Chapter 48: Troubles Flock In, Granting No Peace

"Brother Wang, have you heard? There is a treasure in Jie County!"
"What?! How could there possibly be a treasure in a place like Jie County?"
"Jie County borders the Green Screen Mountain, how could there be no treasure in the mountains?"
"Exactly, exactly. I heard that old man Chen Ping from Yu County has already gathered his friends and is planning to explore Green Screen Mountain."
"That's not all, everyone! Word from the commandery city is that Elder Zhao Hong of the Purple Mansion Zhao clan has personally stepped out, and he's even brought along two family experts at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage!"
"..."
All sorts of rumors and hearsay spread across Hai Commandery.
Everyone was filled with intense curiosity about what kind of treasure could possibly be hidden in Jie County.
This development was completely unexpected by Lin Zhiyong and Wu Fang.
Their original intention was merely to invite a few experts to exterminate the demon, never imagining it would attract so many cultivators!
Within just a few days, dozens of Qi Condensation cultivators had arrived in Jie County.
In the days that followed, several Foundation Establishment cultivators made their appearance as well.
Chen Ping from Yu County, along with his friends, moved directly into the county yamen upon arrival. According to those with a discerning eye, the people Chen Ping invited were the renowned rogue cultivators of Hai Commandery: Cold Blade Ning Kang and Thunder Hand Lei Zhen.
Shortly after, a sword cultivator wearing a bamboo hat and white robes also arrived in Jie County, recognized by onlookers as the lone swordsman, the White-Robed Jade Sword Gongsun Yulong.
And mere day later, Elder Zhao Hong of the Purple Mansion Zhao clan rushed over with two clan Foundation Establishment experts.
The identities of those two were also recognized as Zhao Jun and Zhao Rui, prominent figures of the younger generation in the Zhao clan.
At this moment, there were as many as seven Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered in Jie County alone.
Lin Zhiyong had never imagined that his tiny Jie County could attract so many Foundation Establishment cultivators. For the past few days, he had been walking on eggshells, terrified of making even the slightest mistake.
Wu Fang also braced himself with twelvefold caution, daily having to answer inquiries from these Foundation Establishment seniors, reminding him—the local tyrant of Jie County—once again of just how difficult life was for a low-level cultivator.
Seeing that even the Zhao clan had arrived, Chen Ping discussed the matter with his two friends, and the three decided to head up the mountain tomorrow to investigate.
Zhao Hong, feeling that there were simply too many people in Jie County right now, also decided that setting out as early as possible was best to avoid complications.
Thus, early the next morning, the common folk of Jie County watched as one Foundation Establishment cultivator after another rose into the air, flying toward Green Screen Mountain.
The rogue Qi Condensation cultivators gathered around Jie County, seeing that the Foundation Establishment experts had finally made their move, hurriedly followed behind, hoping to scavenge some leftovers in their wake.
With so many cultivators charging up the mountain in a mighty torrent, the living creatures in the forest sensed the danger and began hiding everywhere.
White Shang, who was cultivating in its outer cave dwelling, perceived these anomalies. Rather than rashly alarming Jiang Sheng, it decided to go out first to scout the situation.
However, White Shang did not expect that shortly after leaving the cave, it would be spotted.
The ones who targeted White Shang were Chen Ping, Ning Kang, and Lei Zhen.
Based on intelligence obtained from Wu Fang, combined with local descriptions of Green Screen Mountain, they had deduced the approximate location of the Black Fire Serpent. Following the trail all the way, they eventually discovered White Shang's tracks.
"It's a white fox at the early Foundation Establishment stage. Rather strange, to think such a beast exists in these mountains." Ning Kang was clearly very intrigued by White Shang's appearance.
Chen Ping analyzed: "According to the mortals of Jie County, there are two fox immortals in the mountains—one white and one cyan. This white fox immortal they spoke of must be the one right in front of us."
"Fellow Daoist Chen, it seems your judgment was correct. The mountains are full of cyan foxes and red foxes; this white fox clearly doesn't belong here. Could it be related to that treasure?" Lei Zhen grew more and more excited as he spoke.
"That possibility cannot be ruled out. Let's capture this white fox first," Chen Ping declared, and the three of them quietly dispersed to prepare their ambush.
While scouting in the forest, White Shang suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of crisis welling up in its heart.
For such mountain creatures, the premonition of danger was an instinct deeply embedded in their very bones.
Realizing something was wrong, White Shang immediately channeled its demonic power and bolted backward.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
A succession of fireballs smashed down, battering the once lush and verdant mountain forest into a wretched state.
White Shang ran at lightning speed, its demonic power wrapping around its body, carrying it to dodge between incoming fireballs.
Yet suddenly, several spikes of ice rained down from ahead, forcing White Shang to halt its steps and flee in another direction.
Fireballs and ice spikes chased it all the way, leaving White Shang exhausted and scrambling to cope.
And this was only Chen Ping and Ning Kang making their move; Lei Zhen had been keeping watch on the flanks to prevent anyone else from seizing the prey.
"Damn it, why are there suddenly so many human cultivators in the mountains?"
White Shang felt immense anxiety within. Facing these Foundation Establishment cultivators whose realms were higher than its own, White Shang knew it stood no chance of winning.
"Fellow Daoists, I have no grievances or enmities with you from the past or present. Why are you attacking me?"
White Shang attempted to peacefully communicate with Chen Ping and the others who were chasing it.
"We came here naturally not for Fellow Daoist, but for the Black Fire Serpent."
"If Fellow Daoist trusts us, why not stop, and we can have a proper talk."
Chen Ping's shouts did not make White Shang stop; instead, it made the fox run even faster.
Here for the Black Fire Serpent, and stopping for a proper talk?
White Shang was no fool; stopping meant becoming fish meat on someone else's chopping board.
Seeing that White Shang ignored him, Chen Ping became even more convinced that there truly was a treasure here—and perhaps that treasure was currently monopolized by the Black Fire Serpent!
A mountain could only have one overlord; if the Black Fire Serpent allowed the white fox to appear here, then this white fox must surely be a subordinate of the serpent.
"Fellow Daoist Ning, Fellow Daoist Lei, let's strike together and cut off this white fox! It must know the situation regarding the Black Fire Serpent!"
Chen Ping decisively transmitted his voice, and Ning Kang and Lei Zhen cooperated instantly.
Fireballs, ice spikes, and lightning spheres converged from three directions, forming a pincer attack against White Shang.
Feeling the impending danger from behind, White Shang abruptly turned its head, spat out a gust of wind and snow, and accelerated its escape.
The whirlwind of snow was blasted apart by fireballs in less than a moment, followed closely by consecutive ice spikes and lightning spheres that left shocking scars all over the forest.
Meanwhile, Zhao Hong, Zhao Rui, and Zhao Jun, who were searching in another direction, also perceived the fluctuations caused by Chen Ping and the others' attacks.
"Chen Ping and the others have made their move. They must have discovered something—let's go take a look!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Zhao Hong turned and chased in the direction of Chen Ping's group, with Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun following closely behind.
White Shang continuously changed directions within the forest, relying on its familiarity with the terrain to keep Chen Ping and the others from succeeding.
Seeing that these methods were failing to capture White Shang alive, Chen Ping angrily said, "Two fellow Daoists, hold nothing back! If worst comes to worst, we'll just kill this beast and search its soul!"
Ning Kang laughed. "We should have done that from the start!"
With that, Ning Kang summoned a snow-patterned straight blade.
The reputation of Cold Blade Ning Kang came entirely from this superior-grade magical artifact, the Frost Cold Saber.
As Ning Kang channeled his spiritual power, the Frost Cold Saber transformed into a frosty beam of light, darting toward White Shang.
A fatal threat appeared behind its neck; the Frost Cold Saber locked onto White Shang, intending to decapitate it in a single stroke.
Yet, just when White Shang itself felt it couldn't survive this ordeal, with a clanging ring of metal, the Frost Cold Saber brushed past White Shang's neck and flew away.
The smile vanished from Ning Kang's face.
channeling his spiritual power to recall the Frost Cold Saber to his side, Ning Kang glared with extreme anger at Gongsun Yulong, who had suddenly popped out from the opposite side: "Gongsun Yulong, it's you again!"
"Pardon me, my hand slipped. I hope Fellow Daoist Ning won't mind," Gongsun Yulong said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, as a small jade sword revolved smoothly around him.
It was precisely this jade sword that had knocked the Frost Cold Saber away just now, saving White Shang's life.
Seeing Gongsun Yulong appear, both Chen Ping and Lei Zhen raised their guard.
They were well aware that Gongsun Yulong and Ning Kang were not on good terms.
One was known as the Cold Blade and the other as the Jade Sword, seemingly the twin pillars of pride among the younger generation of rogue cultivators in Hai Commandery.
However, since antiquity, there could never be two equal first places. Thus, Gongsun Yulong and Ning Kang had always engaged in both open and covert competition, each striving to outdo the other.
Over the years, their friction had never been pleasant, and running into each other here inevitably stirred up trouble.
"We had our eyes on this demonic beast first, Gongsun Yulong. Are you trying to snatch it from us?" Ning Kang looked at Gongsun Yulong with unkind eyes.
Gongsun Yulong, however, looked completely nonchalant. "Whose beast it is, I don't care. But being able to make you uncomfortable—that makes things much more interesting for me."
"You're courting death!" Ning Kang launched a fierce attack without hesitation, sending the Frost Cold Saber slashing across the sky as a stream of light toward Gongsun Yulong.
Showing no fear whatsoever, Gongsun Yulong channeled his jade sword to meet Ning Kang's blade.
Watching the two human cultivators begin their duel, White Shang desperately hoped to seize the chance to flee back to its cave. But after running a mere two steps, it was filled with despair as it saw three more human cultivators flying toward it from ahead—and the one leading them was even at the late Foundation Establishment stage!
Noticing the arrival of the Zhao clan members, Ning Kang and Gongsun Yulong tacitly ceased their fight.
Though they were bound to determine a victor between themselves, in the presence of the Purple Mansion Zhao clan, these rogue cultivators preferred to huddle together.
"Old man was wondering why it's so lively here—turns out you're all old acquaintances."
Zhao Hong looked cheerfully at the various Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators of Hai Commandery, looking every bit like a benevolent elder.
Yet Chen Ping, Lei Zhen, Ning Kang, and Gongsun Yulong all maintained the utmost vigilance toward this powerful late Foundation Establishment elder of the Purple Mansion Zhao clan.
"To think there's a white fox in these mountains—truly a rarity. Seeing you all fighting over it just now, could it be that the Black Fire Serpent is related to this white fox?" Zhao Hong scrutinized White Shang, his eyes filled with probing intent.
White Shang had never felt such deep despair. Surrounded by seven human Foundation Establishment cultivators, it was given absolutely no path to survival.
Seeing these human cultivators discussing how to carve it up, White Shang hurriedly shouted, "Everyone! The Black Fire Serpent has already been eliminated by Daoist Jiang!"
Daoist Jiang!
The emergence of this name instantly caused everyone present to raise their vigilance to the absolute maximum.
"The Daoist Jiang you speak of—could it be Daoist Jiang Sheng, the one who previously beheaded the River Deity of Purple Mansion?" Zhao Hong asked.
White Shang nodded repeatedly. "Indeed! The Black Fire Serpent has already been exterminated by Daoist Jiang of the Qingxuan View, and there is nothing left in these mountains."
Hearing this, however, Ning Kang sneered coldly, "Trying to fool us with lies? Courting death!"
With that, Ning Kang urged the Frost Cold Saber forward, evidently intending to slaughter White Shang right before everyone's eyes.
White Shang looked on in terror as the Frost Cold Saber slashed toward it with terrifying icy intent. The next moment, however, a streak of flying sword Qi directly knocked the Frost Cold Saber flying.
"This poor Daoist merely wanted a moment of peace and quiet in the mountains. Why must it be so difficult?"