Chapter 35: Blood Eagle Gang

After returning to his courtyard, Long Feng sat down and began thinking about his next move.

Su Lingxue would leave for Clear River City the day after tomorrow. If he wanted to set up something, he needed to arrive before her.

"Xiao Ruo."

"Yes, Master?"

"Go to the Administrative Hall and find everything you can about Clear River City."

Xiao Ruo nodded.

"Understood."

"Also, get me a map of the surrounding area. I want to know the fastest route there."

"Yes."

Xiao Ruo immediately left.

Azura Heaven Sect had existed for countless years, and its collection of information was naturally enormous.

Not only did it possess information about its own territory, but it also had records regarding many places throughout the Central Region.

As long as a disciple was willing to spend contribution points, they could obtain information about almost any ordinary city or region.

Fortunately, Long Feng still had enough contribution points.

He didn’t need anything particularly valuable, just some information about Clear River City and the surrounding area, so it cost a few points.

After waiting for some time, Xiao Ruo finally returned a jade slip and a map.

He immediately began examining the map.

Clear River City was located quite far from Azura Heaven Sect. Even with a flying beast, it would take around two to three days to reach the city.

He couldn’t waste any time and needed to arrive before her.

"Master, are you going somewhere?"

Xiao Ruo asked curiously.

"Yes. I have something to take care of in Clear River City."

Long Feng put the map away nad pack up his things.

"While I’m gone, take care of the courtyard. If anyone comes looking for me, tell them that I’ve gone out to complete a mission."

"Understood."

He headed directly toward the sect’s Beast Platform.

After spending some contribution points, he selected a suitable flying beast and quickly left Azura Heaven Sect.

The enormous beast spread its wings and soared into the sky.

Long Feng sat in his room upon its back, looking toward the distant horizon. There was still some time before he arrived. He decided not to waste those days.

During the journey, Long Feng spent most of his time refining pills.

He had gained considerable experience from refining Fourth-Rank pills recently, but he wanted to improve his skills further.

At the same time, he could replenish his stock of pills.

After all, having enough pills with him was always useful when traveling outside the sect.

Days passed quickly as on the third day, a massive mountain range appeared beneath him.

Long Feng looked down and found a large city could be seen nestled between the surrounding mountains.

"That should be Clear River City."

The flying beast descended. As it approached the city, Long Feng could see its scale more clearly.

Clear River City was surrounded by mountains on almost every side. Many major roads passed through the mountain range from here, making the city an important resting and trading point for merchants traveling through the region.

Because of its location, countless merchants and travelers passed through the city every day.

Caravans carrying spiritual herbs, beast materials, weapons, pills, and other cultivation resources could frequently be seen entering and leaving the city.

Although it was located in the middle of a mountain range, Clear River City was far from isolated.

Instead, it had become quite prosperous because of its unique geographical location.

The flying beast slowly descended outside the city. Long Feng jumped down from its back. He stretched his body after sitting for several days.

"Finally arrived."

After putting away the flying beast, he entered the city.

The streets were considerably more crowded than he had expected. Merchants shouted about their goods while cultivators moved through the streets. There were even several caravans preparing to leave the city.

Cultivators could be seen everywhere. Some hurried toward the city gates with weapons on their backs, while others gathered around stalls and negotiated over various cultivation resources.

The atmosphere was especially lively around the central streets, where merchants from different regions often stopped to rest before continuing their journey.

No wonder this city has become so prosperous.

Its location made it almost impossible for merchants traveling through the mountain range to avoid it.

As long as the mountain routes remained open, Clear River City would continue to attract countless cultivators and merchants.

Long Feng casually looked around before choosing a fairly luxurious restaurant. He entered and found a seat in the corner.

A waiter quickly approached.

"Sir, what would you like to order?"

"Bring me your finest dishes."

The waiter was immediately delighted. "Of course! Please wait a moment."

After the waiter left, Long Feng leaned back in his chair and casually looked around.

Most of the customers inside were cultivators, even the restaurant’s waiters weren’t ordinary mortals.

Long Feng swept his spiritual sense around and discovered that most of them were at the Qi Refining Realm and Spirit Condensing realm.

After a while, the dishes were brought to his table. The food looked excellent, and the spiritual energy contained within some of the dishes was quite rich.

Long Feng tasted several dishes. The flavor wasn’t bad. However, the price was also quite high.

The entire meal cost him thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

After finishing his meal, Long Feng took out fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones and placed them on the table.

The waiter froze when he saw them.

"Sir... this is... fifty Spirit Stones. That’s twenty more than the bill."

Long Feng nodded.

"Keep the rest."

The waiter looked surprised.

"Sir, are you sure?"

"Yes."

Long Feng leaned back and it wasn’t until he take them, he finally asked his question.

"I’m new to Clear River City and don’t know much about this place. I want to ask you a few questions."

The waiter’s eyes immediately lit up.

He understood what Long Feng meant. He had worked in this restaurant for many years and had seen countless merchants and cultivators come and go.

Most newcomers who visited the city wanted to understand the local situation.

And since Long Feng had given him twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones as a tip, he naturally had no reason to hide anything.

"Sir, feel free to ask."

"Tell me about Clear River City."

The waiter smiled.

"Then you’ve come to the right person."

Then with his explaining, Long Feng learnt about the most of details in city or its surrounding region.

Clear River City had several powerful local forces.

Although there were many cultivators in the city, Nascent Soul Realm experts were still extremely rare.

The strongest cultivators usually belonged to the major local forces, while most ordinary cultivators were below the Golden Core Realm.

The city wasn’t much different from Yunhai City, which he had visited previously.

However, Clear River City was considerably more prosperous because of the merchants and caravans constantly passing through it.

But the most important thing he heard about, is the Blood Eagle Gang. Its a group of bandit cultivators formed in past few months. They live in the mountains outside the city."

Those people often attack merchants and cultivators traveling through the mountain roads. They rob their belongings and before killing all the men and kidnap their women.

Long Feng’s expression became slightly colder.

"The people of Clear River City haven’t done anything about them?"

"They’ve tried."

The waiter sighed, as if tired with countless efforts.

"But the Blood Eagle Gang isn’t weak. Their leader is a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, and there are several Golden Core Realm cultivators among the bandits."

"Even if the powerful cultivators in the city join forces, they have difficulty dealing with them."

"Why?" Long Feng frowned. Even if they were powerful, their strength isn’t that much to fight against all of the city experts.

"Because the mountains are enormous."

The waiter pointed toward the distant mountain range.

"The Blood Eagle Gang know every valley, every cave, and every hidden path. Whenever someone tries to hunt them down, they simply disappear into the mountains. By the time the pursuers arrive, the gang has already vanished. Even their base has never been found."

But he didn’t notice that his words made Long Feng’s eyes flickered.

He was almost certain now that this Blood Eagle Gang was most likely the same group of cultivator bandits that Azura Heaven Sect had issued the mission to eliminate.

Clear River City was under the territory controlled by Azura Heaven Sect.

If the city couldn’t deal with such a powerful group itself, asking the sect for assistance was perfectly normal.

Moreover, he had just learnt that the city lord was reportedly a former disciple of Azura Heaven Sect. It wasn’t strange that he would request the sect’s help.

Long Feng nodded thoughtfully. He had already obtained enough information, but the problem was still there.

He didn’t the location of Blood Eagle Gang’s base, how would he set up his masterplan?

He began to think about the ways he could find this gang.

The easiest way would be for them to come out on their way, like following a goods cart. But that would take too long, and he was in a hurry.

After thinking for a while, he remembered something else about this city and his eyes lit up.

After paying for the meal, he stood up and left the restaurant. But he didn’t immediately head toward the mountain range.

As he walked through the street, he stopped a passing cultivator and asked about the way of Moonlit Pavilion.

"I see..."

But the cultivator looked at him with a strange smile on his face, before pointing toward a street farther away.

"Thank you." Long Feng didn’t care about his thoughts.

If someone young like him had asked for the address of the courtesan during the day, he would have reacted the same way.

He followed the direction the cultivator had pointed toward. After walking through several streets, a beautifully decorated building soon appeared in front of him.

A large sign hung above the entrance.

Moonlit Pavilion.

Long Feng stopped outside and looked at it. A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Let’s see if my guess is correct. After all, men understand men better than anyone."