Miao Territory is located at the southernmost extremity of the vast land of Shenzhou.
And beyond that, further south lies the Ten Thousand Mountains.
The paths here are precipitous, and the land is barren. Poisonous insects and ferocious beasts abound, as do noxious miasma and foul waters.
It’s not only different from the fertile lands of the Central Plains, even the indigenous people of the Miao Territory dare not venture forth rashly.
Legend has it that during Ancient Times, this place was the gathering ground for the Jiuli Witch Clan, teeming with formidable figures.
However, following the defeat of the Witch God Chiyou by the hands of Emperor Xuanyuan, and for some unknown reasons, the Witch Clan’s influence dwindled and vanished. The Ten Thousand Mountains gradually became a paradise for poisonous insects and wild beasts.
Although those ancient powers of the Witch Clan are long gone, some remnants still lie within. This fact has drawn countless strong warriors, flocking like ducks.
Over the centuries, quite a few lucky individuals have encountered opportunities within, consequently soaring to great heights and becoming famous throughout Jiuzhou.
Nevertheless, those fortunate are, after all, a minority. For one to succeed, thousands must perish; many others are merely the countless bones littering the depths of Ten Thousand Mountains.
This day is the Winter Solstice, with the sun shining directly over the Northern Tropic!
Countless formidable individuals gather at Ten Thousand Mountains.
And Li Chen is one among these numerous strong warriors!
At the entrance of Ten Thousand Mountains, there is a village stronghold.
Powerful warriors and adventurers from all directions come in groups, converging here, waiting for noon when the sun shines directly above the Northern Tropic to enter.
Li Chen followed the local customs and found himself a seat in a tea shack.
"Brother, for how many do you need some tea?" he asked just as he sat down.
A local lad with a smile plastered across his face came running over.
These were local commoners, disinterested in the ruins within Ten Thousand Mountains. They were only interested in the silver within the purses of the guests coming here for adventure and treasure hunting.
"Just one, anything will do!" Li Chen casually replied.
"Alright, please wait a moment!"
Before long, he came over with a pot of tea and a couple of local snacks.
"Brother, that will be 999 yuan. Would you like to pay by card or cash?"
Hearing the local lad’s words, Li Chen almost spat out the tea he had just sipped.
"How much? Just for these few things, nearly 1000 yuan, are you charging six times the price?"
The local lad shrugged his shoulders indifferently, with an arrogant look on his face.
"This is the price, take it or leave it!"
Others, bored while waiting, looked over upon hearing the commotion.
"Heh, coming to Ten Thousand Mountains without money, what, got a sick brain?"
A man clad in a mink coat started to ridicule.
The girls accompanying him also threw scornful jibes, as if by doing so they could flaunt their noble status.
Li Chen couldn’t be bothered with them, casually taking out a piece of gold and slapping it on the table.
"No card, no cash, will this gold do?"
Seeing the gold Li Chen placed on the table, the local lad’s eyes lit up.
"Yes, of course, most certainly!"
"If that’s the case, then scram quickly, don’t spoil my mood here!"
Li Chen waved his hand as if shooing away a fly, sending him off.
However, before the local lad could leave, the voice of a girl called out.
"Senior Brother, the view from over there is nice, let’s sit in that spot!"
The young girl was pointing directly at Li Chen’s seat!
Immediately, a burly man strode up to Li Chen.
"Brother, my junior sister fancies your seat, please leave!"
Li Chen looked up at him and asked coldly, "I paid for this spot, why should I give it up to you?"
The burly man roared arrogantly, "Whatever you paid, I’m willing to offer double!"
Li Chen sneered disdainfully, "Heh, brother, there are many things in this world that can’t be solved with money. For instance, even if I give you a hundred million right now, could you make that girl behind you lay an egg in public?"
Hearing Li Chen’s taunt, everyone couldn’t help but laugh, filling the hall with laughter.
The young girl behind turned beet red with shame, her beautiful eyes nearly shooting fire.
"Damn it, how dare you insult my junior sister, you’re seeking death!"
The burly man, enraged, swung his iron fist towards Li Chen’s Sun Temple.
A crisp sound of bone breaking suddenly echoed!
The burly man rolled on the ground clutching his broken arm in agony.
Li Chen’s move was too fast, no one saw how he struck.
"If that girl behind you can’t lay an egg in public, then don’t bother me, get lost!"
"Well done, young brother, your skills are impressive. Judging by your accent, you’re not a local from the Miao Territory, may I ask where you come from?"
The speaker was a man in his mid-twenties, tall and dignified, with a slightly lifted chin exuding arrogance.
Not only was he himself a Half-step Innate Martial Artist.
But behind him followed four bodyguards, all Half-step Innate experts too.
"Brother Jingtian, this man has insulted me, you must stand up for me!"
The girl recognized the man and her eyes sparkled with excitement as she hurried forward.
Hearing the name "Jingtian," the natives of the Miao Territory couldn’t help but look at him with respect.
"Jingtian? Isn’t that the young master of the Jing Family, one of the seven families of Miao Territory?"
"What seven families, now there are only four left. Even two months ago, the Wu Family, Hei Family, and Mon Family were all annihilated by Immortal Master Li!"
After Li Chen wiped out the Yin Ghost Sect and the three families of Hei, Mon, Wu, the Jing Family, fearing retaliation, sought support from the Heavenly Demon Sect.
As a result, not only did their strength not diminish, it rapidly expanded and developed. Among the remaining four big families of Miao Territory, they ranked second only to the Bai Family.
Being disturbed time and again, a look of annoyance flashed in Li Chen’s eyes.
"Who I am, you don’t need to know. Get lost quickly while I’m still in a good mood!"
"Kid, do you think you are Immortal Master Li to speak to our young master like that? In these Ten Thousand Mountains of Miao Territory, a mountain of white bones doesn’t lack one more corpse!"
One of the bodyguards, seeing Li Chen, a foreigner, daring to run wild on their turf, couldn’t help but be furiously angry.
Li Chen sneered coldly, saying indifferently, "Heh, coincidentally, I am indeed Immortal Master Li!"
"Ha ha, if you’re Immortal Master Li, I’ll twist off my own head and use it as your chamber pot!"
The bodyguard laughed uproariously as if hearing a hilarious joke.
The others joined in the roaring laughter.
"Hey, young fellow, you could impersonate anyone else, why would you pretend to be Immortal Master Li? Isn’t that a death wish?"
"That’s right, Immortal Master Li is not someone you can just impersonate. It’s like a mouse licking a cat’s b***, seeking thrill for no reason!"
Although none of them had seen the real face of Immortal Master Li, a Great Power capable of annihilating the Yin Ghost Sect with a flick of his fingers, easily. Even if not a relegated immortal from heaven, he was not far off.
But now looking at the young man before them, pale and clean without even two ounces of muscle on his body, where was the slightest hint of peerless elegance?