At this moment, Li Qinglin climbed alone to the mountain peak. This was where the mist gathered thickest, jagged rocks rose like ancient sentinels, blurred in the fog — a scene that could well be mistaken for a fairyland.
He ran his hand over the rough stone edges, feeling the coarse texture untouched by human hands for a long time. Nothing special. Yet, dried bloodstains faintly marked the rocks everywhere, as if some fierce battle had spilled blood here.
He paused, then deliberately scraped some blood from the stone and smeared it on his palm, waiting intently. No reaction.
Clearly, the blood held no secret.
The ground beneath was carved with complex, irregular patterns — chaotic lines without any obvious order or purpose, more like a child's aimless scribbles than anything arcane.
Li Qinglin thought a moment and took a jade pendant from his belt, placing it nearby.
The mist, which had previously seemed to avoid him, now fled from the pendant itself. He shook his head, releasing a faint glow of qi around him that isolated the mist outside.
These were indeed "resentful energies," but they did not flee him as a warrior. They feared his treasure instead. Still, his martial qi was enough to keep these curses at bay — no real threat.
Putting away the jade, he prepared to search the rock cluster for the monstrous tiger.
Suddenly, a sharp stench of blood cut through the air. He tightened his grip on his spear.
From the shadows, a pair of blood-red eyes the size of copper bells appeared.
A half-man-high tiger emerged slowly. Li Qinglin narrowed his eyes, noting the fleshy wings on the beast's back, stretching several feet wide. Those crimson pupils flashed annoyance at being disturbed — unlike the mutated boars he had seen, this tiger clearly possessed some cunning intelligence... it had become a demon.
With a fierce roar, the tiger lunged.
Li Qinglin deliberately tested the tiger's so-called "no chase" trait, retreating outside the rocky formation.
As expected, the beast seemed blocked by an invisible barrier — it couldn't leave.
His gaze returned to the carvings on the ground, a faint smile playing on his lips.
This was a binding formation holding the tiger captive. There was indeed a master behind this.
"So be it. I'll rid you of this beast."
Li Qinglin shook his spear, summoning a silver dragon that roared with the sound of wind and thunder.
Meanwhile, Li Qingjun had not slept. Annoyed by Caelan Thorne, she sat cross-legged, focusing on meditation.
Suddenly, a faint tiger roar and dragon's cry drifted on the wind.
She opened her eyes sharply. "Dragon's Roar? Brother!"
Unable to remain still, she grabbed the silver spear by her bed and dashed out.
Seeing her vanish into the night, Caelan slowly followed.
He had deliberately spread forgotten rumors of "celestial traces" to lure new seekers to this mountain, hoping to draw someone to banish the tiger.
The beast had already transformed into a demon beyond his power. He had learned from Lumière the binding formation to trap it in the rocks, preventing harm. But it was no permanent solution — one day it might break free.
The demon tiger gone, he could also cleanse the poisonous miasma here, finally freeing this place for peaceful living or wandering.
He just hoped the Li siblings were reliable.
Before reaching the summit, silver flashes streaked like lightning, bright as stars.
The air crackled with terrifying residual energy, shaking plants and stones around. Approaching, the space felt pierced by sharp spiritual blades, threatening to tear flesh.
"That's a powerful martial artist, likely past the 'Yi Jing' stage, approaching the peak of innate power," Lumière commented.
Caelan swallowed. As a martial artist himself, he knew this meant Li Qinglin was among the very best in the mortal realm. Those beyond him were almost immortal cultivators or saints — rare and blessed souls.
Hence the quest for immortality.
At the peak, Li Qinglin's silver light flashed. The demon tiger beat its wings and leapt with surprising agility.
Li Qinglin thrust his spear, but the tiger deftly avoided, sweeping its wings. Their weapons clashed with a thunderous boom — the massive beast was knocked aside into a cliff.
Li Qinglin only stepped back slightly, clearly in control.
Li Qingjun joined, spear poised. The tiger, still stunned against the cliff, was met by her cold silver spear, relentless as before.
At the same time, Li Qinglin pressed from the other side, closing escape routes.
With a furious roar, the tiger whipped its tail, striking Li Qingjun's spear. She grunted but didn't yield, instead counterattacking like a startled dragon.
The tiger lost its chance to break free and couldn't dodge Li Qinglin's spear thrust. It was finally pierced in the side, blood spraying.
The wounded beast roared, charging Li Qingjun. She blocked with her spear but was thrown back, her boots scraping deep furrows in the earth.
Li Qinglin dragged his spear along the tiger's flank, slamming it into the rocks. The impact shook the ground.
Li Qingjun hit another rock cluster, blood trickling from her lip. Without hesitation, she pressed on.
"Impressive for a delicate girl," Caelan thought, admiring her spirit.
The demon tiger, fed by the cursed miasma, had grown stronger. If it had been this powerful earlier, Caelan might not have even dared to set the binding formation.
But these siblings had the heart of warriors.
Li Qinglin alone was enough to handle the beast, and with Li Qingjun's help, the tiger was quickly overwhelmed, finally dying in a bloody heap.
A thread of demon qi drifted and dissipated into the air.
Caelan exhaled. The siblings were indeed dependable.
Lumière snorted. Caelan's plan had succeeded, but meant his darker schemes would be flushed away.
"Brother Qin, show yourself," Li Qinglin's calm voice called. "Watching all this and not helping? That's cold. This is a wild beast of our mountain, after all."
Caelan stepped from the shadows with a smile. "Each to their task. I have other matters."
Li Qingjun, catching her breath, looked at Caelan as he approached the rock pile. The siblings exchanged a glance and followed.
Soon, they saw Caelan crouched, digging with a small shovel.
After a moment, he murmured, "As expected."
From the dirt, he pulled a mud-covered object — a small censer carved with demon motifs, emitting faint red smoke.
Li Qingjun's eyes snapped wide. "So you spread the 'celestial traces' rumor to lure people here and get this thing!"
Caelan glanced at her and smiled. "Not to take it… but —"
He raised his mace and smashed the censer to pieces.
Li Qingjun froze, still fuming. "You used us too!"
Caelan rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a silver ingot. "How about… some compensation?"
Li Qingjun nearly lunged with her spear. Li Qinglin waved her off.
"Brother Qin warned us about the tiger. I came to see for myself and chose to be a tool in his hands. If I complain, it's my own fault. But judging by this, Brother Qin did bind the beast here, right?"
Caelan nodded. "Had to, to keep people safe."
Li Qinglin said, "There's more resentment in these mountains. One of your pills cured it. You're familiar with these strange artifacts and binding formations. You're a true alchemist, skilled in many arts. Who taught you?"
"Self-taught, just fumbling around… not a real alchemist," Caelan said. "Any advice?"
Li Qinglin sighed. "My father was deceived by charlatans, abused pills, and his health deteriorated. We children worry. Brother Qin, if you have true skill, would you come help set things right? I'll make it worth your while."
He paused, adding, "Because of this, Qingjun dislikes fake alchemists and acted rashly. Don't take offense."
He clearly assumed Qingjun had made trouble, and Qin had suffered for it.
Li Qingjun lowered her head silently. Caelan was at a loss.
"I'm just a wandering hermit," he said. "Might disappoint you."
Li Qinglin smiled. "Then consider this tiger hunt as my payment."
Caelan choked, then laughed. "So you meant to get me out here all along."
Li Qingjun glanced at her brother — no wonder he never minded her being used as a pawn. He deliberately took the spear to win Qin's help.
She realized she'd been the fool all along.
Caelan hesitated, wanting to refuse. He preferred his simple village life, avoiding entanglements with alchemist politics.
He pulled out a freshly made antidote pill. "Let this be my thanks for the tiger."
Li Qinglin sighed, about to speak, but Li Qingjun interrupted angrily.
"If you won't go, fine! We've asked others — there must be more alchemists in Nanli than just you!"
Li Qinglin gently soothed her. "Qingjun, you know searching for others means delay."
Qingjun snapped, "With that man's evil mind, who knows if he's not another Cassius Evernight!"
Caelan was already turning away, but the name made him stop and spin sharply.
"Who did you say you want to fight?"
The original soul had been devoured by Lumière, leaving only the strongest grudge inside — hatred for the so-called Arch-Lector. Caelan's nightmares were haunted by this.
He had heard rumors — Nanli's Arch-Lector, Cassius Evernight!
Seeing Caelan's grim expression, Li Qinglin regretted revealing this so soon. Qin had already seemed reluctant; now that he knew it was about the Arch-Lector, he might refuse outright.
Li Qinglin looked at him helplessly.
"Arch-Lector Cassius Evernight. Brother Qin, if you fear him, I'll seek another."
"No," Caelan said slowly. "I'll go with you."
Li Qinglin was stunned.
Caelan coldly pointed at the broken censer. "I want to ask one question — why?"
Even Li Qingjun stared, surprised by the man who seemed so carefree suddenly turning deadly serious, eyes sharp enough to devour.