26: Chapter 26 Taking Action at Black Wind Stronghold

Leaving the Cold Pool Secluded Valley, Ye Chen led Xiaoyu through the mountain forests.

He did not look for a new fixed base, but instead moved like a ghost, constantly changing positions with the help of the dense jungle and complex terrain.

His cultivation had reached the Meridian Opening Stage Five Middle Phase, coupled with his initial insights into the Profound Ice Origin.

This allowed Ye Chen to reach a new height in controlling his own aura and cold energy; as he walked, he almost merged with the surrounding environment, making him difficult to detect.

Xiaoyu seemed to have grown accustomed to this displaced life, following closely behind her brother without crying or making a fuss.

Only occasionally, the look in her eyes as she watched Ye Chen's back carried a trace of worry that did not match her age.

Ye Chen's goal was clear—Black Wind Stockade.

That gang of fierce bandits had seen him (though he was in disguise), and they were the type to seek revenge for even the smallest grievance. Leaving them be would always be a hidden danger.

More importantly, Black Wind Stockade had occupied the mountain range for years and committed countless robberies; the stockade must have accumulated a significant amount of wealth and cultivation resources.

He was currently penniless and in desperate need of resources to support his subsequent cultivation and to deal with the Great Competition.

Using Black Wind Stockade as his first target would both eliminate a threat and replenish his own supplies, killing two birds with one stone.

Ye Chen did not act rashly. Instead, he spent half a day capturing a lone low-level lackey on the outskirts of the stockade.

With a few minor tricks, it was easy to extract the general location of Black Wind Stockade, the distribution of manpower, and the news that the stockade master, 'Black Wind Fiend,' seemed to be away recently.

The stockade master was away? A godsend opportunity!

...

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

Black Wind Stockade was situated deep in the mountain range in a mountain hollow that was easy to defend but hard to attack. The stockade walls were built of thick wood and equipped with watchtowers.

It was now late at night, and most parts of the stockade were pitch black.

Only the Hall of Heroic Gathering and a few important sentry posts were still lit with lanterns, with the faint sounds of drinking games and rowdy shouting drifting over.

Ye Chen settled Xiaoyu in a hidden cave about half a mile outside the stockade.

“Stay here and be good. Brother will be back soon.” He patted Xiaoyu’s head.

“Brother, be careful,” Xiaoyu said softly, clutching her brother's sleeve.

“Mhm.”

Ye Chen nodded. His figure flickered, blending into the night like a specter as he silently approached the mountain stockade.

He avoided the line of sight from the main gate and watchtowers, choosing a section of the side-rear stockade wall where the defenses were relatively weak.

The wall was twenty feet high, with patrolling lackeys walking above.

Ye Chen held his breath and concentrated. Once the sound of patrolling footsteps faded into the distance, he lightly tapped his toe against the wall, and his body floated up like a falling leaf.

Silently flipping over the top of the wall, he landed in the shadows inside the stockade.

The stockade was permeated with the smell of alcohol and sweat.

Like a hunter in the dark night, he relied on his powerful Divine Sense to avoid squads of patrolling bandits, making his way toward the direction of the Hall of Heroic Gathering from his memory.

The Hall of Heroic Gathering was brightly lit, where seven or eight people who looked like chieftains were drinking and eating meat in a boisterous manner.

The main seat was empty, and sitting in the first seat below it was none other than that One-Eyed Dragon.

One of his feet was propped on a stool as he bragged loudly with spit flying everywhere, while several chieftains beside him chimed in agreement.

“Damn it, if it weren't for that guy hiding his head and showing his tail meddling in our business, those three Green Wood Sect brats would have been hacked to pieces by me already! And that little girl...”

One-Eyed Dragon took a swig of wine and cursed.

“Third Master, calm down. Since the stockade master isn't here, it's better for us to be careful,” a tall, thin man advised.

“Afraid of what?!” One-Eyed Dragon slammed the table.

“In this Black Wind Mountain Range, who dares to provoke our Black Wind Stockade? When the stockade master returns, I'll definitely lead men to turn that cold pool upside down, drag out that guy playing ghost, and skin him alive!”

Ye Chen was hidden in the shadows of the hall, his gaze cold.

As expected, their wicked intentions had not died.

He waited patiently.

It wasn't until the latter half of the night that the banquet dispersed, and the chieftains drunkenly returned to their own rooms.

One-Eyed Dragon also put his arm around a captured woman and staggered toward his private courtyard.

The opportunity had come!

Ye Chen trailed behind him like a shadow.

Entering the courtyard, One-Eyed Dragon dismissed the woman. Just as he pushed open the door, a chilling coldness suddenly struck from behind!

One-Eyed Dragon was, after all, an expert at the Meridian Opening Fourth Level. Although he was hazy with drink, his instinct for danger remained.

His hair stood on end. Without thinking, he lunged forward while simultaneously swinging his blade backward in a horizontal slash!

“Sshhh—”

The blade sliced through the air but hit nothing. A surge of extreme cold Qi had already invaded his body, making his movements stiffen.

Ye Chen’s figure appeared beside him like a ghost, his fingers moving like lightning to strike his major acupoints!

The Nirvanic Cold Intent contained in his fingertips instantly froze the circulation of his True Essence.

One-Eyed Dragon’s eyes were filled with terror. He wanted to scream, but found that even his tongue was frozen numb, only able to make a “he-he” sound.

He looked at this ordinary-faced youth before him in disbelief; this aura was clearly the same as that person by the cold pool!

How did he find his way into the stockade?!

Ye Chen sealed his acupoints and dragged him into the room like a dead dog, closing the door.

The entire process was clean and efficient, without making the slightest sound.

“Recognize me?”

Ye Chen removed his disguise, revealing his original face. His voice was flat but carried a bone-piercing chill.

One-Eyed Dragon’s pupils constricted sharply, and he blinked desperately, his eyes full of pleading.

“I ask, you answer. If you dare tell a single lie, I’ll let you taste the feeling of your Meridians snapping and being frozen into ice shards.”

A wisp of pale blue cold Qi flickered at Ye Chen’s fingertips, and the temperature in the room plummeted.

One-Eyed Dragon was scared out of his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, nodding his head frantically.

“Where did Black Wind Fiend go? When will he be back?”

“The... the stockade master went to... to Qingyun City half a month ago. He said, said it was to discuss a big deal with the Wang family. As for exactly when he’ll be back, I... I really don’t know.”

One-Eyed Dragon’s teeth chattered as he spoke intermittently.

The Wang family!

Ye Chen’s gaze narrowed. They really were colluding with the Wang family!

No wonder they dared to strike at people from the Green Wood Sect.

“Where is the stockade’s storehouse? Who has the keys?”

“The storehouse is in the cellar behind the Hall of Heroic Gathering. The keys... the keys are with the Second Leader, ‘Poison Scholar.’ He, he lives in the second courtyard at the east end...”

“How many experts are left in the stockade? What are their cultivation levels?”

“Except for the stockade master who is in the Wheel Sea Realm, only the Second Leader is at the Fifth Level of Meridian Opening. The other chieftains are all at the third or fourth level... the lackeys aren't worth mentioning.”

After asking a few more questions and confirming nothing was missed, Ye Chen released a burst of cold Qi from his fingertips.

One-Eyed Dragon’s body stiffened, the light in his eyes quickly faded, and a layer of white frost covered his surface as he died silently.

Ye Chen remained expressionless as he searched the body, finding some gold and silver and a bottle of low-quality Medicinal Pills.

Immediately after, his figure blended into the darkness again, heading toward the second courtyard at the east end.

Poison Scholar’s courtyard was very quiet, with two guards dozing at the entrance.

Ye Chen followed the same pattern, easily taking out the guards and slipping into the room.

That Poison Scholar seemed to still be reading and hadn't slept. Just as he raised his head upon hearing a sound, an icy finger wind struck his brow, killing him instantly.

Ye Chen found the storehouse keys by his pillow.

Half an incense stick later, Ye Chen arrived at the entrance of the cellar behind the Hall of Heroic Gathering.

Using the key to open the heavy iron lock, he pushed open the cellar door, and a scent mixed with medicinal herbs, Ores, and gold and silver wafted toward him.

The cellar was not small and was piled with things.

On one side were dozens of large chests. Opening them revealed a significant amount of white silver ingots and glittering gold coins.

On the other side were several wooden shelves holding jade boxes and wooden cases containing various medicinal herbs and Ores.

Although the quality varied, the quantity was substantial.

In a corner, there was also a pile of weapons and armor.

Ye Chen’s gaze swept over them, focusing on the medicinal herbs and Ores.

He picked out some medicinal herbs beneficial for cultivation, such as 'Blood Ginseng' and 'Lingzhi,' and took several pieces of 'Cold Iron Ore' that contained Spiritual Qi.

As for the gold and silver, he only took a small portion of easily portable gold coins and a few silver ingots; too much would be a burden.

He packed the useful items into a bundle and slung it over his back.

Just as he was about to leave, his gaze was suddenly drawn to an unremarkable, dust-covered small iron box in the corner.

The box had no lock, but the material was special and felt ice-cold to the touch.

He opened the box to find only a thin booklet with yellowed pages and a material that seemed like leather but wasn't.

There was no writing on the cover of the booklet.

Ye Chen flipped it open to find drawings of eerie humanoid figures in various distorted poses.

Beside them were tiny, incomprehensible runes that exuded a sinister aura. It did not look like a Righteous Path Cultivation Technique.

Ye Chen frowned and initially wanted to throw it away, but for some inexplicable reason, he tucked it into his robes anyway.

Then, he turned and left the cellar without lingering, locking the door behind him.

He did not alert any other bandits. Just as he had arrived, he silently flipped over the stockade wall and disappeared into the vast night.

...

The next morning, Black Wind Stockade was in an uproar.

Third Master One-Eyed Dragon and Second Leader Poison Scholar had died mysteriously in their respective rooms, their bodies ice-cold as if frozen solid!

The storehouse keys were nowhere to be found!

With the stockade master away and the group without a leader, the entire stockade fell into a state of panic and chaos.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen had already taken Xiaoyu and his gains to another secret valley dozens of miles away.

He lit a small campfire and sorted through the looted medicinal herbs, keeping the useful ones and preparing to sell the useless ones for money later.

“Brother, do we have money now?”

Xiaoyu looked at the gold coins, her eyes bright.

“Mhm, we don’t have to worry about money for now.”

Ye Chen smiled and took out the eerie booklet he got from Black Wind Stockade, examining it carefully by the firelight.

The more he studied it, the tighter his brow furrowed.

What this booklet recorded seemed to be an extremely sinister Body Refining method that required torturing oneself and absorbing Yin-Fiend Qi to Cultivate; progress was fast, but the future troubles would be endless.

Furthermore, it required a special type of drug.

“Evil technique...”

Ye Chen shook his head and was about to destroy it when his gaze suddenly fell on the last page.

There, in even smaller characters, was noted a formula and cure for a Medicinal Pill called the 'bone-eroding pill,' along with a line of small-print commentary.

“...For those poisoned by this pill, the Meridians feel as if bitten by ants and their cultivation gradually wastes away; only 'crimson sun vermilion fruit' supplemented with 'Earth Core Fire Lotus' juice can cure it.”

bone-eroding pill?

Ye Chen’s heart skipped a beat as he recalled Lin Qingxue’s symptoms when her cold energy erupted, as well as that hard-to-root-out eerie Cold Poison in her body.

Could it be...

He put away the booklet, his gaze becoming deep.

It seemed the waters of Black Wind Stockade were deeper than he had imagined.

Could the 'big deal' with the Wang family be related to this?

Ye Chen looked in the direction of Qingyun City, his gaze cold.

There were still seven days until the Three Clans Grand Competition.

It was time to go back.