Chapter 3

In the wilderness, a place without a specific name, the people of Miyang City have always referred to it as such. This vast and extensive area is where ordinary people seek the necessities of life, and low-level cultivators obtain resources for cultivation.

To find the materials for wood carvings, Grandfather once led Yuan Dian through every corner of this wilderness, even delving into some steep cliffs and hidden rivers, marking several extremely dangerous areas where life-threatening situations might occur. When it came to familiarity with this wilderness, Yuan Dian was no less knowledgeable than the old hunters who lived here year-round. This was his greatest reliance in changing his mind and entering to search for news of King Feng.

Although he knew that entering alone to search for news of King Feng would certainly be dangerous, after all, the two Ninth Stage Condensation Realm guards by King Feng's side were not just for show. The fact that they only spread the news and did not take action indicated that King Feng's predicament was not an accident but a premeditated crisis. However, this crisis could only be resolved by King Feng's mortal strength.

After carefully considering these issues, Yuan Dian did not delve deep into the remote areas of the wilderness like some cultivators, but instead followed the main path through the mountains and forests, paying attention to any clues along the way.

Seeing scattered cultivators and cultivators from Qiyang Sect and Qinwang Sect rushing past, Yuan Dian sighed inwardly, "A fart from above, a thunder from below. A single word from the mortal royal family, and even cultivators are mobilized. Truly, under the lure of great rewards, there will always be brave men. It seems they are all determined to get those one thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

Under the temptation of one thousand low-grade spirit stones, the cultivators in the wilderness were not eyeing each other or fighting among themselves but were all in a hurry, searching for King Feng, or more accurately, the one thousand low-grade spirit stones.

After checking several side paths branching off the main road, Yuan Dian found a few clumps of water deer fur at the sixth side path, about ten zhang ahead. He then changed direction and followed the side path for several li.

Seeing the path disappear and a cliff appear ahead, Yuan Dian frowned. However, when he noticed some water deer fur hanging on a small tree at the cliff, his frown eased, and he thought to himself, "Grandfather once brought me here. I remember there is a hidden river cave in the middle of this cliff. Could King Feng be hiding there?"

This cliff was on the outskirts of the wilderness, not too deep inside. At this time, most cultivators had already entered the depths of the mountains, completely neglecting this area.

Just as Yuan Dian was about to go down to investigate, a noisy shouting and chaotic hoofbeats sounded:

"His Highness King Feng, His Highness King Feng..."

Looking far into the main path of the mountains, he saw squads of Jiaoguo's mortal army, dressed in dark red uniforms, holding spears, and riding horses, rushing into the wilderness. The galloping hooves stirred up a cloud of dust.

"The Jiaoguo royal guard, it seems the Jiaoguo king values this King Feng greatly?"

Seeing the royal guard mobilized, Yuan Dian thought for a moment and abandoned the idea of using his divine sense to explore the cliff. At his early Condensation Realm, his divine sense could only extend about five zhang, and even if he exerted his full strength, it wouldn't reach far.

Then, Yuan Dian used the transformation technique to restore his original appearance, took out a spirit-concealing jade from his storage bag, and hung it around his waist, making himself look completely like a mortal.

Since King Feng had Ninth Stage Condensation Realm cultivators by his side, if they were to rescue him, he would not be in danger. The only explanation was that to save King Feng, only mortal strength could be relied upon, and even the intervention of cultivators would be hindered by some force.

After doing this, Yuan Dian took out some ropes, secured them to a tree at the edge of the cliff, and slowly descended, holding onto the rope.

"Last time Grandfather brought me here, we found three giant-toothed grasses at the entrance of the hidden river cave and sold them for six low-grade spirit stones."

Recalling the last exploration of the cave, Yuan Dian slowly descended, and after about twenty zhang, he saw a dark cave entrance under a protruding rock.

"Is there someone inside?"

When he saw a faint light and a slight heat wave coming from the cave, Yuan Dian was delighted. When he noticed the water deer fur at the cave entrance, a smile appeared on his face.

Standing on a platform at the cave entrance under the rock, Yuan Dian took out his only spirit sword, thought for a moment, and put it away. He then took out a woodcutter's axe and cautiously entered the cave.

After passing through the cave entrance and winding forward for about ten zhang, turning three natural corners, he saw a faint firelight flickering behind a barrier. He felt some tension and worry, thinking that if he encountered someone other than King Feng or some trouble he couldn't handle, it would be a big problem.

After a moment's hesitation, he placed his left hand on his storage bag, tightly gripped the axe with his right hand, took a deep breath, and quickly stepped forward.

"Who is it?"

"Crack, swish."

Two angry shouts accompanied by the sound of drawing swords. In front of Yuan Dian was a faint fire, next to a dead water deer. Behind the fire were two muscular men, covered in blood, holding long knives and nervously watching him. Behind them, a young man in brocade clothing, pale-faced, leaned against the rock wall, his eyes filled with a dull light.

Seeing this person, Yuan Dian was overjoyed, thinking, "Yes, it's King Feng Ji Fengyi. Ha, my one thousand spirit stones are in hand."

Seeing Yuan Dian alone, the muscular man on the left pointed his knife and coldly shouted, "Who are you? How did you find this place?"

"I, a commoner, pay my respects to His Highness King Feng."

"Currently, the entire Jiaoguo has issued a notice stating that His Highness King Feng encountered danger while hunting in the wilderness. Anyone who provides information can receive a reward of one thousand low-grade spirit stones. Many mortals, cultivators, and the royal guard have entered to search, but I was lucky and found this place by following the water deer fur."

Yuan Dian did not want to explain much and spoke directly, indicating the dead water deer next to the fire, as he was more concerned about the one thousand spirit stones.

After listening to Yuan Dian's explanation, the injured guard was about to question him again, but the weak King Feng spoke, "Wang Meng, don't ask more."

"Little brother, is what you said true?"

"His Highness King Feng, I have no reason to lie to you. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to listen at the cave entrance. The outside is full of the royal guard's horsemen, which I cannot hide."

After Yuan Dian finished speaking, the guard named Wang Meng took out a white jade and showed it to Yuan Dian. Seeing no change in the jade, he signaled to the other guard, who then cautiously circled around Yuan Dian and ran to the cave entrance.

"Identifying jade, this guard is quite thoughtful."

In Miyang City, where mortals and cultivators coexist, cultivators can easily identify mortals, but mortals cannot identify cultivators. However, there are various methods to identify cultivators. This white jade, called identifying jade, is not expensive, and most mortals carry one. When they face a cultivator, the jade will glow, warning them to avoid inadvertently offending a cultivator and causing trouble.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, there are many horsemen outside the forest. It seems the protecting cultivators have returned with the news, and the king has sent the royal guard."

"Not long after, the other guard quickly returned, full of joy, and reported to the weak King Feng.

"How about it? His Highness King Feng, I didn't lie to you! The entire wilderness is now full of people searching for you. You should be safe now."

Hearing Yuan Dian's words, King Feng struggled a bit, and Wang Meng quickly helped him up. Looking at Yuan Dian's lively and deep eyes, he softly asked, "Little brother, are you a mortal?"

"Yes! I am just a commoner from the outer city of Miyang, usually entering the mountains to cut wood and search for herbs. When I heard the king's reward for finding you, I put everything aside and came to search for your whereabouts."

"Not only me, but some of my companions also entered here, hoping to get lucky. One thousand low-grade spirit stones, the treasure of immortals, if I get this reward, it would take several lifetimes to spend it all."

While speaking, Yuan Dian's eyes sparkled, showing that he was completely motivated by the one thousand low-grade spirit stones, with no other intentions.

Since seeing the weak King Feng and his remaining two guards, Yuan Dian could determine that this was a royal power struggle. Although he did not know where the cultivator guards were or why King Feng, a mortal, was in this hidden cave, he could deduce that King Feng urgently needed help but was afraid of it, specifically afraid of help from the Mingwang faction.

"Little brother, these two pieces of bright yellow jade. When you go out, give one to my father's royal guard and keep the other to claim the reward at Fengwang Palace."

"Remember, you must give it to my father's royal guard, not to anyone else, no one at all."

King Feng took out two pieces of bright yellow jade with the character 'Feng' engraved on them, struggled to hand them to Yuan Dian, and emphasized the person to whom the jade should be given. Then, he weakly closed his eyes.

Seeing Yuan Dian holding the two pieces of jade, looking somewhat dazed, Wang Meng glared and shouted, "Go quickly! If I find out you have evil intentions, I will exterminate your entire clan."

Hearing these words, although Yuan Dian was extremely uncomfortable, he did not need to care about them while disguised as a mortal. He quickly put away the two pieces of jade, bowed to King Feng, and ran out of the cave.

"Your Highness, can we trust this child?"

Hearing Wang Meng's words, King Feng, with his eyes closed, slowly said, "It's not a matter of trust. We have no choice but to trust him."

"A fart from above, a thunder from below, this is the description of my work environment. There's no way around it, haha. The canyon needs to eat and support a family, so, haha, whether it's a fart or a thunder, the canyon must accept it. Haha, this is reality, this is life. Friends, please support the canyon! This book will not disappoint you."