Chapter 98: The Maiden

“Why have we come to this place?” The Hemp-clad Maiden spoke, as if to the young man, yet also as if to herself.

“We seek both the Great Dao of longevity and vengeance!”

“Feng Geng, if you are afraid, I will not force you. You may leave at any time!”

Hearing this, Feng Geng’s expression changed. He fell silent and released his grip.

Within the territories of Great Zhou, Phoenix Feather Manor was once a famously powerful force in the Jianghu. Now, scattered like clouds in the wind, who knew how many enemies were searching for descendants of their so-called “Demon Sect”?

Returning would only mean death.

Tightening his grip on the hide-wrapped ring-pommeled sword in his hand, Feng Geng forced a smile. “Where does the Young Miss speak such words? Feng Geng is a born servant of the Feng family. The Young Miss has shown me immeasurable kindness. Wherever the Young Miss goes, be it through mountains of blades or seas of fire, Feng Geng will not hesitate to follow!”

The old man behind them was not as panicked as the youth. With a contemplative look in his eyes, he stepped forward after a moment.

“Sect Master, we have already reached the territory of the Poison Quail Stronghold. Since we were able to see a Sword Immortal, there must be other lofty Sword Immortals nearby. If we seize this opportunity, we might yet be able to find a renowned master!”

These words were like a shot of strong medicine for the young man; his eyes lit up slightly.

The Hemp-clad Maiden also gave a faint nod, though she couldn’t shake the feeling that the Sword Immortal who had left moments ago looked somehow familiar.

Above the Poison Quail Stronghold, Lin Yuan hovered in mid-air, listening to the three people’s discussion below. A slight smile touched his lips. This was a place where many unorthodox sects of the southwest gathered. There were plenty of lofty masters, but even more ruthless and wicked Unorthodox Path cultivators.

If the three barged in recklessly, finding a renowned master was unlikely; more probably, they would fall into the hands of those Unorthodox Path fiends.

Lin Yuan’s gaze settled on the old man and the maiden.

While the maiden merely found him familiar, he recognized them at a glance: this maiden and the old man were the father and daughter who had claimed to be visiting relatives at the Demon-Suppressing General Temple that day.

Hiss!

Just then, from a mountain col amidst the towering peaks below, wisps of demonic aura emerged. Lin Yuan focused his gaze and saw a large red-scaled snake slither out from a cave. It instantly transformed into a creature with a human head and a serpent’s body. The beauty of its face was enchantingly seductive, yet its forked tongue flickered in and out as it swallowed and exhaled the spiritual energy of the mountains from the stream, spewing countless crimson poisonous mists.

The plants and stagnant waters in the mountain stream, nourished by the essence of this poisonous breath, did not wither but instead grew even more lush and vibrant!

Many withered bones lay scattered on the ground.

And as fate would have it, the direction the trio was traveling in led straight to the mountain stream where the serpent demon lurked.

Lin Yuan looked at the master and servants, lingering especially on the Hemp-clad Maiden. She did possess some spiritual foundation, but her Fortune seemed poor. Without the support of a noble patron, after enduring trials, she would likely fall into the Unorthodox Paths.

As for the other two, their Fortune also appeared dim. Continuing onward, they would inevitably meet calamity.

“Meeting here again can be considered a certain fate.”

Lin Yuan thought for a moment, then casually took out a pale purple bracelet shimmering with intricate, mysterious patterns from his hand. It was a magical artifact he had crafted while testing his skills in the Primordial World.

This bracelet served no other purpose. When worn on the wrist, if anyone attempted to touch the wearer, it would immediately release a formidable Five Elements Divine Thunder.

Originally, Lin Yuan had intended to forge a defensive artifact, but the result was a bit of a mess.

Yet now, it might save the lives of these three.

Just as the serpent demon was roused, stirring up a black wind to pounce upon the trio, Lin Yuan tossed the violet jade bracelet down. It landed precisely around the Hemp-clad Maiden’s wrist.

As for the rest, Lin Yuan paid no further heed. Since these three were determined to enter the vast mountain ranges of the southwest, they should have prepared for all kinds of dangers. He could not play nursemaid to them; besides, he had other important matters.

Mounted on his escaping light, Lin Yuan flew towards the spiritual peak mentioned by the Blue Beard Daoist.

It was a snow-capped mountain deep within the southwest’s vast ranges. The Blue Beard Daoist called this place Flying Dragon Mountain, and the cave dwelling he had opened there was named Hanyuan Cave.

When Lin Yuan arrived on his escaping light, a handsome child saw him at the cave entrance and hurried inside to report.

Not long after, the Blue Beard Daoist hastily emerged from the cave. He saw Lin Yuan landing right before him.

“Dear nephew, you’ve come! This old man has been waiting for you for quite some time!” The Blue Beard Daoist chuckled warmly, very eager, inviting Lin Yuan into the cave as he spoke. He seemed in high spirits, extremely pleased.

Lin Yuan swept his gaze over the spiritual peak. It stood tall among the mountains, surrounded by rich spiritual energy, shrouded in clouds and mist. The spiritual veins extended, much of the overflowing energy forming clusters of spirit mountains. It was indeed an excellent place to establish oneself.

Yet he merely said, “I’ve troubled Martial Uncle to wait! I was delayed for a moment by some matters on the road.”

“Oh, Nephew, did something happen on your way to my Flying Dragon Mountain?” The Blue Beard Daoist’s eyes flickered slightly.

Lin Yuan shook his head. “I encountered two foolish bandits who tried to ambush me midway. Of course, I killed them.”

Hearing this, the Blue Beard Daoist’s expression instantly changed, shock and anger flashing in his eyes. Lin Yuan was the True Inheritor of the sect he had invited to clarify the Spiritual Vein. If anything happened to Lin Yuan, not only would this opening of the cave be affected, but he would also be held accountable.

“Nephew Lin Yuan, leave this matter to me. I, this elder, want to know who dares to move against a guest I have invited!”

The Blue Beard Daoist’s eyes now held a chill, an imposing authority about him, his imposing aura shifting solidly.

Being able to open a cave alone in a troublesome place like the southwest’s vast dragon mountains, the Blue Beard Daoist held an unusual status within the Chengyuan Immortal Sect. Among the Earth Immortal elders of the Chengyuan Immortal Sect, he was quite an influential figure.

Seeing the Blue Beard Daoist take full responsibility, Lin Yuan felt a twinge of amusement. He always took the words of such old foxes with a grain of salt. Which Earth Immortal within the sects who had climbed to such positions wasn’t a shrewd old soul?

Just then, Lin Yuan’s gaze shifted slightly.

In his perception, over a dozen auras were rapidly approaching Flying Dragon Mountain. Simultaneously, faint sounds of cursing reached his ears.

“Old scoundrel! Heartless man! Come out!”

“Shameless old thing! Hand over the Dao Scripture!”

…

The Blue Beard Daoist’s face changed. Seeing Lin Yuan’s expression, he shook his head and said, “It’s those neighboring Unorthodox Paths causing trouble again. Ever since they discovered I was opening a Spiritual Vein here, these Unorthodox Paths come to cause trouble every so often, trying to seize the cave. They refuse to give up until they see the coffin.”

“Nephew may freely explore the cave, or begin work now if you wish. Allow me to first deal with those Unorthodox Path scoundrels!”

Probably hearing some particularly offensive language, the Blue Beard Daoist’s face turned somewhat purple, his expression dark with resentment.

“Martial Uncle, please attend to your matters. I will personally proceed to the Spiritual Vein shortly.”

Hearing this, Lin Yuan gave a slight nod, inwardly chuckling. Based on his perception, the cultivators approaching were definitely not merely Unorthodox Paths. But since the Blue Beard Daoist did not wish to elaborate, Lin Yuan did not press.

For this journey, he merely wanted to test that Earth Immortal Mystic Art!