In other words, Li Jianshan's brush with death was a stroke of luck, allowing him to mistakenly consume the inner core of a thousand-year-old black dragon.

“Great fortune awaits you from now on,” Liu Huaiquan said, taking the blue lotus from Li Jianshan’s hand and carefully putting it away.

Seeing that Li Jianshan's complexion didn't look like he was about to die, and that his wounds were gradually healing, Jiang Si breathed a sigh of relief.

She didn't die; Jiang Si immediately bounced away.

The smell is truly awful.

This is the time for Qi Yan to step in.

Seeing the pitiful state of Li Jianshan, Qi Yan, out of respect for Li Qinghuai, took some clean stream water to wash away the filth from Li Jianshan's body.

Li Jianshan is still unconscious.

Jiang Si looked at the enormous black dragon in front of her with some worry.

Previously, the Black Dragon had set up its own barrier to block the outside world's view. Now that the Black Dragon is dead, she can imagine how sensational the sudden appearance of such a huge thing would be.

There are also layers of white bones accumulated at the bottom of the deep pool over thousands of years.

Whether it's pitiful or not, if word gets out, it'll become another mass grave.

She asked Liu Huaiquan, "What should we do?"

Liu Huaiquan was at a loss for what to do.

The petite Qi Yan wasn't worried about these things.

He squatted down on the ground, looking at Li Jianshan with concern: "Hey, wake up, we need to go back."

Li Jianshan showed no reaction.

A plan suddenly came to Liu Huaiquan's mind. "Master Jiang, I remember that this spirit rat is naturally associated with fire."

The two of them looked at Qi Yan at the same time.

Sensing the gazes, Qi Yan looked over in confusion and saw Jiang Si and Liu Huaiquan staring at him menacingly.

He couldn't help but hug himself: "What do you want now?"

Looking at yourself like this is never a good thing.

"Little Qi Yan, don't be like this," Jiang Si said. "Now is the time for you to play your great role, which can also be considered as atoning for your past karma."

As a Crimson Flame Rat, Qi Yan's Crimson Flame Fire, when at its most potent, could encompass all things in heaven and earth, though it's not that powerful now.

It can also eliminate all malevolence.

These people, lured by the black dragon, have ended up on the path to death, and they are bound to be filled with resentment.

They piled up the bones and had Qi Yan breathe fire to burn them to ashes, while Jiang Si chanted the Rebirth Mantra for them.

Hopefully, they can break free from their resentment and embark on the path of reincarnation again.

Liu Huaiquan's expression was somewhat complicated.

Those who cultivate the Tao do not simply recite the Rebirth Mantra; it is imbued with magical power.

He knew that Jiang Si was almost at her last gasp, just like him, but he was surprised that she was still willing to help these people.

When Jiang Si opened her eyes, she saw Liu Huaiquan gently wave his hand, and something unusually gentle seemed to be added to the burning flames.

Blessings from Mount Tai.

With the blessing of Mount Tai, these people who died unjustly will have a good rebirth.

Jiang Si looked at him, and Liu Huaiquan seemed a little uncomfortable: "Follow Master Jiang's example and be a good person for once."

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but it seems like someone in the void is giving thanks.

After sending those who died unjustly into reincarnation, all that remains is this enormous black dragon.

Jiang Si looked at Qi Yan: "Keep it up."

Liu Huaiquan followed suit: "Keep it up!"

Qi Yan wanted to cry, but he still tried his best to breathe fire.

Fortunately, he hadn't neglected his cultivation during this time. The fire he spewed wasn't too fierce, but it was enough to burn the snake clean.

A giant snake, as big as a small mountain, burned for quite a while.

By the time they turned to ashes, the sun was already setting.

Jiang Si set up a protective barrier around this place, but it won't last long, at most a few months. The power of nature is immense; a few months will be enough for this place to recover and thrive.

By then, everything that happened will be gone without a trace.

Qi Yan dragged the still unconscious Li Jianshan down the mountain step by step.

Bald Li, standing below, was so anxious he was practically steaming.

If anything happens to the young master of the Liu family inside, he's afraid he'll be in deep trouble.

Just as he was about to lose his temper and go up the mountain to look for the person, he saw the person coming down.

He rushed forward with the fervor of welcoming an ancestor, but as soon as he got close, he smelled a pungent and unpleasant odor.

Liu Huaiquan: "We tripped and fell. Could you please find us a place to wash up properly?" But our clothes are so clean; it doesn't look like anything happened.

"What about Young Master Li?"

Jiang Si: "He's just too tired, it's okay."

Bald Li didn't dare to ask any questions and respectfully led the person into the city.

Since Li Jianshan was still unconscious, he sent people to take care of him.

Li Jianshan woke up when someone was about to undress him. Feeling someone pulling at his clothes, Li Jianshan was startled awake and sat up abruptly: "Who are you? What do you want?"

Looking around blankly, I found myself in a rather luxurious room.

His last memory was of being swallowed by a snake.

They were staying in a suite. Qi Yan heard his voice and came out: "What are you yelling about? You stink. Otherwise, I wouldn't want to share a room with you looking like this."

Li Jianshan told those people to leave.

He was still in shock and grabbed Qi Yan, saying, "Tell me quickly, what exactly happened?"

Qi Yan couldn't stand the smell on him anymore and pushed him into the bathtub: "You had only been in there a short time when your master and Liu Huaiquan cut open the snake's belly and rescued you. But you turned misfortune into blessing and obtained the inner core of that black dragon." Qi Yan didn't know whether to be envious or jealous: "Obtained the inner core of a thousand-year-old black dragon, tsk tsk, that's incredible."

While rubbing himself with soap, Li Jianshan looked at his abdomen and asked in surprise, "Did I swallow that inner core?"

Following the typical novel formula, would he then rise to prominence and his skills improve rapidly?

"Then am I?" Li Jianshan asked impatiently.

Qi Yan couldn't bear to discourage him, but still told the truth: "Theoretically, that's how it is, but there's a saying that too much of a good thing can be bad. The timid starve while the bold get rich. In the end, it still depends on how well you absorb it."

Li Jianshan was not deterred; where there is theory, there is the possibility of practice.

But he was proven wrong that very night when his abdomen suddenly felt like it was about to explode.

Qi Yan was woken up by him. Remembering that Jiang Si had told him to inform him if Li Jianshan had any problems, he immediately called Jiang Si and asked her to come over.

When Li Jianshan saw Jiang Si, his face contorted in pain, he said, "Master, why does my stomach hurt so much?"

“The inner core of a thousand-year-old snake demon is not so easy to obtain,” Jiang Si said.

The black dragon's inner core had already dissolved into Li Jianshan's limbs and bones, and couldn't be forced out. Jiang Si took out a talisman and slapped it onto Li Jianshan's forehead.

Li Jianshan collapsed to the ground, his body gradually freezing, and a strange frost forming on his face.

Qi Yan asked, "What's wrong with him?"

Jiang Si said, "This is an ice-sealing talisman, which will allow him to absorb the spiritual power of the inner core more slowly."

Fortunately, they were staying at a manor; otherwise, carrying Li Jianshan would have been a real problem.

Upon returning to the Li family, Li Qinghuai was stunned to see Li Jianshan frozen in ice.

"Who is Jianshan?" Li Qinghuai asked, trembling. "Jianshan..."

“He’s not dead,” Jiang Si stated the conclusion first, lest the old man be unable to catch his breath. “He will have great fortune in the future.”