"Yo, it's the Mountain Lord!"
The old shepherd cupped his hands repeatedly and said with a smile, "I've troubled you for many days, and it's time for me to leave. Besides, I've been out herding sheep for ten days already. My family must be worried, so I should head back soon."
Lin Zhao's gaze fell on the black cloth bag tied to his waist, and he said with a smile, "Actually, I've had a few questions in my heart, and I hope the elder can enlighten me."
"Ah?!"
The old shepherd looked astonished. "I'm just an old man who herds sheep. What enlightenment can I provide to the Mountain Lord?"
"Sir?"
At this moment, a thought from Chang Zhi echoed in Lin Zhao's mind, "What is it?"
"Tong Yu has been captured."
Lin Zhao said in a deep voice, "Immediately activate the Ju Que Umbrella Sword Formation!"
"Yes!"
The next second, streaks of sword light rose from the foot of the mountain, and in an instant, the entire Snow Domain Heavenly Pool was enveloped by a golden sword formation.
Zhao Chu Qin's mouth twitched, and a cold smile flashed across his lips. He quickly put on a respectful smile and said, "Mountain Lord, whatever questions you have, feel free to ask. I will do my best to answer."
"Good, first question."
Lin Zhao said indifferently, "The Snow Domain Heavenly Pool is perpetually cold and frozen, with no sufficient grassland to feed sheep. Yet, every one of your sheep is quite plump. To my knowledge, unless specially fed, sheep in the Northern Region are all frail and thin. How are your sheep being raised?"
"The mountain is spring-like all year round, and the sheep eat well. What's the problem?" Zhao Chu Qin's heart began to chill.
Lin Zhao also smiled, "Then why are you out herding sheep?"
Zhao Chu Qin's brows furrowed. This young sword cultivator was not high in cultivation, but he was extremely troublesome.
"Second question."
Lin Zhao continued, "Your old robes are tattered, so why are your boots so clean? And... these boots seem to belong to mountain cultivators. Although they are a bit worn, the material is still discernible."
"You..."
Zhao Chu Qin felt a chill in his heart and couldn't help but drop the pretense, coldly saying, "Little one, with just this, it's probably not enough, is it?"
"Indeed, it's not enough."
Lin Zhao said calmly, "I've been watching you since the day you appeared, observing every detail. It wasn't until I saw the look in your eyes when you looked at Tong Yu that I became even more certain you were no good. Remember when we were at the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool before? There was a rogue cultivator who looked at Xiao Jiu'er with the same gaze as you looked at Tong Yu!"
"Swish~~~"
A wisp of mountain and water spiritual energy surged behind the old man. It was the eighth-realm Su Shan Jun, who appeared with a frown, looking at Lin Zhao. "Although I can't help much, I am still willing to lend you a hand!"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded. At this moment, dark clouds churned above his head, and a figure descended on a flying sword. It was Han Bu Yu, a tenth-realm sword cultivator and the Cloud Master.
"Third Shopkeeper, there's no need to worry."
Han Bu Yu frowned, "Was Tong Yu taken by him?"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao said, "Most likely in his waist bag."
"Good!"
Su Shan Jun's eyes were filled with killing intent.
Just then, a beam of sword light fell beside Lin Zhao, transforming into the appearance of Chang Zhi. Behind her, ten blood-colored demon soul swords pointed menacingly at Zhao Chu Qin, her voice cold, "Release Tong Yu, and I'll spare your life."
"Just you lot?! You think you're worthy?"
Zhao Chu Qin laughed loudly, suddenly took off his bag, and threw it. As he threw it, Tong Yu's body tumbled out of the bag. Lin Zhao and Chang Zhi quickly caught her. At this very moment, Zhao Chu Qin transformed into a streak of light and shot down the mountain. Su Shan Jun and Han Bu Yu simultaneously sent out a sword, and Zhao Chu Qin blocked them with his own techniques. It was not difficult for an eleventh-realm cultivator to block these two.
However, as Chang Zhi flicked her fingers, the ten demon soul swords turned into a continuous rainbow of light and blasted towards his back. This was difficult to deal with. Even the thirteenth-realm great demon Fu Sheng was quite wary of the ten demon soul swords, let alone this eleventh-realm human spirit cultivator before him. Yet, in an instant, Zhao Chu Qin let out a low roar, and a jade pendant flew from his brow, colliding fiercely with the ten demon soul swords. He actually destroyed a natal artifact to resist the attack of the ten demon soul swords!
As a result, Zhao Chu Qin's aura instantly weakened considerably, but the ten demon soul swords were scattered by the explosion of the jade pendant, unable to attack again for a while. After all, it was the natal artifact of an eleventh-realm cultivator, and it would take some time for the disturbed aura to be suppressed.
"Eat my punch!"
Mu Gua's figure appeared in mid-air and sent a fierce punch towards Zhao Chu Qin's back. Instantly, the elder of the Qing Liang Sect let out a muffled groan and spat out blood. However, without looking back, he produced a Double Dragon Seal and crushed the artifact, which had only been refined once. With a loud bang, the Double Dragon Seal blasted a gap in the mountain protection sword formation, and he seized the opportunity to escape.
"Just you wait!"
Zhao Chu Qin let out a cold, low roar, burning another magical artifact. His body turned into a stream of light and headed south. To escape, he had consumed another precious item he carried.
"Bastard!"
Chang Zhi leaped into the air and onto her flying sword, ready to pursue.
"Chang Zhi!"
Lin Zhao shouted, "Don't chase!"
"Sir..."
Chang Zhi seemed a little wronged. That person had abducted Tong Yu right under her nose. What a disgrace! On this account, she had failed Lin Zhao's trust. How could she ever hold her head high again?!
Lin Zhao looked up at Chang Zhi, supporting Tong Yu with one arm.
At this moment, Tong Yu, who had just been released from the bag, had heard all the sounds and understood all the truths. She grabbed the front of Lin Zhao's chest armor, buried her face in his chest plate, and sobbed, "I'm sorry... Lin Zhao, I'm sorry... I was too stupid, I'm sorry..."
Lin Zhao was bewildered, completely unable to understand what she was apologizing for. It was he, the lord of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, who failed to protect her.
Tong Yu's tears streamed down her face, filled with immense guilt. This young sword cultivator, whom she had always thought was not a good person, was the only one who had perceived the old shepherd's sinister intentions. Without him, she would likely have been abducted. This was not the first time he had saved her. Back in Zouma Lane, had he not also saved her life?
"It's okay, Tong Yu."
Chang Zhi helped Tong Yu up and wiped her tears, saying, "It's alright, it's alright."
"Mm..."
Tong Yu still had lingering fear.
...
Inside the Mountain Lord's Shrine, everyone was gathered in a circle.
Su Shan Jun seemed lost in thought, his golden eyes devoid of emotion. At this moment, a wisp of his divine consciousness was a thousand miles away, conversing with an eleventh-realm mountain god. After a brief exchange, his divine consciousness returned to his body, which swayed slightly.
"Did you find the source?" Lin Zhao asked.
"Mm."
Su Shan Jun nodded and frowned, "That person's name is Zhao Chu Qin. He's from the Qing Liang Sect, the foremost sect in the Northern Region of the Human Race. This Qing Liang Sect is recorded in the Great Shang's Gazetteer of Mountains and Seas. Zhao Chu Qin is one of the four elders of the Qing Liang Sect. He has recently cultivated some very powerful evil arts. He wants to capture Tong Yu, likely to use her as a cultivation cauldron."
"Cauldron?"
Tong Yu's eyes widened in confusion.
Chang Zhi said indifferently, "To cultivate one's own small world, using you as a tool. If he succeeds in his cultivation, you might benefit slightly, but your lifespan and vital energy will inevitably be greatly depleted."
Lin Zhao asked, "What is the background of the Qing Liang Sect?"
Su Shan Jun replied, "For centuries, the four northern tribes have dominated the Northern Region, and the human race's settlements have migrated south. For mountain cultivators, the Northern Region has also become unsafe. The upper five realms of the demon race often raid south, uprooting human sects one after another. The Qing Liang Sect is an anomaly. This sect has stood in the Northern Region for hundreds of years, and its lineage has always been passed down within the Zhao family. The strength of the ancestor, Zhao Jing Yu, is unfathomable."
Han Bu Yu added, "Third Shopkeeper, abandon any thoughts of revenge early. Do you think the Qing Liang Sect has stood in the Northern Region for hundreds of years merely by relying on Zhao Jing Yu?"
"I understand."
Lin Zhao said calmly, "Even when the demon race had an absolute advantage in strength, they couldn't eradicate the Qing Liang Sect. This indicates that the Qing Liang Sect is useful to the demon race. It is highly probable that there is a connection between the Qing Liang Sect and the demon race."
"Clever."
Su Shan Jun said, "The disciples of the Qing Liang Sect all walk a crooked path, no different from rogue cultivators. Now that the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool is in ruins, there's no need to provoke the Qing Liang Sect."
"Is Tong Yu's matter going to be left like this?"
Chang Zhi's willow-leaf eyebrows knitted slightly. "If it's like this, anyone can step all over our Snow Domain Heavenly Pool and act with impunity."
"Chang Zhi!"
Lin Zhao turned to look at her. "Endure for now, obey me."
"..."
Chang Zhi pursed her red lips and fell silent. Although she was obedient to Lin Zhao, in the past hundred years, when had the Left Hand Sword Immortal ever suffered such a loss? Would the Qing Liang Sect really silence everyone in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool?
...
Late at night.
With a "swoosh" and a flash of lightning, a figure landed on a mountain peak far from the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. It was a burly man in a purple short shirt, exuding an aura of divinity. It was none other than Xue Yuan, the Thunder Master under the Rain Master Yue Ling. He narrowed his eyes, observing every move in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. A tenth-realm Thunder Master, he wouldn't normally be sent as a spy, but he couldn't disobey the Rain Master Yue Ling's orders.
Xue Yuan frowned, trying his best to suppress his aura to the lowest level as he scanned everyone in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. Finally, his gaze fell on the wooden house at the entrance of the small town. It was the gatekeeper, looking disheveled. Seeing that person, Xue Yuan couldn't help but sneer. Lin Zhao was truly desperate for manpower if he hired someone like that as a gatekeeper.
"Hmm?"
The moment he sneered, his vision flickered, and the disheveled man disappeared. When Xue Yuan rubbed his light golden eyes and looked again, the man was already standing a meter away, exuding a strong aura of killing intent. His eyes held a playful glint as he said with a smile, "Had enough looking, Master Thunder?"
"Ah?!"
Xue Yuan's face turned ashen. "You... Who exactly are you? How could you... How could you be here?"
The disheveled man sneered, "How could I suddenly be in front of you? Because my realm is higher, you idiot!"
"..."
The moment the other party took a step closer, Xue Yuan felt as if his crown was about to explode. His golden body could barely withstand the other party's formidable killing intent.
...
South of the small town.
A one-armed woman slowly descended the mountain. When she reached the foot of the mountain, she silently drew her sword and transformed into a rainbow of light, heading south.