“Young brother, you don’t know of the Qiulu Mountains?”
Now it was the Chao family head’s turn to be surprised. The Qiulu Mountains were not too far from here. By rights, anyone coming to this place should know of them.
Especially the younger generation. Every year at this season, they were particularly fond of heading to the Qiulu Mountains for training.
Seeing Lin Xiao shake his head with a puzzled expression, the Chao family head confirmed that the other truly knew nothing of the Qiulu Mountains. He explained, “The Qiulu Mountains are a perilous place, teeming with spirit beasts and filled with all sorts of oddities and opportunities. It is an ideal spot for adventure. Just as autumn sets in, the most dangerous spirit beasts within, the Giant Boneless Spirit Insects, enter their dormant phase. Thus, lately, many people have chosen to train in the Qiulu Mountains.”
Lin Xiao felt a surge of astonishment and could not help but ask, “I wonder, how dangerous is it inside? What levels are most of the spirit beasts there?”
The Chao family head replied, “I am not entirely clear on the exact dangers, but even the valley lords of the Four Valleys dare not venture into the depths of the Qiulu Mountains. Of course, that is only the depths. The spirit beasts on the outer edges are not too formidable, mostly fifth or sixth-tier, with a few early seventh-tier ones. As long as one does not go too deep, it should not be overly perilous.”
“Even the Four Valleys’ lords dare not go deep?” Lin Xiao was secretly shocked.
The Four Valleys’ lords were likely at the Martial Emperor realm, the pinnacle of power. If even such figures avoided the depths, just how extraordinary were these Qiulu Mountains?
“Moreover, I hear there are plenty of precious medicinal herbs inside. Even spirit controllers venture in every year, with quite a few entering,” the Chao family head added.
Lin Xiao felt a slight stir of interest.
By now, he was almost certain that the Chao family had not yet received word of his wanted status from Spirit Phoenix Valley.
More importantly, the Qiulu Mountains were so perilous that even the Four Valleys’ lords shunned the depths. If the Spirit Phoenix Valley lord or such a figure came pursuing him, entering the Qiulu Mountains might be the best choice.
He did not know if, after he had slain another batch of Spirit Phoenix Valley geniuses and elders, the valley would send even stronger pursuers or expand the scope of the wanted notice.
Of course, this was merely a choice of last resort.
Since even the Four Valleys’ lords dared not enter, he would undoubtedly face extreme danger if he did.
“Family Head Chao, do you happen to have a map of Yang Province?” Lin Xiao then inquired.
“A map of Yang Province?” The Chao family head paused briefly and said, “We Chao family do not have a full map of Yang Province, but we do have one covering the Qiulu Mountains and this broader region. It is nothing precious, so I can give it to you, young brother, without issue.”
With that, the Chao family head produced a half-zhang-long scroll from his storage ring and handed it to Lin Xiao.
“Thank you, Family Head Chao!” Lin Xiao accepted it promptly. The Chao family’s warmth was somewhat beyond his expectations.
He unrolled the map and scanned it roughly. In his mind, Lin Xiao gained a general understanding.
The map’s scope was vast. The Qiulu Mountains lay to the northwest of the Chao family, slightly偏 west.
The core of the Qiulu Mountains was further in that northwest偏 west direction. Beyond countless li lay Spirit Phoenix Valley.
The map marked locations with teleportation arrays, with the most around Spirit Phoenix Valley.
Near the Chao family, the closest route towards Sheng Province was through the other side of the Qiulu Mountains to the northwest, still a vast distance away.
In other words, even if Lin Xiao did not wish to enter the Qiulu Mountains, he would have to pass through them. Otherwise, he would need to detour a huge loop.
Of course, the teleportation array outpost would send him to another array even farther away.
That area was marked on the map as the territory of the Three Sects, specifically the Demon Void Sect.
That meant entering that outpost’s teleportation array would take him out of the primary range projected by Spirit Phoenix Valley.
At this thought, Lin Xiao’s eyes lit up.
Seeing the flicker in Lin Xiao’s gaze, as if he had made some decision, the Chao family head spoke up, “If you are heading to the Qiulu Mountains for training, young brother, and happen to encounter my granddaughter, and can lend a hand, I would ask that you look after her a little.”
These words stunned not only Lin Xiao but also the Chao family members.
Have a stranger look after the young miss?
Even if the family head wished to curry favour, was there need to be so deferential?
Never mind whether he would encounter her, or if help was needed, or if he would even assist.
Even if he were willing, could he actually help?
This youth was only in his twenties. His strength was surely far inferior to the young miss. What aid could he provide?
Lin Xiao was naturally baffled. Could the Chao family head have discerned his true power?
Yet, with the Heavenly Eye concealing his aura within his body, the other should not be able to see through it.
Though puzzled, since the other held him in such regard and had been so courteous, even giving him the map as a favour, if they met later, lending a hand would cost him nothing.
Of course, the specifics would depend on the situation. If the Chao family later joined the pursuit against him, it would not be aid but action he took.
For now, with the other’s courtesy, Lin Xiao could not lose face. He replied, “You overestimate me, Family Head Chao. I am merely passing through. If I can help, I will not stand idly by.”
“Then I thank you in advance, young brother,” the Chao family head said.
“You are too polite, Family Head Chao. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave,” Lin Xiao said.
If not for lacking a reason, he might have suspected the Chao family head was stalling for time.
Yet it was not as dire as he imagined. The Chao family made no move against him, showed no malice, and the family head courteously escorted him out of the Chao family grounds.
Once Lin Xiao had departed, within the Chao family, the middle-aged man voiced some disapproval, “Father, he is just an unknown youth. Why go to such lengths?”
The Chao family head shook his head and said, “Even facing a seventh-rank Martial Emperor like me, and with my utmost courtesy, this youth remained neither servile nor overbearing from start to finish. No fawning fear, no arrogance. This youth is either powerful in strength and aces, with vast experience, or from a great power, with an extraordinary mindset.”
“Furthermore, his ability to use the teleportation array already proves his exceptional nature. Moreover, this youth gives me a peculiar feeling. He may well become a dragon among men in the future. Spending a few words to build rapport costs nothing. Clinging to status and refusing to lower oneself to befriend someone, that is the true folly.”
“Father is right!” The middle-aged man nodded beside him.
…
After leaving the Chao family by some distance, Lin Xiao, mid-flight, continuously pulled out and examined the large bag of storage rings he had reaped from Dingjiang City.
These thousands of storage rings came from owners of varying strengths, but combined, the resources were immensely vast.
Especially the dozen or so from Spirit Phoenix Valley.
In total, there were four thousand blue spirit stones, two to three thousand sixth-grade pills, over ten thousand fourth and fifth-grade pills, plus a few seventh-grade ones, and plenty of medicinal herbs.
One could say Lin Xiao was now a wealthy magnate.
However, not a single pill suitable for breaking through his cultivation.
Refining blue spirit stones normally for practice would take considerable time, so Lin Xiao had no mind for secluded cultivation.
Instead, he took out the Void Heaven Phoenix Wings, produced a large quantity of low-grade pills, infused them continuously, and sped towards the northwest.
Though the Qiulu Mountains might hold many opportunities, considering the Spirit Phoenix Valley wanted notice, and the possibility that the ninth-rank Martial Emperor slain by Nan Muling’s owner might seek vengeance at any moment, Lin Xiao ultimately abandoned the plan to enter for training.
He decided to use these reaped resources from Dingjiang City to fuel the Void Heaven Phoenix Wings and hasten to the nearest teleportation array outpost.
Though it required passing through the Qiulu Mountains, it was not the core area. He reckoned a swift transit should not prove too dangerous.
