60: Chapter 60 A Violent Night Strikes, the Ding Siblings

Red Willow Lagoon!

Located nearly eight thousand miles west of the Lifeng Plain, it was named after the vast, sea-like "Red Willow Lake" within its borders.

The Red Willow Lake was vast and misty, where the water and sky merged into one!

Viewed from the Nine Heavens!

It resembled a massive piece of azure jade dropped upon the pale yellow earth.

The lake's surface was vast and boundless; even a Cultivator, looking as far as the eye could see, would find it difficult to glimpse the opposite shore, seeing only the dense mist meeting the clouds on the horizon.

The lake breeze blew gently, stirring up shimmering ripples; that Aura was incomparable to the scattered oases and streams on the Lifeng Plain.

Thanks to this uniquely gifted and expansive body of water, the area around Red Willow Lake was brimming with Spiritual Qi, creating a situation where one lake nourished ten thousand ponds, attracting a large number of Cultivators to settle there.

Among them, there were three whole Golden Core Sects that dominated the region,

making it the undisputed core area within a ten-thousand-mile radius, far beyond what the remote and barren Lifeng Plain could compare to.

However, at this moment, only four or five days after Chen Qingyuan had left the Lifeng Plain, he had already begun to regret it.

"A miscalculation... Had I known, I really should have practiced the Art of Flight until I was proficient before setting out!"

Having just achieved a Breakthrough to Late Stage Qi Refining and stabilized his cultivation, he had been impatient to depart!

Before he had time to learn the Art of Flight, he could only rely on the enhancement of a Light Body Talisman for now,

running miserably through the wind and snow on his own two legs, completely lacking the elegant appearance of an immortal Cultivator riding a sword on the wind.

...

Twilight deepened!

Chen Qingyuan found a sheltered gully wall out of the wind, lit a campfire, and began to rest.

After days of trekking, even with a Rejuvenation Talisman to restore his strength, traveling six or seven hundred miles a day was already the limit of his Physical Body.

Most importantly!

Traveling like this was truly boring to the core; he couldn't draw talismans, and he couldn't Cultivate!

While his body was exhausted, his heart suffered through a long ordeal.

At this moment, he lazily spread out his limbs, cushioning his head with his arms!

He wrapped himself in the cloak Jiang Rou had given him, a freshly picked grass root dangling from his mouth.

He stared blankly at the fine snow falling silently.

"Pah!"

Suddenly, he spat out the grass root, looking determined.

"No, running like this isn't the way!"

"I must get a Spirit Beast for transport!"

"It's been four or five days, and I haven't even made it out of the Wind Erosion Gully. This cultivation world spans tens of thousands of miles; who is this supposed to run to death!"

Indeed, the region he was currently in was called "Wind Erosion Gully."

The landscape here was already distinctly different from the desolation of the Lifeng Plain, with ravines crisscrossing the land.

The rock walls on both sides had been eroded by wind and sand over the years, leaving them pitted and mottled!

Whenever the north wind passed through the deep gullies and narrow ravines, it would let out bursts of wailing, evoking a sense of desolation; thus, "Wind Erosion Gully" got its name.

Although this place was still not considered fertile, it was much better than the Lifeng Plain in terms of Spiritual Qi, environment, and the number of Spiritual Veins.

Drought-resistant plants like Earth Dragon Vines and Thick-Fat Orchids could be seen everywhere, spread across countless gullies.

As for Foundation Establishment Stage forces, it was rumored that there were as many as seven or eight in this territory.

Only after completely crossing the Wind Erosion Gully would one reach that treasure land of cultivation, the prosperous Red Willow Lagoon.

Looking at the vast silhouette of the gullies outside the firelight, a doubt surfaced in Chen Qingyuan's mind!

"How exactly did Father manage to establish a connection with the Xie Family nearly eight thousand miles away back then, and even... arrange this betrothal for me?"

"And it seems the relationship isn't bad at all!"

While Chen Qingyuan was lost in thought!

"A night of wind and snow is the perfect time for killing."

"Ninth Master truly has quite the mood..."

Chen Qingyuan, lying flat, didn't move an inch, seemingly unsurprised by the sudden voice!

"It's alright, just lacking some refined interest!"

"You two have followed me in secret for a thousand miles, sleeping in the wind and dew; it must have been extremely hard. Why not come out and take a look...!"

"Take a look at this spot I specifically chose. Is the Feng Shui... to your liking?"

"You, surnamed Chen!"

Another slightly sharp female voice suddenly rang out!

"What do you mean?"

Chen Qingyuan turned his head toward the source of the voice!

"Young lady, your question is quite interesting. You've been following me stealthily all this way, and now you're asking me what I mean?"

"Could it be... you've taken a liking to me, which is why you've been so reluctant to leave my side?"

"You!"

The female voice was furious and about to speak again but was stopped by her companion's hand.

Footsteps sounded as two figures slowly stepped out from the shadows. One looked like an old man with white hair and a beard.

The other was a woman in her thirties, still possessing a certain charm!

"Uh... I wondered who it was; so it's The Ding Siblings..."

"Old Lady Ding... consider my previous words unsaid!"

"You...!"

Little Sister Ding was instantly choked with rage.

Boss Ding, the leader, had an even more gloomy expression!

"Chen Jiu, enough nonsense. We siblings are merely acting on someone's behalf, being loyal to our commission. Today, don't blame us for being ruthless!"

"Oh? Acting on someone's behalf?"

Chen Qingyuan sat up, looking at the two with a faint smile.

"Let me guess. To be able to hire you two, one must have some capability. Could it be Great Deacon Luo?"

Boss Ding's expression remained unchanged!

"It seems you know everything. In that case, every injustice has its source, and every debt its creditor; you can die knowing the truth!"

"Is that so?"

Chen Qingyuan suddenly raised his voice and called out toward the darkness behind and to his side.

"Big Brother, did you hear those words clearly just now?"

Before he had even finished speaking, a deep, resonant voice came from behind The Ding Siblings.

"Mhm, heard every single word!"

The Ding Siblings' expressions changed, and they looked toward the source of the voice.

Two Auras of Late Stage Qi Refining suddenly appeared, one on the left and one on the right, completely blocking their retreat. It was Chen Qingshan and Big Tooth Dong.

Little Sister Ding instantly screamed in surprise!

"It's you?! You... how is this possible!"

The two siblings were accustomed to this kind of work; tracking and stealth were their specialties. They hadn't expected to be followed today without even realizing it.

Big Tooth Dong grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth; under the movement, the scar on his left forehead looked like a deformed centipede.

"Why wouldn't it be possible? Even with the snow blocking the roads, I can track the beasts on the wasteland, let alone you two!"

The scene fell silent for a moment as both sides weighed their options.

Only Boss Ding remained the most composed.

He shook his head, flicking away the snow clinging to his beard, his tone actually carrying a hint of complaint.

"I thought this would be a simple job, easy as pie, but I didn't expect it would require this much effort. When I get back, I must make that man named Luo pay more!"

The contempt and arrogance in his words instantly ignited Big Tooth Dong's fury.

"Old geezer! Still putting on airs when death is at your doorstep! More money? I'll make sure you have the life to earn it but not to spend it!"

Big Tooth Dong gave a thunderous shout, his eyes turning blood-red in an instant. Earth-yellow spiritual light wrapped around his fists as they whistled through the air, smashing down toward Boss Ding's head!

Boss Ding snorted coldly, tapped his toe on the ground, and his figure slid rapidly backward!

"Little Sister, leave these two nuisances to me! You go kill the target!"

"Alright!"

Little Sister Ding moved at his command, her figure flashing as she prepared to pounce directly on Chen Qingyuan.

As Boss Ding retreated, his withered palm swung violently, and the spiritual power around him fluctuated wildly—his cultivation at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining erupted without reservation!

Simultaneously, with his movement, the frozen earth in front of him churned, overturning the accumulated snow!

A massive creature burst out from the ground, covered in scales, with a body like a giant serpent but possessing a hideous lizard-like head.

"A Sand Chi! A First-Tier High Grade Yao Beast!" Chen Qingshan's pupils suddenly constricted!