Chapter 102: Undercurrents In Ancient Forest Mountain
Each family has its own cultivation manuals and stance training. When executed, if not concealed, it’s easy for others to recognize their origins, which is not surprising.
Su Yan had at least killed so many people from the Little Mountain Association and fought them, so he naturally had some understanding of their skills.
Now suddenly seeing people from the Little Mountain Association approaching Ancient Forest Mountain, the implications were self-evident.
He took out a mask to cover his face, changed his aura, and used the aura of the Poison Dragon Golden Body Technique to mask the traces of his Golden Ape True Skill.
“If the Green-scaled Poisonous Flood Dragon True Intent phantom condenses, this vest would be even more authentic.”
After carefully disguising himself, Su Yan put away the larger Red Armored Mad Scorpion, had the White Bone Poison Centipede and Blood Locust lurk on either side, and followed with the Gold-Eating Demon Insect on his body.
Qiongfeng Mountain was not far from Ancient Forest Mountain; they were basically an extension of the same small mountain range.
This was not surprising; without spiritual energy gathering, how could those special Qiongyu jade be nurtured?
However, over the past hundred years, the earth vein had been artificially destroyed, leaving only Ancient Forest Mountain as a treasure land.
He followed all the way and sure enough saw the team cross several passes and enter the territory of Ancient Forest Mountain from the rear.
The previous mountain guarding rights for Ancient Forest Mountain belonged to the Wang Family, and the guards and martial artists patrolling the forest were naturally their people.
However, with the mountain guarding rights dispute approaching, most had gone to manage their industries and gathered in the camp.
At this time, these passes in the back mountain of Ancient Forest Mountain were basically unguarded.
The team suddenly stopped, and Su Yan watched from afar.
Amid the rustling of shrubs, another group of about seventeen or eighteen people suddenly emerged, their faces covered.
“Did you bring the things?”
“Third Gang Leader, Pill Master Hu has refined all the items and brought them.”
The two groups exchanged the items, and Su Yan’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this.
Little Mountain Association Third Gang Leader Lin Tianlang.
This kind of formation did not look like mere disruption; their ambitions were likely significant.
“The location of that thing has been confirmed. Have the brothers at Hundred Herbs Hall secretly plan well and act according to the plan. First let them.”
Lin Tianlang gave low instructions about the plan when suddenly his ears twitched, and he fiercely threw a sharp flying knife into the forest.
Black Wolf True Intent charged forth, almost merging with the flying knife.
Not good!
Su Yan was startled; Lin Tianlang’s perception was so sharp, and his attack so decisive.
He moved his feet and immediately pulled away distance; the True Intent Realm aura had completely locked onto him.
A fierce glint flashed in Lin Tianlang’s eyes as he sneered coldly, “Little thief, how dare you eavesdrop!”
He urged the Black Wolf onward, making the flying knife even sharper, its speed increasing further.
The entire Black Wolf opened its bloodied maw, merging with the flying knife’s blade as one.
Gold-Eating Demon Insect!
Su Yan was about to be bitten, but his expression remained calm as the Gold-Eating Demon Insect on his shoulder flew out.
Needle against wheat awn!
The Gold-Eating Demon Insect’s insect patterns formed an invisible shield several meters wide, blocking the giant Black Wolf with a bang and forcing it back.
A clanging sound rang out as the Gold-Eating Demon Insect collided with the true essence-wrapped flying knife.
The Geng Metal Qi-condensed blade scattered in three parts but steadily held the flying knife, causing it to lose momentum and fall to the ground.
“What?!”
Lin Tianlang let out a cry of surprise and doubt, never expecting his attack to be blocked like this.
His expression immediately turned cold, his eyes sharp as blades.
Not even a True Intent Martial Artist dares to ruin the Little Mountain Association’s big plans.
He moved, true essence threads dispersing around him, and together with the Black Wolf True Intent, pounced over.
Although the Gold-Eating Demon Insect had blocked one attack, it was still somewhat lacking, and he was confident he could take down that strange feral beast.
Run!
Su Yan had already leaped away to escape, with Lin Tianlang chasing madly. Suddenly, a buzzing insect fog rushed out from the forest, disrupting his vision.
For a moment, his movements stuttered, his speed dropping somewhat.
By the time he looked for Su Yan again, he had already disappeared into the shrubs.
Rage surged in his heart as the Black Wolf manifested like a shadowy flame, biting through the blood peaks in front of him.
“Insect taming methods”
His expression turned hesitant: “Even Beast King Sect has no methods to control insect-type feral beasts. A rogue cultivator? But how could a rogue cultivator afford such a divine insect? Who is it”
Human martial arts are based on beast spirits.
Naturally, there are various secret techniques and cultivation manuals revolving around these beast spirits.
Among them, beast driving guardian techniques are a major category.
Taming feral beasts, controlling feral beasts… these are not rare things.
The Mountain-Sitting Dogs tamed by the Little Mountain Association, the Lin Family’s tamed and sold Qilin Horses, and even the hunting falcons and hounds tamed by ordinary mountain hunters all fall under this category.
The key lies not in whether they can be tamed, but to what level they are tamed, to what extent they are controlled, and what kind of feral beasts are tamed.
Clearly, the beasts tamed by Su Yan were extraordinary, which was why Lin Tianlang was surprised and uncertain.
“Third Gang Leader, should we chase?”
The group came forward, wanting to pursue and kill Su Yan, but Lin Tianlang’s face darkened: “No chase, it’s too late. Set up according to the original plan; that person can’t be from Hundred Herbs Hall.”
——
Su Yan ran three or four li in one breath, during which he had the Blood Locust carry him for a stretch, before stopping.
“With the general methods of Heart Ape Stage True Intent Martial Artists, the Gold-Eating Demon Insect can already resist somewhat. If the White Bone Poison Centipede, Red Armored Mad Scorpion, and Blood Locust all attack together, they should be able to match half a True Intent Martial Artist and entangle for a while.”
The two probing clashes with Long Qidao and Lin Tianlang had allowed him to roughly gauge his current foundation.
With insect taming to entangle, he could hold off a True Intent Martial Artist; adding himself would extend the entanglement time even further.
His eyes flickered with confidence: ‘If the White Bone Poison Centipede and Red Armored Mad Scorpion also complete their new metamorphosis, even a True Intent Martial Artist could be taken down.’
He recalled the Blood Locust, fed the Gold-Eating Demon Insect a handful of first-order mid-grade sharp weapon-grade steel sabers to recover somewhat, then pondered tonight’s events.
“Even Lin Tianlang came out; the Little Mountain Association really intends to fight Hundred Herbs Hall to the end. Where does their confidence come from?”
Should he tell Hundred Herbs Hall?
The thought arose in Su Yan’s mind; undoubtedly, Hundred Herbs Hall was unaware of the Little Mountain Association’s plot and was likely to suffer.
But he had no relation to Hundred Herbs Hall. With Song Qi injured, he couldn’t come to Ancient Forest Mountain, and Xu Zhongdao, the steward in charge of medicine refining and alchemy, naturally wouldn’t lead a team.
With those two absent, Su Yan had no more concerns.
“Hundred Herbs Hall is on good terms with the martial arts school, but even Master himself doesn’t want to get involved. This ambush would be dangerous and not worth exposing myself, though I can keep watching…”
Su Yan returned to Grindstone Mountain; the next day at dawn was the Ancient Forest Mountain mountain guarding rights dispute.
With all families gathered, even tailing would be hard to approach.
So upon returning, he directly ordered Jiao Yang Sou and the others to closely monitor changes in Ancient Forest Mountain.
Though Jiao Yang Sou and the others were surprised by the change in orders, they weren’t overly curious and similarly deployed people to do it.
In Grindstone Stockade, Su Yan continuously fed the Beast Essence Pills he had refined that day to the White Bone Poison Centipede and Red Armored Mad Scorpion.
He himself continuously consumed Five Aggregates Pills and True Essence Pills, circulating Golden Ape True Skill and Poison Dragon Golden Body Technique to temper his foundation.
In this way, three or four days passed; Ancient Forest Mountain hunting had been going on for three days.
“Lord, no special discoveries at Ancient Forest Mountain for now. Each family has dispatched disciples to compete as in previous years.”
“Little Mountain Association and Seven Blades Martial Arts School did not enter as agreed and did not send anyone to assist.”
“Golden Ape Martial Arts School, having obtained the five-year mountain guarding rights for Miasma Valley, does not wish to draw more ire and did not send anyone to participate in the Ancient Forest Mountain mountain guarding rights dispute.”
Cai Peng reported the surveillance situation to Su Yan, who sat like a great horse golden saber on the stockade leader’s large armchair.
On either side of Su Yan were his two insect tamers, the White Bone Poison Centipede and Red Armored Mad Scorpion.
The White Bone Poison Centipede was about a meter long, with hideous bony structure, pale and cold, like a living spine coiled beside the chair, emanating a sinister aura.
The Red Armored Mad Scorpion was over three meters long, as tall as a person, with iron-like red carapace, thick claws like blades, coiled on the ground, occasionally shaking its tail hook, faintly showing a reddish hot qi, like a subduing tiger beast.
The two insects’ auras were even stronger; Cai Peng felt his hair stand on end, sensing that either one could hunt him down.
He was nervous in his heart and carefully looked at Su Yan.
Su Yan frowned slightly: “Three days passed with truly nothing special?”
He had personally seen the Little Mountain Association ‘loudly plotting’; under such circumstances, if nothing happened, that would be suspicious.
Cai Peng showed a surprised expression, racking his brains before hesitantly saying: “Indeed everything is as usual. If anything, it’s that Hundred Herbs Hall is pushing too hard.”
Su Yan slightly raised his gaze: “Speak.”
Cai Peng replied: “Hundred Herbs Hall was personally led by Head Shopkeeper Zhang Tianhong, along with the guard team captain, the second steward of the medicine room, and Zhang Tianhong’s direct disciple Meng Wensong—fully three Spirit Nurturing Realm entering. Compared to other forces, they indeed attached more importance.”
Hundred Herbs Hall had placed heavy bets, sending many mid-level disciples.
In this situation, any mishap would mean not just losses, but weakness for the coming years.
In the next few years, every family would have rising stars, leaving only Hundred Herbs Hall without; how would they compete then?
Could they have the shopkeeper step in for everything?
With this back-and-forth pulling, Hundred Herbs Hall would surely suffer.
So it could only be said that Hundred Herbs Hall was gambling.
Gambling that this heavy bet would not result in great losses and would successfully secure the mountain guarding rights.
“Hundred Herbs Hall”
Hundred Herbs Hall overly valued Ancient Forest Mountain’s mountain guarding rights, which Su Yan knew, but this alone clearly wasn’t the Little Mountain Association’s plot.
“Keep watching.”
“Yes.”
Cai Peng nodded and continued: “Lord, there’s some progress on the second-order feral beast blood marrow.”
“Hm?”
Su Yan stared at Cai Peng; the black iron mask made Cai Peng shudder.
He hurriedly said: “Latest news: Red-Striped Leopard Du Erniang once invited Wang Tiangong and Lin Xiao to kill an early second-order feral beast, said to be for medicine refining and alchemy. But only three months have passed; if preserved well, there might be some left.”
The stronger the feral beast, the more demonic essence fills its body, making it harder to corrupt than ordinary flesh and blood.
If preserved properly, it would last even longer.
“Hm, I understand.”
Su Yan nodded slightly and waved Cai Peng out.
He pondered inwardly: “All three are True Intent Martial Artists. Though bandit types don’t have foundations as solid as those from major powers, surviving among bandits means they have tricks. To snatch food from their tiger mouths, I need to be more cautious.”
His gaze swept over his White Bone Poison Centipede and Red Armored Mad Scorpion, dividing the last bottle of Beast Essence Pills between them.
The two immediately lifted their heads from coiled rest, swallowing the Beast Essence Pills. As the medicinal potency dispersed, their auras soon thickened further.
【White Bone Poison Centipede 21/400（Mature Stage）】
【Red Armored Mad Scorpion 34/400（Mature Stage）】
After days of Beast Essence Pill feeding, along with massive supplies of feral beast blood and flesh and Blood-Strengthening Pills, the two had crossed the growth stage threshold within days, becoming mature stage insect tamers.
This was also Su Yan’s current confidence.
In this way, four days passed; Ancient Forest Mountain remained as before, with disciples from various forces exiting the Ancient Forest Mountain entrance one after another, each with varying appearances.
Almost everyone had brought out quite a few feral beast materials and spirit herbs.
Many bore wounds, looking exhausted.
Ancient Forest Mountain was not like Miasma Valley, where fights stopped midway.
These people had been in Ancient Forest Mountain for a full seven days, fighting the mountain’s feral beasts and martial artists for seven days.
They had thought the competition, though present, would not be too intense without the domineering Little Mountain Association.
Unexpectedly, Hundred Herbs Hall went mad, constantly snatching spirit herbs and prey, trading injuries for victories at any cost.
If not for holding back from killing, they would think it was the Little Mountain Association possessing them.
“Zhang Tianhong, you really spared no expense.”
With the harvest comparison ended, Zhao Pan announced that Ancient Forest Mountain’s mountain guarding rights for the next five years belonged to Hundred Herbs Hall.
Dust settled, but Wang Family leader Wang Qian’s gaze toward Zhang Tianhong was not pleasant.
He smiled insincerely, eyeing coldly; if Hundred Herbs Hall hadn’t spared no expense, Ancient Forest Mountain should still be the Wang Family’s.
“Brother Wang, my apologies this time. For the Wang Family’s business dealings with Hundred Herbs Hall, Hundred Herbs Hall will compensate further.”
Zhang Tianhong cupped his fists slightly, his expression calm, eyes slightly sunken, white beard twitching, showing no joy.
Hundred Herbs Hall had won the mountain guarding rights, but of the three Spirit Nurturing Realm who entered, one died and two were injured, with over half the remaining disciples lost.
With such losses, how could Hundred Herbs Hall be happy?
“Brother Zhang, be extra careful.”
Pang Jian glanced at Zhang Tianhong, then at the wounded disciples behind him.
He knew they had fought desperately inside, hunting feral beasts, to achieve such harvests.
Pang Jian knew this was pressure from the Little Mountain Association on Hundred Herbs Hall.
If not for Tian Feng Weapon Shop having its own mine as a foundation, they would also be anxious.
Zhang Tianhong nodded: “Thanks, Brother Pang.”
Yun Cang Town’s city guards left first under Zhao Pan’s lead, followed by the other families one after another. The Wang Family had some handover but not much, and finally left the camp.
Only then did Zhang Tianhong sigh: “Xiao Hua, transfer the disciples originally from Miasma Valley here and redevelop this place.”
“Yes, Head Shopkeeper.”
Medicine room Second Steward Xiao Hua had a bloody arm, bandaged with cloth to stop bleeding. After taking a pill, his injury improved slightly, but his face was still pale.
Zhang Tianhong then said to disciple Meng Wensong: “Wensong, temporarily manage the medicine room guards. When Song Qi recovers, hand over. You are injured, don’t overexert; I’ll have Second Shopkeeper come tomorrow to search the mountain for you.”
“Yes, Master.”
After Zhang Tianhong made arrangements, the next day Hundred Herbs Hall people moved into Ancient Forest Mountain in succession.
Numerous guards and apprentice martial artists entered the mountain to search, creating a huge commotion; birds flew from the forest, beasts roared, like a scene of chaos.
Outside Ancient Forest Mountain, atop a high slope’s giant tree, Jiao Yang Sou brothers each occupied a large branch, two jugs of good wine at their waists, closely watching Ancient Forest Mountain’s movements.
“Big Brother, why did that person have us watch Ancient Forest Mountain? The Little Mountain Association didn’t make trouble.”
“Don’t know.”
Yang Kun kept his gaze fixed on Ancient Forest Mountain, not turning his head, and said gravely: “That person is mysterious and must know certain information. Our lifelines are in his hands; just obey orders.”
A fierce glint flashed in Yang Lun’s eyes as he suddenly asked: “Big Brother, are you really content? My five viscera and lungs have insect eggs; I wake up startled even in sleep, the feeling of life hanging by a thread is too unbearable. Bro, let’s just find a way…”
“A way? Do you have a way?”
Yang Kun cut off his brother’s words, a fierce glint in his eyes: “Do you think that person is just Spirit Nurturing Realm cultivation? Or who is behind him?”
Yang Lun was speechless, his face collapsing in dejection.
“From that person’s demeanor, he’s not old. To reach Spirit Nurturing Realm at such an age and raise four insect beasts—even Beast King Sect would call him a genius. What value do we have for him to value us so? We’re just bug food collectors.”
Yang Kun’s eyes flickered slightly: “We can’t break free; even finding True Intent Realm would hardly deal with the insect eggs. Better to obey, obey even more.”
Yang Lun showed surprise: “But what if we become… useless.”
“Then don’t wait until we’re useless; work hard to show our value.”
Yang Kun said darkly: “That person shares alchemy products with us; though it’s carrot and stick, he’s not ruthlessly vicious. He uses people; we can risk our lives. If we follow rules, without True Intent visualization diagrams or foundation, breaking through to True Intent Realm before death would be great luck. Better to risk for wealth.”
He was certain Su Yan was from a major power; otherwise, he couldn’t have such abilities.
The Jiao Yang Sou brothers could build Grindstone Stockade as a special mountain bandit force.
Naturally, they had some skills; assessing situations was their forte.
Yang Lun was silent for a while before suddenly saying: “I heard there’s a second-order mid-grade pill called True Intent Pill. True Intent enters the pill, tempers spirit, comprehends beast spirit, and may help break through to True Intent Realm. That person’s alchemy skill is so strong; if we gather pill materials and formula…”
“Roar!”
At that moment, a heaven-shaking tiger roar came from Ancient Forest Mountain, with a majestic aura.
The two brothers’ faces changed abruptly: “Second-order feral beast—how could there be a second-order feral beast in Ancient Forest Mountain?!”
