Chapter 23: Encounter with Wang Shan on the Road

Deep within the Lava Vein Forest, at the foot of a towering volcano whose peak pierced the clouds, a mine wound its way downward, twisting and turning into the heart of the earth. In a spacious cavern near the core of the earth veins, Lin Cheng sat cross-legged, having tried no fewer than a hundred times to communicate with the Fire Spirit Pearl within his elixir sea.

“Come now, Fire Brother, since you’ve decided to follow me, that makes me your master… Come out and chat, won’t you…?”
“Don’t be shy, I’m an easy person to talk to. In the future, we won’t speak of master and servant—let’s just be brothers, what do you say…?”
“Hey, at least give me a sign…”

No matter how many times Lin Cheng tried, the Fire Spirit Pearl remained as inert as an ordinary bead, quietly suspended above his golden elixir sea, giving not the slightest response.

With a sigh, Lin Cheng withdrew his thoughts, vowing to deal with the pearl another day—though truthfully, he was at his wit’s end.

Little Mo had already awakened. After absorbing more than a dozen fire-attribute spirit stones, the young beast had grown nearly twice its previous size. By Lin Cheng’s estimation, it now possessed strength comparable to a high-level ninth rank in human True Qi cultivation.

This left Lin Cheng feeling somewhat embarrassed; after more than a decade of life, he was still outmatched by a mere infant beast.

He stepped forward and patted Little Mo’s head, then, with a wave of his hand, swept all the fire-attribute spirit stones into his storage pouch.

He gazed around the cavern that had given him his first taste of sudden wealth, feeling content as he made his way toward the exit.

It was time to return.

Exiting the mine and stepping easily through the protective water-screen formation ahead, Lin Cheng was instantly struck still.

“Tiger Third Elder…”

Before him lay the corpse of the Heavenly Demon Tiger, its life force extinguished. Its once-vibrant fur was now pale, its face deeply wrinkled, and the eyes that had once gleamed with eerie light were closed forever.

A wave of sorrow swept through Lin Cheng’s heart.

Little Mo howled mournfully, circling the lifeless body of the tiger, rubbing against it desperately.

If it could shed tears, its face would have been soaked.

“Rest assured, Elder. I will personally ensure Little Mo reaches Elder Tiger Ao safely…”

Having buried the Heavenly Demon Tiger himself and steadied his emotions, man and beast departed the forest together.

He wondered whether Fatty and the others were still waiting. After so long without returning, they were surely worried sick.

Thinking this, Lin Cheng quickened his pace and swiftly left the Lava Vein Forest.

Along the way, he encountered several powerful spirit beasts, but thanks to Little Mo’s intimidating presence, he passed through without incident.

Breathing in the fresh air outside and gazing at the sunny, cloudless sky, free from the oppressive atmosphere of the forest, Lin Cheng felt a great sense of relief.

He spread his arms, stretched lazily, and glanced at Little Mo. Upon seeing the young Heavenly Demon Tiger, he suddenly felt a headache coming on.

This was a Heavenly Demon Tiger cub; once grown, it would be equivalent to a Sovereign-level cultivator. If anyone saw it, not even nine lives would save him!

“I wonder if the Deceptive Heaven Formation can conceal Little Mo’s aura…” Lin Cheng mused.

Since the formation could mask his golden elixir sea, perhaps it could similarly hide the Heavenly Demon Tiger’s presence.

Without delay, Lin Cheng formed a seal, pointing a finger at Little Mo.

“Change Heaven and Earth!”

Utilizing a secret art from the Deceptive Heaven Formation, he had once concealed his own secrets with it.

A beam of white light shot toward Little Mo, and in moments, the majestic cub was transformed into a small black dog.

Delighted by the result, Lin Cheng grew ever more convinced of the secret art’s power.

Little Mo stared blankly at its new form, its face full of embarrassment.

A dignified Heavenly Demon Tiger turned into a black dog…

Sensing Little Mo’s displeasure, Lin Cheng shrugged and smiled awkwardly, “It’s for your own protection… There’s nothing I can do—my strength is lacking, after all…”

Little Mo: …

Arriving at the rendezvous point with Fatty and the others, Lin Cheng found they had already left. He tried to summon the Griffon Beast, but received no response.

It seemed he’d have to walk back.

With this thought, he set out toward the sect.

The journey was long, winding through deserted mountains and wild lands.

According to the map, he still needed to cross several ranges before reaching a populated town. Only there could he hope to find a mount for travel, and the more he thought about it, the more he wished for a flying treasure.

After days of sleepless travel, Lin Cheng finally stood atop a cliff, gazing into the distance. He saw signs of civilization.

Heishan Town.

Seeing the name on the map, Lin Cheng understood—he recalled seeing it mentioned in sect missions.

He stowed the map and leapt toward Heishan Town.

A hundred miles from the town, within the forest, man and beast were running tirelessly, wind whistling past their ears.

Suddenly, Lin Cheng stopped abruptly, signaling Little Mo to hide, while he leapt up a towering tree nearby.

Soon, hurried footsteps approached from ahead—a young man in red stumbled toward them, and Lin Cheng felt a spark of recognition.

“Why stop running now…?”

At the same moment, a mocking voice sounded from behind the young man.

“You cultivators of Ziyang Sect are bold—allowing your disciples to wreak havoc among mortals…” The red-clad youth wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, turning to shout angrily.

“Oh, Wang Shan, even at death’s door you try to pin blame on Ziyang Sect… If you beg me, maybe I’ll let you die quickly…”

A richly dressed man strolled over, looking at the desperate Wang Shan with a sneer.

Senior Brother Wang Shan!

Wasn’t this the same senior brother from Qingyang Sect who had once guided Lin Cheng and Fatty? Why was he now being hunted?

Lin Cheng watched silently from above, ready to intervene and save Wang Shan.

“Si Miao, you’ll pay for all your misdeeds—do you not fear divine retribution?” Wang Shan knew he might truly die here today.

Dusting invisible debris from his chest, the man in the brocade robe laughed coldly:

“Divine retribution? We cultivators defy heaven itself—what’s there to fear? Prepare to die. As for your little junior sister from Qingyang Sect, I’ll make sure to ‘take good care’ of her… ha ha ha ha…”

“You—”

With a cry, Wang Shan spat blood, grief and rage consuming him.

A few days ago, he had completed a task assigned by his master and had just returned to report, only to hear that a female disciple had taken on a sect mission and vanished in Heishan Town.

Upon hearing this, Wang Shan rushed to Heishan Town, following clues to a dungeon where he found the missing girl, along with several ordinary women.

After slaying the dungeon’s guards—cultivators of the True Qi realm—he let his guard down. The man in brocade ambushed him, dealing a heavy blow. Seeing that his attacker was a core disciple of Ziyang Sect, Wang Shan knew he was in trouble.

To ensure the others’ escape, he blocked the man with his wounded body. Only when he felt they had fled far enough did he attempt to withdraw.

Yet, with the Ziyang Sect disciple relentlessly pursuing him, Wang Shan found himself at the end of the road, resigned to his fate, praying the women had escaped.

“I hear your Qingyang Sect has two female disciples with special spirit roots—I wonder what they taste like… Too bad your sect keeps them hidden so well… Let’s hope I don’t run into them outside… ha ha ha…”

The man licked his lips lustfully, his face full of depravity.

“Si Miao… you’ll die a wretched death…”