A Flurry of Clubs and Strange Powers

Still, this mysterious carriage drawn by a green ox was clearly an exceptional fortune. They naturally had no desire to share it with strangers for no reason. So over the following days, they merely called upon close friends to explore the mysteries here together. Chen An was one of them. Yet even though more people joined the search, the outcome remained unchanged. One after another, they were driven off by a flurry of clubs. This went on for over half a month, yet they remained utterly helpless. Clearly, this group was not clever enough. Inevitably, the shifting white mist caught the attention of other cultivators outside. Every day, new cultivators discovered the secret and made their way inside. Although those who learned of the situation tacitly agreed to keep it quiet, they could not prevent the crowd outside the ox-drawn carriage from swelling. Clearly, if things continued like this, word would soon spread across the entire Congyun Sea. When that time came, even if some opportunity truly awaited here, none of it would fall to them. Thus, they decided to seek outside help. Clever outside help. And Li Fan, who had left a deep impression on Chen An back in the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace ruins, naturally became one of the prospective candidates. "If you are interested, Fellow Daoist, you can come near Yutang Island in the Congyun Sea. When the time comes, someone will guide you here." "An ox pulling a carriage? Interesting." Li Fan had never heard of this matter in his previous life. However, he had nothing else pressing to attend to, and since there was no danger to life there, going to take a look would do no harm. After making preparations, Li Fan traveled through a teleportation formation to Yutang Island. As soon as the island's garrison saw Li Fan, his eyes lit up. "You must be Fellow Daoist Li Fan? I am Zhou Ningchang, a close friend of Chen An. Please, follow me." Without wasting any time, the man led Li Fan directly toward the location of the ox-drawn carriage. As they flew, Zhou Ningchang briefed Li Fan on the latest developments. "Fellow Daoist Li Fan, I imagine Chen An has already shared the general situation with you. This green ox treads on water, never pausing for a single moment. While its pace is not fast, it is steadily pressing forward." Zhou Ningchang wore a troubled expression. "The ox's path moves in a straight line. According to our estimations, it seems to head directly toward the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace ruins in the heart of the Congyun Sea. "At its current speed, it will enter the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace within a month at most. That damnable place is crawling with anomalies. Once the ox enters, there is no telling what will happen. So we had best find a way inside the thatched hut before then. "Otherwise, no matter how reluctant we are, we will have no choice but to give up," Zhou Ningchang said. "The Cloud Water Heavenly Palace..." Li Fan's gaze sharpened. He had not expected this ox-drawn carriage to be connected to that sect ruined thousands of years ago. With the situation explained, the two traveled in silence. After flying for the better part of a day, they spotted a vast bank of white mist slowly drifting over the sea in the distance. "We've arrived!" Zhou Ningchang said, taking the lead and flying into the white mist. Li Fan had long since locked onto Zhou Ningchang with Formless Killing Intent. He activated Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing, observing the scene beyond the white mist and confirming there was no ambush before slowly flying into the fog. Around seventy or eighty people had already gathered around the green ox. Most of them were bruised and swollen, looking thoroughly battered. Seeing another arrival, they paid it little mind and simply continued their loud discussions. Chen An waved, beckoning Li Fan over. Li Fan walked up beside Chen An and listened to the crowd's chatter. "The mouthless monster is easy enough to figure out. You just can't speak—not even communicating with divine sense works. Break that rule, and it throws you out." "That's right. The real problem is the fellow with the cudgel." "Sure, taking a beating won't kill you, but damn, does it hurt!" "You've only been here a few days! I've been thrashed more than a dozen times already." "You won't believe it, but now if I don't take a beating once a day, my whole body feels restless." ... Chen An offered a wry smile and explained to Li Fan, "We haven't been able to figure out how to enter that thatched hut for so long that everyone can only find humor in our misery. "Everything still depends on you, Fellow Daoist Li." Chen An looked at Li Fan with eyes full of hope. Li Fan shook his head. "So many people haven't managed to think of a way after so many days; why would I be an exception? You overestimate me, Fellow Daoist. "I can only give it an attempt. Don't pin too much hope on it." Chen An nodded. "Naturally, I understand that. We can only do our best and leave the rest to fate." Li Fan then focused his attention on the thatched hut ahead. Just then, another newcomer stepped forward to attempt it. Li Fan narrowed his eyes, observing closely. Armed with the wisdom passed down by the others, that person walked silently toward the thatched hut, creeping forward without a sound. Yet before he could do anything, the creature holding the wooden club, its muscles bulging tightly all over, suddenly glared at him in fury. The wooden club swept through the air in an arc, smashing violently into him. The cultivator barely had time to let out a miserable scream before he was sent flying, utterly unable to resist. Only after tumbling beyond the range of the ox-drawn carriage did he clumsily regain his footing. Judging by the agony etched across his face, that blow had been brutal. "What is that man's cultivation realm?" Li Fan asked. "Late Foundation Establishment," Zhou Ningchang replied. "We even have one mid Golden Core cultivator here, but just like those in the Qi Condensation stage, they can't put up the slightest resistance before that wooden club. "As for anyone stronger, we wouldn't dare invite them," he added. "Regardless of cultivation realm, everyone is treated the same..." Li Fan's eyes narrowed. This trait immediately brought anomalies to mind. *Could this place be an anomaly as well?* Li Fan could not help questioning inwardly. *If it truly is, why doesn't this anomaly harm anyone's life?* Puzzled, Li Fan decided to test it himself. He flew close without a sound, touched down in front of the thatched hut, and walked slowly forward. The mouthless creature completely ignored him, but as he drew nearer, the face of the club-wielding creature grew increasingly enraged. Li Fan frowned and took a step back. The club-wielding creature's expression gradually returned to normal. Li Fan pondered for a moment and continued forward. This time, his pace was even slower, but the creature had no patience for playing probing games with him. The wooden club flew from its hand, slamming fiercely into Li Fan. As if he had taken a vicious kick to the abdomen, a monstrous force surged over him, sending Li Fan hurtling uncontrollably through the air. "Hiss..." Li Fan drew in a sharp breath. That truly hurt. Seeing Li Fan's probe fail, the crowd did not think much of it, continuing in twos and threes to discuss how to tackle it again the following day. Li Fan, however, replayed the scene in his mind, turning it over again and again. The next day, the crowd tried once more. One after another, they were sent flying in turn. The scene was rather comical. When it came to Li Fan, his turn was no exception. The third day arrived. The result remained unchanged. ... As the days passed and the ox drew closer to the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace ruins, everyone gradually seemed to lose patience. Fewer and fewer people went forward to try each day. Watching the cultivators who had tried every method under the sun to no avail, a faint conjecture began to take shape in Li Fan's mind. Thus, when the next day came, Li Fan called out clearly to the crowd, "If there is a fellow daoist here in the early Qi Refining stage, why not disperse your cultivation and step forward to give it a try?"