Li Mu was overjoyed, unable to imagine encountering such a wonderful opportunity.

However, the conditions to awaken this Spirit Treasure seemed simple but were actually quite troublesome.

Celestial Fire!

Where could one possibly find Celestial Fire? Li Mu only knew of some Spiritual Fires, Anomalous Fires, and Earthly Fires, but he had never heard of something like Celestial Fire.

Regardless, he decided to acquire this treasure first.

Unknowingly, thanks to his powerful talent in recognizing Ten Thousand Spirits, Li Mu had already 'picked up' quite a few High-tier Spiritual Objects, such as the Spiritual Turtle Shell, the Thunder Talisman Manual, …, which many Low-Tier Cultivators were unable to identify.

Li Mu just wanted to ask Array Master Liu for the Spirit-Taming Treasure Bracelet.

Unexpectedly, Liu Jian spoke first, smiling, "Fellow Daoist Li, you've taken a liking to this Beast Hide Treasure Map, haven't you! This Beast Map records the site of an Ancient Cultivator's cave residence. Unfortunately, I'm too old now, my legs aren't as agile, and my interest in exploring has waned, so I'll give you this map!"

"Uh! Fellow Daoist Liu, you've misunderstood! I enjoy peace and quiet and usually just plant some Spirit Flowers and Exotic Herbs, keep a Spirit Pet, study Arrays, and don't like wandering around. I'm not interested in exploring the Ancient Cultivator Ruins." Li Mu smiled and politely declined. Then, he casually picked up a Cyan Copper Bracelet and a dull-colored Colored Clam Pearl, smiling as he said, "Fellow Daoist Liu, I'll just take these two Spiritual Objects!"

Hearing this, Liu Jian was slightly taken aback. He had thought Li Mu would be interested in the map and wanted to take the opportunity to get rid of it. However, this young man wasn't tempted at all and instead randomly took two pieces of junk and ended the deal there.

Could he have seen through it?

Liu Jian suspiciously examined Li Mu, but did not find anything peculiar. His heart leaped as he quickly said, "Fellow Daoist Li, could it be you're looking down on my old self? These two trinkets certainly don't match up to the Dragon Elephant Inheritance, I truly don't deserve them."

"Uh! How about giving me this Beast Map too? Is that alright?" To shut him up, Li Mu straightforwardly took the Beast Skin Map from Liu Jian's hand.

Liu Jian was stunned, momentarily unsure of Li Mu's intentions.

"What's the matter, Fellow Daoist Liu, is there a problem? Our exchange is fair now, isn't it?" Li Mu asked nervously, watching Liu Jian closely.

"Alright! Let's make the exchange then, as long as Fellow Daoist Li is happy!" Liu Jian laughed heartily, nodding in agreement. At this moment, he had already deciphered from Li Mu's expression that this young man was just playing hard to get! It was clear he coveted the Beast Hide Treasure Map, looking extremely tense.

"When I was young, I traveled everywhere, frequently exploring spiritual caves and ancient sites. I constantly learned about Arrays to break through them, and that's how I gradually became an Array Master. During one expedition, I discovered a millennia-old Array, …" Liu Jian began to narrate his youthful adventures and encounters with peculiar Arrays.

Li Mu occasionally nodded, half-heartedly humoring him.

At this point, Li Mu no longer wanted to stay. He planned to find some time to visit Gangyang City again to ask Shopkeeper Wang of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Spirit Recognition Master Elder Wei, and others about the 'Celestial Fire.'

After a short while, Li Mu took his leave from Liu Jian, controlling his sword to quickly leave Qingping Town and fly towards Qing'an Town. At the same time, he removed his Exquisite Mask, returning to his original appearance.

Through brief contact, Li Mu discovered that Array Master Liu wasn't a simple character. Although he appeared very friendly and outgoing on the surface, with his discerning Divine Soul intuition,

Li Mu felt vaguely uncomfortable, and his intuition told him not to continue interacting with him.

Stumbling upon an unexpected windfall, Li Mu was delighted and promptly bid farewell to Liu Jian, leaving hastily.

On reflection, it's true that a Loose Cultivator who could live to the age of seventy, remaining healthy and well, was no easy feat. A Loose Cultivator who lived to such an age could either be an old monster or a timid hermit barely surviving.

This Array Master Liu was clearly the former. The Beast Skin Map obtained from him was difficult to verify as genuine, but Li Mu was very certain, by virtue of his Innate Divine Techniques, that it was merely a fake map, not worth keeping.

Flying via sword out of Qingping Town, Li Mu casually discarded the Beast Skin Map, not daring to harbor other thoughts.

At the Liu Family's Secluded Courtyard

Li Mu had only just left the courtyard when a burly man in his forties, with a full beard, entered briskly.

"Boss, you suddenly called me over, is there something you need?" The burly man walked up to Liu Jian and asked curiously.

"The number seven bait has been released. Keep an eye on the number seven pit these days; he might approach it with others anytime," Liu Jian instructed promptly.

"Uh! Boss, didn't you retire from this business? Why suddenly scatter bait? For now, where can I find help? Old Six, Old Seven, and Fifteen are all busy," the burly man complained, full of frustration.

"I'm just asking you to do a little work, why so much talk? Get someone to watch! Inform me immediately if anything happens," Liu Jian scolded, becoming angry.

"Understood! I'll let Monkey keep an eye on it right away." Seeing Liu Jian's anger, the burly man hastily agreed to the arrangement.

"Hmph, if there's no other matter, get lost!" Liu Jian snorted with disdain, dismissively waving his hand.

The coarse man took his leave quickly, like he'd just been granted amnesty, hurriedly exiting the courtyard.

Looking at the Array Jade Scroll in his hand, Liu Jian's face broke into a strange smile. Suddenly, he burst into manic laughter, "Dragon Elephant Eighteen Array, the Foundation Establishment Xu Family's Array Inheritance! Something I could never obtain before, now in my hands just like that! Hahaha."

...

Qing'an Town, Tingyu Tower, Reception Room.

"Failed! Even Foundation Establishment experts couldn't kill him? How is that possible?" Wang Feng hysterically questioned Yan Ling upon hearing the news, unable to believe the outcome.

Learning that Tingyu Tower had dispatched a Foundation Establishment killer for the assassination, Wang Feng hurried to Tingyu Tower to await the news. But instead of hearing news of a successful assassination, he personally witnessed the master of Tingyu Tower returning with a Foundation Establishment killer who had suffered a severe arm injury.

The assassination attempt ended in failure, with the Foundation Establishment killer severely injured.

What kind of monster is this?

Could that servant disciple he looked down upon before really be in disguise as a Foundation Establishment big shot?

What to do now!

Now what?

If it becomes known that he hired someone to kill, would he take action against me?

Thinking of the dire consequences, Wang Feng's emotions collapsed instantly. He had been consumed with thoughts of 'revenge' for the past period, hoping to claim the income from eleven acres of Middle Grade Spirit Field. Now, all hope was dashed.

A servant disciple at the early stage of Qi Refining Seventh Layer, just entering the Outer Sect, couldn't even be subdued by the Foundation Establishment cultivators?

"How could this happen, how could this happen, …" Wang Feng muttered, lost and unable to accept this reality.

Yan Ling, with a sullen face, threw back over twenty Middle Spirit Stones on the tea table, glaring at Wang Feng, and coldly dismissed him, "Here's your Spirit Stones back, this order Tingyu Tower will not take, Fellow Daoist Wang, go find someone else!"

For a mere twenty or so Middle Spirits, Tingyu Tower suffered severe losses, with Elder Yan at the Peak of Qi Refining losing an arm, along with Aunt Sun at Mid-stage Foundation Establishment. Even the Ink Concealment Spirit Cannon, symbol of Tingyu Tower's Branch Master status, was lost, leaving dignity in shambles.

Yan Ling's heart ached almost to the point of suffocation, gazing at the 'culprit' before her, wishing she could tear him apart to relieve her anger.

Unfortunately, Tingyu Tower had its rules, forbidding actions against clients. Resisting vomiting up her grievances, Yan Ling had to accept the failed assassination and refund the order.

Catching the intense killing intent radiating from Yan Ling, Wang Feng was startled, his face turning ashen white.

"The assassination attempt ends here, I really didn't know the background of that servant disciple was so terrifying. Master Yan, please forgive me. These Spirit Stones are compensation for Tingyu Tower's losses. I won't disturb you further!" Wang Feng, flustered, paid his respects and asked to leave.

"Stop! Take your Spirit Stones back before you go! Tingyu Tower! Doesn't need your compensation." Yan Ling, her eyes bloodshot, stopped Wang Feng, indicating word by word.

"Yes! Yes!" Wang Feng dared not hesitate, hurriedly gathering up the Spirit Stones in his arms, stumbling out of Tingyu Tower, looking extremely pathetic, fearing any delay might cost him his life before he got out the door.

At this time, Li Mu descended via sword, clad in his Outer Disciple Robe, directly landing in Qing'an Town. No one bothered him about any entry fees anymore.

Li Mu made his way directly to Zhang's Spirit Material Workshop, planning to find Zhang Baiping to retrieve the Red Wolf, only to make an unexpected discovery.

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