Chapter 129 - 126: Entering Black Demon Ridge

"Black Demon Ridge is the territory of the Black Demon Spiders. It’s even home to that terrifying Black Demon Spider King, the Black Widow. Are you trying to trick us?" Lingyun Shan stepped forward and demanded angrily.

"He is currently at Black Demon Ridge. I’m really not lying to you," Zhongli Xuan replied.

"Did he send you?" Ling Qingxue questioned.

"I..." A flicker of panic crossed Zhongli Xuan’s face.

"Speak!" Murderous intent surged in Ling Qingxue’s eyes.

"Yes, but I did it willingly. The child in my womb is indeed his. I only did this because I want him to love me more," Zhongli Xuan said.

"Take us there!" Ling Qingxue ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Qingxue, is she telling the truth?" Lingyun Shan asked with a frown.

"Trying to lure us into a trap to kill us—that’s exactly Mo Qianqian’s style!" Ling Qingxue replied. Her eyes glinted with killing intent as she added coldly, "Mo Qianqian, do you really think you can kill me just because those at the higher levels of the Tongyou Realm wouldn’t dare enter Black Demon Ridge?"

This realization shocked the crowd. Now fully believing Zhongli Xuan’s words, the onlookers grew restless. Mo Qianqian was carrying a tremendous treasure! Even if there was a chance it was a lie, they were more than willing to take the risk.

Meanwhile, standing off to the side, Mo Qianqian was rather bewildered. He wondered how he could possibly be at Black Demon Ridge when he was still standing right here. What exactly was Zhongli Xuan trying to achieve? Was this entire spectacle orchestrated by the Ling Family? Yet, judging by their reactions, it didn’t seem like an act.

"Elder Ling Xing, return to the Ling Family immediately and pass on this information," Lingyun Shan commanded, looking toward an elderly man from the family.

"Understood!" the man immediately nodded.

"Elder Ling Wen, Elder Ling Jun, and you three..." Lingyun Shan pointed out several individuals before declaring, "Follow us to Black Demon Ridge."

"Since we’re all looking for Mo Qianqian, why don’t we go together?" the Grand Elder of the Lie Family spoke up. He quickly gathered a team of his own, which included Lie Yao. The Yuwen Family soon followed suit.

"Elder Asura, Ms. Pei Hong, I want to go as well. I need to see with my own eyes if it’s really Mo Qianqian!" Shi Muyao said to Mo Qianqian and Pei Hong.

"No, this is highly likely to be a trap," Mo Qianqian said, shaking his head. It would be far too dangerous for Shi Muyao to go out, as she could easily become a target for capture.

"I’m going, no matter how dangerous it is!" Shi Muyao gritted her teeth.

SWISH!

A figure suddenly darted over, landing right beside Mo Qianqian and Shi Muyao. It was none other than the mature and beautiful Yuling Sect Master, Yu Ning.

"Sect Leader Yu..." Mo Qianqian looked at the Yuling Sect Master in surprise. He wondered if she had already finished refining the Third-Grade Superior Elixir and ended her secluded cultivation. Previously, she was at the Fifth Level of Tongyou Realm. He wasn’t sure if she had successfully broken through to the next level during her retreat.

The Yuling Sect Master simply nodded. "It’s fine. Pei Hong, you stay behind in the Imperial City. I will take her to have a look."

Hearing this, Mo Qianqian didn’t voice any further objections. It appeared that the Yuling Sect Master had indeed broken through to the Sixth Level of Tongyou Realm. Her combat prowess was undoubtedly formidable, meaning the others would struggle to pose a threat to her. Furthermore, she had the backing of that mysterious masked figure.

"Anyone from the Asura Conglomerate who has reached the Tongyou Realm and is willing to go, follow us," Mo Qianqian announced.

"I’ll go!"

"I’m in!"

"Me too!"

Three people immediately stepped forward. One of them had recently advanced from the Ninth Level of Spirit Profound Realm to the First Level of Tongyou Realm. The other two had joined after Mo Qianqian acquired Master Kui; one was at the Second Level of Tongyou Realm, and the other was at the Third Level of Tongyou Realm.

"Count me in as well!" Chu He stepped forward.

"Alright!" Mo Qianqian nodded before turning to Pei Hong. "Tell Butcher to be on guard. This might be someone trying to lure a snake out of its hole."

Pei Hong nodded in acknowledgment.

On the other side, Xiajin Shi went to collect the Combat Taxes. Zhongli Xuan handed over ten Third-Grade Junior Elixirs, while the Ling Family brought out Ling Juebai’s ten Second-Grade Superior Elixirs. After the transaction, Ling Qingxue struck Zhongli Xuan with a vicious palm attack, severely injuring her. Members of the Ling Family quickly produced ropes and bound Zhongli Xuan tightly.

"Let’s go!" Lingyun Shan grabbed Zhongli Xuan and led his group, soaring rapidly out of the Imperial City.

The Lie Family, the Yuwen Family, the Ye Xiao Conglomerate, and a massive crowd of unaffiliated individuals flooded out of the city gates right behind them. There were simply too many people coveting the grand treasure! Even Xiajin Shi dispatched men to follow the procession.

"Let’s move!"

The Yuling Sect Master swept up Mo Qianqian, Shi Muyao, Chu He, and the three Tongyou Realm cultivators, speeding after the others.

As a powerhouse at the Eighth Level of Tongyou Realm, Lingyun Shan moved at a blistering pace. Unless one was also at the higher levels of the Tongyou Realm, it was nearly impossible to catch up. Even though a huge mob wanted to join the spectacle and fish for some benefits, they quickly found themselves left in the dust.

Two days later, at noon.

A large group of people arrived just outside Black Demon Ridge at Buzhou Mountain. The three major families had brought between ten to twenty experts each. The Royal City Guard also had a handful of members present. Perhaps because Chu He had tagged along, even Chu Yiming and Xian Ling’Er were among the crowd. Beyond them were over thirty experts from smaller families and Loose Cultivators. Naturally, those who traveled slower were still steadily making their way toward the gathering point.

"Master Chu, since everyone has gathered, why don’t we join forces and storm our way in?" Lingyun Shan suggested, looking at Chu Yiming.

The Grand Elders of the Lie Family and Yuwen Family furrowed their brows at this. They couldn’t believe Lingyun Shan actually wanted to launch a frontal assault on Black Demon Ridge!

"The Black Widow’s strength is unfathomable, and she isn’t the only Superior Third-Tier Spirit Beast in Buzhou Mountain," Chu Yiming replied, shaking his head. "A Superior Third-Tier beast has already developed sentience. If we Human Race cultivators aggressively attack the Black Widow, the other beasts will undoubtedly unite against us."

"In that case, we should only send in those below the Fourth Level of Tongyou Realm. That should minimize the risk of drawing out the Black Widow," Lingyun Shan reasoned.

"I agree."

"Agreed!"

The Grand Elders of the Lie and Yuwen Families chimed in to voice their support.

However, the Loose Cultivators who were at or above the Fifth Level of Tongyou Realm frowned deeply upon hearing this. The restriction meant they couldn’t enter. Then again, if Chu Yiming and the Grand Elders of the three major families weren’t going in, they would be terrified to enter on their own anyway for fear of provoking the Black Widow. Encountering that terrifying beast would mean certain death.

"It’s far too dangerous for everyone to take the same route. Zhongli Xuan, draw out a map of the location," Lingyun Shan demanded as he turned toward their captive.

Pressing a sword against Zhongli Xuan’s throat, Ling Qingxue ordered someone to untie one of the captive’s arms.

"He’s in Demon Dragon Valley," Zhongli Xuan said, sketching a rough map on the dirt ground.

Lingyun Shan began pointing at the Ling Family’s team. "You five, accompany Qingxue. The other two squads will approach Demon Dragon Valley from different entry points."

"Understood!" The members of the Ling Family nodded in unison.

The Lie Family and Yuwen Family similarly split into several squads. Lie Yao led a team, preparing to follow Ling Qingxue’s route. Yu Wenshuo did the same.

Meanwhile, the group of Loose Cultivators felt it was far too risky to follow Ling Qingxue, fearing they might walk straight into an ambush or trap. Now that they knew the general location, they either formed their own small teams or ventured into the Black Demon Ridge territory alone, infiltrating from various different angles.

The Ye Xiao Conglomerate also had no intention of going in with the main group, opting to forge their own path instead.

Mo Qianqian was equally reluctant to travel with Zhongli Xuan and Ling Qingxue’s party, knowing how dangerous it could be. However, since Shi Muyao stubbornly insisted on sticking close to Zhongli Xuan, he had no choice but to lead his team along the same route. Chu He, naturally, intended to stay with Ling Qingxue. Xian Ling’Er also prepared to tag along with Chu He.

"Asura, please look after Xian Ling’Er for me," Chu Yiming requested, turning to Mo Qianqian. He wasn’t just speaking to Mo Qianqian; the instruction was likely meant as a subtle reminder for Chu He as well.

"Don’t worry, Master Chu. Miss Ling’Er has helped me in the past, so I will naturally do my best to protect her. However, it’s very perilous inside, so I cannot give a complete guarantee of her safety," Mo Qianqian replied honestly.

"Having Master Asura’s help is more than enough," Chu Yiming said.

"Master Asura, I hope we can cooperate," Ling Qingxue remarked. She then shifted her gaze to Zhongli Xuan, whose upper body had been firmly bound once again, and declared, "Enter Black Demon Ridge!"

Following her command, the thirty-strong contingent—comprising squads of five or six from the three major families, Mo Qianqian’s team, and three members of the City Guard—finally began their advance into Black Demon Ridge, forcefully driving Zhongli Xuan ahead of them.