Chapter 119: Return to Spirit Mountain

Xu Kang never once associated this "Chen Xian" with the flat-topped Chen Xian who had ties to Zhang Xin. Even if his life depended on it, Xu Kang would never believe that a flat-topped man could be a Grandmaster; he had never even heard of a Grandmaster so young.

Zhang Da pondered for a moment and said, "As far as I know, there are only three Grandmasters in the entire Southeast Nine Prefectures. I don't believe the Ma family's claim that they have a Grandmaster named Chen Xian backing them, even though they managed to annex the Xiong family, a martial arts clan in City M. I suspect..."

"What do you suspect?" Xu Kang asked.

Zhang Da replied, "I suspect the Ma family must have a powerful Psychic Master behind them. Only a Psychic Master would have the means to concoct those unique spiritual waters. Furthermore, the methods of a Psychic Master are eerie and unpredictable; martial artists of the same rank struggle to contend with them, which is likely why the Ma family was able to eliminate the Xiong family. Moreover, this Psychic Master definitely hasn't reached the level of a Grandmaster. Grandmasters are like dragons; otherwise, he wouldn't be acting as a patron for a small-time outfit like the Ma family."

Xu Kang didn't respond. He paced back and forth in his office with his hands behind his back. After a long while, he said, "Your analysis makes sense. A small family like the Ma clan thinking they can defy my will just because they have a Psychic Master—that is pure suicide. Now, send people to investigate the Ma family thoroughly. Find out where they are producing that spiritual water..."

"Yes, Mr. Xu," Zhang Da said excitedly. "Mr. Xu, I assume you intend to wipe out the Ma family?"

A cold, sinister smile tugged at the corner of Xu Kang’s mouth. "If they refuse a toast, they shall drink a forfeit. The Ma family can wait for their destruction. Once I have gathered enough men, I will eradicate them in one fell swoop."

With that clear answer, Zhang Da exited the office. Xu Kang pulled out his phone and made a call.

Two days later, at high noon, the sun hung directly overhead in a cloudless, brilliant sky. A business van headed toward the outskirts of City M. Driving was a delicate, red-clad young woman, Hong Gu. Sitting in the passenger seat was Tong Yin, a silver-haired person with the face of a child, while Chen Xian sat in the back, eyes closed in meditation. Chen Xian had purchased the van with his own money after entering the Hualong Federation.

Just then, Hong Gu noticed a patch of dense fog about a dozen kilometers away and couldn't help but feel curious. "That’s truly strange. It’s a perfectly clear day everywhere else; why is that mountain shrouded in such thick fog?"

"That is Spirit Mountain," Chen Xian said faintly, his eyes still closed.

Hearing that Spirit Mountain was right before them, Hong Gu slammed on the accelerator, picking up speed.

Tong Yin, sitting in the passenger seat, frowned slightly. "Hong Gu, slow down. Don’t drive off the road!"

"Oh!" Hong Gu replied, easing off the gas.

Twenty minutes later, the van arrived at the foot of Spirit Mountain. They found the road leading up the mountain blocked by barricades, with dozens of burly men in black standing guard. The leader stepped forward and said coldly, "Spirit Mountain is private property. We don't welcome outsiders. Leave immediately."

The window rolled down, and Chen Xian leaned out. "Clear the way."

"Greetings, Grandmaster Chen!" The leader recognized Chen Xian and immediately said respectfully, "I will clear the way at once!" He was a direct member of the Ma family and knew who Chen Xian was.

Chen Xian nodded, and the window rolled back up. The automatic rising bollards sank into the ground, and Hong Gu pressed the accelerator, driving the van onto Spirit Mountain.

Suddenly, Hong Gu’s eyes went wide with shock. She was astonished to find that, upon entering the base of the mountain, a rich, dense spiritual energy rushed toward her—far more potent than the energy at her master's stone temple. Compared to this, the temple was like a small witch compared to a great one. Of course, the temple was the small witch.

Tong Yin, sitting in the passenger seat, also wore an expression of profound shock on his youthful face, his dull eyes wide open. He clearly sensed that the spiritual energy here was dozens of times greater than at the temple.

"Cultivating here for one year would be equivalent to decades of cultivation at the stone temple!!!" Tong Yin exclaimed in admiration.

"This is still the thinnest concentration of spiritual energy on Spirit Mountain. As the altitude increases, the energy will only become more concentrated," Chen Xian said, opening his eyes and smiling.

"Really?" Hong Gu asked.

Chen Xian nodded. Seeing this, Hong Gu couldn't wait to reach the summit. As the wheels turned, the group drew closer to the top. Hong Gu and Tong Yin, master and disciple, sensed that the spiritual energy was indeed growing denser, just as Chen Xian had said. Both were filled with indescribable excitement and agitation.

Blue Star was in the Age of Dharma Decline, and spiritual energy was nearly exhausted. The pair had previously believed the stone temple to be a paradise, but arriving at Spirit Mountain, they realized the temple was nothing but trash; this was the true sanctuary for cultivation.

Soon, the van reached the mountainside.

*Meow~~~*

Suddenly, a melodious yet eerie cat cry rang out—a sound with a soul-shaking power. Hong Gu felt a wave of dizziness; she instinctively slammed on the brakes and froze, clearly stunned. Tong Yin rapidly channeled his psychic power to barely withstand the force of the cry.

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

An unusual sound followed. Looking toward the source, they saw four cats emerging from the nearby woods. The leader was a palm-sized kitten, as black as if it had been dipped in an ink pond. It was the most eye-catching and dangerous of them all, possessing a pair of eyes as deep as the blue sea. This was Xiao Mei, followed by three stray cats.

Chen Xian looked on and saw that Xiao Mei’s strength had improved, and the three stray cats—Xiao Yi, Xiao Er, and Xiao San—had also become significantly stronger. He knew this was the nourishing effect of the spiritual energy on Spirit Mountain.

"Alright, Xiao Mei, withdraw your deterrence," Chen Xian said, glancing at the stunned Hong Gu and the struggling Tong Yin before turning his gaze to the cat.

*Meow~~~*

Hearing her master's voice, Xiao Mei opened her small pink mouth and let out another cry. Instantly, Tong Yin felt the oppressive psychic force recede like a tide, and the pressure lifted.

Hong Gu’s long eyelashes fluttered as she regained her senses. Looking at the four cats approaching and then at Chen Xian, she asked, "Grandmaster, what just happened?"

"My spirit pet just used a mental deterrence technique on you," Chen Xian replied with a smile.

Hong Gu looked at the cats in disbelief, her heart churning: she had actually been intimidated by a cat! Tong Yin was equally shocked to realize this. He hadn't expected even a cat raised by his master to be so formidable.

*Meow~~~*

*Click!*

Xiao Mei opened the car door, leaped onto Chen Xian’s lap, and stood on her hind legs. She rubbed her little head against her master and looked at him with her sapphire eyes, mewling in a milky voice, "Master, you’re finally back! I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, Xiao Mei," Chen Xian said, affectionately stroking her fur, which felt like top-tier silk.

Xiao Mei said, "Master, I’m sick of the snacks Ma Tian and the others bring me. Take me to a big supermarket now; I want to go pick out snacks I actually like."

Chen Xian thought to himself, *Well, you rascal, it turns out you just wanted treats, not me at all!*

"Wait until I settle them on the mountain, then I'll take you," Chen Xian said.

Soon, the van pulled up in front of the courtyard at the summit. As soon as Hong Gu and Tong Yin stepped out, they both knelt before Chen Xian.

"Thank you, Master (Grandmaster), for bringing us to Spirit Mountain to cultivate!" they said, full of gratitude.

Chen Xian smiled and helped them up, telling them to find a place outside the courtyard to practice. He had no intention of letting them into the courtyard itself just yet. Even so, Hong Gu and Tong Yin were already moved to tears.