To the east of Qingming Peak lay Red Leaf Ridge.
It was the blooming season for the smoke trees, their crimson flowers and fiery foliage brilliant and intense. Under the bright autumn sun of midmorning, the entire mountain ridge appeared as if drenched in blood.
Deep within Red Leaf Ridge, Fang Jing could not see this magnificent autumn scenery. Nor did he care. As long as he could smoothly refine the gold-ring poison bees and achieve the initial completion of the Thousand-Poison Ten-Thousand-Fiend Arrows, that would be enough. Scenery or no scenery, it made no difference to him.
For this cultivation, he had brought dozens of followers, along with several attendants to serve as assistants. Over the past dozen or so days, Fang Jing had used the Yin-Yang Banner to destroy more than a hundred thousand gold-ring poison bees.
Large as Red Leaf Ridge was, there were only seven or eight super-sized hives of gold-ring poison bees. By now, he had wiped out well over half of them.
Fang Jing was quite satisfied with this progress. He had borrowed the Yin-Yang Hundred Spirits Banner, which could release hundreds and thousands of resentful wraiths—a baneful counter specifically against individual creatures with weak spiritual natures, such as the gold-ring poison bees.
The only cost was that each attempt consumed one or two followers, who were sent on suicide runs to smash open the hives and lure the bees out. The venom of the gold-ring poison bees was ferocious and violent; almost all the followers dropped dead on the spot. Fortunately, he had brought a sizable number of cultists this time, more than enough to burn through.
During the day, the Yang energy was too strong to deploy the Yin-Yang Hundred Spirits Banner, so Fang Jing used a bronze cauldron to temper and extract the bees' venom to cultivate the Thousand-Poison Ten-Thousand-Fiend Arrows.
Though named an arrow, it was actually a Dharma artifact that resembled a black ring. By forming hand seals to stimulate Dharmic powers, one could condense black arrows of energy. The refined bee venom was absorbed by the black ring, so the conjured Dharmic arrows naturally carried deadly poison.
This was merely the introductory stage of the technique. At higher realms, one could absorb various types of fiendish Qi and blend them with lethal poisons to forge the true Thousand Poisons and Ten Thousand Fiends. It could slaughter mortals, ghosts, gods, and demons alike, ruthlessly domineering.
Fang Jing estimated that once he reached initial mastery of the Thousand-Poison Ten-Thousand-Fiend Arrows, paired with the Yin-Yang Hundred Spirits Banner, slaying a seventh-rank martial artist would be no great challenge. Siming County had only a handful of seventh-rank martial artists in total. Once he dealt with Zhang Xinhu, Li Cheng'an, Wu Di, Old Yang, and that lot, the whole county would be his to roam at will. He wouldn't even need to kill them all—just eliminating the strongest, Zhang Xinhu, and winning over Wu Di would keep the rest obedient. When that time came, the Yin-Yang Dao could proselytize everywhere, achieving great ambitions within a few short years.
As Fang Jing was pondering his grand ambitions, his subordinate and concubine, Jiang Sangu, came hurrying over. She whispered, "Jin Chuan from the Iron Robe Guards is here."
Fang Jing considered it for a moment, then told Jiang Sangu to bring him over. An eighth-rank martial artist wouldn't understand what he was refining with the bronze cauldron even if he saw it. Before capturing the gold-ring poison bees here, he had already given Wu Di advance notice and promised him a share of red blossom honey once the matter was concluded. Primarily, he had conscripted dozens of followers from nearby villages; if that many people went missing, someone might report it to the authorities, which could prove troublesome. Giving Wu Di a heads-up served as a gesture of candor and trust. Still, for Wu Di to send someone all this way to find him meant it certainly boded no good!
Jiang Sangu soon brought Jin Chuan over. Clad in an Iron Robe longcoat and a wide-brimmed hat, Jin Chuan clasped his fists in greeting from a distance, looking exceedingly respectful.
Jin Chuan had only met Fang Jing once before. This burly, square-jawed, middle-aged man possessed narrow, slit-like eyes whose pupils held a faint greenish tint. When he looked at someone, his expressionless stare was like a venomous snake fixing its gaze on prey, utterly terrifying.
Seeing Fang Jing again, the Incense Master of the Yin-Yang Dao was dressed in a billowing black-and-white ritual robe, his face hidden behind an intertwined black-and-white mask. A closer look revealed the pattern to be a blooming black-and-white lotus. The mask looked exceedingly bizarre, and behind it, a pair of narrow eyes gleamed with green light, inspiring dread.
Jin Chuan had heard the Chief Banner mention that the black-and-white lotus mask and the Yin-Yang robe were special Dharma artifacts unique to cultivators of the Yin-Yang Dao, carrying great significance.
Stepping forward a few paces, Jin Chuan bowed slightly and said, "Great Dharma Master Fang, my Chief Banner requests a favor from you."
Fang Jing said nothing, merely watching Jin Chuan and signaling him to continue.
"There is a young Daoist named Zhou Wuji heading for Red Leaf Ridge. The Chief Banner asks that you keep this man's head. If the Chief Banner receives his head, he will surely remember the debt of gratitude owed to you, Great Dharma Master."
Hearing Jin Chuan's words, Fang Jing inwardly cursed Wu Di for his shamelessness—asking him to kill someone without offering any reward, only an empty favor!
Yet to spread his teachings, Fang Jing relied on Wu Di's protection and accommodation in many respects. He could not refuse the request.
Fang Jing asked, "What rank is Zhou Wuji?"
"He only reached eighth-rank Qi Ingestion a few days ago, when he went to the Lower Monastery for his ordination transmission," Jin Chuan answered respectfully. "Zhou Wuji is a disciple of Daoist Yiyuan, and his swordsmanship is said to be quite good."
"How do you know he is coming to Red Leaf Ridge?" Fang Jing asked.
"The Chief Banner used a scheme to lure him here. Riding on horseback, I should be about a day's journey ahead of him."
Jin Chuan had taken a shortcut this time, calculating that Zhou Wuji would arrive within a day or two. With a seven-day deadline, if Zhou Wuji came too late, he would fail to fulfill the pact.
"I understand."
Fang Jing waved a hand to dismiss Jin Chuan without giving a firm promise. As a dignified Incense Master of the Yin-Yang Dao, he was no subordinate of Wu Di, and there was no need to commit himself. If that Zhou Wuji truly came to Red Leaf Ridge, he could conveniently grant Wu Di the favor. If the man never came or they crossed paths without meeting, there would be nothing more to say.
Returning from outside, Jiang Sangu asked in a low voice, "Should we send people to guard the southern entrance?"
Coming from the direction of Siming County, their target had two route options: here, or a southern entrance about one or two li away. With tall mountains and dense woods, a person disappeared from view after a few dozen paces. Over such a distance, someone could easily slip in without anyone noticing.
Fang Jing replied casually, "There is no need. Once night falls, I will release the hundred spirits on a night patrol. As long as he is in Red Leaf Ridge, he will not escape."
Over this period, the spirits of the Yin-Yang Banner had devoured countless gold-ring poison bees, absorbing a measure of spiritual nourishment from the tiny demonic creatures. Though insufficient to injure enemies at long range, they could easily discern the aura of living beings. If someone were in Red Leaf Ridge, they would stand out as clearly as a torch in the dark, readily identified.
Fang Jing paid little heed to the matter. For now, the key was tempering the Thousand-Poison Ten-Thousand-Fiend Arrows; everything else was a minor detail...
By the time Zhou Wuji reached Qingming Peak, dusk had already fallen. The last traces of autumn twilight spread through the mountain forests; all other colors had faded into gloom, save for Red Leaf Ridge, which blazed as intensely as if engulfed in flame.
He had accompanied his master to Red Leaf Ridge once before, but not in this season, nor at this hour. Gazing upon the brilliant, blazing vista, Zhou Wuji stood staring in a daze for a long while.
Only when the sun dipped below the horizon and the sky, mountains, and woods lost all light did he let out a wistful sigh.
Such breathtaking beauty truly captured the essence of autumn at its peak. Sadly, there was no camera to capture it, nor anyone with whom to share it...
If Wuming were here, holding hands and admiring the scenery, that would have been wonderful too...
Zhou Wuji felt himself turning uncharacteristically sentimental—no, lonely. This wouldn't do; indulging in romantic musings in a place like this was a sure way to get killed fast!
Swallowing an inedia pill, he sat quietly to regulate his breathing and circulate his Qi. After one hundred and eight heavenly cycles, he opened his eyes, completely refreshed and invigorated, no longer dwelling on useless thoughts of scenic views or beautiful maidens.
The sky had grown pitch-black. With Zhou Wuji's eyesight, looking down at Red Leaf Ridge revealed only a dark expanse where the undulating contours of the ridge could barely be discerned.
He was in no rush to enter Red Leaf Ridge. Instead, he opened the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment.
There were still four demon beasts stored inside—two seventh-rank and two eighth-rank. Leaving them sitting there merely for emergencies was too wasteful.
Zhou Wuji's gaze fell upon the seventh-rank tiger demon. Yielding three liang and eight qian, it was the strongest of the beasts. From his experience using the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment, one had to progress step by step. Starting with the strongest medicine would only yield diminishing returns later.
The black panther, at two liang and three qian, was the weakest, followed by the great python at two liang and five qian.
Zhou Wuji selected the black panther to convert into Primordial Profound Essence. A mass of azure light poured down into his body from above, warming him through with indescribable comfort.
When the azure light completely faded, Zhou Wuji checked the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment. His physical attributes had increased by twenty points, reaching one hundred and seventy-five points.
That was an increase of roughly one-seventh, far less effective than the pig demon had been last time. Yet the black panther was not much weaker than the pig demon.
Zhou Wuji was somewhat disappointed. At this rate, reaching a physical attribute of five hundred would be extraordinarily difficult...
On the bright side, his lifespan had increased by two years, and the improvement in his physical condition was unmistakably evident. Even the pitch-black Red Leaf Ridge appeared somewhat clearer to his eyes...
Catching what seemed like a flicker of green light, Zhou Wuji wasn't certain if his eyes were playing tricks on him, so he immediately activated his Six Yang Dharma Eyes.
The Six Yang Dharma Eyes not only allowed him to see through darkness, but also enabled him to perceive the auras of various spirits. Empowered by the Six Yang Dharma Eyes, he looked toward Red Leaf Ridge again and caught sight of wisps of fiendish Qi and resentful energy drifting across the mountains. Most conspicuous among them was a place where the aura was deep, heavy, and bizarre, drifting like a faint, indistinct plume of black smoke...
Chapter 43