Departure

Two days later.

Many disciples gathered outside the entrance to the Ghost Ridge Palace residence, all belonging to Old Daoist Qiu's branch.

Standing on the steps was Old Daoist Qiu, dressed in purple robes, with vertically slit snake pupils and a lean face. His left hand was coiled around a black python flicking its tongue. Whenever his gaze swept over the disciples, a bone-chilling cold crept into their hearts, and none dared meet his eyes.

Pei Haibing and Senior Sister Yu, the two inner disciples, served at Old Daoist Qiu's sides. Only inner disciples were qualified to stand beside him.

"Master, all the disciples in our branch above the second layer of the Spirit Nurturing Realm have arrived."

After counting the disciples, Yu Wenxian turned and reported to Old Daoist Qiu.

Old Daoist Qiu's expression was indifferent as he slowly said, "The mountain-patrolling and Dao-protecting mission has already been assigned. Every branch's disciples will be mobilized. You must not tarnish my name. Of course, whoever kills the most Strange Ghosts will receive a corresponding reward from me."

As he spoke, the black python coiled around Old Daoist Qiu's hand opened its cavernous jaws and spat out a sword engraved with white-bone patterns.

The White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword was about three feet long, its blade clear and pure white. The moment it appeared, it bloomed with a lustrous spiritual aura, spinning in circles through the air. The air it cut shrieked, and it could easily pierce stones as large as millstones.

"This is the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword. Even among low-grade flying swords, it is one of the finest. I'll give you a week. Whoever can win will depend on your own opportunities."

As they listened to Old Daoist Qiu's explanation, all the disciples' eyes reddened with desire, including those of Pei Haibing, an inner disciple.

Old Daoist Qiu, who had always been stingy, had actually produced such a huge reward. A superb low-grade flying sword like this would fetch at least a thousand Blood Marrow Crystals on the Black Market.

"What a treasure!"

Su Jie's heart began to race. Who wouldn't crave a flying sword like this?

"It's a pity I don't know any sword techniques. Otherwise, I could have competed for it."

On the steps, Yu Wenxian pursed her lips and said regretfully.

Pei Haibing beside her grew excited. His eyes burned as he stared at the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword. "Master, this disciple certainly won't disappoint you. I'll slaughter Strange Ghosts to celebrate your seventieth birthday in advance."

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

In Pei Haibing's eyes, this was clearly a weapon Old Daoist Qiu had prepared specifically for him, merely handed over through a somewhat tactful method.

That way, it would not arouse the other disciples' criticism—especially Yu Wenxian's envy.

"If you can outcompete the other disciples, this artifact will be yours."

Old Daoist Qiu withdrew the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword and spoke calmly.

"Master, I won't disappoint you."

"Go arrange for everyone to set out."

Old Daoist Qiu gave a slight nod and departed with unhurried dignity.

"Looks like Junior Brother Pei is determined to obtain the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword!"

Once Old Daoist Qiu had left, Yu Wenxian's eyes glimmered as she smiled sweetly.

Pei Haibing looked over, deeply grateful. "It's all thanks to Senior Sister Yu giving way to me."

If Yu Wenxian competed with him, Pei Haibing had not the slightest confidence.

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

At this thought, Pei Haibing grew even more conceited. He thought that if Yu Wenxian's private life were not so chaotic, then with her figure and beauty, taking her as a Dao companion would be a wonderful thing.

Yu Wenxian shook her head. "I don't really care, but Master has so many disciples. You may not necessarily be able to obtain the White Bone Heavenly Sha Sword."

Pei Haibing's gaze turned cold as he looked down at the many disciples and said arrogantly, "Senior Sister, are you joking? With this bunch of vermin down there—no potential, no talent, fated to spend their whole lives doing odd jobs and catching bugs—what could they possibly use to compete with me?"

At these words, quite a few disciples below grew resentful.

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

Su Jie, standing below, also heard those words, but unlike the others, he did not grow angry.

Although Pei Haibing was indeed arrogant, Su Jie was more concerned with Yu Wenxian.

This woman seemed to be deliberately building Pei Haibing up as a target, making him lose the support of all the disciples.

This woman isn't simple.

Su Jie sighed inwardly. Compared with the easy-to-understand Pei Haibing, Yu Wenxian was clearly more worthy of attention.

"Then let me congratulate you in advance, Junior Brother Pei. Master said to arrange for everyone to set out, so let's get moving."

Yu Wenxian smiled, leaving Pei Haibing looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

Pei Haibing nodded and returned to his indifferent expression. He said, "Those whose names are called, come forward to receive a token. Your assigned defense areas are marked on them. Luo Ruxin, Cheng Jian, Yao Shouye, token Jia-One, defend the southwest side of Jinsha Mountain. Fei Yinglong, Lu Yu, Qu Dong, defend the cliffs on the eastern side of Plum Blossom Valley."

One after another, those whose names were called stepped forward. Some were delighted when they received their tokens, while others looked as though their parents had died.

Their teammates and the danger levels of their assigned areas differed. The weaker the teammates, the more dangerous the region they were stationed in, and the risks varied accordingly.

Old Daoist Qiu had handed all the mountain-patrolling and Dao-protecting chores to Pei Haibing and Yu Wenxian, and the two had taken the opportunity to make a great deal of money.

Anyone who wanted strong teammates and a safe place to station themselves had to pay the two of them bribes.

"Su Jie, Gu Weinan, Sun Zhihai, token Bing-Nine, stationed at Niujiao Ridge."

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

Besides his name, the area where he was to be stationed was written on the back.

The others who received the same token as Su Jie were Gu Weinan, whom he had met once before,

and a disciple named Sun Zhihai. This person was disabled, missing his left hand, with a pale complexion and a sickly appearance.

Su Jie knew this was because Sun Zhihai could not provide his natal Gu worm with enough Poisonous Insects. He could only sustain it through long-term blood transfusions, which had left his body weak.

When the three received their tokens, Pei Haibing did not even look at them directly.

Clearly, none of the three had paid Blood Marrow Crystals to bribe him, so they had been assigned such teammates.

Niujiao Ridge was far from the Ghost Ridge Palace residence. Poisonous miasma and deep ravines covered the surrounding area, and Strange Ghosts had always appeared there.

"Those three—a senior, a cripple, and a nobody of a junior disciple—and they're going to Niujiao Ridge too. Tsk, tsk, I'm afraid they won't be coming back."

As they descended, many disciples cast strange looks at them. Anyone with eyes could tell that Su Jie's group had been deliberately arranged by Pei Haibing.

"Brother Su, long time no see."

Gu Weinan cupped his hands toward Su Jie and gave a bitter smile. "You didn't pay the inner disciples either?"

"I'm poor."

Those brief words left Gu Weinan speechless. How could he not be the same?

"Cough, cough. Looks like we're all in the same boat. My health is rather poor, so I'll have to trouble the two of you to look after me at Niujiao Ridge."

Sun Zhihai coughed twice. His voice lacked strength, and his body was exceptionally weak.

"Fellow Daoists, we're also heading to Niujiao Ridge to be stationed there. My name is Chen Yun. This is my younger brother, Chen Koudang, and this is Xu Chaoxian, my husband."

A woman walked over at this moment. She was twenty-five or twenty-six and fairly attractive. She took the initiative to cup her hands toward Su Jie and the others.

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

Su Jie returned the gesture. The people opposite him were a complete family heading out to patrol the mountain and protect the Dao.

Gu Weinan's eyes lit up, and he hurried forward. "Haha, looks like we aren't all alone after all. It's good to have a team together, good to have a team!"

Xu Chaoxian was taciturn and did not speak, seemingly leaving everything to his wife, Chen Yun.

"Hmph, one old and one crippled. Sis, why are you wasting your breath on them? Don't let them drag us down when the time comes."

Chen Koudang crossed both arms and looked over with disdain.

Sun Zhihai's eyes darted away, and he muttered timidly without daring to speak.

Gu Weinan's expression was equally awkward. After all, his age was plain to see.

"What kind are you, that you're so good with your mouth? We were all assigned to Niujiao Ridge because we had no money. What makes you think you're so noble?"

Su Jie was not one to indulge others. Faced with the other man's cold mockery, he immediately hurled the abuse right back.

"What did you say?"

Chen Koudang had not expected Su Jie to be so ill-tempered, and his expression turned ugly. The lid of the bamboo basket on his back was pushed open.

A swarm of finger-sized Poisonous Insects, scarlet from head to toe, poured out madly, covering half his body and showing signs of spreading toward Su Jie.

"That's enough. Did I let you run your mouth?"

Chen Yun suddenly turned her head and slapped her younger brother on the head, smacking him into a daze.

Su Jie narrowed his eyes slightly. When she struck, she had not concealed the circulation of spiritual power within her body, revealing the strength of the fourth layer of the Spirit Nurturing Realm.

Or perhaps this was deliberate on her part—a show of force to establish who held the dominant position?

As she struck, an ugly-looking bat crawled out from within her sleeve and emitted a silent threat.

The ants crawling over Chen Koudang's body were affected by the invisible sound waves. One after another, their movements stiffened, and their attack posture instantly subsided.

This should be Chen Yun's natal Gu worm, an extremely rare and unusual species called the Nether Sound Bat.

"Sorry, everyone. My younger brother isn't very sensible. As his older sister, I apologize to you."

"It's fine, it's fine. Everyone has been young before!"

Gu Weinan also did not want the relationship to sour, so he could only try his best to smooth things over.

Although he too was at the fourth layer of the Spirit Nurturing Realm, his body was frail with age, and he had suffered many hidden injuries when he was young. His spiritual power circulated even less effectively than Sun Zhihai's, who was only at the third layer of the Spirit Nurturing Realm.

Su Jie saw the displeasure in Chen Koudang's eyes as he stared at him. He reached up with his left hand and rubbed his chest, soothing the restless Thousand-Hand Centipede.

It's not worth it, it's not worth it. One sentence isn't enough reason to kill someone. He was not that heartless.

"Those who have received their tokens are to depart immediately. No delays. If you fail to reach your assigned station by the specified time, the enforcement team will deal with you."

At the same time, Pei Haibing, who had finished distributing the tokens, tossed out a cold sentence before turning and leading two disciples away from the Ghost Ridge Palace gate.

The disciples shouldered their luggage one after another and began their trek.

"We should go too."

Su Jie slung the thick pack onto his back and followed the group toward the mountains far from the sect.