I, a cultivator, have ended up in the world of tomb raiding.

Considering the long-term cooperation between the two parties, Chen Yulou's thoughts shifted.

Now that he had investigated the background of the Mountain Moving Clan, he should also let Partridge Whistle know Li Yue's true abilities to avoid future misunderstandings.

He then pointed his palm at Li Yue and specifically added to Partridge Whistle:

"Brother Dao, rest assured, Brother Li's skills are far beyond those of ordinary martial arts masters."

Previously, in the deep valley of Ping Mountain, the six-winged centipede that had become a spirit after a thousand years died on the spot at his hands.

With him by our side, our safety is guaranteed by an extra layer of protection.

Upon hearing this, even the usually composed Partridge Whistle was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing across his brow.

Seeing this, Chen Yulou took the opportunity to embellish and vividly recount the fierce battle at the bottom of Ping Valley:

"Brother Dao, you may not know this, but the elixir energy gathers in the heart of that Bottle Mountain, nourishing poisonous insects year-round. Among them, the six-winged centipede has even cultivated a demonic form."

It was several meters long, its body covered in black armor as hard as refined iron, and its six wings could fly with a flap of their wings. The poisonous mist from its mouth caused anything that touched it to decay; it was truly a ferocious creature that had become a spirit after a thousand years.

He then looked at Li Yue, his tone filled with genuine admiration:

"These ferocious demons roamed freely, and it was only thanks to Brother Li's intervention that they were finally subdued and killed."

Upon hearing this, Partridge Whistle's gaze towards Li Yue instantly shifted from curiosity to profound shock.

Throughout his life, he traversed famous mountains and rivers, slaying countless demons and monsters, and knew all too well how terrifying the ferocity of these evil spirits that absorbed the spirits of mountains and earth and cultivated themselves into human form was.

It would be difficult for even an ordinary expert to get close, let alone kill him alone.

He looked Li Yue up and down again, only to see that the man still had an indifferent expression, his eyes lowered as he gently stroked a long sword on his lap.

They don't seem to think this matter is worth talking about.

……

However, the truth is that Li Yue only felt a little embarrassed listening to Chen Yulou's exaggerated storytelling style.

Fortunately, this topic didn't last long.

After assessing each other's abilities and reaching a consensus on their goals, the group sat down to discuss and finally devised a plan:

Instead of rushing into the tomb passage, they disguised themselves and went to a Miao village near Ping Mountain to search for a spiritual object that could counteract the poisons in the mountain.

Li Yue also had other thoughts on this matter.

He knew that there was a divine rooster in the Miao village, a rare intelligent bird in the world of tomb raiding.

A single crowing of a rooster can scare away poisonous insects. In the original story, it was this Angry-Eyed Rooster that severely injured the Six-Winged Centipede, bringing it to the brink of death.

It also fought a long battle with the black scorpion with a hooked tail and deadly venom in the ancient tomb, and they eventually perished together.

This "divine chicken" is the Nuqing Chicken, which is only found in Nuqing County, Xiangxi.

Li Yue knew that with his current cultivation method, he would inevitably have to frequently enter and exit those dangerous tombs and treacherous places in the future.

In places like the Yuan Tomb of Ping Mountain, where the Yin energy is so strong, poisons often lurk and take shape in the shady areas.

If he could capture the Angry-Eyed Chicken in the Miao Village and make it his spirit pet, it would be much easier for him to travel to dangerous places in the future.

The next morning.

Li Yue then set off with Partridge Whistle, the Taoist of Moving Mountains, to search for things that could counteract the poisonous insects of Bottle Mountain in the nearby Miao villages.

To make things easier, Partridge Whistle disguised himself as a local Miao youth.

Although his brows carried the grimness of someone who had spent years traversing dangerous places, he was fluent in local dialects and had a deep understanding of the customs and traditions of the mountains and fields. With a little disguise, he would not easily be exposed.

Li Yue's brows were furrowed, and he had a somewhat aloof air when he wasn't smiling. Fortunately, he was handsome and upright, and when he changed into a short jacket, he did have the air of a young master.

Several other valiant men from the Xieling Mountain range disguised themselves as porters and merchants going into the mountains to trade for mountain goods.

Miao villages have always been xenophobic. If someone is recognized as a bandit, they will be met with a beating from a homemade gun. To find out the truth, one must disguise oneself to avoid causing trouble.

Chen Yulou himself had too much of a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) spirit, and it was clear that he was not a law-abiding citizen. Knowing that it was inappropriate for him to go along, he had already made arrangements the night before.

He stepped forward and said to the two men, "The villagers around Laoxiong Ridge have sharp eyes, and it is inconvenient for me to go there in my current state."

I'll send someone to accompany you. She's my right-hand woman, very reliable. If anything happens on the road, just let me know.

After saying that, he waved his hand, and the girl in red behind him stepped forward.

She was dressed in a short, light blue outfit, her usual coldness somewhat toned down, making her look heroic and valiant—a truly capable woman navigating the world.

Chen Yulou was still worried about them entering the village.

After thinking it over, they sent another twenty brothers, all of whom had concealed rifles, to lie far behind them to provide cover in case of any unforeseen events.

After Chen Yulou finished explaining things to the brothers who stayed behind, Li Yue, along with Partridge Whistle and Red Girl, disguised themselves as peddlers and entered the mountains under the pretext of exchanging mountain goods.

Then, they used the captured Miao people as guides to lead them deep into Old Bear Ridge.

The area around Ping Mountain was sparsely populated, with only a few Miao villages scattered around. The nearby Nanzhai village had already been deserted by Luo Laowai's engineering troops.

Guided by the skilled Miao people, the group traversed a deep mountain valley and headed straight for the northern village.

The journey became increasingly treacherous, consisting entirely of primeval jungle with virtually no path to follow.

However, since leaving the Yin Sha place of Ping Mountain, this place has gradually begun to exude a sense of clarity.

Though as faint as tobacco shreds, one can still discern a trace of it upon careful observation.

Moreover, wildflowers grew in abundance along the roadside, and mountain fruits hung from the branches, creating a mix of red and green along the way, which added a touch of wild charm.

Bored with the journey, Li Yue casually picked a few bright red mountain fruits and played with them in his hand, thinking to himself:

The world is vast and beautiful; I wonder if it also holds rare and precious treasures such as spiritual fruits and immortal herbs.

But then he thought about it again and realized that he was now a being who devoured yin energy and cultivated through evil means.

Even if there were truly spiritual fruits before you, consuming them would not only be of no benefit, but would also cause the spiritual energy to clash with the yin energy within your body.

In mild cases, it can cause meridian disorders; in severe cases, it can lead to qi deviation, demonic possession, and physical disintegration.

Thinking of this, I felt relieved.

What I should be eating now is a yin fruit that contains yin and cold energy.

However, it is hard to say whether such a strange object as the Yin Fruit actually exists in this world.

He shook his head and focused on walking through the valley that the locals called Shadaogou.

While ordinary landscapes are often described as beautiful, this place can only be described as "extraordinarily beautiful".

What one sees is a forest of strange peaks and bizarre rocks. In the deep canyon, hundreds of feet deep, thousands of steep stone pillars rise from the ground, piercing straight into the sky.

Fortunately, the skilled Miao people were familiar with the terrain of the mountains, and they would not get lost even when surrounded by swirling clouds and towering cliffs.

The guide Chen Yulou found was timid and fearful. Knowing that they were all warlord leaders, he served them with utmost care and dared not have the slightest thought of escaping.

In addition, he was an opium smoker and would often smoke a few pipes to enjoy himself.

Luo Laowai's army consisted mostly of dual-wielding soldiers, each carrying a gun for killing and a pipe for smoking opium.

This time, he was rewarded with a few coins' worth of top-grade longevity ointment, a luxury he could only dream of in his daily life.

As the saying goes, "With cigarettes to smoke, one would dare to brave mountains of knives and seas of fire; without cigarettes, one would dare to abandon one's parents."

This fellow got the benefits and enjoyed himself immensely, becoming even more devoted to them, hoping to benefit from them again in the future.

The group followed the guide across the treacherous terrain of Ping Mountain, traversing mountains and valleys throughout the night.

It wasn't until dawn the next day that they finally arrived at Jin Feng Village, the largest village in the vicinity.

It was just dawn.

As they entered the village, they heard the sounds of chickens and dogs, and the villagers came out of their stilted houses, each busy with their own livelihood, creating a bustling scene.

Following their pre-arranged story, Li Yue and his accomplices disguised themselves as itinerant peddlers and infiltrated the village entrance.

The Miao villages deep in the mountains are most lacking in salt, cloth, needles and thread, and ironware. Foreign merchants often exchange these daily necessities for local herbs, mountain products, and furs.

The business of itinerant merchants involved carrying goods into the mountains, bartering, and then bringing the goods out of the mountains to sell.

When the villagers saw outsiders arrive, they curiously gathered around, wanting to see if they were merchants or traders.

Upon seeing this, Partridge Whistle immediately stepped forward and sang a grand ode, opening his throat to recite the peddler's praises, his voice rising and falling in a way that sounded almost like singing:

"Alas—after climbing one mountain, another rises."

Green mountains and clear waters are before our eyes;

Carrying the load on their shoulders, they hurried along the road.

All goods are in stock, the prices are fair, and there is no deception.

Needle, thread, and small silk fabric

Salt, sugar cubes, and a rough porcelain bowl;

In exchange, they obtained mountain delicacies and medicinal herbs.

It's not difficult for everyone to be happy.

Dear fellow villagers, if you have any mountain produce or herbs, feel free to bring them in to exchange for some daily necessities. The prices are fair, and we will never cheat newcomers!