Cultivation Starting from Full Talent-Chapter 504 - 502: Huddling Together for Warmth

Several months later.

The Hidden Dragon Sect’s annexation of the shops in Fish-Dragon Square escalated, with nearly all the bustling shops surrounding Ning’s Shop now flying the flags of the Hidden Dragon Sect. The Li Family of Dragon Tail Peak saw their influence in Fish-Dragon Square waning by the day.

That morning, Li Yuantong visited the talisman shop to see his daughter.

Ning Daoran ordered Little Bai to make tea as a gesture of hospitality, while he and Li Yuantong chatted casually about insights into the Golden Core Stage.

"Ning’s Shop!"

Suddenly, a commotion rose outside, followed by a strong, resonant mid-stage Golden Core Practitioner entering the shop: "This shop’s land deed has been reclaimed by Dragon Head Peak. You are ordered to move out within three months!"

A Hidden Dragon Sect Elder had arrived, flanked by several Deacons.

"Oh?"

The Elder was taken aback and chuckled, "It turns out Peak Master Li is here as well."

"Elder Xu."

Li Yuantong slowly rose to his feet, desperately suppressing his rage: "This shop was personally promised by me, Li Yuantong, to Seal Master Ning for rent. How can your Hidden Dragon Sect be so overbearing to extend your reach here?"

"Please excuse us, Peak Master Li."

Elder Xu clasped his hands and grinned, "I am simply following the Ancestor’s decree, and dare not disobey. It is imperative that all shops in Fish-Dragon Square are reclaimed by the Hidden Dragon Sect. The Peak Master surely understands this."

"Nonsense!"

Li Yuantong retorted furiously: "Fish-Dragon Square was established after my Li Family’s ancestors settled on Dragon Tail Peak. It is the blood and sweat of my Li Family. What does it have to do with your Hidden Dragon Sect? Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at by the world for such blatant annexation of the Li Family’s property?"

"Peak Master Li."

Elder Xu’s face turned cold: "Any reasonable person knows Dragon Tail Peak was allocated to the Li lineage when the Hidden Dragon Sect divided its property. Everything on Dragon Tail Peak originally belongs to the Hidden Dragon Sect, the same goes for Fish-Dragon Square. Now that the Ancestor has decreed to reclaim Fish-Dragon Square for Hidden Dragon Sect’s management, Peak Master Li, are you challenging the Ancestor’s decision?"

"I do not accept it!"

Li Yuantong’s eyes turned icy cold: "I shall seek out the Ancestor right now. Elder Xu, please take your men and leave immediately! Without my consent, Li Yuantong, no one should dream of touching Ning’s Shop!"

"Tsk!"

Elder Xu scoffed and turned to leave with his entourage.

"Father!"

Li Yinpeng grabbed onto Li Yuantong’s arm, gently shaking her head: "Please... Don’t confront the Ancestor. Okay?"

"This has become unbearable."

Li Yuantong’s eyes shimmered with cold resolve: "With such a decision, the Ancestor wants to completely drain our Li Family’s foundations. There is no turning back now. As the Peak Master of Dragon Tail Peak, it’s my duty to fight for what’s right, otherwise... Dragon Tail Peak might indeed become a vassal to Dragon Head Peak!"

"Fellow Taoist Li."

Ning Daoran frowned: "I also advise against seeking out Li Bin. Although he is the Li Family’s Ancestor, he only eyes benefits and will show no sentiment. Besides, he has already made up his mind. Why should you antagonize him?"

Seal Master Ning understands what you’re saying, but this has dragged on for too long, and we need to make a stand."

Li Yuantong’s gaze was determined: "If I don’t speak up, I do not deserve to be the Peak Master of Dragon Tail Peak!"

Having said this, Li Yuantong swept his robes and turned into a streak of tunneling light, heading straight for Dragon Head Peak.

Ning Daoran’s brow furrowed, and an ominous premonition rose in his heart.

...

Late at night, bad news arrived from Dragon Tail Peak.

Two Hidden Dragon Sect Elders led a group of disciples, carrying Li Yuantong’s body back to Dragon Tail Peak.

Under the dim starlight, Li Yuantong’s body lay in the main hall of Dragon Tail Peak, covered with a white cloth splattered with crimson dots, chilling to the bone.

"Father..."

Li Yinpeng knelt beside him, her tears flowing like a broken string of pearls.

Ning Daoran released his Divine Sense for a quick scan and found that Li Yuantong’s head was nearly completely shattered; he had been struck dead by a palm blow to the head. Additionally, there were several fatal wounds on his chest from penetrating Flying Swords, as if the assailant not only wanted to kill Li Yuantong but also vent their anger.

"How could this be?"

Ning Daoran frowned and asked, "How could the Peak Master, who surely went to Dragon Head Peak to contend over the matters of Fish-Dragon Square with the Ancestor, die there?"

"Alas..."

One of the Elders, with a dim gaze, said, "Seal Master Ning, you may not know this, but when the Peak Master went to the Main Peak to confront the Ancestor, his words were extremely fierce. According to a Deacon at the peak, Peak Master Li was very offensive, which angered the Ancestor. The Ancestor then attacked, but little did he expect that Peak Master Li would resist. The Ancestor was then forced to deal a fatal blow."

"That’s more than just a fatal blow."

Ning Daoran spoke lightly: "Peak Master Li is a descendant of the Li Family’s Ancestor. How could the Ancestor attack so viciously..."

"We must not speak of this."

The Elder conveyed his message telepathically: "Seal Master Ning, you’d best stay out of this affair. The downfall of Dragon Tail Peak is already determined, and the rise of the Hidden Dragon Sect as the sole authority on Dragon King Mountain is the Ancestor’s decision, which no one can change. It’s Dragon Tail Peak now, and once it is dealt with, Wind Snow Tower will be next."

He had once bought a few Third-tier talismans from the talisman shop and was acquainted with Ning Daoran, adding in his message: "There’s not much I can say, Seal Master Ning, but I hope you can keep yourself out of it, to avoid being caught in the disaster. A tempest is about to descend upon Dragon King Mountain."

"Thank you for the warning, Elder."

Ning Daoran nodded slightly: "I will remember this."

Soon, the two Elders led the Hidden Dragon Sect disciples away.

The disciples of Dragon Tail Peak, in contrast, were overwhelmed with sorrow.

Days later, Li Yuantong was laid to rest, and Li Yinpeng was heartbroken.

...

In the talisman shop.

Ning Daoran sat quietly, sipping tea and frowning at the swaying shadows of the bamboo outside the window.

"Miss Li."

After setting up an isolation prohibition with a gentle flick of his sleeve, he spoke softly: "About the matter of Dragon Tail Peak, what are you planning to do?"

"My father was killed by the Ancestor, and I will not rest until I’ve avenged him."

Li Yinpeng’s beautiful eyes glinted with an icy chill: "Even if I can’t kill the Ancestor now, I will cultivate diligently and, when the time comes, I will avenge my father’s death!"

"You are only at the Golden Core Early Stage now; it’s probably very difficult."

Ning Daoran said: "I have met Li Bin only once. It is clear that his lifespan is not much, at most only thirty to fifty years left. You cannot possibly break through to the Nascent Soul within thirty to fifty years, so the hope of revenge is extremely slim."

"Seal Master Ning..."

Li Yinpeng’s shoulders trembled, and tears streamed down like rain: "What can I do then? Now the Dragon Tail Peak is in disarray, all my senior brothers want to start their own factions, what can I do?"

"The matter of Dragon Tail Peak has become a foregone conclusion."

Ning Daoran said: "In my opinion, you must not take over your father’s business, lest Li Bin focuses on you. On the contrary, you should stay out of it and not get involved in the strife of Dragon Tail Peak. Let the senior brothers fight if they want to, you don’t need to bother."

"Yes."

Li Yinpeng bit her silver teeth: "I will listen to Seal Master Ning..."

Ning Daoran nodded slightly but did not say much more.

...

Late at night, Dragon Head Peak.

The moon was bright, and the stars were dim.

"Whoosh~~~"

A figure floated down into the Elder’s Cave Mansion at the top of Dragon Head Peak, a figure in a white robe and with an Immortal’s charm, it was Han Dinghai, the Sect Master of the Hidden Dragon Sect.

"Ancestor!"

After entering the Cave Mansion, Han Dinghai immediately knelt on the ground and respectfully said: "I have returned!"

"Dinghai."

Li Bin sat cross-legged on the stone bed and slowly opened his eyes: "Did you find anything?"

"This journey did not disappoint the expectations of the Ancestor!"

Han Dinghai offered a Jade Bottle with both hands, saying: "After several months of planning and at great cost, I’ve finally gotten this Fourth-order Lifespan Extension Pill. It’s said that this pill came from an auction in Kunpeng Immortal City of Xia Country, and now after changing hands several times, it has finally reached me."

"Really?"

Li Bin’s eyes brightened, saying: "Let me have a look!"

"Yes, Ancestor!"

Han Dinghai stood up and respectfully presented the Jade Bottle.

Li Bin poured out the elixir, a golden Spirit Pill full of Dan Fragrance and densely covered in pill patterns, he was immediately overjoyed: "It really is a Fourth-order Lifespan Extension Pill. The Xia Country’s Cultivation World indeed has a profound foundation; there truly is a Pill Master who can refine a Fourth-order Lifespan Extension Pill. This pill can extend this old man’s lifespan by at least a hundred years. With this... I can plan many great things!"

"Congratulations to the Ancestor, congratulations to the Ancestor!"

Han Dinghai knelt on the ground once again.

"Dinghai, you are effective in your work, and this old man will not treat you unfairly."

Li Bin took the Lifespan Extension Pill and said: "After three days, have Han Liang come over, I will sacrifice some Mana to transfer my power to him!"

"Yes, thank you, Ancestor!"

Han Dinghai was overjoyed, with excitement shining in his eyes.

...

Half a month later.

A message spread throughout Fish-Dragon Square; the Saint Heir of the Hidden Dragon Sect, Han Liang had received the Ancestor’s power transfer and his cultivation surged forward, officially breaking through to the Golden Core Late Stage, surpassing Bai Feiyu, and becoming the first among the younger generation disciples of the Three Peaks!

At the same time, the talisman shop received several letters urging them to terminate the lease and move out from Hidden Dragon Sect.

Ning Daoran had no other choice and it seemed that he would have to leave.

On this afternoon, amidst the drizzling spring rain, a stunning figure entered the talisman shop, precisely Bai Feiyu.

"Seal Master Ning."

Bai Feiyu had a trace of fatigue in her expression, said: "I have heard about the talisman shop’s situation. Since this place has been reclaimed by the Hidden Dragon Sect, and they are unwilling to rent to Seal Master Ning... Do you have any plans for the next step?"

"None."

Ning Daoran shook his head: "I am just a Loose Cultivator, drifting with the wind, it doesn’t really matter to me. Since Fish-Dragon Square is not a place to stay for long, I will leave Dragon King Mountain. The world is vast, there will be a place for me."

"In that case..."

Bai Feiyu’s delicate brows lightly furrowed, said: "Feiyu, by the order of my master, invites Seal Master Ning to stay at Wind Snow Tower. Our Wind Snow Tower can allocate the Immortal Residence on the Fourth-tier Lower Grade Spirit Vein to Seal Master Ning to live in, for free. We only ask that Seal Master Ning refine fifty Third-tier talismans for Wind Snow Tower each year. Rest assured, Seal Master Ning, all materials will be provided by our Wind Snow Tower, how about it?"

"..."

Ning Daoran frowned slightly, lost in thought.

Bai Feiyu’s proposal was extremely tempting to him. Now the opportunity for Nascent Soul was mature; he ultimately needed to condense a Nascent Soul on the Fourth-tier Spiritual Veins to have a higher success rate. Additionally, Wind Snow Tower had deep resources, and Li Bin would certainly not be able to uproot Wind Snow Tower in a short time, which would give him enough time to successfully condense his Nascent Soul.

Moreover, Wind Snow Tower had shown full sincerity, asking for little but offering much. Though there was a clear intent to form connections and band together for warmth, Ning Daoran did not object.

Compared to Li Bin and the Hidden Dragon Sect, this Wind Snow Tower seemed more like a prestigious and orthodox sect.

"Agreed." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Ning Daoran gently cupped his fist: "Then many thanks to Fairy Bai!"

"Mm!"

Bai Feiyu gave a shallow smile with dimples showing, and looking towards Li Yinpeng, she said: "Sister Yinping can come along as well. The Immortal Residence is very spacious; you can live with Seal Master Ning inside the Immortal Residence, and continue to practice the Talismanic way. Moreover, you will be safer inside the Wind Snow Tower."

"This..."

Li Yinpeng was somewhat hesitant.

"What’s the hesitation?"

Ning Daoran said: "This is an excellent choice."

"Yes!"

Li Yinpeng nodded gently: "Thank you, Sister Feiyu!"

Thus, Ning’s Shop began to move. It only took half a day to pack up and leave, relocating to the Wind Snow Tower.