Chapter 17: Chapter 16: Monstrous Problem

City of the Mountain of a Thousand Beasts. With a population of two hundred thousand practitioners, this city is considered large among the small cultivation cities—and even rare.

On the pale stone streets, hurried footsteps and low-toned conversations filled the air, while the scent of incense from talisman and rare herb shops mingled with the gentle breeze, carrying traces of spiritual energy.

Cultivation cities with so many cultivators were already under the rule of beings of the Core.

Not only because of the third-grade Spiritual Vein, but also due to the vast amount of spirit stones that could be gathered.

No one knew how it became common knowledge among ordinary cultivators, but word began to spread that the three cultivation families were going to hold an important meeting.

Soon, everyone grew anxious. After all, when the main powers meet, it’s likely that some change is on the horizon.

No one wanted to see prices rise even further.

Of course, there weren’t only three cultivation families in the city; small clans ran businesses here, and even major forces, without residing in the city, maintained some form of trade.

One of the most important was the Misty Mountain Pavilion, a powerful Auction House.

With such a large flow of cultivators, the city represented an astronomical number of spirit stones.

It’s worth remembering that two hundred thousand referred only to the resident cultivators; the movement of caravans and visitors was constant.

In truth, the number of cultivators didn’t grow simply because the city had already reached its limit.

To hold an even larger population, expansion would be necessary, but that was more complicated than it seemed. After all, the most important thing for a cultivation city was its Spiritual Veins.

The cultivators’ excitement didn’t cause many changes in the city, whose day went on in an orderly fashion, while each family prepared for tonight’s gathering.

In the city center, a building of more than three floors rose high, the plaque above the door bearing large characters: [Misty Mountain Pavilion].

The dark wooden pillars, carved with ancient symbols that seemed almost alive under the light of spiritual lanterns, radiated a strength of their own into the place.

Its size was imposing, and it was easy to imagine how many people could fit inside.

In a room on the third floor, an old man sat holding a cup. His black hair was loose, and the liquid inside was still warm.

He blew on it from time to time, while a letter spun in one of his hands.

“What do you think that little girl will do this time?” the old man suddenly asked, taking a sip of tea.

“This disciple is incompetent and cannot give you that answer, Master…” replied a young woman after thinking for a while.

Old Zheng noticed her slight hesitation and smiled indulgently.

“Hoho, Yu’er, I didn’t ask for the right answer, I just asked what you think…” he said with a happy smile.

The young woman quickly understood the jest, and her face turned a little embarrassed. In the end, she still became very tense around her master and didn’t want to disappoint him.

Noticing the tea level in his cup going down, she stood and poured him some more.

Old Zheng watched her movements with a look of satisfaction. Just as he was about to say something, a knock came at the door.

Knock! Knock!

With an “Enter,” the door opened, and a man in a purple robe stepped in, hands cupped and head lowered.

“My apologies to Pavilion Master Zheng, but I have come to inform you that the three families have already begun to move,” he said with the utmost respect, keeping his head down so as not to offend such a figure.

“Oh, very well. You may leave.”

The man bowed again and left, closing the door behind him.

Old Zheng turned his gaze to his disciple and said, “I believe the elders of those families brought all their descendants. It will be good for you to interact with them. It’s not good to spend all your time with this old man.”

Yu’er panicked, about to say she didn’t mind spending time with her master, but upon seeing his gentle smile, she quickly realized it was a joke.

With a sigh, she nodded in agreement.

...

The day passed quickly, and night soon took over the sky.

The city lit up like a field of earthly stars, the lights of the spiritual lanterns bathing everything in a warm, soft glow, keeping the darkness from spreading within.

From the east, north, and west, small convoys left each of the mansions, all heading toward the center.

In each group, an elder led the way. No one needed to say a word—upon seeing who it was, everyone stepped aside, watching them pass with imposing air.

In the west, the Jin family’s convoy went by, and the pedestrians who had moved aside returned to their places. Watching them grow more distant, their mouths quickly opened into excited conversations.

“So it was true! Looks like those great families really are going to meet…” said a man with interest, eating at a street stall.

“As long as they don’t raise the rent prices, I don’t care much; life’s already hard enough for us casuals,” replied another man, a little farther away, smelling of alcohol, with an unkempt beard—the marks of a rushed life.

Similar conversations occurred in other directions.

Various theories arose among the groups, but no one mentioned the attacks on outlying homes, both because they were uninformed and because such attacks were common in that region.

Xu Zhenghao walked at the front of the Xu family’s convoy, his expression far from pleasant.

For the hundredth time, he looked back and saw his granddaughter, Yin Linxue, chatting with that good-for-nothing father of hers.

“If I had known it would be like this, I’d have kept my dignity and shown up at the last moment…” he muttered under his breath. The plan had been to have a rare stroll with his granddaughter—who would’ve thought this would happen…

“Grandpa, did you say something?” Yin Linxue, not far away, suddenly asked. Her clear, innocent eyes were fixed on him.

She wore a blue robe adorned with delicate flowers, her beautiful face drawing more than a passing glance from anyone. Her long hair was tied with a pink ribbon, which only enhanced her beauty.

“No, no, it’s nothing… Look, we’ve already arrived!” Xu Zhenghao replied quickly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. I wasn’t expecting a question like that; it caught me off guard. At my age, this shouldn’t be happening… he thought, averting his eyes.

Yin Linxue looked at her grandfather with suspicion but let it go easily, turning her attention back to her father.

“Father, why do you think we came here? Will I be able to see her?” she asked simply, full of expectation.

“Silly girl, we’re almost there. Being impatient won’t help. She’ll probably be there, but I don’t know if you’ll be able to see her,” he said, rubbing his daughter’s head with love in his eyes.

The two continued, and the structure of the store they were headed to soon came into view.

With three stories, the building was slightly larger than the Misty Mountain Pavilion.

Right at the front, the characters [Heavenly Moon House] were written in a grand style, brimming with an imposing aura.

Almost as if by appointment, other forces arrived from three different directions, meeting in front of the store.

Most of the other establishments that could have been built here in the city center were from outside. Their representatives watched this confrontation with great interest.

The three leaders—the oldest of each family—stared at each other in silence until a laugh broke the tension.

“Hahaha, look at how you old geezers have aged!” Xu Zhenghao said, laughing loudly.

Yin Yongxin gave a wry smile at seeing the Xu family’s elder dismantle his mystique.

“Hoho, I could say the same about you, old Zhenghao. Your personality hasn’t changed a bit,” Lin Jialun replied from the other side, his green robe fluttering in the wind.

“Hmph, you talk about our age, but you’re the same yourself. More importantly, I see you’ve accepted little Yongxin,” Jin Guang retorted with a malicious smile. After so many years, he knew exactly where to salt the wound.

Hearing this, Xu Zhenghao’s blood boiled, and just as he was about to curse that good-for-nothing, he saw his adorable granddaughter beside him, looking at him with beautiful eyes full of expectation.

The words on the tip of his tongue were forced back down.

Jin Guang noticed and didn’t miss the chance, laughing. “Haha, what a historic day! We finally see the great Zhenghao accept his son-in-law! Hahaha!”

“Jin Guang…!” he said through gritted teeth, ready to respond, but was interrupted by a gentle voice at his side.

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“Grandpa doesn’t accept Father? Why not?”

Turning, he saw Linxue’s eyes already brimming with tears. As quickly as he could, he said, “No, no, it’s nothing like that, of course, I accept your father. Don’t cry.”

“Really…?” she asked with a doubtful look. Only after seeing his confirmation did she smile. “That’s good then.”

The representatives of the other forces watched the scene in confusion.

It hardly seemed they were facing the elders of the city’s most powerful forces.

Chime!! Creak!!

Just as they were preparing for another round of provocation, the sound of a bell rang out in all directions, followed by the heavy echo of doors opening.

The store’s doors, previously closed, slowly swung open.

The noise drew everyone’s attention; the moment they had come for had arrived.

Being double doors, they opened fully outward. Inside, nothing could yet be seen.

Suddenly, a group of people emerged to welcome the three families.

“We thank the three families for accepting our invitation. Our Noble Lady will receive the elders…” Lin Xiao said, walking at the front and bowing respectfully.

Normally, he wouldn’t have such opportunities, but today he was among the few with great authority here. As expected, a doubtful voice sounded right after.

“Oh, Fellow Cultivator Tong didn’t come?” Jin Guang asked, deep thoughts flickering in his gaze.

“Hoho, I’m more interested in knowing what kind of matter could take her away from her Lady,” Lin Jialun commented with a calm smile.

Lin Xiao had expected this question and replied steadily, “As the elders suspect, our Noble Lady sent her to the outskirts of the Forest of a Thousand Beasts. Please, come inside.”

He ended with an inviting gesture, guiding them forward.

As soon as he answered, the three leaders exchanged glances filled with both confusion and seriousness.

Anything involving that forest was never simple, and to send someone like Fellow Tong to keep watch…

The three did not hesitate further, and just as they were about to proceed, a voice sounded from afar.

“Hoho, are you forgetting about this old man?”

In the distance stood a pavilion, from which the voice came. Soon, an old man with still-dark hair appeared, floating toward them.

His white robe contrasted with his dark hair, and his smile carried the confidence of age.

At his side, a young woman accompanied him. Her starry eyes observed everyone with curiosity.

Her hair was tied up in a bun, pierced by a white jade hairpin adorned with flowers. Her clothes were even more beautiful: a pink robe embroidered with lotus flowers that enhanced her beauty.

“Of course not, Elder Zheng is always welcome. The Noble Lady was counting on your presence,” Lin Xiao said, bowing deeply upon seeing who had arrived.

The old man nodded gently.

“Haha, so you’re still alive, old Zheng,” Xu Zhenghao said, somewhat surprised but smiling.

“And you’re still shameless, old Xu. If you’re alive, how could this old man be dead?” Zheng replied with the same smile as he approached with his disciple.

He greeted the other two and prepared to enter alongside them.

“If that little girl called you, then the matter must truly be serious. Do you know what it is about?”

“Hoho, I know as much as you, old Xu. Not even age seems to calm your temper.”

“What do you kno—”

As they entered, the two kept talking. Upon mentioning the reason for the meeting, everyone strained their ears, but it seemed they had the same amount of information.

The observers watched the three… no, the four forces enter the store.

The Heavenly Moon House was not only famous in this city; its reputation had also spread through the neighboring regions.

Small branches had been opened in several localities to expand its business.

Upon crossing the imposing double door, one would normally see countless goods, organized by category and level of importance. But today, the scene was different.

Passing through the door, what was revealed was a staircase rising toward darkness.

The elders remained calm in the face of the change, but the juniors they had brought were astonished; many had already purchased items there before and had never seen such a thing.

Without hesitation, all began to climb, and something peculiar drew attention: not a single footstep could be heard.

The ascent was brief, and upon reaching the top of the stairs, they saw yet another double door—twice the size of the first and completely red.

Lin Xiao hurried ahead and knocked on the door, his voice carrying even deeper respect than when addressing the elders of each force.

“Noble Lady, this servant has brought the guests and fulfilled your orders.”

A brief silence fell before a gentle voice resonated: “Very well. Do not keep them waiting—enter.”

The moment the voice faded, the dark space lit up suddenly.

The stairs, now gleaming like jade, seemed bordered by clouds, while the walls shone as if set with spirit stones.

Creeeack!!

As though waiting for that command, the doors opened slowly, and a faint mist began to escape from within.

This was the effect of abundant, high-level spiritual energy.

Everyone felt their pores open at that moment, absorbing the spiritual energy like a delight to a cultivator’s body.

The elders’ gazes met with seriousness, a deep meaning flashing in their eyes at the sight.

Cough! Cough!

Xu Zhenghao’s cough broke the younger ones out of their state of bliss, and they tried to compose themselves before moving forward.

Inside, the room was smaller than the doors made it seem. The decorations could be considered plain and poor in the hands of an ordinary person, but when it came to a powerful cultivator, even an empty room carried profound meaning.

Upon passing through the doorway, one would see the smooth wall like a work of art—without a single painting upon it.

Lanterns hung from the ceiling, emitting a soft and weakened light. It seemed to have no strength to illuminate the surroundings.

In the center, a low table stood with a tea set.

Around it, four positions were marked by red cushions, each giving off a subtle glow. Three of the positions had three seats each, and one had two.

But what was most striking was the sensation that intensified as they entered the room: a spiritual energy made their bodies vibrate, as if their pores were opening on their own.

A little ahead, three steps led to a solitary figure, back turned to the door, hair swaying lightly as though following a breeze from nowhere.

The moment the three family elders entered, the well-shaped figure turned.

At that instant, the air around seemed to rumble and distort. Spiritual energy began to become visible, swirling like a hurricane.

Xu Zhenghao, Jin Guang, and Lin Jialun felt as though they were being stared down by a terrifying entity.

Even without seeing her face due to the mask, they could feel that piercing gaze.

Not wanting to lose ground, the three unleashed their own auras without restraint.

Boom!

A muffled roar—perceptible only in the mind—echoed, and the energy stirred even more.

The others who had come with them showed expressions of shock and tension at witnessing the clash.

Jin Yong, head of the family, tried to release his own aura to support his father, but upon doing so, he felt a gaze fall upon him.

An involuntary step backward betrayed his reaction—his back drenched in cold sweat.

Elder Zheng, watching from a distance, had an ironic smile on his face, while his disciple, Yu’er, looked on with wide eyes.

“Still the same…” he murmured, shaking his head.

The young Yu’er was even more impressed. She might not know much, but she understood what Foundation Establishment meant, and these three were not simple people within this Realm… only one person…

The confrontation lasted almost three breaths, and if one looked closely, they could see veins bulging on the skin of those enduring such pressure.

The three elders were faring a little better, but upon looking ahead and seeing that slender figure releasing such force, they felt powerless.

Tap! Tap! Bam! Bam!

The sound of a single step thundered in their hearts. Even the elders of each force felt the impact, no matter how unwilling they were.

Only Xu Zhenghao seemed calmer—though not entirely.

Curiously, the younger ones felt nothing. No pressure fell upon their bodies.

But they could see the air distorting, and that was more than enough proof of what was happening.

Lin Xiao watched all this with a helpless look on his face… But this was still better… hopefully, it would only be the mental aura…

When she took two steps forward, the woman in the red dress finally spoke.

“What happened to your supervisors?”

And at that very moment, the pressure weighing upon everyone vanished, as if it had never existed.

As soon as her words fell, she appeared before the low table, extending her hand in a clear invitation to those present.

The table was round, and aside from the hostess’s cushion, there were four others.

“Haha, you’re still the same…” Xu Zhenghao chuckled at the movements of the woman in red and continued, “As expected of the Crimson Flame Lady.”

Her arrival in the city had been shrouded in mystery, and her lack of a known name had led people to impose a nickname upon her.

Once called Madam Crimson Flame, the title had changed when people discovered she was not that old; thus, the name Crimson Flame Lady remained.

Yin Yongxin stepped forward, cupping his hands. “In response to the Crimson Flame Lady, this happened due to Yun’s lack of foresight. By the time I noticed the losses, it was already too late.”

Right after him, Lin Ziyi did the same, hands cupped. “The same happened on my side. I thought it was just a simple attack and that the cultivators from outside could contain the situation. By the time I reacted, it was already too late.”

Two of the three families had already spoken, and time seemed to slow as everyone waited, casting glances at the last one who remained silent.

Jin Yong, feeling the weight of everyone’s attention, grew uncomfortable until he remembered he should say something as well.

But what could he say? He hadn’t even considered sending anyone to remedy the situation.

Jin Guang, watching his son, felt the veins on his neck bulge in anger. This ungrateful son…!

“Hoho, what good is it to talk about this now? After all, not even the great Crimson Flame Lady could have predicted something like this; otherwise, she wouldn’t have sent only one supervisor.”

Xu Zhenghao’s voice echoed through the hall. At some point, he had already seated himself on one of the cushions, calmly watching the Crimson Flame Lady.

Beneath her mask, no one could see her expression. Observing the scene, she remained silent after Xu Zhenghao’s words.

Jin Guang, who had been about to speak in his son’s place, also waited in silence.

Her smooth mask, which would have been plain were it not for the flame-shaped flowers upon it, sent a faint shiver through everyone.

Sigh! The silence did not last long. Lin Jialun stepped closer and, with a sigh, sat down on a cushion. “Even if you try, you can’t save everyone. Anyone who came here knew the dangers. I believe you didn’t summon us only for this reason.”

Old Zheng approached with a serene smile, cupping his hands as he sat down on a cushion.

Seeing the others settle, Jin Guang no longer hesitated and sat, waiting in silence.

The Crimson Flame Lady remained silent for a few moments, as if in deep thought. Unfortunately, beneath the mask, no one could see her expression.

After a heavy sigh, she sat down on the main cushion, and the air in the room seemed to relax instantly.

Yin Lixue gazed at the masked woman with admiration shining in her eyes. So cool!, she thought.

With everyone seated, the leaders of the forces took the cushions beside each elder representative, and afterward, the younger members also sat down.

The three families had brought more people, but not all qualified to enter the hall, much less sit at the table with such powerful figures.

“The reason I summoned you is indeed related to yesterday’s attack,” the Crimson Flame Lady began in a calm tone, “but it is not limited to that. When I dispatched Lin Xiao to the outer houses, I instructed him to defeat the leader, but he failed…”

The moment she mentioned the previous night’s attack, everyone furrowed their brows.

And when they heard that Lin Xiao had failed to defeat the leader, a strange and serious glint appeared in their eyes.

Lin Xiao, who was preparing the tea, felt slightly embarrassed as he noticed the gazes of the elders from each force.

“Lin Xiao is already at the peak of Qi Training—what kind of monster did he face? Was it a Superior-tier Mortal creature?” asked Jin Guang in surprise. Judging from the opponent’s cultivation, there weren’t many Mortal-tier monsters he couldn’t defeat—unless it was a Superior-tier.

The others present also focused on this point, but they did not have to speculate for long.

“A Near-Threat…” the Crimson Flame Lady replied, giving no time for further guessing.

From the elders to the leaders, all frowned.

Only the younger ones kept their expressions unchanged; although they knew the monster classifications, it did not strike them with the same weight.

“What would a Near-Threat category monster be doing so close?” Old Zheng asked.

“That’s not the main point… the Night Wolf used a spell,” she answered, calm as ever, though unlike her, the others could not hide their surprise.

“A spell… That’s unusual, especially for such a common wolf species…” Even the composed Lin Jialun now showed shock. At their age, they had already formed a pattern of what was natural, and anything that broke from that was far from simple.

Everyone was beginning to understand the reason for the meeting—though unfortunately, there was more—and the moment they saw her preparing to continue, they could not help but feel their hearts thump.

Come to think of it, this woman in red had always been mysterious, and few things had impressed her; calling a meeting would hardly be for something simple.

As they feared, she continued, “I’m not done. According to Lin Xiao’s observations, the Night Wolf seemed to be after your son, and its leadership was nothing like that of a low-intelligence monster… Most importantly, a Thunderclap She-Wolf appeared, and all signs indicate the two have a cub.”

The string of information caused astonishment. She had poured out every detail at once, allowing no interruptions.

Even the younger ones could tell the problem was complex.

The leaders and elders of each force now wore expressions more serious than ever. Intelligence, spellcasting, and rarity—all in a single day.

Now, more than ever, they understood the reason for this meeting.

The five exchanged glances, then looked at the younger members before turning their attention back to the Crimson Flame Lady. She immediately understood and nodded in agreement.

This was no longer a matter for the juniors.

“You may interact among yourselves. The elders will go elsewhere,” Xu Zhenghao said with a smile. In an instant, the eight disappeared simultaneously.

Jin Hao, Lin Wei, Yin Lixue, and little Yu’er wore confused expressions, watching the elders vanish without much explanation.