In Cheng Xiaofan's mind, Mu Yisheng was indeed a good name for a wood-element cultivator, but it was a pity.
This Mu Yisheng was about to face his death.
"Burp!"
Cheng Xiaofan patted his full stomach and let out a pleasant, satisfied belch.
As usual, when he went out, he casually slung the backpack over his shoulder and gracefully emerged from the attic.
No matter the time, Cheng Xiaofan always liked to wear his white casual outfit, with a gray cloth bag slung on his back.
Originally, Long Xingyun was particularly fond of wearing white casual clothes. Later, he realized that his master also often wore similar attire and hurriedly changed his clothes.
"Chirp—"
Sensing the approach through spiritual awareness, the Sky-Breaking Eagle immediately flew to Cheng Xiaofan's side. Cheng Xiaofan leaped up and landed on its back.
Whoosh!
The Sky-Breaking Eagle spread its massive wings, carrying Cheng Xiaofan as they soared into the high heavens.
In less than an hour, the Sky-Breaking Eagle was circling above Lion Ridge.
Lion Ridge, like a giant lion, sat amidst the rolling mountains, surrounded by ancient pines and cypresses, with steep mountains and precipitous peaks.
Deep fog coiled between the mountain ranges.
Even in broad daylight, the roars of wolves could sometimes be heard from the depths of the mountains.
At the foot of Lion Ridge, there was a small town, named after the mountain, called Lion Ridge Town.
Beside the town flowed a small river, its clear water gurgling. Willows like smoke lined the banks. The sound of women washing clothes intertwined with the chirping of birds among the trees, creating a unique visual and auditory tableau.
"Sky-Breaking Eagle, land in the forest ahead!" Cheng Xiaofan instructed.
This forest was adjacent to Lion Ridge Town. According to the location Luo Cheng had given him, he was in this town.
Cheng Xiaofan leaped down from the Sky-Breaking Eagle, then took out his phone and dialed Luo Cheng's number: "Luo Cheng, I've arrived at Lion Ridge Town!"
After a moment, a woman's playful laughter came from the phone, saying, "Haha, Cheng Xiaofan, you've arrived at Lion Town, haven't you?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan recognized the voice as Yin Ruhua's.
It seemed that after Luo Cheng called for help, he had also been controlled by Yin Ruhua.
Cheng Xiaofan said coldly, "Where is Luo Cheng?"
Yin Ruhua chuckled, "Don't worry, that Luo fellow is with Tang Guoxing. If you want to see them, hurry to Lion Village on Lion Mountain!"
"Oh, right, Cheng Xiaofan, there's a black Ferrari parked at the entrance and exit of Lion Town. Walk over, someone will get out and take you to the village!"
After hanging up the phone, Cheng Xiaofan walked out of the forest.
He cast a brief glance ahead and indeed, a black Ferrari was parked at the town's entrance.
In front of the car, a black triangular flag was planted.
The flag bore three words: Lion Village!
Cheng Xiaofan folded his arms and walked over gracefully.
As he approached the car, the door creaked open, and three burly men emerged, exuding a strong aura of hostility.
The three men immediately formed a triangle, surrounding Cheng Xiaofan.
"You are Cheng Xiaofan?" one of them asked ferociously, glaring at Cheng Xiaofan with malice.
Cheng Xiaofan curled his lips, let out a cold laugh, and said, "Do you know what? I detest people who talk to me with that kind of attitude!"
Boom!
He swung his leg forward.
Two of the three men were sent flying out more than ten meters!
"Ah—" The two men cried out in pain, spitting a mouthful of fresh blood. They struggled for less than two breaths on the ground before falling unconscious.
The remaining man turned ashen, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
Cheng Xiaofan slapped him, sending him flying directly into the driver's seat.
Then he walked around the car, pulled open the door, stepped into the passenger seat, and roared at the other person, "Scum, take Grandpa to Lion Village!"
"Yes, Grandpa!" The man's clothes were instantly soaked with cold sweat.
Slap!
Cheng Xiaofan slapped him again on the face.
He shouted angrily, "I'm so young, you're calling me Grandpa?"
"Believe it or not, I'll kill you right now!"
The man touched his swollen face, wishing he could cry, and said, "I'm sorry, I misspoken!"
Cheng Xiaofan said, "Stop dawdling, drive!"
The man, with a dejected face, dared not utter another word and immediately started the car.
The car ascended the winding mountain road, making over ten turns before reaching the entrance of Lion Village.
This Lion Village was originally the stronghold of Yin Tie Jiu. It was estimated that after the Black Lion Gang was wiped out, Mu Yisheng took a liking to this place and led a group of his men to occupy it.
On the surface, Lion Village didn't appear to have anything special. It had the typical wooden house structures, and the people living there looked like farmers, making a living from farming and foraging in the mountains.
However, while the people living here appeared simple and honest on the outside, they harbored a strong sense of hostility within. Many of them exuded a bloody aura.
Of course, this was something ordinary people couldn't detect.
Only Cheng Xiaofan could see through it at a glance. That hostility and bloody scent could only be discerned from their vital energy.
Ancient trees towered in the village, their dense foliage casting deep shade.
The closely packed wooden houses, in Cheng Xiaofan's heaven-defying eyes, were arranged like a Bagua diagram, interspersed harmoniously.
Seven or eight strong men guarded the village entrance.
The car quickly drove into the village.
After several twists and turns, the Ferrari screeched to a halt in front of a tall wooden building.
"Mr. Cheng, we've arrived!" the man said in a low, subservient tone.
This time, he and two others were ordered to pick up Cheng Xiaofan from town. They had initially intended to intimidate him upon their first meeting.
Who would have thought that at the first encounter, two of them were kicked out more than ten meters by Cheng Xiaofan, spitting blood and passing out on the spot?
Who had ever seen someone kick two burly men such a distance with a single kick?
This one kick had completely scared the man in front of him into submission!
Cheng Xiaofan leaned against the car with his arms crossed and gave the man a sideways glance.
The man was smart enough to understand immediately.
He jumped out of the car, walked over to Cheng Xiaofan's side, opened the car door, and said with his head bowed, "Mr. Cheng, please—"
Cheng Xiaofan then stepped out of the car.
After getting out, he scanned his surroundings and noticed a white Bentley parked not far away, the car Luo Cheng had driven.
He then looked up and down at the building, a smile curling the corner of his lips.
"Lead the way!" Cheng Xiaofan said to the man beside him.
The man replied meekly, "Yes, I will lead the way for sir!"
They went all the way to the third floor, where a large hall was located. Many people were seated inside, all of them looking fierce and menacing.
Upon seeing Cheng Xiaofan's arrival, everyone in the hall immediately put on stern faces and glared at him.
In the center sat a Taoist priest in his sixties, wearing a gray robe. He had a dusty gray face, white eyebrows, triangular eyes, a bulbous nose, and lips devoid of any color.
The entire person looked like a piece of old dry wood.
From his vital energy, Cheng Xiaofan recognized him at a glance. This man was Yin Ruhua's new husband, the wood-element cultivator Mu Yisheng.
And Yin Ruhua was currently sitting beside Mu Yisheng.