Chapter Nine, The Eccentric Luo Tian

With the tacit approval of the "Nine Divisions of the Warrior Kings" and the Red Shao, many Southern Barbarians took the opportunity to enter the Central Land of Shuiyun Kingdom, engaging in bloody massacres against various celestial sects and families of Shuiyun Kingdom, seizing primordial stones, spiritual herbs, divine weapons, and exotic treasures. Many celestial sects and families of Shuiyun Kingdom were exterminated.

Watching Ji Wanyun's figure gradually fade away, Ji Changkong let out a soft sigh and walked alone towards the slums of Qingyan City

Half a day later, Ji Wanyun brought Ji Changkong to Qingyan City

Luo Tian did not even glance at the red-faced middle-aged man, but instead looked at Ji Changkong who had just entered, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and gave a slight nod.

Ji Wanyun waved her hand wearily, not wishing to continue entangling herself in this matter. She changed the subject, saying: "Forget it, if you don't want to see Nie Ruolan, then don't. I'll find you at Luotian later." After saying this, Ji Wanyun said no more and went alone to the City Lord's Mansion of Nie Yuanshan

It was under the impetus of this individual that the Nine Tribes of the Southern Barbarians united, launching several fierce assaults on Qingyan City, breaching its gates multiple times, and entering the city to engage in rampant arson, murder, and plunder

Each time the Southern Barbarians' nine tribes received the words "not possible," they could only swallow their bitterness and then, after a decade, continue to send envoys.

In this world, as greed increases, the Southern Barbarians gather nine tribes to offer treasures, spiritual medicines, and elemental stones as tributes. These are the rarest treasures that a celestial being requires, especially the top-grade spiritual medicines and special elemental stones that can only be produced in the Southern Barbarians' territory, which make celestial beings across the world envious and frantic.

The atrocities committed by the Southern Barbarians' nine divisions and the Celestial Masters in the Kingdom of Shuiyun have finally provoked one of the two major Celestial Master sects in the Central Plains, the Tianshan Qian Kun Sect

At that time, a weak celestial being participating would leave nothing but bone fragments! In contrast, a powerful celestial being would obtain the rich spoils of war for which they are crazed during this grand feast

After losing the last three pages of the "Nine Yi Divine Archery Manual," the Southern Yi's Nine Clans have not seen a single "King of the Nine Clans" emerge. The Southern Yi army has since been in a state of decline, and the conflicts between the Nine and the Tu and Shu clans have only intensified, leaving no strength to unite and launch an attack on the Shuiyun Kingdom. As a result, Qingyan City has enjoyed peace for sixty years.

The three tile-roofed houses in the first row are where Luo Tian sleeps and converses with him on ordinary days. The three large tile-roofed houses in the second row are where Luo Tian brews wine, and beneath the large tile-roofed houses in the third row is the cellar, used for storing wine

It is said that a century ago, the Southern Jiuyi were strong and robust, and many powerful celestial beings emerged, repeatedly gathering the military forces of the nine tribes to attack Qingyan City, attempting to breach the gates of the Shuiyun Kingdom and seize the fertile lands of the Central Plains

Ji Wanyun's lips curled into a peculiar and strange smile, yet her words clearly leaned towards Ji Changkong. After a moment's thought, Ji Wanyun chuckled softly and said: "Forget it, forget it, if we don't meet, that girl won't be able to bully you. But rest assured, after we return from Wushan, once you have your elemental power, you won't have to fear her anymore"

Puff!

Now, there are only three years left until the next bloody feast

In the center of the open tile-roofed house in the first row of Luotian, there stood a tall and robust man with disheveled hair and a complexion as ruddy as that of Guan Yu. The man, facing Ji Changkong with his left side, was indiscernible in age, standing inside the house and speaking to Luotian, who was sitting there with a cold and casual demeanor.

Ji Chang Kong slightly opened his mouth, neither affirming nor denying.

The once-in-a-decade Southern Barbarians' envoy to the Tianshan Mountains has become a "grand event" for the celestial beings of the world. During this time, numerous celestial beings from the Northern Barbarians, the Western Regions, the Eastern Sea, and the Central Plains, as well as from famous mountains and rivers, gather in the small town of Qingyan. Using Qingyan as a base, they start from the Yunmeng Marshes, seizing the spiritual herbs, primordial stones, and treasures held by the Southern Barbarians' envoy.

This is a bloody feast of crocodiles fighting for food

However, most of the time, it was Ji Chang Kong who spoke alone, while Luo Tian merely sat beside him, listening quietly and rarely expressing his opinions. Many times, Ji Chang Kong would accuse Luo Tian of not paying attention to his words, yet whenever Ji Chang Kong pressed him, he could accurately recount what Ji Chang Kong had just said.

"Lao Luo, do we have guests?" Ji Chang Kong entered and greeted Luo Tian casually

"Who is this?" Ji Chang Kong asked in surprise, first turning to Luo Tian Yi, then glancing at the middle-aged man. Seeing him bent over, clumsily and intently wiping the wall, she couldn't help but chuckle and said, "What is there to wipe on this broken wall? I fear that this dilapidated house of his is worth less than your long gown from Yun Si Ge!"

Are you still afraid of that girl Nie Ruolan? Ji Wanyun was taken aback for a moment, then let out a soft, gentle laugh.

After Gu Dan tore away three pages from the "Nine Yi Divine Archery Manual," he left behind a statement, instructing the Nine Tribes of the Southern Yi to select a young celestial warrior under the age of thirty every ten years to go to Tianshan. As long as Gu Dan deems the individual acceptable with just a glance, he will return the last three pages of the "Nine Yi Divine Archery Manual" to the Nine Tribes of the Southern Yi

For some reason, every time he arrives here, Ji Chang Kong feels a sense of relaxation throughout his body. In Luo Tian's presence, Ji Chang Kong can easily forget his own misfortunes and engage in nonsensical banter with Luo Tian, regardless of their age difference.

However, today seems to be an exception

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Luo Tian has never smiled, speaks very little, and is somewhat reclusive. He always responds to things he does not wish to discuss with silence, and he rarely interacts with others in daily life

"Chang Kong, let us first go to the Lord's Mansion; I have something to discuss with that girl Ruo Lan. Once I finish speaking, we will head straight to Wu Mountain!" After entering Qingyan City, Ji Wanyun pulled Ji Chang Kong towards the Lord's Mansion where Nie Yuanshan was located.

Every time at this moment, Qingyan City is always engulfed in a storm of blood and violence. The prominent Tian Shi families in Qingyan City are filled with anxiety, and the clan leaders strictly prohibit their family members from leaving the clan even for a moment. The Tian Shi from all corners of the world, once driven by rage, show no restraint, disregarding imperial authority and military power entirely.

Uh... I apologize, I apologize... The middle-aged man seemed to suddenly come to his senses, hurriedly searching for something on his body. After searching for a while without finding anything, he showed no hesitation and, with a "rip," tore off a corner of the brocade garment he was wearing

He looked utterly astonished, glancing at the unchanging expression of Luo Tian, then at Ji Chang Kong who had just walked in. It seemed that he was provoked by Ji Chang Kong's title for Luo Tian, as he stood there frozen, his face displaying an extremely strange expression.

Half an hour later, Ji Chang Kong saw from a distance the nine dilapidated yet remarkably spacious rows of three blue-tiled houses belonging to Luo Tian, with three houses in each row

He then used the torn piece of brocade as a rag, wiping it against the dirty wall of Luo Tianjia that had been splashed with his tea, his expression focused and even somewhat cautious

Seeing the expression on Ji Chang Kong's face, Ji Wan Yun sighed inwardly. She knew that Ji Chang Kong harbored resentment, and if it were not released, this emotional knot would likely remain forever unresolved

Wushan is located within the jurisdiction of Lingyun City in the Kingdom of Shuiyun, and Lingyun City is situated to the north of Qingyan City. To reach Wushan, one must travel northward, passing through Qingyan City along the way

In Ji Chang Kong's view, Luo Tian is undoubtedly an eccentric person

Meanwhile, the three elders of the Qian Kun Sect, along with the five disciples of Gu Dan, descended from Tianshan Mountain. They joined forces with the remaining masters from various major sects and families of the Shuiyun Kingdom to engage in a bloody battle against the nine tribes of the Southern Barbarians at Blood Rain Mountain. They achieved a great victory, resulting in the tragic deaths of many celestial beings from the nine tribes who had entered the Shuiyun Kingdom, leaving their bones to eternally rest at Blood Rain Mountain

With even more powerful celestial beings, they regard this grand feast as an opportunity for their own breakthrough, coming purely for the sake of battle

Shaking his head, Ji Changkong had a strange expression and clarified, "It's not that I'm afraid! It's just that seeing her in pain makes me uncomfortable. I think if she sees me, she will probably feel even worse, so it's better not to meet."

At this point, every ten years, the Nine Tribes of the Southern Barbarians select a talented young individual as an envoy, gathering various rare spiritual herbs, elemental stones, and precious treasures. They set out from the Southern Barbarians and the library, crossing the Yunmeng Marsh, passing through Qingyan City, and then changing direction straight towards the Tianshan Mountains

Luo Tian has never smiled. Ji Chang Kong has known him for ten years and has only just realized that when he slightly pulls at the corners of his mouth, it seems to signify that he has smiled—this is a conclusion Ji Chang Kong reached in his heart after years of careful observation.

The middle-aged man turned his head to glance at Ji Changkong, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes, as if he had not expected Ji Changkong to immediately recognize that his attire was from the prestigious Yun Silk Pavilion in Tianshui City of the Shuiyun Kingdom.

After a moment of surprise, the middle-aged man glanced again at the indifferent Luo Tian and quickly resumed his actions, chuckling awkwardly: "It needs to be wiped, it needs to be wiped!"

Qingyan City is the largest city in the southernmost part of the Shuiyun Kingdom, directly facing the Nine Tribes of the Southern Barbarians. It is a fortress that is crucial for military contention. The walls of Qingyan City are made entirely from the solid blue rocks found in Qingyan Mountain, where the Ji family resides, hence the name Qingyan City

The burly man with a red face in the room suddenly spat out a mouthful of tea directly onto the wall of Luo Tian's tile-roofed house

"When I saw her a year ago, she was already at the Two Instruments Celestial Realm. I estimate that even Ji Changxiao would not be her match, so for now, I do not wish to provoke her." Ji Changkong said with a forlorn expression, shrugging to indicate his helplessness.

Sixty years ago, a powerful celestial being named Chi Xiao emerged from the nine tribes of the Southern Barbarians. He was known as the "King of the Nine Tribes" and was recognized as the ruler among all celestial beings of the nine tribes, having attained the eighth level of the celestial realm, capable of traversing the sun.

The leader of the Qian Kun Sect, Gu Dan, left Tianshan alone and journeyed to the sacred site of the Nine Clans of the Southern Barbarians, Tianlang Mountain. Among the many Southern Barbarian celestial warriors at Tianlang Mountain, he killed the Southern Barbarian "King of the Nine Clans," Chi Xiao, and calmly took away the last three pages of the Southern Barbarian celestial warriors' cultivation secret manual, "Nine Yi Divine Archery Manual," which had been kept at the sacred site of Tianlang Mountain.

Isn't it just that three years ago, you and I happened to run into her while she was bathing in the yard? Such a childish thing, yet you have so many twisted thoughts. Honestly, it wasn't intentional on your part; she was just being careless and happened to be in the wrong place with her book.

Luo Tian brews wine but never drinks it himself. He claims that brewing wine is for the purpose of making money, yet Ji Chang Kong has never seen anyone come to buy the wine he brews. Luo Tian often disappears for a period of time, ranging from three to five days at a minimum, to as long as ten days or half a month, making it unpredictable. The three rows of large tiled houses are often left unattended.

Although the Nine Tribes of the Southern Barbarians have suffered significant losses, it remains a place where ordinary celestial beings cannot venture. Therefore, the decennial mission of the Southern Barbarian envoy to the Heavenly Mountains presents an opportunity for many celestial beings across the world

The "Nine Yi Divine Archery Manual" is a sacred artifact of the Nine Clans of the Southern Yi, and it is the only secret method through which the celestial beings of the Nine Clans can cultivate to the realm of the Ten Directions. Even in the face of numerous grievances and anger, the Nine Clans of the Southern Yi can only endure. Instead, each year, the treasures, spiritual herbs, and primordial stones gathered during their missions increase, all in hopes that Gu Dan will utter the word "pass".

With a slight exertion, Ji Wan Yun broke free from Ji Chang Kong's grip on her wrist. In the midst of Ji Wan Yun's astonished and puzzled gaze, Ji Chang Kong could only smile wryly and say: "Forget it, I won't accompany you to the City Lord's Mansion. I'll wait for you over at Luo Tian."

"How can you speak like that? No matter what, Changxiao is still your elder brother. How can you address him by his name directly?" Ji Wanyun glared at Ji Changkong and then gently said, "Even if Changxiao and the others treat you poorly or look down on you, they are still members of our Ji family!"

... ...

Chi Shao is dead, and the Southern Barbarians suffered a similar defeat at Blood Rain Mountain. The morale of the Southern Barbarian army is in disarray, and without a central figure to rally around, the troops are fighting independently. Ultimately, they were severely beaten by the Kingdom of Shuiyun and had no choice but to retreat in disgrace back to the Southern Barbarians.

However, over the past sixty years, the Nine Tribes of the Southern Barbarians have sent five talented youths, carrying a wealth of Southern Barbarian treasures, spiritual herbs, and elemental stones, enduring countless hardships to reach the Tianshan Mountains. After meeting with the leader of the Qiankun Sect, Gu Dan, they received only ten words in total—five "not acceptable"!

Aside from himself, Ji Chang Kong had never seen any other friends of Luo Tian here, nor had he ever seen anyone come to buy his wine