Facing the burly young man's smiling question, Ba Yude remained calm.
"Shao Ming has been in Beiyun City for some time now, and Tang Mingyang is here too, with the Yu brothers, Yu Yang and Yu Hai, helping him out. This time, fighting alone, you'll find it difficult to win. Perhaps..."
"How about we cooperate?"
"That's right!" "
Haha..."
Hearing Ba Yude's suggestion, Tie Shanhu laughed loudly, "Ba Yude, everyone in the outer sect knows that cooperating with you is like seeking help from a tiger. Don't try to hide your little schemes from me. Cooperation is impossible. I, Tie Shanhu, rely on my own strength. I'll get the treasures in Fengling Cave if I can, and if not, so be it. Farewell. Perhaps I can find some good treasures in Beiyun City!"
Seeing Tie Shanhu leave so casually, Ba Yude's face darkened slightly.
Shao Ming, Tang Mingyang, and the others had made thorough preparations for this trip to Fengling Cave, while he was the last to receive the news and had no time to prepare.
This cooperation with Tie Shanhu was out of necessity.
He hadn't expected Tie Shanhu to have such an attitude.
"Not cooperating with me... you'll definitely regret it!" A cold smile crept across Ba Yude's lips as he watched Tie Shanhu's departing figure.
Beiyun City remained as peaceful as ever, but observant people noticed something different.
First, some unrest seemed to have occurred within the Mu family, but it was quickly quelled.
Second, many martial artists had been coming and going in Beiyun City these past few days, seemingly preparing for something.
And gradually, one place became the talk of the town:
Fengling Cave!
This place, repeatedly discussed as a death trap, once again became incredibly popular in Beiyun City.
"Have you heard? It's said that a powerful cultivator at the fifth level of the Spirit Cave Realm died in the Wind Ridge Cave, and a great treasure is hidden there!"
"I've heard that too. No wonder every martial artist who enters the Wind Ridge Cave dies without a burial place. The fifth level of the Spirit Cave Realm, even the patriarchs of the four great families are no match for that!"
"What do you know! I heard that even the disciples of the Holy Pill Sect have shown up this time."
Discussions spread throughout Beiyun City.
"Hmph!"
Inside the restaurant, Shao Ming's face was ashen. He snorted, "This news was clearly only known to Tang Mingyang, Tie Shanhu, and Ba Yude, yet it has spread throughout Beiyun City. It must be their doing!"
"Brother, calm down!"
Shao Yu chimed in, "The news spreading in Beiyun City this time might not be a bad thing. Let them go and rob it, fish in troubled waters, maybe their chances are even greater."
Hearing Shao Yu's words, Shao Ming gradually
calmed down.
This time, the treasure left behind by the fifth-level Spirit Cave Realm expert inside the Wind Ridge Cave is crucial to his ability to step into the Spirit Cave Realm, so it cannot afford any mistakes.
"Now that things have come to this, there's no other way. Shao Yu, send people to keep a close eye on the Wind Ridge Cave. This time, let's see who wins."
"Yes!"
...
North Cloud City, Mu Family.
"Godfather, what are you doing?"
The First Elder Mu Fengyuan and the Second Elder Mu Fengqing led their direct descendants to betray the Mu Family, and Mu Shan and Mu Yu were also recalled by their godfather.
At this moment, seeing the figures fully equipped and ready for battle on the Mu Family's martial arts arena, Mu Yun asked in confusion.
"You're quite calm, kid. Do you know how much this has caused in Beiyun City?"
"Oh?"
Seeing Mu Yun's puzzled yet smug expression, Mu Linchen explained, "Recently, it's said that there's a tomb of a fifth-level Spirit Acupoint Realm expert in the Wind Ridge Cave within the Beiyun Mountains. So, many families in Beiyun City are sending people to prepare for the trip!"
"Do you understand what a fifth-level Spirit Acupoint Realm expert means?"
"I know, the strongest expert in Beiyun City!"
"You make it sound so easy!" Mu Linchen smiled wryly. "That's right. My godfather's current cultivation is at the fifth level of the Spirit Acupoint Realm. He has opened the Qi Sea and Guanyuan acupoints, just one step away from reaching the sixth level. That's why my Mu family is one of the four great families."
"So, godfather means that our Mu family should also go and explore the Wind Ridge Cave?"
"That's right. If we can obtain any treasures from it, it will be enough to make up for the losses caused by the betrayal of those two old fogies, Mu Fengyuan and Mu Fengqing."
"This is not appropriate."
"Not appropriate?"
Seeing Mu Yun shake his head, Mu Linchen was taken aback.
"Father, firstly, whether there is a treasure in Fengling Cave is still just a rumor. Secondly, even if there is a treasure, how can my Mu family, with its current strength, obtain it under the powerful influence of the Diao and Wang families? Moreover, this time, Beiyun Academy and Shengdan Pavilion will also send strong experts. At that time, I'm afraid my Mu family will not only gain nothing, but will also suffer a devastating blow to the family because of the deadly nature of Fengling Cave."
Mu Yun's words were true. If the Mu family sent elites this time, but ultimately gained nothing, it would undoubtedly be adding insult to injury.
However, Mu Linchen understood even more that the greater the danger, the greater the potential benefit.
"I know what Father is thinking, but this time, it's not that our Mu family won't send anyone, but we don't need to send so many people either."
"Oh? You brat, tell me, who should we send?"
"Me!"
"You?"
Hearing Mu Yun recommend himself, Mu Linchen's eyes widened, and then he gave a wry smile.
He wasn't underestimating Mu Yun, but this trip to Fengling Cave was far too dangerous. If Mu Yun were alone, and they ended up losing all the treasures, it would be even more of a loss.
"Hehe, don't worry, Godfather. I understand that treasures have always possessed a spirit, and those with the right destiny will obtain them. If I can't get them, I won't force it!"
Mu Yun said confidently. "But if Godfather acts rashly and sends a large number of the Mu family's elite troops there, resulting in heavy casualties, it would severely damage our Mu family's strength. Even if we do obtain the treasures, our Mu family won't be able to recover for several years. Do you think those two old geezers, Mu Fengyuan and Mu Fengqing, will let our Mu family off the hook for several years?"
Hearing Mu Yun's words, Mu Linchen frowned and remained silent.
Xu Xu, looking at the hundreds of martial artists in the arena, Mu Linchen spoke, "Mu Qiankun, take a hundred men to Dongfang City to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos. Mu Qianyun, take a hundred men to the various branches of my Mu family in Beiyun City to carefully investigate and protect them. Mu Shan and Mu Yu, you two take the remaining two hundred Mu family martial artists to carefully inspect the towns below Beiyun City and warn them not to set foot in the Beiyun Mountains in the next few days!"
"Yes, Clan Chief!"
Mu Qiankun and the other three were four powerful members of the Mu family who were loyal to Mu Linchen. They could only obey Mu Linchen's orders without question.
Moreover, they also felt that Mu Yun's suggestion was correct.
The Mu family was in a precarious situation and could not afford to take any risks.
"As for me, I will stay and guard the Mu family's main camp. If anything happens in Beiyun City or the towns below, you must notify me immediately, understand?"
"Yes!"
The sound of footsteps rang out, and the four of them, along with hundreds of martial artists, dispersed from the various gates of the Mu family.
Seeing that his adoptive father had heeded his advice, Mu Yun breathed a slight sigh of relief.
He remained unmoved by any treasures within the Wind Ridge Cave.
All he needed was the Spirit Sealing Grass.
Of course, he couldn't explain this to his adoptive father; if given the chance to obtain treasure, he wouldn't mind taking it along the way.
"You brat, I'll listen to you. I know you want the Sealing Spirit Grass, but you can't force things, understand?
"
"Yes!"
"Oh, and one more thing!" Mu Linchen instructed, "I see you and Qin Mengyao are very much in love, and Old Master Qin Shiyu is also very satisfied. You two should prepare for your wedding soon!"
"Huh?"
"What 'huh'? You're not getting any younger. What, you don't want to?" Mu Linchen glared at him. "While I can still control you, you two should get married quickly, so I won't have to worry so much. Besides, the Qin family will definitely send people to Fengling Cave this time. I'll discuss it with Old Master Qin, and then you'll enter Fengling Cave with the Qin family's group."
"Huh?"
Hearing this, Mu Yun opened his mouth.
He had finally managed to persuade his adoptive father to give up, but unexpectedly, his adoptive father arranged for him to accompany him.
He had to go to Fengling Cave alone; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to use many of his hidden methods.
Going with the Qin family was too risky.
It seems we still need to find a solution.
Time passed slowly, and these past few days, Qi Ming had been refining mortal artifacts in the East Market.
From low-grade mortal artifacts to high-grade mortal artifacts, Qi Ming became increasingly adept with practice.
Although he successfully refined a high-grade mortal artifact in his battle with Qi Yun, surpassing Qi Yun, he was still somewhat lacking compared to Qi Yun in terms of true artifact refining skills.
However, recently, refining artifacts in the Mu family's East Market had given him more opportunities to hone his skills, and he had made rapid progress.
Miao Xianyu was also not idle, leading several alchemists from the Holy Pill Pavilion, bustling about in and out of the Mu family's East Market, acting like a young lady of high birth.
As for Mo Yang, his improved strength had solidified his position as the heir to the Mo family's business empire.
Now, he was developing business with the Mu family, and recently, Mo Hai would avoid him whenever he saw him.
Seeing the performance of his three disciples, Mu Yun was very satisfied.
On this day, the usually bustling streets of Beiyun City suddenly became somewhat quiet.
Everyone understood that it was because some people couldn't wait any longer and had already begun heading to the Wind Ridge Cave in the Northern Cloud Mountains. This
sparked a huge wave of activity; no one wanted to be left behind, so countless people quietly began leaving Northern Cloud City for the Northern Cloud Mountains.
"Father, no need, I can go to the Qin family myself!"
At this moment, outside the Mu family gate, Mu Linchen, holding Mu Yun tightly, walked towards the Qin family.
"You brat, I know what you're up to!" Mu Linchen laughed. "Trying to pull some tricks on yourself? No way! Mengyao told me yesterday that she absolutely had to bring you to the Qin family to be with her."