Chapter 221: Frontier Secrets

Li Xiaobai looked towards Zhen Qiankun and asked, "Exactly where is this borderland, and what kind of state are those Flesh Mountains in?"

"Let Tian Ba speak about that, he's been defending the borderlands all year round and knows more than I do," Zhen Qiankun said.

Tian Ba was the rugged man who had spoken up for Li Xiaobai before, his muscles bulging like coiling dragons, blue veins throbbing wildly, a killing aura emanating from his body, making it clear he was no ordinary character.

"Hehe, Brother Li, you're quite impressive. Even I find that Flesh Mountain that awakened in the Tianbei Secret Realm troublesome, yet you managed to survive effortlessly. I admire you for that!"

Tian Ba was a straight talker and burst into hearty laughter.

"This borderland area is the world beyond the Immortal Spirit Continent. You can think of the Immortal Spirit Continent as a circle, where the inside is the environment where humans live, and beyond that circle is where the Flesh Mountains reside."

"But aren't the Flesh Mountains devoid of any self-awareness? How come they have their own territory?" Li Xiaobai was somewhat puzzled.

"Indeed, the Flesh Mountains lack self-awareness, but their numbers are vast, mostly gathered outside the circle. They move inward on instinct, and we who defend the borderlands strive to push back these invading Flesh Mountains. It's precisely because they lack consciousness that we have the opportunity to contend with them. If they possessed intelligence, the Immortal Spirit Continent would have been long gone," Tian Ba explained slowly. Only those cultivators like him, who constantly battled against the Flesh Mountains, truly understood how troublesome they were.

"Aren't there any powerhouses in the borderlands tasked with clearing out the Flesh Mountains?"

"Of course, there are. Over half of the top powerhouses from the Immortal Spirit Continent are there. Certain reclusive ancient creatures from the various races of Central Province have been holding fast in the borderland area, claiming to be in seclusion, concealing the fact that they have been dead but are actually struggling against the Flesh Mountains."

"Even so, clearing out the Flesh Mountains is extremely difficult. Within the Flesh Mountains, there are entities of enormous size. Just the other day in the Eastern Sea, the Vice Leader from the Aolai Country fought a Divine Demon Flesh Mountain at the borderlands. Neither could overcome the other after three days and three nights, and in the end, it resulted in a stalemate."

"Bear in mind that all three leaders of the Aolai Country are of the Half-step Human Immortal realm!" Tian Ba said gravely. This news was originally a secret, locked away, but today he felt it was necessary for everyone to be spirited and stay alert.

Especially this bunch of spoiled second-generation heirs, who knew nothing, and at this rate, they wouldn't even know how they died.

Everyone was shocked upon hearing this. A Half-step Human Immortal was the ceiling of combat power in the Immortal Spirit Continent, and if even such existences couldn't defeat the Flesh Mountains, how powerful must they be? To think such terrifying creatures have always existed in their world!

Liu Ming looked pale, recalling the scene when he practiced cultivating his Primordial Spirit by embracing a Flesh Mountain, and suddenly it didn't seem so pleasant to him.

Li Xiaobai pondered. The borderlands were the battlefield between humans and the Flesh Mountains. Compared with this, the affairs within the Immortal Spirit Continent seemed trivial. If he could train in the borderlands, he might be able to increase his Attribute Points every day just by lying down.

"May I ask Brother Tian Ba, where exactly do these Flesh Mountains come from?"

Li Xiaobai asked earnestly, a question he had failed to understand all along.

"Brother Li, have you heard of the Ancient Era?"

"The first era after the heavens and earth were opened up?"

Li Xiaobai remembered that when Ergouzi was captured, Ji Wuqing had transformed into a phoenix from the Ancient Era.

"Correct. During the Ancient Era, there were two extremely terrifying creatures. One was named Undying Phoenix, and the other was called 'Soul'. They fought against each other, causing the sky to shatter and the earth to split, and from their chaos, the universe re-evolved all living beings."

"Afterwards, the whereabouts of these two creatures became unknown. However, according to many ancient records, 'Soul' was shattered into pieces and scattered into the mortal world, becoming what we see now as these Flesh Mountains," Tian Ba said.

"Cackle, not bad, it was indeed I who shattered that soul to pieces back in the day," Ji Wuqing leaped forward, chest puffed out, and spoke with a faint tone. "I must say, throughout the ancient and present times, only that soul has been worthy of competing with me. In the countless, endless years, no one has matched it, and even today, I, Ji Wuqing, am willing to acknowledge the soul as the strongest!"

Ji Wuqing sprang out, standing tall with pride, casually making his declaration.

Li Xiaobai's face turned dark, and without a bit of courtesy, he threw him aside. This darn chicken was ruining the perfect atmosphere with his antics.

However, with Ji Wuqing causing such a commotion, the somber and oppressive atmosphere had indeed eased up quite a bit.

"Ahem, today I invited Tian Ba over not only to familiarize everyone with the current situation on the Mainland but also to recruit troops for the borderlands. We're gathering cultivators because Flesh Mountain has recently revived en masse, and a long-lasting war is imminent. The borderlands need more talents."

"All of you are the young elites of the Immortal Spirit Continent, and perhaps you can lend a hand," Zhen Qiankun said, his eyes brimming with expectation.

"Uh, this... Saint Heir, as you know, we can't really decide on this matter ourselves; we have to wait for instructions from home," someone said hesitantly.

"Indeed, although we are very eager to go to the borderlands and fight against Flesh Mountain, our families probably won't agree," another added.

"I'll go back and talk to my father, and we'll see what happens," said another reluctantly.

"Saint Heir, I think it's best if I don't embarrass myself with my insignificant cultivation..." another chimed in meekly.

The cultivators' expressions were somewhat embarrassed. Previously, they were fearless due to their ignorance, bold in their words, but now, faced with the reality presented by the cultivators defending the borderlands, they were afraid.

In Aolai Country, being the Second Leader was akin to being a celestial being, and even she couldn't deal with Flesh Mountain. If these people went, they would likely lose their lives.

"Cowards."

Tian Ba commented disdainfully. He hadn't even mentioned the number of cultivators dying at the borderlands each year, and these so-called young elites were already showing cowardice, which he found contemptible.

"As for the matter of the borderlands, Fire Qilin Cave has been sending people annually. This year coincides with our Fire Qilin Divine Beast competition. Here, I'll make our stance clear: all four Qilin Divine Beasts from Fire Qilin Cave will head to the borderlands to join the battle, and in addition, we will deploy more than a dozen cultivators to provide support," Shentu stated in a calm voice, having kept silent until then. For an old and established force, conflicts with Flesh Mountain were as common as daily meals.

Once these words were spoken, the crowd felt even more ashamed. Look at the people from Fire Qilin Cave – such dominance! Confronting danger, the thought of escape never crossed their minds; they truly had the right to their arrogance.

"Hmm, the strength of Fire Qilin Cave has always been an important line of defense for the borderlands. This year, with the help of the Divine Beasts, we should be able to relieve quite a bit of pressure," Tian Ba nodded in approval. Among those present, Shentu was one of the few who could earn his high regard.

"Shouldn't Young Master Li make a statement?"

"Indeed, Young Master Li is a genius. It would be a pity if he did not go to the borderlands."

"Stop it, perhaps he has no intention of going at all; we shouldn't pressure him."

Among the crowd, someone spoke using a Secret Technique, the voice echoing around the peak, but it was impossible to tell who was stirring trouble.

Before Li Xiaobai could respond, Tian Ba was already furious. Clenching his fist, he smashed it towards an uninhabited area: "Cowards hiding your heads and revealing your tails, come out!"