Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 425 The Heaven-Burning Violent Ape Reappears
Li Xiangming naturally thought of what Wei Fei had said, which was why he felt it was a difficult situation.

Puyin Mountain is vast and boundless; where will the great demon be born?

What actions will it take after it is born?
Judging from its approach to summoning subordinates, it is clear that it wants to make a name for itself.

If it were just a matter of fighting for territory, that would be fine, but if there were to be a large-scale invasion of Pudong, the entire cultivation forces in Pudong would be plunged into dire straits. He had to pass this message back to the Li family in a timely manner.

But what else can he do besides delivering messages?

He didn't even dare to release the news, because if he did, it would inevitably cause panic, and a large number of demon hunters and traveling merchants would choose to flee Puyin Mountain.

This will be a heavy blow to the booming Monkey Valley.

With Monkey Valley ruined, the Demon Hunter Guild and Puyin Mountain Hall will also fall into decline.

How could he, as a beneficiary of the existing system, accept such an outcome?

After a long silence, Li Xiangming slowly said, "I understand."

Wei Fei was taken aback, then said somewhat excitedly, "Doesn't Hall Master Li believe me?"

Li Xiangming glanced at Wei Fei.

At this moment, Wei Fei's face was no longer obsequious; he clearly took the strange movements of the demonic beast very seriously.

Whether it is true or false still needs to be confirmed.

Li Xiangming looked at him calmly: "Don't make a fuss yet. If this information is confirmed, I will reward you handsomely."

Wei Fei remained silent; this was not the answer he wanted to hear.

It's not difficult to collect one or two cases of demon-hunting cultivators being attacked in the mountains.

However, collecting hundreds of samples and drawing specific conclusions is no easy task.

He spent at least a month preparing to present these two jade slips, which can be described as painstaking effort.

Its purpose, of course, was to draw the attention of the Li family, lest Monkey Valley be wiped out by a whole horde of monsters.

However, Li Xiangming's demeanor was surprisingly calm, as if he had only overheard two demon hunters arguing about something insignificant, which made him feel uneasy.

Will the Li family take this intelligence seriously?

Will these ordinary cultivators, who rely on Puyin Mountain for survival, be able to escape this calamity?
Wei Fei felt increasingly uneasy as he thought about it, but he didn't dare to question Li Xiangming. After hesitating for a long time, he finally nodded obsequiously.

"Do you have many informants in Puyin Mountain?"

At this moment, Li Xiangming suddenly asked.

Wei Fei was startled and quickly replied, "I only know some people from all walks of life, nothing to mention."

Li Xiangming narrowed his eyes: "Since you have the ability to gather intelligence, why have you never reported it to me before?"

Wei Fei replied cautiously, "I dare not hide it from Hall Master Li. I have mostly information that is widely circulated. Taibai Tavern knows just as much as I do. How could I dare to take credit for it? Moreover, I do have dealings with the Li family, but they are unaware of the relationship between you and me."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming's gaze turned strange.

Wei Fei clearly believed that the Li family had its own intelligence system, and that as the former head of the department or now the hall master, he must have access to the highest level of intelligence in Puyin Mountain.

If Wei Fei tells him the information he has found out, then the following situation may occur—that he already knew this information in advance.

What value is there in the already known intelligence?

He couldn't possibly reward Wei Fei handsomely for this.

Wei Fei was well aware of this. Rather than receiving a lukewarm compliment, he preferred to sell the information to cultivators closely associated with the Li family, such as Chi Laiyong.

Chi Laiyong certainly knew less than Li Xiangming, and he was also willing to spend money to buy intelligence.

Ultimately, this intelligence will still end up in the hands of Taibai Restaurant, or rather, the Li family.

In this way, Wei Fei could not only get the spirit stones sponsored by Li Xiangming for free, but also make the intelligence he had the right to be valued.

Even if Li Xiangming pressed him for details, Wei Fei could confidently say that he had already reported the important intelligence to the "Li family" forces, but he just didn't dare to disturb Hall Master Li.

This kid is actually so cunning?
Li Xiangming was surprised, but as cunning as he was, Wei Fei was able to collect a large amount of intelligence in just one month and organize it so that he could understand it at a glance.

This is not something just anyone can do.

Based on this alone, the twenty spirit stones he donated were not wasted.

Thinking of this, Li Xiangming coughed and said, "Have you spent all the spirit stones I gave you last time? I'll give you another hundred spirit stones. You can report to me anything that happens on Puyin Mountain. You'll be rewarded if it's helpful!"

"Thank you for your support, Master Li. I will certainly do my best."
-
A certain place in Puyin Mountain.

A group of more than ten people cautiously traversed the desolate mountains and wilderness.

Suddenly, a blurry figure appeared ahead.

The team was on high alert and all stopped in their tracks.

Only when the figure got closer did someone breathe a sigh of relief: "They're our people, everyone don't need to worry."

The newcomer had a somber expression. He focused his gaze on a stern-faced young man at the front of the group and said in a low voice, "Commander, we haven't found any good stuff. Even the Spotted Poison Giant Spider is nowhere to be seen."

Liu Qingzhou frowned instantly.

Two months ago, he planned to expand the Qing Shuang Demon Hunting Group's activity range in Puyin Mountain, so he personally led the team to explore the new area, but unexpectedly encountered a giant spotted venomous spider attacking them there.

The Spotted Poison Giant Spider possesses late-stage Spirit Awakening cultivation and is adept at using poisonous mist. Ordinary people cannot get close to it at all. Even if they do get close, this creature is so large that every move it makes will cause the demon-hunting team to fall over.

Moreover, the Spotted Poison Giant Spider also possesses the signature skills of ordinary spider demons, able to spit out a huge spider web in just a few breaths, which cannot be harmed by swords or blades.

The Frost Demon Hunting Team faced a very difficult situation in the jungle full of spider webs.

Ultimately, they suffered heavy losses and were forced to retreat.

Liu, a man who always seeks revenge, spent more than two months preparing for this, and specially purchased Flame Burst Talismans, Breath Holding Talismans, and a second-hand Imprisonment Array Plate, all in order to take down the Spotted Poison Giant Spider.

However, the spotted giant spider ran away beforehand?

"Commander, things don't seem to be going too well for us today!"

Someone muttered something.

Liu Qingzhou frowned even more, and just as he was about to say something, a roar suddenly came from ahead.

"That's the sound of a fire talisman!"

"Is there anyone ahead?"

"Quiet!"

Liu Qingzhou interrupted the noise and shouted, "Form ranks, retreat, and prepare to fight!"

"Yes!"

At a command, more than ten demon-hunting cultivators summoned their magical artifacts, retreating while forming a square formation, ready for battle.

Before long, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a yellow robe flew over first.

Liu Qingzhou, with his sharp eyes, noticed the distinctive mustache on the yellow-robed cultivator's face, and his expression immediately changed. He roared, "Zhao Jindou!"

Zhao Jindou shuddered, only then noticing that a group of demon-hunting cultivators were still entrenched below.

"Brother Liu?"

Upon seeing Liu Qingzhou, Zhao Jindou was overjoyed for some reason. He landed on the ground and laughed heartily, saying, "It is truly a joyous occasion to run into an old friend while I was fleeing for my life."

"Congratulations!"

Liu Qingzhou sneered: "If Chairman Zhao doesn't pay off the spirit stones he owes us in one lump sum, today's celebration may turn into a day of mourning."

Zhao Jindou stopped in his tracks, his face flushed with embarrassment, and said, "Let's not talk about that for now. As long as Commander Liu can escort me to Monkey Valley, I, Zhao, will repay some old debts double."

"Let's settle the bill first."

Liu Qingzhou showed no mercy, his tone carrying a strong warning: "Unlike others, I don't treat debtors like royalty. Here, not paying back the money means certain death."

Zhao Jindou looked distressed: "It's not that I don't want to repay, but now is not the right time. Commander Liu, let's get going, or it will be too late."

After saying that, he kept turning back.

Liu Qingzhou's expression darkened: "What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"

"Monsters, so many monsters!" Before the words were finished, another person darted out from the dense forest.

Zhao Jindou quickly called out, "Gao Yuan, over here!"

A man named Gao Yuan immediately flew over, a look of confusion on his face: "Master, why are you still lingering here? If we don't run now, the monsters will swarm over."

"What monster?"

Liu Qingzhou interrupted him coldly.

Gao Yuan glanced at him, then looked at Zhao Jindou.

"It's alright, Commander Liu is one of us."

Zhao Jindou immediately said.

Gao Yuan said "Oh" and turned to Liu Qingzhou: "We encountered a group of migrating demonic beasts on the road. They are chasing after us now, and the leader is the Burning Sky Violent Ape."

"Burning Sky Violent Ape?"

The Qing Shuang Demon Hunting Team erupted in exclamations of surprise.

Perhaps no one has ever seen the Burning Sky Violent Ape in person, but rumors about it are widespread in Monkey Valley. It is said that the Li family suffered a great loss at the hands of this beast.

Some even confidently asserted that the Burning Sky Violent Ape was a "demon king" from the outskirts of Puyin Mountain, with a cultivation level reaching the late stage of Bone Fusion!

A demon cultivator who has achieved the Bone Fusion stage?

Liu Qingzhou, not bothering to argue with Zhao Jindou, turned around and shouted, "Return to Monkey Valley at full speed!"

"Yes!"

The Azure Frost Demon Hunting Team was already in a panic and fled in droves.

Zhao Jindou quickly followed.

However, before he could take a few steps, Liu Qingzhou intercepted him.

Zhao Jindou's expression changed slightly: "Brother Liu, what do you mean by this?"

"Please find another place, Chairman Zhao."

Liu Qingzhou's voice was indifferent.

"Commander Liu!"

Zhao Jindou immediately became anxious and advised, "Only by joining forces can we have a fighting chance. If we separate, we will only be defeated one by one. I urge Commander Liu to understand the greater good."

What utter nonsense about profound righteousness!
Liu Qingzhou sneered repeatedly. This Heaven-Burning Violent Ape was chasing Zhao Jindou. What did it have to do with his Azure Frost Demon Hunting Team?
Joining forces will only bring disaster to our own people.

He doesn't even understand this simple principle; he's no good as a regimental commander.

Seeing Liu Qingzhou resolutely blocking the way, Gao Yuan strode forward, his face unfriendly: "Hey Liu, this road in Puyin Mountain isn't yours to drive. We can't just go wherever we want."

After saying that, his magical power surged, subtly conveying a sense of threat.

Liu Qingzhou's eyes were gloomy. He hadn't expected his opponent to be a Qi Refining Ninth Level cultivator. However, he was not afraid at all. His magical power of the same level surged out like a spring, and he confronted Gao Yuan head-on: "Go ahead and try!"

Just then, a monkey's cry resounded in all directions. The powerful sound wave pressed down on the surrounding trees and weeds, making them unable to stand up. Even the gravel and sand on the ground began to tremble.

"It's the Sky-Burning Violent Ape!"

Zhao Jindou and Gao Yuan's faces instantly turned panicked.

Liu Qingzhou was in no better shape; that one shout alone had extinguished his fighting spirit.

"Commander Liu, it will be too late if we don't leave now!"

Zhao Jindou looked extremely anxious: "As long as we get back to Monkey Valley safely, we'll settle our score clearly. I'll also give you five hundred spirit stones! I've already returned to Puyin Mountain, are you worried I'll run away?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingzhou hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided not to stop him.

The three of them transformed into streaks of light and vanished together.
-
"Boom!!"

The mountain ridge was engulfed in flames.

Liu Qingzhou knelt on the ground, coughing up blood incessantly.

He tried to turn his head, and everywhere he looked, there were traces of residual magic power. Several burning corpses lay scattered to the side, waiting to turn into ashes.

"what!"

Another scream rang out, and a cloud of blood mist rained down from the sky.

Liu Qingzhou was stunned. He struggled to get up, but swayed and almost fell over.

"Captain!"

Someone helped him up and kept whispering something in his ear.

Liu Qingzhou couldn't hear clearly, but felt a swarm of mosquitoes buzzing in his ears.

After a long while, the swarm of mosquitoes gradually dispersed, and an anxious voice rang out: "Commander, get up quickly, we'll cover your escape!"

"Walk?"

Liu Qingzhou's pupils focused, and he suddenly looked up. A huge ape demon covered in flames was waving its arms in his line of sight. The cultivators around it were like moths to a flame, and every now and then one of them would disappear.

"Commander, let's go!"

A short young man pleaded with Liu Qingzhou before taking to the sky.

However, in just a moment, the short youth was completely engulfed by the flames.

"Xiao Dong!"

Liu Qingzhou murmured a sentence, only to feel even colder.

"Commander Liu, this can't go on!"

Zhao Jindou, limping on one leg, crawled over from the ground and said sorrowfully, "Only Gao Yuan is left with the strength to fight. The others can't hold out for long. The two of us must go first!"

"Go to hell!"

Liu Qingzhou suddenly erupted, his anger reaching its peak.

He took out a few small bottles from his storage bag, poured out a handful of pills and swallowed them whole, then flew towards the Burning Sky Violent Ape.

Seeing this, Zhao Jindou was both anxious and angry.

Despite knowing he had run into a horde of demonic beasts, and despite knowing that there were Bone Fusion stage demonic cultivators like the Burning Sky Violent Ape among them, he never expected that the Burning Sky Violent Ape could catch up with him so easily.

Even the Azure Frost Demon Hunting Team, which fled immediately, could not escape disaster.

What frustrated him even more was that Liu Qingzhou had a stubborn temper.

If the demon-hunting team had stalled for time, he, Liu Qingzhou, and Gao Yuan might have had a chance of survival.

Who knew that Liu Qingzhou, seeing the heavy casualties of the demon-hunting team, would lose his mind and insist on going into battle to test his skills.

Unfortunately, he possessed some skill, which allowed him to enrage the Heavenly Blazing Ape.

As a result, the Blazing Sky Ape went all out, and he was also affected by the attack, suffering serious injuries and losing a leg. Now he doesn't even have enough magic power to escape.

Liu Qingzhou was also badly hurt, taking a direct hit from the Burning Sky Violent Ape and nearly losing his life.

Even in this dire situation, Liu Qingzhou refused to take him away and instead wanted to fight the Burning Sky Violent Ape to the death.

Isn't this a suicide?
Zhao Jindou felt increasingly regretful. He should have known better than to associate with the Qing Shuang Demon Hunting Team. If they had split up, the Burning Sky Violent Ape might have abandoned him and Gao Yuan!
What a mistake!
Just then, another explosion occurred in the sky.

Zhao Jindou could see clearly that it was Gao Yuan who had fallen this time.

Without Gao Yuan, the remaining forces of the Qing Shuang Demon Hunting Group cannot hold out for long.

"We can't stay here!"

Zhao Jindou was filled with this thought, but unfortunately he couldn't stand up at all and could only crawl awkwardly on the ground.

As he climbed, he suddenly noticed a pair of neat boots in front of him. The Taoist robe hanging beside the boots was as bright and green as jade, smooth and delicate, making him seem extraordinary yet awe-inspiring.

(End of this chapter)