Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 546 - 270: Toad Treasure Mountain, Qin Ergou! Northern Emperor’s Great Banner

The sky is as blue as a plate, the deep mountain like a barrier.

"The locals call this mountain Lump Mountain."

As they walked into the mountain, the chilly air filled their throats and lungs, but it brought a refreshing feeling. Qi Delong pointed at the undulating peaks and began to introduce them.

"Lump Mountain? Quite fitting," Zhang Fan nodded.

The mountain range jutted out with bizarre rocks, resembling the lumps on a toad’s back, a perfect match for the appearance associated with the Golden Toad Pearl Formation.

"This mountain is neither too big nor too small, and the treasure spot won’t be more than a yard in size. You’ve been here before, you should have some idea," Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask.

Heaven forms the Qi, Earth forms the shape, the union of Heaven and Earth creates the marvels that manifest into treasures among the Red Dust.

A wisp of Creation Qi in a person’s body is only the size of a palm, located in the Spirit Platform, Divine Mansion, and Dantian.

In the Mountains and Seas, it is only within a yard’s size, like a Dragon Vein and Dragon Cave, similar to a Blessed Land and forbidden zone.

Just like back at Tusk Mountain, that place of great evil, there was a cave that turned evil into auspiciousness and became Ren Xiao’s Secluded Place for the previous generation.

Although Lump Mountain has the Golden Toad Containing Pearl formation, the true treasure spot is only in that yard-sized area.

"My brother suffered a great loss last time, how could he return empty-handed?" Qi Dongqiang’s voice broke in timely.

"Shut up."

Qi Delong gave a cold snort, giving himself a hard slap.

"Pardon us."

"..."

"That treasure spot should be in the heart of the mountain, inside the toad’s belly," Qi Delong pointed towards the depths of the mountain.

"There’s a large tomb there."

"A large tomb!?" Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow, showing an unusual expression.

"How could there be a large tomb in this mountain?"

"Judging by the shape, it’s at least three hundred years old, it’s a Daoist grave," Qi Delong whispered, "I suspect some senior expert saw something extraordinary about this mountain, so they claimed that treasure spot, lived not in a house in life, but in a tomb after death."

"Three hundred years, this toad is still in hibernation, concealing its treasure aura with its form unmanifested, its Celestial Secret unrevealed, yet that person could see it? How great is their Dao Practice?" Zhang Fan said in a deep voice.

Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang, the brothers, were descendants of Laojun Mountain, and after following Zhao Jie Xuan, they also advanced to the Mahayana Realm.

Even with such cultivation, they couldn’t discern this mountain’s peculiarity until an earthquake revealed the hibernating toad’s form and a rush of treasure Qi to the sky, revealing the mountain’s wonders to them.

"The Celestial Secret unmanifested, yet the Daoist could see the hidden treasure aura here, must be a senior master," Qi Delong said deeply.

"Or perhaps just skilled in Feng Shui," Zhang Fan pondered aloud.

If it was just proficiency in Feng Shui, then that’s one thing, but to truly have the cultivation and Dao Practice to perceive the Celestial Secret, the dangers of such an existing tomb are unimaginable.

"Since we’re here, stop overthinking it, let’s go."

Qi Delong led the way, and the two of them followed the narrow and deep mountain path, soon arriving at the foot of Lump Mountain.

There, they found a thatched hut with smoke curling upwards, like a white thread rising steadily into the sky.

"Someone lives here?" Zhang Fan asked curiously.

This place might not even have WiFi installed.

"There’s a young man living here, he usually gets by acting as a guide for hikers and taking care of those cattle carts," Qi Delong whispered.

The last time he explored Lump Mountain, he had this young villager act as their guide.

"Er Gou... Er Gou..."

At this moment, Qi Dongqiang called out.

"Er Gou?" Zhang Fan was taken aback. In this day and age, someone still goes by that name?

"His name is Qin Ergou!" Qi Delong said in a serious whisper, raising a hand to point.

"He’s over there."

Zhang Fan looked in the indicated direction and saw a young man standing in front of the thatched hut. His features were delicate, his demeanor simple, dressed in a thin garment and cotton shoes, breathing deeply in the mountain air.

He was breathing in a unique rhythm, his abdomen bulging suddenly, making a strange gurgling sound, his skin blushing slightly, and then exhaling a breath, his entire aura then wilted like decay.

Despite the repetition, the light in his eyes grew even brighter.

"Er Gou... Er Gou..."

Qi Delong called out a couple more times.

Qin Ergou seemed to sense it, stopping his actions, turned to look, and upon seeing Qi Delong, a look of joy appeared on his face as he rushed forward.

"Brother Qi, you’re here again." Qin Ergou was overjoyed.

The last time he guided Qi Delong, he received a two-thousand-yuan fee, more than he normally made in half a month.

"Brother, this Toad Treasure Mountain is vast, I knew you couldn’t see it all at once." Qin Ergou smiled foolishly.

"Toad Treasure Mountain!?" Zhang Fan concentrated in thought.

"This is my friend, his name is Zhang Fan." Qi Delong nodded, having a good impression of this simple rural young man.

"Brother Fan." Qin Ergou greeted with a simple smile.

"What were you just doing?" Zhang Fan asked.

"I was fishing for Toad Qi," Qin Ergou replied.

"Fishing for Toad Qi?" Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow, showing an unusual expression.

"It’s a skill passed down in my family. My grandfather said, many years ago, a Daoist came to our village and stayed at our house," Qin Ergou recounted a piece of history.

"That Daoist said this mountain shouldn’t be called Lump Mountain, but Toad Treasure Mountain!"

"At that time, he taught my grandfather’s grandfather’s grandfather... anyway, my ancestor, a method. He said this mountain houses a giant toad, every day just like this, breathing its Qi can ward off illness and disaster, extending life."

Qin Ergou revealed everything about his family.

"The Daoist said, this is fishing for Toad Qi."

Zhang Fan pondered, exchanging a look with Qi Delong.

If that’s the case, the Daoist Qin Ergou mentioned might just be the tomb owner within this mountain.