Clan Cultivation: Starting with Building an Island Immortal City

61: Towering peaks, the land of the raging dragonsThe Mountain Dragon Lizard’s four feet landed steadily, carrying the four people away from the blood-soaked mountain pass in the forest, heading southwest into the depths.

The deeper they went into the heartland of the Southern Border, the more rugged the terrain became.

Towering ancient trees grew scarce, and all that met the eye were vast expanses of exposed, jagged strange rocks and bottomless, dark ravines.

The air remained humid and hot, but it gained a few traces of the rough scent unique to mountain rocks and the faint smell of unknown minerals.

There were no formed paths underfoot; the Mountain Dragon Lizard instinctively chose its route, sometimes climbing steep stone ridges, sometimes diving into dark canyons, its steps as constant as ever, the saddle on its back remaining steady, clearly accustomed to navigating such treacherous terrain.

Li Yinglong sat upright in the saddle, his spiritual sense slightly expanded, silently observing his surroundings.

He saw majestic and unusual mountains, with numerous waterfalls cascading down like white silks shattering into deep pools, their roaring never ceasing.

Strange vegetation, bizarre in form and vibrant in color, occasionally appeared on the rock walls, clearly nourished by the unique ley lines of this place over time.

He mused to himself that for the Hundred Clans of the Southern Border to thrive for generations in such an environment, they must possess unique survival techniques and extraordinary foundations, far from the barbaric and backward state that outsiders speculated.

After about half an hour of travel, a rumbling sound of water suddenly came from ahead, faint at first, then gradually growing mighty, like ten thousand horses galloping.

Passing through a narrow pass obscured by dense vines, the sight before Li Yinglong made his gaze sharpen.

A wide river stretched before them, its turbid waves surging and incredibly swift!

The river water was muddy yellow, carrying mud and sand washed down from upstream, its current fierce and violent, crashing against the interlocking reefs on both banks, stirring up a sky full of white foam, the mist chilling to the face.

The river was over a hundred zhang wide; any ordinary boat reaching this point would likely be instantly overturned and swallowed by the rapids, dragged into a whirlpool, leaving no bones.

This natural barrier, a formidable river, truly served as a natural defense.

But what was even more alarming was the sight on the opposite bank of the river.

The opposite bank was not a gentle slope or a sandbar, but a towering, colossal peak, rising from the ground and piercing straight into the clouds!

The peak’s body was not a gradual slope like ordinary mountains; it was almost a vertical cylinder, entirely covered in a smooth, mirror-like dark, strange rock wall, upon which not a single blade of grass grew, and even tiny cracks for monkeys to climb were hard to find.

Looking up, clouds swirled around the mountainside, making it impossible to see the summit, only feeling a profound sense of oppressive Aura descending, inspiring awe.

This was not a mountain; it was clearly a massive stone pillar reaching to the sky, so smooth that even birds struggled to find a place to land.

Even an army of thousands would not dare approach.

Difficult for birds to cross? Perhaps only true birds, or... Immortals?

”Is this... where the Angry Dragon Stockade is located?”

Lin Xiaowan’s voice trembled as she gazed at the sheer cliff that seemed to connect with the heavens, her eyes filled with surprise.

Li Yinglong’s heart was similarly shaken.

Several thoughts flashed through Li Yinglong’s mind instantly:

Crossing by cable? Forcing their way with flying boats? Or was there a hidden waterway?

However, observing the water and mountain formations, none seemed easy.

As he pondered, the Dragon Clan Giant leading the way let out a soft cry, and the most robust Mountain Dragon Lizard beneath him, without hesitation, moved its thick limbs and plunged into the surging river with a splash!

When the giant lizard entered the water, the imagined violent turbulence did not occur.

Its massive body was surprisingly stable upon entering the water.

Its four limbs were broad like oars, covered with thick scales and tough webbed membranes, paddling through the rapids, each stroke carrying immense force, firmly stabilizing its body.

The surging river water crashed against its mountain-like torso, only splashing up larger waves, but unable to move it in the slightest.

The people riding on the lizard’s back in the saddle only felt a slight sway, like sailing on a lake with gentle ripples.

The roar of the river was close at hand, and cold spray occasionally splashed onto their faces, but the stability of their mount gave the riders a great sense of security.

The other three Mountain Dragon Lizards followed closely, forming a line, cutting through the turbid waves, and steadily heading towards the opposite bank.

Li Yinglong secretly praised, this beast was indeed extraordinarily gifted, worthy of the name ”Mountain Dragon.”

This ability to cross the river alone was a priceless treasure, no wonder it could become the relied-upon transportation for the Angry Dragon Clan.

In just a moment, the four Mountain Dragon Lizards had safely crossed the river and set foot on the hard rock of the opposite bank.

Before them was the mirror-smooth, vertically sheer cliff that soared into the clouds.

Before Li Yinglong could ponder how to ascend the mountain, the Dragon Clan Giant had already driven his Mountain Dragon Lizard directly towards the sheer cliff.

Approaching the base of the cliff, the Mountain Dragon Lizard let out a low hiss, its front claws suddenly extended, the claws dark and shiny, their tips incredibly sharp, actually digging into the seemingly smooth rock wall.

Immediately, its hind limbs exerted force, and its massive body stood upright, pressing against the vertical rock face, beginning to ”walk” upwards!

Its long tail swayed slightly, adjusting its balance, its four sharp claws alternately digging into the rock wall, emitting a dense scratching sound, its speed surprisingly not slow, like a giant gecko, crawling on a vertical mirror surface!

”Ah--!”

Lin Xiaowan let out a short gasp of surprise, her face instantly turning pale.

She felt her body suddenly tilt backward, as if she could slide off the saddle at any moment and fall into the abyss!

She could only cling tightly to the handle in front of the saddle, her body stiff, even holding her breath, her eyes tightly shut, not daring to look down again.

Li Yinglong’s heart also tightened, instinctively grasping the fixed handgrip beside him.

But he was calm after all, and quickly adapted.

Looking up, above was the endless sky shrouded in clouds, below was the dizzying hundred-zhang abyss and the roaring river, with strong winds whistling past his ears.

It was a unique experience!

Aya and Yan Gang in front, however, were accustomed to it; Aya even excitedly pointed at the shrinking scenery below, gesturing to Little Wan, but Little Wan dared not open her eyes to look.

Feeling the steady vibration each time the Mountain Dragon Lizard’s claws dug into the rock wall, his mind suddenly cleared:

”So that’s how it is! They ascend to the summit by this method! With these two natural barriers, supplemented by these exotic beasts, it truly is a case of one man holding the pass against ten thousand! If outsiders lack the ability to fly or are unaware of other secret paths, even with an army of thousands, they cannot advance a single step! The Angry Dragon Clan choosing to reside here truly takes full advantage of the terrain.”

Although the Mountain Dragon Lizard’s climb was perilous, it was extremely steady; in less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they had already ascended several hundred zhang, breaking through the clouds, and the view suddenly opened up.

The Mountain Dragon Lizard’s huge head was the first to emerge over the edge of the sheer cliff.

Immediately after, a flat and vast expanse of land came into view.

The peak was not pointed but a remarkably open and flat giant platform, perhaps several li wide, its end not visible at a glance.

At the platform’s edge, giant trees, thick enough to be embraced, were deeply rooted in the ground, forming a tall and sturdy circular wooden wall, over three zhang high, with patrol paths and battlements on top, resembling a magnificent giant stronghold dominating the mountaintop, grand in Aura.

The Mountain Dragon Lizard climbed onto the edge of the platform and stepped onto solid ground, and everyone’s bodies returned to a vertical position.

Only then did Little Wan dare to open her eyes, letting out a long sigh, still feeling lingering fear.

Aya and Yan Gang lightly jumped off their saddles, and Aya smiled at Li Yinglong and Little Wan:

”Old Sir, Younger Sister Xiaowan, we’ve arrived! This is the entrance to our Angry Dragon Stockade!”

Li Yinglong looked ahead and saw a stronghold gate in the wooden wall, the arch wide enough for several riders to pass abreast.

Above the gate tower, sentries in leather armor, holding long spears, stood guard, their gazes sharp.

Li Yinglong looked around, his gaze drawn to a large mechanical device next to the stronghold gate.

It consisted of two huge, circular winches side-by-side, made of sturdy hardwood, each perhaps two zhang in diameter.

The center of each winch was connected to an unknown vine rope as thick as a child’s arm.

The vine rope extended upwards, passed over a complex pulley system at the top of the wooden wall, and then hung down.

Below the winch, a large square ”cage” woven from hardwood and vines was attached, large enough to hold over a dozen people standing.

At this moment, several young Angry Dragon Clan members were positioned on either side of the two winches, with six equally robust Mountain Dragon Lizards, fitted with vine harnesses, beside them.

They chanted in unison, and the Mountain Dragon Lizards began to circle, strenuously pulling the long push rods extending from the edge of the winches.

As they moved, the winches slowly turned.

The large ”cage” connected to the vine rope then slowly ascended.

A sharp glint flashed in Li Yinglong’s eyes, and he instantly understood the mechanism.

This was the most primitive yet most effective ”animal-powered elevator”!

The Mountain Dragon Lizards served as the ”power source,” using the winches to reel in and let out the vine ropes, driving the platform that carried people and goods up and down.

This way, the elderly, weak, women, children, and daily supplies could enter and exit without relying on precious adult Mountain Dragon Lizards for dangerous vertical climbs, greatly improving efficiency and safety.

To be able to adapt to such an environment and devise such practical machinery, the survival wisdom of the Angry Dragon Clan people should not be underestimated.

The Dragon Clan Giant—Dragon Two—had also dismounted by this time and made a welcoming gesture to Li Yinglong:

”Old Mr. Li, please follow me into the stronghold.”

Li Yinglong and Lin Xiaowan dismounted from their saddles and followed Dragon Two towards the stronghold gate.