He had stayed in Jingzhou Prefecture for two days, and Han Zheng also took the opportunity to inquire about the situation of the Zhang Family.
Jingzhou Prefecture, as a small State Mansion, indeed possessed greater strength than Black Stone County, but not by much.
The Zhang Family in Jingzhou Prefecture was already considered a major force, and their patriarch was at the Early Stage of Xuan Gang Realm.
To snatch food from the mouth of a Xuan Gang Realm expert while being at the Innate Realm seed reckless to others.
However, Han Zheng had faced high-level experts like Yuan Longshan, who was at the Late Stage of Xuan Gang Realm.
Although Han Zheng would not arrogantly claim he could kill the Zhang patriarch, he could at least contend with him a few moves.
This wasn't because Han Zheng had grown arrogant due to fear, but rather the confidence brought about by his formidable power.
Outside Jingzhou Prefecture, at the foot of Black Peak Mountain.
Black Peak Mountain was so nad because its main peak was pitch black.
Moreover, for so unknown reason, there were very few plants on Black Peak Mountain, only the bare mountain body and not even any living creatures to be seen.
Han Zheng had arrived here early in the morning and was quietly waiting inside a roadside teahouse.
This was the site of the True Martial Sect ruins.
However, only the Zhang Family knew the exact location in Black Peak Mountain.
After releasing information intentionally by the Zhang family for a while, many martial artists from Jingzhou Prefecture or outsiders had already been attracted here.
After all, this was a sect ruin from the chaotic era of Ancient Tis and demons; it definitely contained valuable relics, a consensus among everyone in the Martial World.
During the chaotic era with Ancient Tis demons, it was the darkest and most humiliating epoch for the Human Clan.
Nurous powerful demons even raised humans as Blood Food, eating ten one day, eight the next.
However, the Martial Arts of that era were recognized as powerful, and any sect that had survived to the present was no weakling.
Thinking carefully, one would know, how could a sect that expanded and survived among countless demons be weak?
Hence, once such Ancient Tis sect ruins were discovered, they would surely attract a large number of martial artists.
If a sect ruin of such renown from Ancient Tis resurfaced, whether it was the Court or various major sects, they would all go mad over it.
At this ti, on the north side of Black Peak Mountain, more than ten martial artists had gathered, led by a luxuriously dressed elderly man at the Xuan Gang Realm; the rest were at the Innate Realm.
"How many martial artists have arrived at Black Peak Mountain?"
The luxuriously-dressed elder was the Zhang Family patriarch. He was short and stout with white long beard, appearing benevolent and kind.
One would never guess that it was he who had intentionally lured a large number of martial artists into the ruins to et their deaths.
A Zhang Family disciple reported, "About a hundred Innate Realm martial artists have co, half of them from powers within Jingzhou Prefecture."
"It's enough, let's take action now, otherwise delaying for too long might invite other Xuan Gang Realm martial artists, causing complications.
Moreover, attracting half of the warriors from Jingzhou Prefecture is not bad. If this group were to die within the ruins, then from today onwards, Jingzhou Prefecture would look to my Zhang Family as the leader."
Tan Qingzhu only knew that the Zhang Family was plotting to seize the ruins, unaware that the Zhang patriarch had deeper sches.
The ruin was around Jingzhou Prefecture and would surely attract many martial artists from there first.
Once they all perished in the ruins, the forces behind these martial artists would be greatly weakened.
While the Zhang Family, obtaining the cultivation techniques and treasures from the ruins, would see a considerable increase in strength, and even possibly dominate Jingzhou Prefecture!
Finally, using Jingzhou Prefecture as a base to rise within Southern Mountain.
Then, the Five Families and Seven Sects of Southern Mountain would have to be adjusted to beco Six Families and Seven Sects.
The Zhang Family patriarch had been planning this two birds with one stone strategy in his heart for many years.
"But patriarch, the third and fourth brothers died while chasing that woman outside, and that woman died as well. The array fragnt also disappeared.
We haven't found that array fragnt; what if soone else cos with the fragnt and competes with us?"
The Zhang Family patriarch's expression suddenly darkened.
"Useless! Fooled by a woman at a critical mont, nearly ruining the grand plan of my Zhang Family that's been in place for a thousand years!
We are now at a point where we must act, no ti to search anymore. Delaying any longer will only bring more martial artists and increase the likelihood of issues.
Losing a piece of the fragnt is not critical, we still have five pieces, which is enough."
"Let the second one open the chanism and expose the relics."
The entrance to the relics on Black Peak Mountain had been exposed for many years, but it was concealed by the traps laid by the Zhang Family.
At this mont, as the Zhang Family mbers opened the chanism, the giant rocks on Black Peak Mountain split apart, and an extrely powerful array energy fluctuation thunderously transmitted.
"The relics are open!"
Soone shouted loudly, and people rushed towards the direction of the array fluctuations, fearing falling even a half step behind.
Han Zheng finished the tea in his cup in one gulp and then followed the crowd running towards the mountain top.
At this mont, at the top of Black Peak Mountain, the light of the array soared into the sky, and the accumulated power fluctuations surged out, making it temporarily impossible to enter.
Therefore, the martial artists who arrived early were almost all standing around the array, eager to try.
"Ancestor of the Zhang Family has arrived!"
Everyone looked back to see the Ancestor of the Zhang Family leading more than ten Innate Realm martial artists from his family to the top of Black Peak Mountain, directly occupying the foremost position, and everyone else had no choice but to make way.
In the crowd, many martial artists possessed the strength of the Innate Realm, and those who had reached the peak of the Innate Realm and condensed the Water and Fire Immortal Clothes were in the minority. Very few dared to compete with the Zhang Family for a spot.
Han Zheng did not stand in the most conspicuous spot at the front but took a position in the second row.
From here, it was not the closest to the front, but one could still see the inside of the relics at a glance.
Seeing the actions of the Zhang Family, Han Zheng silently comnded their cleverness.
If the Zhang Family had intentionally stood at the back, it might have aroused suspicion that there was sothing wrong with the relics.
By boldly standing in the front row, they could advance or retreat as needed.
Standing in the front row didn't an one had to rush into the relics imdiately.
Just then, a scream suddenly ca from behind.
The top of Black Peak Mountain was very small. The first row was already filled with a dozen people, and even so of the Zhang Family were in the second row.
By this ti, hundreds of martial artists had filled the entire mountain top, and so were even at the mountainside, unable to see clearly what was happening on the top.
Though the later martial artists regretted not securing a advantageous position, they honestly lined up behind.
There was naturally no need for fighting before even entering the relics.
But just then, a brawny man in black clothes with only one eye insisted on squeezing into the front row.
The martial artist in front of him naturally refused, and after cursing at the man, ended up having his arm torn off and his head smashed by the latter!
Everyone looked towards the foot of the mountain, where the one-eyed brawny man was brazenly pushing his way to the top.
It was one thing for so to cleverly avoid his sharp edge, but anyone who didn't move out of his way was chased down and would likely et a rciless, brutal end by his hands.
A martial artist beside Han Zheng, with double swords at his hips and a sowhat thin figure, hissed, "Li Qianhai, this scourge, has co too? Wasn't it said that he had left Bai River Prefecture long ago?"
"What is this guy's background to be so arrogant?"
Han Zheng asked.
The thin martial artist responded, "Brother, you're not a local, are you?"
Han Zheng nodded, "I'm just passing by from Jingzhou Prefecture and saw the crowd, so I ca to check out the excitent."
"No wonder. Here in Bai River Prefecture, there's hardly anyone who doesn't know this scourge, Li Qianhai.
This Li Qianhai, also known as 'Bloody Hand Hu Lü', although a loose cultivator by origin, was born with imnse strength, formidable skills, and very ruthless thods.
He once fancied the legitimate daughter of the Feng Family, a small-ti family in Bai River, but how could a proper Martial Arts family from Bai River marry their daughter to such an infamous loose cultivator? They obviously refused outright.
But this guy tead up with bandits to rob the Feng Family's rchant convoy, ambushed the family head, slaughtered the entire Feng Family, and after raping the legitimate daughter, he killed her—his thods were utterly cruel.
Such actions naturally triggered the wrath of many forces in Bai River Prefecture, and together, they put a bounty on Li Qianhai.
But not only did they fail to kill him, it instead made Li Qianhai even stronger, and the bounty was gradually forgotten.
After that incident, Li Qianhai beca more presumptuous, extorting those small families and sects, ceaselessly pestering like a mad dog if they didn't comply with his demands.
Now, seeing that this guy has achieved great success with his Water and Fire Immortal Clothes, he has beco even more troubleso to deal with.
Alas, the heavens are truly blind.
Such a despicable man still managed to cultivate the Water and Fire Immortal Clothes; those of us who diligently practice our cultivation barely make any progress after years."
The thin martial artist sighed, barely concealing his anger towards Li Qianhai.
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