"Fierce"-Level Strange Phenomenon

"Master Songhe, how exactly was this 'Fierce'-level strange phenomenon suppressed here?"

Qin Bo asked, his face full of curiosity tinged with a hint of worry.

Taoist Master Songhe furrowed his brows slightly and sank into his memories:

"It's a long story. It happened several decades ago, during a world-shaking battle."

"At the time, several top experts from the Demon Suppressing Division, along with numerous cultivators from Yunzhou City, paid a terrible price before finally suppressing this 'Fierce'-level strange phenomenon beneath Yunzhou City."

"They then borrowed the vital energy of the entire city's populace to set up a sealing formation. Only then were they barely able to suppress it until now."

At this point, Taoist Master Songhe paused and looked at Qin Bo.

"Speaking of which, I have you to thank for what happened a few days ago. If you hadn't appeared in time and helped me slay that Evil-level strange phenomenon, I'm afraid I would have had to use my sealing artifact there. This seal might have run into trouble!"

He raised a hand and took out that fiery-red gourd.

"This gourd is the inherited treasure of my Heavenly One Sect—the Fire Spirit Gourd. It can nurture vital energy and increase its power."

Qin Bo stared at the fiery-red gourd in Taoist Master Songhe's hand.

Wisps of warm energy coiled around its entire body, while lively flame patterns seemed to dance across its surface.

Looking closely, it appeared to contain endless mysteries.

"The Fire Spirit Gourd? It sounds extraordinary just from the name."

Qin Bo's eyes were filled with curiosity and amazement.

Taoist Master Songhe smiled faintly and said with considerable pride, "This Fire Spirit Gourd is no ordinary treasure."

"Besides nurturing vital energy and increasing its power, it can also contain strange phenomena."

"If you encounter a strange phenomenon that isn't too powerful, all you need to do is open the gourd's mouth and recite an incantation. It will then be sucked inside and trapped in the gourd's alternate dimension. No matter how it struggles, it will find it difficult to escape."

Qin Bo listened, his eyes burning with eagerness.

Wasn't this exactly the spatial treasure spoken of in legends?

He reached out to touch it, but the old Taoist swiftly put it away.

"What kind of look is that, boy?! You want it? Keep dreaming."

Qin Bo stared longingly as the Fire Spirit Gourd vanished from Taoist Master Songhe's hand in an instant.

His covetous expression amused Taoist Master Songhe so much that he didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.

"This is the inherited treasure of the Heavenly One Sect. How could I let you touch it casually? Once you join the Demon Suppressing Division and earn enough merit, perhaps you'll be able to obtain a spatial treasure too."

Taoist Master Songhe teased him with a laugh.

Qin Bo scratched his head and gave a sheepish grin:

"Master, I just couldn't hold myself back for a moment. But don't worry. I'll definitely work hard to join the Demon Suppressing Division and strive to have a powerful magical treasure of my own someday."

"You want a treasure like mine? That can be arranged, but... if you join my Heavenly One Sect, won't this thing be passed down to you in the future?"

"Forget it, forget it. I don't want to join a sect of Taoists."

That old fellow was still trying to trick him into joining a Taoist sect.

One day later, the people they had been waiting for finally arrived.

A man and a woman.

The man was tall and thin, with a scar across his face.

The scar slashed diagonally from the corner of his eye across his cheek, like a twisted centipede. It added even more harshness and weariness to his already stern features.

He wore a black robe that billowed and snapped in the wind, as if it were ready to pounce on someone and devour them at any moment.

The woman was the opposite. She was petite and delicate, with features as exquisite as a porcelain doll's.

Her skin was fairer than snow, and her eyes were lively as stars.

When she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared in her cheeks, giving her a sweet and harmless air.

She wore a pale pink dress whose hem fluttered in the wind like a blooming peach blossom.

"You finally decided to show up!"

Old Taoist Song said irritably to the two of them.

"What? Old Song, why are you carrying such a huge grudge?"

"Hmph, old man nearly didn't live to see you two. If you'd come a little earlier, would this have happened?"

"What?! You ran into a strange phenomenon?"

The woman was startled and hurriedly reached out to feel all over the old Taoist.

"What are you doing?!"

The old Taoist slapped her hand away.

"Tch, what's wrong with you? I was just checking whether you were missing any parts."

The woman rolled her eyes at him, then looked toward Qin Bo beside the old Taoist.

"Oh, this handsome young man is quite a looker. What's your relationship with Old Song?"

"Greetings, Senior. My name is Qin Bo. I'm merely a Scholar who happened to step onto the path of martial cultivation."

Qin Bo imitated the others and clasped his fist in greeting.

"I see. Looks like this old man is going to be your recommender."

As she spoke, the woman reached out and placed her hand on Qin Bo's chest.

Qin Bo wore an awkward expression, unsure what he should say.

"Du Sanniang, are you trying to make an old cow eat young grass?! Move aside."

Old Song couldn't stand watching anymore and directly began mocking her.

"Can't be helped. You two are both old and ugly. Of course I'd take a liking to this handsome young man. Don't you agree?"

As Du Sanniang spoke, she cast Qin Bo a coquettish glance.

Qin Bo's face instantly flushed bright red, and he was left at a loss.

"Ahem, Du Sanniang, the sealing matter is still the priority right now."

The tall, thin man with the scarred face spoke at just the right moment, interrupting the increasingly awkward scene.

Du Sanniang gave a light snort and withdrew her hand. "I know, I know. Chen Feng, you're always so serious."

So the tall, thin, scar-faced man was named Chen Feng.

"Did you bring everything you need?!"

Old Taoist Song asked solemnly.

"Don't worry. Such an important matter cannot be handled carelessly."

Du Sanniang's playful expression vanished as she spoke seriously.

"Good. Prepare to set out. The Full Moon Night will arrive in three days. We need to enter the city as soon as possible."

The old Taoist made the decision, and the other two nodded as well.

They then gave Qin Bo a few instructions.

"Qin boy, go back and make your preparations. Bring along anything you need. We won't be coming back for the time being."

"Understood. I'll go get ready first."

Qin Bo clasped his fists to the others, then went home to pack his things.

He hurried home and gazed at everything familiar, his heart filled with a jumble of emotions.

He knew that he had no idea when he would return after leaving this time, and that he might even face a life-or-death crisis.

Although he hadn't been in this world for very long since transmigrating here,

after merging with his predecessor's memories, he was extremely familiar with everything.

He came before the offering table, where two spirit tablets stood.

He took out three incense sticks and lit them.

He respectfully bowed several times.

"Father, Mother, although we never met, this misfortune has brought me the blessing of a new life."

"Please rest here in peace. Once I've made something of myself, I'll come back to offer incense to you both!"

Qin Bo inserted the incense into the burner, then gazed deeply at his parents' spirit tablets for a moment before turning around to pack his belongings.

"Meow!"

At that moment, a cat's cry rang out.

A jet-black cat with fur that shone like polished ink leaped in through the window.

"Little Black Charcoal!!"

Qin Bo called out in delighted surprise to Little Black Charcoal.

He still remembered vividly how this little black cat had performed in the battle a few days ago.

The little fellow had actually been able to fight a resentful spirit for several exchanges.

Little Black Charcoal rubbed affectionately against Qin Bo's leg, a purring sound rumbling from its throat.