Setting Off

Early the next morning, the group washed up, ate some of the dry rations they had brought, and returned to the village to find a Shumiao to act as their guide. Although this guide was a local Miao man, he was intimately familiar with the nearby terrain and the legends of the Mengdong River. Furthermore, having once followed merchant caravans, he was quite proficient in the Han language and their cultural lore.

Chen Yulou lied to the guide, claiming that his group had heard that Bottle Mountain was steep and majestic, a rare wonder of the world, and now that they were traveling through, they wished to pay it a visit.

The mountain dweller, coveting the large bags of salt Chen Yulou offered, immediately agreed. He led the group through dense forests and over rugged paths, climbing cliffs and crawling through caves, traversing a great distance across mountains and rivers.

Setting off at dawn, they walked until nearly noon, when the red sun hung high in the sky, finally reaching a precarious cliff on Old Bear Ridge.

"Damn it, we finally made it. I'm exhausted."

Luo Laowai had been a hardy man in his youth, but having lived in the lap of luxury these past few years, he was unaccustomed to such hardships.

Lu Yan glanced at Luo Laowai, shook his head, and looked down at the surrounding mountain ranges from the vantage point of the ancient cliff dwelling.

As far as the eye could see, endless mountain peaks stretched into the distance, standing tall between heaven and earth, vast and boundless.

Among them, Bottle Mountain resembled an ancient, tilted jar with a wide belly. Its terrain was a miracle of nature; surrounded by layers of peaks and green ridges, several patches of white mist rose, with iridescent colors flickering faintly within the vapor.

"Hey, stop putting on an act."

"See anything?"

Lu Yan bumped his shoulder against Chen Yulou, who stood with his hands behind his back, looking inscrutable.

Chen Yulou gave Lu Yan a helpless look, turned around, and said, "The mountain terrain holds and conceals, the soil is firm and thick; the earth's veins are high, and the water flows in winding paths. This place is undoubtedly a treasure trove, but from this height, one cannot discern the entrance to the ancient tomb. We must get closer to take a look."

"Then what are we waiting for? My treasures are waiting for me."

Luo Laowai gazed at the auspicious aura of Bottle Mountain, fantasizing about the countless riches within. He was already impatient and could wait no longer.

"Gentlemen, you cannot go there. A hundred years ago, an earthquake cracked the Bottle Mountain tomb. Many grave robbers and bandits tried to get rich inside, but the tomb is buried with a Corpse King. Every one who went in died. You are all honest businessmen; why go to such a vicious place for no reason..."

The guide was a local mountain dweller who had grown up hearing the eerie legends of Bottle Mountain; how could he dare to approach it?

Luo Laowai, long since impatient, kicked the guide to the ground and pointed his pistol at him. "Damn it, you're going whether you like it or not, or I'll blow your brains out."

Although Lu Yan, Chen Yulou, and the others disapproved of Luo Laowai's overbearing banditry, both sides were merely using each other. Besides, the guide was still useful, so they allowed Luo Laowai to keep the Shumiao under guard as they prepared to head to the fissures of Bottle Mountain.

Circling down the mountain, the group passed the mountain pass and arrived at a deep ravine.

Where there was soil, the trees were tall and the grass dense; where there was no soil, there were only dark green boulders. Chen Yulou's technique of observing soil marks and grass colors could not be applied here, so he walked to the edge of the ravine and had Luo Laowai fire a few shots into its depths, employing the Mountain Listening Dragon Technique.

Chen Yulou had possessed extraordinary senses since childhood. Now, as he listened intently, his ears twitching, he deciphered the general structure of the ravine floor through the echoes. He turned around, confident, and said, "There is a sizable underground palace below. We can descend from here."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go back and gather the brothers!"

Luo Laowai's face twisted with excitement as he shoved the guide back the way they came.

"Let's go."

Chen Yulou and the others, along with Lu Yan, followed quickly, heading back toward the Coffin Gathering in the mountains.

Walking side by side with Chen Yulou, Lu Yan studied him for a moment and said with a smile, "Brother Chen's senses are truly astonishing. You must have a high innate spiritual power; you are quite the talent."

Chen Yulou's expression shifted, as if thinking of something, and he asked curiously, "What do you mean by that?"

Lu Yan did not stop, brushing aside the thorns blocking their path as he continued.

"All cultivation methods in the world generally boil down to essence, energy, and spirit. My Arcanist path focuses on the spirit. Most apprentices who are enlightened are those with high innate spiritual power, making them more sensitive to energy."

Chen Yulou nodded, suppressing the urge to ask for tutelage, and replied, "Then those without high spiritual power lack the aptitude and cannot cultivate?"

"Not necessarily. Some rare treasures can enhance one's spiritual power, but such items are never enough for those who have them. Without any connection, who would give them to you? In any case, one can always find those with good aptitude."

"I see."

Chen Yulou nodded in realization. He seemed to want to say more but ultimately remained silent.

Descending the mountain was harder than climbing it. By the time the group returned to the Coffin Gathering, the sky had already grown dim. Chen Yulou had Luo Laowai write a transfer order, stamped it with his seal, and told Kunlun to leave the mountains before dark to bring up the main force.

Chen Yulou and the others used the "dead man's inn" as a temporary command post, offering suggestions and planning the various arrangements for the tomb raid.

Lu Yan sat in the distance, yawning out of boredom. Too lazy to join in their excitement, he sank his consciousness into the Stone Bead.

This was his first time traveling through time, and Lu Yan truly lacked experience. He hadn't expected that, in addition to the massive amount of unknown energy consumed during the jump, he would also consume energy every moment he spent in this alternate dimension.

He had originally hoped to stay for a longer time, but based on the remaining energy, he feared he wouldn't last a month.

"Time is running out. The matter of Bottle Mountain must be settled as soon as possible."

Lu Yan closed his eyes in meditation, beginning his daily practice.

On the other side, Red Maiden glanced at the meditating Lu Yan and whispered to Chen Yulou, "Boss, it sounded like Lu Yan wanted to take you as a disciple earlier. Why didn't you agree?"

Chen Yulou looked at Hua Maguai and Luo Laowai, who had curiously leaned in, and shook his head. "Although Brother Lu is extremely powerful, we haven't known each other long. I don't know his character or the full extent of his abilities. Let's wait until the Bottle Mountain affair is over before discussing it."

At noon the next day, just as Luo Laowai was growing impatient, a large crowd arrived in a bustling throng.

The group was divided into two parts. One consisted of the Xiangyin Xiangma Bandits, Chen Yulou's trusted men who usually accompanied him on tomb raids. There were nearly a hundred of them, looking lean and fierce.

The other part was Luo Laowai's troops, divided into the so-called "Engineering Battalion" and the Pistol Company. The Engineering Battalion was a group of old opium addicts who followed Luo Laowai into tombs; they stood with no discipline and were thin as rails, but they feared nothing for the sake of a pipe of opium. The Pistol Company consisted of Luo Laowai's confidants, well-equipped with fierce combat power and firepower, acting as a disciplinary squad.

Chen Yulou looked at the sea of people and signaled to Luo Laowai. "Commander Luo, care to say a few words?"

Luo Laowai adjusted his military cap, nodded, jumped onto a large boulder, and waved his hand.

"Brothers..."

Luo Laowai struggled for a long time, unable to come up with a coherent speech, so he simply raised his hand and shouted.

"Move out!"