Expert of the Houtian Realm

The gentle patter of rain outside the window reminded Li Mo of his days as an apprentice in Hua'an Town.

He couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

With the arrival of the summer flood season this year, Li Mo's frequency of entering the ethereal dreamscape had significantly increased. Coupled with his strenuous cultivation over the past six months, he could clearly feel himself growing stronger.

Deep in his heart, he missed Xiao Man a little.

This heart-wrenching longing had transformed into the driving force for Li Mo to constantly improve himself, to be unsatisfied with the status quo, and to constantly change it.

"It's almost over."

He forced his eyes shut.

The conflict between the two gangs had ended, and he had fulfilled his promise to Wang Ying, keeping his word. He planned to probe Wang Ying again in a while to ask about the conspiracy and trap she had mentioned.

That day.

While practicing his backward dodge, Li Mo noticed chaos at the entrance of the mountain stronghold.

He followed the people rushing out of the stronghold and saw a giant, nine feet tall, standing at the gate of the Pingshan Society. He held Little Arhat Han Kui by the neck with one hand, easily lifting him over his head.

Beside them lay four petty thieves, unable to move. The rest dared not approach.

This greatly surprised Li Mo.

Other group leaders rushing out of the stronghold also showed solemn expressions. Han Kui's martial arts were considered top-tier among the Pingshan Society's group leaders.

It wasn't until the two leaders, Bloodface Lion Gao Po and Greenface Tiger Gao Zhen, arrived that the crowd finally found a backbone.

The Gao Brothers looked at the man exuding such pressure.

"Who are you?"

This nine-foot-tall man wore a leather cloak, his temples were already silver-white, and he carried a slightly exaggerated saber on his back, a proud sneer on his face.

"Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon, Tai Shou."

"What!"

The Gao Brothers and several older group leaders exclaimed in disbelief.

Seeing that Wu She also seemed to know this person, Li Mo asked in a low voice.

"Who is this?"

"Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon Tai Shou. Over a decade ago, he almost unified the Eighteen Mountains, which led to a crackdown by the authorities. He then disappeared. After that, the various mountain strongholds became independent. The Gao Brothers took over the Pingshan Society later. I didn't expect him to still be in Gan State."

Wang Ying mused beside him.

"The war between Gan State and Lu Country has not truly ended, and Gan State still needs to govern the vast territories it has annexed. The Muzhou Heaven's Mandate Bureau naturally doesn't have the energy to deal with this area. This old senior might have learned of this news and rushed back from Xia Kingdom."

The crowd discussed this.

Li Mo didn't know if this change was good or bad.

However, this Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon Tai Shou was a first-class martial artist who had cultivated Inner Strength over a decade ago. His strength must be extraordinary.

Bloodface Lion Gao Po cupped his fists and stepped forward.

"So it's Elder Tai. May I ask the reason for your esteemed visit? Please release Group Leader Han first. Otherwise, if a misunderstanding arises, even with your profound Inner Strength, we have over three hundred men here. How could you possibly kill us all?"

Little Arhat Han Kui was already foaming at the mouth and on the verge of death in Tai Shou's hands.

Tai Shou let out a cold laugh.

He threw Han Kui twenty feet away and then clapped his hands.

"This old man needs to stay at your stronghold for a while. Prepare the best room for me. Also, go and notify all the mountain strongholds of the Eighteen Mountains to prepare tribute silver for this old man. One tael per person per mountain. Otherwise, don't blame this old man for being ruthless."

With that said.

The Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon drew the exaggerated saber from his back and swung it at a boulder ten feet away.

With a "boom," a white light flashed, and a沟痕 half a foot deep appeared on the boulder. Everyone present was greatly alarmed.

"Blade Qi, that's Blade Qi!"

Wu She's mouth felt dry. He had completely confirmed the other party's identity.

Li Mo's eyelids twitched involuntarily.

The other party could exert force from a distance, leaving a saber mark on the boulder. No wonder those who cultivated Inner Strength could single-handedly deal with large beasts in the forest.

This was indeed not a rumor.

Although he didn't know how long the other party's Inner Strength could last, it was likely that killing a few second-rate martial artists who hadn't cultivated Inner Strength wouldn't be a big problem.

Li Mo knew that without a disciplined army advancing wave after wave, the petty thieves of the Eighteen Mountains would scatter like birds and beasts when facing such a master, even if surrounded, as long as he unleashed his thunderous methods and killed a few leaders.

This place had never been one for discipline, and it was impossible for the situation Gao Po described to occur, where everyone would charge forward and exhaust his Inner Strength to kill him.

Unless this person committed a grave sin that angered heaven and man.

As an old-time bandit of the Eighteen Mountains, Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon Tai Shou naturally understood the rules of the martial world here.

He had another purpose for coming and wouldn't stay long, so he didn't want to antagonize the Gao Brothers too much, thus stating his conditions.

The Gao Brothers breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing his demands.

"It is our greatest pleasure to welcome Senior Tai Shou to our small village."

Seeing this, the members of the Pingshan Society could only follow behind the various gang leaders and escort the Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon, Tai Shou, into the Hall of United Assembly, treating him as an honored guest.

For the next half month.

The leaders of the various mountain strongholds in the Eighteen Mountains successively sent people to the Pingshan Society to pay their respects to the Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon.

While they called it paying respects, it was actually to confirm this person's identity.

The Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon was well aware of this. He continuously displayed his extraordinary skills, not only deterring these scouts but also making the members of the Pingshan Society dare not act rashly, only able to serve him diligently.

Li Mo had witnessed the Blade Qi techniques of this Postnatal realm expert multiple times.

He had to admit that facing such a person, with his current strength, would undoubtedly mean certain death. He truly lived up to his reputation as a first-class martial arts master.

At the same time, Li Mo made some deductions. This Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon, even among first-class experts, would not be an unknown figure. After all, he had cultivated Inner Strength over a decade ago. Now, his power was unfathomable, and splitting tigers and leopards with his bare hands was no longer a challenge.

However, the bandits on the Eighteen Mountains were not to be trifled with. Naturally, no one was willing to hand over their Silver for nothing. The various mountain strongholds repeatedly made excuses to refuse. This Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon's progress in plundering silver was quite slow.

"Hmph, you refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"

Tai Shou gradually lost his patience.

After leaving the Pingshan Society, he launched a series of surprise attacks, killing two mountain stronghold leaders. Subsequently, the various strongholds finally became fearful and continuously sent people to deliver silver. After all, Tai Shou's conditions were not too harsh, and no one wanted to provoke such a malevolent star.

Even the Pingshan Society was not exempt from the tribute silver.

Fortunately, the Pingshan Society was quite wealthy at this time. A mere three hundred taels of Silver would not cripple them.

In a short period, the various mountain strongholds sent four to five thousand taels of Silver to the Pingshan Society.

Then, the Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon, Tai Shou, actually cleared out the cave where the Hall of United Assembly was located. After setting up an altar, he inserted some stones into the grooves of the altar. Consequently, fierce flames erupted from the altar, and he shut himself in, refusing to come out.

Thus.

The chaos in the Pingshan Society finally came to an end.

Li Mo found Jade Fox and once again asked her about the so-called conspiracy and traps. He was gradually losing his patience.

Jade Fox led him to the outside of the cave of the Hall of United Assembly. Peering at the raging flames within, her face showed excitement.

"That is Spirit Fire ignited by Spirit Stones."

Seeing Li Mo's confusion, Wang Ying explained briefly.

"Spirit Stones are the currency of cultivators, containing incredible power. It is said that martial arts masters who have mastered cultivation techniques can achieve twice the result with half the effort in cultivating Inner Strength if they hold Spirit Stones while comprehending their techniques."

Upon hearing this, Li Mo could not help but be moved.

However, he had not forgotten the purpose of his visit. The other party was beating around the bush, and this feeling of being strung along made him very unhappy. During this time, he felt that he was getting closer and closer to the Great Perfection of the Three-Way Swordplay.

This feeling was very peculiar.

It was as if something within him was about to break free from its shackles, and his entire being was filled with energy.

The Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon inside the cave suddenly burst into laughter. He conjured a furnace as if performing a magic trick and placed it on the altar. He then continuously threw the tribute silver collected from the various mountain strongholds into the furnace. Instantly, the cave was brightly lit, as if it were daytime.

"I know, he's refining Silver Essence!"

Immediately after, Jade Fox Wang Ying noticed more tribute silver being delivered to the mountain stronghold. Her eyes darted around, and she looked at Li Mo with a coquettish demeanor.

"Little brother, it's still a long way until the Dragon Boat Festival next year, don't be in a hurry. After this matter is over, I will tell you that secret, and you will definitely be grateful to me!"

With that said.

Wang Ying slowly got up and walked towards the people escorting the tribute silver, personally escorting it into the cave.

Li Mo sighed, realizing he had no choice but to accept. He then turned and left.

A moment later.

The people escorting the tribute silver left, but Wang Ying remained in the cave. Frequent sounds of laughter and joy emanated from within. This made Green-faced Tiger Gao Zhen, who was also secretly observing, grit his teeth.

"You slutty fox, I'll deal with you later, hmph!"

Days passed.

The members of the Pingshan Society had gradually become accustomed to the Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon occupying the cave of the Hall of United Assembly.

This former expert of the Eighteen Mountains, after extorting a large sum of tribute silver, rarely left the cave of the Hall of United Assembly. Every day, he stared at his broken furnace, busy with something unknown.

Until the third day of the second lunar month.

A tense, flustered, and excited voice came from the cave of the Hall of United Assembly.

"Four qian of Silver Essence, finally gathered! Haha, I've succeeded! Next, I can... Hmm? Who are you!"

After a short shout, a series of explosions echoed from within the cave.

The various gang leaders and members of the Pingshan Society rushed out of their rooms.

They saw two figures fighting from inside the cave all the way to the outside. One of them was undoubtedly the Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon, Tai Shou, but the other person was actually a petty thief who had only joined the gang half a month ago.

"Isn't that Zhang Tiedan!"

"He, how could he..."

Those who recognized Zhang Tiedan were all dumbfounded.

Zhang Tiedan's hands moved in a constant series of hand seals. His flying sword, like a swimming dragon, forced the Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon, Tai Shou, to retreat and defend. Even though Tai Shou's Blade Qi was sharp enough to easily split a tree as thick as a bowl in two, it couldn't get close to Zhang Tiedan. He was continuously pushed back by the flying sword.

"A cultivator?"

Someone exclaimed.

No one dared to approach the battle between the two.

Following that, Zhang Tiedan let out a low shout, and two fireballs shot out. With two loud booms, debris and wood chips flew everywhere, leaving two large craters on the ground.

The astonishing power made everyone who witnessed the scene gasp in shock.

However, the Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon, Tai Shou, leaped back as if a dragonfly skimming water, successfully dodging the magical attack with his Qinggong. His eyes showed a look of solemnity.

His Inner Strength and Blade Qi were naturally invincible against ordinary people, but when dealing with cultivators who mastered various immortal techniques, his methods were too simplistic. He was easily controlled and toyed with by his opponent.

At this moment.

A Spirit Talisman appeared in Zhang Tiedan's hand.

After a short incantation, the Spirit Talisman flashed and transformed into a blazing fire spear, shooting towards the Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon, Tai Shou, who was still entangled with the flying sword. Although the fire spear was once again forced back by the Nine Rivers Thunder Dragon's astonishing Blade Qi, the flying sword, which had been circling and fighting, flashed with spiritual light and pierced through Tai Shou's chest from behind.

"You're from the Heavenly Talisman Sect."

Tai Shou, his chest soaked in blood, looked desperate and unwilling. His body suddenly collapsed with a bang.

Zhang Tiedan's gaze was indifferent; he did not respond to Tai Shou.

He was very cautious. Only after controlling his flying sword to dismember the body, confirming that the notorious bandit was completely dead, did he perform hand seals to transform the flying sword and fire spear, which were still in the air, back into two Spirit Talismans and put them away.

Next, he took out a token.

"This is the Heavenly Mandate Bureau conducting official business. All idlers, step aside!"

The members of the Pingshan Society held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

Zhang Tiedan ignored the members of the Pingshan Society, looking at them as if they were ants by the roadside. He dealt with everything himself and swaggered away from the Pingshan Society. Only then did the crowd snap back to reality.