Becoming an Immortal and Ancestor, Starting from the Clan-protecting Divine Beast

62: Chapter 62 Adventures and Fortuitous Encounters, Ancient Cultivation CaveA month passed quietly, and the Chen Family of Luoyun Mountain remained unchanged, still peaceful.

The only thing worth mentioning was that someone from the Zhang Family had arrived. In a few days, it would be the 230th birthday banquet of the Zhang Family Ancestor, Zhang Wenmin, and they hoped the Chen Family could send someone to attend.

After careful consideration, Chen Fufeng decided to send Chen Zhuxiao, the Chen Family’s currently renowned Prodigy, to attend the banquet. This was to let Zhang Wenmin know that the Chen Family attached great importance to this birthday banquet.

As for whether Chen Zhuxiao would encounter any life-threatening danger?

The Zhang Family was only a few hundred miles away from the Luoyun Mountain Chen Family, and at Yuan Feng’s speed, it wouldn’t take long at all to arrive.

Furthermore, Chen Zhuxiao had the Spiritual Artifact 【vast thunder】 to protect him, so he could easily hold out until Yuan Feng arrived.

Moreover, within the thousand-four-hundred-mile radius of Liming Town, no one dared to disrespect the Chen Family. If they encountered Chen Zhuxiao, a Prodigy of the Chen Family, they would be scrambling to curry favor with him.

Even if someone dared to make a move, as long as it wasn’t a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator, Chen Zhuxiao feared no Qi Refining Cultivator.

Even if the opponent was a Peak Qi Refining Cultivator from a large Sect, he would dare to draw his sword and fight to see who was stronger.

A few days later, a bolt of thunderous light shot up into the sky from the Luoyun City Lord’s Mansion and flew towards the Zhang Family’s location, moving as fast as lightning and vanishing in an instant.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Two youths, a man and a woman dressed in plain clothing with ordinary appearances, were mingling with a group of Cultivators. They held Medium Grade Magical Artifacts in their hands, scanning their surroundings with vigilance, ready to strike at any moment.

These two youths were naturally Chen Zhuqing and Jiang Yunlei. After leaving Luoyun Mountain, they did not choose to leave immediately but instead disguised themselves before heading towards their destination.

This trip down the mountain was different from Chen Zhuxiao’s previous trip; they were on a mission to gain experience, and the location they had chosen was the outer perimeter of the Tianli Mountain Range.

They intended to use some Yao Beasts for practice and, while they were at it, see if they could find some good things.

The Tianli Mountain Range stretched endlessly, separating Great Qi from another cultivation nation. Not even a Purple Mansion True Person could cross it, and it was rumored that deep within, there were Yao Beasts comparable to a Golden Core True Monarch.

It was easy to imagine how much energy this mountain range contained; at every moment, people were finding Heaven And Earth Treasures here, obtaining the legacies of ancient Cultivators, and soaring to success.

”Little Brother Yunlei, you two don’t need to be so nervous. With Boss Xia here, even Late Stage Qi Refining Yao Beasts are nothing to fear,” said a man who appeared to be middle-aged to Jiang Yunlei.

The youth, whose appearance was disguised by Jiang Yunlei, cupped his hands and bowed: ”Many thanks to Big Brother Pei for your help. Yunlei is deeply grateful.”

Not long after they entered the outer perimeter of the Tianli Mountain Range, they were attacked by a pack of Yao Wolves. Just as they were about to be overwhelmed and were preparing to take out High Grade Magical Artifacts to deal with them...

It was the man before them who had convinced the leader of their exploration team to save them.

Consequently, they had logically blended into this exploration team, preparing to follow them to explore the Tianli Mountain Range, which would also count as broadening their horizons.

As for their identities, they were fabricated. They disguised themselves as Disciples of a small Qi Refining Family, siblings who had come to the Tianli Mountain Range to gain experience together.

”It’s all a small matter. When we are out and about, everyone helps each other. Having one more friend is always better than having one less, don’t you agree, Little Brother Yunlei?” Pei Hong waved his hand and said heartily.

”Big Brother Pei is right.”

Jiang Yunlei nodded. Pei Hong’s words had some merit; when traveling, it was best not to make enemies.

After setting out, he had restrained his sharpness, like a sword sealed within its scabbard, ready to be unsheathed at a critical moment and erupt with peerless edge.

Chen Zhuqing stood quietly to the side. Even though her true appearance was concealed by the disguise technique, her slender and graceful figure, combined with the aura she inadvertently revealed, still attracted some attention.

Among them, a young man wearing a brocade robe was looking at Chen Zhuqing without restraint, his eyes burning with heat, which made Chen Zhuqing frown, feeling very uncomfortable.

Jiang Yunlei imperceptibly swept his gaze over those malicious eyes, focusing on the man in the brocade robe. The Geng Metal Magical Sword in his hand trembled slightly, as if he were calculating how to take them out.

If Chen Zhuqing’s personality was similar to Ji Wanqing’s—gentle as water, benefiting all things without contention...

...then Jiang Yunlei was similar to Li Yuanji: ruthless and decisive, using thunderous power to clear away opponents, and not hesitating to use underhanded tactics if necessary.

Along the way, several Yao Beasts around the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining had already been slain by his sword, and even a Yao Beast at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer had been wounded by his Geng Metal Sword Qi. This strength made many Cultivators in the exploration team click their tongues in admiration.

”Hmph!” Pei Hong snorted coldly, his tall figure blocking in front of Chen Zhuqing and her companion, shielding them from all the malicious gazes. With an apologetic look on his Face, he said: ”I’m sorry, Little Brother Yunlei, and little girl Qing’er, I’ve let you see something embarrassing.”

He was a Cultivator at the Peak of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining and was the deputy captain of this thirteen-man exploration team, second only to the leader, Boss Xia.

”That is Boss Xia’s only son, named Xia Chengkun. He has been spoiled rotten by the Boss and often frequents the Red Dust Tower opened by the Red Dust Sect, picking up some bad habits,” Pei Hong explained in a low voice.

He felt a sense of frustration that the boy wouldn’t live up to his potential. Boss Xia had poured so much effort into Xia Chengkun that it would have been enough to propel a Cultivator to the Late Stage Qi Refining.

Yet this guy not only failed to cherish it, but instead indulged in pleasure every day, taking the resources given by Boss Xia to visit the Red Dust Tower opened by the Red Dust Sect. Now, even by the most generous estimate, he only had the cultivation of the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, and his Foundation was unstable.

”Rest assured, Big Brother Pei. If people don’t offend me, I won’t offend them. Yunlei won’t cause any unnecessary trouble,” Jiang Yunlei said calmly.

The Chen Family was a great Foundation Establishment Family. As a Cultivator with a different surname within it, he naturally wouldn’t fear the offspring of a Late Stage Qi Refining Loose Cultivator.

If this Xia Chengkun didn’t know what was good for him and dared to come over and harass Chen Zhuqing, he would have no choice but to kill him.

As for whether he would offend Boss Xia, he hadn’t even considered it.

Chen Zhuqing was the daughter of Chen Fufeng, a Peak Qi Refining Cultivator. In terms of status and standing, she was far above Xia Chengkun, not to mention that she was protected by a Foundation Establishment level great Yao, ”Uncle Yuan,” from above.

If they brought up their Chen Family identity, a playboy like Xia Chengkun would only be left scrambling away in terror.

”The Red Dust Tower of the Red Dust Sect?” A voice as gentle as spring water rang out. Chen Zhuqing spoke faintly, with a trace of confusion: ”May I ask, Big Brother Pei, what kind of Sect is this Red Dust Sect, and why would it open... a Red Dust Tower?”

Pei Hong looked at Chen Zhuqing in surprise. After hesitating repeatedly, he still explained: ”This Red Dust Sect, they claim to play within the Mortal World, and with a single moment of enlightenment, they ascend to immortality. They only recruit handsome men and beautiful women. After reaching the Qi Refining stage, these Disciples of the Red Dust Sect must descend the mountain and cultivate in the Red Dust Tower.”

”As for what this Red Dust Tower is used for, uh, anyway, it’s about the same as a brothel in the Mortal World. One needs to enter the Mortal World to attain enlightenment within it; in any case, it’s a very strange kind of cultivation.”

Chen Zhuqing was not a three-year-old child. After hearing Pei Hong explain it this way, she understood what the Red Dust Tower was used for, and her fair Face flushed slightly.

Seeing this, Jiang Yunlei gave a light cough and asked: ”Big Brother Pei, there is no Red Dust Sect among the Great Qi’s Golden Core Upper Sects. Could it be that this Red Dust Sect was founded by some Purple Mansion True Person?”

”Little Brother Yunlei, you might not know this, but the Red Dust Sect is of the same nature as the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion; they are both behemoths that span multiple cultivation nations,” Pei Hong shook his head, then whispered to the two:

”I’ve heard that the Pavilion Master of the Great Qi Red Dust Tower is a woman as beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal. Not only is her strength high, but she has also made many True Monarchs of the Upper Sects fall for her, bowing down under her pomegranate skirt.”

”There are even True Monarchs willing to offer their Sect’s thousand-year accumulation as a gift, just to win a smile from the Red Dust Pavilion Master. It is truly astonishing.”

Chen Zhuqing and Jiang Yunlei looked at each other, and both saw a look of strangeness in each other’s eyes.

No matter how one looked at this damn Red Dust Sect, it didn’t seem proper. It would be more appropriate to rename it the Hehuan Sect.

”By the way, Big Brother Pei, did you come into the mountains this time to hunt Yao Beasts and search for Heaven And Earth Treasures?” At this moment, Jiang Yunlei spoke up, diverting the topic elsewhere.

Pei Hong was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then said: ”That’s true. Now that Little Brother Jiang and your sister have joined the team, you are considered one of our own, so it’s fine to tell you.”

As he spoke, he lowered his voice: ”Boss Xia obtained a incomplete map in the black market, which marked an ancient Cultivator’s Immortal Cave. That’s why he brought us deep into the Tianli Mountain Range—to find that ancient Cultivator’s Immortal Cave and see if we can snag some Opportunities.”

”Oh?” Jiang Yunlei heard this and said in a low voice: ”Big Brother Pei, what level of ancient Cultivator’s Immortal Cave is it?”

”Foundation Establishment level,” Pei Hong did not hide it and said it just like that.

Hearing this, the interest Jiang Yunlei had just raised diminished significantly.

The Chen Family had wiped out several great Foundation Establishment Families over the years, so an ancient Cultivator’s Immortal Cave at the Foundation Establishment level really didn’t amount to much for the Chen Family.

However, even a mosquito is meat, no matter how small. It would be fine to follow along and snag some benefits. If there were any good things, they could just have Chen Zhuqing notify Chen Fufeng and then have Yuan Feng come over to handle the cleanup.

Good things naturally belong to those with the virtue to possess them; this saying was especially applicable in the Cultivation World.

Jiang Yunlei had thought everything through in an instant, and then he transmitted his voice to Chen Zhuqing, explaining his plan.

The latter nodded imperceptibly. She had known Jiang Yunlei since she was seven years old, and now, more than nine years later, both sides were very familiar with each other; calling them childhood sweethearts would not be an exaggeration.

It was just that both of them were relatively restrained at the moment and had not yet expressed their feelings to each other.

Jiang Yunlei intended to propose to Chen Fufeng after breaking through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, and Chen Zhuqing was also thinking of breaking through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, hoping to take advantage of this joyous occasion to ask for her parents’ opinion.

Soon, half a month passed.

The exploration team of Cultivators that Chen Zhuqing and her companion were in had already penetrated tens of thousands of miles into the Tianli Mountain Range, and the tiers of Yao Beasts appearing in this region were generally higher.

Even with Boss Xia, an Eighth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator, in command, casualties still occurred.

A Late Stage Qi Refining Yao Tiger suddenly lunged out, targeting Xia Chengkun and the others. In his panic, the latter pushed a Qi Refining Fifth Layer Cultivator beside him out, while he himself was so scared in his confusion that he soiled his pants and collapsed to the ground, paralyzed.

Fortunately, Boss Xia acted in time, and with the assistance of Pei Hong and several other Sixth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivators, they managed to kill the Yao Tiger without any danger.

It was just a pity for that Qi Refining Fifth Layer Cultivator who had been pushed out; half his body had been smashed by a single claw of the Yao Tiger, and pieces of his internal organs flew everywhere, with most of them landing on Xia Chengkun.

The playboy rolled his eyes and fainted into his own filth, disgusting the rest of the exploration team. They truly didn’t understand why Boss Xia would bring this guy into the Tianli Mountain Range; he was purely an added burden to them.

”It’s not far ahead now.” A very robust-looking middle-aged man walked at the very front of the team, with Pei Hong and a Sixth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator on his left and right sides.

”Big Brother, if we obtain a great Opportunity inside the Immortal Cave, I hope you can use it yourself, instead of giving it to Chengkun.” After hesitating repeatedly, Pei Hong decided to speak his mind.

”Big Brother, you have been at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining for so many years; it is time to break through to the Peak Qi Refining and see the scenery of Foundation Establishment, instead of wasting resources and time on Chengkun.”

The Sixth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator on the side chimed in: ”That’s right, Big Brother Xia. You are the pillar of our exploration team; only when you are strong can we become strong.”

Boss Xia put away the map, a gratified smile on his Face: ”My two brothers, no need to say more. I see it all clearly.”

Half a day later, the group arrived in front of an open space. The grass on the ground was sparse, and the surrounding trees were uneven, all looking malnourished, with most of them appearing withered and yellow.

In front of the open space stood a small mountain, about a hundred zhang tall, completely bare, with no sign of any vegetation.

”This is it.” Boss Xia’s eyes were filled with excitement, and he was just about to order everyone to start digging.

A sharp arrow condensed from blood-colored Spiritual Qi shot through the air, instantly piercing the head of a Qi Refining Fifth Layer Cultivator, killing him on the spot.

”Who?!”