"Senior Sister, she's been staying at the mansion this long, and you still haven't…"
Chen Sanshi asked tentatively.
Rong Yanqiu said irritably, "I couldn't beat her. Fortunately, aside from keeping that cold face of hers, she hasn't hurt anyone. Otherwise, I'd have had to call in the army and ask a Martial Saint to surround and suppress her."
"Thank you, Senior Sister. I'll head back now—Qianxun!"
Chen Sanshi handed Yunxi over to Sun Li, then leapt onto his horse and galloped straight into the city.
Outside the Chen residence, everything appeared as usual.
"Ah! The master's back!"
Siqin and Mo Hua came running out to greet him.
Chen Sanshi gave them a meaningful glance.
Siqin immediately understood and whispered, "She's in the bedchamber."
"Alright."
Chen Sanshi dismounted and walked into the courtyard. Before he even pushed open the bedchamber door, he sensed two distinct flows of qi within.
One of them carried dense spiritual energy—nearly on par with Emperor Longqing himself. Truly… an uninvited guest.
Creaaak.
He pushed the door open.
Inside, the air was fragrant with flowers. Gu Xinlan sat by the window doing embroidery, while on the bed sat another woman dressed in black robes, legs crossed in meditation.
Her brows were like painted feathers, her skin smooth as jade, her peach-blossom face radiant beneath golden silk ornaments that framed her temples. Black gauze robes flowed around her like ink, jeweled hairpins gleaming with light. She looked every bit like a celestial being—graceful yet austere, her beauty otherworldly, her presence commanding.
Looking closer, Chen Sanshi noticed that her brows and eyes resembled Gu Xinlan's somewhat. Yet her whole demeanor radiated an air of untouchable authority. As she sensed his entrance, she slowly opened her eyes, revealing deep, dark pupils filled with the oppressive majesty of one born to rule.
"Ah, Shige'er's back?"
Gu Xinlan set down her work and rose to greet him.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Chen Sanshi got straight to the point. "Lan jie'er, who is this lady?"
"Lord Chen, how forgetful you are."
The woman's black robe was embroidered with gold at the edges. Her lips moved slightly, her voice clear as if descending from the Ninth Heaven, ringing like divine music from the Jade Palace. "Lord Chen just finished flaunting his might across three prefectures, costing me soldiers and territory—and you've already forgotten?"
Chen Sanshi studied her again carefully.
The woman didn't look at him. She spoke coolly, "My surname is Shen. My name is Guiyi."
"So, you're the Empress of the Qing Kingdom."
Chen Sanshi inclined his head slightly. "I just wonder why Her Majesty has come uninvited to a humble official's home."
"The woman in your arms—her real name is Shen Yuzhi."
The Empress paused, then said, "She is… my elder sister, born of the same father and mother."
"You…"
Chen Sanshi looked between the Empress and Gu Xinlan in his arms, piecing it together until an unbelievable realization hit him. "So the Emperor of Qing… is my sister-in-law?"
"Sister-in-law?"
The Empress's delicate brows furrowed slightly, clearly puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"
"Shige'er, I didn't mean to hide it from you," Gu Xinlan said softly. "Back then, I was still a child. If word had gotten out, it would've brought death upon our whole family."
"I understand."
Chen Sanshi nodded—of course he did.
"A backwoods hunter," the Empress said, her tone a mix of scorn and anger, "a failed scholar who couldn't even pass the entry exams—spending seven taels of silver to buy the Great Qing's eldest princess as a child bride, making her serve like a maid."
"Guiyi!"
Gu Xinlan's tone sharpened in displeasure.
She retorted, "My husband is an earl now! You, of all people, should know how much he's accomplished on the battlefield these years. What's there to mock?
"If Father hadn't pitied me and scraped together the silver to redeem me, I'd have died in some brothel long ago.
"And about serving—what nonsense! The Chen family wasn't a wealthy household back then. What woman doesn't lend a hand in the chores?
"Look around now—aren't things much better?"
The Empress's brow twitched slightly, and she gave her sister a look as if warning her to hold her tongue.
"You little troublemaker," Gu Xinlan said, "I already gave my word not to go greet him at the city gates—wasn't that saving face for Her Majesty the Empress? So what are you waiting for? Call him brother-in-law already."
"Elder Sister, you…"
The Empress let out a helpless sigh.
Even as the ruler of a kingdom, she couldn't bring herself to scold this woman. In the end, she murmured softly, "He is still a mere mortal man."
"Guiyi, you're getting quite the attitude."
Gu Xinlan frowned. "If you keep this up, I'll really get angry."
"Fine," said the Empress at last, rising from the bed. "What's done is done. There's nothing more to say."
She left the bedchamber.
"Lan jie'er."
Chen Sanshi finally asked, "Now that everything's out in the open, there's no reason to hide anything anymore, right?"
"Mm. Shige'er, sit down first."
Gu Xinlan helped him sit and poured him a cup of tea. "You should know what a 'hostage prince' is, right?"
Chen Sanshi nodded.
"Years ago, my father was one—sent from Qing to the Great Sheng as part of a peace pact. The two kingdoms exchanged royal hostages to maintain trade and unite against the tribes."
Gu Xinlan spoke softly, "In Qing, volunteering to go as a hostage prince was seen as honorable. My father was already the crown prince in all but name. He planned to stay a few years in Great Sheng, then return home to take up the regency.
"But then…
"My grandfather suddenly died of illness, and my third uncle seized the throne.
"Later, he framed my father, dragging him into a dispute among Sheng's princes, accusing him of treason, and sentencing our entire family to death.
"It was a massive case. Many Great Sheng ministers were executed, and countless others exiled.
"In the end, only one person could be saved. I sent my sister away, while I was lucky enough to survive—under the false identity of a minister named Gu, exiled instead of executed.
"And after that, Shige'er… you already know the rest."
Political purges were common—every decade or so, a great cleansing would happen.
Chen Sanshi had truly not known these details.
He chuckled. "So I really picked up quite the bargain, huh?"
"Shige'er, are you making fun of me?"
Gu Xinlan shot him a mock glare. "I've already figured it out. There's nothing good about royal blood. Living as ordinary folk is much better. Our life now is more than enough."
"The royal family…"
Chen Sanshi thought back to his time on Mount Ziwei.
It was true.
Once you were part of the royal bloodline, even fathers and sons, brothers and sisters turned on each other.
The old emperor had his flaws.
But one thing was true—he was lonely.
He had no friends.
That much was obvious from how he was always eager to reminisce about the past.
"So what happened next?"
Chen Sanshi asked, "Where did your sister go after that?"
He was genuinely curious now.
In truth, what intrigued Chen Sanshi most was the Empress's spiritual qi.
From what he knew, the Empress had vanished for many years. It wasn't until the Gate Seizure Coup two years ago that she suddenly reappeared and seized control of Qing in one decisive stroke.
"In those years…"
Gu Xinlan recalled carefully. "She escaped with some elders from our clan. She couldn't even return to Qing's borders and had to keep hiding, waiting for a chance to strike back. I'm not exactly sure where she went."
The Edge of the World.
Chen Sanshi thought silently.
It was likely that his sister-in-law was also a cultivator. Otherwise, how could she, so young, already rule a nation?
"Huh?"
"Wait—where's Duhe?"
Their conversation had gone on for so long that Chen Sanshi suddenly realized—he had completely forgotten about his son.
"Oh no, I forgot too!"
Gu Xinlan turned toward the cradle, but it was empty. "I was too busy talking to you—and with Guiyi here too—I completely forgot!"
Chen Sanshi immediately activated [Tracking and Hiding] and the Qi Observation Technique, scanning the entire residence. He finally found his son asleep in the backyard, lying quietly in a wicker chair.
Beside the chair stood the Empress, her black robe flowing softly. She extended her hand, fingertips painted crimson, placing them lightly on the child's chest. Spiritual light flickered, then dimmed as she murmured with faint disappointment, "Another mortal."
"Your Majesty of Qing,"
Chen Sanshi called out, gesturing for Siqin to take Duhe away, then asked, "Why do you call everyone a mortal?"
The woman didn't even bother hiding her nature as a cultivator.
"You're not quite one yourself," she said flatly. "As Sun Xiangzong's disciple, you walk the path of entering the Dao through martial arts."
"Sister-in-law," Chen Sanshi said as he sat down opposite her, "you came all this way—not just to reunite with your sister, right?"
If it were only to meet her sister, there was no need to wait for his return. For a reigning monarch to sneak into enemy territory was a grave risk.
After all, she wasn't the only cultivator in the world.
The Empress visibly disliked being called "sister-in-law," but she didn't deny it. As long as she acknowledged her elder sister, then by title, Chen Sanshi was indeed her brother-in-law.
"You're not stupid," she said coolly, looking down at him. "I came to take her away. Out of respect for my sister, I waited until you returned to tell you."
"What did you say?"
Chen Sanshi met her gaze directly. "Even if you want to take her back to Qing, your sister might not be willing."
"She doesn't have a choice."
The Empress's voice turned cold. "Chen Sanshi, you still don't know, do you? Liangzhou is about to drown in blood."
"Speak clearly."
Chen Sanshi frowned. Only one thing came to mind that could bring such devastation—
The Luotian Mountain Range!
He remembered clearly the day he first arrived in Liangzhou, when he entered the mountains to hunt and saw that column of black, malevolent qi rising into the sky. The mutated venomous beasts infected by it had already spread everywhere. The people from the Seeking Immortals Tower had called it evil qi.
So this disaster had been brewing for a long time.
Even his Fourth Senior Brother had said their Master was personally dealing with it.
But was it really that serious?
Drowning in blood…
"Not entirely stupid," the Empress said softly. "I can't predict what will happen next. But one thing's certain—it's no longer safe for her to stay here."
"What exactly lies within the mountains?"
Chen Sanshi pressed. "Liangzhou's forces are strong. There are several Martial Saints. Can't they handle it?"
"If you have the guts," she said calmly, "go and see for yourself."
After that, she refused to speak further on the matter.
"See it, I will."
Chen Sanshi wasn't one to shy from danger. He already planned to enter the mountains soon anyway—to hunt beasts and gather Ghostvein Wood.
As these thoughts circled in his mind, he also ordered Siqin and Mo Hua to prepare dinner.
After half a year away from home, it was only right to have a proper family meal.
But the Empress refused to join them. She remained in Gu Xinlan's room, not eating, not drinking—no one knew what she was doing.
The next day, Chen Sanshi was still thinking about the Luotian Mountains, though duty called him to the camp first. There was much to handle after returning—he couldn't delay.
The expansion of the Hongze Camp was nearly complete. The troops were almost at full strength, most drawn from nearby garrisons. They only needed proper drilling before deployment. The formal organization wasn't yet finalized, as they were still waiting for additional commanders to be reassigned.
At present, including the Xuanjia Army, Chen Sanshi commanded over four thousand soldiers. But technically, they were still considered a reserve unit, not the official Hongze Camp yet.
Officers like Yan Changqing, Lu Shuhua, Xie Sishu, and Bai Tingzhi had already been transferred elsewhere—no longer under his command.
Many of those prodigies possessed extraordinary talent, with three of them bearing Martial Saint Bodies. Naturally, they couldn't remain under him forever. Their earlier battles were merely trials.
In the end, Chen Sanshi would have to rely on his own men.
He now had Xia Cong, Xiao Zheng, and You Jike, all at the Meridian-Connecting Realm.
These three were loyal, capable, and efficient—completely devoted to the imperial court.
Among his subordinates, he also had one newly advanced Meridian-Connecting expert—Wang Zhi.
Below them were men like Zhu Tong, Zhao Kang, and Wang Li, all at the Transforming Strength Realm.
Chen Sanshi felt genuinely satisfied.
All of them had been supplied with the best medicine. Their progress was visible—but still far from enough.
Once the Hongze Camp was officially established, it would be divided into five divisions—front, rear, left, right, and center—each with three thousand men, for a total of 15,000 soldiers.
To maintain such an army, he'd need at least five Meridian-Connecting experts.
After finishing a day's worth of paperwork, Chen Sanshi went to the pharmacy and began brewing medicine.
Even on the road home, he had kept up his medical practice.
Now, he was only one final step away from breaking through to Major Achievement in [Medicine · Mortal].
Boom!
Both palms struck down repeatedly against the black-iron furnace cauldron engulfed in flame. The overlapping bursts of Internal Force were immense. His skill in refining medicine could no longer be called "proficient"—it was perfection beyond compare.
For most physicians, simply learning to temper medicine with Internal Force to a competent degree could take years.
But to Chen Sanshi, it all came naturally.
He grasped the essence with ease, improving with every attempt.
At this very moment, he felt as though he could see through the cauldron itself—watching the toxic impurities within the decoction dissolve precisely as his force and fire refined them.
Buzz!
When the final strike landed, a cauldron of potent tonic medicine—specifically formulated for Transforming Strength cultivators—was complete.
A [panel] appeared before him:
[Skill: Medicine · Mortal]
[Progress: 0]
[Effect: …, Mortal Saint of Medicine — All residual toxin eliminated. Residual toxin completely eliminated!]
What did that mean?
It meant that any medicine refined by Chen Sanshi could now be consumed as easily as drinking water. Even those with poor talent could, through continuous use of his potions, reach heights that would otherwise be impossible for them.
He stared at his hands in disbelief, then scooped a spoonful of the decoction and tasted it himself.
It wasn't entirely free of toxins, but what remained was negligible—barely detectable. If quantified, 99% of the toxins had already been purged through the combined tempering of Internal Force and fierce flame.
Now, as long as one's body could endure the medicinal potency and metabolize it properly, they could drink tonic after tonic without needing to rest in between. No more waiting for toxins to fade and wasting precious time.
"Go call everyone here."
Soon after, all the brothers from Poyang, those above the tempering organs stage, gathered in the apothecary.
"My Lord… how… how can this medicine have no residual toxin?"
Zhao Kang tasted it again and again, shocked.
If not for the unmistakable rush of medicinal energy through his meridians, he'd have sworn it was plain water!
The others reacted the same way—wide-eyed and speechless.
"Don't make a fuss."
Chen Sanshi said calmly, "Same as before—whenever I have time, I'll personally brew for you all. Whatever's missing, I'll buy more. Your only job is to train well. When next year's campaign to pacify the grasslands begins, it'll be a hard war. If you haven't reached Transforming Strength, don't even think about earning merit—you'll be lucky to stay alive. Cultivate for your own sake."
"My Lord…"
The men exchanged looks, hearts swelling with emotion they couldn't put into words.
"My Lord!"
"What have we ever done to deserve this!"
"Truly!"
They knew they weren't as strong as the Xuanjia Army, nor could they compare to elites like Xiao Zheng and the others.
They thought that once this war was over and they returned to Liangzhou, they'd be relegated to a secondary force—forgotten.
But against all expectations…
Their lord hadn't abandoned them!
And his ability to refine medicine—this was no longer mortal craft. It was divine work, the hand of an immortal.
"You lot," Zhao Kang barked, "don't go bragging about this outside. Don't you dare bring trouble to the Lord, understand?"
"Understood!"
In truth, Chen Sanshi didn't expect total secrecy.
If word got out, it didn't matter much.
After all, in the Imperial Medical Bureau in the capital, there were surely one or two "Mortal Saints of Medicine." Maybe not many, but one or two, certainly.
And human ability had limits.
One or two medical saints couldn't change the balance of the world.
Even Chen Sanshi himself could only refine enough to sustain about ten people at once. Any more than that and he simply couldn't keep up.
Besides, he still needed to cultivate—he couldn't spend his life as a full-time alchemist.
"My Lord," his officers said, eyes full of gratitude, "for you to treat us so kindly, that old bastard Xu doesn't know what's good for him!"
"Exactly!"
"What's so bad about serving under the Lord?"
"Does he really think he'll lack a promotion following you?"
"I heard he's still out fighting. Better he dies there!"
Their tone was fierce, their hatred for Xu Wencai genuine.
After all, their performance in feigned acts of discontent had become so natural that they'd fully convinced themselves—Xu Wencai was a traitor who sold out his comrades for glory.
In truth, when Chen Sanshi returned to Liangzhou, he had heard news of Xu Wencai.
Two months earlier, Xu had finished his campaign against the bandits.
Then, the court had assigned him a Martial Saint as an overseer, leading tens of thousands of troops directly into Wei territory—the nation behind the rebellion. They'd reportedly achieved victory after victory.
Rumors even claimed Xu had personally led a lone force deep behind enemy lines, employing stratagems like the "Empty City Ruse" and "Burning the Seven Hills." His fame had spread far and wide, his name now a common tale over tea and wine.
Sometimes, as Chen Sanshi read these reports, a strange thought would surface.
Could it be…
That in this world, where there was no Zhuge Liang—Xu Wencai himself was the true Wolong, the hidden dragon of this era?
This vast world truly held all manner of wonders.
Not only that, but storytellers had already twisted his and Xu's relationship into grand fiction—turning them into sworn enemies of life and death, their rivalry exaggerated to absurd heights.
When Chen Sanshi finally finished his duties and stepped out of the camp, it was already Hour of the Dog (around 9 PM).
He hesitated briefly, then decided to take a detour—to the Red Sleeve Pavilion.
Familiar as ever, he entered quietly from the back door and ascended straight to the top floor.
To his surprise, the room already had a guest—a young noble, apparently the Prefect of Liangzhou's son.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Chen Sanshi demanded of Zhao Zhao, who only stuck out her tongue, clearly teasing him on purpose.
"Lord Chen?"
The prefect's son looked startled.
"Leave," Chen Sanshi said flatly. "I'll be here tonight."
"T-this… isn't proper!"
The young noble stammered. "I paid thousands of taels of silver for this tea session—to write poetry, to speak a few words with Miss Ningxiang! For you to drive me away, Lord Chen, isn't that too much?"
"I'll pay you back."
Chen Sanshi pulled out a silver note and held it up. "Now go."
"I—"
The young noble swallowed hard.
Who in the world didn't know the name Chen Sanshi?
Sun Xiangzong's last disciple. A titled Earl. Even his father, the Prefect himself, wouldn't dare offend him.
In the end, the boy could only leave, face red with frustration.
"How pitiful."
Chen Sanshi shook his head.
That kid didn't even realize—he'd just been saved.
Had he stayed, he'd have paid good silver to see nothing but an illusion, only to wake days later with his mind dulled and his spirit drained.
"General," Ningxiang's soft voice came from behind, her shoulder bare, eyes smiling. "I didn't expect you to get jealous for my sake."
"If I'm jealous," Chen Sanshi replied evenly, "you're the one who'll suffer."
"Oh?"
Ningxiang's eyes glimmered with mischief. "Then this humble girl would love to suffer at the hands of a man with the Vajra Body."
"I meant physical suffering."
Chen Sanshi's tone was serious as he released a trace of Internal Force, the air humming faintly in warning.
"Pfft."
Ningxiang rolled her eyes dramatically. "Speaking of which, after the incident on Mount Ziwei—someone from the Seeking Immortals Tower must've come looking for you, right?"
"Mm."
Chen Sanshi thought to himself—it wasn't just that they came.
The Twelfth Prince had tried to entrap him, and Eunuch Lao had tried to kill him.
"Be careful, General," Ningxiang warned softly, her voice like a whisper in the dark.
Ningxiang warned softly, "The others in the Seeking Immortals Tower aren't as sincere as I am with you, General. They're dangerous people. I should've reminded you earlier."
"Oh?"
Chen Sanshi asked with mild curiosity, "From what you're saying, it sounds like the people in the Seeking Immortals Tower aren't united?"
"Even real brothers aren't always of one mind, let alone members of the same sect," Ningxiang replied matter-of-factly. "The Seeking Immortals Tower's purpose is exactly what its name says—to seek immortality. But immortal fate is rare. If they don't fight for it, do you think someone's going to line up and hand it out to everyone?"
She leaned closer, her tone slightly mocking. "For example, recently on Mount Ziwei, they found relics left behind by the Great Sheng Founding Emperor, including a jade plaque from the Immortal Realm. But before they could bring it back, it was snatched halfway by that scabby-headed bastard Zhang Laizitou. They suffered a huge loss.
"And honestly? I say it served them right. Otherwise, the loot would've gone straight to the Tower Master, and the rest of us wouldn't get a single scrap."
"Miss Ningxiang," Chen Sanshi said, steering the topic away. "What about the thing I asked you to find last time?"
"I got it."
Her tone was light and teasing, almost as if asking for praise. "And not just a little—the quantity's large, and the quality's better than before. I put in a lot of effort for you, General. You must remember how good I've been to you."
Zhao Zhao carried over a chunk of black iron the size of a human head and dropped it on the table with a heavy thud.
"Many thanks, Miss Ningxiang. I owe you a favor," Chen Sanshi said, clasping his fists and turning to leave.
"Wait, General."
Ningxiang suddenly grabbed his sleeve. "You promised to buy out my contract last time."
"You're serious about that?"
Chen Sanshi raised a brow. "I don't like mixing public and private matters."
"Public and private?" Ningxiang's voice softened, almost pleading. "If the price is too high, I've saved up some silver myself over the years. I can pay for my own freedom, can't I?"
Chen Sanshi studied her expression closely.
If she was serious about this… then she was probably trying to use him to leave the Seeking Immortals Tower.
That made it even more impossible.
He set the chunk of dark iron back down. "Sorry. That's something I can't help you with. Take your item back."
"If the General doesn't want me, then so be it."
Ningxiang's voice trembled with quiet resentment. "But you should still keep the iron. A single lump of metal isn't worth as much as the favor of granting me freedom. I know the difference."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Alright. If I ever need more herbs gathered, I'll come to you."
Chen Sanshi picked up the iron again, nodded, and left.
Ningxiang rested her chin in her hand, watching him go. A faint sigh slipped from her lips.
"Master, I told you, he won't help us," Zhao Zhao muttered, unusually quiet and worried. "What do we do now? The Tower Master's people will be coming soon. Maybe we should just run."
"Run?"
Ningxiang gave a weary smile amid the drifting incense smoke. "And where would we run to, my good disciple? In this world, only the Emperor and Sun Xiangzong could protect us—and if we go to the Emperor, we'll just die faster. That leaves only Sun Xiangzong."
"Master…"
Zhao Zhao hesitated. "Then maybe… we could return the item? Maybe the Tower Master—"
"Silence!"
Ningxiang snapped, her voice filled with anger. "That item belonged to my family! My father's death was his doing. I merely reclaimed what was ours. Even if it kills me, I will never return it."
Zhao Zhao bit her lip and said nothing more.
"Zhao Zhao."
Ningxiang's tone softened again as she reached out to gently stroke her disciple's cheek. "Go. Leave now. The item's with me—no one will trouble you."
"I'm not leaving."
Zhao Zhao's eyes were firm. "Wherever Master goes, I go."
"Then we'll try once more."
Ningxiang looked toward the direction of the Chen residence. "I just don't know where Sun Xiangzong is right now. Maybe he's searching for the same thing the Tower Master wants. If that's the case, we might try reaching his senior brother, Fang Qingyun."
At the Chen residence, under the dim moonlight, Chen Sanshi leapt effortlessly across the rooftops, carrying the chunk of iron in one hand.
As he neared his courtyard, he spotted a figure sitting atop the roof—a woman in black, her eyes cold and bright in the moon's silver glow.
"Well, little sister, you're still awake this late?"
Chen Sanshi said lightly as he prepared to jump down into the yard.
"Brothel?"
The Empress lowered her gaze, her voice sharp and regal as frost. "You have my elder sister at home. A senior sister on top of that. And the moment you return, you go to a brothel?"
"Don't you have your own male pets?"
Chen Sanshi replied lazily, not bothering to explain further.
The Empress closed her eyes and said nothing more.
After a night of restless silence, dawn's light finally crept over the horizon.
The Empress opened her eyes again—just in time to see Chen Sanshi, who hadn't even slept for a full hour, already riding off with his bow strapped to his back.
"Luotian Mountains?"
"Ghostvein Wood."
Chen Sanshi rode atop Qianxun, his White Swan horse, mentally reviewing his plan for the trip.
First, chop down the Ghostvein Wood.
Then, hunt as many mutant beasts as he could.
If possible, he wanted to break through to the Profound Manifestation Realm before the end of the month.
Lastly, he'd venture deeper—just far enough to scout the area safely and see what truly lay within. Even if he couldn't handle it now, at least he'd know what to prepare for.
"Go."
When he reached the foothills, he patted Qianxun's neck, signaling the horse to wait somewhere safe. Then he grabbed his great bow and stepped into the forest.
He climbed ridge after ridge.
Before long, he arrived at the fog-shrouded, miasma-filled Ninefold Mountain.
This time, Chen Sanshi came fully prepared. The anti-miasma pills he took were worth several hundred taels of silver—enough to make him completely immune to the poison in the air. Using his memory, he easily found the same Ghostvein Tree as before.
The iron-limbed bow in his hands curved like a full moon. A single Ghostvein Arrow, charged with fierce Internal Force, shot out with a deafening twang.
"Roar!"
From the hollow trunk came a painful bellow.
A huge black bear burst out of its slumber, roaring in rage.
"It's not dead? Tough bastard!"
Chen Sanshi drew again and released another arrow.
Clang!
This time, it rang like metal striking metal.
Then—like lightning—a dark shadow lunged out of the hollow. It moved so fast that in a blink, it was already upon him.
It was a bear.
But not an ordinary one.
The massive black bear wore a monk's kasaya, wielding a monk's staff in one paw. Its movements were heavy but precise, like a burly martial artist. The staff howled through the air with crushing force, swinging down like a thunderbolt.
Boom!
Chen Sanshi met the strike head-on with his Five Tiger Soul-Breaking Spear.
The bear had already been wounded by his arrow. It was strong but not enough. Their weapons clashed once, and the beast stumbled backward, blood spraying. Seeing the opening, Chen Sanshi thrust again—straight through the heart.
The black bear howled once more before crashing to the ground. Its body went still, its breath gone, though its massive heart continued to throb violently in its chest.
Clang!
Chen Sanshi drew the Mountain-Suppressing Sword and began chopping at the tree. In no time, the Ghostvein Tree fell. He cut it into several sections, each as thick as a water tank, then spent a long while dragging and hiding them in a safer place before moving on.
He turned back toward the depths of the forest.
Before, a mutated black bear like that would've been a rare find—enough to bring home.
Now, it barely counted as warm-up.
Even with spiritual grain and treasured medicines at his disposal, Chen Sanshi wanted to accelerate his cultivation through slaying beasts. The campaign on the grasslands would start soon. He needed every bit of strength he could muster.
Tenfold Mountain.
He pushed deeper into the range.
Every few hundred steps, he encountered more venomous beasts. They varied in strength—some he ignored entirely to save time.
After several hundred more steps, the forest filled with sounds of pursuit.
Through his Qi Observation Technique, he saw several dark auras chasing a faint bluish one.
In his sight appeared four or five enormous wolves, their bodies covered in scales, eyes glowing blood-red. They were hunting a strange beast that resembled a horse—but with sheep-like eyes, four horns on its head, and a cow's tail. Its cries sounded eerily like a dog's howl.
Yuyou!
Chen Sanshi recognized it immediately from the Travel Notes of Mountains and Rivers. A rare beast known as Yuyou, whose flesh nourished gang qi when eaten.
The Yuyou fought back as it fled, but the wolves were coordinated—two of them circled ahead, cutting off its escape.
Buzz!
An arrow wrapped in Internal Force flashed out, piercing straight through the gaping maw of the leading wolf. Then came a second arrow, then a third—each one unerring.
In less than two breaths, all the wolves were dead.
"Woof! Woof!"
The Yuyou let out two jubilant cries—then froze as it noticed the upright ape with a bow aiming at it.
Whizz—
An arrow shot clean through its skull. The beast collapsed instantly.
Chen Sanshi dragged the body into a nearby hollow tree, sealed it with a boulder, then continued deeper into the mountains.
Elevenfold Mountain.
Ahead lay the Twelfth Fold—the core region.
"Rooaar!"
A wave of immense pressure rolled toward him with a thunderous roar.
Whoosh!
He loosed an arrow, but it was shattered midair by a single swipe.
Without wasting time, he dropped the bow, lifted his spear, and charged. The impact made his arms tremble, forcing him back several steps, his Vajra Body buzzing from the clash.
He steadied himself and looked closely.
The creature resembled a tiger, but its body was covered in brilliant, multicolored feathers. It stretched over ten feet long, its tail even longer than its body. This was a Zouwu—a legendary beast known to greatly aid cultivators at the Profound Manifestation Realm.
Its strength matched that of a true human master in that realm.
No wonder few dared venture this far.
The deeper regions of the mountains weren't just filled with venomous beasts—they were crawling with monsters as powerful as the best warriors of the Great Sheng Dynasty.
Chen Sanshi had come only because he had the Immortal Flame as his final safeguard.
Still, unless absolutely necessary, he preferred not to use it. One blast could burn everything—treasure and danger alike.
Rumble!
As he contemplated how to handle the situation, the ground beneath his feet began to quake.
"Roar!"
The Zouwu suddenly stiffened in terror, then turned and bolted.
Chen Sanshi looked eastward. In the distant forest, he saw a vast shadow gliding between the trees.
At first, it appeared to be darting from mountain peak to valley in moments—but then he realized it wasn't fast.
It was simply huge.
A giant serpent.
This must be the same colossal snake Sun Buqi and the others had mentioned before.
Even from here, its full size was impossible to gauge.
But the trembling ground wasn't just its doing.
Other powerful beasts were also stampeding through the woods.
Boom!
Suddenly, a massive surge of black energy erupted from the direction ahead—a column of darkness laced with crimson, piercing straight through the clouds. It looked like a pillar connecting heaven and earth.
Though it was at least a hundred li away, Chen Sanshi's skin prickled, every hair standing on end.
There was no fear in his heart—only instinctual dread. His body reacted on its own.
That direction…
Was the Twelfth Fold of the Mountain.
Several mountain peaks still separated Chen Sanshi from the source of that eruption, making it impossible to clearly see what was happening within.
"This… is that the source of the corruption infecting all those poisonous beasts?"
The pillar of evil energy surged for only a few breaths before fading. The forest slowly returned to calm. Then—
He saw them.
A few figures were flying across the sky before descending into the Twelfth Fold of the Mountain.
Though far away, Chen Sanshi's eyesight was extraordinary.
Those black specks—were people.
Human figures!
Some stood upon swords, others walked directly through the air, while a few rode on flying beasts.
Immortals?
Hidden deep within the mountains—there were this many immortals?
From his vantage point, it almost looked as though beyond that next ridge lay another world entirely.
Chen Sanshi couldn't make sense of it.
Liangzhou wasn't exactly close, but it wasn't that far either. He had traveled day and night for days to reach this place, yet it was still within the empire's borders.
If immortals truly lived here, how could no one have discovered them?
And what were they doing?
Clearly, their presence was linked to that ominous surge of energy.
Were they connected to the Wushen Sect?
And could this also be related to the many sect disciples who had gone missing or been slaughtered in recent years?
All the clues tangled together in his mind, a web of confusion he couldn't untangle. But one thing was certain—whatever was happening, it was something vast.
"Mass slaughter…"
That phrase echoed over and over in Chen Sanshi's mind.
He was a living being too.
If some world-shaking calamity truly broke out here, neither he nor anyone in Liangzhou would escape its reach.
Clearly, what was unfolding before him was far beyond anything he could interfere with.
He dared not move closer.
If those so-called "immortals" sensed his presence, he'd be dead before he could turn to flee.
He hoisted the body of the Yuyou Beast and began retreating the same way he came.
By the time he reached the outer boundary of the Luotian Mountain Range, ten days had passed. Fortunately, he had sent Qianxun ahead to summon help. Transporting the spoils back didn't cost much effort.
Yet, the scene he witnessed at the mountain's core kept replaying in his mind like a lantern slide—flashes of chaos, flying figures, and the blood-red pillar piercing the heavens.
"How was it?"
Inside his residence, the Empress regarded his heavy expression with a faintly amused tone, as though teasing a mortal. "You saw everything?"
"What were those people?" Chen Sanshi asked. "Can you explain it clearly?"
"The ones you saw," the Empress replied evenly, "most aren't of this world. For you people, they could indeed be called immortals."
She spoke without a hint of awe. "They've gathered there for a great scheme. I haven't interacted with them myself, but what I know is this—if their plan succeeds, not just Liangzhou, but the entire world will change."
"Including the Qing Kingdom?"
She gave a faint nod.
"And you won't intervene?"
"Why would I?"
"You said your own kingdom will be affected."
"I don't care."
Chen Sanshi exhaled slowly. There was no point continuing the conversation.
The Empress spoke again. "Now that you've seen it for yourself, are you willing to let my elder sister leave with me? Following me will at least guarantee her safety. If the situation ever stabilizes—and though it's unlikely—I'll personally escort her back."
"Alright."
Chen Sanshi had no reason to refuse. "Please take care of Lan-jie for a while."
Gu Xinlan soon learned the news.
"What's this about?" she asked anxiously. "Shi-ge'er, why are you sending me away?"
"Your sister has to return to handle affairs of state," Chen Sanshi replied lightly. "She can't bear to part with you, so she's taking you along. It's been years since you two were together. Time you had a proper reunion. Just don't get too used to noble life and forget to come back."
"Utter nonsense," Gu Xinlan said with mock anger, giving his arm a hard pinch.
She wasn't foolish.
She could tell something serious had happened.
And because of that, she didn't argue further. She knew staying would only hold him back.
After much gentle persuasion, she finally agreed.
"What about Duhe?" Gu Xinlan asked. "He's still nursing."
"He stays here."
The Empress's face was unreadable. "I'll only take my sister."
Chen Sanshi could tell—aside from affection for her elder sister, the Empress cared for nothing else.
"It's fine, Lan-jie," he said softly. "Leave Duhe here. I'll find a wet nurse for him."
Soon enough, everything was arranged.
The Empress glanced at him. "Considering how well you've treated my sister these past two years, I'll grant you something."
She waved her sleeve.
A large brocade pouch appeared in Chen Sanshi's hands.
Even through the fabric, he could sense the dense, pure Azure Profound Qi swirling within.
Spiritual energy—so rich it almost shimmered.
[...]
At that moment, Chen Sanshi finally realized.
Whatever was happening deep within the mountains… would change the world forever.