Li An decided to go find Gu Hong first, with two considerations in mind.

First, he must avoid the calamity facing the Profound Yang Sect, otherwise, if he gets caught up in it, he would most likely lose his life.

Second, after leaving the Profound Yang Sect, he must find a backup plan for himself in advance.

In fact, surviving under the big tree of the Profound Yang Sect is the most comfortable.

There is a stable monthly payment, a stable market store to sell Spirit Talismans, and safety guarantees.

These things are not something that other places can provide.

If he really becomes a Loose Cultivator, his income from selling Spirit Talismans might plummet!

A shop in a market is invaluable, even those Cultivation Clans outside often can only own a few shops in the market. Li An being able to privately sell Talismans in a Profound Yang Sect's shop is a crucial reason why he has been able to cultivate steadily for so many years.

Not lacking in Spirit Stones!

Moreover, from his previous life experiences, Li An deeply understands how hard the life of a Loose Cultivator is.

Fighting and killing, ups and downs, living precariously, without even a stable place to cultivate.

It costs a lot of lives!

If the Profound Yang Sect falls, and he doesn't make preparations beforehand, he would have almost nowhere to go at that time!

The Profound Yang Sect is located in the north of the Great Li, aside from the three major Core Formation Stage powers, it's just some Foundation Establishment Cultivation Clans and the like, would such powers dare to take him in? The Yin Yang Demon Sect has swept through many Foundation Establishment Cultivation Clans, to take in someone like Li An who has a deep grudge against the Demon Sect would be courting death.

And major sects like the Hundred Beasts Sect and the Divine Sword Sect, even if they are willing to take in the "remnants" of the Profound Yang Sect, they would definitely treat them as outsiders, squeeze them hard, and they wouldn't be willing to fight to the death with the Demon Sect for him.

The thought is just despairing.

After thinking it over, he already had an idea in his mind.

But this idea needs to be verified.

So, he decided to go find Gu Hong.

For the first time in several decades, he was "traveling far," but he was experienced, dressing himself in plain clothes and making his appearance look ugly, looking like a low-level cultivator, and using a Life Seed to simulate a manic and sinister aura, giving off a very difficult-to-mess-with vibe.

Plus, he didn't interact with people along the way, staying away from trouble, so he was safe and sound.

The Moon Tempering Valley is nearly two hundred miles away from the Qingyang market, and after three days, Li An finally arrived.

A serene valley lays before him, the scenery is quite extraordinary, and the Spiritual Qi is very abundant, just slightly weaker than the Qingyang market.

Protective Arrays are set up in the valley.

Li An had reverted to his original appearance, and from a distance, he called into the valley.

Soon, a familiar figure came out to greet him, it was Gu Hong!

She was delighted to see Li An!

Even though she was delighted, she still checked through the Array to ensure the person before her didn't have any Demon Dao aura and was not transformed from a Demon Cultivator, only then did she open the Protective Array to let Li An in.

"Fellow Daoist Li, what brings you here?"

She walked up quickly.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, the matter you mentioned to Li An a few months ago, Li An has thought it over and decided to join you on a journey to the Cloud Illusion Mountain Range!"

Li An smiled.

In Gu Hong's eyes, a hint of inexplicable emotion emerged, the reason she hadn't set off yet was that she was looking for someone reliable to accompany her.

To go to the Cloud Illusion Mountain Range, she needed to find a trustworthy companion.

But she had written to a senior fellow disciple for a long time, yet he hadn't returned, leaving her quite anxious.

Now that Li An had arrived, she could set off.

"Brother Li, come, follow me to meet my master, he has wanted to meet you personally for over a decade."

Gu Hong spoke up and immediately led Li An to see her master, Gusongxi.

Gusongxi, though not very old, just over one hundred years, with normally at least a century of life left, now appeared with gray temples, slender, and pale-faced, came out personally to greet him and made tea for Li An.

This left Li An flattered!

"Young friend, you saved Hong'Er from Demon Cultivators back then and made talismans for this old man. Now, you're even willing to venture into dangerous lands for the remnants of this old man... Your great kindness will never be forgotten!"

Gusongxi spoke with gratitude: "Young friend, are you interested in learning the way of Pill making?"

Li An's heart stirred, he replied, "I am interested, but unfortunately, my talent is insufficient..."

"Even if your talent is insufficient, with such determination, you may indeed have hope!"

Gusongxi waved his hand, "If you don't mind, after you return, this old man would be willing to pass on his alchemical skills to you, how about it?"

Li An quickly got up and saluted, "Li An is fortunate!"

He knew well that Gusongxi's words were perhaps half sincere, but the other half was to encourage Li An to wholeheartedly assist Gu Hong on this journey.

But, in the end, it was a good thing.

Gusongxi laughed heartily, and Gu Hong was also quite pleased.

They chatted a bit more casually.

Li An also came to know that Gusongxi had been injured by a senior sister, related to some feuds within Gusongxi's own sect.

The next morning, Li An and Gu Hong set off for the Cloud Illusion Mountain Range.

...

The Cloud Illusion Mountain Range stretches endlessly, tens of thousands of miles, spanning almost the entire Northern Border.

Half a month later, Li An and Gu Hong reached the outskirts of the Cloud Illusion Mountain Range.

The Cloud Illusion Mountain Range is rich in resources, including Spirit Medicine, mineral veins, Spirit Beasts, and more, but it's also very dangerous. It's said that in the core region, even Golden Core cultivators must think twice, ordinary people generally only dare to explore the outer regions.

Along the way, Gu Hong clued Li An in that besides preparation with Pills, Talismans, and Artifacts, her greatest asset for this trip to the Cloud Illusion Mountain Range was a portable Array that can be activated at any time!

However, this Array requires at least two people to operate, which is why she had been waiting for someone.

Knowing she was well-prepared, Li An felt reassured.

After entering the Cloud Illusion Mountain Range, the number of Spirit Medicine and Spirit Beasts they encountered increased. In just three days, Li An had already harvested three First Grade Spirit Medicines.

They also encountered several Spirit Beasts at the mid and late stage of Qi Cultivation, in front of Gu Hong, a Foundation Establishment Stage expert, Li An barely needed to make a move.

On the fourth day, they encountered a Tier Two early-stage Spirit Leopard. After a bloody battle, the leopard retreated, wasting many runes and other items of theirs.

On the sixth day, they finally reached Gu Hong's destination—

This was an unremarkable peak, standing out in the lush green forest, only growing some inexplicable yellow weeds and shrubs. Midway up the peak, there was a dark cave.

"Inside this mountain lies a spring of Yellow Spring Water."

"The Primordial Soul Beast probably guards the Yellow Spring Water."

Gu Hong said, "This beast's Divine Soul is strong, its perception sharp, and it excels at soul attacks. We must use Soul-Calming Talismans to protect ourselves, use Thunder Shock Talismans to repel its attacks, and once we get close, use the Array to kill it—"

Li An nodded.

Then, suddenly, he turned his head towards a spot in the forest.

Gu Hong was just a moment behind Li An and also turned her head. In the forest, a man and a woman walked out.

The woman looked to be in her forties, wearing a long red dress, exuding a mature allure, with a bit of seasoned charm, while the man was very young, looking no more than twenty, with a gaunt appearance and slightly sunken eyes.

"Are you two intending to hunt the Primordial Soul Beast?"

The woman took the initiative to speak, smiling, "We have the same intention. How about we join forces?"

...

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