Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 241 - 223: Jing Dragon King
Watching as Li Qiuyang stepped forward and received it with both hands, Li Tongya instructed:
"You failed to break through, your body is weary and damaged. This Talisman Water is condensed from my own Immortal Foundation, it cannot be preserved for long. Take it twice daily for three days, regulate your breathing carefully, perhaps it may save you somewhat."
"Thank you, Uncle Tongya!"
Li Qiuyang was quite moved as he accepted the jade bottle, bowing deeply. Li Tongya smiled and said:
"I've heard you've taken a child of the Chen Clan as your disciple, and he's been with you for some years now. How is this child?"
Li Qiuyang nodded and replied respectfully:
"This child is named Chen Mufeng, a son of the Chen Family, of the same line as Donghe. His talent is also commendable, somewhat better than mine. He is now twelve and has just reached the third layer of Fetal Breathing."
Li Tongya raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised, and spoke:
"Indeed, not bad. You've taught him well."
Li Qiuyang shook his head again and again, answering:
"It is the child himself who is diligent. This line from Donghe has an extraordinary bloodline, I suspect their ancestors are not ordinary folk."
Li Tongya silently kept this in mind, then waved Li Qiuyang away, fastened his longsword at his waist, rode the wind, and flew towards Da Li Mountain.
Familiar with the mountain veins, he walked a while and landed at the foot of a cliff. Upon the slope stood a great banyan tree with pale leaves, its scattered white leaves falling, blanketing the ground in mottled white.
Under the tree, sure enough, an enormous crimson fox lay sound asleep beside the trunk. As he stopped, the fox's ears perked up sharply, squinting at him, then seeing his face, lazily flopped back down and squeaked:
"Chi Wei is dead! Even his Metal Nature was snatched away. The people of Si Yin purposefully brought a Magical Treasure, all just to catch that Metal Nature."
"Metal Nature."
Li Tongya nodded quietly. He too had heard such rumors—this Metal Nature is the key to the Golden Core, the wondrous source of a Golden Core cultivator, able to transform into various magic objects. Yet he hadn't heard of people from Si Yin before, so he asked:
"These people of Si Yin…"
The fox flicked its tail, cast a glance at Li Tongya, just opened its mouth but then jumped up abruptly, its fox eyes wide, exclaiming:
"You... you've broken through Foundation Establishment!"
Li Tongya nodded gently. Immediately, the fox's face drooped. It rolled on the ground, complaining bitterly:
"Ai ya ya... Oh, it maddens me! I'm still stuck wandering around the sixth or seventh layer of Qi Cultivation, and you've reached Foundation Establishment—it vexes me so!"
This fox was never the type to mince words; whatever was in its heart it let out straight, causing Li Tongya to smile knowingly. The fox said listlessly:
"How should I know all these things? I only repeat what the monsters above say. I just learn to parrot their words."
With that, it raised its head to sniff Li Tongya, grinding its teeth as it asked:
"Which Immortal Foundation have you cultivated?"
Li Tongya paused for a moment, then replied warmly:
"'Vast Sea'."
"'Vast Sea'?"
The fox pondered, rubbing its whiskers for a bit, then suddenly realized:
"It's the 'Jing Dragon King'!"
"'Jing Dragon King'?"
This time it was Li Tongya's turn to be puzzled. The fox chuckled and answered:
"Isn't it the one that commands the water veins, knows drought and flood, doesn't disturb crabs or fish, and transforms Talisman Water—such an Immortal Foundation?"
"Exactly."
Li Tongya had intended to keep it a secret, but upon seeing how clear the fox was, he could only cup his hands and admit it. The fox then grinned: 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
"In ancient times this Immortal Foundation was called 'Jing Dragon King'. Serpent Jiao and such demons often forged this foundation, hence the name; I've heard it's quite a good one too."
It paused, smiling as it took the Spirit Rice Li Tongya handed over, continuing:
"In the north foothills of Da Li Mountain, a loose cultivator with the 'Jing Dragon King' foundation once cultivated here. He entered the mountains and slew monsters several times but lacked discernment, offending several Demon Generals, and so was driven out. I saw that Spell Battle myself; after that I kept an eye on this Immortal Foundation, so I know it well."
Li Tongya nodded. The fox rolled over, found a comfortable spot to recline, and asked:
"Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivator comes into the mountain looking for me, what matter do you wish to instruct?"
Seeing the sly amusement on the fox's face, Li Tongya knew it was jest, and answered:
"I would not dare instruct—only, Taoist Fellow, do you know where to seek out this Precious Medicine in the mountains?"
"Precious Medicine? Most are already owned by someone, though a few are unknown to demons..."
The fox lifted its head and raised a paw, saying:
"But if I knew, could I leave it for you? I'd have swallowed it myself to boost my cultivation! In these mountains, the Precious Medicine is like the Spirit Rice to you cultivators; every single stalk is accounted for in the Demon Cave's ledger, meticulously divided and watched over by assigned demons. As soon as it ripens, it's sent to the Demon Cave—don't think it's easy to get your hands on any!"
"If you were a loose cultivator, maybe you could snatch it and run. But your home is right beneath the mountain—offending the Demon Cave isn't wise."
Li Tongya nodded gently, thanked quietly, pondered for a moment, then asked:
"If nowhere in the mountains is suitable, Taoist Fellow, do you know where else Precious Medicine may be found? I have a senior who's about to make a breakthrough, our families are close, and I owe her a favor. I must offer something worthy to present."
The fox flicked its tail, pointed its paw toward the Shanyue territory, and replied:
"Right now, only Shanyue's lands might be worth a try. There are only a handful of Foundation Establishment cultivators there; if you're careful and avoid them, it should be fine. Shanyue aren't skilled at farming either, most land is dense forest—searching for a few years should yield something."
"Thank you, Taoist Fellow."
Li Tongya sighed inwardly, his mind calculating. Secretly, he thought:
"Three short months—where's the logic in seeking and immediately finding? This expense can't be saved. First, I'll go to Shanyue's territory for a look, and I must visit the surrounding market towns."
The fox turned its pitch-black eyes, probed carefully:
"What kind of congratulations needs Precious Medicine—is it Zifu? That senior of yours… is it the newly advanced Perfected Person of the Xiao Family?"
Li Tongya and this White Banyan Fox had decades of friendship; he contemplated briefly and then replied:
"It's precisely that Perfected Person. She has left Green Pond, and my family wishes to draw her as a powerful ally."
The fox squinted in thought for a while, then suddenly changed expression and shouted:
"That Perfected Person's Divine Skills seem to be 'Old Man of the Stream'. Your Vast Sea is one of his Dao-Attributes. You'd best be careful, don't take the elixir or spiritual medicine he may offer. Your brother's fate is warning enough—don't let yourself become his supplement."
The fox was quite considerate, and Li Tongya nodded thanks, replying quietly:
"The matter of Dao-Attributes—the Xiao Family especially sent folks to make it clear, to lay things bare and dispel suspicion. As for taking elixir as Taoist Fellow mentions…"
Li Tongya thought hard for a while, finally dredging up an old memory. With a serious face, he said:
"Only when I reached the fourth layer of Fetal Breathing did she gift me a single medicinal powder—just one, I suppose it shouldn't come to that..."
"So long as you're aware."
The fox lowered its head, listlessly counting the Spirit Rice, replying:
"I come down from Demon Cave, I have few friends in the mountains. Many want to eat me. I reckon your mortal world is no different. I keep myself safe, so you mustn't get eaten either… In a hundred years, we could still meet here under this tree and chat."
Li Tongya stared dazedly at it, then smiled softly:
"Agreed."
