A manor in the suburbs of the capital.
The steward hurried to the main house and reported, "Master, the authorities are setting up supervisory teams in the Heavenly Master associations across various regions. It seems there will be major moves later."
The man's hand, which was carving jade, paused.
"Supervisory teams?" he sneered coldly. "Relying on those investigators with their mediocre cultivation?"
The steward: "..."
Well, but... the Investigation Department does have one formidable figure.
He asked in a low voice, "Master, how should we deal with that Qi Quan?"
The man raised his head to look at the pitch-black night sky.
"A Heavenly Master beyond level seven. What do you think we can do?"
The steward dared not answer.
The man frowned. "There's one thing I don't understand. She never had any contact with the mystical arts in Longhu City back then. So why, after returning to the Qi family, did her cultivation reach beyond level seven in just three months?"
"You once said she is a person of great fortune. Perhaps... she had some special encounter," the steward replied.
Hearing this, a surge of violent resentment rose in the man's heart.
"A person of great fortune? Why? Why do they get such good fortune, while I..." His hands trembled, jade dust from his fingertips falling onto his trousers. He grabbed the fabric of his pants and pounded it fiercely. "Why did I end up like this!"
No matter how hard he struck, his legs remained completely numb.
The steward hunched his back, trembling with fear. "M-Master, once the new type of pill over there is successfully developed, it... it should be able to cure your legs."
"They've been researching for so many years, not a single pill has been effective. They're all useless!"
The man's handsome face twisted in distortion. With a sweep, he destroyed all the jade pieces on the table, turning them into fine powder that settled in a layer on the floor.
The steward: "..."
Ah, such a waste of money.
It took a while for the man to regain his composure after his fit of rage.
A young servant suddenly came to report, "Master, we've received news. The Investigation Department might already know about the pills!"
The man was taken aback. "How?"
The servant wasn't sure how to explain. He pulled out his phone and said, "The White Water True Immortal mentioned human traffickers in the latest chapter of 'The Diary of a Rich Family'!"
The man: ???
The steward: ???
They could understand each word individually, but the sentence made no sense to them.
The former was solitary and gloomy, spending his days carving jade in the manor. The latter was old-fashioned and rigid. Neither of them read online novels, nor did they even use the internet much. They had no idea what the young servant was talking about.
The servant hurriedly explained, "It's a novel written by that expert from the Investigation Department. It's mostly based on real cases. In her latest update, she wrote about going to a scenic spot and seeing the sins of child murder on a human trafficker. She even asked in the story why the trafficker had to kill so many children. They think the authorities might already know about the pills."
"They" referred to the organization's informants, specialized in gathering and collating information.
The man: "..."
The steward: "..."
They were utterly bewildered.
A Heavenly Master beyond level seven... writing novels?
Are the young cultivators in the mystical arts world these days so... playful?
The man took a deep breath and said, "Bring me that novel to read."
The servant cautiously asked, "It's serialized online. You can read it on a phone or computer. Should I download the app for you on your phone?"
The man: "...Fine."
A moment later, the servant installed the software, registered an account, opened the first chapter of "The Diary of a Rich Family," and then withdrew.
The steward followed him out of the room, cleared his throat, and said, "Download one for me too."
The servant: "..."
"The Diary of a Rich Family" only had a little over ten chapters, each extremely short. The man finished reading quickly and was deeply stunned.
This is a novel?
Having studied ancient texts since childhood and never neglecting his academic studies, he really couldn't bring himself to call "The Diary of a Rich Family" a novel.
Of course, bewilderment aside, the servant's words still needed to be taken seriously.
He called the steward back and gave a few instructions.
The steward acknowledged and left.
The next day, Qi Quan got into the car for the return journey. The trunk was stuffed full of Longjing city specialties by Su Nuanuan, Ning Zhi, and the others, making the car feel slightly heavy as it started.
Shen Hui drove as steadily as ever.
Once the car was on the highway, Qi Quan quietly cultivated, and Lingsheng joined her.
The system, gazing at the receding skyline of Longjing City, suddenly sighed. 【Master, are we really leaving just like that?】
Qi Quan: 【You can stay and play a few more days.】
【That's not what I meant,】 the system said. 【Is Lingsheng really cutting all ties with the Fu family like this?】
Qi Quan: 【The karmic debt has indeed been settled.】
The system felt a bit reluctant. 【Actually, was it absolutely necessary to settle it?】
【How so?】
【He's suffered so much since birth. Now that he's found his mother, wouldn't it be better to have one more person who loves him?】
Qi Quan chuckled. 【I never said he couldn't.】
【Huh? But the karmic debt is settled?】
Qi Quan: 【That karmic debt specifically refers to Fu Jiuge's debt of giving him life. Settling the debt means Lingsheng does not need to stay with the Fu family to repay the debt of life, nor does he need to serve the family as a member of the Fu clan. By helping me save Fu Jiuge, he has already repaid the debt of life. As for their mother-son bond, that depends on fate in the future.】
【So that's how it is! Then why didn't you tell the Fu family?】
Qi Quan: 【Fu Jiuge already knows Lingsheng's identity. She doesn't want him to be dragged into those matters. She might not be fully aware of Lingsheng's special constitution, but she instinctively wants to protect her son. The Fu family is a large clan, not a monolithic entity.】
【So from now on, Lingsheng is part of the Lakeside Villa?】
Qi Quan smiled. 【Yes. He's an adult, educated, mentally sound, and knows what he's doing. This is also his own choice.】
Even before contacting the Fu family, she had asked him.
Moreover, given his innate spiritual body constitution, if he returned to the Fu family, it would definitely be exposed. The Fu family couldn't even fully protect Fu Jiuge, let alone protect an innate spiritual body.
Lingsheng had been imprisoned by Ding Ji for nineteen years, only witnessing the cunning and malice of evil cultivators. No one had taught him the ways of the world.
She had raised him to be who he was now and couldn't bear to send him back into a den of shrewd people.
He was more suited to the Lakeside Villa than the intricate web of a powerful family.
The system understood. 【The Lakeside Villa is better indeed.】
Midway through the journey, Shen Hui suddenly spoke up.
"Senior, the navigation shows the highway ahead is closed. We'll have to get off at the nearest exit and change routes."
Qi Quan: "Alright."
The car turned off the highway, entering the area of Longwan City.
Longwan City was a light industrial city, with factories lining the roads and numerous freight trucks on the streets.
Every time a truck passed, it kicked up clouds of dust.
Shen Hui silently switched the air conditioning to recirculation mode.
Unfamiliar with the roads, he followed the navigation, driving relatively slowly. A bit further ahead, they could bypass the construction zone on the highway and get back on from another entrance.
This was the city's outskirts, and it was working hours. There weren't many pedestrians on the roadside, so the view was relatively open. Therefore, when a figure appeared in the distance waving to flag down the car, Shen Hui saw it very clearly.
At first, he didn't pay it much mind. But as they got a little closer, he couldn't help but pause.
That wasn't a person. It was a ghost.
The ghost waving to flag down the car was dressed in ordinary clothes, with a few specks of red paint on them, resembling blood.
He had an average appearance, wore a pair of worn-out sneakers, and his face was pale, bluish-gray, and ashen, wearing a timid, ingratiating smile.
Other drivers on the road couldn't see him, so naturally wouldn't stop.
Shen Hui saw the hitchhiking ghost for the first time and felt curious. He asked Qi Quan, "Senior, there's a ghost trying to hitch a ride ahead. Should we stop and ask?"
Qi Quan opened her eyes.
She had sensed the ghostly aura earlier but hadn't planned to intervene. A second-level white ghost didn't require too much attention; they could just let the Longwan City Investigation Department handle it.
However—
She glanced at the hitchhiking ghost's face and changed her mind.
"Alright."
The car slowly pulled over to the side, and the window rolled down.
Shen Hui deliberately suppressed his Taoist master aura. Qi Quan, with her high cultivation level, could control her spiritual energy freely. Lingsheng was wearing a Concealment Talisman and had little presence.
The ghost happily approached the window, seemingly unaware of anything amiss. He bent down to look at Shen Hui and asked, "Hey man, can I get a ride? Don't worry, I'll definitely pay!"
Shen Hui: "..."
Does this ghost not know he's already dead?
He replied casually, "Where are you going? I won't take you if it's not on my way."
The hitchhiking ghost quickly said, "I'm going to Longjiang City. My hometown is in Longjiang City. I see your license plate is from Longjiang, so it must be on the way!"
Shen Hui: What a coincidence?
He became more cautious and added, "I don't give free rides. It's a three-hour drive from here to Longjiang."
"Don't worry, I'll definitely pay for the ride!" The hitchhiking ghost's eyes pleaded. "I've been trying to flag down a car for so long, but none would stop. Can you help me out, man?"
Shen Hui: "There are buses from Longwan to Longjiang. Why don't you take one?"
Hitchhiking ghost: "I was planning to find a bus, but I just can't seem to leave this area. I don't know what's wrong. Every time I try to walk away, I end up back here."
Shen Hui understood. For second-level white ghosts like this one, their spirits usually remain at the place of death after they die. If they don't move on to reincarnation, they are forever trapped there.
Of course, ghosts have their own ways, and there are always exceptions.
Under the guidance of that unknown ghost uncle, Fang Lan successfully returned home as a white ghost and even formed a contract with her younger brother, possessing his body.
Hiss, come to think of it, that powerful ghost uncle is quite extraordinary.
Shen Hui asked, puzzled, "Since you can't leave, what's the point of getting a ride even if you succeed?"
"No, I've heard from older ghosts that if someone is willing to give me a ride, I can leave. Please help me, man. I haven't been home for so many years. I really, really miss home!"
Shen Hui said with a smile, "So, you know you're already dead?"
"...Yes." The hitchhiking ghost looked despondent, but then suddenly remembered something and widened his eyes in surprise. "Wait, you... you all can see me?! You really can see me! I was so happy earlier I forgot about that!"
His excited expression was evident.
But as he spoke, he nervously took a step back and whispered, "You... you all aren't..."
"Aren't what?"
Fear was written in the hitchhiking ghost's eyes. "Aren't you the legendary Taoist masters?"
Shen Hui asked with a smile, "So, do you still want to get in the car?"
"You won't capture me, will you?" The hitchhiking ghost hugged himself uneasily, fingers clutching his clothes. "I... I'm willing to go for reincarnation. I just want to go home and see my family. Once I'm home, I'll do whatever you say."
Shen Hui: "..."
He asked, "How long have you been dead?"
Hitchhiking ghost: "I don't know. It feels like many, many years."
[Master, didn't you say white ghosts like this can't linger in the mortal world for too long?] The system asked.
...
Qi Quan: [They can if someone helps them.]
She had just glanced at the hitchhiking ghost and sensed the aura of a high-level Taoist master on him—at least eighth rank. The aura was extremely faint. If she weren't beyond the eighth rank herself, she would have had difficulty detecting it.
Shen Hui looked at Qi Quan through the rearview mirror. Their eyes met, and he received an affirmative answer. He then said, "Fine, we'll give you a ride. Get in."
He leaned over and opened the car door.
The hitchhiking ghost hesitantly got into the car.
He didn't dare look back, just huddled in the passenger seat and thanked them sincerely.
The car started moving again.
Shen Hui chatted with him intermittently.
"Where do you live? I'll set up the GPS."
The hitchhiking ghost gave a location, a small town under Longjiang City's jurisdiction.
He said, "You don't have to take me all the way. I can walk home after I get out."
By getting into the car, he had already left the place of his death. Once in Longjiang City, he could float his way home.
Shen Hui said with a smile, "Alright. But since you're dead, how are you going to pay? I'm driving you back; I can't exactly accept a bunch of spirit money, can I?"
Hitchhiking ghost: "..."
He scratched his head, thought for a moment, and said, "How about I work for you to pay off the debt!"
Shen Hui: "..."
He asked, speechless, "What kind of work can a ghost like you do?"
"Can't I?" The hitchhiking ghost scratched his head. "I heard from other ghosts that one can keep ghost servants."
"Ghost servants can never reincarnate. Are you willing?" Shen Hui's smile faded slightly.
"Ah?" The hitchhiking ghost quickly shook his head. "Then I'm not willing!"
Shen Hui glanced at him sideways. "So, you plan on not paying your debt?"
"No, no!" The hitchhiking ghost frantically waved his hands, afraid Shen Hui would send him back. His pale face looked pained. "But I really don't know what I can do. I... I..."
Shen Hui interrupted him: "How did you die?"
The hitchhiking ghost paused, then said in a low, hoarse voice, "I was killed."
"I can tell." Shen Hui glanced at the wound on his waist, where blackened bloodstains mixed with red paint. "I'm asking who killed you?"
The hitchhiking ghost looked somewhat confused. "I don't know either. I didn't know them. I just wanted to find a corner to pee... to use the restroom. They saw me and killed me. I really don't know why. I didn't know them at all. Why did they kill me? Why did they kill me..."
He seemed to fall into the obsession of his death, repeating the question over and over.
Shen Hui paid him no mind. Qi Quan and Lingsheng in the back seat remained silent the whole time.
After a while, the hitchhiking ghost snapped out of it and said apologetically, "Sorry, did I disturb you just now?"
Shen Hui: "Understandable."
Hitchhiking ghost: "..."
He was silent for a moment, then cautiously asked again, "Are you really Taoist masters?"
Shen Hui replied casually, "What, don't we look like it?"
"Not really."
Shen Hui: ?
He laughed. "Tell me, what doesn't look right?"
The hitchhiking ghost said, "I've heard from others that Taoist masters capture ghosts on sight, but you didn't."
"You're too naive." Shen Hui spoke like a seasoned veteran. "Every group has good and bad people. By that logic, I could say all ghosts are bad. Do you agree?"
"Of course not!"
Shen Hui: "Well, there you have it."
Hitchhiking ghost: "..."
He seemed to understand and said quietly, "Sorry, I shouldn't have spoken ill of Taoist masters. You are good people."
"Then are you a good ghost?"
Hitchhiking ghost: "Of course! I've never harmed anyone!"
"But you've played pranks, right?" Otherwise, he wouldn't be a second-level white ghost.
The hitchhiking ghost hurriedly explained, "...I didn't do it on purpose. After I died, I was in a daze for a long time. I might have scared some people, but I really didn't mean to."
"Alright, I believe you're a good ghost now. Good ghosts get good karma. So, I won't charge you the fare. Go home, take one last look, and then move on to your next cycle."
The Hitchhiking Ghost: "How can that be? Debts owed in this life must be repaid in the next. I... I want to repay it in this life."
He suddenly thought of something and said excitedly, "I know how to pay the fare!"
Shen Hui asked with interest, "How?"
"I've heard you exorcists need to capture ghosts to build your track record, to get more cultivation resources. You are an exorcist. If you could capture a powerful Red Ghost or Green Ghost, you'd earn a lot, right?"
Now Shen Hui was genuinely intrigued.
He asked with a smile, "So?"
The Hitchhiking Ghost said, "I've been around that factory area for many years and heard many stories from out-of-towners. Once I overheard a truck driver chatting with someone. He said there's a village in his area, a really eerie place. Seems like a powerful ghost eats children there. The villagers have to sacrifice a child every year to keep the village safe."
System: [There are such evil ghosts! How wicked!]
Qi Quan: ...
"What place? If even a truck driver has heard of it, surely the Exorcist Association must have taken notice?" Shen Hui said.
The Hitchhiking Ghost sighed, "I saw his license plate was from Longhu City, but I don't know if he's actually from there. He said several Taoist priests had gone to that village, but none of them came out. After that, no one dared to go anymore. That ghost must be really powerful."
Shen Hui nodded, "Indeed powerful."
"If you captured such a powerful ghost, wouldn't that be a great achievement?" the Hitchhiking Ghost said happily. "Then, would that count as repaying you for the ride?"
Shen Hui: "..."
He said gloomily, "But I'm from Longjiang City. Longhu City isn't under my jurisdiction."
The Hitchhiking Ghost looked disappointed: "Ah? Really? Then let me think if there are any powerful ghosts in Longjiang City."
Shen Hui: "..."
Good performance. Don't do it again.
He was certain now. This ghost was a minor underling sent after they had "stirred the grass to scare the snake."
"Senior, it's noon. There's a service area ahead. Should we stop?" he asked.
Qi Quan: "Mm."
The car drove into the service area and stopped.
"Senior, what would you like to eat? I'll go buy it for you," Shen Hui turned and asked.
Qi Quan: "Anything is fine."
"Alright."
Shen Hui got out of the car, leaving only two people and one ghost inside.
In the enclosed space of the vehicle, no one spoke, yet the Hitchhiking Ghost felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
Of course, he didn't need to breathe; it was just an analogy.
A Level Two White Ghost facing Qi Quan—the level gap was simply too vast. Even without Qi Quan intentionally releasing her aura, he would instinctively shrink his ghostly form.
System: [Big shot, he seems very nervous.]
Qi Quan: [Just a guilty conscience.]
[So what's his purpose?]
[It's me.]
System: [Ah? A Level Two White Ghost? Targeting you? Whose genius idea was that!]
Qi Quan smiled: [They want to lure me to Longhu City.]
The system was puzzled: [That's also genius? Didn't you already display your combat prowess at Guiyuan Sect?]
Who could be so blind!
Qi Quan: [See, you're curious now, aren't you?]
System: [...]
It was about to ask more when suddenly a piercing scream rang out.
"Give me back my son! Give me back my son! Give me back my... son!"
A woman's agonized wail reached the parking lot.
Neither Qi Quan nor Lingsheng reacted, but the Hitchhiking Ghost was more curious and peeked out slightly.
There was a commotion in front of the service area building.
Shen Hui returned quickly, frowning as he said, "Senior, I just asked around. Three days ago, this woman's child went missing at this service area, but the surveillance footage didn't capture anyone taking her child. She can't accept this and comes here every day to cry and plead."
[How tragic!]
"I took a look at her face," Shen Hui said in a low, hoarse voice. "Her son is already dead."
[Ahhhhh! Human traffickers deserve to die!]
Qi Quan's expression remained unchanged as she slowly ate the food just bought.
The atmosphere in the car was heavy and somber.
Shen Hui had little appetite, the smile gone from his face.
"When I was in the Longwan area, I think I saw a few children hidden in a truck, around three years old, both boys and girls. Could they have been transported to Longhu to be offered to that powerful ghost?" the Hitchhiking Ghost whispered.
Shen Hui glanced at him and said expressionlessly, "If it were really done by ordinary villagers, how could the surveillance not have caught it?"
"That's true."
Just then, Qi Quan's phone rang.
It was a call from Li Guoyan.
His tone was grave: "Master, Di Meng followed a lead into a village and then lost contact."
It was quite similar to the incident involving Fu Jiuge years ago.
Qi Quan said calmly, "I understand."
"Master, we may need you to go on another business trip," Li Guoyan said with utmost sincerity. "The travel fee will be transferred to you shortly."
Even if Li Guoyan hadn't called, Qi Quan would have gone to Longhu City.
The person behind this had gone to great lengths—first using the clumsy guidance of the Hitchhiking Ghost, then the human tragedy at the service area—all to plant the idea of going to Longhu City in her mind.
She replied, "Alright."
After hanging up, Qi Quan instructed Shen Hui: "Change course to Longhu."
Shen Hui was surprised: "Senior?"
Could it be that Senior hadn't realized the Hitchhiking Ghost's purpose?
Qi Quan smiled, looked at the Hitchhiking Ghost, and said in a slow, measured tone, "What level is your master?"
The Hitchhiking Ghost: "..."
"How many exorcists are waiting for me in Longhu City?"
"..."
"Level Seven? Level Eight? Or perhaps Level Nine?"
"..."
Shen Hui was stunned.
Level Eight and Level Nine? Was she serious?
What faction could dispatch several Level Eight exorcists at once, just for Senior alone?
"It's been a long time since I've truly fought. I'm looking forward to it."
After saying this, Qi Quan closed her eyes to cultivate once more.
Silence fell in the car.
Shen Hui felt a surge of blood boiling with excitement, his eyes shining.
Senior looked so cool when she delivered that warning!
The Hitchhiking Ghost huddled in his seat, trembling.
He was just a weak and helpless Level Two White Ghost, after all.
In the back seat, Lingsheng looked at Qi Quan's profile, his eyes slightly curving into a smile. He performed a cleansing technique, purifying the smell of food from the car.
The car drove all the way to Longhu City.
A mountain village in Longhu City.
The village was extremely remote, without even a proper road wide enough for vehicles, almost completely isolated from the world.
It was hard to imagine such a village still existed in this day and age.
Rows of single-story houses were built in the village, dilapidated and old, looking like they belonged to a different world compared to the world outside the mountains.
Di Meng, along with several investigators, had quietly infiltrated the secluded mountain village, following the clues provided by the Fu family.
They had arrived in the early hours of the morning.
The sky had not yet dawned; the morning star hung in the sky, exceptionally bright.
The area around the village was covered in dense forests, shrouded in mist that obscured their vision.
"Captain Di, this place really is a bit strange," one investigator whispered.
Di Meng's expression was grave. "Everyone, be careful."
After all, the intelligence provided by the Fu family was already twenty years old. After two decades, it was unclear if the stronghold connected to this clue still existed.
Moreover, the way they found this place was far too easy, as if someone had already set a trap, waiting for them to walk right in.
It seems the senior's "Diary of a Wealthy Family" has truly made the people behind the scenes restless.
Di Meng sneered. The sooner they surfaced, the sooner they could destroy their den.
The investigators were all equipped with Level Six talismans, guaranteeing their safety. Even if this was a trap, they would break through it!
But no one could have predicted that the Cultivators of Evil would go all out, specially dispatching several high-level Masters to set a trap here.
The intended guest was Qi Quan.
Di Meng and his team were merely the appetizers who had wandered into the snare.
Inside the mountain village, three Level Seven Masters and one Level Eight Master sat around a table, each holding playing cards.
"Someone's here," the Level Eight Master said.
The three Level Seven Masters were momentarily taken aback.
"Already here?" The tall and burly Level Seven Master said in a deep, resonant voice, "I'll take the first round."
The Level Eight Master said with an air of profound mystery, "Not her. Just some small fry from the Investigation Department."
"The highest level among investigators is Level Five. They're stuck in the formation and can't get out. Don't bother with them. Keep playing. Pair of Jacks, anyone?" The speaking Level Seven Master played a pair of Jacks, raising his eyebrow-less brows.
The short, stout Master threw down a pair of Aces. "So, is that person coming or not?"
"She's a righteous and kind-hearted Master, not like us. With the guidance of a Level Two White Ghost, the impact of a human tragedy, and then receiving news of the investigators losing contact, she'll definitely rush over without delay." The eyebrow-less Master snorted with a laugh.
The Level Eight Master wore a look of pity: "They say she's only twenty-two. What a pity."
The other three: "..."
Who are you trying to fool in front of us? Everyone knows you, old man, have the strongest jealousy and kill any genius you see!
The tall, burly Master said with a fierce expression, "So what if she's a super-Level Seven at twenty-two? She'll still die under my fists!"
Level Eight Master: "It's not absolutely necessary to kill her."
"Right!" the short, stout Master said. "Controlling her is also an option."
The eyebrow-less Master smiled. "If she really gets controlled, being such a genius, would she become the Venerable One's new favorite?"
The other two couldn't help but glance at the Level Eight Master.
The Level Eight Master had a clear, upright appearance. Hearing this, he revealed a profound smile. "Naturally not."
The three: "..."
Damn, these pretentious show-offs are really annoying.
A residence in the Beijing suburbs.
A man sat in the courtyard, looking up at the azure sky, and asked quietly, "Is everything ready?"
Steward: "Ready. The Venerable One dispatched three Level Sevens and one Level Eight. The Level Eight Master also set up a Spirit-Devouring Formation."
Man: "Heh, they really think highly of her."
"Her display at Guiyuan Sect did intimidate quite a few people," the steward said.
The man's lips curled slightly. "Wasn't it said her destiny is immense, reaching to the heavens? They exhausted themselves suppressing... her destiny before. Now they can hunt her down?"
Steward: "..."
To be honest, he wasn't too clear about this either. The Venerable One's actions were not for them to question.
However, he had a bit of a guess.
"Perhaps her growth speed has reached an intolerable level."
That's why the Venerable One would spare no cost to strangle her before she fully matured.
The man gazed at the vast, high sky, his eyes deep and profound.
"Can someone with destiny reaching to the heavens really be killed so easily?"
He let out a low chuckle.
Longhu City.
The car had already entered the Longhu area. The Road-blocking Ghost was no longer as chatty as before.
He picked at his fingers, watching the road ahead with nervous anticipation.
In the back seat, Qi Quan suddenly opened her eyes.
Lingsheng immediately turned his head, his eyes showing concern.
The system also asked: [Big shot, what's wrong?]
[The Lakeside Villa is under attack.]
[Damn it, a diversionary tactic! How despicable!] The system cursed angrily, [I beep— beep— beep—]
Qi Quan's eyes turned cold and deep, yet the corners of her lips lifted into a smile.
A surge of fighting spirit rose from the depths of her heart.
It had indeed been a long time since she had engaged in a truly thoroughly satisfying battle.
She was looking forward to the journey ahead.
Longjiang City.
When the Lakeside Villa came under attack, Su Rong was in the kitchen researching a new recipe, while Xue Hong was curled up in her room, engrossed in professional books.
The villa's protective formation trembled slightly.
The two ghosts immediately floated to the front courtyard's atrium.
Xue Hong said coldly, "Again?"
Su Rong smiled slightly: "I'll go to the storeroom to get some jade tokens."
Outside the villa, two Level Six Masters took out attack talismans and relentlessly assaulted the formation's protective shield.
"She's not in the villa this time. Let's see how this formation holds up," one said.
The other was puzzled: "If she's not in the villa, why are we attacking the formation? Got too many talismans to use up?"
"Are you stupid? She went to Longhu, right? Our superiors ordered us to do this to unsettle her, to prevent her from focusing."
"Right. With her home about to be broken into, and facing three Level Sevens and one Level Eight, she definitely can't win."
In the courtyard, Xue Hong observed the protective formation while reading her book. Whenever the formation's glow weakened, she added a few more jade tokens, and the formation remained as solid as ever.
The two outside were baffled.
"What's going on? Isn't she supposed to be away?"
"Maybe... the ghost attendants?"
"Even if the ghost attendants are there, can they sustain it for so long using spirit talismans? Are spirit talismans like cabbages to them?"
"So what do we do now?"
"What else can we do? Keep smashing it."
"..."
Longhu City.
Following the navigation's directions, the car headed into increasingly remote areas.
This place was originally a location with excellent feng shui, but due to the evil deeds of certain people, it had become a sinister ghost realm.
The mountain road ahead was impassable by car, leaving only travel on foot.
Shen Hui glanced at the Level Two White Ghost in the passenger seat. The White Ghost gave him a smile, no longer showing the previous nervousness, perhaps because they were now on its home turf, it had become somewhat smug and forgetful.
"Thanks for the ride, buddy," it said, drifting out of the car leisurely.
Shen Hui: "..."
What are you, a mere Level Two White Ghost, so cocky about?
"Since you've guessed it, I won't beat around the bush," the Road-blocking Ghost said. "The Masters are waiting in the mountain village. Follow me."
It wasn't worried about Qi Quan running away at this point.
They had already stepped within the range of the formation. Trying to escape would be impossible.
Qi Quan...
Laughed softly. "Lead the way."
Road-blocking Ghost: ?
She can still laugh when death is at hand?
It didn't believe for a second that three Level Seven Masters and one Level Eight Master could lose.
Moreover, they had a secret weapon.
The Road-blocking Ghost didn't waste words, leading them onto the narrow mountain path.
The surrounding forest was dense and shady, overgrown with weeds, eerily quiet without even a single bird call.
Qi Quan suddenly remarked, "Not a bad formation."
It barely reached Level Eight standard, though the construction was somewhat crude and the flaws rather large.
The Road-blocking Ghost looked smug: "Of course! This is an Level Eight formation personally set up by the master. Few in the world can break it!"
"Is that so?" Qi Quan chuckled lightly.
Inside the mountain village, the Level Eight Master was slightly startled.
He was the master of this formation and was acutely aware of all movements within it.
Hearing Qi Quan's light chuckle, an inexplicable chill ran down his spine.
"What's wrong?" The eyebrow-less Master noticed his unease.
The Level Eight Master maintained his composure: "She's here."
The other three immediately stopped and stared at him intently.
The tall, burly Master said gruffly, "I'll go test her first!"
"She's someone who can instantly suppress a self-destructing Level 7 Celestial Master. You want to go alone? You'd probably die without even knowing how! The Honored One told us to attack together, yet you insist on fighting her one by one?" the short, stout Celestial Master grumbled.
The tall, burly Celestial Master snorted coldly. "I think you're just scared!"
"Me? Scared?" The short, stout Celestial Master's eyebrows shot up. "I think you're an idiot!"
"Enough," the Level 8 Celestial Master said with authority. "Stop arguing. My formation has a spirit-devouring effect. We'll deplete her spiritual energy first, and later we'll—"
His words cut off abruptly.
The eyebrowless Celestial Master asked, "What's wrong?"
The Level 8 Celestial Master's face suddenly turned as pale as gold paper.
Inside the Spirit-Devouring Formation.
Qi Quan stopped walking and said, "The path you're leading us on is wrong."
The road-blocking ghost feigned surprise. "This is the only road. There's no other way into the village."
"Is that so?"
"...Yes." The road-blocking ghost suddenly had an ominous feeling.
The next second, a peach wood talisman came flying at him. Before he could even utter a cry for help, he was stuffed inside.
"Qin Ruo, he's yours."
Qin Ruo: "..."
This was about making her exercise the "authority" of the prison bully.
No problem, she was very familiar with this job!
The road-blocking ghost's wails soon echoed from within the peach wood talisman.
Shen Hui asked, "Senior, have we accidentally walked into a trap?"
"It's fine."
She was tired of playing games with them.
Spiritual energy coalesced into a long blade, abruptly appearing in her hand.
Shen Hui was astonished. "This is..."
Using spiritual energy to form a weapon—he had only read about such a technique in ancient texts. He never imagined he'd have the privilege of witnessing it firsthand.
The senior was getting serious.
His heart pounded wildly. With keen awareness, he took several steps back, his gaze tightly fixed on the figure ahead.
Majestic as a mountain, profound as the sea.
Qi Quan, holding the long blade, flew into mid-air, the hair at her temples dancing lightly.
She raised the long blade and slashed it fiercely towards the formation!
Torrential spiritual energy struck the formation, overwhelming the entire Spirit-Devouring Grand Formation with an irresistible, crushing force.
Crash—
The Level 8 formation shattered completely.
With just a single move.
Shen Hui: !!!
No words could express his feelings at this moment.
So cool! Absolutely incredibly cool!
He was screaming wildly in his heart, yet on the surface, he had to maintain the dignified composure of an... investigator.
With the Spirit-Devouring Formation broken, the Level 8 Celestial Master felt it most keenly.
He shot out of the room, hovering in mid-air, staring intently towards the direction of the village entrance, his expression extremely grave.
How is this possible?
How could this be possible!
The Level 8 formation he personally set up couldn't be broken so easily by human power. She was at most Level 8 herself, so how could she shatter the formation with just one move?
He truly couldn't believe it!
The other three Celestial Masters ran out after him but remained on the ground, looking up.
"Senior, what exactly happened?" the eyebrowless Celestial Master asked in shock.
The Level 8 Celestial Master's eyes turned bloodshot, his voice hoarse as he said, "She's here."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a slender, tall figure appeared in mid-air, facing the Level 8 Celestial Master from a distance.
Her appearance was exceptionally striking. Under the pale golden sunlight, her skin glowed with a jade-like luster. Not a trace of spiritual energy leaked from her, yet all four present felt a profound, heavy pressure.
This pressure stemmed from the unknown.
They couldn't discern her cultivation level; they didn't know just how powerful she was.
The Level 8 Celestial Master facing Qi Quan directly had just experienced her overwhelming strength firsthand.
'Overwhelming force defeats all skill' perfectly described the scene of her breaking the formation with one move.
He said with difficulty, "You are not a Level 8 Celestial Master."
Qi Quan's laughter was light and unhurried. Wasting no more words, she raised the long blade in her hand.
The three standing on the ground were pressed down so hard their legs trembled uncontrollably.
The short, stout Celestial Master still found time to mock the tall, burly one: "Weren't you going to face her alone? Go on then."
The tall, burly Celestial Master: "..."
The eyebrowless Celestial Master sighed. "I fear we are doomed today."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark red pill, about the size of a soybean, almost invisible between his fingers.
He hesitated, his face conflicted.
Seeing this, the other two followed suit, each taking out a pill and holding it in their hands.
In mid-air, Qi Quan didn't hesitate in the slightest. With one slash, she aimed her blade at the Level 8 Celestial Master.
A massive blade shadow appeared across the azure sky.
The blade shadow spanned the heavens, blocking out the sun. The pale white long blade descended slowly from high above, carrying earth-shaking momentum, like a demon-slaying blade firmly enveloping all four of them.
The Level 8 Celestial Master hadn't even made a move before he was suffocated by the immense pressure of the giant blade shadow.
His eyes nearly burst from their sockets, blood gushing from his mouth. Only one thought remained in his mind—
She is definitely not just Level 8!
Facing such a formidable opponent, they stood no chance!
The Level 8 Celestial Master acted decisively. He took out a dark red pill and quickly put it in his mouth.
As soon as the pill entered his stomach, an extremely powerful force surged from his dantian. The spiritual energy around his body skyrocketed wildly. In just a few breaths, his level actually climbed directly from Level 8 to Level 9!
The increase in level brought him tremendous benefits.
His eyes bloodshot and red, his body felt lighter than ever, as if he possessed infinite power. Even facing that long blade, he wouldn't—
Huh?
How is this possible!
He stared in horror at the long blade slowly descending from the sky, still unable to muster even a shred of resistance.
The Level 8 Celestial Master—no, the now Level 9 Celestial Master—was incredulous, his voice trembling terribly. "You're not Level 9 either! You... you are..."
The words "Human Sovereign" were completely obliterated.
The giant blade fell. In an instant, it was as if the sky had collapsed and the river of stars reversed its flow. The Level 8 Celestial Master—no, the now Level 9 Celestial Master—was utterly annihilated by the spiritual energy blade, reduced to dust.
Again, just one move.
Flesh, blood, and soul vanished without a trace.
The three on the ground: "..."
So... so terrifying!
The tall, burly Celestial Master was actually the first to kneel and beg for mercy. "This lowly one has eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai! I beg you, Senior, spare my worthless life!"
The eyebrowless Celestial Master: "..."
The short, stout Celestial Master: "..."
A torrent of curses swirled in their minds, with no place to start.
In this situation, taunting/venting was no longer the priority. They had to survive!
Qi Quan hovered in mid-air, looking down at the three with an indifferent expression.
"What are those pills in your hands?" she asked.
The eyebrowless Celestial Master immediately answered, "Replying to you, Senior, these are Blood Burst Pills. They can instantly boost a Celestial Master's cultivation level, giving a significant advantage in battle. Of course, someone of your stature has absolutely no need for such auxiliary items."
Qi Quan asked calmly, "Whoever provides the pill formula will have performed a great service."
The three: "..."
It wasn't that they were unwilling, but that they couldn't.
It involved the organization's secrets. If they revealed them, they would likely suffer soul annihilation, just like the Level 8 Celestial Master.
The three turned pale, cold sweat sliding down their cheeks and dripping into the soil before them.
The soil faintly glowed red.
Qi Quan lowered her gaze. "Forget it."
Spiritual energy gathered once more into a long blade, suspended above their heads.
The tall, burly Celestial Master, terrified, prostrated himself on the ground and cried out, "I'll talk! I'll talk!"
The other two: ???
The tall, burly Celestial Master, still clinging to a sliver of hope, said, "We actually don't know much about refining the Blood Burst Pills either. Those are made by the alchemists. I'm just a hired hand; I know nothing about pill formulas! Please see the truth, Senior!"
The system was shocked: [Big shot, what are alchemists? How come I've never heard you mention them?]
Qi Quan: [You've read so many cultivation novels, and you really don't know?]
[Reading is one thing, but I've been with you for so long, and I've never heard of alchemists existing in this world. You've never mentioned them either.]
Qi Quan: "Within the mystical sects, there are paths such as the Sword Path, Talisman Path, and Formation Path, along with some other less common ones. The Healing Path is one of them. However, the Healing Path is extremely difficult to master and requires using one's own spiritual power to heal others, so few are willing to practice it. Over time, it gradually declined. The Alchemy Path is a branch of the Healing Path, but the ability to truly refine pills beneficial to cultivators currently only exists in legends."
Pills like this "Bloodburst Pill" merely instantly burn a cultivator's potential, forcibly raising their level by one.
Such pills are inferior, evil pills steeped in human blood.
The system understood and suddenly asked: ["So, does Lingsheng have a talent for learning the Healing Path?"]
Qi Quan was taken aback.
She thought of the various foods with beneficial effects made by Lingsheng's hands, and of his precise technique when helping stop the bleeding for the injured man at the resort, and deeply agreed.
The other two men also immediately said, "Right, we're just peripheral enforcers, we don't have access to such secrets."
Qi Quan: "..."
She thought for a moment, summoned a new peach wood tablet, and struck it against the three men. Their souls, no longer under their own control, were trapped within the peach wood tablet.
The remaining bodies, except for the Bloodburst Pills clutched in their hands, were completely incinerated by spiritual fire.
Qi Quan landed on the ground.
She looked at Lingsheng, who was walking towards her.
Without a doubt, these three souls also bore puppet seals. If she forcibly searched their souls, it would definitely trigger a self-destruct sequence.
But what if she performed "surgery" to remove the puppet seal?
Qi Quan felt she might be getting a bit fanciful, but she was never one to stick rigidly to convention.
Anyway, with three subjects, she could experiment slowly.
"Senior," Shen Hui ran over, his expression very grave. "There's no one else here, but I discovered many children's skeletons in those houses."
System: ["A thousand cuts wouldn't be enough to atone for their evil deeds!"]
Qi Quan: "They likely abandoned this operation long ago. Today was just to lure me here."
The Investigation Department wasn't unaware of this possibility, but they had to send people to investigate any lead, no matter how slim.
"Senior!"
A voice full of pleasant surprise sounded from not far away.
Qi Quan turned around.
Di Meng, leading several investigators, ran over, his face excited. "I knew it was you who came!"
While trapped in the formation, they had already sensed their spiritual energy slowly draining away, but against an eighth-grade formation, they were powerless.
Fortunately, fortunately, the Senior had come.
Qi Quan instructed, "Leave this place to you. I'm returning to Longjiang City first."
Di Meng's spirits lifted: "Yes!"
He and the several investigators watched the mighty expert leave, the light in their eyes more intense and fervent than the sun.
They had just witnessed the immense, elongated blade shadow spanning the vast sky.
It was simply—
So incredibly cool!
