A presence swept over the bushes where Long Xiao was hidden, but found no trace of him. Soon, an old man appeared with a young girl.
The girl was about fifteen or sixteen, around the same age as Xiao Ming, dressed in a hand-stitched red homespun cloth dress, with a wild flower tucked into her hair.
The old man looked to be in his sixties or seventies, his face ruddy. He wore a very dirty Daoist robe, six-ear hemp shoes, and a shiny red gourd hanging from his waist.
From their conversation, it seemed both the old man and his female disciple were cultivators. In this era of rapid technological advancement, cultivation, a rather ethereal pursuit, was rarely practiced.
The cultivation methods left behind from the past had been modified and became the legacies of martial artists. Modern people worshipped strength more. Long Xiao had thought cultivation had disappeared, but here he encountered cultivators.
The legacies within the "Dragon Scripture" included both those for cultivating martial power and those for cultivating inner cores. In reality, there was no conflict between cultivating martial power and cultivating inner cores; it was merely a difference in focus.
Daring not to use his aura, Long Xiao peered through the gaps in the bushes, not seeing very clearly.
After standing at the cave entrance for a few minutes, the old man and his disciple entered the cave.
Long Xiao emerged from the bushes, looked at the cave entrance, and then moved to hide elsewhere.
This old Daoist was undoubtedly an extraordinary hermit. Since he was also here searching for the Fire Qilin, the beast was likely nearby. Long Xiao decided to follow the master and disciple pair, hoping to overhear their conversation for any useful information.
After waiting outside the cave for a few minutes, a roar echoed from within. Soon after, the old Daoist and his disciple emerged from the cave.
"Master, what is this ferocious beast called? It looks so ugly."
"This is a mutated mountain demon (shanxiao), at least a hundred years old, almost like a spirit." the old Daoist said.
Talking about the mountain demon, they walked along the cliff face. After they had gone over thirty meters, Long Xiao emerged from his hiding place and entered the mountain cave.
The mountain demon was also a type of exotic beast, resembling a large gorilla, covered in red fur, and extremely ferocious.
This mountain demon had a hole in its head, and blood was still flowing.
An exotic beast that had survived for a hundred years, though it didn't yet possess an inner core, had an incredibly vigorous life force. Long Xiao quickly sat down, grabbed the mountain demon, and employed the 'Dragon Swallows the Seas' technique. The mountain demon withered at a visible rate.
After absorbing the mountain demon's life force, Long Xiao felt his body filled with power, a sensation that subsided after a few minutes.
Life force is wood energy, which among the five elemental energies, can be absorbed freely. After absorbing a large amount of wood energy, it would quickly convert into other energies, and the five elemental energies in the dantian would automatically reach a balance.
Life force could be absorbed like this, but other energies, after being absorbed, had to be refined before they could be converted into other energies.
Refining energies required a significant amount of time. Long Xiao couldn't spend decades converting one type of energy into others, which was why he was so eager to find the five elemental energies.
Feeling a slight improvement in his strength, Long Xiao was overjoyed. He quickly exited the cave and pursued the master and disciple who had just left.
About ten minutes later, Long Xiao heard footsteps ahead. He slowed his pace, trailing behind.
As the distance between them closed, Long Xiao once again overheard the conversation of the master and disciple.
They were discussing the Fire Qilin, how to obtain its inner core, and how to refine it.
Long Xiao followed stealthily, listening to their talk. After following for a while, a powerful aura suddenly swept over him. Long Xiao quickly concealed his aura, covering himself with a faint life force.
This powerful aura had just swept past when another powerful aura followed. The two auras soon met, and the surrounding plants suddenly stirred as if a gentle breeze had passed through.
Long Xiao had thought the old Daoist's aura was powerful enough, but these two auras were even stronger.
"Hahaha, old fellow, you arrived before me." A dark figure floated over the bushes, its voice emanating from the shadow.
"Even if I arrived earlier, I haven't seen the Fire Qilin. What's the difference between arriving early or late?" someone said loudly from a distance.
Long Xiao followed the sound. Because he needed to disguise himself, he couldn't move too quickly.
After walking for a while, in an open area, Long Xiao saw the old Daoist and his disciple standing there. Two middle-aged men in Zhongshan suits stood opposite them.
"Old Daoist Xiao, you've taken on a new disciple recently." one of the middle-aged men said.
"Tian Hui, why aren't you diligently cultivating your demonic arts at home, and instead come out to harm people?" the old Daoist said.
"What are you saying? When has Tian Hui ever harmed anyone?" Tian Hui replied.
Old Daoist Xiao snorted and said, "The cultivation method you practice is harmful to oneself and others. How is it not harmful?"
"Different legacies, different philosophies. Do you think your cultivation method is inherently good and harmless?" Tian Hui retorted.
The middle-aged man standing beside Tian Hui said, "Old fellow, stop wasting words with them. Finding the Fire Qilin is the main business."
Tian Hui turned to the middle-aged man beside him and said, "Of course, I know finding the Fire Qilin is the main business. But if we both find it, who does it belong to?"
"We'll discuss that when it's found. In any case, we cannot let Old Daoist Xiao find it." the middle-aged man declared.
Tian Hui nodded and said, "You're right. Let's go."
Their figures flickered, and they instantly vanished into the darkness.
Long Xiao raised his hand to his forehead, finding it covered in cold sweat.
The power of these individuals was terrifying. If he were to fight them, it would be no different from seeking death.
Just as Long Xiao was about to leave, Old Daoist Xiao said, "They've all left. Come out."
Long Xiao looked around, seeing no one else.
"Stop looking. I'm talking to you," Old Daoist Xiao said again.
Having been discovered, Long Xiao had no choice but to stand up and walk towards Old Daoist Xiao.
Approaching Old Daoist Xiao, Long Xiao was about to explain when the old Daoist smiled and said, "You're also here to find the Fire Qilin?"
Long Xiao knew that a lie wouldn't fool this old Daoist. He nodded and said, "Yes, I'm also here to find the Fire Qilin."
"You don't seem like a cultivator. Why are you looking for the Fire Qilin?" Old Daoist Xiao asked.
Long Xiao feigned greed and said, "They say the Fire Qilin is valuable. Aren't I trying to make a fortune?"
Old Daoist Xiao sighed and said, "Even if you want to make a fortune, you need your life. Your strength is too low. Even if you find the Fire Qilin, you won't be able to obtain it, and you might even lose your life."
What Old Daoist Xiao said made sense. Long Xiao nodded and replied, "Daoist, what you say is reasonable. I've learned my lesson."
"Why don't you join us? We only want the Fire Qilin's inner core; everything else can be yours." Old Daoist Xiao offered.
"Really? Such a good deal?" Long Xiao asked in surprise.
The young girl giggled, "Of course! My master is a very good person."
Long Xiao didn't easily trust strangers. The matter was definitely not that simple, and he believed the old Daoist must have other intentions.
However, the old Daoist's strength was indeed formidable. If he followed him, as long as the old Daoist didn't harm him, his safety should be guaranteed.
Long Xiao smiled and said, "Then I thank you both very much."
The young girl giggled, "You should thank me by buying me good food."