Chapter 47: Treasures in Jie County, Rumors Abound

Hai County.

One of the eight counties of Qingzhou, it stands by the coast and governs eleven counties.

Similar to the other counties in Qingzhou, most cultivators are concentrated in the county seat; in the smaller towns, there are only a few rogue Qi Refinement cultivators, and Foundation Establishment cultivators are rarely seen.

Mount Qingping covers the lands of the three counties: East County, Hai County, and Chang County. Within East County lies Qingshan County, while within Hai County lies Jie County.

Originally, there were three cultivation families in Jie County, relying primarily on gathering mountain herbs and hunting for their livelihood.

Though called cultivation families, the highest cultivation among them was only at the sixth level of Qi Refinement.

But now, two of the three cultivation families have been wiped out, leaving only the Wu family struggling to hold on.

Mount Qingping is abundant in creatures and medicinal herbs.

Although there are many demon beasts, the powerful ones each have their own territories.

As long as one does not approach their territory, they will not harm humans.

In a place like Jie County, there are two Foundation Establishment demon beasts in the mountains.

However, these two Foundation Establishment beasts are mild-tempered; compared to Qingshan County in East County, Jie County is undoubtedly fortunate.

After all, according to what Wu Fang knew, Qingshan County originally had several cultivation families as well.

But later, a tiger demon appeared in the mountains. Those cultivation families were commissioned by the then-magistrate of Qingshan County to go up the mountain to eliminate the demon, but not a single one returned.

It was said that Qingshan County subsequently invited cultivators several more times, but they also went in and never came out, until the mountain range was completely occupied by the tiger demon.

It wasn't until about two years ago that the tiger demon was finally eliminated by a Daoist priest with astonishing cultivation.

Compared to Qingshan County, the Foundation Establishment beasts in Jie County were far easier to get along with.

One could even encounter them in the mountains and occasionally trade books or other items for medicinal herbs.

Unfortunately, that wonderful state of peaceful coexistence between humans and demon beasts vanished several months ago and never returned.

Those two mild-tempered Foundation Establishment creatures had disappeared, and in their caves, a late-stage Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake had appeared!

Wu Fang learned this news from the other two families.

They had encountered the Black Fire Snake in the mountains and were nearly wiped out; those who escaped were driven mad, clearly terrified out of their wits.

Now, of the three cultivation families in Jie County, only the Wu family remained.

The head of the Wu family possessed only a fifth-level Qi Refinement cultivation; calling them a cultivation family was no different from calling them rogue cultivators.

With no foreseeable future and no cultivation resources, they could only seek a place to sustain their bloodline.

At the thought of that late-stage Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake, Wu Fang, the head of the Wu family, could neither eat nor sleep in peace.

Although he was considered a significant figure in Jie County—to the point where local gentry and wealthy merchants would listen to him—he was, after all, just an ordinary cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refinement.

Wu Fang had been feeling anxious and uncertain lately. He did not want to abandon his current family estate, but the terrifying demon beast on the mountain was violent and completely different from the previous two.

He had married, had children, and now even had a grandson. Just as the family was about to prosper, they could not afford the turmoil caused by a Foundation Establishment demon beast.

A Black Fire Snake nearly thirty zhang long was practically a flood dragon; once such a terrifying creature descended the mountain, it would surely bring catastrophe to all living things!

"Sigh."

With a sigh, Wu Fang was still hesitating when someone ran in from outside.

"Master, the County Magistrate is here."

Hearing that the Magistrate had arrived, Wu Fang stood up to receive him.

After all, rogue cultivators like them were not like disciples of great clans or sects; their ability to settle in a locality depended entirely on the help of the local county yamen.

Moreover, regardless of anything else, the majesty of the Great Qi Imperial Court existed, and as native citizens of the Qi Kingdom, they maintained a basic respect for the court.

"Brother Wu, I have come to disturb you again." Lin Zhiyong, the Magistrate of Jie County, walked in with a face full of sorrow.

"Brother Lin, what is the matter?" Wu Fang looked at the frowning Lin Zhiyong with confusion.

Lin Zhiyong glanced at Wu Fang: "Brother Wu, the creature on the mountain is too ferocious. The cultivators I invited did not return alive, not even one."

Wu Fang was shocked upon hearing this: "Brother Lin, you invited cultivators to eliminate the demon?"

Lin Zhiyong nodded and explained the details to Wu Fang.

This Magistrate Lin was a man of courage; with a ferocious demon beast in the mountains, the county town would inevitably be threatened.

Thus, Lin Zhiyong and the gentry of Jie County pooled their funds to hire a group of cultivators.

This group of cultivators was said to be frequently employed by various counties in Hai County to help clear out demon beasts.

Originally, Lin Zhiyong thought this group would bring good news, but they had vanished without a trace after entering the mountains.

Five full days had passed, and not a single person had descended the mountain alive.

Lin Zhiyong was utterly helpless and could only come to ask Wu Fang for ideas.

"Brother Wu, you wouldn't want to easily abandon your estate in Jie County, would you?"

"Your family has just begun to rise. If you leave Jie County now, where could you find acceptance?"

Listening to Lin Zhiyong's words, Wu Fang's mind was in turmoil; this was exactly what he was worried about.

After much deliberation, Wu Fang gritted his teeth and said, "That is a late-stage Foundation Establishment demon beast. Hiring ordinary rogue cultivators is completely useless!"

"We must invite a Foundation Establishment cultivator to deal with it!"

Lin Zhiyong's face turned pale: "The price a Foundation Establishment cultivator demands is not something that can be paid with mere gold and silver!"

Wu Fang added, "Brother Lin, why don't you personally go and invite Senior Chen Ping from neighboring Yü County?"

Chen Ping of Yü County was a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator with quite a reputation in Hai County.

His cultivation was at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, and his strength was extraordinary!

Chen Ping had now settled in Yü County and was invited to serve as a protected guest, possessing vast tracts of fertile Yulin land. His family was far more prosperous than Wu Fang's fledgling Qi Refinement family.

Lin Zhiyong thought for a moment and nodded: "Inviting Senior Chen is a viable plan."

Wu Fang continued, "Brother Lin, write another letter. I will take it to the county seat and hand it to the Prefect."

"Perhaps the Prefect can move the Purple Mansion Zhao family."

"Then, Jie County might be saved."

Lin Zhiyong nodded.

A Foundation Establishment demon beast—what could a mere Jie County do?

He would have to let the Prefect in the county seat deal with the headache.

Thus, Lin Zhiyong quickly wrote the letter and handed it to Wu Fang, and the two began to act separately.

The Chen family of Yü County was undoubtedly a behemoth in Yü County.

Having a Foundation Establishment cultivator settle there was a good thing for the entire county.

The gentry and wealthy merchants of Yü County scrambled to send their children to study with the Chen family; members of the Chen family walked through Yü County with their heads held high.

On this day, a guest arrived at the Chen residence.

The visitor was the Magistrate of Jie County, Lin Zhiyong.

Facing a visit from a County Magistrate, the veteran Foundation Establishment cultivator Chen Ping gave him plenty of face.

Having settled in Yü County for many years, Chen Ping had grown accustomed to social exchanges. He smiled and invited Lin Zhiyong into the manor, looking more like an ordinary wealthy gentleman than a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Why has Magistrate Lin visited so suddenly?" Chen Ping asked with a smile.

Lin Zhiyong hurriedly explained his purpose. As Chen Ping listened, the smile gradually vanished from his face.

A late-stage Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake!

Heavens, how could such a terrifying demon beast suddenly appear in Jie County!

Chen Ping had not made a move in many years; the number of times he had fought in recent years could be counted on one hand.

The reckless courage he once had—the courage to risk his life and seek opportunities among demon beast swarms—had long since vanished.

The current Chen Ping was merely a kind, wealthy old man.

A late-stage Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake—once such a monster descended the mountain, the entirety of Jie County would not be enough to withstand its devastation, and Yü County would inevitably be affected.

Like Wu Fang, once Chen Ping had settled down, he did not want to leave.

He had his foundation here, and the roots for the Chen family's continued development.

After a moment of silence, Chen Ping said, "This matter does not only involve Jie County. I, Chen, will naturally not remain indifferent."

"Magistrate Lin, please return first. Once I have gathered three or five friends, I shall go to Jie County to eliminate the demon!"

Having received this promise from Chen Ping, Lin Zhiyong departed with immense gratitude.

Once Lin Zhiyong left, the members of the Chen clan began to dissuade him.

They knew well how long it had been since Chen Ping had engaged in magical combat. His skills were likely rusty; going to fight a late-stage Foundation Establishment demon beast would be nothing short of suicide.

Furthermore, if anything happened to Chen Ping, the Chen family's status in Yü County would surely plummet, and it would be difficult to preserve their estate.

Looking at these clansmen immersed in wealth and glory, Chen Ping felt for the first time that the development of the Chen family had gone wrong.

He scolded them all in frustration, then shouted angrily, "What do you know?"

"If that late-stage Foundation Establishment demon beast truly runs rampant, if Jie County cannot hold, do you think Yü County will be safe?"

"I am going to Jie County precisely to protect the Chen family's assets!"

"Moreover, the sudden appearance of a late-stage Foundation Establishment demon beast must mean that some heavenly treasure has appeared. Once such a treasure is obtained, it will be the opportunity for the Chen family to truly rise!"

Chen Ping's mind was very clear. He knew a late-stage Foundation Establishment demon beast was difficult to deal with, but he knew even better that they did not just appear out of nowhere.

Heavenly treasures!

Chen Ping, who had been suffering from his inability to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment and had been forced to settle in Yü County, suddenly felt the hot blood that had been dormant for decades begin to boil again.

While Chen Ping was gathering his friends, in the county seat of Hai County, Wu Fang also delivered his letter to the desk of the Hai County Prefect.

The Hai County Prefect knew that a rampant late-stage Foundation Establishment demon beast appearing in his territory was a massive headache, so he went directly to the Zhao family.

As a Purple Mansion clan of Hai County, while enjoying the tributes of the county, the Zhao family naturally had to contribute to its stability.

The head of the Zhao family, Zhao He, was currently in seclusion. The Great Elder of the Zhao family, Zhao Hong, met with the Prefect and stated that the Zhao family would not sit idly by.

Having received the Zhao family's response, the Prefect naturally felt relieved.

Zhao Hong quickly summoned the elites of the Zhao family: Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun, both skilled fighters at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and direct descendants of the Zhao family.

"The Prefect just said that a late-stage Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake has suddenly appeared in Jie County. I suspect some treasure must have appeared in Jie County."

"Follow me to Jie County and eliminate that Black Fire Snake. If we find any heavenly treasures, it will also strengthen the foundation of our Zhao family."

Hearing Zhao Hong's words, Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun nodded.

They naturally would not refuse something so beneficial to the Zhao family.

Moreover, a late-stage Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake could be said to be a treasure trove in itself.

Its meat could nourish a cultivator's body and strengthen their essence; its blood, gallbladder, and heart could be used to refine medicine; its teeth, scales, and skin could be used to refine artifacts...

Soon, Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun were fully prepared and followed Zhao Hong to Jie County.

Meanwhile, Chen Ping also found several helpers, and they agreed to head to Jie County after splitting the spoils equally.

The name "Jie County" began to appear frequently in the cultivation circles of Hai County without anyone realizing it.

Everyone was spreading the word: there is treasure in Jie County!