Once the matter of Little Stone Village was settled and they neared Border City, Gu Ningyun’s divine sense immediately picked up on a strange atmosphere hanging over the city.
A quick listen to the conversations between the city guards revealed what had happened.
As it turned out, Wu Chao, the leader of the Spirit Snake Gang, had not gone into seclusion to heal his injuries after returning from the mass grave.
Instead, despite the pain of his severed arm, he had seized the opportunity while the Raging Fire Gang’s strongest leader and core members were away. He had led his men to slaughter the entire Raging Fire Gang.
After wiping them out, he had set an inescapable net within the city, waiting for Zuo Hu to return and suffer the backlash of the Explosive Flame Pill, hoping to catch him like a turtle in a jar.
Zuo Hu might have looked like a simple brute, but as the leader of a gang, he couldn't be truly stupid.
He had previously been willing to let his subordinates be slaughtered by the skeleton just to eliminate Wu Chao early, precisely because he knew he would be in a weakened state for three days after taking the Explosive Flame Pill.
If he didn't get rid of Wu Chao before the pill wore off, and with his gang's core strength already heavily depleted at the mass grave, the moment the medicine failed would be the end of both him and the Raging Fire Gang.
He hadn't expected that despite his best efforts, he couldn't overcome Wu Chao’s cunning. Wu Chao had managed to use the chaos of the fight with the skeleton to escape.
After parting ways with Gu Ningyun’s group, although Zuo Hu and his confidants appeared to be heading toward Border City, he had actually changed direction once they were a safe distance from the mass grave, heading elsewhere instead.
According to Zuo Hu’s plan, he had a very high chance of escaping Wu Chao’s pursuit.
Unfortunately, one of his confidants was actually a mole from the Spirit Snake Gang.
The mole had informed Wu Chao of everything that happened at the mass grave after his departure, including Zuo Hu’s current whereabouts.
The scene Gu Ningyun now observed with her divine sense was the Spirit Snake Gang splitting their forces: one group was hunting down Zuo Hu, while the other was stationed at Border City.
Jiang Yao was somewhat puzzled. “Border City is just a tiny city on the furthest edge of Cangzhou.
“The spirit energy here is thin; at this concentration, reaching the Foundation Establishment stage is already the limit. Why would the Spirit Snake Gang go to such lengths to seize it?”
“I’ve actually heard my clan elders explain this before,” Mu Chenze said.
“The Five Continents are occupied by the nine great sects, the eight major factions, and various other large powers. Resources have essentially been fully distributed. Those who become rogue cultivators are either rejected by sects due to limited talent, dislike the restrictions of a sect and refuse to join any side, or have offended someone and are on the run.”
At this, Mu Chenze smiled slightly. “For someone like the leader of the Spirit Snake Gang, being able to form a small power and have a city to settle in is already quite good.
“Border City is small, the environment is harsh, and the spirit energy is thin. These are disadvantages, but they are also advantages.
“Precisely because of those three disadvantages, the Ten Directions Sect doesn't want to waste manpower managing a place that is as tasteless as a chicken rib—too worthless to eat, but a waste to throw away.
“However, Border City does fall under the jurisdiction of the Ten Directions Sect, so they have to send someone to serve as City Lord. Because the spirit energy is thin, it's difficult for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to make any progress here.
“Furthermore, since the city and its surroundings are mostly inhabited by mortals and the rest are just rogue cultivators at the Qi Refining stage, the disciple the Ten Directions Sect sends to guard the city will naturally only be at the Qi Refining stage as well.
“Being stationed at Border City means having fewer chances than disciples who take on other missions within the sect. As long as the local thugs of Border City seize this opportunity and offer up enough resources to keep the City Lord happy, doesn't Border City then become the best safe harbor for them?”
Jiang Yao clapped his hands. “So now that the Spirit Snake Gang has taken out the Raging Fire Gang, as long as they keep the City Lord happy and maintain a good relationship with the Ten Directions Sect, Border City effectively becomes the Spirit Snake Gang’s territory!”
“Exactly,” Mu Chenze nodded. “Once Wu Chao reaches Foundation Establishment, he can use Border City as a starting point to expand into areas with richer spirit energy.
“In the future, there’s no reason he couldn't become a small power subordinate to the Ten Directions Sect. To look even further ahead, if he reaches the Golden Core stage and has the ambition to develop his influence, he could even establish a small sect under their wing.
“Besides the nine great sects and eight major factions, there are countless small sects in the cultivation world, rising and falling constantly. In the distant future, who knows if the Spirit Snake Gang might develop into a sect that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Ten Directions Sect?”
As soon as Mu Chenze finished speaking, a round of applause came from behind them.
“What an intelligent perspective, little Daoist. Your analysis of the situation in Border City is truly incisive and thorough.”
Gu Ningyun lowered her eyelashes.
Finally coming out, are we?
Shortly after they arrived, Gu Ningyun’s divine sense had noticed something wrong with a patch of grass beneath a tree to their back-left.
Judging by how the grass was pressed against the ground, there was clearly a faint trail of footprints leading behind that tree.
The moment she realized someone was nearby using a Stealth Talisman, Gu Ningyun had sent a transmission to her companions.
Excluding Zuo Hu—who would be paralyzed for three days after the Explosive Flame Pill wore off and was currently being hunted—the only powers left were the Spirit Snake Gang and the City Lord.
Unsure of who it was, the five of them had pretended to know nothing, waiting for the person to make a move to see what they wanted.
The discussion between Jiang Yao and Mu Chenze had indeed been prompted by Jiang Yao’s genuine confusion, and Mu Chenze’s analysis was based on his family’s teachings.
Since the content didn't involve the Soul-Nourishing Flower or Xiaoyao, and didn't offend either the Spirit Snake Gang or the City Lord, there was naturally nothing that couldn't be said aloud.
As Gu Ningyun listened to Mu Chenze’s analysis, her understanding of the cultivation world grew a bit more. At the same time, she wondered if the person behind the tree would reveal themselves because of those words, provided they weren't there to ambush them.
As soon as the voice spoke, Gu Ningyun and the others naturally knew the identity of the person behind the tree. It was the kind soul who had left the mass grave earlier to take the blame for them: the City Lord of Border City, Zhou Fei.
Gu Ningyun turned around in surprise. Once she saw Zhou Fei clearly, her expression shifted into a half-smile. “Daoist Zhou, eavesdropping is hardly the behavior of a gentleman.”
Zhou Fei’s aura was steady, and he had changed into a new set of clothes. It appeared he had already healed his injuries.
“I must thank you little Daoists for your help back at the mass grave,” Zhou Fei said.
“After leaving the mass grave, I was healing behind that tree. I didn't intend to eavesdrop on your conversation. Please forgive me.”
“That skeleton slaughtered an entire village; it was only natural for us to eliminate it. No need for thanks,” Gu Ningyun said with a faint smile, watching Zhou Fei’s movements and trying to guess his true intentions.
In her mind, if he really wanted to show gratitude for saving his life, shouldn't he have prepared something more substantial?
“You are modest, little friend. I see that you all are young yet powerful and possess extraordinary bearings. I wonder which sect you are disciples of?”
Zhou Fei continued, “Oh, I haven't formally introduced myself. I am Zhou Fei, an inner sect disciple of the Ten Directions Sect. I am currently stationed at Border City as its City Lord.”
“We are just disciples of a small sect. Daoist Zhou... likely hasn't heard of it.”
Zhou Fei raised an eyebrow.
“No harm in saying it, little friend.”
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