Li Qiang drew his hand back and grinned. "Oh, so you don't need it, old brother. Fine, I'll give it to someone else. Hehe."
"Argh! You brat, give it here! I, I... hehe, brother, my dear brother, hehe!"
Mei Jingjing and Zhao Hao were long accustomed to Hou Pijing's grimacing antics; the few of them had played around like this for ages. To Hua Meiniang and the others, however, it was a novel sight. They had never imagined Li Qiang would dare tease him like this. Although Hou Pijing kept to himself in the Cultivation Realm, his standing was extremely high.
Mei Jingjing joined in the fun with a laugh. "What sort of treasure is this Nirvana Pill, that even Senior Hou likes it so much? Oh, brother, look how pitiful he is. Just give it to him!"
Hou Pijing fairly jumped at her words. "Hey, little girl, are you speaking up for me or putting me down? All my affection was wasted on you!"
"All right, all right! Since my little sister is speaking up for you too, here you go."
Snatching the Nirvana Pill, Hou Pijing examined it closely. He was so overjoyed that he turned seven or eight somersaults in the air, roaring with laughter. Everyone was intensely curious about just what sort of treasure this Nirvana Pill was. This time, even Qin Bantong could offer no explanation.
Li Qiang said, "All I know is that the Nirvana Pill is used for transcending tribulations. I don't know how to use it. Since my old brother is approaching the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, I thought of giving it to him. I don't even know whether it'll help."
"Brother, I truly don't know where you got all these treasures. Let me tell you, the Nirvana Pill is the foremost treasured pill for transcending tribulations. Having this treasure during the Tribulation Transcendence Realm is worth the help of two cultivation experts. Now tell me what something like this means to me!"
Because of his eccentric temper, Hou Pijing was unwilling to seek help from other cultivation experts, so transcending his tribulation had always weighed on his mind. With the Nirvana Pill, his chances had increased greatly. How could he not be excited?
Li Qiang was delighted to have helped Hou Pijing as well. He thought, I still have three pills. When I see Brother Fu, I can give them to him and make him happy too. He looked forward to meeting Fu Shan even more.
Guan Qi asked, "Young Master Li, five of us guardians came out this time. Two others went to the Ping'an Inn to wait for you. Did you see them?"
Li Qiang said, "No, I didn't." He thought, If I'd run into them, I wouldn't have been frantic enough to go mad.
Hua Meiniang broke in with a laugh. "Our little brother nearly scared the innkeeper at the Ping'an Inn in Crushed Stone City to death while looking for you. He even jumped into the air and started howling like a ghost. Young Qin thought some demon or monster had appeared and grabbed his weapon to go fight it. Haha!"
Qin Bantong's face turned scarlet. He muttered, "How was I supposed to know you were there, honored elder?"
Guan Qi and the other two exchanged glances. Zong Ming frowned. "This is bad. They should have reached Crushed Stone City long ago. Something else must have happened on the way."
Guan Qi sighed. "Things are getting more and more chaotic. I think we should return to the valley first. The old patriarch is about to emerge from seclusion. Let him decide."
Wang Yongnian agreed. "That's what I think too. We'd all better return to the valley first."
Everyone headed deeper into the snowy mountains.
There were so many of them that even Hou Pijing could not teleport them all. They could only fly close to the mountainside. Hua Meiniang carried Mei Jingjing, the only one who could not fly. The three girls soon became well acquainted, chattering nonstop and breaking into peals of lilting laughter.
Li Qiang asked Zhao Hao what had happened after they parted in the Bewilderment Forest.
Zhao Hao smiled bitterly. "Miss Mei wouldn't give this disciple a pleasant look the whole way because I dragged her away. She kept picking trouble with people along the road. I even got into several fights on her account." Helplessness covered his face.
Mei Jingjing had sharp ears and had been keeping an ear on Li Qiang all along. At those words, she called, "Don't say bad things about me! Do you hear? You're not allowed!"
Hua Meiniang tightened her arm around Mei Jingjing's slender waist and leaned close to her ear. "Little sister, do you have a bit of a fancy for your brother? Would you like Sister Hua to help?"
Mei Jingjing felt her face burn, her heart pounding like a battle drum. Hua Meiniang had exposed her thoughts with a single, lightly spoken sentence. At a complete loss, she could only protest coyly, "Sister Hua, you're teasing me too."
Her voice was so sweet and alluring, her expression so shy, that even Hua Meiniang stared for a moment. "Oh, what a beauty you are, little sister. Even my heart aches looking at you."
Qin Xiaohuan paid no attention to their conversation, turning the Petal Feather Bracelet over in her hands. She had already asked how to use it; once she refined it, she could use it. It was a defensive treasure. What she could not fathom, despite racking her brains, was Li Qiang himself. The things he casually gave away could almost all serve as sect-guarding treasures in the various cultivation sects. Yet he handed them out without a care, without the slightest reluctance. She truly could not work out what sort of person he was.
"Old brother, didn't you leave word that you'd gone back to Bada Star? How did you end up on the Frozen Plain?"
Hou Pijing sighed. "Wasn't it all for you lot? I kept turning that girl Mei's situation over in my mind and couldn't resist making a trip to Rejuvenation Valley. Their old valley master, Mei Youbing, was in seclusion, so I had to bring five guardians out to look for you. We went to the capital first, only to find you'd actually abandoned your official post. Hehe, the capital was in utter chaos."
He continued, "Later, not far from Crushed Stone City, we saw those two fighting people from the Black Banner Army. That was how we found them. I'd planned to take them back first, then look for you."
Zhao Hao smiled as well. "Yes. If Martial Uncle hadn't come, we really would have been in danger. Cultivation experts from the other side had already arrived, but they fled in fright when they saw him."
"I heard that many experts from Qianjie Star have come, along with a lot of cultivation experts from Sealed Fate Planet. What exactly is going on?" This question had been on Li Qiang's mind all along.
Hou Pijing's expression grew grave. The others gathered around curiously as well. Hua Meiniang said, "Didn't it start because the experts from Qianjie Star were plundering cultivators' Nascent Souls?"
Li Qiang questioned this. "I've always had my doubts. If that were the reason, they shouldn't be settling it on Heavenly Court Star. There don't seem to be many cultivators here. It isn't worth mobilizing such forces."
In fact, this suspicion had lingered in his mind all along. Li Qiang had been a businessman back home. He had always questioned any information he received and was unwilling to make a judgment without analyzing and understanding it. This was already a deeply ingrained habit.
Hou Pijing gave him an appreciative look. "You really are different, brat. This matter actually has something to do with you. What you did in Gusong Kingdom disrupted Litang Kingdom's plan, indirectly exposing the true objective behind it. This matter is directly connected to Qianjie Star. Originally, everything was going smoothly. Now it's been stirred up until many cultivation sects have become involved."
Qin Bantong, who considered himself a know-it-all, asked curiously, "What plan and objective?"
"It was all for a barren mountain on the border of Gusong Kingdom. If things had gone according to plan, Litang Kingdom should have obtained it. Instead, our little brother ruined their scheme, and only then did everyone discover why they wanted that mountain." Hou Pijing said with relief, "No one could have imagined it. There's something in that mountain that no sect in the Cultivation Realm would dare dream of obtaining!"
Li Qiang and everyone else were intensely curious. What could possibly tempt every cultivation sect? Mei Jingjing called, "Senior Hou, hurry up and tell us what it is!"
"The Wrath of the Heavenly God!"
Hua Meiniang had, after all, roamed the world for many years. She cried out in astonishment, "The Wrath of the Heavenly God? Heavens, how could it be that thing? I heard it's the only treasure the God of Wrath left in the mortal world. With it... no wonder." Her face had turned white with shock.
Qin Bantong, meanwhile, looked utterly dazed. He too understood the weight of this matter. "Miss Mei, Rejuvenation Valley should have a voice transmission array, shouldn't it? Forgive my imposition, but could you let me use it? No matter what, I must inform my sect."
Guan Qi interjected, "Rest assured, Young Master Qin. Leave it to me."
A red light flashed, and a small red jade tablet appeared in Hou Pijing's hand.
Hou Pijing's expression abruptly changed. He cursed, "Damn it, who's bold enough to run wild in Rejuvenation Valley? Young Guan, lead everyone there. I'll go back and take a look first." Without waiting for an answer, he vanished in a flash of white light.
Mei Jingjing asked anxiously, "Who's gone to Rejuvenation Valley? Let's hurry!"
No one spoke again as they raced through the snowy mountains.
After roughly the time it took to eat a meal, Guan Qi said, "We're almost there. Faster!"
Hua Meiniang noticed it first. "Get your Law Treasures ready, everyone. It sounds like a fierce fight."
Li Qiang also heard faint explosions in the distance. Everyone immediately made ready.
A dark figure came hurtling toward them. Mei Jingjing shouted, "That's An Lang! Stop him!"
Qin Bantong reacted swiftly, his short staff already shooting out a beam of white light. Qin Xiaohuan immediately rose about thirty feet above the ground and drew the Black Burning Bow, holding her shot ready rather than releasing it.
Four golden eagles wheeled out, and Li Qiang threw an explosive jade talisman as well. Great clouds of pink mist suddenly billowed from Hua Meiniang's Peach Blossom Battle Armor and surged straight toward him. The three guardians from Rejuvenation Valley each unleashed their Law Treasures too.
Never in his dreams had An Lang imagined that, after escaping with such difficulty, he would find so many experts waiting for him. Scared out of his wits, he frantically released his best defensive Law Treasure, the Azure Silk Scarf. It covered him like a blue cloud. Qin Bantong's white light struck first, only to be easily neutralized amid flickering blue light.
The golden eagles gave clear cries and slammed into him one after another. An Lang screamed, driven back repeatedly by the blasts, and the Azure Silk Scarf dimmed. The explosive jade talisman reached his feet at just that moment. With a thunderous explosion, the Azure Silk Scarf's impressive defense still held without shattering, but An Lang was blasted into the sky like a blue bird.
Unfortunately, this was the snowy mountain region of the Frozen Plain, and streams of Cold Gang still danced through the sky. The effect was almost immediate: no sooner had he risen than he plunged rapidly downward. Poor An Lang had not even seen what his enemies looked like before another attack arrived.
The Black Burning Bow's string rang out with a sky-shaking twang, and six dark streaks shot straight toward where An Lang was falling. In despair, he discovered a great cloud of pink mist waiting below him as well. He cried inwardly, My life is over!
Yellow light flashed. A burly man in golden battle armor caught An Lang in one hand. As he landed, his other hand spread like a peacock unfurling its tail. Countless rays of golden light flashed from his body. With a series of muffled pops, force streamed in all directions, sending smoke and dust flying.
Hua Meiniang laughed wickedly. "Oh, how impressive! Have a Love Flower from me!" Yet she sent out seven Love Flowers.
Although none of them knew who he was, they felt a terrifying pressure emanating from him and attacked almost in unison. Qin Xiaohuan fired another ten arrows, and everyone, including Mei Jingjing, lashed out with whip shadows.
In an instant, flower shadows filled the sky. Li Qiang quietly thrust out the Cold Spirit Giant Palm. The man roared with laughter. "A bunch of juniors. You're not worth fighting." Yellow light flashed, and he vanished. All their force detonated against the afterimage he left behind in a tumult of booming explosions.
"Who was he?"
Facing everyone's questioning looks, Hua Meiniang shook her head. "I don't know either. But judging from his might, he must be one of Qianjie Star's top experts. So powerful."
Guan Qi said, "We'd better hurry back to the valley!"
The fighting in Rejuvenation Valley had already ended. The people from Qianjie Star had not expected an expert of Hou Pijing's caliber to be there and had no choice but to retreat.
Several people stood at the valley entrance. Mei Jingjing's eyes lit up, and she ran toward them. "Great-grandfather! Great-grandfather, you've come out of seclusion! Where are my parents?" Her voice was already choked with sobs.
The man was none other than Mei Youbing, the Mei Household's greatest expert. Dressed in white robes, with a complexion like an infant's and five long, snow-white strands of beard flowing beneath his chin, his kindly features gave him an air of transcendence beyond the mundane world. He chuckled. "Hehe, our Jing'er has grown so big. These are all your friends, aren't they? Our Jing'er is quite something, getting to know so many companions. Your parents went to find several of your martial uncles. They aren't in the valley."
As he praised Mei Jingjing, Mei Youbing added, "Jing'er, introduce your friends to Grandpa."
Mei Jingjing pulled Hua Meiniang forward. "This is Sister Hua, Hua Meiniang. I just met her..."
Mei Youbing started. "Your name is renowned! I've long heard of you!" That was nothing but the truth. Hua Meiniang's cultivation was not first-rate, but when it came to making trouble and causing disruptions, she certainly ranked among the Cultivation Realm's leaders.
"Ah, Patriarch Mei, renowned? Why does that sound so awkward?" Hua Meiniang said with a woeful expression.
White light flashed, and a voice rang out. "Brother Mei is being far too polite. Renowned? More like notorious far and wide! Haha, haha!"
Hou Pijing had returned. He added, "Damn it, a bunch of cowards afraid to die. They ran faster than rabbits. I couldn't be bothered chasing them any farther."
Hua Meiniang was exceedingly thick-skinned and did not care in the least what they said. She laughed sweetly. "Patriarch Hou, don't regret this later. You've offended me, you know. Hehe, the consequences will be..."
Hou Pijing really was a little afraid of her. When this girl started making trouble, it was no ordinary headache. He hurriedly changed the subject. "Brother Mei, let me introduce my brother." Pointing at Li Qiang, he said, "His name is Li Qiang. He's Fu Chongbi's brother and a good brother of mine too. Little brother, come greet your Brother Mei."
Surprise showed plainly on Mei Youbing's face. Not daring to put on airs, he quickly said, "Heroes truly emerge from the young. This old man will bask in the reflected glory of two esteemed seniors and call you brother too. Hehe."
Li Qiang bowed respectfully. "I wouldn't dare. I'd better call you Grandpa, just like my little sister." Mei Jingjing was blooming with delight. Secretly amused, Hua Meiniang quietly squeezed her little hand, and Mei Jingjing's face immediately reddened.
Li Qiang added, "Old brother, let's each keep our own relationships."
Hou Pijing did not mind either way. Mei Youbing, shrewd with age, glanced at Mei Jingjing and seemed to grasp something. He laughed heartily. "Good, good! Then I'll presume upon my age and call you A-Qiang."
Qin Bantong and Qin Xiaohuan also stepped forward to pay their respects and introduce their affiliations.
Zhao Hao was overjoyed. With even greater reverence, he kowtowed. "Zhao Hao pays his respects to Grand Martial Uncle." His head struck the ground three times with resounding thumps.
Hou Pijing squawked, "Hey! Hey! Brat, you call me Martial Uncle, then call my little brother Grand Martial Uncle? What sort of generational ranking is that?" Everyone burst out laughing. Zhao Hao was so embarrassed he did not know what to do.
Li Qiang yelled, "Old brother, don't bully my disciple! He's an honest man."
Li Qiang knew that Zhao Hao had endured countless hardships for the sake of cultivation. In Zhao Hao's heart, cultivation experts were all idols, and he respected them beyond measure. Li Qiang regarded him as his own family, and his embarrassment was Li Qiang's embarrassment. Though he knew Hou Pijing was joking, he still could not help protesting.
Guan Qi broke in. "Old Valley Master, perhaps we should invite our guests into the valley to rest."
Li Qiang and his party entered the valley without difficulty.
As soon as they entered, everyone felt they had stepped into a world of green. Plants and flowers of every kind covered the mountains and valley, with lush grass spread like a carpet and flowers blooming in profusion. A faint floral fragrance drifted through the air, refreshing the mind and spirit, in stark contrast to the world of ice and snow outside. Hua Meiniang was especially delighted. With an arm around Mei Jingjing, she smiled. "What a wonderful place. I want to enjoy myself here for a good while. Am I welcome, little sister?"
Mei Jingjing laughed sweetly. "I couldn't get you here even if I invited you, Sister. How could you not be welcome?" As she spoke, she glanced at Li Qiang, who had his head lowered, thinking about something she could not guess.
Li Qiang had been thinking about the burly man in golden armor all along, filled with curiosity. Unable to resist, he looked up and asked, "Old brother, there was a fellow in golden armor just now. He was incredibly powerful. So many of us attacked him, and he didn't care at all. Who is he?"
"Golden armor? Oh, him. Combat King Situ Yong, one of Old Man Baihuang's Four Tyrant Generals. He's no weakling."
"And didn't you frighten him away with a single palm strike?" Mei Youbing interjected.
Hou Pijing laughed smugly. "I'm not even afraid of Baihuang himself, much less the shrimp soldiers and crab generals under him." No one questioned his boasting. Hou Pijing truly had the strength to say such things.
Rounding a bend, everyone was immediately stunned by the beautiful sight before them.
A vast grove of unusual peach trees was in full bloom, every tree laden with flowers. The fist-sized peach blossoms came in a riot of colors: scarlet, pink, snowy white, and even inky purple and emerald green. Petals drifted down wherever the breeze passed.
Hua Meiniang sighed in admiration. "Even the Peach Blossom Cottage where I live has no scenery this beautiful."
Mei Jingjing smiled. "How could the Spirit Coil Sect be without peach blossoms? Grandpa has a few peerless immortal peach trees too. Those are truly wonderful!"
Zong Ming said, "Don't be fooled by how beautiful these peach blossoms are. It's dangerous to venture in rashly without a guide. Look above this peach grove. Do you see that canopy of five-colored mist? That's the flower baleful intent generated by this Peach Blossom Array."
Qin Bantong quietly asked Guan Qi, "Brother Guan, could you take me to the voice transmission array first?" The valley's beautiful scenery held no interest for him at all. He was burning with anxiety over how to send news of the Wrath of the Heavenly God's emergence back to his clan, so he could no longer concern himself with courtesy and urged his host on.
Although Guan Qi did not know why he was so anxious, he still smiled. "Young Master Qin, once we pass through this flower array, there's a voice transmission array in the lodge beyond. We'll be there shortly."
The three guardians, Li Qiang, Qin Xiaohuan, and the others did not really understand what the Wrath of the Heavenly God signified in the Cultivation Realm, nor did they take it seriously. Qin Bantong lived up to his standing as a young expert from a prestigious clan and knew far more. He understood what the Wrath of the Heavenly God was and its importance, which was why he was so anxious.
Qin Bantong knew very well what an enormous upheaval this news would cause when it reached his clan. All the elders in seclusion would probably emerge ahead of time. Moreover, once he sent the news back, his own standing within the clan would rise enormously.
After passing through the flower array, everyone arrived before the lodge. Someone walked out of the building, and Li Qiang could not help feeling utterly astonished at the sight.