371: Chapter 371 Departure, Destination: Xuanhuang Dao Domain

The sky outside the stone cave was not yet bright; Zhao Tian had already extinguished the campfire, shouldered his pack, and stood at the cave entrance.

Su Changge stood beside him, watching the Gobi desert to the west being dyed a light gray by the morning light, his hands tucked into his sleeves, saying nothing.

He did not respond to Ye Qingyao's words from last night, "This Disciple will stand in front of Revered Master," choosing to act as if he hadn't heard them.

[ She means well, but she doesn't know that if those four at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage don't fall for my special effects, she won't be able to hold out for long standing in front of me. ]

[ Two at the Late Stage of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage... Good heavens. ]

"Let's go."

He dropped these two words and was the first to step out of the stone cave.

The direction was due southwest.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, Ye Qingyao took the initiative to speak.

"Revered Master, this Disciple would like to detail the situation of the four major powers of the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent along the way, so that Revered Master is prepared."

"Speak."

Su Changge did not stop his pace, his eyes fixed on the rolling hilly terrain ahead, his ears open.

Ye Qingyao walked half a step behind him, keeping his pace, her wording steady and calm.

"The Blood-patterned Dragon Demon Tu Lie, at the Middle Stage of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, was originally a Loose Cultivator. Over a decade ago, he stumbled into a place where Evil Qi gathered in the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent. His Divine Soul was eroded by the Evil Qi, and since then, he has become bloodthirsty. However, his Realm was greatly elevated by this, and he ultimately Cultivated a Cultivation Technique that uses blood to refine the Dragon Pulse."

Zhao Tian interjected.

"Refining the Dragon Pulse with blood? Just hearing the name of this Cultivation Technique is chilling."

Ye Qingyao ignored him and continued.

"Tu Lie occupies the Blood-patterned Valley. That valley is located on the west side of the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent and is where a side vein of the Dragon Pulse extends. The Spiritual Qi is dense, but the Evil Qi is even heavier. Ordinary Cultivators who enter will have their Divine Souls eroded by the Evil Qi and find it extremely difficult to leave."

"How many people are under his command?"

Su Changge asked briefly.

"There are about three hundred direct followers, all below the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, and most are forcibly controlled by him using Evil Qi."

Su Changge gave a hum, showing no other reaction.

"The Withered Pulse Immortal, Liu Can, at the Late Stage of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage."

Ye Qingyao's voice dropped slightly.

"This person is harder to deal with than Tu Lie."

"Why?"

"Tu Lie is open and direct, while Liu Can is insidious and cunning, skilled at disguising himself. His reputation on the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent is much better than Tu Lie's. Many small and medium-sized powers regard him as a potential partner, not knowing how many times they have been used by him."

Zhao Tian smacked his lips.

"That kind of person is the most terrifying—amiable on the surface, but stabbing you in the back."

"He absorbs the Spiritual Qi of the earth veins, capable of draining an entire region's earth veins dry to refine Withered Pulse Poison Pills. Once this poison pill is released, the veins of all Cultivators within a radius of hundreds of miles will be crippled."

Su Changge heard this, and a silent chill ran through his heart.

[ Crippled veins... As someone at the Qi Refining First Layer, what difference does it make if my veins are crippled? I have nothing to begin with. ]

[ But this Liu Can, at the Late Stage of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, a Revered Master of disguise—his danger index is even higher than Tu Lie's. ]

Ye Qingyao didn't stop and continued.

"The Profound Water Dragon, Ji Aoxi, at the Middle Stage of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, is a remnant of the ancient Water Dragon Clan. She has taken root in the underground river system of the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent for hundreds of years. Her intelligence network is extremely well-informed; almost nothing that happens on the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent can be hidden from her."

"She is protective of her own, but she is also clear about gratitude and grudges. Her ability to hold a grudge is unmatched. Whoever offends her won't see her explode on the spot, but she will definitely find an opportunity to pay them back, with interest doubled."

Zhao Tian took half a step back.

"Then we must not offend her when we go in."

"The Mountain-Breaking Barbarian King, Shi Lie, at the Late Stage of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage."

When Ye Qingyao finally said this name, her tone was somewhat complex.

"This person is simple and reckless, values promises, and keeps his word. He is a rare powerhouse on the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent who values integrity. However, valuing integrity does not mean he is easy to deal with. His Physical Body is terrifyingly strong. According to this Disciple's memories from a previous life, there was once a Cultivator at the Early Stage of the Mahayana Realm who fought him head-on and did not win."

Zhao Tian's expression collapsed.

"Even someone at the Early Stage of the Mahayana Realm couldn't win... Doesn't that mean we're courting death by going in?"

After finishing, he immediately shrank his head and stole a glance at Su Changge.

Su Changge ignored him and continued walking forward, his pace neither speeding up nor slowing down.

Zhao Tian tried to comfort himself, but couldn't think of any convincing reasons, so he had to suppress that thought firmly.

After Ye Qingyao finished introducing the four major powers, they walked for a while before she added another sentence.

"Revered Master, these four major powers act independently, and their relationships with each other are not harmonious. The layout of the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent is a long-term mutual check and balance."

"So they won't join forces."

"Usually not."

There was a hint of unspoken meaning in Ye Qingyao's voice.

"But if they believe a sufficiently large common threat has appeared, then it's hard to say."

Su Changge understood the half-sentence she hadn't finished.

[ A common threat, such as a stranger who suddenly breaks into the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent. ]

[ A stranger whose depth they cannot fathom. ]

Su Changge touched the bridge of his nose.

"On the map, where is the location of the Dragon Spine Mountain Range?"

Ye Qingyao took a thin piece of paper from her sleeve, unfolded it, and pointed to a spot.

"Here, in the very center of the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent. The territories occupied by the four major powers are distributed in its four directions. The Dragon Spine Mountain Range itself belongs to no one, but it is also the place where the fighting is most intense."

Su Changge took a look and pushed the paper back.

"Alright, I have a general idea."

Ye Qingyao put the map away and said nothing more.

Zhao Tian carried his pack and walked in front, muttering to himself in a very low voice, but Su Changge faintly heard one sentence.

"Four at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, an ancient Seal, a central land with no owner... This is even scarier than the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly."

Su Changge turned his head and looked at him.

Zhao Tian immediately puffed out his chest.

"But it's okay, with Junior Martial Uncle here, everything will be fine. This Disciple is ready to charge into battle for Junior Martial Uncle at any time!"

Su Changge averted his gaze and continued walking forward.

[ Charge into battle? You, at the Foundation Establishment Stage, rushing up there would just be throwing your life away. ]

[ In the end, it still has to rely on me. ]

[ Rely on me, this Qi Refining First Layer. ]

[ This world is truly hopeless. ]

The three of them did not stop, the wind on the wasteland whipped up dust, and the color of the distant skyline was shifting bit by bit toward the southwest, which was the destination of their journey.