She didn't mention that Lu Yun and his group were devoured by the savage beast swarm, leading Ji Changkong to mistakenly believe she was responsible again. He inwardly felt he owed this woman yet another favor.
Hearing of the demise of Lu Yun and the others, a shade of gloom crossed Ji Changkong's heart. He wondered if he had perhaps been too extreme.
Ji Changkong had never personally killed anyone since childhood. Though Lu Yun's group hadn't died by his direct hand, their deaths were ultimately his doing, leaving him with a peculiar sense of unease.
"Let's go! Aren't there still enemies to pursue? We should keep hunting them down and wipe them all out!" Yu Ziling urged enticingly.
Her words suddenly brought Zhao Meilan back to Ji Changkong's mind. His hatred for Zhao Meilan was definitely far more intense than what he felt for the Old Mother of Mount Wu.
After all, the four scars marring Ji Wanyun's face were the handiwork of Zhao Meilan!
"Good!" With a sudden coldness in his expression, Ji Changkong turned, remounted the Sky Turtle Winged Dragon, and took the lead, continuing to scour the area for Zhao Meilan, Jia Rongfeng, and their party.
Beasts roared, the earth shook, and the vast Dream Lake was thrown into turmoil by the convergence of humans and beasts, making everyone wary of their safety.
This time, things weren't as smooth as before. Ji Changkong and the Sky Turtle Winged Dragon searched for a long time without spotting Zhao Meilan, Jia Rongfeng, or their group. Perhaps they had received word and gone into hiding early.
Yu Ziling was clearly thrilled, seemingly reveling in the chaos she and Ji Changkong were causing in Dream Lake. The cultivators they encountered while following the beast swarm all skirted widely around them, terrified of attracting the attention of the savage beasts and becoming their next meal.
...
They didn't run into Zhao Meilan, but instead encountered the envoys from Southern Yi first.
The envoys dispatched from the nine tribes of Southern Yi toward Mount Tian were easily identifiable by their attire. Each carried a bow and arrows, and they were escorted by Southern Yi Raging Flame Beasts, which bore parcels of varying sizes—parcels clearly heavy with Southern Yi's treasures.
The nefarious individuals targeting these Southern Yi envoys were not just one or two groups. When Ji Changkong and Yu Ziling spotted the envoys moving north from a distance, amidst the savage beasts, they also noticed numerous factions lurking nearby.
The plunderers, composed of powerful cultivators, were clearly far more formidable than the cultivators who had been following Ji Changkong. These individuals seemed to have been tracking the Southern Yi envoys for some time. Many cultivators had gathered into distinct forces: there were Northern Barbarians with clearly distinguishable features, Western Region cultivators in exotic attire, and groups of cultivators from the Eastern Sea, organized by island units.
However, the majority were experts from the major sacred mountains and great rivers of the Central Lands, along with powerful families hailing from the Three Kingdoms of Sacred Martial, Great Chu, and Water Cloud.
A multitude of heroes had gathered, silently lurking in the shadows, all waiting for the opportune moment to strike simultaneously, seizing every Yuan Stone, rare metal, and heavenly material carried by the Southern Yi delegation.
Back when the "Nine Tribes Master of Warriors," Chi Xiao, was active, Southern Yi cultivators had raided the Water Cloud Kingdom extensively, plundering Central Land wealth southward to Southern Yi.
Gu Dan had exterminated Chi Xiao in Sirius Mountain and torn the Nine Yi Divine Archery Scroll into three pages. He left behind the condition that Southern Yi envoys must send one delegate to Mount Tian every ten years to retrieve the remaining three pages.
—Gu Dan had never stated that the Southern Yi envoys must bring tribute.
Yet, every time the people of the Nine Tribes of Southern Yi arrived, they brought vast quantities of treasures, which were invariably plundered before they could ever reach Mount Tian.
In the beginning, everyone feared the Mount Tian Sect Master, Gu Dan, and dared not act so brazenly.
The reason they dared to act this way stemmed from a single statement made by Gu Dan's senior disciple, Xue Biantao: The Sect Master would not accept tribute from Southern Yi; what belonged to the Central Lands, the people of the Central Lands could rightfully reclaim.
Initially, only cultivators from the Central Lands participated in the grand gathering. Later, news spread, and cultivators from the Northern Barbarians, Western Region, and Eastern Sea quietly joined in. Mount Tian neither issued any statement nor took any action.
In everyone's view, Mount Tian had tacitly approved of these actions.
As a result, cultivators from the North, West, and East dared to strike with impunity. After several rounds where Mount Tian remained indifferent, the journey of the Southern Yi envoys to Mount Tian devolved into a series of bloody carnivals.
...
There were over thirty Southern Yi envoys. Many of them had their faces obscured by black veils. Each carried a bow and arrows, and strong fluctuations of primal energy emanated from their bodies.
The leader, a gaunt old man whose face was etched with gloom, kept his head down and remained silent. He, along with several powerful Southern Yi cultivators with profound auras, subtly encircled a person wearing a conical hat atop a Raging Flame Beast in the center—that person appeared to be the principal envoy for this mission.
Ji Changkong, while searching for Zhao Meilan's party atop the Sky Turtle Winged Dragon, and the savage beasts from Poison Dragon Pool trailing behind him, collided directly with the Southern Yi envoys.
The Southern Yi envoys were heading north, and Ji Changkong was heading south—a direct confrontation.
Yu Ziling suddenly bolted out from the ranks of the Green-Eyed Poison Scorpion swarm, surging past Ji Changkong to stand defiantly before the Southern Yi group, pointing at them and declaring, "Leave your belongings behind, and you may go."
Ji Changkong looked utterly bewildered, forcing a wry smile as he spoke to Yu Ziling, "Didn't you only want one thing? Besides, I wasn't planning on robbing anyone."
"You’re being dense! Our advantage is so clear, why wouldn't we seize the chance to profit? Moreover, whatever the Southern Yi people carry is inherently whoever is strongest takes it. Even if we don't take it, someone else will. Wouldn't it be better for us to benefit than others?" Yu Ziling whispered.
The gloomy old man among the Southern Yi people experienced a subtle shift in expression. He seemed unprepared for someone capable of commanding the savage beast swarm of Poison Dragon Pool. He stared grimly at the beasts, daring not to make any rash moves.
The beasts of Poison Dragon Pool were famous not only in Qingyan City but also throughout Southern Yi, as they shared a border with Dream Lake. Comparatively, Poison Dragon Pool was even closer to Southern Yi.
Southern Yi people often ventured into Dream Lake to gather herbs, and their knowledge of the Poison Dragon Pool beasts was even deeper than that of Qingyan City residents.
Consequently, they understood the terrifying nature of these savage beasts. Every time they traveled to Mount Tian, they deliberately chose routes that skirted Poison Dragon Pool, precisely to avoid these swarms!
In the shadows, numerous powerful cultivators from various factions quietly drew closer, observing the unfolding situation from every corner.
These cultivators, drawn from all corners of the realm, had not anticipated such a sudden shift in events. Each wore a strange expression, staring at Ji Changkong perched on the Sky Turtle Winged Dragon, privately inquiring who this person was, capable of riding the sovereign beast of Dream Lake and commanding the multitude of fierce beasts from Poison Dragon Pool.
Soon, some cultivators from Qingyan City revealed Ji Changkong's identity. Cultivators from every faction memorized the Ji family name and Ji Changkong's name instantly.
He was destined to become famous across the world overnight!
The Southern Yi elder's face shifted between light and shadow, seemingly calculating how to handle the situation. Yu Ziling, meanwhile, continuously whispered persuasions to Ji Changkong, trying to convince him to leverage the overwhelming strength of the beast swarm to force the Southern Yi envoys into submission.
To outside observers, the situation appeared deadlocked, with the potential for a massive battle imminent.
"Brother Changkong, are you planning to rob me and my brother?"
Suddenly, a delicate voice drifted from a veiled young woman positioned in the center of the Southern Yi entourage. The veil was lifted, revealing the exquisitely beautiful, refined face of Zhongli Hui.
The Southern Yi envoy wearing the conical hat let out a long sigh, murmuring softly, "Changkong, I am Zhongli Jingyi."
"Ah..."
Ji Changkong started in surprise and quickly waved his hands atop the Sky Turtle Winged Dragon, explaining, "I wasn't here to steal anything; I was looking for people, and we just happened to cross paths. Brother Jingyi, Little Hui, how did you end up as Southern Yi envoys?"
"My brother was one of the candidates from the start. He happened to be chosen this time," Zhongli Hui replied with a relaxed smile, her expression easing upon hearing Ji Changkong's explanation.
The tense Southern Yi individuals visibly relaxed upon hearing the exchange between Zhongli Hui and Ji Changkong, the heavy weight lifting from their chests. However, they remained cautiously watchful of Ji Changkong, fearing he might disregard friendship for the sake of Southern Yi's wealth.
Such immense wealth was enough to turn brothers against each other, let alone a friendship that was uncertain.
"Yu Ziling, I know them. Uh... whatever you want, discuss it with them yourself. You 'acquired' quite a few things from the Old Mother of Mount Wu. I'm acquainted with Brother Zhongli; perhaps they will trade with you." Ji Changkong suggested.
Yu Ziling nodded reluctantly, clearly frustrated. She hadn't expected Ji Changkong to know the delegation. Since the savage beasts wouldn't listen to her, she could only agree to his proposal.
"Young lady, what do you require? As long as it's not excessive, and for Brother Changkong's sake, I can authorize giving it to you immediately!" Zhongli Jingyi, atop the central Raging Flame Beast, suddenly declared heartily.