Chapter 55: Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 55: Cleverness Backfires

Volume One: Mountain Ghost Rumor, Chapter 55: Cleverness Backfires

Su Shen and Fang Xia went and never returned; the foreign cultivators standing on Caiyan Street fell completely silent, then began whispering to one another, turning and leaving without a shred of attachment.

The old cultivator turned his head to glance.

Aside from a few villagers who had come to Youju Town to hide from Demons peeking out from the alleyways, only a muscular man with a bare, knotted-muscle torso remained, squatting by the street, silently wiping his blade with a rag.

He walked over with a hunched back and hands behind his back, asking, "Go together?"

The muscular man sneered: "The agreement was for a wheel battle; if that didn't work, everyone would attack at once. Now look at you, nothing left but a pretentious old geezer."

"Heh, this old geezer is only one step away from the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"You've opened three hundred and sixty Acupoints?"

"Three hundred and seventy-one," the old cultivator corrected.

The muscular man, who was missing a piece of his lower lip, said: "That Hundred-Household official must have made his move. With a single strike, he actually sliced the clouds in two... Such condensed, unscattered True Qi is truly chilling."

"Indeed, True Qi that remains condensed and unscattered—this kind of skill is enough to make one envious."

"Must we kill him today?" The muscular man couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"The news says that on Baoyue Shiwu, this person will recover some combat strength. He is a Foundation Establishment Realm Hundred-Household of the Demon-Slaying Division; we are no match for him in a single exchange."

"I am still wondering to this day who spread that news."

The old cultivator furrowed his brows.

The muscular man continued: "Could someone be playing us, intentionally exhausting our manpower?"

"Doesn't seem like it."

"It really is baffling."

The old cultivator had, after all, roamed the world for many years: "Wang Lu, is it possible someone is thinking of attacking the commoners ahead of time?"

"Right, they say that attacking the commoners now brings more benefits than drawbacks. Anyway, the Yang County Demon-Slaying Division likely knows about this matter, so why not kill to our heart's content! Then hide and wait quietly for Baoyue Shiwu! It's just that after we discussed it, we felt killing the severely wounded Hundred-Household was more critical."

"I might have guessed the scheme of the person who spread the news."

"What is the plot?"

"Likely trying to fish in troubled waters."

The old cultivator sighed: "Come to think of it, there is no definite word on when the Hundred Treasures Immortal Cave will open. Some say we must wait until Baoyue Shiwu to act, while others say the opening time is Baoyue Shiwu, and acting early to destroy the local fortune works just as well."

Wang Lu said: "The news I heard in the world about the Cave Abode is that only by destroying the local fortune on the day of Baoyue Shiwu can the Cave Abode be opened."

"The news I received is that the Cave Abode will open on Baoyue Shiwu and that the key is hidden within the local fortune."

"Old man, could we be getting played by someone?"

The old cultivator sighed deeply: "Probably not."

"What if Hundred Treasures Immortal hasn't died?"

"His treasures are here regardless."

"But no one has ever seen them!"

The old cultivator was startled, then shook his head: "We've come this far, what else can we do? We have to bite the bullet and keep going."

Wang Lu said: "Why don't we call the others to start a massacre now."

"Bad idea," the old cultivator said leisurely. "If we start a massacre, nine times out of ten we'll fall into someone else's trap. Besides, if that Demon-Slaying Division Hundred-Household fights for his life to protect the commoners, it's hard to say whether we'll live or die."

Wang Lu gazed earnestly at his fast blade: "Let's go, you and I will kill our way there. I don't believe that a Hundred-Household official who has been severely wounded and fought several battles still has strength to spare."

"How many Acupoints have you opened?"

"Not many, not few, three hundred and sixty. I heard Hundred Treasures Immortal has a precious blade that is a Medium Grade Dharma Artifact, which is why I traveled to Youju Town without fear of hardship."

Xie Wan stopped looking at them making fools of themselves, closed the window of her second-floor boudoir, and sighed: "Senior Brother, oh Senior Brother, they didn't attack the commoners, but instead kept ambushing the little toad."

A Ping swallowed a Fusheng Pill: "We previously guessed whether the person Zhao Chan was leading the horse for was the Hundred-Household official of the Yang County Demon-Slaying Division. Looking at it now, it's a nailed-down fact that he is a Foundation Establishment Realm Hundred-Household cultivator."

"Fortunately, this person is at the little toad's house; otherwise, I would have already dragged the little toad to the inn to keep him under guard. The foreign cultivators in Youju Town are all bottom-feeders; if they hurt a single hair on the little toad, my heart would ache."

She paused and sighed: "It looks like they are powerless against this Hundred-Household official."

"Junior Sister, my original intention was to guide them to attack the commoners ahead of time."

"It doesn't matter. Anyway, the day after tomorrow is Baoyue Shiwu. Plus that Knowing Fate Realm cultivator named Tang Yi, let alone the Hundred-Household the little toad invited for support, even if you tied all those foreign cultivators together, they wouldn't be our match."

A Ping smiled in relief: "The advantage is with us; there is indeed no need to worry about these minor details."

"Senior Brother, we have it in the bag; we are just waiting for the Cave Abode to open on Baoyue Shiwu."

"Pan Xi still hasn't appeared, which gives me some concern."

"What are you afraid of? Even though a starving camel is bigger than a horse, a camel bigger than a horse is still a starving one."

A Ping gazed at his Junior Sister, whose appearance was not outstanding but whose chest was heavy: "We must think about how to deal with those four mysterious women."

She pondered: "There is no particularly good way; we can only negotiate using the reputation of the Xuanwei Sect."

"Reasonable."

"However, if they insist on interfering, we Senior Brother and Junior Sister are not to be trifled with either."

"What if we can't beat them?" A Ping asked with a smile.

Xie Wan said: "A great person knows when to yield and when to stand tall; if we can't beat them, we run."

"Haha... as expected of my Junior Sister. Don't worry, Senior Brother already has a plan."

"Let's hear it, what plan?"

"Since Xiaoshui has become a Mountain Ghost, why not use this Mountain Ghost to deal with it?"

"No! I want the Mountain Ghost!"

A Ping said helplessly: "Junior Sister, times have changed. There are several Mountain Ghosts in the Xuanwei Sect; catching one more won't actually earn you much merit. It's better to use the Mountain Ghost as a bargaining chip to trade for those four women turning a blind eye. Hundred Treasures Immortal has so many treasures; once you and I split them, isn't that more practical than you using a Mountain Ghost to trade for sect merit? Think about it, Hundred Treasures Immortal even had a fake Low-grade Spirit Tool Demon-Illuminating Mirror; he must have other Spirit Artifacts. Once you obtain a Spirit Artifact to use as a Dharma Treasure, who in the Xuanwei Sect would dare look down on you?"

As the saying goes, a phoenix in distress is not as good as a chicken. At present, she was still only in the Medium Grade Foundation Establishment Realm and had not even recovered to the Lower-grade Destiny Knowing Realm, making it truly difficult to contend with A Ping.

Seeming to ponder deeply for a moment, Xie Wan said, "I still need Senior Brother to promise me one thing."

"What thing?"

"After bringing the little toad back to the Xuanwei Sect, let him enter Zhiwei Peak to become my Disciple."

"What is difficult about that? We just need to change our tune; we will only say Zhao Chan has some natural talent, and after his cultivation improves by leaps and bounds, we will tell the sect Elders that it was the result of your and my instruction."

Xie Wan sneered, thinking to herself that Senior Brother was truly a hypocrite through and through, even able to claim credit for this matter.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother."

"Haha... why must we, as senior brother and junior sister, speak of thanks?"

She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Senior Brother, can a Mountain Ghost prevent them from interfering in our affairs?"

"They are only idling about in Youju Town and are not meddling in anything at all, so they surely will not hinder us."

"Senior Brother speaks with reason." Xie Wan nodded uncertainly, then asked anxiously, "Afterward, how should we deal with Tang Yi?"

A Ping smiled, "Junior Sister, at that time, you only need to watch how your Senior Brother displays his great power to slaughter her."

When Zhao Chan slew that Yellow Turban Warrior, not only Bai Yuqing and Bai Youjun, but even Huangfu Changqiu and Xun Lan could not help but break into a cold sweat for him.

"The summoned Yellow Turban Warrior is only impressive in appearance, but it lacks none of the strength it should have," Huangfu Changqiu said worriedly. "Senior Sister Xun, it seems I must intervene. Hmph, does that Hundred-Household of the Demon Slayer office not know Zhao Chan is only in the Body Refining Realm?! Damn him!"

Xun Lan said quickly, "Wait a moment longer; he is gathering Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, do not disturb Zhao Chan's state of mind."

Many cultivators in the Upper Grade Body Refining Realm capture the spiritual qi drifting between heaven and earth at a certain moment; if one were to suddenly startle them, causing them to exit such a state of mind, they might not know when they would be able to wait for it again.

Once the spiritual qi is captured and then gathered into the body, one can proceed to slowly refine it.

Bai Youjun was even more worried about Zhao Chan's safety than the three of them; tears welled up, and she gripped her elder sister's arm, not daring to draw a full breath.

When Zhao Chan asked Kong Yanxing how to refine spiritual qi, the expressions of Bai Yuqing and the others changed in unison.

One must know, it had only been a mere few days since Zhao Chan achieved the Body Refining Realm; could it be that he not only wanted to gather spiritual qi but also refine it into True Qi in the midst of a life-and-death struggle?

Audacious!

Was he not afraid of being distracted, taking a punch from the Yellow Turban Warrior, and dying?

Kong Yanxing was also bold, actually informing him in detail.

Xun Lan's face turned nearly green. "Fairy Bai, is the Hundred-Household of the Demon Slayer office truly this incompetent? Is he not afraid that Zhao Chan will meet a tragic end at the hands of the Yellow Turban Warrior because of this? Furthermore, even if he gathers spiritual qi and refines it into True Qi, so what? The Twelve Main Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians all need to be opened up step-by-step and with great caution. If Zhao Chan is ignorant and reckless, and in such a situation, attempts to open his meridians on his own—heh, the Demon Slayer office has just had the good fortune to find a genius Demon Slayer, and in the blink of an eye, he is about to perish."

Bai Yuqing took a step forward; she truly intended to intervene. If she continued to wait, once Zhao Chan blindly attempted to open his meridians during the fight, it would be fine if he succeeded, but if he failed, even if he did not die, he would become a cripple.

Huangfu Changqiu gritted her teeth, "This thief wants to kill Zhao Chan! Bai Yuqing, you are watching this happen too; if I kill this person, it will not be breaking the rules of the Demon Slayer office!"

The next moment.

The expressions of Bai Yuqing, Xun Lan, and Huangfu Changqiu instantly froze.

"We still underestimated his talent."

"If Zhao Chan were a disciple of Hengwu Pavilion, why would the Pavilion Master ever worry about having no successor!!!"

The trace of True Qi he refined flowed smoothly through the Twelve Main Meridians, followed by the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, also moving without obstruction, as if his meridians were naturally open.

When Zhao Chan completely became a Lower Grade Qi Gathering Realm cultivator, Xun Lan gave Huangfu Changqiu a subtle look, and Huangfu Changqiu understood.

Just as they were about to move to abduct Zhao Chan, Bai Yuqing gripped her Fufeng Sword and pointed it at the two without a word.

Xun Lan asked slowly and suspiciously, "What is Fairy Bai doing?"

"Zhao Chan is a Demon Slayer of the Patrol Platform of the Demon Slayer office; as long as I am here, no one can take him away," Bai Yuqing said spiritedly.

Huangfu Changqiu laughed, "It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. Fairy Bai, put down your sword, let's talk properly."

Bai Yuqing mocked, "There is nothing to talk about; don't think I haven't noticed your little schemes."

"Oh my, what bad intentions could Senior Sister Xun and I possibly have? Since Zhao Chan is a Demon Slayer, besides being genuinely happy for you all, I have no other thoughts."

Bai Yuqing asked back, "Did Baoyu Studio teach you to lie?"

Huangfu Changqiu was instantly enraged, "Bai Yuqing, you insult my sect time and time again; do you truly think I dare not move against you? Don't forget, if we fight, you will definitely expose your whereabouts!"

"Huangfu Changqiu, do you think my mission is more important or Zhao Chan is more important?"

"..."

Without any Qi Gathering Realm cultivation techniques, Zhao Chan gathered spiritual qi and refined True Qi, and in the span of just a few breaths, the True Qi completed a Large Heavenly Cycle.

Such talent, even though Bai Yuqing and the others had seen many so-called geniuses, felt incredible.

There were indeed geniuses who could refine True Qi without the aid of Qi Gathering techniques; Bai Yuqing had seen two such people at the Lancang Prefecture Demon Slayer office, and at that time, even the Grand Pacification Envoy stationed in Lancang Prefecture was alarmed.

Even for those two, after refining True Qi, they had to proceed with caution to open their meridians, first using the Small Heavenly Cycle to strengthen the True Qi, then the Large Heavenly Cycle to break through to the Lower Grade Qi Gathering Realm.

Yet Zhao Chan defied convention, going directly to the Large Heavenly Cycle.

No wonder Xun Lan and Huangfu Changqiu had such a strong desire to abduct him; if it were Bai Yuqing, she would be just as envious.

"Fairy Bai, your Demon Slayer office is too overbearing," Xun Lan said softly, expressionless.

Bai Yuqing asked back, "And so what?"

"How about this, I don't have anything good on me, but I would like to give a 'Thousand-Mile Message Jade Talisman' to Zhao Chan."

"I decline on Zhao Chan's behalf."

"Fairy Bai! Heh, very well." Xun Lan shook her head and suppressed her thoughts.

Their argument came to an end.

Wang Lu and the old cultivator also walked into Nongsui Lane.

Huangfu Changqiu looked at them, "Two more Upper Grade Qi Gathering Realm cultivators here to die; Zhao Chan is no longer in the Body Refining Realm, so slaying them will be easy."

"This place is a small area after all, and the cultivators who come are not powerful. If Zhao Chan wants to hone himself, he must eventually walk out of the mountains and go to a broader world."

"Senior Sister Xun is right; these Qi Gathering Realm cultivators are mediocre and are a far cry from the Qi Gathering Realm Disciples of the Mountain Sects."

After Huangfu Changqiu finished this sentence, she seemed to have forgotten the previous tension, "When we arrived, we sensed a group of Demon auras lurking outside Yang County, which is just right for Zhao Chan to practice with."

Xun Lan's heart stirred, and she said, "Why not have Zhao Chan participate in the major matter that Fairy Bai is keeping tight-lipped about."

Bai Yuqing sneered several times, did not reply, and watched as Wang Lu and the old cultivator walked into the small courtyard.

……

Just a moment ago, Kong Yanxing had warned him that there were eyes behind the walls, and that he should never be careless, no matter when or where.

Zhao Chan sheathed the Peach Branch and drew the Feishi Sword.

The courtyard wall had long since collapsed, and the old cultivator and Wang Lu looked around at the corpses lying in the yard, unable to help but feel uneasy.

The youth did not waste a single word, lunging forward to strike at the two men with his sword.

Wisps of Sword Qi were biting and cold.

His speed was more than just a little faster than when he was in the Body Refining Realm; and was his strength not also multiplied several times over?

Wang Lu raised his broadsword to parry, but the Feishi Sword had already reached his throat.

The old cultivator pushed him with the speed of a thunderbolt, and only then was Wang Lu's life saved by a hair's breadth.

Wang Lu could not spare a moment for gratitude; seeing the sword technique shift slightly, he immediately attacked the old cultivator's vitals again.

He hurriedly circulated his True Qi and danced his blade technique, closing in on Zhao Chan.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Zhao Chan throwing a Talisman and forming a seal with his left hand; a moment later, a gale rose suddenly, blowing so hard that the two of them could not open their eyes.