177: Chapter 177 Soul-Severing Gorge

"Speak."

"The situation in Qinghe Prefecture and Pingling Prefecture has changed recently." Fang Zhenhai took a Jade Slip from his robes and handed it over. "This is the latest news sent back seven days ago by the chamber of commerce's spies. Pingling Prefecture ceased fire internally a month ago."

Su Cheng took the Jade Slip and scanned it with his Divine Sense.

The friction between Pingling Prefecture's three Righteous Path Sects—Qiankun Gate, Qingfeng Valley, and Spirit Talisman Sect—and the demonic Black Rock Palace had been constant ever since that battle in Qinghe Prefecture.

Normally, with the hatred between righteous and evil plus the friction from the collapse of the Alliance, it would be strange if they didn't fight to the death.

But the records in the Jade Slip were very unusual.

A month ago, the four parties suddenly stopped at the same time.

It wasn't a truce because they were tired of fighting; they formally withdrew all frontline personnel back to their respective bases.

Following that, in the past two weeks, the chamber's spies discovered signs of unusual Cultivator activity on the Pingling Prefecture side of the Monster Beast Mountain Range.

Three to four small teams of Foundation Establishment Cultivators were converging toward the mountain range from different directions in Pingling Prefecture.

Su Cheng frowned.

He was no stranger to this tactic. It was exactly how the Blazing Fire Sect had prepared to build the teleportation formation in Fallen Phoenix Valley: small scale, multiple batches, and supplies moving first.

But this time was different. The four great Sects of Pingling Prefecture had been exhausted by the events in Qinghe Prefecture and with the Blazing Fire Sect last time. Their Origin Qi had not recovered, so it was unlikely they would organize a large-scale invasion in the short term.

Furthermore, after negotiations between the two prefectures, the Monster Beast Mountain Range had been designated as a 'shared ownerless zone.' Cultivators from both sides could enter to gather Spirit Medicine and hunt Yao Beasts. Small groups entering the mountains didn't violate the agreement.

So where was the problem?

"Have the routes taken by the four groups been mapped out?"

"They have." Fang Zhenhai brought up a sketch from the Jade Slip. "The four groups set out from the southeast, east, and northeast of Pingling Prefecture, but their final convergence point all points to a location in the western part of the Monster Beast Mountain Range's interior. That area is the territory of Tier 3 Yao Beasts."

Tier 3 Yao Beasts were equivalent to the Golden Core Cultivator level.

Foundation Establishment Cultivators running to the vicinity of Tier 3 Yao Beast territory to stockpile supplies?

Su Cheng rotated the sketch in his mind from several angles and suddenly asked, "Is there any special terrain in that area? Ancient ruins, natural formation bases, Spiritual Vein nodes, or anything like that?"

Fang Zhenhai thought for a moment. "The spies' report didn't mention any, but I previously checked the Treasure Gathering Tower's geographical records of the Monster Beast Mountain Range. There is a canyon in that area called the Soul-Severing Ravine. The bottom of the canyon is filled with a high concentration of toxic miasma year-round, which even Tier 3 Yao Beasts are unwilling to approach."

Soul-Severing Ravine.

Su Cheng hadn't seen this name in the records of the Dharma Transmission Pavilion. Tianlan Province City was more than half a prefecture away from the Monster Beast Mountain Range, so geographical information on such remote areas was naturally scarce.

Moreover, the strongest creatures in the Monster Beast Mountain Range were only Tier 3 Yao Beasts. The resources weren't abundant enough for the Danding Sect to cross half a prefecture to seize them.

"Have the spies increase their reconnaissance efforts," Su Cheng handed the Jade Slip back. "Especially that Soul-Severing Ravine. Get as close as possible. I need details on the terrain at the canyon entrance, the coverage area of the toxic miasma, and whether their supplies were moved into the canyon or piled outside."

"Understood."

"Also, how did the four great Sects in Qinghe Prefecture react?"

"Currently, there's no reaction. The major cities outside the mountain range have been built to a preliminary usable level. The four Sects have each dispatched ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators to station there, and daily patrols are proceeding normally. The spies' reports show no signs of the Qinghe Prefecture Sects sending reinforcements into the mountain range."

Su Cheng thought for a moment and stopped questioning. There wasn't enough information; it was too early to make a judgment.

The unusual movement in Pingling Prefecture might be aimed at some resource in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, such as a mineral vein, a Spirit Medicine production site, or ancient ruins. It might not have a direct connection to Qinghe Prefecture.

Moreover, if the chamber of commerce could find this out, the four Sects of Qinghe Prefecture weren't blind either; they had likely already noticed the movement.

But since there were no major actions, either they had sent people to investigate and felt it wasn't worth making a fuss about, or they had just finished a war with Pingling Prefecture and hadn't recovered their strength, so they didn't want to start another conflict in the shared territory of the Monster Beast Mountain Range.

Regardless of the case, as long as the people from Pingling Prefecture didn't cross the mountains to reach into Qinghe Prefecture, the four Sects would most likely choose to turn a blind eye, or perhaps they had also secretly sent people to observe.

But other possibilities couldn't be completely ruled out. The chamber of commerce's people still had to keep watching.

Putting this matter aside, Su Cheng moved to the next topic.

"Have someone call Lin Feng over."

Fang Zhenhai sent an apprentice out, and in less than half an hour, Lin Feng arrived.

Compared to their last meeting, the changes in Lin Feng were visible to the naked eye.

His cultivation had stabilized at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, and his aura was much more steady than before.

Behind him were two Cultivators also at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage. They were upright and well-behaved, and judging by their clothes and temperament, they had likely been screened and trained. These two stood at the door and did not enter.

When Lin Feng entered, he first cupped his hands to Su Cheng, then to Fang Zhenhai beside him.

"Young Master Su."

"Sit." Su Cheng pointed to the chair opposite him. "Did you select these two people behind you?"

"Yes. Out of the five Foundation Establishment brothers, I brought two to handle Spirit Medicine procurement, and the other three stayed at Hundred Herbs Hall to watch the shop." Lin Feng paused. "I've used up all five foundation establishment pills Young Master Su gave me last time. All five have made a Breakthrough."

"Mm. What about Lin Yu's side?"

Lin Feng's expression became subtle.

"He... hasn't been doing well lately, in every sense of the word."

Su Cheng waited for him to continue.

"After I broke through to Foundation Establishment, my father's attitude toward him changed significantly. Previously, he was the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator among my father's many sons who was worth showing off, so he had a say in the affairs of the second branch."

"But after my Breakthrough, plus these five Foundation Establishment brothers by my side, his confidence has visibly weakened."

Lin Feng rubbed his hands.

"He came to see me again a while ago and invited me for a drink. His words were still the same old story, hoping I could consider the big picture and place the people around me and the channels of Hundred Herbs Hall under the unified management of the second branch."

"I didn't agree. He left in a huff on the spot and went back to complain to my father, saying I wanted to set up my own house."

"What did your father say?"

"He didn't take a side." Lin Feng shook his head. "On the surface, Father scolded him a few times, but privately, he had the Family manager come and tell me not to take things too far, as we are all one Family after all."

Typical fence-sitting. If a Golden Core Cultivator's way of managing a Family was at this level, then the Lin Family's prospects would end here.

Su Cheng picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Listen carefully to what I'm about to say."

Lin Feng immediately straightened his back.

"From now on, you can use my name."

Lin Feng's fingers tightened on the armrest of the chair.

"Su Cheng, Personal Disciple of Elder Qingmu of the Danding Sect." Su Cheng's voice was flat. "You can tell your father about this when you go back, or you can let the people you trust around you spread the word. You and I, Lin Feng, are friends. There's nothing to hide about that."

Lin Feng's breathing became heavy. A Personal Disciple of a Golden Core Elder of the Danding Sect.

What did this identity mean in the Lin Family's social circles? It meant that behind Lin Feng was the banner of a Nascent Soul Great Sect.

No matter what, the Lin Family was only a Golden Core Family. They were more than a head shorter than the Danding Sect, and Young Master Su's Revered Master was also a Tier 3 Alchemy Great Master.

Although he didn't know how powerful 'Sir' truly was, he could guess a bit from the fact that Su Cheng was merely Sir's messenger.

"Young Master Su..." Lin Feng's voice was very low.