Chapter 110: Urgent Affairs in Changping

Song Yan would never have imagined, even in his wildest dreams, that the day of his promotion to the inner sect would end in such a state of drunken stupor.

Forbidden from using spiritual energy to dispel the effects of the wine, he—a lightweight who rarely touched a drop—had collapsed and lost consciousness after only a few sips.

The next day, Song Yan awoke on the counter of the shop. Qin Xijun was still snoring away in her chair, the wine jar having rolled onto the floor.

"Ugh..."

He channeled his spiritual energy to soothe the lingering headache from his hangover, his mind gradually clearing. Looking at his master, whose sleeping posture was utterly unrefined, Song Yan smiled. He draped a small blanket over her and quietly departed.

Upon returning to Qingye Peak, he noticed a transmission talisman waiting before he even entered his cave dwelling. It was from the deacon disciple he had met the day before. He tapped it with his fingertip.

"Junior Brother Song, the matters regarding your new cave dwelling have been arranged."

"You may come to Zuowang Peak at any time within the month to finalize the handover."

He pondered for a moment, using his spiritual energy to dispel the last traces of alcohol from his body. After sniffing himself to ensure he was presentable, he stepped into his dwelling.

"Xiao He! Get ready to move!"

Although the General Affairs Hall had granted a generous timeframe, he had no pressing matters now that he had joined the inner sect. He decided to move to Shijian Peak that very day.

Xiao He poked its head out from a pile of toys, looking somewhat puzzled.

"Moving?"

"That’s right. Don't dawdle; pack up your toys quickly. We’re moving to a much bigger cave!"

"Okay!"

Looking at the familiar dwelling, he couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia; how time flew. In the blink of an eye, it had been four or five years since he first entered the sect, and he had lived here for just as long.

He gently patted the stone table. "I wonder which junior brother will move in here next."

However, Song Yan was not one to get stuck in the past. He packed his personal belongings, placed Xiao He’s toys into a separate storage pouch, and, with the snake in tow, left Cave Dwelling No. 39 of the Profound Tier.

First, he made a trip to Zuowang Peak to settle the administrative affairs. Then, following the map on his jade slip, he set out to find his "new home."

Shijian Peak.

There were many cultivators moving about, but most were focused on their own business, and few bothered to exchange greetings.

"Shijian Peak, Earth Tier 21."

Passing through the mountain paths and following the markers on the map, he finally located his new residence.

"Whoa..."

The shadows of bamboo danced in the breeze, creating a dreamlike courtyard. He channeled his spiritual energy, triggering the defensive barrier. The bamboo branches guarding the entrance parted with a rustle.

Stepping inside, a courtyard paved with blue stone revealed itself to Song Yan. The surrounding ink-colored bamboo was arranged with such grace that it felt even more secluded and elegant than the small bamboo courtyard in Linghua Valley.

"Wow..."

Even Xiao He was deeply drawn to the scenery and the sense of freedom that permeated the air.

Collecting his thoughts, he approached the entrance to the main dwelling. With a flicker of spiritual light, the stone door swung open.

The scene inside came into view. Daylight poured down from a skylight, bathing the entire dwelling in a faint, golden radiance. In the center was a warm pool, slightly larger than the one on Qingye Peak. Fluorescent stones of unknown origin shimmered at the bottom of the pool, making it look even more enchanting. A wooden window was embedded in the wall by the pool; pushing it open, the breathtaking view of the Dongyuan Immortal Sect unfolded before his eyes.

"This is wonderful!"

Xiao He dove into the warm pool with a splash, then zipped out and leaped onto the windowsill. "This place is truly amazing!"

Song Yan felt the same. However, there was work to be done. He arranged his miscellaneous items in the new dwelling and set aside a small room for Xiao He to claim as its own.

The biggest difference between this new dwelling and the outer sect residence was the abundance of space. Previously on Qingye Peak, he had practiced and achieved breakthroughs on a simple stone bed. Here, there was a dedicated cultivation room, and even separate chambers for alchemy and artifact refining.

Once everything was settled, Song Yan took out a special jade slip from his storage pouch. He had picked it up at the Mission Hall while passing through Taiping Peak earlier. It contained detailed information regarding the situation in Changping.

Song Yan was a pragmatic man. When he made a decision, he didn't just pay lip service to it. He would be heading to Changping within three months at the latest. Understanding the specific circumstances in advance would allow him to prepare accordingly.

In truth, the contents of the jade slip didn't reveal much more than what Senior Brother Lin Qing had already told him.

"Chenzhou, Guan Zhao Prefecture, Changping."

It began with the unexplained disappearance of a Spirit Talisman Sect cultivator passing through Guan Zhao Prefecture, which prompted an investigation by their sect. The Huadu Temple, a great Buddhist sect from the neighboring Danyang Prefecture, heard of the matter and volunteered to join forces with them.

What they uncovered was a grave matter. Not only did they find traces of evil cultivators from the Central Region lurking on the outskirts of Changping, but they also discovered massive evidence of demonic cultivators.

Changping in Guan Zhao Prefecture had always been a melting pot due to its unique geographical location. The influence of demonic cultivators waxed and waned, never truly extinguished. It was also a gathering place for the three major demonic beast factions and the site of the Abyss of Bones. With various rogue cultivators also settling there—picking up a trick or two here, or acquiring a ghost banner or soul bell there—they had collectively formed a formidable force of "evil cultivators."

Aside from the Dongyuan Sect and the Sheyang Sect, who occasionally sent people to assist the Huadu Temple, the other three major sects had maintained an attitude of indifference.

However, the recent major activities of the demonic cultivators had left the major sects unable to sit still. None of them were fools; they understood the principle that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. The six major sects had begun sending their disciples in rotations to guard Changping.

Yet, more than three months had passed, and no one knew exactly what these demonic cultivators were plotting.

"Demonic cultivators, evil cultivators, the beast cultivators of the Abyss of Bones..."

"A city of mortals..."

"The six major sects have actually gathered together outside of Longtan Mountain for the first time..."

"And the most critical point is..."

"Even with such a massive commotion in the cultivation world of the Chu Kingdom, that group of demonic cultivators in Changping continues to stir up trouble from time to time."

"They show no fear, and no intention of leaving."

The entirety of Changping had truly become a chaotic mess.

He finished reading through the information, gaining a rough understanding of the so-called "special contributions." These were contribution points accumulated by disciples during large-scale, long-term missions. Among older, more experienced cultivators, they were also referred to as "merits."

These merits were used exclusively to exchange for items from a dedicated treasure vault. For this joint operation, the six major sects had combined the rewards of all their vaults. As long as one had enough merits, one could exchange for almost anything a Qi-refining cultivator could desire—though the quantities were likely limited.

Scanning the list of rewards, he saw high-level techniques, talismans, pills, magical artifacts, and much more. The most enticing reward—the high-level techniques—was likely out of his reach. They generally required full participation in the mission to earn enough merits for an exchange.

Song Yan put away the jade slip and began to calculate in his mind what preparations he needed to make before heading to Changping.

This journey would be fraught with danger...

He would need to face it with the utmost caution.

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