Chapter 1247: Chapter 1219: Lieu Zhanxiao

On the other side, Li Chen returned to the base of the loose cultivators.

He casually found a place to sit down and began to listen to the conversations around him. Of course, on the surface, he still appeared to be meditating with his eyes closed.

There were many people like this that Li Chen had noticed on his way here; some were pretending to cultivate, but were actually eavesdropping for information.

However, after listening for a long time, Li Chen realized that the situation here was not much different from that of the green meadow; most of it was just idle gossip without much useful information.

This was undoubtedly a bit of a setback for Li Chen.

“It seems I still need to mobilize my subordinates. Gathering intelligence alone is quite challenging,” Li Chen pondered to himself.

And just as Li Chen was contemplating this issue, someone got in touch with him.

“Boss, what should we do next?”

Li Chen pondered for a moment, then spoke, “Investigate the organizers of this Martial Arts Conference. Oh, and focus on investigating the Hongmeng Pavilion and what they call ‘Heaven’s Chosen’.”

“Also, pay attention to concealment and safety. The Kunlun Mountains are filled with powerful experts, far beyond what we can currently contend with head-on, so be careful during investigations, and prioritize safety.”

“Understood.”

After cutting off contact, Li Chen continued eavesdropping.

Though most of it was useless information, Li Chen did hear some intriguing martial arts anecdotes from the mouths of these martial artists.

Despite his current formidable strength, which made him a top-tier expert in the martial artist world, Li Chen was a latecomer and didn’t know much about past events in the martial artist world.

Just as Li Chen was getting interested in what he heard, a commotion suddenly broke out among the loose cultivators.

Li Chen opened his eyes and looked ahead, only to find that a large crowd had gathered in front of him at some point.

Once gathered, these people very orderly dispersed to the sides, as if they were welcoming someone.

Loose cultivators, due to lack of resources and good guidance, usually lagged behind the disciples from family sects in cultivation progress and were also somewhat weaker. However, similarly, loose cultivators were most famous for being disordered and chaotic.

Often, loose cultivators would engage in fierce battles over something valuable discovered by chance, until one side won or the other died.

Those who came to the Kunlun Mountains assumed they had some skills, and while any single loose cultivator might seem strong, together they were just a motley crew.

Yet at this moment, this motley crew became orderly, which surprised Li Chen.

But quickly, his surprise turned into doubt.

In the clearing made by the dispersing loose cultivators, a few figures appeared.

A middle-aged man led the way, behind him were two youths dressed in blue and white robes.

Their clothes were embroidered with a pattern.

It was a mountain with a white top, covered with a layer of green.

Li Chen had seen this pattern before, and knew this symbol. He had even specifically studied it for a time.

This symbol indeed represented a mountain.

Likewise, it represented a massive power.

This force was called the Holy Mountain!

In fact, at the start, Li Chen had already encountered the disciples of the Holy Mountain, but at that time, it was just in passing. Li Chen thought they hadn’t noticed him, but now it seemed he had misunderstood.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t noticed him; they simply hadn’t intended to alert him. In fact, he had been exposed all along.

Judging by the formation of the Holy Mountain, Li Chen couldn’t believe they weren’t here for him.

Sure enough, under the lead of the middle-aged man, they walked straight towards Li Chen.

“Li Chen?”

Looking at Li Chen, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, the middle-aged man slowly opened his mouth.

Li Chen didn’t like the way the man looked down on him, so he stood up from the ground, faced the man, and calmly said, “I am Li Chen. And who are you?”

“Insolent!” Behind the middle-aged man, a young man shouted angrily and was about to step forward to say something, but the middle-aged man raised his hand to stop him.

“It’s alright.”

After scrutinizing Li Chen, a faint smile appeared on the middle-aged man’s face, “Remarkable, indeed worthy of the surname Li, even your temperament is identical to that guy.”

“I’m Lieu Zhanxiao, the temporary sect leader of the Holy Mountain. Hmm, I used to know your father,” the middle-aged man said calmly.

However, amidst his calm demeanor, there was still an undeniable feeling, that was the pressure within the calm.

If it were an ordinary martial artist, upon sensing this pressure, they would likely choose to retreat or submit at the first opportunity.

But evidently, Li Chen was no ordinary martial artist. Upon feeling Lieu Zhanxiao’s pressure, he merely furrowed his brows slightly, then calmed down.

“I have never met my father, nor do I know his acquaintances. So, if there’s something to say, just say it. Otherwise… I still need to continue my cultivation.”

Upon hearing Li Chen’s words, the loose cultivators around him couldn’t help but sweat nervously.

One must know, standing here now is the sect master of the Holy Mountain, a rare expert in the entire Huaxia Martial World.

Yet this young-looking man dared speak to him in such a manner?

Behind Lieu Zhanxiao, several young individuals couldn’t help but step forward, angrily jeering at Li Chen.

Li Chen’s gaze remained calm, entirely ignoring their verbal abuse, merely lifting his eyelids a bit to say to Lieu Zhanxiao, “Control your dogs, don’t let them out to bite people at will.”

Hearing Li Chen’s words, even Lieu Zhanxiao’s disposition couldn’t help but harbor some hidden fury.

Indeed, he hadn’t intended to let Li Chen off from the very beginning. This time, he was merely testing Li Chen.

Normally, trial and testing wouldn’t lead to outright hostility, but Li Chen’s demeanor evidently showed no intention to peacefully navigate this ‘testing phase’ with him.

Although Lieu Zhanxiao didn’t turn his gaze, his True Qi perception began to survey the surroundings.

With his cultivation, killing Li Chen wouldn’t be particularly difficult, and now he was seriously considering whether to act ahead of time to obliterate this reckless youngster.

Perhaps Li Chen couldn’t see through Lieu Zhanxiao’s cultivation, but he was extremely sensitive to killing intent, sensing the faint aura of menace from Lieu Zhanxiao, his body began to tense up.

He did not know exactly how powerful Lieu Zhanxiao was.

But Li Chen could almost be certain that given the martial artists glorified Lieu Zhanxiao, his strength would undoubtedly not be weak.

Among those who attacked the Nether Army Base, there was Yun Canglong, a scorching-level expert.

The ability to engage a scorching-level expert, could their strength really be weaker?

Li Chen well understood that he wasn’t likely to be Lieu Zhanxiao’s match yet, so here, he could only fully exploit the rules of the Kunlun Mountains to restrict him.

After all, the martial arts conference this time isn’t merely hosted by the Hongmeng Pavilion but also involves several other major families and sects.

Even for the sake of face, they wouldn’t allow Lieu Zhanxiao to act recklessly here.

The Holy Mountain is powerful, its influence immense, but Li Chen could hardly believe such a sect closed off for decades could truly contend with the several strongest forces in the Martial Artist World at its peak now.

Sure enough, Lieu Zhanxiao’s expression changed several times, then calmed down.

Waving away a few Holy Mountain disciples who already couldn’t hold back, Lieu Zhanxiao looked at Li Chen and spoke indifferently:

“I must admit, you’re indeed clever. You know I definitely won’t act now, so you’re trying to enrage me, leading to misjudgment. I underestimated you.”

Li Chen shrugged, saying nothing.

Since he was seen through, there’s little point in arguing. Against a strong figure like Lieu Zhanxiao, he never expected his little ploy to severely harm the other.

It’s just that, unfortunately, his strength indeed falls short of the opponent’s, making whatever he says or does seem somewhat lacking in confidence.

At this moment, members of the Hongmeng Pavilion had appeared not far away.

Lieu Zhanxiao slightly raised his head, glanced at the approaching Hongmeng Pavilion members, then turned his gaze back to Li Chen.

“Young fellow, you’re clever, but know this: I’ve waited for decades, won’t be troubled by a mere timing issue,” Lieu Zhanxiao said to Li Chen indifferently, “Furthermore, be aware that you don’t just have me as an enemy.”

“Enjoy your Kunlun Mountain journey,” Lieu Zhanxiao said, his lips curving into a faint smile, full of deeper meaning, “Enjoy your time.”

Reaching out his hand, in a manner like an elder advising a junior, he lightly patted Li Chen’s shoulder. Before the Hongmeng Pavilion members arrived, Lieu Zhanxiao turned and led several people away.

Watching Lieu Zhanxiao’s departing figure, Li Chen’s expression grew even more grave.

As Lieu Zhanxiao said, he clearly understood his enemies likely extended beyond just the Holy Mountain. Although his father once slaughtered many forces, intimidating quite a few.

But ultimately didn’t truly eradicate them to the root, and through these years passed, even Li Chen himself didn’t know how many hidden enemies kept close watch on him.

No matter what, it’s clear that the Holy Mountain, and also somewhere unknown Feng Yizhu, probably remain his greatest enemies for now.

Hesitating for a moment, Li Chen chose not to linger here any further, as this place wasn’t suitable for him right now.

With a swift movement, Li Chen headed straight towards the direction of the Palace of the Nether King.