Upon seeing the Secluded Water River, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Fanming laughed, “Finally, we’re here. The Secluded Water River is the most dangerous, but the banks are arguably the safest because the strange grass in the river keeps other beasts and Demon Barbarians away. As long as we stay ten feet away from the river, the strange grass won’t attack us. Fang Yun, you’re also proficient in the art of the zither, but don’t even think about getting the Thunderstone.”
“I understand. If the Thunderstone were easy to obtain, there wouldn’t be only a few pieces appearing every hundred years. It’s far more precious than the horn of a Flood Dragon. It’s said that if you coat a layer of Thunderstone lacquer, the power of The War Poetry will double as soon as it’s played, and it might even attract thunder. I won’t be greedy. Even if I use ‘Dream Battle in Wind and Rain’, I’ll only use the shallow water near the riverbank. The power of The Weak Water in the deep part of the river is too great for my War Poetry to bear.”
“Seeing so many Thunderstones but not being able to take them, as someone who is dedicated to the art of the zither, it’s truly heartbreaking,” said the Presented Scholar who had once played the zither to fight the Demon Barbarian.
“Brother, you’re right,” Fang Yun also felt regretful.
This man was named Shi Tang. Shi was originally a title for musicians, but it gradually evolved into a surname. The Shi family was neither a prominent family of All the Saints nor a wealthy family of The Empty Sage, but it was a never-declining family of zither art. This was because the ancestor of the Shi family, Shi Xiang, was Confucius’s zither teacher, and the Shi family has always been the holy land of zither art in the Holy Origin Mainland. The head of the “Zither Academy” in the Holy Academy was often held by the Shi family.
This Shi Tang was just a Presented Scholar, but he had already reached the second realm of the zither art, Sword Heart and Zither Heart. Fang Yun had a deep impression of him. Yesterday, he alone was comparable to three or four Presented Scholars, and his strength was extremely strong.
“Let’s go. We’ll first go near the Secluded Water River and then see if any Thunderstones have been washed ashore,” said Fang Yun.
The group of Presented Scholars leisurely moved forward, chatting as they walked.
Fang Yun asked, “The landscape of The Holy Land changes every few years, even the Demon Barbarians living here complain about it. But this Secluded Water River has existed for thousands of years. Does anyone know the origin of the Secluded Water River?”
“I don’t know about that. I guess only Brother Shi Tang knows the most. Their Shi family has put a lot of effort into getting the Thunderstone,” said Li Fanming.
Fang Yun smiled and looked at Shi Tang.
Shi Tang said, “The Thunderstone is only produced in the Secluded Water River, but there are similar places to the Secluded Water River not only in The Holy Land. When The Holy Land was shattered by the Semi-Saints, this Secluded Water River and a few other places just shifted their locations. The main body always remained intact, which shows how terrifying it is. According to the elders’ guess, the water of this Secluded Water River comes from a more powerful ancient land, and the Secluded Water River leading to The Holy Land probably originates from a crack. It forms a wonderful change with The Holy Land, thus producing the Thunderstone.”
Fang Yun asked, “Are there also Secluded Water Rivers in other ancient lands? Are there treasures in those Secluded Water Rivers?”
“Of course, there are incredible treasures in every Secluded Water River. It is said that the Weak Water used for the Holy Land Road was drawn by the Kong Family from a Secluded Water River. It is said that the Kong Family has a Secluded Water River of their own.”
Fang Yun sighed at the grandeur of the Kong Family, then looked at the endless Secluded Water River. The center of the river was covered with dense Thunderstones, making the entire river glow with gold. If a prominent family got a whole Secluded Water River of Thunderstones, it would be enough to stand tall for ten thousand years. Because the Thunderstone is so rare, the human race doesn’t know how to use it. If there were enough Thunderstones, it’s very likely that new uses could be discovered.
When they got closer, the Secluded Water River was crystal clear. The center of the river had golden Thunderstones, and the bottom of the river was as smooth as a mirror, which was very peculiar.
There were also some ordinary-looking green water plants in the river, very similar to kelp, but longer, stretching for miles without interruption.
The opposite side of the Secluded Water River was shrouded in mist, and only the dark red riverbank could be seen.
“What’s on the other side of the Secluded Water River?” Fang Yun asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
Ma Xiong said, “There should be nothing there. No one who has ever left The Holy Land alive has ever been to the other side. One of my elders tried to control a mechanical bird to fly over the river, but the bird was killed by the strange grass that rushed out of the river. The strange grass even tried to attack my elder. Fortunately, my elder was prepared and escaped in advance. My elder said that to cross the Secluded Water River, you need at least the strength of a Semi-Saint.”
“Then we’d better not think about it.”
Fang Yun asked, “Brother Ma, in which direction did the Tyrant’s possessed spirit leopard run towards the Secluded Water River?”
Ma Xiong spread out a map of The Holy Land. He pointed to a place and said, “The Tyrant was here at that time, with his back to the Dragon Cliff Forest, and he ran in this direction towards the Secluded Water River.”
“That Dragon Cliff Forest is more troublesome than the Dragon Cliff. Although the Dragon Cliff is dangerous, there are many treasures inside. But the Dragon Cliff Forest next to the Dragon Cliff not only has no treasures, but it’s also the place of the strange trees. If you go in, you’re doomed.”
“I’d rather encounter the Strange Wind and Weak Water than meet the strange trees and strange grass. These two strange things are both powerful and ferocious, and the key is that they can’t communicate. If you offend them, you will definitely be attacked madly until one side dies or both sides perish. The demon trees in the Demon Realm are as tame as chicks compared to the strange trees in The Holy Land.”
Fang Yun said, “The Tyrant has been plotting for eight years, and he won’t be idle after attacking me. Everything he does must have a purpose. Since he went in that direction, there must be benefits. Let’s go, we can’t let the Tyrant succeed!”
Everyone smiled and quickened their pace towards the direction where the Tyrant had gone.
The bank of the Secluded Water River was exceptionally quiet. After walking for half an hour, everyone saw a mountain standing on the bank of the Secluded Water River.
“There was no mountain here thirty-eight years ago.”
“There wasn’t one eighteen years ago either.””Which elder visited this place eight years ago?” Li Fanming asked.
Everyone shook their heads. Less than ten people had survived the Holy Land eight years ago, and even fewer had come here.
Fang Yun asked in the demon language, “Niu Shan, when did this mountain appear?”
Niu Shan looked at the mountain and recalled carefully, finally saying, “I don’t know. I came here five years ago, and those demon generals didn’t mention this mountain.”
Just as everyone was curious, the ground suddenly shook slightly, and the mountain seemed to tremble as well, with a large amount of rubble sliding down from it.
“There’s a battle! Be careful.” All the Presented Scholars looked ahead vigilantly.
Ma Xiong said, “I suspect that the Tyrant’s target is this mountain.”
Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to do.
Fang Yun said, “Since you all have come to the Holy Land, even if it’s not for the path of becoming a saint, it’s for the path of growth. If you could become a saint by constantly reading and writing at home, why would you need to kill demons and exterminate barbarians, why would you come to this dangerous place? Even Tao Yuanming, who is so talented, almost failed to become a saint. Yi Zhi Shi had to walk hundreds of thousands of miles and kill all the Demon Barbarians before he had the possibility of becoming a saint. Both of them have been to the Demon Realm. Where could be more dangerous than the Demon Realm? If you are even afraid of the Holy Land, what qualifications do you have to become a saint!”
Several people felt ashamed.
Fang Yun continued, “If the path ahead is certain death, it would be wise for us to retreat. But if we retreat without knowing the situation, how can we call ourselves scholars!”
“What Brother Fang said is right.” Li Fanming said.
“But… a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. It may not be wise for us to go directly.” Someone said.
Fang Yun smiled faintly, waved his hand, and the power of the military strategy of deceiving the heavens covered everyone, saying, “Since I dare to move forward, I must have a way to protect myself. Do you think I, Fang Yun, am a reckless person?”
The power of deceiving the heavens covered everyone, only revealing the dog demon general.
Everyone looked at each other, amazed, and remembered the disappearance and reappearance of the Weak Water Cavalry yesterday.
Fang Yun said, “This military strategy can hide our tracks. Now others can only see that dog demon general and can’t see us.”
Everyone was overjoyed.
Someone praised in a low voice, “This military strategy is similar to Sun Tzu’s ‘The art of war is of vital importance to the State’ and Sun Bin’s ‘Reducing the Stoves’, but it is unique and seems to be better at hiding and distorting senses. I have never heard of it. It seems to be a new military book by a military strategist. Brother Fang, you are lucky!”
“Let’s move forward slowly, try not to use our qi or talent, to avoid being discovered.” Fang Yun said in the demon language, and then told the Demon Barbarians how to deal with it.
With the power of deceiving the heavens, everyone felt more at ease and involuntarily moved closer to Fang Yun, even though he could only sit in a wheelchair now.
As they got closer and closer to the mountain, the ground shook more and more violently.
“It seems like a demon is fighting.”
“They are behind the mountain, go around, don’t get too close to the mountain.”
Everyone bypassed the mountain peak from a mile away and were shocked to find more than thirty giant crabs fighting a big tree.
The tree was as thick as ten people hugging it and fifteen meters high. More than ten roots as thick as water tanks constantly broke out of the ground, whipping the giant crabs with a piercing sound. Each root was more than thirty meters long.
Whenever a crab rushed up close, the branches of the big tree would always fall quickly, whipping the crab away.
The crabs were also incredibly large, the smallest one was two meters high, and the shell of the crab was large enough to seat more than ten people, as big as a room. The largest crab was as high as a two-story building, over ten meters long, and its smallest leg was bigger than an adult.
At this moment, the largest crab was clamping two roots, trying to break them, but the big tree violently shook its roots and threw the giant crab onto the mountain wall.
“Boom…”
The mountain shook, and rocks rolled down. This blow could smash an elephant into a pulp, but the giant crab seemed to be fine, shaking its body and quickly crawling towards the big tree.
Everyone was stunned for a while. Li Fanming said in a low voice, “The smallest of those crabs was the one that made us flee in disarray that day. That big tree should be a strange wood, at least with the strength of a great demon king. The largest crab also has the strength of a great demon king. These fierce creatures are somewhat different from demons. They are only born in ancient lands, eating holy blood or holy jade to gain terrifying power. The three tribes of the Demon Barbarians are all very troubled.”
Fang Yun observed carefully and found that a long trench had appeared behind the strange tree, which seemed to be the trace of its roots moving.
Fang Yun immediately said, “Is the ‘trench’ that the snake demon king mentioned left by this fierce tree? As a strange tree, it wouldn’t leave its habitat unless it’s special. What could make a tree demon king come to kill these fierce crabs? How did the Tyrant know about it yesterday?”
Everyone looked at each other and vaguely guessed a possibility.
“Could it be that the Tyrant instigated the two fierce creatures to fight? Did he discover something eight years ago, then used a special method to instigate the two demon kings to fight to death, and he profited from it?” Li Fanming said.
Someone asked, “Where is the Tyrant?”
Fang Yun immediately said, “If this matter is really related to the Tyrant, the Tyrant is either nearby or in the lair of the giant tree. Let’s search first. Dog demon general, do you still remember the smell of that spirit leopard?”
The dog demon general immediately nodded. (To be continued.)