A vessel sailed along the river.
The boatman cast a glance ahead, hurried back into the cabin, and knocked on one of the doors.
"Honored guest, we will be reaching Mugui Pass soon."
A moment later, Qin Sang emerged from the cabin.
Wearing an obsequious smile, the boatman chattered, "By strict decree of the authorities, only official vessels may pass through Mugui Pass. If private boats like ours dare overstep that boundary, the river god will stir up wind and waves as a warning. If we dare proceed further, he will raise towering waves to capsize the boat in punishment. I must trouble you, guest, to go forward and transfer to an official vessel..."
Qin Sang walked to the bow and looked around. The riverbanks were nowhere in sight across the vast expanse. Ahead on the water's surface, a dark silhouette emerged—an extraordinarily imposing flag tower that spanned the river like a massive bridge.
A great black-and-gold banner fluttered in the wind, emblazoned with the two characters "Mugui." Both ends connected to the river via pontoon bridges, across which human figures could be seen walking.
Qin Sang recalled the information he had gathered earlier. Past Mugui Pass, Jushan Diocese was not far. The waters ahead were turbulent and fraught with unrest; demon-ghosts might harass travelers by coming up the river, so this restriction was also meant to protect them.
He had departed from the westernmost edge of Zhongmao Diocese. Along the way, he had alternated between traveling briskly on foot and taking boats and lodging at inns like an ordinary traveler. Not only did this allow him to experience the customs and culture under the Daoist Court's dominion, but it also let him cultivate during his journey.
By now, he was already in Baishi Diocese, which fell under the jurisdiction of the Northern Exorcism Court, less than three years since the day he set off.
This was not because he moved with exceptional speed or because the Daoist Court's territory was small, but rather because every parish within the Daoist Court was equipped with a grand displacement formation. With transit hubs nearby, the ingenuity of these spiritual formations surpassed even the ancient teleportation formations of the Storm Realm.
The Daoist Court's realm was vast, making these formations indispensable for the travels of Daoist cultivators, and an unending stream of travelers passed through them daily.
Using a grand displacement formation required only spirit stones and rarely involved a thorough background check. As long as Qin Sang did not activate the Heavenly Demon Transformation, he could completely restrain his demon qi; with a few minor tricks, slipping through was not difficult.
Baishi Diocese lay to the northeast of Zhongmao Diocese. Qin Sang was merely skirting the borders of Baishi Diocese, and both dioceses felt largely similar to him.
Following this great river where Mugui Pass stood would allow him to drive straight into Jushan Diocese, but that was not the best choice.
At the border of Baishi Diocese, even official vessels would proceed no further. Anyone wishing to enter Jushan Diocese had to press on alone, braving all kinds of perils along the way.
The safest approach was to seek out the Northern Exorcism Court. Any Daoist disciple who wished to hunt demon-ghosts could petition the celestial officials of the Northern Exorcism Court for protection.
For cultivators hunting demon-ghosts in Jushan Diocese, staying tied to the Daoist Court's two courts was even more essential.
Even if all Daoist disciples were dedicated to exterminating demons and upholding the Dao, that still required sufficient cultivation and appropriate external resources.
After earning merits in Jushan Diocese, one could exchange them at the Daoist Court's two courts for all kinds of rare treasures to advance one's practice. This was why so many Daoist disciples were willing to brave fire and boiling water.
Upon learning this, Qin Sang knew he had come to the right place. Jushan Diocese undoubtedly held far more opportunities.
In order to confront Guifang Kingdom, the laws of the Daoist Court's two courts would certainly not be as strict as in the Daoist Court's heartland.
His own opportunity would likely present itself here.
His thoughts turning, Qin Sang withdrew his gaze and paid the boatman his fare. Changing boats before Mugui Pass had been agreed upon in advance, so there was no need to be harsh with the boatman.
The boatman weighed the coins in his hand and happily returned to steer the boat. Before long, they reached the front of the flag tower.
Qin Sang disembarked and ascended the tower. Guided by guards, he walked toward one of the official vessels. Just as he was about to board, his figure paused imperceptibly, after which he stepped onto the vessel with an impassive expression.
The guards did not notice that the aura of the man behind them had shifted slightly.
The official vessel lacked intricate furnishings; the cabin had been opened into a wide hall where all the passengers sat together, the majority of them mortals.
"Brother, today is already the last day, and it's almost noon! Why hasn't that Brother Liu of yours arrived yet?"
In a corner of the hall, a young man and woman sat at a round table, both clad in Daoist robes.
The round table had ten seats, but with the two seated there, mortals avoided them like the plague out of fear of disturbing the Immortal Masters, leaving even the two adjacent tables empty.
As for the few cultivators on board, sensing that the pair's cultivation far exceeded their own, none dared approach rashly either.
The one who had spoken was the woman, dressed in a goose-yellow Daoist robe with a Clear Heart Pendant hanging at her waist. She leaned over the table with her chin resting on her crossed arms, her tone lazy and laced with a hint of complaint as her little feet swung back and forth beneath the table.
The man sitting upright beside her had handsome features and wore a plain white Daoist robe. He gently consoled her, "There are still two hours until noon. Rest easy, Junior Sister. Brother Liu's word is as good as gold. He certainly wouldn't..."
Just as he spoke, the man seemed to sense something and turned to look back, his gaze falling upon Qin Sang, who had just stepped through the door.
Their eyes met, and Qin Sang cupped his hands in greeting.
The man hurried to stand and return the gesture. Seeing Qin Sang walk past them to take a seat deeper inside, he hesitated and did not go over.
The young woman merely swept her almond eyes over Qin Sang before indifferently turning away.
Right then, the clouds on the horizon stirred violently. A fierce gale tore through layers of white clouds and ripped through the sky, whipping up wind and waves across the river.
Amid the gale flew a golden eagle with a wingspan of over a hundred feet.
Someone suddenly shrieked, "A monster!"
Beneath the river's surface, a dark shadow surfaced, casting two eerie gazes upward at the sky before submerging once more.
A panic was on the verge of erupting in the cabin when a Daoist called out clearly, "It is no monster! A fellow Daoist has manifested a spirit from a talisman! Do not be afraid!"
Spotting the official vessel, the golden eagle suddenly swooped downward, triggering another wave of screams.
At some point, the Daoist pair had appeared atop the official vessel.
The man held out his arm flat. Just as the great golden eagle was about to land, its form abruptly shrank into a palm-sized paper kite, fluttered once in his palm, and settled into a talisman slip.
After reading it, the man sighed softly.
"Brother Liu's sect issued an urgent summons; he won't be able to make it."
"I knew it! Slick-tongued and completely unreliable!" The woman curled her lip.
"Mind your words, Junior Sister!"
The man's tone grew firmer. "Brother Liu used his most cherished Golden Eagle General Talisman to send the message. He must have encountered an urgent matter, not broken his word lightly."
The woman huffed, dissatisfied. "We've already accepted the ritual writ and must finish it within the time limit. That Shen guy is still waiting for us up ahead! With one person down all of a sudden, where are we supposed to find help in a remote place like this? What do we do now?"
Her words were not without reason, and the man could not help frowning. "If we ask Senior Sister Yi for help now, I don't know if she'd make it in time..."
Just then, something crossed the man's mind. His expression shifted slightly, and he pulled his junior sister back inside the cabin.
The vessel's officer came trotting up to ask whether they should set sail.
The man waved him away. Before long, the hull gave a gentle shudder as it cleaved the waters and began to move.
After observing for a while, the man suddenly stood up and walked toward Qin Sang.
*Here he comes!*
Though Qin Sang's back was turned, he knew the man's every move as clearly as the palm of his hand.
Throughout his travels, Qin Sang would occasionally release his aura like this to draw people into initiating conversation. That way, he avoided the trouble of inventing an origin story while appearing unfathomable—a method that had proven effective every time.
"Greetings, Daoist brother."
Qin Sang was the only person sitting at his table. The man stepped to the side and bowed with hands clasped in a Daoist greeting.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist."
Qin Sang cupped his hands and gestured for him to sit.
The man did not hold back ceremony, sitting opposite Qin Sang. "I am Shi Xuan of Jiuhua Cave Heaven. Might I ask how to address you?"
Qin Sang replied in an indifferent tone, "This poor Daoist is Qingfeng."
Shi Xuan was slightly taken aback. There were easily hundreds, if not thousands, named Qingfeng in the Daoist sects. Old Daoists especially loved bestowing Daoist names like Qingfeng and Mingyue upon their young attendants.
*This person must be using an alias!*
Shi Xuan thought to himself. Factoring in the stranger's reluctance to reveal his origins and the territory ahead, Shi Xuan fancied he had deduced the situation: this person likely wanted to head to Jushan Diocese to hunt demons and carve out a name for himself, yet refused to rely on his sect's backing—or perhaps was reluctant to be bound by his sect—and thus traveled alone.
Once upon a time, he had entertained similar thoughts himself, though after weighing his options, he had made the more sensible choice.
Thinking of this, Shi Xuan could not help admiring him. "Brother, to venture where ordinary men dare not tread—I truly admire you."
Qin Sang had no idea where the man's wild imagination had wandered, but he did not correct him, effectively letting the assumption stand.
Seeing this, Shi Xuan felt even more certain, though his tone shifted. "It is commendable courage to undertake extraordinary deeds, but one must also act within one's means."
"Does Fellow Daoist Shi believe my strength is lacking?"
Qin Sang frowned.
Shi Xuan shook his head at once. "Your cultivation is on par with ours, brother, which is sufficient to make your way in Jushan Diocese. However, demon-ghosts possess treacherous and sinister abilities that cannot be taken lightly. There will always be moments when one person alone falls short. It is best to seek out like-minded companions to support one another."
At present, the aura Qin Sang released matched theirs, around the mid Core Formation stage.
The corner of Qin Sang's mouth curved slightly in a dry smile. "It is not that I lack manners, but when you and your sister spoke earlier, you did not conceal your voices, so your words happened to reach my ears. You are looking to undertake some great matter and find yourself short of a helper, aren't you?"
Shi Xuan felt a flash of embarrassment, not expecting Qin Sang's ears to be so sharp. Yet this only made him keener to recruit him. "Since you have seen through it, brother, I shall speak plainly. A few days ago, my junior sister and I accepted a ritual writ from the Northern Exorcism Court that must be fulfilled in Jushan Diocese. We had invited two helpers, but one suddenly became unavailable due to urgent business. Time is running out, and seeing that you are traveling alone without urgent affairs, I hoped to recruit you."
Qin Sang's interest was piqued.
He had heard about ritual writs before; most originated from the Daoist Court's two courts.
The two courts issued ritual writs detailing the task and the rewards upon completion. Cultivators confident in their strength could accept them. They were most common in Jushan Diocese, and the rewards were usually exceedingly handsome.
Seeing that Qin Sang seemed swayed, Shi Xuan pressed on, "As long as you agree, the moment we enter Jushan Diocese, I will disclose the writ's contents to you. Upon completion, we are willing to share half the merit with you, though the two treasures among the rewards must go to my sister and me."
Merit was one of the rewards for hunting demons and completing ritual writs, and it was said to be extraordinarily useful.
Qin Sang had originally planned to look into the situation in Jushan Diocese anyway, so taking this on along the way cost him nothing. After a brief pause, he nodded.
Having persuaded a helper so easily, Shi Xuan was overjoyed. He immediately invited Qin Sang to join their table and introduced the young woman: "This is my youngest junior sister, Luo Yin."
Luo Yin had delicate features and a coquettish air between her brows. Looking at the helper her senior brother had picked up midway, her eyes showed no effort to hide her skepticism. Wrinkling her dainty nose, she was about to say something when a booming, resonant laugh echoed from outside the cabin.
"Little Sister Luo! Big Brother Shen is here—aren't you going to come out and welcome me?"
Luo Yin wrinkled her nose even further and scoffed, "The annoying one has arrived!"
A few loud slaps against the water sounded.
The cabin suddenly darkened. Everyone instinctively glanced toward the doorway, only to see a hulking man built like an iron tower blocking the entrance.
The man had broad shoulders and a thick torso, standing nine feet tall. He was broader than the door itself, blocking it completely.
His Daoist robes clung to him like tight-fitting martial attire, bulging to the point where one could not help worrying the seams might burst.
Catching sight of the trio in the corner, the burly man laughed heartily again and stepped into the cabin, causing the entire vessel to rock twice under his weight.
"Little Sister Luo, it's been a year! Did you miss your Big Brother Shen?"
"Brother Shen, stop teasing my junior sister. Didn't you learn your lesson last time?" Shi Xuan laughed and rose to greet him, leading the burly man over to Qin Sang. "Allow me to introduce you two. This is my good friend Shen Huo, hailing from the Shen Family Manor. And this is Daoist Brother Qingfeng."
Shen Huo looked Qin Sang up and down with a puzzled frown. "Didn't you send word that you were bringing that guy named Liu? Why is it Fellow Daoist Qingfeng instead?"
"Plans changed..."
Shi Xuan pulled Shen Huo into a seat and explained the circumstances in detail.
Hearing this, Shen Huo scoffed. "Little Sister Luo was right! That Liu bastard definitely got cold feet and ran away! Just wait till I get back—I'll settle the score with him!"
With that, Shen Huo slammed the table, stood up, and turned toward Qin Sang. "Fellow Daoist Qingfeng, I don't mince words. This matter is of great consequence and cannot afford the slightest blunder. If I'm to fight alongside you with peace of mind, I must first test your mettle!"
Neither Shi Xuan nor his junior sister intervened; both simply turned their eyes to Qin Sang.
From start to finish, Qin Sang had not uttered a single word.
He had heard of Jiuhua Cave Heaven before; it was quite a renowned power under the jurisdiction of the Northern Exorcism Court.
As for Shen Family Mountain, he had no idea where it lay.
From what he could see, Shen Huo was very likely a body cultivator, and Qin Sang was equally interested in testing the man's capabilities.
"How do you propose to test me, Fellow Daoist Shen?"
Qin Sang rose unhurriedly, his tone placid and unruffled.
"Straightforwardly, of course!"
Shen Huo laughed booming, sweeping his arm across. In his grasp, a dark iron greatsword had appeared out of nowhere.
The sword was taller than him, resembling a door panel, yet he held it with effortless ease.
"Watch out!"
With a deft spin of the blade, the muscles in Shen Huo's right arm swelled as a golden light swirled around it, and he cleaved the sword down directly toward Qin Sang!
Shi Xuan stepped in right on cue, unleashing an expanse of azure light that blanketed the cabin and shielded everyone else inside.
*Whoosh!*
A fierce gale blasted forward.
The sword's momentum was overwhelmingly fierce—cleaving the entire vessel in two would have been child's play.
Qin Sang remained unfazed. He looked up slightly; though already engulfed by the greatsword's shadow, he stood motionless until the blade was about to strike his crown. Only then did his right shoulder twitch slightly.
*Clang!*
The sound of struck bronze and thunderous drums rang out into the highest heavens.
The aggressively descending greatsword came to an abrupt halt midair. Without anyone seeing when, Qin Sang had raised his right fist and slammed it directly against the side edge of the blade.
Neither side yielded a single step.
Yet beneath them, the vessel shook violently. Outside, a towering wave of a thousand feet surged into the air, blotting out the sky and sun before crashing down heavily moments later.
Shen Huo's wrist trembled slightly. Slowly withdrawing the greatsword, an odd gleam lit up his eyes, and he suddenly burst into hearty laughter: "Exhilarating! Who would have thought that while Daoist Brother Qingfeng looks like a frail scholar, you are just like me—cultivating not a Soldier-Horse Altar, but a Dragon-Tiger Altar!"
Qin Sang smiled and lowered his fist.
He had learned long ago that not all Daoist cultivators recruited soldiers and horses; there were also those who, like demon cultivators, condensed their vital blood into an altar—known as the Dragon-Tiger Altar.
Chapter 1754