Chapter 45: Li Yan’s Diary

Zhang Shen gently pressed the crystalline essence of life force and vital energy into Li Zhong’s chest.

Wisp by wisp, the potent essence dispersed throughout his body. His withered flesh drank in the nourishment as if it were a desert flower absorbing the rarest of rains, replenishing what had been lost.

Li Zhong, whose face had been twisted in discomfort as though trapped in some grim nightmare, gradually found peace. A feeling of indescribable ease and fulfillment washed over him.

Zhang Shen pushed open the door to find Li Zhi and Li Wu sitting cross-legged on either side, vigilantly standing guard for over two hours.

“Go prepare some food. When he awakens, he’ll need it. In approximately three to four days, he should be restored to his former state, without any lingering complications,” Zhang Shen advised.

Joy radiated from Li Zhi and Li Wu. They couldn’t contain themselves.

In truth, Zhang Shen was downplaying the matter. By draining and then restoring Li Zhong’s life force and vital energy, he had provided an invaluable experience that would serve as crucial sustenance for Li Zhong’s future development. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Li Zhong’s path to attaining the Innate stage would be cleared of obstructions.

However, a moment later, while in deep meditation, Zhang Shen caught a whiff of something burning. 

Suddenly, realization dawned on him. He’d told Li Zhi and Li Wu to prepare food, hadn’t he?

Could it be they have no culinary skills whatsoever?

As he suspected, when Zhang Shen went to investigate, both were flustered, their faces ashened.

These two, who could easily dispatch robust men with their skills, had been bested by the challenge of preparing a simple meal.

Li Zhi and Li Wu looked a bit embarrassed. After all, their rigorous upbringing had never included culinary training. When they turned their hopeful eyes to Zhang Shen, he knew it was time for him to intervene.

“Alright, go clean yourselves up. I’ll go out and bring back some food.”

Cook? The idea was preposterous, he’d never learned. Besides, he didn’t require sustenance anymore. It was Li Zhong, Li Zhi, and Li Wu who still needed to eat.

The reason they didn’t venture out to purchase food was straightforward. Given the precarious state of the Li family and the looming threat of factions like the Four Tigers Gang, Li Zhi and Li Wu were convinced that leaving the family estate would be tantamount to a death sentence.

Li Zhong regained consciousness much sooner than Zhang Shen had anticipated.

The man’s resilience and willpower were indeed exceptional.

Upon waking, Li Zhong immediately noticed a transformation in his physical condition. The constant sensation of frailty had evaporated, replaced by intermittent surges of tingling vitality. Though he was far from fully recovered, he felt considerably better than before.

Li Zhong swiftly received a briefing on the situation from Li Zhi.

“I am profoundly grateful for your life-saving grace,” Li Zhong said, his heart swelling with gratitude. 

He was additionally moved by the fact that Li Zhi had exchanged a cherished family heirloom to save his life.

“No need for such formalities, it was a simple transaction,” Zhang Shen responded, remaining detached.

The moment Li Zhi opted not to forsake Li Zhong, Zhang Shen relinquished any aspirations of recruiting him. Any traces of regret vanished from his thoughts almost instantaneously.

After issuing a few brief instructions, Zhang Shen excused himself. He had no desire to linger and listen to their emotional declarations of allegiance and deep affection.

Seeking solitude, Zhang Shen found an unoccupied room and settled himself cross-legged on a cushion. He opened the wooden box he had obtained from Li Zhi. Inside was a worn book and a token, both of which intrigued him. As he leafed through the battered book, he realized it contained merely a record of the Li family’s early struggles and the initial martial arts techniques they had mastered.

It held sentimental value but lacked substantial worth.

“How curious. They regard something with mere ancestral significance as a treasure?”

Intrigued, Zhang Shen funneled his Mountain of a Thousand Layers True Qi into the dilapidated book. 

As anticipated, sections of the original text faded away, revealing new inscriptions.

The pages unveiled some closely guarded secrets of the man known as Master Li Yan.

“Spring: During my travels, I stumbled upon a severely injured old man in the mountains. Out of caution, I chose not to approach.”

“Autumn: I passed by the mountain several times and noticed the old man was still there. Still, I did not approach him. My father always said one should act cautiously in life.”

“Winter: I passed by again, the old man beckoned to me. Instinctively, I prepared to run away, but a suffocating aura held me in place. I realized then that he was no ordinary old man, but rather a formidable individual. Thankfully, I harbored no ill will in my earlier travels.”

“As winter gave way to spring, the old man took me under his wing, teaching me profound martial arts and techniques. At first glance, I knew these teachings were a hundredfold more potent than my family’s martial skills.”

“I was elated, but my master forbade me from flaunting these newfound skills. I realized that my master was hiding a secret of immense magnitude.”

Zhang Shen quickly leafed through the book. Essentially, it was Master Li Yan’s diary, detailing the turning points in his life.

“Having received my master’s true teachings, I became the strongest in my family in just three decades. However, I was burdened with unease. Recently, my master finally disclosed his origins to me. He was a direct disciple of the Vanishing Mountain Sect. After the sect’s downfall, he took refuge here with its remaining legacy. Beyond what my master shared, I knew nothing of this Vanishing Mountain Sect, except that it once boasted of having a Demigod among them. A realm that fuels one’s aspirations. Regrettably, that sect has now vanished into the annals of history.”

“My master cautioned me to maintain a low profile, as the Vanishing Mountain Sect still has adversaries hunting for its remnants. Those coveting the sect’s heritage will not leave them be. This revelation has kept me perpetually uneasy.”

“In the fiftieth year, my master succumbed to his grave injuries, which were beyond the healing capabilities of even the most advanced True Core masters. He confided that his injuries were inflicted by a past enemy of the Vanishing Mountain Sect. I solemnly vow to avenge my master someday.”

Between the lines, one could discern Li Yan’s boundless ambition. It was a pity that he would never realize those dreams.

Zhang Shen continued to leaf through the pages.

“Three decades after my master’s death, I achieved a breakthrough to the True Core stage, becoming the first in my family to reach this level of cultivation. Under my guidance, the Li family will undoubtedly attain unparalleled greatness. However, I must never forget that enemies of the Vanishing Mountain Sect are still hunting for remnants like us. Caution is imperative.”

The subsequent passages documented the Li family’s outstanding expansion, overflowing with vigor and triumph. But toward the end, Zhang Shen stumbled upon some compelling entries.

“It’s been a hundred and fifty years since I ascended to the True Core stage. My progress has been painfully slow, stalling at the fourth layer of the True Core stage. I realize that at this sluggish pace, achieving the Law Manifestation Stage stage within my lifetime is impossible. Something needs to change.”

“One major obstacle impeding my cultivation progress is the scarcity of resources. Financial constraints have plagued me since reaching the True Core stage, and my master’s legacy falls short of supporting my further cultivation.”

“This led me to recall my master’s original purpose for coming here. Before the Vanishing Mountain Sect met its downfall, they had stashed away secret reserves in various locations for a future revival. On the outskirts of the Endless Wilderness, one such cache from the sect lies hidden. I must obtain it at all costs.”

“According to my master’s description, this secret cache might even be enough for my cultivation in the Law Manifestation Stage.”

Those were the final recorded words in the book, leaving an unsettling void.

Was Li Yan’s story left unfinished by neglect, or did something unforeseen befall him? Zhang Shen was puzzled. If Li Yan had met his end, how could the Li family continue to exist? Although not flourishing, they were far from destroyed.

“Could Li Yan have died in search of this hidden cache?” pondered Zhang Shen, his eyes deepening with intrigue.

Indeed, the secret treasure mentioned in the book caught his interest.

He was already feeling the pinch of limited resources.

“A hidden cache at the edge of the Endless Wilderness, it should rightfully be mine,” he thought.

However, the cautionary tale of Li Yan gave him pause for thought.

After carefully storing the tattered book, Zhang Shen picked up a medallion.

“Remarkable, this is one of the legacy items from the Vanishing Mountain Sect, containing a cultivation method that goes up to the ninth level of the Law Manifestation Stage.”

A mix of astonishment, elation, and awe washed over Zhang Shen. The cultivation method was none other than The Mountain of a Thousand Layers.

As he channeled his Qi into the medallion, he could only access the beginner-level methods and insights for breaking through to the True Core stage. Clearly, his current level of cultivation was insufficient to unlock the more advanced techniques.

“How curious, why would Master Li Yan keep something this valuable alongside his personal diary? And not carry it with him?” Zhang Shen mumbled, puzzled.

Could it be that Li Yan had sensed danger and left something for his family as a safety measure?

Moreover, Zhang Shen sensed that this legacy item had more to offer than what was described in Li Yan’s diary.

He considered them treasures and meticulously stored them in his dimensional bag.

“I initially thought I’d be lucky to get my hands on one or two elementary cultivation manuals, but who would’ve thought this would turn out to be such a windfall?”

To put it bluntly, even ten lives of a person like Li Zhong couldn’t match the value of these two items. However, they would be of no use to Li Zhi, Li Wu, or Li Zhong.

Zhang Shen had glimpsed at the cultivation methods practiced by Li Zhi, Li Wu, and Li Zhong. All showed signs of influence from The Mountain of a Thousand Layers. It was evident that Li Yan had adapted the Li family’s cultivation based on it, but the gap between the two methods remained significant.

“Without the inner strength, Qi, or mana cultivated from The Mountain of a Thousand Layers, one couldn’t possibly understand the true essence of these relics. Master Li Yan’s belongings, coupled with these two items…” Zhang Shen rubbed his chin thoughtfully, “It seems I’ll have to make suitable plans for those two young ones.”

If Li Zhi and Li Wu had rubbed him the wrong way, he would have had no hesitation in severing ties with them, regardless of any potential benefits. However, he found the duo remarkably discerning and astute, a quality he deeply admired.

“Come in, no need to hover at the door,” Zhang Shen suddenly announced.

Hesitant, Li Zhi pushed the door open with a soft creak and entered.

Zhang Shen chuckled, both amused and intrigued. 

“I initially assumed that Li Zhong would be the one to pay me a visit. I didn’t expect you.”

Zhang Shen wasn’t surprised to have a visitor. His abrupt intervention to save Li Zhi and the others from their predicament practically invited an earnest discussion to uncover his motives.

“Uncle Zhong wanted to come in person, but I convinced him otherwise,” Li Zhi explained.

Nodding, Zhang Shen asked, “So, what has brought you here? What would you like to discuss?”

Pulling out a cushion, he motioned for Li Zhi to take a seat across from him.

Kneeling down, Li Zhi asked, “May I ask, Senior, if you have any past connections with my Li family?”

The Li family’s assets had already been appropriated and split among the powers within Black Iron City. All that remained were some rudimentary legacies of early-stage martial artists. Such trifles would hardly be of interest to someone as formidable as Zhang Shen. Li Zhi couldn’t think of any other reason for his involvement besides some previous connection.

“Let’s just say there’s some sort of connection,” Zhang Shen offered vaguely, not keen on delving into specifics. It would be too tedious to explain.

“If you want me to help your family take revenge, considering our undefined connection, I could eliminate your adversaries in Black Iron City.”

In the absence of a cultivator at the True Core stage, no one in Black Iron City would stand a chance against Zhang Shen.

Nevertheless, Li Zhi shook her head, “Senior, if it’s possible, all we seek is your protection.”