First Entering the Hunting Grounds

When his master said he was in a hurry and needed to ride him.

At first, Fire Egg refused.

He had never heard of anyone riding a dog. Spirit Dogs did not even have that function!

But tempted by a month of extra meals, Fire Egg felt that other dogs could not do it only because they lacked the ability. He was capable, so doing a little extra was no big deal.

Having followed a new master, this was the first time he had been put to use. He could not drop the ball either.

Of course, this was limited to just this once!

Fire Egg lowered his head and nudged Su Qing onto his back.

What he did not know was that once something happened for the first time, there would be countless times after.

Fire Egg ran incredibly fast, like a streak of golden light cutting across open fields. He covered more than ten li in less than a quarter-hour.

After crossing a stretch of spirit fields, Su Qing spotted the party waiting outside Hao Family Village from afar.

"This humble Daoist was delayed by some personal business and made my fellow cultivators wait."

Although he had rushed to Ge Family Village early that morning, the delays along the way had still made him miss the agreed departure time.

Seeing how respectfully he greeted them, the cultivators said nothing. Ma Tuan, who led the group, merely reminded him in an indifferent tone:

"Personal matters are no problem, but remember to let us know in advance next time, so I know what to expect."

"Of course, of course. There will definitely be a next time." Having inconvenienced them, Su Qing naturally agreed readily.

Seeing that Su Qing sounded sincere but looked utterly perfunctory, Qing He giggled and stepped closer. "Didn't you release a batch of Puppets yesterday, Fellow Daoist? Why have you put them away today?"

Yesterday, she had led the group at the front and had not spoken with Su Qing and the others. Yet Su Qing's many Puppets had caught her attention.

They were heading to the Hunting Grounds to hunt Tier 2 Demonic Beasts. Even with her and Ma Tuan leading the party and every preparation made, the beasts they faced were still comparable to Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators. They could not help feeling uneasy.

If Su Qing, a Puppet Master capable of fielding an entire Puppet battle force, gave them his full support, the trip would be much easier.

That was why, although Ma Tuan was dissatisfied with Su Qing's unauthorized actions that morning, he did not dare be overly rude. And when Qing He saw that Su Qing had not released his Puppets, she asked about it.

In the end, face was still bought with strength.

Su Qing's divine sense could control two Armored War Bears and twelve Lizard Warriors. Setting aside his Puppet Master techniques, his apparent combat strength alone was already not much weaker than Ma Tuan's or Qing He's.

"Puppets consume quite a bit each day. Yesterday, this humble Daoist did not know that the escort party included figures such as Fellow Daoist Qing and Fellow Daoist Ma, so I activated the Puppets at home early on.

But after thinking it over today, with the two of you leading us, protecting us should be no trouble at all. There is no need for this humble Daoist to add legs to a snake and waste Spirit Crystals for nothing."

Su Qing was shrewd as a monkey. After learning yesterday that Hundred Treasures Pavilion intended to hunt Tier 2 Demonic Beasts, he knew they might need his Puppets.

They could use them, but they had to pay.

At the very least, they needed to cover the usual expenses with Spirit Crystals!

Hearing Su Qing's words, Ma Tuan and Qing He exchanged a glance. Only after Ma Tuan nodded did Qing He say:

"Yesterday, we were still within the Market's protected range, so whether Fellow Daoist released his Puppets or not did not matter. But today, we will leave the Market and enter the danger-ridden Hunting Grounds.

It would be too great a pity not to use your Puppets. As for the expenses, Hundred Treasures Pavilion will naturally bear them. If your Puppets are damaged in battle, Hundred Treasures Pavilion will compensate you as well."

As she spoke, Qing He clapped her long, fair hands. A middle-aged man who looked ordinary and no different from the other Guards silently stepped forward and handed Su Qing a money pouch.

Su Qing weighed it in his hand. There were roughly a thousand Spirit Crystals inside. Clearly, Qing He intended to rent these Puppets for the long term.

"Hundred Treasures Pavilion is indeed forthright. This humble Daoist will release the Puppets at once."

Having accepted their Spirit Crystals, Su Qing promptly released all the Puppets. The moment Bear Two appeared, Fire Egg sprang onto his shoulder.

His master rode him, and he rode Bear Two. Wasn't the world simply a matter of you riding on my head while I rode on his?

Fire Egg had always enjoyed thinking. He believed that was why he was called a Spirit Dog.

"I only hope that when we encounter combat later, Fellow Daoist's Puppets will lend us their strength."

Qing He smiled at Su Qing. Her temperament appeared cool and aloof, yet talking with her made one feel as though bathed in spring breezes.

Without such skill, she likely could not have led merchant caravans across north and south by relying on force alone.

Su Qing gave a slight cupped-fist salute. Aside from Bear Two, into whom he had invested more effort and whom he was reluctant to lose lightly,

he could replace any of the other Puppets if they were lost. So long as there were enough Spirit Crystals, he did not mind having the Puppets earn some Spirit Crystals for him.

After Su Qing returned to the party, Ma Tuan watched his back, narrowing his eyes. "This Fellow Daoist is not simple. His divine sense is so powerful that he is at least at Peak Qi Refining, yet he only displays Mid Qi Refining Stage cultivation.

If disaster truly strikes and this Fellow Daoist can lend us a hand, he will indeed be of great help to us."

Qing He nodded slightly. Her beautiful eyes lingered for a moment on Bear Two, who was much sturdier than an ordinary Armored War Bear, before she softly said:

"Even if we do not encounter battle, the mere intimidation of his many Puppets will spare us a great deal of trouble on today's journey.

Judging by this Fellow Daoist's temperament, if combat truly reaches its fiercest point, he likely will not stand with us through thick and thin!"

Ma Tuan, however, was open-minded. "Not just him. Aren't Liang Hai Shun, He Lian Xian, and the others the same? In the end, they came to the Hunting Grounds to earn Spirit Crystals, not to fight to the death for Hundred Treasures Pavilion!"

With those words, Qing He lost all interest in talking. Unlike Su Qing and the other retainers who merely had a cooperative relationship with Hundred Treasures Pavilion,

she and Ma Tuan had both been cultivated by Hundred Treasures Pavilion. If Hundred Treasures Pavilion told them to fight to the death, they could only obey. There was no room for bargaining.

The party set off once more.

In less than Half an Hour,

they saw a group of armored, weapon-bearing Body Cultivators carrying Cloud Mountain Sect mountain-character tokens approach them.

"Routine inspection. Everyone stays where they are. Open your Storage Bags and let us have a look. If there is no problem, we will naturally let you pass. If there is a problem, confess honestly while you still can!"

The Cloud Mountain Disciple leading them spoke with no courtesy at all, making Liang Hai Shun and the others frown.

Cultivators with substantial fortunes like theirs were most wary of others inspecting their Storage Bags.

Who did not have a few little secrets in their Storage Bag?

For example, Su Qing had roughly five hundred Wood Spirit Servants in his Storage Bag.

Liang Hai Shun had two Demoness Puppets hidden in his Storage Bag.

Were these things they could casually show others?

"Market inspections to prevent people from evading taxes by taking goods out of the Market are perfectly normal. But this road leads to the Hunting Grounds and Hundred Beasts Mountain. What smuggler would transport contraband along this road?"

"Pah! They have never set up inspections here before. Those dog-skinned leeches clearly see that Rogue Cultivators have recently earned some Spirit Crystals in the Hunting Grounds and want to seize the chance to squeeze them dry!"

"Let's see how Hundred Treasures Pavilion handles it. They surely will not make us open our Storage Bags!"

"Hmph! If they really make this old man open his Storage Bag, I'll turn around and leave. I simply won't make this trip!"

Everyone cursed the Cloud Mountain Sect disciples under their breaths and watched Hundred Treasures Pavilion's response.

Sure enough, after Ma Tuan stepped forward and secretly slipped a bulging money pouch to the leading disciple, the disciple immediately changed his face.

"So it is the Fellow Daoists of Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Given Hundred Treasures Pavilion's reputation, you would never engage in such petty trafficking. There is no need to inspect the Storage Bags. Fellow Daoists, please proceed!"

With a wave of his hand, the Body Cultivators who had been as ferocious as wolves and tigers moments earlier instantly made way.

Seeing this, Su Qing cursed the Cloud Mountain Sect disciples for being rotten to the bone. No wonder they had been beaten back step by step by the Desiring Demon Sect.

At the same time, he regretted losing that official position. Otherwise, why would he need to work so hard now? He could have sat there and earned Spirit Crystals!