Urban Martial Saint

After picking some Century-Old Jade Ganoderma on the mountain, Ye Qing felt he had a fruitful journey. Then he followed Fat Jiao around the cave and discovered some powerful Giant Snakes. These Giant Snakes might not possess the overwhelming strength of Fat Jiao, but they were more than a match for ordinary Peak Masters.

Ye Qing knew that these Giant Snakes had been living on the mountain for who knows how long. And with snakes, the longer they live, the more formidable they become. Although some say that snakes have a lifespan limit, looking at Fat Jiao, it’s apparent that a snake’s lifespan might be endless. A snake takes five hundred years to become a Jiao, and a Jiao takes a thousand years to become a dragon. Whether the latter is true is uncertain, but the former certainly is, as Ye Qing had genuinely witnessed Fat Jiao as an example!

Thinking of this phrase, Ye Qing suddenly recalled another crucial matter. A snake takes five hundred years to become a Jiao, and Fat Jiao is such an example. According to the words left by Ancestor Chen Tuan, during Chen Tuan’s seclusion in Mount Wendao, Fat Jiao had already taken shape and become a Jiao. And how many years have passed since Ancestor Chen Tuan’s era to the present?

Ye Qing had read records about Ancestor Chen Tuan, who was a figure from the Northern Song Dynasty, over a thousand years ago. Of course, it’s impossible to say such a figure lived only for a hundred years; someone like him must have lived for several centuries at least. And within those centuries, when he arrived at Mount Wendao and left his Karmic Dao there, is a significant question. And the most important point in this question involves how long Fat Jiao has lived!

According to historical records regarding Ancestor Chen Tuan, his era was over a thousand years ago. This suggests that Ancestor Chen Tuan might have arrived at Mount Wendao a thousand years ago, leaving behind his Karmic Dao and the Innate Nine Diagrams. This means that a thousand years ago, Ancestor Chen Tuan had already seen Fat Jiao. And this point is the most crucial of all, implying that Fat Jiao has lived for over a thousand years?

A snake takes five hundred years to become a Jiao, and a Jiao takes a thousand years to become a dragon.

Although Ye Qing did not know exactly when Ancestor Chen Tuan arrived at Mount Wendao, it’s certain that Fat Jiao has lived for a considerable time. If not a thousand years, then it’s certainly close. Does this mean Fat Jiao is about to transform into a dragon?

At this thought, Ye Qing couldn’t help but glance at Fat Jiao again. This chubby creature looked rather cute, lacking the heroic appearance of a Jiao. And yet, it was soon to be a dragon; this seemed even more unlikely. Could this guy really become a dragon?

Ye Qing shook his head; he was skeptical of these legends. If not for personally seeing a Jiao, Ye Qing would never have believed this phrase. However, after meeting Fat Jiao, he had to believe it. Still, the saying that a Jiao takes a thousand years to become a dragon was harder to believe. Fat Jiao didn’t even look like it was about to transform into a dragon.

Of course, Ye Qing was puzzled about why Mount Wendao, from top to bottom, had only one Jiao, Fat Jiao. Other snakes, although large, hadn’t transformed into Jiao. Since a snake takes five hundred years to become a Jiao, why was Fat Jiao the only one on Mount Wendao to do so? Wasn’t there a single snake in the thousand years that transformed into a Jiao?

This was Ye Qing’s most critical evidence for questioning the saying, though he couldn’t really ascertain the reason. However, seeing Fat Jiao’s cave, Ye Qing was indeed quite shocked. Not to mention, Fat Jiao’s power was extremely terrifying. Each of these Giant Snakes could rival a Peak Master, making it impossible for the Wanyan Family to attack Mount Wendao. With the mountain full of snakes, powerful Giant Snakes, and Fat Jiao capable of defeating the Corpse Ghost Dragon, the Wanyan Family couldn’t possibly reach Mount Wendao!

Thus, Ye Qing felt even more confident about leaving the Sun Shooting Bow there.

Ye Qing didn’t linger long at Mount Wendao, as he needed to help Fu Qingping with the task of picking someone up from Medicine King Mountain. Ye Qing wasn’t sure whom he was to pick up, but since both Fu Qingping and Shijia mentioned it, he had to go ahead with it.

Originally, with the Wanyan Family assaulting Mount Wendao, Ye Qing wasn’t daring enough to leave freely. However, the Wanyan Family had suffered a significant setback at Mount Wendao, with even the Corpse Ghost Dragon losing an arm, presenting an opportunity for Ye Qing. Under these circumstances, the Wanyan Family wouldn’t be able to hold Mount Wendao, making it the best time for Ye Qing to slip out quietly. If he waited for the Wanyan Family to return, it would be nearly impossible for him to leave Mount Wendao.

So, after collecting some Jade Ganoderma, Ye Qing bid farewell to Fat Jiao and left Mount Wendao.

Naturally, Fat Jiao was reluctant to part and lingered around Ye Qing for a long time until Ye Qing left Mount Wendao, not following him out. It seemed Fat Jiao wouldn’t step outside Mount Wendao’s borders, for some reason unknown. Yet, Ye Qing didn’t encourage it to leave, as it had to stay to guard the Sun Shooting Bow.

Taking the Jade Ganoderma, Ye Qing slipped quietly out of Mount Wendao, encountering no mishaps along the way. Once out of the mountain, he immediately found a car and rushed overnight towards Medicine King Mountain.

Meanwhile, back in Shenchuan City, Wanyan Second Master and Wanyan Ming had returned. Wanyan Second Master stood in front of Wanyan Hongfeng, fully reporting the situation at Mount Wendao to Wanyan Hongfeng, finally speaking in a deep voice, ”Big Brother, the twenty thousand Long-toothed Rats we brought were completely annihilated, devoured by the snakes on the mountain. And that Monster Beast’s fighting strength is otherworldly; the Corpse Ghost Dragon had its arm severed just to escape with its life. If I hadn’t left in time with Ming, we would have ended up in a python’s belly!”

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Ming immediately retorted angrily, ”Wanyan Number Two, listening to you, do I owe you thanks then? Humph, have you forgotten that you slapped me across the face before?”

Wanyan Second Master frowned slightly; Wanyan Ming was even more arrogant in front of Wanyan Hongfeng, daring to address him like this, which indeed made him angry. However, he didn’t dare to confront Wanyan Ming here.

”Minger, the situation was urgent then, and you insisted on randomly issuing orders, which was purely courting death!” Wanyan Second Master looked at Wanyan Hongfeng and said, ”Big Brother, I really had no choice back then and had to resort to such measures. If I hadn’t stopped Minger, I’m afraid we truly couldn’t have gotten out of there!”

Wanyan Ming responded coldly, ”What a joke, the Corpse Ghost Dragon was there, even if he wasn’t a match for that monster beast, he could at least retreat with me intact. I think you were simply cowardly, missing the best opportunity to capture Ye Qing, resulting in the loss of so many people, and yet you still have the face to take credit in front of my grandfather!”

Wanyan Second Master did not reply, just looked at Wanyan Hongfeng, waiting for him to speak; arguing with Wanyan Ming was meaningless.

”Why don’t you dare speak now? Did I hit the nail on the head?” Wanyan Ming pressed aggressively and said, ”Wanyan Number Two, do you really think I don’t understand your little scheme? Humph, you sent ten people to capture Ye Qing, while you kept your distance—if that’s not being afraid to die, what is? As a result, you didn’t go and ended up getting those ten people killed—is this your way of doing things? Grandfather, don’t be fooled by his sweet talk. If it weren’t for his misguided command during the Mount Wendao incident, I would have already brought Ye Qing and the Sun Shooting Bow back!”

Wanyan Hongfeng glanced at Wanyan Ming, not knowing what he was thinking. After a moment of silence, he slowly waved his hand and said, ”Minger, go and rest first!”

”Rest?” Wanyan Ming paused, glanced at Wanyan Second Master, and said, ”Grandfather, I’m not tired, I... I don’t need rest, this matter isn’t over yet. What about Ye Qing? What about the Sun Shooting Bow? Also, who will take responsibility for this?”

”You don’t need to worry about these things, I have my own judgment!” responded Wanyan Hongfeng in a deep voice, his tone slightly displeased.

Seeing Wanyan Hongfeng’s firm tone, Wanyan Ming didn’t dare say more, and slowly backed away. On the other side, after Wanyan Ming left the room, Wanyan Hongfeng then looked at Wanyan Second Master and said solemnly, ”Second Brother, you mentioned just now that that monster beast killed ten Peak Masters with one roar? Is this true?”

”Absolutely true, I saw it clearly at the scene!” Wanyan Second Master said, ”If I hadn’t been farther away, I’m afraid that roar would have killed me too. The monster beast’s roar wasn’t loud, but its power was overwhelming, far beyond what ordinary people can withstand. I’ve seen many masters, but never anyone whose strength could rival this monster beast’s!”

At this point, Wanyan Second Master hurriedly paused and added, ”Of course, Big Brother, your Demon Gate Secret Techniques are surely no less than this monster beast. Moreover, with the Minghong Knife’s scabbard, it’s as easy as turning one’s hand to kill this monster beast!”

Wanyan Hongfeng merely smiled and shook his head, ”I can’t kill this monster beast!”

”Ah?” Wanyan Second Master was taken aback; he didn’t expect Wanyan Hongfeng to say such a thing. Could it be that Wanyan Hongfeng actually understood the monster beast’s strength?

”Alas!” Wanyan Hongfeng sighed, looked at Wanyan Second Master, and said, ”The Mount Wendao matter stops here; henceforth, Wanyan Family members are forbidden from approaching Mount Wendao!”

”Ah?” Wanyan Second Master was even more surprised, looked at Wanyan Hongfeng and said, ”Big Brother, but... but Ye Qing entered Mount Wendao, and the Sun Shooting Bow is there as well, can... can we just leave it at that? Let Ye Qing go, but the Sun Shooting Bow is crucial. If we don’t take it out, then... then what about our plan?”

”With that monster beast guarding Mount Wendao, we definitely can’t get the Sun Shooting Bow!” Wanyan Hongfeng looked calmly at Wanyan Second Master and said, ”However, we may not necessarily need to enter the mountain to obtain the Sun Shooting Bow!”