24: Chapter 24 Black Wind Stronghold, Green Wood Gate

Immediately, the dense cold air around him seemed to be drawn in, surging frantically into his body to be absorbed and refined by the jade pendant.

It was then fed back as pure True Yuan, nourishing his Meridians and Dantian.

At this rate, it probably wouldn't take three days for him to fully recover and even charge toward the Meridian Opening Stage Five Middle Phase!

However, just as he was immersed in his cultivation, the faint sound of hurried footsteps and shouting came from the distant mountain forest, seemingly heading toward the canyon!

Ye Chen abruptly opened his eyes, a cold light flashing within them.

Someone was coming!

The footsteps and shouting grew clearer as they approached, interspersed with the clanging of clashing weapons.

Clearly, these weren't herb gatherers passing by; it sounded more like a group of people chasing or fighting each other.

Ye Chen instantly restrained his aura and made a silencing gesture to Xiao Yu.

He pulled her quickly behind a massive rock, held his breath, and peered out through a crack in the stone.

Xiao Yu also nervously covered her mouth, her large eyes filled with fear.

A moment later, several disheveled figures stumbled into the canyon.

There were three young people, two men and one woman, all wearing matching Green Martial Attire. However, their clothes were now tattered and stained with blood and mud, and their faces were filled with panic and exhaustion.

One tall man had a deep, bone-deep wound on his arm that was dripping with blood. Another short, stout man supported him, his face pale.

The woman was the youngest, about sixteen or seventeen years old, holding a thin sword that also had blood on its blade.

She guarded the rear, looking back from time to time with a vigilant gaze.

Judging by their clothing and state, they seemed to be Disciples of some small sect or Family who had encountered a powerful enemy and fled here.

“Senior Brother, hold on! This canyon terrain is narrow; it's easy to defend and hard to attack!”

The short, stout man helped the injured tall man sit down behind a large rock near the cold pool and spoke urgently.

“It's no use, they have too many people.”

The tall man gasped, his voice weak.

“Senior Brother Zhao, in order to cover us... I'm afraid he's already...”

Hearing this, the young woman's eyes reddened, and she gritted her teeth.

“We'll fight those beasts to the end! At worst, we'll all die together!”

Just then, the light at the valley entrance dimmed as seven or eight men in ragged clothing and with fierce expressions blocked the exit.

Leading them was a One-Eyed Dragon with a hideous scar on his face. He held a ghost head saber, and his body radiated the aura of the Meridian Opening Fourth Level.

Most of the men behind him were at the second or Third Level of Meridian Opening, each with savage eyes like hungry wolves staring at prey.

“Running? Why aren't you running anymore?” One-Eyed Dragon sneered, approaching step by step.

“Hand over the 'ice crystal grass,' and then let this little girl have some fun with us brothers. Maybe then I'll leave you with intact corpses!”

The three young people's faces instantly turned deathly pale. The short, stout man stepped forward, shielding his Junior Sister behind him, and shouted sternly.

“You scum of the Black Wind Stockade! You dare touch people from our Green Wood Sect? Aren't you afraid of being hunted down by our sect's Seniors?”

“Green Wood Sect? Heh, the mountains are high and the emperor is far away. In this Black Wind Mountain Range, if we kill you, who will know it was us?”

One-Eyed Dragon spat disdainfully. “Enough talk, move! Slaughter the men and keep the woman!”

Seven or eight bandits immediately howled and rushed forward, their blades flashing with murderous intent.

Although the short, stout man and the young woman were badly injured, they had clearly undergone formal cultivation. They gritted their teeth to meet the enemy, their sword light flickering as they fought the bandits.

But they were already exhausted and outnumbered. The situation immediately became perilous, and the short, stout man soon gained several more wounds.

Ye Chen hid behind the rock, his brow furrowing slightly.

Black Wind Stockade?

It was a group of bandits entrenched in the Black Wind Mountain Range. It was said that their stockade chief was a Wheel Sea Realm expert who acted ruthlessly, often plundering passing merchants and Cultivators entering the mountains.

He didn't want to cause trouble, but this canyon was the place he had chosen for healing. If he were discovered by this group, he would certainly have no peace.

Furthermore, looking at the situation, those three Green Wood Sect Disciples probably wouldn't last much longer.

While he was hesitating, the situation in the field suddenly changed.

Seeing his Junior Brother and Junior Sister in danger, the injured tall man suddenly roared. Ignoring his injuries, he forcibly summoned his last bit of True Qi.

He lunged at One-Eyed Dragon, clearly intending to fight to the death!

“Senior Brother, no!” the young woman cried out.

“Seeking death!” One-Eyed Dragon sneered, his ghost head saber chopping down with a vicious wind!

The tall man was already heavily injured; how could he be a match? It looked like he was about to be sliced in two!

At that critical moment—

“Swish!”

A nearly inaudible sound of something piercing the air rang out!

The ghost head saber One-Eyed Dragon was swinging down suddenly stalled. At some point, a thick layer of white frost had condensed on the blade, the bone-chilling cold making his movements slow down by half a beat!

At the same time, the ground beneath his feet made a “crack” sound, instantly becoming covered in a layer of slippery thin ice!

Caught off guard, One-Eyed Dragon’s foot slipped, and his body staggered.

That fatal blow missed the tall man’s scalp and struck the ground, sending up a shower of rock fragments and ice shards!

“Who?!” One-Eyed Dragon was both shocked and enraged. He steadied himself, his single eye flashing with a fierce light as he scanned the canyon.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events. They all stopped fighting and looked toward the source of the cold air.

By the side of the cold pool, a figure had appeared at some unknown time.

The person wore ordinary blue cloth clothing and had a tall, straight stature. His face seemed to be covered by a thin layer of cold mist.

His specific features couldn't be seen; only a pair of eyes, clear and cold, were looking at them calmly. This was, of course, Ye Chen in disguise.

He had intervened after all, partly because he didn't want his hiding place to be ruined.

On the other hand, the Green Wood Sect Disciple's act of risking his life to protect his fellow Disciples had moved him to a bit of compassion.

“Where did this kid come from, daring to meddle in our Black Wind Stockade's business? Are you tired of living?!”

A bandit at the Third Level of Meridian Opening, seeing that Ye Chen's aura wasn't apparent and thinking he could be bullied, rushed forward with his blade while cursing.

Ye Chen didn't even look at him; he just gave a casual wave of his hand.

A blast of frigid air was created out of thin air.

The rushing bandit only felt an irresistible cold current hit him in the face. Instantly, his whole body stiffened, and even his blood seemed to freeze, leaving him in his charging pose.

He turned into an ice sculpture covered in white frost and fell to the ground with a “thud,” his breath completely gone.

Quiet!

A deathly silence!

Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air, looking at the ice sculpture and the mysterious figure by the pool in disbelief.

Freezing a Third Level of Meridian Opening with a wave of his hand?

What kind of strength was this?

One-Eyed Dragon’s pupils constricted, and a flash of fear crossed his face.

He couldn't see the depth of Ye Chen's power, but that elusive cold air and the method of instantly killing his subordinate made his heart race with fear.

He had kicked a steel plate!

“This friend...” One-Eyed Dragon suppressed his fear and cupped his hands.

“We are from the Black Wind Stockade, handling a private grudge here. Please do us a favor and let this pass; there will surely be a generous reward in the future!”

Ye Chen didn't speak. He just raised his hand, and a wisp of pale blue cold air coiled and danced around his fingertips like a spirit snake. The surrounding temperature plummeted once again.

The meaning was clear: get out, or die.

One-Eyed Dragon's face turned from green to white as he looked at Ye Chen.

He then looked at the Green Wood Sect Disciples, who were already at their limit, and finally gritted his teeth: “We're leaving!”

He didn't dare to gamble.

The opponent's methods were strange and his strength unpredictable. It wasn't worth losing his life over a few stalks of ice crystal grass and a girl.

He glared fiercely at Ye Chen, seemingly trying to memorize his appearance, and then led the remaining terrified bandits away.

Carrying the ice sculpture, they retreated from the canyon in a pathetic state.

With the bandits gone, only the three shaken Green Wood Sect Disciples and the mysterious Ye Chen remained in the canyon.

The short, stout man and the young woman quickly supported the tall man, who had slumped again, and looked at Ye Chen with both vigilance and gratitude.

“Many... many thanks to Senior for saving us!” The short, stout man endured his pain and bowed.

The strength Ye Chen had displayed led them to believe he was some Senior expert living in seclusion here.

Ye Chen dispersed the cold air on his fingertips, his voice flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

“The cold air here is heavy; it's not suitable to stay long. Your injuries are not light; leave as quickly as possible.”

He didn't want to get further involved with strangers to avoid exposing his movements.

The young woman, however, took a step forward and gave a graceful bow, her voice clear.

“Junior Liu Yiyi of the Green Wood Sect thanks Senior for saving our lives! Is Senior cultivating here? We will leave immediately and wouldn't dare disturb Senior's peace!”

She was perceptive and saw that Ye Chen didn't seem to want to be disturbed.

Ye Chen remained noncommittal, only saying faintly: “It was just a small effort.”

Liu Yiyi hesitated for a moment, then took out a jade box from her robe and offered it with both hands.

“Senior, these are the 'ice crystal grass' we gathered this time. Although they aren't extremely precious, they are somewhat beneficial for cultivating cold-attribute techniques. Please accept them as a small token of our gratitude.”

Ye Chen's gaze swept over the jade box. Inside were three Spiritual Plants that were crystal clear and emitted a faint cold air. They were indeed ice crystal grass, which would be useful for his current state.

After a brief moment of consideration, he didn't refuse and reached out to take them: “Very well.”

Seeing Ye Chen accept them, Liu Yiyi breathed a sigh of relief and added.

“Senior, the Black Wind Stockade is vengeful. Although they have retreated, they might return. Senior should be careful.”

“No matter.” Ye Chen's tone remained flat.

He didn't think much of the Black Wind Stockade; the real trouble was the Wang Family and the 'Shadow Fiend'.”

Seeing this, Liu Yiyi didn't dare say more. After thanking him again, she and her fellow Disciple supported the injured tall man and hurried out of the canyon.

Watching the three figures disappear, Ye Chen finally let out a breath of relief and dispersed the disguised cold air on his face, revealing his original appearance.

He walked to the valley entrance and carefully sensed his surroundings. After confirming that the bandits and the Green Wood Sect Disciples were long gone, he returned to the back of the rock.

Xiao Yu rushed over and hugged his leg tightly, her small face still a bit pale.

“Brother, I was so scared just now...”

“It's fine now; the bad people have been chased away.” Ye Chen patted her head and comforted her.

He glanced at the jade box in his hand and opened it; the three stalks of ice crystal grass were bitingly cold.

Perfect, they could be used to assist in healing and cultivation.

After this incident, he was even more certain that the Cold Pool Secluded Valley was a precious place.

But now that it had been discovered by outsiders, it wasn't suitable to stay here for long.

He had to restore his strength as quickly as possible and then find an even more secluded location.

Ye Chen let Xiao Yu rest at the camp while he returned to the side of the cold pool, swallowed one stalk of ice crystal grass, and once again immersed himself in cultivation.

The pure cold air of the ice crystal grass entered his body, merging with the cold air around the pool and the Origin cold air from the jade pendant. The speed at which his injuries healed and his True Yuan grew suddenly accelerated!

This time, he would go all out to fully recover and try to break through to a higher Realm!

Time was running out.