"Mr. Qin, this Cloud Mist Mountain Range belongs to our Jiang family's cultivation grounds. Apart from members of our Jiang family or those we permit, no one from other martial arts factions is allowed to cultivate here!"
As Jiang Xiongba led Qin Yi into the mountains, he explained, "Besides the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, our Jiang family has two other cultivation grounds, but they are in the provincial capital!"
"The area with the most concentrated spiritual energy in this Cloud Mist Mountain Range is the central region. Mr. Qin, I'll take you there!"
Jiang Xiongba quickened his pace, heading deeper into the mountains.
Neither Qin Yi nor Jiang Xiongba were ordinary people. At their speed, it took them over an hour to reach the most spiritually concentrated central area of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.
As they approached the central region, a middle-aged man in a fitted outfit, holding a long sword, emerged from the woods.
Upon seeing Jiang Xiongba, the man cupped his fists and said, "Patriarch, why have you come today? Are you here to cultivate in seclusion?"
"Mr. Qin, this is my fifth brother, Jiang Xiongjing. He is in charge of guarding this area of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, preventing other martial artists from secretly cultivating here!"
Jiang Xiongba first introduced the two, then said to Jiang Xiongjing, "Old Fifth, this is Mr. Qin Yi!"
Jiang Xiongjing was somewhat surprised that Jiang Xiongba was so polite to a young man!
He had been stationed in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range for a long time and rarely returned home, so he was unaware of what had happened at the Jiang family mansion previously.
However, despite his surprise, Jiang Xiongjing politely greeted Qin Yi, "Greetings, Mr. Qin. I am Jiang Xiongjing."
"Hello!"
Qin Yi responded and took a couple of breaths.
Indeed, the spiritual energy here was more concentrated than in the outer areas of the mountain range.
Qin Yi estimated that the spiritual energy concentration here was two to three times greater than in Hai City.
Jiang Xiongba asked, "Old Fifth, have there been any unruly scoundrels who snuck into our Cloud Mist Mountain Range to cultivate recently?"
Jiang Xiongjing replied, "Not recently, but last month, someone from the Jiang family entered our Cloud Mist Mountain Range. I discovered him and drove him away!"
Hearing this, a hint of anger appeared on Jiang Xiongba's face. He cursed, "Those shameless Jiang family members! They must be coveting our Cloud Mist Mountain Range!"
"Brother, let's go inside and talk!"
Jiang Xiongjing led Jiang Xiongba and Qin Yi into a simple wooden hut built of wood.
Inside the hut, there was a bed and some daily necessities.
It was evident that Jiang Xiongjing lived here year-round.
Currently, in most parts of the world, spiritual energy was scarce. The few regions with relatively dense spiritual energy were occupied by various martial arts families and factions.
Although there were explicit rules in the martial arts world that family factions could not arbitrarily enter each other's territories to cultivate unless permitted by the owner, this was like the Cloud Mist Mountain Range being the Jiang family's cultivation ground. Other faction martial artists could not cultivate there without the Jiang family's permission, or it would be considered a violation of the rules!
However, there were always some people who did not follow the rules and secretly slipped into others' territories to cultivate.
Therefore, various martial arts factions would generally send people to guard their territories long-term to prevent outsiders from entering and cultivating.
Qin Yi sat on a wooden stool, took a sip of the plain water Jiang Xiongjing poured for him, and asked with interest, "The Cloud Mist Mountain Range is so vast. If someone were to sneak in to cultivate, you couldn't possibly watch over it all by yourself!"
"That's why I live in the most spiritually concentrated central area and guard it well!" Jiang Xiongjing said. "As for the outer areas and other regions, if someone shamelessly sneaks in to cultivate and I don't discover them, then there's nothing I can do!"
Qin Yi stood up, walked to the door of the wooden hut, and looked around outside.
Just then, he sensed something and turned his head to look in one direction.
The next moment, a figure quickly ran towards the wooden hut.
In just over ten seconds, the figure covered several hundred meters and reached the front of the wooden hut.
"Fifth Uncle, I've broken through! I've reached the peak of inner strength..."
Before the figure could finish speaking upon reaching the wooden hut, he stopped abruptly upon seeing Qin Yi standing at the door.
His gaze sharpened, and he asked, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Before Qin Yi could answer, Jiang Xiongba and Jiang Xiongjing walked out.
Jiang Xiongjing rushed to the figure and asked excitedly, "Hongxin, you've broken through to the peak of inner strength???"
"That's right, Fifth Uncle!"
The figure replied, then saw Jiang Xiongba and said, "First Uncle, you're here too! First Uncle, I'm telling you, I just broke through to the peak of inner strength!"
Jiang Xiongba was full of joy and pride upon hearing this, nodding repeatedly, "Well done, Hongxin, you've done wonderfully! If your father were still alive, he would be overjoyed to know you broke through to the peak of inner strength at such a young age!"
It turned out that this person was none other than Jiang Hongxin, the son of Jiang Xiongba's second brother.
This young man had been cultivating here during this period and had just broken through today!
"First Uncle, it's good that you're here. In half a month, it will be the martial arts exchange gathering, and I want to participate!"
Jiang Hongxin's eyes shone as he said, "In previous years, our Jiang family lost so many cultivation grounds. This time, I must win them back!"
Jiang Hongxin was only thirty-four years old, perfectly eligible to participate in the martial arts exchange gathering!
The excitement on Jiang Xiongba's face subsided slightly as he said, "Hongxin, you will not participate in this martial arts exchange gathering."
"Why???"
Jiang Hongxin took a step forward, reaching Jiang Xiongba, and said in utter disbelief, "First Uncle, if I don't participate, who else from our Jiang family can participate?"
"You, Fifth Uncle, and Steward Chen are all over the age limit. In our generation, Shichao doesn't practice martial arts, and the remaining few siblings are the same. Either they don't practice martial arts, or they are just beginners in martial arts. If I don't participate, is our Jiang family going to give up on this exchange gathering?"
Jiang Xiongjing also said, "Brother, according to the rules of the exchange gathering, each faction must send one person to participate each time, otherwise, they have to cede land and resources! We only have three cultivation grounds left, and we have no more land to give up!"
"As for other cultivation resources, what our Jiang family currently possesses is even less..."
Jiang Xiongba raised his hand, interrupting them, "Fifth brother, Hongxin, you've misunderstood. I don't intend to give up on the exchange gathering! I don't want Hongxin to participate because I've found a more suitable candidate!"
"Who?"
"Who did you find???"
Jiang Hongxin and Jiang Xiongjing asked in unison.
Jiang Xiongba did not answer them immediately. Instead, his gaze involuntarily fell on Qin Yi.
The two noticed this and followed his gaze towards Qin Yi.
Instantly, both their eyes widened slightly, and Jiang Hongxin blurted out, "First Uncle, the person you're talking about... it can't be him, can it?"