Chapter 125: The Backup Plan
In the days that followed, Song Yan’s life returned to its usual rhythm. Apart from his daily patrol duties, he spent his time absorbing Qi and refining spiritual energy, accumulating spiritual power.
Although the six sects’ disciples had comprehensively strengthened their patrols, the workload for Team A-1 had not increased much.
Moreover, with Cheng Yu dead, no one was left to trip him up.
His rest days had actually increased considerably.
The Hanshan Five Demons’ Cosmos Bags did not contain much that was useful. Genuine spirit pills were few.
However, spirit stones were plentiful—the five of them together yielded over three hundred spirit stones.
He kept a single Illusory Formation Disk and sold off the remaining demonic cultivator items at the Cold Mountain Market, collecting a total of over four hundred and sixty spirit stones.
Quite a considerable sum.
In truth, Song Yan had not expected one thing.
That was, being stationed at Changping actually did not require preparing excessive resources.
There simply was not enough time to convert resources into actual strength.
For example, Song Yan was not at all lacking in cultivation resources at the moment.
But because of his patrol duties, he could only maintain his basic daily cultivation.
Secluded cultivation was utterly out of reach.
……
Over the past four months, Song Yan’s primary patrol area had been Cheng Family Village.
Due to rotation of duties, he would now patrol Shigu Ping.
Shigu Ping was considered the most dangerous village near Changping.
Because it was closest to the Corpse Bone Abyss.
Sometimes Song Yan found it strange—why would so many mortals live near such a dangerous place?
Later, Dai Rui explained it to him.
On one hand, although the Corpse Bone Abyss was dangerous, monks from the Huadu Temple were stationed there year-round.
Few demonic beasts would dare to openly emerge and cause trouble.
On the other hand, the vast area outside the Corpse Bone Abyss was among the most fertile land in the entire Changping Prefecture.
It was very suitable for farming.
Furthermore, the demonic cultivators of the Corpse Bone Abyss had no interest in mortals.
Only a cultivator’s body, nourished by spiritual energy, had the “chance” to become fodder in a demonic beast’s mouth.
Decades ago, a very peculiar phenomenon had even appeared in Shigu Ping’s history.
Demonic cultivators wanted to use the mortals here as fodder to refine demonic arts or sacrifice to evil treasures.
The demonic beasts of the Corpse Bone Abyss used this as bait to lure demonic cultivators in, then slaughtered them.
Very few mortals died in the process.
Most of the dead were demonic cultivators ambushed by the demonic beasts.
A highly unique and somewhat bizarre ecology.
Yet it existed here just the same.
This made Shigu Ping’s mortal population actually the largest among the surrounding villages.
On this day, Song Yan was patrolling through Shigu Ping with Li Qingfeng.
“Old Song, based on what you’re saying, in another four months you’ll be able to return to the sect?”
Seeing him nod, Li Qingfeng looked surprised. “How is it so fast…”
“Is slaying demonic cultivators really that easy?”
He muttered, patting the large black wok on his back, looking eager.
The mortals of Shigu Ping knew about the six sects’ disciples patrolling.
After all, the six sects’ joint deployment in Changping had been going on for nearly a year.
These mortals were still very respectful toward the patrol cultivators who appeared from time to time, but they were no longer as amazed as before.
Song Yan’s mind stirred, and he subtly turned his head to glance behind him.
He found nothing.
Thanks to his powerful divine sense, in recent days he had been sensing a faint anomaly, as though someone had been watching him from behind.
A demonic cultivator?
Unlikely.
At the current level of patrol activity, probably only a Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator would dare show their face near Changping City.
A Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator watching him made no sense whatsoever.
If that was the case, then someone among the six sects had grown suspicious of him?
It did not matter.
Song Yan had never planned to make contact with Sheng Nian again.
“Ah—”
A cry of alarm.
An old farmer pushing a cart stumbled and bumped into the preoccupied Song Yan.
Song Yan was naturally unharmed.
But the old farmer, recovering his senses, looked at him in terror and dropped to his knees with a thud. “Immortal, spare me! Immortal, spare me!”
“This old one was not watching where he was going. This old one deserves death!”
It was as though this immortal would kill him on the spot if displeased.
Song Yan waved his hand dismissively. “It is nothing.”
He channeled a trace of spiritual energy to lift the kowtowing old man to his feet.
Seeing that the old farmer’s cart loaded with straw and hay had not tipped over, he walked away with Li Qingfeng.
“Thank you for sparing me, Immortal, thank you for sparing me…”
Only after the two immortals had departed did the old man push his cart once more.
And return to his home.
Click.
The wooden door’s bolt slid into place.
Inside the small house, a Sound Isolation Spirit Formation rose.
The old man’s appearance gradually dissipated like gray mist brushed away by a breeze, revealing Liu Ciming’s true face and figure.
Expressionless, he followed the path along the stable, concealed within an illusory formation, and descended into the cellar.
A candle flame appeared in his hand without warning.
In the darkness of the cellar, a figure heard the footsteps behind and turned slightly.
“Brother Jin, I trust you have been well…”
Liu Ciming channeled his spiritual energy, and the cellar lit up with spirit light.
It illuminated Jin Tianya’s face.
“Heh heh…” Jin Tianya’s voice was hoarse. “What is it? Can I leave now?”
“…”
Liu Ciming said nothing, then spoke lightly. “Ha ha, not just yet.”
“How long are you planning to keep me locked up here?!”
Jin Tianya’s state was clearly unstable.
“Brother Jin, please be patient…”
Facing the roar of a Qi Refining Stage cultivator, Liu Ciming did not lose his temper.
“You took such a great risk to bring out a copy of the ‘Paintings of the Underworld’s Forms.’ Once you return to the Demonic Ruins, you will surely earn the Master’s favor and rise unimpeded in the sect.”
“Spare me the useless talk… I only want to know when I can go back.”
Liu Ciming quickly soothed him. “At most three to five more days, and we can leave Changping and teleport back to the Demonic Ruins.”
“But, Brother Jin, you must tell me—what is the mystery of this Paintings of the Underworld’s Forms?”
Hearing Liu Ciming’s description, Jin Tianya’s emotions seemed to calm slightly.
He let a cold humph and sat back on the ground. “If I tell you, and then you kill me, would you not keep this treasure for yourself?”
Liu Ciming’s expression did not change. “Brother Jin jests.”
“If I killed you, how would I explain it to the Master…”
Jin Tianya fell silent.
“Besides, right now in the Outer Branch, who does not know that Brother Jin returned alive from the Central Domain? Would I dare steal your credit?”
Silence again.
The so-called uprising in the Central Domain had ended in failure for the demonic path.
Only he, because he was too weak and had seized nothing more than a painting—not some supreme treasure—had seized the opportunity to escape.
He seemed to have made some resolution and spoke slowly.
“The Paintings of the Underworld’s Forms…”
“Is an ink treasure left behind in his youth by Wu Daoxuan, a great cultivator of the Deity Transformation Stage from the Central Domain.”
Liu Ciming’s pupils contracted sharply.
What?!
Deity Transformation Stage?!
Although it was left in his youth…
Liu Ciming’s heart still pounded uncontrollably, and he even doubted whether he had misheard.
Heavens!
Jin Tianya seemed to have long anticipated Liu Ciming’s reaction and let out a cold laugh before continuing.
“The temple where the original painting was housed was destroyed at some point countless years ago.”
“All that remains is this painting, which he is said to have copied with his own hand to disperse its fierce energy.”
Jin Tianya turned his gaze slightly. “It is rumored that within this painting…”
“Lies the clue to Wu Daoxuan’s old garden.”