'Could Wangtian's forces have already infiltrated this place?'
Wang Meng shook his head. 'The possibility is zero. Besides, this is the territory of Saint Cultivators. No matter how you look at it, choosing the Saint Cultivators is the safest bet.'
Wang Meng felt the power that came from the growth of the Spirit Valley. In truth, the force that erupted from the growing Spirit Valley was also incomparably strong; it just wasn't a power meant for combat, but for growth.
If becoming stronger and ascending was the goal of a Cultivator, then growing to maturity was the power of the Spirit Valley. In their world, growing stronger meant possessing more power.
Wang Meng smiled. "Come on, everyone, grow faster. Grow with all your might, so I can pay off my debts."
He shouldered his hoe, hung the broken sword from his waist, and ambled back toward his thatched hut. Halfway there, he was cut off by Zhang Xiaopang.
"Brother Meng, hurry! There's trouble!" Without another word, Zhang Xiaopang grabbed Wang Meng and started running.
After cultivating for so long, Zhang Xiaojiang's growth had also been incredibly fast. It was clear Wan Jing had put a lot of effort into him, and he had probably consumed no small number of Pills. But the fatty wasn't just flab; he was genuinely strong, at the Eighth Layer of Life Mark. Hu Jing was even more ridiculous, having already reached the Ninth Layer of Life Mark. She was now trying to break through to the tenth layer. Reaching a multiple of ten was always a hurdle; overcoming it meant taking another major step forward.
Talent plus resources plus hard work equaled a horse-drawn carriage speeding down a sunlit highway, leaving others to stew in jealousy on winding goat paths.
"Seeing how panicked you are, you didn't go and stir up more trouble, did you?"
"It's not me! Someone's come to shit and piss all over us at Thunderlight! Those bastards from Hengshan Hall are too damn arrogant! Even if my grandma could stand it, I can't!"
Zhang Xiaojiang said.
"What are people from Hengshan Hall doing here?"
"They say there's a Thunderstorm Tiger King in the Thunder Pool. They want its Thunder Pill, and while they're at it, they figured they'd just take over our Thunderlight Hall mission too. That would be one thing, but... sigh. You'll see when you get there."
The courtyard of Thunderlight Hall's Thunderlight Pavilion was now packed with people. The disciples of Thunderlight Hall had nine disciples from Hengshan Hall surrounded.
But far from being afraid, the nine of them were even more arrogant.
The disciples of Hengshan Hall were like thugs—in fact, they *were* thugs. Cultivation, after all, was survival of the fittest, and the same was true for Saint Cultivators. Hengshan Hall fully exploited this principle within the Holy Hall to seize resources. Whenever they found a Sub-Hall that was weak, they would go and "rob" them of their cultivation resources, flaunting their arrogance in the process. When Zhao Guang was around, Hengshan Hall hadn't feared Thunderlight, but they had to give the Zhao Family some face. Now that Zhao Guang had gone to Dao Guang, wasn't Thunderlight Hall just meat on a chopping block, free for the taking? In situations like this, Hengshan was always the first to strike.
The one leading the group this time was Shenn Tu, the second-ranked expert of Hengshan Hall's younger generation. A Body Cultivator at the Sixteenth Layer of Life Mark, he carried a massive War Axe and was bare-chested, showing off his explosive muscles.
Three disciples from Thunderlight Hall lay on the ground, also Body Cultivators.
"You're kidding me. These are your Thunderlight Hall Body Cultivators? You call this Body Cultivation?"
The Hengshan Hall disciples roared with laughter. Thunderlight Hall had always been the benchmark for Body Cultivators. Though it had declined, whenever Body Cultivation was mentioned, people still brought up Thunderlight Hall. In reality, Thunderlight Hall had long since fallen from grace. Now, the hall with the highest standard of Body Cultivation was Hengshan Hall.
The nine of them had come to Thunderlight Pavilion specifically to stir up trouble. Even if the Thunderlight Hall disciples had no backbone, as long as they were men, they couldn't possibly endure it. The ensuing confrontation naturally gave the intruders the opportunity they wanted to deliver a sound beating.
"Senior Brother, Thunderlight Hall has no real Body Cultivators anymore. Hey, newbies, if you want to become true Body Cultivators, come to our Hengshan Hall!"
Ma Tian'Er and a few other Technique Cultivators looked at each other in dismay. Things like this happened every day in the Holy Hall. Reporting it to an Elder was useless. If you were too weak and went crying to your master, you'd only get a lecture.
But still, they were all from Thunderlight Hall, and watching this was infuriating.
Ma Tian'Er, mustering courage from who-knows-where, said, "A few Senior Brothers from Hengshan Hall, if you're so tough, you should go look for some Demon Cultivators or Evil Cultivators. Please don't run wild in our Thunderlight Hall."
Shenn Tu and his men were just starting to get bored. The crowd of cowards was just staring. Hearing this, they were amused. When they saw it was a cute female Technique Cultivator, they were even more delighted.
"Little Junior Sister, why don't you come to our Hengshan Hall? Thunderlight Hall is full of guys with no balls. What kind of future do you have here?"
When it came to slinging insults, Ma Tian'Er was no match for them and she retreated step by step. The surrounding Thunderlight Hall disciples were both furious and afraid. The other side was clearly doing this on purpose; anyone who stepped up would surely get a beating.
"Shenn Tu, this is Thunderlight Hall. Don't take it too far!" A figure in the crowd shook his head and stepped out with a look of resignation.
Shenn Tu glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. "And what are you? State your name."
Zhou Qian smiled. "I'm whatever you are. So, what are you?"
Shenn Tu was about to retort when his expression suddenly changed. "Kid, you've got guts. Wuu Quan, go teach him a lesson!"
"Hehe, Senior Brother, leave it to me!"
Wuu Quan stepped out, shouldering a large saber, and looked at Zhou Qian with a grin. "A Technique Cultivator daring to challenge a Body Cultivator? Did your mommy lend you those balls?"
He swung his saber at Zhou Qian. As Zhou Qian dodged, he slammed a Fire Talisman right into his opponent's face.
Wuu Quan wiped away the flames. "This piece of sh—"
WHOOSH...
Just as he was about to start cursing, another Fire Talisman shot directly into Wuu Quan's mouth and exploded. The blast instantly swelled his lips into a duck's bill and knocked a mouthful of teeth to the ground.
Wuu Quan staggered back to his feet with a furious roar, shouting incoherently. Someone from his side extended a War Axe and slammed him back to the ground.
"Useless trash! Keep him quiet for a bit!" Shenn Tu roared. Two Body Cultivators hurriedly helped Wuu Quan to the side.
"I didn't realize that after Zhao Guang left, Thunderlight Hall still had someone with some balls left. Interesting!"
Shenn Tu laughed. The surrounding Thunderlight Hall disciples were also stunned. 'Is this... Zhou Qian the sycophant?'
'Wasn't this guy only good at sucking up?'
'His use of the Fire Talismans just now was simply divine. No one in Thunderlight Hall was capable of such precise timing and execution.'
Zhou Qian felt a surge of resignation. 'I hate doing good deeds. Every time I do, I end up suffering for it. Dammit... but I just can't stand to see a woman get bullied.'
Shenn Tu's strength was on a completely different level from the last guy. Body Cultivators trained their bodies, and ordinary Fire Talismans couldn't hurt them at all. Hitting a vital spot like the mouth or eyes wasn't so easy.
The crowd widened the circle. At this moment, they were united against a common enemy. No matter who Zhou Qian had been before, by daring to stand up now, he was a hero of Thunderlight Hall.
As soon as the fight began, Zhou Qian started to regret his decision. He blasted Fire Talisman after Fire Talisman at his opponent. Shenn Tu could only dodge about a quarter of them, but the rest didn't seem to do any damage.
Although this Shenn Tu couldn't make it into the top ten, he was likely ranked securely in the top thirty of the Holy Hall.
Shenn Tu was getting furious. Even for a Body Cultivator, getting hit by Fire Talismans was painful, and his body was now covered in black, scorched patches.
Shenn Tu's War Axe attacks carried the imposing aura of Sweeping Thousand Soldiers. He ignored the Fire Talismans and chased after Zhou Qian, attacking relentlessly. If even one of those blows landed, Zhou Qian would be taking a long rest.