Outer Sect Disciples

The flying ship traveled for several days, crossing who knew how many tens of thousands of miles before gradually slowing down.

Song Wen had stored some food in his storage pouch beforehand, so he would not go hungry.

The four mortals were far worse off. Shi Shou had not fed them, and after being starved for several days, they were already on the verge of fainting from hunger.

From beginning to end, the arrogant man ate only a single pill and nothing else, yet he remained full of energy without the slightest sign of discomfort.

Could that be a Fasting Pill?

Song Wen guessed inwardly, but he had no intention of kindly sharing his food with the four youths.

Shi Shou had neither fed the four nor ordered him to share food with them. Song Wen was not about to stick his neck out to play the good Samaritan. Before he understood their identities and Shi Shou's attitude toward them, he would not act rashly.

Shi Shou looked down at the sprawling mountain range, its peaks towering, majestic, perilous, and steep.

Among the mountains, one peak several thousand zhang high was especially striking. Palaces and pavilions dotted its slopes. This was the Corpse Demon Sect's main peak, Corpse Demon Mountain. Most disciples of the Corpse Demon Sect cultivated on this mountain.

Figures occasionally leaped through the air among the peaks. Some even rode swords or immortal beasts across the void.

Were it not for the skull and severed-head ornaments everywhere on the buildings, as well as the dense corpse demon baleful aura permeating the mountains, it would truly have resembled an immortal realm.

"We've finally arrived."

Shi Shou looked at Song Wen. "Extreme Yin, give them some of the food and water from your storage pouch."

Song Wen silently took out dried rations and water and handed them to the four youths.

Watching the four wolf down the food, Shi Shou continued.

"From this day onward, all six of you are disciples of my Corpse Demon Sect. Our Corpse Demon Sect enjoys immense renown among the demonic path. I hope you will obey the sect rules and cultivate diligently. Do not squander this great opportunity, nor tarnish the Corpse Demon Sect's reputation."

Song Wen narrowed his eyes. Six people? Aside from Shi Shou, were there not seven people on the deck?

Could that zombie-like man truly not be alive, but an actual corpse?

Shi Shou lowered the ship's prow and guided the flying ship down onto a plaza at the foot of the mountain.

The moment they stepped off the flying ship, someone came forward to greet them.

"Elder Shi Shou, you've returned after recruiting new disciples! Did the journey go smoothly?"

Shi Shou nodded. "It went fairly smoothly. I recruited six disciples with mid-grade spiritual roots."

He pointed at the arrogant man. "This person is called Wu Sheng. He already has cultivation at the third level of Qi Refinement and practices the Corpse Demon Sect's outer sect cultivation art, the Corpse Baleful Art. He is the descendant of a former sect disciple. Though his ancestor's cultivation was not high, he once made contributions to the sect. Take a little extra care of him, lest those righteous path people keep spreading rumors that we of the demonic sects are heartless and faithless."

Du Qiu thought to himself, You must have accepted quite a substantial benefit from his family. We of the demonic path have always put profit first, and there is no affection even between fellow disciples. Do we need the righteous path to slander us?

He answered respectfully, "Rest assured, Elder Shi Shou. I will certainly look after Junior Brother Wu Sheng."

Shi Shou pointed at Song Wen again. His lips moved a few times, but no sound emerged.

Du Qiu gave Song Wen two curious looks, then swiftly concealed his reaction.

"I'll leave these new disciples to you. This old man is off!"

Shi Shou took to the air and flew into the sky.

Du Qiu glanced over the six people before him and said loudly.

"All of you have decent talent and mid-grade spiritual roots. Starting today, you will become outer sect disciples of the Corpse Demon Sect. If you can break through to the late stage of Qi Refinement within six years, you may become inner sect disciples like me. As for becoming personal disciples, that will depend on your individual fortunes."

As he spoke, Du Qiu swept one hand through the air.

Six storage pouches appeared before the six of them.

"The storage pouches contain cultivation arts, clothing, spirit stones, pills, sect regulations, and other items. I hope you will study the sect regulations carefully. Do not one day violate the sect rules without even realizing it."

"Follow me. I'll take you to where the outer sect disciples reside."

Led by Du Qiu, they soon arrived before a row of cave dwellings at the foot of the mountain.

"Your storage pouches contain cave dwelling tokens. With your own token, you may enter your respective cave dwelling."

"I am your inner sect senior brother, Du Qiu. For the next month, I will be responsible for guiding your introductory cultivation. I reside in Cave Dwelling Yi Thirty-Six on the mountainside. If you have questions about cultivation, come find me."

Du Qiu pointed to a row of wooden houses not far from the foot of the mountain. "That is where the menial disciples live. There is a dining hall there, where you may take care of your meals."

"Our Corpse Demon Sect does not keep idlers. In one month, you will be assigned to the various halls. Make good use of this month. You must gain an introduction to the cultivation art issued to you, or you will be refined into living corpses for others to command."

After speaking, Du Qiu used the Flight Technique and headed toward the mountainside.

After flying several zhang, he suddenly descended again. Looking at the four newcomers who had never cultivated before, he said.

"I forgot that you four have never cultivated and cannot open your storage pouches."

He cast a spell four times in succession. Four streaks of white light landed respectively on the storage pouches in the hands of the four newcomers.

Clatter!

The storage pouches, which the four had not refined, immediately opened, and all their contents spilled out.

There were jade bottles containing pills, five crystalline spirit stones, and two books.

With his sharp eyes, Song Wen immediately noticed that the cultivation art given to all four was the Corpse Baleful Art, the same art Wu Sheng cultivated according to Shi Shou.

Having finished all this, Du Qiu used the Flight Technique again and rode the wind upward. He drifted along, no different from Song Wen when using a Flying Talisman. Compared to Shi Shou's ability to travel through the air, however, there was a world of difference in both speed and agility.

The four newcomers hurriedly picked up the cultivation materials from the ground. Their lives depended on these things. If they failed to begin cultivating within a month, they would become living corpses.

Song Wen stared at Du Qiu's disappearing figure and could not help grumbling inwardly.

The inner sect disciples' cave dwellings were on the mountainside, with a vertical distance of several thousand zhang from the foot of the mountain.

For someone like him, who had never practiced the Flight Technique, the only way up was to follow the winding mountain road. Without half a day, he likely could not make the climb.

It would be even harder for the four newcomers to get up there. Their lives might even be in danger; one careless step could send them tumbling to the foot of the mountain.

Du Qiu clearly had no intention of letting the six disturb him. He meant for them to cultivate on their own.

Song Wen sent his spiritual sense into his storage pouch, and a palm-sized token appeared in his hand.

Bing Twelve!

Following the number on the token, he searched through the cave dwellings one by one before quickly finding his own.

Its location was not bad, situated in the center of the many cave dwellings.

The spiritual energy was also fairly abundant. Among the outer sect disciples' cave dwellings, this counted as a place rich in spiritual energy.

Just as Song Wen was about to enter his cave dwelling, a voice suddenly called out from behind him.

"Hey! Extreme Yin, let's swap cave dwellings."