Under the Mountain

On an unnamed hill somewhere below Mount Hua.

The White Snake coiled motionlessly on the mountaintop, unable to escape, it could only accept its fate. Facing the Heavenly Tribulation with no way to avoid it, the only option was to fight to the death. If it survived, a boundless future awaited; if it failed, death was certain, with no chance of even returning to the novice village campsite.

The clouds overhead churned with dark masses, as if ready to unleash their fury at any moment.

Xu Ling glanced fearfully at the sky. Even for low-level spirits undergoing tribulation, it was no easy feat. The immense heavenly might felt like a warning to any cultivator who dared to defy the heavens.

Ants and mice frantically moved away from the storm's center, and birds and beasts had long since vanished without a trace.

Several tents had been set up near the hill. Xu Ling and the other female disciples were staying in the tents, enjoying desserts and roasted meat as if on a spring outing. Yang Mu sat alone on a tree, meditating. The other male disciples were either finding spots to meditate and cultivate or moving about. The area below the mountain was actually quite lively, especially with a town just like any other worldly town situated beside the road leading to Mount Hua, offering all sorts of food, drink, and entertainment.

The anomaly in the sky attracted much attention...

A group of five or six cultivators arrived near the hill using their Qinggong. They spotted the motionless White Snake on the mountaintop and also noticed the disciples from Chunyang Palace.

They specialized in capturing or hunting demonic beasts to exchange for cultivation resources. Their most common practice was to seek out demonic beasts undergoing tribulation and then wait for an opportunity to pick up the spoils.

"Senior Brother, that White Snake is very rare. If we capture it after its tribulation, it will fetch a high price."

One cultivator was overjoyed. A higher selling price meant a better commission for them. While demonic beasts undergoing tribulation were common, a White Snake was a rare sight, especially one with white scales as fine and smooth as jade.

"Strange, a demonic beast dares to undergo tribulation below Mount Hua. If we hadn't passed by, we wouldn't have seen it. And what are those Chunyang Palace disciples doing there?"

"Could they also be trying to catch the demonic beast?"

"Doesn't seem like it."

A young cultivator, who looked to be in his early twenties, raised his hand to stop the discussion. He looked at the White Snake with a greedy expression and then, with confusion, at the Chunyang Palace disciples. After a moment's thought, he walked alone towards Xu Ling and the others.

Yang Mu opened his eyes, looked at the approaching cultivator with a blank expression, and then gently floated down, standing in front of Xu Ling.

Xu Ling and the other female cultivators glanced at the approaching cultivators but paid them no further attention. Yang Mu was more than capable of handling the interaction. As for anyone daring to cause trouble here, it was even less likely. Although it was below the mountain, it was still Chunyang Palace territory. The status of Chunyang Palace in the cultivation world was self-evident.

"Greetings, fellow Daoists of Chunyang. I am Zheng Yong, here to vanquish demons and eliminate evil. I pay my respects to you all."

Zheng Yong spoke cordially, leaving no room for criticism. Unfortunately, standing opposite him was the perpetually icy Yang Mu, who merely cast a disdainful glance at Zheng Yong.

The meaning behind his expression was clear: did Chunyang Palace need outsiders to vanquish demons and eliminate evil even at the foot of their mountain?

"The snake belongs to our Chunyang Palace."

With that, Yang Mu closed his eyes.

"Ah? Is that so? Would you be willing to transfer it to us? A fine snake skin is worth..." Before he could finish.

"Scram."

Yang Mu uttered the word "scram" indifferently, with extreme arrogance.

Zheng Yong was stunned, and then a surge of anger welled up inside him. Since when did Chunyang Palace start keeping demonic beasts? Could this brat be tricking me? How dare he look down on me at such a young age! Unpleasant thoughts began to brew in his mind. Having spent years in the cultivation world, he knew that one couldn't stand firm without ruthlessness.

Perhaps his killing intent was too obvious, as Yang Mu opened his eyes and looked coldly at Zheng Yong, his sword behind him humming faintly.

Zheng Yong felt a jolt of urgency and quickly suppressed his thoughts.

"Then I shall not disturb you further. I bid you farewell."

Before things could escalate, Zheng Yong quickly left. Whether he genuinely intended to fight or was just putting on a show, he couldn't be too ostentatious. This was within the scope of Mount Hua. If he truly provoked those powerful figures of Chunyang, not only would his own backing be unable to protect him, but his backing might even be uprooted.

Returning to his companions, Zheng Yong felt disgruntled. The envy and jealousy he felt towards the cultivators of the great sects transformed into intense hatred. Reason told him not to stir up more trouble, but his heart was in turmoil.

"Boss, are those Daoists going to interfere?"

"Don't ask too many questions, let's go!"

From a distance, Yang Mu watched the group of cultivators disappear with a cold gaze. He didn't know whether to call them bold or foolish. They dared to set their sights on the demonic snake kept by one of the Chunyang Five Luminaries. It seemed Chunyang Palace had not displayed its might in the world for a long time.

Meanwhile, Zheng Yong led his companions to the town at the foot of Mount Hua. They entered an inn and pushed open a room door, finding a handsome young man around twenty years old.

"Senior Brother Lin, the one undergoing tribulation over there is a White Snake demon, but... those Chunyang Daoists are guarding it and preventing us from acting. They even claimed it's their demonic beast. They're just a bunch of kids, Senior Brother Lin, why don't we..." Zheng Yong made a throat-slitting gesture.

The young man's face broke into a smile filled with mockery upon hearing this.

"Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"I... I... I'll never mention it again." Zheng Yong broke out in a cold sweat.

"You won't dare? Hmph, why didn't you make a move? If even you dared to harbor killing intent, they must be young disciples with low cultivation. You wanted to kill them to vent your anger, but I want their cultivation techniques even more. Everyone knows Chunyang cultivation techniques are the best in the world. They publicly offer some fake manuals to fool us, but in reality, there are hidden secrets. As the saying goes, you can't catch a tiger cub without entering its den. If you want to get rich overnight, you have to take risks. Not only must you act, but your target must be those inner sect true disciples!"

The young cultivator's demeanor was almost frenzied. Zheng Yong was stunned. He hadn't expected Senior Brother Lin to be even crazier than himself...

After their plotting, the group of cultivators headed straight for the unnamed hill.

Seeking wealth in danger was indeed true, and it was also true that if one doesn't live for oneself, heaven and earth will destroy them. These people were driven to madness for their cultivation, resorting to any means for magical treasures, elixirs, and cultivation techniques. As for heavenly principles, power was the principle. Only by living could one possess everything; death meant nothing. Those who embarked on the path of cultivation cherished their lives even more, or rather, few of them were truly sane.

Cultivation itself was an act of defying heaven and fighting for a sliver of survival. Now, this young cultivator named Lin was fighting for that sliver of fortune. Regardless of success or failure, he would have no regrets in the future.

However, ambushing core disciples outside the gates of Chunyang Palace was indeed somewhat inconceivable. Perhaps it was a case of "the light shines brightest under the lamp."

At the mountain gate, senior disciples guarding Chunyang Palace sat in meditation, motionless. Birds even landed on their heads to preen their feathers. Suddenly, one of them opened his eyes and looked down the mountain. His figure flickered, and he vanished from his spot, leaving only startled birds flapping their wings as they flew away.

A beam of sword light sliced through the sky, a sword-wielding flight.

The hill.

The White Snake had been motionless for three days. The dark clouds overhead had turned pitch black, making it difficult to breathe. The White Snake, having slept for a long time, awoke, understanding that the Heavenly Tribulation was imminent.

Due to its unique physical structure, snakes' eyes remain open even when sleeping. Xu Ling and the others had always believed the White Snake was diligently cultivating and improving its power, but the truth was that it was sleeping. Snake pupils have a transparent corneal layer to protect the eyeball, which is shed along with the skin and then regrows. Snakes do not need to blink at all.

It raised its snake head to look at the sky.

Although its eyes could not see far, the White Snake could sense the immense power. Facing life and death, the fierce, bloodthirsty instincts buried deep within its soul were ignited. If it couldn't dodge, it would charge forward. Even in death, it would let heaven know that there was a small, humble, and fearless snake on earth!

Xu Ling and Yang Mu looked at the White Snake. In that instant, it seemed as if the White Snake was no longer the gluttonous, sneaky White Snake, but a true ferocious beast