Turmoil Descended One After Another, Peace Was Hard to Find

Turmoil Descended One After Another, Peace Was Hard to Find

"Brother Wang, have you heard? There's treasure in Boundary County!"

"What?! How could a place like Boundary County possibly have any treasure?"

"Boundary County borders Qingping Mountain. How could there be no treasure in those mountains?"

"Exactly, exactly. I heard Old Master Chen Ping from Elm County has already gathered his friends and plans to explore Qingping Mountain."

"There's more, everyone! Word from the commandery city says that Zhao Hong, the Grand Elder of the Purple Mansion Realm's Zhao Clan, has personally set out, bringing two mid-stage Foundation Establishment experts from his clan!"

All manner of rumors spread throughout Sea Commandery.

Everyone became intensely curious about what treasure Boundary County might contain.

This was something neither Lin Zhiyong nor Wu Fang had expected.

Their original intention had been to invite several skilled cultivators to eliminate the demon, yet they had never imagined it would draw so many cultivators!

In just a few days, dozens of Qi Refinement cultivators had arrived in Boundary County.

And in the days that followed, several Foundation Establishment cultivators appeared as well.

The moment Chen Ping of Elm County arrived with his friends, they took up residence in the county office. According to several well-informed people, the friends Chen Ping had invited were Sea Commandery's renowned Rogue Cultivators, Cold Blade Ning Kang and Thunderclap Hand Lei Zhen.

Soon after, a swordsman in white robes and a bamboo hat also arrived in Boundary County. He was recognized as the solitary wanderer, White-Clad Jade Sword Gongsun Yulong.

Then, just one day later, Zhao Hong, the Grand Elder of the Purple Mansion Realm's Zhao Clan, arrived with two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the clan.

The identities of those two were also recognized. They were Zhao Jun and Zhao Rui, two highly renowned members of the Zhao Clan's younger generation.

At present, there were no fewer than seven Foundation Establishment cultivators in Boundary County alone.

Lin Zhiyong had never imagined that his little Boundary County would draw so many Foundation Establishment cultivators. These past few days, he had handled everything with extreme care, terrified that something might go wrong.

Wu Fang was equally on edge. Every day, he had to answer the questions of these Foundation Establishment seniors, making this local tyrant of Boundary County once again understand how difficult life was for low-level cultivators.

Seeing that even the Zhao Clan had sent people, Chen Ping discussed matters with his two friends. The three decided to enter the mountain and investigate the next day.

Zhao Hong also felt that there were simply too many people in Boundary County now. To avoid trouble, it was best to set out early.

Thus, at dawn the following day, the people of Boundary County watched Foundation Establishment cultivators soar into the sky one after another and fly toward Qingping Mountain.

When the Qi Refinement Rogue Cultivators gathered in Boundary County saw that the Foundation Establishment cultivators had begun moving, they hurried after them as well, hoping to trail behind and pick up some scraps.

With so many cultivators marching into the mountain in a grand procession, the living creatures within sensed the danger and scattered into hiding.

Bai Shang, who was cultivating in an outer cave abode, sensed these abnormalities. It did not rashly disturb Jiang Sheng, instead leaving first to investigate the situation.

But Bai Shang had not expected that shortly after leaving the cave abode, it would be targeted.

The ones targeting Bai Shang were Chen Ping, Ning Kang, and Lei Zhen.

Based on the intelligence they had obtained from Wu Fang, combined with the descriptions local Boundary County residents had given of Qingping Mountain, they had determined Black Fire Snake's approximate location. They then searched their way over and discovered Bai Shang's trail.

"A white fox at the early Foundation Establishment stage. How strange. There's actually a white fox in these mountains." Ning Kang was clearly very interested in Bai Shang's appearance.

Chen Ping analyzed, "According to the mortals here in Boundary County, there are two fox immortals in the mountains, one white and one green. The white fox immortal they mentioned should be the one before us."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, it seems your judgment was correct. These mountains have many green foxes and red foxes, but a white fox clearly should not have appeared here. Could this be connected to that treasure?" The more Lei Zhen spoke, the more excited he became.

"That possibility cannot be ruled out. Capture this white fox first, then we'll talk." After Chen Ping spoke, the three quietly spread out and prepared to strike.

As Bai Shang scouted through the forest, an inexplicable sense of danger suddenly surged into its heart.

For creatures of the mountain, a premonition of danger was an instinct buried in their bones.

Realizing something was wrong, Bai Shang immediately circulated its demonic power and retreated.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

A succession of fireballs crashed down, ravaging the once-lush mountain forest beyond recognition.

Bai Shang ran at top speed, its body wrapped in demonic power as it dodged between one fireball after another.

Yet several ice spikes suddenly rained down ahead, forcing Bai Shang to halt and flee in another direction.

Fireballs and ice spikes pursued it all the way, leaving Bai Shang hard-pressed to cope.

And this was only Chen Ping and Ning Kang making their moves. Lei Zhen had been supporting them from the side, guarding against anyone taking the chance to snatch the prize.

"Damn it! Why are there suddenly so many human cultivators in the mountains?"

Bai Shang was consumed with anxiety. Faced with these Foundation Establishment cultivators whose cultivation was higher than its own, Bai Shang knew it had no chance of victory.

"Fellow Daoists, I bear you no grudge from the past or present. Why are you attacking me?"

Bai Shang attempted to communicate peacefully with Chen Ping and the others pursuing it.

"We did not come for you, Fellow Daoist. We came for Black Fire Snake."

"If you trust us, Fellow Daoist, why not stop? We can have a proper discussion."

Chen Ping's shout did not make Bai Shang slow down. Instead, it made Bai Shang run even faster.

They had come for Black Fire Snake, yet they wanted it to stop and have a proper discussion?

Bai Shang was no fool. If it stopped, it would be meat on the chopping block.

Seeing that Bai Shang showed no response, Chen Ping became even more convinced that there truly was treasure here. Perhaps Black Fire Snake was occupying that treasure even now!

There could only be one overlord in a mountain. Since Black Fire Snake allowed a white fox to exist here, this white fox had to be Black Fire Snake's subordinate.

"Fellow Daoist Ning, Fellow Daoist Lei, strike together! Stop this white fox! It definitely knows about Black Fire Snake!"

Chen Ping decisively transmitted his voice. Ning Kang and Lei Zhen coordinated and attacked as well.

Fireballs, ice spikes, and thunderballs converged on Bai Shang from three directions, forming a pincer attack.

Feeling the danger closing in behind it, Bai Shang suddenly turned its head and spat out a burst of wind and snow, then accelerated its escape.

The wind and snow were scattered by the fireballs in moments. Then the ice spikes and thunderballs fell in succession, leaving shocking marks throughout the forest.

Zhao Hong, Zhao Rui, and Zhao Jun, who had been searching in another direction, also sensed the fluctuations from Chen Ping and the others' attacks.

"Chen Ping and the others have made their move. They must have found something. Let's go take a look!"

As he spoke, Zhao Hong turned without hesitation and raced toward Chen Ping and the others, with Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun close behind.

Bai Shang constantly changed direction through the forest. Relying on its familiarity with the mountain woods, it kept Chen Ping and the others from successfully capturing it.

Seeing that these methods would not be enough to capture Bai Shang alive, Chen Ping said angrily, "The two of you, stop holding back. At worst, kill this beast and search its soul!"

Ning Kang laughed. "That's what we should have done from the start!"

With that, Ning Kang summoned a straight saber patterned like snow.

Cold Blade Ning Kang's reputation came from this high-grade magical artifact, the Frostblade.

As Ning Kang drove his spiritual power into it, the Frostblade transformed into a streak of frosty light and shot toward Bai Shang.

A lethal threat appeared behind its head. The Frostblade had locked onto Bai Shang, intending to sever its head in a single stroke.

Yet just when Bai Shang itself felt it would not survive this ordeal, a clash of metal rang out, and the Frostblade grazed past Bai Shang's neck and flew away.

The smile vanished from Ning Kang's face.

Drawing the Frostblade back to his side with spiritual power, Ning Kang glared furiously at the suddenly appeared Gongsun Yulong. "Gongsun Yulong, you again!"

"My apologies. My hand slipped. I hope Fellow Daoist Ning won't take offense." Gongsun Yulong spoke with a smile that was not a smile, while a small jade sword spun around him.

It had been this Jade Sword that knocked aside the Frostblade, allowing Bai Shang to escape death.

When Chen Ping and Lei Zhen saw Gongsun Yulong appear, both immediately became wary.

They knew that Gongsun Yulong and Ning Kang did not get along.

One was called Cold Blade, the other Jade Sword. They appeared to be the foremost Rogue Cultivators of Sea Commandery's younger generation.

But since ancient times, when had there ever been two people ranked first? Thus, Gongsun Yulong and Ning Kang had always openly and secretly vied against one another, each seeking to press the other beneath his heel.

The two had never gotten along over the years. Now that Ning Kang had encountered Gongsun Yulong, another disturbance was inevitable.

"We had our eyes on this demon beast. Gongsun Yulong, are you trying to steal it from us?" Ning Kang stared at Gongsun Yulong with an unfriendly expression.

Gongsun Yulong looked utterly casual. "I don't care who the demon beast belongs to. But making you uncomfortable? That's far more interesting to me."

"You're courting death!" Ning Kang brazenly attacked, the Frostblade carving a streak of light as it flew toward Gongsun Yulong.

Gongsun Yulong was completely fearless, driving the Jade Sword forward to meet Ning Kang's Frostblade.

Seeing the two human cultivators begin to fight, Bai Shang hurriedly tried to seize the chance to flee back to the cave abode. But after taking only two steps, it despairingly discovered three more human cultivators flying toward it head-on. The leader was even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!

Noticing that members of the Zhao Clan had arrived, Ning Kang and Gongsun Yulong tacitly stopped fighting.

Though they were bound to settle who was superior, before the Purple Mansion Realm's Zhao Clan, these Rogue Cultivators were still willing to band together.

"I was wondering why this place was so lively. So they're all familiar faces."

Zhao Hong smiled warmly at these Foundation Establishment Rogue Cultivators of Sea Commandery, looking every bit like a kind old man.

Yet whether Chen Ping, Lei Zhen, Ning Kang, or Gongsun Yulong, all were extremely wary of this powerful late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and Grand Elder of the Purple Mansion Realm's Zhao Clan.

"A white fox in these mountains? That truly is rare. I saw you all fighting over this white fox just now. Could Black Fire Snake be connected to it?" Zhao Hong examined Bai Shang, his eyes filled with probing intent.

Bai Shang had never felt such despair. Seven human Foundation Establishment cultivators had surrounded it. There was simply no path to survival left.

Seeing these human Foundation Establishment cultivators about to discuss how to divide it up, Bai Shang hurriedly cried, "Everyone, Black Fire Snake has already been eliminated by Daoist Jiang!"

Daoist Jiang!

The appearance of this name immediately put everyone present on the highest alert.

"The Daoist Jiang you speak of—could he be Daoist Jiang Sheng, the one who previously slew the Purple Mansion River God?" Zhao Hong asked.

Bai Shang nodded repeatedly. "Exactly. Black Fire Snake has already been eliminated by Daoist Jiang of Qingxuan Temple. There is nothing left in these mountains."

Ning Kang merely sneered. "Trying to deceive us with words? You're courting death!"

As he spoke, Ning Kang drove the Frostblade, clearly intending to kill Bai Shang before everyone's eyes.

Bai Shang watched in terror as the Frostblade, carrying astonishingly frigid energy, slashed toward it. The next moment, a streak of sword qi that came racing over knocked the Frostblade flying.

"This poor Daoist merely wanted a moment of peace in the mountains. Why is that so difficult?"

Today's second update, three thousand words delivered~

No more nonsense. It sounds pretentious even to me.

(End of Chapter)