“Beyond this mountain is the formation pivot where our grand elder is. Can you let me go now?”

　　By now, Fang Xing had brought the old servant and Chu Ci to the borders of the Mysterious Domain, where there was a small mountain less than three hundred feet tall with flat, easy paths winding snakelike up towards the top. To its side was another small path that could be used to walk around the mountain, and—based on what the old servant had said—that Grand Elder Jing-something-Guang would be guarding a formation pivot situated just on the other side of this mountain.

　　After some thought, Fang Xing threw the old servant a Hibernation Pellet. “Alright. Swallow this pellet for me and come into my storage sack!” The old servant’s life was in this boy’s hands so he couldn’t refuse and he was left with no other choice but to swallow it as he was told. After Fang Xing put the old servant into his storage sack, he pulled on Chu Ci’s sleeve and they began dashing towards the mountain’s peak.

　　After following the path, the two arrived at the back mountains in less time than was needed for a cup of tea. Within the forest, they could see the silhouettes of nearly a hundred cultivators all sitting or standing, with some in Spirit Stage, others in Foundation Stage, and even a few in the Golden Core Stage. Just around a thousand feet away at the foot of the mountain was where the Mysterious Domain and its abundance of Qi sat, yet this group of people did not dare to get close.

　　“Hey, why are all these people chilling here at the mountain peak? Why not wait closer to the Mysterious Domain?” Fang Xing asked a rather kind-looking cultivator after taking Chu Ci around for a stroll.

　　” Aiii , the formation pivot has already been taken by Jing Guang of the western deserts and those who aren’t strong enough can’t even get close,” the cultivator whispered with a long sigh. “That Grand Elder Jing Guang is rather vicious, and going down there is seeking one’s own death. Do you not see how even those Golden Cores can only stay inside these forests and watch?”

　　“Ah, I see. You… continue chilling….”

　　Fang Xing returned to Chu Ci and asked her to find a good place to stay safe before he went off to find more information. After going through so much, Chu Ci had actually grown rather timid and was unwilling to part with him, forcing him to reluctantly allow her to follow as long as she didn’t disturb his information gathering.

　　Fang Xing continuously shifted his dialect and approach to suit the person, and it didn’t take long before he managed to find out nearly everything that had happened here so far. That old servant didn’t lie; Grand Elder Jing Guang had indeed taken a formation pivot—that small stone bridge at the foot of the mountain—and that vicious elder was stubbornly refusing to allow any cultivators from other sects or clans to get close. In order to take control of the bridge, he’d apparently already fought many times and no fewer than a dozen had died thanks to him… including three Golden Cores! After so many deaths, all these cultivators were too frightened to dare annoy this old monster.

　　‘Seems like the situation is even more difficult than I imagined…’ Fang Xing sighed to himself. He’d originally thought he could come here and kill that Jing girl, but he hadn’t expected them to have a Golden Core here acting as a guard. Let alone kill her, even entering the Mysterious Domain had now become somewhat of a difficult task.

　　Although he’d kidnapped that old servant of theirs, he didn’t think he’d be able to leverage a lone servant against that old monster Jing Guang in order to get a chance at the Mysterious Domain. This old servant had exaggerated his own importance out of a desire to have his life spared, but if Fang Xing truly took this old servant to Jing Guang with conditions for return, that old monster would probably directly slap Fang Xing dead….

　　“It’s no use waiting here. Let’s speak to that old Jing Guang….”

　　Just at that moment, a black-robed Daoist not far away stood up and swept down the mountain with lightly-creased brows. Fang Xing had already learned this person was from a place called the Taixuan Sect of the Funiu Mountain, and he was also in the Golden Core Stage with a dozen or so disciples with him. They’d apparently arrived yesterday, but that Grand Elder Jing Guang had been too vicious for them to get access to the formation pivot themselves, forcing them to wait around on the mountaintop until now.

　　After drawing down to the base of the mountain, the black-robed elder politely cupped his hands and asked, “Fellow Daoist Jing Guang… can we talk?”

　　Jing Guang sent the black-robed elder a chilling look. “What is there to talk about? Over a dozen have already died trying to take this formation pivot from me. Do you also want to try?” the old monster Jing Guang replied without a hint of politeness while keeping his vigil over the small stone bridge.

　　The black-robed elder quickly continued, “Fellow Daoist Jing Guang is one of the most powerful cultivators of the western deserts, and your name is well known through all of Jambu. I—Hei Feng—only formed the golden core not long ago; how would I dare to try anything with you? I do, however, have something to discuss with you. When all the juniors from your clan have entered the Mysterious Domain, would it be possible for me to borrow the path for a few of my juniors to enter as well if the pivot hasn’t closed? If you accept, all of Taixuan Sect would forever remember your generosity….”

　　“Haha, you want to borrow my path?” Grand Elder Jing Guang suddenly began to laugh in a foreboding manner. “Good, why not? One hundred Spirit Extracts apiece, fair and square!”

　　“One hundred?” A hesitant look appeared on the black-robed elder’s face when he heard such a thing, and those words caused an uproar in the forest as well.

　　“One hundred Spirit Extracts? Is this old monster crazy?”

　　“It would have been fine to give him some if it was a bit less, but a hundred Spirit Extracts, how is that anything we can afford?”

　　In moments, all the cultivators in the forest showed creased brows while muttering amongst themselves.

　　The “Spirit Extract” mentioned by the old monster Jing Guang was the highest level of currency used in the cultivation realm. It had the same origin as Spirit Stones, but Spirit Extracts weren’t formed naturally and were instead extracted from supreme-grade Spirit Stones by cultivators. Every piece of a standard Spirit Extract would require nearly a hundred supreme-grade Spirit Stones, and the process was extremely complex as well. Its actual value was well above a hundred supreme Spirit Stones, making it extremely rare.

　　These Spirit Extracts would typically be used by Golden Cores to replenish their Qi during cultivation practice. The high price and rarity made it extremely difficult to come across even one, yet this old monster Jing Guang actually had the gall to ask for a hundred at a time. This wasn’t even to set a high price for the sake of bartering—he simply wanted to make things difficult on purpose.

　　“F*ck off if you can’t pay the price!” the old monster Jing Guang loudly cursed before sweeping his gaze not only along the black-robed elder, but also everyone inside the forest. “This formation was seized through my sweat and blood; what are you to try to take advantage of it without paying anything? For all you good-for-nothing bastards; I won’t mind lending you the path if you have the Spirit Extracts, but if you don’t, it’s best if you just f*ck off as far as you can! I’d rather watch it slowly close than let you bastards take advantage of it!”

　　Once these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the forest became quite unpleasant. Fang Xing, on the other hand, let out a snicker and marveled at how this old monster Jing Guang’s temperament was rather similar to his own….

　　The black-robed elder was a proud Golden Core Stage cultivator and he didn’t look pleased at all to be scolded like this by the old monster Jing Guang, but when he considered how vicious this old monster was, he felt the need to protect the larger picture and didn’t dare to get angry. He could only put on a smile and say, “Fellow Daoist Jing Guang, it’s not that I am unwilling to pay a price, it’s just that a hundred Spirit Extracts per person is simply too expensive. I wonder if perhaps Fellow Daoist Jing Guang would be willing to loosen that a little….”

　　“Too expensive?” The old monster Jing Guang suddenly laughed. “Who knows what kind of fortunes and opportunities are there inside this Mysterious Domain? It’s enough that the eastern continent of Videha sees it as an utmost priority, so it has to be something terribly valuable. The earlier we enter, the greater our chances. Who knows? Perhaps if you enter even a day late, you might wind up with nothing. Hehe, don’t say I never reminded you; the longer you wait, the more powerhouses will arrive at this Beast Exhausting Range and the more heated the competition will become. With your battle prowess, you wouldn’t be able to take over a formation pivot even after a hundred days. Are you still going to say this is too expensive?”

　　“That… let me consider it again, then….” These words had left the black-robed elder a bit uncertain and he slowly turned back.

　　Fang Xing coldly smiled. ‘Hehe, this old monster Jing Guang doesn’t want to lend out his path at all.’ He’d already formed his own hypothesis as to this. If the old monster Jing Guang had truly wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to get some riches, he naturally wouldn’t ask for such a high price or would at least allow some room for negotiation. Not only had Jing Guang asked for one hundred Spirit Extracts, but he wasn’t willing to accept anything less; this alone meant the old bastard didn’t want to lend his path to anyone in the first place.

　　As for why, Fang Xing could also somewhat guess. The Mysterious Domain was incredibly important, so it was only natural everyone would want to get inside. Those who couldn’t were desperate and would do everything they could for the chance, but since no one knew exactly how much fortunate or what kind of opportunity was within, those who’d sent their juniors inside naturally wouldn’t want anyone else to enter in behind them. Why would they want to actively send in outsiders that would increase the competition and make it harder for their juniors?

　　Thinking about it this way, trying to use money to haggle one’s way inside the Mysterious Domain wouldn’t be feasible, and simply waiting here wasn’t a good idea, either; once the old monster Jing Guang left, who knew whether another old monster of some kind would take his place? What he said earlier was correct: the more time passed, the greater the number of powerhouses in this Beast Exhausting Range and the more heated the competition would become. Those who couldn’t think of a way to get inside now wouldn’t have a method even after a couple weeks had passed.

　　“What do we do, Xiaojiu?” Chu Ci dispiritedly asked while kneeling beside Fang Xing. She’d also realized it was far more difficult to enter the Mysterious Domain than she’d originally imagined.

　　Fang Xing rolled his eyes. “How about I sell you and see if you’re worth a hundred Spirit Extracts?”

　　Chu Ci glared at Fang Xing before angrily pinching his arm.

　　“Pinching me again!” Fang Xing whacked Chu Ci on the head, causing her to hold her head and glare back at him while thinking, ‘Has this bastard never understood what it means to appreciate a fair maiden?’

　　Fang Xing didn’t bother responding again; he simply sat down, picked up a branch, and began thoughtfully drawing circles on the ground. ” Aiii …” he suddenly sighed after a long while before standing up and walking towards where the Taixuan Sect disciples had gathered.

　　Chu Ci quickly stood up as well, wondering if he was angry again and concerned he’d leave her behind. “Where are you going?” she asked while following closely behind.

　　Fang Xing smirked. “I’m going to speak with those Golden Cores to kill off that old monster Jing Guang!”

　　Chu Ci was severely frightened to hear such a thing. He was only in Foundation Stage; where did he find the courage to want to kill off a Golden Core grand elder?