Chapter 1

  Wufeng State has a city called Wufeng, and the state is named after this city. Therefore, this state is Wufeng State.

  In the west of Wufeng City, about 100 miles away, there is a mountain called Bùlǎo Mountain. The four seasons are like spring, and the whole year is lush and green. Inside the mountain, there are strange beasts and rare birds that cannot be counted, and good trees and spiritual grasses are everywhere. There are also lakes and streams winding inside, with light mist and blue smoke swirling outside, making it a true fairyland in the mortal world. However, ordinary people from the secular world often dare not enter, as the mountain is deep and the forest is dense, and the roads are rugged. Ordinary people who enter will get lost on the way and cannot come out, so they call Bùlǎo Mountain "Misty Mountain". For hundreds of generations, the common people outside Wufeng City have not entered. Deep inside Bùlǎo Mountain, there is a valley called Guǐ Gǔ Valley. The name contains the word "ghost", but it is actually a place for immortals. Because three sides are surrounded by high mountains, and the entrance to the valley is narrow and dark, it is named so. In the center of Guǐ Gǔ Valley, there is a lake shaped like a crescent moon, called Yuè Hú Lake. In the lake, there are seven small islands shaped like a hundred pints, called Qī Xīng Dǎo Islands. On the islands, there are buildings, pavilions, and towers, some majestic and some delicate, leaning against each other, subtly combining yin and yang principles. There is also a small bridge connecting the Qī Xīng Dǎo Islands, forming a great array of North Dipper watching the moon, guarding and watching each other. This place has been the residence of the Xiān family, who cultivate immortality, for hundreds of generations until now.

  Hundreds of generations ago, the ancestors of historians were named Huan, who was a renowned figure in the cultivation world at that time. With his own strength, he defeated the old demon of the devil realm and turned the tide of the cultivation world's defeat. Later, he hid here, secretly cultivating the Tao, and left behind this vein of historians. After Huan, the historians declined and there were no more capable ones. However, the historians passed down the character "Shen" (cautious) as a family motto, avoiding conflicts in the cultivation world and quietly cultivating. Although they went through hundreds of generations, they surprisingly did not perish, which is indeed a blessing from heaven.

  The current head of the Shi family, Ren, was the eldest in the order of seniority. He had been diligently cultivating his Taoist skills and his achievements were not ordinary. At this moment, he sat upright in the grand hall on Kui Xing Island, with an angry expression on his face, staring at the person kneeling below him, without saying a word. The four elders from both sides of the family looked at each other, and Shi Xin, who was fifth in seniority, opened his mouth to speak but let out only a long sigh, without any words. Shi Li, the third in seniority, closed his eyes slightly, also not looking around. Shi Zhi, the fourth in seniority, was a fierce and powerful elder, and finally could not hold back his anger, shouting:

  "Scoundrel, where have you taken the precious family heirloom of our ancestors, the Three Realms Coffin?"

  The people under the hall did not utter a word, and hung their heads low.

  "Moving House Law"

  Shi Ren slowly spat out three words, his voice not loud, but like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of the people below. The people in the hall heard the words and suddenly changed color, their pale faces suddenly sweating like rain. This Shi family's house rule has only one clause, "Feng Lian Hun Po". This "Feng Lian Hun Po" technique is sinister and poisonous, not only does it make the physical body disappear, but also makes the soul disappear into thin air, leaving no hope for reincarnation in this world. The Shi family has passed down this technique for hundreds of generations, but has only used it a few times. Shi Li slightly closed his eyes, almost imperceptibly moved a few times, but still did not open them. At this time, the second son Shi Yi looked at Shi Xin who was trembling non-stop and let out a long sigh:

  "Big brother, the crime this evil creature has committed is punishable by family law. However, Old Fifth only has this one son, and his mother passed away early... ...If he can explain what happened under the coffin of the Three Realms, can he avoid the punishment of having his soul scattered and be given another chance?"

  Shi Ren was speechless, only frowning tightly and not speaking. For a moment, the room was silent as a night sparrow. After a long while, Shi Ren slowly began to speak, still in his usual tone:

  "Second brother, this matter cannot be delayed, if there is no result after half a day, then don't bother me again."

  He got up and went into the inner court. Shi Xin suddenly stood up, rushed to the kneeling Xiuyu, and slapped his face with a palm, saying in a choked voice:

  "You disobedient and unfilial creature, with a gall as big as the sky, you even dare to touch the precious legacy left by our ancestors! Speak! Where did you put it?"

  Shi Lao Er originally wanted to intervene, but first, his magical powers were too weak, not as good as those of his fifth brother Xiong Hun. Secondly, he sensed that Lao Wu didn't use any magic at all, and was simply scolding his son like an ordinary person. He let out a sigh and said:

  "Never mind, what's the use of doing anything now? Qing Er, speak up! What is more important than one's life?"

  "Second Uncle, I...I...I...Waaahhh..."

  Zi Shi suddenly burst into loud sobs.

  "Shut up! A cultivator like you, always crying and wailing at every turn, what kind of demeanor is that?"

  Na Shi Zhi loudly scolded.

  "I'll only tell Second Brother, everyone else leave!"

  Shi Yiqing stopped talking.

  "Oh? Really?"

  Shi Lao San cast a glance at Shi Er Yi, then stood up and left the grand hall. Shi Zhi Lue hesitated for a moment before also standing up to leave.

  "Dad, please step aside too."

  "Hmm? You little beast, how dare you!"

  "Alright, Fifth Brother, you can go now! However, Qing Er, let me make one thing clear to you: if you speak carelessly, I will have to report it to your Eldest Uncle. You should understand this point?"

  "My nephew knows."

  Looking at the two of them in the hall, Shi Yiqing raised his head, and his flickering eyes suddenly showed a resolute expression.

  "Second Uncle," he lowered his voice. "What?" Shi Yi took a few steps forward, approached Shi Yiqing, and slightly bowed his head. Suddenly, his expression changed in shock, and he quickly retreated backward. From Shi Yiqing's mouth, an object shot out towards him, and Shi Yi was unable to dodge it. In the brief moment of panic, he almost released his ultimate treasure to protect himself but hesitated for a moment too long. A seven-inch-long golden snake with its jaws open bit down on the hand he had hastily swung over, causing Shi Yi's face to turn pale in shock. He knew how deadly the golden snake was and quickly drew the knife from his waist to slash at his injured arm. The knife fell, and his arm flew off, followed by a loud cry as he fell backward, losing consciousness immediately afterward. Meanwhile, Shi Yiqing chanted incantations, and his body suddenly became extremely strange, disappearing into thin air.

  "Something's gone wrong! Shi Yiqing has been wounded and Second Master Zhang has run away!"

  One of the disciples guarding the entrance heard a strange noise inside, flashed into the door, and happened to see Shi Yiqing disappear for a moment. Just as he was about to rush over, he suddenly felt sweetness in his mouth, and soon lost consciousness. Later, two or three more disciples rushed in and also fell to the ground unconscious.

  "Don't come in! It's haunted!"

  An older disciple shouted loudly.

  "Hurry! Hurry! Go and invite all the ancestors!"

  Several disciples rode the wind away, while other disciples who heard the news surrounded the main hall.

  "Alright, Master Sān has arrived, everyone bow."

  Shi Lei's face was gloomy, and his disciples watched as he strode in just a few steps from the distant side door and suddenly flashed into the main hall, disappearing from view. In an instant, they all put their minds at ease.

  "Big brother, it's the Xuan Jin snake, the third most venomous creature in the world."

  Lao San said to Lao Da Shi Ren who arrived later.

  "Is second brother okay?"

  "Big brother, don't worry. Second brother's magical powers may be a bit weaker, but he's good at seizing opportunities. He lost an arm, but gained a life. Unfortunately, those few disciples are all dead."

  "What about the Xuanjin snake?"

  Shi Yi glanced around the hall with a low voice and asked.

  "I've already taken it in, just in time to refine it. Once Second Brother is a bit better, I'll have him refine a Strong Spirit Pill."

  "Well, at least this foreign object won't go to waste."

  Shi Yi still had an expressionless face, as if nothing had happened in the hall.

  Then Shi Zhishan and Shi Zhiyuan also rushed over, "Big brother, where is that little beast? Ah, second brother are you okay?"

  Shi Ren slightly raised his eyes and glanced at Shi Xin, without saying a word.

  "Don't worry, Second Brother is fine, as for Yiqing, he escaped."

  Lao San's voice was calm and gentle, but his gaze at Lao Wu was full of deep meaning. "Ah, this beast has injured Second Brother and escaped! Quickly order the disciples to seal off the valley entrance, activate the grand formation, and seal off the sky as well. Conduct a thorough search and capture this little beast. If necessary, we may have to resort to family law."

  Lao Si Shi Zhi shouted loudly.

  "Never mind, he's been out of the valley for a long time."

  The boss said slowly and calmly.

  "This, how is this good?"

  Lao Si's anxious expression revealed a worried look.

  "Big brother, that treasure is ours, the Shi family's..."

  "Fourth brother, stop talking nonsense and listen to big brother's orders."

  Lao San hastily interrupted Lao Si's words and turned to look at Shi Ren.

  "All disciples of Ge Xing Dian and Nei Wai Tang, from today on, guard the big formation well. The disciples at Gu Kou Ying Yin Temple should pay attention to inspecting people entering and exiting."

  The high-ranking disciples inside the hall responded in unison and left immediately, leaving only the five masters of the Shi family in the grand hall. However, the second eldest had just woken up, leaning on a chair, his body was a bit strange with one arm missing, but the wound was smooth and bloodless, and it had healed. On the ground where the severed arm fell, there was only a puddle of dark red turbid water and some torn fabric.

  Master Zu Shi Ren sat in the middle of a large chair and looked at the four brothers with a glance.

  "Have a seat too."

  After everyone sat down, Shi Ren spoke up and said:

  "It seems that the other party has made thorough preparations for this treasure heist. With Qing's betrayal, there are people outside to guide him, and the speed at which they escaped with the law enforcement equipment is astonishing, leaving one speechless. Brother, you didn't even have a chance to react."

  "Can big brother see the person who led us here?" Shi Xin asked.

  "That treasure is protected by dazzling light, and the person who guides it can't see clearly."

  "What... what is that treasure?" Shi Li asked.

  "My brother's vision is so low that he can't even recognize it."

  "Oh dear, this is getting tricky. There are only a few treasures in the cultivation world that can move so quickly, if even Big Brother can't recognize it... Second Brother, you've read extensively, can you guess?"

  "This is not easy to guess, the ancient legacy is very strange, and the owner is not a big family or sect, who would dare to show off, and the treasure of the big family and sect will not be unrecognized." Shi Yi's face was as usual, pretending to be unaware, only that he had just lost an arm and was not used to acting, it was a bit awkward.

  "Alright, I'll look into this matter. I see that Old Second still has some remaining venom, so I'll stay behind to help you get rid of it."

  Shi Ren said so and got up to enter the inner room, Shi Yi also followed closely behind. The other three people looked at each other in dismay, then none of them spoke a word, each returning to their own residence.