"That fellow should be searching for opportunities now?"
Gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, Ji Yuan asked absentmindedly.
When the talisman artifact self-destructed earlier, Li Mufeng had already seized the opportunity to escape with his junior sister. It was estimated that they were now somewhere, continuing their search for that great opportunity.
Hearing this, Song He sneered dismissively, "Even the great beings of the past, who personally visited this place, could not find that world-shocking spiritual treasure. If I hadn't refined the yin脉 of this place and personally witnessed it fall into the earth veins, I would probably be in the dark as well."
The implication was that he didn't believe Li Mufeng, with his meager cultivation, could achieve what the great beings of the past could not.
Otherwise, for all these years, Mingyue Temple wouldn't have been guarding this place, hoping to find even the slightest clue to obtain this immense opportunity for the great being behind them.
"What do you plan to do now?"
Ji Yuan said, glancing at him sideways.
Although Song He's life was not in danger at this moment, his spiritual power was completely depleted, and his soul had suffered a severe shock. Even though he had endless yin energy to absorb, he could barely move, let alone fight, and it would be difficult to even recover from his injuries in a short period.
In contrast, although Li Mufeng would undoubtedly suffer a backlash from the self-destruction of the talisman artifact, he likely retained most of his cultivation and still possessed some self-preservation capabilities.
"What else can I do? He can rummage through this mansion as he pleases."
Song He said with a cold laugh, "But once my injuries heal and my soul and body are completely unified, I will have to make a trip to Tianhe County to return this day's humiliation tenfold."
As he spoke, figures appeared around the ruins. Ji Yuan focused his gaze and recognized them as the drowned corpses from the pond, likely summoned to guard this place.
As for Song He's decision, Ji Yuan naturally had no objections. Although he harbored strong animosity towards Li Mufeng, his current physical condition prevented him from acting rashly.
During the self-destruction of the talisman artifact earlier, although Ji Yuan had managed to block the powerful spiritual energy impact with three copper coins, his vital energy was completely depleted.
He was now weak. Even after consuming several pills, he had only recovered enough strength to walk. To contend with Li Mufeng, who was a whole realm higher than him, was clearly an inopportune matter.
"You can leave. Get out of this place. As for whether you will relay the news of this place to anyone after you leave, that is up to you."
Song He said expressionlessly, summoning a drowned corpse from the water. He stated that by following it, one would be unaffected by the formations of Luohun Slope.
"Even if Li Mufeng doesn't find the opportunity here, he probably won't leave for a while. And I will use the formations to trap him for another day or two."
Although extremely weak at the moment, Song He still didn't take the man lightly, even wishing that the other party would linger here for ten days to half a month.
However, he also knew that with the remaining formations of Luohun Slope, it could only trap minor cultivators in the Enlightenment Realm. Once a Qi Cultivator with spiritual power appeared, they could forcefully break through the formation and leave.
Ji Yuan nodded. Regardless, with his current state and cultivation, he couldn't settle accounts with Li Mufeng. Leaving was the only and best choice.
"Please accept this item. It is enough to compensate for your losses during this trip, little Daoist priest."
At this moment, the old woman kneeling beside him respectfully offered a lantern, which was the magical artifact she had been holding earlier.
If he accepted this magical artifact, let alone the expenditure of talismans, it would be more than enough to cover the repair costs of the three copper coins, with plenty left over.
"Accept it."
Song He also spoke at this time, telling him to take the item into his possession.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan no longer hesitated. He reached out and accepted the magical artifact, which was of decent quality.
After carefully examining the lantern in his hand, he sighed and got up from the ground. With a somewhat somber expression, he walked to the side of the drowned corpse.
Before leaving, he suddenly paused, turned his back to Song He, who was being helped to sit up by the old woman, and asked, "The person I was familiar with was..."
"It was Song He."
The person didn't say much, just chuckled lightly.
The young Daoist shrugged and left with a drowned corpse. Just a few steps out, he casually tossed back a porcelain bottle containing pills to nourish the body.
In fact, before asking that question, he already had the answer in his heart. For years, when he roamed Qianyu City, the one who chatted with him about life, the world, and the Dao scriptures...
It had always been Song He, and only Song He.
Thinking of this, Ji Yuan suddenly shouted, "If you don't go to settle accounts with Li Mufeng, when my cultivation reaches a higher level, I will definitely visit Tianhe County!"
In the ruins of the main house, Song He held the porcelain bottle with a knowing smile on his face.
After the small figure completely disappeared from his sight, he seemed to sense something. With difficulty, he got up and looked back.
A woman in a white dress walked gracefully, reaching out to caress the young Daoist's face, her eyes filled with concern.
"It's nothing, just some minor injuries. They will heal in time."
Song He said gently.
The woman nodded, her red lips parted as if to say something, but she saw her husband suddenly change.
From the corner of her eye, a cold glint suddenly flashed, and an intense killing intent erupted!
"Grandma!"
Song He turned abruptly, only to see a figure that should have been stooped standing tall in front of him, just like in distant memories.
The tip of a sword pierced through Granny Zhang's back. As a wisp of pure energy circulated, wisps of black smoke rose from the wound.
"You deserve to die!"
Killing intent blazed on the woman's clear and beautiful face.
She attacked in a rage, a palm strike that stirred up gusts of yin wind, intending to smash the head of the person in front of her to pieces!
However, another sharp sword pierced out from the side. Talismans flowed on the sword, circulating pure energy. It merely grazed her skin, making her feel as if she had suffered a heavy blow.
"Get out of the way!"
Song He roared, mustering all his strength. He used pure yin energy to cast a technique, repelling the two figures several feet away. Then, supporting his wife with one hand, he held the increasingly stooped Grandma in his other arm.
"Heh, such deep master-servant affection!"
The young girl stood with her sword sheathed, her words laced with undisguised mockery.
Beside her, Li Mufeng, who had returned, stood with a calm smile. He glanced at the three people in front of him, then cast several yellow paper talismans. A torrent of righteous energy circulated on them, blocking more than twenty drowned corpses.
"Hand over that spiritual treasure, and perhaps I'll be in a good mood and spare your wretched lives?"
Li Mufeng, who had never left and had been hiding nearby, said with a nonchalant expression.
Hearing this, Song He sneered and was about to forcibly absorb the dense yin energy from heaven and earth at the cost of overexerting this body.
He did not believe the other party's words at all. Even if he could hand over the spiritual treasure, he would never let this person have his way. It would be better to fight to the death, perhaps to secure a sliver of survival for his wife and the grandmother who had served their family for three generations.
"Get out of the way!"
At this moment, a sharp shout came from behind him.
Song He had no time to think. Instinctively, he embraced his wife and Granny Zhang and quickly sidestepped.
The next moment, the young Daoist returned, his face filled with rage as he flew towards this place. His not-yet-fully-grown body exuded sharp sword energy.
"Yuanbao! Chop him to death for me!"
Ji Yuan roared furiously.
Instantly, a radiant light bloomed between his eyebrows, and a sheathed long sword, carrying a heavy sword aura, whistled out!