Chapter 31: Into the Red Jade Mountains
The Red Jade Mountains loomed on the horizon, their jagged peaks glowing faintly in the sunlight. Known for their high Qi concentration and treacherous terrain, the mountains were both a haven for cultivation resources and a nest for dangerous spirit beasts. Wei Liang, Zhang Fei, and Han Xun approached cautiously, their senses heightened.
"Does it feel heavier to you?" Han Xun asked, adjusting the grip on his spear.
Wei Liang nodded. The air was thick with Qi, its density pressing against his chest. "The energy here is wild. It's no wonder the sect was concerned about unusual activity."
Zhang Fei's sharp eyes scanned the terrain ahead. "Stay close. If there's trouble, we'll need to act fast."
The three moved in silence, the only sounds the crunch of gravel beneath their feet and the distant calls of spirit beasts.
---
As they entered the mountain's lower trails, Wei Liang activated the Lunar-Eye Lens, scanning the surroundings for hidden threats. The landscape shifted in his vision, revealing faint traces of Qi embedded in the rocks and trees.
"There's something ahead," he said quietly, pointing to a cluster of glowing marks near the base of a boulder. "It's faint, but it feels... unnatural."
Zhang Fei crouched beside the markings, her fingers brushing against the rock. "These are runes. Someone's been here recently."
Han Xun frowned. "Rogues?"
"Possibly," Zhang Fei said, standing. "But these runes aren't just for tracking. They're meant to suppress Qi."
Wei Liang's grip on his sword tightened. "If someone's trying to suppress the Qi here, they're either hiding something—or preparing for an ambush."
---
Their suspicions were confirmed moments later. As they rounded a bend in the trail, a group of five figures emerged from the shadows. Their tattered robes and aggressive stances marked them as rogue cultivators, each radiating a chaotic aura.
"Well, what do we have here?" the leader sneered, his voice rough and mocking. "Sect disciples wandering where they shouldn't be."
Zhang Fei's daggers were in her hands in an instant. "We're not looking for a fight, but we won't back down if you force one."
The leader laughed, drawing a jagged blade that pulsed with dark Qi. "Oh, you'll fight. But it won't end well for you."
The rogues attacked as one, their movements chaotic but coordinated. Wei Liang activated the Lunar-Eye Lens, focusing on their Qi flows and identifying weak points.
"Han, the one on the left! Zhang, take the two flanking us!" Wei Liang called, stepping forward to block the leader's advance.
---
The Battle
The leader swung his blade in a wide arc, the dark Qi radiating from it forcing Wei Liang to step back. He countered with a precise strike, his sword glowing faintly with shadow Qi.
The two blades clashed, the impact sending shockwaves through the air. Wei Liang could feel the weight of the rogue's chaotic energy pressing against his own, but his foundation held firm.
Nearby, Han Xun fought with unrelenting force, his spear sweeping through the air to keep his opponent at bay. The rogue he faced was aggressive but reckless, and Han exploited every opening, his stamina and precision wearing the man down.
Zhang Fei moved like a shadow, her daggers flashing as she darted between her opponents. Her agility and speed allowed her to strike at critical points, forcing the rogues to retreat step by step.
The fight reached its peak as Wei Liang parried a powerful strike from the leader, the clash of their blades sending sparks flying. Activating the appraisal ability, he analyzed the rogue's movements and adjusted his own strikes accordingly.
With a feint to the left, Wei Liang created an opening and drove his sword toward the leader's chest. The blade struck true, forcing the rogue to stagger back, blood staining his robes.
"This isn't over," the leader growled, clutching his wound. He and the remaining rogues retreated into the shadows, their forms disappearing into the dense forest.
---
Aftermath
The group stood in silence, catching their breath as the tension in the air dissipated.
"That was too close," Han Xun said, his voice strained.
"They weren't just common rogues," Zhang Fei said, examining the runes on the ground. "Their techniques were... deliberate. Someone trained them."
Wei Liang frowned, his grip tightening on his sword. "The leader's Qi was corrupted. It felt unstable—like it didn't belong to him."
"What do you mean?" Han Xun asked.
Wei Liang hesitated before replying. "It felt artificial, like someone else's energy was fused into his body. Whatever they're doing here, it's not normal."
---
As they pressed on, the trail led to a hidden cave near the base of a cliff. The entrance was marked with more of the suppressive runes they had seen earlier, and the air inside was thick with chaotic Qi.
"We should be careful," Zhang Fei said, her voice low.
Wei Liang nodded, stepping cautiously into the cave. The Lunar-Eye Lens revealed faint traces of energy leading deeper inside, their glow pulsing erratically.
At the end of the tunnel, they found a makeshift altar, its surface covered in strange markings and crude artifacts. A black crystal sat at the center, radiating the same unstable energy they had felt from the rogues.
"The source," Han Xun said, stepping closer. "What is it?"
Wei Liang activated the appraisal system, focusing on the crystal.
[Item: Corrupted Qi Conduit]
[Type: Artifact]
[Description: A device designed to channel and corrupt Qi for artificial enhancement. Highly unstable. Destroying it will disrupt its effects.]
"This is what they were using," Wei Liang said, his tone grim. "It's amplifying their strength at the cost of stability."
Zhang Fei examined the altar, her expression cold. "If they're using this, it means they're desperate—or preparing for something bigger."
---
"We can't leave it here," Han Xun said. "If they come back, they'll use it again."
Wei Liang nodded. "Stand back."
Channeling his Qi, he struck the crystal with his sword. The artifact shattered with a deafening crack, releasing a wave of chaotic energy that shook the cave.
The group braced themselves as the energy dissipated, the oppressive weight in the air lifting slightly.
"Let's get out of here," Zhang Fei said, her tone urgent. "Before they come back."
---
The journey back to the sect was tense but uneventful. When they reported their findings to Elder Lin, her expression grew dark.
"A corrupted Qi conduit," she murmured. "Such artifacts are rare—and dangerous. The fact that rogue cultivators are using them suggests a deeper threat."
"What should we do?" Wei Liang asked.
"Focus on your training," Elder Lin said firmly. "The sect will investigate further, but you must be prepared for what's to come."
---
That night, Wei Liang sat by the Spirit Mirror Pool, his thoughts racing. The encounter in the Red Jade Mountains had revealed a new layer of danger in the cultivation world.
But as he gazed at his reflection, he felt a quiet resolve. He wasn't alone—Zhang Fei and Han Xun were by his side, and together, they were growing stronger with each passing day.
The climb to the ninth layer and beyond was still ahead, but Wei Liang welcomed the challenge.
Whatever lay in the shadows, he would face it head-on.