Misty Mountains

Gentle Wind Valley belonged to the Misty Mountain Area. Objectively speaking, it was a great location.

Towering peaks and deep gorges formed a natural protection. It was actually a Great Formation Array created by mother nature herself.

Only then was it reinforced and supported by an artificial Spirit Gathering Array, one made by their legendary sect founder.

"It reminds me of feng-shui arrangements back in my previous life. Now that I think about it, there must be something to all those ancient traditions. Could it be that Earth also had some minuscule amount of spiritual energy existing in its past?"

Going down the steep slopes, Ouyang Li was lost in thoughts. For him, descending the peak was easy. However, these mountains were completely inaccessible to mortals.

"I'm quickly depleting my qi reserves too." He realized after a few hours. "It would be best to take a short break now."

He slowed down rapidly.

Soon, the boy stopped at the eye of a mountain spring. The water was sweet and cold, and it didn't move too rapidly. Looking at his reflection in the water, Ouyang Li was astounded.

It was his first time seeing his new face clearly. It was not the same as looking at it at the sect's constantly bubbling hot springs.

"Damn it! I must buy a few mirrors when I enter the mortal kingdoms! I need to take good care of myself. After all, this face is my asset now!"

Ouyang Li still wasn't powerful enough to inspect his body with Qi. He didn't have a divine consciousness either, as that was something that only Immortal Foundation cultivators had.

"Gosh, I can barely prevent my beard from growing. I totally don't understand all those hypocritical brothers and sisters. They keep saying that possessing a mirror is a sign of vanity. Yet not a day goes by without girls spending their allowances on Beauty Pills and boys stretching their muscles during sword flights."

Ouyang Li was sure that everyone had a few mirrors hidden in their cottages. They were just too ashamed to admit that!

Still, heavens know why silver mirrors were even more expensive than a few bottles of cultivation pills.

For the past nine months, Ouyang Li's continuously tried to purchase one. However, every time some of them appeared on the market, they were sold out almost instantly. It was as if someone was purposefully preventing sect disciples from getting one!

"Well, it's good to know that I'm attractive." He smiled. "If I'm desperate, I can still get by for a few months by living off some beautiful senior sister!"

He took one last look at his teenage face. It looked younger than the one he had in his previous life. His hair used to be darker too.

"I like how my jawline is square. The one I had on Earth was a bit too oval for my taste. I wonder… are the beauty standards here different?"

After a short touch of vanity, Ouyang Li resumed his journey. It didn't take long before he reached the foot of the mountains.

Soon, a lush, vibrant forest appeared in front of his eyes.

"So, this is a place that prevents mortals from getting anywhere near us."

He murmured, captivated by the sight of it. It looked pure and primordial as well.

His sharp senses were telling him that the wilderness was literally filled with low-level demonic beasts. He didn't think that any of them would be more powerful than the 2nd stage, though. After all, sect Elders were tasked to regularly sweep through the surrounding area. Otherwise, Outer Disciples wouldn't be able to leave the valley at all!

The boy took out the map and a compass. It was actually a Spirit Artifact. It could quickly point out in the direction of the qi-abundant areas.

The boy adjusted his direction and walked towards the barren land. After all, secular countries were seriously lacking in Spirit Qi of Heaven and Earth.

There was a main road nearby. However, he didn't mind using wild, temporary paths created by the quarry instead. It would be more dangerous, but he needed to gain some experience.

"Well, it should take me five or six weeks to get there. This haunted place… it looks that it's at the fringe of the Gentle Wind Valley's sphere of influence."

He frowned, feeling a bit concerned. It didn't bode well whenever something suspicious happened at the border, especially in such remote areas.

Usually, there would be a mastermind behind it.

"No wonder they offered as much as one hundred Spirit Stones as a reward for completing this assignment. Although cultivation requirement is seemingly low, the danger must be incredibly high!"

While reading the map, Ouyang Li's frown deepened. Those villages were actually located in a contested area! He noticed it only now that he had some time to analyze the map.

"It should be because there are some rare spiritual ores nearby. Could it be that the Fire Mountain Sect would also send their disciples to investigate this place?"

Even though their spheres of influence seemed to be overlapping, Ouyang Li wasn't worried. After all, contested areas weren't exploited. They would usually be left untouched until one side compromised for something they needed more. As a result, there should be no powerful cultivators nearby.

Furthermore, his true cultivation was already at the 6th stage of the Qi Gathering Realm.

"Right, this should be the right time to quietly adjust my projected strength from the 2nd to the 3rd layer."

He focused his attention on the bead, and the treasure pulsed in response to his wishes. Soon, spiritual fluctuation emitted by his body became a bit denser and much more concentrated too.

"That should do it!" He smiled, sensing the changes visible on the outside. "But the majority of my abilities should still remain hidden."

He decided.

Even though he had access to massive amounts of Qi, it was better to leave it as a surprise to his future opponents. Besides, as a cultivator at the 6th stage of the Qi Gathering Realm, his body was way more flexible and adjustable than the bodies of other Outer Sect disciples. He should easily overcome any adversities.

Soon, the first one appeared in right front of him. It was a boar, but it looked nothing like he'd ever seen on Earth! It was at least two meters tall, and its eyes glistened with intelligence. It was clear that it had already developed some spiritual wisdom.

Demonic beasts were, at the same time, similar and dissimilar to human cultivators.

It was much more difficult for them to advance, and they mostly focused on refining their bodies. Still, they had their own advantages.

The creature that appeared in front of him was hesitant. It must have sensed him some time ago and started approaching when he still looked like a cultivator at the 2nd stage of the Qi Gathering Realm.

"Let me try my skills on you. Although I've only reached the Minor Accomplishment, it should still be relatively safe."

Ouyang Li hastily made a seal. He also stood in a horse stance and pointed his index finger, targeting the head. Immediately, a strong sword qi emerged from him, rushing toward the beast. It was quick, invisible, and traceless.

Blood splashed, and the creature roared. However, although he managed to heavily wound it, the beast still didn't succumb.

"As expected, even though I used the energy equivalent to a cultivator of the 3rd stage, a demonic beast's body is way stronger than it looks!"

Ouyang Li wasn't surprised by the beast's power. After all, he wasn't on the main road, where one could only encounter demonic creatures of the 1st stage.

He chose to go through the wilderness precisely because he wanted to hone himself!

"As for other Outer Sect disciples, they would probably go by the map, leaping from one treetop to another just to save themselves from such troublesome encounters."

Ouyang Li switched his attention to the boar.

To his surprise, the injured animal didn't act irrationally. Instead, it raised its claw and similarly slashed at him with a wave of a rampant Qi.

The boy half-dodged, half reflected the blow using the Spirit Qi Manipulation Technique. However, his right hand bled for a second, and it took a while before the wound closed.

"All right. I think that's enough. I now know that I'm still too weak when it comes to fighting opponents of similar strength. It's time to end this now!"

Once again, he raised his finger. This time, he decided to use his full power. However, the boar was likewise prepared.

It moved its humongous body and decided to charge forward.

After all, it couldn't give the boy another opportunity to use the seal, so it attacked head-on. This way, it would have some advantage.

Still, Ouyang Li was quite relaxed. He stepped forward and circulated the Qi of the 6th stage in his legs, arms, and throughout the chest. Then, he casually grabbed the beast's head and used his inner energy to twist its neck.

"Boom!" The creature's momentum still forced the boy to take a few steps backward. Then, the beast's body fell down, making the forest cover bend.

There were no surprises. It was thoroughly dead.

"It's quite troubling…" The boy murmured, looking at the corpse. After all, it was gigantic! "Beasts at the early cultivation stages don't even have a demon core. What's the use of it?"

He sighed deeply.

Ouyang Li didn't have any spatial artifact either. Rings that could accommodate hundreds of square meters inside were tressures that only Nascent Soul Heavenly Lords were eligible to have. As for smaller pouches with tens or so meters… well, that was but a pipe dream too!

"Perhaps a few of Gentle Wind Valley's Grand Elders obtained one. At least, that's what the books said. Still, not any Golden Core cultivators, but those who were at the peak of the Golden Core Realm!"

"It would be such a waste to leave it here for other beasts to devour. I should make some barbeque!"

He decided after some thought.

Even though this was a primal forest, he had nothing to fear staying this close to the sect. If other, similarly weaker, monsters wanted to accost him, let them come!

Soon, a small fire was started. Of course, it was only possible thanks to his inner Qi. Otherwise, Ouyang Li would really have no idea how to make wood burn without any modern utensils.

"Now that I'm at the 6th stage of the Qi Refinement Realm, a bite of meat from the 2nd stage beast is not enough to fill me up."

He murmured. "I should first stimulate my metabolism with my inner energy reserves. This way, I can attempt to eat all of it at once!" He salivated. "That could still be a bit beneficial to me."

It was his first kill! It would definitely taste better than anything he had in the sect. Besides, spiritual meat didn't require spices or sauces. It in itself had a heavenly flavor!

Although the sect provided them with a few free pieces every week, it wasn't that useful to cultivators at the later stages of the Qi Gathering Realm. At the same time, switching to higher-level meat was way too expensive for him. It was the same for Inedia Pills.

"Well, I'll start worrying about these things when I actually have to seclude myself. I don't suppose it will be necessary before reaching Immortal Foundation, though."

Even then, he would only have to eat once every few weeks, so the costs should be affordable.

"Inedia Pill? What a ridiculous idea!" He laughed. "How can I ever give up the pleasures of eating? Being immortal cultivator, I won't ever have to worry about getting fat or falling ill! Let's make full use of that."