Chapter 38

Cangmang Mountain is tall and densely forested, with treacherous terrain, rampant poisonous miasmas, swarms of insects and snakes, and demonic beasts prowling—even its outskirts hold great danger for me to enter.

“Are you truly determined to enter the mountain yourself to hunt the Cold Ice Rabbit and gather Cold Ice Purple Shouwu?” Xu Zhiyuan squinted, gazing at the blood-red sunset sinking steadily toward the west, and spoke slowly.

“Without enduring the trials of life and death, even if my grandson receives medicinal aid to break through the barriers and eventually reaches the Ninth Rank, becoming a Master, he will likely be forever stuck at the Ninth Rank.”

“Good! No wonder you’re my Xu Zhiyuan’s grandson!” Xu Zhiyuan suddenly opened his squinted eyes.

“Grandfather, rest assured—someday I will surpass the Ninth Rank and not disappoint your high expectations,” Xu Shixiong said with unshakable confidence.

Xu Zhiyuan’s eyes glowed with satisfaction, but soon he seemed to remember something, his expression darkening.

“Pity—you have no Immortal Roots. Otherwise, even if I had to surrender our ancestral legacy, I would beg for an entry slot into an Immortal Sect for you.”

“As long as I become a Master, I can still fight against Immortals,” Xu Shixiong said proudly.

A newborn calf fears no tiger!

But how could you know that Immortals and mortals are fundamentally different?

Hearing this, Xu Zhiyuan’s lips curled into a bitter smile; he squinted again, gazing intently at the sunset nearly swallowed by the western hills, lost in thought.

“The Lin and Ding families and the Dominant Blade Gate have grown increasingly brazen lately—even falsely accusing us of killing the Lord of Wu Family Fortress. Grandfather, are you truly going to let this go on unchecked?”

“Not yet. The Lin and Ding families and the Dominant Blade Gate have long-established roots in Licheng. Though they lack a Master among them, their clans are vast, with many formidable Great Martial Masters. If they unite against our Xu family, even now, with my condition, the result would only be mutual destruction.”

“Let’s wait another half-year or so—the fruit should be ripe by then. When I take one, I’ll fully restore my vital energy and strength.”

“And when you return from Cangmang Mountain, if you can enter the Eighth Rank, then train another half-year or so and take that fruit, your talent and foundation give you at least a fifty to sixty percent chance of breaking through to Master rank in one go.”

“When that time comes, with two Masters in our Xu family, dealing with those three families will be far easier. For now, let them keep dancing.”

“I understand,” Xu Shixiong replied respectfully.

Dominant Blade Gate.

Secret chamber.

Seated in guest and host positions were Gong Zhonghou, head of the Dominant Blade Gate; Lin Zhaonan, head of the Lin family; and Ding Bangcheng, head of the Ding family—the three titans of Licheng.

“The Xu family assassinated Wu Yueli months ago, and recently issued summonses targeting Great Martial Masters closely allied with us. This is sheer arrogance—I wish to rise up today and wipe out the Xu family,” Lin Zhaonan said, furious.

“Xu Zhiyuan may be old, but he’s still a Master. Even all three of us together couldn’t defeat him. We’ve endured for so many years—this isn’t the time to act. Wait until Chu Shan returns from his cultivation journey before we destroy the Xu family,” Ding Bangcheng said.

“Have you heard any news from Chu Shan?” Lin Zhaonan asked, suppressing his anger, though his eyes fixed on Gong Zhonghou.

“I called you here today to speak of Ding Chu Shan,” Gong Zhonghou said.

Lin Zhaonan and Ding Bangcheng straightened their spines at once, eyes sharp and fixed on Gong Zhonghou.

“A few days ago, I secretly went to Wanluo Mountain’s Spirit Blade Sect with a token and met Chu Shan. He has now reached Qi Refining Second Layer.”

“But he has no status or backing in the sect. With his talent, if he stays, he’ll likely remain in the Outer Sect tending spirit fields, slowly cultivating and building seniority.”

“If that’s the case, he has little hope even of reaching mid- or late Qi Refining, let alone Foundation Establishment. So Chu Shan plans to report to the Outer Sect’s steward after this season’s spirit grain harvest and apply for a worldly cultivation journey.”

“Perfect. When Chu Shan returns to Licheng, we’ll destroy the Xu family, consolidate all power and resources in and around the city, and fully support his cultivation.”

“As long as Chu Shan succeeds, our descendants will have a chance to enter the Immortal Path—all our sacrifices will be worth it,” Ding Bangcheng said.

“Exactly. Didn’t you say, according to your sect’s inherited Earth Qi observation technique from the Spirit Blade Sect, that the Xu family’s rear mountain has recently become unusually active—suggesting a spirit vein may flow beneath it?”

“If true, once we destroy the Xu family, we can cultivate spirit fields there—then Chu Shan won’t lack cultivation resources,” Lin Zhaonan said.

To resist the Xu family and avoid being picked off one by one, the three families have long maintained traditions of intermarriage.

Ding Chu Shan is Ding Bangcheng’s legitimate grandson and Lin Zhaonan’s legitimate maternal grandson.

Moreover, Ding Chu Shan’s parents are Gong Zhonghou’s direct disciples, making him his disciple’s disciple.

In short, Ding Chu Shan alone connects the interests of all three families.

“Don’t think you can rest easy just because Chu Shan will act. In the Immortal World, Qi Refining Second Layer is the lowest rank of cultivator—his magic power is extremely limited, and so are the spells he can cast.”

“If martial cultivators are prepared, even the three of us could outmatch him, let alone a Ninth Rank Minor Master.”

“But Immortals’ methods are unpredictable; they can use talismans and magic treasures to unleash deadly attacks. If a Master is unprepared, killing him won’t be hard.”

“Therefore, Chu Shan’s secret must be kept absolutely silent—not a whisper must leak. If Xu Zhiyuan becomes wary, this plan will become perilous,” Gong Zhonghou said solemnly.

“Rest assured, Brother Gong—only the three of us and Chu Shan’s parents know he joined the Spirit Blade Sect. Even the clan elders are unaware!” Ding Bangcheng said firmly.

Ji family.

A simple study, faintly scented with medicinal herbs.

Ji Yuanzhen, the Ji family’s patriarch, held a sandalwood box, staring at the six pills resting quietly inside, his hands trembling slightly, his expression filled with excitement.

“Good! Good! You truly are a once-in-a-generation alchemical genius of our Ji family—this Fengming Pill, lost for countless years, you’ve actually brewed it!”

“Pity—the ingredients for Fengming Pills are exceedingly rare; we can’t brew them in quantity. And with Licheng’s current chaos, our Ji family has no peace to grow. With these pills, how could we fail to restore our former glory?”

“If Licheng’s situation is so chaotic, why not relocate elsewhere?” Ji Wenyue said.

“Our Ji family is vast and deeply rooted in Licheng—relocating is no simple matter. Besides, a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake. Starting anew elsewhere would cost us countless Ji family lives just to establish ourselves.”

“We’ll see how things unfold. As merchants, we value harmony and profit. If Licheng’s chaos truly drags us under, we may have no choice but to leave.”

With that, Ji Yuanzhen took one Fengming Pill from the sandalwood box.

“This pill is for you. Train diligently and replenish your body these days. After a year or so, take this pill. With your age and martial talent, you might break through the Sixth Rank and become a Sixth Rank Great Martial Master.”

“I need another one,” Ji Wenyue said after taking the pill, hesitating.

“You little thing—even with your great contribution, you can’t make such a greedy demand. One Fengming Pill is enough; taking more yields little benefit.”

“I know,” Ji Wenyue said.

“Are you planning to give it to that savior?” Ji Yuanzhen’s expression changed.

The Ji family had no outstanding descendants; though Ji Yuanzhen had stepped down as clan head, he still held real power.

Ji Wenyue had spent large sums of silver and medicine on Xia Daoming in less than a year—impossible to miss.

He had privately summoned her and learned the man was her savior.

Since he was her savior, Ji Yuanzhen had stopped asking questions.

But this Fengming Pill was no ordinary thing. Now Ji Wenyue wanted to give one to Xia Daoming—Ji Yuanzhen could no longer sit still.

“Yes, Grandfather,” Ji Wenyue replied.

“Though he saved your life, you’ve already given him far too much over these past half-year—even enough to buy the loyalty of a Sixth Rank Great Martial Master.”

“This Fengming Pill is no small matter—it consumed nearly all our family’s long-stored herbs to brew just six. We cannot give another.”

“Then I’ll take my leave,” Ji Wenyue said, seeing her grandfather’s refusal, without pressing. She bowed slightly and turned to leave.

“Come back!” Ji Yuanzhen, startled by her sudden compliance, called out.

“Grandfather, is there something else?” Ji Wenyue turned.

“Are you planning to give your own Fengming Pill to him?” Ji Yuanzhen asked.

Ji Wenyue lowered her head in silence.

“You…” Ji Yuanzhen pointed at her, clearly frustrated.

“Without Brother Xia, I wouldn’t be alive. And he is a true gentleman. He is twenty-five now—his martial path cannot be delayed. I’m only eighteen; delaying my breakthrough by one or two years won’t matter much.”

Her gaze was resolute.

“Fine. Take another Fengming Pill,” Ji Yuanzhen said, defeated by her firm expression.

“Thank you, Grandfather—I knew you’d always dote on Yue’er!” Ji Wenyue beamed, stepping forward to grasp his arm and gently sway it.

“Enough, enough. But I warn you seriously—you’re our Ji family’s once-in-a-generation alchemical genius, tied to our survival. You will only ever take a husband into our home—you will never marry out.”

“That Brother Xia, since he saved you, you should repay him generously—but no other entanglements. Unless he agrees to become our son-in-law!”

“I know, Grandfather—I’m still young!” Ji Wenyue blushed, a complex glint flashing deep in her beautiful eyes.

“Eighteen is not young!” Ji Yuanzhen said, an old man’s worry hidden in his eyes.

Lately, many factions have come to propose marriage—including the Xu, Lin, and Ding families and the Dominant Blade Gate.

Fortunately, those who came were not the actual leaders—Ji Yuanzhen has managed to decline them all.

But the day one of those four families’ heads comes himself—that will be trouble.

Ji Yuanzhen has kept these matters hidden for now, unwilling to distract Ji Wenyue.