Chapter 52: The Situation
Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Situation
"What demon!"
The Jackal Wolf Demon walking in front suddenly shouted.
He startled the Little Wild Boar Demon behind him, who almost dropped the Steel Fork in his hands.
"Instructor Chai, it’s me."
Xu Chang’an had a smile on his face.
The Jackal Wolf Demon in front was none other than the master who had guided him during his patrol duties years ago.
He had taken Xu Chang’an on mountain patrols for three months.
Calling him "Instructor" now was a sign of respect.
After Xu Chang’an was transferred from the Mountain Patrol Hall to Hundred Arts Peak, he had been busy every day studying Alchemy and practicing Magic.
He had never seen the Jackal Wolf Demon again since then.
But despite not having seen each other for many years, the Jackal Wolf Demon recognized Xu Chang’an at a glance.
"It’s you, Little Grey Mouse!"
The Jackal Wolf Demon cried out in surprise.
"Instructor Chai, training a new demon, are you?"
Xu Chang’an said with a laugh.
"That’s right, this is a Little Wild Boar Demon. He just joined the Mountain Patrol Hall and doesn’t know a thing. I’m showing him the ropes."
The Jackal Wolf Demon seemed very happy.
Afterward, Xu Chang’an and the Jackal Wolf Demon exchanged a few words, catching up.
The Jackal Wolf Demon was on duty, so Xu Chang’an didn’t chat for long.
After a few more sentences, he bid farewell and left.
"Master Chai, who is he..."
the Little Wild Boar Demon asked, confused.
"Him? He’s the most outstanding Demon I’ve ever trained in my thirty-plus years of patrolling the mountain."
The Jackal Wolf Demon’s gaze grew distant as he watched Xu Chang’an’s retreating figure.
"Next time you see him on patrol, remember to address him as Little Flag."
"Ah, Little Flag!"
the Little Wild Boar Demon exclaimed.
"He’s so small, not even as tall as my thigh, and he’s already a Little Flag?"
"Silly pig, rank isn’t determined by size."
"..."
...
Xu Chang’an continued on his way and soon arrived at the foot of Langlang Mountain.
"You are entering the territory of Langlang Mountain! Halt!"
As soon as he approached, two Little Demons holding Steel Forks blocked his path.
These were the Little Demons who guarded the pass to Langlang Mountain.
Xu Chang’an took out his Demon Token and showed it to them.
Upon seeing the insignia on the Demon Token, the two Little Demons’ attitudes changed immediately, and they bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Little Flag."
Xu Chang’an smiled without a word and headed up the mountain.
Seeing these two Little Demons reminded him of Xiong Da.
Xiong Da was now a Gate Guardian Standard-Bearer of Langlang Mountain, in charge of one of the main gates.
’I wonder which gate Xiong Da is guarding today? East, west, south, or north?’
On his way up the mountain, he passed several more checkpoints.
After showing his Demon Token, he passed through smoothly amidst the salutes and greetings of the Little Demons.
Once on the mountain, Xu Chang’an first went to inform his colleagues in the Alchemy Hall of his return.
After some casual conversation, he rushed nonstop toward Elder Peak.
He had taken a leave of absence from Jin Ling’Er before he left, so it was only natural to report his return.
Jin Ling’Er wore a long, golden dress that complemented her gentle temperament and graceful figure.
Speaking of which, as the youngest Elder of Langlang Mountain,
and a junior of the Direct Lineage of Langlang Mountain’s Great King Jin Yuanba, she was known as the young mistress of Langlang Mountain.
On the mountain, she was adored by all, like the moon surrounded by stars; even the Sequence Elders had to give her some face.
She had many suitors!
It was rumored that the Great King Jin Yuanba had offered to find a good match for Jin Ling’Er.
But for some unknown reason, Jin Ling’Er had refused.
Of course, this was only a rumor.
The truth of the matter was unknown.
"Grey Rat Little Flag, was your trip to Red Cloud Mountain a success?"
Jin Ling’Er asked in a soft, gentle voice.
"Reporting to the Elder, the trip was a complete success. The Alchemy Dao exchange at Red Cloud Mountain left a deep impression on me.
Perhaps, before long, I will be able to attempt Refining Middle-grade Elixirs!"
"Attempt Refining Middle-grade Elixirs!?"
Jin Ling’Er was taken aback.
Being able to attempt Refining Middle-grade Elixirs meant he was not far from becoming a Middle-grade Alchemist.
"Yes, the inherited Alchemy Technique of Red Cloud Mountain is vast and profound. Even learning just a fraction of it has benefited me greatly."
His true Cultivation had already reached the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.
With his current stipend at Langlang Mountain, the resources he received were practically negligible for him now.
’This time, returning to Langlang Mountain, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll raise my status within reasonable limits to obtain more resources.’
’As long as I don’t reveal my true Cultivation and only display my Alchemy Skills...’
’...and as long as I show no signs of disloyalty, Langlang Mountain will only place more importance on me.’
"Good, Grey Rat Little Flag. If you can successfully be certified as a Middle-grade Alchemist,"
"I will appoint you as the Alchemy Hall Commander. In addition, there will be extra rewards."
Jin Ling’Er said encouragingly.
Alchemy was one of the foremost of the hundred arts of cultivation.
For any faction, the number and Grade of its Alchemists were of paramount importance.
Langlang Mountain had poured a massive amount of resources into the Alchemy Hall.
Unfortunately, the Alchemy Dao was a difficult path, and they hadn’t seen much success.
The Alchemy Hall had only one High-grade Alchemist.
And he was old, with not much time left.
Even Middle-grade Alchemists were few and far between.
If Xu Chang’an could advance to become a Middle-grade Alchemist, he would become a core demon of Hundred Arts Peak, prized for his Skills.
In the face of Jin Ling’Er’s encouraging words, Xu Chang’an naturally responded with respect.
After their conversation, he took his leave.
Watching Xu Chang’an’s departing figure, Jin Ling’Er was in a rather good mood.
After six months of adjustment, she had finally emerged from the shadow of the Lion Spirit incident.
’Grey Rat Little Flag is a Demon I personally appointed; he’s part of my own faction.’
’If he can successfully become a certified Middle-grade Alchemist, then at his age, he’s a core talent worth cultivating.’
’Perhaps, in the future, he could even become the one in charge of the Alchemy Hall.’
...
After returning to the mountain, Xu Chang’an fell back into his familiar routine of cultivation.
Refining the Golden Radiance Needle, studying Alchemy, and his daily routine of secretly eating leftover scraps to accumulate Energy.
Unfortunately, as his Realm increased, the accumulation he gained from these leftover scraps was extremely limited!
In the six months he had been away, the situation between Langlang Mountain and Black Crow Mountain had undergone a world-shaking transformation.
Previously, Black Crow Mountain had been the aggressor, pushing into Langlang Mountain’s sphere of influence on all fronts.
They had even, under the leadership of the Black Crow King, laid siege to Langlang Mountain’s main peak.
However, after Langlang Mountain’s Great King, Jin Yuanba, forcefully came out of seclusion, everything had been reversed.
Since they had rashly initiated hostilities, Langlang Mountain sent a letter harshly reprimanding Black Crow Mountain for its actions.
It ordered Black Crow Mountain to pay reparations: six thousand Demon Stones, ten Middle-grade Magical Artifacts, forty Low-grade Magical Artifacts, six sets of Tier One Middle Grade Array Flags, twenty Top-Grade Demon Talismans, sixty Middle-Grade Demon Talismans, two hundred bottles of Clearing Qi Pills, and Qi Replenishing Pills...
Langlang Mountain had actually doubled Black Crow Mountain’s original reparation demands and sent them back.
Faced with such an "unreasonable" demand, Black Crow Mountain naturally refused.
Immediately afterward, Langlang Mountain announced a full-scale counterattack against Black Crow Mountain.
Jin Yuanba even went out several times, making a name for himself and revealing his Cultivation at the Peak of Early-stage Foundation Establishment.
He united with several other Foundation Establishment Great Demon powers from the surrounding area, like Cyan Snake Mountain and Wild Boar Mountain, to jointly attack Black Crow Mountain.
In just half a year, Black Crow Mountain lost vast territories and was forced into a full retreat.
It was clear that the day they would lay siege to Black Crow Mountain’s main peak was not far off.
The morale of all the demons within Langlang Mountain was soaring.
Large quantities of supplies and resources were constantly being mobilized.
And the Alchemy Hall of Hundred Arts Peak, naturally, was also focusing its efforts on this endeavor.