Although his senior sister was a bit silly, the Floating Cloud Sect couldn’t do without her, and he himself couldn’t bear to lose her either.

After that, Li Si really didn’t bother with anything else. He directly went back into the Stone House, letting Senior Sister Jiang brew the Great Soul-Returning Broth. After eating and drinking his fill, he continued cultivating.

Hmm, the remaining value of that Heart-Cleansing Blood-Refining Pill could still be squeezed a bit more. His demand wasn’t high—just another 1% improvement before sleep would be fine.

That night, outside the Stone House, Dark Mist spread and there were wolf howls and ghost cries, but actually nothing happened. Last night when Li Si was on night watch, he discovered that this Dark Mist was very lethal to ordinary people, but for him who had activated the Heart Cleansing Curse and had his Bloodline and Bone Foundation break through 20%, it was no pressure at all.

Especially since the village perimeter now had three layers of Formation Array protection: one concealment array, one protective array, and one offensive killing array. Very safe.

In short, nothing happened all night. The next morning, when the Dark Mist retreated, Senior Sister Jiang returned to the Stone House exhausted. Before she could start brewing the Great Soul-Returning Broth, she saw the Old Madam suddenly open her eyes, her face as pale as paper.

“Blergh”

She spat out a mouthful of golden blood, and her whole person instantly withered.

“Master! Master!”

Senior Sister Jiang was so frightened she cried. Ji Chang and Xu Shen also jumped up simultaneously, panicked and helpless. What happened now? Did the calamity kill a returning shot while they weren’t paying attention?

“Don’t panic, don’t panic. Your master is fine. I just suffered backlash from deducing the calamity. I was a bit impatient.”

The Old Madam spoke softly, her breathing uneven. But her gaze still swept over Jiang Ying, Ji Chang, Xu Shen, and finally landed on Li Si.

“This time, I suffered a bit of a loss, so I must go into seclusion. But the calamity remains elusive. I must admit, the Evil God’s methods are too formidable. Fine then, perhaps this is the true calamity. I won’t force it anymore.”

“You four are my true disciples. Aside from Li Si, you’ve all followed me for three hundred years. Now, I can hardly protect you all anymore. So if there’s a chance, find your own way to survive.”

“Master…”

Jiang Ying wept bitterly, while Ji Chang and Xu Shen were scared stiff. Li Si was even more bewildered and at a loss. Damn, so this is dividing the luggage.

“Don’t cry. I’m just leaving you a way out in case of emergency.”

After saying this, the Old Madam flicked a golden, shiny copper coin. Under Ji Chang and Xu Shen’s heated gazes, she casually handed it to Jiang Ying.

“I don’t have many magic treasures left in my hands, and the only one you can control is this Ruyi Treasure Coin. At a critical moment, it might save your life.”

“Additionally, this time I face a life-and-death great calamity, so Jiang Ying, you are the next Floating Cloud Sect leader. Take the sect leader’s seal too.”

“This is a top-grade magic tool I obtained early on. Ji Chang, you should be able to activate it.”

“Here is also a set of Five Elements Reversal Array Control Disks. Xu Shen, you have quite some talent in Formation Arrays, so I give these to you.”

“Li Si… Ah, your cultivation is too low. Here, I only have one Minor Thunderlight Talisman left. At a life-and-death moment, you can activate it; it might save your life.”

The Old Madam muttered, truly giving off a feeling of misery, tragedy, and desolation—like a family broken and dead.

Li Si instinctively thought, one Thunderlight Talisman isn’t enough. Give me a few more Dao Technique booklets. Also, the third level’s method of the Heaven-Turning Scripture shouldn’t be left out.

But just as the words reached his lips, Li Si immediately suppressed them, instead showing a face full of bewilderment, helplessness, weakness, and pity.

Creatures like the Old Madam—you absolutely couldn’t trust them, even if beaten to death.