Ye Qiu instantly realized something.
The crystal fish could boost his cultivation.
Ecstatic, he quickly closed his eyes and began channeling his energy.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Elder Longmei also sat cross-legged, eyes shut.
Shuisheng, having eaten just one fish, felt his body heat up intensely. He wanted to ask Elder Longmei what was happening, but seeing him meditating, he didn’t dare interrupt. Helpless, he jumped into the pond.
Ten minutes later, Ye Qiu opened his eyes, glaring at Elder Longmei with some annoyance.
Three crystal fish had increased his cultivation by three years.
Had he known they had this effect, he’d never have let Elder Longmei eat so many.
Two minutes later, Elder Longmei opened his eyes, chuckling, “Little brat, how’s it feel?”
“Truly a potent tonic—too bad you hogged six,” Ye Qiu grumbled.
“I gained something too—my stamina’s up a bit, should last me a few more days,” Elder Longmei said with a smile.
“For real?” Ye Qiu’s eyes lit up.
Elder Longmei nodded.
“Then I’ll catch more,” Ye Qiu said. If they helped Elder Longmei’s injuries, grabbing a few extra could buy him more time.
“Don’t bother,” Elder Longmei stopped him. “Their effect has limits—more won’t do much. Rare treasures like these shouldn’t be overharvested. Leave them be… Where’s Shuisheng?”
He turned and didn’t see Shuisheng.
“Probably in the pond,” Ye Qiu said, stepping to the edge. Sure enough, Shuisheng lay naked in the water, eyes closed, looking blissful.
“Tsk, tsk, didn’t expect it—you’re packing some heat,” Ye Qiu teased.
Shuisheng jolted, scrambling out, hands covering himself, face red as he stared at Ye Qiu. “Dr. Ye, why’re you peeking?”
Ye Qiu ignored him, turning to Elder Longmei. “Shuisheng’s wasted at Longhu Mountain—send him to the city.”
“With his looks and assets, he’d rake it in at a club—rich ladies would love him.”
“He could probably bankroll all of Longhu Mountain solo.”
Elder Longmei shot him a glare. “Get lost!”
Ye Qiu laughed.
“Shuisheng, put your clothes on—we’re moving,” Elder Longmei barked.
They ate some dry rations and pressed on.
The journey was smooth, no fierce beasts or birds along the way.
After crossing three peaks, night fell.
Ahead lay a dense forest, looming in the dark like a crouched beast.
“Uncle Master, are we pushing on at night? Why not rest outside the forest till dawn?” Shuisheng suggested.
Elder Longmei shook his head. “I don’t have time to waste—gotta reach Dalong Mountain soon.”
“But that forest’s so thick—what if it’s dangerous?” Shuisheng fretted.
Smack!
Elder Longmei slapped his bald head. “Keep being a coward, and I’ll end you.”
“Remember, you’re from Longhu Mountain—no matter the peril, don’t flinch.”
“With righteous spirit in your heart, fear vanishes.”
Ye Qiu added, “Shuisheng, you’re a man—stand tall. Be brave. Longhu Mountain’s future rests on you.”
Shuisheng nodded.
“Let’s go!”
They entered the forest, flashlights in hand.
It was vast, like a giant net enveloping them.
From dusk till midnight, they still hadn’t exited.
Thankfully, no dangers arose.
At 1 a.m., Ye Qiu, leading the way, halted.
“Little brat, what’d you spot?” Elder Longmei asked.
Shuisheng, tense, swept his flashlight around.
“There’s a skeleton ahead,” Ye Qiu said, hurrying over to inspect it.
The skeleton was long rotted, clad in tattered military garb—unmistakably Japanese from its style.
Beside it lay a rusted submachine gun.
“That driver wasn’t lying—Japanese soldiers did come here years ago,” Ye Qiu said.
Elder Longmei frowned. “The driver said a whole regiment entered—why just one skeleton?”
“More up ahead,” Ye Qiu replied, shining his light forward.
Elder Longmei saw them—hundreds of skeletons.
One, two, three, four…
All in Japanese uniforms, weapons scattered nearby.
One had a samurai sword beside it.
Ye Qiu also spotted three mortars, thick with rust from age.
He picked up a submachine gun—rusted solid, unusable.
“Damn, these Japanese were tough to get this far,” Elder Longmei cursed.
“Can’t underestimate their smarts—they were formidable, or they wouldn’t have sparked a world war,” Ye Qiu said.
“How’d they die?” Elder Longmei asked.
“Can’t tell,” Ye Qiu replied. “No poison signs, no beast marks.”
“Uncle Master, Dr. Ye, we shouldn’t linger—let’s go!” Shuisheng urged.
“He’s right—move,” Ye Qiu agreed, leading on.
By 5:30 a.m., as dawn broke in the east, they emerged from the forest.
“Old man, come see this,” Ye Qiu called from the front.
Elder Longmei joined him, looking out. Three hundred meters away, twenty-eight massive peaks stretched in a chain, scattered like the twenty-eight constellations.
One peak, a hundred meters tall, stood bare and stark, like a giant sword piercing the sky.
“Dalong Mountain—that’s Dalong Mountain!” Elder Longmei pointed at the sword-like peak, voice trembling with excitement.
“We found it!”
Ye Qiu grinned.
Elder Longmei studied it, awestruck. “I get why the Patriarch left the Heavenly Master Sword here.”
“Because…”
“Dalong Mountain is a dragon vein!”
