Chapter Thirty-Eight: I Will Live Well!

Hmph, how infuriating! Qian Bo clenched his fists in secret, feeling as though Luo Tian had once again subtly outshone him. Clearly it was his own curiosity driving him, but now it seemed as if he was the one being overly talkative and interfering with the mission.

Despicable, wretched man!

Yet from Luo Tian’s perspective, Qian Bo had seemed rather at a loss when faced with Zhao Lin’er’s question, and so Luo Tian had spoken up to smooth things over. Although he had little fondness for Qian Bo, the latter was, after all, a future client—there was no harm in offering a little help.

The name “Rocky Ravine” was certainly fitting.

From a distance, one could see the expanse of dazzling white stones. Moving closer, one discovered bizarre, jagged rocks—large and small, straight and crooked, of strange and wondrous shapes—possessing a peculiar and singular beauty.

In his previous life, Luo Tian thought, this place could have hosted a sizable exhibition of curious stones!

Luo Tian keenly sensed the change in the concentration of vital energy.

Since leaving the sect grounds, the ambient vital energy had dropped markedly, but as they approached Rocky Ravine, the change was even more pronounced—so thin it was barely perceptible.

This situation was much like that of the valley deep in Shenyang Forest.

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Luo Tian suddenly halted.

“Senior brother, what’s wrong?” Zhao Lin’er, noticing Luo Tian stop abruptly at the head of the group, couldn’t help but ask in curiosity.

Could it be that some magical beast had appeared? The thought made Zhao Lin’er a little uneasy. After all, magical beasts weren’t unique to Shenyang Forest—occasionally, they would show up even in regions where ordinary people lived.

If a magical beast had made Rocky Ravine its lair, it would surely be difficult to deal with.

The vital energy concentration here was nearly identical to that of the other valley.

With a faint frown, Luo Tian formed a hypothesis, but to confirm it, he needed to see for himself. He shook his head slightly. “It’s nothing. Let’s look for the node.”

What a clever trick!

Qian Bo had been observing this whole time: whenever Luo Tian pretended to deliberate, Lin’er would always express concern and ask questions. Qian Bo resolved to learn this method. Though it seemed a bit shameless to draw a girl’s attention like this, if it could make Lin’er come to him, it was worth it.

Recalling the directions from the map, Luo Tian led the way through the maze of rocks, each step echoing in the ravine, the sound gradually swirling and reverberating around them, creating a sense of unease.

Sensing something was wrong, Luo Tian immediately produced the treasured artifact “Voidbreaker” and poured vital energy into it.

A halo spread out, enveloping the three of them. Instantly, the discomfort lessened.

“That was really unpleasant. This ravine is truly strange!” Zhao Lin’er brushed her delicate hand over her arm, visibly relieved.

Qian Bo, looking at the undulating hills, couldn’t help but gulp, wishing he could become Zhao Lin’er’s hand just for a moment.

“These stones probably form something akin to a natural array. Sound bounces off the rocks, reverberates through the ravine, and accumulates, eventually feeding back and producing a unique effect that can disturb the mind,” Luo Tian explained quietly, inwardly marveling at the might of nature. If ordinary people wandered in here, there could be real trouble.

“Arrays can form naturally?” Zhao Lin’er blinked in confusion, but found Luo Tian’s explanation convincing. “Senior brother, you’re amazing!”

Bah, what nonsense!

Qian Bo gritted his teeth. Deceiving a naïve girl—shameful and unforgivable!

“I’ve found it—over here!”

After walking a bit further, Zhao Lin’er suddenly called out in her sweet voice. With the power of Voidbreaker, they could all see through the array. Constantly scanning their surroundings, Zhao Lin’er was the first to spot a cave entrance in a giant boulder.

The boulder was strangely shaped, enclosing the ground on three sides and leaving only one opening, with the entrance concealed within. Without careful observation, it would be hard to find.

“Well done, Lin’er!” Luo Tian nodded. Girls really were more attentive; both he and Qian Bo had scanned that spot without noticing the entrance. Without Zhao Lin’er, they might have searched for much longer.

“Hee hee!” Zhao Lin’er beamed with joy at her senior brother’s praise.

Shameless woman!

Qian Bo trembled with rage. He had always been so attentive to her, yet she had remained aloof; but with Luo Tian, she was like an old lover, fawning and flirtatious.

Hmph, a pair of shameless lovers!

Clenching his fists, Qian Bo’s teeth began to itch with hatred.

“Big brother, they actually went inside! That rocky ravine is a strange place—ordinary people take two or three days to get out. There must be something fishy inside!” Xiao Wu was surprised. Were these outer disciples from Shenyang Sect fools?

The three shaggy horses were tied up outside the ravine; even without sending someone to follow them, Xiao Wu knew exactly where the three fat sheep had gone.

“No matter, we’ll just wait.” Sun Huangkun was unconcerned. “Shenyang Sect must have given them some trinkets—they won’t be stuck for days like ordinary people. I bet they’ll be out soon.”

He then turned to the others. “Hide for now. I’ll check their strength, and if it’s nothing special, we’ll come out and catch them all at once!”

“Remember, every outer disciple is a walking money bag!”

Sun Huangkun licked his lips, his eyes glinting with bloodlust.

“Yes!”

“We’ll follow your lead, big brother!”

The group replied enthusiastically. The Qingfeng Bandit Gang’s comfortable life was thanks to Sun Huangkun’s leadership—his word was law, and everyone obeyed without question.

The dark passageways and wide cavern were all eerily familiar to Luo Tian.

Every step he took gave him a sense of déjà vu.

It was almost as if the answer was about to leap out at him.

At the end of the path, Luo Tian suddenly stopped short in amazement.

Before him, on a patch of ground about a meter wide, countless intricate patterns glowed softly, with vital energy swirling around, endlessly cycling. Above the patterns floated a small, pure white stone, gently rotating in midair.

A node of the Spirit Gathering Array?

So this was the node of the Spirit Gathering Array?

Truth is stranger than fiction!

Luo Tian had wondered why the previous cave had abundant vital energy but no other treasures. Now he understood—that cave was merely one of the Spirit Gathering Array’s nodes established by Shenyang Sect.

The Spirit Gathering Array drew all the vital energy from hundreds of miles around, channeling it into Shenyang Sect for the use of its disciples. Each node was a convergence point for energy from several miles around.

Moreover, since the outer nodes of the array had to transmit energy inward, eventually reaching Ziyang Mountain, it was natural that the vital energy in the cave at Shenyang Forest was so dense.

The concentration of energy at this node was perhaps even greater than in the inner sect, since within the sect itself, the energy had to be divided among the outer disciples and Ziyang Mountain, but at the node, there was no such need.

“The vital energy here is so rich!” Zhao Lin’er took a deep breath, her face displaying a look of intoxicated delight.

“Senior Brother Luo, there shouldn’t be any problem here, right?” Qian Bo asked stiffly.

Luo Tian nodded slightly. “Comparing this to the information from Uncle Chen, there’s no problem. Let’s head to the next destination—Blackwind Town!”

No wonder the sect had been experiencing issues with vital energy recently; it turned out that Luo Tian’s absorption of energy had disrupted the balance of the array’s nodes.

Even a flawless array would be weakened if the slightest issue arose.

Comparing the timing, Luo Tian was certain he was the cause.

Although going to Blackwind Town was probably unnecessary, the trip had to be made. Each team sent to inspect the nodes consisted of three members, likely to ensure mutual supervision—slacking off might even bring punishment.

“Let’s go!”

Leading the other two, Luo Tian exited the cave and made his way out of the rocky ravine.

Unexpectedly, while entering the ravine had been easy, leaving proved troublesome—it seemed the illusion array was at work again. Luo Tian produced Voidbreaker, and only then did the trio safely emerge.

As soon as they exited, they found a burly man with earth-yellow hair waiting outside—none other than Sun Huangkun.

“Who dares block the path of Shenyang Sect?” Qian Bo strode forward, burning with pent-up frustration and eager to vent it on someone. Now that someone had appeared, why let him go?

“So, you’re disciples of Shenyang Sect?” Sun Huangkun’s lips curled into a smile. “I happen to have some items every cultivator needs. Might I ask your cultivation levels? If they fit, we can talk price.”

“We have two at the third cycle of Condensation, one at the fourth. What do you have? Show me first!” At the mention of treasures, Qian Bo’s guard dropped and he became arrogant. Negotiate price? What’s there to negotiate? He would just give the man whatever he pleased, and if he dared to protest, he’d get a taste of a Shenyang Sect disciple’s power.

“One at the fourth, two at the third, hmm?” Suddenly, a surge of purple vital energy erupted around Sun Huangkun. “Brothers, come out! Time to slaughter these fat sheep!”

“Yes!”

At once, over a dozen men burst from the sides of the ravine, cutting off the trio’s escape.

“Seventh cycle of Condensation?” Qian Bo stammered, his heart filled with dread. “You’re with the Qingfeng Bandit Gang?”

“Truly worthy disciples of Shenyang Sect—so knowledgeable!” Sun Huangkun sneered. There was no need for courtesy now; these three would soon be dead—what reason was there for politeness?

Luo Tian’s heart surged with fighting spirit. Though he hadn’t cultivated any martial techniques, he might not be this man’s inferior!

“Listen to me, everyone—Qian Bo, you—”

“Don’t worry, Senior Brother Luo! You hold them off. I’ll make sure to stay alive, and when I get back to the sect, I’ll have everyone avenge you!” Qian Bo had already dashed toward a gap at the side, and hearing Luo Tian call his name, he shouted his reply at the top of his lungs as he ran.