Where there are people, there is the Jianghu.
Jianghu is not just about fighting; it's about the ways of the world.
For ordinary people, understanding the ways of the world is something they must learn and strive for. For those born with a silver spoon, it's something that others hurry to deliver to them.
Just like Sun Xiuming, as the son of the Weiri City's City Lord, he doesn't need to say or do anything, and a crowd gathers around him.
The new disciples are understandable, but even many of the older students gather around him.
The reason is simple. For the average cultivator, the first is resources, the second is connections, and the third is backing.
New students covet Sun Xiuming's resources, while older students start planning for the future, eyeing his connections and backing. They think if they build a good relationship with him, after graduating in five terms, they might have the chance to hold a position in the City Lord's Mansion, which is certainly better than becoming a loose cultivator in the Jianghu.
As time goes by, a lot of people have teamed up with Sun Xiuming.
Traveling together, they encounter a Profound Demon, join forces to slay it, giving the bigger share to Sun Xiuming and keeping the smaller portion for themselves.
Sun Xiuming doesn't even need to exert effort to gain the most points.
This is the advantage of the initial resource accumulation.
"Brother Sun, this is the Tier Two Profound Demon that has just been dealt with, the Pengtou Sword Snake. You take it."
Sun Xiuming was about to deal with the Pengtou Sword Snake when he suddenly heard a sound from the dense forest beside them. The noise grew louder and closer.
Then, a clump of brambles was suddenly pushed aside, revealing a dark green shadow speeding past, dragging a long celestial flame behind it.
The short and thin youth He Chen craned his neck to look,
"Is that, Luo Qingyao? She seems to be carrying something on her back."
Sun Xiuming, having a higher cultivation, saw more clearly,
"It's her. She's carrying Fan Wubing."
He Chen burst into laughter,
"See, that Fan Wubing is only good at dragging others down. Just started, and he's in trouble, having to be carried by Luo Qingyao to escape, really embarrassing for a third-term student."
"Something's not right. Behind, the commotion seems even greater."
Within a few breaths, the chaos approached. Everyone focused and saw dozens of Profound Demon Wild Boars charging down from the hillside, overwhelming everything in its path, leaving trees fallen and birds and beasts scattered with no land left untouched. Each had glowing red eyes, filled with hatred.
"Barbaric Blood Pigs! There are twenty of them, no! More, too many to count!"
"Barbaric Blood Pigs are accustomed to gathering with their families, with extremely strong assault capabilities. We are no match; we must hide!"
Each person used their method to try to escape the scene.
After running for a while,
"Huh, that Barbaric Blood Pig herd isn't charging at us. They... they're chasing Luo Qingyao and them!"
The Barbaric Blood Pig herd quickly rushed past them without a glance, following the route Luo Qingyao and Fan Wubing were escaping on, running wildly.
"This... those two must have done something to attract the hatred of an entire Barbaric Blood Pig family. Did they kill their parents?"
"It's over, Barbaric Blood Pigs hold grudges the most and aren't the brightest, but once targeted, they won't stop until one is dead, running to the ends of the earth won't help."
"These things will even burn their own demon power to get revenge, acting without thinking."
"Those two are likely in trouble. Being so targeted, let alone getting points to pass to the next level, keeping their lives would be fortunate."
Sun Xiuming squinted his eyes and said,
"Let's go and see."
He Chen said,
"Brother Sun, that's a bit risky. What if we're mistaken for being part of that group?"
"Luo Qingyao, I can't see her in distress and not do anything."
He Chen's eyes flashed with some taunt, thinking, what a fool, can't move when seeing a woman. He nodded and said,
"Okay, I'll follow Brother Sun."
...
"They actually provoked an entire Barbaric Blood Pig family."
In the Immortal Performance Hall, all the elders frowned as they watched.
Sect Leader Mei Jinqiu looked at the Peak Master of Immortal Performance Peak, Lin Xing,
"Brother Lin Xing, didn't I say before not to place such easily gathering Profound Demons in the freshman trial scene?"
Peak Master Lin Xing of Immortal Performance Peak, a very robust person of middle age with a firm and righteous demeanor,
"I was negligent, I'll handle it right away."
Zhang Jingwei from Fulu Peak said,
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, why not look and see first? It's often heard that in Changsheng Continent, the Luo Family holds up half of the world, surely, their daughter is no ordinary person. Perhaps she can handle it."
"I can trust her, but let's not forget, there's still Fan Wubing beside her. If anything happens to Fan Wubing, who among you dares to speak with Fu Ming?"
Zhang Jingwei slightly bowed,
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, 'Old guides new' was a rule set by us together. Such a rule cannot be easily broken. Even if Fan Wubing meets a mishap, it's his own overestimation. And as for Fu Ming... since when did an outsider from the Demon Race get to boss around in the Eternal Immortal Sect?"
"Brother Jingwei, don't say words that are harmful to human-demon harmony."
"Yes."
Zhang Jingwei returned to his position.
Mei Jinqiu took a deep breath,
"Brother Lin Xing, let's see first."
...
"Senior Brother, are they still chasing us?"
Luo Qingyao dashed through the mountains and forests, constantly adjusting her breathing rhythm to make the most efficient use of each trace of celestial energy.
This is the advantage of having a good cultivation technique, as a good technique not only absorbs celestial energy quickly but also uses it very efficiently, absorbing fewer impurities.
Fan Wubing actively maximized the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill, trying to sense the rhythm of the surroundings' breath.
Wind, sound, light... every little change was captured as much as possible.
"Their hatred is entirely focused on us. From the breath, it seems we must settle this in a life-or-death struggle."
Luo Qingyao gritted her teeth and said,
"Senior Brother, should I divert them while you escape from another side?"
Fan Wubing shook his head,
"Not to mention that you alone cannot handle such a large group of Profound Demons, the hatred on my part is even greater than yours."
"But this isn't a solution, my body is starting to fatigue. Although there are Spirit Stones to replenish celestial energy, fatigue cannot be quickly recovered. If it weren't for the boost from Senior Brother's celestial meal just now, I would've run out of strength."
Fan Wubing frowned tightly. Due to the Unwarranted Qi Creation Skill, his breath was stable, and so were his emotions, without panic, he seriously thought of a solution.
The change in the wind.
Fan Wubing felt a shift in the wind direction and immediately said,
"Junior Sister, there should be a wind gap ahead on the left, go take a look."
"Okay!"
Luo Qingyao once again picked up speed.
After sprinting for about three hundred meters, the surrounding vegetation suddenly thinned significantly until they completely retreated, revealing an open barren land.
The barren land is the least suitable place for group battles since there is no space for maneuvering. However, at the front of the barren land, there is a towering cliff steep mountain, with a narrow opening on the cliff, and at this moment, strong wind continuously blows through that gap.
"That's the place. That wind gap is narrow, at most able to allow three Profound Demon Wild Boars to pass side by side, which can greatly disperse them, avoiding direct group confrontation!"
Luo Qingyao was startled and asked,
"Senior Brother, are you not just planning to escape but to... kill them?"
Fan Wubing's eyes showed intense enthusiasm,
"Running away would be a waste, those are walking meals and points."
"But there are so many of them, we might not be able to endure. Besides, if we face them head-on, my physical strength might not withstand so many."
"Junior Sister, don't worry, let me take the hits! You just focus on attacking. Your Senior Brother, I am, not afraid of attrition battles at all."
"Alright!"
Luo Qingyao trusted Fan Wubing unconditionally.
Fan Wubing was somewhat excited; this was the first real test of his accumulated results over the years!
It's very necessary; it must not be missed!