Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 690 - 674: Who Exactly Are You?
Jiang Yuan waved his hand, indicating there was no need for more words, as he could not possibly need a low-level demon to be shattered to pieces for any reason.
"Benefactor, please help inquire if there are other means of livelihood, if not..."
Song Zhi, feeling inferior due to the decline in his family’s fortune, thought he had no skills, fearing to trouble the other party, he said softly, "If not, it’s fine as well.
Autumn will soon arrive, and the bad clouds within the Mist Cloud will be relatively fewer. If I take more care, I can barely get by."
Hmm?
Does the Mist Cloud relate to seasonal changes?
Seeing he was still interested in the cloud cluster, Song Zhi excitedly opened up, took a big bite of meat, chewed and swallowed, patiently explaining: "Previously, we only knew that the clusters in summer were the most violent and dangerous, and those in winter were the most gentle and safe. We didn’t know the reason behind it.
A few days ago at a gathering with colleagues, during the meal, I heard some rumors that might explain it a bit. However, as it was a discussion over drinks, it’s uncertain if it is true or exaggerated."
"Tell me!" Jiang Yuan was very interested in this matter. Last time, Old Dog specifically warned him that something bad was approaching and needed attention.
Since there was a chance to gather more information, and with nothing pressing to do, he might as well drink and chat to listen.
Song Zhi took a sip of wine, organizing his words: "The one who said this was a senior, whose grandfather’s grandfather had already started being a Mist Cloud Hunter. With such a family background, he naturally had some expertise.
During the meal, a Daoist friend toasted him a few more drinks, and after having too much, the senior mentioned a strange encounter his uncle had years ago.
He mentioned that one summer evening, his uncle pursued the Mist Cloud and entered it, losing his sense of direction and being swallowed. The cohort said that just a few breaths after his uncle entered the cloud, the cluster vanished without a trace.
Everyone thought he was doomed like other hunters, and his relatives and friends even held a funeral for him, erecting a cenotaph.
No one expected him to return over a month later, not only alive and dusty but also bringing back many Spirit Stones. From then on, he never worked as a Mist Cloud Hunter again."
"Sounds as if he was teleported by the cloud to another place," Jiang Yuan speculated, "perhaps there are imperceptible teleportation forces within the Mist Cloud."
Just like what happened just now, without feeling anything, he was taken to the edge of the prairie.
Song Zhi nodded, "Indeed, it was even more bizarre than that. It is said that when he first stepped in, everything was normal. Based on his accumulated experience from past searches, he started looking within the cloud for items, but as he walked, the mist became thinner.
At first, he thought he had got the direction wrong and walked out of the cloud’s range, intending to turn around and go back. He didn’t expect a gust of hot wind to sweep by, scattering the mist completely. He found himself standing in an endless desert!
Everywhere he looked, there was nothing but scorching yellow sand and piles of white bones. From the remnants of broken items, it seemed that the deceased were cultivators swallowed by the Mist Cloud over the centuries."
Jiang Yuan: !!!
So, if he hadn’t left in time earlier, the cloud cluster might have either dissipated, leading to a fall from a great height, or he would have been teleported to an unknown desert?
"That desert is bizarre and strange, where neither the Teleportation Talisman can be used nor directions determined. Fortunately, his Storage Bag had enough food and water, and many Spirit Stones, preventing him from thirst and starvation during imprisonment.
It is said that there is no day or night, and a bright sun always hangs in the sky, making one dizzy. Even the thick-skinned Demon Cultivator could barely endure the extreme heat.
Sometimes, fire-red clouds would gather and drop Flames like rain, turning the yellow sand red.
He tried various means, but could not find a way out. After struggling for half a month, with food, water, and Spirit Stones exhausted, and about to perish from the heat, he suddenly saw an old man staggering with a cane.
He quickly called for help; the old man noticed and saved his life. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
The old man said that a fierce beast is suppressed in this desert, desperately wanting to escape night and day but unable to break the Array. It attached a stream of spatial turbulence to the Mist Cloud, waiting for unlucky prey to get caught.
Those entering the place would either die of confinement or be eaten by the beast.
He was exceptionally lucky to encounter the old man passing by, not only saving his life but also leading him to a deep blue lake like Agate, far in the desert, allowing him to pick stones with his ability, taking away as many as he could carry.
Although the lake appeared calm and cool, upon entering, it was as hot as lava. He was not very capable and only managed to pick a small stone to stuff into his Storage Bag. The old man then took him on a lengthy flight to some ruins with faint signs of palaces, where there was a still-usable Teleportation Array underground.
The old man transported him thousands of miles away to the city of Yunxia, where he discovered that the small stone he picked from the lake was a top-quality Artifact Refining material thought to be extinct for years.
He sold it at an auction for an excellent price and went back home. Following the old man’s advice, he never became a Mist Cloud Hunter again. Even knowing where one might go after being swallowed and where the escape route was, without the old man’s guidance, certain death would ensue. With a wealth of thousands of fortunes, there was no need to gamble with his life again."
Song Zhi, having eaten and drunk to his fill, contentedly burped and laughed, "If such words were true, the chances of that strange desert appearing after summer would be much smaller. Benefactor need not worry too much about me."
"Sounds like a Secret Realm." Jiang Yuan squinted his eyes, looking at the Mist Cloud that appeared from nowhere in the distance, and suddenly thought of the Stone Tiger that was being suppressed.
A fierce beast in the flame-scorched desert...
Could it be another one of Xuanyuan Yangguang’s deeds?
First, he rescued the suppressed Old Dragon Zhou Jian; then broke the Array in Wo Hu Temple, allowing the Stone Tiger to gain its freedom. By this logic, could it be that the one trapped in the desert is the "Vermilion Bird"?
Of course, this "Vermilion Bird" is most likely a substitute, just like the Earth Dragon and Stone Tiger.
[Subplot Mission: Daughter of Fortune]
[Mission 1: Assist Yuan Man in identifying fifty traitors in the underground cavern (6/50). Reward: Fortune +10]
He was lost in thought when he suddenly noticed the subplot mission changed from 0 to 6, meaning that during their short conversation, Miss Hu Jiu’s Charm Technique had already identified six traitors.
The efficiency was quite commendable!
"Here are five hundred Spirit Stones, you take them for now. Let’s head back to Cloud City and see if I can help you find a stable job." Jiang Yuan took out the Spirit Stones from his account and casually placed them on the grass.
Thinking that if nothing worked out, he could let him do chores in Yun Shu’s shop. After all, hiring a waiter in Cloud City doesn’t cost many Spirit Stones per month, a small effort to save him from living in fear amidst the Mist Cloud.
The small pile of shimmering Spirit Stones made Song Zhi’s eyes glaze over.
"T-this... how can I accept this again, making you spend, I- I will work hard to earn and repay as soon as possible." Strapped for cash and unable to refuse, he accepted them, reasoning that since he owed his life, a few Spirit Stones made little difference; he would work even harder to repay this kindness someday.
The fallen Song family’s poverty was quite dire; he didn’t even own a Flying Sword, relying on Earth Escape on the prairie and traveling on foot within the city.
Seeing this, Jiang Yuan took a paper crane out of his Storage Bag, blew on it, and it gracefully landed before him, like a true crane lifting its claws and tidying its feathers with its beak, awaiting instructions.
The other hadn’t witnessed Paperman and Paper Horse Skill, didn’t understand its mysteries, but found it extremely wondrous, obediently rode the paper crane straight to Cloud City.
The simple city atmosphere was filled with a faint medicinal fragrance everywhere.
As Jiang Yuan and Song Zhi neared the city, putting away the Flying Sword and paper crane and before they had time to show the official Seal, a light green glow began to gleam at Jiang’s waist.
"Esteemed guest of Cloud City, welcome to you!" The city gate guard was startled, hurriedly came forward with a grand salute, respectfully said, "For any needs in the city, please present your Jade Pendant to any guards. We wish you a pleasant stay in Cloud City."
Jiang Yuan: ???
The glowing item is... oh right! The Jade Pendant given by City Lord Yuan Man, small, exquisite, notably beautiful. He had casually tied it to his Double Fish Jade Pendant, and didn’t expect such a big reaction when approaching the city.
"My benefactor, who exactly are you? This reception seems a bit too grand." Song Zhi watched as his affable benefactor was not only welcomed by the city gate guard but received by the Gate Minister, who uncommonly opened the door fully to greet him, smiling and inquiring about any needs.
His mind buzzed, even feeling slightly afraid to speak to his benefactor.
"I’m just an ordinary Cultivator, happened to have met some of the city’s dignitaries." After dismissing the ceremonious Gate Minister and others, Jiang Yuan quickly removed the Jade Pendant and stored it in his Storage Bag, smilingly explained, "Perhaps this Jade Pendant was too showy, better kept away."
Despite such words, Song Zhi dared not truly perceive him as an ordinary Cultivator.
Cloud City’s governance has always been strict, with guards from everywhere severe and sincere, particularly those at the city gates, stern and fierce like harsh demons. Raised in the city, never had he witnessed such amiability from these guards as today.
"Song Zhi, feeling leisurely tonight? Not out chasing the clouds?"
A Mist Cloud Hunter, equally simply dressed, approached happily, having lucked out tonight by finding two exquisite Spirit Medicines within the Mist Cloud and eager to ask about pricing at the herbal shop. He raised his eyes and caught sight of his friend, "A new herbal shop opened on Lingxiao Street with beautiful sister owners! And the purchase prices are said to be high; I was just going to inquire, care to join?"
Jiang Yuan perked up at the mention of beautiful sisters?
Seeing the subplot mission number change from 6 to 9, his interest piqued, "Nothing to do, why not join for a broader perspective."
Song Zhi, initially intending to stay out of it, agreed seeing his benefactor interested, introducing them to each other, "This is also a Mist Cloud Hunter, surname Tian, given name Lang, sometimes we team up to explore, making it easier to handle monsters in the Mist Cloud;
Tian Lang, this is Daoist You, quite interested in Mist Cloud."
"Interest is quite normal, truth be told, I became a Hunter because of my interest in Mist Cloud. Just imagine never knowing what treasures or monsters reside within the Mist Cloud, isn’t it thrilling?"
Tian Lang chuckled, "Want to see the novelty faster, I heard that Miss Hu Jiu is admired by all, makes me itch to see what kind of Celestial Immortal she is!"
