Chapter 64: Bounty

The army of cultivators marching along the river was even more spectacular than expected, all because the Zhanglong Sect had conscripted a large number of loose cultivators from Western Hunan. Liu Xiao, being in the ranks, could not see exactly how many people there were, but he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement: this battle would likely be a sure victory!

The main force set out from Wuchao Town and marched for about twenty miles before reaching the mountain pass that served as the main entrance to the southeastern part of Wulong Mountain. The large ship sailing on the Wuchao River docked at the bank, and the Zhanglong Sect Master, Qu Congji, led a group of experts off the ship. They stood at the forefront, gazing up at the mountain terrain in silence, before making a gesture after a long while.

An inner sect disciple of the Zhanglong Sect turned back and shouted loudly: "Form the formation!"

The ranks immediately moved, spreading out in all directions.

Liu Xiao followed the Zang family's formation. There were twenty people in his immediate vicinity, including twelve from the Zang family and eight other loose cultivators, himself and Tan Ba included. He didn't know when they had been conscripted or where they had been stationed over the past few days, but they had suddenly been bunched together like this.

One of the six loose cultivators was actually someone Tan Ba recognized, a man nicknamed "Tiger-Headed Jiao." He claimed to be a loose cultivator who had drifted here from the south of the Yangtze River. He was covered in sinewy muscle, and it seemed he walked the path of body refinement.

Tan Ba made the introductions. After hearing Liu Xiao state his name, Tiger-Headed Jiao's face lit up with a smile, and he reached out to shake Liu Xiao's hand with such enthusiasm that it seemed he wanted to swear a brotherhood oath on the spot. This left Liu Xiao quite baffled; he muttered to himself, *Am I really that famous? *

The Zang family arrived at a spot about one *li* to the northeast. Zang Baili held a piece of emerald jade in his hand, and Liu Xiao recognized at a glance that it was an array plate. A wave of light like flowing water rippled across the jade array plate. Zang Baili looked back toward the direction of Sect Master Qu, quietly awaiting the next order from the Zhanglong Sect.

Aside from the Zang family, more than ten other vassal branches, including the Mingyu Villa, Black Tiger Stronghold, Long Mountain Sword Gate, the Zheng family, and Dongxi, had also spread out in groups, each standing firm at one of the thirteen nodes of the great formation, guarding the Zhanglong Sect's main force at the front.

Liu Xiao had refined array plates himself, and by now he could see clearly that the Zhanglong Sect had laid out a great formation, fully prepared for battle with the Green Jade Sect.

The conflicts between famous great sects were indeed different from those of loose cultivators; they played with formations, while loose cultivators played with brute-force charges. The difference was clear at a glance.

Since there was a great formation to provide cover, Liu Xiao, who was now inside the formation, felt much more at ease. He was no longer so terrified, and he chatted a few words with Tan Ba and Tiger-Headed Jiao, relaxing his tense nerves. He even began to look forward to the spoils of victory—if he had the chance to get his hands on any.

They hadn't been chatting for long when two sword lights flew out from the Zhanglong Sect's main formation. The sword lights were as fast as galloping horses, flying toward the two wings. The Zang family's position was on the right flank of the great formation. The sword lights stopped in front of Zang Baili, and a person was wrapped within the light—it was the Zhanglong Sect's Sword Control Technique!

This was a method only available to those with a cultivation base at the Golden Core stage or higher. Zang Baili stepped forward to welcome them: "Elder Qu!"

The Qu family was the main branch of the Zhanglong Sect, firmly holding the sect's gates. Not only the Sect Master but many elders over the years had come from the Qu family. This Elder Qu gave the order: "The Green Jade Sect has not moved. Send men into the mountains to scout."

Zang Baili bowed and accepted the order: "Yes!"

Zang Baili turned back and said: "Tan Ba, Liu Xiao, you two are from Wulong Mountain and are familiar with the terrain. Go into the mountains quickly to scout and report back on the situation."

Liu Xiao felt a bitter taste in his mouth, and he stepped out of the ranks with Tan Ba, feeling quite unwilling.

Suddenly, a man flashed out and said loudly: "Old Master Zang, I have only recently become acquainted with Xiao and Ba, but we are like brothers who have shared life and death. Although I am untalented, I am willing to go with my two brothers!"

Liu Xiao was speechless. He looked at Tan Ba, and even Tan Ba looked a bit dazed—*Since when were they brothers who had shared life and death? *

Zang Baili stroked his beard and said: "Excellent! Since you do not fear for your lives, how can I be stingy with wealth? In that case, if you three brothers discover the enemy's situation and report back, each of you shall be rewarded with one spirit stone!"

*Huh? * Wasn't it said that when conscripted for battle, one could only seize wealth from the enemy? To have a bounty offered today was truly unprecedented!

Regardless, with someone willing to risk the danger and a bounty waiting at the end, Liu Xiao's somewhat restless heart settled down, and his courage surged!

At worst, it was just a trip home. The Green Jade Sect were outsiders; how could they be more familiar with the terrain of Wulong Mountain than the locals? *Hmm, the problem shouldn't be too big. *

The three of them left the main formation and hurried toward Wulong Mountain, which was two *li* away. Liu Xiao and Tan Ba were locals, so naturally, they wouldn't be foolish enough to take the main road. There were many small paths into the mountains. To ordinary people, these paths were as difficult as ascending to heaven, but to cultivators like them, it was just a matter of adding a few movements—using both hands and feet—and they soon entered Wulong Mountain.

Standing halfway up the first mountain peak, they looked back at where they had come from. The great formation set up by the Zhanglong Sect at the foot of the mountain was beginning to reveal its true form. Hundreds of cultivators were divided into thirteen locations, forming thirteen nodes of the formation, like a coiled giant dragon, baring its fangs and claws as it hissed at Wulong Mountain.

"Is this the Zhanglong Sect's Purple-Gold Wandering Dragon Formation?" Tan Ba muttered.

"Purple-Gold Wandering Dragon Formation? Is it powerful?" Liu Xiao was also hearing the name for the first time.

"I've heard it's very powerful, with fierce killing intent... Let's go, let's go quickly and return quickly." Tiger-Headed Jiao urged.

The three of them agreed on a plan, intending to climb Jade Maiden Peak to scout, as the peak was higher and better for overlooking the area. Tan Ba asked for Liu Xiao's opinion: "Xiao, should we take Broken Arm Cliff or Thin Line Sky?"

Liu Xiao had been on the mountain since he was eight, while Tan Ba had only moved down from the mountain last year. Naturally, Liu Xiao was the authority on choosing the route, so he said: "There is also the View-Watching Rock to the north that leads to Jade Maiden Peak. Tan, you probably don't know about it, right?"

Tan Ba shook his head: "I really haven't been there. Then let's take View-Watching Rock; fewer people walk that path."

Tiger-Headed Jiao suggested: "Since there are three paths, why don't the three of us each take one and meet at Jade Maiden Peak? Three paths at once, we'll see more."

Liu Xiao thought for a moment and said: "That works too. Neither of you is familiar with View-Watching Rock, so I'll take that path; Tan, you take Broken Arm Cliff; Tiger-Headed, you take Thin Line Sky... Tiger-Headed, look, head west from here, do you see that pine forest? Yes, go through it, and there are two forks in the mountain path. Take the one that goes down, keep going down until you see a small stream, follow the stream upstream, and that's Thin Line Sky... At its narrowest point, the cliffs on both sides are very close, looking at the sky is like looking at a single line..."

Tiger-Headed Jiao looked into the distance at the mountain path according to his directions and nodded in agreement: "I know now, don't worry!"

Liu Xiao was actually a bit worried about him, as he was an outsider who hadn't been into Wulong Mountain, so he gave a few more instructions, pointed out a few more recognizable landmarks, and then warned: "I heard from Tan that you are at the sixth stage of Qi Refinement, Tiger-Headed, which is not weak, at least stronger than me. But Wulong Mountain has a lot of fog and miasma, which hinders the perception of true *qi*. You are from the south of the Yangtze, where the terrain is flat and dominated by rivers and lakes, so perhaps your perception is sharp, but in many places in Wulong Mountain, perception cannot be relied upon. You must look and listen more to be safe."

Tiger-Headed Jiao laughed: "Thanks, Xiao, I understand. Actually, most mountains are like this; I've braved quite a few!"

And so, the three of them parted ways, each taking a different route.