Chapter 49: The Surging Crowd

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"Quick, pick up the pace! If we're late, don't expect to even get the leftovers—we won't even get the scraps!" a one-eyed man leading the group shouted urgently.

Following behind the one-eyed man were seven cultivators, four men and three women. Lu Xiaotian was startled; even the lowest among them were at the fourth level of Qi Refinement. Two of them possessed spiritual pressure significantly higher than his own, suggesting they were likely late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators.

"Fellow Daoist Ma, why are you in such a rush? That Crystal Toad is a Rank 4 demon beast, equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator. It's tucked away in a small lake; even if others discover it, they'll only be able to watch helplessly. We'll likely have to wait for a Foundation Establishment senior from Moon Gazing City to take charge," a young man with a short blade, at the fifth level of Qi Refinement, said as he hurried along.

"What do you know? Many ants can kill an elephant! A few hundred ordinary Qi Refinement cultivators might not be able to do anything to that beast, but there are at least a thousand people gathered near that small lake, many of whom are late-stage experts. If they truly steel their hearts, capturing that Crystal Toad wouldn't be difficult. In the Moon Gazing Mountains, spiritual items are always guarded by demon beasts. I heard a Cold Nether Stone has appeared in that lake. If we're late, there's no guarantee some other frenzied cultivators won't snatch it first," the bearded man barked.

The group of eight sped past.

"A small lake, a Cold Nether Stone, and a Crystal Toad?" After they left, Lu Xiaotian stepped out from behind a tree, muttering to himself. Obtaining either the Cold Nether Stone or the Crystal Toad would allow him to join the Profound Ice Sect. No wonder these cultivators were so agitated. However, that Crystal Toad was already a Rank 4 demon beast, far beyond his reach.

But on second thought, since a thousand rogue cultivators had already gathered near the lake, it was bound to be a chaotic mix of all sorts of people. He didn't need to worry about anyone specifically targeting him. There were many late-stage and Great Perfection Qi Refinement experts among them; it would be a pity to miss the chance to witness the might of a Rank 4 demon beast. Furthermore, treasures are limited; once they appear, a frantic scramble is likely. If he blended into the crowd and fished in troubled waters, he might even pick up some easy gains.

With a sudden impulse, Lu Xiaotian turned and headed in the same direction as the previous group of cultivators.

Along the way, Lu Xiaotian encountered several waves of people. Each time, he gripped his spiritual sword tightly, prepared to flee at any moment. One or two groups cast suspicious glances his way, but they merely swept past without any intention of fighting, instead rushing in a single direction. Lu Xiaotian breathed a sigh of relief; in such a lawless place, he truly felt a sense of insecurity being alone.

After traveling roughly a hundred and some miles, passing through a forest of towering trees and a small valley, the view suddenly opened up. A moist breeze carrying a heavy amount of water spiritual energy blew toward him, lifting Lu Xiaotian's spirits.

Cultivators were everywhere, packed densely—even more than the one-eyed man had described. He estimated there were nearly three thousand people.

*Skree!* A sharp bird cry rang out.

"Old Man Flying Peng!"

The cultivators below cried out in alarm.

Lu Xiaotian looked up and saw a massive yellow Roc with a wingspan of over thirty feet circling above. Even from dozens of feet away, he could feel the wind whipping from overhead. The spiritual pressure descending from the sky sent a tremor through his heart. It wasn't just the cultivator known as Old Man Flying Peng, but also his mount, the yellow Roc, which was likely a peak Rank 3 spiritual beast.

"Old Monster Flying Peng, you rarely leave your home; how do you have the nerve to come out and compete with us for spiritual items now?" a young man in blue shouted loudly.

"Who knows what kind of reckless brat that is, daring to question Old Monster Flying Peng? Is he looking for death?" a middle-aged man beside him whispered.

"What do you know? That is the young master of the Liao family, a man who walks sideways in Moon Gazing City. Although Old Man Flying Peng is powerful, he is by no means invincible among Qi Refinement cultivators. There are many Great Perfection experts present; they just aren't as flashy as him. It seems this struggle for spiritual items will be even more unpredictable," another short, stout man argued.

"Everyone knows Old Man Flying Peng has a notoriously eccentric personality. He won't give a damn about whether someone is from a great clan or not," the middle-aged man snorted.

"Seeking death! I come and go as I please in these Moon Gazing Mountains; do you think I need to ask your permission?" Sure enough, Old Man Flying Peng, perched atop the yellow Roc, lived up to the middle-aged man's description. With a wave of his hand, a massive gust of wind swept down from the sky.

Lu Xiaotian's luck was poor; he was not far from the young man in blue. Feeling the gust of wind descending, his footing suddenly became unstable. The young man in blue, caught in the direct path of the attack, hurriedly summoned a spiritual talisman to raise a protective shield, but the shield shattered instantly under the force of the wind. The young man's face turned deathly pale, and his forehead turned a sickly green—the unmistakable sign that he was about to vomit blood.

Lu Xiaotian was shocked. This Old Man Flying Peng was incredibly powerful. The young man in blue was already a fourth-level Qi Refinement cultivator, yet Old Man Flying Peng had nearly forced him to vomit blood with a single strike. This was far too formidable. Lu Xiaotian had previously thought that having killed several people meant he had some skill, but witnessing Old Man Flying Peng's move made him realize he was a frog at the bottom of a well. Compared to these Great Perfection experts, the gap was significant. He likely wouldn't have the strength to contend with such masters until he reached the late stage.

As the middle-aged man had said, that reckless young man in blue was in for a hard time.

"You have practiced for many years; do you feel very grand bullying a junior?" A majestic, gruff voice came from behind the young man in blue as a middle-aged man with broad eyebrows stepped forward. With a sweep of his wide sleeves, he struck out with a gust of wind.

In the air, a sound like rolling thunder crackled and exploded.

"Who is this old man? So, the head of the Liao family has arrived. No wonder these juniors are so arrogant. However, I am not here to pick a fight with you today. If you have the ability, we shall test our strengths once this matter is settled!" Old Man Flying Peng gave a strange laugh. The great Roc circled in an arc through the sky, landing on a massive rock several feet from the edge of the small lake, and Old Man Flying Peng leaped down following its lead.

Lu Xiaotian scanned the surroundings of the lake. A massive number of cultivators had gathered, and there were dozens of Great Perfection experts like Old Man Flying Peng. Just a moment ago, he had been watching with the mindset of a spectator, but seeing the conflict between Old Man Flying Peng and the Liao family fail to escalate into a fight left some people quite disappointed.

Almost every Great Perfection expert was backed by dozens of cultivators; some powerful families even had hundreds. The Liao family was one of the prominent blacksmithing families in Moon Gazing City, possessing great strength, but they were unlucky this time, as very few of their members had managed to arrive. Among these leaders, Lu Xiaotian also spotted an old acquaintance, the Long-Eyebrowed Monster. The people around him seemed to fear him, suggesting he was also quite a formidable figure.

In the Moon Gazing Mountains, one would occasionally encounter large families clearing out an area. While the rogue cultivators lacked the power to resist, they were also helpless to stop it. However, although there were many experts present, the number of rogue cultivators from various factions was even greater. No single side, or even two sides, could claim to control the situation. Lu Xiaotian thought to himself that there was indeed a good chance to fish in these troubled waters.

(End of Chapter)