Chapter 18 - Visitors from Chixia City

As Qin Ming pondered, Xu Yueping knocked on the courtyard door to find him. "Young Qin, come out quickly, there's an urgent matter." Qin Ming's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the news of the mountain patrol's annihilation had already spread? "We will depart in an hour," Xu Yueping informed him. People from Chixia City had arrived and wanted to meet the newcomers from the nearby villages. Xu Yueping lowered his voice, "It's said that they're the direct descendants of nobility, here to help us clear the mountains while also training themselves." Qin Ming remarked, "Is it finally starting?" Xu Yueping solemnly said, "You must perform well this time. The people who have come are not simple; seize this chance to enter Chixia City." ... An hour later, Xu Yueping's home became lively. Old Man Liu was full of vigor, carrying a thick-backed broadsword, clad in old leather armor, and wearing a refined iron helmet, fully armed. Qin Ming approached and said, "Uncle Liu, what are you doing? Today is just a meeting, not a mountain expedition." Old Man Liu responded, "Getting accustomed in advance." Yang Yongqing also took this matter seriously, carrying twin blades on his back. "Though it's unlikely anything will happen in the shallow night, we still need someone to watch the house. Uncle Liu, you've injured your vital energy and at your age..." Xu Yueping hadn't finished speaking when Old Man Liu interrupted. "An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand miles, not to mention I'm full of energy now. I could take on both you and Yang Yongqing alone!" Old Man Liu was determined to set out. Not everyone dared to take the risk, such as the other two newcomers in the village, and the wounded Wang Qinglin had no choice. The destination wasn't far, just seven miles away at a crossroads. Under the dim night, the surrounding was dense forest. A total of over ten villages had received the notice, and the newcomers were swift to arrive, gathering one after another. Smaller villages like Shuangshu Village sent only four people, while larger ones had more than ten, totaling less than a hundred. The people from Chixia City arrived earlier, divided into three teams, almost all armored, and well-equipped, waiting quietly ahead. The newcomers from each village followed suit, intimidated by the gleaming armor and sharp swords in front, and also out of awe for the nobles and elites from the splendid city. Each team had its own distinct family crest, with each team consisting of more than a dozen people, and the three leaders standing at the forefront were the most striking. One of the men was an astonishing three meters tall, clad in black-gold armor, with black hair draping over his shoulders, and eyes as sharp as blades, exuding an immense sense of pressure. His mount was equally eye-catching, a fiery red giant bull, with a back taller than an adult man, and besides two normal curved horns, it had a sword-like horn pointing forward. The three-meter-tall man, upon seeing the newcomers from the villages, did not remain arrogant by staying on his mount. He dismounted and nodded to everyone, saying, "My name is Cao Long." He briefly introduced himself, saying that many experts had come from Chixia City this time, with more than a dozen families helping to sweep the mountains, and that the young people from their three families were responsible for this area. "I am from the Wei family, and my name is Wei Zhirou," said the woman among the trio. She did not stand next to the giant Cao Long but instead stood on a blue stone. She wore a pure white fox fur coat, her black hair fluttering in the wind, and her fair, melon-seed face bore a sweet and radiant smile. Such beauty had a considerable impact on the young people from the villages. In the eyes of these young people who guarded the mountains and had never traveled far, this noble lady from the splendid city seemed like an elegant and ethereal white-clad fairy, leaving an unforgettable impression for many years. Wei Zhirou stood gracefully, her appearance indeed beautiful, as she tidied her hair blown by the wind and spoke about the mountain sweep, while also bringing a piece of news. "This winter, snow blocks the roads, making it difficult to transport food from outside, but rest assured, Chixia City is using giant beasts to pull grain carts, and it won't be long before they arrive." This immediately caused a stir, with people from each village showing signs of joy. However, some were worried about whether the grain transported in this way would be expensive when it arrived. "My name is Mu Qing," said the last of the three leaders, who was entirely shrouded in a black cloak, with even the face covered, appearing quite mysterious, and even after speaking, it was unclear whether the voice was male or female, as it was rather androgynous. Mu Qing straightforwardly stated that they were unfamiliar with the mountains and needed the local newcomers to guide them. This was the fundamental reason the three teams appeared here, to make contact with the newcomers from each village. If they joined in action, there would be generous rewards. Cao Long mentioned that if one performed outstandingly, they could obtain precious abilities like 'Qi Techniques' and 'Meditation Arts.' This immediately sparked a heated discussion, with many people looking eager, as the 'Newborn Arts' circulating in this area were relatively low-level. "What counts as outstanding performance?" someone couldn't help but ask. "Providing crucial information to prevent casualties among us, hunting unique creatures, discovering places that nurture spiritual materials..." People found that the rewards were not easy to obtain. The noble elites of Chixia City were here not only to temper their nascent bodies but also to explore the more mysterious regions of the mountains. Wei Zhirou added, "If you discover any unusual phenomena in the mountains, inform us immediately, and that can be considered as providing important information." "I know of a crevice where silver threads once spread. Anyone who falls in there, even if they manage to escape, barely survives. Does that count?" Qin Ming noticed it was someone from the neighboring Qingsang Village who spoke first. It was clear that people from nearby villages had also perished there. Old Man Liu slapped his thigh, looking at Qin Ming, indicating they had been preempted. Wei Zhirou nodded, "The magnetic field in the mountains is chaotic. The place you mentioned is likely a minor node. If you find another similar location, I'll give you a mid-level secret tome on new life." She explained that these special nodes might exist for years, and they planned to search and map them one by one, leaving a map of the mountain terrain to prevent future mishaps. Cao Long spoke, "If you discover a place where white mist rises and multicolored smoke shrouds the area, do not approach. Such places are even more dangerous. Whoever provides such clues will be richly rewarded with a high-level Qi Art." Upon hearing this, many people breathed heavily. Such a level of secret tome was too distant and elusive for them, who wouldn't yearn for it? Some realized that the aristocrats from Chixia City had more significant purposes beyond self-tempering; the unusual phenomena in the mountains involved secrets unknown to the locals. However, the mindset of the new generation from the villages remained calm; even if they understood there were hidden truths, so what? Those dangerous areas were not places they could tread. Furthermore, regardless of the aristocrats' motives, they would ultimately help clear the mountains, defending against the threats of exotic creatures, which was enough. Cao Long informed everyone that the Chixia City high council and the mysterious beings deep within the mountains had one last negotiation, to be held outside the mountains soon. The new generation from the villages whispered and discussed. Although they lived in this region, they had only heard tales of a handful of advanced beings. Their deepest impression of the mountains was mystery, the unknown, and fear, filled with awe-inspiring mist. "Can we witness the negotiations outside the mountains?" The speaker was a young member of one of the three teams, his face still slightly immature, embodying the adage of newborn calves not fearing tigers, eager to know what the top exotic creatures deep within the mountains looked like. The three teams, initially quiet, now stirred with a buzz. They were all very young, filled with strong curiosity and a desire to explore. Cao Long, towering over others with an imposing physique, merely glanced at them, and they quickly fell silent. He did not scold them but nodded in response, "Perhaps there will be a chance." Immediately, the place buzzed with excitement. Qin Ming couldn't remain calm either. Except for accidentally glimpsing a 'moon worm,' he was completely in the dark about other top exotic creatures and wanted to take this opportunity to see their true forms. The tall and graceful Wei Zhirou stood on the bluestone, her pure white fox fur coat fluttering in the wind, giving her an elegant and otherworldly appearance. She conveyed another piece of news. "The situation is rather delicate now. You may not know, the disturbances in the mountains are not only caused by the magnetic field disruptions but also because another group of advanced beings has migrated from afar. They have brought their families, intending to seize some resources in the mountains." Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed. Wei Zhirou continued, "Now that there is an additional group of advanced beings, many dangerous species are forced to expand outward due to their oppression, squeezing the living space of those outside the mountains." Xu Yueping asked, "So, does that mean the area outside the forest, which has just briefly calmed down, will become extremely dangerous in the future?" "It's no big deal. Who allowed them to expand? Just drive them back. Our mountain sweeping is precisely to solve this problem." Although Mu Qing's voice was somewhat androgynous, her words were domineering. The newcomers from the villages secretly breathed a sigh of relief, as the figure shrouded in a black cloak boosted their confidence. Mu Qing declared loudly, "They have intruded into territories they shouldn't have set foot in, forgetting the past pain. We will forcefully awaken them, making them understand that the dominion of bipedal humans and beasts in this area has never waned..." Initially, people's hearts surged with emotion, and morale was high. Even though the term "bipedal humans and beasts" felt strange, it only stirred a peculiar feeling inside. But when they saw a fluffy golden tail emerging from under Mu Qing's black cloak as she continued her impassioned speech, many people were taken aback. What species is this?! "Mu Qing," Cao Long reminded her. Wei Zhirou said, "Mu Qing is human." The three teams behind were quite calm, seemingly already aware of Mu Qing's state. Qin Ming was lost in thought, staring ahead. Old Man Liu whispered, "Perhaps he has chosen a mystical path. Whether he is still human or what state he is in now, it's hard to decipher." This was another different choice Qin Ming had seen, following Cao Long's Titan route. Cao Long said, "Now we need to choose suitable companions who will act with us during the mountain sweeping, guiding us through the mountains. But rest assured, safety is guaranteed." He emphasized that there was no compulsion, and if anyone was unwilling, they could leave now. Meanwhile, Cao Long, Wei Zhirou, and Mu Qing reiterated that the rewards during the mountain sweeping, including spiritual materials and advanced martial arts, were very generous, and they would not be stingy. The newcomers on the scene had not stayed behind in the village, as they had already made their choice, so no one left now. Qin Ming naturally followed the crowd, not standing out. Wei Zhirou smiled at Cao Long and Mu Qing, her radiant and exquisite charm captivating everyone, with a touch of transcendent sweetness. She waved the list in her hand at the two, intending to make her selection first. "Choose one person each time; you go first," Cao Long said, allowing her to choose first, and Mu Qing had no objections. Wei Zhirou nodded with a smile and said, "Then I won't stand on ceremony. Our Wei family is very keen to recruit young talents with golden foundations." "Which family isn't!" Mu Qing replied, then whispered with Cao Long, discussing who between them should choose first. Wei Zhirou looked at the list, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, struggling with her choice. Eventually, she called out two names, "Who is Zhou Wubing, and who is Qin Ming?" "You can only choose one person at a time," Mu Qing reminded her. Wei Zhirou smiled, "I know, I just wanted to take a look." Zhou Wubing stepped forward, standing half a head taller than the average person, his body robust and strong. He originally did not have this name; in his youth, he was frail and sickly, leading his parents to rename him Zhou Wubing. It was not until a distant relative returned that he was cured and reborn during his golden years. Qin Ming was surprised; the aura of "Second Sickly" had transformed remarkably. In the past, he was sallow and emaciated, his yellow hair like autumn wild grass. Now, his black hair was thick, and his vitality was exceptionally robust. Qin Ming stepped forward, standing calmly, a bit taller than "Second Sickly." "Both of you have golden foundations, and I wish to invite you both," Wei Zhirou smiled as she looked at them. "Second Sickly," now much changed, though dazzled by the radiant smile of this extraordinary lady, quickly regained his composure. At this moment, a young man emerged from the forest, quickly approaching Wei Zhirou to whisper something. Only then did people realize that it wasn't just the three youthful teams from the three families present, but others as well. "Zhou Wubing, once frail and sickly, has steadily grown in strength since his rebirth, and was taught by Xu Kong?" Wei Zhirou was surprised, whispering with the young man before she looked up, her beautiful eyes on "Second Sickly," smiling and beckoning him as her choice.