Chapter 28: First Steps on the Eightfold Path

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" The sounds of fists pounding against the mountain wall echoed day after day. Though not loud, every bandit passing by on patrol could hear them. Curiosity is human nature, and many began to speculate about what the young master was doing. By chance, one bandit discovered the noise was from Lei Yan’s frenzied training, and soon the news swept through the whole Longba stronghold like a whirlwind. For a time, mocking Lei Yan as a madman became a common pastime.

Lei Yan was unaware that his training had become the subject of idle gossip among the bandits of Longba, nor did he know that most were laughing at him. He continued, undeterred, hammering the rock face with his fists, searching for the essence of earth.

Suddenly, Lei Yan’s fists stopped. Drops of fresh blood dripped to the ground. He forced a bitter smile. “It seems this method only lets me feel the earth’s hardness.” Lei Yan knew that his way was foolish in the extreme, but he had no teacher, no cultivation manual—everything had to be discovered by himself.

“Earth gives birth to all things. Let me truly experience the land beneath my feet.” With that, Lei Yan removed his shoes and stood barefoot on the ground, eyes closed, using his feet to sense the earth.

An hour passed and Lei Yan felt nothing but the chill of the ground. A whole day passed, and still, he sensed nothing. Thus, apart from practicing his Water Form Fist and studying formation calculations, Lei Yan spent each day standing barefoot, seeking to feel the earth beneath him.

Time flowed swiftly; half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Persistence finally brought Lei Yan reward. He began to sense concentric pulses, like the beat of a heart. This vibration seemed to let his feet merge with the earth, the earth itself becoming a natural extension of his body. Whether it was a drop of water, a fallen leaf, or any object touching the ground, Lei Yan could sense it through his feet. Of course, Lei Yan did not know this was the so-called “listening” force; he called it the earth’s pulse, for those rhythmic vibrations echoed the throb of a living heart.

In those six months, not only did Lei Yan progress, but the thirty followers training with him also advanced rapidly, reaching the peak of the Houtian stage. Some even broke through to the early Xiantian stage.

The sound of lively commotion spread throughout Longba.

“Hm? What’s happening?” Lei Yan frowned. Longba was usually quiet. In an instant, his supernatural perception swept through the stronghold, and he saw crowds pouring in at the entrance: elderly, children, women—countless people, at least several hundred at a glance. Lei Yan immediately remembered that Cui Ba had sent Leng Lao’er to Jizhou’s Ji Ridge to bring the families of Longba back. He hadn’t expected so many family members to have been hidden away in Ji Ridge.

“Young master! Cui Ba wants you to come!” The eerie figure of Yin You appeared silently at Lei Yan’s side.

“Understood.” Lei Yan nodded and headed for the cave where Cui Ba resided.

Inside Cui Ba’s cave, Lei Yan entered and saw Leng Lao’er standing beside Cui Ba. He stepped forward and greeted respectfully, “Godfather!”

Cui Ba nodded. “Lei’er, how has your training been lately?” He had heard of Lei Yan’s near-mad training but hadn’t interfered, believing everyone must find their own path.

“Reporting to godfather, I have reached the middle Xiantian stage,” Lei Yan answered truthfully.

“Good!” Satisfaction flickered in Cui Ba’s eyes. “Lao’er, settle the families, and summon Lu Kai and the others.”

Moments later, all the leaders gathered at Cui Ba’s residence.

“I’ve gathered you here to inform you that from today, we will set foot on the Eightfold Road,” Cui Ba declared. Now that the families were safe in Longba, he could act without worry.

The Eightfold Road was so named because it led in all directions. Any merchant passing through Qingzhou had to traverse this road, making it a haven for bandits. Small groups dared not enter the road itself and only operated on the fringes, for within the Eightfold Road three major bandit organizations reigned: Golden Might, Wind Shelter, and Sand Lion. Of these, Golden Might was strongest, Wind Shelter second, Sand Lion the weakest. Even Sand Lion boasted dozens of true Xiantian experts—not the pseudo-Xiantian of Longba.

Once, the Eightfold Road seemed a distant dream for Longba—not because of distance, but because of power. Now, though they could not claim dominance, they had grown strong enough to set foot there. Hearing Cui Ba’s words, the leaders’ eyes shone with anticipation. Only Lei Yan remained unmoved; he understood the strength of Eightfold Road’s bandits, and knew that with Longba’s current power, sacrifices would be inevitable.

“If anyone has thoughts or objections, speak up now,” Cui Ba said, looking at the assembled leaders.

“Cui Ba, I still think our strength is not enough to hold territory on the Eightfold Road,” Qian Duoduo said after some thought. “We shouldn’t try to hold one place.”

“I agree!” another leader chimed in. “We still can’t match the three major groups. How about this—Lao’er, take a few men and enter the Eightfold Road from the north side of the Poison Miasma Forest. Scout ahead, and if there’s danger, you can retreat.” Since acquiring this hidden base, Cui Ba had gained the confidence to venture out, knowing they could always fall back if threatened.

“Yes!” Leng Lao’er replied respectfully.

“Qian Duoduo, you’ll stay and guard Longba. Lu Kai, Wang Wu, and Zhao Liu, prepare yourselves. Once word comes from Lao’er, we’ll set out at any time,” Cui Ba instructed.

“Yes!” they answered in unison before leaving the cave.

When they were gone, Cui Ba turned to Lei Yan. “Lei’er, I’ve heard about those following your training. Many in Longba are unhappy with your methods. For now, my authority keeps things in order, but should I be gone one day, they may not accept your leadership. I think you should join us on outings when you’re not training. I’ll have someone notify you.”

Lei Yan was moved by Cui Ba’s concern. “I will follow your instructions in all matters, godfather.”

“Good. That’s settled. Prepare yourself for today as well,” Cui Ba said, patting Lei Yan’s shoulder.

“Yes, godfather!” Lei Yan turned and left the cave.

He had no preparations to make, and went straight to the open ground within the Longba territory. Once covered with flowers and grass, the field had been cleared by the bandits, forming a circular training ground over a mile in diameter.

About half an hour later, Leng Lao’er returned from outside, carrying a sheepskin map marked in several places—one of which was their target. Exactly which spot to attack was for Cui Ba to decide. This was a spontaneous operation, so Cui Ba quickly chose an area with fewer bandits. Whether a merchant caravan would appear was up to fate.

"Move out!" With Cui Ba’s command, over three hundred bandits departed Longba, heading for the spot he chose in the northwest part of the Poison Miasma Forest, not far from the main road. On either side of the road grew small groves, one bordering the Poison Miasma Forest. Cui Ba led his men straight into the wooded areas connecting to the forest.