As the Four Great Families prepared to return home, nine rogue martial artists took the initiative to approach them. The one leading them, a martial artist at the Ninth Layer of the Earth-grade Realm, spoke up: "Thanks to the grace of your esteemed family, the nine of us have gained immensely. Moreover, our lives were saved by your esteemed family, and we have no way to repay this kindness. We are willing to serve your esteemed family for five hundred years. Furthermore, if we were to return directly to Linhe Prefecture, harboring such treasures would make us guilty of a crime and put us in grave danger. We earnestly beg you to grant our request."
Given that those at the limit of the Earth-grade Realm enjoyed a lifespan of ten thousand years, five hundred years was nothing. Besides, they had learned quite a few secrets of the Four Great Families; if they simply left, they would be finished should any unspeakable incidents occur. Furthermore, the hardship of being a rogue martial artist was no exaggeration. Being able to truly join the Four Great Families was something they could only hope for. Although the Yang Family was a fourth-rank power, it was clearly no ordinary fourth-rank power.
Yang Chuhou, the elder in charge of the Yang Family, spoke on their behalf, "Since it is so, we agree."
"Many thanks."
At this moment, Sun Di approached Yang Xuan. "Sister Xuan, my trip started with a bang and ended with a whimper. Going back like this is so dull."
"You cannot stay in the Chiyang Mountains any longer, but Chiyang Flowers are distributed in various places throughout Ning Prefecture. There is one place that is just right for your training—the Hundred Flowers Mountain Range. Measured by your Qin Country standards, it is about six thousand square kilometers. There are all kinds of Yuan plants and Yuan treasures here, but their grades and ages are not high, including the Chiyang Flowers. The True Qi here is thin, and being on the edge of Ning Prefecture at the tri-prefecture border, no fierce beast factions occupy it. It has always been a place where low-level rogue martial artists are active. Although there is a limit on numbers this time, the number of those who sneak into Ning Prefecture will definitely be considerable. They won't come to the Chiyang Mountains, but there are many places they can go."
"Then let's go there."
"Two stewards."
"Second Young Miss." The two of them were exceptionally polite. How could Yang Xuan's stage possibly be limited to this tiny Yuan Country?
"Escort Xiaodi there, and then find some hidden place to cultivate. Unless it is a matter of life and death, you do not need to worry about him. When it is over, just send him back to Bibo Manor City."
"No problem."
After bidding farewell to everyone, Sun Di and the two stewards headed toward the Hundred Flowers Mountain Range. Having reached the Earth-grade Realm, one could already fly through the air, though their speed naturally could not compare to that of an upper fourth-grade transport flying boat. Flying at full speed, a martial artist at the Ninth Layer of the Earth-grade Realm could barely come close, but naturally there was no need for that at the moment. In addition, they had to bring Sun Di along and scout the surrounding conditions, so their speed was only about one-fifth of their maximum. Even so, they arrived in a matter of hours.
The two stewards found a hidden cave around the Hundred Flowers Mountain Range, set up an array, and went off to cultivate. Sun Di headed into the mountains. Naturally, there were no paths here, but for a martial artist of the Xiantian Realm, none of this was any obstacle.
Along the way, Sun Di encountered quite a few Chiyang Flowers, aged around three or four hundred years, which were first-grade medicinal herbs. With Sun Di's current wealth, he really looked down on them, so he continued deeper into the mountains.
After a while, he indeed came across Chiyang Flowers aged over five hundred years. These were already second-grade medicinal herbs and could be harvested. In addition, there were some other miscellaneous Yuan plants that could be sold for Yuan Stones, so he gathered them all together. During this time, some second-grade ferocious beasts attacked Sun Di, but with his current strength, he easily dispatched them.
Continuing deeper, it was not long before Sun Di's Divine Sense detected other martial artists nearby. There were over twenty people, the two with the highest cultivation being at the Ninth Layer of the Xiantian Realm, likely an exploration team. A so-called exploration team was a group formed by rogue martial artists to acquire cultivation resources. Some were temporary, while others were relatively fixed. Their numbers ranged from a small group of five or six to no more than fifty. Naturally, these teams varied in quality; some were reliable, while others were not.
For instance, this particular team, upon discovering Sun Di and realizing he was all alone, came to kill him and seize his treasures. Sun Di couldn't be bothered to talk nonsense and directly took care of the two individuals with the highest cultivation. The rest turned pale with fright and fled in panic. Sun Di couldn't be bothered to pay them any mind; he collected the interspatial bags of the two slain men, dealt with the scene, and continued on his way.
After a while longer, Sun Di discovered another exploration team consisting of eleven people in total. The two with the highest cultivation were at the Second and First Layers of the Xuan-grade Realm respectively, while the rest were in the middle and late stages of the Xiantian Realm. Sun Di continued forward, and soon, they also spotted him. A woman who looked to be in her thirties, at the First Layer of the Xuan-grade Realm, took the initiative to greet Sun Di.
"Little brother is all alone?"
"My companions and I got separated, and I accidentally ended up here."
"I wonder how long you've been separated?"
This question seemed to have some ulterior motive, but Sun Di didn't care.
"A few days."
"What should I call you, little brother? Why not temporarily join our Fengyang Exploration Team? I am the vice-captain, Zhou Xue, this is our captain, Zong Fengyang, and the rest are team members."
"My name is Sun Di. Then I will impose upon you all."
"Brother Sun, no need to be so polite."
The Fengyang Exploration Team was a fixed exploration team. The captain and vice-captain were martial companions, and the team members also had close relationships with the two of them. However, the joining and leaving of temporary members was a common occurrence, and sometimes they would temporarily combine with other exploration teams.
This time regarding the Chiyang Flowers, they were operating as a combination of four teams that usually had good relations with one another. They were not far apart now and could communicate with messages if anything happened. They were all from the Changfeng Marquis Fief of Luo Prefecture.
This Luo Prefecture was also quite special, being the fief of King Luo. The first generation of King Luo had rendered distinguished service accompanying the Yuan Country imperial family in their conquests of Ning Prefecture, and was thus bestowed the title of King Luo with Luo Prefecture as his fief. Guarding the borders of Yuan Country, he did not need to pay taxes, nor did he need to send hostages; he only needed to pay court once every thousand years, making it basically an independent kingdom.
The administrative divisions under Luo Prefecture were also different from other prefectures. It was sub-fiefed, mainly to descendants, though other figures were included as well. There were two grades, but they were mutually independent: Dukes and Marquises. A Duke's fief was called a *Feng*, while a Marquis's fief was called an *Yi*. Both Dukes and Marquises were further divided into two types—single-character and compound-character titles—depending on their strength, merits, and degree of blood relation.
This Changfeng Marquis Fief was located at the edge of Luo Prefecture in the triangular zone between Luo Prefecture, Ning Prefecture, and Pingding Prefecture. It was quite large in area, but both its True Qi and local products were mediocre, making it the lowest-ranking compound-character Marquis fief. Luo Prefecture did not permit the establishment of sects, but clans and rogue martial artists were allowed. Especially in this Changfeng Marquis Fief, there was the highest concentration of rogue martial artists in the entire Luo Prefecture.
The Fengyang Exploration Team was an exploration team from Funing City in the Changfeng Marquis Fief. Its founding captain was Zong Fengyang, and it had been established for over three hundred years, enjoying a modest reputation in Funing City. After spending some time with them, Sun Di found that the team was quite harmonious, vastly different from the one he had beaten away earlier, so he temporarily integrated into it.