Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Every wall in this world had a gap.

What happened on Bull-fighting Mountain was eventually still exposed.

The Jade Gate relied on the huge and powerful earth vein to support it. Though this earth vein was not completely supporting the entire Jade Gate, it was an important factor.

If there was anything missing, there would not be many consequences in a short period of time but over time, it would be like an entire ground collapsing because of an ant nest.

It would end up in an irreparable situation.

As the one guarding Jade Gate, Great General Zhao Yuan was responsible for this. So today, he appeared at the peak of Bull-fighting Mountain.

Looking down at the mountain, Zhao Yuan could not help but frown. He could not understand how anyone would be able to hide from the world and steal the demon spirit within the earth vein in Jade Gate.

Not only must the person be very powerful, the Earth Bull Demon Spirit must also be willing…could it be the powers of the Demon Clan? But this clan was in a dire state and was barely struggling to stay alive. Would they dare? Aren’t they afraid of getting punished by the Qin Empire?

Woosh –

Another figure appeared in midair beside him. He said calmly, “Great General, although it is never too late to make amends, the earlier the better. If we delay, the foundation of the Jade Gate will suffer.”

An old man with white hair and moustache could be seen. He was hunched over and looked washed out, like an old man from the countryside bathing in the sun.

Zhao Yuan snorted, extremely unhappy with how the man was pushing him. But he did not do anything else. As a national advisor of the Great Qin Empire, no matter how ill he looked, he could not offend him.

His old man back at home had warned him sternly. Although it was only once, it was more than enough for Zhao Yuan.

Stepping on the ground, light rays shot out of the ground and an armored beast appeared, lying respectfully on the ground towards Zhao Yuan.

Looking at this beast that had been through countless battles with him over the past hundred years, Zhao Yuan was expressionless as his hand fell.

Pfft –

With a groan, the giant beast’s head burst open and its giant body fell to the ground. The demon spirit flew out from within, looking extremely pained and indignant.

Zhao Yuan did not even look as he reached out and grabbed the demon spirit and smashed it onto the ground, forcefully pushing it into the earth vein beneath Bull-fighting Mountain. The giant beast corpse disappeared as it was rapidly absorbed by the ground. All that was left behind was the armor, covered in battle scars.

Waving his sleeve, Zhao Yuan kept the armor and said blandly, “National Advisor, is this to your satisfaction?”

The ill-looking man looked at him and smiled as he nodded, “Great General, you kill decisively; I will report this to His Majesty.”

“Then I will take my leave.” Zhao Yuan flew up into the sky and rode the clouds back to Jade Gate.

His eyes were filled with a murderous glint.

Killing his beast and retrieving its spirit to stabilize the earth vein was His Majesty’s punishment to him. Otherwise it would have been easy for him to find another alternative and he would not have needed to do this.

And this was why Zhao Yuan’s mood was horrible now.

He vowed to find out who stole the demon spirit from under Bull-fighting Mountain.

The national advisor stayed on the mountain peak and watched the great general leave. He shook his head, “The prime of his youth.”

He sighed and clasped his hands behind his back. He looked at Bull-fighting Mountain. Beneath the dazzling mountain, there seemed to lay a world that no one knew about.

In the end, the national advisor did not get anything. The person who stole from the mountain was of a high cultivation level and had intricate tactics. It was admirable.

For the demon spirit to submit, the person’s cultivation level must be high and this was not easy. So the national advisor did not suspect the Demon Clan. It has been more than ten thousand years since they were suppressed and they would not dare.

Moreover, the ntional advisor felt that even if the Green Goddess guarding the Demon Pool personally came to do the deed, she might not be able to escape his watch. To say that he looked down on the current dilapidated Demon Clan might be a little direct…but this was the truth.

“The ancient people?” The national advisor muttered to himself, looking thoughtful.

If it were really them, they would have to be careful. These people had been hiding for a while and would not make a move easily.

If they showed themselves, they must have a plan. He had to be careful.

If the king got angry, he would suffer as well. After all…hehe, accompanying the king was like accompanying a tiger. This was true!

At this moment, about ten thousand miles away from Bull-fighting Mountain, there was a ship flying through the clouds.

Now that Rourou had a hobby of eating fruits, her favorite thing to do every day was to bring a chair to the corridor in front of the room.

She watched the scenery as she ate.

At night, she would look at the stars. This was such a common thing that everyone was unimpressed by, but she watched them with high interest.

A beautiful lady…cough cough, this was true. After the mysterious being entered Rourou, her delicate and shy facial features now had a cold and distant expression. With these two characteristics, it made her extremely alluring.

There were many people that tried to chat with her. However, after a day, no one dared to spout any more nonsense. Everyone avoided her as if they had seen a ghost.

A sect’s descendant, who might even have been a son of the sect leader, was among those frightened. An elder in his sect, out of either responsibility or his attempt to butter up the sect’s descendant, was resolute as he wanted to fight for justice with Rourou.

In the end, the sect descendent struggled to hold him back. His face was pale as he growled into his ear. They were a distance away and Qin Yu barely paid attention to them. Qin Yu was not too concerned as he overheard the sect descendant warning the elder not to drag them down with him.

Qin Yu deeply approved. As expected of a son of a sect leader. Though his cultivation level might be low, he had good judgement. That night, the whole group then left after making arrangements with the ship.

After this, Rourou’s ‘infamous name’ spread far and wide and no one dared to approach her. After the people from the ship realized that some of the customers staying in the regular rooms were special, the manager came and offered to switch them to a better room for free.

After the young sect leader ran away in the night, a premium room was vacant. Though they were upgrading them for free, they were trying to form a relationship.

Yang Fanshan did not dare to interrupt Qin Yu from cultivating. As hee looked at Rourou, who was expressionlessly watching the sea of clouds, he thought about it before deciding against it.

The ship’s manager did not say anything as he smiled and left. It was just something that he offered and it was reasonable that they did not accept.

But when Rourou later bought immortal fruits from the ship, she received a huge discount. The ship was not making a loss but merely profiting less. However, this helped Yang Fanshan save quite a bit of money.

Jin Shen carefully reminded him that the ship was doing this to express their apologies as the Lady had been disturbed on the ship. If he rejected them, it will make the ship manager uncomfortable and it was better to pretend not to know anything.

Yang Fanshan understood and thanked Jin Shen.

The journey was smooth in the following days and the ship reached a place called Sheep Horn City at the border of the Jade Gate. The reason why they stopped here was because somewhere deep underground, there was a natural ore that resembled a sheep’s horn. It was a good cultivation resource.

The most interesting thing was that all the Sheep Horn Ore was in a thick layer of stone, which naturally prevented divine sense from assessing it. Only after opening the stone would they know the quality of it was. It was a way the immortal family used to attract more cultivators to get off their ships here. They would all buy one or two pieces as a way of testing their luck.

There was someone who actually bought a normal-looking Sheep Horn Ore for one copper coin, and after opening it found that it was a huge treasure.

Of course, this was rare.

Qin Yu and the three others got off the ship here not to bet on the stones but to sit before beginning their long journey.

The ship manager smiled and appeared. He greeted them respectfully, “Four distinguished guests, I apologize for the inconvenience earlier and hope that you don’t blame us.” He waved his hand and two cultivators came from the ship, each carrying a tray with various small and large grey stones on it.

“This is the Sheep Horn Ore and they are all priced at around one or two copper coins. All of you please choose one as a gift from the ship and as an apology from my Jinge Sect.”

Yang Fanshan was stunned as he realized that in order to deal with people, it may be necessary to reach this point of meticulousness.

The Central Desolate Divine Area was filled with brilliant people and there was much to learn.

As soon as the Jinge Sect and the people guarding the pagodas back at Many Pagoda Mountain saw this lady, they were decisive as they offered everything and sent them off.

Rourou looked at the trays in the hands of the cultivators from the Jinge Sect. She randomly pointed at one, “This one then.”

Qin Yu did not say anything as he reached out to help her take it. He also took another piece from himself and thanked them.

Seeing them take the Sheep Horn Ore, Yang Fanshan and the old servant naturally did not have other opinions. Moreover, it was a great feeling to be served meticulously by these sects from the Central Desolate Divine Area!

At this moment, several other cultivators that chose to get off the ship here were also paying attention to the four of them.

Qin Yu handed the Sheep Horn Ore over to Rouoru and she rolled it between her fingers. She then looked at the ship before turning to leave.

After the ship manager sent them off, he returned to the ship. He headed to a premium room that hardly opened during the entire journey. He knocked on the door. After receiving permission, he respectfully entered, “Elder, I have sent them off according to your instructions.”

“Got it.” The elder of the Jinge Sect slowly said as he frowned slightly.

The manager hesitated, “Elder, the four of them…”

He could not understand. With the Jinge Sect’s status, even the governor of Langya Area had to show them some respect. Why did they have to be so careful around these four from unknown backgrounds?

The things they did on the ship were still reasonable. But to give them Sheep Horn Ores as they left...though the Sheep Horn Ore was not that valuable, this attitude harmed the prestige of the Jinge Sect.

Li Yuangui shook his head, “I did it because of that lady. I also don’t understand…for someone like her to head to the Jade Gate. Recently, Great General Zhao Yuan has been a bit crazy and has been stirring things up. It is better to be careful.”

The managed thought about it and nodded, “You are wise, Elder.”

He then took his leave after saying some other things.

After the door shut, Li Yuangui turned and continued to look out the window. The image of the lady leaving appeared in his mind.

Like the vast ocean, she was unfathomable!