Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Beast Blocking the Way

The hilt of her sword was pink, and when she danced with it, it even gave off a pink glow, perfectly suited to Nangong Xi’s girlish heart.

The sword techniques taught to her by her second uncle were top-notch to begin with. Add to that her own unique understanding of swordsmanship, and it only grew better still.

I had never learned any sword arts, so I could only slash and strike according to my own battle instincts.

Even so, Nangong Xi still could not beat me, even when I did not use spiritual energy.

Suddenly, Nangong Xi sheathed her sword. Just as I was wondering why, I saw her sit down on the ground and begin to cultivate with her eyes closed.

By experience alone, I could tell she was on the verge of breaking through into the Flower Realm.

I could feel the spiritual energy around her rising sharply, and she had already been stuck at the third rank of the Leaf Realm for quite some time. It was only natural that she would break through now.

I could only stay beside her and watch quietly as her cultivation advanced.

But the process was not entirely smooth. At one point, veins bulged across her forehead, and even her breathing became labored.

I had never encountered such a situation before, so I was naturally at a loss.

Then I remembered that when I had once broken through, my second uncle had sent a stream of spiritual energy into my body to help me over the hurdle. Since there was no better way now, I could only try my luck.

I drew spiritual energy into my hand and gently pressed it against Nangong Xi’s back, then sent in a small stream of energy.

Before long, it truly took effect. Her condition improved considerably, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Just as I had once done, Nangong Xi first stared in disbelief at the power in her hand, then felt a surge of excitement.

“Brother, thanks.”

She circled around me in excitement, looking utterly delighted.

I waved it off and went back to my room to sleep.

I slept soundly, and it was not until dinner that night that Nangong Xi woke me.

Second Uncle had especially made dumplings today, and even told me, “You eat dumplings before you set out, noodles when you return. Eat well, and you won’t miss home...”

I wasn’t leaving Tianyang Mountain for good, anyway. At most I would only stay for a month.

Now that Nangong Xi had reached the Flower Realm, she cultivated even more earnestly. Even while eating, she kept asking Second Uncle questions about training.

Second Uncle was on the verge of reaching the Lotus Realm. He had far more experience than either of us, and could be considered a seasoned veteran.

He answered Nangong Xi’s questions fluently, without the slightest pause.

“Second Uncle, is Tianyang Mountain really that good?”

As I picked up a dumpling, I asked him. He thought for a moment before saying, “Though Tianyang Mountain is only a small, obscure mountain, it has been rising in prominence these past few years.”

“The disciples of Tianyang Mountain are all carefully selected. There are no fewer than ten rounds of assessment just to enter the sect.”

“Their conduct is also very forthright. Many of them are the kind of heroes who draw their blades to help when they see injustice.”

“So Tianyang Mountain is a genuine righteous sect in the world of cultivation.”

I nodded. That was enough to get a basic understanding of Tianyang Mountain.

“But don’t be too careless. In any sect there are bound to be smaller factions, and mutual scheming and open and covert conflict are common enough.”

“And I’m guessing... you’re going there for that treasure, aren’t you...”

For the last line, Second Uncle did not hedge at all; he said it outright.

I lowered my head and chuckled a few times. “Nothing can be hidden from you, huh? Hahaha.”

It seemed Second Uncle knew a great deal, and today he said everything.

“In truth, I long ago noticed that you were constantly running around all over the place, and something about it didn’t sit right. I figured you must have run into some trouble, only you couldn’t tell anyone else.”

I nodded. So Second Uncle had already guessed it, and he had been more or less right.

“I can’t keep you on a leash, but when you’re out there alone, you must be extra careful.”

Second Uncle gave me a long, earnest lecture, and I remembered every word.

After dinner, the three of us chatted a while longer, then I went off to sleep first.

The next morning, after getting up, I began packing my things and prepared to head for Tianyang Mountain.

The night before, I had even checked the map and found that Tianyang Mountain was quite far from us. It would take half a day by car.

It was just after five in the morning. After some thought, I decided not to change into ordinary clothes and simply wore the white brocade robe Second Uncle had given me.

Since I would be wearing this kind of robe once I reached the mountain anyway, I wouldn’t be dressed like an ordinary person, so I might as well leave it on.

Aside from this white brocade robe, Second Uncle had also given me an ordinary robe. I had been wearing that one these past few days, and had never even wanted to wear the white robe.

But since I was going out to see the world today, wearing something nice was only proper.

Second Uncle was old, slept less, and rose early as well.

“Boy, remember what I told you yesterday. You have to be careful.”

“I will.” After saying that, I headed down the mountain alone.

It was just past five in the morning, and the sky was only barely beginning to lighten. I waited a long time before a taxi finally came by.

The driver was a textbook Northeasterner and very outgoing. He glanced at me, perhaps finding my clothing a little strange, and asked, “Hey, are you filming over here?”

I nodded and said nothing.

“Oh my, I’ve run into a big star! What’s your name? What kind of show are you filming? Where are we headed?”

I could only shake my head helplessly and answer one by one.

“My name’s Lin Zi. We’re filming a costume drama. We’re going to Tianyang Mountain.”

The driver paid no attention to the first two answers, and only asked, “Tianyang Mountain is a half-day trip. Besides, gas prices are going up...”

I said nothing more and simply tossed the remaining eight hundred yuan from my ring onto the passenger seat.

The driver could not resist the temptation of money and hurriedly thanked me.

“Then let’s set off!” And with that, the car started up.

With nothing else to do, I idly scrolled through my phone and even came across quite a few news reports.

“In recent days, strange cries have frequently been heard in a certain village. The cause remains unknown...”

“Just yesterday, livestock near a famous scenic area were frequently found dead in the surrounding village, and the manner of death was extremely cruel. Later, a group of people in long robes entered the scenic area. After some time, when they came out, no more livestock in the village died. Could there really be martial heroes in the world...”

There were many such reports. I could not be sure whether they were the Ghost King’s doing, but ninety percent of them probably were.

The Ghost King really spared no expense... For the sake of some broken game, he had thrown out so many treasures.

After playing with my phone for a while, I slept again. When I woke, we still had not reached Tianyang Mountain.

Tianyang Mountain lay among a cluster of peaks, so the whole journey wound through mountain roads. Looking out through the car window, the scenery had a charm all its own.

Before long, a convoy appeared ahead. At a glance there were more than ten luxury cars, but they had already come to a stop. Something seemed to be wrong up ahead.

At first I thought this convoy was some business tycoon out sightseeing, but after I got out of the car, I realized something was off.

Every car contained two streams of spiritual energy: one strong, one weak.

Then, from the front came a sudden roar. It did not sound human at all, but rather like some wild beast.

After the roar, a driver got out of each car.

These drivers were the ones with the stronger spiritual energy in each vehicle. The strongest among them had reached the first rank of the Flower Realm.