Chapter 139: Gray Dragon Mountain Area

Longshande outskirts, a car speeds along the road toward the west.

Lei En sits in the car, looking at the fields by the road.

Because it is already late November, the weather is getting colder, most fields have no crops, there are few pedestrians on the road, and only when passing some small towns and villages does it attract people's attention.

This is the road heading to the Li Anse Er family's demon‑soul breeding farm.

A few days ago, Viola learned of Viscount Peili's request and was also surprised. She did it for Lei En's sake, and also so that Lei En could learn about the Swift‑Shadow Thunder‑Blade Leopard, so she agreed to meet Viscount Peili and arranged the itinerary the next day.

Lei En did not take part, nor did he inquire about anything.

However, the next day, Viscount Peili cheerfully delivered the gold tickets to the door; evidently, he had achieved his intended goal.

Of those, 10,000 Gold Shields are for Lei En, as a favor fee for Viola, and the amount is four to five times more.

As for how much wealth was secretly sent to Director Ka Luo Er, that is unknown.

Lei En guessed from Viola's tone that it was not less than 100,000 Gold Shields!

He couldn't help but be amazed by Viscount Peili's generosity; cash amounting to a few hundred thousand Gold Shields—outside of Yin Xing Title: Duke, there are not more than a handful of people in Longshande who could produce that.

It is said that Viscount Peili's total assets amount to only five or six hundred thousand Gold Shields, and this time, for the Finance and Tax Bureau Director's seat, he truly spared no expense.

However, if Viscount Peili does become the director, he should be able to recoup it quickly.

These matters have little to do with Lei En; his thoughts are now entirely on that Swift‑Shadow Thunder‑Blade Leopard. Viscount Peili's information says the demon leopard escaped from his breeding farm, and the specifics will be explained when he reaches the farm.

The creatures in the demon‑soul breeding farm are dangerous to ordinary people, so such farms are usually built far from cities.

The Li Anse Er family's farm is located over 150 li west of Longshande.

The car drives along a mud road, passes several towns and villages, and finally reaches the destination.

"Mr. Lei En, we have arrived," the driver says respectfully, parking the car in front of a massive ranch gate.

The ranch stretches beyond sight at the foot of the mountains, covering perhaps dozens of square kilometers of flat land, all enclosed by wooden fences taller than two people, barring outsiders.

Lei En's eyesight is excellent; he can see many horses grazing in the ranch, as well as several species of herbivorous demon beasts.

The walls on both sides of the ranch gate are even higher, resembling a fortified town, with watchtowers manned by armed guards, all of whom are Gunslingers.

The gate opens inward, and the car drives inside.

Behind the gate lies a vast open area, with a simple manor and several houses for ranch staff. Not far from the manor are a few eye‑catching large structures, resembling factories or massive stables, from which beast roars occasionally echo.

The car stops in front of the manor, where a few people are already waiting.

Lei En steps out and sees a familiar face.

It is Derisi, Viscount Peili's son; his complexion looks fine, his injuries seem mostly healed, he wears a swordsman's outfit with an enchanted long sword at his waist, tall and upright, but his face is sullen and his gaze gloomy.

Especially upon seeing Lei En step out of the car, Derisi pressed his lips together, looking unwilling.

Lei En greets proactively, "Derisi, long time no see."

Whether in pursuit of Viola or in personal duels, he is the victor, so he holds little resentment toward this defeated subordinate.

"Hmph."

Derisi lets out a light hum, feeling deeply unwilling.

He recalled his father's warning: if he didn't properly receive Lei En and build a good relationship with him, he shouldn't expect to return to Longshande. He had been sent to the farm for almost two months, constantly nursing his wounds, and in this remote place he nearly went mad from confinement.

After a few seconds of silence, Derisi suppresses his anger, forces a nod and says, "Welcome to our family's breeding farm."

Lei En smiles indifferently and looks at the two people beside Derisi.

In his Soul Eye, the middle‑aged man on the left is a high‑rank Wizard, rank 7, with impressive power; the other is a woman, about thirty‑five, sturdy, with short masculine hair, two massive soul pistols at her waist, a rank‑5 Gunslinger.

Derisi patiently introduces the two.

The rank‑7 Wizard, named Ha Ding, is the farm's manager, with extensive experience breeding demon souls and also a highly perceptive Soul Appraiser.

The female Gunslinger, the farm's guard captain, is named Ma De Lin.

Ha Ding and Ma De Lin show no concealment of curiosity about Lei En; they have heard of Lei En from Derisi, of course, Derisi said nothing flattering and kept disparaging Lei En.

However, as transcendants, they will not take Derisi's one‑sided words at face value.

Being able to, with the power of a rank‑1 Wizard, defeat a rank‑4 demon swordsman across tiers is certainly not a simple figure.

Lei En just steps down, and their eyes instantly brighten.

Today Lei En wears fitted light leather armor with a warm cotton lining, yet it does not look bulky; he stands a head taller than ordinary people, tall and strong, proportionate, with an extremely handsome face, deep large eyes, calm gaze, exuding strong confidence, leaving an unforgettable, deep impression on anyone who sees him.

At least in appearance, Derisi cannot compare; he is far inferior.

Ha Ding notices a magical sword hanging from Lei En's waist, the gray‑white belt also being an enchanted item.

On the other side of the belt is a square leather bag, faintly emanating magical aura.

"Truly a Wizard."

As a high‑rank caster, Ha Ding is highly sensitive to magical fluctuations.

Meanwhile, Ma De Lin's gaze falls on the outer side of Lei En's thigh, where a uniquely shaped gun is inserted, a model she has never seen, sparking great curiosity.

Lei En nods to the two, says no pleasantries, and asks directly, "Where did that Thunder‑Blade Leopard escape from?"

"Please follow me," Ha Ding says, leading the way.

The four walk out of the manor, pass through a partition wall, and enter the adjacent ranch.

From here one can see most of the ranch; Lei En looks around and sees the ranch divided into many zones, each breeding different species.

He immediately spots a basalt rhinoceros, the Iron Guard's first Main Soul, bearing the "Stone Skin" Element; also a wind‑racing horse containing the "Rapid Run" Element, which many transcendants can use as a secondary soul; and various other herbivorous demon beasts that can be free‑ranged, capable of cultivating Elements within their souls.

Along the way, Lei En sees many farm workers.

Most are ordinary people feeding demon beasts, while another group are transcendants, mostly Iron Guards and Gunslingers, rank 1 to 2, numbering a dozen or so, all serving as the farm's guards.

The farm's overall strength is not weak.

Lei En thinks to himself that, though called a breeding farm, it is actually the Li Anse Er family's private militia.

Soon after, the group enters a massive enclosed building, as large as a former-era gymnasium, internally divided into cages housing hundreds of demon beasts.

These demon beasts are highly aggressive, cannot be free‑ranged, and must be kept locked up.

Lei En walked through the passage, observing the creatures in the cages on both sides: night owl, ice‑tooth wolf, Kodiak Island bear, long‑armed xiao, terror wolf, molten fire flying lizard, shadow‑dwelling demon spider, six‑legged crocodile… in total about twenty‑to‑thirty species, feeling like he'd entered a zoo.

He discovered that not every creature's soul had generated an Element.

The creatures possessing a soul Element numbered no more than half; most of them had not yet reached maturity, or were relatively weak; even when an Element was generated, the majority had only one, and only a few had two Elements.

Moreover, their Elements were almost all common Elements; rare Elements were virtually nonexistent.

Ha Ding led the way while introducing Lei En to the habits of each creature; De Lis also relaxed, interjecting now and then, and the atmosphere was no longer as stiff as before.

Deep within the breeding ground, demon leopards appeared before them one after another.

Ha Ding stopped and said, "This is where we tame demon leopards. We raise three kinds: Frost Blade Leopard, Sword Blade Leopard, and Swift Shadow Thunder Blade Leopard."

"Demon leopards are relatively rare beasts; once tamed they make excellent mounts and are also very suitable as companions for rangers."

"Therefore we rarely kill demon leopards to harvest their demon souls, unless they have multiple Elements and can fetch a higher price."

Lei En gave a slight nod.

Evidently, the demon soul he held had been killed because it possessed three Elements.

He looked into the iron cages; each cage was spacious, arranged according to the three leopard types into a waterside, a forest, and a high‑cliff environment.

Demon leopards are generally solitary, forming temporary pairs only during mating season.

At that moment, sensing the scent of many strangers outside, all the leopards in the area became restless, pacing anxiously in their cages and letting out low growls toward Lei En and his party.

Among the three leopard types, the strongest was the Swift Shadow Thunder Blade Leopard.

Their speed is extreme; in the spacious cages they run so fast that an ordinary person might not even be able to follow with their eyes, only seeing a blur of shadow.

In Lei En's eyes, however, they were crystal clear.

The Swift Shadow Thunder Blade Leopard is not small; from head to tail it is nearly four meters, its shoulders almost at an adult's chest level, its blue‑gray fur marked with lightning‑shaped stripes, its limbs robust with sharp claws, and the sides of its upper jaw bear downward‑pointing serrated teeth like two curved daggers, able to easily tear open prey.

Its eyes intermittently flash like lightning, and as it runs a crackling thunder sound follows, while the air is filled with a burnt odor.

"Sure enough, it's a Swift Shadow Thunder Blade Leopard—so fast!"

Lei En exclaimed in admiration.

Scanning the area, he noted that each Thunder Blade Leopard here had at least one Element, "Swiftness"; many had two Elements, either "Rapid Sprint" or "Lightning Reflex", all agility‑type Elements.

Occasionally one or two leopards also mastered lightning‑type spells.

As for Lightning Affinity, he saw none.

This disappointed Lei En a bit; had he found a Thunder Blade Leopard with Lightning Affinity in the breeding ground, it would have been convenient.

Ha Ding led the group into a cage and said, "Mr. Lei En, that Thunder Blade Leopard escaped from here."

Behind the cliff‑like cavern, a steel bar the thickness of a forearm had been sealed; beneath a stone, a gap had appeared. The steel bar was blackened, as if scorched by prolonged high heat, twisted and deformed, then snapped cleanly.

Lei En touched the broken end of the steel bar and saw signs of melting.

"Did that Thunder Blade Leopard do this?"

"Yes," Ha Ding replied. "It's clever; every day when the keepers and guards are away, it attacks the steel bar with continuous lightning, softening and deforming it. It was then covered with a stone and remained undiscovered for at least two months, finally managing to escape."

Lei En looked at the gap's exterior; the breeding ground's wall bore a repaired scar, clearly broken through by that Swift Shadow Thunder Blade Leopard.

He emerged from the cage and circled to the outside of the wall.

In front lay a broad plain; ten‑odd meters ahead was the breeding ground's fence, and after another three‑to‑four hundred meters the terrain rose into mountains.

Lei En gazed at the forest and steep slopes on the mountain and felt a slight headache.

It went without saying that the Swift Shadow Thunder Blade Leopard had fled into the mountains.

This is Gray Dragon Mountain, the largest mountainous area surrounding Longshande; it isn't a true range and only rises a few hundred meters, but its area is huge—over a thousand square kilometers on the map—without roads or settlements, a completely uninhabited zone.

Legend has it that long ago a gray giant dragon appeared in Gray Dragon Mountain, giving it its name.

In Ai Lun E Si, any forest or mountain area is dangerous.

Various fierce beasts, monsters, and all sorts of bizarre aberrations, unknown creatures, can easily kill ordinary people.

Even a cultivator, without sufficient preparation, may meet death by rashly entering a forest.

Gray Dragon Mountain lies close to Longshande, guarded by the Silver Star Title: Duke; in theory there should be no especially terrifying monsters, and some local cultivators also organize hunts there to capture demon souls.

However, the mountain's expanse is so vast that finding a single demon leopard is like searching for a needle in the sea.

Moreover, the Thunder Blade Leopard may not even be in the mountains.

Lei En said disappointingly, "That Thunder Blade Leopard escaped into Gray Dragon Mountain two years ago; it's been so long that it may have already gone elsewhere."

"No, it's still there."

Ma De Lin pointed at a direction, "We saw it just last month, right on that cliff."

Lei En looked at the cliff and asked, a little puzzled, "Why hasn't it left?"

"It must be mating season," Ha Ding explained. "The Swift Shadow Thunder Blade Leopard isn't a native species of the Empire; they were introduced from the New Continent. When they find a different kind in the wild and reach mating season, they can only return near the breeding ground to seek a chance to mate."

"In the past two years, this leopard has appeared several times," De Lis added.

Lei En asked, "Why didn't you catch it?"

"We couldn't," Ha Ding said helplessly, "It has advanced to a higher stage; its speed is extremely fast, like true lightning. The mountainous terrain is its optimal environment; even a high-stage shadow warrior can't keep up, let alone our guards."

"We've set traps several times, but it's cunning and has never fallen for them."

Ha Ding looked at Lei En and said, "Mr. Lei En, if you want its demon soul, act quickly; a few batches of cultivators have recently also spotted its trail, and others may move first."

Lei En nodded in understanding.

A Mid-stage demon soul, very likely bearing Lightning Affinity, is worth several thousand gold; even if it's difficult, cultivators will go to any lengths to kill it.

He thought for a moment; since he had nothing else to do and Viola had no news, he might as well try his luck in Gray Dragon Mountain.

This Swift Shadow Thunder Blade Leopard, with both speed and Lightning Affinity, could not be more suitable.

Lei En didn't hesitate, thanked them, and turned toward Gray Dragon Mountain.

The three froze for a moment; De Lis watched Lei En's back, clenched his teeth, and finally spoke, "Lei En, my father asked me to send someone to help you; Ma De Lin will also go into the mountain with you. She knows Gray Dragon Mountain well; if you don't want to die, you'd better take her along."

"Thanks, but I don't need it."

Lei En waved without even turning his head and leapt over the fence.

His steps were swift; within a few minutes he entered the mountains and vanished.

De Lis cursed angrily: "Who does he think he is, a junior Wizard, daring to go into the mountains alone? If he actually encounters a swift‑shadow thunder‑blade leopard, he probably won't even know how he dies."

"Mr. Lei En doesn't seem like such a reckless person," Ha Ding, however, was unconcerned, saying: "He must have his own method."

"He is very powerful, extremely powerful!"

Ma Delin also nodded in agreement; the brief contact earlier left a deep good impression of Lei En on her.

Her perception was extremely keen; she sensed an extremely dangerous aura on Lei En, and her intuition told her this was a terrifying opponent, far from a simple junior Wizard.

De Lis felt a bit embarrassed at that moment, but couldn't blame the two, and could only go back sulking.

(End of chapter)