News of Eldest Uncle and the Others; Entering the Mountains at Night
From atop Demon-Suppressing Pass, Kong Wenxuan watched as cultivators from the various lineages streamed back from beyond the pass. Most of those returning bore injuries of varying severity. They had clearly fled back to Demon-Suppressing Pass after fierce battles in the mountains beyond it.
Looking toward the southern mountains, he could also see great flocks of birds circling in the sky in many places, too frightened and restless to land. Countless beasts ran in terror across the ground, kicking dust high into the air.
In those places where the birds and beasts were in turmoil, fighting often broke out, and flashes of spiritual light appeared in the air. Before long, the roar of battle would even reach him.
On the peaks of some mountains close to Demon-Suppressing Pass, he could already make out demon birds and Demon Beasts, peering toward the pass from time to time.
The mountains within a hundred li of Demon-Suppressing Pass had long since been swept clean many times by the Du Household and the subordinate cultivator lineages it led. They had ensured that no Demon Beasts occupied the area and that not even a wildfolk bloodline lineage had gained a foothold there, all to keep Demon-Suppressing Pass safe.
As for the lands beyond that hundred-li radius, they had always been where the cultivators serving from the Kong, Lao, Yan, Ma, and other subordinate cultivator lineages explored, cleared out threats, and gathered resources. After years of such work by the various lineages, the Demon Beasts that occupied those lands had largely been killed or driven away.
It should have been a scene of peace and tranquility.
But now, as Kong Wenxuan watched the strange activity throughout the mountains beyond the pass, every sign showed that these hundreds of li of land, once cleared and long peaceful, had fallen into chaos again.
Large numbers of Demon Beasts had emerged from deep within the mountains farther south, clashing and battling fiercely with the cultivators of the various lineages exploring the mountains within several hundred li of the pass. Many cultivators had already been killed or grievously wounded, and some had even been forced to flee back to Demon-Suppressing Pass for refuge.
The Demon Beasts even seemed to be converging on Demon-Suppressing Pass, intending to form a beast tide and assault it!
This naturally left Kong Wenxuan deeply worried about the safety of his eldest uncle, third aunt, and the others currently operating beyond the pass.
According to their earlier agreement and plans, they should have returned from beyond the pass in another month. No one had expected a Demon Beast uprising to break out so suddenly.
Kong Wenxuan wanted to go beyond the pass to rescue them, but he did not even know where they were now. If he went out, he could only stumble about like a headless fly.
For now, he could only watch the situation beyond Demon-Suppressing Pass, hoping to see his eldest uncle and the others return, while waiting for the information his eldest brother and fourth sister were gathering.
The day slowly passed as Kong Wenxuan watched and worried. By the time the sun sank behind the western mountains and night fell, he still had not seen his eldest uncle and the others emerge from the mountains beyond the pass. He had not even seen the spiritual light or any sign of Peacock Spreads Its Tail among those turbulent, chaotic mountains.
For a moment, he did not know whether to take comfort or worry.
Fortunately, his eldest brother and fourth sister had both returned with news by then.
Fourth Sister Kong Wenjun spoke first. "The garrison office has issued a mission, ordering the teams from the various lineages serving at Demon-Suppressing Pass to go beyond the pass and investigate the cause and scale of the Demon Beast uprising, as well as the likelihood of an attack on Demon-Suppressing Pass."
"The garrison office has promised to waive five to ten years of taxes for anyone who brings back reliable information."
Then Eldest Brother Kong Wenzhang said, "I visited all the cultivators from the various lineages who returned from beyond the pass and finally learned something about Eldest Uncle and the others."
"The Swift Yan Household's serving team heard a clear peacock cry near Black Snake Valley on their way back from beyond the pass. But they didn't see Eldest Uncle and the others, so they weren't sure it was them."
"But I know Eldest Uncle and the others must be near Black Snake Valley."
"That's because we once found a hidden cave in Black Snake Valley where Dragon Whisker Grass grows. We harvest a batch almost every year. It's part of the steady income our Kong Household earns from the mountains beyond the pass."
"And judging by the time, the Dragon Whisker Grass should be nearly ripe again. So Eldest Uncle and the others most likely ran into the Demon Beast uprising while harvesting it in Black Snake Valley."
"Also, the Yan Household people heard a clear peacock cry. You generally wouldn't hear one in an ordinary battle. Either Eldest Uncle and the others used the Second-Tier illusory formation's killing move, Peacock Spreads Its Tail, or Eldest Uncle used his Bloodline-Inherited Spirit Artifact, the Crimson Plume Feather Fan!"
"But whichever killing move they used, it probably means things aren't looking good for them now."
At this point, Kong Wenzhang's face was full of worry.
"Eldest Brother, do you know exactly where Black Snake Valley is?"
Seeing this, Kong Wenxuan asked at once.
"Yes!" Kong Wenzhang immediately took out a Jade Slip containing maps recorded by Kong Household cultivators as they explored and gathered resources in the mountains beyond the pass.
He marked Black Snake Valley's location on the map in the Jade Slip, then handed it to Kong Wenxuan. "Cousin Wenxuan, the place I marked is Black Snake Valley."
Kong Wenxuan examined the map and fixed Black Snake Valley's location in his mind. Although he had only gone beyond the pass a few times since arriving at Demon-Suppressing Pass, spending most of his time cultivating in seclusion at the lineage's station, he was still familiar with the terrain, topography, and geographical locations across most of the mountains beyond the pass.
For one thing, his eldest brother and the others had explained them to him in detail using the maps. For another, his eldest uncle and the others had taken him through most of the area to help him recognize the terrain, topography, and roads.
This was to prevent him from being unable to find his way back to Demon-Suppressing Pass if he ever ran into trouble beyond the pass and became separated from the others.
Of course, he was not the only one who had received such care. Eldest Uncle and the others had done the same for every newcomer from the lineage who came to serve, including Eldest Brother and Fourth Sister when they first arrived.
Thus, looking at the map, Kong Wenxuan quickly fixed the location of Black Snake Valley and the fastest route there in his mind.
He said at once, "Eldest Brother, Fourth Sister, I'll set out now and search around Black Snake Valley. I'll see if I can find Eldest Uncle and the others and escort them back to Demon-Suppressing Pass."
"No!" Kong Wenzhang immediately refused. "The Demon Beasts are in revolt beyond the pass. It's too dangerous for you to go out now, especially with night falling. That puts us cultivators at an even greater disadvantage."
"I've already sent word to the lineage. The patriarch will bring the Feather Boat here by tomorrow at the latest. Then we can take it to Black Snake Valley. It'll be both fast and safe!"
"Too much could change overnight. Eldest Brother, you said it yourself: since the Yan Household people heard a clear peacock cry, Eldest Uncle and the others must have used a killing move. They're in grave danger. Saving people is like putting out a fire-we can't afford to delay."
"As for my safety, you don't need to worry. I've now mastered the complete set of Five Elements Divine Swords. I'm confident that no one at the same level can withstand all five of my Five Elements Divine Swords. Even if a horde of Demon Beasts surrounds me, I can easily fight my way out."
"Even if a Second-Tier Demon Beast blocks my path, I'm confident I can escape unharmed, even if I can't defeat it."
"Besides, judging from all the information gathered so far, no Second-Tier Demon Beasts have appeared in the mountains beyond the pass yet. But if we delay any longer, that may no longer be true."
Kong Wenxuan tried to persuade his eldest brother.
But Kong Wenzhang still shook his head and refused. "No, Cousin Wenxuan. You're the lineage's hope now, the one most likely to raise its bloodline back to the rank of a Ninth-Grade True Spirit. Neither I nor the lineage will agree to let you take that risk."
"If anything happens to you beyond the pass, I'll become a sinner in the eyes of the entire lineage."
Kong Wenxuan simply waved his hand. "If I never undergo hardship and keep growing under your protection and the lineage's, what ability will I have to raise the lineage's bloodline to the rank of a Ninth-Grade True Spirit?"
"Besides, the lineage has done so much for me. If I refuse to lead the charge when it needs me, what kind of hope for the lineage am I?"
"If something happens to Eldest Uncle and the others beyond the pass this time, and I don't go to their rescue, my State of Mind will surely be flawed. Then breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage will be difficult, let alone inlaying stars and raising the lineage's bloodline back to the rank of a Ninth-Grade True Spirit!"
"So, Eldest Brother, please don't stop me."
"This..." Kong Wenzhang was immediately rendered speechless. After a long moment, he said, "Then I'll go with you."
"As long as you can block one of my sword strikes, Eldest Brother, I'll agree!" Kong Wenxuan said bluntly.
His eldest brother was speechless again. He knew he could not block even one strike, and that if he went along, he would only become a burden.
After a long moment, he could only say, "Fine. In that case, we won't stop you anymore."
"But..." As he spoke, he took out a bone talisman and handed it over. "This was passed down in the lineage. It's a Second-Tier bone talisman made from the bones of a Second-Tier peacock spirit beast. It can block one attack from a Second-Tier Demon Beast. Take it with you."
This time, Kong Wenxuan did not refuse. He took the bone talisman, then hurried down from Demon-Suppressing Pass and rushed into the night-shrouded mountains beyond.