Chapter 101: Journey Across a Thousand Miles — Second Update

Half a month later.

In a mountainside villa in Yun City, Xia Housheng walked up slowly and said respectfully, "Master Jiang, Ziyue has already boarded the plane to the United States."

Jiang Yu exhaled two breaths of turbid air and opened his eyes. A flash of sharp light shot out, severing the branches and leaves of a bonsai plant over ten meters away.

He was on the verge of entering the Foundation Establishment stage. His flesh, bones, meridians, organs, and hair were all evolving to a higher level. This was what cultivators called the "Innate Dao Body." In layman's terms, ordinary swords and blades could not even cut a single strand of his hair.

Xia Housheng narrowed his eyes, inwardly shocked: "Master Jiang's cultivation level is likely only a thin line away from the Earth Immortal realm."

In present-day China, unless the entire nation's strength was mobilized, only Gu Changsheng could rival Jiang Yu's edge. He wondered if any of the hidden lineages in China possessed an Earth Immortal.

Xia Housheng’s current status was at the peak of the secular world, placing him among the tiny elite at the top of the pyramid. With his vast knowledge and experience, he had naturally heard rumors of these hidden lineages. He often wondered if Jiang Yu was a disciple from one of those great clans, sent out to experience the world.

"The business in Yun City is settled. It seems I must take a trip to that place." Jiang Yu brushed the wrinkles off his clothes and spoke with calm indifference.

Xia Housheng smiled helplessly. "Would you like me to lead the way, Master Jiang?"

Jiang Yu shook his head. "No need. I shall go alone. You only need to give me the exact address. There will inevitably be dangers; bringing you along would only drag me down. For the time being, just assist Xia Ning in managing the company."

The place Jiang Yu was heading to was where Xia Housheng had obtained that piece of Green Water Golden Flame, seemingly at the border between Huaizhou and Yannan. It was a region of endless, rugged mountains, rarely visited by people. Only in such places could one hope to find Cold Pool Coral.

While there, he would also pay a visit to an old acquaintance.

Among Jiang Yu’s modern-day disciples, there were six in total: Gu Feifei, Li Hao, Lin Wangtian, Ma Tianzong, and Liu Banan. Only one had never appeared; even Li Hao and Ma Tianzong were unaware of the sixth disciple's existence.

Truth be told, the sixth disciple had been by Jiang Yu’s side for nearly a hundred years. Due to his special status, he could not easily involve himself in the world, which was why Ma Tianzong and the others had never met their eldest martial brother.

Coincidentally, he was also in the border region of Huaizhou and Yannan. It had been over fifty years since they last met. Jiang Yu wondered if this disciple was still alive.

"Back then, he stayed by my side for twenty years—ten years sweeping floors and doing chores, ten years serving tea as my student—which is why I made an exception to take him as a core disciple. I taught him the *Void God-Refining Art*. He achieved minor success in the Dao after three years, major success in six, and by the age of sixty, he ascended to the realm of Earth Immortal, shaking the world!"

Jiang Yu remembered that when he last departed, that person was already 120 years old. He had styled himself the "Emperor of the Realm," founded a sect, and took in many disciples, becoming the only hidden family in the modern secular world with a history spanning nearly two centuries.

The Chen family—how illustrious was their reputation in the early days of the Republic? Yet, in modern times, the surname had faded into ordinariness, with no further highlights to speak of.

"Old friend, I have come to see you." Jiang Yu pulled back his thoughts, feeling a deep concern for this person who was both a teacher and a friend.

An Earth Immortal’s lifespan was three hundred years—long enough to witness three hundred cycles of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and observe the movement of the stars for several generations. Among ordinary people, this was an incredibly long life.

However, after such a long time, even if he were still alive, his days were likely numbered, hiding in some place rich with spiritual energy to eke out his remaining years.

"I don’t know how long I will stay on this trip. In the last half month, I have refined a thousand Spirit-Returning Pills and a hundred Essence-Consolidating Pills. There are also several hundred strings of protective charms, all kept in the villa’s secret room, insulated by jade."

"If those wealthy people find rare treasures, you decide the reward yourself. But I must warn you: while I am away, do not flaunt your wealth. These pills are too tempting for those in power in the secular world. I fear you might invite disaster upon yourself. If I am not here, both the Jiang and Xia families will be finished."

Jiang Yu’s concerns were not unfounded. Before leaving, he had to be fully prepared. The only issue was time; otherwise, he could have set up a grand killing array around the villa that even artillery fire could not breach. Only by razing Wild Duck Lake to the ground and destroying the foundation of the array could its defenses be broken.

Xia Housheng nodded. "Master Jiang, rest assured. The pills are safe as long as I live; if I die, they die with me. I have already brought in thirty bodyguards and, through special connections, obtained firearm permits. Everyone is armed."

Jiang Yu nodded and walked out of the villa. Before leaving, he still had to visit the Jiang family.

Twenty minutes later, the Jiang family estate was bustling with activity, with many workers busy at the construction site. Upon his return, the old master had made a firm decision to purchase the neighboring land and expand the estate to double its size.

A Mercedes-Benz business sedan pulled up at the gate. Jiang Yu stepped out and smiled at the sight of his grandfather directing the construction.

"Grandfather." Jiang Yu walked up to him.

The second aunt, who was standing with her hands on her hips and shouting orders at the workers, saw Jiang Yu and looked as if she had seen a ghost. Her neck shrank, and she fled the scene in a flash.

"That wretched woman!" The old master laughed and shook his head.

"Little Yu, I heard from that girl Xia Ning that you are leaving?" He turned to look at Jiang Yu. Although he felt reluctant, he understood one thing: Jiang Yu’s future did not lie in this small Yun City. Keeping him by his side would only hinder his path.

Jiang Yu nodded. "I came to say goodbye."

As he spoke, he unobtrusively slipped a jade box into the old man’s hand. "There are seven pills inside. Take one every week. Remember, abstain from women during this period."

Jiang Yu reminded him with a chuckle.

The old man gave him a light swat on the head, laughing and scolding, "You brat, I’m an old bag of bones; what energy do I have for such things?"

Jiang Yu laughed. "Grandfather is still strong and vigorous; an occasional romantic dalliance is just a bit of elegance."

The old man feigned a hit, and Jiang Yu dodged to the side with a smile.

Then his expression turned serious. "Has Jiang Shaoqi gone to the team?"

The old master nodded. "He’s a different person since he came back. It’s a good thing for him. How can one strive for greatness without experiencing setbacks? Don't worry about family matters. Go do what you need to do with peace of mind."

Jiang Yu nodded, watching the busy members of the Jiang family, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Eight o'clock in the evening.

Jiang Yu boarded a flight to Huaizhou, empty-handed, carrying only a bank card. After thinking for a moment, he made a phone call.

The person on the other end answered immediately, asking in a low voice, "Hello, is something the matter?"

Jiang Yu said with a wry smile, "Zhou Xu, Huaizhou is your territory, isn't it?"

Zhou Xu was silent for a few seconds before his tone changed drastically, and he asked hurriedly, "Are you Master Jiang?"

Jiang Yu laughed. "It’s me. See if you can find me a local guide in the border region between Huaizhou and Yannan?"

Hearing this, Zhou Xu kept promising that he would take care of it. Jiang Yu declined his offer to host him and followed the crowd toward the tarmac.

Arriving in Huaizhou that night, Jiang Yu hired a black car for a thousand yuan to head toward the border. The winding journey totaled over two thousand kilometers. Crucially, some mountain roads were so narrow and treacherous that the driver had to slow down; one wrong move would send them off a hundred-meter cliff. If they fell, not even a god could save them.

While driving, the driver warned repeatedly, "Little brother, that place you mentioned, Qingyang City, is a small town at the junction of three provinces. It is extremely chaotic. You often hear about brawls, shootouts, and deaths, and there are many addicts."

Jiang Yu touched his nose. "How does it compare to Liusha Town?"

The driver laughed. "I’ve heard of Liusha Town. That’s just a small place controlled by a few bosses; under their management, the security isn't too bad. Qingyang is something else entirely. There are several gang leaders, none of whom submit to the others. They’ve fought hundreds of times over the years; no one even bothers to count the dead."

"Besides, it’s all primitive forest over there. It wouldn’t be surprising to see venomous snakes on the main street. Anyway, if you hadn't given me this thousand yuan, I wouldn’t dare to come. I have to drive back alone in the middle of the night."

Jiang Yu smiled. "I'll give you another thousand."

The driver’s face beamed with joy.

However, when Jiang Yu arrived at the guide’s house, a commotion could be heard.

"I don’t care! You must lead the way for us this time. The price is thirty thousand, take it or leave it."

A weak voice came from the mud-brick house: "Bu... but I have already promised to guide someone else."