Chapter 1754: East Journey

# The Human World

The boat moved on the river.

The boatman glanced ahead, then hurried back to the cabin and knocked on a door.

"Sir, we're almost at Ghost Herding Pass."

A moment later, Qin Sang emerged from the cabin.

The boatman, smiling apologetically, rambled on, "The authorities have strict orders: only official boats can pass through Ghost Herding Pass. If our private boats dare to cross that boundary, the River God will stir up waves as a warning. If we push further, he'll raise huge waves to capsize the boat as punishment. So, if you'd be so kind, sir, please transfer to an official boat ahead..."

Qin Sang walked to the bow of the boat, looking left and right. The riverbanks were out of sight. Ahead, a dark silhouette appeared on the river—an exceptionally grand flag tower, stretched across the water like a massive bridge.

A black-gold banner, emblazoned with the characters 'Ghost Herding,' flapped in the wind. Both ends of the tower connected to the riverbanks via pontoon bridges, and figures could be seen walking across them.

Qin Sang recalled the information he had gathered: after passing Ghost Herding Pass, it wouldn't be far to Jushan Prefecture. The area ahead was not peaceful; there might be demon-ghosts ascending the river to cause trouble. This measure was also for their protection.

He had set out from the westernmost point of Zhongmao Prefecture. Along the way, he sometimes hurried his pace and sometimes traveled by boat and stayed at inns like an ordinary person. This allowed him not only to experience the local customs and traditions under the Daoist Court's rule but also to cultivate during his journey.

At this point, he was in Baishi Prefecture, under the jurisdiction of the Northern Exorcism Court, less than three years since his departure.

It wasn't because of his exceptional speed or the Daoist Court's small territory. Rather, each administrative division within the Daoist Court was equipped with a Grand Teleportation Array, used for swift transit. The subtlety and sophistication of these spiritual arrays surpassed even the ancient teleportation arrays of the Storm Realm.

The Daoist Court's territory was vast, and these arrays were essential for Daoist cultivators traveling within it. People flowed in and out like a constant stream on a daily basis.

Using the Grand Teleportation Arrays only required spirit stones, and identity checks were generally not meticulous. Qin Sang could fully conceal his demonic aura as long as he didn't activate his Sky Demon Transformation, so it wasn't difficult for him to pass through with a bit of effort.

Baishi Prefecture was located northeast of Zhongmao Prefecture. Qin Sang merely traveled along the edge of Baishi Prefecture, and the two prefectures felt largely similar to him.

Following this great river from Ghost Herding Pass would lead directly into Jushan Prefecture, but it wasn't the best option.

At the border of Baishi Prefecture, even official boats would not proceed further. To enter Jushan Prefecture, one had to travel alone, potentially facing various dangers along the way.

The safest way was to seek out the Northern Exorcism Court. Any Daoist disciple wishing to hunt demon-ghosts could request protection from the court's Immortal Officials.

Cultivators hunting demon-ghosts in Jushan Prefecture could not operate independently from the Daoist Court's two academies.

Even if all Daoist disciples were determined to eliminate demons and uphold justice, they first needed sufficient cultivation and appropriate external resources.

And after accumulating merits in Jushan Prefecture, they could exchange them at the Daoist Court's two academies for various rare treasures to aid their cultivation. This was also why so many Daoist disciples were willing to go through fire and water.

Upon learning this, Qin Sang knew he had come to the right place; Jushan Prefecture undoubtedly offered more opportunities.

To counter the Ghostly Fang Kingdom, the Daoist Court's two academies would surely not enforce laws as strictly as in the Daoist Court's interior.

His opportunities might lie here.

With these thoughts in mind, Qin Sang withdrew his gaze and paid the boatman the fare. The boat transfer before Ghost Herding Pass had been agreed upon in advance, so there was no need to be harsh with the boatman.

The boatman weighed the coins, delighted, and happily went back to steer the boat. Soon, they arrived before the flag tower.

Qin Sang disembarked and ascended the tower. Guided by a guard, he walked towards one of the official boats. Just as he was about to board, his figure paused imperceptibly, then he stepped onto the official boat with a normal expression.

The guard did not notice the slight change in the aura of the person behind him.

The official boat lacked elaborate arrangements; its cabins were open, and all passengers sat in the main hall. Most of them were mortals.

"Brother, today is the last day, and it's almost noon. Why isn't your Brother Liu here yet?"

In a corner of the boat hall, a man and a woman, both dressed in Daoist robes, sat at a round table.

The round table had ten seats, but with the pair of Daoists sitting there, mortals feared disturbing the immortal masters and avoided them like the plague; even the two tables next to them were empty.

As for the few cultivators on the boat, sensing that the man and woman's cultivation far surpassed their own, they dared not approach rashly.

The woman who had just spoken wore a goose-yellow Daoist robe with a "Pure Heart Pendant" hanging from her waist. Her chin rested on her arms as she sprawled on the table, her tone lazy with a hint of complaint, her small feet swinging beneath the table.

The handsome man sitting upright next to the woman, dressed in a plain white Daoist robe, gently reassured her, "It's still an hour until noon. Don't worry, Junior Sister, Brother Liu's word is gold; he definitely wouldn't..."

As he spoke, the man seemed to sense something, glancing back. His gaze fell upon Qin Sang, who had just entered.

Their eyes met. Qin Sang cupped his hands and bowed.

The man quickly rose and returned the bow. Seeing Qin Sang walk past them to sit further inside, he hesitated for a moment and did not approach.

The woman merely cast a fleeting glance at Qin Sang with her almond-shaped eyes before losing interest and looking away.

Just then, the clouds on the horizon dramatically shifted. A fierce gust of wind blew away layers of white clouds, rushing through the air and stirring up waves on the river.

Within the tempest, there was a massive golden eagle with a wingspan of over thirty meters.

Suddenly, someone shrieked, "A monster!"

A dark shadow surfaced beneath the river, two faint gazes shooting out, watching the sky, then disappearing again.

A commotion was about to erupt in the cabin when a Daoist loudly declared, "It's not a monster! It's a spiritual talisman transformed by a fellow Daoist. Everyone, don't be afraid."

The golden eagle spotted the official boat and suddenly swooped down, causing another round of shrieks.

The man and woman appeared above the official boat at some unknown moment.

The man held out his hand flat. Just as the golden eagle was about to land, its form swiftly shrunk, transforming into a palm-sized paper kite. It circled once in his palm, then became a talisman paper and drifted down.

After watching it, the man sighed softly.

"Brother Liu's sect issued an urgent summons; he can't make it."

"I told you he was glib-tongued and unreliable!" the woman pouted.

"Junior Sister, watch your words!"

The man's tone grew slightly sterner. "Brother Liu used his most cherished Golden Eagle Talisman to send a message. He must have encountered an urgent matter; it's not that he's breaking his promise."

The woman scoffed, displeased, "We've already accepted the Dharma Summons and must complete it within the time limit. That person surnamed Shen is still waiting for us ahead. Now we're suddenly one person short. Where are we going to find help in this remote place? What do we do next?"

Her words were not without reason, and the man couldn't help but frown. "If we ask Senior Sister Yi for help now, I wonder if it'll still be in time..."

Just then, the man suddenly remembered something, his expression shifting slightly. He pulled his junior sister and turned back towards the cabin.

The official boat's commanding officer jogged up to ask for permission to depart.

The man casually dismissed him. Soon, the boat gave a slight tremor and began to cut through the water.

After observing for a while, the man suddenly stood up and walked towards Qin Sang.

"Here he comes!"

Qin Sang had his back to the man, but he was fully aware of his movements.

Throughout his journey, Qin Sang sometimes released his aura like this, inviting others to approach and initiate conversation. This way, he didn't have to bother fabricating a background and instead appeared profound and unfathomable—a trick that consistently worked.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist."

Qin Sang was the only one at his table. The man approached from the side and bowed.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist."

Qin Sang cupped his hands and gestured for him to sit.

The man sat opposite Qin Sang without ceremony. "I am Shi Xuan from Nine Splendor Grotto-heaven. May I ask your esteemed name, fellow Daoist?"

Qin Sang replied in a lukewarm tone, "This humble Daoist is Qing Feng."

Shi Xuan was slightly taken aback. There were at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, Daoists named Qing Feng, especially since elderly Daoists particularly favored names like "Qing Feng" (Clear Wind) and "Ming Yue" (Bright Moon) for their disciples.

This person must be using an alias!

Shi Xuan thought to himself. Considering the other party's unwillingness to reveal his background and the nature of the region ahead, he felt he had guessed correctly: the person likely wanted to go to Jushan Prefecture to hunt demons and achieve some success, unwilling to rely on his sect's legacy or perhaps feeling constrained by his sect, thus choosing to go to Jushan Prefecture alone.

He once had similar thoughts, but after weighing everything, he made the most rational choice.

Thinking of this, Shi Xuan couldn't help but praise, "Daoist brother wishes to undertake what ordinary people cannot; I truly admire that."

Qin Sang didn't know where this man's thoughts had wandered, but he didn't clarify, tacitly accepting the compliment.

This made Shi Xuan even more certain, but his tone shifted, "Daoist brother's extraordinary endeavor is commendable, but one must also act within one's capabilities."

"Does Fellow Daoist Shi think this humble Daoist's strength is insufficient?"

Qin Sang frowned.

Shi Xuan quickly shook his head. "Daoist brother's cultivation is comparable to ours, and it's certainly enough for venturing into Jushan Prefecture. However, demon-ghosts possess strange and unpredictable powers; one must be wary. There are always times when a single person is not enough, so it's best to find several like-minded Daoist friends to support each other."

At this time, the aura Qin Sang emanated was similar to theirs, roughly at the mid-Core Formation stage.

Qin Sang's lips curved slightly into a mocking smile. "It's not that this humble Daoist is ignorant of manners, but your conversation with your junior sister on the boat wasn't particularly concealed, and it happened to reach my ears. Fellow Daoist, you're planning something significant and are looking for a helper, aren't you?"

Shi Xuan felt a little awkward, not expecting Qin Sang's senses to be so sharp. This, however, further fueled his desire to recruit him. "Since Daoist brother has seen through it, I'll be frank. A few days ago, my junior sister and I accepted a Dharma Summons from the Northern Exorcism Court, which needs to be completed in Jushan Prefecture. We invited two helpers, but unexpectedly, one couldn't come due to an urgent matter. Time is tight, and seeing Daoist brother traveling alone with seemingly no pressing commitments, I had the intention to invite you."

Qin Sang's heart stirred upon hearing this.

He had heard of Dharma Summons before; they mostly originated from the Daoist Court's two academies.

The Daoist Court's two academies issued Dharma Summons, stating the task to be done and the rewards upon completion. Those confident in their strength could accept these summons, which were most common in Jushan Prefecture, and the rewards were usually very generous.

Seeing Qin Sang appear somewhat interested, Shi Xuan continued, "As long as Daoist brother agrees, once we enter Jushan Prefecture, I will inform you of the Dharma Summons' details. After the task is completed, we are willing to share half of the merits with you, but two of the reward treasures must go to my junior sister and me."

Merits were one of the rewards for hunting demons and completing Dharma Summons, and they were said to be very useful.

Qin Sang had already intended to first scout out the situation in Jushan Prefecture, so he might as well do this. After a moment of thought, he nodded.

Having easily persuaded a helper, Shi Xuan was overjoyed. He immediately invited Qin Sang to join their table and introduced the woman, "This is my junior sister, Luo Yin."

Luo Yin had delicate features and a hint of playful charm between her brows. As she looked at the helper her senior brother had "picked up" midway, her eyes openly conveyed skepticism. She crinkled her delicate nose, about to say something, when a hearty laugh full of vigor echoed from outside the cabin.

"Sister Luo, Brother Shen is here! Why aren't you coming out to greet him?"

Luo Yin's delicate nose crinkled even further, and she huffed, "The annoying person is here!"

A few splashes of water were heard.

The cabin suddenly darkened. Everyone instinctively looked towards the door, only to see a tower-like brawny man blocking the entrance.

The man had a tiger-like back and bear-like waist, standing nine feet tall, with a body wider than the door itself, completely blocking the entrance.

The Daoist robe on him looked like a tight-fitting combat suit, bulging in places, making one worry it might burst.

Seeing the three people in the corner, the burly man laughed heartily again and stepped into the cabin, causing the boat to sway twice instantly.

"Sister Luo, it's been a year. Did you miss your Brother Shen?"

"Brother Shen, don't tease Junior Sister anymore. Wasn't the last lesson enough?" Shi Xuan said with a smile, rising to greet him. He led the burly man to Qin Sang. "Allow me to introduce you two. This is my good friend, Shen Huo, from the Shen Family Manor. And this is Daoist Brother Qing Feng."

Shen Huo scrutinized Qin Sang, a little puzzled. "Didn't you send word that you invited someone surnamed Liu? How is it this Daoist Qing Feng?"

"Things changed..."

Shi Xuan pulled Shen Huo to sit down and explained the situation in detail.

Shen Huo scoffed upon hearing this. "Sister Luo was right; that Liu fellow must have deserted at the last minute. When I return, I'll settle accounts with him!"

With that, Shen Huo slapped the table and stood up, turning to face Qin Sang. "Daoist Qing Feng, I'm not one for beating around the bush. This matter is of great importance and allows no room for error. To reassure me that I can fight alongside you, I first need to gauge your strength."

Shi Xuan and his junior sister did not intervene, turning their gaze to Qin Sang.

From beginning to end, Qin Sang had not uttered a single word.

He had heard of Nine Splendor Grotto-heaven; it was an influential force under the Northern Exorcism Court.

But he didn't know where Shen Family Manor was.

From his observation, Shen Huo was likely a body cultivator. He also wanted to test the other's abilities.

"How does Fellow Daoist Shen intend to test me?"

Qin Sang leisurely stood up, his tone calm and unruffled.

"Just a direct test!"

Shen Huo let out a hearty laugh, raising his arm horizontally. At some point, a heavy profound iron sword had appeared in his palm.

The sword was taller than him, like a dancing door panel, yet he held it with extreme ease.

"Watch out!"

Shen Huo deftly rotated the sword's body. The muscles in his right arm bulged, a golden light swirling around it, and he brought the sword down on Qin Sang!

Shi Xuan acted at the opportune moment, unleashing a burst of green light that spread throughout the cabin, sheltering all the other people within it.

'Whoosh!'

A strong gust of wind hit them in the face.

The sword strike was incredibly fierce; splitting the boat in half would have been effortless.

Qin Sang remained unperturbed. He lifted his head slightly for a glance. His body was already enveloped by the sword's shadow, yet he remained motionless until the heavy profound iron sword was about to strike his crown. His right shoulder then gave a slight tremor.

'Boom!'

The sound of a golden drum reverberated beyond the ninth heaven.

The fiercely descending heavy sword abruptly halted in mid-air. At some unknown moment, Qin Sang had raised his right fist and struck the side edge of the heavy sword.

Neither party moved a single step.

However, the treasured boat beneath them shook violently, and outside, a hundreds-of-meters-high wave suddenly surged up, blotting out the sky. It crashed down heavily a moment later.

Shen Huo's wrist trembled slightly as he slowly retracted his heavy sword, his eyes gleaming with a strange light. He then burst into laughter, "Excellent! I never expected Daoist Qing Feng, who appears to be a frail scholar, to cultivate the Dragon-Tiger Altar just like me, instead of the Soldiers-and-Horses Altar!"

Qin Sang withdrew his fist with a faint smile.

He had already known that not all Daoist cultivators summoned soldiers and horses; some, like demon cultivators, condensed altars from their qi and blood, known as Dragon-Tiger Altars.