"Every Mountain Town must obey its command, or else they will surely invite Calamity."
"My Wushan Town is the closest, so I was incredibly wary from the start. I tried to send a message to Anning County at the first opportunity, but I never heard back. All the messengers were killed."
"And the next day!"
"That Wushan Mountain Lord arrived. From then on, I was imprisoned in a cellar cage, never seeing the light of day."
"I expect the situation in the other Mountain Towns and Hunting Manors is more or less the same."
"Fortunately, the General Leader personally made a trip to the Earth Dragon Cave. Otherwise, with the Barrier of every Mountain Town in Anning County paralyzed, I’m afraid the county government would have remained completely unaware."
Song Chai sighed. Vaguely aware of some of the secrets of the Realm Gate, he knew this matter was no small thing.
At this, a cold glint appeared in Ji Xiu’s eyes.
It was just as he had suspected.
It wasn’t just Wushan. The other Mountain Towns and Hunting Manors under his command, big and small, each led by one of his Bosses, had all fallen.
This also indirectly caused his "Mountain Living" business to become bleak, with income failing to cover expenses.
These circumstances had already been explained yesterday in Anning County by the underground Stewards, as well as Lin Zhenhai and his daughter.
From every possible angle, be it reason or emotion, public duty or personal interest...
Let’s not even mention that these wild mountain Evil Deities, who established shrines without sanction, had no legitimate standing.
’Just for blocking my path to wealth, endangering the mountain folk under my command, and, as followers of the Outer Dao, being the perfect fuel for my breakthrough to Qi Cultivation Grandmaster...’
’...I have no reason to let them go!’
BUZZ! BUZZ!
At that moment, a Communication Talisman on Ji Xiu’s body suddenly began to glow faintly.
[Things are tricky in the Earth Dragon Cave.]
[Wait there. Don’t enter rashly.]
The short message was from his Master, Xu Longxiang.
Meanwhile, the figure in the sky seemed to have already plunged into the depths of the white mist, approaching the Realm Gate.
In response, Ji Xiu put the Talisman away.
’The Earth Dragon Cave is naturally fraught with danger, but...’
The young man straightened the Martial Saint Blade Plaque on his back and touched the Jade Blood Dragon Core Pendant at his waist.
’The former is unfathomably profound, and the latter can fend off a Dragon and Tiger! Setting aside my own foundation, just with these two Barriers, even if a being comparable to a Martial Saint were to arrive in the flesh from beyond the Realm Gate! Under the Heaven and Earth Suppression, with their strength more than halved, they still wouldn’t necessarily be able to take me down directly!’
’Still, my Master did say that...’ Ji Xiu mused. ’It won’t be too late for me to go after I first smash and destroy every last Wild Fox Zen and Divine Shrine Altar in these Eighteen Mountain Towns and Hunting Manors!’
And so—
Ji Xiu instructed Song Chai to select a few Mountain Dao guides, procure a swift mountain horse, and immediately set out, raiding across the chain of mountain passes!
On this journey, he would shatter mountains and raze temples!
With every town, every manor...
Demon Mountain Deities and Evil Earth Deities of unorthodox origins fell to his blade, becoming nourishment for his True Flame!
This caused his Armor Demon-Vanquishing Qi Number to advance by leaps and bounds!
[The Tutor has slain an Outer Dao Divinity, the ’Stone Village Land God,’ a rural divine subordinate enfeoffed by the Central Yellow Celestial Divine Monarch Temple. It protected the common folk and was revered by all living beings. Advance progress increase: +63!]
[The Tutor has slain...]
[+78...+69...+77...]
[True Martial World Demon Suppressing Profound Skill: (1333/3000)!]
The Qi Dao True Skill...
...had thus reached Minor Success!
...
「Meanwhile.」
The Spirit Summoning and Saint Manifesting General—who had made a vow in the Divine Monarch Temple, donned his Divine Armor in high spirits, and watched as the Realm Gate grew more and more solid—finally stepped through at the critical moment!
Upon entering the Earth Dragon Cave, he immediately felt a heavy pressure from Heaven and Earth descend upon him, causing his power, which was originally comparable to a Dragon and Tiger, to instantly be reduced to a level between the Peak of the Sea of Qi and the early Leakless realm.
Just as he was still trying to acclimate to this feeling of being mired in a swamp...
CRACK, CRACK, CRACK!
The Life Talismans of the so-called enfeoffed Divine Beings, bestowed by the Three Five Evil Slayer Divine Monarch in the Divine Monarch Temple, had only just arrived in the Great Xuan Territory, yet they began to shatter, one after another!
The Spirit Summoning and Saint Manifesting General was instantly horrified:
"What is going on...?"
’Impossible!’
’I know Anning County like the back of my hand. Those enfeoffed Mountain Town Lords and local land gods were all comparable to the Peak of Immortal Robe—they should be invincible! What kind of being could have destroyed all of them at the exact moment the Realm Gate solidified and I personally led three hundred Grass Deities in Divine Armor into this world?’
The Spirit Summoning and Saint Manifesting General was still muttering to himself in confusion.
But beside the Realm Gate, a tall old man carrying a coffin had long been lying in wait, watching like a tiger.
When this Outer Dao Divinity sensed the abnormality and finally noticed Xu Longxiang, he glanced over.
Just one glance.
All the Divine Blood in his body froze.
"The mortal realm has become sullied again."
"Little divinity of the Outer Dao, you have overstepped..."
"As for the rest..."
"...let this Saint teach you..."
"...the meaning of rules!"