After the beetle perished, in Qian Ye’s perception, countless tiny dots swiftly retreated deep into the crevices of the rocks. After some thought, he abandoned the idea of capturing a few. These highly toxic beetles were too dangerous; storing them alive would be problematic, and their value would plummet significantly once dead.
Qian Ye turned back and warned Ji Tianqing and Li Kuanglan below, “Be cautious of the bugs in the rock walls, they are extremely poisonous!”
Both Ji Tianqing and Li Kuanglan nodded, understanding that anything Qian Ye deemed extremely poisonous must be among the world’s deadliest poisons.
With the earlier experience as a caution, Qian Ye became especially vigilant when passing through the fissures. Indeed, he encountered several types of insects, spiders, and scorpions, each no less toxic than the initial black beetle. However, with proper precautions, these creatures had no chance to harm them.
Later, Qian Ye decided to use his blood flame to clear the crevices along the path. Even if the venomous creatures weren’t incinerated by the blood flame, they sensed the dark golden aura of the blood essence and fled back into the depths of the crevices, not daring to show themselves again.
This barren cliff had no plants or animals, leaving it a mystery how these poisonous insects survived.
After climbing through this perilous area, they reached the snow line. Parts of the mountain peak were covered in white snow, but most of it remained bare rock.
Like in the Empire, beyond the snow line, there were few signs of life. The wind here was particularly harsh, often carrying wisps of primal energy. Being buffeted by such fierce winds felt like being constantly attacked by an opponent with primal energy cultivation. With Ji Tianqing and Li Kuanglan’s strength, traversing in this mountain wind was strenuous, let alone for ordinary strongmen.
Facing the strong wind, Qian Ye marked the areas where the poisonous insects appeared and continued his ascent towards the peak.
Moments later, the trio finally reached the summit, standing atop the towering Qiancang Mountains.
They did not rest but pressed on. Descending was much easier, and soon they were out of the snow line. They slid down steep cliffs, raced over gentle slopes, and crossed two undulating mountain spines, arriving at a hidden valley nestled between two mountains.
This valley was surrounded by mountains on all sides, with only a slightly gentler slope allowing access. The valley was extremely secluded, and the surrounding mountain ranges were not only treacherous but also riddled with dangers.
The poisonous insect zone Qian Ye traversed was a complete no-go zone for ordinary strongmen in the Empire and Evernight. Poisonous insects were just one of many dangers, and there were multiple other perils.
If one followed the normal route into the valley, they would need to pass through several dangerous zones, effectively traversing a path through multiple hazardous areas. Due to the terrain, this path had many twists and turns, and a single misstep could lead to a deadly mishap. The Song Clan had likely lost countless lives before discovering the Skyson Grassland.
The valley’s location was far from the Empire and Evernight’s active regions, and the Song Clan had kept the location of the grassland strictly confidential for many years. It was only every ten years or so that a member of the clan would transport a batch of goods from the grassland. This meager harvest had already made the Song Clan wealthy enough to rival any kingdom.
Standing before the valley, Li Kuanglan remained her usual cool self, while Qian Ye, who had little concept of wealth, watched as Ji Tianqing’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She urged, “Come on, let’s go in! The Song Clan has stockpiled so much over the years, there must be plenty of good stuff. Once we’re inside, take whatever you want, no need to be polite.”
Qian Ye could only manage a wry smile, not knowing how to respond.
Song Zining’s original intention was for Qian Ye to collect the years’ worth of harvest from the Skyson Grassland and then hand it over to him. In the process, Qian Ye could naturally keep any particularly useful treasures for himself. That was the plan.
However, Song Zining probably hadn’t expected Ji Tianqing and Li Kuanglan to accompany Qian Ye to the Skyson Grassland. Ji Tianqing also had her own spatial equipment, which was essentially inviting a wolf into the house.
Under Ji Tianqing’s urging, Qian Ye reluctantly led the way into the valley, pondering whether to tell Song Zining the truth upon returning. Seventh Brother was well-traveled and didn’t seem like someone who couldn’t handle setbacks. But if the impact on the Skyson Grassland was too severe, it was hard to say.
After passing through the gentle slope and rounding a mountain wall, the trio suddenly found themselves in a vast, lush expanse.
To their surprise, the valley was unexpectedly large, hidden within the desolate mountains. At the foot of the mountain, forests grew, with leaves of green, yellow, and red, creating a picturesque scene. A small river flowed from the mountain, winding through the woods and into a small lake deep in the valley.
The center of the valley was a vast expanse of grassland, divided by fences into smaller plots. Each plot held different plants, even trees of varying sizes. Some trees were laden with fruit, while others were covered in flowers, each area offering a unique view.
Without the fences, the valley showed few signs of human activity. However, not far from the entrance, there was a small wooden hut, with a neat garden and vegetable patch in front and behind, indicating that someone lived there.
Exchanging glances, Qian Ye and the two women were secretly shocked. The last production from the Skyson Grassland was ten years ago, meaning that if someone indeed lived in the hut, they must have been in the Great Maelstrom for over a decade. Given the example of Nan Gong Tianyu, none of them could tell whether the person inside was friend or foe.
As they hesitated, the door of the hut opened, and an elderly man with white hair and beard stepped out. He carried a medicine hoe in one hand and a basket in the other, heading toward the garden. After setting down the basket, he waved to Qian Ye and the others, saying, “Young people, since you’ve come, why not come and say hello?”
Qian Ye was slightly startled, looking around to see a hint of surprise on Ji Tianqing’s face, realizing that the old man was far from ordinary.
All three had used methods to conceal their auras, and Qian Ye had even activated his bloodline stealth. Ji Tianqing’s secret technique for changing her aura and appearance was no less effective. The weakest in the group was Li Kuanglan, but she was still far superior to ordinary strongmen in terms of concealment. Although they hadn’t deliberately hidden their forms, at a distance, concealing their auras was far more important. For the old man to spot them so easily revealed his formidable strength.
Retreating was not an option, so Qian Ye exchanged a glance with the two women and decided to approach the grassland openly.
The old man continued to tend his garden, pulling a few weeds, and only straightened up when Qian Ye and the others reached the courtyard. Rubbing his back, he said, “Getting old, my back and legs aren’t as nimble as they used to be. Come in yourselves, there’s a table and chairs in the courtyard, sit down for a bit.”
In the courtyard stood an ancient tree with lush branches and a few unripe fruits. Beneath it was a stone table with four stone stools. On closer inspection, the tabletop was carved with a chessboard, suggesting that playing a game of chess after tea was a pleasant pastime.
Qian Ye confidently sat down on one of the stone stools, and after a moment’s hesitation, Li Kuanglan joined him. Whether by coincidence or design, the placement of the stone table was such that there were obstacles in every direction, either close or far, a cluster of flowers, or a row of medicinal racks. For someone accustomed to rapid, aggressive movements, this layout was particularly uncomfortable. Only someone like Ji Tianqing, trained in specialized secret techniques, could move freely in such a confined space.
Qian Ye felt a bit uneasy as well. The arrangement of the courtyard, including the garden, was meticulously ordered, appearing beautiful at first glance, but every item seemed to be placed with purpose.
As powerful beings, they instinctively examined their surroundings, noting potential escape routes. Qian Ye scanned the courtyard and realized that it was impossible to perform several short-distance teleports. Regardless of the direction, any movement would risk bumping into something.
The garden had the fewest obstacles, with only a few dozen unidentified medicinal plants scattered around, but in the Great Maelstrom, every item could be a rare treasure. If Qian Ye accidentally damaged some of the plants, he would regret it.
Nevertheless, he sat down calmly, knowing that if he couldn’t teleport inside, he could always do so outside. Besides, with his multiple lethal techniques and the newly acquired Mountain Opening Strength, close combat was his forte.
Ji Tianqing, however, was different. She inspected the table, the area beneath it, and even checked under the stool before cautiously sitting down, ready to flee at a moment’s notice.
Seeing this, the old man smiled and stroked his beard, saying, “What a mischievous little one! Hasn’t your grandfather taught you better?”
Ji Tianqing was taken aback, stammering, “You, you recognize…”
The old man chuckled, “Prince of the Extreme North is famous throughout the Empire. How could I not recognize his descendants?”
“But I changed my appearance…”
“If you hadn’t used that secret technique, I might not have been so sure you were Ji Wentian’s descendant.”
Ji Tianqing’s expression immediately turned serious, and she asked cautiously, “What is your relationship with my grandfather?”
The old man laughed, “Worried I might report you? Don’t worry, I won’t bully you youngsters. Truth be told, I just didn’t like how he conducted himself, so I often called him by name. I couldn’t really fight him. Ji Wentian was a genius unmatched by many, and I, a waste who can’t even enter the realm, wouldn’t dare compare myself to him.”
Hearing the old man speak ill of the Prince of the Extreme North, Ji Tianqing was unhappy. “My grandfather fought for the country all his life, achieving great feats both openly and in secret. What’s wrong with his actions?”
The old man laughed and shook his head, “Old stories, child. You wouldn’t understand.”
Ji Tianqing puffed up her cheeks, angrily saying, “Who are you calling a child? If you don’t want to talk, I don’t care anyway.”
The old man gave her a once-over, seemingly understanding, and said, “I see, you’re not a child anymore.”
He then glanced at Qian Ye, causing him to feel puzzled. To Qian Ye, Ji Tianqing had never been a child. She had experienced numerous battles and acted decisively and ruthlessly at critical moments. Once her strength surpassed that of a divine general, she would be a formidable opponent.
She was clearly a fierce character, just with a cute exterior. How could she be a child?
Noticing Qian Ye’s confused reaction, the old man narrowed his eyes but didn’t elaborate, instead, he smiled and observed the three of them.
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