Just focused on listening to gossip and didnât pay attention to what Zuo Caicai and Fatty Jin said ahead.
Fang Yu looked around, but Ling Huxiang suddenly signaled Fang Yu to stay quiet, as if discovering something, frowned and scanned the surroundings, and quietly placed his right hand on the sword hilt.
"Somethingâs not right... it seems weâre surrounded, and thereâs quite a number of them."
Upon hearing this, Fang Yu was startled, quickly scanning the surroundings, only to find chunks of red stones blocking the view, without seeing any health bars appearing.
But even without health bars, considering the current location of the team and the surrounding environment, the spot where Fatty Jin intercepted them for a chat was obviously a perfect ambush point.
No wonder Zuo Caicai revealed his background; looks like thereâs pressure indeed.
"Turns out we have guests from afar, Tianyuan Town, thatâs quite a distance. You all have crossed mountains and rivers to reach Red Mountain, it must not be easy. Going further up, who knows what awaits, Master Zuo Caicai, do you really not want to sit down and talk with us?"
Fatty Jin maintained a friendly expression, yet his words carried hidden pressure.
Goodness, is this a provocation?
Even if youâre a prodigal son returning, you should see clearly who youâre facing!
Youâre up against a formidable opponent, Zuo Caicai!
Open your eyes wide, six thousand blood, killing you is like killing a dog!
If youâre mingling among the big shots, youâre bound to be a genius in your youth; Zuo Caicai, go for it, launch a surprise attack and cripple him first, then Iâll take the headcount, directly cash in six thousand blood, transform into a battle maniac, and help you fight!
Fang Yu secretly hoped Zuo Caicai would strike, but Zuo Caicai was still spewing trash talk.
"Fatty Jin, are you overly confident in your people? Do you really think that with just your people, you can stop me? Is it because Iâve been away for too long, or has your Bai Fang Cityâs Jin Family regressed?"
Zuo Caicaiâs tone grew colder, and his momentum began to rise relentlessly!
Yes, just like that!
The pressure they used to suppress us earlier, was exactly through this powerful, intimidating aura!
Fang Yu looked at that Fatty Jin, sure enough, he was starting to sweat profusely, cold sweat seeping from his forehead, clearly intimidated by Zuo Caicaiâs aura.
What prodigal son returning, nothing much after all!
Then Fatty Jin suddenly clasped his hands, lowered his head and said.
"Master Zuo Caicai, we were merely providing you with a choice, you should know, since even we are only stationed halfway up the mountain, you know what awaits at the peak. If you yourself arenât willing to stay and talk calmly with us, then weâll leave now and let your people continue up the mountain."
"..."
Zuo Caicai fell silent, then gradually withdrew his aura, returning to tranquility.
"Tell your people to come out."
The entire process, from start to finish, had nothing to do with Fang Yu and them.
This is the fate of being under the eaves; Zuo Caicai not only suppresses the opposite side but also suppresses her own people.
The authority rests solely with Zuo Caicai, whatever she says goes, even if Fang Yu and them have objections, thereâs no way to defy.
Fatty Jin visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Facing someone like Zuo Caicai, a renowned strong figure for years, might have roused some motivation in the past.
But now, all he wants is to calmly complete the task assigned by his family.
Behind him is no longer just one man, but an entire family, wife and children are waiting back at home for his safe return.
"Everyone, youâve heard Master Zuo Caicaiâs words, come on out, Master Zuo Caicai is willing to talk to us."
Thud, thud, thud.
The people originally hidden behind the big red stones all emerged.
Fang Yu hadnât noticed much before, but upon seeing them, he was startled â there were over a hundred people!
Fortunately, apart from a few leaders, the restâs health werenât too high.
Two to three thousand blood were considered elite, a thousand-blood underling was the main component.
The quality here doesnât seem as good as their Foolish Underworld team, but in terms of numbers, they clearly have the advantage.
Then upon further thought, Fang Yu realized something was amiss.
This was only half the mountain folks; according to their words, there are stronger individuals above, and thatâs the main event.
"Rolling Bone Bone City, Silver Hammer Gang Leader, Yi Geyun, paying respects to Master Zuo Caicai."
A short, fat man, but with a silver hammer hanging on his waist, spoke gruffly.
He was accompanied by fellows all carrying large hammers, looking like blacksmiths, muscular, exuding a strong sense of power.
Unfortunately, these peopleâs health generally hovered just over a thousand, hardly any with three thousand health.
[Yi Geyun: 5245/5245.]
"Rolling Bone Bone City, Ancient Blade Spring Breeze Hall Master, Gu Shijiu."
A man with flowing long hair, holding a sword in both hands, emerged from behind a big red stone, leaning against it with a deliberately cool demeanor, looking rather cold.
His followers were of better quality, many with two thousand blood, and he even had two three-thousand-blood captains.
[Gu Shijiu: 5531/5531.]
"Junma Town, Ma Family Great Elder, Ma Duandao."
An elderly man emerged from behind the red stone, politely clasping his hands, very humble.
However, in terms of health, even Fang Yu surpassed him, the people he brought were of shockingly poor quality, many a thousand blood were rare, and far fewer in number.
[Ma Duandao: 4216/4216.]
Whatâs this? Another one joining to make up numbers like our team?
"Bai Fang City, Bai Family, Bai Hele."
[Bai Hele: 5290/5290.]
A woman nearly the same age as Zuo Caicai led her team out, with followers of medium quality, all above a thousand blood, with only a few elite above two thousand blood.
In one of the Five Great Families in Tianyuan Town, thereâs also a Bai Family; could this Bai Fang Cityâs Bai Family have shared ancestry with Tianyuan Townâs Bai Family?
But Iâve never heard anyone mention this, Ling Huxiang and the others seemed unfazed by this Bai Fang City Bai Family, probably unrelated to Tianyuan Townâs Bai Family.
So many people emerging indeed added quite a bit of pressure on the team.
Everyone instinctively gathered to the center, prepared to guard.
Several five-thousand-health experts leading a group indeed exerted quite a bit of pressure.
However, in Fang Yuâs view, the strength of the two sides was still unequal.
Because on their side, thereâs Zuo Caicai with six thousand blood.
The six-thousand-blood of a native NPC differs greatly from Fang Yuâs four-thousand-blood martial artistâs virtual bulk.
A native NPCâs blood level rises step by step, painstakingly, by real improvement through cultivation technique and physique, generally, whatever the blood level, corresponds to the actual power.
Six-thousand-blood Zuo Caicai is effectively a thousand blood strength over these five-thousand-blood folks; this is a notably exaggerated strength gap, incomparable.
Whereas Fang Yu, his attribute points are all on physique, forcefully boosting his physique first.
Regarding cultivation techniques, no progress, stagnant.
Practically no difference from before the realm enhancement.
Only by elevating cultivation techniques to the corresponding realm would Fang Yu truly achieve the power that this realm and physique should have.
Regarding the differences in cultivation techniquesâ levels and variety of external trump cards, thatâs a different story.
"Is this all of you?"
Zuo Caicai asked.
"Some came before us and have gone up; those stronger also already went up. The weaker ones were posted at the foot guarding, which you greeted earlier."
"Time keeps flowing, news continuously spreads... currently, the numbers are still under control, giving us a chance. If we drag it on, more people will keep coming, supposedly, some concealed major sects seem interested in the relic of Red Immortal."
Fatty Jin spoke calmly.
Zuo Caicai chuckled.
"So youâre saying..."
Fatty Jin and the others exchanged looks, then earnestly said.
"We... wish to ally with the strong, to contest opportunities with those above."