Chapter 144: Chapter 142: Gathering from All Directions

Yunxian Valley.

This place was quite famous within the Hundred Beasts Mountains and Rivers.

Legend had it...

That a Cloud Immortal lived within Yunxian Valley, which was how it got its name!

The entire valley covered an area larger than Yulan Mansion and was perpetually shrouded in a bewildering mist. Even a soaring eagle would lose its way if it flew into the fog!

Even the most experienced Demon Hunters dared not enter it rashly.

Usually, Yunxian Valley was deserted.

But today, the area outside the valley was teeming with people. Rows upon rows of tents had sprung up, and a veritable sea of people had formed, a gathering of countless experts.

"Wuyun Village is recruiting experts to search for the Vampire Witch! All those at the Martial Arts Seventh Stage or higher are welcome!"

"The Celestial Python Gang is preparing to enter Yunxian Valley to find the Vampire Witch! Experts at the True Martial Realm and above who join will receive a share of one hundred million taels if we succeed!"

"The Axe Gang is backed by the Lin Family, one of the Ten Great Aristocratic Families of the Imperial Capital! One of the Lin Family’s three young masters, Lin Chong, is personally overseeing this! Master Lin Chong is a Core Disciple of the Saint Martial Sword Sect! Everyone, hurry up and join us!"

"The Sword Dao expert Sword Demon, at the Peak of True Martial Realm Eighth Stage, awaits everyone at the Golden Sword Alliance!"

"Blood Wolf Village has the support of the Luo Family! They are the ones who issued this sky-high bounty. This time, the Luo Family has even dispatched a genius swordsman to oversee Blood Wolf Village. Everyone should know what the right choice is..."

One powerful faction after another staked out their territory, their boundaries clearly defined.

The Ten Great Forces of the Hundred Beasts Mountains and Rivers were all present: Blood Wolf Village, the Axe Gang, Wuyun Village, the Celestial Python Gang, Cloud Dragon Valley, the Fire Bandit Alliance, the Golden Sword Alliance, the Brotherhood, the Bloodthirsty Alliance, and the Hundred Beasts Sect.

Each of these Ten Great Forces had powerful experts in command!

Some busybody had even compiled a list of the most powerful experts gathered at Yunxian Valley, creating a "Demon Hunting List."

There were one hundred spots on the Demon Hunting List, seventy percent of which were occupied by the Ten Great Forces. Every person on it was an expert capable of dominating a region on their own.

For example, the Golden Sword Alliance’s leader, Sword Demon, was at the Peak of True Martial Realm Eighth Stage. Having comprehended Earth Sword Intent, he was unrivaled among his peers and ranked tenth on the Demon Hunting List.

Wuyun Village was backed by the Wu Family of the Imperial Capital, and their super genius, Wu Junfan, was present. He was a Core Disciple of the Saint Martial Sword Sect. Although his cultivation was only at the Peak of True Martial Realm Seventh Stage, his combat power was heaven-defying, placing him ninth on the Demon Hunting List!

The leader of the Brotherhood, Tu Zhantian, had a cultivation at the Peak of True Martial Realm Eighth Stage. It was said he had comprehended the True Martial Dao, and with his combat prowess, he could contend with those at the Peak of True Martial Realm, ranking him fourth on the Demon Hunting List!

As for the top three on the Demon Hunting List...

Third place was held by the Hundred Beasts Sect Master, Lei Tianhao, a Beast Tamer at the True Martial Realm Ninth Stage. With his beast-taming skills, he could even save his own life when facing an expert who had just entered the Heavenly Destiny Realm!

Second on the Demon Hunting List was the Valley Master of Cloud Dragon Valley, Yun Jianshen.

He was an expert who had been famous for decades, his power unfathomable. It was rumored that he had already reached the Half-step Heavenly Destiny Realm.

He would have been the undisputed first choice for the top spot on the Demon Hunting List.

However, he was narrowly outmatched by Luo Meng, the expert from Blood Wolf Village. Luo Meng hailed from the aristocratic Luo Family of the Imperial Capital and was the younger brother of the family’s number one genius, Luo Qing. He was a natural-born swordsman. Not only did he possess a cultivation at the True Martial Realm Ninth Stage, but he also had the Profound Tier Ninth Grade Martial Soul, the Fiery Demon Blade. Wielding the Blazing Fire Saber Intent, he could fight against those of the Heavenly Destiny Realm, making him the undisputed number one expert on the Demon Hunting List!

This gathering at Yunxian Valley was truly a convergence of heroes from all directions, a forest of experts!

...

「Inside Blood Wolf Village」

Luo Meng sat in the seat of honor, a pitch-black battle blade resting beside him, emanating a chilling, evil qi. His cold gaze swept over Blood Wolf and Nether Wolf, who were trembling like cicadas in winter. "What’s going on? I told you half a month ago to gather all your experts. Now, more and more powerful people are showing up, but Mad Wolf and Fire Wolf still haven’t returned. If this ruins my plans, can you bear the responsibility?"

"Young Master Luo, please forgive me! This subordinate has already sent men to look for Fire Wolf and the others. We should have news soon!" Blood Wolf said, secretly wiping away his cold sweat.

Luo Meng snorted coldly. "Don’t disappoint me again!" After a pause, his icy gaze shifted to Nether Wolf as he asked coolly, "A few months ago, my older brother’s scholar’s attendant, Luo Zhen, was killed in Yulan Mansion. How is the investigation coming along?"

"Reporting to Young Master Luo, this subordinate has determined that the Qinghuo Gang and Luo Zhen were both killed by a young man named Jiang Chen. This youth is from the Jiang Family of Yandu City!" Nether Wolf replied in a low voice, his ink-black eyes radiating a cold light.

"The Jiang Family of Yandu City? Jiang Chen?"

Luo Meng frowned. "More than half a year ago, the Saint Child sent people to Yandu City and brought back a mysterious woman from the Jiang Family. Could they be from the same family? If so, this could be troublesome. I heard that this mysterious woman surnamed Jiang is now being personally cultivated by the Saint Child, who even intends to hand the Celestial Alliance over to her. If that Jiang Chen is related to her, then I’m afraid Luo Zhen died for nothing!"

The Jiang Family of Yandu City was, after all, just a minor family.

The Luo Family was one of the most powerful families in the Saint Martial Dynasty, far above the rest. If not for Jiang Ziyou, Luo Meng wouldn’t have even known a Jiang Family existed in Yandu City.

Besides, the news that Jiang Chen had burned the Jiang Family to the ground, personally killing Jiang Tai and many of the elders, hadn’t spread widely. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

So, Luo Meng naturally didn’t know that Jiang Chen and the mysterious woman he spoke of were actually mortal enemies!

Nether Wolf quickly added, "Young Master Luo, this subordinate has confirmed that Jiang Chen is a traitor to the Jiang Family. Half a year ago, he turned against them and wiped out the entire family. Based on my analysis, that Jiang Chen should have no connection to the mysterious woman you mentioned!"

Luo Meng was taken aback, then stroked his chin. "He has the surname Jiang, yet he turned on his own family and destroyed them? Hahaha, this Jiang Chen is rather interesting. If I ever run into him, I might give him the chance to become one of my dogs. I’m sure my dear cousin will grant me that much face!"

"Young Master Luo is mighty!"

"If that Jiang Chen ever meets you, Young Master Luo, he will surely prostrate himself in admiration and submit wholeheartedly!"

Blood Wolf and Nether Wolf said in unison.

Luo Meng waved his hand dismissively.

Just then, a huge commotion erupted outside, catching the attention of Luo Meng and the others.

"The experts the Hundred Beasts Sect sent to scout Yunxian Valley are back!"

"I heard they really found the Vampire Witch inside the valley..."

Luo Meng’s expression sharpened. A terrifying battle intent erupted from him, and a cold killing intent flickered in his eyes. He shot to his feet and laughed loudly, "They’ve confirmed the Vampire Witch is in Yunxian Valley? Excellent! That Vampire Witch has committed countless evils and killed so many experts from my Luo Family. I will personally subjugate her!"

「At the same time」

All the experts gathered around Yunxian Valley received the news and began to move.

The Ten Great Forces, along with scattered teams of Demon Hunters, Independent Martial Artists, and others attracted by the sky-high bounty—more than one hundred thousand people in total—all converged outside Yunxian Valley.

Experts like Luo Meng, Sword Demon, Yun Jianshen, and Wu Junfan all mobilized.

The top one hundred experts on the Demon Hunting List stood at the forefront. Everyone’s eyes were on the few masters from the Hundred Beasts Sect. They all looked battered and worn, and one of them was even an Elder at the True Martial Realm Sixth Stage.

This man was also a Beast Tamer. Both his arms were gone, and his face was pale and bloodless. He looked at the crowd and said, "The Vampire Witch is indeed in Yunxian Valley. We encountered her, and our entire scout team was annihilated. This old one only managed to escape by suffering grievous injuries and with the protection of my three-headed Spirit Beast!"

As he spoke, the Elder coughed up a mouthful of blood, worsening his injuries.

Luo Meng asked indifferently, "Old man, where in Yunxian Valley is the Vampire Witch?"

Everyone turned to look at the Hundred Beasts Sect Elder.

The Hundred Beasts Sect Master, Lei Tianhao, said, "Elder Liu, speak!"

"From the entrance of Yunxian Valley... head east... for three hundred li..." the Elder gasped. After saying this, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

"Yunxian Valley, east, three hundred li?"

"Gather everyone! We’re entering the valley to surround and kill the Vampire Witch!"

One order after another was issued.

One hundred thousand experts, eager for a fight, charged into Yunxian Valley.

But no one noticed that amidst the crowd, a black-robed young man, accompanied by a black and a white demon beast, was blended in with the experts. He swept a cold glance over the masters from Blood Wolf Village, his eyes glinting. ’So that’s Luo Meng, the expert sent by the Luo Family? The wielder of the Profound Tier Ninth Grade Martial Soul Fiery Demon Blade, at the True Martial Realm Ninth Stage. His aura is indeed powerful, enough to suppress the many experts of the Hundred Beasts Mountains and Rivers.’

’There are too many people and prying eyes right now. If I move against Blood Wolf Village at this moment, I’ll become a public target. Fine. Since they’ve found the Vampire Witch’s location, I’ll deal with Blood Wolf Village after we enter Yunxian Valley!’

The young man grinned, retracted his gaze, and followed the flow of people into Yunxian Valley...

PS: Third Chapter of the day is done!!! A great battle is about to begin, so please be generous with your recommendation tickets!