Chapter 58: Situation In The Desolate Mountains
Su Yan asked about the Desolate Mountains, Gao Zheng pondered for a moment, thinking to himself that it was indeed time to give everyone some pointers.
“Actually, the matter of the Desolate Mountains is not mysterious, but it involves many Martial Artists, full of Feral Beasts and Treasure Plants, so ordinary people know little about it.”
Gao Zheng organized his words: “The Desolate Mountains are named with the character for ‘desolate’, but their scope is broader than the Outer Mountain and Inner Mountain combined, with countless Mountain Peaks, many dangerous and treacherous forest areas, and yet it is a place where Spiritual Energy gathers, hence Treasure Plants and Spirit Herbs grow abundantly, and Feral Beasts proliferate endlessly.”
Everyone nodded upon hearing this, Su Yan also knew this point; practicing in the mountains, whether Stance Training or otherwise, clearly felt different.
The difference between the Desolate Mountains and the inner and outer mountains was probably the same.
“The Desolate Mountains have many Feral Beasts, and even in the deepest parts, there are Second-order Feral Beasts equivalent to the True Intent Realm. Each family guards the Mountain Path entrances to the Desolate Mountains, enclosing and managing the mountains. Although there are beneficial aspects, the most crucial point is garrisoning.”
Su Yan’s gaze flickered slightly: “Feral Beasts coming down the mountain?”
Gao Zheng shook his head slightly: “Feral Beast uprisings. If Feral Beasts were allowed to reproduce without restraint, even with the richer Spiritual Energy in the mountains, they would eventually be forced to come down, ravaging the land and disrupting peace in Yun Cang Town and surrounding areas.”
Martial Artists developing the Desolate Mountains and suppressing Feral Beasts was essentially a form of balance, forming an equilibrium.
“Not to mention, if a Second-order Feral Beast goes berserk one day, it would be a catastrophe. Dozens of years ago, a Second-order Rock Bone Python went mad and charged down the mountain, triggering a Beast Tide. If not for the previous generation’s old Shopkeeper of Tian Feng Weapon Shop sacrificing himself in combat, the death toll wouldn’t have been just a few thousand.”
Gao Zheng had only heard the rumors, but even those few thousand likely wiped out countless villages.
“In that Great War, the old Shopkeeper, a Second-order True Intent Realm expert, died, and the court’s Left Commandant and the Lin Family’s Old Ancestor were poisoned, dying of illness at just over a hundred years old.”
The True Intent Realm surpasses the Body Tempering Four Realms, undergoing a complete transformation; without illness or injury, two hundred years of Lifespan is ample.
Dying at a hundred was considered an early death.
“Can’t the True Intent Realm powerhouses of each family exterminate the Second-order Feral Beasts in the depths of the Great Desolate Mountain?”
Dian Jing asked in a hoarse voice. If the Second-order Feral Beasts were exterminated, there would be no Beast Tide Threat, at least not from Second-order Feral Beasts going berserk.
Gao Zheng chuckled: “How could they be exterminated? The Yunling Desolate Mountains stretch eight hundred li, with countless Feral Beasts and exotic species. Even if one Second-order Feral Beast is killed, a Late First Order Feral Beast might consume a Treasure Plant or Spirit Herb and advance to Second-order in one go. How could they be exterminated?”
“Moreover, a Second-order Feral Beast is full of Treasures, key materials for refining Second-order Pills. Whether selling to the county city or to a major Sect like Beast King Sect, it’s a good Business Deal that can be exchanged for Pills.”
Su Yan thought thoughtfully. The Yunling Desolate Mountains were too vast; fully reclaiming them was unrealistic and unnecessary. Regular Hunting and mutual checks and balances were instead the way of survival for the Martial Artists of Yun Cang Town.
“Senior Brother, by your account, are our Golden Ape Martial Arts School’s Industries also these?”
Su Yan asked about the Golden Ape Martial Arts School’s Industries. Gao Zheng said: “We have a bit of each, but not comparable to the Lin Family, Tian Feng Weapon Shop, and Hundred Herbs Hall. Tian Feng Weapon Shop mainly mines and hunts; most Ore in the mountains is mined by them. The Lin Family occupies the most Mountain Peaks; someone in the family was once a Disciple in Beast King Sect, and they have simple methods for Domestication and Raising of low-order Feral Beasts, specializing in Raising Feral Beasts for Selling. Though only very low-order beasts, the prices are extremely high. Hundred Herbs Hall mainly Plants Medicinal Herbs, while other families dabble a little but not much.”
The group chatted idly for a long time, toasting frequently. Gao Zheng kept reminding them: “Our Martial Arts School has several villages with their own fields and timber production, Planting things like Red Tooth Rice and Spirit Infused Fruit and other Treasure Plants. Besides that, it’s Hunting Feral Beasts and Gathering Spirit Herbs. Junior Brother has Herb Gathering skills and will surely shine brightly.”
Hunting Feral Beasts requires teams for safety, and Gathering Spirit Herbs also requires teams, naturally for safety; almost all forces do this.
But Su Yan had other thoughts in mind. He was different from others; setting aside his Herb Gathering skills for now, just his two Insect Tamers were the best helpers.
Moreover, once entering the Desolate Mountains, the number of those majestic Exotic Insects, though fewer than ordinary Feral Beasts, would still be considerable compared to the Inner Mountain and Outer Mountain.
That would be like a Flood Dragon entering the sea.
Su Yan naturally could not team up with others; that was his bottom line.
“Senior Brother, what if one wants to go alone?”
At these words, everyone was stunned. Gao Zheng hesitated and asked: “Junior Brother wants to explore alone?”
Su Yan nodded. Gao Zheng frowned slightly: “Junior Brother, exploring alone isn’t impossible, but you’re only in the Skin Refining Realm; there’s no need to rush. The Yunling Desolate Mountains are dangerous; it’s easy to perish inside. You must proceed with caution. It’s not too late to go alone after breaking through to the Muscle and Bone Realm, or even Blood Moving Realm.”
He paused, then said: “Although Golden Ape Martial Arts School isn’t as big as the Lin Family or Hundred Herbs Hall, the Inner Sect Resources are enough for your Muscle and Bone needs.”
Although Gao Zheng kept advising, Su Yan understood.
Although entering the mountains together, Golden Ape Martial Arts School did not prohibit going out alone; that was enough.
Su Yan smiled and said: “Senior Brother, rest assured, I know my limits.”
Gao Zheng’s gaze flickered as he thought to himself: ‘He wouldn’t have already broken through to the Muscle and Bone Realm, would he?’
After half the wine was gone and cups half empty, Gao Zheng and the others did not dwell further on the issue.
Instead, they talked more about the Yunling Great Desolate Mountain, giving Su Yan a clearer understanding of the Great Desolate Mountain.
By afternoon, the group dispersed, and Su Yan’s Courtyard finally quieted down again.
He extinguished the fire pile and cleared away the cups and dishes.
Su Yan’s gaze flickered as he pondered Gao Zheng’s words.
“In the end, the Profits of each family in the Yunling Desolate Mountains boil down to three types: Land Enclosure, Land Reclamation, and Treasure Lands.”
Land Enclosure: each family claims Mountain Peak areas that are relatively easy to access and garrison as their own Territory.
Taking Golden Ape Martial Arts School as an example, they occupy five Mountain Peaks, planting special crops like Red Tooth Rice on them as economic sources.
The Lin Family’s Raising of low-level Feral Beasts and Tian Feng Weapon Shop’s mines are all self-sustained through Land Enclosure.
Land Reclamation involves constantly exploring unmanned areas of the Great Desolate Mountain, Hunting or searching for Treasures.
Core Disciples of each family use this for Experience; if traveling in teams, they Share Profit to varying degrees.
Finally, Treasure Lands: areas where Spiritual Energy gathers, growing and harboring special Spirit Herbs and Feral Beasts, periodically Sealed, then hunted for massive Resources.
They even use these for Gambling Matches to determine occupation and dominant forces; this is the biggest source of Profit.
Su Yan sorted out the ins and outs and revealed a smile.
“For others, the Yunling Desolate Mountains may be hard to explore alone, but I’m different. The Velvet Fire Scorpion Insect has reached the Mature Stage, the Yin Water Centipede is over halfway to the Mature Stage; in these few days, let it cross into the Mature Stage, then even alone I can explore, as long as I can obtain more Exotic Insects.”
Su Yan’s gaze flickered; more Exotic Insects meant his Combat Power would soar.
Previously, only in the Skin Refining Realm with limited means, but now it was different.
“Rustle rustle rustle”
At this thought, Su Yan summoned the Yin Water Centipede, feeding it Poison Dragon Pills one after another into its mouth, its growth steadily increasing.
