Chapter 18: The Mysterious Monster Mountains

The Mist-Chasing Mountains are located in the western region of the Four Veins Continent, stretching vertically from north to south for thousands of miles, and have always been under the control of the Immortal Cloud Sect.
The Mysterious Monster Mountains are merely a branch of the Mist-Chasing Mountains, situated in the northern region and winding northeastward.
Many monstrous beasts inhabit these mountains, but they are all at the Qi Attraction or Foundation Establishment stages. Beasts at the Golden Core stage or above were long ago eliminated by the people of the Immortal Cloud Sect. Thus, the Mysterious Monster Mountains serve as a natural training ground.
In the sky, twenty Cloud-Piercing Boats flew swiftly, carrying twenty teams of disciples from the Immortal Cloud Sect.
These Cloud-Piercing Boats were mid-grade magic artifacts in the shape of small boats, with thirty seats each, designed specifically for carrying people and flying at high speeds. Just one low-grade spirit stone was sufficient to enable them to fly for thousands of miles.
The distance from Cloud-Chasing Peak to the Mysterious Monster Mountains was one million miles, requiring thousands of low-grade spirit stones. To simplify matters, the team leaders simply used mid-grade spirit stones, which only required one stone.
In the cultivation world, spirit stones are highly prized by cultivators and are divided into four grades: low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and top-grade, with an exchange ratio of one thousand to one.
Qu Yi and Bai Man sat side by side, enjoying the magnificent scenery around them, chatting and laughing happily. Although the Cloud-Piercing Boats were extremely fast, the interior was calm without any wind or waves, allowing the disciples to fully appreciate the stunning views.
Below, there were rolling waves, snow-capped peaks, vast forests, and lush greenery. Strong mountain ranges stretched out, with secluded valleys exuding a terrifying sense of tranquility and coldness. The sounds of birds flying and beasts roaring echoed continuously, highlighting the danger within.
As the beautiful scenery passed by in the blink of an eye, the Cloud-Piercing Boat team had arrived at the Mysterious Monster Mountains.
According to the plan, each boat was to fly to different areas of the mountains to train separately. After the other ten boats departed, the boat carrying the Long Yao Peak team did not fly away but instead came alongside the boat of the Cloud-Chasing Peak team.
Kang Feng, the eldest disciple of Huai Qing, had reached the early stage of the Golden Core, and his junior elder, Huai Jin, also had a disciple named Kang Chen who had reached the same stage. Huai Jin owned his own cultivation peak called Dawn Peak.
For this training mission, Huai Jin assigned Kang Chen to lead the team, combining disciples from Wind and Mist Peak and Dawn Peak into one group to train together.
At that moment, Kang Feng stood on the boat, looking straight at Kang Chen with a hint of confusion on his face.
“Junior brother Kang Chen, why haven’t you flown to your training area? Why are you here?” Kang Feng asked calmly.

Although both were at the early stage of the Golden Core cultivation level, Kang Feng practiced wood-based cultivation techniques while Kang Chen practiced water-based ones. Kang Feng had a slightly greater advantage over Kang Chen in terms of time spent in the sect and magical power, so he unhesitantly declared himself the senior brother.

Kang Chen had arched eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding a heroic and bold aura. Coupled with his blue brocade robes, he appeared extremely graceful and elegant.

“Senior Brother Kang Feng, on the way here, I had an idea. In our two teams, there are five people each at the Foundation Establishment stage and ten at the Qi Guidance stage. How about we hold a competition to see who kills more demons and collects more spiritual herbs and precious minerals, thereby determining the winner?” Kang Chen said with a smile.

This was already a challenge.

Kang Feng frowned and stared intently at Kang Chen, already planning in his mind. After a while, he turned to look at Qu Yi and the other fifteen disciples on the boat.

“Younger brothers, as you’ve all heard, Elder Kang Chen wants the disciples from our two peaks to compete against you. Do you accept this challenge?” Kang Feng asked with a smile.

Kang Feng remained calm. Although he was annoyed by Kang Chen’s explicit challenge, he wouldn’t decide unilaterally how the fifteen of them would train. Instead, he politely asked their opinions so that they wouldn’t face any punishment when they returned to the sect.

Qu Yi glanced at the Cloud-Piercing Boat where Kang Chen was, and saw Liu Qingfeng and Mu Qiushui inside. Both of them were smiling at him, and he immediately understood that Kang Chen must have been provoked by them and that they would also try to deal with him during the training.

Want to deal with me? Qu Yi curled the corners of his mouth in a cold smirk.

“Eldest Senior Brother, I accept!” Qu Yi shouted loudly.

Since Liu Qingfeng and Mu Qiushui insisted on targeting him, why should he be afraid? Qu Yi was determined.

Seeing Qu Yi agree, Bai Man immediately shouted, “I accept too!”

After saying that, Bai Man blushed slightly as she looked at Qu Yi, then quickly turned away, her chest heaving with allure.

The other thirteen people, seeing that both Qu Yi and Bai Man had agreed and noticing Kang Feng’s approving expression, none of them hesitated to accept the challenge.

“I accept!” Everyone agreed to the challenge.

Kang Feng nodded with a smile, then turned to Kang Chen and said, “Good, Younger Brother Kang Chen. I agree to your request. But since there’s a competition, there must be a wager. I propose that the losing team give one top-grade magical weapon to the winning team.”

Kang Chen shrugged slightly, slightly surprised by this, and hesitantly glanced at Liu Qingfeng. Seeing Liu Qingfeng wink at him, he immediately smiled and said, “Okay, I agree.”

Magic artifacts are divided into four grades: lower-grade, middle-grade, upper-grade, and top-grade. These artifacts contain certain spells that are activated using true energy during battles. Generally, only those at the early stage of the Golden Core phase can craft lower-grade artifacts, those in the middle stage can make middle-grade ones, and those in the late stage can create upper-grade artifacts.

Kang Feng immediately claimed that the bet involved an upper-grade artifact, which surpassed his own capabilities, so he was naturally surprised.

Originally, Kang Chen came to challenge them, confident that Kang Feng’s team would accept. First, Kang Feng wouldn’t want to appear inferior upon learning about the challenge. Second, Chuiyun Peak was the main peak of the sect, and its disciples were extremely proud; they would surely agree under provocation. However, with the bet involving an upper-grade artifact, Kang Chen became even more determined.

After reaching an agreement, the two Cloud-Piercing Boats descended immediately, arriving at a valley together.

There were fifteen members in each team, totaling thirty people, all of whom landed.

“Very good. From now on, you must train on your own in this area. My brother Kang Chen and I also have our own tasks. Be careful and handle various situations on your own,” Kang Feng declared loudly while floating in the air.

“Yes, senior brother!” The thirty disciples, who already knew the training methods before coming, replied in unison without any objections.

Kang Feng and Kang Chen packed up their Cloud-Piercing Boats and flew away immediately.

The two teams of thirty people scattered right away, each searching for their own targets.

On the Cloud-Piercing Boat, Bai Man had already discussed with Qu Yi that she wanted to stay with him. When Qu Yi saw everyone scatter, he immediately went to Bai Man’s side, summoned the Golden Crown Heron from the air, and the two flew away on it.

Liu Qingfeng and Mu Qiushui were together. Watching the Golden Crown Heron disappear into the sky, a cold look appeared in their eyes. They then took off and chased after it.

……

The Golden Crown Heron flew for hundreds of miles with Qu Yi and Bai Man before landing on a grassy area in a dense forest.

As soon as Bai Man landed, she looked at Qu Yi anxiously and said urgently, “Brother, I saw Liu Qingfeng and Mu Qiushui together. The way they’re looking at you seems like they intend to attack you. What should we do now?”

Although she couldn’t cultivate, Bai Man had sharp eyes. While focusing on Qu Yi, she also secretly observed the expressions of the others.

Qu Yi smiled lightly, looked at Bai Man, and said confidently, “Senior sister, those two—one is in the late stage of the Foundation Establishment phase and the other in the early stage. They seem strong, but they can’t just attack me as they please.”

After three months of magic training, Qu Yi had mastered some powerful spells. There were also some secret techniques in “Five Qi and Three Flowers.” Qu Yi was confident he could handle Mu Qiushui without trouble. As for Liu Qingfeng, if he couldn’t defeat him, he would just run away.

Since obtaining “Five Qi and Three Flowers,” Qu Yi no longer regarded Liu Qingfeng as a target. He might not be able to defeat him now, but soon, he could do as he wished with him.

“But…” Bai Man grew even more anxious. She only knew that Qu Yi was at the early stage of Qi cultivation—no matter what, he couldn’t possibly deal with someone at the later stage of Foundation Establishment.

Qu Yi controlled his aura, and indeed, his cultivation level was only at the early stage of Qi cultivation. It wasn’t surprising that Bai Man was worried.

“Senior sister, trust me. If those two really come looking for trouble, just fly away on the egret. I’ll take care of them,” Qu Yi said casually, raising his hand to interrupt Bai Man.

Bai Man was so anxious that her eyes almost bulged. Suddenly, she noticed the calm expression in Qu Yi’s eyes, and her heart surged—she began to faintly believe that Qu Yi could indeed handle the situation.

In the air, Liu Qingfeng and Mu Qiushui were flying hand in hand. The two had become intimate partners through private cultivation. Although many disciples in Longyaofeng already knew about it, out of concern for Liu Qingfeng’s background, no one said anything. Only the male disciples who used to be infatuated with Mu Qiushui began to avoid her deliberately.

“Qingfeng, where has that kid gone? I can’t find him at all,” Mu Qiushui said unhappily, frowning.

Whenever she thought of Qu Yi’s indifference toward her back then, Mu Qiushui would feel furious, wishing she could devour him. But within the Xianyun Sect, she didn’t have the courage to do so. However, during this sect training, she finally got the chance.

A person at the early stage of Foundation Establishment defeating one at the early stage of Qi cultivation—there was no doubt about it! Mu Qiushui intended to kill Qu Yi and destroy his body.

“Qiushui, don’t worry. We have a whole year in these Misty Demon Mountains. There’s plenty of time. I don’t believe he can hide in one place for a year. We’ll definitely find him,” Liu Qingfeng said lazily, his gaze wandering over Mu Qiushui’s chest, filled with desire.

Seeing Liu Qingfeng’s gaze, Mu Qiushui’s face turned red, her eyes moistening. She lowered her head and said, “Qingfeng, your gaze… it’s so inappropriate.”

“Is that so? It’s not just my gaze that’s inappropriate; my body is too, you know,” Liu Qingfeng said proudly loudly, then wrapped his arms around Mu Qiushui’s slender waist and flew downward swiftly.

At that moment, the two temporarily gave up searching for Qu Yi. Pleasure and joy were what mattered most.