"How’s it going?" Huyan He continued to inquire.
Li Changtian and Lu Minger nodded in unison and replied, "We came here to help City Lord Huyan, so naturally we have no objections."
"What about Young Master Xu and the others?" Huyan He turned to Xu Zimei, asking once again.
"I don’t really care," Xu Zimei said with a smile.
"But who is this Hanging Air Elder? I’ve never heard of him before."
"The Hanging Air Elder is quite famous in our Nine States Domain," Li Changtian explained from the side.
"His own cultivation is not high, yet he understands a method of beast mastery; the Monster Beasts he controls are numerous, and he often researches their variants.
For instance, the Origin-eating Eagle we encountered earlier was a product of his experimentation, and only he has mastered it."
"Then let’s go down to the valley bottom to have a look," Xu Zimei suggested.
The Hanging Air Elder’s attack on Chu City must have a purpose; he wouldn’t do it without reason.
"We’re in your debt then," Huyan He bowed to everyone and said.
The group proceeded down towards the bottom of the valley once more.
As they made their way down, they intermittently encountered several Monster Beasts that barred their way.
There were Eight-legged Centipedes, Green-patterned Snakes, and even gigantic geckos.
"This place is simply an extremely dangerous place," exclaimed Li Changtian.
Facing these variant Monster Beasts, the group killed the ones they could and simply ignored those that were troublesome, plunging swiftly towards the valley bottom.
"That guy probably wants to use these Monster Beasts to hold us up so he can escape," Huyan He snorted coldly.
"Let’s get to the bottom of the valley first."
They all rushed down to the valley bottom. The further inside they got, the more flourishing the West King flowers they found on the way, their fragrance permeating the entire valley bottom and overtaking the path ahead.
Finally, half an hour later, the group leaped off the valley walls and arrived inside West King Valley.
Standing before them were ten colossal Bull Demons.
These Bull Demons had their eyes tightly shut, seemingly undergoing some kind of metamorphic experimentation.
A man in a black robe wandered around the bodies of the Bull Demons, as if admiring his masterpiece.
"Hanging Air Elder," Huyan He bellowed upon seeing the man in the black robe.
The man in the black robe turned around, lifting the hood to reveal a chubby face, flushed with ruddiness.
The man shed his black robe, turning out to be a fat monk.
He wore Buddha Beads around his neck, dressed in a Kasaya, and also had a hemp bag tied around his waist.
"When did the Hanging Air Elder become a monk?" Huyan He said indifferently upon seeing the attire.
"Someone like you can enter the Buddhist realm."
"Honored patron speaks amiss. As long as Buddha is in the heart, the whole world becomes the Buddha’s land," replied the Hanging Air Elder with a smile.
"I can’t be bothered to talk nonsense with you, let’s all take him down together," Huyan He huffed, with golden Spiritual Energy flickering around him, and he launched a punch directly at the Hanging Air Elder.
"Amitabha," the Hanging Air Elder performed a Buddhist salutation, and the hemp bag around his waist suddenly flew out, enveloping Huyan He.
The inside of the hemp bag was pitch dark.
Suddenly, a Giant Python poked its head out and bit at Huyan He.
"Everyone, help quickly," Huyan He cried out in shock.
Li Changtian and another were about to advance and join forces to attack the Hanging Air Elder.
Suddenly, they heard the Hanging Air Elder chuckle and say, "I know City Lord Huyan’s sword skills are unmatched and embody the essence of the West King. Why not display them?"
Upon hearing these words, Li Changtian and the other furrowed their brows.
"The Sword Technique of the West King, could the City Lord Huyan be related to the West King?"
Both of them felt that something was amiss; Huyan He was obviously hiding something.
"What are you talking about? I don’t understand," Huyan He quickly said.
"Gentlemen, do not listen to his nonsense. He clearly wants to divide us."
"Nonsense?" Hanging Air Elder said with a light laugh.
"In fact, you know better than anyone why I’m attacking your Chu City.
Why has Great Chu split from your Chu City? The Nine States Domain’s nine cities have always been united, so why is there no movement this time?"
"Then why do you think that is?" Xu Zimei asked from the side.
"I advise you not to meddle in this matter. I’m just the vanguard. The person behind the scenes values their reputation and finds it inconvenient to act," Hanging Air Elder said indifferently.
"If you truly provoke their wrath, they are not ones you can afford to offend."
"Hanging Air Elder, stop talking nonsense. I really don’t understand what you’re saying," Huyan He shouted loudly.
He and the Giant Python battled together, evenly matched for the moment, his heart starting to become anxious.
"City Lord Huyan, you might as well tell everyone the truth. Otherwise, how can we feel at ease helping you?" Li Changtian said from the side.
"What to tell? I really don’t understand what he’s saying, and I haven’t hidden anything from you," Huyan He said indifferently.
"Then, fatty monk, you tell us what it’s all about," Li Changtian said.
"Otherwise, we’ll have to take you down first and then slowly force the truth out of you."
Hanging Air Elder’s gaze turned sharp, and then he said with a light laugh, "Alright, I’ll tell you since I have no fate with that item anyway."
"Shut your mouth," Huyan He suddenly roared in anger, with a Soft Sword wrapped around his waist.
Brilliant sword light dazzled and soared to the sky, tearing the Giant Python in front of him into several pieces, and he charged towards the Hanging Air Elder.
"City Lord Huyan, what’s the rush? Let him speak at his own pace," Xu Zimei’s voice rose from the side.
Immediately afterward, they saw him flick his finger, and the Soft Sword instantly split into countless afterimages, the force repelling Huyan He backwards.
Huyan He stopped his movement and looked at Xu Zimei with a hint of gravity.
"It seems I have truly underestimated you," Hanging Air Elder said with a smile, somewhat unsettled.
He continued, "If you don’t want to listen, I insist on telling them.
It is all for the inheritance of the West King, right?"
"The inheritance of the West King?" Li Changtian’s brows slightly furrowed.
"Could it be that the rumors about the West King are true, that he buried himself in the West King Valley in his later years?"
"Whether it’s true, I do not know, but I do know that the Huyan Family are indeed descendants of the West King," Hanging Air Elder stated.
"Descendants of the West King," everyone was astounded, turning their heads to look at Huyan He with some surprise.
Looking at the people, Huyan He took a deep breath and closed his eyes slightly.
"City Lord Huyan, won’t you explain?" Hanging Air Elder asked, taking pleasure in the calamity.
"There’s nothing to explain. I won’t give the inheritance of the West King to anyone," Huyan He said.
"That ancestor is mine by right. Why should I give it to someone else?"
"So, your falling out with Great Chu is because of the West King’s inheritance," Xu Zimei stated.
"Right," Huyan He nodded, looking at the Hanging Air Elder, and said, "I also know that it was Great Chu who sent you."
"After all, Chu City is one of the nine cities and a core city of Great Chu.
Your Huyan family has managed Chu City for generations, and your influence is indeed too significant.
If Great Chu were to forcefully seize the inheritance, the impact and the consequences would be immeasurable," Hanging Air Elder nodded in agreement.