Chapter 89

(Third update, Ten Steps guarantees it will get even more exciting, please give recommendations and new readers, please follow.)

Xuejia Mountain is vast, with a broad base. This area alone has already gathered dozens of people, and one can imagine how many martial artists have come to the foot of Xuejia Mountain.

Those who have managed to break through the layers of demon attacks and reach the foot of the mountain are mostly not weak. At least from Su Qignian's perspective, many have firm muscles and skin, indicating that their foundation-building cultivation has reached a very deep level. A few are even beyond his comprehension, clearly having successfully built their foundation and opened their dantian, possessing internal martial arts qi, making them martial arts experts.

There was no sign of the chi dragon carriage!

Su Qignian's gaze swept over the area. His mental energy focused in his eyes, piercing through layers of demon fog, allowing him to see far into the distance.

Hmm?

At that moment, at the foot of Xuejia Mountain, some people's gazes flickered, and they sensed something. They looked into the void and let out a light exclamation, surprised to see a young man who looked only about fifteen or sixteen years old.

Not good!

At this moment, Su Qignian also noticed something amiss. Those gazes seemed to pierce through the void, some without hostility, but others were extremely sharp, carrying a heavy sense of authority.

He quickly retracted his gaze and took a deep breath. He had been a bit careless, and this moment of alertness made him realize that the smooth sailing of recent days had made him somewhat complacent, subconsciously underestimating the world.

"However, the foot of Xuejia Mountain is now truly filled with strong individuals. Those who can detect the interruption of my mental energy are likely to be second-rate experts who have gathered dragon and tiger energy, forming dragon and tiger golden pills."

Su Qignian pondered. If not for his mental martial arts, only those who had reached the second-rate realm could initially enter the mental domain.

Not far from Su Qignian, the middle-aged knife fighter in a gray robe showed a thoughtful expression as he watched Su Qignian's back.

"Captain, there is no sign of the Han Yang Princess!"

"There is no sign at the other end of the mountain foot either. Deputy Captain Ling's group also found nothing, but some people saw the princess's chi dragon carriage. However, it was too fast to catch up!"

"We can confirm that the princess's chi dragon carriage has not yet reached the foot of Xuejia Mountain."

At this moment, cavalry were constantly moving back and forth. At the foot of Xuejia Mountain, in addition to a large number of martial artists, there were thousands of local troops, all led by military officers of the seventh rank or higher, stationed at the foot of the mountain to rest and recover from injuries.

Indeed!

A hundred feet away, Su Qignian's ears twitched, and he caught some sounds. He was somewhat hesitant but quickly calmed down. No matter what, if Hong Qi's spirit world is truly on Xuejia Mountain, the chi dragon carriage will definitely appear here.

The reason is that he believes.

"Death Sword Immortal! Even Huashan has sent people!"

At this moment, there was some commotion. Some martial artists whispered to each other. Su Qignian looked up and saw a group of over ten people appearing at the foot of the mountain, like stars surrounding the moon.

Huashan Sect!

Especially the leading middle-aged man, dressed in a scholar's green robe with a short beard, was none other than the Huashan elder Gu Xuantong, who was present at the Tianmen Pavilion on Wudang's Lion Peak that day.

At this moment, this Huashan elder, listed on the Hanyuan Chart, had a gentle gaze and frequently nodded in greeting to the martial artists who saluted him from all directions. The name "Death Sword Immortal" made many people look at him with admiration. Even some third-rate and second-rate sect members who had arrived earlier came forward to greet him, showing their closeness.

"We should also go forward and pay our respects. We cannot be impolite."

Beside Su Qignian, some independent martial artists hesitated but still mustered the courage to step forward.

This is the way of the martial world, emphasizing etiquette and respecting seniority. A Huashan elder of the Xuan generation is a highly respected figure in the entire martial world, on par with the leaders of many first-rate sects.

In fact, as a renowned figure on the Hanyuan Chart and an elder of a top-tier sect like Huashan, his status in the martial world is no less than that of the leaders of ordinary first-rate sects.

"Young man, aren't you going? Mixing in and getting to know people can be beneficial for your future travels in the martial world. When you become somewhat famous, it can be considered a good connection."

At some point, the middle-aged knife fighter had walked over.

Su Qignian shook his head and said, "A good connection is impossible. It's better not to meet in the future."

"Oh?" The middle-aged knife fighter's eyes flickered with curiosity. "You're so young, did you have a conflict with Huashan?"

Su Qignian shook his head and said nothing. Regardless of right or wrong, he did not have the habit of gossiping behind people's backs.

The middle-aged knife fighter, somewhat disappointed, touched his nose and muttered, "This is truly a gathering of the elite. The imperial troops, the major sects within Shiyan Prefecture, and even some first-rate and top-tier sects from other regions have sent their experts. Within Shiyan Prefecture, there are top-tier sects and families like Bile Sword Sect, Bagua Sect, Sizang Dao, Tianshu Valley, Jiujiquan Ming Family, and second-rate sects and families like Luoxia Sect, Siji Pavilion, Dianjia, and Tianyun Fort. The number of third-rate and fourth-rate small sects and families is countless, all seeking opportunities and blessings. How many people will inherit the unparalleled palm technique of a generation of geniuses?"

His tone was somewhat sarcastic. Su Qignian glanced at him, wanting to ask why he was here, but ultimately did not say anything because someone was staring at him.

"Su Qignian!"

This was a Huashan disciple, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a somewhat youthful appearance. However, as a disciple of a major sect, he had developed a certain distinguished aura. His voice, sharp and clear, immediately drew the attention of many people.

Is it him?

Some people looked at the middle-aged knife fighter but quickly had to turn away because the middle-aged knife fighter innocently shook his head and stepped back a few steps, leaving Su Qignian standing out like a crane among chickens.

"Su Qignian? The name seems familiar. Ah, wait, I just received news that there is a Wudang Outer Academy disciple named Su Qignian who destroyed several burial pits and saved many lives of fellow martial artists."

"Really that young? A teenager, can he really fight the demon soldiers guarding the burial pits? This news seems unreliable. I heard he has a senior brother, and I think he probably just accompanied him for training and got a bit of credit."

"Just a bit of credit? These days, one shouldn't underestimate young people. The news seems true, but at this age..."

Some martial artists whispered to each other, especially those from sects and families, whose gazes were uncertain, clearly having received some information. Even as a Wudang Outer Academy disciple, his youth made them skeptical.

"You all are mistaken. This person is not a Wudang disciple! Huashan Chaoyang Peak disciple Lin Ming greets all the senior martial artists and fellow martial artists."

The young Huashan disciple spoke again, bowing to all directions, unafraid and composed, earning nods from some senior figures nearby. As a disciple of a top-tier sect, his vision and experience were extraordinary, while many others looked at him with suspicion, their gazes converging, making Lin Ming's eyes even brighter. He raised his voice and said, "This person is merely a probationary death row inmate in Wudang's Xiaoyao Valley, not yet at the foundation-building stage. He has only fortuitously obtained a bit of the Wudang Qingyang Peak lineage's inheritance and considers himself a peak disciple. The burial pits are guarded by demon soldiers, none of whom are newly initiated third-rate experts. Think about it, with his foundation-building cultivation, how could he subdue the demon soldiers and save everyone? Even his senior brother, whom we visited at Wudang a few days ago, only had the fifth level of the 'Turtle Snake Technique' in the Outer Academy. Now, I think you all can see the truth. Rumors are unreliable; what you see is real, and what you hear is false."

Wudang Xiaoyao Valley, probationary death row inmate!

At this moment, the gazes of some martial artists became uncertain. They knew about places like Wudang Xiaoyao Valley, which were related to the Han Emperor and the imperial court. These were places where officials' families, who had committed serious crimes and were implicated, were sent to serve their sentences in major state-protecting sects, seeking a chance at survival.

Of course, the world praised the Han Emperor's benevolence, but the truth and the reasons behind it were known only to a few senior figures, who glanced at the distant local troops and remained silent.

"The Qingyang Peak lineage, I seem to have some memory of it."

"It's been too long. This lineage has been extinct for hundreds of years, hasn't it? Could it be the Great Yuan True Person, who, during the world's spirit discussion on Huashan, cut through the Siguoyan Cliff and fought the head of the Desire Demon Sect to the death in the tenth level of lightning, ultimately defeating him?"

An executive from Siji Pavilion spoke, clearly well-versed in martial history, revealing this long-forgotten story from five hundred years ago, which immediately shook the hearts of many martial artists.

"Wait, what is that young man doing?"

Someone noticed Su Qignian's unusual behavior. The young man remained unperturbed, ignoring the gazes of the crowd. He lifted his right foot and lightly drew a line in the soil in front of him. Then, with one hand behind his back, he extended the other hand toward the Huashan sect and said calmly, "A line, I'll let you use one hand. If you can make me take half a step back, you don't need to wait half a year; consider Huashan's young Lin a winner." (Third update, Ten Steps guarantees it will get even more exciting, please give recommendations and new readers, please follow.)