CHAPTER 462: CHAPTER 97: THE CORPSE OF GANODERMA ANCESTOR

The Xu brothers, initially thinking the dozen or so streaks of tunneling light were charging directly at them, couldn’t help but feel alarmed and their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

As these figures approached, they realized the group was not from the Wu Clan, but rather a gathering of many Loose Cultivators for reasons unknown. Among them were even a few familiar faces.

Yet, each of these individuals displayed panicked expressions, as if they had encountered something horrifying. Most didn’t glance their way and instead flew straight past them.

Among the group was a young female cultivator who wore a sheer silk dress and had her hair styled in a fallen horse bun, looking to be in her prime years. Riding atop a pink cloth, she glimpsed the Xu brothers, a hint of surprise flickering across her face. Her exquisite visage hesitated for but a moment before she waved her long sleeve and turned toward them, urgently calling out, "Why are the esteemed brothers still lingering here? If you don’t leave now, your lives might be at risk!"

After flinging those words, she didn’t wait for the Xu brothers to respond. She quickly cupped her hands in a Wan Fu salute before hurrying off to catch up with the group ahead.

The Xu brothers exchanged a glance and saw the fear vividly reflected in each other’s eyes. Xu Yan Kuang swiftly pivoted and bowed to Zhang Yan, saying, "Brother Li, as you can see, the Wu clan has become incredibly powerful..."

Before Xu could finish his sentence, Zhang Yan flicked his sleeve with a cold expression and said composedly, "Fellow Daoists, please go on your way. I, Li, will not be accompanying you further." With that, he didn’t spare the two another look, turned away, and entered his cave mansion.

Had it not been for the recklessness and arrogance of the Wu Clan’s guests, who had attacked him without even a word, Zhang Yan wouldn’t have bothered with such trivial matters. Moreover, he had to search for the Ganoderma Ancestor and naturally wouldn’t travel with these two. Regarding whether the Wu Clan would come seeking trouble, he dismissed it entirely. Surely, if anyone dared challenge him, he’d eradicate them easily.

Xu Yan Kuang, seeing Zhang Yan’s evident disinterest in engaging with them, was momentarily stunned. He opened his mouth to say more, but his brother, Xu Yanfu, tugged at him and whispered, "Brother, why insist further? This individual possesses strength far beyond ours and surely has his own means of protection. If the two of us end up in conflict with the Wu Clan, we’d only be a burden to him."

Noticing Zhang Yan’s cold demeanor, Xu Yanfu understood that staying any longer would only breed annoyance. Knowing his elder brother’s tendency to focus solely on cultivation while neglecting interpersonal nuances, he feared pressing on might inadvertently provoke Li Yuanba. Hence, he couched his persuasion in more tactful terms.

Xu Yan Kuang was struck by realization and said, "You’re right, second brother."

He respectfully bowed toward Zhang Yan’s cave mansion and called out loudly, "Li Daoist, words fail to express our gratitude. My brother and I will take our leave now. May we meet again if fate permits."

Inside the cave mansion, Zhang Yan stepped further in, where Master Shi remained seated firmly atop a stone stool. Upon seeing him enter, Master Shi stroked his beard and asked, "The Wu clan wields great power. With this mountain still under Nine-Headed Peak’s domain, does Li Daoist not wish to find a place to temporarily evade their pursuit?"

Zhang Yan chuckled lightly and spoke with confidence, "Why should I, Zhang, fear the Wu Clan? Moreover, within these Five Peaks of Qingcun Mountain, sooner or later, they’ll all be taken over by the various Great Clans. Unless one escapes to a distant place, wherever one goes, it will be the same situation."

Master Shi knitted his brows and remarked thoughtfully, "Oh? To my knowledge, the Shi and Yan families aren’t as domineering as the Wu Clan."

Zhang Yan scoffed coldly and replied, "After the Wu Clan annexed Nine-Headed Peak, the Loose Cultivators have been forced to search for medicine mushrooms elsewhere. Here in Qingcun Mountain alone, there are over a dozen clans, large and small. With these Loose Cultivators dispersing into other territories, competition for the medicine mushrooms will surely intensify. Mark my words, it won’t take long before the other families mimic the Wu Clan, monopolizing mountains and valleys, barring outsiders from intervening."

Absorbing Zhang Yan’s reasoning, Master Shi pondered deeply before nodding slowly and sighing, "You make a fair point, Daoist. However, based on my calculations, the Ganoderma Ancestor’s hiding place likely remains within these Five Peaks, which, frankly, poses quite a challenge."

Unbothered, Zhang Yan simply waved his hand and firmly declared, "No matter. Master Shi, you just focus on your search for the Ganoderma. As for anyone who obstructs us, leave them to me."

Zhang Yan had no interest in meddling with these clans’ efforts to expel other cultivators. However, the Ganoderma Ancestor was one of the key external medicines crucial to forging his Solidified Pill. To obstruct him was to hinder his path to the Great Dao—such insolence could only be met with his sword and decisively silenced.

Detecting the overwhelming killing intent imbued in Zhang Yan’s words, Master Shi felt a chill and took a deep breath before responding slowly, "Since that’s the case, if Daoist trusts this old man, may I request that you retrieve the Transformed Medicine Mushroom for my use?"

Zhang Yan smiled slightly and replied, "Of course I trust Master Shi."

From his sleeve, he retrieved a porcelain bottle, removed its stopper, and tilted it downward. A wisp of aromatic green smoke emerged from the bottle, slowly condensing into the form of a palm-sized child. With tears glistening in his eyes, the little figure stretched out across the stone table, looking pitifully at the two men.