"Damn it!"
"Damn it!"
"That Jiang Sheng definitely wanted to kill me just now!"
Young Master Kongxu raced through the air, his expression terrifyingly dark!
He knew Jiang Sheng was formidable. His original intention had been to force Jiang Sheng out of the mountain and spare himself some effort and trump cards.
But he had never expected Qingping Mountain to conceal a spiritual vein!
Now he finally understood why Jiang Sheng refused to leave Qingping Mountain. If he possessed such a treasure trove, he would certainly refuse to budge too!
He had only made a few teasing remarks, yet Jiang Sheng's gaze had looked as though he might send him straight into reincarnation the very next moment. He had not dared linger.
He had feared that one wrong word would enrage that fellow and get him cut down with a single stroke!
Jiang Sheng was a ruthless man who had killed the Eight Wolves of Dongjun!
As thoughts whirled through his mind, Young Master Kongxu's eyes suddenly lit up. "If I reveal this to Wenren Jie and Qiao Xuan, will they be able to resist once they learn Qingping Mountain is a treasure trove?"
"And with the three of us together, Jiang Sheng will have one more reason to hesitate, no matter what!"
"Yes, that's it! I'll tell them about this, and I can even leak it privately to other factions. Someone among those sects and aristocratic clans is bound to covet Qingping Mountain!"
As he thought it over, Young Master Kongxu's heart gradually burned with excitement. If someone else really did set their sights on Qingping Mountain, could he seize the chance to claim a share of the spoils?
After all, the resources he possessed could not possibly support him all the way to the Purple Mansion Realm. Even reaching the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm would be difficult.
He just did not know what grade Qingping Mountain's spiritual vein was.
Even after returning to Qingshan County Seat, Young Master Kongxu was still turning these thoughts over in his mind. Only when he returned to the county office did he regain his composure.
Suppressing his excitement, Young Master Kongxu put on a helpless expression. "My apologies, everyone. I failed to persuade Daoist Jiang to come. He stated plainly that he would not leave the mountain before the appointed day."
Zhang Qingyun and Zhang Qing were visibly disappointed, while Xu Xiao let out a helpless sigh.
Wenren Jie was somewhat angry. "Daoist Jiang has profound abilities and an extraordinary background. If he acted, both the evil cultivators and the factions lurking in the shadows would surely think twice. Instead, here we are, bound hand and foot!"
Old Qiao Xuan puffed away on his tobacco pipe, looking as though he had seen through the cares of the mortal world. "Everyone has their own aspirations. We cannot force him. Daoist Jiang's willingness to help us slay demons is already more than enough. Perhaps these affairs simply do not warrant his attention."
Young Master Kongxu also remarked casually, feigning an idle observation, "Indeed. I wonder what's so good about Qingping Mountain that Daoist Jiang insists on remaining there in seclusion. Anyone who didn't know better might think it was a blessed land!"
Xu Xiao had not given it much thought at first, but those words made her brow crease slightly. She recalled that when she had gone to Qingping Mountain to collect talismans, she too seemed to have sensed something strange about its aura.
At the time, however, she had thought little of it, merely assuming Jiang Sheng had laid down some formation to prevent more evil cultivators from spying on his cultivation grounds.
Thinking back now, Jiang Sheng's stubborn refusal to leave the mountain did seem to conceal something.
But Xu Xiao quickly suppressed that thought.
Whatever Jiang Sheng was hiding was his own business and no one else's concern. Besides, the River God Grand Sacrifice was fast approaching. When the time came to slay the demon in the river, they would need a powerful fighter like Jiang Sheng.
Thus, Xu Xiao cut straight across their thoughts. "Enough. Daoist Jiang's secluded cultivation is also for the sake of slaying demons. He is the strongest among us. Perhaps he has been honing his blade all this time."
Wenren Jie nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. Before any great battle, one must put one's mind in order. Daoist Jiang is said to possess exceptional swordsmanship. Perhaps he is cultivating his sword intent in the mountains, waiting only to draw his blade."
Since Xu Xiao and Wenren Jie had both said as much, Young Master Kongxu stopped steering the conversation toward Qingping Mountain. He had already planted a seed in everyone's hearts. With a great battle looming, they would not dwell on it now, but what about afterward?
Once that seed took root and sprouted, would they still feel the same as they did now?
There was no guarantee they would not go to Qingping Mountain to investigate!
Thus, Young Master Kongxu smiled as well. "Quite right. Everyone, let us discuss how we should proceed."
Zhang Qing immediately said, "Very well. Now that everyone is here, I'll go over the plan again."
"Each year, Qingshan County's River God Grand Sacrifice takes place at midday on New Year's Eve, formally beginning at a quarter past noon. Our plan is to act three days before New Year's Eve, on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month."
"We will summon all the cultivators then and head to East River Town together to attack the River God's Water Palace."
"If the demon has not awakened, we will strike directly and kill it. If it has awakened, we will use those Qi Refining Realm cultivators to hold it off, then launch a lethal surprise attack at night!"
"Reportedly, before the River God Grand Sacrifice, the demon enters an extremely brief period of weakness. Although we do not know why it weakens during that time, the information has a fifty-fifty chance of being reliable."
"As long as we seize that opportunity, the demon will surely die!"
The others nodded. If the demon truly did have a period of weakness before the River God Grand Sacrifice, their chances of success would rise considerably.
Besides, they had those Qi Refining Realm rogue cultivators to serve as cannon fodder. From any angle, the plan looked very sound.
After agreeing on the plan, they dispersed again to search the county seat for traces of evil cultivators. They also sealed off its various districts to prevent the gentry, wealthy merchants, and common people from stirring up trouble again.
The gentry had driven Zhang Qingyun into a corner. Taking Zhang Qing's advice, he had the cultivators seal off each district, dividing the entire Qingshan County Seat into separate sections.
With the common people and gentry in different districts unable to unite, the situation could be stabilized for the time being.
Once the demon in the river was dead, the common people and gentry would naturally understand Zhang Qingyun's painstaking intentions.
There were now eight Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in the city. Xu Xiao held the county office, while Wenren Jie, Young Master Kongxu, and Qiao Xuan held the most important northern and southern districts. The eastern and western districts were entrusted to the other four. The Qi Refining Realm rogue cultivators were assigned under their command, each responsible for a small area.
Young Master Kongxu was handsome to begin with, and as a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator with extraordinary abilities, he enjoyed considerable renown throughout Qing Province. Combined with his deliberately displayed refinement and courtesy, this made people take him for a brilliant scholar fit to place first in the imperial examinations.
Thus, the city's gentry and wealthy merchants were all eager to befriend Young Master Kongxu.
Young Master Kongxu spent much of his time in the city as a guest in the homes of the gentry. Whenever he drank and composed poetry, crowds of scholars and men of letters chimed in, while wealthy young ladies cast him flirtatious glances. He enjoyed himself immensely.
Of course, Young Master Kongxu knew they were flattering him because he was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. But what of it?
After leaving the county office, Young Master Kongxu headed quite naturally to a gentleman's residence.
The gentleman's surname was Huang. His was a prominent gentry family in Qingshan County, with numerous fields and shops and an exceedingly substantial fortune.
Master Huang had also been the first gentleman to invite Young Master Kongxu over. Young Master Kongxu had visited the Huang Family many times, and Master Huang always entertained him with the highest honors. He even allowed Young Master Kongxu his pick of the household's maids and concubines.
This time, Master Huang invited Young Master Kongxu over again, and Young Master Kongxu naturally accepted without hesitation.
At the Huang Family residence, graceful song and dance, fine wine and food, and beautiful women's company once again left Young Master Kongxu thoroughly satisfied.
As the drinking reached its height, Master Huang suddenly leaned close to Young Master Kongxu and whispered something. Young Master Kongxu's eyes lit up, and he followed Master Huang away from the banquet to the study in the rear courtyard of the Huang Family residence.
"Master Huang, just what treasure do you have that you insist on bringing me here?" Young Master Kongxu looked thoroughly drunk, but his eyes remained perfectly clear. He was no fool fresh out of the thatched cottage. How could he lower his guard so easily?
Master Huang solemnly brought out a box. "There is something you do not know, Young Master Kongxu. Our Huang Family owes everything we have today to the treasure in this box!"
Young Master Kongxu narrowed his eyes slightly. After probing with his senses and confirming that no concealed weapon lay inside, he smiled. "Then, sorry for the trouble, Master Huang, but would you open it and let me take a look?"
Master Huang nodded, set the box on the desk, and opened it. A piece of red silk covered its contents, beneath which there seemed to be a statue.
The moment Master Huang lifted the red silk, Young Master Kongxu drew his sword, his expression turning intensely grave. The statue was unmistakably an image of Qingshan County's river god!
"Master Huang, what is the meaning of this?" Young Master Kongxu's voice was icy. The Azure Water Ritual Sword in his hand was already pressed against Master Huang's throat.
Master Huang cautiously raised both hands to show he meant no harm. He said softly, "Young Master Kongxu, the River God says he can help you reach the Purple Mansion Realm."
Young Master Kongxu's expression did not change, but a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "You expect me to trust a demon?"
Master Huang continued, "The River God sincerely wishes to help you, young master. He is willing to give you a Purple Cloud Barrier-Breaking Pill in advance!"
The Purple Cloud Barrier-Breaking Pill was the finest pill a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator could use when breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm. It could raise the chances of success by thirty percent!
Young Master Kongxu was finally moved, but his sword remained firmly against Master Huang's throat. "A Purple Cloud Barrier-Breaking Pill? Few families in all of Dongjun possess such a precious pill. What merit or ability do I have to deserve such regard from the esteemed River God?"
Master Huang chuckled, carefully pushing the blade of the Azure Water Ritual Sword aside with his fingers. "You need only reveal a little information, young master."
"If you continue cooperating with the River God, even Purple Yang Jade and Purple Heart Jade Marrow are not out of the question."
Before you continue