"Brother Wang, have you heard? There's treasure in Boundary County!"
"What?! How could a place like Boundary County possibly have treasure?"
"Boundary County borders Qingping Mountain! How could there be no treasure in those mountains?"
"Exactly! I heard Old Master Chen Ping from Elm County has already invited his friends over to explore Qingping Mountain."
"That's not all, everyone! Word from the commandery seat is that Zhao Hong, the grand elder of the Zhao Clan of Purple Mansion, has come in person, bringing two capable clan members at the foundation establishment middle stage!"
All sorts of rumors spread through Sea Commandery.
Everyone became intensely curious about just what treasure lay in Boundary County.
This turn of events was something neither Lin Zhiyong nor Wu Fang had anticipated.
They had only intended to invite a few capable cultivators to eliminate a demon. Who would have thought they would attract so many cultivators instead!
Within just a few days, dozens of qi refining realm cultivators arrived in Boundary County.
In the days that followed, several foundation establishment realm cultivators appeared as well.
Chen Ping of Elm County moved into the county office with his friends as soon as they arrived. According to several knowledgeable people, the men he had invited were Sea Commandery's renowned rogue cultivators, Cold Blade Ning Kang and Thunderclap Hand Lei Zhen.
Then a white-clad swordsman wearing a bamboo hat arrived in Boundary County. Someone recognized him as the lone wandering swordsman, White-Clad Jade Sword Gongsun Yulong.
Just one day later, Zhao Hong, grand elder of the Zhao Clan of Purple Mansion, arrived with two foundation establishment realm cultivators from his clan.
Those two were also recognized as Zhao Jun and Zhao Rui, celebrated members of the Zhao Family's younger generation.
There were now no fewer than seven foundation establishment realm cultivators in Boundary County alone.
Lin Zhiyong had never imagined that his little Boundary County could attract so many foundation establishment realm cultivators. Over the past few days, he had dealt with them gingerly, terrified of making a mistake.
Wu Fang also kept himself on full alert. Every day, he had to answer these foundation establishment realm seniors' questions, making this local kingpin of Boundary County experience once again the hardships of a bottom-rung cultivator.
Seeing that even the Zhao Family had sent people, Chen Ping discussed matters with his two friends. The three decided to head up the mountain and investigate the next day.
Zhao Hong also felt that there were far too many people in Boundary County now. To avoid complications, it would be best to depart early.
Thus, at dawn the next day, the people of Boundary County watched foundation establishment realm cultivators rise into the sky one after another and fly toward Qingping Mountain.
Seeing the foundation establishment realm cultivators begin to move, the qi refining realm rogue cultivators gathered in Boundary County hurried after them, hoping to trail along and skim off a little profit.
As so many cultivators swept up the mountain in a grand procession, the creatures living there sensed danger and began hiding.
Bai Shang, who had been cultivating in the outer cave abode, sensed these disturbances. Rather than rashly disturb Jiang Sheng, he went out first to investigate.
But Bai Shang had not expected to be targeted so soon after leaving the cave abode.
The ones who had set their sights on Bai Shang were Chen Ping, Ning Kang, and Lei Zhen.
By analyzing the information they had obtained from Wu Fang and the locals' descriptions of Qingping Mountain, they had deduced the Black Fire Snake's approximate location. Searching their way toward it, they discovered Bai Shang's trail.
"A white fox at the foundation establishment early stage. How strange that there should be a white fox in these mountains." Ning Kang was clearly very interested in Bai Shang's appearance.
Chen Ping considered the matter. "According to the mortals here in Boundary County, there are two fox immortals in the mountains, one white and one azure. This must be the white fox immortal they mentioned."
"Fellow Daoist Chen, it seems your judgment was correct. These mountains are full of azure foxes and red foxes. A white fox clearly shouldn't have appeared here. Could this have something to do with that treasure?" Lei Zhen grew more excited as he spoke.
"We can't rule that out. Let's capture this white fox first." With that, Chen Ping and the other two quietly spread out, preparing to strike.
As Bai Shang scouted the forest, an inexplicable sense of danger suddenly welled up within him.
For these mountain creatures, forewarnings of danger were instincts buried deep in their bones.
Realizing something was wrong, Bai Shang immediately circulated his demonic power and retreated.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
A string of fireballs crashed down, devastating the once-lush stretch of forest beyond recognition.
Bai Shang ran like the wind, his demonic power enveloping his body and carrying him between the incoming fireballs.
Yet several ice spikes suddenly rained down ahead, forcing Bai Shang to halt and flee in another direction.
Fireballs and ice spikes pursued him all the way, leaving Bai Shang struggling to cope.
And this was only Chen Ping and Ning Kang attacking. Lei Zhen remained on watch, guarding against anyone who might seize the opportunity to steal their prize.
Damn it, why are there suddenly so many human cultivators in the mountains?
Bai Shang was frantic. Facing foundation establishment realm cultivators whose cultivation surpassed his own, he knew he had no chance of winning.
"Fellow Daoists, we have neither old grievances nor recent grudges. Why are you attacking me?"
Bai Shang tried to speak peacefully with Chen Ping and the others pursuing him.
"Of course, we haven't come for you, fellow Daoist. We've come for the Black Fire Snake."
"If you trust us, fellow Daoist, why not stop so we can have a proper talk?"
Chen Ping's call did not make Bai Shang stop. Instead, he ran even faster.
They had come for the Black Fire Snake, and they wanted him to stop for a proper talk?
Bai Shang was no fool. Stopping would leave him like fish on a chopping block.
Seeing that Bai Shang did not respond, Chen Ping became even more certain that there truly was treasure here. Perhaps the Black Fire Snake was monopolizing it right now!
A mountain could have only one overlord. Since the Black Fire Snake allowed this white fox to live here, the fox must be its subordinate.
"Fellow Daoist Ning, Fellow Daoist Lei, attack together and stop this white fox! He must know about the Black Fire Snake!"
Chen Ping decisively transmitted his voice, and Ning Kang and Lei Zhen coordinated their attacks.
Fireballs, ice spikes, and lightning orbs converged on Bai Shang from three directions.
Sensing the danger behind him, Bai Shang abruptly turned his head and spat out a blast of wind and snow, then accelerated his flight.
The wind and snow had barely risen before fireballs blasted it apart. Ice spikes and lightning orbs followed, leaving swathes of startling destruction in 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 his companions have made their move. They must have found something. Let's go take a look!"
As he spoke, Zhao Hong turned without hesitation and sped toward Chen Ping's group, with Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun close behind.
Bai Shang kept twisting and turning through the forest. Relying on his familiarity with the terrain, he continually kept Chen Ping and the others from catching him.
Seeing that these methods would not capture Bai Shang alive, Chen Ping snapped angrily, "Fellow Daoists, stop holding back! At worst, we'll kill this vile beast and search his soul!"
Ning Kang laughed. "We should have done that long ago!"
With that, Ning Kang summoned a straight saber patterned with snow.
Cold Blade Ning Kang had earned his reputation from this high-grade magical artifact, Frostblade.
As Ning Kang channeled his spiritual power, the Frostblade Saber became a streak of frosty light and shot toward Bai Shang.
A deadly threat appeared behind his head. The Frostblade Saber locked onto Bai Shang, ready to behead him with a single stroke.
Yet just as Bai Shang himself thought he would not survive, a clang of metal rang out. Unexpectedly, the Frostblade Saber skimmed past his neck and flew away.
The smile vanished from Ning Kang's face.
Channeling spiritual power to recall the Frostblade Saber to his side, Ning Kang stared furiously at Gongsun Yulong, who had suddenly appeared opposite him. "Gongsun Yulong, you again!"
"My apologies. My hand slipped. I hope you won't mind, Fellow Daoist Ning." Gongsun Yulong spoke with a smile that never reached his eyes, a small jade sword spinning around him.
It was this Jade Sword that had knocked the Frostblade Saber aside and saved Bai Shang's life.
Seeing Gongsun Yulong appear, both Chen Ping and Lei Zhen grew wary.
They knew that Gongsun Yulong and Ning Kang were not on good terms.
One was known as Cold Blade, the other as Jade Sword. Both were considered outstanding rogue cultivators of Sea Commandery's younger generation.
But since ancient times, when had first place ever been shared? Thus, Gongsun Yulong and Ning Kang had always competed openly and schemed in secret, each seeking to stand above the other.
Their relationship had remained strained for years. Now that Ning Kang had encountered Gongsun Yulong, further complications were almost inevitable.
"We set our sights on this demonic beast. Gongsun Yulong, are you trying to steal him from us?" Ning Kang stared at Gongsun Yulong with a hostile expression.
Gongsun Yulong, however, looked utterly unconcerned. "I don't care who the demonic beast belongs to. But making you uncomfortable is much more entertaining to me."
"You're courting death!" Ning Kang attacked without hesitation, the Frostblade Saber tracing a streak of light toward Gongsun Yulong.
Gongsun Yulong showed no fear, urging his Jade Sword forward to meet Ning Kang's Frostblade Saber.
Seeing the two human cultivators begin their duel, Bai Shang hurried to seize the chance to escape to the cave abode. Yet he had barely taken two steps before he discovered, in despair, three more human cultivators flying straight toward him. The one leading them was even at the foundation establishment late stage!
Noticing the Zhao Family's arrival, Ning Kang and Gongsun Yulong also stopped fighting in tacit agreement.
Though they were determined to settle which of them was superior, rogue cultivators like them were still willing to band together before the Zhao Clan of Purple Mansion.
"I was wondering why it was so lively here. It turns out everyone's an old acquaintance."
Zhao Hong smiled at these foundation establishment realm rogue cultivators from Sea Commandery, looking every bit a kindly old man.
But whether Chen Ping, Lei Zhen, Ning Kang, or Gongsun Yulong, all were intensely wary of this grand elder of the Zhao Clan of Purple Mansion, a powerful foundation establishment late stage cultivator.
"A white fox in these mountains? How unusual. I saw you all fighting over this white fox just now. Could the Black Fire Snake be connected to him?" Zhao Hong studied Bai Shang, his eyes full of probing curiosity.
Bai Shang had never felt such despair. Seven human foundation establishment realm cultivators surrounded him. They had left him no path to survival at all.
Seeing that these human foundation establishment realm cultivators were about to discuss how to divide him up, Bai Shang hurriedly cried out, "Everyone, Daoist Jiang has already slain the Black Fire Snake!"
Daoist Jiang!
The appearance of that name undoubtedly put everyone present on their utmost guard.
"This Daoist Jiang you mentioned—is he Jiang Sheng, the Daoist Jiang who previously slew the Purple Mansion Realm river god?" Zhao Hong asked.
Bai Shang nodded repeatedly. "Exactly! Daoist Jiang of Qingxuan Temple has already slain the Black Fire Snake. There's nothing left in these mountains."
Ning Kang merely sneered at this. "Trying to deceive us with words? You're courting death!"
As he spoke, Ning Kang activated the Frostblade Saber, clearly intending to slay Bai Shang before everyone's eyes.
Bai Shang watched in terror as the Frostblade Saber slashed toward him, carrying an astonishing aura of frost chill. The next instant, a swiftly approaching streak of Sword Qi knocked the Frostblade Saber away.
"All this humble Daoist wanted was a moment of peace in the mountains. Why must it be so difficult?"
Here is today's second update, three thousand words~
I'll spare you the nonsense. Even I find it embarrassing to read.
(End of chapter)
Before you continue