Chapter 38: Huangfeng Valley's Liu Jing

"Let's hope so!"

The Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect sighed faintly. Her lifespan was running low, and their lineage had no other Nascent Soul cultivators. Qiong Laoguai, in whom she had originally placed her hopes, had ultimately been unable to break through.

Nangong Wan and Yan Taibai were too young; the probability of them forming a Nascent Soul before she passed away was infinitesimal, so she truly could not see much hope.

"After I enter seclusion, the sect's affairs will be handed over to your martial uncle to manage. You know her temperament well, so do not come into conflict with her. If there is anything, wait until I emerge from seclusion to discuss it,"

the Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect further exhorted Nangong Wan.

"This disciple understands, Master may rest assured."

Nangong Wan performed a formal bow and replied respectfully.

"I wonder, Master, are you confident in breaking through during this seclusion?"

"This time, I am not breaking through a bottleneck, but cultivating a divine ability. As for the bottleneck, if it were so easy to break through, how could there only be three Great Cultivators of Nascent Soul Late Stage in the entire Tiannan? Furthermore, there are countless Nascent Soul Mid Stage fellow Daoists in Tiannan whose divine abilities are above mine; they have yet to break through, so how could it be my turn?"

The Great Elder of the Masked Moon Sect shook her head slightly and explained.

There was one more thing she did not say: she had not even reached the peak of the Nascent Soul Mid Stage, so how could she possibly break through directly to the Nascent Soul Late Stage?

Such a thing was completely unrealistic!

"This disciple understands, I take my leave!"

Hearing this, Nangong Wan could only bow once more and take her leave from the Sunset Hall.

……

As the largest province in Yue Country, Xinzhou had over a hundred cities, large and small, and Shuangjiang Cheng was one of them.

However, this Shuangjiang Cheng was merely a small, second-rate city, yet it was quite prosperous.

But for some time now, it had been much more desolate, simply because many people in several villages and towns outside the city had suddenly met with disaster—drowning, hanging, dismemberment... all sorts of ways to die. One could imagine just how cruel the perpetrator was.

Regarding these matters, the officials of Shuangjiang Cheng only sent people to investigate perfunctorily; as for finding the true culprit, it was simply not something they could achieve.

Because the same things were happening in many nearby cities and towns.

Wealthy women, in particular, were even subjected to inhuman abuse, eventually being humiliated to death.

Although ordinary mortals did not know much about cultivators, the officials of Yue Country still had some understanding.

Especially those who had personally seen the culprit perform legendary "immortal arts," who described the "immortal arts" the culprit used with vivid detail.

Under such circumstances, how could the government seek its own death?

They could only hope that this "Immortal Master," just like in other cities, would leave Shuangjiang Cheng as soon as possible.

……

Two rivers converged and coiled upon the land, and at the center of their convergence stood a city: Shuangjiang Cheng.

This was also the origin of Shuangjiang Cheng!

On this day, high above in the distance of Shuangjiang Cheng, a dazzling golden streak of light flew past. If it were night, one could see it clearly, like a shooting star, brilliant and eye-catching.

But it was daytime, so it was impossible to notice even as this streak of light descended directly onto an open space outside the gates of Shuangjiang Cheng.

It was none other than Yan Taibai.

At this moment, he had been away from the Yanyue Sect for half a month. During this half-month, he had passed through several cities, inquiring about news of "Zhang Si."

In fact, besides him, there were also some disciples of cultivation families and Yanyue Sect disciples inquiring about the whereabouts of this Zhang Si.

But it had to be said, this Zhang Si hid himself far too well. Although he repeatedly committed crimes and did all kinds of evil, no one had yet managed to exterminate him.

In reality, the Yanyue Sect offered rewards for exterminating such Demonic Path evil cultivators; otherwise, how could there be so many kind-hearted cultivators?

However, Yan Taibai did not feel much about this.

Although the reward was not much, even a small fly is still meat, right?

Moreover, he also intended to take the opportunity to practice his skills.

But the prerequisite was being able to find this Zhang Si.

"I hope he hasn't left yet, otherwise it will be another wasted trip."

Yan Taibai sighed lightly, then headed straight toward the Shuanghe City ahead.

Not long after he left, another streak of light descended outside Shuanghe City.

This was a young man dressed in the attire of a Huangfeng Valley disciple with a refined appearance, and he was also a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.

"Shuanghe City is the last place that evil cultivator appeared. Calculating the time, he should not have left yet. I hope to exterminate him this time. Let's enter the city to gather some information first!"

The refined man looked at the Shuanghe City ahead and muttered to himself.

He had been hunting Zhang Si for a long time, but unfortunately, the other party was far too cunning, causing him to return empty-handed every time.

But this time, he had specifically purchased a magical tool aimed at Zhang Si's concealment techniques, which was enough to capture and exterminate him.

……

Because of Zhang Si, most of the mortals on the roads in Shuanghe City walked in a hurry, and not even many shops were open for business.

One could imagine how much influence a cultivator could have on ordinary mortals, and this was only a Qi Refining Stage Demonic Path evil cultivator.

If it were a Foundation Establishment Stage one, Yan Taibai simply dared not imagine it.

However, most Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators would not involve themselves in worldly affairs, so as not to affect their cultivation of the state of mind.

Although Demonic Path evil cultivators were the same, if they were refining some sinister Demonic Path magical tool, the best materials were still the souls or blood of worldly mortals.

Often, they would exterminate village after village, but once such things happened, it would not take long to alarm nearby cultivation families.

One must know that most cultivation families had clansmen, business dealings, or controlled forces in worldly cities and towns; they were not truly detached from the world.

On the contrary, they were deeply connected to it. The only exception was the capital of Yue Country: Yue Capital.

This was a city that the Seven Sects strictly forbade any cultivation family from entering, so as to avoid controlling the dynasty's emperor.

If a cultivation family could not handle it, they would report it to the cultivation sect, asking them to send people to exterminate them and Slay Demons and Eliminate Devils.

Liu Jing of Huangfeng Valley was one such person. Although Xinzhou belonged to the territory of the Yanyue Sect, the Yanyue Sect would not interfere much in such matters; instead, they were happy to have disciples from other sects help out.

Therefore, when Liu Jing entered Shuanghe City, it was not long before he encountered Yan Taibai, who was eating in a restaurant.

"I am Liu Jing of Huangfeng Valley, greetings, fellow Daoist. May I ask if you are from the Yanyue Sect?"

Unlike Liu Jing, Yan Taibai was not wearing the attire of his sect; instead, his simple green robe made him appear quite dashing, and combined with his scholarly, refined aura, it was easy for others to feel a sense of goodwill toward him.

It was precisely for this reason that Liu Jing had been able to discover Yan Taibai's presence so quickly.

Furthermore, like him, Yan Taibai was a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage; in Xinzhou, most Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators came from the Yanyue Sect, especially the young ones, who almost all had a significant connection to the Yanyue Sect.

"So it is Senior Brother Liu Jing of Huangfeng Valley. I have long heard of Senior Brother Liu Jing's great name; I did not expect to have the honor of meeting you today."

Upon hearing Liu Jing's self-introduction, Yan Taibai's face revealed a look of pleasant surprise, and he hurriedly stood up to return the greeting.

(End of this chapter)