Blood sacrifice

The Zhishan has already specified the assessment questions, so there's no point in offering gifts anymore.

Back at the Flying Profound Hall, Zhou Wuji began making various preparations for his trip.

Fortunately, he had the Five Yin Pouch, which allowed him to carry a lot of supplies.

Pills like Grain Avoidance Pill and Jade Dew Pill are essential items when going out.

Jade Dew Pill can cleanse Evil Qi and impurities, and also has detoxifying effects.

If the water source in the wild is not clean, you can drink it normally by adding a Jade Dew Pill.

There are also items like purple qi Island, Golden Flower Pill, and Purple Gold Pill, which can be used for cultivation and to deal with unexpected situations.

No one knows what they might encounter in the wild.

Whether you're a cultivator or a martial artist, you need to sleep and rest.

It is extremely dangerous for someone to be alone in a foreign place and sleep without any protection.

Fortunately, the black-scaled python skin sleeping bag greatly improved the safety of outdoor accommodations.

Zhou Wuji went to Yunyang Prefecture again and bought a lot of odds and ends.

For example, the iron caltrops are sold too expensively in the Tianji Hall, costing four or five times more than in the weapon shops in the prefectural city.

Zhou Wuji also bought a bamboo iron staff, five feet long, to use as a daily weapon.

Swords are really delicate, and carrying a sword in the wild is also very inconvenient.

Jizhu Tiemi uses steel as its core and bamboo strips glued on the outside, which ensures both strength and a certain degree of toughness.

His bamboo staff was very thin, looking just like an ordinary bamboo cane, but it weighed a full nine pounds.

Even an ordinary person could use this to whip someone and break the bones of Ninth-Rank Martial Artist.

The next morning, Zhou Wuji put on a bamboo hat, carried a bamboo cane-like iron staff, and left the Lower Court.

Upon arriving at the dock, Zhou Wuji quickly found Li Xin.

The second manager of the Li Household, whom I hadn't seen for several months, looked more prosperous, and his long robe was now made of silk, giving him a more noble air.

It's obvious that Li Xin has been living a very comfortable life these past few months.

With Zhang Xinhu dead, although the Li Household did not directly obtain Zhang Household's assets, they lost their biggest competitor and a powerful figure who could suppress them, and all their businesses and industries flourished.

Li Xin was looking around when he saw the tall and slender figure wearing a bamboo hat and a blue Daoist robe, and he knew it must be Zhou Wuji.

He hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and greeted him, "Master Zhou, it's been a long time! I heard you've been granted the Seventh Rank, congratulations!"

Li Xin smiled very humbly, even with a hint of obsequious flattery.

He understood perfectly well that Zhou Wuji was already Seventh Rank priest, and more importantly, Zhou Wuji's sword swept across the four corners of the Ming Dynasty, making him invincible in eliminating demons and monsters.

Such power surpasses even that of Daoist Yiyuan from that day. Especially since this one is ruthless with his sword, killing without fail.

Even formidable opponents like Zhang Xinhu and Wu Di, their deaths were shrouded in mystery.

In Siming County, who doesn't know how formidable this man is!

When they came to help, Master Li Cheng'an repeatedly instructed them to be obedient and serve Master Zhou well.

Even the slightest mistake will make him regret it!

Even without his master's instructions, Li Xin knew how formidable this person was. How could he dare to be careless in the slightest against such a powerful individual?

"Hehe----May the Northern Emperor bless you."

Zhou Wuji exchanged a few polite words and then followed Li Xin onto a small boat.

Li Xin's nephew, Li Qiang, came out to greet him upon hearing the voice. He immediately knelt and kowtowed to Zhou Wuji, saying, "This humble one greets the Daoist Master."

He spoke ill of Zhou Wuji behind his back, but Zhou Wuji saved his life.

He held Zhou Wuji in extremely high esteem and worship, so much so that he would kneel down and kowtow whenever he met him.

"No need for formalities." Zhou Wuji reached out to help Li Qiang up.

He remembered Li Qiang, a young man who couldn't keep his mouth shut, but who was a good person at heart.

Li Qiang was very enthusiastic, but he was quite nervous around Zhou Wuji.

He knew that Zhou Wuji was already Seventh Rank Daoist priest, and he wanted to congratulate him, but he didn't know how to say it.

"Master, would you like some tea?"

Zhou Wuji noticed the boy's nervousness and chuckled, saying, "We're all acquaintances, and with my junior sister by my side, we're practically family."

You don't need to be so polite.

Li Xin hurriedly said from the side, "Knowing you're going to Nine Spirits Lake, we found two members of our clan who live near the Nine Spirits Lake and are very familiar with its Nine Spirits Lake."

He pointed to two middle-aged men on his fingernails, both with dark skin, short brown hair, bare feet, and messy hair. They looked at people cautiously, and were probably fishermen who had long lived at the bottom of society.

The two fishermen did not recognize Zhou Wuji; in their eyes, Li Xin was already a remarkable figure.

To them, anyone who commanded such respect from Li Xin was like a celestial being.

They tried to kneel down and kowtow like Li Qiang, but Zhou Wuji stopped them; he never liked others kneeling.

Zhou Wuji chatted with the two fishermen for a few minutes. Although the two fishermen were very reserved, they spoke clearly and were obviously quite intelligent.

The two didn't even have formal names; one was called Lao San) and the other Lao Wu), and they were brothers.

The two fished in Nine Spirits Lake year-round; life was hard, but they managed to get by.

Since the Lake Heart Island was haunted last year, a large number of fishermen have died tragically.

The Lake Heart Island originally had thousands of residents, but now they have all been forced to move ashore.

Without the income from fishing, and forced to leave their home on the Lake Heart Island, they had nowhere to live.

These people are in dire straits; many have been forced to sell their children.

When talking about the current situation of the Lake Heart Island, the Lao San and Lao Wu brothers both looked miserable, and the Lao Wu even couldn't help but cry.

Zhou Wuji felt heavy-hearted upon hearing this. Thousands of people had lost their livelihoods and owned no land; one could only imagine how miserable their lives were.

Hearing that Zhou Wuji was going to the island to eliminate evil spirits, the two men insisted on kneeling down and kowtowing, despite Zhou Wuji's attempts to stop them.

"Thank you, Daoist Master! Thank you, Daoist Master!"

On behalf of the thousands of people on the island, we thank you! We will serve you like cattle and horses to repay your great kindness!

The Lao San and Lao Wu were extremely excited, banging their heads on the deck with loud thuds. Their skin, which was already dark, turned purplish-red.

Zhou Wuji could understand this very well.

He was born into an ordinary family in both his lives, so he knew the hardships of those at the bottom.

Especially in this life, all the people at the bottom of society want is to survive.

But for many people, simply being alive is a luxury.

Zhou Wuji helped the Lao San and Lao Wu brothers up, and said solemnly, "Our Daoist sect is supported by the people, and it is our inescapable duty to slay demons and monsters."

Upon hearing Zhou Wuji's words, the Lao San and Lao Wu were overjoyed and excited.

Li Xin had been watching from the side the whole time, and he always felt that Master Zhou was very different from the other Daoists.

He was very polite and courteous to everyone, treating everyone equally, regardless of status or wealth, whether it was himself or the two fishermen.

What's even more commendable is that Master Zhou understands the hardships of ordinary people and possesses a compassionate heart. Such magnanimity and character truly earn his deepest respect.

Knowing Zhou Wuji's purpose, the two fishermen worked extra hard while rowing the boat.

Nine Spirits Lake was originally formed by the Nine Sources River. It is located in the east of Yunyang Prefecture. The Nine Sources River flows downstream and turns into a tributary, which leads directly into Nine Spirits Lake.

On the third day, the bird boat arrived at Nine Spirits Lake.

The sky was covered with dark clouds, and the wind was sharp and cold.

The lake stretches to the horizon, its surface rippling and surging with the wind, its turbid waves rolling on.

From afar, Zhou Wuji could see a patch of green on the lake, and faintly discernible undulating mountains.

The bird boat rocked and swayed in the wind and waves, even more violently than a boat traveling on the river.

The Lao San and Lao Wu brothers had been fishing on the lake for years and were used to it.

Li Qiang was young and vigorous, and didn't care much about it.

Li Xin, however, was pale and kept swallowing to catch his breath; he felt like he was going to vomit.

Zhou Wuji glanced at the pitiful Li Xin. This man, who was used to traveling by boat, was not prone to seasickness; he was probably more afraid.

Seeing that the wind and waves were strong, Li Qiang went over to help row. He was young and strong, and with his help, the boat went much faster.

At noon, the bird boat finally reached the Lake Heart Island.

This area is inhabited year-round and has a simple dock for mooring boats.

The Lao San stood on the deck Zhou Wuji: "The mountain in the center of the island is called Nine Spirits Mountain. There are several thousand-year-old tea trees on the mountainside, and there is also a spring there, which we call Dragon Eye Spring. The spring water is sweet and clear."

The elders say that a dragon dwells deep within the spring. This time, when evil spirits killed people, the elders also say it's related to the dragon—

The Lao Wu said from the side, "The Lake Heart Island is surrounded by large tracts of wasteland. The land is very fertile, and you can get a good harvest no matter what you plant. We, a few thousand people, depend on this land to make a living."

"Please, Daoist priest, kill the demon so we can return home soon!"

As he spoke, he knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, and the Lao San hurriedly kowtowed as well.

Zhou Wuji understood their feelings very well. He would do his best, but he wouldn't repeatedly emphasize it or make any real promises.

While Daoist Yizhen's martial Swordsmanship are inferior to his, his Daoist magic is certainly more profound.

Even the Daoist Yizhen gained nothing, and he might not be able to solve the problem either.

Subduing demons and monsters is the responsibility of the Lower Court, and the reason why the Lower Court has been slow to send someone over is because the problem is thorny.

Zhou Wuji had Li Qiang help the two men up, then took out ten taels of silver and gave it to the two brothers, saying, "I can't let you work for nothing, so please take this money."

The two brothers were deeply moved as they held the heavy, white silver; they hadn't expected Zhou Wuji to give them money.

Ten taels of silver, if saved carefully, would be enough for both families to live on for half a year. At this time, this money was especially crucial for them.

The two hurriedly knelt down and thanked him profusely.

"I will never forget your great kindness, Dao Da."

The two brothers stood up, their faces beaming with joy. The Lao San said to the Lao Wu, "With this money, we'll have enough to live on this year. We won't need to go to Old Dragon Island."

The Lao Wu muttered, "Several hundred people went to Old Dragon Island, and not a single message has come back. Something feels off. It's best if we don't go—"

6699

Zhou Wuji didn't pay any attention to what the two brothers were saying.

Two fishermen came specifically to guide him and row him, and he couldn't let them do it for free.

As for Li Xin and Li Qiang, he gave them two Golden Flower Pill each. One could strengthen their bodies and practice martial arts, and the other could be used to strengthen their kidneys; he wouldn't let them come for nothing.

Daoist elixirs are very famous. Although Li Xin and Li Qiang didn't know whether the elixirs were good or bad, they were deeply moved that Zhou Wuji remembered their kindness.

Zhou Wuji wasn't pretending to be generous; he needed these people to pick him up later, and giving them some benefits would make them work more efficiently.

In such interactions, when the superior party bestows benefits upon the subordinate, it also signifies the superior's approval of the subordinate.

This recognition is even more important than some small benefits.

The Lake Heart Island is surrounded by vast reed beds, while the inner part consists of large wetland mudflats.

Once the ground beneath your feet becomes dry and hard, you have officially entered the central area of Lake Heart Island.

The ground is covered with shrubs and wild grasses, and dense forests of purple-leaved maple, osmanthus, photinia and other trees.

It was early April, and everything was lush and green.

At this moment, the sky was overcast, a fierce wind was blowing, the branches and leaves were shaking violently, no birds were flying and no insects were chirping, and the mountains and forests had a somewhat dangerous and unpredictable feel to them.

Zhou Wuji activated his Six Yang Dharma Eye to observe from afar, but he could not see anything unusual.

Following a small path, Zhou Wuji soon arrived at Nine Spirits Mountain.

The mountain is not high; the main peak is only a little over a hundred feet high. Several low hills are connected from east to west, stretching across the center of the Lake Heart Island.

Zhou Wuji also found the Dragon Eye Spring. There was a crack about a foot wide in the mountain wall, from which spring water gushed out and gathered into a pool several feet in diameter below.

The water in the pool continued to drip downwards, forming a winding stream below.

The cracks in the rock wall were bottomless, Zhou Wuji studied them for a while but couldn't figure them out.

He didn't pay it any mind. After all, Daoist Yizhen had gained nothing; it would be strange if he could easily detect anything unusual.

At the foot of the mountain, we found an abandoned village with dozens of wooden houses, all of which were built rather simply, but were still quite sturdy.

Zhou Wuji chose the widest room, filled a bucket with water from the well, and quickly cleaned the room.

I had just set out my bedding when a torrential downpour started outside.

Although the house was simple, it didn't leak, which made Zhou Wuji very happy.

He'll be staying on the island for several dozen days, so a room that can shelter him from the wind and rain would be much more comfortable.

At least you don't have to maintain the Five Yin Pouch all day long, and you can leave your belongings in your room when you rest.

With a raging storm outside and nothing to do, Zhou Wuji simply sat quietly to regulate his breathing and practice his internal energy.

By evening, the rain had stopped and the wind had died down.

Zhou Wuji took out a bamboo hat and raincoat, put them on, and left the room carrying the bamboo iron secret manual.

Evil spirits and malevolent Yin Spirit are believed to be active only at night.

Fortunately, he possessed the Six Yang Dharma Eye, so night was as bright as day to him.

The Lao San and Lao Wu brothers grew up on the Lake Heart Island and are very familiar with Lake Heart Island.

Zhou Wuji had the two of them draw a rough map, which he then divided into eight areas.

His plan was to explore one area each night, completing a loop in that manner.

With his perfected Six Yang Dharma Eye, he would surely be able to detect anything unusual.

The Lake Heart Island spans dozens of miles, with mountains stretching across it, marshes and mudflats everywhere, as well as large areas of reed thickets, making for a complex terrain.

On the first night, Zhou Wuji searched an area of several miles around Dragon Eye Spring, but found nothing.

He made simple markings of the search area and drew the corresponding areas on paper with charcoal.

During the day, he would rest and cultivate in his room, surviving on Grain Avoidance Pill.

He had no taste in his mouth, but he had to endure it in order to conceal his whereabouts.

In the following days, Zhou Wuji searched large areas on both the east and west sides of Dragon Eye Spring.

On the seventh night, Zhou Wuji finally made a discovery.

On the northern slope of a low hill at the eastern end of the Lake Heart Island, there is a large patch of waist-high wild grass.

Zhou Wuji discovered human footprints in the weeds.

April is the season when wild grass grows wildly. If it weren't for the many people walking on it, it would be impossible to leave long footprints like a path in the wild grass.

The long footprints disappeared under a tall osmanthus tree.

Zhou Wuji gazed at the tall osmanthus tree, lost in thought. Whether one moves from top to bottom or from bottom to top, this osmanthus tree should not be the end.

Upon closer inspection, Zhou Wuji noticed something amiss. This tall osmanthus tree was like a canvas; no matter how the surrounding weeds swayed, its branches and leaves remained perfectly still.

"It's an illusion!"

Zhou Wuji was somewhat surprised. Even with his perfected Six Yang Dharma Eye, he couldn't see anything wrong. What level of illusion was this?

Only when Zhou Wuji was twenty paces away from the osmanthus tree could he see the yin energy flowing on it.

Strands of yin Yin Qi connected like a net, as smooth as a mirror.

It is important to understand that Qi is constantly flowing and changing, and Yin Qi is the most unstable, constantly evaporating and dissipating.

The osmanthus tree in front of us is quite special.

Zhou Wuji guessed that it must be some kind of Law Domain or array that allowed the Yin Qi to condense so stably.

There must be something behind the cassia tree, possibly an altar or similar structure.

Zhou Wuji didn't want to take any risks; entering rashly could disrupt the Yin Qi structure and trigger unusual activity.

With a thought, the Heavenly Puppet on his left arm transformed into a long, green snake.

Driven by his Divine Sense, the long snake swam into the wild grass in a somewhat strange manner, slowly reaching the osmanthus tree.

As the long snake swam forward, the osmanthus tree rippled slightly like water, and then the snake vanished into thin air.

As Zhou Wuji's Divine Sense sense expanded along with the cyan snake, he "saw" the situation within the osmanthus tree illusion.

The green snake is not a real snake. Even when it crawls in the grass, it can still sense things ten steps away, and can even "hear" and "smell" changes in temperature.

Ahead was a rough platform made of wood and stone, with fires burning on both sides and a large pile of human heads in the middle of the fires.

Zhou Wuji couldn't count them all; he could only "see" a jumbled pile of heads, many wide-open eyes on them, frozen pain and anger on their faces, and flesh beginning to rot.

The flames of the bonfire flickered in the wind, and the expressions on the faces of the people in the shadows seemed to change constantly, making them look even more terrifying.

Even though Zhou Wuji was somewhat prepared, he was still startled by what he saw, but a great anger immediately welled up within him.