In an inn in Huai City, Chu Commandery. A man dressed in homespun cloth sat by a window table, sipping wine and eating meat.
A long saber was sheathed at his waist. "Guest, your mutton platter!" A waiter rushed over, setting the dish on the table.
"Please, enjoy, sir." As he turned to leave, he brushed against the man's left arm. Strangely...
the waiter's movement caused the sleeve of that left arm to billow outward. One-armed!
His left arm was gone! The man glanced at his missing limb, then indifferently returned to his drinking and eating.
The loss of the arm was a matter from long ago. In the past, he had known despair and madness, but time had smoothed those edges.
After twenty years of arduous training, he had regained powerful strength. He was now more composed, and far more terrifying, than the favored prodigy he had been two decades prior.
"Did you hear? Yesterday afternoon, Ironclad Sect dispatched an elite force of over a hundred masters from Chu City in Chu Commandery, heading toward Xuyang Commandery.
Leading that contingent was the Ironclad Sect Elder, 'Wei Canglong.' Ten years ago, he was ranked on the Earth Ranking." Near the one-armed man, a few martial artists at another table were discussing the matter. The one-armed man sneered.
Wei Canglong? Masters emerge ceaselessly in this world; fail to progress, and you will be replaced by newcomers.
Wei Canglong’s placement on the Earth Ranking a decade ago was merely seventy-first among the sect's experts. Now, he had undoubtedly been superseded by stronger martial artists.
Still, to hold a brief position on the Earth Ranking attested to the Ironclad Sect Elder’s strength. "Why would Ironclad Sect send masters to Xuyang Commandery?
Are they trying to control Xuyang Commandery?" "You are mistaken. Do you not know that news broke yesterday from the Flaming Mountain area in Xuyang Commandery—a juvenile Red-Scaled Beast has appeared!
And it's been devouring people in a village called 'Jin Family Estate.' Many martial artists witnessed it, tracking it all the way into the Flaming Mountain. That beast is only a juvenile, nearly ten feet tall!
Do you know what the appearance of a Red-Scaled Beast signifies?" the young martial artist said proudly. The one-armed man's body trembled slightly.
A juvenile Red-Scaled Beast? "The emergence of a Red-Scaled Beast means the presence of a Blackfire Spirit Fruit and a Blackfire Spirit Root!
A martial artist at the Houtian Peak, upon consuming the Blackfire Spirit Fruit, is rumored to be able to ascend to the Xiantian realm!" the young martial artist explained, instantly causing a stir. "Even just consuming the Blackfire Spirit Root directly elevates one to the First-Rate Martial Artist level!" The one-armed man drank a cup of wine, his gaze growing deeper.
Juvenile Red-Scaled Beast? Blackfire Spirit Fruit?
"Waiter! Check, please!" the one-armed man said coolly.
"Right away, sir. That will be six diao plus twenty large coins." He tossed down some fragmented silver, weighing about seven qian.
"Is this enough?" The waiter, accustomed to handling coinage, judged the weight instantly. "Enough, enough." The one-armed man immediately walked out, collected his horse, and hurried toward the Flaming Mountain area.
"Blackfire Spirit Fruit! I must have it!" The one-armed man's gaze turned sharp.
... What transpired in the inn was commonplace.
Huai City was close to the Flaming Mountain, so news reached it almost the next day. The information spread like wildfire—one telling ten, ten telling a hundred—erupting outward in all directions.
Countless martial artists surged forth, whether to contend for the Blackfire Spirit Fruit, the Blackfire Spirit Root, or simply to watch the excitement. Everyone knew that the Flaming Mountain would become an incredibly bustling place over the next month or two.
Experts from both Yangzhou and the northern Qingzhou Commandery would have time to reach the site. Such a congregation of masters would be a rare spectacle.
Perhaps many formidable figures would appear: experts from the Earth Ranking, the Latent Dragon Ranking, and the Fledgling Phoenix Ranking. ...
A caravan moved slowly along the official road. Large convoys involving numerous merchants typically hired many guards.
These guards varied in strength; the most powerful ones enjoyed a comfortable existence inside the carriages, reluctant to exert themselves unless absolutely necessary. Creak.
Creak. As the wheels rolled, on one of the cargo carts, a youth dressed plainly, barefoot, sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his left hand gripping his Zhanmadao (Horse-Slaying Saber).
No one dared disturb this youth. Initially, the other guards looked down on this plainly dressed, barefoot young man.
Two guards once attempted to extort him. To their shock...
the other guards only saw a flash of crimson light before the two attackers collapsed onto the ground, their throats slit. The rest of the guards were utterly terrified.
The youth had drawn his blade, slain two men, and returned the blade to its sheath. They hadn't even perceived the movement!
The speed of the draw, the swiftness of the strike, was too appalling. From then on, these guards never dared to provoke the barefoot youth again.
"Did you hear when we rested at the last inn? That juvenile Red-Scaled Beast appeared near Flaming Mountain in Xuyang Commandery.
Once that beast matures and consumes the Blackfire Spirit Fruit, it will stand over three zhang tall and measure five or six zhang long..." The other guards chatted as they advanced. The barefoot youth, who had been meditating with his eyes shut, snapped them open.
"Blackfire Spirit Fruit? Blackfire Spirit Root?" The youth squinted, his gaze as cold and fierce as that of a lone wolf.
A faint smile touched his lips: "These guards speak the truth. This event will surely draw tens of thousands of martial artists!
I have wandered the world, eating cold meals and sleeping rough, for eight years. Those so-called Houtian Peak martial artists are not even a match for a single move from me!
Now, with so many masters gathered, it is time for me, 'Yan Tie,' to make my name known after eight years of harsh cultivation! To simultaneously rank on the Latent Dragon Ranking and the Earth Ranking—Master will surely be pleased when he hears!
And if I also obtain the Blackfire Spirit Fruit..." Thinking this, the barefoot youth hesitated no longer. He picked up the bundle beside him and sprang up.
Whoosh! With one kick, he sent a guard riding a warhorse flying, then smoothly settled himself onto the saddle.
He snapped the reins, and the warhorse bolted forward at a gallop. "My horse!" the guard cried out.
Thud! A hard object struck the guard on the head.
He looked down to see a lump of gold. "So stingy," the guard grumbled, running toward the cargo cart.
"My warhorse cost nearly a hundred liang of silver, and he couldn't give a bit more." The guard temporarily rode on the cargo cart. "Brother, you're lucky that killing god even gave you gold.
If he hadn't, what could you have done?" the other guards laughed mockingly. "Where did that killing god go?" "Who knows?
It’s unnerving having him around; I feel uneasy here!" The guards left midway through the journey. The merchants paid them no mind, nor could they interfere.
Furthermore, the merchants paid half the agreed silver upon departure and the rest upon arrival, so they risked no loss if a guard absconded. ** Whether driven by the desire for the Blackfire Spirit Fruit, the Blackfire Spirit Root, curiosity, or the ambition to make a name for themselves amidst the gathered experts, everyone who heard the news rushed toward Flaming Mountain!
There were solitary cultivators who wandered the world, eating cold meals and sleeping rough, whose sole aim was to achieve sudden fame—this was the perfect opportunity! There were renowned figures who, though accomplished, still yearned to reach the Xiantian realm!
There were those burdened by deep-seated hatred, desperate to rapidly increase their strength for revenge! There were sightseers!
There were disciples of hidden, peerless experts emerging, eager to spread their names across the world! ...
In short, all manner of people converged upon Flaming Mountain. ** In a grand mansion in Huacheng, Xuyang Commandery.
This residence served as a temporary station for the Guiyuan Sect within Huacheng, where Teng Qingshan and his group were staying. "Flaming Mountain has truly become lively these past two days," Teng Qingshan said, standing at the window of a pavilion, drinking wine and occasionally sweeping his gaze across the distant streets.
"So many martial artists have converged on Flaming Mountain; hundreds are already gathered in just two days! They’ve opened three new inns out there!" The crowd was immense, and the truly powerful martial artists did not quibble over money.
The inns seized the opportunity to earn a large profit, leading to the rapid construction of three new establishments near Flaming Mountain. "But that juvenile Red-Scaled Beast is certainly cunning!
It hasn't shown itself at all these past two days. I've searched the Flaming Mountain three times, but I haven't found a trace of it," Teng Qingshan admitted, having tried every means to locate it.
The beast had clearly sensed danger. However, Teng Qingshan was certain of one thing: the Red-Scaled Beast would not leave its lair until it had consumed the Blackfire Spirit Fruit.
"Cousin is truly diligent," Teng Qingshan remarked, glancing toward the courtyard below where his cousin, Teng Qinghu, was practicing the spear technique, Blazing Fire Five Forms. "Hmm?" In his peripheral vision, Teng Qingshan noticed a large contingent of figures clad in heavy black armor, riding black warhorses, appearing on the distant street.
Among them were many who wore no heavy armor. Teng Qingshan recognized the two leading figures immediately!
The one with silver-white hair and a severe gaze was the First Commander, 'Ji Hong,' and the woman beside him, expressionless and clad in black fitted clothing, was the Fourth Commander, 'Guan Lü.' Dong! Dong!
Dong! Teng Qingshan immediately descended the stairs and walked toward the front gate, where the person in charge of this station, 'Yang Ta,' was already waiting.
"Two Commanders, greetings," Yang Ta said respectfully. "Leave these warhorses to my men; please, come inside and rest." He waved his hand, and a group of servants rushed forward to take the reins.
The large, imposing group entered, led by Ji Hong and Guan Lü. "Commander," Teng Qingshan greeted the two, clasping his hands in salute.
"Haha, Qingshan!" Ji Hong’s face broke into a smile upon seeing Teng Qingshan. He strode over and clapped him on the shoulder.
"You've brought great honor to our Guiyuan Sect this time by defeating Meng Tian, haha... Tell me, did you really kill Meng Tian?" Meng Tian’s corpse had vanished without a trace, and since no one else was present at the time, no one could verify if Teng Qingshan was responsible.
"Of course, I killed him," Teng Qingshan replied. "Good, good." Ji Hong’s smile deepened, then he turned.
"This is Commander Guan! Commander Guan and I have been dispatched by the Sect Master, leading thirty elite Black Armored Army soldiers and thirty core disciple experts.
Even though the emergence of the Red-Scaled Beast has drawn a vast number of masters, our Guiyuan Sect is determined to secure that treasure! Qingshan, don't hold back when the time comes!" Whether he defeated or killed Meng Tian, Teng Qingshan possessed at least the strength of an Earth Ranking expert, and an expert of that caliber could prove highly valuable in the contest for the Blackfire Spirit Fruit.
"Yes, Commander," Teng Qingshan answered. Suddenly, his gaze locked onto a broad-shouldered, burly man standing behind Ji Hong.
This elite expert of the Black Armored Army looked back at Teng Qingshan with curiosity. "Brother, are you...
are you Li Jinfu?" Teng Qingshan clearly remembered the genius from the Li Family Estate who once carried a 122-jin wolf-tooth mace.