Mountain Journey

He gathered several green vines and tied them together, making them about seven or eight zhang long. He secured one end to a nearby tree trunk and held the other end in his arm before leaping down. When he was still about ten zhang from the ground, the vine reached its end. He then let go of the vine, aiming for a protruding rock. After using the rock to push off, he continued to descend.

On his next leap, the old tree root he landed on was rotten and snapped immediately. Liu Xiaolou plummeted downwards.

After all, he had been cultivating for ten years, so he didn't panic. He formed his hands into claws, searching for anything he could grab within his line of sight – a blade of grass, a rock, or a crevice in the stone. After doing this a few times, he glanced at the ground below, estimating he was less than four or five zhang from the bottom of the ravine. He then flipped in mid-air and landed in the stream, splashing water.

He still hadn't jumped off cliffs enough; his landing posture was wrong. He landed on his backside, and the pain made him grit his teeth.

Liu Xiaolou rubbed his backside and, once he recovered, continued on his way. After a few steps, he began to climb.

With his cultivation level, climbing the cliff was much easier than descending. Although it took a long time, it was steady. After a quarter of an hour, he had reached the old pine tree at the cliff's summit. True essence flowed, and he flipped himself up.

Looking back, he felt a surge of pride that he could traverse such a treacherous place as if it were flat ground.

Just as he was feeling proud, a green vine was suddenly thrown from the opposite side. It wrapped around the branches of the old pine tree where he stood and then pulled taut.

A figure, wearing a bamboo hat that obscured his face, floated over, stepping on the vine. He glanced at Liu Xiaolou and said, "Traveling?" Without waiting for an answer, he walked away.

Liu Xiaolou let out an "Ah," watching the man's dashing departure. He then looked at the vine that had formed a rope bridge and patted his forehead, his earlier exhilaration vanishing.

Turning to continue his journey, he hadn't gone far when the man in the bamboo hat who had made the rope bridge stopped ahead. The man was scrutinizing him with a suspicious expression, and Liu Xiaolou immediately became alert, circulating his true essence, ready to fight.

Don't think I'll be afraid just because you can make a rope bridge. If necessary, I'll fight you!

"Junior Brother Liu?" the man suddenly spoke, then laughed heartily. "It was too dark, I almost didn't recognize you. It really is you, Junior Brother!" As he spoke, he removed his bamboo hat.

Liu Xiaolou was astonished. "Chieftain Zuo? This is truly... a coincidence..."

This person was Zuo Gaofeng, a rogue cultivator from Wulong Mountain. His cultivation cave was located in Half-Acre Gorge, about seventeen or eighteen li from Liu Xiaolou's Qianzhu Ridge, separated by five or six large mountains. They rarely saw each other.

Normally, if he ran into Zuo Gaofeng, they would ignore each other, perhaps only nodding. But after being swindled out of his congratulatory gift by Wei Hongqing half a year ago, they had developed a bond of shared misfortune.

"It's been half a year, Junior Brother Liu. How have you been?"

"Thanks to your blessings, Chieftain Zuo, I'm getting by."

"It's the middle of the night, Junior Brother. Where are you headed?"

"I'm heading to Xiangdong to visit a friend. And you, Chieftain?"

"I'm going to Shimen to visit relatives. Meeting you tonight is indeed a coincidence, haha."

"Truly fate, haha."

"If that's the case, we can travel together."

"I gratefully accept!"

Thus, the two traveled together, crossing Wuling Mountain.

The mountains were indeed teeming with insects and snakes, and they encountered many along the way. Zuo Gaofeng was at Qi Refining Level 7, four levels higher than Liu Xiaolou. Now that they were traveling together, ordinary insects and snakes posed no threat. However, an Ironhead Silver-ring Snake they encountered in the forest was particularly troublesome. If Liu Xiaolou had met it alone, he likely wouldn't have fared well. But with Zuo Gaofeng by his side, one lured the snake from the front while the other attacked from the rear. After a short struggle, they subdued the highly venomous spiritual snake.

The snake gall was given to Liu Xiaolou, who swallowed it without delay. It was the most spiritual part of the Ironhead Silver-ring Snake. After swallowing it, a potent spiritual energy circulated within him. After Liu Xiaolou refined it into true essence, it surged directly into his eyes, converging at the Jingming Acupoint, and surprisingly, it opened the acupoint.

The Jingming Acupoint is an acupoint within the Foot Greater Yang Meridian. Liu Xiaolou hadn't yet cultivated this meridian, and he hadn't expected a snake gall to open the acupoint's passage. He was both delighted and apprehensive, unsure if it would affect his future cultivation of the Foot Greater Yang Meridian.

Liu Xiaolou carefully recalled his cultivation techniques. This action seemed to have no adverse effects, which finally put his mind at ease.

The rest of the snake, apart from the gall, belonged to Zuo Gaofeng. He packed it into the bundle behind him, planning to use the snake's skin and sinews to refine a magical artifact.

Each got what they needed, and both were pleased.

By noon the next day, a fierce tiger appeared before them. The man and the tiger faced off for a long time.

"Chieftain Zuo, this tiger seems a bit different? Have you ever seen such a large tiger, Chieftain? Its tail is also long..." Liu Xiaolou asked softly.

Zuo Gaofeng's expression turned serious. "It is indeed different. I can't tell its strength for a moment."

Liu Xiaolou asked, "What should we do?"

Zuo Gaofeng replied, "Let's make a plan... Whatever happens, we mustn't show weakness."

While they were discussing, the tiger suddenly whipped its tail, and with a "snap," it broke a tree trunk as thick as a bowl in half behind them.

Liu Xiaolou was terrified. He drew the Three Xuan Sword from his back and performed swordplay in front of him. Chieftain Zuo simultaneously drew his hand axe and brandished it at the tiger, roaring loudly.

Liu Xiaolou slashed his sword towards a tree next to him. True essence flowed, and the sword light cut through a large tree of similar thickness. Chieftain Zuo, holding his axe, furiously hacked at the surrounding vines, his axe flashing and leaving the area in disarray.

Amidst their mutual intimidation, the tiger gradually retreated, leaping onto the treetops and disappearing after a few bounds.

Both men were drenched in sweat.

After this experience, they proceeded with even greater caution.

The sky in the mountains always darkened earlier. While the sun was still slanting across the mountaintops, it was already dim in the forest. The two walked separately, each guarding their side, wary of the unknown dangers around them.

Unfortunately, they were too focused on the distant parts of the forest and didn't pay attention to their feet. They heard Zuo Gaofeng let out an angry roar as a large net, suddenly opening from the ground, ensnared him and hoisted him high into the air.

Zuo Gaofeng struggled desperately in the net, using his axe to try and cut the ropes. However, the net was no ordinary item; it was unbreakable.

Liu Xiaolou wanted to rush forward to rescue him, but a figure leaped down from a tree. The person was masked with black cloth, and in their hand, they held an iron rod, smashing it fiercely towards Liu Xiaolou. "I'll beat you in the dark!"

This blow was immensely powerful, and the gust of wind it generated was extremely fierce. Faint traces of gang mang flickered, indicating that the opponent's cultivation was at least mid Qi Refining, possibly Qi Refining Level 5 or 6.

There was no time to dodge. Liu Xiaolou gripped his sword hilt tightly with both hands, pouring true essence into the blade. He knelt on one knee for support and desperately met the attack from below.

"—Open!" the opponent roared again, the staff smashing directly onto the Three Xuan Sword.

Liu Xiaolou felt a violent tremor in his hands, and his body was forced down. The sword also sank, almost brushing against his scalp. His left foot and right knee sank a full three inches into the soft soil.

Despite the awkwardness, he had managed to block the blow.