Demon Sword Sect's Undercover-Chapter 526 - 525: Yaoguang Mountain Range

Hou Niao’s worries came true!

The sour Scholar sometimes had a fatal flaw, occasionally suffering from a romanticism that was incurable.

He would dare to defy Sima Mansion’s orders for the sake of his beliefs.

"Is there a specific direction? The exact location of the Winged People’s tribe?"

You Lizhi hurriedly took out a map, pointing to a winding route, "The Winged People’s tribe is located on the outskirts of the Yaoguang Mountain Range, but even on the outskirts, it penetrates thousands of miles into the mountains; for the Winged People, this distance is nothing to them with their brief gliding ability. But when that little Winged One embedded the Earth Spirit Pearl in her head, she became unable to leave the ground even for a step, and the only way to return is to walk back, step by step, without a second option."

Hou Niao narrowed his eyes, "Can’t a cultivator carry her?"

You Lizhi shook his head, "Impossible to carry. The Earth Spirit Pearl embedded in a Winged Person’s body means they can walk physically without any issues, but if you try to use mana to fly with them, it’s like carrying a mountain weighing a hundred thousand tons, which a cultivator cannot bear;

This is also why after a battle amongst us cultivators, none could take it away. We reckon that not just us cultivators of the Tongtian Realm, but even those of the Great Cultivation Golden Core realm wouldn’t be able to carry it. The level of the Earth Spirit Pearl is at least at the Nascent Transformation or higher."

Hou Niao frowned, "So you’re saying, if we obtain this item, we can only measure our way back to Shan Country step by step?"

You Lizhi offered a wry smile, "Without trying, it’s hard to judge. This object is bestowed by the heavens to the Winged tribe, so the category of Qi Fortune and the divine is quite vague, and without handling it personally, one can’t understand.

Brother, look, if we can only walk back, then they could only backtrack along this Snow River. It wouldn’t be possible for them to scale steep mountains and ridges, so the route is pretty much determined, right?

But there’s also a possibility that they might persuade the little Winged One to walk out of the mountains toward Shan Country?"

Hou Niao outright rejected this possibility, "No, they could only return to the mountains! You Brother You, how long have they been on the move?"

You Lizhi’s finger traced on the map, "They left Shanyin Town fifteen days ago. If the little Winged One walks normally, they should have covered more than half the distance by now, but I suspect they can’t maintain a normal pace because other factions’ cultivators would intercept them. Brother, you were able to rush over from ten thousand miles away, so it doesn’t make sense that the Heartless Dao, Chu Sect, and Buddhist Sect, who are much closer, would be behind, right?"

The location of Shanyin Town was, of course, closer to the Lian Sect of the Heartless Dao in the North and not far from the Buddhist Sect in the Northeast. Based on distance alone, these forces would have dispatched their experts at least ten days faster than him.

With a decision in mind, "I’ll pursue them now, to strive to the utmost and leave the rest to fate. As for the matter concerning your group’s leading brother, it’s not wise to jump to conclusions without solid evidence. You’re all brothers of the same sect, and you fought side by side in the Yuan Yi Mountain Range in the North, experienced life and death together, you very well know that such speculation could ruin a brother’s future."

You Lizhi nodded austerely, "You’re right, Brother. That’s why we only reported it vaguely without specifying any names, just to keep options open; rest assured, Brother Luo has always taken good care of us, without him, the consequences of this operation might not have been just heartache.

Everything is up to your judgement, the conclusion will come from Sikong Mansion, we won’t report anything frivolously."

Hou Niao nodded, as expected of cultivators who had been tempered abroad, acting with great discretion; capable of sensing something wrong with Luo Yewang yet controlling the impact within an unescalated range, maintaining brotherhood without harming the interests of Quanzhen, smartly pushing all problems onto Sikong Mansion...

"In that case, given the complex terrain of the Yaoguang Mountain Range and the numerous forces involved, having too many people go there isn’t beneficial. You all wait here comfortably, I’ll go in to have a look and then make plans."

Several cultivators from the Sima Mansion reluctantly nodded their heads, unwilling at heart to venture inside, as the opponent was very peculiar. It could be a fellow senior disciple, or that inexplicable little winged being, or perhaps the true masters from various forces rushing to their aid. In such a complex and chaotic situation, it was difficult for these cultivators of the Tongxuan Realm to maintain control.

Within the mountain range, it was a hunting ground for the strong.

Hou Niao’s arrangements were set, and with a leap, he soared toward the Yaoguang Mountain Range. He had already arrived late, and now there was no time to waste.

......

Snow River, originating from the depths of the Yaoguang Mountain Range where numerous snow-capped mountains stood, converged and rushed down, forming a great river. Several of the famous rivers of the Jinxiu Continent originated here, from the Yuan Yi and Yaoguang Mountain Ranges.

The Snow River was still somewhat slender at this point, but its surging momentum had already formed mightily. Along the way, with sheer cliffs and perilous peaks, there wasn’t a path for ordinary mortals to tread, but for the winged race, who had grown wings and could glide just barely without fear of falling, the presence or absence of a path was immaterial.

Those with wings will never build roads.

A winged person struggled along the riverbank, able to only crawl because, in such terrain, it was impossible to find even a slightly level path. Everything along the way was the result of millennia of river erosion, a natural masterpiece, unaffected by human effort.

Even though it was difficult to walk along the river, it was much easier than straying from the riverbank. Beyond the banks were true towering mountains; the Hundred Thousand Mountains were not so easily crossed, even for the native winged beings.

She was a young female of the winged race and the sole survivor of the massacre at Shanyin Town. Now, what kept her weary body going was that unyielding will in her heart.

She had to bring the Earth Spirit Pearl back to her tribe.

Ordinary mortals outside the mountains could hardly traverse such terrain, facing endless sheer cliffs and unjumpable chasms. As a winged person, naturally fearful of water, it was not possible for her to take the water route either; braving the turbulent currents and swimming upstream was an impossible feat.

The Earth Spirit Pearl was set squarely upon her forehead, as if it were a third eye.

This was a necessary measure. She was the tribal priestess, who had followed her people here to find an acquainted human cultivator and seek guidance on the use of the Earth Spirit Pearl. But while the method remained undiscovered, she had come to understand the harshness of the outside world.

Now, the Earth Spirit Pearl had become one with her life, inseparable, bringing great trouble to her existence. But to protect the Earth Spirit Pearl, she had no choice.

This was her first venture from the mountains. There were disappointments, but gains, too.

Raising her head, she waved toward the sky, where two figures circled; had it not been for their protection during this journey, she wouldn’t know how many times she might have already died.

The people outside were very strange. There were those who went mad over a treasure bead, but also those who drew their swords to help someone unrelated.

Too complex for her current experience to discern.