Chapter 51: The Cheap Cultivator

“Brother, save me…”

The young man’s first words made Ji You’s mouth twitch.

Fortunately, he had already regained his strength and spiritual energy; he descended through the air, landing as he slashed one of the demonic seeds with his sword.

He then summoned the remaining six swords, slashing as he retreated, dragging the young man backward.

The whistling of his flying swords echoed through the black mist; the man stared in awe, filled with admiration, his eyes gleaming as he watched Ji You’s sword-wielding back.

Fortunately, this area had already been cleared by Ji You’s advance—aside from the batch the man had lured over, only a few scattered demonic seeds remained.

Seeing they had escaped danger, the young man patted his chest: “Thank you, Brother, for saving my life.”

“You’re not a disciple of an immortal sect?”

“Uh… I’m Yuan Chen, here to guide them.”

After sheathing his sword, Ji You glanced at him and noticed the man’s skin was impossibly smooth, with not a single callus on his hands.

Remember, everyone living in Qiling Town were either miners from Hongshan Mine or their descendants.

These people lived hard lives—how could anyone grow up so pale and delicate, even his looks barely fell short of Ji You’s own peerless beauty?

“Try making up another story.”

Yuan Chen pursed his lips: “Actually… I’m the miner’s son. My family works at Hongshan Mine—I want to get inside.”

Hearing this, Ji You sheathed his sword and walked away.

Too many demonic seeds blocked the entrance to Hongshan Mine; forcing his way in directly was impossible—he’d have to return and regroup first.

As for this man, he was clearly lying.

The current situation was too chaotic; beyond those he already knew, he should remain wary of people like this.

Yet Yuan Chen refused to let go, chasing after him: “Brother, I can tell you want to enter Hongshan Mine too—let’s team up!”

Ji You stopped and glanced at him: “With you?”

“I can do whatever I can—anything at all. I just want to go in and find someone.”

Ji You paused, then drew his sword: “Extend your wrist.”

Yuan Chen had just rolled up his sleeve when he froze slightly: “What…?”

“I’ll cut you a wound. You run to the mountain entrance of Hongshan Mine and lure all the demonic seeds to the front of Beisha Town—let the cultivators there handle them. I’ll slip into the mine unnoticed.”

“Hey, that’s a brilliant idea!”

Yuan Chen was delighted, but soon frowned: “Then how do I get out?”

Ji You stared at him: “With your intelligence, get out of here right now.”

As they spoke, Qiling Mountain in the distance suddenly erupted in ten thousand beams of golden light, startling every cultivator in Beisha Town.

It was an utterly pure and true spiritual energy fluctuation, spreading outward and even dispersing the mist deep within Qiling Mountain.

At that moment, Ji You noticed more flying swords gathering toward this spot, their owners staring at the mountain’s glow with astonishment.

Yuan Chen swallowed: “That’s what they’re looking for…”

“Who’s looking?”

“The immortal sects.”

Ji You looked at him: “What are they looking for?”

Yuan Chen met his gaze: “I don’t know what it is, but it’s definitely something that would make the immortal sects desperate.”

“Truly, listening to you is like listening to nothing at all.”

“Hey, Brother…”

Yuan Chen tried to follow, but the cultivators who had come with him blocked him: “Young Master, you saw it yourself—this place is unbearable. Let’s go back.”

“I can’t go back. I have to find my sister.”

“Young Master…”

Yuan Chen glared at them: “If my sister truly entered the mountain, only Hongshan Mine’s miners might have seen her trail—I must go in, no matter what.”

The cultivators exchanged glances: “Those things… there are too many.”

“That man—he wielded seven swords at once, cutting like a whirlwind. I think he can get in.”

“He’s just like us—a Cultivation Base Completion cultivator!”

Yuan Chen ignored them and turned to chase after Ji You.

By now, Ji You had entered the town but did not return to the inn—he was searching among Beisha Town’s original residents.

In his hand was a scrap of paper bearing a sketch of a flying goose, asking if anyone had seen it.

It was given to him by Kuangcheng—the flag of the Yanxing Relay Station. If they had truly passed through here, someone would have recognized it.

As expected, by the time he asked the second person, he found his answer.

The man was a blacksmith; he nodded: “It’s the usual supply caravan.”

“Did their caravan have any children? Or crying sounds?”

“Children? Why would a caravan have children?” The blacksmith looked puzzled.

Ji You fell silent, wondering: Had Kuangcheng’s intuition been wrong? Or had the kidnapped children been moved elsewhere long before reaching here?

As he pondered, he spotted two members of the Chen Clan approaching down the street.

They too held sheets of paper, asking passersby questions—but unlike Ji You’s goose sketch, theirs bore a portrait.

At that moment, the man named Yuan Chen appeared again, sneaking behind them.

“Brother, did you also lose someone in the mountain?”

“You’re the one who lost someone.”

Yuan Chen hurried forward a few steps: “No matter your goal, Brother, you’re going in anyway—I can offer you an unimaginable reward.”

Ji You stopped at the word “reward”: “How much silver?”

“?”

Yuan Chen blinked: “Silver? Are there cultivators this cheap?”

Ji You frowned.

Yuan Chen immediately corrected himself: “After it’s done, I’ll give you a hundred taels.”

“I’m not that cheap a cultivator.”

“Gold.”

Ji You fell silent for a moment, then brought the young man back to the inn where the others were staying.

He was going to rescue people anyway—why not earn some money along the way?

Besides, this man clearly had no brains, no experience, and no combat ability—keeping him around was harmless.

Back at the inn, Ji You reunited with Ban Yangshu, Bai Ru, and the others; seeing him return with another person, they were curious.

“Brother Ji, who is this?”

“Found him on the road.”

Ban Yangshu blinked, thinking: Ji You really was as rumored—never leaving without picking something up.

Back at Wanzhuo Mountain, he’d picked up a rock and stuffed it in his pocket; now he’d gone one better—brought back a person.

Ban Yangshu snapped back: “Tomorrow, we officially enter the mountain. Any disciple who refuses will be charged with betraying the sect.”

“But I still need to go to Hongshan Mine.”

Ban Yangshu paused, then spoke: “Someone must stay behind in Beisha Town to coordinate. I’ve chosen you.”

Ji You bowed: “Thank you, Senior Brother.”

“You saved my life once—this is me repaying that debt.”

“….”

“Brother, don’t you really want to see what’s inside the mountain?”

After speaking with Ban Yangshu, Ji You went upstairs; Yuan Chen followed behind, unable to resist asking:

Ji You pushed open the door: “Stop calling me ‘Brother.’ My surname is Ji, given name You, courtesy name Bochang—meaning ‘gathering many strengths.’”

“So it’s Brother Ji.”

Ji You invited him inside, sat on the bed, and said nothing—his spiritual sense soared into the heavens.

The malevolent energy here blocked the Dao’s perception—even disciples of the top five realms couldn’t sense the Dao or cultivate.

Ji You had already tested this before—true enough.

But it still benefited him: here, he could endlessly train his spiritual sense.

Like ancient warriors who tied sandbags to their legs and arms, Ji You’s spiritual sense now carried invisible sandbags—though he couldn’t perceive the Dao, he could push beyond greater limits.

Seeing Ji You enter meditation, with spiritual energy swirling around him, Yuan Chen grew bored and pulled out a scroll from his sleeve.

It was a popular storybook from Qingyun World, titled “Flying Immortal.”

It told of an immortal sect prince who battled countless Dao companions, then ascended to the void, becoming a legendary immortal.

Yuan Chen clearly yearned for this fiery tale—his eyes sparkled as he devoured the pages without pause.

(End of Chapter)