36: Going into the mountains to search for the Ginseng King is fraught with danger

At the enthusiastic invitation of the Xining County Magistrate, everyone uniformly arrived at a farmhouse courtyard, where a beautiful woman was tidying up medicinal herbs.

Seeing everyone rush into her courtyard, Lin Yue hurriedly said, "Uncle Huang, why have you brought them here...?"

The County Magistrate's surname was indeed Huang, and his given name was Kunshan.

County Magistrate Huang asked upon hearing her, "They are all great heroes from the prefecture, here to look for news of the Mountain Spirit. Where is your father?"

"My father, along with my eldest brother and third brother, have each led a group of people into the mountains and haven't returned yet. Now, only my second brother and I are at home," Lin Yue said with a sly smile on her face.

"What? Others have already been led into the mountains!" Chang Shi's eyes immediately sharpened upon hearing the news, revealing a chillingly fierce glint.

Lin Yue fearfully retreated, her composure from before gone. The Aura emanating from Chang Shi reminded her of man-eating wolves in the mountains.

She couldn't help but cry out in alarm.

Hearing Lin Yue's frightened cry, a strong young man suddenly leaped out from inside the house. The young man was shirtless, with a long scar on his chest, as if scratched by a wild beast.

The young man's face was fierce as he rushed towards Chang Shi, but before he could get close, White Chen, who was behind Chang Shi, swept him away with a flick of his sleeve, sending him flying five meters away, where he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"No, Brother!" Lin Yue cried out, running over to check on the young man's condition.

"This, sir, what are you doing? Old Man Lin was the hunter who discovered the Mountain Spirit, and only they know the Mountain Spirit's whereabouts. How could you injure Second Brother Lin?" County Magistrate Huang was also startled by the sight, too terrified to Move, his face filled with sorrow.

"To offend the Young Master is a capital offense. I showed mercy by not killing him on the spot."

White Chen's Aura was fully displayed, an astonishing oppressive force falling upon everyone in the small courtyard, causing their voices to instantly cease.

Chang Shi merely glanced indifferently at the County Magistrate and said, "Since they are the hunters who discovered the Mountain Spirit, let him lead the way for this Young Master. Once the Mountain Spirit's whereabouts are found, I will no longer pursue the matter of him offending this Young Master."

"No, you can't even think... Ugh!"

Lin Yue hadn't finished speaking when Second Brother Lin, propping himself up, covered her mouth. Then, Second Brother Lin nodded with difficulty.

"I am willing to lead you, great heroes, to Funiu Mountain."

Funiu Mountain is one of the several peaks near Xining County, belonging to the outer reaches of the Wuya Mountain Range. Old Man Lin had discovered the Mountain Spirit on Funiu Mountain back then.

After Second Brother Lin agreed, Lin Yue stopped crying and dared not speak further. Second Brother Lin got up with difficulty, found some medicinal herbs from the house, chewed them raw, put on his clothes, took a mountain-cutting knife, and stumbled as he led everyone out of Xining County and towards Funiu Mountain.

Chang Shi's lips moved slightly as he murmured to himself, "Commoners are commoners. Once the Mountain Spirit's whereabouts are found, I'll kill them all. This little girl, though, is quite spirited. I can take her back to Chang Manor and have some fun."

His murmuring was not a sound transmission and was not concealed. Chen Cuo was a few meters behind him. Although the other party's voice was low, he heard it clearly, and his heart couldn't help but groan, anger surging within him.

Second Brother Lin walked at the very front, moving quickly. Xining County was only about ten li from Funiu Mountain. Although Chang Shi lived a pampered life, he was still a Martial Artist and showed no signs of being unable to walk.

After about half an hour, they arrived at the summit of Funiu Mountain. Everyone searched around, but there was no one else on Funiu Mountain at this moment, only traces of travel.

Then Second Brother Lin pointed to a large tree and said, "My father saw the Mountain Spirit here back then. My father said that the Mountain Spirit would immediately burrow into the ground upon seeing a stranger. My father pursued it for another forty li before its traces completely disappeared."

Chang Shi's heart stirred. He went to the spot Second Brother Lin pointed, picked up a handful of earth, and nodded secretly, saying to White Chen, "It is indeed a place rich in plant Qi."

White Chen then took out a compass-like object from his Pregnant and began, "All living things, guided by spiritual energy, seek out traces, quick!"

White Chen took the soil from under the tree and placed it in the center of the compass. The compass needle quickly spun, pointing in a direction towards the depths of the mountain range.

Chen Cuo and the others immediately showed surprise. Such strange methods were rarely seen, and they couldn't help but secretly admire it.

Chang Shi's face showed a calm expression, and he said coldly, "Since that's the case, continue forward. You, country bumpkin, lead the way and walk in the direction the compass points."

The depths of the Wuya Mountain Range are rarely visited, with many rare treasures and strange beasts. Ordinary Martial Artists are no match for them, and even Acquired Martial Artists who blunder in face the danger of losing their lives. Only old hunters who have roamed this area for many years dare to venture twenty or thirty li deep.

Old Man Lin's pursuit of the Mountain Spirit forty li deep back then also had the suspicion of being blinded by greed, which was considered an adventure.

The Vajra Sect members immediately felt fear. Their every Move, no longer as casual as before, became cautious.

Second Brother Lin was still leading the way, his pace very slow, proceeding with extreme caution.

The entire team slowly advanced in the direction indicated by the compass, covering less than a li in about half an hour.

Chang Shi's face showed displeasure, and he sternly shouted, "Stop dawdling! Hurry up! If others find the Mountain Spirit first, I will kill you all."

He was anxious. Currently, he was not the only team searching for the Mountain Spirit. Martial Artists from other forces had already set off and ventured deep into the mountains, and more Martial Artists were continuously arriving.

Everyone's faces turned bitter. In such a vast wilderness and forest, dangers were countless, and death could come at any moment. How could they disregard everything and only focus on rushing?

However, Young Master Chang's orders could not be disobeyed. They were all angry but dared not speak, so they could only quicken their pace.

Suddenly, after about half an hour of travel, a scream came from the end of the team. A thin Martial Artist was bitten in half by a large greenish-blue python, his lower body completely swallowed.

The other Martial Artists, holding long knives and short spears, used their Martial Arts Moves, hacking at the large python with a clatter. However, the large python ignored them, its upper body climbing onto a large tree and moving upwards. Only the sound of 'ding, ding, ding' could be heard, as if the knives and swords were striking iron armor, numbing the hands and feet of many Martial Artists.

The black-robed Martial Artist behind Chang Shi shouted, "Strange Beast Ironwood Python, don't escape!"

As the Ironwood Python climbed onto the treetop, its entire body changed from greenish-blue to a dusty gray color. Chen Cuo understood; it turned out that no one had noticed before because this strange beast could change its skin color.

However, this Move seemed to have no effect on the black-robed Martial Artist. The black-robed Martial Artist was extremely fast, his entire body like a sharp arrow. One of his palms, like steel, cut through the air, piercing through the Ironwood Python's tail and nailing it to the tree trunk.

"Black Yuan, I'll help you!" White Chen shouted, and a surge of Qi shot out, hot and fierce, emitting a low Dragon roar. He slammed a palm onto the Ironwood Python's seven-inch mark.

The Ironwood Python let out a tragic hiss, its spine broken, its entire body going limp. However, a snake's resilience is long-lasting. Although its body was pinned, its head still turned back to bite. However, White Chen retreated immediately after his strike and did not get close to its body. The python, helpless, only opened its mouth and spewed out a cloud of poisonous mist.

Then, its entire snake body fell from the tree with a loud thud.

The poisonous mist was potent and spread everywhere. Blown by a strong wind, several Martial Artists who couldn't dodge in time inhaled it, immediately falling to the ground, spitting white foam.