Chapter 97: The Four Major Forces in Pingzhou's Northern Domain

“Damn it, wretched beast!”
The young man surnamed Pan’s expression changed dramatically. It was too late to use another defensive talisman; he hastily poured all his spiritual power into his protective aura, hoping to withstand the blow.
With a crash, the barrier formed by the mid-grade defensive talisman lasted barely half a breath before shattering like a bubble, proving the wolf-headed leopard’s furious strike formidable indeed.
Its sharp claws and gaping maw simultaneously struck the young man’s protective aura. The shield twisted violently, cracks spreading across its surface. His face turned pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with terror.
Fortunately, that brief delay allowed the three magical artifacts to strike the wolf-headed leopard’s body.
Splurt, splurt, splurt—
As the protective aura broke, accompanied by the beast’s blood splattering, Chu Xiner’s flying sword and the woman’s dagger both pierced the leopard’s abdomen, while the young man’s artifact severed its injured claw.
Mortally wounded by the three, the wolf-headed leopard let out an enraged roar, its gaping maw still snapping fiercely at the youth.
A hum sounded as a layer of azure light spread from the young man’s hand to envelop his whole body, barely fending off the leopard’s fangs and claws. He had managed, in that crucial gap, to activate another mid-grade talisman for survival.
The beast, gravely injured, could only bite desperately with its remaining strength. Though it twisted the shield, it ultimately failed to break through.
Watching the wolf-headed leopard slide weakly from the shield, the young man let out a long sigh. The danger had been extreme, and he felt a lingering sense of exhaustion after surviving the ordeal.
“Red Lotus greets you, fellow cultivator. We owe you much for your timely aid—without you, my brother and I could never have defeated this monster…”
The woman in the red dress, seeing the young man unharmed, let her worry fade and nodded with a smile toward Chu Xiner.
“Indeed. I am Pan Yulong. May I know how you address yourself, miss?”
Chu Xiner’s beauty was unparalleled in Pan Yulong’s life, and he could not help but feel drawn to her. He stepped forward and joined the conversation.
“Chu Xiner, greetings to Brother Pan and Friend Red Lotus.”
Since they had not been ungrateful after her help and their manners were warm, Chu Xiner could not bring herself to be distant. She responded with a gentle smile.
As she spoke, her gaze, seemingly casual, drifted toward the wolf-headed leopard’s corpse and the nearby crimson jade berries.

Chu Xiner’s intentions were clear, and Pan Yulong and Pan Red Lotus understood perfectly.
Perhaps wanting to leave a good impression, Pan Yulong quickly smiled and said, “Ah, so you are Miss Xiner. Rest assured, I am a man of my word—what we agreed to split, I will keep my promise.
Here’s the arrangement: five crimson jade berries—we siblings will take three, and I will claim some of the leopard’s pelt and materials for my use, if you don’t mind…”
Though the beast’s inner core is usually the most valuable part, first- and second-grade monsters lack them. Compared to the pelt and bones, nothing matches the crimson jade berry, which can forge spirit pills crucial for foundation-building cultivators to break through bottlenecks.
Pan Yulong’s division was clearly fair, and Chu Xiner had no objections.
To avoid complications, once agreement was reached, the three quickly took their share. Chu Xiner carefully stored two berries in a jade box and placed them in her storage pouch. Pan Yulong and his sister behaved impeccably, and Chu Xiner finally relaxed her guard.
“Friend Xiner, the Shifang Mountains are rich in resources but fraught with danger. You seem to be an independent cultivator—why not join us in searching for treasures?”
Having obtained the berries, Chu Xiner was about to leave when Pan Yulong, after some hesitation, could not help but try to persuade her to stay.
Pan Red Lotus, seeing her brother’s intent, chimed in,
“That’s right, Sister Xiner. Our Pan family is not a major clan, but my brother and I often train in the Shifang Mountains. Joining us brings only benefits.”
“Thank you both for your kindness, but I have important matters and do not intend to search for treasures here much longer. Perhaps we shall meet again if fate allows.”
The world is perilous, and caution is wise. Whatever their intentions, Chu Xiner, having secured her two crimson jade berries, politely declined.
As for visiting the Pan family, she was not so foolish as to agree.
Pan Yulong was already half a step into the foundation-building stage. Even if the Pan family was not prominent, it must have cultivators of the foundation-building stage or higher. If they harbored ill intent, she would be walking into a trap.
Thus, with Pan Yulong’s reluctant gaze behind her, Chu Xiner transformed into a streak of light and soared into the sky, soon vanishing without a trace.
It had not been long since she entered the Shifang Mountains, and she had already obtained both the Hibiscus Spirit Mushroom and the crimson jade berries. It seemed the cultivation standards here surpassed those of Tiannan County by far.
Chu Xiner continued to search the mountains, hoping to find more ingredients for foundation-building pills.
However, good fortune did not always smile on her. For the next several days, her gains were pitifully meager.

Chu Xiner resolved to leave the Shifang Mountains, find a city to rest for a couple of days, purchase a map, or visit taverns and teahouses to learn about the local customs and conditions, ensuring she was well informed.
The Northern Region of Pingzhou was prosperous in cultivation. Though there were commoners and merchants, there was no secular dynasty. Compared to Tiannan County, cultivators were everywhere. Any sizable town had a market for cultivators.
A few hours later, Chu Xiner arrived outside Fangyun City. She paid two spirit stones and entered with the crowd.
Fangyun City was not devoid of commoners, but they could enter and leave freely. Only visiting cultivators like herself were required to pay spirit stones.
Two low-grade spirit stones were nothing to Chu Xiner now, but to avoid attracting attention, she pretended to be reluctant when handing them over.
Once inside, dusk was approaching. Chu Xiner found a cultivator’s inn and checked in, ordering several delicious, spirit-infused dishes to enjoy.
Though cultivators can subsist without food, many still indulge their appetites.
Since leaving the Greenleaf Sect, Chu Xiner had spent half a year tirelessly training and traveling, rarely enjoying such leisure.
Her room was protected by a formation, safe from prying eyes. Chu Xiner asked Xiao Wenzi if she wanted some wine, and to her surprise, Xiao Wen not only drank, but kept her company for many rounds.
Thus, that night Chu Xiner did not cultivate. Sated and refreshed after bathing and changing, she slept soundly until daybreak.
On the second day, Chu Xiner went to the market and purchased a regional map of the Northern Region of Pingzhou Continent.
In truth, she had first wanted a map of the entire continent, but Pingzhou was vast. Not only did she lack enough spirit stones for such a purchase, but no map in the Fangyun City market covered every corner of the continent.
With the regional map as a reference, Chu Xiner spent the next few days frequenting teahouses and taverns, learning about the general state of cultivation and local customs in the Northern Region.
From what she heard, the Northern Region of Pingzhou Continent was home to countless small and medium sects and clans. Not to mention those, the top powers numbered four in all.
They were the Skyward Sect, the Clearwind Dao Sect, the Extreme Demon Cult, and the Spirit Fiend Gate.