Painting World Treasure Mansion, Five Elements Spirit Mountain.
Lin Maoshan appeared out of thin air, standing there, completely bewildered, not knowing how he suddenly appeared here. He tried to use his Divine Sense to explore the surrounding environment, but this Spirit Mountain was vast, and his limited Divine Sense could not fully cover its extent.
However, this place was filled with Five Elements Spiritual Qi, extremely dense and of very high quality. Lin Maoshan took a deep breath and immediately felt countless Five Elements Spiritual Qi surge in, his Cultivation subtly improving.
Recalling his Master's previous instruction for him to go into secluded Cultivation, Lin Maoshan roughly understood that this place should be his Master's Immortal Cave.
Lin Maoshan was inexplicably touched. His Master had gone to such lengths to send him into this blessed Immortal Cave for secluded Cultivation. This Opportunity was hard-won and must be cherished, so as not to disappoint his Master's expectations.
Lin Maoshan found a flat spot, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to focus on Cultivating. Five Elements Spiritual Qi continuously poured into his body, nourishing his Meridians and Dantian.
Lin Maoshan could feel his Cultivation, which usually progressed slowly, steadily improving, as if he was undergoing a complete transformation.
Time seemed to slow down at this moment. Lin Maoshan was completely immersed in his Cultivation, continuously absorbing Five Elements Spiritual Qi, improving his Cultivation, and forgetting the outside world's disturbances.
Outside, Zhao Tianchen, Liu Yuqian, Ji Hao, Xiao Qingyun, and Zhong Yuling were equally overjoyed. They were led by "Master" to a blessed land suitable for their Heavenly Spiritual Root Cultivation. The single Five Elements Spiritual Qi here was dozens, even hundreds of times denser than outside. Next to it, a thousand acres of Spiritual Plant fields were cultivated, filled with a large amount of high-grade Spiritual Plants, exuding the aura of high-grade Five Elements Spiritual Materials.
Cultivating in such a blessed land, they believed it wouldn't be long before they advanced to Golden Core. Not to mention, they also had a Soul Transformation Master with the same Spiritual Root attribute as them, who diligently taught them. The five of them were overjoyed and fully devoted themselves to Cultivation.
Li Mu cleverly cast aside his Named Disciples like chess pieces, allowing them to Cultivate and grow independently, while he continued his daily leisurely life, undisturbed by the outside world's commotions.
Every morning, when the first ray of sunlight fell upon the bluestone slabs of the courtyard, Li Mu would leisurely awaken, enjoying sipping Spiritual Tea in the courtyard, savoring a peaceful morning, or perhaps stewing a pot of Spiritual Porridge or Spiritual Cuisine, quietly enjoying his meal.
During the afternoon, Li Mu would lie on a bamboo chair, holding an ancient book, either the Divine Inscription True Explanation or a Cultivation scripture, immersing himself in the sea of books. He did not pursue the improvement of his Cultivation, nor was he keen on power struggles; he only wished to enjoy the Years in this tranquility.
Of course, every month, Li Mu would also set aside some time to inspect the Spiritual Plants planted on the seven Spirit Mountains, refine Spiritual Artifacts, draw Spiritual Charms, carve Puppets, and so on.
Time flew by like a white steed, and three Years passed in the blink of an eye.
During these three Years, Li Mu remained within the Seven Profound Sect, never venturing out. His days were uneventful, yet filled with richness and satisfaction.
On this day, the arrival of an uninvited guest broke Li Mu's peaceful life. The visitor was Manager Wang Wenbao of Wanbao Pavilion. Led by Liu Yalan, he appeared before Li Mu with a fawning smile and a respectful demeanor.
"Great Master Li, long time no see! Your Cultivation has become even more profound." Wang Wenbao cupped his hands and bowed to Li Mu, his tone filled with reverence.
"Hmm, Manager Wang, there's no need for such formality."
Li Mu nodded slightly, motioning for the other party to sit down and speak, secretly curious about the reason for Wang Wenbao's visit this time.
Li Mu couldn't help but look at Liu Yalan. After she took over Li's Treasure Pavilion, the cooperation with Wanbao Pavilion and the various high-grade Spiritual Material transactions were usually handled by her personally. For the past few Years, he hadn't needed to inquire about them.
"Pavilion Master, Manager Wang is here this time with a bold request. It's a matter of great importance, and he wishes to speak with you in person." Liu Yalan said softly, with a hint of apology in her tone, clearly aware that Wang Wenbao's visit might cause Li Mu some trouble.
Li Mu smiled and waved his hand, signaling Liu Yalan not to worry. As the Manager of Wanbao Pavilion, since Wang Wenbao came in person, it was fine to meet him. If his request was too excessive, he could simply refuse.
"Great Master Li, I, Wang, truly have a matter to request this time. This matter is also related to Great Master Li's search for the reversing death spirit grass, so I took the liberty of disturbing you." Wang Wenbao cleared his throat and spoke respectfully.
The reversing death spirit grass, Li Mu had indeed been searching for this item and had entrusted Wanbao Pavilion and Tianji Building to offer a high reward for it.
This item was crucial for fulfilling the Celestial Evolution Divine Lord's promise and lifting the Dao Heart oath. If there was definite news, Li Mu had to investigate.
"Oh? Manager Wang, could you elaborate?" Li Mu's gaze sharply swept over Wang Wenbao's face, trying to discern a clue from his expression.
Wang Wenbao nodded, a solemn expression appearing on his face. He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Great Master Li, to be honest, my Wanbao Pavilion's treasure hunting team recently discovered an ancient Secret Realm in the northern plains, suspected to be a Dao Lord's Cave. Traces of the reversing death spirit grass were also found in the Secret Realm. However, the Restrictions in this Secret Realm are extremely strong and cannot be broken without a Great Master of Formations."
"Great Master Li, your Formation skills are unparalleled. Therefore, I specifically came to seek your help, hoping to cooperate with you. If we can break the Restrictions of this Secret Realm, we will surely find that reversing death spirit grass for you, and any treasures found will be shared with you." As Wang Wenbao spoke, his gaze towards Li Mu showed earnestness, clearly valuing Li Mu's Formation attainments greatly.
"Does this Secret Realm truly contain the reversing death spirit grass? Manager Wang, don't deceive me." Li Mu frowned slightly and asked in a deep voice.
Li Mu did not disbelieve Wang Wenbao, but since it concerned the reversing death spirit grass and a dangerous place like a Dao Lord's Secret Realm, he had to treat it with caution.
Upon hearing this, Wang Wenbao quickly nodded, swearing, "Great Master Li, my Wanbao Pavilion's treasure hunting team personally investigated, and there will be no mistake. That reversing death spirit grass grows deep within the Secret Realm, enveloped by a powerful Restriction. We tried many ways but couldn't break it, which is why we thought of you, Great Master Li."
Li Mu nodded, already having a plan in mind. The reversing death spirit grass was crucial for fulfilling the Celestial Evolution Divine Lord's Dao Heart oath. Since there was definite news, he naturally wouldn't miss this Opportunity.
"Manager Wang, if this information is accurate, I am willing to cooperate with Wanbao Pavilion to explore that ancient Secret Realm." Li Mu looked at Wang Wenbao, and at the same time, he indicated, "However, I need to first understand the specific situation of the Secret Realm and the characteristics of that Restriction."
Wang Wenbao was overjoyed upon hearing this. He quickly took out a Jade Slip from his Pregnant, presenting it to Li Mu with both hands: "Great Master Li, this is a detailed record of the Secret Realm, including its location, the type of Restrictions, and some information we detected before. Please review it first, and if you have any questions, I will answer them at any time."
Li Mu took the Jade Slip, immersed his Divine Sense into it, and began to carefully browse.
Soon, Li Mu's brows furrowed. This Secret Realm was located deep within an ice plain in the extreme north, which should be the same place as the reversing death spirit grass clue Liu Yalan reported earlier. However, the Restrictions of this Secret Realm were unusually powerful, seemingly utilizing the freezing power of the ice plain to lay down extreme ice Restrictions such as Ice Sealing Spirit and Profound Ice Locking Heaven.
The person who recorded the Restrictions was not proficient in Formations and Restrictions. The content in the Jade Slip could not fully depict the entire Secret Realm's Restrictions. Li Mu could only glimpse four or five parts of it, unable to confirm the difficulty of breaking the entire Restriction.
However, the clues about the reversing death spirit grass were recorded quite clearly, which Li Mu was particularly satisfied with.
The extreme cold land, being in extreme Yin, gives rise to Yang, forming a place where Yin and Yang converge. This environment is indeed what the reversing death spirit grass needs to grow. At the same time, that Spiritual Land showed a blood-red light, and abnormal phenomena appeared in the sky and earth, with myriad ghosts wailing. This perfectly matched the scene of the reversing death spirit grass maturing.
According to these signs, this Secret Realm should indeed contain the reversing death spirit grass.
Wang Wenbao watched Li Mu browse the Jade Slip, his brows tightly furrowed, and he remained silent for a long time, which made him somewhat worried. He cautiously spoke, fearing to disturb Li Mu's thoughts: "Great Master Li, the situation of these Secret Realm Restrictions... is it difficult?"
Li Mu slowly raised his head, his gaze deep as he looked at Wang Wenbao, and said in a deep voice, "These Secret Realm Restrictions are indeed extraordinary, their complexity far exceeding my previous imagination. Moreover, the Jade Slip's record of the Restrictions is incomplete. However, this does not mean they cannot be broken."
Wang Wenbao felt a little relieved upon hearing this and quickly said, "Great Master Li, your Formation attainments are extremely high, you will surely be able to break these Secret Realm Restrictions!"
"Don't jump to conclusions. I need to personally examine these Secret Realm Restrictions before I can determine their structure, find their weaknesses, and devise the corresponding breaking methods." Li Mu said, falling into contemplation, as if thinking about the details of breaking the Restrictions.
Wang Wenbao quickly nodded in agreement, his trust in Li Mu growing even more.
"Great Master Li, when shall we depart for the Secret Realm?" Wang Wenbao looked at Li Mu, asking with concern.
Li Mu pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I need some time to prepare. You can rest at the mansion first. I will inform you when I am ready to leave."
Upon hearing this, although Wang Wenbao felt a bit anxious, he knew Li Mu must have a plan, so he no longer asked further and respectfully cupped his hands, saying, "Alright, Great Master Li. Then I will quietly await your good news at the mansion. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to command."
"Hmm! Shopkeeper Liu, please take Manager Wang to rest first!" Li Mu nodded, signaling to Liu Yalan beside him.
Liu Yalan understood, immediately stepped forward, and smiled at Wang Wenbao: "Manager Wang, please follow me. I will arrange a quiet guest room for you to rest."
Wang Wenbao bowed to Li Mu again, then followed Liu Yalan out of the reception hall.
After watching them leave, Li Mu pondered for a moment, then immediately summoned the Time Luck Spirit Turtle, a Years Spirit Treasure, from the nine storage spiritual pearl.
The palm-sized, jade-white Spirit Turtle appeared, floating and gliding in the air, its four limbs paddling, circling around Li Mu. Its pair of emerald eyes stared directly at Li Mu, having already understood its Master's thoughts.
After the last reforging, the Time Luck Spirit Turtle not only recovered from its injuries but also had abundant Years power and Karma power, and its spirituality greatly increased. Now, using it for a fortune telling to peek into the River of Destiny was not a problem.
These days, he had been staying in the Seven Profound Sect, protected by the sect's grand Formation, and being in the Xuantian Sword Sect's territory, he naturally wouldn't attract powerful enemies. If he were to venture out to explore ancient mansions and Secret Realms, the potential risks would be several times greater.
Moreover, there was still the Blood Demon Lord and the Nine Demon Sect who were eager to capture him. Unless absolutely necessary, Li Mu was unwilling to venture out and put himself in danger.
"I am preparing to go on an adventure. Perform a divination for me to see if there will be any life-threatening dangers on this trip!" Li Mu looked at the Time Luck Spirit Turtle and instructed in a low voice.
"Alright, Master!"
The Time Luck Spirit Turtle responded, slowly closed its eyes, and the spiritual power flowed on its white tortoise shell. The Years power and Karma power emanating from its body gradually became thicker.
The Time Luck Spirit Turtle, suspended in the air, its small body began to tremble slightly, as if trying to communicate with the boundless River of Destiny.
Li Mu waited quietly, knowing that this process would take some time, and he was not in a hurry to intervene.
Previously, several times when peeking into the River of Time and Space, due to his intervention, he did not stop in time and extricate himself from the River of Destiny, ultimately leading to the Time Luck Spirit Turtle being injured repeatedly, and its Spirit even falling into a critical state.
Now, the Time Luck Spirit Turtle's Spirit was so powerful that it could completely grasp the time and Opportunity to peek into the River of Destiny, thereby avoiding self-injury. Li Mu was naturally happy to see this and did not wish to intervene.
After about a quarter of an hour, the Years power and Karma power on the Time Luck Spirit Turtle suddenly stagnated, as if it had encountered some trouble and was forced to stop midway.
A hint of pain flashed across the Time Luck Spirit Turtle's face. It opened its eyes with a wince, its gaze revealing a profound and mysterious depth.
"What's wrong? Will I gain anything from this adventure, and will I encounter danger?" Li Mu's heart tightened as he looked at the Time Luck Spirit Turtle and asked with concern.
"Master, I peeked into the River of Destiny. Your fortune for this adventure is quite complex, involving the ruins of a certain existence. I couldn't fully see the entire process and was forced to terminate the latter half of the divination." The Time Luck Spirit Turtle looked at Li Mu and responded with difficulty.
Upon hearing this, Li Mu frowned, roughly understanding what the Time Luck Spirit Turtle had encountered. It should be related to the Secret Realm's owner, a Dao Lord, which prevented it from seeing the whole picture.
"Hmm! How far did you see? During this time, did I gain anything, and is my personal safety an issue?"
The Time Luck Spirit Turtle was silent for a while, seemingly organizing its words, then looked at Li Mu and slowly said, "Master, the changes in the River of Destiny are myriad, and I cannot give an absolute answer. However, I sensed some vague signs that seem to indicate you will gain something from this trip, but you will face some challenges and difficulties. The first half will be thrilling but without danger, and you only need to return in time within one Year; your life will be safe."
After hearing the Time Luck Spirit Turtle's divination result, Li Mu pondered inwardly. Although he couldn't know all the details, with this result, Li Mu immediately felt relieved.
Li Mu looked at the Time Luck Spirit Turtle and said gratefully, "You've done very well. The River of Destiny is inherently elusive, and this result is already enough. You should go back and rest!"
The Time Luck Spirit Turtle nodded, and then Li Mu put it back into the nine storage spiritual pearl.
Li Mu fell into contemplation, organizing his thoughts, and began to prepare for the upcoming Secret Realm trip. (End of Chapter)
