Chapter 125: The Realm of Returning Clouds Mountain

Li Mu exclaimed in surprise, finding it hard to imagine. He had assumed that because Li Ying was still young, she had no thoughts about growing up, yet he had not realized she already understood.

"Little sister, if you knew, why didn't you tell me?"

Li Ying looked at Li Mu with an indifferent expression. "There's nothing wrong with not growing up. I think it's perfectly fine. I can still practice cultivation, I can still laugh happily, and I can do whatever I want. Plus, I can stay with Big Brother. Isn't it wonderful not to grow up?"

She was, after all, just a young girl, and her imagination was so simple—it wasn't due to any other reason. Li Mu sighed, "It really won't do. My little sister, you are young now; when you grow up, you will understand."

"Understand what?"

Li Ying blinked her eyes, looking at Li Mu with curiosity.

Li Mu had lived two lives, yet he had never had a younger sister or a young daughter. Faced with such a question, he had nothing to say, so he simply replied, "For these next few days, stay with Apothecary Shen; let her explain it to you."

Li Ying looked a bit hesitant, shaking her head. "Alright, but am I not allowed to practice cultivation anymore?"

"Ah, wait until I return." Li Mu smiled. "It won't be long, and sooner or later, you will surpass your Big Brother."

Li Ying clenched her small fists and said firmly, "Mhm! When I surpass Big Brother, I will be able to protect you."

Li Mu hugged Li Ying and left without looking back.

After meeting with Sun Qi and Sun Sanjiu, Li Mu headed to his own residence to prepare for his return to the Cloud Mountain Realm.

He had only managed to refine a few bottles of Bone-Refining Pills because the tower's resources were limited, but giving them to the others would still provide a significant boost. Once he reached the Cloud Mountain Realm, he could acquire plenty of spirit crystals to refine more pills and new magical treasures.

As for the cultivation techniques for the Pulse-Refining stage, it seemed he would have to make slow progress while on the road. Li Mu casually examined the Wood Dragon Jade slip and suddenly noticed a special technique called the "Disguise Art."

The Disguise Art was a technique for the Pulse-Refining stage that allowed one to change their body and appearance for a long duration, making them look different from their true self.

However, the drawbacks were significant. First, one's cultivation level would be forcibly lowered by one stage. For instance, after Li Mu used the Disguise Art, his power might drop to the late stage of the Spirit-Building realm. He would be unable to use Pulse-Refining techniques, though the true energy within his body would not turn into gas, and his spiritual sense would not weaken.

Second, once the Disguise Art was used, one could not practice or recover normally. One could only use spiritual materials to maintain their cultivation level and pills to restore true energy from time to time.

"The restrictions are quite harsh, but it should be usable. With this technique, returning to the Cloud Mountain Realm will be much more feasible."

Li Mu felt quite pleased and spent a few hours mastering the Disguise Art. With this technique, he gradually formed a perfect plan in his mind for his trip to the Cloud Mountain Realm.

He had made up his mind that he would not return until he found a suitable solution. If necessary, he might even travel far away from the Cloud Mountain Realm to the Green Cloud Realm or somewhere even further.

However, he kept these thoughts to himself.

He had to bring Hei Zi along. The synergy between Hei Zi and Li Mu was extremely high; not to mention their mutual understanding, the creature was also very obedient, like a right-hand assistant to Li Mu.

Although it was still small now, in time, it would grow into a genuine third-tier spirit pet, perhaps even higher.

When Hei Zi was still just a spirit pet egg, it had already absorbed a great deal of Li Mu’s monthly cultivation energy. After hatching, it consumed top-tier Earth-Covering Fruit, and coupled with its growth environment, it frequently ingested other spirit beast cores. Li Mu held high expectations for its future.

Moreover, he was very cautious; a third-tier spirit pet capable of flight could easily cross borders, and when needed, Li Mu could use it to transmit information.

After resting, Li Mu left Lianshan and followed the path he had come from, heading toward the border.

Passing through the Deep Wood Tribe, he witnessed a scene of harmony and left behind a few pills in exchange for several beast cores.

The border winds were fierce and powerful, but for Li Mu, who was already at the Pulse-Refining stage, this was not much of a nuisance. Even these border winds were mild compared to other great realms; it was rumored that some realms had magnetic storm winds so strong that even those at the Spirit-Infant stage struggled to pass, and even movement talismans were restricted, making passage impossible.

Traveling south, his true energy would be exhausted every ten hours or so. At these times, Li Mu would sit on his solar ship to recover. He would only stay for a few hours at most, or else he could not afford the consumption of spirit crystals.

If it were an ordinary Pulse-Refining cultivator without a treasure like the solar ship, it would be extremely difficult to cross the border.

A few days later, Li Mu returned to the Cloud Mountain Realm.

As his feet touched the ground, the first thing he did was use the Disguise Art.

Li Mu’s body suddenly became shorter, and his face took on a more steady, gentle, and mature appearance. At a glance, he looked like an ordinary man in his early thirties.

He examined himself for a while and was very satisfied. With the Disguise Art and the "Book of Six" inside him, no one in the Cloud Mountain Realm could identify his true self based on his appearance, body, or cultivation level.

Normally, a Pulse-Refining cultivator could fly on clouds without a flying treasure, but as his current cultivation level was lowered by one stage, Li Mu had to travel using a Dust-Sand Array. In the Cloud Mountain Realm, he absolutely could not use a flying shuttle, as it would be inappropriate if discovered by people from the Bright Jade Valley.

After walking for a day, a large city appeared before him. It was much smaller than Deyang City, but it was a city nonetheless.

Outside the gates stood several Spirit-Building stage guards in clean blue robes, carefully inspecting those entering.

"These are cultivators from the Jade Iron Sect. I didn't think the sect had expanded this far." Li Mu recognized the uniforms of the guards and felt a stir in his heart.

Li Mu stepped out of the Dust-Sand Array at the city gate, and the sand dissipated into a mist before being retracted.

The guards were startled. This person's cultivation level seemed higher than that of an ordinary Spirit-Building cultivator, and they immediately showed great respect.

Soon, two guards stepped forward and bowed. "May I ask, cultivator, which sect you are from? Are you passing through Bunan City, or are you looking for lodging?"

Li Mu smiled faintly. "I am a rogue cultivator, just passing through."

"Ah, very well. Please enter, cultivator."

The guards scanned Li Mu with their spiritual sense, then quickly let him pass.

Li Mu was slightly displeased. Using spiritual sense to probe a cultivator was a very disrespectful act. Although it was the guards' duty, these two were being a bit too rude. However, with Li Mu’s current cultivation and spiritual sense, they could not discern anything; even the bird inside his clothes remained undetected by them.

Seeing the expression on Li Mu's face, the guard quickly explained, "Please don't take offense, sir! Because the Kaiyuan City forces have been very rampant lately, the city's defenses are all on high alert, and we have no choice."

Li Mu was slightly stunned. "Kaiyuan City?"

"Yes, does the cultivator not know?" The guard looked suspicious, and the men even stepped back a few paces, watching Li Mu very cautiously.

Li Mu shook his head with a faint smile. "Those evil ones? I have killed a few myself."

Only then did the guards relax. "Yes, those are the ones. Recently, there have been many tragedies around Bunan City. Many sects have been wiped out, causing great panic. Everyone is terrified of Kaiyuan City; only within the city walls is it safer. You should be careful on your way, sir."

"Thank you for your kindness; I am aware."

Li Mu bowed and headed into the city.

Mentioning Kaiyuan City, Li Mu thought of many things. The Flower Forest Sect must have been destroyed by them. It seemed their demonic reach was growing ever longer.

"If I encounter them, I won't let them have it easy." Li Mu hated those evil-doers deeply.