387: 229 Stir 387: 229 Stir Following that, Fang Zhixing visited the comrcial street and found a branch of the Heavenly Treasure Chamber of Comrce.
He entered the hall and first purchased the latest map.
“Yulan County has been a Restricted Area for nearly ten years now…”
Fang Zhixing spread out the map to examine it closely; a gleam of deep light flashed through his dark eyes.
In Xiahe County, out of the nine counties, only eight remained.
The trace of Yulan County had been erased from the map.
“Oh, it seems that Xiahe County noticed quite so ti ago that Yulan County had beco a Restricted Area,” Fang Zhixing remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Logically, when a new Restricted Area erged, it should have attracted many to trespass, venture, and explore.
But clearly, soone had deliberately suppressed this information.
Fang Zhixing’s gaze swept across the map, focusing on Nanping Mountain.
“Seven years ago, I encountered the Breaking Precepts Evil Monk; he was on his way to Nanping Mountain, said he was going to witness the birth of the Restricted Area…”
On the map, Nanping Mountain was still there, but without any additional annotations.
Noticing this, Fang Zhixing’s thoughts beca lively.
A mont later…
He left the County through the South Gate, headed straight along the official road, and hastened toward Nanping Mountain.
On his way, Fang Zhixing looked up and saw from afar a massive shadow looming over Nanping Mountain.
The last ti he was here, Nanping Mountain was a desolate mountain covered with lush forests without any buildings.
Fang Zhixing couldn’t help but quicken his pace, rapidly reaching the base of the mountain and looked up carefully.
Just as expected.
Atop the ridge stood a majestic fortress, all white, solid as a copper wall and iron bastion.
Near the fortress, a large area of trees had been completely cut down, providing a broad view with no place to hide.
Those inside the fortress needed only to glance around to oversee every nook and cranny below the mountain.
Anyone attempting to approach the fortress silently would face an undoubtedly great difficulty.
Additionally, the defenses of the fortress were extrely robust, certainly not just for show.
Fang Zhixing stood by the roadside, waiting briefly, soon flagged down a passerby.
The other party was rely an itinerant rchant, selling animal pelts and obscure dicinal recipes.
Fang Zhixing stopped him, pretending to buy dicines, and asked, “Brother, do you know whose fortress that is?”
The itinerant rchant glanced at the mountain and laughed, “The Mysterious Fire Sect’s, started building about seven years ago, they only finished last year.”
Fang Zhixing quickly followed up, “What is the Mysterious Fire Sect building a fortress here for?”
The itinerant rchant shrugged, laughing, “As for the specific reasons, how would I, a re itinerant rchant, know?
But I’ve heard people say it seems there was a cave entrance that appeared on the mountain, and that entrance directly connected to the Mysterious Fire Restricted Area; hence the Mysterious Fire Sect had no choice but to build a fortress to block that entrance.”
Fang Zhixing listened, sowhat understanding yet surprised, “The Mysterious Fire Sect has a Restricted Area?
There are only two Restricted Areas in the whole of Xiahe County.”
The itinerant rchant shook his head with a wry smile, indicating that this was all he knew.
After a mont of reflection, Fang Zhixing imdiately turned back to the County.
He walked into the Cuizhu Pavilion and found the shop assistant.
“Sir, you’re back, staying here?”
The shop assistant smiled, nodding and bowing, this ti he rembered Fang Zhixing.
“Not staying.”
Fang Zhixing took out so coins and handed them to the shop assistant, inquiring, “You’ve been around the County for many years, well-inford, do you know what the deal is with that fortress on Nanping Mountain?”
The shop assistant said with a smile, “About that, I do know a little.”
He held up three fingers, explaining carefully, “Speaking of that fortress, one can’t help but ntion the ‘Mysterious Fire Restricted Area.’
In Xiahe County, on the surface, there are only two Restricted Areas, but in reality, there are three.”
“Three Restricted Areas?!”
Fang Zhixing was visibly moved, “Are you saying the Mysterious Fire Sect monopolized a Restricted Area?”
“Yes!”
The shop assistant nodded vigorously, “The Mysterious Fire Restricted Area is Fourth Level, exclusively controlled by the Mysterious Fire Sect, and outsiders cannot enter it to hunt.”
Fang Zhixing frowned, puzzled, “A Restricted Area isn’t very large, how does the Mysterious Fire Sect keep others out?”
“No need to keep them out!”
The shop assistant replied, “Actually, the problem lies here, the Mysterious Fire Restricted Area, unlike other Restricted Areas, has its entrance in a cave, so the Mysterious Fire Sect just needs to guard that cave entrance to prevent others from entering or leaving that Fourth Level Restricted Area.”
“The cave entrance…”
Fang Zhixing suddenly had an epiphany.
The shop assistant continued, “All this ti, everyone thought the Mysterious Fire Restricted Area had only one entrance, located within the gates of the Mysterious Fire Sect, where outsiders were strictly forbidden to tread.
But unexpectedly, seven years ago, the Great Rebel Greed Wolf leading the rebels occupied Nanping Mountain and discovered another cave entrance, which also led into the Mysterious Fire Restricted Area.
At first, the rebels didn’t realize the Restricted Area they entered was the Mysterious Fire Restricted Area; they rely thought they had discovered a new Restricted Area.”
Even so spread rumors that this Restricted Area had just been born.
This caused a buzz in Jianghu, drawing many from the martial community to gather around Nanping Mountain to observe.”
Fang Zhixing quickly understood.
Damn it, so the Breaking Precepts Evil Monk was drawn here by a rumor.
Thinking this, Fang Zhixing’s expression showed a hint of distaste.
As it turned out, his first eting with the Breaking Precepts Evil Monk was at Yan’s Winery.
But that was just a random encounter, completely accidental.
One ti could be accidental but not the second ti.
Yet, to his utter surprise, their second eting was still an accident.
It was just such a coincidence.
The shop assistant blithely continued, “Before long, the Mysterious Fire Sect realized soone had trespassed into their Fourth Level forbidden land, and soon figured out that the second entrance was on Nanping Mountain.
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