Chapter 106: How Can This Be!

Regarding the rat plague that suddenly broke out in the city this time.

Bangzi Country merely reported it as entertainment news and covered it up.

It did gain some heat on the internet, but it did not last long.

Also being a news focus on rats, it was actually the rats in Gaul Country, which were larger than cats and took to the streets in groups, that attracted more attention.

Many people wanted to know who would be the final winner in the latest war between Gaul Country and the rats.

And beneath the surface.

Those with power and money could always know a bit more information and details.

The Morning Star Church had an incredible miracle appear during their ceremony and became the only Holy Church to escape the rat plague unscathed.

This aroused their interest, causing them to choose to visit even if they were not in that city, and to provide at least a little support.

This support greatly enhanced the financial resources of the Morning Star Church.

And in Bangzi Country, financial resources were easily converted into manpower and material resources.

Then, relief stations of the Morning Star Church appeared on various streets.

They even replaced the original shelter points of the White Dragon Church in the central district, turning those homeless people into believers of their own faction.

At the same time, the grand auditorium where the ceremony was held was designated as the holy land of the church by Sect Leader Li Yongxiu.

He required all believers to come at least once a week to pray and contribute a share of strength to the Angel of the King's great cause of exorcism.

Yet in reality, there was no need for the Sect Leader's instructions at all.

The believers wished they could come to pray once every day in hopes of receiving a blessing.

Because with the growth of the Morning Star Church.

The rumors of miracles had become increasingly exaggerated.

There were even rumors that a believer who received a blessing had a serious illness, which doctors had determined could not be cured and would not last long, recover without treatment!

As for rumors like someone who had been blind for many years suddenly regaining their sight, or someone crippled in both legs suddenly being able to stand up, those had long since spread throughout the areas within the church's sphere of influence.

These actions, in the process of slowly growing, also successfully attracted the attention of intelligence personnel from some major powers.

It was just that these intelligence personnel naturally could not just report this up to claim credit.

So they put in a little effort to investigate.

The result was seeing the scene of the Blood Angel captured on mobile phones.

They found no traces of photo editing, so they went to check on the blessed believers.

The result was as expected... they did not obtain any convincing, real examples of serious illnesses being cured without treatment after receiving a blessing.

Thus, the video was classified as some kind of special effects magic.

They subsequently lost most of their interest.

Instead, some experts took advantage of the rat plague to apply for research funding, which could be considered an indirect beneficiary of this matter.

With this helping hand from Su Ping.

The Morning Star Church could be considered to have officially entered a period of rapid development.

Su Ping then set his mind slightly at ease and returned to the Cultivation World.

During this period, Jinque City had been in a state of alert.

Upon learning that Su Ping had returned to Linyue Villa, the City Lord, Ji Hu, and others took the initiative to come to the villa to seek an audience with Su Ping.

Su Ping also learned that in these past few days, the surroundings of Jinque City had become increasingly unsettled.

It was not that the nearby Artifact Heart Sect had started making small moves again.

After they controlled Yunshan Market, they focused on doing business, and their trading partners even included cultivation families belonging to the sphere of influence of the Chiyuan Immortal Sect.

Rather, it was because seeing that the Chiyuan Immortal Sect seemed to really be failing.

Some outside cultivators had gradually become bolder.

They dared not go to large markets like the Jinyun Mountain Market.

So they set their targets on places like the Jiuye Mountain Market, which had a First Tier Low Grade Spirit Vein.

Larger sects did not think much of these places.

But these Outer Sect cultivators and those Loose Cultivators still valued them.

And once they took them down, there would still be more or less something to plunder, right?

Thus, just two days ago, a group of outside cultivators from who knows where gathered dozens of Loose Cultivators and hundreds of elite horse bandits from the surrounding area, combined with a mortal army composed of thousands of thugs and hooligans.

They surrounded the Jiuye Mountain Market!

And then they sent people to the vicinity of Jinque City to demand the provision of grain and forage.

The City Lord Mansion of Jinque City did not dare to anger the other party, so besides reporting it, they also gave a small amount of grain and forage to send those thug envoys away.

"I know of this matter."

Su Ping nodded slightly, noncommittal about the City Lord Mansion's approach.

With the City Lord Mansion's meager strength, they were already struggling when facing Loose Cultivators, let alone outside cultivators who dared to besiege a market.

In this environment where order was increasingly shaken, occupying a place with a Spirit Vein also meant having an extra share of trouble.

It was better to be oneself, in this mortal city with thin Spirit Qi.

Even slightly stronger forces had no interest in coming to find trouble for oneself.

Su Ping even suspected that the outside Loose Cultivators and martial artists might not even know of him.

Those proper outside cultivators probably did not even know that an Inspector had been added to Jinque City this year!

"It's just that this Nine Leaves Mountain is too close to Jinque City."

Hearing this news, Su Ping sent off the City Lord and the others, then sat cross-legged in his bedroom and connected to the swarm of rats.

Immediately, through the memory fragments of the swarm of rats, Su Ping saw the great battle that had broken out at the Jiuye Mountain Market.

From a fragment of memory, Su Ping was surprised to discover that the Inner Sect female cultivator he had once met in the Copper Mirror was actually in the Market as well.

It was also because of the presence of this Inner Sect female cultivator.

The Jiuye Mountain Market had held out until now, and with the support of the wealthy families at the foot of the mountain, it had even gained a certain advantage by relying on the reinforcement of an Array.

It was just that reinforcements for the outside Cultivators had been arriving over the past two days.

Yet the Jiuye Mountain Market appeared to be isolated and without help.

With one side waning and the other waxing, it likely wouldn't be able to hold on until the end!

"It was indeed correct to take the risk to accelerate the accumulation of merit."

"This territory is becoming increasingly dangerous; right now it is just the Jiuye Mountain Market, but once more outside Cultivators smell the blood, there will always be some who think even a mosquito's leg is meat and will quietly come to seek me out, the Inspector."

Just as Su Ping thought of this, his expression turned strange.

It was because as he stood up to go Fishing, his Divine Sense, in coordination with Spirit Mouse Xiaobai and Xiaohui, swept out and vaguely discovered that two Cultivators were already hiding in Linyue Lake.

Su Ping pretended not to know and slowly approached the lake.

The two Cultivators lurking at the bottom of the lake had their cultivation levels probed; they were two outside Cultivators at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer who practiced techniques that were not common goods of the Immortal Sect.

Their cultivation technique should be related to the water element, and they must have been lurking at the bottom of the lake for some time, yet they felt no suffocation or discomfort.

Su Ping could guess that these two had likely learned that there was an Inspector in Jinque City with a good reputation who also had a strange habit of Fishing.

Thus, they had harbored the intention of launching a sneak attack and had hidden at the bottom of the lake in advance.

If they had encountered a truly ordinary Mid-stage Qi Refining Inspector who liked to fish.

Under their sneak attack, the win rate would have been extremely high.

It was just that... now, however.

Su Ping sighed lightly in his heart.

As a fishing enthusiast, he actually didn't like this kind of windfall very much.

Why did these fellows just line up to deliver themselves?

Su Ping was now at the Qi Refining Body Tempering Ninth Layer, which counted as a top-tier Great Cultivator even in the Outer Sect.

In peaceful times, someone like him could even go to a small immortal cultivation family like the Yun Family to serve as a guest Elder.

Su Ping sat in his usual spot and began Fishing.

As the number of fishing attempts slowly decreased.

The two ambushers in the lake never had the chance to surface again.

His Divine Sense easily suppressed their five senses, and then the fishhook, infused with Dharma Power, dropped down and wrapped around their bodies.

With a slight exertion of force, they didn't even manage to let out a bubble.

The lives of the two Qi Refining Fourth Layer Cultivators vanished beneath Su Ping's fishing rod.

Su Ping calmly finished his fishing attempts before fishing up their Storage Bags.

Hmm... fishing out Storage Bags doesn't count as being skunked, right?

Afterwards, Su Ping, who set off early for Xuangui Island and did not intend to wait for two accumulations, looked at the items in the Storage Bags while resting on the road.

He was slightly shocked to discover that these two were actually among the outside Cultivators who had received news of the siege on the Jiuye Mountain Market and were preparing to rendezvous.

They, along with those Cultivators besieging Jiuye Mountain, all came from a Cultivator Alliance in Nanhuang composed of more than a dozen small sects.

The leader was a True Disciple of one of the sects and had a good reputation within the Alliance.

Because of this, he was able to call upon many people to come and help.

According to the reply letter these two had not yet sent to someone.

These two believed their own cultivation was too low, and that there would be no benefit in going, only hard labor.

So they planned to travel slowly through the mortal world, enjoying the scenery.

And they hoped the recipient of the letter would help them maneuver around it.

Su Ping reckoned that this was also how they had heard of the deeds of the Jinque City Inspector.

And learned that this Inspector had once killed several Demon Beasts!

As proper Cultivators, they naturally shouldn't believe those rumors among the common folk.

Yet they could guess that their Inspector had mostly just been lucky enough to encounter young or severely injured Demon Beasts.

Thus, driven by greed, they began to study carefully and discovered the strange Fishing habit of their Jinque City Inspector.

And then... then they became his gift-bearers.

Xuangui Island sea area.

Su Ping, who had transformed into the white-haired youth Yun Kong, sat on the back of Da Hei Yu; while riding the wind and waves, he also discovered that many fleets had recently appeared on the sea surface.

Among them were large Tall Ships capable of carrying hundreds of people.

During this time, Cultivators on the Tall Ships also saw the white-haired youth and one after another assumed a state of high alert.

Especially those with detection Dharma Artifacts, who, after discovering Yun Kong's strength in both late-stage Qi Refining and Body Tempering, felt as if they were facing a great enemy, and the entire fleet came to a halt.

They waited until Su Ping rode Da Hei Yu and disappeared over the horizon before they dared to start moving again.

This gave Su Ping the illusion that he could also be considered a great expert.

Then Su Ping thought about it and discovered that at least in these Overseas Islands, it really was so!

Late-stage Qi Refining was extremely rare here, let alone someone like him at the ninth layer!

Su Ping had been to Xuangui Island several times, so he was quite familiar with the way.

He let Da Hei Yu stay by the shore to dive and wait.

Su Ping went directly to the Heavenly Pool to start Fishing.

His luck was good this time; he had previously refreshed the maximum number of attempts at Linyue Lake and Dong-qu-shui-ku, gaining 140 experience points.

Although he had only accumulated once this time, he still managed to fish out the maximum limit of 100 attempts.

After finishing the fishing, the experience points reached:

【Current Fishing Level: 4 (1990/2000)】

At the same time, this trip to Xuangui Island also allowed Su Ping to obtain a second Flowing Pattern Golden Dragon Fish that can increase Divine Sense!

Without hesitation, Su Ping consumed it directly.

His Divine Sense surged once again.

This time, he could have a clear grasp of everything within one hundred and fifty meters.

His vague sensing distance broke through five hundred meters!

This level of Divine Sense strength seemed to be no weaker than the usual performance of those at the Foundation Establishment stage in Immortal Sect novels.

A thought even crossed Su Ping's mind that perhaps he could find someone at the Foundation Establishment stage to ask for advice.

However, he soon shook his head slightly and abandoned this impulse.

It would be better to wait until he has learned a Secret Technique, and then, under the premise of not fearing failure brought by the Purification Spirit Medicine, successfully achieve Foundation Establishment without relying on a Foundation Establishment Pill, before going to ask for advice.

Perhaps he could even go to the Artifact Heart Sect or other sects to perform Foundation Establishment, and then become a Guest Minister to scrape together some benefits?

Judging from the performance of the Artifact Heart Sect and those Nanhuang sects.

The strong control that the Chiyuan Immortal Sect previously exerted over the middle and lower levels was actually an anomaly in the Cultivation World.

No wonder the Immortal Sect's own records mention that Chiyuan Xianren acted in a domineering manner, often drawing his sword to suppress all dissent...

After adapting to his Divine Sense, Su Ping left the Heavenly Pool and arrived at the shore.

Then he discovered that a large number of ships had appeared on the horizon of this sea area.

These ships flew the same banner: Dongli.

"The Dongli Family that runs the Hundred Treasures Workshop?"

Su Ping muttered to himself, but he was not afraid of being discovered and let Da Hei Yu float to the surface.

He was currently Exorcist Mage Yunkong.

Even if someone cared, they would not be able to trace it back to his true self.

On the sea, the Dongli Family's fleet was heading straight for Xuangui Island.

They intended to incorporate this island into the sphere of influence of the Dongli Family's overseas branch.

This was a sure thing in their view, but they did not expect that just as they saw the coastline, they would see a uniquely styled Cultivator preparing to leave.

"Father, this person is acting sneakily; should we call him over for questioning?"

On the deck of a Tall Ship, behind a middle-aged man wearing armor, a sword cultivator looked eager to try.

Furthermore, his eyes were fixed on that Da Hei Yu with some desire.

No one knows a son better than his father; the armored man knew what his son was thinking, and in fact, he was also somewhat tempted.

Especially since the other party was alone, while their side possessed an entire fully armed fleet.

Moreover, these Tall Ships were not ordinary mortal ships; after the family decided to migrate a portion of their clansmen to the Overseas Islands, they spent a large amount of Spirit Stones specifically to purchase these Tall Ships inscribed with Arrays.

Relying on Dharma Artifacts combined with the Arrays inside the Tall Ships, as long as there were enough Spirit Stones, the Tall Ships could also become war weapons that integrated offense and defense!

Coupled with so many Loose Cultivators helping to drive the offensive Dharma Artifacts, the fleet's combat power was still very strong.

However, they were, after all, Elite clansmen of the Dongli Family, who were famous for doing business.

This armored man took out a Copper Mirror, and after silently reciting an incantation, he shone it toward the white-haired youth in the distance.

This mirror was different from the detection Dharma Artifacts used by other Cultivators.

It was not only a more expensive upgraded version, but it also incorporated a Secret Technique of an elder of the Dongli Family.

It was the Dongli Family's Spirit Mirror, which was extremely precious!

Because of this, as Su Ping let out an "eh," he felt as if something was attempting to reveal his true self from his Memory Illusion.

Su Ping's brows had just furrowed slightly, and his fingers were already gripping a Teleportation Talisman.

That trace of sensation, however, disappeared inexplicably at an even faster speed.

Meanwhile, on the main ship of the Dongli Family.

The armored man was looking at the Copper Mirror that had shattered with a "crack," sweating profusely in terror.

With eyes full of fear and unease, he stared at the white-haired youth who was riding Da Hei Yu away from the shore; his lips moved for a long time, but he could not speak due to fear.

"H-have we encountered a reclusive Great Cultivator undergoing Red Dust Heart Refining?"

"The Spirit Mirror, it actually... actually shattered just because we observed him secretly for a glance!"

"Just how high is the other party's cultivation!"

"With such cultivation, he must have noticed our disrespectful act just now, right?"

The young sword cultivator did not understand why, but he could see that his father's state was wrong; having long since practiced the skill of being tactful, he quickly shut his mouth and lowered his head.

After the armored man took several deep breaths and discovered that the white-haired youth in the distance did not seem to pay them any mind and continued to move away.

Only then did he grit his teeth and take out another Spirit Mirror, which was also the last one their branch possessed.

Instead of probing the white-haired youth, he took out a High-grade Spirit Stone with a pained heart, installed it, and muttered incantations, informing the other side of all the news he had just learned.

After only a few seconds.

Words appeared on this palm-sized Spirit Mirror:

【Don't joke around, how could the family's treasure mirror shatter for such a reason!】

【...】

【Do not panic, wait for me to report to the Old Ancestor to perform a Secret Technique to check the mirror's memory; it will naturally be able to resolve your confusion!】

It's the end of the month, continuing to ask everyone for monthly ticket support (*￣3￣)╭