Chapter 45 Encounter

For many years, Mount Bulao had remained untouched by humans; instead, it had become a paradise for animals.

Jiang Chen also noticed that although the magnetic field here was peculiar, it caused no harm to those who Cultivate the Dao. On the contrary, this strange magnetic field trapped the local spiritual energy, while also attracting a constant stream of spiritual energy from the outside.

Although weak, over a long period, this had resulted in the spiritual energy within Mount Bulao being several times higher than the outside world.

Because of this, the small animals in the mountains generally possessed higher intelligence than those in the outside world.

Jiang Chen encountered a small squirrel holding two pinecones, standing on a tree and looking at him curiously, completely unafraid of people.

It seemed curious about why an "outsider" had come into this forest.

Jiang Chen smiled slightly and extended his finger, a wisp of spiritual energy swirling around his fingertip.

The little squirrel's eyes lit up; the pinecones in its arms were no longer appealing. It dropped them, leaped forward, and pounced onto Jiang Chen's palm.

It then clutched Jiang Chen's palm, trying to suck on his finger.

Jiang Chen smiled again.

...

Half an hour later, Jiang Chen looked at the meat roasting on a wooden stick, now golden and reddish, and couldn't help but show a satisfied smile.

"This organic meat is so much more fragrant than meat raised on hormones. Even without any seasoning, it has a natural, fresh aroma."

That's right, what Jiang Chen was roasting was that gluttonous little squirrel.

During the few days he traveled down the mountain with his Third Senior Brother, Xue Xichang, his Senior Brother often roasted meat like this. Over time, he had learned the skill.

While he wouldn't say he had surpassed his master, at least his roasting was no worse than an average barbecue stall.

Of course, this was also because the fire Jiang Chen used for roasting was fueled by True Qi, lacking the fire poison found in ordinary flames.

He took down the squirrel meat, golden grease dripping from it from time to time, making it look appetizing.

Jiang Chen lightly tore off a hind leg and took a bite.

Hmm, it wasn't tough or greasy. If there were some cumin and chili powder, it would be even better.

But when traveling, one can't be too picky.

Just as Jiang Chen started the fire to roast the meat, the rising smoke caught the attention of someone on the other side.

About a few kilometers away, Ye Qingmei frowned and looked toward the area where Jiang Chen was.

"Senior Sister Ye, what's wrong?" Seeing Ye Qingmei's furrowed brow, Jia He came over to check.

This time, Zhang Wenqian's team came to Mount Bulao for archaeology, and the authorities placed great importance on it.

This was because the country had found some very important information from some Ancient Tombs excavated in the past.

For example, the breathing techniques for Cultivating that the country currently uses were excavated from Ancient Tombs and then tested and improved.

Moreover, a piece of important information could be gleaned from scraps of text in the documents.

In ancient times, the period when those who practiced the Dao were at their peak should have been the Tang Dynasty.

In fact, among the Ancient Tombs of various eras excavated by the country, the Tang Dynasty indeed had the most records regarding this aspect.

Furthermore, they at the Binhai 749 Bureau had heard that in the 90s, the country dug up a perfectly preserved corpse from a large tomb.

It was said that the corpse was wearing Daoist robes, its Physical Body had not rotted in the slightest, its complexion was rosy, and it even emitted a faint fragrance.

If it hadn't been for the lack of a heartbeat, pulse, and body temperature, the researchers at the time would have almost thought it was a living person!

That corpse, it was said, came from the Tang Dynasty!

Of course, this matter was only hearsay even within the Binhai 749 Bureau, so its authenticity was unknown.

However, Ye Qingmei was different. Her grandfather was an Elder of the Maoshan Sect who guarded the pavilion, and her parents held important positions in the government, so she knew more about these things than others.

She had once accidentally heard her father mention this matter, but when he got to some key points and saw Ye Qingmei approaching, he stopped talking.

Therefore, in this era, the country attached great importance to disciplines like history and archaeology, and even spent huge costs to support them.

As for Zhang Wenqian, he had once excavated an incredible Ancient Tomb and made outstanding contributions to the country's path of Cultivation; even the country's number one leader had personally received him.

The country placed even more importance on the Tang Dynasty Ancient Tomb discovered this time, ordering the Binhai 749 Bureau to ensure Zhang Wenqian's safety and allow the archaeological work to proceed smoothly.

Therefore, half of the Binhai 749 Bureau was dispatched this time, including Ye Qingmei and Jia He.

Because with the emergence of such a large tomb, it wasn't just the country and some money-hungry, death-defying grave robbers who were tempted.

More importantly, there were those folk practitioners; they were the ones most obsessed with such Ancient Tombs.

Back to the main topic.

Jia He glanced a few times in the direction Ye Qingmei was looking, but saw nothing.

"There is smoke over there, which means that apart from us, there are other people who have come to Mount Bulao." Ye Qingmei's expression was grave.

"Hey, isn't that normal? There must be farmers living in the mountains. It's normal to have some smoke from cooking or whatever." Jia He said nonchalantly, not caring much.

"Speaking of which, this Professor Zhang Wenqian, when he asked someone to calculate an auspicious date, I was right in front of him, and he actually didn't ask me!" Jia He said indignantly.

Ye Qingmei ignored his complaints and continued to analyze.

"Mount Bulao is inaccessible, and the magnetic field inside is strange; it is not suitable for ordinary people to live in at all. Besides, we did a simple investigation when we first arrived; how could anyone be living here?"

Jia He said, "How about this, Senior Sister, I'll go over and take a look. If there's any situation, I'll send you a signal."

Ye Qingmei thought for a moment and nodded.

"Alright, you go over there and take a look. Be careful; if there is any situation, notify me in time."

"Don't worry, it's just a small matter." Jia He appeared somewhat unconcerned, and after finishing, he walked over there.

Ye Qingmei watched as Jia He's figure was gradually obscured by the dense forest, finally disappearing from her sight, yet she still felt a vague sense of unease.

She didn't know why, but she always felt that this mission would not go so smoothly, though she couldn't say why.

She had always attached great importance to this kind of sixth sense; those who Cultivate would not develop feelings without reason.

So she told Captain Xu Chang about this feeling.

Captain Xu Chang took it very seriously after hearing it. As the person in charge of this operation, he would not let go of any abnormalities.

Ye Qingmei's premonition naturally counted as an abnormality.

...

Snap! Snap!

Jiang Chen had just finished eating the squirrel and was wiping the grease off his hands on some leaves nearby when he heard the sound of footsteps falling on dry leaves from the outskirts.

And it wasn't just one set of footsteps.

Although these people deliberately kept their footsteps quiet, how could they escape Jiang Chen's ears?

Jiang Chen looked back and saw a few figures faintly in the dense forest, taking advantage of the cover of the trees, dispersing to surround him.

"Gentlemen, you seem to have come with ill intent, don't you?"

As Jiang Chen's words fell, he clearly heard the footsteps of those few people pause.

Then, after a moment, a hearty laugh rang out.

Several heavily armed, some thin and some burly men walked out from the forest.

"Brother, where are you from?"