Spring Island

Zhao Huaian sneered and shook his head, absorbing the Spiritual Energy from a Recovery Pill.

But he didn't rush forward. Instead, he controlled the Flying Sword in his hand and cut Lin Zihao's head off with a single slash.

Only after he saw Lin Zihao's head roll to the ground did Zhao Huaian finally breathe a sigh of relief and stride forward with confidence.

"If you kill someone and don't loot the corpse, you'll be struck by lightning in the rain."

He had gone to considerable trouble to kill Lin Zihao, so of course Zhao Huaian wasn't about to pass up the chance to loot the corpse and collect his Spirit Stones and other resources.

He quickly searched Lin Zihao's body.

Soon, Zhao Huaian found a Storage Bag.

To avoid complications from delay and prevent anything from changing, Zhao Huaian didn't stop to tally his gains on the spot.

He glanced at the headless corpse on the ground, formed a hand seal, and a massive fireball instantly engulfed Lin Zihao.

Without Spiritual Energy to protect him, Lin Zihao's corpse turned to ash in moments beneath the fireball.

"By your method, being eaten by fish really is a good way to kill someone and wipe out all traces!"

With a broad sweep of his hand, Zhao Huaian sent a gust of wind surging forth, blowing the ashes beneath the fireball into the vast waters.

Beneath the surface, schools of fish swam happily, feasting on the bounty from above.

"And just like that, Lin Zihao is no more!"

After checking that every trace had been erased, Zhao Huaian smiled smugly, stepped onto the Small Boat, and sped off into the distance like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Huai'an Water Region.

Spring Island.

At the shore, in a harbor.

Dressed in fluttering white robes, Zhao Huaian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, slowly approaching on a solitary boat.

"The first mission site. I've finally arrived..."

Looking at Spring Island's harbor just ahead, Zhao Huaian smiled faintly.

A day had passed by then.

Now that he had reached Spring Island and spent a day recovering, Zhao Huaian was back in peak condition.

As for the Storage Bag he had taken from Lin Zihao's corpse, Zhao Huaian had finished tallying its contents while traveling.

The haul had been quite gratifying.

Lin Zihao's Storage Bag contained not only more than three hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, but also a Mid-grade Dharma Artifact Flying Sword, several powerful talismans, and Elixir Pills for cultivation.

By his calculations, these items were worth a total of seven or eight hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Even Zhao Huaian, who could craft Water Arrow Talismans of perfect quality, would need nearly two months to earn that many Spirit Stones.

Yet this unexpected windfall had come with ease, simply by killing an enemy who had been lurking in the shadows.

The enormous contrast left Zhao Huaian feeling wistful. As the saying went, murder and arson put gold belts around your waist.

He shook off his thoughts and strode toward the Chen Family on Spring Island.

The mission was located at the Chen Family.

According to the mission description, the Chen Family's ancestor had once been a menial disciple of the Greenwood Sect. Later, when he realized there was no hope of advancing in cultivation, he returned to the mortal world, married, and had children.

This sort of thing was commonplace among the Greenwood Sect's menial disciples.

The only difference was that the Chen Family's ancestor had already reached Qi Refining Layer Two when he returned to the mortal world.

After his lifespan ran out, he suddenly turned into a corpse two years ago, becoming a White-haired Zombie that terrorized the surrounding area.

Zhao Huaian's target was this White-haired Zombie, the transformed corpse of the Chen Family's ancestor.

After all, the Greenwood Sect governed every island within a radius of several thousand li. Each year, the islands had to pay a substantial amount in taxes and local products.

It could be said that every island in the region was the Greenwood Sect's private property.

Now that the White-haired Zombie transformed from the Chen Family's ancestor was wreaking havoc, it was undoubtedly harming the Greenwood Sect's interests.

Under these circumstances, the Greenwood Sect had naturally posted a mission in the Mission Hall for its disciples to take on and eliminate the zombie.

After asking around along the way, Zhao Huaian soon arrived in front of a grand, lavish mansion.

Chen Dawei, the Patriarch of the Chen Family, had already been waiting at the entrance after hearing the news.

When he saw Zhao Huaian approaching in his flowing white robes, he hurried forward respectfully. "You must be the Immortal Master from the Greenwood Sect?"

Zhao Huaian nodded, glanced at Chen Dawei, who was as round as a ball, and said coolly, "Enough with the small talk. Where is your ancestor buried?"

"In the Back Mountain. But it's still early. The zombie our ancestor became usually only comes out at night to suck blood and hunt for food. Why not rest at the mansion for a while, Immortal Master?"

Chen Dawei's oily face squeezed into a fawning smile as he warmly invited Zhao Huaian into the Chen Mansion to rest.

"No need. Take me straight to the Back Mountain. This Immortal Master's time is precious; I don't have time to waste it with you mortals."

Zhao Huaian shook his head and refused without a moment's hesitation.

He had three missions to complete on this trip, and he had already wasted two days getting rid of Lin Zihao.

With that time, he would be better off finishing his missions early and returning to the Greenwood Sect to cultivate in seclusion.

"This... yes, yes! This way, Immortal Master!"

Chen Dawei nodded hurriedly, not daring to delay for a moment for fear of upsetting Zhao Huaian.

With Chen Dawei leading the way, Zhao Huaian soon arrived at the Back Mountain.

A faint smell of blood hung over the Back Mountain, and a Sacrificial Temple in the distance was thick with Yin energy.

"Is your ancestor buried there?"

Zhao Huaian frowned, his expression turning cold as he looked at Chen Dawei.

The Sacrificial Temple was surrounded by mountains on three sides and stood right at the center. Once the night of the full moon arrived, this place would surely become a site of extreme Yin.

Burying the dead there—especially someone who had cultivated during his lifetime—would have turned him into a ghostly creature sooner or later, even if he hadn't possessed any cultivation.

"Yes. Our ancestor's friend specially chose this spot for him while he was alive. Is something wrong with it?"

Chen Dawei nodded respectfully, eyeing Zhao Huaian's icy expression with confusion.

"Something wrong? Heh..."

Zhao Huaian gave a cold laugh and didn't explain. Instead, he looked at Chen Dawei and asked, "Did the person who chose this spot possess cultivation?"

"Cultivation?" Chen Dawei thought for a while. Only after some time did he frown and reply, "He probably did... I remember our ancestor treated him with considerable respect. He looked down on ordinary people, after all. He only showed such respect to those stronger than himself."

After speaking, Chen Dawei seemed to realize something. Looking incredulous, he asked, "Could you mean that our ancestor's transformation into a zombie is connected to his friend?"

"But that doesn't make sense... Our ancestor's friend said this was a Feng Shui Treasure Spot that would ensure wealth for our descendants."

"And it's true. Ever since our ancestor was buried there, the Chen Family's business has flourished."

Chen Dawei shook his head again. Thinking of how prosperous his family's business had been over the past decade or so, he couldn't believe that his ancestor's friend had been behind it.

"Whether there's a connection or not has nothing to do with you now. I'll stay here. The rest of you should leave."

Zhao Huaian shook his head gravely and waved Chen Dawei and the others away.

When he heard that the man had possessed cultivation, Zhao Huaian had already begun to suspect what was going on.

But he wasn't going to tell Chen Dawei and the others. He couldn't even be sure whether that man was still in contact with them.

"Yes, Immortal Master!"

At his words, Chen Dawei and the others hurriedly left, leaving Zhao Huaian alone.

Once they were gone, Zhao Huaian quickly stuck a Concealment Talisman to himself and vanished from sight.