275: Chapter 275 Heading Deep into Zhelong Hill

Just as Ye Tian and the Dragon Ape were discussing their next move, undercurrents were already surging outside the cave at the edge of Zhelong Hill.

Yunni City, Wanren Sword Pavilion, Ling Juexiao's study.

The study was elegantly decorated, yet it exuded a sharp aura everywhere; more than a dozen ancient swords of various shapes hung on the walls, each radiating a chilling Sword Intent.

Dressed in a mysterious black sword robe, with a cold, hard face and an aura as deep as an abyss, Ling Juexiao stood by the window with his hands behind his back, gazing out at the vast Falling Star Lake in the distance.

Behind him stood Ah Fu, his face pale and his breathing not yet fully steadied, along with a middle-aged, clean-shaven man wearing the black uniform of the Xuanjing Division.

This person was the Deputy Commander of the Xuanjing Division, Leng Wenzhou.

"A Sea Transformation Realm Yao Beast? Possessing some kind of strange flame?"

Ling Juexiao turned slowly, his voice cold and devoid of emotion, but deep within his eyes, a flicker of heat flashed by.

To a Sword Cultivator like him, the temptation of an ancient sword pill was far too great.

"Yes, Pavilion Master. That Yao Beast's combat strength is formidable. Even when I joined forces with the Shadow Calamity Tower's Black Fiend assassin, we were forced back by a single strike. "

"It took the heavily injured Ye Tian and fled into Zhelong Hill."

Ah Fu bowed and replied, still feeling a lingering fear.

"Zhelong Hill..."

Ling Juexiao lightly tapped the windowsill with his fingers. "That place is not simple. There's residual hostility from the ancient battlefield, warped spatial rifts, and... some unclean things."

Leng Wenzhou took a step forward, his voice indifferent: "Pavilion Master Ling, the Xuanjing Division has received definite intelligence that an Advanced Deacon of the Shadow Calamity Tower's 'Blade Division,' Qiu Qianchuan, arrived secretly in Yunni City this morning."

"His target is clearly Ye Tian and the ancient sword pill he carries."

"Additionally, several underground factions in the city, including the remnants of the 'Water Ghost Gang' and several mercenary groups, are stirring, offering high rewards for news of Ye Tian's whereabouts."

"Now, Zhelong Hill has become the focal point."

A cold light flashed in Ling Juexiao's eyes: "Qiu Qianchuan? That 'Shadow Giant'? He actually came as well."

He looked at Leng Wenzhou. "Deputy Commander Leng, what is the City Lord's Manor's stance on this matter?"

Leng Wenzhou said calmly: "The City Lord has ordered that within Yunni City, there shall be no large-scale combat or disruption of order."

"As for outside the city, especially in lawless areas like Zhelong Hill... the Xuanjing Division is only responsible for monitoring and will not intervene in the struggles between the various parties."

"However, if a power exceeding certain limits endangers the city or involves significant secrets, the Xuanjing Division will naturally take action."

These words were airtight, expressing neutrality while implying warnings and the potential for intervention.

Ling Juexiao sneered inwardly, knowing the City Lord's Manor wanted to watch the tigers fight from the mountain, perhaps stepping in at the end to clean up the mess and reap the benefits.

But he didn't care; as long as he could obtain the ancient sword pill, even the City Lord's Manor would have to think twice.

"Ah Fu."

Ling Juexiao said coldly, "Pass down the order to mobilize the Sword Pavilion's Wind Patrol Guards. Coordinate with the 'Heaven-Peering Sword Mirror' to search the hills for me!"

"Focus the search on the southeastern region of Zhelong Hill; that was the direction in which the Yao Beast last disappeared."

"Once a trace is found, report immediately. Do not alert the enemy without authorization."

"I will personally meet that Yao Beast, and... our young friend Ye Tian."

When he spoke the words "young friend Ye Tian," the icy killing intent in his tone seemed to cause the temperature in the study to drop several degrees.

"Yes!"

Ah Fu took the order and bowed as he exited.

Ling Juexiao looked at Leng Wenzhou again: "Deputy Commander Leng, the Xuanjing Division is well-informed. If there are specific movements from Qiu Qianchuan or other factions, I hope you will inform me."

"My Wanren Sword Pavilion is willing to pay the appropriate compensation."

Leng Wenzhou nodded slightly: "That can be arranged. Additionally, a word of advice for Pavilion Master Ling: in the depths of Zhelong Hill, there are places where even those in the Huahai Realm must be cautious."

"According to the ancient records of the Xuanjing Division, some 'ominous things' left over from the ancient war seem to be sealed there."

"Thank you for the reminder." Ling Juexiao was expressionless.

Leng Wenzhou said no more and turned to leave.

Only Ling Juexiao remained in the study.

He walked to the wall and gently stroked an ancient sword that was pitch-black with dragon-shaped patterns, whispering to himself: "The ancient sword pill... and that little brat who dared to injure my son Jianming... Zhelong Hill shall be your burial ground."

Meanwhile, in the cellar of an inconspicuous inn in Yunni City.

An exceptionally tall and burly bald man, his head nearly touching the low ceiling of the cellar, was holding a blood-stained whetstone, slowly sharpening a horse-chopping saber the size of a door with a serrated edge.

The blade was dark red, soaked with the blood of countless victims.

His bare upper body was covered in crisscrossing scars, and his muscles were knotted like the roots of an old tree, radiating a suffocatingly ferocious aura.

This was the Blade Division's Advanced Deacon, Qiu Qianchuan. His cultivation was at the Middle Stage of the Huahai Realm, and he was known for being bloodthirsty and possessing terrifying strength, earning him the nickname 'Shadow Giant.'

In a corner of the cellar, within the shadows, knelt the black-clad assassin who had been heavily injured by the Dragon Ape and whose wounds had yet to heal.

"An Early Stage Huahai Realm Yao Beast with strange flames, immense strength, and a bizarre sword fiend energy in its right claw?"

Qiu Qianchuan stopped sharpening his blade, his voice carrying a cruel interest. "How interesting. Much more fun than killing those soft Sword Cultivators."

"Deacon, that Ye Tian..." the black-clad assassin whispered.

"Ye Tian? Just a little bug with some luck."

Qiu Qianchuan grinned, revealing pearly white teeth in a hideous smile. "The focus is that Yao Beast and the ancient sword pill it's desperately protecting."

"The Tower Master is quite interested in things from the Ancient Sword Manor."

"That woman from the Illusion Division who plays at being a ghost failed her task; this time, it's our Blade Division's turn to earn some merit."

He stood up, his massive shadow nearly covering half the cellar.

He casually shouldered the polished horse-chopping saber, the heavy blade causing the stone slabs beneath his feet to creak.

"Send orders to all our agents in Yunni City to keep a close eye on the movements of the Wanren Sword Pavilion and Zhelong Hill."

"Also, release the 'Spirit-Seeking Rats.' That beast and Ye Tian are both injured; they won't get far, and there will always be residual scents."

Qiu Qianchuan's eyes flickered with a beast-like ferocity. "I will personally go to Zhelong Hill to stretch my limbs."

"I hope that Yao Beast can withstand a few more strikes so I can have a good time killing!"

Inside a nameless rocky cave in Zhelong Hill.

Another day passed. Inside the cave, Ye Tian sat cross-legged. His face was still pale, but compared to the deathly gray of the previous day, it finally showed a bit of Life Qi.

The light of the astral essence crystal in his hand had dimmed considerably, as most of the Astral Power within had been absorbed.

Inside his body, the Star Qi Induction Art operated slowly. Under the nourishment of the chaos bead, Medicinal Pills, and the astral essence crystal, his shattered Meridians had begun to knit back together. Though still fragile, they could finally withstand a trickle of True Yuan.

Within his Dantian, strands of new True Yuan condensed once more, like a stream in early spring, bringing the hope of life.

His cultivation barely maintained the threshold of the seventh level of the True Martial Realm, but his actual combat power was less than ten percent of its peak. At this moment, he would likely struggle against even a first or second-level True Martial Realm Cultivator.

Most of his external wounds had scabbed over. The most serious internal injuries—the organ tremors and the erosion of cold energy—had been greatly alleviated under the powerful blood vitality of the Dragon Elephant Art and the purification of the chaos bead.

However, he was still far from regaining his combat capability.

He opened his eyes and looked across from him.

The Dragon Ape lay on the ground. Although the wound on its back was still hideous, the festering black flesh had been "cauterized" away by its own white flames. New granulation tissue was slowly growing, covered by a thin, pale-golden membrane.

The Yin-fiend poison had been mostly extracted, but the wound was too deep and would take time to heal.

Its aura was more stable than yesterday, but a clear weakness could be felt, and its originally majestic demonic power now seemed sluggish.

"Little Dragon, how do you feel?"

Ye Tian asked in a low voice.

The Dragon Ape raised its head, the fatigue in its golden pupils hard to hide, but it still shook its large head. "Much better, Master. My back is very itchy; it's growing new flesh."

"It's just that my demonic power is recovering slowly. The Spiritual Qi in this ghostly place is a bit... off. It's hard to absorb and carries an irritating scent."

Ye Tian nodded.

He felt the same. Although the Spiritual Qi in Zhelong Hill was not thin, it was mixed with a trace of deathly stillness. One had to be extra careful when absorbing and refining it, or it might affect one's state of mind.

This was likely caused by the residual hostility of the ancient battlefield.

"We must leave."

Ye Tian said solemnly, his gaze shifting outside the cave. "Although this place is hidden, it is not absolutely safe."

"The people from the Wanren Sword Pavilion and Shadow Calamity Tower will eventually search their way here."

"And..."

He took out the fragment, which was pointing toward the deeper parts of Zhelong Hill—the very direction where the Dragon Ape had previously sensed both danger and attraction.

"The direction this fragment points to is roughly the same as the dangerous area you sensed."

"There might be something we need there, or it could be an even more dangerous dead end."

"But rather than staying here and waiting for death, it's better to proactively seek a chance for survival."

Ye Tian analyzed.

With his current strength greatly diminished, he urgently needed an Opportunity for rapid recovery and an absolutely safe place for secluded cultivation.

A fierce light flashed in the Dragon Ape's eyes: "Wherever Master goes, I go! If those scumbags dare to come, I'll protect Master even if it costs me my life!"

Ye Tian felt a warmth in his heart, but it was outweighed by a sense of heaviness.

He absolutely could not let the Dragon Ape risk its life for him again.

"We'll move toward that direction first. Stay hidden and avoid any potential search parties. Your injuries won't affect your movement, will they?" Ye Tian asked.

"It's nothing! Walking and jumping are fine, but I might not be able to use my full strength in a fight."

As the Dragon Ape spoke, it stood up and shook its body. The wound on its back made it bare its teeth, but its movement was indeed unimpeded.

Without further delay, the man and the ape set off.

The Dragon Ape shrank back into its palm-sized mini form and jumped onto Ye Tian's shoulder, making for a smaller target.

Ye Tian took out a set of clean, dark gray cloth clothes from the qingxuan ring and changed into them. He suppressed his aura to the limit, pushed aside the vines at the cave entrance, cautiously observed the surroundings, and then followed the faint guidance of the fragment, stealthily heading toward the depths of Zhelong Hill.