After ten days of fasting, Nangong Si and Ye Wangxi were able to set off for Mount Jiao. Since Naobaijin had been wounded, his vitality was greatly damaged; for the time being, he wouldn’t be able to carry his master on a long journey. So, this huge faewolf transformed itself into a cub the size of a palm and jumped into Nangong Si’s quiver, sticking his fluffy head out.

     Mo Ran escorted the two to the entrance of Sisheng Peak, stroking the mane of the fine horse beside him as he smiled, “Mount Jiao is far away, and it takes a lot of energy to ride the sword, so these two horses are for you. They grew up eating spiritual herbs, and can travel a thousand miles in a day. Although they aren’t as powerful as Naobaijin, they can still get by.”

     Nangong Si thanked Mo Ran, both he and Ye Wangxi mounting their horses. They bowed their heads and clasped their fists as Nangong Si said, “Thank you, Mo-xiong. There’s no need to send us off, we’ll meet again someday.”

     “Well, be careful along the way.”

     He stood at the entrance of the mountain, watching Nangong Si and Ye Wangxi gradually fade into the distance. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly heard a crunching sound from the woods to his left. It sounded as if a dead branch had snapped and fallen to the ground.

     “Meow…”

     Mo Ran narrowed his eyes slightly and murmured, “A cat?”

     On the other side, Ye Wangxi and Nangong Si were riding side by side as they went down the mountain. They still had to cross the desolate path from Sisheng Peak to Wuchang Town. The sunlight spilled through the mottled branches and leaves, and with every step of the horse’s hooves, the scattered light was trampled into specks of dust.

     Nangong Si looked sideways at Ye Wangxi and was just about to say something when Naobaijin, who had already disappeared back into the quiver, suddenly popped his head out, revealing two snow-white paws. “Aoo—Aoo—” He howled twice, and Nangong Si snapped his reins and shouted, “Look out!”

     As soon as the words left his mouth, a torrential rain of darts shot towards them from all directions. Nangong Si and Ye Wangxi drew their swords at the same time. The two of them had trained together since childhood, so they had a tacit understanding of each other.

     They leapt into the air, one on the left and one on the right. Nangong Si wielded his sword on the left, while Ye Wangxi wielded her sword on the right. With a series of clinking sounds, the poisoned plum blossom darts fell to the ground one after another.

     Immediately after, Ye Wangxi raised her hand and threw a talisman, causing a barrier to envelop them both.

     “Who are you?!” Nangong Si shouted sternly.

     The sunlight was dim, but it was not obscured by the clouds. They clearly saw a person standing on a slender branch. He was wearing a wide robe with long sleeves, his beard and long hair flying in the wind. He stood against the light, looking down at them with hatred.

     He was the older cousin of the former Sect Leader of Jiangdong Hall—Huang Xiaoyue.

     He stood on the branch like an immortal. He didn’t make a sound, and only stared coldly at Ye Wangxi’s face. Soon after, the forest was filled with rustling sounds, and more than a hundred Jiangdong Hall disciples walked out of the forest, each of them with bright red headbands. They were all elite disciples of Jiangdong Hall.

     Huang Xiaoyue stroked his beard and said, “Were the two of you comfortable at Sisheng Peak? You hid there for ten days and ten nights before coming out. You really made this old man wait a long time.”

     Nangong Si was furious, “Huang Xiaoyue, why is it you again?!”

     “So what if it’s me?” Huang Xiaoyue said coldly. “You’re well aware of the enmity between Jiangdong Hall and Rufeng Sect.”

     Nangong Si gritted his teeth and said, “From Linyi to Sichuan, we have repelled the attacks by your disciples four times, and you still want to chase us? What enmity? Aren’t you finished? Xu Shuanglin revealed the truth; your sister-in-law killed your younger brother, and you still come to us again to argue with us about it. Where is your face?!”

     “Face? This old man thinks that little gongzi is the one who really doesn’t care about face,” Huang Xiaoyue said gloomily. “It was clearly your Rufeng Sect that caused my Jiangdong Hall to suffer great loss and fall apart. Don’t tell me you dare to deny it?”

     Ye Wangxi said, “Even if Your Excellency wants to seek revenge against Rufeng Sect, you should do it openly and honorably. What kind of act is this assassination attempt?”

     “Shut up. When men speak, it’s not up to a little girl like you to open your mouth.” Huang Xiaoyue flicked his sleeve, “Don’t think that just because your beastly father raised you as a man, that you’re really a man. A little girl will always be a little girl. A woman like you should be cooking in the kitchen. What qualifications do you have to come out and show off in front of me?”

     Nangong Si roared in anger, “Huang Xiaoyue, be reasonable!”

     “Very well. Then this old man will talk sense into you and settle the score.” Huang Xiaoyue pointed at Nangong Si and said sternly, “Your father had no regard for honor, or shame. He shamelessly had an affair with a married woman and enticed that wicked woman to kill my younger brother and usurp power. As for the one next to you—”

     He fiercely pointed at Ye Wangxi again, “She is the daughter of a beast. Her foster father has spread my Jiangdong Hall’s private affairs to the world, damaging our great and noble name. Today, this old man has personally led our sect’s finest talents to intercept you criminals, all in order to return justice to Jiangdong Hall and to the world!”

     He waved his hand, and the hundred disciples, who were like tigers eyeing their prey, immediately rushed forward to attack. But they had only just emerged from the forest when a burst of flame suddenly flew from the sky, fiercely ripping through the wind and throwing those disciples several feet away.

     Nangong Si was shocked, “Mo-xiong?”

     The person who had come was none other than Mo Ran. He stood on top of a tree opposite to Huang Xiaoyue, staring coldly at him with a menacing willow vine in his hand.

     Huang Xiaoyue didn’t expect that Mo Ran would appear. His expression instantly turned ugly, and only after a long time did his mouth move to say, “Mo-zongshi, how did you find the interest to come to the foot of the mountain to watch the show?”

     “Then we should ask Elder’s disciples why they don’t just become honorable people, but instead insist on hiding in the forest and learning to meow like cats?”

     Huang Xiaoyue’s expression was very gloomy. He scowled and said, enraged, “What does zongshi mean?”

     “I should be the one asking Elder Huang this question,” Mo Ran said. “In the boundary of Sisheng Peak, attacking Sisheng Peak’s guests, Elder Huang, do you think that my mountain gate is too clean and tidy, and intend to spill some blood on the ground?”

     “Since we’re already out of the mountain gate, it’s not up to your sect to interfere. I am avenging my deceased brother, there is no need for Mo-zongshi to involve himself!”

     Mo Ran replied, “Elder Huang is right. Personal grudges are not under the jurisdiction of Sisheng Peak after leaving the mountain gate.”

     Huang Xiaoyue snorted coldly, “Then why won’t zongshi move out of the way?”

     Mo Ran didn’t move. The bloody light from Jiangui became even brighter, the willow leaves looking almost like a string of bloody beads. He said, “But what if I want to manage it myself?”

     “You—!”

     Huang Xiaoyue was not unaware of Mo Ran’s strength, but he was unwilling to give up his revenge. He could only threaten angrily, “Mo-zongshi, are you trying to make an enemy of Jiangdong Hall?!”

     “I didn’t mean it that way,” Mo Ran said. “I just want my honored guests to leave Sichuan safely. As for whether it’s Jiangdong Hall, or Jiangxi Hall stopping me, it’s all the same.”

     Huang Xiaoyue narrowed his eyes. The hatred in his brown eyes could almost turn into a visible flame, burning Mo Ran and the cypress tree he was standing on into ashes.

     “You insist on protecting these two remnants of Rufeng Sect?” he asked.

     “What do the remnants say?” Mo Ran asked coldly, “I ask Elder, how much involvement did Miss Ye and Nangong-gongzi have in the Jiangdong Hall incidents?”

     “...”

     “Did they plan the internal strife in Jiangdong Hall? Or did they reveal the scandal of Jiangdong Hall?” Mo Ran looked at Huang Xiaoyue and asked, “Did they kill the former Sect Leader, or deliberately participate in the murder of your brother?”

     “So what?!” Huang Xiaoyue said angrily. “The son must pay the father’s debt! It’s perfectly justified!”

     “How righteous,” Mo Ran said indifferently. “Alright, that’s enough talk. I don’t see the need to reason with Elder Huang any longer. The weapons will speak for themselves, let’s fight.”

     Huang Xiaoyue was furious, and he shouted, “Mo Weiyu! You are so unreasonable!”

     “Interesting, who’s the unreasonable one?”

     At this moment, another voice came from the mountain path, their tone unruly. Xue Meng slowly walked out of the forest, wielding Longcheng, the hilt cold and sharp; when the sun shone on it, it was so dazzling that one could barely open their eyes.

     “Shouting and trying to kill people in front of my house? Why is Jiangdong Hall at Sisheng Peak? Are you courting death?”

     Even if it was only Mo Ran before, Huang Xiaoyue wasn’t sure if they could defeat him. With their numbers, they might have been able to slip from his grasp and take advantage of the situation to kill their enemy, but now that the Little Phoenix Xue Meng was stepping out… He was the proud darling of the heavens, who won first place at the Spiritual Mountain Competition. Who didn’t know about the ferocity of Longcheng in his hands?

     At this moment, both brothers had appeared in front of the mountain gate to protect Nangong Si and Ye Wangxi. No matter how hard Huang Xiaoyue tried, it would be impossible to exploit the situation and find an opening.

     When Mo Ran saw Xue Meng arrive, his face turned grave. He said to Xue Meng, “Go back.”

     “Let me help you—”

     “This matter has nothing to do with Sisheng Peak. I’m helping out of selfishness, so don’t interfere.”

     Mo Ran frowned and wondered if his younger brother was stupid. Although Jiangdong Hall’s strength was no longer the same, they were still one of the nine great sects of the upper cultivation world.

     Moreover, the niece of Jiangdong Hall’s old Hall Master was married to the eldest brother of Huohuang Pavilion. If Xue Meng were to come to their aid, it would clearly mean using the name of Sisheng Peak to shed all pretense of cordiality with two great sects of the upper cultivation world.

     It definitely couldn’t be done.

     Mo Ran said, “Go back quickly.”

     However, Xue Meng was a simple-minded person. He didn’t understand the subtle difference between them, and was annoyed that Mo Ran didn’t want his help. While they were at a stalemate, they suddenly saw dust flying in the distance, until a snow-white horse could be seen.

     The person on the horse was dressed in snow-white clothes. She had an extremely beautiful appearance and carried a pipa on her back. It was an immortal lady from Taxue Palace of Mount Kunlun.

     “Urgent news! Emergency report—!”

     She spurred the horse forward and shouted in a clear voice. However, when she turned the corner and saw the scene at the foot of the mountain, she suddenly pulled on the reins. She was stunned for a moment, and only sat astride the horse, blinking blankly.

     “Urgent… uh… This is… What are you doing?”

     Due to the sudden arrival of the messenger from Taxue Palace, Mo Ran and Huang Xiaoyue were not able to fight. Instead, they were invited by Xue Zhengyong back to Sisheng Peak, along with Ye Wangxi and Nangong Si.

     The immortal lady of Taxue Palace stood in Loyalty Hall. She bowed respectfully and said, “Urgent news, we’ve found a lead on Xu Shuanglin’s whereabouts.”

     As soon as she said this, Ye Wangxi’s expression suddenly changed, and all of the blood drained from her face.

     The immortal lady said, “Our sect released over ten thousand jade butterflies to track him down, and two of them have finally returned. Since then, we have found that there was a strange spell around Mount Huang. The Palace Master suspects that Xu Shuanglin should be hiding there, and specifically ordered us to rush to all the major sects to report it to them and discuss what to do next.”

     Xue Zhengyong was surprised, “You found him just like that?”

     The immortal lady replied, “We can’t be sure, but the jade butterflies reported that the bloody aura around Mount Huang has been lingering for days. It hasn’t dissipated at all. It has already become a phenomenon, so it shouldn’t be too far from the mark.”

     Xue Zhengyong stood up, “Good! Now that we have a clue, let’s not delay any longer. What does your Palace Master think?”

     “The Palace Master and Sect Leader share similar views. He also feels that the matter should not be delayed, and there’s no time to lose. We should go there as soon as possible to investigate.”

     “Great!” Xue Zhengyong turned to Huang Xiaoyue and said, “Elder Huang, why don’t we go together? If we are able to successfully capture the culprit, Xu Shuanglin, we can avenge your brother’s death.”

     Huang Xiaoyue’s heart thudded. He knew very well that his chances of killing Xu Shuanglin were very slim. Moreover, this so-called revenge was just a pretense. How much could his younger brother’s death have to do with these two juniors, Nangong Si and Ye Wangxi?

     Although he was shouting the phrase of avenging his younger brother, he actually had other shrewd plans in mind.

     It should be known that after the calamity, Jiangdong Hall’s strength had declined significantly. He had long since heard that Rufeng Sect was hiding precious treasure, so he planned to capture both Ye Wangxi and Nangong Si in one fell swoop, and force them to give up its location for his own use.

     Huang Xiaoyue clenched his fists under the sleeves of his robe. After weighing the pros and cons for a long time, he squeezed out a shriveled up smile and said, “We still don’t know whether the one on Mount Huang is Xu Shuanglin, or not. Moreover, Jiangdong Hall has already formed a grudge with Rufeng Sect. This is not a personal grudge, but a major matter that concerns the reputation of my sect. We must settle this properly.”

     “That’s right,” Xue Zhengyong said. “Then, we should first find Xu Shuanglin and settle our personal grudges, then settle the grudges with Rufeng Sect?”

     “Interesting words from Sect Leader Xue. Rufeng Sect is now a pile of scorched earth. How do you want me to settle this?”

     “I don’t know. I’d have to ask Elder Huang himself.” Xue Zhengyong smiled and said, “Why should Elder be in such a hurry to exterminate these two juniors when Rufeng Sect is already in ruins?”

     “You—!” Huang Xiaoyue flicked his sleeve and rebuked, “This is my personal matter.”

     Xue Meng said with a smirk, “Just now, you said it was a major matter that concerns the reputation of your sect, but now it’s a personal matter. Jiangdong Hall is one of the nine major sects of the upper cultivation world, how can you act so casually?”

     Huang Xiaoyue knew he was in the wrong, but he didn’t know how to defend himself, so he simply remained silent. He glared fiercely at Xue Zhengyong, then waved his sleeve and led his group of Jiangdong Hall disciples out of Sisheng Peak’s gate, taking the lead in heading towards Mount Huang on their swords.

     Ye Wangxi was extremely apologetic, bowing to Xue Zhengyong, “Sect Leader Xue, I’m truly sorry. We—”

     “Even when a nestling falls into the net, the hunter will not kill it.” Watching the members of Jiangdong Hall leave, the smile on Xue Zhengyong’s face slowly disappeared. His gaze became cold as he said, “It is Jiangdong Hall who has gone too far.”

     He looked at the sky outside of the main hall, his brows knitted together. After a moment, he sighed and said, “Let’s go to Mount Huang.”

     Mount Huang was very far away, so the group chose to travel by sword. When they arrived, there was already a large group of cultivators gathered at the foot of the mountain. The remaining great sects of the cultivation world had all already arrived.

     Chu Wanning was the first to come down from his sword, his steps slightly unsteady and his face pale. Fortunately, his skin was already very fair to begin with, so the people around him didn’t notice anything strange. But Mo Ran noticed. He walked over and gently rubbed the back of his hand while no one was looking.

     “Shizun, you flew very well.”

     “Hmm.”

     Mo Ran smiled and insisted, “It’s true.”

     Chu Wanning coughed lightly and turned his gaze away.

     Looking up, there was indeed a layer of demonic qi at the top of Mount Huang, it was even visible to the naked eye. The other eight sect leaders had all already arrived. However, there was a large boundary surrounding the mountain, reaching into the sky. The sect leaders all poured their spiritual energy into it, and Xue Zhengyong immediately rushed over to help.

     The disciples of Sisheng Peak all arrived one after another, and after a while, Xue Meng had arrived as well. He landed steadily beside the two, and as soon as he saw the scene in front of him, he frowned and asked, “What are they doing? Why aren’t they going up the mountain?”

     Mo Ran explained, “It’s not that they don’t want to go up, but that they can’t.”

     Xue Meng was puzzled, “Why?”

     Chu Wanning replied, “Mount Huang is one of the four great evil mountains of the cultivation world. This mountain is very strange, and it’s not easy to enter.”

     Xue Meng was a little surprised, “I only know of the four great sacred mountains. Which four?”

     Chu Wanning said, “Mount Jiao, Mount Jia—”

     Xue Meng stared, “A fake mountain?”

     “...Black Tortoise Armor.”

     “Oh, oh.” Xue Meng’s face turned red, “Yes.”

     “Mount Liao, and this mountain in front of us, Mount Huang.” Chu Wanning paused for a moment, then continued, “This is the bloody past of the cultivation world. Nowadays, it is rarely mentioned. The only way to learn about the four great evil mountains is to find the records yourself.”

     “Then, why would there be such a thing as an evil mountain?” Xue Meng asked.

     Chu Wanning didn’t answer directly, but instead asked Xue Meng, “Do you still remember when the first Sect Leader of Rufeng Sect subdued the demonic Jiao Dragon?”

     “I remember,” Xue Meng said. “It was he who defeated the demonic dragon in the east sea and sealed it in Jingu Tower. Later, he made a blood pact with it to make it his own.

     “After the Sect Leader died, the demonic dragon turned into a mountain—the dragon’s tendons became the earth’s mantle, its blood became the river, its bones became mountain rocks, and its armor became the trees. This mountain has been guarding the tombs of Rufeng Sect’s disciples for generations. It is known as the Hero’s Tomb.”

     Chu Wanning nodded, “That’s right. Mount Jiao was formed by the Azure Dragon’s demonic spirit. As you know, the four auspicious beasts are the Azure Dragon, the Vermillion Bird, the White Tiger, and the Black Tortoise respectively. But under these four auspicious beasts, evil descendants would also be born, stirring up trouble everywhere.”

     Xue Meng slowly understood, “So, the remaining mountains are like Mount Jiao, formed by the spirits of evil beasts?”

     “Yes.”

     “Then, Mount Huang is… the Vermillion Bird?” Xue Meng asked. He looked up at the beastly mountain, shrouded in gloom, and saw that it was tall in the middle, and flat on both sides, like a phoenix with its neck outstretched.

     Chu Wanning nodded, “That’s right. In addition, each of the four great evil mountains have their own demonic abilities. For example, Mount Jiao only allows the descendants of Rufeng Sect to enter; trespassers will be dragged into the earth by the dragon’s tendons, buried alive. Mount Huang is also the same.”

     “But it’s so strange.” Xue Meng turned his head to look at the Sect Leaders, casting their spells. His father was there too. He continued, “Mount Jiao belongs to Rufeng Sect, everyone knows this. So, what about Mount Huang? Don’t we just need to find a descendant of the sect who subdued the Vermillion Bird and bring them here?”

     Mo Ran, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke, “That person died unexpectedly not long ago. If she was still alive, we could have done that.”

     Xue Meng was stunned for a moment, “You know who it is?”

     “I know,” Mo Ran said indifferently. “It’s a woman we all know.”