Perilous

This is trouble!

The heads of the several villages all wore expressions of worry. They could not help but be anxious, for this period was precisely when the rogue cultivators were at their most rampant and dangerous.

At this time, every village had to travel to Wu Family Market to trade, carrying the harvests from half a year of cultivating spirit fields, along with spirit herbs gathered from the wilderness and various other materials. To the eyes of the rogue cultivators, these merchant caravans formed by small, traveling villages were nothing more than walking, fat sheep.

Plundering these merchant caravans was not only far less difficult than breaking through a village's defenses, but the gains were also far greater than the latter! Thus, it was obvious what choice the rogue cultivators would make.

It was precisely because of this that, under normal circumstances, few rogue cultivators would risk the great danger of attacking a village to plunder those small cultivation clans. But during the trading season, almost all the rogue cultivators would pour out of their nests, lying in ambush throughout the mountains and forests to rob the merchant caravans of the various villages, sharing in this short-lived feast.

In the process, even some cultivators from larger villages would cover their faces, hide their names, and join in this carnival. It was practically a hunting season on the plains! And for those like them who were weak, it was undoubtedly a catastrophe.

Fortunately, however, they were not entirely without the ability to resist. Perhaps because this place was located in a remote area where the cultivation world was not particularly prosperous, the rogue cultivators who participated in the plundering mostly had cultivation levels below the seventh level of Qi Induction.

This might be because the gap between the sixth and seventh levels of Qi Induction was a massive watershed; once they reached the seventh level, they no longer looked down upon such petty gains. It was also possible that they were suppressed by greater cultivation powers from above, preventing those at the seventh level of Qi Induction and higher from acting too recklessly.

Regardless, because the rogue cultivators' cultivation levels were basically in the early to middle stages of Qi Induction, this gave the small cultivation clans of these small villages a chance to resist. Just like in the past, they would rally around Shen Shiying, the guardian of Dawan Village. With Shen Shiying as their backbone, relying on their superior numbers and the banner of the Tiannan Shen Clan, they had always passed through safely even when they encountered rogue cultivators on the road.

But this had a prerequisite: the person acting as the backbone had to be strong enough! Back then, Shen Shiying's own cultivation was at the late stage of the fifth level of Qi Induction or higher, and coupled with the powerful heritage he derived from the Tiannan Shen Clan, he was enough to contend with a sixth-level Qi Induction cultivator for a time.

If they assisted him, holding out for a while was not impossible. Most rogue cultivators at the sixth level of Qi Induction might be able to rout them, but they could not kill them all in a short time. Once one or two people escaped, the consequences of intercepting and killing members of the behemoth that was the Tiannan Shen Clan had been demonstrated to them by the Hu Clan twenty years ago.

Twenty years ago, the Hu Clan of Dawan Village had quite a reputation in this vicinity. However, all of this had a prerequisite.

That is, as the backbone of the group, one must be able to withstand the attacks of the rogue cultivators!

Shen Shiying from before was one thing; at the very least, he was a cultivator at the late stage of the fifth level of Qi Refining, and he could somewhat bridge the gap of a single realm through his own methods.

But what about this Shen Changchuan?

He was at the fourth level of Qi Refining, and a mere youth of sixteen or seventeen at that.

Could such a young man possibly possess the strength to fight enemies two realms above his own?

Impossible!

"Everyone, what should we do?"

The head of the Li Clan asked the group in a low voice.

Although there might have been some competitive tension between them, their interests were aligned in this matter.

However, the others simply looked at one another, their brows furrowed, unable to come up with any solutions.

"Youth is full of vigor. I fear that Young Master Shen simply wishes to prove himself. His words were so firm that it seems there is no room for negotiation," Guo Cheng sighed and said in a low voice.

In their preconceived notions, the one who had slain the Four Evils of He Mountain must have been some elder behind Shen Changchuan. It was just that the other party possessed such profound strength that they disdained appearing before them or making their acquaintance, so they had tacitly agreed not to ask.

Now, Shen Changchuan's words were like those of a rebellious teenager who had fallen out with his elders and was determined to prove himself and carve out his own achievements.

In such a state, no matter how much outsiders tried to persuade him, it would likely be useless.

Even if they explained the dangers of this journey, it would probably only incite his contrarian nature and make matters even more troublesome.

"Sigh, let nature take its course. That youth is impulsive; if we anger him, who knows what kind of trouble might arise."

"I suppose that since that senior stepped in to deal with the Four Evils of He Mountain, they should know something of the dangers here. Perhaps they are hiding in the shadows, protecting him all along?"

"If that is the case, this journey may not be as dangerous as it appears."

Guo Cheng said, somewhat comforting himself.

"That is all we can do."

The others felt uneasy, but they had no choice but to agree helplessly.

The caravan soon set off, a long line of fully loaded carriages stretching out like a serpent, kicking up dust as they headed toward Wu Family Market.

Halfway through their journey, they encountered several other groups of travelers just like themselves.

With large and small carts laden with goods, it seemed they were all others heading to Wu Family Market for the fair.

However, following the anxious reminders from the village heads, Shen Changchuan readily complied and took the initiative to keep their distance from the others.

According to the village heads, there had been incidents in the past where rogue cultivators disguised themselves as merchant caravans and requested to travel together, only to launch a surprise attack at night, resulting in the near-total annihilation of the merchant groups.

Therefore, unless they knew the others well, it was best to keep their distance even when encountering fellow merchant caravans.

Other than that, the journey proceeded without any accidents.

However, due to the heavy loads, the length of the caravan, and the difficult, treacherous terrain as they climbed mountains and crossed rivers, their progress was somewhat slow.

By the fifth day, they were still three days away from Wu Family Market.

It was at this moment, out in the wilderness, that they encountered a pursuit.

A dozen or so men in black were chasing two figures—an old man and a youth—who dashed past them just as they had finished setting up their perimeter.

What is going on?!

Could it be a trap?

In that split second, Shen Changchuan's vigilance spiked sharply.

The entire team shifted into a defensive posture.

Not far away, the men in black who had been hunting down the old man and the youth also spotted Shen Changchuan and his group.

The one who appeared to be their leader had eyes that erupted with a cyan glow, sweeping across them.

In an instant, Shen Changchuan and everyone present felt as though their very auras were being probed and scrutinized!

It seemed to be a ocular technique used to gauge the strength of an enemy.

Within a single breath, The cultivation realms of Shen Changchuan's entire party were laid bare before him.

"So, it's just a bunch of nobodies!"

"Since you've come, don't bother leaving!"

"Kill them! Leave no one alive!"

Not far away, The leader of the men in black sneered.

His gaze drifted past the group, Fixing upon the several fully loaded carriages behind them, a flicker of greed flashing deep within his eyes.

"Wait! Good sirs, we are merely passing through!"

The head of the Li Clan shouted in terror.

But those men in black did not hesitate in the slightest. Pale white light shimmered around their bodies as they activated their Light Body Technique, gripping their long blades and sprinting rapidly toward them!

Well, No need to overthink it anymore.

Time to start fighting.