Chapter 131: Guo Mountain County

Chen Luo withdrew his gaze; these two figures felt peculiar, almost not human.

The cultivation world was vast, and there were countless things he had yet to encounter. It was crucial to remain true to oneself and maintain reverence for the heavens and earth.

Outside the window, the rain had significantly diminished.

“The rain is nearly stopping,” observed the dried-up old ghost, who had finished his cultivation at some point and stood beside Chen Luo.

“If only we possessed Foundation Establishment abilities, we could harness the wind and this rain would no longer hinder us,” Chen Luo sighed wistfully.

In such heavy downpours, the cloud layers tend to be low. With Foundation Establishment power, traversing through the clouds would pose little difficulty.

“Controlling swords to fly, enjoying a lifespan of five hundred years—who wouldn’t envy that? Aren’t we both striving towards this very goal right now?” The dried-up old ghost stepped out from the Mountain God Temple.

After the torrential rain, the mountain air filled with the fresh scent of damp earth. A mist rose over the forest floor, obscuring visibility. Amidst the haze, it seemed as if elusive mountain spirits might be moving, but upon closer inspection, nothing appeared.

Leaving the Mountain God Temple behind, they continued along the mountain path.

After walking a short distance, Chen Luo paused and glanced back.

The Mountain God Temple where they had taken shelter was now completely shrouded by the mist, making their experience there feel like a fading dream, already hazy.

It remained unclear whether that man and woman would stay at the Mountain God Temple or leave.

“The pair you saw were not real people but mountain spirits,” the dried-up old ghost spoke up, seemingly understanding Chen Luo’s thoughts.

“When I first passed through here, I encountered them too, though back then they appeared as an elderly grandmother and her young grandson. Mountain spirits have their own ways of existence, distinct from ours. It’s best not to disturb them; otherwise, they may become persistent nuisances. Although not powerful, they can be quite troublesome.”

“Mountain spirits?” Chen Luo noted this information as they continued their journey.

“Guo Mountain County is a truly remarkable place; you’ll understand once we arrive.” The dried-up old ghost did not elaborate further.

They hurried onward again.

Finally, before nightfall, the duo reached the legendary Guo Mountain County—a desolate and abandoned ruin.

The entire landscape of Guo Mountain County was sunken, its edges collapsed, as if someone had forcefully pressed it down with immense power.

Dead leaves littered the ground, swept by chilling winds.

Broken wooden shutters creaked incessantly, releasing torn paper scraps that fluttered out from windows, swirling in gusts like beckoning specters.

“A place nurturing evil spirits, no wonder you found your way here initially,” Chen Luo observed, commenting on the terrain of Guo Mountain County.

Chen Luo examined the terrain of Guo Mountain County and spoke up.

Having known the dried-up old ghost for some time now, he had learned a few minor techniques from the Corpse-Raising Sect. One such common skill was this ‘Observing Fiends’ technique.

“Let’s descend. Hopefully, there won’t be any unexpected surprises.”

With a light leap, the dried-up old ghost led the way, jumping into the pit towards Guo Mountain County. He had visited this place once before, well-versed with its layout. Chen Luo followed suit, having already observed from above; nothing seemed out of the ordinary within Guo Mountain County.

However, as they jumped into the massive crater, the surroundings suddenly distorted, evoking a familiar sensation long forgotten.

A formation!

Chen Luo recalled experiencing something similar when leaving the Yue Kingdom’s Great Mausoleum with Xie Shuang and others. However, compared to the unimaginably complex formation at the Yue Tomb, the one here in Guo Mountain County appeared quite ordinary.

Upon landing, the scene around them drastically changed.

Guo Mountain County remained the same, but the outside world vanished, replaced by a hazy gray mist.

“Someone has beaten us here,” the dried-up old ghost said, his expression somewhat grim. During his previous visit, there was no formation in Guo Mountain County. Its sudden appearance now held obvious implications.

“Didn’t you leave any safeguards earlier?”

Chen Luo found it puzzling; given the dried-up old ghost’s cautious nature, committing such a basic oversight seemed unlikely.

The value of Mind-Centering Grass was undeniable, even without further explanation.

“The three great sects’ Gold Core experts have already scoured this place, making it virtually impossible for low-rank cultivators to enter. If not for my guidance, knowing about Guo Mountain County wouldn’t have helped you locate it,” the dried-up old ghost explained briefly.

“Let’s proceed and take a look inside.”

With caution, the dried-up old ghost summoned his refined corpse and cautiously moved forward. Chen Luo also symbolically drew his magical sword. Having mastered the Iron Body Art, his strength now matched that of a body cultivator at Qi Refinement Perfection. Holding the sword served as misdirection; if anyone mistook him for a fragile arcane cultivator, they would undoubtedly receive a significant surprise.

After passing through the city gate, they spotted a tavern near the entrance where several individuals were conversing inside. Guo Mountain County had long been abandoned, so there was no possibility of legitimate business here—the only explanation was recent arrivals.

The dried-up old ghost controlled the corpse puppet, which kicked open the tavern door with force.

Boom!

The door flew off its hinges, and the already dilapidated tavern collapsed significantly under the impact. The figures engaged in conversation scattered instantly, their spiritual energies erupting as cultivators.

“Who is it?!” one of them shouted aggressively.

One of them shouted aggressively.

Standing at the doorway, Chen Luo and the dried-up old ghost clearly saw the three individuals inside.

“Fellow Daoist Chen? You…what brings you here?”

The trio within the room also recognized Chen Luo and the dried-up old ghost. One of them, upon seeing Chen Luo, couldn’t help but question him. Chen Luo was momentarily taken aback, not expecting to encounter two acquaintances here.

The speaking individual was none other than Wang Tianji, the rotund cultivator he had met while grave-robbing in Jing City, Luxury Nation, who resided next door with his gold ingots. Chen Luo owed much of his success in uncovering the imperial patriarch’s tomb to Wang Tianji’s timely warning. The second person was Lu Zhaotian, the impersonator who sold Foundation Establishment sword cultivator techniques and faced an assault from three imperial patriarchs. He was also the ruthless figure responsible for blowing up the auction house using a talisman treasure.

The third individual was unfamiliar to Chen Luo, but judging by their close proximity, they seemed to be friends with Lu Zhaotian.

“Do you know them?” the dried-up old ghost asked.

“A brief acquaintance,” Chen Luo replied, then cupped his hand towards Wang Tianji.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, it’s good to see you again.”

“Did you bring them here? Wang Tianji, have you forgotten our agreement?” Seeing Chen Luo greet Wang Tianji, the person beside Lu Zhaotian忍不住reprimanded sharply.

“Wang here did not inform anyone else. Fellow Daoist Chen and his friend found their way independently,” Wang Tianji replied with a grim expression.

He had spent a fortune to obtain information about Guo Mountain County, only for two unexpected individuals to show up before reaping any benefits. More importantly, both newcomers seemed formidable opponents.

“Remember, this is Guo Mountain County. Without local guidance, outsiders absolutely cannot enter.” Lu Zhaotian’s face darkened, suspecting that Wang Tianji was playing him for a fool.

If it weren’t for evading those three old imperial guards, he would never have collaborated with Wang Tianji. Yet, despite their agreement, Wang Tianji’s greed led him to betray their deal by revealing Guo Mountain County’s location to a third party, using some special method to bring them here.

“So, you two are also from Guo Mountain County?” the dried-up old ghost suddenly interjected.

“You?” Upon hearing this, both Lu Zhaotian and the unnamed solo cultivator turned towards the old ghost, suspicion evident in their eyes as they scrutinized him closely.

Unfortunately, due to his current appearance, there was no chance they could recognize his true identity. The dried-up old ghost showed no intention of introducing himself either, so the topic quickly faded away.