Martial Cultivator

He still remembered that year when the youths of the human race and the youths of the demon race had a clash in the desolate north. Because Chen Chao did not want to reveal his identity, when encountering that group of cultivators from Jade Summit Mountain, he casually made up the name ”Chen Fuyao,” and also fabricated that he came from Windspirit Mountain.

But later facts proved that the things he had casually made up actually existed.

That Windspirit Mountain did exist, and Chen Fuyao was even mistakenly thought to be the descendant of Chen Wannian.

Chen Wannian spent all year-round in the foreign lands, and was a very famous martial artist; one who had risen step by step from a menial servant to become a peerless Nepenthe martial artist.

At the time, Chen Chao did not take it to heart; this was only the second time he had heard this name.

Now that it was mentioned again, he fell into memories, so much so that for a moment he did not come back to his senses, and did not respond to the two people speaking to him.

Seeing Chen Chao like this, the two grew a little angry. The young man before them looked like a martial artist.

Martial artist...

These two words were not pleasing to most cultivators. But to them, it was even more of detest.

The reason was simple: there was just such a martial artist within their mountain, and he was detestable.

”I’ll ask one more time, what was your esteemed self doing just now?”

The young man’s eyes carried a bit of coldness. If this young martial artist before him still did not answer, he would probably make a move. After all, in this desolate wilderness, killing a martial artist was not considered a big deal no matter how you put it. After destroying the corpse, there would definitely not be anyone coming to cause them trouble.

However, just as the killing intent arose, the young martial artist over there reacted. He smiled at him and apologized, ”Sorry, sorry, I was thinking of something and got distracted.”

The young man snorted coldly, about to say something more, when a voice suddenly sounded, ”When traveling outside, do not make things difficult for others.”

A middle-aged man appeared over there, and when the two young cultivators saw him, they immediately shut their mouths.

The middle-aged man came before Chen Chao and said with a smile, ”I am Liang Yeqiao from Windspirit Mountain. Just now, my two martial nephews were a bit reckless and offended Fellow Daoist. I hope Fellow Daoist will be magnanimous.”

Chen Chao came back to his senses and said with a smile, ”It’s fine.”

The middle-aged man nodded, ”In that case, we will take our leave. Fellow Daoist, please feel free.”

After saying this, the middle-aged man led the two disciples down the mountain, soon disappearing from sight.

Chen Chao stood where he was, watching the three leave, eyes slightly narrowed.

That middle-aged man looked kind, but in fact, the moment he appeared, he had already used his qi to probe Chen Chao. Chen Chao had concealed his own qi very well, revealing little aura. That middle-aged man’s cultivation was not high, so naturally he could not see through Chen Chao’s true cultivation realm.

On the contrary, that fleeting killing intent of his was clearly sensed by Chen Chao.

Standing there, Chen Chao thought about the Nepenthe martial artist he had seen before, thinking that person should be that Chen Wannian.

And this group, since they were from the same sect yet acted differently, and were so nervous, Chen Chao figured that the matter would not be simple.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Chao decided to immediately go down the mountain, following this group, wanting to see what tricks there might be.

......

......

Meanwhile, the middle-aged man’s group numbered about seven or eight people. After going down the mountain and walking a good distance, he carefully checked that Chen Chao was not following behind. Only then, did the middle-aged man scowl and scolded, ”How many times have I said, when traveling outside this time, do not stir up trouble. If you alert Chen Wannian and startle the snake, even if you had ten lives, they would not be enough to pay for it.”

The two young men exchanged a glance, feeling somewhat aggrieved as they said, ”Martial Uncle Liang, we only noticed that guy lingering on the mountain and were afraid he might have overheard something, so we wanted to eliminate this hidden danger. Besides, he’s a martial artist, and such an identity is even more complicated. After all, this important matter cannot allow the slightest negligence.”

Hearing the two speak thus, Liang Yeqiao’s anger also subsided somewhat. But he still shook his head and said, ”I already probed that person. He should have just been passing by by chance and has no connection whatsoever to that Chen Wannian. If you act rashly, it will only cause a lot of unnecessary trouble. You must know that the most important thing on this trip is to get rid of Chen Wannian. As for anything else, just set it aside.”

The two nodded, not daring to contradict this martial uncle in front of them.

Liang Yeqiao glanced at the two and sighed, ”The Old Mountain Lord doesn’t have much time left. Things on the mountain are full of confusion. Chen Wannian has considerable prestige. If he’s not removed early, and he is roped in by others, how can the young mountain lord securely sit on the position of mountain lord?”

Hearing Liang Yeqiao’s words, the others all nodded to themselves.

It struck a chord with them.

”It was also because we forced him too hard normally. Otherwise, if we had maintained appearances until the important matters were settled, it wouldn’t be too late to deal with him then.”

Someone said this, and very quickly another followed up, ”Actually, it doesn’t need to be that troublesome. That Chen Wannian’s wife is just an ordinary woman. As long as we seize that woman, wouldn’t Chen Wannian submit obediently?”

Liang Yeqiao coldly snorted, ”You think you’re the only smart ones who know to seize that woman? Others wouldn’t think of that?” ”That woman has long already been restrained by people from Wuwang Peak. Otherwise, how could they be so confident they could make Chen Wannian stand on their side?”

”In other words, do you guys really think Chen Wannian is a fool? The kind of days he usually lives on the mountain, do you think he doesn’t know? Now the people from Wuwang Peak have given him a few benefits, do you think he will truly be grateful? Doesn’t he know that they are asking something of him?”

Glancing at the solitary mountain ahead, Liang Yeqiao said calmly, ”This Chen Wannian, although he walks the path of a martial artist, his temperament is different from other martial artists. He is not so reckless, but instead has a deep and calculating mind. Therefore, when dealing with this person, it is never wrong to be extra cautious.”

Hearing their martial uncle’s thorough yet simple explanation, the few people all nodded and said no more. After expressing their stance, they left everything to their martial uncle’s arrangements.

Liang Yeqiao did not say much more either, only leading these young disciples to the foot of the solitary mountain. However, they did not ascend along the main mountain path. After some twists and turns, they arrived at a hidden trail, where someone was already waiting.

It was a small and skinny man, his face sallow and thin, looking somewhat malnourished.

But in reality, Liang Yeqiao knew very well that this person cultivated a very special daoist technique, using physical strength and blood essence to nourish the divine soul. Once this daoist technique was fully achieved, the body would become withered in appearance, but the divine soul would become increasingly tenacious. At the same time, he would cultivate another daoist technique aimed at harming divine souls. When using the two together, it was extremely hard to guard against.

”Brother Fang, I trust you have been well.”

Liang Yeqiao smiled faintly, though there was a trace of wariness in his eyes. For this kind of cultivator, although they could not exactly be called heretical or demonic, they were nonetheless too ruthless. In general, it was best not to provoke them unless absolutely necessary.

The skinny man glanced at Liang Yeqiao and said with a smiling face, ”Brother Liang is still as dashing as ever. It looks like you’ve made quite a bit of progress compared to back then.”

Liang Yeqiao smiled and said, ”I cannot compare to Brother Fang. Brother Fang’s daoist technique looks like it is about to achieve grand completion. By then, you will be able to set foot into Nepenthe. When that day comes, no matter where I am, I must come to offer Brother Fang congratulations.”

The skinny man merely smiled and did not respond to the flattery, instead cutting straight to the point and said, ”Chen Wannian has already gone up the mountain. I have already made arrangements over there, keeping him for four or five days is no problem. I just don’t know when you plan to make your move?”

”But speaking of it, it is quite amusing, I cultivated this daoist technique, turning myself into something neither human nor ghost, and others all say people like us are heretical and demonic. But compared to you all scheming against your own sect members, we really cannot be called villains.”

Hearing this deliberately veiled mockery, the expressions of the few young men turned a little unpleasant. But Liang Yeqiao did not take it to heart, he just smiled and said, “We’re all the same kind of people, no need to argue over who’s better than whom.”

The short man burst into loud laughter and said nothing more, leading the group up the mountain.

Walking along the narrow winding path, the short man led them to a hidden residence - it was a small courtyard. The location was extremely secluded, and there was a formation within that concealed qi signatures, making it very difficult for outsiders to discover.

After entering the small courtyard, the short and skinny man finally spoke. “Let’s make things clear first, if we help you get this done, the two mines under Lonely Moon Peak’s jurisdiction will belong to us. I don’t care what Windspirit Mountain says afterward, what matters is that you guys agree to it now. If you go back on your word, then just wait for Windspirit Mountain’s name to be dragged through the mud.”

Liang Yeqiao nodded. “Of course. That won’t change.”

After saying that, Liang Yeqiao took a snow-white pill from his sleeve and handed it to the short man, saying, “This thing is colorless and tasteless. Even someone at the Nepenthe Realm wouldn’t be able to detect it. Once Chen Wannian ingests it, his cultivation will temporarily drop to the Bitter Sea Realm for the time it takes one incense stick to burn. You just need to signal us then. As for when to drug him, wait for my message.”

The short man had just taken the pill and had not yet spoken when Liang Yeqiao reminded him again, “Chen Wannian is extremely cautious. When you drug him, make sure you’re very careful.”

The short man chuckled. “This isn’t my first time doing this kind of deal. I know what I’m doing.”

Liang Yeqiao nodded slightly and watched him leave. Only then did he turn to one of the younger disciples and ask, “When will Martial Uncle Luan ascend the mountain?”

“The message from Grand Martial Uncle was that it’ll be in two days.”

A young disciple muttered, “If Chen Wannian takes the drug, he’ll be like a turtle in a jar. Why do we still need to bring in Grand Martial Uncle?”

Liang Yeqiao did not say anything. He merely cast a cold glance at the young disciple.

The disciple instantly fell silent, like a cicada in winter.

......

......

In a bamboo building on the solitary mountain.

Chen Wannian sat by the window. Not far away, his son Chen Lian was seated cross-legged, cultivating.

Chen Wannian looked out the window, his eyes filled with gloom.

The reason he had come here was that someone from the mountain had tasked him with bringing back a certain herb. The herb was exceedingly rare, nearly impossible to find in the world, but it just so happened that a martial uncle on the mountains needed it to attempt a breakthrough to the end of Nepenthe Realm, so he had no choice but to come.

That Martial Uncle had made it clear, if it could be purchased with skygold coins, then buy it. If not, they still wanted to see the herb.

Chen Wannian let out a long sigh. Matters like this, whether stealing or seizing by force, those people cared too much about their reputations to get their hands dirty. Instead, a dispensable figure like him had become the most suitable candidate.

He could even foresee that if anything went wrong afterward, he would definitely be the one pushed out to take the blame.

Chen Wannian shook his head and muttered, “There’s no freedom in this life.”