Chapter 7: The Arrival of the Plundering Cultivators

"Strange, according to the time I've been practicing, my talent for the Yi Wood Green Deity Technique is average. It would take at least three to five years of hard work to see any improvement. But why do I feel that my spellcasting today is slightly better than last week? Is it an illusion, or have I really improved?"

Bai Zichen looked at the spirit field in front of him, pondering for a moment. He was awakened by the distant call of the fat Bai, and decided not to think too much about it.

Perhaps I am one of those who find it difficult to understand at the beginning but once I get it, I advance rapidly and become exceptionally skilled.

The fat Bai carried a spade on his shoulder and a large bag full of various small mechanisms on his back, making him look even more bulky.

"Brother Chen, today we're going to set up a trap to catch pheasants behind the cliff. I've brought all the tools. Let me tell you, these pheasants are very tender, and their tail feathers are beautiful. We can have my mother make us shuttlecocks, which will glow when we play with them at night."

By the time he woke up, the fat Bai had already planned out the day's activities.

Bai Zichen nodded slightly. He was young and had low cultivation, so he could only practice the Eternal Spring Technique for no more than an hour each day, otherwise his body couldn't handle it.

After the morning practice, there was nothing much to do until sunset, so it was fine to go relax with the fat Bai.

"Alright, but we can't go too far. Aunt Song told me not to let us leave the Qingfeng Cliff for more than a mile, or we'll be confined for three days."

"I know, we'll just stay behind the cliff. I've already found two suitable places to set up the traps."

The fat Bai was still a bit afraid of his mother, so he obediently agreed, "Last time we let the pheasant escape, but with Brother Chen here this time..."

Boom!

A loud explosion interrupted the fat Bai's chatter. The two of them looked up at the Qingfeng Cliff, where the sound came from.

"What's happening? It's broad daylight and there's no thunder. Could someone's spell experiment have gone wrong and destroyed a building?"

Bai Zichen and Bai Ying looked at each other, about to run home, but Bai Zichen stopped him.

"What's wrong?"

"Something's not right, look over there!"

Bai Zichen's heart tightened. He pointed to a direction where a thick column of black smoke was rising, as if a fire had broken out.

At that moment, a figure appeared in the distance, running down from the cliff. It was Aunt Song, who was usually composed and dignified, but now her silk dress was torn, and one shoulder hung limply.

"Ying'er, Brother Chen, run!" Seeing the two, Aunt Song suddenly stopped, her eyes flashing with determination. She turned around, "Run, go to the main peak, quickly!"

"Mother, what's happening?"

The fat Bai was terrified, dropping everything he was carrying and about to run towards Aunt Song.

"Don't come over here! Didn't you hear me tell you to go to the main peak? Do you want to be confined in the meditation room for three days again!"

Aunt Song didn't even turn around, summoning a red silk and waving it in the wind, which expanded to several feet in size. "Brother Chen, you're sensible, take Ying'er and run!"

"Where do you think you're running? Stay here!"

Three men in black robes, their faces covered, rushed down from the Qingfeng Cliff. The leader looked at the scene and said viciously.

"Surrounded by protective barriers, almost got ambushed by a woman!"

Aunt Song struck her chest forcefully, spitting a mouthful of essence blood onto the red silk. The thin silk wrapped around the three men, making it difficult for them to advance.

"Oh no, they're plundering cultivators!"

Bai Zichen's mind buzzed. He never thought the worst scenario he imagined would actually happen—plundering cultivators had invaded the Bai family's territory. And from the looks of it, it wasn't just a few but a large group. The patrol team hadn't issued any warnings, indicating they had also run into trouble.

After nearly a month of peace, everyone's vigilance had dropped, and they had become somewhat lax.

Several thoughts flashed through Bai Zichen's mind, but his actions were not affected. He flicked his wrist, and two divine travel talismans fell into his hands. He slapped them onto himself and the fat Bai, pulling him and running towards the Hanxiu Peak.

Two first-layer Qi Cultivators staying here would be of no use and might even distract Aunt Song, making her lose focus. The best choice now was to follow the elders' instructions and head to the main peak.

The Hanxiu Peak, with its second-grade medium-quality spirit vein, was where the clan hall, meeting hall, and library were located. It was the heart of the Bai family.

It was also the place where the family's array could be most effectively utilized. To seek a way out, going there was the only option.

The fat Bai, terrified, was in a daze, being dragged by Bai Zichen, running without saying a word, relying on his instincts.

Just as they reached the foot of the Qingfeng Cliff, they heard a roar from above. Turning back, they saw the red silk torn into pieces, falling from the sky. Aunt Song collapsed, a long weapon pinning her to the ground, her blood quickly staining the soil.

"Aunt Song!"

Bai Zichen's heart cried out. This gentle and meticulous elder, who prepared delicious meals for the family every day, managed the household with her husband often away on business, had shown astonishing courage in the face of three plundering cultivators, not retreating a single step, buying precious time for the two of them.

"Aunt Song is a fourth-layer Qi Cultivator. She risked her life, using her essence blood to activate her magical tool, but only managed to delay the three plundering cultivators for a moment, even at the cost of her life. These three must be mid-stage Qi Cultivators, and there might even be a late-stage Qi Cultivator among them."

After a brief moment of grief, Bai Zichen's mind ached, but his thoughts became clearer.

"Even with the divine travel talismans, it will take us the time of a joss stick to reach the Hanxiu Peak. There's a high chance we'll be caught by the plundering cultivators behind us, and who knows if we'll encounter other plundering cultivators on the way. My only advantage is that I know the family's paths better than these outsiders!"

Bai Zichen didn't forget the thick smoke rising from the nearby peak, clearly indicating that there were more than one group of plundering cultivators nearby.

This was a planned and premeditated raid on the Bai family!

Seeing a fork in the stone path ahead, Bai Zichen pulled the fat Bai into the side's artificial rock forest, quickly hiding behind the layers of rocks.

Although the detour would add several miles to their journey, the outsiders were unfamiliar with the rock forest, making it a safer and more hidden route.

"Brother, those two brats ran really fast. Should we chase them and kill them?"

"What can two little brats offer? We should go search the rooms upstairs for valuables first!"

The leader, called Brother, pulled his long spear magical tool out of Aunt Song's body. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "But the elder said to kill as many of these cultivation families as possible. These two brats are yours. They're probably just beginners, so you can catch them and kill them quickly, then we'll meet at the target location!"

"Yes, Brother." The one who asked the question was clearly angry but dared not disobey his senior, so he chased after the direction Bai Zichen and the fat Bai had fled.

"What elder's order? He just wants to keep the loot from the dead for himself! When I return and refine the Hundred Ghost Banner, I'll make you the first to be added to the main banner!"

(End of Chapter)