The Da Li Dynasty consists of thirty-six provinces, with the Nine Provinces as its heartland, surrounding the location of the Da Li Imperial City.

However, over the past half year, Wen Ruyu alone has stirred up a storm in these Nine Provinces, yet remains uncaptured to this day.

In the sky above Yongzhou, a Jiao Dragon soared through the clouds, its bright green eyes enchanting and spectral.

On the back of the Jiao Dragon, several people sat cross-legged.

Li Fan sat on the dragon's back, eyes closed in cultivation, the powerful Sword Intent flowing from his body. Over half a year had passed, and he had successfully advanced to the Late-stage of Condensation.

Opening his eyes, Li Fan looked down and asked, "Sister Liu, are you tired?"

Liu Ji ignored him.

Li Fan didn't mind; after so many years, he finally realized his wish of riding 'Liu Ji' on his journey.

"Brother Xiao Fan, where are we heading now?" came a voice from behind. Li Fan looked back and saw Yang Qingshan lying there, looking exceptionally relaxed.

"Have you broken through to the Condensed Core Realm?" Li Fan turned his head and glared at him.

"No rush, with my talent, it's only a matter of time," Yang Qingshan said.

"Time waits for no one," Li Fan replied.

"Brother Xiao Fan, where do you think the Li Mountain disciples who went down the mountain for cultivation years ago are now, and how their cultivation has progressed?" Yang Qingshan suddenly pondered while looking up at the sky.

After the turmoil at Li Mountain back then, Li Mountain sent all its disciples down the mountain to experience the world, dispersing them across the world, presumably scattered across the four seas and eight directions now.

"Li Mountain has many disciples, and when they went down the mountain, each had a different realm. Now, naturally, there are cultivators of various realms," Li Fan responded. Back then, they were just part of the younger generation of Li Mountain disciples, but Li Mountain had nearly all its disciples go down, with only the heads of each peak remaining on Li Mountain.

Doing so was naturally for the disciples' safety. Even if the court attacked Li Mountain again, at least the scattered Li Mountain disciples would be unharmed.

"When you, Brother Xiao Fan, become a Seventh Realm Great Sword Cultivator, rally the Li Mountain disciples, coming from all directions; that would be invigorating," Yang Qingshan imagined aloud.

"Seventh Realm might not be enough," Li Fan thought to himself. The court likely has Saints, but they only fear the Li Mountain Sword Saint.

However, it's too early to consider this now. For now, he needs to first break through to the Dao Body Realm of the Sixth Realm.

Li Fan opened the Da Li Map, his eyes falling on a city location, "Let's go here first."

"Liuyue City."

Li Fan murmured quietly, noting that this city is the gateway to Yongzhou, guarding Yongzhou's 'door', where demon attacks are frequent, often infiltrating the city.

Due to this, sects gathered in Liuyue City, with extremely strong overall power, and even some top major sects stationed within.

If you enter Liuyue City, you are within the inner ring of Da Li's thirty-six provinces.

Li Fan's gaze was fixed on the map; a certain force there was quite familiar to him, and this visit would be an opportunity for reckoning.

Outside Liuyue City, there is a main road, with travelers coming and going, and even some riding through the air. Occasionally, someone glanced toward Li Fan and his companions but dared not start trouble, as those riding a Jiao Dragon often had distinguished backgrounds.

"Go down," Li Fan looked below, and the Jiao Dragon swooped downward.

Not far from the city, beside the main road, there was a tavern with many travelers.

When Li Fan and his people landed, they instantly drew many gazes, but soon saw Liu Ji transform into a human form, becoming a graceful and charming woman. Her fiery figure brightened the eyes of several cultivators.

Yet, seeing Li Fan next to her, dressed in white with a silver mask covering his face, they suppressed their heart's excitement.

Traveling outside, avoiding trouble ensures longer survival.

Many tables and chairs were set up outside the tavern, and with around thirty people, Li Fan scanned one glance around, feeling it quite interesting to be in this small tavern where dragons and tigers hid, and among the travelers were others in demon form.

However, what most attracted him was a portrait hanging on a wooden pole outside the tavern, depicting a white-clad Sword Cultivator, elegant and otherworldly, yet full of a murderous aura, precisely the portrait of his younger master.

"Bounty poster."

Li Fan glanced at it; the court's bounty posters had even reached this small tavern. Whoever sees it and informs the court will be rewarded.

After all, expecting travelers to capture a Sixth Realm Sword Cultivator from Li Mountain was somewhat of a pipe dream.

To take down Wen Ruyu would likely require deploying Seventh Realm Great Cultivators.

"Young master, have you ever seen this person?" someone nearby asked with a smile when seeing Li Fan focusing on the portrait.

Li Fan shook his head, smiling, "The court's bounty isn't exactly low."

"A Sixth Realm Great Sword Cultivator from Li Mountain, and the son of Wen Haoran, of course, the bounty wouldn't be low. Now Wen Ruyu's still a Sixth Realm Dao Body, but if he breaks through to Seventh Realm, the damage to the court would be significant," the person remarked with a smile.

Li Fan found a seat and sat down. The tavern owner was a cloth-worn elderly man, already grey-haired and slightly hunched, yet running a tavern beside the main road outside a city must mean he's no ordinary old man.

Before Li Fan and his companions spoke, the old man brought small dishes and wine to their table, smiling, "Here you are, guests."

Li Fan curiously looked at him, for he hadn't ordered anything.

The others glanced at the food, but didn't touch the bowls or chopsticks.

"Rest assured, guests, it's not poisoned," the old man chuckled, eyes examining Li Fan and Lu Yuan, lingering on Li Fan particularly long.

"Thanks, old sir." Li Fan nodded, picking up chopsticks.

At that moment, two figures approached Li Fan and his group, a man and a woman, appearing quite young. The woman exuded a sense of courage, while the young man's face was pale, radiating an ominous aura.

Seeing the two people stand up, many looked up and focused on them, clearly recognizing their identities.

The woman walked to Li Fan's table, eyeing Li Fan and then looking at Liu Ji.

"Demon energy?"

Li Fan sensed the aura on both of them, but it wasn't demonic; rather, they were tainted by demon energy.

"Is this jiao your demon slave?"

The woman asked Li Fan, assuming Liu Ji was a demon slave since Li Fan and the others were riding on her.

Li Fan glanced at the woman; she, too, was a Condensed Core cultivator, seemingly of high status.

"What do you want?" Li Fan asked.

"I've been looking for a suitable demon slave. Would you be willing to let me have her? You can name your terms," the woman continued, thinking that Liu Ji, being a jiao, would be very suitable for her if she could make use of her, and could even help Liu Ji continue evolving.

The surrounding crowd wasn't surprised when the woman spoke, as this matched the style of the faction she belonged to.

"No," Li Fan refused.

The woman's eyebrows slightly raised as she looked at Liu Ji. It was rare to come across such a suitable demon slave, yet she didn't want to give up easily. However, this group seemed unusual; if they refused, her strength might not be enough to coerce them.

"From out of town?" the pale-faced young man behind the woman shot a glance at Li Fan and asked.

Li Fan looked up at him, only to hear the young man continue, "We come from the Medicine Cleansing Lake. If it's convenient, name a condition."

"What a coincidence." Li Fan smiled.

The familiar power marked on the Da Li Map was indeed this Medicine Cleansing Lake.

Years ago, when the court besieged Li Mountain, the Medicine Cleansing Lake also hoped to get a share. In Lin'an County, he came across a youth and an Old Demon from the Medicine Cleansing Lake. Liu Ji was there, too.

That youth had called for Liu Ji to be his demon slave. Unexpectedly, it's the same scene now repeating here.

The difference is that now it's a Condensed Core cultivator from the Medicine Cleansing Lake eyeing Liu Ji, and Liu Ji had transformed into a jiao.

It's said that the Medicine Cleansing Lake is a beast taming power with many demons, even some of high rank.

These demon cores are all supplements.

"Alright." Li Fan smiled at the pale-faced youth and said, "How about trading for the Medicine Cleansing Lake itself?"

The pale-faced youth's expression suddenly turned cold, a sinister aura spreading from him. He didn't look at Li Fan anymore but turned to Liu Ji with a smile: "The Medicine Cleansing Lake is a great sect in demon control. You can have a baptism there and progress further. Following us would be better than with him."

"Using force?"

Li Fan murmured, no longer being asked his opinion.

People in the tavern looked this way, not finding it strange. The Medicine Cleansing Lake is a top power in Liuyue City, a great sect in beast taming, always dealing with demons, naturally more domineering.

"Alright." Liu Ji smiled charmingly at the pale-faced youth and said, "Then beat him, and I'll come with you."

Medicine Cleansing Lake, so familiar.

So, is Li Fan here to cause trouble?

"This..." The pale-faced youth revealed a peculiar smile, his gaze settling on Li Fan.

If that's the case, killing him wouldn't require paying any price?

If so, it must be worth a try.

If they could kill, they'd kill. If not... it didn't matter.

"Boom..." A wild demon energy surged out. His arm suddenly thrust forward, transforming his hand into a sharp claw slashing down like a demon's claw.

The woman behind him watched quietly. Since these people wouldn't accept the offer, they might as well test their strength.

"Hmph."

Huang Xiong suddenly stood up, throwing a punch that slammed onto the claw, forcing it back. Yet Huang Xiong reached out and grabbed the opponent's arm.

The pale-faced youth froze, unexpectedly unable to break free, a violent demon energy surged out from him.

"Kill him."

Li Fan whispered while holding his wine cup. Huang Xiong wouldn't be polite, employing a Mystic Technique, his right fist struck out with the sound of a roaring beast, smashing the opponent's head, leaving the pale-faced youth a corpse on the ground.

Those around showed looks of shock, staring incredulously at Li Fan and his group.

The Medicine Cleansing Lake is a top sect in the city, and yet, killed just like that?

The pale-faced youth probably didn't expect the opponent to erase him this way, either.

The face of the Medicine Cleansing Lake woman changed dramatically. She abruptly turned to flee, but saw golden vines wrapping from Li Fan, entangling her body instantaneously.

"Squelch..."

Golden thorns pierced through her body, blood gushed out, her face turning deathly pale, filled with fear.

When did the Medicine Cleansing Lake become so lacking in deterrence?

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