NOVPUB"You must be talking about Leader Pi. No one else in this town holds that surname," the person replied with a smile.
"What do you want with Leader Pi?"
"I heard his family has lived here for generations. I’d like to ask him about Void Valley," Xu Zimei replied.
"Oh, then you’ve asked the right person," the passerby said with a self-satisfied chuckle.
"I can tell you, when Void Town was established, Leader Pi was one of the first settlers.
Even before the town was built, he was already mingling here.
Starting from his grandfather’s generation, they’ve made a living by selling Void Wood. He’s one of the oldest folks in Void Town now."
"Where does he live?" Xu Zimei asked.
"If you head east from here, the most expansive old residence at the very eastern end of town is his home," the person said, pointing in that direction.
"However, these past few years he no longer visits Void Valley. It’s said to be because both his son and daughter died in there."
Xu Zimei nodded slightly and then headed towards the eastern part of the town.
He surveyed his surroundings; most of those who managed to live here in this town appeared to be Loose Cultivators without any support.
Earning Void Wood with their lives, then trading it for resources to cultivate.
When Xu Zimei reached the east side, he saw a few scattered households.
Located near the town’s entrance, a courtyard built from bricks, tiles, and earth caught his eye.
Although the courtyard was large, it looked very ordinary.
Compared to the other houses around, it seemed rather shabby.
When Xu Zimei arrived at the entrance of the courtyard, the wooden door was black and obviously quite old.
Pushing open the wooden door, a somewhat awkward creaking "squeak" sounded in his ears.
Inside the wooden door was an entryway, with many farming tools placed on the right side.
The courtyard ahead was quite spacious, planted with many edible vegetables, and in the middle stood a grapevine.
An old man was half-squatting in the middle of the courtyard, where an iron frame supported a pot.
The elder seemed to be making breakfast, busy sharpening a kitchen knife.
Noticing someone entering, the old man lifted his clouded eyes to glance at Xu Zimei.
He then asked, "Can I help you with something?"
"Are you Leader Pi?" Xu Zimei inquired.
"That’s what people here call me," the old man nodded slightly.
"I’d like to ask you about Void Valley," Xu Zimei said with a smile.
"They tell me you’re the oldest here."
"I’m getting on in years; there’s much I can’t remember anymore. You’d be better off asking someone else," Leader Pi said, waving his hand dismissively.
After finishing his statement, he bowed his head again and began to sharpen the knife in his hands, focusing on chopping the vegetables.
"How about we make a deal?" Xu Zimei proposed.
"You answer my questions, and I’ll do something for you in return."
"I have only one request. If you can bring me the head of the Sect Master of the Great Void Sect, I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.
Even if it’s my own life you’re asking for, I wouldn’t hesitate," the elder said, looking up calmly.
"The Great Void Sect?" Xu Zimei asked with some confusion. "The Imperial Rule Immortal Sect?"
He seemed not to have heard of this sect before.
"What a load of crap, as if they’re fit to be the Imperial Rule Immortal Sect," Leader Pi snorted disdainfully.
"Nothing more than a motley crew posing as a power."
"Tell me about it simply," Xu Zimei asked.
"Centuries ago, before the Imperial Rule Immortal Sect took control here, Void Valley was in complete disorder.
Thus, a group of unscrupulous people formed the Great Void Sect, robbing those who had obtained the Void Wood.
They plundered goods that others had won with their lives, and those who resisted were killed on the spot."
Leader Pi narrowed his eyes slightly and said indifferently, "With the Imperial Rule Immortal Sect joining in these years, such incidents have decreased a lot, but they are still happening in the dark."
"Where is the Great Void Sect?" Zimo asked.
"It’s located at Great Void Ridge, ten miles south from here," Leader Pi replied, his eyes focusing.
"Wait for me, I’ll return before dark," Xu Zimei said and then left.
.........
Strictly speaking, the Great Void Sect is not really an Immortal Gate power.
A group of people banded together for their own selfish gains. If there’s no change, the day the benefits vanish, it’s likely their solidarity will too.
Great Void Ridge was just an ordinary mountain; it only gained its name after the Great Void Sect’s arrival, causing ordinary people to avoid it.
A gentle breeze rustled the lush trees, and at the very top of the ridge was a stockade.
Except for the guards stationed around the stockade, at its centralmost point, a group of seven or eight people were seated in a circle.
Among these people were scruffy-bearded burly men, gorgeously dressed noblewomen, and refined scholars.
They drank wine heartily, ate meat voraciously, and laughed boisterously.
"Big brother, I’ve finished negotiating with Great Zhou.
They said that if we pay tribute with one hundred pieces of Void Wood each year, we can become an affiliated force of Great Zhou," the refined scholar said eagerly.
"Bloody hell, I only get a few hundred pieces of Void Wood a year, and all the brothers are waiting to cultivate," someone grumbled disapprovingly.
"Third brother, don’t speak like that anymore," the flamboyant noblewoman hurriedly interjected.
"We’re in a desperate situation; we need Great Zhou’s protection, it’s an umbrella for us."
......
While they were talking, several thick wooden posts were planted deep into the ground nearby.
And at that moment, a person was tied to each, including women and children.
The faces of these people were marred with horror. Their hair was disheveled, and some had already started to cry.
Among these people was a young boy who didn’t stand out, but if one looked closely, they would notice his eyes were as bright as the stars.
As though nothing in this world could escape his gaze.
"Sister, stop crying, it’s annoying," the young man in white, though also tied to a post, still spoke naturally.
The woman beside him wore a white dress that was now stained with dust.
Her long hair was unkempt, obscuring her face, but one could catch glimpses of her delicate features.
"Yi, we’re done for this time, we’re surely going to die," the woman said anxiously.
"Don’t you know about Bagua and Ying-yang? Please, calculate for us."
"I’ve already calculated. Heaven doesn’t seal off all the exits; there will be a noble person who will come to our rescue," the young man in white said calmly. 𝚗o𝚟pub.𝚌𝚘𝚖
It seemed the crying and wailing of the people had annoyed the group, for a scruffy-bearded burly man stood up.
He held a machete in his hand, looking at the bound people, he said roughly, "Big brother, shall we kill them now or have some fun first?"
