Leaving

Early the next morning, as dawn was just breaking, Zhang Tie hurried to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. He casually slipped two low-grade spirit stones to the disciple on duty and handed over the task token for the spirit stone mining area.

Next, Zhang Tie quickly scanned the task booklet, finally selecting an outdoor mission to apprehend a sect traitor.

After registering and taking the task token, he turned and strode swiftly towards the mountain gate. He didn't return to his residence; at this moment, Zhang Tie's heart was pounding with extreme tension.

The sect had Core Formation stage powerhouses presiding over it. If his deed of killing Elder Su were exposed, it would undoubtedly be a dead end, with no chance of survival. Therefore, the sooner he could leave, the sooner he would be safe.

Half a month later, on a wide official road, a man was galloping on a dark red steed. He was dressed in a green robe, with long hair cascading to his shoulders, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a rugged face. Slung across his back was a heavy sword, about a foot wide and five feet long. This person was none other than Zhang Tie, who had been away from the sect for half a month.

Due to the large amount of spirit stones required for his cultivation, Zhang Tie planned to head to the cultivation holy land of the Yan Fire Country.

He had learned from miscellaneous records that south of the Qin Kingdom lay the Southern Liang Country, which had three cultivation sects, one more than the Qin Kingdom. And beyond the Southern Liang Country, bordering it, was the Yan Fire Country.

This was because there was a massive fire-attribute spirit vein there, upon which a super sect, the Yan Fire Sect, was established. The Yan Fire Sect was also known as the Yan Yang Sect because its cultivation technique, the Yan Yang Art, was the foremost technique in the cultivation world. Furthermore, it was rumored to have Nascent Soul stage cultivators presiding over the sect.

In the Yan Fire Country, fire-attribute spirit veins were abundant and were divided into three grades: low, mid, and high.

Low-grade spirit veins could extend for dozens of miles, and only low-grade spirit stones could be mined from them. Mid-grade spirit veins, extending for hundreds of miles, could yield mid-grade spirit stones. As for high-grade spirit veins, they seemed to exist only in the spirit realm, stretching for thousands or even tens of thousands of miles, not only yielding high-grade spirit stones but occasionally supreme-grade spirit stones as well.

The exchange rate between spirit stones was calculated on a one-hundred basis.

For example, one mid-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for one hundred low-grade spirit stones. However, under normal circumstances, few were willing to exchange them for others, as higher-grade spirit stones could be absorbed and refined more quickly, potentially saving one's life in a battle.

Therefore, typically, one mid-grade spirit stone would be exchanged for around one hundred and ten low-grade spirit stones, and so on. Supreme-grade spirit stones were an exception, as they were not merely spirit stones but bordered on the category of treasures.

The Yan Fire Sect in the Yan Fire Country was built upon the only known mid-grade spirit vein, which extended for over six hundred miles. The Yan Fire Sect had been passed down on this spirit vein for over three thousand years.

According to the records in the miscellaneous writings, this sect was absolutely the foremost sect in the cultivation world.

In addition, the Yan Fire Country was vast, its area at least dozens of times larger than the Qin Kingdom. Low-grade spirit veins were scattered throughout the country, and there were dozens of cultivation sects with Core Formation stage powerhouses alone. It could truly be said that Core Formation cultivators were as common as dogs, and Foundation Establishment cultivators were even less valued.

Zhang Tie estimated that if he traveled to the Yan Fire Country on foot, it would take about three months. If he rode a horse, it would take at least two years. Therefore, Zhang Tie compromised by finding a horse when he got tired and continuing his journey after resting.

As Zhang Tie was pondering, he suddenly heard the sounds of intense fighting ahead. Zhang Tie moved closer and sensed carefully, realizing there were no spiritual energy fluctuations. He surmised it must be ordinary people fighting.

Zhang Tie approached and saw a dilapidated carriage, which besides some goods, also carried a mother and child.

A boy of six or seven was fearfully clinging to the woman, while a middle-aged man with short hair leaned against the carriage wheel, a slight trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

Opposite them stood two burly men, one bald and the other wearing a black headscarf, both holding long sabers. Beside them lay an old man with white hair, dressed in tattered clothes, lying motionless on the ground.

Seeing Zhang Tie approaching on horseback, these people all turned their heads. The bald man raised his saber and shouted at Zhang Tie, "I advise you to continue on your way and not meddle in other people's business!"

Zhang Tie's interest was instantly piqued. He dismounted and walked over. "We Jianghu knights-errant, when we see injustice, naturally draw our swords to help. How can that be called meddling in other people's business?!"

Zhang Tie said righteously, and with that, he suddenly struck out with a punch, hitting a willow tree that required one person to embrace its girth.

With a loud "boom," his fist penetrated the tree, and the ground trembled slightly.

The faces of the two burly men instantly turned pale. The one wearing the headscarf quickly stepped forward and said, "Great hero, please don't misunderstand. We are the victims. This morning, my old mother went out and didn't return for a long time. My brother and I came to find her and discovered she was seriously injured by their carriage. They tried to escape, so we stopped them, which led to the fight."

"That's not true, you're talking nonsense!" At this moment, the short-haired man leaning against the carriage wheel said urgently, "Great hero, we were traveling here and saw an old woman lying by the roadside, still crying for help. I went down to help her up. As soon as I helped her up, those two jumped out!"

"You're talking rubbish!" the bald man said fiercely. "You hit her, so why did you go to help her?! Don't say it was out of kindness; there are so many people coming and going, where would you find such a good person?"

The short-haired man was so choked by the retort that he couldn't speak for a moment.

Zhang Tie asked, "Then how do you want to resolve this?"

The bald man smiled. "Of course, it's fair and square. If he hit someone, he has to pay for my mother's medical expenses. She's so badly injured, she'll definitely be unable to take care of herself in the future. He or his wife will have to stay at our home to look after my mother."

"Is there another way?" Zhang Tie asked again.

"We can settle it privately, just give us a hundred taels of silver," the bald man replied.

"Which one do you choose?" Zhang Tie asked, looking at the short-haired man.

"Great hero, please. Save us. I have elderly parents and two children to raise. Choosing either one would be my death!" the man cried and begged.

"No one forced you to help, did they?" Zhang Tie asked.

"No," the man nodded.

"Since you chose to help of your own accord, you should accept all the consequences that come with it," Zhang Tie said calmly.

"Alright, both parties leave your addresses, prepare yourselves, and then let the authorities decide," Zhang Tie said unequivocally.

The short-haired man left his address and hurried away with the carriage. The bald man picked up the old woman, and the three prepared to return along a small path. Just then, a fireball flew towards them. Before the three could even scream, they were instantly burned to ashes.

Zhang Tie mounted his horse and continued to gallop along the official road.