NOVPUBSu Changkong did not linger but headed towards the Wuji Empire, needing to visit the Li Family to see if he could borrow the paintings they had; if he could improve his Five Animal Frolics further, he might stand a chance at self-preservation when facing Tan You!
Two days later, Su Changkong crossed the border into the Wuji Empire and took out a map of Wuji Empire that he had obtained from Lian Tianlu, making a beeline for Book Fragrance Mountain where the Li Family resided.
As one of the ten human nations, Wuji Empire, adjacent to the Great Flame Empire, also belonged to the Central Tri-nation; its national strength was not weak.
However, Su Changkong was rushing on his journey and had no mood to appreciate the local customs along the way.
Apart from the occasional rest stops, Su Changkong traveled day and night, and after a number of days, he arrived at a small town hundreds of miles from Book Fragrance Mountain. He took some time to rest in the town and prepared to gather information about the Li Family of Book Fragrance Mountain.
In an inn hundreds of miles away from Book Fragrance Mountain, Su Changkong, dressed in black, had now restored his disguise and looked very young, clothed like an ordinary Martial World Wandered Hero.
"I want to ask about something," in a guest room, an errand boy came to serve Su Changkong his meal. Su Changkong stopped him and slipped a silver ingot into his hands.
"Please ask, sir, I will spare no details!"
The errand boy immediately replied, smiling broadly and nodding vigorously.
"I heard that there is a Book Fragrance Mountain nearby... I’m traveling here, and I’m somewhat interested in this place," Su Changkong said to the errand boy.
Upon hearing this, the errand boy’s expression changed. He glanced around to make sure that no one was outside before he lowered his voice and said, "Sir... it’s better if you don’t inquire too much into Book Fragrance Mountain. It has a rather significant reputation around here, and the Li Family resides on the mountain.
The Li Family is a scholarly family known for their literary contributions, but something happened to the Li Family a few years back."
"The Li Family had an incident? What happened?" Su Changkong’s brows furrowed slightly.
The errand boy gave a bitter smile and shook his head, "I don’t know the details... It’s said they offended someone. Three years ago, the Li Family moved away overnight and vanished from Book Fragrance Mountain. Now, Book Fragrance Mountain Manor is empty."
"All right, I’ve got it. You can go back to your tasks," Su Changkong nodded after a moment of thought, signaling the errand boy to go ahead with his work.
"The Li Family... is no longer on Book Fragrance Mountain?"
Undoubtedly, Su Changkong’s mood turned somewhat sour.
According to the errand boy, the Li Family had moved away from Book Fragrance Mountain three years ago, seemingly because they had offended someone.
"I’ll go to Book Fragrance Mountain tomorrow to check things out personally and see if I can find any clues about the Li Family’s whereabouts."
But Su Changkong did not give up; he had to see the situation for himself. After traveling such a long distance and being targeted by members of the Life Extinguishing Association on the way, almost dying, the idea of returning empty-handed was hard for Su Changkong to accept.
The next day at dawn, Su Changkong set out for Book Fragrance Mountain.
Book Fragrance Mountain, an ordinary-looking mountain, was undisturbed by people for a long time, as Su Changkong discovered, with the mountain paths covered in weeds.
In the early morning, the flowers and leaves were adorned with glittering dewdrops. Su Changkong, with his travel bag on his back, dressed in black, arrived at the mountaintop.
Passing through a forest and under the shelter of the leaves, Su Changkong saw the outline of a manor ahead.
The manor was neglected; vines covered the walls, and the gate was broken. The name ’Book Fragrance Mountain Manor’ could be vaguely seen on the plaque at the entrance.
Su Changkong stepped into the Book Fragrance Mountain Manor, finding the houses within had collapsed, and the manor had all but turned to ruins.
"It seems like a great battle took place inside this Book Fragrance Mountain Manor..."
Su Changkong’s brows were deeply knitted. Two-thirds of the buildings in the entire Book Fragrance Mountain Manor had collapsed, leaving ruins and rubble. It looked like a battle had occurred here. With a wave of his hand, he uncovered a piece of a broken wall and saw a skeletal white hand underneath.
It was almost certain that someone had attacked the Book Fragrance Mountain Manor and a great battle had ensued.
It was unclear if all of the Li Family were killed or some had sensed the danger and, in order to find refuge, decided to move away!
Inside the manor, Su Changkong found nothing; the broken traces and overgrown weeds indicated, just as the errand boy had said, that the manor had been deserted for at least two or three years.
"I might as well cultivate here… Book Fragrance Mountain is now rarely visited by anyone. I’ll train for a while, and maybe if someone from the Li Family happens to return to the manor during this time, I’ll get the chance to meet them face to face."
With a sigh, Su Changkong, who had no clue where the Li Family could be, and being unfamiliar with the Wuji Empire, decided to cultivate on the spot.
Su Changkong was contemplating the ’Violent Bear Shakes the Earth’; his Five Animal Frolics Bear Play was on the verge of breaking through. Additionally, he still had the 260 Heavenly Spirit Pills he had previously concocted and needed time to assimilate.
In the quiet of Book Fragrance Mountain, Su Changkong sat cross-legged, taking out the ’Violent Bear Shakes the Earth’ to meditate upon. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
Whoosh!
Spiritual energy surged as behind Su Changkong, the shadow of a gigantic bear appeared, dancing like the True Beast Brutal Bear, sometimes galloping on all fours and sometimes standing on its hind legs to slam into the mountain. Every movement was filled with a sense of power and beauty, perfectly capturing the essence of the True Beast Brutal Bear.
During the journey of two to three months, Su Changkong had been continually contemplating the True Beast Brutal Bear. The Five Animal Frolics were on the brink of a breakthrough, and after just three days on Book Fragrance Mountain, Su Changkong’s Bear Play had made a breakthrough!
