As for him, it was different. At this moment, the True Fire within his Qi Sea far surpassed his peers. If he were to clash with Dong Jinzi a few more times, allowing the True Fire to grow a bit stronger, he estimated that in as little as one year, or as much as three to four years, he could fully burn through all the acupoints.
Meanwhile, in a valley within Qingcun Mountain, the clansmen brought along by Shi Yifan and Yan Yuqin were locked in incessant bickering. Pan Yang sat silently on the side, his gaze flickering between the assembled group, secretly smirking to himself.
Shi Yifan and Yan Yuqin, in their haste to vie for the Ganoderma Ancestor’s remnants on that day, had refrained from bringing their servants and clansmen along to keep the matter discreet. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel-fire.net
After waiting for two or three days without seeing the pair return, the group knew something was amiss and sent people to search for them. In the end, all they recovered were some tattered garments.
Pan Yang also felt chills in his heart, but unwilling to admit defeat, he plotted with the others. Regardless of whether the Ganoderma Ancestor’s remnants were truly in the hands of the green-clothed youth, he spread rumors, saying that this green-clothed man was ruthless and domineering, killing anyone he encountered and repeatedly seizing medicine mushrooms from others.
Initially, no one believed these claims. But soon, the corpses of Wu Clan disciples and servants were discovered atop Nine-Headed Peak. Then, as coincidence would have it, Dong Jinzi, during his bout with Zhang Yan, was openly searching for medicine mushrooms everywhere. Confident in his deep cultivation and overwhelming strength, he scorned concealing himself and killed anyone who crossed his path. This series of events confirmed Pan Yang’s words, prompting scattered cultivators to band together for protection, with some enraged individuals seeking him out.
Given the Ganoderma Ancestor’s remnants were a unique spiritual object, they stirred greed among many. With the Shi and Yan clansmen deliberately fueling the situation, they stepped forward, rallied hundreds of people, and began to search for Dong Jinzi’s whereabouts, clashing with him several times. Hence, on the day of his appointment to duel Zhang Yan, he was late in arriving.
Even with the united efforts of these people, Dong Jinzi’s avatar, albeit at the Xuan Guang Realm, was forced to retreat. However, due to the group’s disunity and hidden agendas, they failed to defeat him and instead suffered significant casualties. Consequently, the Shi and Yan clan representatives had no choice but to sit down and reconsider their strategy.
"In my opinion," came the voice of a middle-aged woman, "the Ganoderma Ancestor’s remnants are definitely not in the hands of the green-clothed man but with Li Yuanba." This speaker was the woman who had accompanied Yan Yuqin that day.
Opposite her sat a young man bearing some resemblance to Shi Yifan. He was Shi Yiming, Shi Yifan’s younger brother. Initially, his cultivation level was low, and he had come to Qingcun Mountain merely for experience. Now, with Shi Yifan dead, he had taken charge. After hearing her claim, he tilted his head and asked, "Lady Yan, what makes you think so?"
Lady Yan glanced at him and replied, "Didn’t the Shi family’s Sixth Son witness the two of them fighting last time? Although it appeared evenly matched, Li Yuanba was actually at a disadvantage each time."
Shi Yiming was puzzled and asked, "What of it?"
Lady Yan snorted, "The green-clothed man’s demeanor was unrelenting and intent on killing Li Yuanba. If the Ganoderma Ancestor’s remnants were truly in his hands, would he go to such lengths? It’s clear that Li Yuanba stole his possession, hence his actions!"
Her judgment was entirely based on feminine intuition. The people present fell into contemplation upon hearing her words. Upon reflection, though plausible, it was ultimately speculative, and no one could confirm its truth. Consequently, only a few murmured their agreement.
The middle-aged woman furrowed her brow, turned, and asked, "Daoist Pan, what do you think?"
Pan Yang flinched. He actually had the same belief. Considering his own vendetta against Zhang Yan for killing his fellow sect member, he realized the murderer was the green-clothed strange man. Knowing he couldn’t possibly defeat the man on his own, he had been goading the others into killing this individual first. If the Ganoderma Ancestor’s remnants weren’t found on the green-clothed man, these people would naturally seek out Zhang Yan on their own. In this way, he could accomplish two goals at once.
But if Zhang Yan were killed first, who would bother with the green-clothed man afterward?
This scheme was something he could not openly reveal, so he immediately dismissed the notion: "I personally witnessed the Ganoderma Ancestor’s remnants taken by the green-clothed man that day. This matter is absolutely true. As for whether the item later fell into Li Yuanba’s hands, I cannot be certain."
The middle-aged woman sneered coldly, her gaze sharpening as it locked onto Pan Yang. She stood up and mocked, "You’re just another liar who talks out of both sides of your mouth. Do you think I don’t know your petty scheming?"
Sweeping her gaze around the group, she sneered again, "Since you’re unwilling, I shall take my own people to find Li Yuanba. I don’t need you meddling in the matter."
Shi Yiming also stood and nodded. "If that’s the case, Lady Yan, you may go after Li Yuanba. This young master will seek out the green-clothed man. Our two clans shall act independently. Whoever lays claim to the Ganoderma Ancestor’s remnants—no one else may touch it. How does that sound?"
Lady Yan declared loudly, "I only wish to avenge the mistress. The Ganoderma Ancestor’s remnants are of no concern to me."
Shi Yiming pointed at her and grinned sardonically, "Lady Yan, aren’t we all clever people here? Why bother with such hypocritical remarks? Farewell."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Behind him, a trusted aide hurriedly caught up and whispered in his ear, "Sixth Son, I feel Lady Yan’s reasoning makes sense. Why don’t we go after Li Yuanba?"
Shi Yiming curled his lip and replied, "Do you think I truly care about claiming the medicine mushrooms?"
The confidant looked puzzled. "Is that not the case?"
Shi Yiming chuckled, "Wulang is dead, yet he still has many retainers left in the clan. If I don’t make a show of vowing to seize the medicine mushrooms and avenge him, how could I gather their loyalty? That green-clothed man is profoundly mysterious; even if we lose, no one would fault me. But if we were to chase after Li Yuanba instead and lose again, wouldn’t that make matters worse?"
Looking back over his shoulder, he squinted and said, "Lady Yan is different from me. She’s merely a servant. With Yan Yuqin dead, how could she return alive? She’d rather target the seemingly weaker Li Yuanba for a desperate gamble. If she manages to kill him by luck, she’d at least have an excuse in the clan."
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)