Chapter 68: Golden Ape Mountain
The mountain terrain within the Desolate Mountains was even more treacherous than Gao Zheng had described.
After leaving Temple City, there was not a single good road to be seen.
The mountain path was rugged, requiring one to cross mountains and ridges, and even climb up and down; even Scaled Horses could not easily ascend.
On such a journey, if it were not for Martial Artists, it would likely take ordinary people who hunt mountains half a month to a month to complete.
Moreover, that would only be possible if they carried no heavy loads.
Su Yan followed the team and traveled like this for another full day, finally arriving at everyone’s destination deep in the Deep Mountain Old Forest.
They reached the end of the mountain path, turned a corner, crossed a low slope, and suddenly felt the view open up before them.
The old forest shrubs were all cleared, trees felled and roots dug up, revealing the uneven ground.
A hundred meters along the mountain path, they saw a stockade wall built of logs and Bluestone.
The stockade wall was about seven or eight meters high, stretching in a straight line, blocking the pass into the Front Mountain.
The great mountain behind the stockade wall was tall and broad; though it did not pierce the clouds, standing alone amid the old forest paths, it resembled a gate-guarding deity, exuding considerable aura.
“That is Golden Ape Mountain.”
Gao Zheng introduced it, as the group arrived outside the stockade city.
Approaching the stockade wall, Su Yan immediately noticed that heavy crossbows were actually mounted atop the high wall.
Hardwood heavy crossbows over a meter long, strung with animal sinew, were arrayed at intervals—about a dozen just on this stockade wall.
‘Such heavy crossbows, even if some First-order Mid-stage or Late-stage Feral Beasts came, would likely not fare well.’
Martial Artists’ abilities lay in opening up territories and venturing deep into other parts of the Desolate Mountains.
But at a pass like this, to defend the city wall, there were naturally other methods, such as these powerful crossbows.
Moreover, aside from these heavy crossbows, the guards likely each had bows and arrows or hand crossbows as well; ordinary Feral Beasts could never threaten this place.
An Inner Disciple came down, coordinated briefly with the guards, and immediately allowed the team to enter.
As the stockade gate opened, looking along the yellow mud road into the stockade, there were rows upon rows of houses.
Hardwood walls, with plank and thatch roofs—similar in style, yet presenting a uniquely bustling scene.
“This is the Lower Stockade, with over a thousand Mountain Villagers, all sustained by our Golden Ape Martial Arts School, responsible for farming the fields around Golden Ape Mountain.”
Two thousand people was no small village; hearing this, Su Yan also showed an extremely surprised expression.
“Senior Brother, this village alone has over a thousand people—then the remaining two villages…”
“Slightly fewer, but still several hundred.”
The Archaic Martial Realm benefited from vast lands and spiritual energy in the environment; though varying in amount, it had a great effect on ordinary plants and crops.
Coupled with deliberate efforts by higher-level Martial Artists, the population base was enormous.
Even so, a martial arts school secretly harboring nearly one or two thousand people was still astonishing.
If Golden Ape Martial Arts School was like this, then Seven Blades Martial Arts School, Little Mountain Association, Hundred Herbs Hall, and so on…
Each controlled large populations—no wonder in Yun Cang Town, it truly was not the court’s sole domain.
Su Yan’s eyes flickered; Yun Cang Town was merely a microcosm—those great sects controlled cities, and many built their own; was it not the same?
Mountain folk hidden away paid no taxes, were taught martial arts, and over years became household servants or retainers.
Led by Gao Zheng and the others to the Upper Stockade halfway up the mountain, Su Yan finally settled in.
Only upon arriving at the Upper Stockade did Su Yan realize that Golden Ape Martial Arts School had even more disciples than he had imagined.
It made sense—twice a year in Yun Cang Town, the assessments recruited many disciples, so the numbers had always been substantial over time.
And these three mountain strongholds in the mountains were all Golden Ape Martial Arts School’s private lands.
Whether training guards or truly accepting them as disciples, the selected individuals were certainly not few.
After a few days like this, Li Jinshan and the others gave no other instructions, only telling the disciples to familiarize themselves with the Golden Ape Village situation.
Su Yan focused solely on cultivation, repeatedly refining the initial skills like Golden Ape Stance Training, Monkey Fist, and others, blending and integrating them with Golden Ape Jade Body Skill and Fierce Ape Three Forms.
These techniques were all from the same source, with interconnected methods and fist principles; under constant honing…
Monkey Fist, Fierce Ape Three Forms, Golden Ape Jade Body Skill, and Golden Ape Stance Training progressed rapidly, all showing significant improvement.
White Bone Poison Centipede, Velvet Fire Scorpion Insect, and Jade Beetle were continuously fed; though inconvenient to summon out, in the Insect Realm Space, they could also devour pills, progressing steadily.
Only the Jade Beetle lagged slightly, as Su Yan’s Insect Realm Space had few warming precious medicines or ores prepared.
“New batch of Inner Disciples, assemble at the Upper Stockade training ground.”
A rough shout echoed through the Upper Stockade.
In the room, Su Yan’s eyes lit up, knowing the arrangements had finally come.
He packed simply and strode out; by then, many people were already waiting at the training ground.
The so-called new batch of Inner Disciples did not refer solely to Su Yan, Dian Jing, and the few who had just joined the Inner Sect.
They were new entrants, but there were even more—Inner Disciples who had just finished their rotation and returned from experiential training outside the mountains.
Some were Inner Disciples selected right from these three Golden Ape Martial Arts School strongholds.
At a glance, the new and veteran Inner Disciples stood distinctly on two sides.
About twenty or thirty new disciples, while the earlier entrants numbered slightly more.
Elder Li Chuan, Li Jinshan, Zhao Tianwen, and a handsome young man in green robes about twenty-something stood beside them.
Everyone stood ready, all looking toward Li Chuan, most showing eager anticipation.
“You’ve seen Golden Ape Village’s industries. Down the mountain is Red Tooth Rice, nourishing the body—long-term consumption rivals fine medicine, half a tael of silver per catty. Up the mountain, Spirit Infused Fruit at three hundred cash per fruit—long-term use strengthens tendons and bones, all treasures of the mountains.”
Li Chuan gestured broadly, saying, “You are all our martial arts school’s own people; some have even become disciples of the School Master or Elders. These things will have your share.”
Li Chuan was a seasoned Jianghu veteran, having seen countless young disciples; a glint of amusement flashed in his eyes.
“No free lunches in this world—sending you into the mountains is for experience and to protect our industries.”
“First, on experience: dispatching you into the mountains is to teach you combat, to dare to fight—patrolling and hunting in the mountains, gathering mountain treasures, all hone the Martial Arts. What you gain is yours to keep; if sold to the martial arts school, you can exchange for hefty pills, weapons, gold and silver… Martial Arts progress also brings rewards.”
Li Chuan spoke bluntly, listing all the benefits, but then shifted tone.
“However, as Inner Disciples, you have duties: rotate guarding five mountain peaks, clear Feral Beasts, protect industries—no slacking or double-dealing allowed. If you’re half-hearted or betraying from within, don’t blame this old man for being ruthless—understood?”
“Understood!”
Everyone straightened; suddenly, Su Yan sensed a gaze fall on him.
“Su Yan, you want to form a team alone—quite confident, eh?”
Li Chuan sneered coldly; Su Yan raised his gaze, immediately realizing this was aimed at him.
“Replying to Elder, from a Mountain Hunting background—used to going solo.”
