Chapter 23

Lingming Prefecture is located in the eastern part of the Northern Wilderness, with its mountains and hills stretching endlessly. It is home to many fierce tribes and notorious bandits.

Lianyun Mountain Stronghold is situated to the north of Lingming Prefecture, dominating a county and influencing several others. The region under its control is rich in talented people and diverse in ethnic groups.

Qinglong Mountain is located to the south of the Qinghe County, which is under the control of Lianyun Mountain Stronghold, separated by thousands of miles. The towering mountains block the main traffic routes, and the area borders the Ice Palace, leading to chaotic law enforcement and a tripartite no-man's land.

At this moment, Jun Wuming still wore his black cloud robe, his long hair cascading over his shoulders, and his wide sleeves fluttering. In his hand, a black longsword gleamed with a faint light.

He set off lightly, the sky filled with white clouds, and the surrounding mountains and waters stretching endlessly. His heart felt open and refreshed, walking on this vast land, leaving footprints on the yellow earth, letting the wind and the earth rub against each other, witnessing the path he had taken, which was not a bad form of cultivation.

Unconsciously, he took the Cloud Water Step, his feet moving like flowing clouds and water, his clothes fluttering, as if in a dream or an illusion, like dew or lightning, transforming into a black shadow that darted through the forest without a sound, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth, a hint of joy appearing in his eyes.

Each step he took was perfectly controlled, like a natural stream, as gentle as a spring rain. Each step was neither too long nor too short, neither too fast nor too slow, as if measured with a ruler, precise to the extreme.

The Cloud Water Step had finally reached a new level! It now matched his cultivation! Jun Wuming sighed inwardly, not without a bitter smile. This step was agile but lacked endurance, making it unsuitable for long journeys!

This was already the second day since Jun Wuming set out. After receiving the jade token from the beautiful woman, he did not delay, preparing and setting off immediately, traveling day and night.

Qinglong Mountain was still thousands of miles away, and at Jun Wuming's current pace, it would take several more days to reach.

The route Jun Wuming chose was through lush green fields and forests. This was a deliberate choice, as being closer to nature helped him better understand the Dao of nature, which was more beneficial for cultivation.

Jun Wuming was skilled in the Dao of soft water, so this journey was destined to be accompanied by water.

Following the stream in the forest, he traveled upstream, crossing mountains and rivers, and riding the wind and water. Not only did his water Dao improve, but he also gained a deeper understanding of the power of wind.

Man follows heaven, heaven follows earth, and the Dao follows nature!

With a sense of reflection, his feet did not stop, enveloped in a clear breeze, he transformed into a shadow darting through the forest.

During the day, he could only use the Cloud Water Step to travel, as there were many fierce beasts in Lingming Prefecture, which usually hunted during the day. If he rode the wind, he would likely be attacked by the beasts. More dangerously, some bandit cultivators were hidden in the forests, and flying in the sky would make him a natural target.

Although Lianyun Mountain Stronghold controlled a vast area of over a million miles, it could only fully control the towns and cities within this region. The wild and fierce rogue cultivators were not completely suppressed.

These rogue cultivators, though not necessarily of high cultivation, were skilled in setting ambushes, traps, and combat techniques, making them a headache for the surrounding powers. Despite multiple attempts to capture them, the major forces eventually let them be.

Rustling!

A gentle breeze blew, revealing Jun Wuming's slightly lean figure.

The stream flowed gently, the water was clear, and the flowers and grass were everywhere, the fragrance of early summer brought a sense of comfort. Hearing the sound of the flowing water, Jun Wuming couldn't help but smile.

Such scenery could only be seen in the ancient wilderness world. Although it lacked the prosperity of the technological world, this primitive landscape had a unique charm, making one forget their worries.

Sitting by the stream, a cool breeze blew, bringing the warmth of early summer. The little black snake in his abdomen gently poked its head out, looked around, and saw Jun Wuming meditating. It then gently swayed its tail, leaving its warm nest, and played in the stream.

Suddenly, the snake's eyes flickered, and it coiled its head, hissing softly. Jun Wuming's eyebrows furrowed, and he stomped his foot hard. "Bang!" A large green stone was instantly shattered by a powerful force, flying in all directions. His figure rose into the air, spinning, and with a "clang," his longsword was drawn, the sword energy roaring like a dragon, the black sword shadow flashing.

The sword energy was as cold as a waterfall, cutting through the air, and the grass was scattered in the sky.

"Bang!"

A six-yang head suddenly flew out, blood splattering everywhere.

Jun Wuming's face was cold, and he turned his hand, releasing a cold palm force to block the attack from behind. A tall, thin middle-aged man in bright yellow clothes had just launched a surprise attack, and Jun Wuming's cold palm force perfectly blocked the man's attack.

"Boom!" The clash of their palms disrupted the air, causing the surrounding grass to rustle and fall.

"Second-stage cultivator?" Seeing the black-clothed youth's powerful palm force, the tall, thin middle-aged man's brows furrowed, his eyes flashing with surprise! They had seen Jun Wuming's youthful and innocent appearance and thought they could easily take advantage, but they had met a tough opponent!

"Damn!"

His eyes narrowed, and the tall, thin middle-aged man shouted loudly.

"Third brother, why aren't you attacking? Are you ready to die?!"

"He can't attack; he's already dead! Just give up your life!"

Jun Wuming's face was cold. This was not the first time he had been ambushed. Since leaving the stronghold, his journey had not been peaceful. First, he was chased by fierce birds for hundreds of miles while riding the wind.

He was disheveled and full of anger!

In the evening, he was robbed by a group of bandits who demanded a toll. He gave them a good beating, but unexpectedly, there were several cultivators among the bandits who launched a surprise attack. Fortunately, he was cautious and only suffered minor injuries.

With the help of the Extreme Yin Black Snake, he fiercely fought back and eliminated all the bandit cultivators.

He had just wanted to rest for a moment, but the little black snake warned him of three suspicious figures approaching from behind. So, Jun Wuming took the initiative and eliminated one of them.

"Do you want to kill yourself, or should I send you to the afterlife?"

The tall, thin middle-aged man felt a chill. They had been a group for several years, rarely acting rashly, knowing their limits. They only attacked the weak and the sick. This time, they thought the young man was weak and inexperienced, but he turned out to be a tough opponent. His attacks were ruthless, and the power in his hands was like a deep sea, cold and bone-chilling. When it hit his right arm, it felt numb and cold, and his magical power was sluggish, clearly indicating that the young man was far stronger than him.

"Please spare my life, young master, please spare my life! We three are forced to rob here, not by choice. Please spare my life, and I will serve you as a slave to repay your kindness!"

Seeing the situation, the tall, thin middle-aged man's face changed, and he begged for mercy. The young man's face was cold, and his black longsword dripped with blood, his killing intent overwhelming. He needed to think of a way to escape. Various thoughts flashed through his mind, but he kept shouting for mercy.

"Why should I spare you? A useless person has no right to live!"

His expression unchanged, the tall, thin middle-aged man had committed many crimes in the forest and could not be spared. His face was cunning, his words smooth, and his eyes filled with deep resentment, clearly hating the young man. Such a person deserved to die.

Moreover, this bandit had forcibly broken through to the first stage of the second realm, with no obvious aura, making it difficult to advance. He had no potential for cultivation and was only a menace.

Seeing the young man's killing intent grow, the tall, thin middle-aged man's legs turned weak, his face pale, and he hurriedly said, "Young master, please spare my life, please spare my life! My ancestors were from a great clan, and one of them was a powerful figure who left behind a treasure map. If you spare me, I will give you the map!"

The young man's expression changed. A powerful figure! Each one was not simple, and the treasures they left behind were invaluable.

"Ah, so you have some use."

Seeing the young man's expression change, the tall, thin middle-aged man wiped the sweat from his face, looking at the black-clothed youth with a fawning smile.

Unexpectedly, before he could finish wiping the sweat, his face suddenly stiffened, turning black. In a breath, he turned into a pool of black water, leaving only his bright yellow clothes behind.

Jun Wuming sneered. The bandit had been begging for mercy with his mouth, but his hand had been lingering at his waist, his earth elemental power secretly flowing. He thought Jun Wuming didn't notice, but Jun Wuming had secretly used his divine water power to transform it into a cloud, spreading the highly toxic power in the air. The middle-aged man had unknowingly been poisoned and died without knowing how.

Jun Wuming released a bit of power, washing the blood off the sword, and sheathed it without a sound.

He summoned the little black snake from the withered grass, its black scales gleaming. It rubbed against the young man's face, its ruby eyes looking at him playfully, its tongue flicking.

Jun Wuming smiled silently. The little snake was very intelligent and had learned to seek rewards. He gently patted the snake's head and stroked its dark body, a small piece of spirit meat appearing in his hand.

This was the food that a merchant team had entrusted to the stronghold for Jun Wuming. The spirit meat was highly nutritious, not only delicious but also beneficial for replenishing vital energy. Jun Wuming had spent a lot to get this spirit meat. After the little snake was full, it curled up and returned to Jun Wuming's clothes.

Jun Wuming ignored the little snake wriggling around his waist, and with a wave of his hand, a gust of wind swept up the bright yellow clothes from the ground, turning them into ashes.

Only a small black object remained.

Page break for AD

Page break for AD end