Chapter 139: Chapter 138: Black Bone Mountain, Black Cliff Valley Xu Family

Three days later, Lu Zhao followed the directions on the map Qin Feng had given him, speeding along with his Wind Manipulation Technique.

Several days later, a vast mountain range came into view. Its main peak was particularly strange; the exposed rock of the mountain wasn’t the usual bluish-gray, but a deep, inky black. From a distance, the entire mountain resembled the carcass of an ancient behemoth lying prostrate on the earth, exuding an aura of deathly stillness and desolation.

’No wonder it’s called Black Bone Mountain... The name really fits.’ Lu Zhao understood now; the name clearly originated from this unique landscape.

He stopped his Wind Manipulation Technique and landed before a relatively flat mountain hollow.

Ahead, a pale blue screen of light shimmered like water, shrouding the entrance to the hollow. This was the outpost’s Protective Array.

Lu Zhao stood quietly outside the array for a moment. The screen of light rippled open silently, parting in the middle like a sheet of water, and a man of about thirty, dressed in the black robe of a Bixia Sect Outer Sect Steward, strode out.

His Cultivation was at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, and his face, weathered and steady, was complemented by a pair of sharp eyes.

His gaze locked onto Lu Zhao instantly. An eager smile spread across his face as he hurried forward and cupped his hands in greeting. "You must be Brother Lu Zhao? Brother Qin Feng sent a Communication Talisman a few days ago to say you’d be arriving soon."

"I am Wenn Quan, and I’ve been waiting for you. Please, Brother Lu, come with me." His words were filled with genuine warmth.

Wenn Quan was as quick with his actions as he was with his warm words, leading Lu Zhao through the Array Light Curtain.

Once Lu Zhao stepped inside the Array Light Curtain, it was as if he had entered another world. The desolation and deathly stillness of the outside were completely cut off. While still simple, the interior had a sense of life and order. A few stone houses were scattered about, built into the contours of the hollow.

"Brother Lu, this way please." Wenn Quan led Lu Zhao toward a more secluded stone house deeper in the hollow, nestled against a concave cliff face. "The conditions here at the outpost are quite limited," Wenn Quan said with an apologetic smile as he pushed open the somewhat heavy wooden door, which let out a faint CREAK. "This is the best dwelling we could prepare for you. I hope you’ll forgive its simplicity."

The furnishings within were spartan. Cold light slanted in through a foot-square air vent, revealing a cold stone bed occupying one corner, a simple stone table in the center, and a meditation cushion in another corner.

A luminous fluorite stone embedded in the corner of the wall emitted a faint but constant, cold white light. Beyond these items, the room was bare.

Lu Zhao was unconcerned, merely nodding slightly. "Thank you, Junior Brother Wenn." He was far more interested in the concentration of Spiritual Qi in this place.

Lu Zhao’s Divine Sense stirred as he carefully scanned his surroundings. A wave of Spiritual Qi, far richer and purer than that at the Lingze County outpost, filled the air. Though it couldn’t compare to his cave dwelling in the Bixia Sect, it was more than enough to support his daily cultivation, leaving him quite satisfied.

"You’re too kind, Brother Lu," Wenn Quan said with a smile. "There is currently one other person at the outpost, Brother Mei Yun. It’s his turn to be out on patrol today, and he hasn’t returned yet."

"When Brother Mei returns tomorrow, I will bring him to formally greet you and explain the details of our post. You’ve had a long journey, Brother Lu, so please rest and recover your strength for today."

After seeing Wenn Quan out, Lu Zhao closed the wooden door and set up a simple Sound Insulation Restriction.

He glanced around the wooden room, which was barely large enough to turn around in. The stone walls were coarse, the ground slightly damp. It was crude, certainly, but compared to the invasive Blood Spirit Worms of Lingze County and the sickeningly sweet smell they brought, this place was a rare haven of tranquility. He sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion, closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, and slowly recovered his Magical Power, returning himself to peak condition.

The next morning, a soft knock came at the wooden door. Lu Zhao dispelled the Restriction.

Two men stood outside the door. In addition to Wenn Quan, whom he had met yesterday, there was another man also dressed in the black robe of an Outer Sect Steward. He was about the same age as Wenn Quan, with a lean, capable face and a sharp gaze. His Cultivation was also at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, and his upright posture exuded an air of competence.

"Brother Lu, this is Brother Mei Yun," Wenn Quan said, stepping aside to introduce him.

Mei Yun took a step forward, cupped his hands in a salute, and spoke in a crisp voice, "Mei Yun greets Brother Lu. I have been stationed here for eight months." His gaze was forthright, holding a trace of respect for someone stronger.

Lu Zhao returned the salute. "I am Lu Zhao. On orders from the Sect, I am to stand guard here for one year." His gaze swept over the two men, and he now had a clear understanding of the outpost’s staff.

Seeing how direct Lu Zhao was, Wenn Quan quickly added, "I’m Wenn Quan, and I have another six months of duty." His smile then faded as he got down to business. "Brother Lu, the mission here is relatively straightforward. It’s not what you’d call difficult, but it’s not exactly easy, either."

"The core task is to regularly patrol the fifty-li radius around this outpost. There are two main responsibilities: first, to eliminate the roaming Tribulation Cultivators who lie in wait to rob people, and second, to drive off or kill any reckless Demon Beasts that harass the merchant caravans. Our primary duty is to safeguard this important trade route to the Yani Country border."

He saw Lu Zhao’s calm expression and worried that he wasn’t taking it seriously. Afraid that their powerful new reinforcement was underestimating the danger, he quickly added, "Brother Lu, you might not be aware, but the Tribulation Cultivators here are extremely cunning."

"They often travel in groups, sometimes as small as three to five, other times as large as a dozen or more."

"When they see us Bixia Sect Stewards on patrol, they don’t dare to confront us openly. But they often use their superior numbers to get into a standoff with us, stalling for time while their comrades escape."

"Brother Mei and I are only two people, so we can’t be everywhere at once. When we run into a large group of Tribulation Cultivators, we can usually only disperse them, making it difficult to actually kill any."

"We only have a real chance to strike when we encounter a small band of Tribulation Cultivators or the occasional ’lone wolf’."

"However, those who dare to operate as ’lone wolves’ usually have a high Cultivation and are exceptionally vigilant. They sense our auras from a great distance and immediately flee. They’re as slippery as eels, so our gains have been very limited."

After listening, Lu Zhao nodded. His tone was level, but it carried a reassuring strength. "Mm, I understand. I’ll keep that in mind." Though he didn’t say much, his calm demeanor was enough to lift a weight from Wenn Quan’s shoulders.

A wide smile spread across Wenn Quan’s face, filled with anticipation. "With Brother Lu stationed here, I bet those petty crooks will have to tuck their tails between their legs and behave!"

Five days later, it was Lu Zhao and Wenn Quan’s turn to go on patrol, while Mei Yun stayed behind to guard the Black Bone Mountain outpost.

The two of them rode the wind, slowly patrolling along the winding mountain path.

Wenn Quan chattered endlessly along the way, pointing out the surrounding terrain to Lu Zhao, the general areas where Demon Beasts appeared, and the locations where they had encountered Tribulation Cultivators in the past.

"Brother Lu, see that mountain stream over there? Last month, a small band of Tribulation Cultivators ambushed a caravan there. Brother Mei and I stumbled upon them and got into a fight, but one of them unfortunately escaped... That dense forest up ahead is often prowled by Iron-Clawed Mountain Cats. Most of them are only Tier One Early Stage, but when they’re in a pack, they pose a considerable threat to caravans..." Wenn Quan pointed out each location, speaking with great familiarity.

For the most part, Lu Zhao just listened quietly, only occasionally speaking up to ask a question. His inquiries focused mainly on High-Tier Demon Beasts. "Have there been any confirmed sightings of Tier Two Demon Beasts within a hundred-li radius of here?"

Hearing this, a look of uncertainty crossed Wenn Quan’s face. "Well... there are rumors. The year before last, a large merchant caravan passed through, and their guards claimed to have been attacked by a Tier Two Demon Beast as powerful as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. They suffered heavy losses."

"But as for what kind of Demon Beast it was, or if it truly lairs here long-term, no one has seen it with their own eyes to confirm. The Sect has never sent a Junior Foundation Establishment Master to investigate, either."

After listening, Lu Zhao’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. "So, there’s no definite, reliable intelligence?" His voice wasn’t loud, but it made Wenn Quan’s heart clench.

An awkward, sheepish smile appeared on Wenn Quan’s face. "Tier Two Demon Beasts are far too elusive. How would concrete intelligence about them ever reach us? Besides, Brother Lu, you know how it is. If there were any real confirmation sent up the chain, a Junior Foundation Establishment Master would have dealt with it long ago. It wouldn’t be left for us to worry about."

His tone was one of resignation. He quickly changed the subject, his voice rising a few notches in an attempt to break the heavy atmosphere. "That said, while patrols can be dangerous, you sometimes run into interesting things. The most recent incident was about three months ago, near ’Falling Eagle Gorge’."

"That day, Brother Mei and I were on a routine patrol when we came across a group of Tribulation Cultivators attacking a small Qi Cultivation clan that was migrating north. The clan called themselves the ’Black Cliff Valley Xu Family.’ They had everyone with them—the old, the weak, women, and children—and were trapped in the gorge. It looked like they were about to be annihilated."

"By the time Brother Mei and I arrived, their leader, a Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer Cultivator from the Xu Family, was already at the end of his rope. If we hadn’t intervened in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable..." Wenn Quan was getting into his story, talking a mile a minute.

Lu Zhao hadn’t been paying much mind, but upon hearing the words "Black Cliff Valley Xu Family," his eyes, until now as placid as a deep well, suddenly froze. It was as if a giant stone had been thrown into a calm lake. An indescribable, sharp, cold glint shot from the depths of his pupils, but the look lasted only a moment before it was suppressed by his powerful self-control, his expression returning to its prior calm.

He turned his head with feigned nonchalance, his tone flat, though his voice seemed to have dropped a fraction. "Oh? Is that so? What happened to them? This ’Black Cliff Valley Xu Family’... did they ever find a safe place to settle down?"

Absorbed in his recollection, Wenn Quan didn’t notice Lu Zhao’s momentary emotional shift. Assuming his companion was just interested in the rest of the story, he answered casually, "I heard their leader, the Xu Family Cultivator, say they were trying to make their way to the ’Liuu Family Marketplace’ for shelter. As for where they actually settled down, I never asked. We were just strangers who met by chance. Once we helped them out of danger, we went our separate ways."

Lu Zhao nodded silently and asked no more questions.

Only he knew what a tempest had just raged through his heart.

Black Cliff Valley!

Those three words were like a brand of blood, seared deep into his Soul!

It was the former foundation of the Lu Family, the place where he had started, and the source of his unending nightmare!

Though many years had passed, the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, the broken walls and ruined homes, the agonized screams of his family—they all still echoed in his heart!

And this Xu Family, if he wasn’t mistaken, was the very same rival that had fought the Lu Family for the Black Cliff Valley Spirit Vein and become their mortal enemies!

Furthermore, after the Lu Family was annihilated, that Tier One High-Grade Spirit Vein ended up in the Xu Family’s hands. This made him almost certain that even if the Xu Family wasn’t the mastermind, they were deeply involved.

A clue had finally emerged from the fog surrounding the bloody extermination of his family.

He had already made up his mind. Once his year-long tour of duty here was complete, he would travel to the Liuu Family Marketplace and track down this Xu Family.

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