Chapter 132 When The Strong Gather (Part One)

There were several hills of varying heights on all four sides of the valley where the celestial energy ginseng grew. And as far as the eye could see, there would be at least twenty hills standing around it.

News that the celestial energy ginseng was about to be fully ripe quickly spread to all the sects. As a result, about half of the hills were already occupied by those drawn to this mystical plant. Each person who had claimed a range set up camp and brought his people there to make that a temporary haven.

Every person there had the same objective: obtain the celestial energy ginseng. All the fighters on each hill looked at it with full attention for fear that the moment they took their eyes off it, they would lose their chance. It was now a waiting game for the time that it would ripen and open up. The fighters' eyes glowed hot with passion and yearning as bright as the celestial energy ginseng condensing its ninth aura.

It was an exciting thing to watch the ripening process of such a precious plant. The dazzling celestial energy ginseng captured the fancy of every person present.

So when Austin arrived, there was no warm reception for him. Instead, many people were alert and showed their disgust for him. The more the fighters, the more severe the competition, and the lesser the opportunities. No one wanted to give way to another when fighting for something precious. Some people even grumbled to show their loathing as they saw more and more people gathering around.

Everyone knew it would not be easy to defeat so many competitors to get that prized celestial energy ginseng. The odds of winning were low. But as much as it was quite unrealistic, they couldn't help being attracted by it and having a deep desire to earn it.

The best description of the condition was through the idiom, 'Bird dies in pursuit of food, and a man dies in his greediness for wealth.' The value of the celestial energy ginseng was so high that it could make any living soul on the Grand Desolation Mountain faint over it.

It went without saying that the news of the celestial energy ginseng would inevitably draw all fighters from everywhere to come and fight for it with all their might.

Frankly speaking, except for vigilance and disgust, every m

p of more than twenty people walking in his direction. But as they neared the valley, they stopped. After scouring the premises momentarily, they chose one of the smaller hills that remained unoccupied and settled down. Like everyone else, they were there for the celestial energy ginseng and had no interest in Fanny.

A young man of sixteen, or perhaps seventeen, dressed in expensive luxurious clothes led this group.

His clothes were all purple and made of some pricey silky fabric that Austin had never tried on himself before. On his sleeves were etched five-claw golden dragons playing with fireballs. In some way, this was a manifestation of the man's superior social ranking. It was not only his clothes but also his movements and demeanor that gave the impression that he was likely a descendant of royal bloodline.

Besides, the people around him looked very subservient, thus making it apparent that he was the one in command, and they were all his men.

Without expectation, Austin recognized several of the men in the group, including the ones who chased after and bullied Fanny, and was scared away by Austin before.

Fortunately for Fanny and himself, they were standing in a relatively solitary spot with half of their bodies concealed by a huge stone, so it would not be easy for those men to catch sight of him. Besides, after those men's arrival, their attention had been on the celestial energy ginseng in the middle of the valley, so they hardly averted their sight from that.