River Demon in the River

Deep into the night, heaven and earth were ink-black, with only specks of moonlight spilling down to bring a little brightness.

"What was that?"

Chen Xuan's body tensed as he looked toward the mountainside. The sound seemed to have come from the grass there.

But there was nothing there. The night wind swept past, bending the weeds low. Nothing stirred.

"A wild beast? Or some passing ghost or monster?"

Chen Xuan was extremely cautious. He immediately retied the Over Mountain Treasure Fish and went over to inspect the area carefully. Only after confirming that there truly was no danger did he return to the mountain and continue processing the fish.

"Cold weather is the perfect time for fish soup."

The Over Mountain Treasure Fish was a rare flesh-and-blood elixir. Its scales were harder than refined iron and razor-sharp; the slightest carelessness would leave one's hand sliced open.

Chen Xuan wrapped the jade hairpin in White Qi and used its sharp aura to scrape every scale from the fish's body. The flesh beneath was snowy-white and delicate, filled with rich, surging spirituality. It looked as though it had been carved from jade, radiating a silvery-white glow and giving off a clear, enticing fragrance that made one's mouth water.

"What a nourishing medicine."

Chen Xuan cleaned the Over Mountain Treasure Fish, which weighed a full two pounds, and then tossed it into a pot of boiling water.

He sat beside the pot, patiently waiting as he began studying the newly acquired Little Green Deer Trick. He compared it with his other two tricks, analyzing and summarizing them.

The Yellow Millet True Scripture was of a higher level, but before cultivating it, he first needed to condense a strand of Green Qi.

Although Chen Xuan had committed it to memory through his powerful comprehension, the Yellow Millet True Scripture was simply too profound and difficult to understand.

In truth, the entire Yellow Millet Scripture had been written in Ancient Seal Script, and nearly half of the characters... he did not recognize. For the moment, he had no idea where to begin.

"I need a teacher who understands Ancient Seal Script," Chen Xuan thought.

"Gurgle, gurgle!"

Time slowly passed. The boiling water churned, and the entire pot of fish soup began to radiate silver light and a rich fragrance. After stewing for a full three or four hours, dawn had begun to brighten the horizon before Chen Xuan finally confirmed that the fish was thoroughly cooked and safe to eat.

"Tsk, it's truly delicious." After tasting the first bite, Chen Xuan's eyes lit up. This was no ordinary fish; its flavor was beyond imagination. The flesh melted in his mouth, a rare delicacy among the mountains and seas of the world.

After eating only a few mouthfuls, he felt warmth rising within him. The effect was immediate. The strength of his blood and qi rapidly began to boil.

"Whoosh!"

Chen Xuan exhaled a breath of cold air, then immediately began eating heartily. He quickly finished the fish, and finally drank the entire pot of soup down to the last drop, wasting nothing.

"The medicinal effect is fierce!"

Chen Xuan rose to his feet, feeling heat radiate through his entire body. He began practicing martial arts beneath the morning light. White mist curled around his skin, flowing with a faint silvery-white glow, while his flesh and blood brimmed with vigorous vitality.

Every punch and stance brought forth roaring Wind Thunder. He practiced for a full half-hour before the medicinal effects of the fish gradually faded.

"Eight thousand pounds."

Chen Xuan could clearly sense the changes in his physique. His strength had increased, his sinews and bones had grown sturdier, and his perception had become even sharper.

"During Feather Transformation, one can clearly feel oneself shedding the old body and gaining a new one, with one's physique advancing toward something stronger."

He sensed the vast energy of blood and qi surging through his body, a scene of flourishing vitality. Then he noticed his physical state gradually settling down, finally stabilizing completely.

After fifteen days, Chen Xuan completed his first Feather Transformation Path.

"Eight thousand pounds of strength. That's my limit."

If outsiders learned that Chen Xuan had reached this point, they would likely be struck dumb with astonishment. The number was simply too outrageous—fully two thousand pounds higher than that of the most outstanding genius in the territory of Red Crow City!

"Next, I'll continue cultivating my tricks, constantly accumulate strength, and prepare for my second Feather Transformation."

In the Feather Transformation realm, a Qi Refiner could undergo Feather Transformation at most three times, shedding the old body and gaining a new one each time. In the end, the body would be completely sublimated, opening the Dao Treasury within the human body and advancing to a higher level.

The morning light was faint. A clear breeze scattered the white mist, revealing ranges of green mountains stretching for ten thousand miles.

Li Han Song led the children and grandchildren of his clan into the Southern Wilderness Mountains, preparing to continue on to Small Stone Lake and make another grand attempt to catch Over Mountain Treasure Fish.

"Grandpa Patriarch, have you heard about that matter?"

A Li Family youth spoke in a low voice. "Green Deer Mountain has issued a bounty. They're hunting a Qi Refiner named Chen Xuan... I heard this Chen Xuan did something huge in the Southern Wilderness last night, ambushing and killing several Green Deer Mountain Disciples."

This had happened earlier that morning. Shen Lingfeng had entered Small River Village alone and issued a bounty with an extraordinarily generous reward, causing tremendous waves throughout the village.

Some astonishing news spread. Green Deer Mountain had actually been slapped in the face by a Rogue Cultivator named Chen Xuan! When many Qi Refiners heard it, they could hardly believe that anyone in the world could be so audacious.

Some Qi Refiners who had come from the direction of Willow Town had vaguely heard the name Chen Xuan. Later, they recounted what they had witnessed along the road to others, provoking an even more heated debate...

Li Han Song glanced at the youth and said sternly, "Don't let your imagination run wild. Anyone who dares oppose Green Deer Mountain must be a vicious lunatic who doesn't value his life. We shouldn't go looking for trouble."

The youth hurriedly said, "I know what's at stake. It's just that this Chen Xuan dared offend Green Deer Mountain. He's truly astonishing, just like Wang Chan, who made such a splash a few days ago. They're both remarkable heroes... Heh, I heard one of the Green Deer Mountain Disciples who died was named Wang Chan. There really are a lot of people with that name."

Some people guessed that Chen Xuan had attacked Green Deer Mountain because of that Wang Chan, who was also from Willow Town...

The youth sighed from the bottom of his heart. "More and more impressive figures have been flocking to the Southern Wilderness lately."

"Wang Chan? Just the same name. Neither of them is any good."

Li Han Song said coldly, "How can he compare with Chen Xuan? They're worlds apart. Wang Chan only dares rely on martial arts and techniques to show off before Rogue Cultivators. What kind of ability is that? Chen Xuan faced the notorious Green Deer Mountain. That is what a true hero should do... But you mustn't imitate Chen Xuan, either. Once he leaves the Southern Wilderness Mountains, Green Deer Mountain will kill him."

The youth was rendered speechless. He knew that Grandpa Patriarch looked down on that Wang Chan in particular. He could vaguely guess part of the real reason, but he did not dare say anything more.

Just as he was about to change the subject, his gaze suddenly froze. He hurriedly whispered, "Grandpa Patriarch, that, that Wang Chan..."

A figure appeared around the bend in the mountain road, walking straight toward them.

Chen Xuan had spotted the Li Family's group long ago. There are still four corpses at Small Stone Lake. I wonder how they'll react when they see them later.

Li Han Song stopped, a kindly, friendly smile appearing on his face. He took the initiative to greet him. "Fellow Daoist Wang, heading back to Small River Village? You must have had quite the harvest last night..."

"Mm, just a little..."

Chen Xuan nodded in greeting. Since they were not familiar with each other, he answered perfunctorily a couple of times before walking straight past them.

Li Han Song kept smiling until Chen Xuan's back had completely disappeared. Then his smile faded, and he turned to lecture the gathered clansmen:

"This man returned empty-handed. He must have encountered people from Green Deer Mountain at Small Stone Lake last night and been driven away after a scolding, taking a hard fall... Heh, look at how dejected he is. He didn't even have the energy to speak with others, so he must have suffered a blow to the heart... In the future, you must keep your feet on the ground when doing things. You must never lose your fighting spirit just because you suffer a setback."

"..."

Everyone looked at one another, speechless.

The Li Family continued onward. Not long afterward, Small Stone Lake appeared ahead, and a gruesome, blood-soaked scene strewn with multiple corpses was about to enter their view...

Mountain peaks rose high, layer upon layer. The narrow path twisted and turned, while a river meandered through the cracks between the peaks. Willows along the bank swayed in the wind, resembling a painted scroll.

As Chen Xuan walked north along the mountain road, he adjusted the rhythm of his breathing. The Yellow Millet Dream was dead, and he was attempting to cultivate the breathing method recorded in the Yellow Millet True Scripture.

This was the Twelve Spiritual Qi Breathing Method that Wang Chan had written in the characters of Chu. Chen Xuan had compared it with the Yellow Millet True Scripture, and there should be no errors. He could try practicing it first... He was not planning to immediately abandon the Mystic Cat Breathing Method of the Small Underworld. Rather, he believed that one should not put all one's eggs in the same basket...

"Whoosh!"

Chen Xuan exhaled mist as he admired the scenery along the way, his mood tranquil.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened. He looked toward the shadowy stream beside the road, where ripples spread across the surface as though something were swimming beneath the water.

"A big fish?"

Chen Xuan wondered if he had run into another good thing. But in the next instant, his eyes widened.

"Splash!"

Ripples spread through the river, surging toward the bank. Then a woman crawled out of the river channel.

She was not very old and wore only a thin blue-black dress. She was soaked from head to toe, the garment clinging to the curves of her body and becoming nearly transparent. Her snowy-white skin appeared and disappeared beneath the black silk dress.

Her legs were beautiful and slender, and her bare feet emerged from the river. With her delicate waist half-bent, she stepped into the wet mud. She lifted her head slightly, a pair of clear, bright eyes—yet soft and foxlike—turning toward the road ahead.

Her gaze met Chen Xuan's.

"..."

"..."

Chen Xuan knitted his brows. In this barren wilderness, a breathtakingly beautiful girl had suddenly crawled out of the river...

This probably isn't anything good!