Xiao Yifei nodded and followed Zhang Po towards the direction of the Chang Family. Along the way, the two of them traveled using the thod of running with weights.
After these two weeks of cultivation in Ancient Martial Arts, Xiao Yifei had made significant progress in all aspects, including internally. Even with an eighty-pound load, he could move swiftly, showing signs of potentially surpassing Zhang Po.
Zhang Po glanced with the corner of his eye at Xiao Yifei, who had seven or eight sandbags tied up behind him but was still lively like a monkey. Zhang Po frowned, thinking to himself, "What a monster."
Throughout their journey, the two, carrying their respective loads, traversed over mountains and ridges. Perhaps due to their increased strength, they encountered little trouble as even birds of prey and mountain ghosts avoided them.
Soon, they arrived beneath a bizarre and towering stone mountain.
"This is the place. The people of the Chang Family live on this stone mountain," Zhang Po said as he removed the sandbags from his body and took a few sips of wine.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yifei also removed his sandbags and began to survey the bare cliff in front of him.
Unlike other peaks, this stone mountain showed no signs of flora or fauna, barren and desolate. Jagged rocks were everywhere, and upon closer inspection, one could see many weathered, dry bones wedged in the crevices of the rocks.
Xiao Yifei focused his gaze towards the top of the mountain, where a dark cave lay with no clouds drifting around its entrance. It was difficult to discern clearly, but there seed to be totem decorations placed at the entrance, undoubtedly indicating it was the location of the Chang Family clan.
At that mont, Xiao Yifei felt a sharp gaze from the cave entrance sweeping over him, sending chills down his spine. However, he couldn’t detect the owner of this gaze and quickly ceased his probing into the cave.
The desolate and barren land occasionally gusted with chilling winds, making Xiao Yifei uncomfortable. Thinking of the eerie gaze earlier, a sense of dread welled up in him. Tugging at Zhang Po’s sleeve, he asked, "Are the people of the Chang Family okay?"
Zhang Po turned back and gestured for silence, whispering, "Just follow . When we reach the peak, let handle everything, and you just keep quiet."
Xiao Yifei nodded, quietly following along, and the two began climbing the "Barren Mountain" one after the other.
anwhile, a conversation was happening in the cave at the mountain’s summit, though the dim light made it impossible to see the faces of the two involved.
"Father, two n are coming up below, and one of them seems to be the Family Head of the Zhang Family," said a youthful voice, clearly belonging to a young man, with a clear resonance.
"People from the Zhang Family? What are they doing here? I’ve never seen the boy behind before, but his appearance is sowhat similar to the Xiao Family’s Family Head who caused trouble last ti. He must be a descendant of the Xiao Family. I didn’t expect you to co knocking on our door again. A debt incurred by the father will be repaid by the son; I will make sure you regret it!" The voice was dry and creepy, exuding a cold aura.
In no ti, Xiao Yifei and Zhang Po had climbed to the top of the stone mountain. Zhang Po arranged his attire, and Xiao Yifei stood behind him obediently.
Zhang Po made a respectful bow towards the cave entrance, saying, "Zhang Po, Family Head of the Zhang Family, accompanied by Xiao Yifei, the descendant of the Xiao Family, request an audience with the Chang Family Head. May we be granted permission to enter the cave for a conversation."
After the last eting at the Jin Family, Xiao Yifei quickly learned and bowed, saying, "Xiao Yifei, descendant of the Xiao Family, has urgent matters to present. Kindly request to et the Chang Family Head."
Zhang Po nodded approvingly, and the two of them stood at the entrance of the cave, waiting for the Chang Family’s response.
However, after a long wait, there was no response from the cave. The two exchanged confused glances, unsure of what to make of the situation. Finally, Xiao Yifei, unable to contain his impatience, suggested to Zhang Po, "Why don’t we just go in? It’s already midday; maybe they’re inside having lunch."
Zhang Po was speechless, giving him a look, but knowing that ti was of the essence, as their next destination, the Xiao Family, was still far away, he couldn’t afford to linger here too long. He reluctantly agreed, "Let’s go. We will go in."
Thus, the two of them approached the cave entrance and entered one after the other. Inside the cave, it was extrely dim, with only the faint glow of candlelight in the distance, barely allowing visibility of the surroundings.
The cave was spacious, large enough for more than a dozen people to walk through side by side. In the corners were nurous complete human skeletons. Zhang Po explained that the Chang Family used the corpses of their deceased clan mbers to refine "Walking Corpses" for their own use, which was part of the Chang Family’s Corpse Manipulation Skill.
Xiao Yifei understood and acknowledged. A cold breeze swept through the cave, carrying a nauseating stench of decay.
Suddenly, Zhang Po stopped abruptly ahead. Due to being engrossed in observing the cave interior, Xiao Yifei nearly collided into him.
"What’s wrong? Why did you stop—" Mid-sentence, Xiao Yifei froze, following Zhang Po’s gaze to see several "people" clad in armor blocking their path.
Xiao Yifei counted and saw there were a total of eight. These "people" stood motionless, their helts’ eyes were pitch-black voids, and pairs of pupil-less eyes coldly stared back at them.
"Are these the Chang Family people?" Xiao Yifei whispered.
Zhang Po shook his head, "I can’t sense any Qi; they should be dead. Most likely, these are refined ’Armored Corpses’ by the Chang Family. However, it’s too dark to discern their ranks."
"Ranks? What ranks?" Xiao Yifei asked, puzzled.
Zhang Po explained, "I’ve heard from my father about so matters of the Chang Family. When their cultivation technique reaches a certain realm, they can refine ’Armored Corpses.’ The ’Armored Corpses’ are divided into Copper, Silver, Gold, and Diamond. Each type of ’Armored Corpse’ corresponds to a different cultivation realm. The higher the realm, the higher the rank of the ’Armored Corpse.’
Xiao Yifei asked again, "Then why are there so many ’Armored Corpses’ blocking the way?"
"I’m not sure, but it’s clear the Chang Family doesn’t seem to want us here. Judging by the formation, they an business. Xiao Yifei, be cautious. Let’s go around!" Zhang Po drew his sword and advised Xiao Yifei.
Xiao Yifei nodded, crouching down warily. The two cautiously started to move forward.
Just as they believed they could bypass the line of ’Armored Corpses’ without incident, a loud whistle suddenly echoed within the cave.
At the sound of the whistle, the eyes of the ’Armored Corpses’ blazed with red light. Xiao Yifei and Zhang Po happened to be parallel with the ’Armored Corpses’ at that mont.
The nearest ’Armored Corpse’ first attacked, sweeping its large hand toward Xiao Yifei, catching him off guard and clamping down on him tightly.
Zhang Po, too, was caught off-guard by the sudden turn of events. He quickly engaged with two ’Armored Corpses’ surrounding him, struggling to maintain a defensive position.
Xiao Yifei was trapped, his arms held immobile by the ’Armored Corpse’s’ grip. A putrid wind hit his face, and another ’Armored Corpse,’ unknown when it arrived, lunged forward after removing its helt, baring its yellowed teeth as it aid to bite Xiao Yifei.
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