Chapter 100: The Yellow Wind Sect

Swaying gently, a paper crane drifted through the wind and snow, with Jiang Chen and the two elders—Black and White—seated cross-legged upon it.

After deciding to set out for the Demon Mountain, Jiang Chen sought out the two elders to lead the way. Both were formidable in strength and could serve as valuable allies. Most importantly, after slaying a certain malevolent cultivator, they had obtained a blood-refined magical artifact capable of flight, sparing Jiang Chen the arduous journey on foot. After all, the Demon Mountain was quite a distance from the Taiping Sect.

“Sect Master, we have now crossed the border of Qingyuan County and entered Changfeng County. The Demon Mountain is not far ahead,” the White Elder confirmed the position, his face showing clear respect. Over time, he had been won over by Jiang Chen, whose sincerity toward cultivation was unlike anything he had ever encountered.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen slowly opened his eyes. The insight gained from guarding his heart like a turtle and snake allowed him to maintain clarity at all times, naturally entering a state of cultivation even while traveling. These days, he had not neglected his practice despite the journey.

“So, this is the territory of Changfeng County?” Jiang Chen gazed into the distance, where vast stretches of wilderness unfolded before him, his vision suddenly broadening.

Unlike Qingyuan County, which was thirty percent plains and seventy percent mountains, Changfeng County was mostly flatlands, with only the border areas adjoining Qingyuan County dotted with forests and hills. Because of this, Changfeng was perpetually lashed by strong winds.

“The southern four counties—Qingyuan, Changfeng, Leshan, and Qingteng—of these, Changfeng is the largest by area. However, its natural environment is harsh, and truly habitable lands are few. The recent rebellion there was caused by relentless wind disasters. Most people could not survive and thus fought fiercely over the limited resources. To live, they had no choice but to fight and seize what they could,” the Black Elder, who hailed from a martial family in Changfeng, spoke up, revealing a certain understanding of the region.

Jiang Chen’s eyes shifted slightly upon hearing this.

Among the twelve counties of the Southern Jing Kingdom, the southern four counties had the poorest living conditions, being the last to be developed. Among them, Changfeng was the harshest. Due to its unique environment, it attracted the most scattered cultivators and bandits.

The prolonged unrest in Changfeng County owed much to these forces. After all, in this immortal world, ordinary people alone could never stir up such turmoil.

“How much do you know about the Yellow Wind Sect?” Jiang Chen asked, turning his gaze to the two elders as he considered the root of the rebellion.

The Yellow Wind Sect was currently the most active rebel faction in Changfeng County. Upon hearing this, both elders frowned deeply. In fact, their decisive choice to join the Taiping Sect was partly due to the Yellow Wind Sect’s rampant recruitment, which unsettled even those who had long lived in seclusion.

“Sect Master, we don’t know much about the Yellow Wind Sect. It seems to have appeared out of nowhere, but its strength is undeniable. Previously, the county governor’s office, along with several prominent families, attempted to eradicate the sect but failed, suffering losses instead. Judging by this, the Yellow Wind Sect must have cultivators who have achieved Great Qi Formation, maybe even Full Qi Perfection,” the Black Elder said after some thought, sharing what he knew and surmised.

Jiang Chen’s brow furrowed as well.

A cultivator who had reached Great Qi Formation was already a singular existence within a county, let alone the entire southern four counties. Full Qi Perfection was even rarer. Based on what he knew, the only openly acknowledged Full Qi Perfection cultivator in Qingyuan County was the recluse Fu Ling, who had established a marketplace.

Of course, families like the Lu and Wen had likely Full Qi Perfection cultivators; otherwise, they wouldn’t be top clans in Qingyuan. Even so, such cultivators numbered no more than a handful across the county, making them extraordinarily rare. Such individuals could never appear from thin air.

Times had changed—without sufficient resources, even the most talented found it difficult to reach Full Qi Perfection.

“So, someone must be behind the Yellow Wind Sect. The question is, who?” Jiang Chen shook his head and dismissed the thought for now. This matter did not concern him at present, and involving himself in conflicts around Full Qi Perfection cultivators was unwise. Curiosity, after all, sometimes proved fatal.

“Let’s go. It’s time to see the Demon Mountain,” Jiang Chen said, withdrawing his gaze.

At his words, the White Elder immediately infused his vitality into the paper crane beneath their feet, steering it away from the wilderness and into the rolling mountains ahead.

After half a day’s flight, a strange mountain appeared before them—about a thousand meters high, its peaks capped with snow and ice, shaped like an arching bridge spanning the Yuan River, hidden among the mountain range.

The Yuan River was the primary river of Changfeng County, the source of many waterways. Yet once it left the mountains and entered the plains, its flow rapidly diminished until it vanished entirely. The vast plains of Changfeng County were like an ever-thirsty mouth, never quite quenched.

“Truly a magnificent sight,” Jiang Chen said, standing atop the paper crane and gazing at the Demon Mountain rising from the Yuan River. Rather than a single peak, it was two mountains leaning toward each other, ultimately standing side by side above the river.

Seeing their destination, the faces of Black and White Elders brightened with anticipation. Should their cultivation reach fulfillment here, they might glimpse the profound mysteries of the immortal path.

Yet Jiang Chen gave no orders, and the elders refrained from recklessly steering the crane closer. Instead, they quietly suppressed their aura and waited in silence.

“It’s coming,” Jiang Chen said, sensing something. He took out the Concealing Umbrella to hide their forms and wove a net of Formless True Qi to block all traces of their presence.

Thus concealed, the three slowly approached the Demon Mountain, stopping about five li away.

At that moment, the mountain seemed to come alive with the cries of turtles and snakes. Two bursts of demonic aura erupted from the mountain: a white turtle and a black serpent manifested in turn. They glared at each other with mortal enmity and began to battle fiercely where the two mountains met, each commanding storms and rain.

The white turtle resembled a millstone, its back armored in white shell. It exhaled chilling breath that froze all vegetation in its path. The black serpent controlled poisonous water, carrying eerie cold venom with powerful corrosive effect.

As the two demons fought, the area within hundreds of meters was quickly reduced to ruin.

From atop the paper crane, Jiang Chen watched silently, refraining from intervening. Observing the true forms of the turtle and serpent, the two phases within his soul grew ever clearer.