Chapter 233: Chapter 153: Return to the Village, Abnormality in the Mountains (2)

He hadn’t noticed this when he came back for the medicinal material seedlings a few days ago.

Lost in thought, Cheng Zongyang turned and headed home.

"Yang’Er, you’re back." Mrs. Zhou of the Cheng Family looked up from her chores, happy to see her eldest son return. "How did it go? Was everything all right?"

Cheng Zongyang smiled. "Of course. I was just delivering some things. It’s all taken care of. Where are Zongliang and little sister?"

"They’re both in the Library Hall. It’s not time for lunch yet," Mrs. Zhou of the Cheng Family said.

Cheng Zongyang nodded. He’d forgotten about that.

The new group of people had brought many children, and the original Library Hall was no longer big enough. So, two large new Library Halls had been built in the Extragalactic Region, not far from the Sect Hall, to accommodate the educational needs of several dozen youths.

"Is Dad in the ancestral hall?" Cheng Zongyang asked as he changed into a short-sleeved shirt and handed the clothes that needed washing to his mother.

Mrs. Zhou of the Cheng Family took her son’s clothes. "I think he went to the Martial Arts Hall? Or maybe the Hunting Hall," she said, sounding uncertain. "The people from the Hunting Hall came back last night and said a trap in the Inner Mountain showed signs of being burned. They don’t know who did it."

Hearing this, a glint flashed in Cheng Zongyang’s eyes. He immediately started heading outside. "I understand. Mom, I brought back six horses. See if you can raise them. We can have mare’s milk to drink later."

"All right, you don’t need to worry about these trivial things." Mrs. Zhou of the Cheng Family was exasperated. "You’re a grown man, and you still want to drink mare’s milk?"

"It’s for the children..."

Cheng Zongyang was speechless. ’So much for her understanding.’ He shook his head without bothering to explain and headed straight for the Hunting Hall.

The signs of the trap being burned gave him a bad feeling.

He had seen Exotic Beasts before, and he had fought them.

Aside from the Exotic Beasts with the Sound Wave Ability, which he couldn’t kill face-to-face, he was capable of killing all the rest!

To kill an Exotic Beast with a Sound Wave Ability, one had to use auxiliary means to counteract the sound waves. Alternatively, one had to finish it off quickly, before it could react or before it was able to unleash its Sonic Attack!

’But right now, who would be bored enough to set fire to a trap?’

"Young Clan Leader!"

When he arrived at the Hunting Hall, several people organizing supplies at the entrance immediately stood up.

"At ease. Carry on with your work," Cheng Zongyang said, waving his hand as he walked inside.

Just as he expected, his father and uncle were inside the Hunting Hall, discussing something.

They had heard the shouts from outside, and seeing Cheng Zongyang enter, the two of them stopped their conversation.

"Dad, Uncle," Cheng Zongyang greeted them.

Cheng Guanghai nodded slightly. "Just got back?"

"Zongyang’s back," Zhou Hanchang said with a smile.

Cheng Zongyang nodded, then said, "I was just at home and heard Mom say there was a problem with a trap in the Inner Mountain. What’s the situation?"

Cheng Guanghai shook his head. "Always so worried the moment you get back. You haven’t even rested. We’re here to handle things."

But Cheng Zongyang shook his head. "I’m worried it’s an Exotic Beast."

At this, both Cheng Guanghai and Zhou Hanchang, who had been about to say something, froze.

"An Exotic Beast?" Zhou Hanchang frowned. "It doesn’t seem like it. The trap looks like someone burned it a bit with a torch. There were only some bloodstains and animal fur left in the pit, no other traces. Can Exotic Beasts breathe fire?"

Cheng Zongyang said, "The only villagers who go into the mountains are from the Hunting Hall. People without proper training aren’t allowed. And no one would be bored enough to set fire to prey caught in a trap, would they?"

Cheng Zongyang didn’t press the point. "Uncle, tell me the exact location. I’ll go take a look. Dad, please tell the patrolling Guard Team to be extra careful."

Seeing how serious his son was, Cheng Guanghai didn’t argue. He nodded and said, "I’ll see to it. You be careful."

"Don’t worry."

And so, Zhou Hanchang told his eldest nephew the location.

Once he knew, Cheng Zongyang departed swiftly. This was a good opportunity to go to his private mountain cave and deal with those sleeping Martial Artists first.

There were many natural caves in the mountains, including a few small ones near the village. But he chose the one where he had slain the Ghost-faced Spider.

Later, he could place a Geomagnetic Stone in the cave. Not only would it clear out all the snakes, insects, and other vermin, but it would also keep creatures from the outside from daring to enter.

He hurried on his way, but halfway there, the six Martial Artists were all rejected and ejected from the Wilderness World.

Resigned, Cheng Zongyang had no choice but to take out the Bean Powder Water, force it down their throats, and absorb them back into the Wilderness World. At the same time, he realized the time limit was also one hour.

’It seems that when Wilderness Beans are ground into powder, the time limit is shortened to one hour!’ Now that he understood, Cheng Zongyang continued toward the cave.

Half an hour later, he reached the small waterfall.

The torrential rain that had lasted for three days and three nights some time ago had clearly hit Tianduan Mountain as well, causing the water flow to increase significantly. Even the dry riverbeds now had water flowing in them.

He would need to pay close attention to this to prevent rising water levels from causing problems for the settlement in the future.

Taking out the Geomagnetic Stone and the Stone Skin Purse, he headed toward the mountain ravine to the right and soon arrived at the cliffside cave.

He placed a Geomagnetic Stone at the mouth of the cave. In just a moment, countless snakes, insects, and other vermin within a hundred-meter radius fell still. They had all been stunned by the fully exposed Geomagnetic Stone before they had a chance to flee.

Entering the cave, he released the six men one by one, leaving some food and water. He untied the ropes on their hands and feet, intending to let them survive here on their own for a while. He would deal with them after his acquisition of the Soul Crystal Stones was complete.

The tendons in their arms and legs had been severed, so they couldn’t hope to do anything. And with the Geomagnetic Stone at the entrance, they couldn’t even think about getting out.

He measured the distance and moved the Geomagnetic Stone more than ten meters further out to ensure it wouldn’t affect the environment inside the cave. He only needed to keep the innermost space safe. At the same time, he cleared out the poisonous creatures inside the cave, lest the six men be poisoned to death. That would be a huge loss.