Chapter 115: Outside the Corpse Bone Abyss
Whether it was his previous visit to the Eastern Abyss Sect or the trip to the Silent Valley, Wang Yan and Shen Huai had been very close. The Xuan Yuan Sect had casually tried to have him killed, and it was possible this person was involved.
Soon, the elders had finished assigning tasks to each of their newly arrived disciples.
When it was Xu Ziqing’s turn, he slowly unrolled the scroll in his hand.
“Zhou Ye…”
“Assigned to Team C-1.”
“Chen Chen…”
“Assigned to Team B-2.”
Hearing his own name, Song Yan looked up slightly, meeting Xu Ziqing’s gaze.
“Assigned to Team A-1.”
Team A-1, the permanent patrol.
In other words, the most dangerous group.
Song Yan’s heart sank slightly.
Actually, the so-called “danger” was not the worst part of this mission.
After all, it had been a full half year since the Changping incident.
There were few situations where the patrol actually needed to hunt down demonic cultivators.
Moreover, with the six great sects stationed here, as long as he was careful, there would generally be no threat to his life.
The real reason most of the six sects’ disciples were unwilling to join the permanent patrol was that the daily time consumption required for patrol duty far exceeded other tasks.
Simply put, the six sects’ disciples who came here were all trying to quietly accumulate “merit points” in exchange for the cultivation resources they desired.
The less effort required, the better.
A job like the permanent patrol was, in many people’s eyes, the most standard example of hard work without reward.
However, not everyone thought this way…
The morning meeting adjourned.
Team A-1 formally assembled.
He also saw his teammates.
The person in charge of leading the team was a senior brother from the Sun-Shooting Sect, at the ninth level of the Qi Refining Stage.
He stroked his chin, looking Song Yan up and down. “Hmm… I heard Junior Brother Song’s swordsmanship is remarkable. Joining our squad will definitely increase our strength!”
“Let me introduce myself. My name is Dai Rui, inner disciple of the Sun-Shooting Sect, captain of Team A-1.”
Dai Rui spoke very friendly, slightly dispelling some of the gloom.
At least the atmosphere was good.
“Song Yan, inner disciple of the Eastern Abyss Sect.”
He also made a brief introduction.
Soon, Dai Rui began to explain their daily work, his tone full of relaxation, without any hint of dissatisfaction.
This was why not everyone thought the permanent patrol was bad.
Because theoretically, only disciples who were excellent in all aspects and had relatively strong combat strength would be assigned to Team A-1.
It could be said…
For some cultivators, this was a kind of… honor.
Like Dai Rui in front of him, and a small number of other cultivators in the team.
Surprisingly, among the squad members, he saw Shen Huai.
Her expression was slightly unnatural.
He didn’t know if she had always been like this, or if seeing Song Yan reminded her of the Silent Valley incident.
She nodded slightly, a greeting.
This person’s intentions were still uncertain.
It was still impossible to say whether she was involved in Wang Yan’s plot against them.
However, the Silent Valley incident had a great impact on Song Yan. Until now, he still held some hostility and wariness toward disciples of the Xuan Yuan Sect.
“The permanent patrol has four squads. Our Team A-1 is responsible for three villages near Changping Prefecture City.”
“Cao Yuan Village.”
“Cheng Family Village.”
“Shigu Ping.”
“Actually, our tasks aren’t too burdensome. We just need to divide into small groups and patrol daily. If there are no special circumstances, we report our safe return.”
“However, if there are any traces of demonic cultivators, report to me immediately.”
Listening quietly to Dai Rui’s arrangements, Song Yan nodded, then seized an opportunity to ask: “Senior Brother Dai, what are the daily patrol hours…”
“Haha, don’t worry, Junior Brother Song.” Dai Rui laughed heartily. “Although the permanent patrol is indeed quite busy, we do leave time for everyone’s basic cultivation.”
“Our patrol shifts rotate with Team A-2.”
Song Yan felt somewhat relieved. “I see.”
Dai Rui led the squad members out of the prefecture city.
Since they were all late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, they didn’t walk slowly.
As he walked, he said: “Among the three locations we’re responsible for, Shigu Ping is special. It’s closest to the Corpse Bone Abyss and the most dangerous.”
“You’re new here and unfamiliar with the area. For the next few days, just follow me to get familiar.”
“Okay, thank you, Senior Brother Dai.”
“We’re all fellow daoists, no need to be polite.”
…
Outside the Corpse Bone Abyss.
Wasteland.
An abandoned thatched cottage courtyard.
A “massive” demonic figure stood beside the worn stone table in the courtyard.
This figure had thick fur, about one zhang tall, but wore a short coarse cloth shirt.
Its arms and the backs of its hands were covered in gray beast fur.
It was actually a second-grade transformed ape demon!
At this moment, it was slowly pouring wine into a cup on the table.
In front of it stood six or seven people, most wearing yellow robes.
“Brother Liu, look at those six great sects cultivators outside…”
The ape demon made clicking sounds with its mouth. “Such a big formation, even I’m feeling scared…”
“If you don’t give me more benefits, I’ll have no choice but to retreat and hide back in the Corpse Bone Abyss.”
The cultivator called Brother Liu was named Liu Ciming.
He looked at the ape demon, his expression calm.
The ape demon didn’t push further, chuckling:
“Or just tell me honestly, what exactly is your Underworld Springs Dao hiding?”
“Heh heh.”
Liu Ciming didn’t respond, simply placing a cosmos bag on the table.
“Brother Ape, to be honest, I’m also here under my master’s orders.”
“How could a small character like me know the reasons…”
“This is what your Corpse Bone Abyss wants…”
“Hmph…”
The ape demon snorted coldly, picked up the wine cup, and took a sip.
Then, with a “snap,” it threw it on the ground.
It grabbed the cosmos bag, no longer maintaining a pleasant expression.
“Get lost.”
Liu Ciming still had that smiling appearance, seemingly not displeased by the other’s sudden change of demeanor.
He cupped his fists in salute, leading the group of cultivators out of the courtyard.
“Phew…”
A soft sigh escaped from between his lips, restrained.
Only now did Liu Ciming show a trace of irritation.
Negotiating with so many forces in Changping was becoming difficult for him.
The most troublesome thing was…
Hmm?
Unexpectedly, just a few steps out, he discovered that not far away, two of his disciples were confronting two unfamiliar cultivators.
He furrowed his brow and casually asked the person beside him: “Where are those two from?”
The person beside him had already seen them. When Liu Ciming asked, he quickly answered.
“Senior Brother Liu, those two are from the Demon Seed Sect, disciples of the Hermit Xinshan…”
“They said they were sent to assist us.”
“That one is the first disciple, Lu Qin, and the other…”
“Is the second disciple, what’s his name… called…”
“Sheng Nian.”