Chapter 48: Disturbances Arrive, Tranquility is Hard to Find

"Brother Wang, have you heard? There's a treasure in Jie County!"

"What?! How could a place like Jie County possibly have a treasure?"

"Jie County is right next to Mount Qingping; how could there not be treasures in those mountains?"

"Exactly, exactly. I heard that Old Master Chen Ping from Yu County has already called upon his close friends to go and explore Mount Qingping."

"That's not all, everyone! Word from the prefectural city is that Zhao Hong, the Great Elder of the Zifu Zhao Clan, has personally set out, and he's even brought two top experts from the clan at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment!"

"..."

Various rumors and speculations spread throughout Hai County.

Everyone developed an intense curiosity regarding what exactly lay within Jie County.

This was, in fact, something neither Lin Zhiyong nor Wu Fang had anticipated.

Their original intention was to invite a few experts to eliminate a demon; they never expected to draw in so many cultivators!

In just a few short days, dozens of Qi Refinement stage cultivators arrived in Jie County.

In the days that followed, several Foundation Establishment stage cultivators appeared as well.

Chen Ping of Yu County arrived with his friends and immediately moved into the county magistrate's office. According to several well-informed individuals, the people Chen Ping had invited were the famous rogue cultivators of Hai County: "Cold Blade" Ning Kang and "Thunder Hand" Lei Zhen.

Subsequently, a swordsman wearing a bamboo hat and white robes also arrived in Jie County, identified as the lone wanderer, "White-Robed Jade Sword" Gongsun Yulong.

And only one day later, Zhao Hong, the Great Elder of the Zifu Zhao Clan, arrived accompanied by two Foundation Establishment members of his clan.

The identities of those two were also recognized as the renowned younger generation of the Zhao Clan, Zhao Jun and Zhao Rui.

Currently, there were as many as seven Foundation Establishment cultivators in Jie County alone.

Lin Zhiyong had never imagined that his tiny Jie County could attract so many Foundation Establishment cultivators. He spent these few days handling things with extreme caution, fearing that any mistake might occur.

Wu Fang was also on high alert. Having to deal with the inquiries of these Foundation Establishment seniors every day made him, a local "big shot" of Jie County, realize once again how difficult life was for low-level cultivators.

Seeing that the Zhao Clan had arrived, Chen Ping consulted with his two friends, and the three decided to head up the mountain to investigate the following day.

Zhao Hong also felt that there were too many people in Jie County at the moment; to avoid trouble, it was best to depart early.

Thus, early the next morning, the commoners of Jie County watched as Foundation Establishment cultivators took to the sky one after another, flying toward Mount Qingping.

Seeing the Foundation Establishment cultivators in motion, the Qi Refinement rogue cultivators gathered in Jie County hurriedly followed, hoping to scavenge some benefits from the aftermath.

As such a massive number of cultivators ascended the mountain in a grand procession, the creatures within the mountain sensed the danger and began to hide one after another.

Bai Shang, who was practicing in an outer cave dwelling, sensed these anomalies. Rather than rashly disturbing Jiang Sheng, it first went out to investigate the situation.

However, Bai Shang did not expect that shortly after leaving the cave, it would be targeted.

The ones targeting Bai Shang were Chen Ping, Ning Kang, and Lei Zhen.

Based on intelligence obtained from Wu Fang and descriptions of Mount Qingping from the locals, they had analyzed and judged the approximate location of the Black Fire Snake. After searching their way through, they discovered Bai Shang's tracks.

"It's a white fox at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. How strange, that a white fox actually exists in these mountains." Ning Kang was clearly very interested in Bai Shang's appearance.

Chen Ping analyzed, "According to the mortals in Jie County, there are two fox immortals in the mountains, one white and one green. The white fox immortal mentioned must be this one before us."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, it seems your judgment was correct. The mountains are mostly filled with green and red foxes; this white fox clearly shouldn't be appearing here. Could it be related to that treasure?" Lei Zhen grew more excited as he spoke.

"That possibility cannot be ruled out. Let's capture this white fox first and see." After Chen Ping spoke, the three quietly dispersed, preparing to strike.

While scouting in the forest, Bai Shang suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of crisis surge in its heart.

For the creatures of the mountain, the premonition of danger was an instinct buried deep within their bones.

Realizing something was wrong, Bai Shang immediately circulated its demon qi to retreat.

*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*

A series of fireballs crashed down, devastating the once lush forest into a wreck.

Bai Shang ran at great speed, its demon qi enveloping its body as it dodged between the successive fireballs.

However, several ice spikes suddenly rained down from ahead, forcing Bai Shang to stop and flee in another direction.

The fireballs and ice spikes continued to strike all along the way, leaving Bai Shang exhausted from the struggle.

This was only Chen Ping and Ning Kang attacking; Lei Zhen was providing support the entire time to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation to snatch the prize.

"Damn it, why are there suddenly so many human cultivators in the mountains?"

Bai Shang was incredibly anxious. Facing these Foundation Establishment cultivators whose cultivation was higher than its own, Bai Shang knew it stood no chance of winning.

"Fellow Daoists, I have no past grievances or current enmity with you. Why are you attacking me?"

Bai Shang attempted to communicate peacefully with Chen Ping and the others chasing behind it.

"We did not come for you, of course, but for the Black Fire Snake."

"If you trust us, why not stop so we can have a proper talk?"

Chen Ping's shouting did not make Bai Shang stop; instead, it made the fox run even faster.

*Coming for the Black Fire Snake, yet wanting to stop and talk?*

Bai Shang was no fool; stopping would mean being slaughtered like meat.

Seeing that Bai Shang showed no reaction, Chen Ping became even more certain that there was indeed a treasure here—perhaps the treasure was currently being guarded by the Black Fire Snake!

There could only be one overlord in a single mountain. If the Black Fire Snake allowed a white fox to exist here, then this white fox must be a subordinate of the Black Fire Snake.

"Fellow Daoist Ning, Fellow Daoist Lei, attack together! Stop this white fox; it must know the situation regarding the Black Fire Snake!"

Chen Ping sent a decisive telepathic command, and Ning Kang and Lei Zhen cooperated in their attack.

Fireballs, ice spikes, and lightning orbs formed a pincer movement against Bai Shang from three different directions.

Sensing the crisis coming from behind, Bai Shang suddenly turned its head and spat out a burst of wind and snow before accelerating its escape.

The wind and snow were dispersed by fireballs within moments, followed immediately by the falling ice spikes and lightning orbs, leaving terrifying marks throughout the forest.

Zhao Hong, Zhao Rui, and Zhao Jun, who were searching in another direction, also sensed the fluctuations from Chen Ping and the others' attack.

"Chen Ping and the others have made their move; they must have discovered something. Let's go see!"

As Zhao Hong spoke, he turned without hesitation to pursue Chen Ping's direction, with Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun following closely behind.

Bai Shang constantly changed its direction within the forest, relying on its familiarity with the terrain to prevent Chen Ping and the others from successfully catching it.

Seeing that these methods were unlikely to capture Bai Shang alive, Chen Ping said angrily, "Fellow Daoists, do not hold back! At worst, we can just kill this beast and perform a soul search!"

Ning Kang laughed, "It should have been that way from the start!"

With that, Ning Kang summoned a snow-patterned straight saber.

The title "Cold Blade" Ning Kang was earned through this high-grade magical tool, the Frost Cold Saber.

As Ning Kang channeled his spiritual energy, the Frost Cold Saber transformed into a frosty shadow and flew toward Bai Shang.

A lethal threat appeared at its back; the Frost Cold Saber aimed straight for Bai Shang's neck, intending to decapitate it in one stroke.

However, just when Bai Shang felt it could not survive this blow, a sound of clashing metal rang out, and the Frost Cold Saber was actually deflected, grazing Bai Shang's neck as it flew past.

The smile vanished from Ning Kang's face.

Channeling spiritual energy to recall the Frost Cold Saber to his side, Ning Kang looked at the suddenly appearing Gongsun Yulong, his expression full of rage: "Gongsun Yulong, you again!"

"My apologies, my hand slipped. I hope Fellow Daoist Ning won't take offense," Gongsun Yulong said with a hollow smile, a small jade sword spinning rapidly around him.

It was this jade sword that had struck the Frost Cold Saber away, saving Bai Shang's life.

Seeing Gongsun Yulong appear, both Chen Ping and Lei Zhen grew alert.

They knew well that the relationship between Gongsun Yulong and Ning Kang was not good.

One was known as the "Cold Blade" and the other as the "Jade Sword"; they appeared to be the paragons of the young rogue cultivators in Hai County.

But since ancient times, there has never been a tie for first place. Thus, Gongsun Yulong and Ning Kang had always been in a state of open and covert competition, each trying to suppress the other.

Over the years, their relationship had been quite unpleasant. Now that Ning Kang had encountered Gongsun Yulong, it was inevitable that more trouble would arise.

"This demon beast is what we have our eyes on. Gongsun Yulong, do you intend to compete with us?" Ning Kang looked at Gongsun Yulong with ill intent.

Gongsun Yulong, however, looked nonchalant: "I don't care who the demon beast belongs to. But if I can make you uncomfortable, that is much more interesting to me."

"You seek death!" Ning Kang attacked fiercely, the Frost Cold Saber carving a streak of light toward Gongsun Yulong.

Gongsun Yulong showed no fear, channeling his jade sword to meet Ning Kang's Frost Cold Saber.

Watching the two human cultivators begin their battle, Bai Shang hurriedly tried to take this opportunity to flee back to its cave. But after only two steps, it discovered with despair that three more human cultivators were flying toward it—the leader was even at the late stage of Foundation Establishment!

Noticing the arrival of the Zhao Clan members, Ning Kang and Gongsun Yulong also stopped their fight in tacit understanding.

Although they were determined to settle their differences, in the face of the Zifu Zhao Clan, rogue cultivators like them were still willing to band together.

"I was wondering why it was so lively here; it turns out it's all old acquaintances."

Zhao Hong looked at the Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators of Hai County with a chuckle, appearing to be a kind, elderly man.

However, whether it was Chen Ping, Lei Zhen, Ning Kang, or Gongsun Yulong, they were all incredibly wary of this Great Elder of the Zifu Zhao Clan, a powerful cultivator at the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

"It is truly rare to find a white fox in these mountains. I saw you all competing for this white fox just now; could it be that the Black Fire Snake is related to this white fox?" Zhao Hong observed Bai Shang, his eyes full of inquiry.

Bai Shang had never felt such despair. Seven human Foundation Establishment cultivators surrounding it left it with absolutely no way out.

Seeing that these human Foundation Establishment cultivators were about to discuss how to divide it up, Bai Shang hurriedly shouted, "Everyone, the Black Fire Snake has already been eliminated by Daoist Jiang!"

*Daoist Jiang!*

The appearance of this name undoubtedly caused everyone present to become extremely vigilant.

"The Daoist Jiang you speak of—could it be the Daoist Jiang Sheng who previously slew the Zifu River God?" Zhao Hong asked.

Bai Shang nodded repeatedly: "Precisely! The Black Fire Snake has been eliminated by Daoist Jiang of the Qingxuan Temple. There is nothing left in these mountains!"

Hearing this, Ning Kang sneered, "Trying to deceive us with words? You seek death!"

As he spoke, Ning Kang channeled the Frost Cold Saber, clearly intending to slay Bai Shang right in front of everyone.

Bai Shang looked in terror as the Frost Cold Saber, carrying a terrifying frost aura, slashed toward it. In the next instant, the Frost Cold Saber was struck away by a speeding burst of sword qi.

"I merely wish for a moment of peace in the mountains; why must it be so difficult?"