Changsun?
Even though only his back was visible, with Chen Sanshi's eyesight—refined step by step into a form of Qi Observation Technique—and combined with the other party's middle-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, he could be 90% certain it was that very man.
The man had only recently been expelled from the Bai family. Who would have thought he would appear so quickly within the Li family's market? Had he come seeking cooperation, or was there another reason?
Chen Sanshi carefully recalled the events of the day. Both the Bai family and Changsun Miao had seemed somewhat strange.
Perhaps the Medicine Valley was not as simple as it appeared.
Forget it.
This had nothing to do with him.
Chen Sanshi did not dwell on it further. After purchasing some items useful for closed-door cultivation, he resumed his training.
Every time he returned to the Great Han, the insufficient grade of the spirit vein would slow his cultivation progress. Only at Little Bamboo Peak could he make use of a second-rank spirit vein.
Another stretch of seclusion followed.
Time flew like a shuttle.
In the blink of an eye, it was September of the sixth year of the Tianwu era.
Under Chen Sanshi's relentless day-and-night cultivation, his martial realm finally broke through.
The Dragon Gall Bright Silver Spear had long since merged as one with him. When he wielded it, it was as though he controlled heaven and earth itself, no longer distinguishable between man and weapon. The Dragon Gall Bright Silver Spear was a second-rank martial weapon, and its quality could later be enhanced by refining additional materials into it.
For now, it remained sufficient.
Through martial techniques, stance training, and coordinated breathing methods, Chen Sanshi drew second-rank spiritual energy into his body. After complex cycles through his meridians and passing through layers of upper divine palaces, it was transmitted down into the lower divine palaces.
Beneath his lower abdomen, bursts of profound light grew increasingly radiant. The light was primarily crimson, supplemented by yellow—a fusion of red and yellow.
The Deity of the Large and Small Intestines, named Peng Songliu, styled Daochu, measured 2.1 inches in height, clad in red-and-yellow robes!
Technique: Dragon Scripture (True Force middle stage)
Progress: 188/500
To reach the late stage of the True Force Realm, he would still need to open five more divine palaces. Who knew how many years that would require? Fortunately, with the assistance of Spirit-Cleansing Pills, his progress would at least be much faster.
Yet Foundation Establishment lay ahead, and it was already inevitable.
In the coming period, he would need to begin inquiring about channels through which he could obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.
After ending his seclusion,
Chen Sanshi returned once more to the Great Han. This time, however, he stayed only a month to handle state affairs before immediately returning.
Continuing to run back and forth like this was ultimately troublesome.
He could not help but feel pained at the time wasted on travel.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao!"
One afternoon, just after Chen Sanshi had ended his seclusion, the bell rang. When he opened the cave dwelling's gate, he saw a rugged man standing outside.
Behind the man stood a soldier clad in pitch-black armor. Beneath the helmet there was no visible face, and in its hands it held a long-handled battle axe.
The Moving Mountain Hermit spoke in his usual boisterous manner, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, I've found the bowstring material you wanted. It comes from a second-rank demonic beast—but I'll need your help."
"A second-rank demonic beast…"
Chen Sanshi said with a troubled expression, "A spirit beast at the Profound Body Realm corresponds to the Foundation Establishment realm. I am only at the late stage of Qi Refining for now, and I am extremely poor at spell combat. If you call me along, are you certain I will help rather than hinder?"
"You don't need to fight!"
The Moving Mountain Hermit's voice boomed. "This second-rank spirit beast is called the Red-Winged Serpent. I finally located its cave with great difficulty.
"But that beast can fly. If nothing obstructs it, it will vanish in the blink of an eye. I need someone to intercept it briefly in the air.
"So I want you to lead my puppet and fly through the air. My puppet will strike it down.
"It's that simple!
"After it's done, I won't ask for spirit stones—just give me some pills. How about it?"
Chen Sanshi had grown up hunting. The main reason he had not gone personally was his busy schedule. A trip deep into the mountains would take half a month there and back, not to mention the inherent dangers. That was why he preferred not to go if possible.
But now it seemed his old trade would be difficult to abandon.
After thinking for a moment, he agreed. "Very well. If any danger arises, I trust you will take good care of me."
"Don't worry!"
The Moving Mountain Hermit patted his chest. "With me and my life-bound puppet here, nothing will harm you!"
"Good."
Chen Sanshi closed the gate to his cave dwelling. "Wait a moment, Fellow Daoist. I must first deliver the few pills I owe to Fellow Daoist Qu. Then we shall set out."
"Brother Xiao, don't waste time!"
The Moving Mountain Hermit urged. "Other hunters have already noticed that place. If we go too late, someone else may deal with it first!"
"So urgent?"
Chen Sanshi's eyes flickered slightly, though his expression remained calm. "In that case, let us depart at once."
The two set out together, leaving Daze Market and heading straight for Red Ridge Mountain.
Over the past three years, under strong demands from more and more independent cultivators, the major sects had finally agreed to waive the entrance spirit stones. As a result, increasing numbers of independent cultivators entered the mountains to attempt hunting.
Red Ridge Mountain stretched boundlessly. Its southernmost reaches connected to the Great Wilderness. The deeper one ventured, the higher the realm of the demonic beasts encountered.
Thus, although spirit veins existed in the depths of the mountain range, no cultivator dared establish cultivation there. Remaining too long would easily result in being surrounded and slain.
Chen Sanshi had come for two reasons: first, for the bowstring material; second, to capture some spirit beast cubs to bring back to the Great Han and cultivate cavalry.
He could grant his own spirit beasts the ability of ancestral reversion, but there was ultimately a limit to their number. It would be better to directly capture some young beasts instead.
"Mount?"
The Moving Mountain Hermit joked, "There are plenty of spirit beasts suitable as mounts. But Brother Xiao, why not just buy one directly? Capturing them yourself is quite troublesome!"
"To be honest,"
Chen Sanshi made an excuse, "I am also considering developing along the path of beast-taming. In the future, it would make it easier to exchange for resources. After all, relying solely on alchemy is still somewhat strained for an independent cultivator when it comes to acquiring resources."
As the two spoke,
about 100 paces away, there stood a spirit beast that resembled a horse in build, yet was not entirely the same. Upon closer inspection, its markings were like a tiger's, with a red tail, and its cry sounded like a melodic chant.
He had long since read the "Compendium of Ten Thousand Beasts" within Red Ridge Mountain and recognized this creature as the Lushu—a type of spirit beast equine known for its astonishing speed across land.
Forget it. Better to deal with the urgent matter first.
They did not linger. After traveling continuously for 2 days, they finally arrived at a grassland densely covered with iron caltrop plants.
Iron caltrop was a plant as hard as iron, sharing its name with the mortal trap. If an ordinary person rolled through it once, they would be sliced into mangled flesh on the spot.
The second-rank Red-Winged Serpent's hiding place was here.
"It's still here!"
A second-rank lower-grade bow appeared in the Moving Mountain Hermit's hand. The iron-armored puppet behind him also raised its battle axe. He said in a low voice, "Brother Xiao, I'll lure it out shortly. You only need to take my puppet into the air and block it in advance. Do not let it escape!"
"No problem."
Chen Sanshi agreed.
As he spoke, he drew out an unremarkable flying sword and led the puppet—lacking the ability to fly on its own—onto the blade. He ascended to several hundred zhang above the ground and looked down, quietly waiting.
The Moving Mountain Hermit took out a blood-soaked spirit beast corpse from his storage bag and placed it at the mouth of the creature's cave as bait.
In less than half an hour, abnormal movement stirred beneath the iron caltrop-covered grassland. It was clear that something was swimming beneath the earth.
Then a massive snake head, more than 1 zhang in diameter, slowly emerged from a cave concealed beneath the iron caltrops.
The Moving Mountain Hermit, who had long been lying in ambush at a distance, abruptly released the bowstring. A sharp artifact arrow tore through the air, wrapped in the immense mana of the Foundation Establishment level. In almost an instant, it struck the Red-Winged Serpent's head, carving a streak of golden light through the forest and toppling several ancient trees with a thunderous crash.
"Boom!"
The Red-Winged Serpent reacted, spiritual power surging within its body and reinforcing the jade-like scales covering its surface.
When the arrow made contact, it emitted a resonant hum like a struck bell.
Yet in the end, the scales shattered. Blood sprayed from the flesh beneath. The serpent let out a pained hiss and shot upward from the ground. A pair of bat-like crimson wings spread behind it, accelerating rapidly as it attempted to flee into the sky.
"Brother Xiao!"
The Moving Mountain Hermit shouted while chasing after it atop a flying artifact.
"Understood!"
Chen Sanshi had long been prepared. Guiding his flying sword, he intercepted the Red-Winged Serpent directly above. The second-rank puppet beside him glowed with spiritual light, waves of spiritual power gathering upon the battle axe before it cleaved downward with earth-splitting force.
The puppet's combat strength was in no way inferior to that of an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!
Chen Sanshi did not merely watch. He condensed a Sword Qi Technique at the strength of the late stage of Qi Refining and sent it down together with the descending battle axe, striking the oncoming spirit beast's head.
"Bang!"
With another deafening crash, the Red-Winged Serpent, which had only just ascended into the air, was slammed straight back down to the ground.
The Moving Mountain Hermit caught up. The artifact in his hand shifted from bow to long blade, and he seized the opportunity to slash downward, severing one of the serpent's wings and rendering it unable to take flight again.
The puppet descended from the sky and, together with its master, engaged the demonic beast in fierce combat.
Chen Sanshi remained on the flank, observing, occasionally supplementing with one or two late-stage Qi Refining spells.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea,
the heavily wounded Red-Winged Serpent could no longer hold on. After one final failed attempt to bite the Moving Mountain Hermit, it collapsed with a thunderous crash, its life extinguished.
"Hahahahaha!"
The Moving Mountain Hermit burst into loud laughter. "You damn beast! I've searched for you for half a year—finally got you!"
"Fellow Daoist's spell combat skills are truly exquisite!"
Chen Sanshi descended slowly and cupped his fists. "Xiao truly admires you."
"Not at all."
The Moving Mountain Hermit waved his hand. "Without Brother Xiao's help, it certainly wouldn't have been this easy."
Chen Sanshi said, "The disturbance just now was too great. It may attract other nearby spirit beasts. Since the main matter is done, let us leave this place first."
"The main matter?"
The Moving Mountain Hermit maintained his broad grin, though a trace of ferocity suddenly crept into it. "If Brother Xiao hadn't mentioned it, I might have almost forgotten!"
Before his words had even finished—
A sharp killing intent surged from behind.
Chen Sanshi had already been on guard. In an instant, he activated the Earth-Submerging Talisman drawn by Old Man Mo Zhu. Like plunging into water, he vanished from where he stood and reappeared 50 paces away.
At his original position, the puppet's battle axe crashed down, smashing out a massive crater and sending dust soaring into the air.
"Fellow Daoist Moving Mountain!"
Chen Sanshi narrowed his eyes slightly. "Even if you've changed your mind and wish to claim the snake tendon for yourself, there's no need to attempt to kill Xiao, is there?"
"How can Brother Xiao say such a thing?!"
Having failed in one strike, the Moving Mountain Hermit looked somewhat disappointed. He then spoke in a hoarse voice, "I have always been a man of my word! If I said I would give you the snake tendon, then I will absolutely give it to you—even if you die, I'll burn it as an offering!"
"Oh?"
Chen Sanshi said calmly, "If that is the case, why strike to kill?"
Before setting out, this man had kept urging him repeatedly, not even allowing him the chance to deliver pills along the way. It inevitably gave the impression of wanting to reduce "witnesses."
On Heavenly Water Isle, it was true that if an independent cultivator with no family or backing met with misfortune, no one would care. But if someone knew who had done it, that person would likewise find it difficult to continue surviving there.
Thus, he had remained on guard the entire time.
"I truly apologize, Brother Xiao."
The Moving Mountain Hermit held a blade in one hand and a bow in the other as he said in a deep voice, "Someone wants your life."
"So that's how it is."
Chen Sanshi gave a slight nod. "Xiao had thought that after 2 years of association, at least I could be considered a friend among those at Little Bamboo Peak. I didn't expect it to be worth nothing."
"Nonsense!"
The Moving Mountain Hermit declared righteously, "At the beginning, he only offered 2,000 spirit stones. I refused without hesitation.
"I told him at the time, Xiao Feng is my closest kin and sworn brother. How could I harm my own brother?
"But there was no helping it. Later, he raised the price too high—enough that I wouldn't need to enter the mountains and risk my life for 10 or 8 years. So I can only trouble you, brother."
Over the years, the few Foundation Establishment cultivators had benefited greatly from Xiao Feng's care, receiving many superior pills at favorable prices.
"Very well."
Chen Sanshi asked bluntly, "Before we begin, can you tell me who hired you? Xiao believes he has never formed enmity with anyone on Heavenly Water Isle."
"I'll tell you when I burn paper offerings for you next year."
The Moving Mountain Hermit refused. As he spoke, he drew his bow and nocked an arrow. "Take a brother's advice—Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment are worlds apart. You are not my opponent. Stand still and don't move. It will be over quickly."
Opposite him, "Xiao Feng" did not answer. He merely stood in place, glancing around.
"Stop looking!"
The Moving Mountain Hermit sneered. "Do you think there's a reason I brought you here? No one will come to save you.
"And no one will know why you died.
"For most people, it will simply be that one more independent cultivator has gone missing from Daze Market!"
"Is that so?"
Chen Sanshi let out a breath of relief. "If you put it that way, I'm at ease."
"What did you say?"
The Moving Mountain Hermit suddenly realized something was wrong.
He thought back carefully.
From beginning to end, Xiao Feng—a mere late-stage Qi Refining cultivator—had faced him, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, with complete calm.
So calm that it was as if he did not care at all.
Or rather, he had never placed him in his eyes.
In Xiao Feng's hand, at some unknown moment, a silver spear had appeared. Waves of scorching profound power began to radiate outward. From his pupils and even from his seven orifices, blazing flames burst forth.
Where was he merely at the late stage of Qi Refining? He was clearly a martial cultivator at the middle stage of the True Force Realm!
Or rather he cultivated both martial and immortal paths!
"Xiao Feng, you hid it deeply. For 2 years, you never let a single flaw show!"
The Moving Mountain Hermit's expression turned grave, his pupils trembling violently. "No—you're not surnamed Xiao! That spear in your hand, and you forging bows and arrows—you… you are Chen Lei!"
The wanted notice for Chen Sanshi contained extremely detailed descriptions of his strength, including the weapons he excelled with and the techniques he cultivated.
In Daze Market, if such a person suddenly appeared matching every detail, who else could it be?
Who would have thought that the emperor of a mortal dynasty had been hiding in Daze Market all along, cultivating in seclusion, and that his immortal cultivation was not far from Foundation Establishment!
"Good!"
After a brief shock, the Moving Mountain Hermit's astonishment turned into excitement. "If I kill you today, I won't need to struggle for the rest of my life!
"Die!"
An arrow was already on the string, and it shot forth like a rainbow.
Almost at the same moment, the second-rank puppet lunged forward, raising its battle axe high, intending to cleave the man before it into two halves.
Chen Sanshi shifted slightly to the side, narrowly and precisely evading the incoming arrow. Then his right leg, wrapped in roaring flames like a collapsing pillar of heaven, struck squarely against the puppet's chest, kicking it away as though it were a ball.
The Moving Mountain Hermit gripped his artifact blade and silently circled behind, intending to launch a sneak attack. Yet the moment he closed the distance, spear radiance filled his vision without warning—like a crimson divine dragon of flame, overwhelming the heavens.
Startled, he was forced to change his downward chop into an upward deflection, barely blocking the strike. It felt as though an entire flaming mountain had smashed into him. His chest tightened as blood surged upward, but before he could spit it out, it was dried by the intense heat. His body was sent flying backward. Only after casting several spells in succession did he manage to steady himself.
"Cough—cough—"
The Moving Mountain Hermit panted and coughed dryly, only to realize that after a single exchange, his dantian had begun to burn, continuously eroding his mana.
Nine times out of ten, it was due to some peculiar effect of the opponent's breathing method.
He suddenly understood that he was no match. How could he dare continue fighting? While controlling the puppet to obstruct, he turned and attempted to flee.
The puppet that had been kicked away charged back to kill again.
Chen Sanshi was somewhat surprised.
Ordinarily, a puppet master required something akin to a formation disk to control puppets. Yet the Moving Mountain Hermit required none of that. It was as though a mere thought from him was enough for the puppet under his command to obey like a living person.
This indicated either the existence of a special secret technique, or that his puppet-crafting skill had reached the pinnacle.
Chen Sanshi had no time to tangle with the puppet. His identity had already been exposed—if the other party were allowed to escape alive, the consequences would be unimaginable.
He crushed another Earth-Escape Talisman, bypassed the puppet, and shouted, "Qianxun!"
A snow-white warhorse appeared amid a surge of spiritual light within the forest. As it galloped, clouds rose around its hooves, until they transformed into wings that carried it soaring into the sky.
Chen Sanshi consecutively activated a Wind-Avoiding Talisman and a Divine Speed Talisman. With the opponent already injured, the balance shifted in his favor. He quickly caught up. True Force surged layer upon layer; the silver spear entwined with the Vermilion Bird, nearly blotting out the heavens as it devoured forward.
The defensive barriers before the Moving Mountain Hermit shattered one after another. At last, wailing, he fell from the sky, his entire body scorched black.
Before he could struggle again, the blazing spear tip pressed tightly against his throat.
"Speak."
The flames in Chen Sanshi's pupils extinguished, replaced by the cold depth of an abyss. "Who ordered you."
"Don't kill me, don't kill me—I'll talk, I'll talk—"
The Moving Mountain Hermit pretended to speak, but in reality he drew a poisoned dagger from his waist and lunged toward Chen Sanshi's leg. "To hell with you! Talking or not, I'm dead either way—why should I make it easy for you!"
Chen Sanshi's brow tightened. With a single thrust, he severed the man's arm. When he looked again, the Moving Mountain Hermit had already cut off his own breath and died.
With his death, the puppet in the distance collapsed with a crash.
Knowing this was no place to linger, Chen Sanshi quickly took the storage bag, destroyed the corpse and erased traces, collected the Scarlet-Winged Serpent, and departed at once. Only after traveling several hundred miles did he finally stop.
Fortunately, just as the Moving Mountain Hermit himself had said, no one knew they had entered the mountains together. Even if the man went missing afterward, trouble would not trace back to him.
Only who exactly wanted him dead?
Chen Sanshi was certain that under the identity of "Xiao Feng," he had formed only good relations. He was a well-known second-rank alchemist in Daze Market and had offended no one.
If he had to name someone one person did come to mind.
Because he was present, the Bai family had expelled Changsun Miao without hesitation after problems arose.
Admittedly, the treatment he received there was generous.
But could Changsun Miao really resort to murder over something like that?
Chen Sanshi understood that from now on, he needed to act even more cautiously. If not for still requiring the Bai family to supply certain rare materials, he would already be preparing to relocate.
After scanning the surroundings and confirming safety, he hid within a tree hollow and opened the Moving Mountain Hermit's storage bag.
Inside were some low-value artifacts, an earth-attribute cultivation method, and a complete puppet inheritance titled "Heavenly Derivation Myriad Armaments Art."
This inheritance differed from the various technical lineages Chen Sanshi had previously encountered. It not only taught the crafting of puppets, but also how to enhance one's divine sense during the process, thereby enabling control over more puppets even to the point of commanding them as naturally as one's own limbs.
By cultivating this method, one could also forge a "Life-Bound Puppet" akin to a life-bound artifact. Linked through essence blood, it could be controlled across tens of thousands of miles, even sharing its vision remotely.
In other words after cultivating this method, Chen Sanshi would no longer need to constantly travel back and forth between Heavenly Water Isle and Eastern Divine Continent, nor would it delay his handling of state affairs.
This was truly a valuable treasure. No wonder the Moving Mountain Hermit could control his puppet without any auxiliary tools.
Chen Sanshi stored everything away, planning to begin refining it upon returning.
But before that, he still needed to capture some spirit beast cubs.
No matter how they turned out, he would bring them back and try raising them first.
Sooner or later, the imperial army would march onto Heavenly Water Isle to seek vengeance against the Guiyuan Sect for his senior brother.
Even without that matter, the conflict between the two sides was irreconcilable.
Before war erupted, Chen Sanshi had to exhaust every effort to enhance the combat strength of the troops under his command. For an army, cavalry was of paramount importance.
Holding the bow left behind by the Moving Mountain Hermit, he began searching through the mountains and forests. In less than half a day, he found a female Lushu accompanied by more than a dozen cubs.
This Lushu was a second-rank demonic beast, but it was not adept at combat. It took almost no effort to shoot it down.
The remaining cubs were all placed into his storage bag.
"Not enough."
Chen Sanshi continued searching.
He wanted not only those that ran on the ground, but also those that flew in the sky.
If he remembered correctly, Scarlet Ridge Mountain was also home to a spirit beast called Shuhu—capable of flight and suitable for taming as a mount.