Chapter 109: Seven Major Sects

"Xia Qianyu," Chu Feng said, surprised. Why was this girl suddenly so keen to contact him? Did she want to continue their acquaintance? Chu Feng wasn't so conceited; he had clearly infuriated her last time, making her furious enough to want to fight him. With clear, big eyes and a student haircut, she possessed a pure beauty. She didn't seem like someone with complex thoughts, so it was unlikely she had figured out his identity.

"Jiang Luoshen!" Chu Feng guessed. It was probably instigated by Miss Jiang Luoshen from Bodhi Gene, a formidable and very shrewd person.

The phone rang many times before he answered. He immediately heard her voice.

"I'm so mad! That pervert ignored me. I've tried to reach him four times now..." As she spoke, she clearly realized something and quickly shut up, because this time... it connected!

"Hey, freeloading girl, what are you babbling about?" Chu Feng said.

The words "freeloading girl" instantly made Xia Qianyu want to hit someone. Her face burned with embarrassment; the last encounter had been incredibly humiliating.

"Chu, don't bully people!"

"How did I bully you? Be clear, or your aunt might misunderstand again. By the way, check if your aunt is eavesdropping again, so she doesn't go complain to my mom later."

"Ah, Auntie, why are you really outside the door!?" Xia Qianyu was startled and quickly pushed her aunt back into the room.

"Chu Feng, are you free today? Can you come out?" Xia Qianyu whispered, clearly afraid her aunt would hear.

Chu Feng didn't want to go out, so he brushed her off casually, saying, "Not today, I'm not feeling well."

Being rejected after actively inviting him made Xia Qianyu feel awkward and annoyed. If Jiang Luoshen hadn't insisted she get him to come out, she would never have contacted that pervert. She gritted her teeth, enduring the urge to give up, and decided to try one more time to trick him into coming out. Xia Qianyu had considered it carefully: Jiang Luoshen wouldn't be such a lovesick fool. She must want to... teach him a lesson!

"I've thought about it, and last time, Luoshen and I were wrong. We shouldn't have been prejudiced against you..." She tried hard to control herself, speaking against her conscience, almost feeling she couldn't bear it anymore.

Chu Feng, hearing this, secretly chuckled. He knew she wasn't sincere and just wanted to trick him into coming out. So, after hearing her apology, he immediately laughed and said, "I accept your apology. That's all for now, I'm hanging up. I'm not feeling well and need to rest."

"Beep... beep..."

A dial tone buzzed in Xia Qianyu's ear. Her face immediately turned scarlet; she was truly exasperated.

Finally, she became frantic and called Jiang Luoshen.

"Jiang Luoshen! I'm practically dying of anger trying to help you get him out! I apologized for nothing, and he just accepted it calmly then hung up! I'm so humiliated because of you, ahhh..."

"You said he's not feeling well? Hmm, that's an angle. Keep trying! You must get him to come out," Jiang Luoshen said, her voice strange.

"No, if you want to go, go yourself. I'd rather die than talk to him again. I've never been so shameless in my life. If you like him, you go!" Xia Qianyu hung up, never wanting to contact that person again. It felt too humiliating.

"Hello, hello, hello, you brat, what nonsense are you spouting?!" Jiang Luoshen was conflicted. Did she really have to go herself? Yet, she was eager to confirm her suspicions.

Chu Feng's communicator rang again, but this time it wasn't a beautiful woman; it was the old man Lu Tong from Jade Palace.

"I just got back, and you're already conscripting me? I haven't even rested," Chu Feng said reluctantly. Nevertheless, he left the residential area and headed straight for the distant compound, beneath which lay the Jade Palace.

"That old man is cunning like a monkey. Besides asking me about how I killed the Azure Wolf, he's probably eyeing the two wolf fangs I brought back," Chu Feng muttered to himself. On the way, he contacted the Yellow Ox to ask about the value of the wolf king's flesh, bones, and fangs, so he'd be prepared. The Yellow Ox informed him that beast king blood could promote human evolution but also had side effects, similar to consuming exotic fruits. As for wolf bones and fangs, they were indeed rare materials for humans at this stage.

Chu Feng frowned, his mind made up. He decided to exchange all his deserved compensation for exotic soil. This way, he could surely collect enough to make the snow-white, plump seed in the stone box sprout again. That was the most crucial thing! Chu Feng yearned for a major breakthrough.

At the Jade Palace, "You've done very well this time. Jade Palace will not be stingy. Besides giving you the refined king blood essence potion, you can also choose ancient martial arts secret manuals. Furthermore, the higher-ups have decided to focus on cultivating you!" The old man Lu Tong said with a smile, immediately showing goodwill and generosity.

"Something more practical!" Chu Feng said.

Lu Tong stared, "This isn't practical?"

"How long does it take to refine king blood essence?" Chu Feng asked casually. He had already decided to take it to the black market to trade for exotic soil.

"At least several months," Lu Tong said, frowning. Although they had mostly figured it out, purifying it, removing harmful substances, and then mixing it with other rare minerals to enhance its efficacy all required time.

"Too slow," Chu Feng shook his head.

"Actually, I suggest you consume less beast king blood and exotic fruits. You should focus more on other things, like pollen," Lu Tong suddenly said.

This stirred something in Chu Feng. Did Lu Tong also know such secrets? It was rare for this old man to be so conscientious as to advise him like this.

"Why?" Chu Feng feigned ignorance.

"The three supreme experts from Jade Palace, Eight Scenery Palace, and Biyou Palace once discussed it. Pollen is the most effective for promoting human evolution, while other methods have some side effects. Of course, for most people, they might never experience those side effects in their lifetime. Only a very few individuals who reach terrifyingly profound realms might become aware of them. I see your extraordinary potential, so I couldn't help but speak up. I hope you can embark on a stable path in the future."

"Thank you!" Chu Feng expressed his gratitude solemnly.

"Those two wolf fangs are useless if you keep them. How about giving them to the labs to process?"

Chu Feng glanced at him, saying, "I say, old man, you're quite practical. You deliberately showed generosity, then told me a so-called secret, all just for these two wolf fangs, right?"

"Sigh, you don't know how difficult the situation is now. Everything is scarce," Lu Tong sighed.

"How about this: I can give you the wolf fangs, but in exchange, I want some exotic soil," Chu Feng proposed.

Lu Tong was surprised, "What do you need that for?"

"To plant flowers and grass."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Chu Feng said, "Didn't you say pollen is the most precious? I want to grow some unique plants in my yard."

Lu Tong said earnestly, "No one has ever successfully cultivated them themselves, apart from wild ones." He admitted that major laboratories had all tried but failed.

Chu Feng insisted, "I don't believe in superstitions. I plan to collect more exotic soil and plant various seeds in it. Maybe one will mutate."

Lu Tong looked troubled, "Exotic soil is very rare and extremely expensive. Although all major laboratories have failed, they are still persistent, so there isn't much exotic soil available for exchange on the market."

"Old man, you're clearly trying to drive down the price. When it comes to rarity, are my two wolf fangs not even rarer?" Chu Feng said.

Clearly, the two were haggling.

"How many portions of exotic soil do you want?" Lu Tong asked.

"About 100 kilograms," Chu Feng estimated. Even if the snow-white, plump seed had a high demand for exotic soil, 100 kilograms should be enough.

Lu Tong's hand trembled upon hearing this, and his teacup nearly fell to the ground. He exclaimed, "Boy, are you running a fever? One portion of exotic soil can make a plant mutate, and do you know how much that is? It's only about the size of a fingernail!" He counted on his fingers, tallying with Chu Feng, "100 kilograms of exotic soil, roughly calculated, would be tens of thousands of portions! Where am I supposed to find that much? At most, I can help you find a few hundred portions!"

"Only a little over one kilogram? That's too little!" Chu Feng shook his head.

"That's a lot," Lu Tong tried to reason with him again.

Chu Feng said, "Let me settle a score with you too. Do you know how much those two wolf fangs weigh? Together, they're 100 kilograms! You want me to trade two rare beast king fangs for one kilogram of soil?"

"You can't put it that way. That's exotic soil, not ordinary dirt!" Lu Tong argued.

"Then no deal!" Chu Feng stood up.

"Wait a moment." Lu Tong quickly stopped him, gritting his teeth, and said, "Besides our Jade Palace, I'll go around Eight Scenery Palace and Biyou Palace, and contact some laboratories. Combined, I estimate I can help you find four kilograms of exotic soil."

Chu Feng looked at him, guessing this might be Lu Tong's limit. Meanwhile, he silently pondered. Last time, the seed needed a piece of exotic soil about half the size of a fist to sprout. This time, four kilograms was a lot. It should be enough to support its growth, right?

"Alright, deal!" In Chu Feng's opinion, no matter how precious the wolf fangs were, they couldn't compare to that seed. As long as it could sprout again, everything would be worth it. At the same time, he immediately added, "However, you'll have to help me grind some bracelets and pendants from the wolf fangs. I promised to give those to my parents."

"You spendthrift!" Lu Tong wanted to hit him.

Lu Tong had already been informed that the two fangs were extraordinary, possessing regenerative power, and worthy of laboratory research. He turned and left, but returned shortly after, telling Chu Feng that the exotic soil had been gathered. Chu Feng took it and saw that it was indeed four kilograms. He immediately felt deceived, tricked by the old man. This wasn't the limit; there must be more to find. This must only be the Jade Palace's collection!

"Old man, can you find some more?"

"No more, it's all emptied out!" Lu Tong shook his head vigorously.

Chu Feng noticed some of the exotic soil in the bag was very special, as large as half an adult's fist. These alone nearly weighed four kilograms. He secretly marveled. The large chunks of exotic soil must have been where the strange little tree had rooted. One could imagine the profound resources of Jade Palace. Lu Tong shook his head, saying, "Don't speculate wildly. Having so many large pieces of exotic soil doesn't mean all the opportunities belong to us. Some were brought back from beast kings' habitats, and only the exotic soil was collected; fruits and such were not destined for us."

Chu Feng felt relieved.

Afterward, he asked Lu Tong about the current situation of the Fengchan Land. He was very much looking forward to that place, as it was where emperors of all dynasties went to offer sacrifices to heaven. Lu Tong shook his head, sighing, "The battle was too fierce. It can be said that in the struggle for famous mountains across the land, that place and Mount Kunlun were absolutely the two hardest places to contend for!"

Soon, he smiled and mentioned another matter, stating that human morale was about to rise sharply, not only because Chu Feng had killed the Azure Wolf King but also because another famous mountain was about to be captured.

"Who is that powerful?" Chu Feng was surprised.

Lu Tong revealed, "That person from Biyou Palace is truly incredibly brave. They nearly killed a beast king, effectively deterring the abnormals and gaining absolute initiative there." Eight Scenery Palace, Jade Palace, and Biyou Palace correspond to Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tongtian Jiaozhu in mythology, respectively. Chu Feng's expression was strange. It was truly eccentric that these three abnormal organizations now bore such names. At the same time, he couldn't help but be amazed. That person from Biyou Palace was indeed formidable, now about to capture a famous mountain. If successful, it would certainly boost human morale.

Lu Tong said, "So, even if your killing of the wolf king is exposed, you don't need to worry. Our morale is about to surge, and with our deterrent power, those abnormals won't dare to be too arrogant."

Chu Feng returned home with the exotic soil, feeling very excited. He buried the stone box and the snow-white seed in the four kilograms of exotic soil, waiting for it to sprout again!

The next day, a series of major, explosive events occurred.

Mount Hua was captured by abnormals and now had a hegemon: a large, golden-bodied bird. Some said it evolved from a golden eagle, others that it was a Roc. That day, it spoke human language, declared itself the Golden-winged Great Roc King, and established its sect on Mount Hua! This event shook the world. Many people saw its appearance: entirely golden, immense in size, just like the Roc in legends. It was said that the Golden-winged Great Roc King possessed astonishing combat power, an invincible momentum, sweeping aside all competitors. The sect it established was named Mount Hua! From that day on, the Mount Hua Sect emerged.

"I control the ancient methods, and I teach without discrimination. All beings with destiny are welcome to listen to the true meaning of the Great Dao," the Golden-winged Great Roc King declared in human speech, astounding the world. People discovered that whether it was the old ape from Dalin Temple, the white crane from Mount Shu Sword Palace, or the mountain tortoise from Mount Kongtong, they all followed this principle of teaching without discrimination.

Soon, news came from Mount Diancang by Erhai Lake in Dali: a mysterious abnormal beast had risen, defeated various beast kings, occupied Mount Diancang, and became its hegemon. That day, it spoke human language and announced the establishment of the Diancang Sect.

This was truly explosive news: five famous mountains were successively occupied by abnormals, and all had established sects. Dalin Temple, Mount Shu Sword Palace, Kongtong Sect, Mount Hua Sect, and Diancang Sect were all founded by abnormals!

Inside Jade Palace, Lu Tong was speechless. He had just told Chu Feng that human morale was about to surge, and then this happened the very next day.

On the same day, news came from Kunlun: after days of contention among beast kings, they finally reached a compromise to jointly rule Kunlun, each occupying some peaks. Thus, Kunlun also virtually had masters, though the situation there was more complex. Everyone was stunned. Had the initial power structure been settled after the world's great change?

Not until evening did good news finally arrive, releasing people's gloomy emotions.

"Great news! Mount Wudang has been captured by a human expert!"

"It was a master of the Tai Chi Fist lineage who took Mount Wudang."

When the news arrived, the nation was shaken and instantly stirred up. It was rumored that this was a grandmaster, an elder of the Tai Chi Fist tradition, aged over a hundred, whose boxing techniques had reached perfection. While recuperating in the mountains, this grandmaster was fortunate enough to consume an exotic fruit, increasing his lifespan and rapidly evolving. This made him appear to be in his forties; he had not only grown stronger but also ceased to age. The Tai Chi Grandmaster captured Mount Wudang, boosting morale! Clearly, he was not the one from Biyou Palace; this was an unexpected development, surprising many. In earlier years, he was already a true boxing grandmaster. After evolving, his strength was unimaginable!

People observed that seven famous mountains were now occupied, subtly resembling seven major sects. "Dalin Temple, Mount Shu Sword Palace, Mount Hua Sect, Kongtong Sect, Diancang Sect, Kunlun, and Mount Wudang. Only one place belongs to humans," someone sighed.