Chapter 380: Finding a Place to Bury You

Wang Ying recalled, “Legend has it that this mountain wasn’t originally called the Chaotic Cloud Mountains, but Azure Cloud Mountain—the Azure Cloud Mountains. It was once the stronghold of an ancient sect. For reasons unknown, the heavens grew wrathful, causing the Mist Sea to surge within Azure Cloud Mountain. From the swirling mists emerged countless demons and ghostly creatures, ultimately leading to the sect’s destruction.”

Xu Sanyan paused, furrowing his brow in thought. “I remember the Hundred Saints Secret Realm being surrounded by the Mist Sea. Could there be a connection between the two?”

He had once been hunted for seizing the secret realm fruit, forcing him to traverse the Mist Sea to reach the Chaotic Cloud Mountains. That journey had been a near-death experience, with repeated encounters with terrifying demon beasts. He still vividly remembered their forms—their colossal size seemed boundless, their overwhelming presence shaking the very depths of his soul.

Even with his Soul Refining Realm cultivation level, let alone the void harmony realm or even the sage realm, he doubted he could have stood against those demonic creatures.

The monstrous power was so terrifying that even now, recalling it still sent shivers down Xu Sanyan’s spine.

Once, Xu Sanyan had been carelessly swallowed whole by a monster. If he hadn’t had the presence of mind to dive into a secret realm fruit for refuge, he would have been digested into a pile of excrement long ago.

What was most alarming was that the monster hadn’t even noticed Xu Sanyan; he had nearly lost his life simply by being caught in the creature’s wake.

Wang Ying nodded. “Brother Lin’s deduction is correct. The Mist Sea originates from the Chaotic Cloud Mountains. A great power then used extraordinary means to draw it together, forming the Mist Sea we know today.”

Xu Sanyan pondered. The Hundred Saints Secret Realm was created by the Yaotian Holy Sect. If Wang Ying’s words were true, then the Chaotic Cloud Mountains must have existed before the Holy Sect’s establishment.

Later, to construct the Hundred Saints Secret Realm, the Yaotian Holy Sect relocated the Mist Sea from the Chaotic Cloud Mountains, creating a natural barrier to protect the secret realm.

“The Mist Tide is the period when the mist rises. It occurs in a ten-year cycle, and this year marks the tenth year. Based on past patterns, it should begin soon. Countless demonic ghosts will emerge with the mist, making it extremely dangerous.”

Xu Sanyan’s brow furrowed deeper. Having personally witnessed the terror of the Mist Sea, he had no desire to risk staying in the Chaotic Cloud Mountains if the mist were to rise. It was best to escape as soon as possible.

Noticing Xu Sanyan’s worried expression, Wang Yu assumed he was frightened and chuckled reassuringly.

“Brother Lin, there’s no need to worry so much. The Mist Tide isn’t nearly as dangerous as it used to be. The mist has grown thinner over the past century, and the demonic ghosts are much weaker now. They pose no real threat anymore.”

Wang Ying nodded in agreement. “Indeed. I remember during the last Mist Tide, only ghostly creatures below the Soul Refining Realm appeared. Though some smaller families suffered heavy losses, Thousand Autumns City remained completely safe.”

“Let’s hope so…” Xu Sanyan muttered, feeling uneasy. Perhaps the lingering memories of the Demon beasts from the Mist Sea had left too deep an impression, causing him to feel anxious whenever he heard the words “Mist Sea.”

“Then what are they doing?” Xu Sanyan asked, pointing to the Wang Family disciples hurrying past.

Wang Ying glanced over. “Oh, they’re inspecting the formation and heading out to pick up some people.”

Curious, Xu Sanyan asked, “Pick up who?”

Wang Yu smiled mysteriously. “Whoever pays gets in.”

Xu Sanyan understood. No wonder there were inspections at the city gates.

The Mist Tide wasn’t a major calamity for the Wang Family, but it posed a significant challenge to smaller clans. A single misstep could cripple their vitality or even lead to their complete annihilation.

To safeguard their lineage, these clans sought to send their key descendants to Thousand Autumns City for refuge.

However, entering Thousand Autumns City wasn’t easy. Connections were required, and connections, of course, came at a price. The Wang Family’s sons could profit handsomely from this arrangement.

Wang Ying leaned in with a lewd grin, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Brother Lin, do you remember that woman from the Yang Family of Ruler Mountain last time?”

Xu Sanyan nodded. He remembered her well—delicate, yielding, and easily seduced. Her petite frame was lively and skilled, and her jade-like feet, pale and rosy, had deeply captivated him.

“The Yang Family wants to get someone into the city too. They happened to ask my brother for help. We’re heading out now for that very reason. Just give the word, Brother Lin, and we’ll have that woman delivered to your residence later…”

Xu Sanyan’s lips curled into a faint smile. He didn’t nod, but neither did he refuse.

Wang Ying, a shrewd man, understood perfectly that a lack of refusal meant tacit agreement. He grinned, raised an eyebrow slightly, and let the unspoken understanding hang in the air.

Wang Ying shifted the topic. “We have few families under our jurisdiction, and they’re all poor. Only Suspended Bitter Mountain is decent, but their strength means they don’t need Thousand Autumns City’s protection. So we don’t earn much spirit stone. Once my brother finishes his business, Brother Lin will certainly get his share.”

Xu Sanyan waved his hand magnanimously. “No need. I don’t lack spirit stone, nor am I interested in it. Keep it for yourselves—consider it my treat for drinks.”

He genuinely didn’t need spirit stone. Besides, the Mist Tide wouldn’t yield much profit anyway, and he disdained such paltry sums.

Wang Ying’s eyes lit up with delight as he cupped his fist in a slight bow. “Then we thank Brother Lin.”

When they had served under the fourth elder, he had never turned down any offer.

“You two get back to work. I’ll take my leave now,” Xu Sanyan said, cupping his fist in farewell.

“Very well, Brother Lin. Safe travels.”

Back in the courtyard, Xu Sanyan sat in the stone pavilion, silently pondering the Wang brothers’ words. He now understood that the Chaotic Cloud Mountains were connected to the Mist Sea, explaining their proximity.

Mist Tide…

Could he seize some advantage from it?

As Xu Sanyan pondered, a pair of small hands gently massaged his shoulders. Wang Zixuan leaned close to his ear, her breath carrying a faint fragrance that tickled his ear canal.

“Feeling horny?”

Wang Zixuan, taken aback by his bluntness, lowered her head in embarrassment. “Pervert…”

“Go fetch me a map of the Qian Kingdom,” Xu Sanyan said, too busy to scratch her itch himself. “You’ll have to take care of it yourself.”

“Yes, sir.”

Wang Zixuan didn’t dare ask further questions and obediently turned to leave, returning shortly with the map.

Xu Sanyan spread it out on the stone table and studied it carefully. The Qian Kingdom was vast, with hundreds of cities and borders shared with numerous factions.

He needed to select five cities that met specific criteria to serve as the foundation for his formation.

The five cities needed to be arranged in a pentagonal formation, corresponding to the five cardinal directions: east, south, west, north, and center.

Perfect symmetry wasn’t required; only approximate alignment was necessary. This proved easy enough to find; a quick glance revealed at least three suitable locations.

However, the first location, situated at the map’s center and relatively close to the Qian Kingdom’s capital, posed too great a risk for deploying the formation and was immediately dismissed.

The second location, in the northwest of the Qian Kingdom, was far from the capital but uncomfortably close to the Heaven’s Will Demon Subduing Temple, leading to its exclusion as well.

That left only the third location, in the southeast of the Qian Kingdom, near the Jiang Family of Southern Heaven Valley.

Xu Sanyan had crossed paths with the Jiang Family of Southern Heaven Valley in the Hundred Saints Secret Realm. Their young master, Jiang Yan, had suffered two broken arms at Xu Sanyan’s hands.

The Jiang Family was significantly weaker than both the Qian Kingdom’s Imperial Family and the Heaven’s Will Demon Subduing Temple, making them the most manageable target.

Wang Zixuan asked softly, “Husband, what are you studying the map of the Qian Kingdom for?”

Xu Sanyan didn’t even look up. “Looking for a place to bury you.”

“Huh?”

(End of the Chapter)