“Liu Qingxi, Yuan He, how are things?”
“Very troublesome.” Yuan He’s eyes radiated a faint golden light as he scanned the city that looked like mud.
This was also the first time Lu Li and his group truly saw a city of the Yao Race. Blackstone City still bore traces of a human city—streets, mansions, all the same.
But further north, Red Mud City was almost entirely piled up from clumps of red mud, gravel, and dead branches.
In the murky river channel, some crocodile-shaped imps were thrashing about, hunting ordinary beasts that had entered.
Bright red blood mixed into the mud again amidst crunching chewing sounds.
Over time, even the soil had turned red.
“I can also faintly see some traces of formations, but these formation patterns are broken apart, yet they still manage to connect with each other, as if forcibly glued together by countless clumps of mud.”
Lu Li’s pink eyes trembled slightly as he tried to find a pattern. “Liu Qingxi, what about you?”
“I can roughly deduce the situation… but overall, Red Mud City is the Crocodile Tribe’s lair. Unless permitted, any other race entering will trigger a city-wide alert.” Liu Qingxi withdrew her Jade Disk.
“Of course, your illusion magic can get in easily. But without knowing the Crocodile Lord’s strength, barging in rashly would be problematic.”
“Against one or two Yao, I believe Layman Lu, you’ll be fine. But if there are more than three Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators inside, we won’t be able to help you in the city.” Yuan He looked at the mud on the ground.
“This red mud can also absorb True Yuan, so you’d be at a disadvantage inside.”
“If that’s the case, then I have a new plan.” Lu Li looked at the forest in the distance.
“Let’s rest here for a while.”
“Speaking of which, where is Liu Qingyun?” Yuan He’s eyes dimmed.
“He has his Flying Sword; I sent him to scout the surroundings.” Lu Li entered the forest and also caught sight of other Crocodile tribesmen cutting down trees and gathering herbs.
Wherever they went, the sludge spread. Lu Li did not hide the aura of the Celestial Fox Saintess on him and let it radiate naturally.
Sensing the Holy Blood aura, many ordinary Crocodile tribesmen lowered their heads and made way for Lu Li and his group.
For ordinary Yao, conflicts among those Foundation Establishment demon generals meant disaster for them.
Better to avoid trouble than to invite it.
However, Lu Li and his group also noticed several crocodiles lurking in the mud. Once they noticed their gaze, they quickly swam toward Red Mud City.
“A Crocodile tribe informant? Is that okay?” Liu Qingxi asked softly.
“And right now… aren’t we being too conspicuous?”
“Not conspicuous.” Lu Li shook his head.
“Rather, the new plan has already begun.”
“I also have a new discovery.” Yuan He stared at the dripping sludge on the ground and spoke softly. “No wonder the formation has no pattern—it’s created by relying on the Crocodile bloodline. Wherever they go, the formation stacks.”
“In other words, Red Mud City is not a pre-set static formation.” Yuan He stared at the slowly moving Crocodile tribesmen in the distance, the golden light in his eyes intensifying.
“Every move the Crocodile tribe makes is part of the formation. In other words, the formation changes at every moment, making it impossible to find a fixed pattern.”
Liu Qingxi looked down at the chaotic hexagram symbols on the Jade Disk, her brows furrowed.
“No wonder I can’t calculate a fixed formation eye. The formation eye might not be in the city—it could be inside the Crocodile Lord’s body, or within some unknown minor yao…”
“I see… but they can’t produce this kind of sludge out of thin air, can they?” Lu Li watched the slowly retreating Crocodile tribe.
“For example, by eating special pills, or taking special medicines, they can become like this.”
“Why can’t it be inherent to the Crocodile tribe?” Liu Qingxi retorted.
“Reasoning by common sense: if the Crocodile tribe inherently had this ability, then when we arrived, we wouldn’t have seen Blackstone City but one sludge city after another.” As he spoke, Lu Li stepped on the Light Gauze and rose into the air.
“I understand. If it’s the Crocodile tribe’s innate ability, coupled with their reproductive numbers, wherever they go becomes their territory.” Yuan He also sat cross-legged on the Buddhist Rosary.
“But Red Mud City is just a small town, which means there must be limitations.”
“That’s exactly it.” Lu Li then gazed at Blackstone City in the distance. “Liu Qingyun’s reconnaissance should be over by now.”
When they landed at Blackstone City, the Sparrow tribe circling in the air all bowed to Lu Li without exception.
“Celestial Fox Saintess!” A palm-sized Sparrow tribe girl showed an excited expression. “You’re back!”
“Mm, I went to scout a little.” Lu Li now showed a gentle smile again. “You’ve worked hard too.”
“Actually, scouting Red Mud City—let us do it entirely.” The Sparrow girl intentionally leaned closer to Lu Li.
“Besides, we’ve lived nearby for a long time.”
“But there’s danger in that—how can I let you go?” As Lu Li smiled calmly, the fluttering sounds of the Sparrow girls behind him became even more intense.
“But we…”
“Every Yao has strengths and weaknesses. My cultivation is higher than yours, and I’m good at Charm Technique and Illusion Magic.” Lu Li comforted her.
“If I encounter danger, I can also escape better. The Sparrow tribe has its own strengths. As long as you give them full play, you’re also contributing to Blackstone City.”
“Yes!”
After parting with the Sparrow tribe, Liu Qingxi and Yuan He held back their laughter until they entered the Celestial Fox tribe’s mansion, then couldn’t help but burst out.
“Sister Lu, I feel you’re really becoming more and more like the Celestial Fox Saintess.” Liu Qingxi closed the door behind her.
“Managing the city, commanding soldiers, and truly changing Blackstone City.”
“Because the gentlest way I could think of is this.” Lu Li was also helpless about this.
“And the plans for governing the city were proposed by everyone together, right? I’ve never even understood these things before.”
“That’s true. I never thought all those books the old monk forced me to read would come in handy.” Yuan He also sighed.
“Layman Lu, I’ll continue refining the task you assigned me. Call me when the plan begins.”
“No problem.”
“Why do you have another strange plan?” Liu Qingxi swept the entire mansion with her Divine Sense to make sure there were no demon beasts or insects.
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“Because Yuan He is good at refining artifacts, and this plan needs his ability.” Lu Li returned to the Great Hall of the mansion and moved the books on the table aside.
“And you, Liu Qingxi, are good at deduction and military arrangement. Everyone has different specialties.”
“I won’t argue that, but…” Liu Qingxi paused.
“Lu Li, I feel you’ve been straining yourself lately, as if something is chasing you. I can’t calculate your situation, but we are comrades and partners in this mission.”
Liu Qingxi’s hand gently landed on Lu Li’s shoulder, adjusting the Light Gauze that had slipped during his flight.
“If there’s anything, everyone can solve it together.”
“Mm, I understand. I won’t hide important things.” Lu Li smiled calmly.
“It’s not about cultivation, and I have no hidden ailments. I just want to finish this Yao race mission early. Liu Qingxi, rest assured.”
“That’s good.” Liu Qingxi took another look at Lu Li.
“If there really is…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll tell you.”
“Okay.” Liu Qingxi looked back at Lu Li repeatedly before returning to her room.
“Mm… sigh…” Looking at the empty hall, Lu Li sat in the seat belonging to “himself,” staring at the Bronze Mirror placed on the table.
Then, another long sigh.
The girl in the mirror had flowing eyes and brows full of a gentleness that even she found unfamiliar.
Lu Li looked for a long time, then murmured softly.
“I’ve almost… forgotten what I originally looked like.”