Qi Ziru: “That woman taught him a cultivation method?”
Shen Youkun: “Not really. Unlike the outside world, there’s no shortage of exiled cultivators here.
To survive, they have to offer something, so the local natives don’t lack cultivation methods. Shi Chun’s cultivation path started from a young age； that woman only taught him to read some characters.
Ridiculously, after that, the scoundrel started acting all refined, actually thinking of himself as a scholar. Later, he somehow got a scholar’s robe and often dresses like one.
It’s utterly disgusting…”
Qi Ziru suddenly interrupted: “Get to the point.”
Shen Youkun faltered for a moment, “Relying on his two-faced treachery, this beast quickly took control of the East Nine Plains after his cultivation matured, becoming its chief.
After becoming the chief, he proclaimed that he grew up eating from the pots of every household in the East Nine Plains and wouldn't let everyone down. Later on, he did indeed work hard to send quite a few people from the East Nine Plains into the city.
I exploited this very weakness, using it as bait to clear out his eyes and ears.”
Qi Ziru was somewhat surprised, “With a chance to leave the Land of Exile, why didn't he leave? Were the resources offered as bait not enough?”
As he finished speaking, the wind picked up again.
Speaking of this, the corner of Shen Youkun's mouth twitched slightly. He leaned over and raised his sleeve to block the blowing sand and dust for his uncle, “It was a sure bet.
It would only be more, never less. The accumulated Merit was definitely enough for him to leave.
Who the hell knows what's wrong with that guy. I was baffled by him at the time too.
He had a chance to get out, so why didn't he take it? He no longer had any forces to back him up, wasn't he afraid of trouble brewing over time? Thinking back on it, it was most likely because of a woman.
It's no secret that the scoundrel has his eyes on the daughter of the proprietress of the ‘Far-Gazing Tower Tower’ in the city.
A family that can open a shop and do business in a city of the Land of Exile, what kind of background must they have? How could they possibly take a liking to him? He’s a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh, completely unaware of his own standing. Other than this, I can't think of any other reason for him to stay.
There shouldn't be anything else in this godforsaken place worth his attachment.”
After stating his conclusion, he observed his uncle's expression.
Seeing no reaction at all, he continued: “As for that Wu Jinliang, he's a big tall fellow. He usually likes to carry a ridiculously large broadsword to show off, but he’s actually nothing special.
He relies on being Shi Chun's lackey to bully others, a tiger’s accomplice. He’s no good either.
It’s said that when he was born, he was small and thin, and almost didn't survive, hence the name ‘Jinliang’. Later, it was Shi Chun, wanting to show off after learning to read, who added the surname ‘Wu’ for him.
Wu Jinliang, meaning no weight, haha, uncle, from the standard of his naming, you can tell what kind of person that scoundrel is.”
That he could even recount the stories behind these things showed that he had put in the effort to understand them.
He talked on, and Qi Ziru listened quietly without expressing any opinion. After hearing him out, he asked again, “What is that Shi Chun's cultivation level? High Martial?”
He had already estimated it quite low, yet Shen Youkun still chuckled, “Uncle, you think too highly of this Land of Exile.
Cultivation resources are almost non-existent, and it’s hard to even get a full meal. Those whose cultivation can break through to High Martial can be counted on one's fingers in the entire Land of Exile.
With that kind of strength, who would be willing to rot in this miserable prison? They would have left long ago. Early Martial, I'd say.
He should still be some distance from High Martial. With a strength of a thousand jin, he’s considered a capable fighter here.”
When he said the words “strength of a thousand jin,” a trace of self-mockery appeared on his face. In the past, when his cultivation was intact, he would never have bothered mentioning such a petty matter of “counting jin.” But now, he had to admit that a “strength of a thousand jin” was quite formidable.
The so-called Early Martial was actually unranked.
The proper cultivation realms were divided into four major realms: High Martial, Human Immortal, Earth Immortal, and Heavenly Immortal. Anything above that was no longer a matter of “Immortals.”
Of course, the world was full of unranked people, a multitude of beings.
Qi Ziru’s tone immediately took on a questioning quality, “Since he hasn’t reached High Martial, among the many people you’ve recruited, there should be quite a few with similar strength.
Why leave the two of them uncleared? Could it be that they are in hiding and you can’t find them?”
Only then did Shen Youkun understand the meaning behind his uncle's question about cultivation level. He subconsciously replied: “It’s not that we can’t find them…” At this point, a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face.
But it wasn't in front of an outsider, so he quickly mustered his courage to explain, “Uncle, you don't know. That beast Shi Chun is truly cunning and difficult to deal with.
Born and raised here, he has fought his way up through constant struggles since childhood. He is fearless of death.
If we are to make a move against him, we cannot afford to fail. A snake must be beaten to death, otherwise it’s easy to get entangled by its counter-attack.
That scoundrel has always been the type who won’t rest until he bites back after suffering a loss.
The matter we are undertaking must be kept secret.
It is not advisable to get entangled with such a petty person. This is also why I was willing to pay such a heavy price to lure him away.
This matter here is of utmost importance. I originally intended not to bother with him for the time being, and to deal with him slowly after he left.
There are plenty of ways to deal with him in the outside world. With a long-term plan, it should have been foolproof.
Who knew that this scoundrel would refuse to leave? I was truly surprised as well.”
Qi Ziru glanced at him sideways, “Since there was an unexpected event, how can you be certain that he won’t discover the commotion here? This is, after all, his long-held territory.”
Shen Youkun hurriedly bowed, lowering his posture to guarantee, “Uncle, you can rest assured. I know exactly where they are.
I have arranged for people to watch them in secret. They are currently meditating and cultivating in their old lair.
I will receive news at the first moment of any movement. I will absolutely not let them notice anything unusual here.”
Qi Ziru looked down at the busy people coming and going in the mountain gully below. Things had already come to this point, so pursuing the matter further was meaningless.
He changed the subject, “Are these people you recruited reliable?”
Shen Youkun bowed slightly again, “Reliable. They were all recruited from other regions and mostly don't know each other.
Before they came, none of them knew they were coming to the East Nine Plains, nor did they know what they were here to do.”
“The same thing still stands, this matter must not be leaked…” Speaking slowly, Qi Ziru gradually looked towards the afterglow in the sky again, paused for a moment, and added in a sickly tone, “Afterwards, leave no one behind.”
“Rest assured, uncle, the follow-up measures are all prepared.” Shen Youkun replied close to his ear.
Straightening up slightly, he thought of another question and asked strangely: “Uncle, what exactly is that dragon bone being dug up from underground? What use is a pile of bones that it’s worth you paying such a great price?”
He naturally knew that his uncle wasn’t truly banished here for committing a crime. Rather, the higher-ups had no confidence in him, feared he couldn't handle the situation, and were worried about failure, so they sent a more capable person to preside over it.
This Land of Exile wasn’t a place just anyone could enter and exit at will. The price was to deliberately commit an offense, and then have one’s cultivation crippled and be banished according to the rules.
That was crippling a lifetime of arduous cultivation！ “Who the hell knows what use it has.” Qi Ziru actually let out a self-deprecating laugh, a hint of sorrow in his eyes.
He raised a hand towards the setting sun, grasping at the void, as if muttering to himself, “Since ancient times, there have been various doubts about the ancient sages' creation of heaven and earth. Many believe that there is no distinction between heaven and earth at all, that chaos still exists, and that we have always been living in chaos.
It is just that our mortal eyes see very little, and what we can touch is minuscule. In reality, there are many objects we cannot see or touch, and many forces we cannot feel.”
This emotional reflection left Shen Youkun a bit puzzled, not knowing its meaning. Could it be related to his uncle’s mission? Soon after, Qi Ziru gave him the answer, “Before I was ordered to come here, your grandmother did give me some instructions.
It is rumored that in ancient times, there was a divine beast, with a tremendously long, snake-like body, called the ‘Female General’. It was born of chaos and lived within it.
Later, the family accidentally discovered an ancient cave residence and saw a record in an ancient text inside. It said that a certain ancient god's mount was a giant spirit snake.
It had no wings and could not fly, yet it could travel between the tangible and intangible realms of heaven and earth, and could even foresee calamities. Its description was similar to the ‘Female General’.
Unfortunately, it was slain in a great battle.
For this reason, the family secretly spent a great deal of effort to verify and search for a long time before finally finding the burial place of that ancient god's mount.” As he spoke, he pointed to the excavation site below.
Even without his gesture, the stunned Shen Youkun had already guessed it, but he still didn't understand, “What’s the point of finding it? Can it be used for medicine or refining treasures, or is it beneficial for cultivation?”
Qi Ziru said lightly: “If the ‘Female General’ truly exists, it can verify whether chaos has truly always existed.”
Shen Youkun blurted out: “Just for this?”
Qi Ziru added, “That’s what they say, but do you believe it? Obviously, they also want to get it back to see if it has any other miraculous effects.”
Shen Youkun was incredulous, “Just for this unsubstantiated possibility, grandmother could bear to have you cripple your cultivation and be banished here?”
“If it was certain to be something of great importance, would it be our turn to preside over this matter? I’m afraid we wouldn't even have the right to know.
Did you think I wanted to come? You got into trouble, and your mother came to me crying, asking me to find a way to help you survive here. I secretly broke the rules of the Land of Exile, and the family found out.
What could your grandmother do?” Qi Ziru became emotional, slapping the armrest.
Shen Youkun was speechless.
So his uncle’s banishment was his fault. He understood that the family claiming to have found out about his uncle breaking the rules was just an excuse.
It was simply that no one was willing to have their cultivation crippled to come here, so they had to force someone capable of taking charge to come. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
“Sigh.” Qi Ziru sighed slowly and deeply, “Now that things have come to this, it’s useless to overthink it.
Let's just get the job done honestly. Your grandmother will be looking out for us from the outside, and the family has also promised that as long as the matter is handled properly, they will find a way to get us out early, and they will also find a way to repair our foundations, restore our cultivation abilities, and give us another great reward.”
Seeing the sudden look of joy in his nephew's eyes, he immediately spoke again to caution him, “You also know the consequences of the news leaking. It’s not because we’re worried about losing the bones underground, but because what we are doing has broken the rules of the Land of Exile.
That ‘Warden Nie’ who was banished here to guard the place is a ruthless character who dares to go against the laws of heaven. If he gets serious about it, even the family can’t handle it.
At that time, we will have to take the blame ourselves. You should be clear about what kind of end that would be.”
“Uncle, rest assured. We've already found that dragon bone now.
Judging by its size, it'll take about half a day to dig it all out. We’ve been digging for a month without any problems, what could possibly happen now that we’re about to finish? What I'm worried about now is how to get such a huge thing out.”
“What you and I need to do is to secretly confirm and find the thing. As for how to get it out, that’s not for us to worry about.
Someone else will worry about it.”