Chapter 2852 - 2914: On Taihang Mountain

In this secret base, Li Yifei had to stay for another day and cooperate with the researchers in soul research. Of course, there were no newly deceased people here, so they brought in some animals, slaughtered them on the spot, and let Li Yifei observe the changes. However, Li Yifei did not sense any soul-like energy. These animals were simply dead.

"Could it be that only humans?" The researchers hypothesized, and they took Li Yifei to a hospital. Hiding there, they coincidentally encountered a few terminal patients. Li Yifei observed again, but he only felt a very faint aura, which dissipated before he could understand it, spreading into the air like the last breath.

"It seems only cultivators would work, but... let’s put that aside for now. If there’s a chance in the future, Yifei, you can help us with this research," said the researchers.

Li Yifei nodded. After staying for nearly a week, it was time to leave. But before leaving, Li Yifei had a long conversation with the frail Murong Yuanqing. The latter instructed him on some matters and shared some national secrets that Murong Yuanqing knew. He also applied for several government positions for Li Yifei, which had already been submitted to the highest leader, awaiting approval. Once approved, Li Yifei could take office.

"Regarding this position, the leader may not approve it. If it isn’t approved, don’t feel a mental burden. You’re different from us. You’re someone in the secular world and the clan chief. If you hold a high position, it might be challenging to gain people’s support!" Murong Yuanqing added, "But your authority is the same. Once we withdraw from the stage, it will be up to you all to support it."

Li Yifei nodded and said, "I understand. I won’t have other thoughts about it."

In a previous conversation, he also agreed with Murong Yuanqing’s views. Today’s Huaxia is different from decades ago. Back then, after the flames of war, everything was under reconstruction, and the country was in ruins. Now, after decades of rejuvenation, Huaxia is a thriving nation, with prosperity everywhere. The people live and work in peace, and only when people are prosperous can the country be strong. Moreover, weapons are becoming increasingly advanced. In theory, cultivators like them have a diminishing role in international combat.

But that doesn’t mean they have no role at all. There are still many functions and tasks that need to be done, just that the methods and focuses are changing. It’s like how soldiers who protect the homeland and guard the borders deserve respect. Is the local community officer not worthy of respect? Of course they are. Good soldiers and good police officers are equally deserving of respect, as they dedicate themselves to their professions and deserve the people’s admiration.

Murong Yuanqing wanted Li Yifei to understand this principle, and Li Yifei had thought about these things before, so the old man was pleased in the end.

When sending Li Yifei off, Murong Yuanqing did not allow anyone to support him and walked very slowly. Li Yifei suggested he stay inside, but he refused. Of course, if a strong enemy appeared now, Murong Yuanqing still had the strength to fight, but after the battle, even if he won, he might not live much longer.

Li Yifei left the secret base. When he arrived, everything about him was kept a secret, but when he left, there was no need for such measures, as the people in the base had already recognized his identity.

It was the same unsmiling staff member who had received him when he arrived. Li Yifei said a few words, and the person only responded faintly, so he remained silent.

Leaving the secret base, Li Yifei did not go straight home but took a detour and drove from the Qilian Mountains to another mountain range.

Taihang Mountain, also known as Wuxing Mountain, Wangmu Mountain, and Nuwa Mountain, is an important mountain range and geographical boundary in eastern Huaxia, spanning five provinces, stretching in a northeast-southwest direction, and extends over 400 kilometers.

Six hundred million years ago, the Taihang Mountain area was a vast sea. After frequent tectonic activities, the land rose and fell, with the sea advancing and retreating. When the sea retreated, swamps spread widely, the climate was warm and humid, and dense forests grew, forming the rich coal resources in the Taihang Mountain region. Subsequent tectonic activities gradually uplifted the Taihang Mountains, eventually breaking away from the North China Plain, forming the steep eastern and gentle western topographies of the Taihang Mountains.

The Himalayan movement in the Cenozoic era intensely uplifted the Taihang Mountains, while the North China Plain in front of the mountains subsided relatively. After millions of years of celestial sculpting, the Taihang Mountains finally emerged.

The so-called Taihang Mountain starts from the He’nan region in the south to the Youzhou region in the north, where there are eight mountain passes, known as Taihang’s Eight Mountain Passes, Li Yifei’s destination this time, but it’s not a scenic spot or any famous mountain. It’s a deep mountain within, sparsely populated, with even beasts roaming inside. Li Yifei carried a backpack full of food, but he hadn’t touched any, intending to give it to Xu Shanshan, who was practicing hard in the mountains.

Since Xu Shanshan started practicing with Elder Qingqiu, she had only returned once. Initially, they could occasionally communicate, but in recent months, Xu Shanshan had been mostly silent. So, since Li Yifei was out this time, he decided to come and have a look.

Without notifying Xu Shanshan in advance, Li Yifei only knew the approximate location, and the mountains here were treacherous, with peaks and ridges overlapping, some reaching two to three thousand meters high. It was indeed too challenging to climb one by one. If an ordinary person ventured into such a forest, they might easily get lost or even trapped inside. But Li Yifei wasn’t worried about being trapped; he just found it somewhat difficult to locate two people in such a vast mountain forest with only a vague idea of where they might be.

Furthermore, it’s more likely that the two of them might have entered places like a sect hideout for practicing, making it nearly impossible to find them by just searching outside.

But since it was meant to be a surprise, Li Yifei thought it would be best not to inform Xu Shanshan. He informed his family, agreeing that if he couldn’t find them within three days, he would leave the mountains, and since he carried a satellite phone, he wasn’t worried about the family being unable to reach him if needed.

After a day in the mountains, Li Yifei traversed the dense forest using his agility; encountering many poisonous snakes and small mammals and even seeing a bear and tiger droppings. Li Yifei could track down the tiger if he wanted to, but he had proper tasks, and chasing tigers was obviously not one of them.

As the sky darkened, Li Yifei cleaned two hunted rabbits by the stream, set up a campfire, roasted one, and salted the other for breakfast the next morning.

Of course, he didn’t plan to rest at night but continued searching for any trace of the two, making it another form of training for him.

Elder Qingqiu’s swordsmanship was invincible, and Xu Shanshan, having inherited it, would be a new generation’s Sword Master. Her skill of controlling the sword with True Qi was undoubtedly superb.

"Hmm? Is this a Formation Method?" Li Yifei, having traveled until midnight, was about to stop and rest his feet when he suddenly noticed a few glows of fluorescent light in the forest. Li Yifei widened his eyes in surprise. These weren’t will-o’-the-wisps but a very peculiar light. After carefully sensing it, he determined it to be a Formation Method.

In a secluded mountain and dense forest, even the most knowledgeable herb doctor couldn’t resist stopping to check upon seeing a Formation Method. So, Li Yifei stepped forward. It was at a mid-slope area, where both up and down were quite steep, with a slope angle of around forty degrees, a fairly steep place.

It was a tomb. Li Yifei confirmed upon approaching but found the tomb earth had long been gone. Nothing appeared on the surface, and there was no tombstone. Li Yifei, however, could determine it by the Formation Method. Seen from afar, there was nothing amiss here, but once Li Yifei entered the range of the Formation Method, he felt it activating and strengthening, with the surrounding scenery beginning to distort.

"Quite troublesome," Li Yifei chuckled. He gently stomped, and the scenery before him restored itself. The illusionary Formation was broken just by Li Yifei’s light stomp.

This was merely an illusionary array, and if locals approached, it only served as intimidation without practical effect. Yet, that was enough to instill fear among the local villagers, leading to exaggerated tales if any nearby residents existed.

After all, when a living person enters, the shifting virtual images could frighten anyone, especially with ominous animal bones scattered around, and terrifying skulls that enhance the eerie vibe.

The Formation Eye was three meters ahead of Li Yifei. He snapped a twig, walked over, and exerted force, jabbing it down into the ground. Suddenly, it was like a bag burst open, creating a rumbling sound in the ears. Li Yifei swiftly stepped aside, seeing the ground where the stick was inserted beginning to sink. Half a meter below, a stone slab was cracking open, soon revealing a door about one and a half meters in diameter, slanting downwards.

Li Yifei hesitated slightly, as it was unclear whether the space below was a tomb or a sect hideout, or what situation lay within. However, recklessly going down might bring danger... still, danger was just part of the risk. Having opened it, not descending seemed like a disservice to himself, Li Yifei thought.

Condensing a True Qi Blade in his hand and armoring his body, Li Yifei took out a tiny flashlight from his pocket. This flashlight was a military-grade product, not yet publicly available, about the size of half a triple-A battery but capable of ten hours of illumination. When he left Murong Yuanqing, he took about a dozen with him, which turned out to be quite handy now.

It was dark below, and without this tool, even with Li Yifei’s vision, it would be affected.

Step by step, Li Yifei soon reached a platform after descending over twenty steps. Thanks to the Formation Method’s protection, this area remained intact, and Li Yifei found himself before a door.