Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 179 - 179 113 Find the Remnants of the Faction of Hermit Cultivation_1

179: 113 Find the Remnants of the Faction of Hermit Cultivation_1 179: 113 Find the Remnants of the Faction of Hermit Cultivation_1 Back at his residence, Shen Long sat cross-legged on a blue cushion, eyes closed, restoring his spirit.

The next evening, around 7 PM, Shen Long arrived on time at Bai Yuyan’s residence, where two Qi Refining Cultivators stood guard at the entrance.

Bai Yuxian had informed them beforehand, so they offered no resistance, and one of the Qi Refining Cultivators personally led the way.

Bai Yuxian, Su Jianghai, Xu Yue, Xu Wen, and over thirty other Foundation Establishment Cultivators had gathered within an azure stone pavilion, engaging in a lively discussion over cups of tea.

“Taoist Friend Shen has arrived.”

With a slight smile, Bai Yuxian stood up and introduced Shen Long to the other cultivators.

“I am Shen Shi, and I greet all Taoist friends.”

Shen Long said with a fist and palm salute.

The cultivators took turns introducing themselves so everyone got acquainted.

Bai Yuxian gestured for Shen Long to sit, and they all resumed their tea-fueled discourse.

The cultivators present were mostly Artifact Refiners, so their conversation largely pertained to Artifact Refining, leaving little room for Shen Long to interject.

“By the way, Fairy Xu, wasn’t your Spirit Insect sick?

Taoist Friend Shen is proficient in pest control; perhaps you could ask him for some advice.”

Bai Yuxian remarked to Xu Yue.

Suspecting Shen Long, Xu Yue offered a smile and said, “Taoist Friend Shen, my Golden Moon Silkworm is currently at the early stages of the second rank, but no matter what kind of Spirit Mulberry Leaves I feed it, it simply refuses to eat.

I don’t know what’s wrong.”

“Before it started acting abnormally, did it consume any high-aged Fire Attribute Spiritual Medicine?”

Shen Long inquired.

Surprised, Xu Yue responded, “Indeed, but how did you know, Taoist Friend Shen?”

“I guessed it from your description.

Give it this bottle of Clear Spirit Liquid to consume.

Don’t do such things again, its rank is too low to be consuming high-aged Fire Attribute Spiritual Medicine.”

Shen Long took out a cyan porcelain bottle and handed it to Xu Yue.

“Taoist Friend Shen, how much does this bottle of Clear Spirit Liquid cost?

Where did you buy it?”

Xu Yue asked curiously.

“Taoist Friend Shen is an Alchemist, naturally, he concocted it himself.”

Su Jianghai explained.

“Taoist Friend Shen is an Alchemist!”

Most of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators expressed their surprise.

“I concocted it myself, it’s not worth much.

Encounters are fated, so Fairy Xu, please accept it!”

Shen Long said.

“Then I shall accept it gratefully, thank you, Taoist Friend Shen.”

Xu Yue expressed her gratitude and accepted the bottle.

As all the Artifact Refiners present had some wealth, they kept various Spirit Insects and Spirit Beasts and began discussing their issues with Shen Long.

Some Spirit Beasts suffered from loss of appetite, and some Spirit Insects produced only a few eggs.

Shen Long patiently answered all their questions and provided them with some Elixirs to feed their Spirit Beasts and Insects.

As a result, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators’ favorable impressions of Shen Long grew considerably.

After chatting casually for half an hour, Shen Long said, “I am stuck at a bottleneck, and my master told me that sparring with fellow cultivators could help resolve it.

I would like to spar with the Taoist friends here, if you would all be so kind.”

He actually wanted to spar with Xu Yue and Xu Wen to observe their techniques and Divine Skills, but doing so outright was too obvious.

Pretending to have a broader desire for sparring would allow him to face other Foundation Establishment Cultivators first, then engage with Xu Yue, achieving his goal without raising her suspicions.

“Being stuck at a bottleneck can indeed be troublesome.

Taoist Friend Shen, it’s been many years.

Shall we spar and catch up?

How about it?”

Su Jianghai was the first to stand, eager to try.

“Sure!

But this isn’t a suitable place.

Shall we go outside to spar?”

Shen Long suggested.

Foundation Establishment Cultivators possess the skill to see clearly even in the dark.

“Let’s spar tomorrow morning instead!

The middle of the night isn’t ideal, and we wouldn’t want to give rise to misunderstandings.”

Bai Yuxian interjected.

After all, should a midnight exchange of spells occur, the uninitiated might think the Golden Tangerine Marketplace was under attack, which would be bad for its image.

“Indeed!

During the daytime, we can invite more friends to join—’befriending through martial prowess.’ We will have someone set up an arena.”

Bai Yuyan suggested.

“What do you think of that proposal, Taoist Friend Shen?”

Su Jianghai asked.

“Taoist Friends Bai and Fairy Bai make sense.

Let’s do it tomorrow then!”

Shen Long agreed.

After a bit more casual conversation, Bai Yuxian proposed an exchange of Cultivation Resources, and all the cultivators consented.

They took out various items for exchange, most of which were Artifact Refining materials.

Shen Long traded second-rank Elixirs for some Artifact Refining materials to feed the Shi Jin Ant Queen.

An hour and a half later, the cultivators returned to their respective homes.

The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Shen Long left his dwelling and arrived at a vast Azure Stone Plaza.

There were over twenty azure stone platforms set up, all prepared overnight by the Bai Family’s disciples.

Several Foundation Establishment Cultivators had gathered there, including Xu Yue and others.

Bai Yuxian stood on one of the azure stone platforms and announced loudly, “Taoist friends can spar here, but the moment contact is made, the fight is to be ceased.

It is an exchange of goodwill through martial prowess, and no one should fatally injure another.”

Such an event hadn’t been a part of the prior Flying Cloud Gathering because blades can blind, and should a life be lost during a spar, it would be difficult to bring the situation to a satisfactory end.

Walking up to one of the azure stone platforms, Shen Long said with a fist and palm salute, “I am Shen Shi.

Which Taoist friend would grant me the honour of a lesson or two?”

“Taoist Friend Shen, let me have an exchange with you.”

Su Jianghai said as he stepped onto the platform.

A cyan light barrier appeared instantly, enveloping the entire platform.

As soon as the fight began, Shen Long raised both hands, launching two giant fireballs with diameters of fifty feet towards Su Jianghai.

Su Jianghai reacted quickly, conjuring a blue shield to block in front of him.

He also retrieved a banner flag with continuous flowing blue light, channeled his mana into it, and the flag’s surface emitted a dazzling blue light.

Brandishing the blue banner flag, with a gentle wave, a wall of water over thirty feet high materialized and positioned itself in front of him.

The two giant fireballs crashed into the blue water wall, instantly exploding and transforming into a sea of flames that engulfed the wall, sending up a cloud of white vapor.

Before the white vapor had dissipated, a massive green tornado came toward them, striking the blue water wall, which shattered instantaneously.