Departure

Two days later.

Outside the Ghost Ridge Palace's encampment, many disciples gathered. They all belonged to Old Daoist Qiu's lineage.

On the steps, Old Daoist Qiu, clad in purple robes, with snake-like vertical pupils and a gaunt face, had a black python coiled around his left arm, its tongue flicking. When he looked at the disciples, his gaze was so chilling it made their hearts freeze, daring them not to meet his eyes.

Pei Haibing and Yu Wenxian, two inner disciples, attended Old Daoist Qiu on either side. Only inner disciples were qualified to stand beside him.

"Master, all the disciples in our branch with Spirit Nurturing Realm second layer or above have arrived," Yu Wenxian reported to Old Daoist Qiu after finishing the headcount.

Old Daoist Qiu's expression was indifferent as he slowly spoke, "The tasks for patrolling and guarding the Dao have been distributed. Disciples from every branch will be dispatched. You must not disgrace my name. Of course, whoever kills the most Strange Ghosts will receive corresponding rewards from me."

As he spoke, the black python coiled around his hand opened its maw and spat out a sword with bone patterns.

The bone-patterned sword was about three feet long. Its blade was transparent and pure white. As soon as it appeared, it immediately emitted a radiant spiritual aura, spinning and hovering in the air. The air around it whistled, and it could easily pierce stones the size of millstones.

"This is the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword, a top-tier choice among low-grade flying swords. I'll give you one week. Whoever achieves victory will depend on your fortune."

Listening to Old Daoist Qiu's explanation, all the disciples' eyes turned red with envy, including Pei Haibing, the inner disciple.

Old Daoist Qiu, who was usually stingy, was actually offering such a great reward. A fine low-grade flying sword like this would cost at least a thousand Blood Marrow Crystals on the Black Market.

"What a treasure!"

Su Jie's heart raced. Who wouldn't covet such a flying sword?

"It's a pity I don't know sword techniques, otherwise, I could have vied for it," Yu Wenxian said from the steps, pursing her lips with regret.

Pei Haibing beside her grew excited, his eyes fixated on the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword with burning intensity. "Master, your disciple will surely not disappoint you. I will slay Strange Ghosts to celebrate your upcoming seventieth birthday."

The Bone Transformation Dao Method he cultivated was perfectly suited for this magic tool. Once he obtained the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword, it would be like adding wings to a tiger.

In Pei Haibing's mind, this was a weapon Old Daoist Qiu had prepared specifically for him, merely using a subtle method to present it.

This way, he wouldn't attract criticism from other disciples, especially Yu Wenxian's envy.

"If you can compete and win against the other disciples, this magic tool will be yours," Old Daoist Qiu said calmly as he retracted the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword.

"Master, I will not let you down."

"Go arrange for the personnel to be dispatched."

Old Daoist Qiu nodded slightly and gracefully departed.

"It seems Junior Brother Pei is determined to get the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword!" Yu Wenxian said with a charming smile, her eyes twinkling, after Old Daoist Qiu left.

Pei Haibing looked at her, feeling grateful. "Thank you, Senior Sister Yu, for letting me have a chance."

If Yu Wenxian had competed with him, Pei Haibing wouldn't have had the slightest confidence.

Fortunately, judging from Yu Wenxian's tone just now, she seemed willing to step back and befriend him.

Thinking this, Pei Haibing became even more arrogant. He thought that if Senior Sister Yu's conduct hadn't been so chaotic, with her figure and beauty, she would have been an excellent partner.

Yu Wenxian shook her head. "I don't mind, but with so many disciples under Master, you might not necessarily get the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword."

Pei Haibing's gaze turned indifferent as he looked down at the disciples below. "Senior Sister, are you joking? These insects below, without potential or talent, will be relegated to menial tasks and bug catching their entire lives. How can they compete with me?"

As soon as he said this, many disciples below grumbled.

But Pei Haibing was an inner disciple, and his strength was at the sixth layer of the Spirit Nurturing Realm.

Su Jie, who was among the disciples below, also heard this. However, he wasn't as angry as the others.

Although Pei Haibing was indeed arrogant, Su Jie paid more attention to Yu Wenxian.

This woman seemed to be deliberately making Pei Haibing a target? Thus alienating him from the other disciples.

This woman is not simple! Su Jie thought, impressed. Compared to the easily understood Pei Haibing, Yu Wenxian was clearly more worth paying attention to.

"Then I congratulate Junior Brother Pei in advance. Master said to arrange personnel to depart, let's act quickly." Yu Wenxian smiled, making Pei Haibing look quite smug.

Pei Haibing nodded, regaining his indifferent demeanor, and spoke, "Those whose names are called, come up and get your tokens. They indicate your assigned patrol areas. Luo Ruxin, Cheng Jian, Yao Shouye, Token Jia-1, patrol the southwest side of Jinsha Mountain. Fei Yinglong, Lu Yu, Qu Dong, patrol the eastern cliff of Meihua Valley."

One by one, the named disciples stepped forward. Some were ecstatic upon receiving their tokens, while others looked as if they had lost their parents.

This was because the danger levels of the teams and their assigned patrol areas varied. The weaker the disciples, the more dangerous the regions they were assigned to, and the higher the risk factor.

Old Daoist Qiu had delegated all the trivial matters of patrolling and guarding the Dao to Pei Haibing and Yu Wenxian. The two had taken this opportunity to profit handsomely.

Those who wanted stronger teammates and safer patrol areas had to pay them bribes.

"Su Jie, Gu Weinan, Sun Zhihai, Token Bing-9, assigned to guard Niujiao Ridge."

Most people had already formed teams of two or three. Su Jie looked at the token engraved with Bing-9.

Besides his name, the back of the token also listed the area he was assigned to patrol.

The one who received the same token as Su Jie was Gu Weinan, whom he had met once before.

And a disciple named Sun Zhihai, who was disabled, missing his left hand, with a pale complexion, looking sickly.

Su Jie knew this was because the other party couldn't provide enough poisonous insects for his natal Gu worm, and had to rely on long-term blood transfusions for nourishment, leading to his physical weakness.

While the three were receiving their tokens, Pei Haibing didn't even glance at them.

It was obvious that none of the three had bribed him with Blood Marrow Crystals, which was why they were assigned such teammates.

Moreover, Horn Ridge was far from the Ghost Ridge Palace's base, surrounded by poisonous miasma and deep valleys, and Strange Ghosts often appeared there.

"These three people, one old, one disabled, and one insignificant disciple with no reputation, are being sent to Horn Ridge. Tsk tsk, they probably won't return."

As they descended, many disciples cast strange glances at them. It was clear to anyone with eyes that Su Jie and the other two had been deliberately arranged by Pei Haibing.

"Brother Su, long time no see."

Gu Weinan cupped his hands towards Su Jie, a wry smile on his face: "You didn't pay the inner sect either!"

"I'm poor."

This concise statement left Gu Weinan speechless. He was in the same situation.

"Cough, cough, it seems we're all in the same boat. My body is rather weak, so I'll trouble you two to take care of me at Horn Ridge."

Sun Zhihai coughed twice, his voice lacking strength and his body exceptionally frail.

"Fellow Daoists, we are also heading to the Horn Ridge outpost. My name is Chen Yun, this is my younger brother Chen Koudang, and Xu Chaoxian, my husband."

A woman walked over at this moment. She was around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, quite attractive, and cupped her hands towards Su Jie and the others.

"My name is Su Jie, this is Gu Weinan and Sun Zhihai."

Su Jie returned the gesture. The group opposite them was a complete family heading out for patrol and protection.

Gu Weinan's eyes lit up, and he eagerly stepped forward: "Haha, it seems we're not alone. It's good to have a group to travel with, very good!"

Xu Chaoxian was a man of few words and didn't join the conversation, as if everything was decided by his wife, Chen Yun.

"Hmph, one old and one disabled. Sister, why are you wasting your breath with them? Don't drag us down later."

Chen Koudang crossed his arms, looking at them with disdain.

Sun Zhihai's eyes darted away, too timid to speak.

Gu Weinan's face also turned awkward, given his age.

"What kind of creature are you, with such a sharp tongue? We were all assigned to Horn Ridge because we're poor. How can you be so noble?"

Su Jie wasn't one to tolerate insults. Faced with the other's cold words, he immediately retorted.

"What did you say?"

Chen Koudang hadn't expected Su Jie to have such a temper, and his face fell. The lid of the bamboo basket on his back popped open.

A swarm of finger-sized, fiery red poisonous ants surged out, covering half of his body and showing signs of spreading towards Su Jie.

"Enough, I told you not to talk so much?"

Chen Yun suddenly turned her head and slapped her younger brother Chen Koudang on the head, leaving him stunned.

Su Jie's eyes narrowed slightly. As she acted, he could sense the circulation of Spiritual Energy within her, revealing her strength at the fourth level of the Spirit Nurturing Realm.

Or perhaps, this was done intentionally to show them who was in charge?

As she acted, a hideous-looking bat emerged from her sleeve, emitting a silent threat.

The ants crawling on Chen Koudang's body, affected by the invisible sound waves, froze in their tracks, their aggressive posture instantly ceasing.

This must be Chen Yun's natal Gu worm, a rare and unusual type called the Nether Sound Bat.

"I apologize to everyone. My brother is a bit ignorant. I, as his older sister, will apologize on his behalf."

"It's alright, it's alright. Everyone has their youthful moments!"

Gu Weinan didn't want the relationship to sour and tried to smooth things over.

Although he was also at the fourth level of the Spirit Nurturing Realm, due to his old age and frailty, and past injuries from his youth, his Spiritual Energy circulation was not as strong as Sun Zhihai's, who was at the third level.

Su Jie saw Chen Koudang staring at him with displeasure and touched his chest with his left hand, calming the restless Thousand-Hand Centipede.

It's not that serious, not that serious. He wouldn't kill someone over a single sentence. I'm not that heartless.

Disciples who have received their tokens are to depart immediately without delay. Failure to reach the designated outpost within the specified time will result in the Enforcement Team intervening.

At the same time, Pei Haibing, having finished distributing the tokens, coldly dropped a sentence and turned to leave the Ghost Ridge Palace's mountain gate with two disciples.

The disciples shouldered their luggage and began their trek.

"Let's go too."

Su Jie slung his heavy pack over his shoulder and followed the group into the mountains, far from the sect.