The Request

Three hundred and sixty?

Seeing Yu Ci's confusion, the old Daoist explained, "That Fish Dragon Grass has already been delivered up the mountain, and Senior Brother Lu was extremely satisfied. He had nearly given up, but your Fish Dragon Grass came just in time like rain after a long drought. Thus, he was willing to pay an extra twenty percent, making a total of three hundred and sixty Good Deeds. Keep this plaque safe. It will be more convenient when trading within the sect."

Beside them, Baoguang heard that Yu Ci had earned another sixty Good Deeds in the blink of an eye. While clicking his tongue in amazement, he looked at Yu Ci with even greater admiration.

The additional Good Deeds were an unexpected delight. But Yu Ci had also been reminded of something. After thanking him, he said, "This junior has imposed upon the temple for many days. Now that all matters are settled, I have come to bid the temple master farewell."

"Oh? In such a hurry?"

Yu Ci smiled. "The immortal path is long, and each step is hard. Being able to rest for a few days is already slacking off."

Though those words carried a hint of "speak human words to men, ghost words to ghosts," they truly reflected what he felt. He had merely polished them a little, so they still counted as sincere. Sure enough, the old Daoist nodded approvingly.

"At such a young age, you already understand the urgency of seeking immortality. Very good. But what do you plan to do next?"

Yu Ci pondered briefly, then decided to tell the truth.

"To be honest with you, Temple Master, this junior has some skill in searching for medicinal herbs. Finding Fish Dragon Grass last time was not merely luck. I have looked around Tongde Hall these past few days. Even without a Good Deeds request, one stalk of Fish Dragon Grass is worth five Good Deeds, perhaps even more if it grows naturally. Therefore, I wish to return to Sky Rift Valley. Perhaps I can find enough herbs before winter arrives. Even if I cannot, I have seen several requests for Sky Rift Valley specialties. If I am capable of completing them, I can take them on along the way."

There was another reason as well. Even if he did not say it, the old Daoist should understand. Ever since Jin Chuan and Kuang Yanqi had set off for the Li Chen Sect's mountain gate the day before yesterday, the watchers who had lingered outside the Daoist temple for days had withdrawn yesterday. Though he did not know what Bai Ri Mansion intended, if he did not leave now, when would he?

Yet the old Daoist's reaction was somewhat strange. He stared fixedly at Yu Ci for a long while before suddenly bursting into laughter. The abrupt laughter left Yu Ci rather bewildered. "Why does the Temple Master laugh?"

Laughing, the old Daoist pointed at Yu Ci, then at himself. "You and I are fated!"

What did that mean?

Just as Yu Ci was at a loss, he saw the old Daoist take out a jade slip and hand it over. "As it happens, there are several medicinal herbs I need. They are specialties of Sky Rift Valley and cannot be found elsewhere. I would like to ask you to help me find them."

After glancing at the visibly delighted old Daoist, Yu Ci sent his divine sense into the jade slip. It listed six medicinal herbs, each with detailed illustrations and descriptions. The images were lifelike, while the explanations were exhaustive, including the herbs' habits, likely places of growth, harvesting methods, and whether vicious beasts or poisonous insects guarded them nearby.

The information was so detailed that it left one speechless. Yu Ci had already intended to gather other medicinal herbs along the way in exchange for Good Deeds, so this request did not conflict with his plans. Naturally, he had no reason to refuse. Still, one point puzzled him. "Though Sky Rift Valley is vast, that is only in the eyes of juniors like us. With the Temple Master's abilities and such detailed information, why not gather them yourself?"

"Sky Rift Valley differs from other places. The Li Chen Sect and the Sunset Sect erected the Stop Monument. Cultivators at the Core Formation realm or above are forbidden from entering the valley. I am no exception."

Yu Ci was confused. "Why is that?"

The old Daoist answered with a question. "Do you know what sort of place lies beneath Sky Rift Valley?"

Why did that sound so familiar? Yu Ci almost laughed, barely managing to hold it back before saying, "Could it be Nether Prison Yellow Springs?"

The old Daoist laughed heartily. "Though not exactly right, it is not far off. Below is not the Yellow Springs underworld of mortal legends, but a place extremely similar to it—and even more dangerous. Cultivators call it the Blood Prison Ghost Manor."

Yu Ci's heart stirred. He had heard that name before. Thinking carefully, he recalled that it had been mentioned by the immortal maiden Ye Bin atop Sky Rift Valley that day. Yet he still did not know what lay within.

The old Daoist explained, "The so-called Blood Prison Ghost Manor is a place where all the world's savage and murderous qi gathers and solidifies. It too is boundless and vast. Over countless millennia, that baleful qi has given birth to innumerable demons, devils, and ghostly creatures. Every one of them is brutal and bloodthirsty. They battle one another endlessly within the Blood Prison Ghost Manor. In terms of cruelty, even the so-called Yellow Springs underworld falls far behind."

"There are no waterways or roads connecting that world to this one, but they are not entirely without contact. The world is vast. In some places, baleful qi occasionally resonates and tears open space, forming passageways linking both sides. Sky Rift Valley is one such place, and likely the largest in the world."

"There are places like this beneath heaven and earth?"

After hearing the old Daoist's explanation, Yu Ci felt his horizons widen once more. After some thought, he asked, "Then the rumors of demons appearing in Sky Rift Valley are not baseless."

The old Daoist sighed. "It should not have come to this. You must know that the world where you and I live differs enormously from the Blood Prison Ghost Manor. Breathing in this world is as natural as eating and drinking for us, but to the demons of the Blood Prison Ghost Manor, it may be fatal poison. And the reverse is true as well. This cuts off most exchanges between the two worlds."

"However, Sky Rift Valley is broad enough to almost form a world of its own. There, the primordial qi of both sides mingles together. Over time, some demons adapted to the environment and began to live within it. Those demons can travel freely between the two worlds. Originally, this was nothing serious. All things have their mutual restraints. Sky Rift Valley also contains certain unusual species born and raised by heaven and earth, mortal enemies of the demons. They blocked the demons' path into this world, preventing them from harassing this side of heaven and earth."

"But ninety-five years ago, two great cultivators with the divine abilities of Earth Immortals fought fiercely in the valley. They battered heaven until it crumbled and earth until it split, until the sun and moon lost their light. The relatively stable ecosystem within the valley was severely damaged in that battle. Especially in the region spanning more than ten thousand li adjacent to the Duanjie Mountain Range, the middle and lower reaches of Sky Rift Valley were almost utterly unrecognizable. Yet the demons living farther below were barely affected. With their natural enemies gone from above them, they naturally began to stir restlessly."

Yu Ci listened until his heart swayed and his spirit shook. Yet what he felt was not so much fear as an indescribable yearning.

To conceal that feeling, he said softly, "But in these past decades, haven't demons caused no disasters?"

"They were beaten back!"

The old Daoist gave a cold, humorless laugh. "Those two great immortals left after finishing their fight, tossing the trouble onto this side. During the first twenty years after the battle, both this side and the Sunset Sect on the other side had to deploy more than half their manpower every year. They even had to invite fellow cultivators from millions of li away to aid them. Only then did they narrowly hold back the demonic assault. During those twenty years, many sect disciples perished in Sky Rift Valley. The Sunset Sect even lost a True Person. The losses were grievous indeed."

"Blocking them was not enough. They also had to exhaust every means to relocate suitable species there and rebuild the ecosystem. That work only came to an end ten years ago. Otherwise, why would the sect, with all its strength, still need Bai Ri Mansion to help gather Shrimp Whisker Grass? Over these decades, medicinal herbs, mineral resources, and other materials that had once been there for the picking in Sky Rift Valley had been completely depleted. Had the mountain gate not possessed deep foundations, the consequences would have been unthinkable!"

The old Daoist truly seemed to harbor deep resentment. He was very unlike his usual self. Perhaps his family or friends had died in that war that lasted twenty years?

Yu Ci speculated inwardly, but did not dare interrupt carelessly. Instead, the old Daoist noticed first that his emotions were somewhat out of control and chuckled. "I have wandered off topic. Forgive me, forgive me!"

"It should be this junior who thanks you for broadening his knowledge. If not for the Temple Master's explanation, how could this junior have known that such a world existed beneath heaven?" Yu Ci truly hoped the old Daoist would speak more on the matter.

Yet the old Daoist seemed preoccupied and hurriedly revealed the final reason. "Earlier, I spoke of the newly established ecosystem. It was finally preliminarily completed ten years ago and could operate naturally, blocking the demons' incursions. But it was forcibly transplanted after all, and its foundation remains shallow. Perhaps one careless human action could destroy its overall balance. When that happens, trouble will surely arise again."

"Thus, our sect and the Sunset Sect postponed removing the Stop Monument that had been erected ninety-five years ago to prevent demons from harming people. They intend to open the valley again only after several decades, when the ecosystem has stabilized. But this restriction applies only to cultivators at the Core Formation realm and above, because only those with such cultivation have the ability to descend into the middle and lower reaches of Sky Rift Valley and affect that ecosystem."

"Furthermore, we have another conjecture. Core Formation cultivators and above project their aura too far, and their flesh, blood, and souls are great tonics to demons. Some demons can sense such an aura from a hundred li away. If they follow the trail and swarm over, the consequences would be worrying. This is the greatest concern!"

These demons truly possessed formidable powers.

Yu Ci could not help sighing, but it did not affect him yet, so he merely listened and let it pass.

Having finished discussing Sky Rift Valley, the old Daoist pointed at the jade slip. "These six medicinal herbs are all rare. None is easier to find than Fish Dragon Grass. I do not expect you to bring them all back at once. I merely wish to see what fortune you possess. Do you understand?"

Yu Ci could hear that the old Daoist's words carried a deeper meaning. But that was unimportant. In the matter of the Fish Dragon Grass, the old Daoist had helped him greatly, openly and covertly. Yu Ci had been troubled over how to repay him. Now that he had this request to search for herbs, it suited his wishes perfectly.

Moreover, he had the Zhaoshen Map with him. Its search range extended fifty li, reaching up to heaven and down into the earth. What was a task of a thousand hardships and ten thousand difficulties for others was precisely his specialty.

"Please rest assured, Temple Master." Yu Ci said only that, yet it was firmer than any guarantee.

The old Daoist was pleased with his attitude and added, "These medicinal herbs all survive through winter. Even if you have not found enough Fish Dragon Grass before winter arrives, there is no need to hurry back. You may remain longer and see whether you can gain something from this. It does not conflict with your own affairs..."

From beginning to end, he had never mentioned any reward. Yu Ci found that even more comfortable. To speak honestly, even now, he still found it difficult to accept the Good Deeds transactions in Tongde Hall. They differed too greatly from the cultivation world he had imagined and even yearned for.

With the important matters concluded, the two chatted for a while longer. Yu Ci greatly admired the old Daoist's attainments in the sword path, so he steered the conversation in that direction. Though the old Daoist did not truly teach him anything, some theories he spoke of casually still benefited Yu Ci immensely.

When night deepened, and after confirming that he would leave the following morning, Yu Ci finally took his leave. He was glad that he and the old Daoist had become increasingly compatible in conversation. Recalling the mysteries of the sword path the old Daoist had discussed, he had taken only a few steps beyond the courtyard gate when someone called his name from behind. Baoguang had caught up with him.

"Senior Brother Yu, keep this."

Without giving him any chance to refuse, Baoguang stuffed a folded bundle into Yu Ci's hand. From its soft, delicate feel alone, Yu Ci knew it was the Ghost Gauze Cloud.

Yu Ci was startled. Looking again, he saw the young Daoist grinning broadly, though it was impossible to tell whether he was pained or laughing. His expression was strange indeed. "Since time is tight, how long would it take you to reach Sky Rift Valley on foot? This thing of mine may not be good for much else, but for long-distance travel, it is the finest treasure. It will definitely save you more than half the time. Just remember to return it to me when you come back!"

His deliberately heroic manner made one want to howl with laughter, but Yu Ci understood his intention.

The old Daoist was not the only one worth befriending deeply.

Yu Ci fell silent for a moment, then smiled again. He patted Baoguang on the shoulder. Everything was left unspoken.