NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 71: Tianchuan Mountain! The Vague Figure in the Mist
Chapter 71: Tianchuan Mountain! The Vague Figure in the Mist
When Ruan Nanzhu finished washing up and dressing and headed to the main hall, the early breakfast had already ended.
Chen Zhixing was sitting on a sandalwood chair, casually sipping tea with downcast eyes. Occasionally, he would exchange a few words with Ruan Zhenlong, who kept nodding in agreement.
"Third Young Master."
Ruan Nanzhu approached and greeted him softly.
"Oh? Miss Nanzhu, you came just at the right time."
Chen Zhixing lifted his head, smiled faintly at her, and put down his teacup. "I heard from the Ruan family head that Miss Nanzhu plans to go to my Ziwei Chen family for further study. Is that correct?"
"Yes." Ruan Nanzhu nodded.
Chen Zhixing smiled and said, "Miss Nanzhu is exceptionally gifted. My Chen family will be honored to welcome you. I believe there's no time like the present. Why not set off today? I can have Elder You take you to the Chen family. How about that?"
"Leave today?"
Ruan Nanzhu was taken aback, not expecting to depart so soon.
"What’s wrong? Does Miss Nanzhu have unfinished business?" Chen Zhixing raised an eyebrow.
Seeing Ruan Zhenlong and his wife furiously winking at her, Ruan Nanzhu had no choice but to nod. "I’ll follow the Third Young Master's arrangements."
"Good. Then go and pack your belongings. Oh, and you can bring a few maids with you for convenience when you arrive." Chen Zhixing smiled warmly.
After Ruan Nanzhu hurriedly left, Elder You, who had been standing behind Chen Zhixing, frowned and asked, "Third Young Master, does this mean you’re not planning to return with me?"
"Mm, I have some personal matters to take care of. You can take Miss Ruan back to the Chen family first."
Before Chen Zhixing could finish speaking—
"What?"
Elder You's voice suddenly rose in volume as he shook his head vigorously. "No, absolutely not! Third Young Master, your situation is of utmost importance right now! You cannot afford any mistakes! I am your protector; how can I leave you to act alone? Don’t bring this up again, or else—"
Swoosh!
A magical mirror appeared in Chen Zhixing's hand, one specifically designed to record images.
Elder You's face instantly froze, and his once spirited words were abruptly cut off.
"Elder You, I didn’t quite catch what you just said. Could you repeat that?" Chen Zhixing blinked at him.
Cough, cough.
Elder You coughed forcefully, took a deep breath, and then put on a calm and pleasant expression.
"What I meant to say is that the Third Young Master is old enough to have some personal freedom and privacy. Like an eagle, you must learn to fly on your own, right? Don't worry, Young Master. Whatever decision you make, I fully support it!"
Chen Zhixing nodded with a smile. "I like dealing with reasonable people like you, Elder You."
Elder You’s eye twitched as he looked at the smiling Chen Zhixing.
To hell with "reasonable"! If it weren't for that mirror recording everything I said, I’d teach you a lesson today about what real authority is!
Meanwhile, Elder You quickly calculated in his mind. The Third Young Master was currently at the Spiritual Wandering stage and had several powerful treasures gifted by the family head. Even if he encountered an ordinary True Self stage cultivator, they likely wouldn’t be able to kill him without a three-day and three-night siege. That would be plenty of time for the Ziwei Chen family to respond.
Finally, Ruan Zhenlong, who had been listening quietly, dared to speak cautiously, "There are few masters in the poor lands of Youzhou. As long as the Third Young Master avoids Tianchuan Mountain, there should be no danger."
"Tianchuan Mountain?"
Chen Zhixing's interest was piqued. He casually asked, "What about Tianchuan Mountain?"
Ruan Zhenlong replied, "Third Young Master, since you’re new to Youzhou, you may not know. Three days ago, someone discovered a suspected inheritance site of an ancient sword god in Tianchuan Mountain. Now, most of the sword masters in Youzhou have set off for Tianchuan Mountain."
"Oh, I see."
Chen Zhixing nodded nonchalantly, but deep within his eyes, a shadow briefly flickered.
He hadn’t expected the inheritance site, which only appeared once in the hands of Ye Chen in the game Great Cultivation during his previous life, to resurface again!
Was this a butterfly effect caused by his killing of Ye Chen?
As Chen Zhixing mulled over this in silence, a cold and slightly tired feminine voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"Don’t worry, Young Master. Without my key, no one can enter the inheritance site of the sword god."
"Oh? Ms. Qingzhi, you're awake?" Chen Zhixing's spirit stirred.
Since obtaining three rare treasures from the tomb of Daoist Jiu feng, Chen Zhixing had also found numerous magical tools collected by Jiu feng during his life.
Since Jiu feng was only at the Spiritual Wandering stage, the tools he had collected weren't particularly high-level. To Chen Zhixing, they were of little use, so he simply gave them all to Qingzhi.
Thus, while Chen Zhixing delved into the Nine Gods Method, Qingzhi frantically absorbed the weapon energy from the tools.
Later, when Chen Zhixing left Jiu feng’s tomb, Qingzhi entered a deep sleep.
"I’m not fully awake yet. There’s still some energy I haven’t absorbed, but I’m almost done," Qingzhi replied wearily.
"Rest then. Once we reach Tianchuan Mountain, I’ll call for you. I have a feeling you’ll be able to return to the peak of the Spiritual Wandering stage."
"Good." Chen Zhixing nodded, feeling slightly relieved.
With this in mind, he didn't need to rush the sword god's inheritance.
A while later, despite Ruan Zhenlong's attempts to convince him otherwise, Chen Zhixing left the Ruan mansion alone.
Several hours later.
The sun set in the west.
A lone, skinny horse trotted down an abandoned official road leading to Tianchuan Mountain.
Chen Zhixing wasn’t in a hurry. He led a skinny old horse he had found along the way, slowly walking down the desolate road.
"Tianchuan Mountain is only about 700 miles from Wuxuan City. At my current pace, I should arrive by dawn tomorrow," Chen Zhixing estimated, calculating the time.
As night fell and the sun dipped below the horizon, a thick mountain mist began to rise from both sides of the road. The mist swirled and spread, shrouding the entire path, making it difficult to see clearly.
The already desolate and eerie road became even more sinister and unsettling.
Suddenly.
Chen Zhixing stopped in his tracks, looking ahead.
The skinny horse he was leading seemed to sense something, nervously pacing and letting out low whinnies.
"What’s that...?" Chen Zhixing’s eyes narrowed.
At the far end of the road, shrouded in thick mist, stood a figure in a large black robe, with a hood and flames embroidered on the robe.
The figure slowly lifted its head, revealing a hideous golden spider mask beneath the hood.
"Ziwei Chen family, Third Young Master, Chen Zhixing?"
"From Yanzhou to Youzhou... I've been waiting for you for a long time."
A strange voice, neither male nor female, composed of several overlapping tones, emerged from the figure.
As the black-robed figure spoke, behind Chen Zhixing, from the thick mist, a pale hand appeared, as if it had been pulled from water, without a trace of blood.
The pale hand slowly extended its black-nailed fingers, inching closer to Chen Zhixing’s back.
Closer.
Closer still.
In the next instant!
The pale hand accelerated suddenly, aiming straight for Chen Zhixing’s head!