Chapter 064

Three to four months later, as the ice and snow melted, the earth entered spring.

A group of people from the Yu Village stood energetically at the foot of the mountain, holding various tools for opening a mountain.

Yu Su held a sheepskin scroll, explaining the mountain road route to Jian Yunchuan and instructing them to follow this route.

Jian Yunchuan nodded, stretching his muscles as he listened.

As a single-earth-root, he spent the whole winter opening up all the meridians in his body and mastering the basic earth cultivation techniques. Now, he was eager to showcase his skills.

Beside him were Yu Meng and Yu Shan, both dual-rooted with gold and earth, forming the vanguard team for opening the mountain.

Lu Yan, Yu Feng, and others followed closely, while those helping transport the loosened soil were at the rear.

When Yu Su deemed it time, he gave the order to begin.

Yu Meng pounded his chest, letting out a long roar, "Brothers, let's get to work!"

Everyone echoed in unison and grabbed their mountain-opening tools, fervently starting the task.

Jian Yunchuan, a genius with a single earth root, had a keen sense for the soil. He could effortlessly find the exact spot to lever up the soil, making his progress swift.

Not willing to be outdone, Yu Meng followed closely behind.

Yu Shan found it a bit challenging but pushed himself to keep up.

Lu Yan and the others, not suited for the cultivation method, used their strength to quickly clear the loosened soil. Basket after basket of soil was relayed away.

Yu Su tucked the scroll into his belt and joined the team.

Even the two snow wolves joined in.

Men exerted themselves while women handled meals, water, and cared for the elderly and children. Tasks were abundant.

The Yu sisters, in addition to delivering food and water, also went out for mountain patrols and hunting.

Knowing that mountain-opening was a physically demanding task, Yu Su divided the personnel into three groups, rotating them to ensure sufficient rest. Those resting were treated with a revitalizing technique.

The gentle spiritual power, like a spring breeze, swept away their fatigue, leaving them mostly refreshed.

"It's Master Yu Su."

"How magical! I feel not tired at all."

"This must be Master Yu Su's divine art."

Excitement filled the group.

Since they no longer felt fatigued, those who had just sat down to rest were eager to return to work.

Yu Su didn't allow it, insisting that each group must rest for a sufficient time.

His thoughtful arrangements made everyone satisfied, boosting their enthusiasm for work.

After more than a month of hard work, the mountain road had reached the foot of the Deer God Mountain.

With prior notice from Yu Su to Qing Ze, they obtained the privilege to pass through the misty forest.

At the foot of the mountain, the two-legged creatures, who had been working fervently to open the road, woke Qing Ze up. It stood on the mountain, watching this lively group, feeling that they had never been so active before.

"Lord Mountain God." Yu Su entered the mountain. "I brought you something to eat."

After the spring arrived, he found a Sweet Zhu Fruit tree, used his spiritual power to stimulate it to bloom and bear fruit, and finally brought a handful of fruits to honor Qing Ze, an elderly being.

Considering the Sweet Zhu Fruits, Qing Ze didn't blame him for disturbing its sleep with the noisy crowd.

Yu Su plucked the little Vermilion Bird from his head and placed it in front of Qing Ze.

"Let this little one accompany you for a while and make amends for me."

Qing Ze: ...

The little Vermilion Bird with a tuft of silly hair: ??

Seeing Qing Ze's somewhat disdainful expression, Yu Su lightly pushed the little one with its white deer hoof, sending it back to Yu Su. It indicated that it didn't want the company.

Being rejected, the little Vermilion Bird turned its head and dived into Yu Su's embrace, chirping.

Yu Su chuckled, coughed lightly, and said, "Well, I'll come to see you next time. We'll get back to work."

Qing Ze nodded.

After another month, the mountain road successfully reached the cave behind the Salt Spring Valley.

"We're here, we did it!"

"I can't believe it. We actually opened a mountain road directly here!"

"Quick, ask Master Yu Su if we can enter the cave now."

Yu Su walked over, asking them to step back.

"There are blood-sucking bats inside. Don't go in yet."

Yu Su called Lu Yan, and after more than half a year, the two entered the cave again.

Lu Yan's palm burned with a cluster of flames. Compared to months ago, the flames in his palm were not only more condensed, but his control over fire spiritual power had also greatly improved.

"I'll stop them later; you take care of setting the fire."

"Alright."

The two coordinated well, quickly dealing with the group of blood-sucking bats hiding in the cave.

Yu Su double-checked to ensure there were no other issues inside the cave. Only then did he and Lu Yan return to the outside.He discussed with Jian Yunchuan and decided to widen the cave. Currently, it only accommodates two people side by side, and it's dark, making entry and exit inconvenient.

Jian Yunchuan rolled up his sleeves, saying, "Just tell us what to do; we'll follow your lead."

He's a coarse man, perhaps talented in cultivation, but lacking in other aspects.

He didn't bother thinking much. Since his son was so capable, he would just follow his son's instructions.

Yu Su instructed them to widen the cave passage to allow three people to walk side by side. At intervals, they should carve out positions on the mountain wall suitable for torches.

"Alright, follow me." Jian Yunchuan called Yu Meng and Yu Shan.

The two followed Jian Yunchuan into the cave and started chiseling the mountain wall.

The wall was solid rock, not as easy as opening the mountain road. Also, they couldn't make too much noise to prevent the cave from collapsing.

Therefore, the progress was not fast.

Yu Su decided to visit the Black Bear Valley first and met the lone Black Bear King.

Upon seeing him, the Black Bear King initially wanted to approach but hesitated upon noticing the little Vermilion Bird on Yu Su's head. It was somewhat afraid and kept its distance.

Even though the little Vermilion Bird was a chick, its bloodline as a divine bird made the bear apprehensive.

The fluffy ball of fur perched on Yu Su's head, with a tuft of silly hair, looked down at the Black Bear King with slightly proud and majestic eyes.

However, the sense of majesty and pride was its own perception; others would find it amusing.

Yu Su plucked it down, staring at it. "Don't scare the Black Bear King."

The fluffy ball reluctantly retracted its pressure, allowing the Black Bear King to approach.

Through a contract, Yu Su asked if anything had happened during this time. The Black Bear King roared twice.

It informed Yu Su that some time ago, a three-headed bird passed through here.

A three-headed bird?

He asked the Black Bear King when it happened, but it could only give a vague timeframe.

Yu Su frowned; this time seemed to coincide with the arrival of the people from the Salt Village.

Could the three-headed bird be brought by them?

Then why didn't it enter the village...

Wait a minute.

It wasn't impossible. After all, Yu Village was a village under the protection of Qing Ze. If the three-headed bird was afraid of Qing Ze, it wouldn't dare to approach.

Just didn't expect that the Salt Village could control a three-headed bird; that's a mythical beast.

"No wonder they dare to be so arrogant, even offending Iron Casting Village."

[What if they come to Yu Village again?]

"Let them come. I'm not afraid of them now."

The guards of Salt Village were at most ordinary people; could they fight against cultivators?

Even with the three-headed bird, he wasn't afraid. He now had the Vermilion Bird.

"If they dare to come, I'll just take that three-headed bird as my mount."

[...]

Okay, you're courageous.

---

Salt Village.

"It's been half a year, and we still haven't found the person who took the treasure from the Black Flame Valley. How do we face Salt Village?" Salt Village's village head, Salt Qi, looked displeased as he scolded the witch doctor, Salt Li.

Salt Li received a direct scolding, his face also not looking good.

He had been searching everywhere in the past six months, with no achievements but a lot of hard work. Yet, Salt Qi scolded him so harshly, not giving face to the witch doctor who had no merit but still shared his hard work. Salt Li couldn't help feeling resentful.

"Back then, I proposed stationing people at the entrance of the Black Flame Valley. It was you who disagreed. I've been searching everywhere since the incident. Have you gone out for a day?" Salt Li said coldly.

"I am the village head of Salt Village!"

"Heh, I am still the witch doctor of Salt Village. Don't forget, the three-headed bird is my mount."

"You! Are you threatening me now? If it weren't for me giving you a chance, could you have become the new witch doctor from an inconspicuous witch doctor disciple?"

"You became the new village head also because I helped you. Salt Qi, let's not talk about who owes whom. You became the new village head, but I'm still the witch doctor. Don't forget, the three-headed bird is my mount."

"Fine! Do you want to threaten me? If it weren't for me giving you the opportunity, could you have become the new witch doctor?"

"You can become the new village head also because I helped you. Let's not discuss who owes whom. If we find the person who dared to steal the inner pill, and the three-headed bird eats it..."

"Where can we find it now?"

Salt Li squinted his eyes, looking south. "Last night, I cast another divination, and this time it yielded results. The divination indicated that the person is in the south."

"South?" Salt Qi calmed down. "The south is vast. Is there no more specific hint?"

Salt Li said, "People who have been to the Black Flame Valley that day are most likely those who participated in the exchange market. As long as they came from the south, they are all suspects. I will search one by one with my men."

Salt Qi knew that at this time, he could only rely on Salt Li. Suppressing his dissatisfaction from earlier, he said, "Okay, trouble you to search again. I was impulsive just now. Don't mind it."

Salt Li smiled sarcastically, "How could I mind it?"

Salt Qi didn't know what kind of person Salt Li was. Although he became the new village head with several sons, he had the worst temper and the least tolerance among them. That was why he was excluded from being the successor of the village head. However, Salt Qi was also ambitious. He actually colluded with this outsider, killing his own father and several brothers.

Dealing with such a person, he didn't expect Salt Qi to truly respect him as a witch doctor.

As long as he found the person who dared to steal the inner pill, and the three-headed bird ate it...

By then, even if Salt Qi didn't respect him, he would have to respect him!

Salt Li soon left Salt Village again with the guards, heading south.

There were many villages in the south, and many people had participated in the exchange market during that time. Salt Li didn't know which village the person who secretly went to the Black Flame Valley came from. He could only search one by one.

He had searched once before the New Year but found nothing. The person must have hidden. It seemed that he needed to be more ruthless. As long as he found the person who dared to steal the inner pill, he would skin and draw him!

Salt Li thought viciously.