Refining the Mountains and Rivers

The great river was naturally formed and it felt like a tree in the middle of colorful clouds. It could be considered the heavens above the heavens. This sentence was applicable to the southwest area of the West Desolate. It was a place blessed with thick spiritual energy of the world, known as Parasol County.

Although it was a territory that was deep within the empire, the West Desolate could not interfere with the internal matters of Parasol County. This was because Parasol County’s jurisdiction was already assigned to another family when the empire was first established. Putting it simply, it was a country within a country.

In the beginning, the elites, sects, and even the local residents of the county felt uneasy. It was a simple logic: how can someone else sleep soundly on your own bed?

Not to mention just the bed, it felt like someone had barged into the room, invited themselves to the family feast, and demanded ownership of the place. No one else could touch the food on the table.

This was arrogance!

What could they do against the empire of the West Desolate? Even though the empire was just established and the priority was to keep things stable, when things became stable, the empire would return for payment. This was a proven fact in history.

Some tried to move with their family and a famous faction even decided to abandon the land chosen by their ancestors to move to Ashen River County. The lord of Parasol County chose to turn a blind eye to all the movement.

However, years passed and Parasol County was still doing well. The empire did not send men to demand payment from the county again. Most importantly, the parasol tree in Parasol County turned into a spiritual tree that touched the clouds. No one knew the reason why it became like this, but the tree attracted the sea of spiritual energy above the heavens. A great river of energy was formed and it flowed into the county.

As such, the ordinary county turned into a Holy Land fit for cultivation in the blink of an eye. With the coming of spiritual energy of the world into the county, it started to flourish. Many counties beside it grew green with envy as they looked at it.

The people who left wanted to return. This time however, the county governor was not as forgiving, and he turned all of them away without any exceptions.

One powerful sect tried to scheme to get in, relying on its strength and background. However, the big mansion that occupied half the city showed its power with a brilliant sword flash in the air. One day later, news spread that the ancestral hall of that sect was sliced in half by someone. The most powerful elder of the sect, whose cultivation was deep and mysterious, had been turned into a wastrel.

Back then, that sect’s power was not as weak as it was now. They continued to protest about it but the capital remained silent. This silence was sufficient enough to show its attitude. Parasol County made no exceptions and cared not about the details, and this matter came to a close in the end.

Afterwards, there was peace in Parasol County. No one provoked the big mansion in the county. The county that was now shaded by the colorful clouds in the sky became a Holy Land of the world. Everyone respected it and no one dared to violate it.

This was the Imperial Li Family of the Zhou Empire.

The reason why they were associated with the empire was because they were a branch of the current emperor’s family. Everyone in the family who was a direct successor to the throne had the surname Li, and the current emperor, who controlled the empire, was no exception to this.

For such a powerful family, who would make qualms about how big their mansion was? No one challenged them.

Today, the river of spiritual energy and colorful clouds were above the Li Family’s manor. Two important guests had arrived.

Every male of the family, regardless of whether they were old ancestors or a three year old child who just began to walk, were called into the ancestral hall. They bowed respectfully to the young man and woman on the main seats.

They were considered young because of their appearance. The man wore a long robe and his face was as bright as jade. His eyes were also stern and it looked like he would learn everything about someone with a simple glance. The lady beside him was tall; her legs were long and with one look, she could see through one’s soul. Her eyes were not arrogant but they seemed powerful. She wore a slight smile that lured people to her.

Appearances were not representative of their ages. Old people who had high cultivation could maintain a youthful appearance. However, in the ancestral hall, there were many men who were older than them. The man remained expressionless as he bore the pressure. However, there was a helpless look on the lady’s face.

“Alright, please rise. I have not gone out yet. You bunch of old and young folks are all kneeled on the ground, I feel so old myself.”

The woman blinked her eyes and smiled.

Many in the ancestral hall heaved a sigh of relief and they smiled. The Li Family had complicated roots that stretched deep within the West Desolate. It might seem like an honorable trip for people to leave the Divine Central Desolate. However, the main family was not confident at all.

Furthermore, the two people were still young but had high statuses. Their parents were bored from cultivation and they spent their time grooming them. Of course, these two individuals were born with a lot of talent. After some cultivation, they had already surpassed many in their same generation.

Perhaps there might be some who were stronger than them in cultivation sense. However, if they battled, they would be killed by the two on the spot within five blows. The reason why was twofold. Cultivation skills and divine ways were the first reason. The second was that they had a lot of treasures.

The sword in the man’s hand and the simple-looking white hairpin on the girl’s head. If one took a closer look at these two items, pain would shoot through their eyes and they would cry. They could only take the opportunity to express how in awe they were of the two individuals and hide themselves behind their tears.

“Thank you Young Ancestors.” With the lead of a few Old Ancestors, the group bowed and expressed their thanks. Then, they all rose.

The man held his sword and calmly said, “Alright, since we have met, the unrelated people may leave first. The more complicated it is, the more I will get a headache.” His tone was impatient and the Li Family in Parasol County did not dare to show any dissatisfaction. They led the younger generation of men out of the ancestral hall.

Finally, the people who remained were the family head of the Li Family and three Old Ancestors who often secluded themselves to cultivate.

The one with the weakest cultivation was an individual who became a Ruler many years ago.

Li Chenghao bowed respectfully, “Young Ancestors, after the order from the main family of the Central Desolate, we assigned men to investigate the West Desolate secretly. We had a few finds before you two arrived. But after careful screening, they did not meet the requirements.”

The man scoffed, “After saying so much, isn’t it that you did not have any gains? If you have so many thoughts, why don’t you channel your energy to cultivate. It isn’t right for you to work hard here when you are so old.”

Li Chenghao jumped in surprise and he felt like he had been seen through. He wiped his forehead and apologized profusely.

The three Old Ancestors of the Li Family stared at Li Chenghao with dissatisfaction and a look of warning. It was a great opportunity for them now that the main family from the Central Desolate sent men here. Nothing could go wrong. The family head who held power for the Li Family started to break out in cold sweat and his face turned pale. However, his expression remained stern.

The lady wearing the white jade hairpin finally smiled and said, “Alright, Li Ge, stop bullying others and keep that fighting intent.”

“Hmmph!” Li Ge closed his eyes and the invisible sword force around Li Chenghao instantly vanished.

Li Chenghao wiped his head and bowed to the lady, “Thank you Lady Hua.”

Li Ge’s lips twitched and he opened his eyes slightly to glare at Li Chenghao. Li Chenghao was so daring.

Li Ruhua’s smile was charming as she looked at Li Chenghao. His face was filled with appreciation. She said, “My name was given to me by my parents. I don’t like it, but I didn’t have a choice. In the future, call me Second Miss.”

Li Chenghao felt uneasy and he started sweating like a river again. As he wiped his sweat, he urgently nodded while still feeling suffocated. Ruhua was such a nice name so the young miss’ actions were really puzzling.

Suddenly, Li Ge’s eyes flung open. He coughed lightly and said, “Let’s discuss official things.”

Li Ruhua smiled and her eyes curled up, “The new king of the Barbarian Clan has appeared. Somehow, he broke through thirteen layers of locks and has disappeared off the face of the earth. Since that is the case, it will not be easy to find him. Family Head, Chenghao did not have any finds but this is actually to be expected. However, if you really do find him, we have to very careful. It might just be a scheme that the Barbarian Clan purposely crafted for us.”

Li Chenghao nodded. The main family rarely had kind people, but he felt that Miss Ruhua was kind and understanding. However, he did not know that he almost ‘lit himself on fire’ just now.

“Although the thirteenth floor lock was covered up, it gave away his general direction.” Li Ge swept his sleeve aside and streaks of sword force rushed out into the air. They interchanged and morphed into an intricate map that was so detailed, it even showed the way from the mountains and rivers to the city.

Li Ge casually drew a circle that enclosed the West Desolate and a big portion of the western territory in it, “This is why Second Miss and I came here.”

Second Miss nodded, “However, we can’t determine whether the person who covered up the tracks did it on purpose. As such, there are people heading to the north, east, and south areas too. Of course, they are not from the Li Family.”

One of the Old Ancestors of Parasol County frowned slightly. He asked, “Young Ancestors, could this be a test too?”

Li Ge’s expression turned hostile, “Of course, anyone who finds the new Barbarian King will get a chance to get to the thirteenth floor.”

A deep passionate look crossed his eyes, “As such, if you can successfully help us find the Barbarian King, anything you wish will be fulfilled. I can even ask the Family Head to give you a chance to send a portion of your clansmen to the Central Desolate.”

Li Chenghao and the three Old Ancestors lit up and they cried, “Young Ancestors, don’t worry, the Li Family will do its best!”

……

The woman wearing a veil who came out from the alley attracted a lot of eyes. People stared at her with desire and their passion was burning like a fire that wanted to devour her alive.

She was not angry, and sometimes she would even return their gazes. Her eyes gave them her reply and they would start panting as their eyes turned red.

“Ah!”

A scream suddenly emerged from one of the wine taverns along the street. A rich young man admiring the beauty had been leaning against the window. His hands flew to cover his eyes that had blood streaming down from them. The air that the blood touched would start giving off steam from the heat.

Bright flames enveloped the rich young man and the guards surrounding him turned as white as a sheet. However, the fire was too strong and fierce. Its power was immense and before they could react, the flames died down.

A pile of bones that was like polished porcelain fell to the ground with a ‘clang’.

“Young master!”

The guards cried in horror as their eyes turned red.

Of course they did not suffer because they were staring at the beauty. The death of the young master meant that his guards would be dragged to their deaths too.

“Was it that lady?”

“Capture her!”

Shoosh –

Shoosh –

Ear-piercing shouts came as the guards rushed out of the window and landed on the ground. They scanned their surroundings but they saw no sign of that woman.

She was like a shadow that had suddenly disappeared.

At a stone bridge located a few hundred meters away from this long alley, a figure appeared. Once light fell upon the figure, it was revealed that this figure was indeed the beautiful lady wearing a veil.