Chapter Forty-Two: The Ten Thousand Great Mountains (Part 1)

“Hello everyone, I’m Zhang Ning. Welcome to my live stream, and I hope you’ll like, subscribe, and... Right, there’s still no tipping this time.”

On this day, those who had followed Zhang Ning’s streams were surprised to find that the Fifth Prince was broadcasting again! They hurriedly opened their Little Freedom app, eyes filled with anticipation as they watched the stream, greeting Zhang Ning as if they were old friends.

Zhang Ning was dressed in a deep blue outfit, a small bundle slung across his back, his eyes bright with excitement and eagerness. He responded to the greetings one by one.

Because Zhang Ning had suddenly notified Su Ye to start the stream, the clearing team hadn’t had time to finish their work. Instead, their efforts had only caused further disturbance and danger. In the wild, it’s always the second person to cross the meadow who gets bitten by snakes.

So Zhang Ning simply changed the streaming location back to his original spot. This time, he would be venturing into the untouched wilderness of the Ten Thousand Mountains!

He was afraid, but the thrill and expectation of facing the unknown burned even stronger—perhaps an innate spirit of adventure in men.

However, Zhang Ning was no fool. He had assured Su Ye repeatedly that he would always keep location tracking enabled during the stream. If danger struck, a Martial Emperor would tear through space and come to his aid immediately.

Besides, with the storage pouch from his third senior and the storage ring from the Internal Affairs Office, he carried countless exquisite spiritual treasures and magical artifacts. Zhang Ning even felt confident he wouldn’t need any backup.

Now, Zhang Ning glanced at the barrage of greetings, noticing the most frequently mentioned word. With a confident smile, he said, “You’re right, many viewers guessed correctly. This is indeed the Ten Thousand Mountains!”

“The Ten Thousand Mountains is one of the most perilous wildernesses, with almost zero permanent residents... What? No, our sect disciples haven’t gotten lost or died here, but I know that each year, around a hundred martial artists perish, not from combat, but simply by venturing into this place. So today, I’m here to show off some of my little tricks.”

Seeing the flood of cheers in the comments—and even a few fanatical admirers professing their love—Zhang Ning suddenly said, as if casually, “This might be my second and last live stream. Next, I need to return to the Grand Freedom Heavenly Demon Sect. Master must miss me.”

That light remark struck like a bomb, sending Zhang Ning’s fledgling fan club into a daze.

How could this be?

They had thought the prince would take them across the Azure Realm, showing them its wonders and dangers, introducing all sorts of creatures, exchanging with disciples from other sacred grounds, maybe even glimpsing a venerable master... Was this really the last stream?

It seemed, indeed, the prince was only dabbling in this.

The fans were disappointed, feeling the pain of a series abruptly cut short. Even casual viewers felt a twinge of regret, but those tasked with gathering intelligence from the stream were thrown into chaos! Within moments, countless reports and analyses began to circulate rapidly among the factions.

Zhang Ning acted as if he hadn’t noticed the comments at all. “I’m currently in the Lava Volcano range within the Ten Thousand Mountains. The environment here is harsh, the terrain treacherous—just traveling through it is no easy feat!”

He stepped carefully, and the ground began to crackle, the sound of stones breaking echoing clearly. It made one’s heart race, as if the ground would split like ice and whoever walked on it would plummet into the endless abyss below.

Addressing the camera, Zhang Ning said, “The geology here is extremely fragile. Looks like I’ll have to use martial arts techniques! Also, if you are an ordinary person who accidentally wanders here, you should take big steps, even use your hands and feet to spread your weight. If you fall, it could trigger a chain collapse of the ground.”

With that, Zhang Ning’s figure moved like a swallow skimming water, drifting lightly forward, advancing nearly five or six yards with each step. He was using the famed Whirlwind Footwork!

The comments rolled in:

“Oh my god, Whirlwind Footwork!”

“The prince is amazing, look at his mastery!”

“A true disciple of a sacred ground!”

“What’s so special? Anyone can do that after practicing for a few years. It’s ordinary.”

“Come off it! Nothing ordinary about it—his footwork is already at the level of mastery!”

“What is this footwork? Is it the Green Oriole’s Triple Water Step?”

“Nonsense, of course it’s Whirlwind Footwork!”

“Yes, though it doesn’t look exactly like it, it’s still Whirlwind Footwork.”

“Huh? Whirlwind Footwork? Isn’t it famous for its aura?”

“Indeed, Whirlwind Footwork is best known for its aura. But the prince has adapted it—truly gifted.”

“Ridiculous. The prince’s talent speaks for itself!”

“Ning is the best!”

“To apply such nimble footwork to this extent...”

“Hard to believe the prince is only eight years old!”

“Zhang Ning is really impressive!”

“I just entered this stream. What’s happening? Is this person teaching footwork techniques? Who is he?”

“This is a top disciple of the Grand Freedom Heavenly Demon Sect. Whirlwind Footwork’s focus should be on the lower body, using it as the center to spin the body, generating aura and speed!”

“The previous comment is just made up, never heard of that.”

“Prince, I love you! Kisses~~~”

“Ten Thousand Mountains? I remember a renowned figure perished here, having strayed off the path and eventually dying lost!”

“Hey, you don’t know who the prince is?! This is Prince Zhang Ning, the brilliant fifth disciple newly accepted by the Myriad Phenomena Demon Lord of the Grand Freedom Heavenly Demon Sect!”

“So cool! As nimble as the Green Oriole’s Triple Water Step!”

Zhang Ning grinned at the comments, unabashedly proud. “Thank you for your praise! Yes, it’s indeed Whirlwind Footwork!”

Another wave of amazement swept through the comments. Zhang Ning couldn’t help but pause to read through each flattering remark.

The often-mentioned Green Oriole’s Triple Water Step was a famed technique known for its lightness, regarded as a supreme method among advanced skills. The lighter one’s body, the better it suited them. Its originating sect was the Cloud Soaring Sect, which was by no means a second-rate organization like the Benevolent Villa.

Two sects, both centered around women—one righteous, one demonic—have long been the talk of the Azure Realm. The demonic sect is the Moon Palace, formerly led by the Moonstepping Demon Lord, while the righteous counterpart is the Cloud Soaring Sect. The Green Oriole’s Triple Water Step is one of Cloud Soaring’s signature techniques. Whirlwind Footwork, renowned for its aura, hails from a top-tier sword sect.

Normally, outsiders can only imitate such sect-specific techniques, but in the Grand Freedom Heavenly Demon Sect, these elite manuals are available in their original form, often used to attract new disciples. Zhang Ning’s third senior had given him the genuine article to play with. He had browsed it on a whim, practiced it for two or three days, and decided to showcase it in his stream. Judging by the feedback, it worked out well. He had just gained some useful insights from the audience.

Zhang Ning said, “Thank you all for your suggestions—your opinions are invaluable!” He drew a breath, his movements growing even more agile, speeding up noticeably.

“I’ll head up the nearest mountain to check the general direction.”

Zhang Ning raced ahead, and in some places, the ground’s extreme heat sent flames licking up, scorching part of his boots.

He grimaced, “This is terrifying. If you’re not in good condition, you’d better test the ground first, don’t get your feet burned—it hurts!” He nodded as he spoke, and countless viewers in the stream were amused by his antics.