Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 45: You're Too Slow i

Chapter 55: Chapter 45: You’re Too Slow i

Translator: 549690339

As the setting sun gave way to twilight, weary birds returned to their nests.

In the newly erected tent, Xu Mu, Lan Shijin, and Leng Yuening sat, facing one another.

“When did he talk to you about it?” Xu Mu asked.

“Just when we were setting up the camp, he came and spoke to me privately. He told me to consider it for a few days and give him an answer before we delve deeper into the forest. If I agreed, he promised to give a dowry of one thousand Lower-grade Spirit Stones and escort us to Liyang Sect!” Lan Shijin gritted her teeth as she spoke.

Xu Mu had never seen Lan Shijin this angry before.

Leng Yuening, sitting by their side, appeared somewhat pale.

A rare look of panic flashed across her face.

“Friend Lan doesn’t want to agree?”

Xu Mu frowned.

He wasn’t surprised that Xiao Yi had such intentions.

There had been signs from the beginning.

“Of course, I won’t agree!” Lan Shijin said coldly.

“Why?” Xu Mu questioned, clearly baffled.

Xiao Yi’s proposed dowry was not insignificant, and he even vowed to escort the two of them.

Most importantly, Xiao Yi was in his forties and already in the Qi Cultivation Late Stage. There was a decent chance he could advance to the Foundation Establishment Stage, suggesting great potential.

And as for Su Qing…

It was quite common for high-tier cultivators to have multiple wives and concubines.

Given the current circumstance, marrying Xiao Yi might not be a bad choice.

“Why? Friend Xu, are you joking with me? Hmph!” Lan Shijin huffed in annoyance.

Xu Mu was at a loss.

He was only trying to consider the situation from her perspective. Why was he being reprimanded?

“Could you please make it clear, Lan Shijin? I don’t understand it,” Xu Mu said with a bitter smile.

“You don’t know?” Lan Shijin asked, sounding suspicious.

“I genuinely don’t,” Xu Mu replied, somewhat helplessly.

Lan Shijin stared at Xu Mu for a moment, confirming that he was not joking. Only then did she say: “That Xiao Yi is practicing an evil martial method, often using female cultivators as cauldrons to boost his cultivation. Very few women who have married him have survived more than ten years.”

Leng Yuening, seated by the side, became even paler, clutching her clothes tightly.

Hmm? Is that true or false?”

Xu Mu’s eyes widened.

If that were true, would Su Qing be in danger too…?

“Of course it’s true. Many people in the marketplace know him! My husband has even had a few dealings with him!”

While there weren’t too many or too few people in the marketplace, it wasn’t uncommon for higher-tier cultivators to be acquainted with one another.

Lan Shijin spoke disdainfully, “It’s only by constantly marrying and taking concubines that he was able to break through to the Qi Cultivation Late Stage before the age of fifty. But my husband said that his cultivation method is impure and his constant sucking of Qi to boost his cultivation has resulted in a chaotic energy within him. His chances of reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage in this lifetime are as good as null.”

“I see!”

If this was truly the case, anyone with a shred of sanity wouldn’t agree.

Xu Mu had previously asked a dumb question because he was of a much lower rank, hence unaware of the truth about Xiao Yi.

It seemed that Su Qing also agreed to it out of desperation.

“Friend Lan, you’re telling me all of this because you want my help, right?”

Since Lan Shijin was not aware of his real power, having him confront Xiao Yi directly, forcing him to give up, seemed implausible.

“I hope we can separate from the team in advance and take a detour to the Liyang Sect! Of course, I understand that this could pose many dangers, so don’t worry, Friend Xu, I am willing to offer enough Spirit Stones to compensate for your trip!”

“However, if Friend Xu is unwilling, I won’t force it. Tomorrow, I will leave the team along with Ning’er and go solo!”

As she said this, Lan Shijin kept a humble tone, while Leng Yuening was so nervous that she dared not meet his eyes.

Clearly, both of them were afraid that Xu Mu would not agree.

If they were to leave Xu Mu’s team, they would have a hard time finding a new, trustworthy group in a short period of time.

Seeing the two of them appearing so anxious, Xu Mu couldn’t help but smile with bemusement.

It wasn’t as if this was a major issue. Why all the fuss?

“Friend Lan, don’t worry! How about this? Tomorrow, I will have a talk with him and persuade him to give up,” Xu Mu said, attempting to allay their fears with a laugh.

“Friend Xu, are you joking with me?”

Lan Shijin, raising her eyebrows, looked at him disbelievingly.

Leng Yuening also gazed at him with an odd look in her eyes.

If the problem was that easy to solve, they wouldn’t have singled out Xu Mu to discuss these issues ahead of time.

“I never joke about such matters, Friend Lan. Rest assured, I will give him a reason that he absolutely can’t refuse!” Xu Mu said, smiling slightly.

Although both mother and daughter were full of doubt and disbelief, they decided to trust Xu Mu for the time being, seeing as there were still a few days left.

“I believe he is on patrol tonight, and Lady Yue Ning could feign illness and not go. I think he would agree to that!”

“Also, after this matter is settled, I have a favor to ask of you, Friend Lan!”

Late at night!

As the wind rustled the branches and leaves, the faint moonlight illuminated the path. Xiao Yi, accompanied by more than ten cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Mid-Stage, walked on a recently carved out road.

To maintain a clear view, they would always clear a patch of land using their skills before resting.

Thankfully, they were all cultivators, otherwise making camp in the densely forested woodland would have been a complicated ordeal.

“Friend Xiao, I’ve heard that you’re taking Friend Leng as a concubine. Congratulations!”

As they patrolled, they exchanged words. One of them, who knew about Xiao Yi’s intention of taking a concubine, congratulated him.

Xiao Yi’s interest in Leng Yuening was obvious to everyone, so no one was surprised.

What amazed them was that Xiao Yi, on the cusp of reaching the Cloud Peak Mountain Range, still had the mood to take a concubine.

Beyond the Baihe Forest lay the Cloud Peak Mountain Range. Beyond this mountain range was the territory where the Liyang Sect was situated.

Of their journey, the Cloud Peak Mountain Range was the most dangerous part.

“Congratulations, Friend Xiao!”

“Congratulations, Friend Xiao!”

Although some of them didn’t like Xiao Yi, they still put on an enthusiastic face and congratulated him.

“Haha! My friends are too kind! If things go well, I shall invite you all to celebrate with drinks!” Xiao Yi said, his mood buoyant.

Indeed, he had never thought that she would not agree.

Under the current circumstances, would denying his request result in their survival?

It was a pity that his method could only be used by young girls; otherwise, he would even include Lan Shijin in his plan.

“There’s no way that a person of Friend Xiao’s standing can fail!” someone flattering him chimed in.

“Exactly! I’m waiting for the wedding feast! Ha ha!”

“It’s a shame that Friend Leng isn’t here today!”

“Perhaps she’s shy! Aren’t all women like that?”

The group laughed, and Xiao Yi didn’t seem to mind.

Rustle!

Suddenly, sounds emerged from the surrounding forest. The chatting party members immediately responded, forming a clear defense line.

Two cultivators immediately performed a hand seal and chanted a spell, releasing two green wind blades.

Puff! Puff!

The sound of sharp blades slicing through flesh echoed.

“Chirp! Chirp!”

Then came a strange call.

Someone used a luminous skill to check.

Under the light, there was a grey rat, the size of a washbowl, split in half by the wind blade.

“Looks like we are lucky today! We’ve found prey right at the outset!”

A cultivator laughed, stepping forward to stow the grey rat into his storage bag.

Although the grey rat was the lowest rank one-tier monster beast, a monster beast is still a monster beast. This grey rat, after the fur and viscera were removed, would provide at least ten jins of pure meat, equivalent to ten lower-grade spirit stones. This was not a small harvest for an ordinary cultivator.

Of course, the money was to be shared equally, and without doubt, Xiao Yi would take the lion’s share, despite not having lifted a finger.

“We are already close to the 500-mile radius. Soon, we will leave the periphery and enter the Cloud Peak Mountain Range. From now on, we will encounter more and more monster beasts!”

“As long as we don’t encounter a tier-four monster beast of the Foundation Establishment Stage!”

“With so many of us, even if we encounter a tier-four monster beast, we are not guaranteed to lose, should we decide to fight!”

“Don’t be naive! Foundation Establishment Stage and Qi Cultivation Stage are entirely different. No matter how many people we have, it won’t help!”

The group reformed their original formation, chatted, and continued patrolling.

Thud! Thud!

The dark forest stirred again, this time from their left front. However, the sound was a bit peculiar, like footsteps.

Swish! Swish!

The group didn’t hesitate, releasing several wind blades again.

Yet this time, apart from cutting off some branches, the attack hit no flesh.

“Use Fireball Skill!” Xiao Yi ordered calmly.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Four people launched their fireballs simultaneously, looking like falling stars landing where the sound had come from.

Fireball Skills exploded, illuminating the area and revealing a large and burly figure with a fearsome face.

The man held a longsword and walked slowly towards the group.

It’s the murderer!!

The group was startled.

Although they had never seen the man, they had heard rumors about him more than once these past few days.

Nobody knew where this murderer came from; all they knew was that he was incredibly strong, capable of easily wiping out several individuals at the Mid-phase of Qi Cultivation.

“Who are you, sir? Please halt!”

Xiao Yi shouted loudly.

The man didn’t reply and continued to approach them.

“Activate the body protection skill! Everyone, use your magic artifacts to attack! Alert the others!”

Xiao Yi’s face turned cold. He slapped his storage bag and released several golden flying knives that turned into a dazzling light, shooting towards the man.

The others, after an initial panic, were influenced by Xiao Yi and quickly released their magic artifacts. Various artifacts flickered, almost completely enveloping the man.

What happened next left everyone dripping with cold sweat.

Frame in the face of everyone’s attack, the man made a horizontal leap and nimbly sidestepped, avoiding their magic artifact attacks. Meanwhile, he continued to walk towards them slowly but steadily.

He moved slowly, as if strolling leisurely in a courtyard, but every step seemed to stomp on their hearts.

An intangible pressure made the pressure in the hearts of the group grow more and more intense.

What sort of freak is he?

His reaction speed is incredibly high!

This thought emerged in everyone’s minds.

“Use skills! Restrain his movements!

As Xiao Yi retreated, he spoke, cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

The newcomer’s methods were too strange.

How could a cultivator dodge the combined attack of more than ten people with his physical reactions alone?

“Hold on! The others…”

Just as Xiao Yi was trying to comfort the group and stall for time, the man’s movement suddenly erupted, and his figure disappeared.

The next moment, he appeared right in front of him as if teleporting.

Boom!

Fierce winds surged!

A single person caused a gust of wind, making the protective spiritual light all over the cultivators waver violently, as if it was about to shatter at any moment.

“You’re… too slow!

Swish!

The longsword emitted a red glow, like a streak of lightning lighting up the entire night, slashing through Xiao Yi.

Crack!

The protective spiritual light shattered!

A red line of blood merged with the sword light, extending from the red floral pattern on Xiao Yi’s forehead to his lower body.

“You… you…”

Xiao Yi’s eyes widened, his mouth twitched, and the talisman he just pulled out was gripped tightly in his hand, as he stood still.

“Too weak!

The man muttered disappointedly. Then, grabbing Xiao Yi’s body, he disappeared from the group’s sight in the blink of an eye.

By now, the other Late-phase Qi Cultivators arrived in a hurry..