Dragon Tamer

In this case, Zhu Minglang couldn’t covet these people’s possessions, otherwise even the Spirit Orb on Pu Shiming would fetch a good price.

There also wasn’t a need to destroy the bodies, for the Heavenly Slaughter Dragon was a variant of the Mourning Dragon; even if some scales were dropped during the fight, the vast majority wouldn’t be able to recognize what they were.

The scene had to be made to look real.

Just like the Mountain Immortal Ghost from before, it appeared and disappeared mysteriously, slaughtering before vanishing without a trace, leaving behind only remains and corpses.

After checking several times to make sure nothing was overlooked, Zhu Minglang finally left the bamboo forest with great swagger.

Night had fallen, and Zhu Minglang returned to the small inn at the post station, Wen Mengru and Bai Qin’an having been taken away by the Miao Mountain Sword Sect. There was no need for him to continue staying to look after them.

In order not to raise suspicion, Zhu Minglang deliberately stayed an extra day at the inn.

He only considered leaving after the bodies of Pu Shiming and the members of the Black Palm Hall were discovered.

The cool of the early morning was upon him as Zhu Minglang prepared to leave for the tea-colored ground, and indeed, Zhu Xuehen appeared.

“I was just about to bid farewell to Aunt Xuehen. I didn’t expect you to be waiting for me,” Zhu Minglang said as he walked toward Zhu Xuehen, dressed in a simple Daoist robe, past the large camphor tree.

“The blood on the ground is from the Immortal Ghost that I killed,” Zhu Xuehen said with a coldness in her voice.

“Are you angry?” Zhu Minglang asked.

“I said to give him a chance,” Zhu Xuehen replied.

“Actually, seeing a man with Aunt Xuehen all the time also makes me uncomfortable,” Zhu Minglang said, smiling.

Zhu Xuehen snorted coldly, paying no mind to Zhu Minglang’s suggestive remark, her eyes devoid of any emotion as she said, “You may leave now.”

“Then take care, Aunt Xuehen,” Zhu Minglang responded.

Zhu Xuehen fell silent, seemingly with a question on her mind that almost reached her lips but ultimately remained unasked.

The question had nothing to do with romantic affairs; she simply didn’t understand how Zhu Minglang managed to kill Pu Shiming and the several experts around him.

With his current strength, he shouldn’t have been able to do it.

What was Zhu Minglang hiding?

Zhu Minglang left the land of contention behind.

Mountain Immortal Ghosts, Ground Immortal Ghosts, Forest Immortal Ghosts, River Immortal Ghosts, these had little to do with him. Members of the Four Great Sects and the Imperial Dynasty had already gathered there.

He was just out hunting to feed his dragon and not so invested as to fight to the end with these Immortal Ghosts.

Besides, the strength of the Ground Immortal Ghosts was probably near King Level, and some that were age-old might already have King Level strength, not to mention the Mountain Immortal Ghost that had flattened the Guangshan Zizong Forest with a single step.

It was likely an extraordinary Holy Spirit over fifty thousand years old. Even with a Dragon King, Zhu Minglang might not be capable of facing that Mountain Immortal Ghost.

Snow Peak City

Passing through the mountain pass behind Snow Peak City would bring him closer to the tea-colored ground. Zhu Minglang arrived at Snow Peak City and rested there for a moment.

The Heavenly Slaughter Dragon was already snoring thunderously in the Spirit Realm, and Zhu Minglang, having no choice, could only ride a horse by himself and headed towards the tea-colored ground crazily.

He glanced at the Spirit Realm, the Silver Snow Cocoon, the Golden Green Cocoon, the Metal Sword Bolls, the giant black cocoon…

Like four extravagant tombs, not a hint of movement from them, making Zhu Minglang every time he missed them, wishing he could light a few sticks of incense beneath their cocoons.

How come they’ve all undergone Reincarnation Transformation.

Having eaten his fill, the Heavenly Slaughter Dragon would not lift a finger for him unless his own life was in danger, which left Zhu Minglang, the Dragon Herding Sanctifier, as if cast back to the Stone Age overnight, without even a mount, only able to ride a horse.

Fortunately, Snow Peak City was quite prosperous, and he had money on hand, so he could rent a Flying Dragon when the time came, which would save him from a long and arduous journey.

Days without a dragon were, indeed, a bit harder.

And how was he supposed to explain this to his wives… to his wives and sisters-in-law!

On the journey ahead, he would have to rely on them for some things.

Of course, with big matters, he could handle them himself, but that depended on whether the issue was big enough, big enough to be at the Dragon King Level.

When he arrived in Snow Peak City, Zhu Minglang saw the signboard of Zhu Sect’s foreign court, still in the busiest and most conspicuous part of the city.

Seeing his family’s store, Zhu Minglang’s eyes lit up.

He could save the money for renting the Flying Dragon.

Entering the foreign court’s foundry, Zhu Minglang revealed his identity, which made the Zhu Sect’s foreign court disciples within the shop look at one another in dismay, unsure for a moment if he truly was the only son of the Zhu Family.

This place was far from the Imperial City; it was not just unlikely for the sole heir of the Zhu Family’s Inner Hall to visit, even the core members of the Zhu Sect’s foreign court seldom did – they hardly ever encountered someone of genuine Zhu Family status.

Zhu Minglang then realized that his Inner Hall identity plaque might not be recognized here, as others had likely never seen it, so he took out the jade plaque Zhu Yushan had given him. Sure enough, the disciples from the outer gate were all stunned, hurrying to half-kneel and pay their respects.

“Young Master, please sit inside. The shopkeeper is currently forging Black Gold Hooves for a divine ox belonging to King An, meant as an offering for a distinguished otherworldly guest,” a disciple said respectfully.

“No worries, I just came to get a mount… an otherworldly guest??” At first, Zhu Minglang did not react, but after hearing this title, he suddenly remembered the identity mentioned by Zhu Xuehen.

“The shopkeeper said so. It should be ready soon. Would the Young Master wait a moment?” the disciple said.

As soon as the words fell, a burly bald man walked out of the casting room. His muscles shone with an oily gloss, and despite his heft, he was wearing only a leather vest.

“Is it Brother Yushan’s son? When I heard the talk outside, I left my work to come out. I apologize for not greeting you from farther away,” said the robust shopkeeper.

“Yes, helmsman, I was just passing through and wanted to acquire a mount,” Zhu Minglang nodded, feeling there was no need to reveal he was Zhu Minglang. He would assume his deceased brother Zhu Tong’s identity for now.

The people of the foreign court, upon hearing he was a member of the Inner Hall, would tend to be overly respectful and constrained, so saying he was from the foreign court made things seem more casual.

“It’s a rare visit; we must host you well. Our Snow Peak City branch of the Zhu Sect’s foreign court hardly ever gets the chance to welcome such an honored guest,” said the muscular man heartily.

“Shopkeeper, that Black Gold Hoof that King An ordered…” the disciple who spoke earlier reminded in a quiet voice.

“King An is an outsider; he’s not as important as our young master. It won’t be late to deliver it to him tomorrow,” the burly man said.

“Shopkeeper, I heard that King An is gifting the Black Gold Hoof to some otherworldly guest. What does this ‘otherworldly guest’ mean?” Zhu Minglang inquired.

“I don’t know. That’s what King An told me. He ordered me to work overnight, saying that if I caused a delay, I’d be sorry for it. Quite the high and mighty attitude.”

“I’ve never seen an otherworldly guest. Maybe when the time comes to deliver the Black Gold Hoof, you could take me along, shopkeeper—I’d like to broaden my horizons,” Zhu Minglang suggested.

“No problem! How about I have my men take good care of our young master while I finish up the work?” the forthright shopkeeper said.