Chapter 152: Cultivator Xiao, Why Do You Look Unhappy?

Chapter 152 – Cultivator Xiao, Why Do You Look Unhappy?

Inside the Lingyuan Grand Hall’s inner sanctum, Spirit Origin Sect’s Grand Elder Yao Dehai addressed the other elders: “There are two lists here. Everyone, please review them.”

“The first list contains capable individuals—all renowned experts from Li Zhou.”

“The second list includes those who’ve already been promised positions. Assign them to rear outposts. Don’t send them to the frontline.”

Gu Qiuling, an elder from the Demon-Slaying Hall, frowned. “If these people fear death so much, why come to Hezhou at all? This isn’t the time for such games. Do they think resisting the Divine Flame Cult is child’s play?”

Yao Dehai calmly reasoned, “Junior Sect Sister Gu, these are favors requested by acquaintances. Please understand.” He gestured to the list. “Place them in remote locations. At least they can guard spirit mines—better than having no one at all.”

The elders nodded. “Everyone, prepare. We’ll go out and select cultivators in order.”

By now, the outer hall was packed with cultivators from Li Zhou, each registering their names and receiving two newly-issued yunjing talismans—special charms to counter soul-chasing shuttles. The Spirit Origin Sect had even posted talisman-crafting formulas on the walls for those eager to make their own.

Xiao Chen glanced at the formulas, though he couldn’t craft talismans himself. Still, memorizing them wouldn’t hurt.

Under Yao Dehai’s supervision, Spirit Origin Sect disciples began selecting cultivators row by row. Liu Feng was assigned to Xunmei Mountain, and Zhu Hui to Luoyan Mountain. Both beamed—they’d specifically requested these posts.

Old Master Feng, also sent to Luoyan Mountain, offered a bitter smile. At his age, he’d hoped to avoid the frontline.

Meanwhile, the solitary cultivator who’d boasted about being content with any Foundation Building Pill was assigned to a critical Spirit Medicine Garden in the rear. Though displeased, he said nothing, planning to wait for a rotation.

When the last row remained, Gu Qiuling arrived late, scanned the list, and frowned again. She’d been warned about Chen Zhi’an and Xiao Chen—two names not to send to the frontline. Wangyan Mountain, her assigned sector, was perilously close to enemy territory.

“We’re short on hands at Wangyan Mountain,” she announced, pointing to the left. “Leftmost cultivator, follow me.”

Her finger landed on Xiao Chen. “You won’t go there. Qingyang Spirit Mine needs a guard—take that post instead.”

She despised those who used family connections to avoid danger. Without even glancing at his name, she dismissed him with a wave.

Xiao Chen recalled yesterday’s water-screen map. Qingyang Spirit Mine lay 600 miles from Luoyan Mountain—a decent but not critical outpost.

He hesitated. “Could someone else take it?”

Gu Qiuling’s glare was icy. She assumed he feared danger, thinking, Qingyang’s a safe post, and he still balks? What a coward.

Her tone sharpened. “If you’re unhappy, wait for the rotation. If everyone swapped tasks like you, chaos would reign.” With that, she stormed out.

Xiao Chen frowned. Where did this sudden hostility come from? Unaware that Elder Chen had intervened for him, he shrugged. Her loss. Wangyan Mountain’s weaker without me.

He’d expected a resource scramble upon arrival but decided to play it slow. Guarding a mine first wouldn’t hurt. He could familiarize himself with Hezhou before pursuing Demon-Slaying Guard status.

At Qingyang Peak, Chang Shunping, head of Qingyang County’s largest Foundation Building family, had prepared a feast. Sixty miles outside the city, he waited eagerly to greet the new Li Zhou cultivator—hoping to forge an alliance against demonic threats.

Xiao Chen arrived to find Chang Shunping beaming. “Fellow Cultivator Chang,” Xiao Chen declined the offer. “I must report to the mine first. Another time.”

The Qingyang Spirit Mine, behind Qingyang Peak, produced Qingyang Stone—a prized forging material. The nearby river bore the same name.

Today, the mine’s hundred cultivators—eleven at late Liangqi Stage, the rest mid-Core Formation—gathered to welcome their new manager. Xiao Chen left mining operations unchanged, focusing instead on defenses against demonic cultivators.

He examined the warning formation’s worn array plate, injecting mana. Only a single flickering line responded before it dimmed again.

Useless, he sighed. Guess I’ll have to rely on myself.

After surveying the terrain, he chose a high vantage point. Two earthworkers built a simple courtyard overnight, though Xiao Chen rejected unnecessary embellishments.

He deployed Yellow Wind Quicksand Formation flags, preparing methodically. Even confident in his strength, he believed in over-preparation.

Chang Shunping returned the next day, but Xiao Chen, busy with formations, declined again.

On the third day, Chang arrived with a hundred dishes, setting a feast for the entire mine. At Xiao Chen’s courtyard, a table groaned under 66 courses—skyfowl, land beasts, river fish.

“Cultivator Xiao, humble fare—don’t mind,” Chang Shunping smiled. “Local specialties, unavailable elsewhere.”

Xiao Chen, slightly embarrassed, noted the centerpiece: a three-foot-six-inch, hundred-pound Peach Blossom Carp—a rare second-tier spirit fish worth at least 200 spirit stones.

Chang’s generosity had a motive. Recently, demonic cultivators had appeared near Qiuping County, threatening spirit veins. Qingyang’s proximity worried him.

Over the meal, Xiao Chen learned the Chang family’s details. Unlike the Su Family, they were weak—two Foundation Building cultivators: Chang Shunping (6th Layer) and his brother Chang Shun’an (3rd Layer). Decades of complacency had left them stagnant, their cultivation stalled for 30 years.

The mine, rich in resources, belonged entirely to the Spirit Origin Sect. The Changs, lacking influence, had no stake. With the sect’s frontline demands, even their mine’s former guard had been reassigned.

Chang Shunping, isolated and fearful, saw Xiao Chen as salvation—especially upon learning he was a late-Stage Foundation Building cultivator.

“Cultivator Xiao, I won’t hide it—I’ve been terrified,” he admitted.

Chang Shunping raised his wine cup, his face flushed with excitement. "Bandit cultivators have always run rampant near Qiuping County. Rumor has it a whole gang of demonic cultivators sneaked in from Wangyan Mountain recently!"

"The world’s growing unstable!"

"Thank heavens fellow cultivator Xiao arrived. If anything happens, we’ll have each other’s backs."

"Here, let me toast you!"

Xiao Chen’s eyes lit up briefly, though doubt crept in. "Fellow cultivator Chang, why didn’t I hear about this before coming here?"

Chang Shunping lowered his voice. "Let’s just say I have a friend in the Huidong Merchant Guild who passed this along."

Xiao Chen frowned. "Forgive my ignorance, but what’s the Huidong Merchant Guild?"

"Ah, right! I forgot cultivator Xiao’s from Lizhou", Chang chuckled, pouring himself a punitive cup before explaining. "Though not one of Hezhou’s top powers, the guild has backing from the Eastern Territory and deals in high-stakes ventures."

Xiao Chen nodded instantly. A network with such connections would have reliable intelligence. If they confirmed demonic cultivators infiltrated via Wangyan Mountain, the threat was real. This might even mean easy targets wandering his way!

His opinion of Chang Shunping shifted positively. Someone with such connections deserved further conversation.

The two chatted eagerly for three hours. Chang’s insights were shockingly thorough—Hezhou’s power dynamics, faction standings, and political undercurrents. Nothing too arcane, yet nothing superficial either. Only someone deeply embedded in Hezhou for decades could speak so authoritatively.

"Take care, fellow cultivator Chang. I’ll visit your place soon", Xiao Chen said, seeing him off.

Alone in the courtyard, he reflected. Perspectives shaped reality. According to Chang, Hezhou teemed with chaos.

The Spirit Origin Sect faced dual threats: the Divine Flame Cult’s aggression and the White Bone Gate’s resurgence. The latter, even more extreme than the Luotian Sect, aimed to overthrow Spirit Origin, enslave Wan Hua Valley, and eradicate the Qingxiao Sect. The Three Great Sects had nearly wiped them out years ago, but recently, they’d staged shocking comebacks—failing each time but leaving significant damage.

Chang also mentioned the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, a mysterious group based in the Central Domain. Composed entirely of divination masters, they traded secrets for spirit stones. Their intel was pricey but accurate. However, the Divine Flame Cult’s blockade of Quanzhou severed their Central Domain ties. Now, the Pavilion actively courted allies and recruited solitary cultivators, emerging as a force to reckon with.

Meanwhile, rogue solitary cultivators masqueraded as bandits, committing atrocities and blaming the Divine Flame Cult. Though everyone saw through the ruse, Spirit Origin Sect hesitated without proof.

In short, Hezhou’s surface masked a boiling pot of intrigue.

Yet Xiao Chen found his plans unchanged. "First, master the Truth-Seeing Spirit Eye, then earn points. Let the factions clash—I’ll profit from any demonic cultivators foolish enough to appear."

True to his Lihuo Sect habits, he spent days refining cultivation manuals and spells. A month passed. After handing Qingyang Stones to Spirit Origin Sect transport cultivators, he sighed, bored. "Where’s my promised demonic cultivator action?"

Back in Lihuo Sect, he could chat with Su Wanning or wander the bazaar when restless. Now, mine shafts and ore filled his days. Even the monthly Spirit Origin Sect bulletin brought little excitement.

"Where’s the damned action?" Xiao Chen muttered.

Chang Shunping soon arrived, grinning. "Great news! The Wangyan Mountain infiltrators were mostly captured. Qingyang’s safe for a month!"

Xiao Chen’s face fell. "All of them?"

"Probably three or four slipped through", Chang mused. "But no worries! Qingyang’s dull—those leftovers won’t risk coming here."

After he left, Xiao Chen stewed. "Where’d those idiots go?"

Meanwhile, three demonic cultivators lounged by a field in Qiuping County, disguised as farmers under a scholar tree.

"Brother Peng, where now?" one asked.

Peng Dawei, their leader, eyes closed. "Patience."

Another grumbled, "Two months without Vital Blood! Southern brothers feast on Wan Hua’s beauties—"

Peng’s eyes flashed open, hunger flickering. Wan Hua’s beauty-preserving techniques and Yin-Nourishing Yang-Enhancing secrets tempted him, but he stayed sharp. "Wait for my signal. Spirit Origin’s everywhere."

An old woman approached, selling sesame cakes. Peng bought three. After she left, he split one open—a message inside. His men gawked.

"Idiot! Swallowed yours already?" Peng shoved the remaining cake into his comrade’s mouth. The note survived.

"Brothers, our chance!" Peng swallowed the paper. "The Chang family in Qingyang has only a Foundation Building Sixth Layer guard. He leaves Qingyang Mountain every few days."

"Let’s ambush him there!" Gao Changjun blurted.

Smack! Peng slapped him. "You brainless pig! Didn’t I say Qingyang Mine has new guards?"

“Come on, let’s head to Qingyang County. We’ll ambush him on his way back.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end