Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
【Cultivator consumed "Yellow Lingzhi", Constitution +0.1】
【Cultivator consumed "Red Lingzhi", Constitution +0.1】
【Cultivator consumed "Century-old Spirit Ginseng", Constitution +0.5】
【Cultivator consumed "Century-old He Shou Wu", Constitution +0.5】
【Cultivator consumed "Century-old Polygonatum", Constitution +0.5】
......
【Cultivator consumed "Yellow Lingzhi", Constitution +0.001】
【Cultivator consumed "Century-old Polygonatum", Constitution +0.01】
【Current limit for spirit herb consumption reached.】
“This game is quite rigorous; I can’t just spam pills to boost my stats. Still, a permanent increase of sixty points to my constitution makes these three days of munching on grass worth it.”
In the Mountain Lord’s cave, Nan Zhi sat cross-legged, a crisp half-gnawed ginseng clutched in her paw. As the spiritual pulse of Qingmeng Mountain gradually revived, the spirit herbs within the mist grew exceptionally well. The fierce beasts of the mountain, realizing she had no taste for flesh, began to intentionally or unintentionally forage for medicinal herbs to seek her protection.
“Crunch, crunch.”
She finished the fresh ginseng in a few bites. A slight bitterness followed by a wave of heat surged from her throat to her dantian, eventually dispersing into medicinal properties that slowly seeped into her body.
It was fortunate she practiced both the Moon-Worshiping Breathing Method and the Great Huanzhen Manual.
The former strengthened her constitution, tempering her physical body with Moon Essence, while the latter refined the false into the true, purifying her dantian.
Consequently, after her Foundation Establishment, not only was Nan Zhi’s sea of qi within her dantian larger than that of an average Foundation Establishment cultivator, but her physical body was also exceptionally refined.
Otherwise, consuming dozens of century-old spirit herbs like they were radishes would have caused any other Foundation Establishment cultivator's meridians to go haywire from the overwhelming medicinal energy, leading to qi deviation.
Nan Zhi opened her character stat panel with satisfaction and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow:
【Cultivator: Nan Zhi】
【Level: 40】
【Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Level 1】
【Constitution: 356 (+60)】
【Combat Power: 432 (+50-5)】
......
【Current Equipment: Tiger Skin Painted Garment (Combat Power +50, Constitution +60, Human Faction Reputation -20, Demon Faction Reputation +20)】
【Skills: Divine Ability · Call Wind, Green Beetle Needle, Five Thunder Protection Curse, Mirage Pearl Escape, Water Shield Art, Flying Fire Art, Wood Binding Art, Earth Mud Art, Sharp Gold Curse...】
To play the role of the Mountain Lord convincingly, Nan Zhi currently only wore the Tiger Skin Painted Garment. Even so, her basic stats far exceeded those of her Qi Refinement period.
It was said that the gap between major stages was like a heavenly chasm. Only upon entering Foundation Establishment did one truly begin the path of the Dao, a realization Nan Zhi felt deeply now.
For the past three days, she had remained in the cave without stepping out, waiting for Hu Ban'er to ascend the mountain.
The identity of the Mountain Lord was half-true and half-false, but it absolutely could not have any connection to the Demon Suppression Division. It was best if she were in an opposing camp to Ma Guniang, or at least a neutral party.
Nan Zhi intended to use Hu Ban'er to convey a certain stance to the authorities. As long as there were no fools in the government, they wouldn’t provoke her for no reason.
As for whether anyone would covet the Mountain Lord’s legacy and be bold enough to test her depth... that would be even better.
If that happened, Qingmeng Mountain would become a farming spot that automatically refreshed red-named monsters. It was a perfect plan.
Hu Ban'er did indeed return to the mountain.
This time, however, besides the records of ghosts and monsters in the southwest region, he brought a mountain land lease contract stamped with an official seal.
Party A: Mountain Lord. Party B: Great Xia Government. Leased area: 573.8 square kilometers. Lease amount: zero. The duration of the lease was left blank.
“Hehe, Mountain Lord, you may not be aware, but the world has changed. All land under heaven belongs to the state. This humble one knows this mountain has been your place of secluded cultivation since ancient times, but with this document, many troubles can be avoided for you.”
Seeing that the golden-eyed white tiger seemed about to take offense, Hu Ban'er quickly explained:
“Mountain Lord, though our demon race is currently weak, I believe that as long as we have a high-level great demon like you, the demon race will surely rise within a thousand years!
In my humble opinion, since the humans intend to flatter you, you should give them some face and accept this. It will also let them know that Qingmeng Mountain will not make things difficult for them.
This way, as the great era begins, the humans below will fear you and surely restrain their own kind more strictly. Meanwhile, our fellow demons in Qingmeng Mountain can safely pass through their period of ignorance, develop their intelligence early, and strengthen the demon race’s power.”
He spoke with such sincerity, but when Nan Zhi looked at the old fox, a strange glint appeared in her eyes.
He started by calling himself “this humble demon,” then spoke of “fellow demons,” and finally just referred to it as “our Qingmeng Mountain.”
Hu Ban'er’s ability to take an inch and turn it into a mile was truly masterful.
One look at the lease contract told Nan Zhi the government's attitude toward the Mountain Lord. She brushed it aside and turned to have Hu Ban'er read the list he brought:
“The giant salamander in the well of Yangshubazi Village.
The man-eating yaksha of Songhe Cemetery in Nanyun.
The Guofu Jiayuan Disappearance Case on Dongyue Road.
......
The female ghost Ma Guniang of the Demon Suppression Division in Qianli City.”
There were over a dozen items in total, clearly filtered by the authorities. Upon hearing the last one, Nan Zhi’s eyes flickered, and when she looked up, they were filled with rage:
“Humans truly have ill intentions and cannot be trusted! This Lord’s cultivation technique requires the slaying of evil demons, yet they dare to send a list containing a demon suppressor!
They clearly want to incite a death match between this Lord and a demon suppressor so they can reap the benefits!
Who doesn’t know that although Ma Jiu is a ghost, she is an itinerant emissary under the Southwest Circuit Demon Suppression Commissioner and often identifies as a demon suppressor? Now that the world has changed, that commissioner might have already revived. Are the humans trying to send this Lord to her death?
Their hearts are truly despicable!”
The white tiger woman stood up abruptly, her tall frame casting a shadow like a small mountain—
“Mountain Lord, mercy! This humble demon truly did not know who this Ma Jiu was. I only heard she appeared in the southwest, claiming to be from the Demon Suppression Division. A disciple of the Dao had a brief encounter with her and said she was covered in baleful aura, looking just like a Rakshasa ghost!”
Hu Ban'er hadn’t expected the white tiger to explode in anger at a simple probe. He collapsed to the ground, his fox fur standing on end, and immediately prostrated himself to beg for mercy:
“The officials are mere mortals with mundane eyes; they cannot distinguish good from evil and only passed the list as it was. They had no intention of inciting anything. This humble one’s knowledge is shallow, and I have never heard of any ‘Ma Guniang’—
I wonder what kind of figure this Ma Guniang is, for even the Mountain Lord to have heard of her?”
“From what you’re saying, there are no longer any demon suppressors among the officials? No wonder no one knows the name Ma Jiu. Indeed, the Demon Suppression Division acted overbearingly and followed unconventional laws; it’s only natural they vanished with the change of dynasties.
Forget it. You’re just a little demon who hasn’t even lived for a few hundred years, lacks an inheritance, and hasn’t awakened innate wisdom. It’s no surprise you don’t know of the demon suppressors.”
Nan Zhi finally lowered her eyelids and sat back lazily, beginning to flesh out the lore for her cover identity:
“This Lord does not fear Ma Jiu. Ma Jiu is but a minor character, an old ghost from the Song Dynasty who relies on a bit of powerful Daoist magic.
This Lord only fears that Ma Jiu’s master might be like me—someone who has received an inheritance and awakened innate wisdom—”
Rate on N.U.
