Treasure in Boundary County, Rumors Rise Everywhere

Sea Commandery.

One of Qing Province's eight commanderies, it stood along the coast and governed eleven counties.

Sea Commandery was much like the other commanderies of Qing Province. Most cultivators gathered in the commandery city, while county towns had only a scant few Qi Refining Rogue Cultivators. Foundation Establishment cultivators were rarely seen.

Qingping Mountain stretched across Dongjun, Sea Commandery, and Long Commandery. Within Dongjun lay Qingshan County, while within Sea Commandery lay Boundary County.

Boundary County had originally contained three cultivation families, relying mainly on gathering medicinal herbs in the mountains and hunting for their livelihood.

They were called cultivation families, but their strongest members were only at the sixth level of Qi Refining.

Yet now, two of those three cultivation families had been wiped out, leaving only the Wu Family barely holding on.

Qingping Mountain teemed with living creatures and medicinal herbs.

Though there were many demon beasts, the truly powerful ones each had their own territories.

So long as people did not approach those territories, the beasts would not harm them.

Here in Boundary County, for instance, there were two Foundation Establishment demon beasts in the mountains.

But those two Foundation Establishment demon beasts were mild-tempered. Compared to Qingshan County in Dongjun, Boundary County was undoubtedly fortunate.

After all, according to what Wu Fang knew, Qingshan County had originally possessed several cultivation families as well.

But later, a tiger demon appeared in the mountains. Those cultivation families were commissioned by the Qingshan County Magistrate of the time to go into the mountains and slay the demon, yet not a single one came back down.

It was said that Qingshan County later invited cultivators several more times, but they still went and never returned. In the end, that stretch of mountains was completely occupied by the tiger demon.

It was not until roughly two years ago that the tiger demon was slain by a Daoist priest with astonishing cultivation.

Compared to Qingshan County, Boundary County's Foundation Establishment demon beasts were far easier to get along with.

Sometimes, if one encountered them in the mountains, one could even exchange things like books for medicinal herbs.

Unfortunately, that fine state of humans and demon beasts living peacefully together had vanished without a trace several months ago.

Those two mild-tempered Foundation Establishment creatures had disappeared, and in the place of their caves appeared a late Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake!

Wu Fang had learned this news from the other two families.

They had encountered the Black Fire Snake while entering the mountains and had nearly been wiped out to the last man. Even those who escaped back had become crazed and delirious, clearly frightened out of their wits.

Now, of Boundary County's three cultivation families, only the Wu Family remained.

The Wu Family patriarch, Wu Fang, was only at the fifth level of Qi Refining. Though they were called a cultivation family, they were not much different from Rogue Cultivators.

With no road ahead in sight and no cultivation resources, they could only find a place to continue their bloodline.

Whenever he thought of that late Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake, Wu Fang could neither sleep nor eat in peace.

Though he counted as someone of standing in Boundary County, and the local gentry and wealthy magnates had to heed his words, he was still merely an ordinary cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining.

These days, Wu Fang had been constantly torn by gain and loss. He did not want to abandon the estate he had built here, but the terrifying demon beast in the mountains was savage by nature, utterly unlike the original two.

He had taken a wife and had children, and now he even had grandchildren. Just as his family was about to flourish, how could it withstand the ravaging of a Foundation Establishment demon beast?

A Black Fire Snake nearly thirty zhang long was practically a flood dragon. Once such a terrifying creature descended the mountain, it would surely leave living beings in ruins!

"Alas."

Wu Fang sighed and was still hesitating when someone hurried in from outside.

"Master, the County Magistrate has arrived."

Hearing that the County Magistrate had arrived, Wu Fang rose to welcome him.

After all, Rogue Cultivators like them were unlike disciples of great families and sects. They could settle locally only with the help of the county yamen.

Moreover, no matter what, the Great Qi court still possessed its majesty. As natives of the Qi Kingdom, they still maintained a basic respect for the imperial court.

"Brother Wu, I have come to trouble you again." Lin Zhiyong, the Boundary County Magistrate, entered with a face full of worry.

"Brother Lin, what is this?" Wu Fang looked at the deeply troubled Lin Zhiyong in confusion.

Lin Zhiyong glanced at Wu Fang. "Brother Wu, that creature in the mountains is far too vicious. Not one of the cultivators I hired returned alive."

Wu Fang was greatly startled. "Brother Lin, you hired cultivators to slay the demon?"

Lin Zhiyong nodded and explained everything to Wu Fang in detail.

Magistrate Lin was a man of resolve. With a vicious demon beast in the mountains, the county town was bound to be threatened.

Thus, Lin Zhiyong joined forces with Boundary County's gentry and pooled their money to hire a group of cultivators.

It was said that this group often worked for the counties of Sea Commandery, helping them clear out demon beasts.

Lin Zhiyong had originally thought they would bring good news, but after they went up the mountain, they vanished without a trace.

A full five days had now passed, yet not a single person had come down alive.

Lin Zhiyong was completely out of options and could only come ask Wu Fang to think of a solution.

"Brother Wu, you do not wish to easily abandon the estate you have built in Boundary County either, do you?"

"Your family has only just begun to prosper. If you leave Boundary County now, where else will people welcome you?"

Hearing Lin Zhiyong's words, Wu Fang's mind became a tangled mess. These were precisely the things he feared.

After thinking it over and over, Wu Fang gritted his teeth. "That is a late Foundation Establishment demon beast. Hiring ordinary Rogue Cultivators is utterly useless!"

"We must invite a Foundation Establishment cultivator to deal with it!"

Lin Zhiyong's face went pale. "The price demanded by a Foundation Establishment cultivator is not something gold and silver can afford!"

Wu Fang added, "Brother Lin, why not personally invite Senior Chen Ping of neighboring Elm County?"

Chen Ping of Elm County was a Foundation Establishment Rogue Cultivator of considerable renown in Sea Commandery.

His cultivation had reached mid-Foundation Establishment, and his strength was extraordinary!

Chen Ping had now settled down in Elm County and had been invited by the county as an honorary enshrined cultivator. He possessed broad tracts of fertile fields and elm groves, and his family was who knew how much more prosperous than Wu Fang's newly established Qi Refining family.

Lin Zhiyong pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Inviting Senior Chen is a feasible plan."

Wu Fang continued, "Brother Lin, write another letter. I will take it to the commandery city and submit it to the Commandery Governor."

"The Commandery Governor may be able to move the Purple Mansion Zhao Clan."

"Then Boundary County can be preserved."

Lin Zhiyong nodded.

What could Boundary County possibly do against a Foundation Establishment demon beast?

Better to let the Commandery Governor in the commandery city worry over it.

Thus, Lin Zhiyong swiftly wrote the letter and handed it to Wu Fang, and the two began acting separately.

The Chen Family of Elm County was undoubtedly a colossal presence there.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator settling down here was a good thing for all of Elm County.

The gentry and wealthy merchants of Elm County all scrambled to send their children to study at the Chen Family. Wherever Chen Family members went in Elm County, they held their heads high.

On this day, a guest came to the Chen Family.

The visitor was Lin Zhiyong, the County Magistrate of Boundary County.

Faced with a County Magistrate personally calling at his door, Chen Ping, an established Foundation Establishment cultivator, gave him ample face.

Having settled in Elm County these past years, Chen Ping had grown accustomed to social dealings. Smiling warmly, he invited Lin Zhiyong into his residence. He looked less like a Foundation Establishment cultivator than an ordinary wealthy gentleman.

"Why has Magistrate Lin suddenly come to visit?" Chen Ping asked with a smile.

Lin Zhiyong hurriedly explained his purpose. As Chen Ping listened, the smile on his face gradually faded.

A late Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake!

Heavens, how had such a terrifying demon beast suddenly appeared in Boundary County?

Chen Ping had not made a move in many years. The number of times he had fought during those years could be counted on one hand.

The blooded courage that had once dared to risk his life and seek opportunities amid hordes of demon beasts had long vanished.

The current Chen Ping was merely a kindly wealthy old man.

If a late Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake descended the mountain, the entirety of Boundary County would not be enough for it to ravage. When that happened, Elm County would inevitably be affected as well.

Like Wu Fang, Chen Ping had settled down and did not wish to leave.

His foundations were here. This was the root from which the Chen Family could continue to grow.

After pondering for a while, Chen Ping said, "This matter concerns more than Boundary County alone. Naturally, Chen will not stand idly by."

"Magistrate Lin, return first. Once Chen has gathered three or five friends, we shall go to Boundary County and slay the demon!"

Having received Chen Ping's promise, Lin Zhiyong naturally departed in boundless gratitude.

Once Lin Zhiyong had left, the Chen Family members began trying to dissuade him.

They knew how long it had been since Chen Ping last fought anyone. His methods had likely grown rusty by now, and going to battle a late Foundation Establishment demon beast was not that simply courting death?

Moreover, if anything happened to Chen Ping, the Chen Family's position in Elm County would surely plummet, and it would be difficult to preserve these family holdings.

Looking at these clansmen steeped in wealth and glory, Chen Ping felt for the first time that something had gone wrong with the Chen Family's development.

Furious that iron had failed to become steel, he thoroughly berated them all, then snapped, "What do you know?"

"If that late Foundation Establishment demon beast truly runs rampant, Boundary County cannot withstand it. Do you think Elm County can?"

"I am going to Boundary County precisely to preserve the Chen Family's foundations!"

"Besides, for a late Foundation Establishment demon beast to suddenly appear, some heavenly treasure must have emerged. If we obtain such a treasure, that will be the opportunity for the Chen Family to rise!"

Chen Ping's mind was clear. He knew that a late Foundation Establishment demon beast would not be easy to deal with, but he knew even better that one would not appear out of nowhere.

A heavenly treasure!

Chen Ping, who had long been unable to break through to late Foundation Establishment and had no choice but to settle down and put down roots in Elm County, suddenly felt the hot blood that had lain dormant for decades begin to boil once more.

As Chen Ping gathered his friends, Wu Fang also delivered the letter to the desk of Sea Commandery's Commandery Governor in the commandery city.

When the Sea Commandery Governor learned that an unrestrained late Foundation Establishment demon beast had appeared within his territory, he too was plagued with a headache. He went directly to the Zhao Clan.

As the Purple Mansion family of Sea Commandery, the Zhao Clan naturally had to contribute to Sea Commandery while enjoying its offerings.

Zhao He, the Zhao Clan patriarch, was currently in secluded cultivation. Zhao Hong, the Zhao Family's First Elder, met with the Commandery Governor and stated that the Zhao Clan would not stand idly by.

Having received the Zhao Clan's reply, the Commandery Governor naturally felt reassured.

Zhao Hong swiftly summoned the Zhao Clan's elite members, Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun. Both were formidable mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators and direct descendants of the Zhao Clan.

"The Commandery Governor just said that a late Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake has suddenly appeared in Boundary County. In my opinion, some treasure must have emerged there."

"You will accompany this old man to Boundary County and kill the Black Fire Snake. Should we find any heavenly treasure, it can also strengthen the foundations of our Zhao Clan."

Hearing Zhao Hong's words, Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun nodded.

Naturally, they would not refuse something beneficial to the Zhao Clan.

Moreover, a late Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake could be called treasure from head to tail.

Its flesh could nourish a cultivator's body and strengthen vital energy; its blood, gallbladder, and heart could be refined into medicine; its fangs, scales, and skin could be refined into artifacts.

Very soon, Zhao Run and Zhao Jun finished their preparations and followed Zhao Hong toward Boundary County.

Chen Ping also found several helpers. After agreeing to divide the gains equally, they headed for Boundary County.

Without anyone realizing it, Boundary County's name began appearing frequently throughout Sea Commandery's cultivation world.

Everyone spread the word: Boundary County had treasure!

I had planned to post this chapter in the afternoon, but I had not read anything in a long time, so Lin Yuan took a look at his bookshelf.

Immortal Manor Longevity, dropped.

Superior Golden Core, dropped.

Immortal Endeavor, dropped.

Haoyu True Immortal had special circumstances, so that did not count.

Search Mountains and Subdue Demons, which had previously received a strong recommendation, also dropped.

Alas, sometimes I wonder why I do not have such good writing, such good ideas for plotting, why I cannot depict such good stories.

The first novel I read was Proud to the Nine Heavens. Later came Only I Am Supreme, then Battle Through the Heavens, The Sage of One World, Great Dao Contention, and Grand Vastness.

Having read one book after another, Immortal Manor Longevity, Superior Golden Core, Immortal Endeavor, and Haoyu True Immortal were all good books I had been reading, yet all were dropped for various reasons.

People say newcomers writing fantasy and immortal heroes cannot make a name for themselves, that few people read new books and everyone just stockpiles chapters.

But do I not have many people following along now too?

Even if my writing is this bad, this padded, and my plot this clichéd, are there not still people supporting me?

I will not say anything else. Let me make a promise to the brothers still reading.

So long as people are still reading, so long as people are still supporting me, so long as I can still see even a shred of hope.

During the new-book period, I will not miss the daily two updates totaling six thousand words. After it goes premium, the daily minimum will be eight to nine thousand words. (Because I do not have much saved up. I have an outline, but no stockpile of chapters.)

That is all. I will not say more. Everyone, watch my actions.

PS: Today I boiled potatoes and lotus root, then ate them with mixed noodles dipped in chili sauce. Emmmm, I want to eat meat.

PS: The next chapter will be during the day.

(End of this chapter)