Cultivation: Being Immortal

Chapter 90

Yunzhong Mountain Range, middle section

Zhou Yunyang stood outside Lin Jiang's cave, several meters away from Shao Xiong. Zhou Yunyang didn't say a word, but his mocking expression on his face was obvious.

"Zhou Yunyang, what are you doing here?"

Shao Xiong said, Zhou Yunyang was his old friend. In the wilderness north of the Yunzhong Mountain Range, Shao Xiong had ambushed Zhou Yunyang seven times, but Zhou Yunyang always managed to escape. Zhou Yunyang didn't want to fall behind either, so he launched six attacks against Shao Xiong. They ended up becoming good friends despite all the fights.

"I heard about your embarrassment in the wilderness. As a powerful late stage Building Foundation cultivator, you couldn't defeat an early stage Building Foundation cultivator, and you even blocked his way. You've made all the cultivators in the wilderness lose face."

"This guy is hiding behind the Eight Gate Golden Armor Formation. It's a third-grade formation. Do you have the ability to break it?"

(Translated by Gravity Tales 😒)

"No, I don't have the ability."

"Then why are you even talking? How dare you call yourself a Formation Master and shamelessly claim to be the future King of Formations."

Shao Xiong also mocked, Zhou Yunyang had exceptional talent in formations and was one of the few skilled Formation Masters among independent cultivators. He had once boasted, after having a few drinks, that he wanted to achieve the same fame as the legendary Alchemist, Pill King Li Ruoxu. Pill King Li Ruoxu had suppressed the pride of two major sects' alchemists with his outstanding skills. Zhou Yunyang wanted to do the same with formations and dominate over the Formation Masters of the two major sects, claiming the title of the King of Formations.

"I am a mid-stage second-tier Formation Master, and the Eight Gate Golden Armor Formation is a high-grade third-tier formation. It's normal that I can't break it. But you, shameless as ever, go around extorting independent cultivators and yet couldn't even make a breakthrough in the early stage of Building Foundation. Tsk tsk, you've ruined your reputation."

"You..."

"Master, just kill him, he can't set up formations now."

"Don't act, he's not alone."

Shao Xiong held onto Shao Jie, if Zhou Yunyang came alone, he would have attacked already.

"You have quite the nose, old man. You could even smell this."

"You dare to associate with assassins, aren't you afraid of the two major sects peeling your skin?"

Shao Xiong said, the fight had already begun, and he had already locked onto his surroundings, searching for Zhou Yunyang's accomplice, but he couldn't find them. However, that chilling sense of murderous intent persisted. Shao Xiong guessed that Zhou Yunyang's accomplices were those assassins.

The Wilderness highly valued the role of a Formation Master, as they could establish a safe base in the Wilderness, which was like a treasure trove. Zhou Yunyang had done the same before, but not long ago, their base was destroyed by a beast tide.

"I don't know what you're talking about, assassins with no understanding at all."

"Hmph, Mr. Zhou, what do you want to do?"

"Nothing much, just want to take your job. How about it? I'll give you a way out, you can leave, right?"

Zhou Yunyang smiled and said, Shao Xiong's face was uncertain.

He thought carefully, Zhou Yunyang's skills as a Formation Master in Yunzhong City would definitely not be able to compete with Wilderness. He came back, could it be that something happened in Wilderness?

"What's it to you if I let you do it once?"

After considering, Shao Xiong decided not to argue with Zhou Yunyang, and quickly retreated with Shao Jie.

"Brother Zhou, why don't you let me take action? I'm 70% sure I can defeat him. He has a lot of money on him."

A voice secretly entered Zhou Yunyang's ears, faintly heard.

"Don't underestimate Shao Xiong, this guy is really something. I ambushed him six times and let him escape. It's not that easy to kill him."

Zhou Yunyang shook his head, realizing that he wasn't a match when it came to one-on-one fights, and even if the assassin lost his element of surprise, facing Shao Xiong directly didn't guarantee that he would be a match.

·······

"Zhou Yunyang, I curse you"

Ten miles east of Lin Jiang's cave, Shao Xiong glared at his abode and cursed Zhou Yunyang through gritted teeth.

He had been robbed, and his cave had been tampered with by Zhou Yunyang, even though it was clearly his home, he couldn't enter anymore.

"Master, what should we do?"

Shao Jie was both confused and terrified. He had never experienced something like this before. He didn't dare to go inside his house now, who knows what traps Zhou Yunyang had set up?

"Let's go, forget about it."

Shao Xiong shook his head and left without a second thought. Cultivators who spent most of their time in the Wilderness didn't focus on managing their possessions because no matter how well they managed, a beast tide could sweep everything away. Therefore, Shao Xiong taking over the cave was merely a temporary safe haven, with no valuable items inside. He was ready to abandon it if necessary.

One hour later, a unlucky person fell in Shao Xiong's massacre, and the cave he had managed for many years became someone else's home. Shao Xiong asked Shao Jie to stay at home while he went out to gather information.

Five days later, Shao Xiong returned with a gloomy face. Shao Jie dared not speak loudly. He rarely saw Shao Xiong with such a expression.

"Master, what happened?"

"Wilderness is in trouble. The monster clan is counterattacking. The strongholds of Wilderness have all been destroyed. Now only the strongholds of the two major sects are holding on, but it seems they can't hold on for long."

"No way, didn't the two major sects have Soul Changing Ancestors guarding them?"

"I don't know the details, but all I know is that Wilderness is in trouble."

"How will this affect us?"

"The impact is huge. Wilderness is also the money bag of the two major sects. Now that the money bag is broken, they will have to find it from elsewhere."

Shao Xiong said, the two major sects have never been kind, especially when it comes to harvesting independent cultivators. They are ruthless one after another. If the income from Wilderness is gone, they will have to recover it from other places. Naturally, it will be collected from the hands of independent cultivators, and Shao Xiong himself is one of them, and also a target for the two major sects to harvest.

"Did Zhou Yunyang come back because of this?"

"Not only him, but many famous people from Wilderness have come back, Yunzhong Mountain Range will be lively from now on."

Shao Xiong said. There are many tough and capable people in Wilderness. Before, they didn't have much impact on this place as they were only mixing around in Wilderness. But this time, with so many people coming back, things will be difficult to handle. For example, his extortion plan will definitely fail and won't work.

"What about Master's plan..."

"Don't worry, let's keep a low profile, see how things develop, and not act like heroes."

Shao Xiong said. In Wilderness, he is not among the top group yet. He has to wait and see. Surviving is the most important. Those who act recklessly will die first.

·······

"Friend Lin, have you made a decision?"

In front of Lin Jiang's cave, Zhou Yunyang appeared again. On that day, Zhou Yunyang drove away Shao Xiong, didn't harm Lin Jiang, but made new demands.

Zhou Yunyang asked Lin Jiang to join him, promising not only to protect their cave but also to provide many benefits, ensuring that they will not lack any resources in the future.

Lin Jiang's eyes were hesitant as he had recently been in contact with Fan Tong and others, who informed him that many dangerous people had returned to the north side of the Yunzhong Mountain Range. Not only Shao Xiong and Zhou Yunyang, but also others.

The previously independent cultivators with a basic middle-level cultivation in the southern building foundation were almost gone. Even Fan Tong had fled and sought refuge in Yunzhong City. Fan Tong told Lin Jiang that something major had happened in the north, and these cruel independent cultivators from the north considered their southern counterparts as easy prey. Many people had been killed, and Fan Tong urged Lin Jiang to leave as soon as possible.

"Dear Taoist Friend Zhou, may I ask what exactly happened in the north?"

"That's something dear Taoist Friend doesn't need to worry about. Just answer me, will you agree or not?"

"If I don't agree, will I die?"

"You're smart, dear Taoist Friend. It's exactly as you think."

Zhou Yunyang smiled and said. There's big trouble in the north. The independent cultivator strongholds have been completely wiped out, with only two major sects barely holding on. However, he dares to confirm that the demonic forces' attack won't last long, and the cultivators will rise again.

During this time, he needed to gather more followers who could be used as cannon fodder when they return to the north. Of course, if some are skilled and talented, they can be groomed as trusted subordinates.

"Then I choose not to agree."

Lin Jiang answered directly, that's just how he is, he likes when people are nice to him and not when they are mean.

Of course, Lin Jiang also considered the pros and cons. He doesn't know how Zhou Yunyang is as a person or how he does things. If he joins Zhou Yunyang, he will probably end up being used as a pawn. Naturally, Lin Jiang doesn't want that.

"If I don't agree, then it's fine. Taoist Friend Lin, please stay at home and don't come out!"

Zhou Yunyang smiled. It won't be easy to force someone with a strong cave like this to come out. He can just wait here. He is more patient than Shao Xiong, after all.

"Then Taoist Friend doesn't need to worry."

Lin Jiang covered his figure and returned to the cave.

However, Lin Jiang's mood was a little bit bad. He knew that if there's a problem here in the middle part of Yunzhong Mountain Range, it will be harder and harder for him to survive in the future. But he doesn't want to give up this cave.

He invested a lot of spirit stones into this cave and it's also very comfortable. The core area is hundreds of acres big. He can do whatever he wants here. Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao are the same. In Yunzhong City, they can only walk in a very small yard. So, whether it's in terms of benefits or emotions, Lin Jiang doesn't want to give up.

So Lin Jiang could only choose to hold on. Even without considering the spiritual talisman, he had confidence now. With the Explosive Element Technique and excellent quality spiritual weapons equipped on him, he wasn't weak at all.

"Being patient doesn't mean always giving in, compromising, or avoiding. When it's time to take action, you still need to take action."

Lin Jiang comforted himself, saying that he couldn't keep hiding. If he only defended, he would be continuously attacked. He needed to find an opportunity to kill a few powerful ones to intimidate the others.