Chapter 314: Seven-Star in a Row, Revealing the True Form

“Yes. The team leader said that while the mountain folk of the Southern Wilderness seem barbaric, they’re not unreasonable. They also relayed the Lord Mountain God’s intentions. He doesn’t wish to be disturbed by the outside world, but he doesn’t refuse friendly interactions.”

“Interesting.” The Qingzhou Prefect stroked his chin and ordered, “Continue maintaining contact with the Southern Wilderness. Keep sending gifts, and make sure to adopt a humble stance. Consider it an investment in goodwill. As for Celestial Sword Manor… ignore it for now. Let those hungry wolves fight over the scraps! One mountain can’t hold two tigers. It’s about time the sky over Qingzhou saw a change in color.”

“Yes, my lord!”

「Meanwhile, inside the Worry-Free Tavern.」

The Mad Swordsman, Xue Shan, was red-faced from drinking. He bellowed, “I’m telling you all, that Chen Ye is my sworn brother! I knew he wasn’t some ordinary guy five years ago! How about it? You believe me now? He cut down that son of a bitch Jian Wuchen in a single strike and even slapped old Jian Jingchuan’s face until it was swollen! Damn it, now *that’s* what I call a real man!”

The other patrons in the tavern erupted into a clamor, some raising their cups to him, others shouting their agreement. The place was incredibly lively.

In truth, there was something Xue Shan hadn’t told anyone: a while back, he had actually gone to the Southern Wilderness Mountain Range.

He had thought that with his Sea Condensation Realm cultivation and a healthy dose of zeal, he’d surely be able to find some trace of Chen Ye.

However, reality soon taught him a harsh lesson.

The moment he stepped into the Southern Wilderness Mountain Range, he felt as if he’d walked into a ball of cotton. He completely lost his sense of direction.

The mountains were the same mountains, the trees were the same trees, yet after walking for the better part of a day, he realized he had just been going in circles.

The fog in the forest grew denser, carrying a sweet fragrance that made his head spin.

Before long, all sorts of bizarre creatures began to emerge.

Monkeys with human faces cackled at him from the trees. Colorful venomous snakes shot up from the ground like vines. And indistinct black shadows darted through the woods, letting out cries that sounded like a wailing infant.

At first, Xue Shan tried to force his way through. But he was sent flying by a monster that looked like a wild boar, its hide so thick and tough that his saber couldn’t even scratch it. The impact knocked him senseless.

In the end, he all but crawled his way out of that bizarre forest, covered in wounds and looking utterly wretched.

Afterwards, Xue Shan came to a realization. ‘This must be the Lord Mountain God’s way of saying I’m not welcome.’ He consoled himself with the thought, ‘Forget it. We’ll drink again when you get out, brother.’

With that, he raised his wine gourd in a distant toast toward the mountains, then turned and limped away.

What he didn’t know was that as he barged into the forest, Niu was standing on the walls of Kawa Village, using a peculiar Magic Technique to watch his every move with perfect clarity.

“Chieftain, another one who’s not afraid to die. Should we let the things in the mountains take care of him?” Niu asked in his deep, rumbling voice.

The old chieftain shook his head. “There’s no need. I sense no malice from him; he’s just a reckless fellow. Let him learn his lesson and retreat on his own. The Lord Mountain God doesn’t approve of wantonly killing the innocent.”

“Yes.”

Time flowed like water, and the years passed in a flash.

「Two more years passed in the blink of an eye.」

For mortals, much can happen in two years. But for Cultivators, especially those engrossed in their training, it is but the blink of an eye.

「Southern Wilderness Mountain Range. The Quiet Chamber on the rear mountain.」

Chen Ye slowly opened his eyes. A long, turbid breath escaped his mouth like a white arrow, shooting several yards across the room and blasting a deep pit into the stone wall of the Quiet Chamber.

His aura was even more condensed and profound than it had been two years prior, as deep and unfathomable as an ocean abyss.

For the past two years, he had scarcely stepped outside, pouring all his time and energy into his Cultivation.

The support Yuan Lan gave him was immense. All manner of Wondrous Medicines and Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, items incredibly rare in the outside world, were supplied to him as if they cost nothing.

Furthermore, his Star River Qi Refining Technique had reached its Max Level. Coupled with the Spiritual Qi here, which was so dense it was almost tangible, his Cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds.

But that wasn’t the most important part.

His greatest gain came from his understanding of Tribulation.

Over these two years, he had heeded Yuan Lan’s guidance. He no longer cultivated in blind isolation, but instead frequently stepped out of the Quiet Chamber to observe everything in the valley with his Tribulation Eye.

He had watched the entire life cycle of a flower, from its first bloom to the moment it withered away. In his Tribulation Eye, the gray Tribulation Line signifying the end of its life was present from the very moment it bloomed, growing clearer and thicker with the passage of time.

He had watched a great boulder, eroded by wind and rain, go from seemingly indestructible to being riddled with cracks, until it finally crumbled into dust.

The Tribulation of its decay had been hidden deep within its structure all along.

Birth, age, sickness, and death. Prosperity and decline, bloom and decay.

From the moment of its creation, everything in existence is destined for destruction.

This was Tribulation.

Armed with this understanding, when Chen Ye used his Saber Technique now, it was no longer just about severing Tribulation Lines to trigger destruction.

He could even use his own True Essence as a medium to nudge and influence those subtle Tribulation Lines.

For example, Chen Ye could now make a flower that should have withered maintain its glorious bloom for an extra day. It was a minuscule change, but he was intoxicated by this profoundly esoteric sensation.

CREAK… The stone door of the Quiet Chamber slowly swung open, and Chen Ye stepped out.

In the valley, Yuan Lan stood silently by the lake, seemingly lost in thought.

As Chen Ye emerged, Yuan Lan spoke without turning around. “How do you feel?”

“Better than ever,” Chen Ye replied with a smile.