166: Stargazing
A group of people, both male and female, appeared young, yet each possessed a restrained aura and long, steady breaths, clearly indicating they were Cultivators.
They shared one common trait: each carried a long sword on their back.
Sword Cultivators!
Sword Cultivators are reputed to have the strongest offensive power. Upon reaching the pinnacle Realm of their cultivation, they do not use the title of Immortal Master from the Daoist Sects, but instead call themselves Sword Immortals.
Cultivators in the world have never disputed this.
Although Sword Immortals are no longer seen today, there are countless Sword Cultivator Sects. Among them, the Lishan Sword Sect stands as the leader of the Sword Dao, with countless masters of the sword within its ranks, and it is rumored that a Sword Immortal even lies dormant there.
However, the few who have appeared outside the Taihang Mountains today are not Disciples of the Lishan Sword Sect.
"Junior Brother, the Yao Race also has great Cultivators who practice with devotion and remain untainted by worldly impurities. Do not always have the word 'Prodigy' on your lips. Have you forgotten the teachings of our Junior Martial Uncle before we descended the mountain?"
The leading man stood as straight as a pine, his sword-like brows slanted towards his temples, his eyes bright and deep, and the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, carrying a gentle smile as he spoke.
It was evident that this person held great prestige in the hearts of the others.
Upon hearing his words, the person who had spoken earlier immediately nodded and said, "Senior Brother is right. I was reckless."
"We did not come to this mountain for the sake of so-called demon slaying. Junior Brothers and Sisters, do not misunderstand our intention," the man said.
The group was suddenly surprised, not quite understanding his meaning.
"Before we descended the mountain, I received a message from the Old Ancestor. This trip into the mountains... is to forge a karmic connection for our Zhaixing Temple," the man said slowly.
"A karmic connection?"
"How strange. What kind of Cultivator could make the Old Ancestor specifically give such instructions?"
"And in these mountains, at that. Could it be a great being who has attained the Dao and is cultivating here in seclusion?"
The Disciples of the Zhaixing Temple exclaimed in wonder.
The Zhaixing Temple has avoided the world for many years, with most Disciples cultivating on the mountain. Usually, the number of Disciples walking outside the mountain is less than ten, and in recent years, they have not been prominent in the world.
Yet, among those Sects currently at the height of their influence, who would dare to underestimate the Zhaixing Temple?
As long as that Old Ancestor is still alive, which of the countless Sword Cultivators in the world would dare to claim they are the best in the Sword Dao?
The Zhaixing Temple has a profound foundation, and its secret Cultivation Technique carries the aura of the Great Dao. Looking at the entire Great Gan, it is one of the top Sect forces.
In the past, other Cultivators would seek to forge karmic connections with them; now, it is their turn to seek such a connection with someone else.
"As we have walked down the mountain, we all understand what kind of world this is now." The man's smile faded, and he pointed towards the direction of the capital, "After Emperor Jingtai's personality changed drastically, this world is destined to face a great catastrophe!"
The group nodded upon hearing this. Everything they had seen and heard since descending the mountain pointed to one thing...
The Great Gan has rotted from its very roots.
The colossal entity has not yet collapsed only because the foundation laid by the Great Gan's founding ancestor was truly too thick.
"There is someone in this mountain who is the key to that great catastrophe!"
The man did not explain too much, not because he intended to hide anything, but because he did not know much himself.
Even the Old Ancestor had only sensed an indescribable opportunity and could not deduce any further information.
Therefore, before setting off, he was instructed to come to these mountains to try his luck. If he could forge a karmic connection, that would be for the best; if he could not meet the person in question, then so be it.
Lin Huaijin, the outstanding leader of the younger generation of the Zhaixing Temple and the Senior Brother, looked at the mountain before him.
"Let's go, into the mountain."
Before the words had even faded, the figures of the group drifted into the deep mountains.
...
Taihang Mountains.
Atop the mountain peak, deep cyan scales intertwined and rubbed against each other, emitting a clanging sound like metal striking metal. The Mountain God coiled its body, eyes closed as it focused on savoring what it had gained from the Bloodline River.
Suddenly.
A gust of wind blew, carrying with it a... sharp Sword Intent!
The rubbing sound stopped abruptly.
"Sword Cultivator."
A pair of cold vertical pupils slowly opened, the golden light within them flowing like molten gold, and a biting killing intent quietly permeated the mountain.
Strange Cultivators had entered the Taihang territory, and they were Sword Cultivators skilled in combat and slaughter!
"Earth Listening..."
Xu Qing activated his Spell, and the entire mountain forest fell silent for an instant. The plants and trees stopped swaying, the birds stopped chirping, and even the river paused for a moment, fearing to disturb the Mountain God's listening.
Taking advantage of this fleeting moment.
Xu Qing heard the voices of the intruders.
"Senior Brother, why do I feel that this place... is a bit different?"
One of the Zhaixing Temple Disciples spoke, and the others nodded in succession, indicating they felt the same.
Not to mention the Demon Spirit Realm, the periphery of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains is seen by the world as a barbaric land where civilization does not exist, demons run rampant, and it is a chaotic, cruel, and primitive, filthy place.
Yet now, having walked into the deep mountains in person, they discovered it was vastly different from the mountain forests in people's impressions.
There were many small demons in the forest, but along the way, there were no foul-smelling demon winds, no instinctive bloody slaughter. The Demonic Qi on those small demons whose intelligence had just begun to open was dense yet upright and peaceful, without a trace of bloody, filthy aura.
"Interesting." Lin Huaijin saw the trick to it and explained to his Junior Brothers and Sisters, "Did you not notice that the Spiritual Qi here is much denser than the outside world?"
"It is indeed so."
"I wouldn't have noticed if Senior Brother hadn't mentioned it."
The group became increasingly surprised.
"With abundant Spiritual Qi, the small demons can cultivate just by inhaling and exhaling essence, so naturally, they don't need to slaughter each other anymore. Of course, this is just one of the reasons," Lin Huaijin said with a smile.
The group continued forward, and after walking only a few steps, they heard voices reaching their ears.
Several fat-headed, big-eared Monkey Demons walked over, arms around each other's shoulders.
They were carrying medicine baskets stuffed full of various Spiritual Plants and Spirit Medicine, holding juicy fruits in their hands, munching on them as they walked.
"Which do you think will master Alchemy first, Commander Fat Ball or Commander Skinny Egg?"
"Of course it's Commander Skinny Egg."
"I don't think so. Commander Fat Ball has better talent in this area."
"Regardless of who it is, once our two bosses learn Alchemy, who among those small demons in the Three Spirits Valley will dare to look down on us or give us attitude?"
"Exactly, exactly. I get angry just seeing that group of hedgehogs. They're all like Six Liang, iron roosters that won't pull out a single feather. Last time, we just ate two ginseng roots and they were shouting about killing us!"
While talking, the few Monkey Demons walked away.
In the shadows, the members of the Zhaixing Temple looked at each other in dismay, and even Lin Huaijin showed a look of surprise.
Could they have fallen under an illusion? What had they just heard?
Alchemy?
This is a technical skill that requires extremely high knowledge of pharmacology from a Cultivator. To get started, it takes a great deal of time.
If they were in a human Sect right now, it wouldn't be anything strange.
But where are they now?
In the deep, barbaric mountains, where demons are everywhere, there is a group of small demons who have not yet taken human form discussing Alchemy; it is simply inconceivable.
Recalling everything he had seen along the way, Lin Huaijin could not help but gaze into the depths of the great mountains.
Suddenly, Lin Huaijin felt something. As a fourth-rank Cultivator, his perception of the outside world was extremely keen.
Therefore, he was very certain that at this very moment, a gaze was locked onto him, crossing the vast mountains.