Survival

It should be remembered that Immortal Foundation cultivators could not fly. They were only able to slide through the air.

As such, Ouyang Li could only gradually slow down his descent. Jumping out with his Immortal Foundation could, at the very most, compare to jumping out while having a wingsuit.

Still, one figure after another abandoned their Gentle Wind Valley's spiritual boat. They all did it without hesitation.

However, members of the Mount Gu Sect were equally ruthless. Even though they were in no life-or-death crisis, they still willingly kept throwing themselves down.

It was crazy! They didn't mind the danger and gave their all just to pursue!

While the four Golden Core cultivators were still fighting in the air, each of Gentle Wind Valley's Elders chose a different direction to run to. It was the same for the Deacons.

Their descent wasn't easy, though. Various demonic techniques, as well as fireballs and wind blades, targeted their figures, making safe landing virtually impossible.

As soon as Ouyang Li's feet stood on the ground, he used his Qi and dived under the cover of tree crowns.

He was lightly wounded. However, thanks to his cultivation, he could still move rather quickly.

Ouyang Li decided to go the way where their ship came from. After all, most of Mount Gu's disciples seemed to be rushing in the opposite direction.

Ouyang Li was hoping that no devilish reinforcements were coming from around the Blossoming Peach Valley!

After some time, Ouyang Li focused his attention on the Mysterious Bead. He then quickly adjusted his cultivation. After some consideration, he made it show the 5th stage of the Qi Gathering Realm.

Hopefully, disciples of Mount Gu would realize that no one from their fleeting group had a similar cultivation base. Newcomers were, at most, at the 2nd stage. As for the Stewards, they were already half-a-step into Immortal Foundation or higher!

As soon as he left the premise of the battle, Ouyang Li planned to conceal himself as a moral man. Unfortunately, he couldn't easily shake off his devilish pursuers.

In the end, he was ambushed by unorthodox cultivators a few more times. Each time, he barely managed to escape. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that his true cultivation was already relatively high, he would probably end up dead!

A few days later, Ouyang Li was rapidly moving under the trees.

"This time, I managed to defend myself, but who knew what would happen next time?" He wondered.

While fleeting, he was trying to avoid his pursuers. If discovered, he attacked without thinking. His senses were mostly focused on escape and danger detection. He knew nothing about the state that his victims ended up in.

In the end, even if it was his first time taking the lives of others, Ouyang Li had no time to analyze his own actions. While moving from tree to tree, he was kind of hyped. It was almost as if he was constantly getting high.

"Is this how adrenaline junkie feels?" A fleeting thought went through his mind. "Never mind that. I'd better focus on the present!"

He quickly isolated his feelings and adjusted his mental state to the best of his capabilities.

"Right now, the most important thing is to run away. Only then will I think about how to report everything back to the sect!"

At this moment, Ouyang Li was doing his best to expand his divine consciousness. He tried to stretch it to its limits. While doing so, he suddenly realized that yet another goosebumps-inducing shadow of a devilish cultivator was nearing his position.

Not having enough time to think, he quickly dived underground. Then, he prayed to Heavens that the Mysterious Bead would be able to hide his spiritual signature completely.

While hiding, Ouyang Li was shivering.

For some reason, the nearing members of Mount Gu gave him repulsive feeling. In fact, all the devilish cultivators he encountered induced some sort of fear.

It was as if there were some beasts hidden within. Their presence seemed to be unnatural. It was sickening!

Perhaps, that's what made killing them a bit easier too.

However, Ouyang Li didn't want to think about killing them. After all, the feeling of taking someone's life was even more sickening to him!

Not even his adrenaline-induced state could get rid of it. Not fully!

Soon, a few black-covered silhouettes appeared above him.

Ouyang Li tensed up. He knew that they sensed his probing. He could clearly feel weaves upon weaves of divine senses scanning through his hiding place.

Fortunately, the Mysterious Bead fluctuated. It allowed him to pass for a buried corpse. Theoretically, it should be easy for him to maintain this state. It was similar to keeping his cultivation base hidden. However, Ouyang Li was too nervous now.

Clearly, his temperament wasn't as good as he hoped. He couldn't even stop his body from shaking!

And so, he decided to rush out and finish things quickly. After all, his trembling body would give him out in no time!

As soon as Ouyang Li started moving, three early-stage Immortal Foundation cultivators locked onto his position. Fortunately, he was the one that hold the initiative! As a result, he was a little faster than them!

Immediately, he simultaneously executed three Sward Finger Techniques. Two from the index and the ring finger of his right hand. The third one shot from his left middle finger.

"Whoosh! Whoosh, whoosh!"

Three rays of Qi quickly struck the targets. One man died on the spot, the other got destructed, which gave Ouyang Li just enough time to incapacitate him while emerging from the ground.

As for the third enemy, a square talisman lit up as soon as Ouyang Li's technique neared the man's body. At the same time, a black-and-white shield quickly emerged, nullifying the impact.

"Damn it!" The man cursed while quickly slashing with his sword in retaliation. "I got careless!"

Ouyang Li didn't panic. He had lots of offense talismans on his body. After all, he still remembered his first mission out of the sect. This time, he was prepared!

After ten minutes, Ouyang Li wasted hundreds of one-time use artifacts. They were worth at least a few dozen high-quality Spirit Stones.

With each passing minute, the devilish cultivators' eyes widened more and more. However, up until the last moment, he still remained determined. Finally, at some point, a spiritual knife cut his throat, and the body fell down on the ground.

Ouyang Li heaved a sigh and quietly stabilized his turbulent inner energy. After a moment, he glanced at the unwillingness visible on the enemy's face. The view caused his stomach to churn.

He then vomited and quickly resumed his escape.

It turned out that the news arrived faster than him. As soon as he entered the sect's Outer Peak, Ouyang Li heard people talking.

Everyone knew that that numerous Stewards and Elders died in an ambush. Supposedly, their death even angered their Nascent Soul patriarch.

It was said that one of the Gentle Wind Valley's three Heavenly Lords, Taoist Unreconciled Rock, forcefully exited seclusion! He then went out to avenge their Gentle Wind Valley's members!

Furthermore, Ouyang Li found out that not only Yang Ji with her high-grade Spiritual Roots was lost. Hair Disciple Wei and five high-ranking Elders went missing as well.

As a core member of the sect, disciple Wei had a soul flicker at the Ancestral Hall. Thus, her situation could still be inferred. Although she wasn't dead, her current state was said to be tragic.

All things considered, the ambush caused great loss to the sect. After all, even their Grand Elder was seriously injured!

However, all of this had nothing to do with Ouyang Li. No one questioned him as everyone was busy dealing with the aftermath. He was only told to submit a written report and wait for further instructions.

He was satisfied with this arrangement. Right now, he intended to seclude himself and focus on breaking through to the late stages of the Immortal Foundation Realm.

That wasn't all. Ouyang Li has also promised himself that, as long as it wasn't necessary, he wouldn't leave the sect. Not before condensing his Golden Core! Otherwise, it would be too dangerous!

"It seems that obtaining the Mysterious Bead used up all of my luck."

He murmured dejectedly.

At this moment, he was quietly testing his Spiritual Roots. In all the commotion caused by the incident, no one even asked him to return the Measuring Cristal!

It didn't take long for the results to appear. However, they were different from what he expected.

"So, the flash isn't bright enough for my roots to become mid-grade Spiritual Roots." He sighed deeply. "Never mind, I should be happy that I can sense Spiritual Energy more and more clearly."

Then, he put down the Measuring Crystal.

He decided to focus on nurturing his wounds. They still haven't healed. He overtaxed himself in a battle and he needed to sit down and meditate now.

Additionally, he had some insights and mental demons to deal with.

"No matter whether it takes me a decade or two decades. I have to sort everything out. Then, I must advance as quickly as possible. The outside world is way too dangerous for me now."

He murmured. Then, he closed the door of his cave. Thinking back, it was laughable that he considered leaving the sect when he was still at the Qi Gathering Realm.

"I need to put in some effort." He whispered. "After all, with each breakthrough, cultivation is getting slower and slower."

He sighed. "Who knows whether or not it will one day slow down to the extend of me running out of my lifespan? I can't allow this to happen!"

He sat down on his Calming Jade bed and carefully analyzed his own situation. Looking around, he realized that he still didn't have a low-grade protection array around his abode.

Additionally, he couldn't ignore his Steward responsibilities. It didn't matter that he didn't need the Spirit Stones. Some tasks were obligatory!

"Right now, I still can't afford to seclude myself." He realized after a moment. "First, I need to make some preparations..."

"So, let's wait until I'm summoned to report this cursed mission. Also, I should use this opportunity to ask as much as possible about the Demonic Tao."

As for some of the less important duties…

"I guess I can ask Steward Ming for his assistance. He should help me in exchange for whatever it is that he wants from me. Who knows, perhaps the task would be as simple as taking care of some of his mortal descendants!" He laughed out to himself.

On that note, Ouyang Li entered a meditative state. Fortunately, he had a few Inedia Pills to help him get through this difficult time. Nevertheless, he was still indignant about using them.

After all, nothing compares to a good meal. A good meal could work wonders!

"Phhh... Inedia Pills!"

Ouyang Li snorted!

He thought it would be so much better to laze around and taste delicacies in the nearby Ten Thousand Flavors Pavilion!