Chapter 55: Return to the Mountain Village with Bloodshed

How could they possibly believe it! To be honest, if the doubts they raised were true, Tie Ming would rather admit that Xiao Tian had been confused. But an Arch Sovereign confused? How could that be possible?

The facts proved that the matter was not only real, but terrifying!

“I’m telling the truth! The whole area between the cleavers was filled with energy; I kept my distance and wasn’t harmed, but just standing there left me utterly terrified!” Xiao Tian patted his chest, genuinely flustered.

Tie Ming glanced at the elderly man beside him, the one with a pen tucked behind his ear.

After a moment, he spoke, “Daoist Dou Tai, given Xiao Tian’s description, I think we must go see for ourselves.”

Dou Tai nodded in agreement. There was nothing else to be done.

“Hearing Xiao Tian speak, I find it odd as well. How could there be such a strange forbidden zone in the Southern Ridge Mountains? I’ve never heard of it before. Perhaps it has something to do with the mountains themselves. We will have to resolve this properly.”

“Very well! Let’s investigate!”

With that, they immediately set out for the forbidden zone Xiao Tian had described.

Hao Ming, upon hearing the news, was overjoyed!

“It looks like the ancestor’s treasures will belong to us. Ruofeng and Huanyue, those two troublesome girls, are doomed this time!”

Soon, they arrived just outside the small mountain village.

Tie Ming and the other two Sovereigns floated in the air, not landing.

They wanted to carefully observe this so-called mountain village and see what secrets it held.

“This is truly bizarre—the forbidden zone really exists!”

“To think the entire Southern Ridge Mountains collapsed into ruins, yet this place remains unchanged. It’s… astonishing,” Tie Ming remarked, nodding repeatedly.

“Let’s go down and see for ourselves what’s inside!”

Whatever lay within, they had to investigate.

The group descended from their airship and set foot on the ground.

At this hour, the village’s outskirts were deserted. They casually chose a spot and prepared to enter from the main entrance.

Everything went smoothly.

Upon entering, Tie Ming and the others found the village eerily quiet, nothing to suggest anything out of the ordinary.

Tie Ming led them forward, soon noticing a man approaching from their direction.

“Heavens, is that mammoth meat in his hands?” Dou Tai exclaimed in disbelief.

Instantly, everyone’s eyes widened, staring at the man’s hands.

Hao Ming and his companions didn’t recognize him, of course.

But if Xiao Tian spoke the truth, then the villagers here truly treated spirit beasts as mere food!

This… This would be unimaginable anywhere else.

“Brother, wait a moment. I’d like to ask you something,” Dou Tai stepped forward, blocking the man about to leave.

“Have you seen two young women in the village? One plays the zither, and the other carries a painter’s kit—she’s skilled at painting.”

The man, carrying the mammoth meat, thought for a moment, and replied simply, “You must mean the apprentices taken in by young Zhu. I’ve seen them—they’re staying at Zhu’s place now!”

Hearing this, Tie Ming and Dou Tai were surprised.

Ruofeng and Huanyue had taken a new master?

What could this mean?

“Yes, thank you, brother! Those are the two. Could you tell us exactly where they are?”

Dou Tai asked.

The man immediately pointed out the location to them, then left.

Tie Ming and the others looked grim.

“They dared to take a master without permission! A disgrace to our Sanctuary of Absolute Void!” A cold light flashed in their eyes.

“Let’s find those girls at once. This time, they’ll have nowhere to run. We must kill them!” Dou Tai growled fiercely.

“Let’s go. I’m curious who would dare shelter these traitors from the Sanctuary of Absolute Void. Whoever it is must be challenging us, showing no respect at all!”

With that, they followed the path indicated by the villager.

…

Meanwhile.

Zhu Xiaoyuan had returned to his courtyard with Ruofeng and Huanyue.

He sliced the golden beast’s hind leg, brought by Aunt Niuda, and picked vigorous peppers growing in the garden, whipping up a plate of spicy stir-fried meat.

Everyone enjoyed a cheerful lunch together.

The power of the golden beast, combined with medicinal herbs, was immense. After the meal, Huanyue and Ruofeng felt their cultivation steadily rising!

Not to mention the little white cat, Red Moon, whose belly was round and full.

Zhu Xiaoyuan held Red Moon gently, his large hands softly massaging her to aid digestion.

“You greedy little thing, just how much did you eat?”

Meow, meow, meow…

Actually, not that much.

Red Moon felt embarrassed, but dared not struggle, letting Zhu Xiaoyuan’s hands press against her belly.

Oh dear, master is touching my chest…

But I can’t move, oh dear, oh dear…

The little white cat was enjoying the moment when suddenly, a loud shout erupted outside, nearly startling Red Moon out of her fur!

“Huanyue, Ruofeng, you two troublesome girls, come out and face death!”

Inside the courtyard, Huanyue and Ruofeng’s faces changed dramatically.

Panic struck them at once.

“It’s over—Elder Dou Tai has come for us!”

Ruofeng hadn’t expected even Dou Tai himself would come. He was a Sovereign-level master!

If not for being inside Elder Zhu’s courtyard, they would have had to step outside and accept their fate.

There would be nowhere to hide!

At this thought, Huanyue panicked, trying to hide behind Zhu Xiaoyuan. “Master, they… they’re here for us, they want to take us away!”

Zhu Xiaoyuan gave her a reassuring look.

He was puzzled—how could members of a music organization be so fierce?

They even said things like ‘go die’ at the drop of a hat.

And now they’d chased them into someone’s home?

That was a bit much!

“Don’t worry, I’ll go and speak with them.”

Zhu Xiaoyuan remained calm, his face unmoved. “Tell me, what skills do the people at the gate possess?”

Know your enemy and yourself, and you will not be defeated.

Ruofeng replied immediately, “Elder Dou Tai is a master of calligraphy, his writing is superb! Elder Tie Ming is skilled in music, plays a wonderful flute…”

Zhu Xiaoyuan smiled.

He excelled at both.

How convenient!

“Wait here for a moment, I understand everything Ruofeng has told me.”