Returning to the Cave Abode
"Brother Lü, Brother Zhang, let's keep in touch. We'll be leaving now," Shen Ge said, cupping his hands in greeting.
"Brother Shen, please take care. You're injured, so please be careful." Lü Yang didn't try to stop him, but simply offered this reminder.
After they parted, Li Xue escorted Shen Ge all the way back to the Ice and Snow City.
"Shen Ge, take good care of yourself and recover from your injuries. Remember not to wander around recklessly lately, lest you be hunted down."
After saying that, Li Xue left without lingering for a moment.
"Sister Xue, just call me if you need anything in the future, don't be shy," Shen Ge called out, but received no response.
After glancing at the Ice and Snow City, Shen Ge then flew towards his cave abode.
Upon arriving at his cave abode, Shen Ge discovered that about a dozen Foundation Establishment Realm Rogue Cultivator were besieging the formation he had left behind. Shen Ge's expression immediately darkened.
Without wasting words, he raised his hand and unleashed a sword light. Midway, the sword light split into three and plunged into the crowd, killing everyone in a few flashes.
Killing a Foundation Establishment, who is as ordinary as a chicken, is as simple as killing Golden Core cultivator.
As for the backgrounds of these people, Shen Ge didn't care at all. They've come to his doorstep; who cares who they are? He'll just kill them.
After the people were killed, the formation immediately broke open, and Lu Xiu, with pigtails and wearing a green dress, hurriedly flew out to pay her respects, saying, "Master, you're finally back! Those people have been surrounding us for days. I was so scared!"
"What's there to be afraid of? There's nothing to be afraid of." Shen Ge said casually, "Just kill them if they come. How did you manage to get this far with such a cowardly and timid personality?"
Lu Xiu lowered her head and said weakly, "It's because I'm weak, and these people here are completely unreasonable."
"Alright, alright, stop talking." Shen Ge waved his hand and slowly flew into the formation.
"By the way, Master, these people seem to be from Tiger and Wolf Mountain. I heard that the mountain lord of Tiger and Wolf Mountain is about to break through to the Golden Core Stage. Will it cause any problems if we kill them casually?" Lu Xiu caught up and reminded him.
"What could possibly be wrong?" Shen Ge scoffed dismissively, then changed the subject, asking, "Has anything happened around here lately?"
"How would I know?" Lu Xiu looked bewildered. "I stay in my cave abode all day taking care of the Spirit Plant and cultivating. I haven't dared to go out at all."
"Oh, by the way, I heard some news a few days ago. Apparently, a Devil Cultivator massacred a town to refine the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, killing over 50,000 people. Several cultivator settlements were also wiped out."
"Devil Cultivator? Slaughtering mortals to refine the Ten Thousand Souls Banner?"
This operation looks so familiar.
Shen Ge felt a chill run down his spine, and he immediately recalled the helplessness he felt when he was killed and imprisoned in the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, which made his already unpleasant mood even worse.
"Any other news? Tell me all at once."
"That's all, really, that's all. I only heard this news from people passing by. If you really want any information, Master, just go to Ice and Snow City and ask yourself." Lu Xiu waved his hand and shook his head repeatedly.
Without dwelling on the matter, Shen Ge returned to his cave abode and immediately set up an array to begin his secluded cultivation.
In a palace in the Ice and Snow City, several figures sat in eight different locations. Five of these figures were accompanied by a stunningly beautiful and alluring woman, who was either embracing, holding, or massaging their shoulders and backs.
"Gentlemen, can you please quiet down?" A lone man tapped the table, his eyes filled with a chilling glint as he looked at the group. "Haven't you had enough fun yet? Why don't you go back and have your fun before coming back?"
Despite the man's frivolous and derogatory words, the five women showed no anger whatsoever; some of the bolder ones even threw him flirtatious glances.
"Ladies, if you continue to look at me like that, believe me, I'll seal your cultivation and throw you into the mortal realm so that countless filthy beggars will come to patronize you!"
The speaker was named Long Ao, from the Long Household of Ice and Snow City. The Long Household was the number one Lineage in Ice and Snow City, with two Golden Core experts in the family, whose status was unshakeable. Moreover, they also had subtle connections with the Hehuan Sect.
"Alright, alright, Fellow Daoist Long, just tell us what you need us for? After all, none of us have much free time. Let's get straight to the point."
A bunch of unambitious scoundrels, yet they know how they managed to cultivate to the Golden Core.
After cursing inwardly a few times, Long Ao said in a deep voice, "Aren't you all at all concerned about that Devil Cultivator who's been capturing people everywhere to sacrifice for the Ten Thousand Souls Banner?"
"What's there to care about? If he dares to cause trouble in our Ice and Snow City, we'll just send him on his way. If he doesn't come to Ice and Snow City, I don't have time to deal with him." A middle-aged man with fairly handsome features said nonchalantly, with a hint of arrogance.
This person is named Zeng Qing, a Middle Golden Core Stage cultivator. He was a Rogue Cultivator who was recruited into the management of Ice and Snow City because of his considerable strength.
"This is affecting our business!" Long Ao said, his tone slightly harsher.
"Fellow Daoist Long, please don't be angry. Although this matter has had some impact on the operations of our Ice and Snow City, there's really no need to make a big deal out of it. At most, that Devil Cultivator will only slaughter some mortals to feed the Yin spirits in his Ten Thousand Souls Banner. Those low-level cultivators were probably just killed on a whim when he encountered them. There's really no need to provoke that Devil Cultivator for the sake of these insignificant people; it's not worth it."
"Fellow Daoist Long, please rest assured. This matter won't last long. That Devil Cultivator has killed so many people; it's time for him to stop. If he dares to continue, even the karmic forces of heaven and earth will be watching him."
From another direction, Qianyuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and cursed, "I hate these Devil Cultivator slaughter mortals the most! They have a little strength and don't value their lives anymore. They have no humanity at all. Anyone who didn't know better would think they crawled out of a rock!"
"Fellow Daoists, if you are unwilling to intervene, Fellow Daoist Long and I will do our part. How dare they act so presumptuously on our territory? It's truly outrageous!"
"Qianyuan, you just got back from the South Sea. What, did you get something good? Didn't you always keep to yourself and not get involved in other people's business?" Zeng Qing said sarcastically.
"You'd better be careful. I heard you kidnapped some people from the Spirit Moon Sect in the South Sea. Be careful that the Spirit Moon Sect doesn't come after you."
"What trouble are you looking for? Does the Spirit Moon Sect dare to come here? Do you really think the Spirit Moon Sect is the only powerful force in the entire Southern Barbarian Lands?"
"Besides, if they really want to cause trouble, I'll just retreat to Qianyuan Mountain and not come out. I don't believe they'll dare to launch a full-scale attack on my territory."
Although Qianyuan is also the administrator of Ice and Snow City, he is not often in Ice and Snow City. Instead, he lives in a snow mountain located on the Ice and Snow Plateau, more than 300 miles away from here. As for Qianyuan Mountain, it is named after him.
"Alright, since you fellow Daoists are unwilling to participate, then our Long Household and Fellow Daoist Qian will take care of it. You just need to keep an eye on Ice and Snow City."