Two or three days passed. Outside a continuous mountain range, a small flying beast descended from the sky and landed on a small hilltop.
Before long, two figures descended from the hilltop and headed towards the nearby mountain range.
They were Ji Yuan and Jiang Yunzhou, who had traveled by flying beast to Jue Xian Valley. They had now arrived outside the mountain range where it was located.
The vast mountain range had no name and was unremarkable on the map. Even the common folk living nearby had no idea that a powerful alien race was hidden within.
As soon as they entered the mountain range, both of them felt a subtle change in their surroundings. The forest they were in seemed to be filled with an indescribable sense of oppression.
Ji Yuan and Jiang Yunzhou exchanged glances, their expressions growing solemn, their eyes flickering with a strange light.
They could feel that amidst the vitality, there was a trace of killing intent.
"On the surface, Jue Xian Valley's control extends only a thousand miles. In reality, the entire mountain range has been refined by them."
Jiang Yunzhou's voice suddenly echoed in Ji Yuan's mind, indicating he had used some form of sound transmission.
After a long period of reproduction, this entire mountain range now bore the mark of the aliens of Jue Xian Valley. All living beings, and even the trees and flowers, could be considered informants for the alien race.
This was also one of the reasons why various forces dared not plot against Jue Xian Valley.
Any hostile entity that entered would be discovered by the alien race immediately, making it impossible to do anything that threatened Jue Xian Valley within this mountain range.
But now, someone had broken this impossibility, silently killing more than ten of their tribesmen on the land where the alien race had lived for generations.
This matter itself exuded a strange aura. No one would believe there was no conspiracy behind it.
"We can only take it one step at a time."
Ji Yuan transmitted his thoughts via soul light. On the land controlled by the alien race, they both chose a more discreet method of communication.
Although the alien race could not monitor every part of the mountain range at all times, for the sake of safety, it was better not to discuss matters openly.
"However, judging by the current situation, those aliens must be truly angered."
Jiang Yunzhou transmitted his thoughts with divine power, conveying a hint of worry.
The current situation was likely more serious than they understood, otherwise, they wouldn't have sensed any abnormality even at the edge of the mountain range.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan nodded silently. Even he, a cultivator at the early stage of the second realm, could feel the abnormality of this place. It seemed that the events in Jue Xian Valley were far from as simple as Tang Muheng had conveyed in his message.
With a few worries, the two continued to move deeper into the mountain range as they conversed.
Along the way, they had sensed several powerful auras, at least equivalent to cultivators of the second realm. They were likely beings living there, mostly demonic beasts and some mountain spirits.
With the existence of the alien race in Jue Xian Valley, their situation was clearly better than their peers. At least they wouldn't have cultivators descend from the sky one day to kill them for alchemy or artifact refining.
Their pace was not fast, as if they were out for a leisurely stroll. After several hours, they had only covered about twenty miles.
"It's no wonder it's tolerated by the imperial court. In such a small area, there are nearly ten auras comparable to the second realm."
Ji Yuan glanced around and suddenly exclaimed.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunzhou on the side gave him a deep look. Their previous conversations had been through divine power or soul light transmission.
"This area is quite unique within the territory of the Great Yu Dynasty."
He spoke with a sense of realization, "However, to encounter so many second-realm existences just by entering the mountain range is something that wouldn't even happen in some demon realms."
In the eyes of mortals, cultivators of the second realm could be considered like immortals. But to true powerhouses, they had only taken the first step on the path of cultivation.
Yet, near the periphery of a mountain range, there were nearly ten second-realm auras, which was clearly an abnormal phenomenon.
Even in the Nine Great Demon Realms, such a scene would not occur.
"Fellow Daoists, how long do you plan to continue observing from the side?"
Jiang Yunzhou smiled slightly and suddenly called out loudly.
At the same time, he cast a meaningful glance at the young man beside him. They were separated by a major realm, and he himself was only half a step away from becoming comparable to a Golden Core cultivator.
However, in terms of spiritual perception, he seemed to be slightly inferior to the other party, as he had not reacted first.
As his words fell, several sounds came from the quiet forest, and then figures emerged from all directions.
Before long, a black bear, a gray fox, and a mountain leopard appeared before the two.
"Two, things are a bit busy in the mountains. Whatever your intentions, it's best to turn back and leave."
A strange voice sounded, as if speaking with a pinched voice.
Ji Yuan looked up and saw a small figure slowly getting up from the back of the black bear. It was a spirit creature the size of a palm.
It had a human-like appearance, with a long white beard on its childlike face, wearing a straw hat, holding a wooden stick, its skin was emerald green, and it emitted a faint soft green light.
"It's a spirit formed from grass and wood. Although it has the aura of the second realm, it has no combat power in itself, and its special abilities are unknown."
As he was observing, a voice suddenly sounded in his mind.
Ji Yuan glanced sideways at Jiang Yunzhou, who was a step away from him, and found that the latter's brows were slightly furrowed.
Seeing this, he instinctively activated his spiritual sense, perceiving everything around him.
"I have important matters to attend to and need to visit the master inside."
Jiang Yunzhou clasped his fists and spoke. Although he was addressing only a spirit creature and a few demonic beasts, he was still very polite.
If it were ordinary cultivators, while they might not immediately engage in a fight to the death, their attitude would definitely not be good, and they would look down upon them from the bottom of their hearts.
After all, in the eyes of general cultivators, the beings before them were merely ingredients for alchemy and artifact refining; they were not on the same level.
The spirit creature standing on the black bear looked at Jiang Yunzhou with some surprise, as if it hadn't expected him to be so polite, unlike the cultivators it had seen before.
"It's best for you two to leave. Even if you have something important, it would be better to come back in a few days."
It coughed lightly and, imitating the human scholars it had seen before, slowly advised them.
Ji Yuan looked on with some surprise. He hadn't expected the creature to have such sentience, not only mimicking the tone of humans but also their demeanor and actions with remarkable accuracy.
This was not something ordinary mountain spirits could achieve.