Chapter 1775: Chapter 1775: Purple Bamboo Sea
Beizhu Town.
An important crossroads town in the southern region of Ancestor Dragon City, marking the northern boundary of three thousand miles that the city can influence and the most developed area.
Heading south from here, one enters vast desolate regions, extending to the First Line Pass in the Southern, with villages and towns becoming increasingly sparse, only scattered with some insignificant family territories.
Li Feng and Ran Yue traveled for the entire day, arriving at the Beizhu Town entrance just before nightfall; they slowed their horses and then entered an inn in the town, directly requesting two rooms.
After dinner, Li Feng returned to his room.
Just then, a knock came at the door. Li Feng turned to open it, finding Ran Yue standing at the entrance.
"Aren’t you going to invite me in?"
Ran Yue said proactively.
Li Feng stepped aside: "Come in and sit, do you have something to discuss with me?"
Ran Yue walked into the room, suddenly turned around to look at Li Feng: "Can’t I come find you without a reason, or are you afraid of me?"
Ran Yue stepped forward, raising her hand before Li Feng.
Li Feng met Ran Yue’s gaze, directly grabbing her wrist: "You’re not that kind of woman, so let’s talk business."
Li Feng walked past Ran Yue, sat down in front of the table, and Ran Yue, after biting her lips, quickly returned to normal, then turned to look at Li Feng.
"I came to remind you that as you head further south, it won’t be as peaceful."
Ran Yue said, taking out a map from her chest. Maps in Ancestor Dragon City are also very expensive, generally controlled by major families and not sold openly.
The influence of Ancestor Dragon City extends thousands of miles; the range of three thousand miles is merely the most developed area, with even larger outlying regions undeveloped due to lack of population.
The entire Ancestor Dragon cultivation civilization has about 80% of its population focused on Ancestor Dragon’s grand city, with only about 15% in other towns, which also exist as family lands.
Nearly every town is a family territory, some are not open to outsiders, and intruders being killed is their own fault.
Therefore, a complete map of Ancestor Dragon is extremely valuable.
Ran Yue’s map is considered superior, including notable routes outside Ancestor Dragon City and some special terrains and environments.
The southern route Li Feng chose for his journey naturally validated the use of Ran Yue’s map.
Spreading the map on the table, Ran Yue pointed to the area dozens of miles south of Beizhu Town.
"Less than a hundred miles south of Beizhu Town is the Purple Bamboo Sea, covering an area of five hundred miles, and it’s rumored this bamboo sea is not calm, considered a dangerous spot."
"Oh?"
Li Feng hadn’t studied this bamboo sea closely: "What’s peculiar about this bamboo sea?"
Ran Yue nodded: "This bamboo sea did not exist over two hundred years ago, but a battle erupted on this site then, where a demon general was beheaded, staining the grounds with blood."
"And this demon general was of the wood attribute, with strong life force, and after his blood soaked the land, a hundred miles of bamboo sprang up overnight."
"Once reported, the bamboo sea had already expanded to five hundred miles, and an expert sent from Ancestor Dragon City determined it was the demon blood’s life force causing the mutation, resulting in hundreds of miles of purple bamboo."
"It seems the remnant spirit of the demon general stayed within the bamboo, planning a return, but an Ancestor Dragon expert disdainfully claimed, ’I could kill you at your peak; even revived, I can kill you again.’"
"Thus, the Purple Bamboo Sea was left, but to prevent the demon general’s revival, four towns were built surrounding it, with Beizhu Town being one of them."
"In the bamboo sea, there’s a path called Bamboo Forest Road, noted for its picturesque scenery of the winds blowing through the purple bamboo, creating waves."
"The Ancestor Dragon expert retired in a bamboo house within the forest, earning the title of Purple Bamboo Marquis."
Li Feng nodded, surprised by the story behind the Purple Bamboo Sea: "And now?"
"In recent years, the Purple Bamboo Sea has seen disturbances; merchants traveling through Bamboo Forest Road have vanished mysteriously, coupled with its abundant life force attracting many spiritual beasts, some fierce ones lurking too."
"This has disrupted the peace of Bamboo Forest Road, and there’s a rumor the Purple Bamboo Marquis has deceased, failing to contain the demon spirit that has revived."
"So, many merchants would prefer detours to East or West Bamboo Towns rather than cross the Purple Bamboo Sea."
"However, detouring would extend a half-day’s journey to two days," Ran Yue stated.
Cutting through the Purple Bamboo Sea from Beizhu Town leads to South Bamboo Formation, about six to seven hundred miles, but detours extend the journey, requiring at least one night in East or West Bamboo Town, extending the trip to two days.
"Do you believe these rumors?"
"Uncertain, but there’s no smoke without fire; something must be causing these stories; whether the Purple Bamboo Marquis lives is beyond my knowledge,"
Ran Yue said.
Li Feng glancing at the map, found the crossing route the shortest, recalling previous towns suggesting someone watching, possibly with pursuers on their tail.
"Take the Bamboo Forest Road,"
Li Feng decided after pondering.
Ran Yue said nothing further, tucking the map away: "Alright." She turned to leave.
"Aren’t you going to ask why I chose this route?"
Li Feng looked at the straightforward Ran Yue.
Ran Yue paused, turning with a hum; "No need to ask, I knew you’d choose this road when I spoke."
"At Ancestor Dragon City, you intentionally stayed at Tongfu Inn, spending a hundred thousand golden vouchers for one night, exposing yourself fully to lure the enemy while covering Lady Fang’s group retreat."
"Throughout the journey, you passed through towns and villages, concealing nothing. Those who wish you harm have long set their sights on you, and we may already have shadows following."
"But now, with your identity as a member of the Nine Layers Mountain, they dare not attack openly; the Purple Bamboo Sea offers a viable site for a showdown, as do the sparsely populated places beyond it."
"Since the confrontation is inevitable, why not choose the right spot?"
"Am I right?"
Ran Yue said.
