Chapter 369 - Robust Spirit Town (1/2)
Xiao Chen was hit by a sudden wave of vertigo. Thirty-one people who share a birthday on the seventh day of the seventh month went missing at the same time? And they were all women with extraordinary cultivation. Weiyang’s birthday was also on that day. Were these incidents related? Impossible, he thought. It had been several thousand years since. He must be overthinking things.
It took a moment for him to compose himself. “Did you find out why they’re missing? Who’s the culprit?” he asked.
Qingluan and Ziyun’er exchanged looks, wondering what happened to their Master. Why did he look dispirited? It wasn’t until he coughed that Qingluan recovered her senses and immediately replied, “All we learned is their disappearance. We don’t know who the mastermind is. Those women include the Leader of the Order of Exquisite Ladies, Leader of the Autumn Waters Pavilion…”
After listening to the rundown of the missing women’s identities, Xiao Chen noted that they were either Leaders or Elders of minor sects. Even so, they were a part of the Orthodox Path. How could not one sect out of many in Violet Manor learn anything? Just what kind of powerful person was capable of kidnapping the women during their birthday banquets without raising alarm? He asked, “Has this ever happened in Violet Manor?”
Ziyun’er replied, “Yes, something like this would repeat every few hundred years. But this was left out of many historical records. It took a lot of investigation to learn this. But no one has ever discovered the mastermind.”
Xiao Chen contemplated this for a long time. However, this wasn’t his priority. “Forget it,” he said. “Did you learn anything else?”
“We discovered that many Orthodox cultivators have been rushing to a place called the Miasma Mountain Range over the past few days. They’re not the only ones. Some from Devil’s sects are also making their way there. Rumors have it that an extraordinary treasure is about to be born there.”
Xiao Chen frowned. He recalled Yi Tong and None-flower Dust making up a rumor about an extraordinary treasure when they came to save him a few days ago. Was someone else making up rumors as well?
Ziyun’er added, “We also learned that the Corpse Refinery Sect, one of the Four Major Devil’s Sects, is occupying a mountain nearby the Miasma Mountain Range, called the Mountain of Myriad Caves. They have been very active lately, but no one knows what they’re up to.”
“Corpse Refinery Sect…” Xiao Chen muttered. This sect had been desperately trying to revive an ancient Divine Corpse. Could the time have come? This piece of news must have reached the Orthodox sects by now. They wouldn’t let the sect achieve their goal, would they? It seemed that before long, the Miasma Mountain Range would turn into a warzone. Well, he just so happened to need a Corpse Puppet…
“Where’s the Miasma Mountain Range?”
“Slightly east of the common boundary of South and East Continent,” Qingluan answered. She took out a map and slowly unfolded it in front of Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen stared at the map for a long time, thinking to himself that many Orthodox sects and clans must have sent their disciples to respond to such a major commotion. “Which sects have their people to the Evil Miasma Mountain Range?”
Qingluan exchanged glances with Ziyun’er before replying, “As far as we know, Jade Qing Sect…” Hearing this name made Xiao Chen’s brows furrow. Were Brother Yifeng and the rest there as well?
Qingluan continued, “There’s also Xiaoyue from the Thousand Feathers Sect, Bai Yusu from the Immortals’ League, Zuoqiu Yang from the Divine Mist Sect…” She recited the names of more than ten sects in one go. Xiao Chen narrowed his eyes. The Orthodox side had produced quite a few talents this year. The youngsters could now help ease the Elders’ burden.
Ziyun’er said, “From the Devil’s sects are the Bloodied Fiend Sect, Fort Raksasa, Dark Shadow Hall…” She also reported a string of more than ten Devil’s sects. The Devil’s Practice had been growing day by day, Xiao Chen thought. From the look of things, both sides must have exchanged blows multiple times in the past year.
“Very well. Let me join the fun then! I’ll leave for the Miasma Mountain Range tomorrow!”
Qingluan and Ziyun’er exchanged glances before replying in unison, “We’re coming with you, Master!” Xiao Chen held up a hand. “No, I’ll go by myself. Stay here and help Xin’er with the subsequent matters once she’s awake.”
Ziyun’er fell silent. After a while, she finally said, “Then please be careful on your maiden journey to the Miasma Mountain Range. Watch out for these three in particular: Seven Killings from the Bloodied Fiend Sect, Su Lianyue from Fort Raksasa, and Yi Yeqiu from the Dark Shadow Hall.”
Xiao Chen nodded. Like the Orthodox side, the Devil’s side had also produced many powerhouses in the past year. There were also sects that toed the line like the Fallen Immortals Sect.
The next morning, amid a backdrop of the rising sun, a mountain filled with birds’ cries, murmuring of flowing water, Xiao Chen continued to guard Huangfu Xin’er by her bed. She would wake up every now and then, though her consciousness remained hazy. Her injuries must have been too severe.
A flurry of footsteps resounded outside the room, prompting Xiao Chen to sigh. He got to his feet and walked outside. The twelve ladies of the Hidden Fragrance Wafting Under the Moon were all present and the Koo-chee beast had run over as well. “Koo-chee… Wuu! Koo-chee…” the beast cried, rubbing against him. It looked like it couldn’t bear being separated from him.
Xiao Chen chuckled. “Brother Koo-chee, stay with Qingluan and the others and wait for me to come back.” He took out three jade notes and handed them to Qingluan. “Crush these jade notes if something happens. I’ll detect your location immediately.”
In the end, he walked toward the entrance of the valley under everyone’s gaze. The Koo-chee beast cried and ran after him. Xiao Chen turned around and chuckled. “Brother Koo-chee, please go back.”
“Wuu! Koo-chee…” the beast whimpered, stopping fifty feet away from him. It stared at him with its large eyes.
Just like that, the Koo-chee beast followed after Xiao Chen, all while maintaining a distance of between thirty to fifty feet. Each time he turned around, it would stop and refuse to budge. This continued until they finally arrived at the forest of mottled bamboos at the mouth of the valley. Xiao Chen turned around with a smile. “Brother Koo-chee, please return now. I’ll be back very soon.”
“Wuu! Koo-chee…” This time, the Koo-chee finally stopped following him. It stood on its tiptoes and watched him walking farther and farther away until he was out of view. It whimpered, “Wuu… Koo-chee…”