The Hidden Devil King

Three Mountains City is located in the southeastern part of Qinghe Prefecture, considered quite remote. The entire city domain is a maze of overlapping mountain ranges, with three peaks being the most famous, hence the name Three Mountains City.

These three peaks are called Shubi Peak, Yuheng Peak, and Feilai Peak.

The people of this city domain, due to poverty and isolation, are often disparagingly called Mountain Barbarians. Many cannot even afford shoes; they traverse mountains and ridges barefoot as if on flat ground.

As long as the Three Mountains City contingent arrives, this year's Three Cities Dao Discussion can officially begin, because the Wangjiang City group entered the city a day early.

Geographically speaking, the straight-line distance from Three Mountains City is slightly farther, but not by much. However, traveling from Wangjiang City to Maple Forest City is extremely convenient by water. Taking a boat downstream along the Qing River and then turning into the tributary Green Willow River, if the wind is favorable, one can even depart in the morning and arrive by evening.

But walking from Three Mountains City to Maple Forest City, at a commoner's pace, takes about three or four days... and that's with the benefit of the official road.

It's not that the students not participating in the discussion can rest; during the entire Three Cities Dao Discussion, they still need to assist the authorities in maintaining order. Newly promoted disciples like Ling He and Zhao Rucheng have even less chance to slack off.

Under these circumstances, even a portion of the City Guard has been deployed into the city, so they have little to complain about.

The Three Mountains City team was definitely entering through the South Gate, so after receiving the notice, they had been waiting early at the South Gate entrance to welcome them.

"How much longer do we have to wait?" Zhao Rucheng yawned widely. "If I knew I'd still be stuck here in the end, I would have just competed myself. Why did I give my spot to Third Brother?"

At this moment, Jiang Wang was at home recuperating under the legitimate excuse of preparing for the competition. Meanwhile, those of them who didn't have to compete had already been patrolling as little soldiers for three days. Such was the disparity in treatment.

"Alas." Huang Azhan also shook his head. "I saw that Senior Brother Zhang was getting on in years and felt a moment of softness. Otherwise, I should have been the team leader. How did I end up wasting time with you kids!"

As a third-year student, no matter how much he bragged, he should have stopped at Li Jianqiu. But he jumped straight to the fifth-year level, aiming directly for the team leader position. One could only say that the art of boasting knows no bounds.

Zhao Rucheng and Ling He both turned to look at him, casting approving glances.

"Is that so?"

Just as Huang Azhan was puzzled, a faint voice continued from behind him: "Am I really that old?"

Huang Azhan nearly jumped out of his skin. "What I meant was... Senior Brother Zhang is highly respected!"

Zhang Linchuan stood about two steps behind him, a faint smile playing on his lips. "For the greater good of all Maple Forest City, how could you let your heart soften? Why don't you take back the team leader position..."

"Aiya!" Huang Azhan exclaimed with dramatic inflection. "Why does my stomach hurt so much?"

"Forgive me, fellow senior and junior brothers, I'll be right back." He clutched his stomach with a pained expression, hunched over, and scurried away.

As for coming back, naturally, he wouldn't. He'd rather face punishment from the academy and have his Dao Merit deducted.

Zhao Rucheng curled his lip. He himself was just talking big for the thrill, but this Huang Azhan was asking for trouble. It seemed that with Du Tiger gone, they hadn't been drinking enough.

"Senior Brother Zhang." Ling He, being of a proper disposition, first bowed to his senior brother, then asked, "Why are you here?"

Zhang Linchuan nodded in return. "The discussion is imminent; I need to observe the enemy's situation."

It seemed that Dong A had indeed put a lot of pressure on him, making him, who valued cleanliness and order, willing to squeeze into a crowd to observe the "enemy's situation."

In fact, quite a few commoners were also crowded near the South Gate. Compared to the wealthy folks from Wangjiang City, they were more interested in the so-called Mountain Barbarians.

"They're here!"

A commotion arose from the front—the students from the Three Mountains City Daoist Academy had finally arrived.

Unlike the Wangjiang City cultivators, who came with a retinue of servants as if on an outing, Three Mountains City only sent six people. The quota for each city's participants in the discussion was exactly six.

They entered through the South Gate in a formation of one, three, and two.

People almost immediately looked at their feet. It was said that every Mountain Barbarian family owned only one pair of shoes, worn only by those traveling far.

And they were not disappointed. The girl walking at the very front of the Three Mountains City group was barefoot.

This kind of scrutinizing, discriminatory gaze was undoubtedly unpleasant. So Ling He immediately stepped forward.

"Friends from Three Mountains City! Ling He of Maple Forest City Daoist Academy has been waiting for some time. Please follow me; let's first go to the academy to rest and have a meal. Later, I'll take you to familiarize yourselves with the discussion venue."

Normally, the third-year student Huang Azhan should have been the one responsible for welcoming the Three Mountains City guests. But the supervising teacher, citing his poor image, had designated Ling He instead. And Ling He's sincerity indeed made him well-suited for the task.

The Three Mountains City group hadn't even had time to feel offended before they were already following Ling He away.

To Zhao Rucheng's surprise, the commoners crowded near the city gate focused more on the rotund, portly figure in the middle of the Three Mountains City team.

Unlike the others' simple, neat outfits, he wore a hooded black robe, his entire face hidden beneath the hood, which made him seem especially strange and eye-catching.

Zhao Rucheng could even hear some people's comments.

"Is that their strongest?"

"No doubt about it. Standing in that position of prominence, look at that aura!"

"He looks terrifying."

"Our Maple Forest City needs to be on guard!"

"What's there to fear? Zhang Linchuan of the Zhang family isn't someone to mess with!"

"I think he's a vegetarian... Last time he came to our tavern, he didn't even touch the bear paws, just ate a few bites of greens. I was the one serving them!"

The topic gradually drifted off course...

As for the little girl walking at the very front of the Three Mountains City team, she seemed far too harmless. Even if she was indeed beautiful, petite, and cute. But after all, the world of cultivators was a cruel one; only true strength earned respect.

As part of the welcoming party, Zhao Rucheng also made small talk with the Three Mountains City cultivators. But these people were rather taciturn, and they were very careful about maintaining their formation, firmly guarding that black-robed figure in the center, as if afraid someone might study their secret magical artifact.

Young Master Zhao tried to squeeze in a few times, pretending to be casual, but failed each time, so he gave up.

He did notice, however, that as the commoners by the roadside gossiped, the expressions on these Three Mountains City cultivators' faces... were all somewhat strange.

Zhang Linchuan was not with them; he merely squeezed through the crowd to watch for a few moments before leaving.

Amid Ling He's enthusiastic introductions and the barefoot girl's terse, sparing responses, the group veered right, heading toward the Daoist Academy.

The barefoot girl suddenly stopped, her gaze shifting toward a tavern on the street.

On the second floor of the tavern, a young man with a refined, scholarly face stood by the window. One hand behind his back, the other raised a cup in a distant, casual toast toward the barefoot girl, revealing an impeccable smile.

The barefoot girl looked straight ahead and continued forward without turning.

But Ling He recognized him.

That was the leader of Wangjiang City's delegation for this debate, and also the first on the Wangjiang City Daoist Academy's Dao Merit Board—Lin Zhengren!

Thank you to reader Uriel 123 for the patron reward! (The first patron of Chixin Skywalker! Let me hang around the new book rankings for a few days, and I'll definitely make up three extra chapters as thanks!) Thank you to readers Deer Language Time, Ye Songsong, and Huang Azhan for their tips!