West of the capital, Wuling Mountain.
This is a wild mountain with an altitude of over a thousand meters. As it has not been developed and there are no roads leading up the mountain, few people venture into the mountains. Only occasionally do woodcutters from the villages at the foot of the mountain go up to chop firewood.
Since ancient times, the Qi family has made their home and passed down their legacy in Wuling Mountain. The true strength of the Qi family has always been hidden within this mountain, and few people in the capital know the Qi family's true background.
It is said that the Qi family has a history of two thousand years, and their hidden strength is immeasurable. Even the other three major families in the capital and the Dragon Department, which holds sway in the circles, have never witnessed the true power of the Qi family!
Ye Ling brought Tian Ling to the village at the foot of the mountain. Looking at Wuling Mountain, shrouded in mist, he smiled and said, "I didn't expect there to be such a blessed land near the capital. The Qi family has really occupied a good spot."
The concentration of spiritual energy in Wuling Mountain is more than ten times that of the surrounding areas. Coupled with the spirit gathering formations specifically set up by the Qi family within Wuling Mountain, the spiritual energy concentration in the core area of Wuling Mountain is likely comparable to the immortal realm!
Judging solely by Wuling Mountain, the Qi family's foundation is far superior to sects like Zhengyi Men and other renowned circles of extraordinary individuals. Even Shu Mountain, which is in a semi-spiritual realm, might not be comparable to the Qi family's location.
"As expected of one of the four major families in China, with such a foundation, it's no wonder they dare to provoke the Demon Palace. It's a pity... they were overconfident." Ye Ling shook his head and smiled. Just as he was about to pass through the village and ascend the mountain, a farmer riding a cow, with a blade of grass in his mouth and a bamboo hat, came out of the village, shaking a bell.
Tian Ling's eyes lit up when she saw the farmer and said, "Senior Brother, I've seen that cow in the immortal realm. It's a divine beast!"
The farmer rode his cow to Ye Ling and asked with a smile, "Are you two heading up the mountain?"
Ye Ling stopped and glanced at the farmer, then asked with a smile, "Is there something, old man?"
The farmer smiled and said, "Nothing much. I'm just kindly reminding you two that there's a mountain god in the mountain. If you ascend rashly, you might run into trouble."
Ye Ling smiled and said, "What if we insist on going up the mountain?"
The farmer paused, then pulled down his bamboo hat and said, "If you two insist on going up the mountain, I can't do anything about it. I can only wish you good luck."
After saying that, the farmer stopped talking to Ye Ling and rode his cow away.
Tian Ling watched the farmer's retreating back and asked Ye Ling, "Senior Brother, that old man is acting so mysteriously. What exactly does he want to convey?"
Ye Ling shook his head and smiled, "Who cares? However, Wang Liren just sent me a message saying that the villagers at the foot of Wuling Mountain have guarded this mountain for generations, and they even worship the Qi family as deities. I guess that old man was trying to warn us."
Tian Ling nodded as if she understood, "Oh... but I still don't get it. If he didn't want us to go up the mountain, he could have just said so. Why talk about a mountain god? Even the local Earth God in the mortal world would respectfully greet me."
Ye Ling smiled and rubbed Tian Ling's head, "He's just a mere eighth-rank. Why bother with him? If he dares to stop us, we'll just kill him."
Ye Ling came here to eliminate the Qi family. If the village at the foot of the mountain were indeed the guardians of the Qi family, and they dared to interfere, Ye Ling would not show mercy.
"Oh..." Tian Ling replied, glanced at the departing farmer again, and then put the farmer out of her mind, following Ye Ling into the village.
The village at the foot of Wuling Mountain was no different from other modern villages. It had electricity and running water, surrounded by cement bungalows, and even children playing on the roadside.
However, unlike other villages, most of the people in this village had spiritual fluctuations, and even the children had low-level cultivation.
In an ordinary village, the number of extraordinary individuals could rival a first-class sect in the circles. From this point alone, the village was extraordinary.
As Ye Ling and Tian Ling entered the village, the surrounding villagers did not stop them, but there was a hidden hostility in their eyes as they looked at Ye Ling and Tian Ling.
Ye Ling ignored the surrounding gazes and walked straight to the end of the village, stopping in front of a small mountain path.
Beside the path stood a small Earth God temple, with incense burning and offerings placed before it, clearly indicating that someone frequently worshipped there.
At this moment, an old woman, hunched over and leaning on a cane, walked up to Ye Ling. In a hoarse voice, she said, "Young man, you cannot go up this mountain. If you anger the mountain god, you will never return. You should leave quickly."
Tian Ling smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandma. The mountain god can't do anything to my Senior Brother!"
"Audacious!" The old woman's eyes suddenly widened, and she scolded sharply, "You little girl, how dare you speak so presumptuously about the mountain god! You will face retribution! Hurry and apologize to the mountain god!"
Tian Ling was startled by the old woman and instinctively took a few steps back, accidentally stepping on the offerings in front of the Earth God and knocking them over!
"Oh dear! This is truly a sin!" Seeing Tian Ling knock over the offerings, the old woman's expression changed slightly. She quickly knelt before the Earth God and kowtowed, "Mountain God, please forgive us! This little girl is ignorant! Please do not blame us!"
Tian Ling looked at the old woman's current state and looked at Ye Ling helplessly, whispering, "Senior Brother, I didn't mean to..."
"It's alright." Ye Ling gently patted Tian Ling's head, signaling her to calm down. "This village is a bit strange. It's not your fault."
Although the frail old woman was kneeling and kowtowing, she actually had a seventh-rank cultivation, far stronger than ordinary people.
Although Ye Ling did not understand why the old woman was pretending to be a god here, he was not interested in exploring the hidden secrets of this village.
His purpose for coming here was the Qi family, and that was all.
"Let's go up the mountain."
Ye Ling ignored the old woman, took Tian Ling's hand, and walked onto the mountain path, heading uphill.
Tian Ling, hearing the cries of "sin" from behind, felt a pang of guilt. She asked Ye Ling again, "Senior Brother, I knocked over their offerings. Do you think the Earth God will be angry with the villagers? They are not part of the Qi family, and I don't want them to suffer undeserved disaster."
Seeing Tian Ling's worried expression, Ye Ling smiled and shook his head, "Fine, I really can't do anything about you, girl. Senior Brother will ask for you."
Saying that, Ye Ling stomped his foot on the ground and called out, "If there is a mountain god in this mountain, come out now."
A moment after Ye Ling's voice fell, a wisp of green smoke emerged from the ground, and a bald Earth God, shorter than Tian Ling, appeared before Ye Ling and respectfully bowed, "This humble one, the Land God of Wuling Mountain, pays respects to the Emperor."
Ye Ling asked the Earth God, "What's going on with the village at the foot of the mountain? Why are those villagers, with their strong cultivation, acting so afraid of you?"
The Earth God said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, they are not afraid of me. They are afraid of the Qi family on the mountain."