Seeing the two express themselves like this, Qi Yun was satisfied and put down the spoon, picked up the napkin beside him to wipe his mouth: "Now that everyone's here, let's get ready then, head out early."

....

The distance from Chang'an to Taibai Mountain in the Qinling is very close, only about a hundred kilometers. It didn't take two hours for Qi Yun and their convoy to arrive at Yingge Town at the foot of Taibai Mountain.

This is the last supply point before entering Taibai Mountain, and it is also a gathering place for many hikers and tourists.

The town is small but has everything, including hotels, restaurants, and outdoor gear shops, and you can see hikers with large backpacks and wearing windbreakers on the street.

The convoy did not stop in the town but drove directly towards Chaihu Village at the foot of the mountain.

The warriors who cross the Ao Tai route usually choose to descend the mountain from here, handing over a five-thousand-yuan fine.

The group parked the cars in the village, assigned the gear and supplies each person needed to carry, and headed up the mountain.

Qi Yun's team this time had a total of eleven people. Aside from Qin Sizhi and his apprentice, and Yao Yuzhong, almost all of Qi Yun's team was present, including Niu Da and Da Pao, who had already recovered from their injuries.

Not long after leaving the village, a dense forest appeared ahead, entering this forest meant entering an uninhabited area.

Leading the way at the front were Qin Sizhi and his apprentice, followed by Yao Yuzhong, Qi Yun, and Brother Quan, with the main group behind them.

This time, no one specifically kept an eye on Yao Yuzhong. When setting out, Brother Quan patted his shoulder, said nothing, not sure if it was a reminder to be alert or what.

In the forest, the light was dim, the air was very humid, and the ground was covered with thick leaves, which felt soft underfoot.

The tall trees blocked out the sky and sun, vines coiled around, and occasionally one or two squirrels could be seen leaping among the branches, making rustling sounds.

This path occasionally has medicine gatherers and hikers passing through, so these little creatures aren't afraid of humans.

"Old Niu, do you think there are any fierce beasts in the mountains?" An Zai whispered to Niu Da beside him.

Niu Da nodded seriously: "Yes, haven't you heard of the Qinling Killer?"

"Qinling Killer? What is it?"

"Cattle, takin, I haven't seen it either, but I've heard people say those things can kill tigers and bears when they're mad."

"So badass?" An Zai was full of surprise.

"He's not wrong." Qin Sizhi, walking at the front, chimed in, "Those things can weigh up to a thousand pounds, have a bad temper and are highly aggressive. When they go crazy, they can even flip over trucks. In past years, there were often reports of people being rammed to death by those things."

"If we encounter one, try to go around it, don't provoke it."

"But those things generally move in alpine meadows and rocky shores. We aren't at that elevation yet, so the chance of encountering them is low. We should be wary of wild boars, especially sows with piglets, their tusks can rip open your belly, and there are leopards..."

Qin Sizhi explained to everyone the things to watch out for in the mountains.

After walking for around three hours, the group arrived at Pinan Temple, marked on the map, which was actually just two mudbrick houses used by hikers as a temporary rest stop.

The mudbrick houses had fallen into disrepair, were dilapidated, empty inside, except for some firewood piled in the corner and some empty cans and food wrappers left by previous visitors.

The group stopped here for a brief rest, ate some dry provisions to replenish their water supply, and took out windbreakers to wear.

The elevation here was already close to 2800 meters, the temperature began to drop, and fog slowly flowed along the mountainside like a gray-white belt dividing the mountain into two parts.

From this angle, looking upward, there was a very palpable sense of oppression.

"The wind is strong up the mountain, making it difficult to find a camping spot, we must cross the summit before dark," said Qin Sizhi, puffing his cigarette smoke, turning to Qi Yun.

Qi Yun nodded slightly: "Did you and your master take this route before?"

"The route we took back then was much more difficult than this." Qin Sizhi smiled and shook his head, pointing to the western direction, "At that time, we probably went up from that mountain pass, which was the route the medicine gatherers took."

"But now that road is probably long gone, still, this path is easier. We cross the summit, then head west."

"Okay, you lead the way, we'll go by your guidance." Qi Yun zipped up his windbreaker, stood up, and called out, "Once rested, let's move out."

The team set off again, continuing to scale the mountain ridge.

As the elevation continued to rise, the vegetation became increasingly sparse. Only low shrubs and exposed gray-brown rocks were left.

The wind grew stronger, whistling through their ears, nearly causing some to lose their footing.

Qi Yun had no issue with his physical endurance, hardly breathless. Qin Sizhi was skilled, seemingly untroubled, but Yao Yuzhong was already huffing and puffing.

Perhaps due to the high elevation, his face had visibly turned pale, and sweat appeared on his forehead.

After all, he was not young anymore, and years spent in prison, although he had a foundation in his youth, faced with such intense outdoor climbing and harsh conditions, he struggled a bit.

Brother Quan worried that this old fox couldn't hold on and had already taken an oxygen bottle from his backpack for him to breathe.

"Old Yao, can you keep going?" Qi Yun slowed his pace, looked back, and asked.

He brought Yao Yuzhong not to slow them down; this guy's experience might be useful at critical moments.

Yao Yuzhong waved a hand, took a few deep breaths, and gritted his teeth: "No...no problem, Director Qi, I can keep up."

Qin Sizhi, at the front, glanced at the sky and shouted back, "Hold on a bit longer, once we cross the summit, we'll find a place to rest."

Yao Yuzhong nodded, indicating he could endure.

As they approached the top, suddenly a thick fog rolled in, consuming the entire ridge in an instant.

Earlier, they could roughly see the figures ahead, now in the blink of an eye, they vanished into a white abyss, visibility probably not even two meters, forcing the group to close ranks, practically stepping in each other's shadows.

Why is the Qinling hiking route considered treacherous? This fog is one reason. It can cause disorientation, and coupled with the narrow ridge, both sides lined with steep slopes or cliffs, a slight misstep could result in a fatal fall.

Numerous lives have been lost in the Qinling due to this.

Accompanying the fog was a strong cold dampness that quickly formed frost on their eyelashes.

The climate was so harsh that they were forced to huddle behind a protruding rock face to shelter.

The rock face blocked the wind somewhat, but the cold damp fog continued to penetrate, rapidly sapping their warmth.

Qi Yun and his companions were strong and hardy, still feeling okay, but Old Yao struggled, his teeth chattered.

Fortunately, the fog didn't last too long and dissipated by itself after ten or so minutes.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and continued toward the summit.

Yao Yuzhong's complexion improved considerably, even though he looked a bit wilted, he regained his strength.

After climbing less than a kilometer, the group finally reached the summit, where the scene suddenly opened up before them.

The afterglow of the sunset dyed the clouds with magnificent golden-red hues, resembling blazing flames.

Looking far into the distance, the endless Qinling mountains beneath the sunset appeared like dormant dragons, their spines undulating, ever-changing!

No wonder Qinling has historically been called the ancestor of dragon veins; witnessing this vast and grandiose scene, one couldn't help but feel awe.

Ancient texts record, "Eight hundred miles of Qin Chuan, ten thousand ancient tombs."

This figure might be exaggerated, but it highlights this area's undeniable significance.

Just in a small region in the northern foothills of the Qinling and the Guanzhong Plain, there are 73 emperors resting here, forming the world's largest emperor tomb corridor.

The great Maoling of Emperor Wu of Han, the Changling of Emperor Gaozu of Han, the Zhaoling of Emperor Taizong of Tang, the Qianling of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Wu Zetian, and the most famous Emperor's Mausoleum, are all distributed in what is considered the ancestral dragon vein underground.

These emperors wielded power over the realm while alive and coincidentally chose the Qinling as their final resting place after death, as if wanting to eternally bind their fortunes with this dragon vein...