Chapter 130: The Town of Demonic Beasts

Golden Sun Mountain, Golden Sun Sect.

Over a thousand years ago, the founder of the Golden Sun Sect came here to establish the sect, naming it the Golden Sun Sect and the mountain the Golden Sun Mountain.

The Golden Sun Sect is considered a prominent sect within the Great Xia Empire. Although not as formidable as the Tiangang Sect, the Flying Snake Sect, or the Blood Spider Boat, it is rumored that its Sect Master is already a powerhouse at the Ninth Heaven of the Profound Sovereign realm, capable of stepping into the Earth King realm at any moment.

The Golden Sun Sect is a place yearned for by disciples of many minor families. If one can be admitted into the Golden Sun Sect, not only do they gain access to high-level cultivation techniques and martial skills, but their social status changes drastically; returning to their family as an heir becomes almost a certainty.

In remote towns like Maple Leaf City, the Golden Sun Sect typically does not offer enrollment quotas. However, five years ago, a genius from the Lu family in Maple Leaf City happened to be spotted by the passing Fourth Elder of the Golden Sun Sect, Tian Heng. Impressed by the youth’s extraordinary talent and temperament, Tian Heng brought him to Golden Sun Mountain and accepted him as a personal disciple, a feat that made countless people envious.

It is rare for someone like Lu Hui to be accepted directly as a personal disciple by an elder. Usually, disciples must start as outer sect members. Once they reach the Xiantian realm, they become inner sect disciples. If they attain the Third Heaven of the Xiantian realm, an elder may choose to take them as a disciple based on their own preference. It is worth noting that the five elders of the Golden Sun Sect are all powerhouses above the Fifth Heaven of the Profound Sovereign realm; being taken as a personal disciple by such a person makes a future as a Profound Sovereign nearly guaranteed.

At this moment, outside a secret chamber in the residence of Elder Tian Heng, a young man waited. He wore a gold-embroidered robe, his hair simply tied back, and his features bore a striking resemblance to Lu Tianlin. Hanging from his waist was a square bronze medallion engraved with a large character "Gold"—the emblem of a Golden Sun Sect disciple. If Lu were here, he would surely recognize him: this was Lu Hui, the eldest son of his uncle Lu Tianlin, who had been taken to Golden Sun Mountain by the elder five years prior.

Back then, Lu Hui was the top genius of the younger generation in the Lu family. When Elder Tian Heng met him, he was delighted and took him as a personal disciple. When Lu Tianlin learned the man was an elder of the Golden Sun Sect, he was overjoyed and even got drunk several times in celebration. It was precisely because Lu Hui joined the Golden Sun Sect that Lu Tianlin gradually harbored the ambition to seize the position of family head, leading to all the events that followed.

Suddenly, a loud boom erupted from within the secret chamber. A massive surge of energy blew the doors open, sending dust billowing. Amidst the haze, a figure appeared, and a voice—aged yet tinged with triumph—resounded: "Haha, I have finally broken through! It was worth four months of seclusion! Now let's see how that old man Hong Tao tries to suppress me!"

As the dust settled, an elderly figure emerged. Though his hair was slightly gray, his eyes shone with a sharp light, and his formidable aura caused those nearby to freeze. This was Tian Heng, Lu Hui’s master and the Fourth Elder of the Golden Sun Sect.

"Congratulations, Master! With your cultivation now reaching a new level, I fear even the Third Elder is no longer your match."

"Haha, that old man Hong Tao—I shall settle the score with him sooner or later." The old man laughed heartily, though a cold glint flickered in his eyes at the mention of the Third Elder, Hong Tao; it seemed the two were at odds.

Tian Heng then waved his hand. "Hui'er, during my four months of seclusion, has anything major happened within the sect?"

"Reporting to Master, everything in the sect is fine; there is nothing of great importance," Lu Hui replied, bowing his head.

Having just achieved a breakthrough, Tian Heng was in high spirits, but he noticed his disciple, Lu Hui, seemed troubled—this was not his usual demeanor.

"Hui'er, what has happened? Is it the faction of the Third Elder?" Tian Heng’s eyes flashed with killing intent; the Third Elder had always looked down on him, relying on his status as a Sixth Heaven Profound Sovereign.

"It is not the Third Elder's faction, but... I beg Master to uphold justice for me!" Lu Hui lowered his body, his voice choked with sobs.

...

Meanwhile, at the Monster Beast Town.

Ninety percent of the monster beasts in the Great Xia Empire are gathered in the Monster Beast Mountain Range. The periphery of the range is a prime spot for mercenaries to showcase their skills and accumulate wealth. If one is lucky enough to capture a young monster beast or find precious treasures, it is a significant windfall.

Of course, high returns come with high risks. The Monster Beast Mountain Range is teeming with diverse and numerous creatures. If one is unlucky enough to encounter high-level beasts, countless people lose their lives there every year.

Monster Beast Town is situated at the foot of the mountain range. Because those with insufficient strength often choose to form groups before entering the mountains, the area gradually developed into a town where one can find companions and supplies.

With Lu Han’s pace, he emerged from the Yanglin Hills in less than half an hour.

"Is that the Monster Beast Town? It really is incomparable to Blue Rock Town," Lu Han muttered as he looked at the bustling town before him.

Blue Rock Town, located beneath the eight-hundred-mile Cloud Crystal Mountain, was not small, but compared to the Monster Beast Town, it was like a minor village.

Lu Han quickened his pace to enter. The mysterious woman had been following him the entire time. Lu Han had wanted to speak to her on the road, but upon seeing her cold, icy expression, he lost his nerve.

"What is this all about?" Lu Han shook his head.

As soon as they entered, Lu Han and the mysterious woman became the center of attention—or, to be precise, the mysterious woman did. The town was instantly stirred.

Most of the people here were wandering martial artists or mercenaries who had spent years in the wilderness; they had never seen such a beautiful woman.

"Wow, if I, Old Third Cai, could marry her, I’d be willing to lose ten years of my life!" a pockmarked, sleazy-looking, thin man exclaimed.

"Forget it, you?" someone beside him shoved Old Third Cai’s head.

"The woman is beautiful, indeed, but she’s just too cold. How come looking at her feels like falling into an ice cellar?" someone muttered.

"I wonder which family she belongs to?"

Some of the more rational onlookers, seeing Lu Han and the woman, whispered. Lu Han did not look old, yet his aura already reached the First Heaven of the Xiantian realm. While the mysterious woman’s aura was unreadable, it could not be weak. To reach the Xiantian realm at such an age, they must be from a major sect or family. Such people were not to be trifled with; one wrong word could cost them their heads, an occurrence that had happened more than once in the Monster Beast Town.

However, there were those blinded by lust. They looked at Lu Han and the woman with sinister intentions. In the Monster Beast Town, Xiantian realm experts were a dime a dozen.

Some desperate outlaws treated members of major families or sects as prey, willing to risk fleeing if necessary. These people lived their lives on the edge of a blade.

Feeling the gazes of the surrounding crowd, Lu Han looked at the mysterious woman behind him and shook his head.

"This is truly an unprovoked disaster."