This Time, Let's See Where You Run

Su Fan looked at the corpses floating on the distant river and could not help sucking in a cold breath.

Yesterday, a single monster had thrown Luqu County into chaos. Today, more than twenty corpses had floated over.

Not to mention the mortals in the city—even he felt his scalp prickle.

Just then, a group of soldiers boarded several boats, left the dock, and rowed toward the corpses on the river.

They used hooked sickles to haul the corpses to the opposite bank, then piled them atop firewood and burned them. For a time, flames soared into the sky.

Looking at the clusters of flames rising on the opposite bank, Su Fan sighed.

He would not be able to leave anytime soon.

After something so major had happened, which boat owner would dare leave the dock? Who knew whether more corpses would float over the river?

If even one of the corpses underwent an aberration, it would be too late to cry for help. They would be swallowed by the monster.

With no other choice, Su Fan could only stay temporarily at Old Hu's home.

Hu Guanghai was delighted. He could not have been happier for Su Fan to stay a while longer.

At that moment, a group of people emerged from the city. The man at the front wore an official robe, with an old Daoist of immortal bearing walking beside him.

Su Fan swept him with his Spiritual Sense and discovered that the old Daoist was actually a cultivator at the Qi Refining First Layer.

Judging by his advanced age, he was probably nearing his Approaching Lifespan Limit.

"The county magistrate is here..."

After hearing Old Hu, he pointed at the old Daoist.

"What about that Daoist master?"

"That's the Celestial Master of Qingsong Temple in Haiyang Commandery. They say he knows immortal arts. I heard the magistrate invited him from the commandery city overnight..."

Su Fan nodded and deliberately asked in confusion, "Qingsong Temple? Celestial Master..."

"Our Qi Kingdom emperor worships the Dao, so every commandery city has a Celestial Master."

Su Fan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he was not from the True Demonic Sect, that was fine.

What use was it to invite him here? With such low cultivation, could he slay demons or purge devils?

And they called him a Celestial Master. He might not even be able to deal with a wandering spirit.

If he had not exterminated that monster yesterday, it was hard to say whether Luqu County would still exist, let alone how many people would have died.

Su Fan's heart stirred as he recalled the "Heavenly Demon Talisman" that the Ghost King Sect had activated last time.

Could that mass of black smoke have been the Demonic Soul of an Outer Realm Demonic Being?

Su Fan had seen records concerning Outer Realm Demonic Beings in an ancient book.

According to legend, since ancient times, demonic beings from beyond the realm had frequently invaded this Cultivation World.

Outer Realm Demonic Beings were immensely powerful, fed on humans, and were extremely savage.

Every invasion plunged the Cultivation World into a devastating calamity.

It was said that in ancient times, the Western Wilderness had been rich in Spirit Veins, and its area had been several times larger than it was now.

Because of the invasion by the Outer Realm Demonic Beings, the fertile regions of the Western Wilderness had since become a dead land.

It had to be said that the strange black smoke did indeed resemble the Demonic Soul of an Outer Realm Demonic Being.

That corpse might have been possessed by a Demonic Soul, causing its body to undergo an aberration and turn into such a ghastly thing.

But the Outer Realm Demonic Beings had not appeared for several thousand years.

That night, Su Fan slowly opened his eyes as he sat cross-legged on the bed.

His cultivation progress had been extremely slow over the past six months or so.

Back at Shaoyang Market Town, he would have been able to cultivate to the peak of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer in less than three years.

But in the Mortal World, even twenty years might not be enough.

Just then, Old Hu returned from asking around the city for information.

He entered the room and gulped down a mouthful of tea.

"I heard from someone at the yamen that two boats sank at Sishui Crossing a few days ago. All these corpses in the river were people from those boats."

Hearing Old Hu, Su Fan immediately knitted his brows.

"How did the boats sink? And who reported the sinking?"

Old Hu shook his head. "I don't know that. The commandery city and the county both sent people there today. We should hear back tomorrow."

Su Fan thought for a moment and asked, "Is Sishui Crossing far from Luqu County?"

"Not particularly. On horseback, it'll take two or three hours..."

And that's not far?

"Right, I also heard that boats have frequently sunk at Sishui Crossing over the past few months. When you take a boat to the Zhao Kingdom, stay alert when you reach Sishui Crossing."

Su Fan nodded and asked, "Did they say when the boats could start sailing again?"

"I didn't hear anything. Which boat owner would dare leave right now?"

Su Fan sighed when he heard that.

He truly did not want to wait any longer. His cultivation progress had been far too slow during these months in the Mortal World.

The next day, not long after Su Fan got up, Old Hu arrived.

"Brother, something terrible has happened..."

Hearing Hu Guanghai, Su Fan was somewhat bewildered.

"What happened?"

"Sigh... don't ask. The boat the county sent out also sank at Sishui Crossing."

After hearing this, Su Fan was instantly dumbfounded.

There was definitely something wrong at Sishui Crossing, and it should have some connection to the Outer Realm Demonic Beings.

Black Profound City, Bone Boat mooring point.

Gu Qinghuan, wearing a Black Veil Hat, stepped down from the Bone Boat.

She glanced at the distant Black Profound Mountain Range, then walked toward Black Profound City.

She had stayed at Shaoyang Market Town for several months but had not sensed Su Fan's aura.

Gu Qinghuan had to admit that the little thief had slipped away from her again.

Could this little Rogue Cultivator truly be her nemesis?

Just as she was about to break down, the Wang family of the True Demonic Sect arrived at Shaoyang Market Town to investigate the disappearance of their family member, Wang Zhi.

The moment Gu Qinghuan learned of this, she understood everything.

That little Rogue Cultivator was incredibly bold. He had actually dared to kill someone from the True Demonic Sect.

Even bolder, he had impersonated that person and taken a Bone Boat to Liangzhou.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. That brat was far too crafty.

Gu Qinghuan wished she could rush to Liangzhou at once and personally kill that little thief.

She did not want to delay any longer. That very night, she boarded a Bone Boat flying to Liangzhou.

This time, Gu Qinghuan did not let her master accompany her. She wanted to settle this matter herself.

After entering the city, she followed the address her master had given her to a courtyard in the inner city.

She presented her master's token and met a Golden Core Elder of the True Demonic Sect.

This Golden Core Elder was a Divination Master and was highly renowned among the many demonic sects of the Western Wilderness.

But his Approaching Lifespan Limit was near, and he had no hope of breaking through.

Therefore, he accepted anyone who came and frequently performed divinations for others.

Before dying, he wanted to accumulate more cultivation resources for the many younger members of his family.

As long as there were spirit stones, he would do anything—even divination.

Gu Qinghuan paid a substantial fee, and the elder agreed to perform a divination for her without a second thought.

The elder's attainments in divination were indeed profound.

Her guess was confirmed: that little thief was in Liangzhou.

He also sold her a compass dharma artifact and infused Su Fan's aura into it.

As long as she held the compass and followed the direction of the arrow, she would not lose her way.

Holding the compass, Gu Qinghuan was so excited that her heart pounded.

Even with her substantial wealth, she felt the pain after spending so many spirit stones.

But the spirit stones had been extremely well spent.

"Little thief, this time, let's see where you run..."

After leaving the small courtyard, Gu Qinghuan did not even eat a bite of food. Once she left the city, she rode her dharma artifact through the air, flying in the direction indicated by the compass arrow.

Su Fan would never have dreamed that Gu Qinghuan, that witch, had caught up with him again.