The Way to Solve It

Lord Xingde did not want to admit defeat, so he continued to pit his wits and courage against the Three Heroes of Ink Mountain along the way. Relying on his cultivation, which far surpassed theirs, he managed to trap them in formations every time. However, he couldn't deliver a decisive blow, and they always managed to escape. This was followed by even more elaborate harassment and more unbearable insults.

Liu Xiaolou also tried to improve the situation, but this tactic of the Three Heroes was difficult to counter, and they were particularly good at maintaining distance, making it hard to lay hands on them. Several days passed, and everyone was exhausted.

Lord Xingde was also at a loss. He complained to Liu Xiaolou, "These three leeches, why are they so ungrateful? Why are they so persistent? You and I are already a hundred miles away from Ink Mountain, why are they still following us? What kind of deep-seated hatred or grudge is this?"

Liu Xiaolou explained the motivation of the Three Heroes of Ink Mountain, "They don't have any enmity with us. They are doing this to set a bottom line for us, to tell us that this line absolutely cannot be crossed."

Lord Xingde said indignantly, "If they don't have the ability, how dare they set a bottom line? They're overestimating themselves!"

Liu Xiaolou said, "This is their capability... Senior, why don't I go and talk to them?"

Lord Xingde flicked his sleeve, "Talk about what? I don't know what there is to talk about!"

Watching his retreating back, Liu Xiaolou called out, "Where are you going, Senior?"

Lord Xingde didn't look back. "I have a headache. I'm going to find a quiet place to rest for a while. Don't disturb me."

After he left, Liu Xiaolou climbed a nearby high mound and looked around. It was dusk again, and the Three Heroes of Ink Mountain would likely begin their nightly harassment.

After looking for a moment, he indeed saw the figures of the three brothers, peeking and cautiously approaching. Liu Xiaolou then descended the mound and went to meet them.

"Three... three brothers..."

The Three Heroes of Ink Mountain stopped at a distance. Tian Ying stood in place, meeting Liu Xiaolou's gaze, while Di Ying and Ren Ying spread out to the sides, searching for Lord Xingde's whereabouts.

Liu Xiaolou coughed dryly, "Ahem... Stop looking. I want to talk to you three brothers. This endless entanglement between us is not a solution."

Tian Ying asked, "You're talking? What about him?"

Liu Xiaolou replied, "My senior comes from a righteous sect. He definitely won't come out to talk."

Tian Ying sneered, "A righteous sect? If my three brothers were afraid, we wouldn't have to make a living in the martial world!"

Liu Xiaolou nodded, "You three brothers have great skills. I admire you greatly. Indeed, there is no need to be afraid."

Tian Ying said, "Actually, there's nothing to talk about. You took a Profound Stone, right? Just give us a spirit stone, and that's it. My three brothers are the most reasonable people. We won't ask for more. What we want isn't spirit stones, it's justice!"

Liu Xiaolou shook his head, "One Profound Stone for one spirit stone, absolutely impossible!"

Tian Ying said, "Impossible? Perhaps in a few more days, it will be possible."

Liu Xiaolou said, "My senior is considering returning to Ink Mountain to destroy that cold pond. It's not difficult to destroy it. Just dig a channel and drain the pond. Wait another half a month by the pond and dry the mud at the bottom for a few days, and it won't be restorable for ten years."

Tian Ying's heart skipped a beat. He looked at his two brothers. Di Ying and Ren Ying also had very unpleasant expressions, staring intently at Liu Xiaolou.

"If you really do that, it will be a mortal enmity between my three brothers and you!"

"If you three brothers keep causing trouble like this, it won't make much difference whether it's a mortal enmity or not."

The three brothers exchanged glances for a moment. Tian Ying said, "How do you want to talk?"

Liu Xiaolou said, "We didn't bring any spirit stones with us. Didn't you take a Profound Stone? We are willing to compensate with money. I have a piece of beautiful jade here. I asked friends in the trade, and it's worth at least fifty taels of silver. That's enough for you three brothers to build a few houses by the pond, so that the sect or faction you establish can lay a solid foundation and flourish step by step."

Tian Ying said, "Fifty taels of silver? Are you joking? Do you think we, the Three Heroes of Ink Mountain, lack fifty taels of silver?"

Liu Xiaolou said, "I also believe you three brothers are not lacking. What you lack is recognition. I am Liu Xiaolou, the Sect Master of the Three Xuan Sect, and that senior is the Sect Master of the Purple Extreme Sect. Our two sects recognize your three brothers' authority over the Ink Mountain cold pond. The condition is that from now on, when our two sects purchase Profound Stones and Spring Essence Jade from Ink Mountain, we will pay with money. For example, a Profound Stone will cost fifty taels of silver. What do you say?"

Tian Ying thought for a moment and asked, "You say you are the Sect Master of the Three Xuan Sect?"

Liu Xiaolou took out a Sect Master token and displayed it before the three brothers. The token was yellowish and looked very old, by no means newly carved.

The three brothers' eyes were distant, intensely and anxiously intertwined in the air, and they finally made a decision: "Deal!"

Tian Ying took the beautiful jade and said, "Sect Master Liu seems to be a fellow cultivator. May I ask where your sect is located?"

Liu Xiaolou cupped his hands, "My sect is located on Wulong Mountain in Xiangxi. If you three brothers have time, you are welcome to visit Wulong Mountain. I, Liu, will await you!"

The three brothers immediately became respectful, "So you are fellow cultivators from Wulong Mountain. We are honored!"

The Three Heroes of Ink Mountain took their leave. After they left, they were still discussing in low voices:

"So they're from Wulong Mountain, no wonder..."

"Big Brother is still wise. If we had really fallen out, those guys from Wulong Mountain would have been difficult to deal with."

"Don't even mention those scoundrels from Wulong Mountain. The rotten idea Liu Xiaolou came up with was also difficult to deal with. If we really dug up the roots of the cold pond, how would we manage?"

"Big Brother, Sect Master Liu invited us to visit Wulong Mountain just now. Should we go?"

"Are you stupid? Those guys from Wulong Mountain, once you get involved, you can't shake them off. It's better to keep a distance. However, this Sect Master Liu is quite good. His Three Xuan Sect is the first to recognize us as the masters of Ink Mountain. With this, my brothers have gained a great deal..."

"Second Brother, should we also establish a sect?"

"That depends on Big Brother's wishes."

"Hmm, let me ponder on it..."

Liu Xiaolou watched the Three Heroes of Ink Mountain leave. Lord Xingde appeared behind him at some point and spat resentfully, "Three scoundrels!"

Liu Xiaolou informed Lord Xingde of the outcome of the negotiation. Lord Xingde was still angry, "They got off too easily!"

But as things stood, Lord Xingde had no good way to shake off the three leeches, so he could only accept it. "We have prepared the materials for this trip down the mountain. Let's return to the mountain."

Upon returning to Xingde Temple, the two did not delay and immediately began processing the materials.

They had been down the mountain for over a month and collected seventeen types of materials, all of which had to be processed now. For example, crushing cinnabar stone into powder to extract cinnabar, baking toad skin into powder, mixing Profound Stone with gold, silver, and other items to refine into Profound Gold Liquid, and sealing mercury into Spring Essence Jade...

For each step, Lord Xingde provided guidance from the side, while Liu Xiaolou personally completed the work. He also had Lord Xingde explain the obscure and difficult phrases in the formation book.

In addition, he cut off a small section of his Misty Incense Tendon, preparing to add it to the formation as a trump card.

After a full month, as all the materials were prepared, Liu Xiaolou's path of refining formation disks finally entered the right track.