Chapter 34: Really Thinking of Himself as Her Brother

As a vassal state of the Myriad Spirit Sect, the Qi Kingdom’s imperial family revered the divine path. Every few years, they would assist in testing and selecting individuals with spiritual roots to be sent to the sect, so the common folk were vaguely aware of the existence of cultivators.

Under normal circumstances, encountering such an opportunity would have left them ecstatic, as if their ancestors had blessed them with extraordinary fortune. But this little old man before them did not look like a legitimate deity; he resembled a practitioner of some heterodox or demonic path. Could his words really be trusted?

After the carriage reached a wilderness, it suddenly soared into the air, accelerating rapidly above the clouds. With a wave of the old man’s hand, a flash of light obscured the scene in the sky. Even if someone were to look up, they would be unable to detect their presence. Gradually, the so-called horses revealed their true forms: blood-red spirit beasts with wings. Their savage appearance terrified the passengers, causing them to tumble about, and some even vomited from the violent shaking at such high altitudes.

After flying for an unknown amount of time, the carriage slowly descended at the foot of a mountain. The people in the cages were all on the verge of collapse. Most of them were merely ordinary people with spiritual roots who had not yet begun formal cultivation, meaning their bodies were no different from any other mortal. Between the fright, the arduous journey, and the lack of food or water, the weaker ones simply could not endure.

The old man put away the spirit beast carriage, and the cages vanished instantly. The people inside tumbled onto the ground in a chaotic, disheveled heap. The old man looked down at them haughtily. "While those with spiritual roots are one in ten thousand, there are countless people in this world; you are merely a bit more special than the average person!"

"The Lost Moon Palace is currently recruiting, but we don't take just any stray cat or dog. The first stage is a selection trial. I will wait for you at the summit. The first ten to reach me pass; the rest will be executed!" With that, he let out a wild laugh and vanished into the sky.

Upon hearing this, almost everyone panicked and scrambled desperately toward the summit. Those left at the foot of the mountain, aside from the disciples of the Myriad Spirit Sect, were those too terrified to move. Jiang Heng huddled behind Han Jie, trembling like a frightened quail, while secretly observing her surroundings. This appeared to be the border between the mortal realm and the territory of cultivators; spiritual energy was faint, miasma was abundant, and in the distance, there seemed to be the stirrings of demonic beasts.

Peak Master Xu did not even glance at the others before leading his disciples away. The remaining group understood his intention: they should act separately to avoid drawing attention.

Han Jie found a sturdy tree branch of appropriate length and handed it to Jiang Heng. "The climb is not easy; a staff will make it easier. If you can’t walk any further, brother will carry you."

Jiang Heng nodded. Xia Zhiyu heard this clearly, and his heart grew increasingly sour. He couldn't help but complain to Huo Shiqing, "Second Senior Brother, look at that man surnamed Han, he really thinks he’s—"

Before he could finish, Huo Shiqing silenced him with a murderous glare. Huo Shiqing stared at the backs of the two, saying coldly, "Though he has ill intentions, he is not a fool. He is doing this for a reason. Watch your words."

Xia Zhiyu realized his mistake, blushed, and quickly corrected himself, "Second Brother is right. It was my carelessness."

Even though the little old man had seemingly gone to the summit, what if he had left behind a trap or some object to monitor and eavesdrop on this group? According to Han Jie’s previous report, this new group from the Lost Moon Palace was exceptionally adept at hiding their cultivation and presence, using methods unlike those of ordinary cultivators—which was why he had nearly failed his mission earlier. The old man appeared to be only at the Foundation Establishment stage, but who knew if he was playing the fool or using some magical artifact to deceive them?

Even so, Xia Zhiyu could not swallow the inexplicable feeling of stifling frustration in his chest. He caught up to the pair in a few strides, almost pressing himself against Jiang Heng.

Jiang Heng looked at him, her expression full of confusion. "?"

Xia Zhiyu huffed. "This forest is terrifying. I’m afraid to walk alone. Don’t even think about leaving me behind; we’re all family, after all!" It was just role-playing as relatives; since his current persona was Jiang Heng’s relative, he could play along too. He gestured to Huo Shiqing behind them, "Second Brother, hurry up! It’s dangerous to be left alone; who knows if there are wild wolves here!"

Huo Shiqing looked dismissive, but he complied, following a few steps behind them. Jiang Heng’s face darkened slightly. She wanted to shake off these two unlucky pests, but since she didn't know if the enemy had left eyes on them, she couldn't use her cultivation techniques or risk a confrontation. She simply turned her head away, choosing to ignore them.

Out of caution, they all suppressed their protective spiritual energy, deliberately acting as if the climb were difficult. Jiang Heng was just catching her breath when she suddenly stiffened, sensing something slowly enveloping the area, sending a jolt through her soul.

The sensation was extremely unpleasant; it was not a physical injury but seemed aimed directly at the spirit. She instinctively looked at the others, only to see that while they were sweating and breathless, their expressions remained unchanged.

"What is it?" Han Jie asked, noticing Jiang Heng’s unease.

Jiang Heng frowned slightly. "Do you not feel that something has surrounded this mountain?"

Han Jie stopped and looked around. This time, he sensed that something was wrong, though it was not the same thing Jiang Heng had perceived. "The miasma is getting heavier. It seems like demonic beasts are slowly waking up."

Huo Shiqing suddenly drew his sword, spiritual energy swirling around him; he stopped feigning weakness. Han Jie followed suit, shedding his previous disheveled appearance to reveal a calm demeanor and a faint trace of murderous intent. Xia Zhiyu instinctively followed, though he didn't quite understand why they had suddenly stopped pretending. "Aren't you afraid of alerting the enemy?"

Huo Shiqing sneered, "We are practically trapped in a jar; why fear alerting the enemy?"

No sooner had he spoken than countless black shadows darted from the nearby woods, emitting shrill, ghostly wails as they lunged at the four! They were bizarre creatures—at a glance resembling apes, but possessing human faces, crocodile tails, and the wings of birds. These strange entities moved with blinding speed, flickering into black shadows. Their sharp claws struck against the cultivators' magical artifacts, sending out blinding sparks and ear-piercing screeches.

Although Xia Zhiyu’s behavior usually carried a juvenile air, he was a completely different person in combat. His movements were ghostly, his sword light faster than the creatures themselves. His strikes were swift, precise, and ruthless, without a moment’s hesitation. The blood splashing from the severed limbs of the monsters contrasted with the cold light in his eyes, a chilling sight.

These creatures were far too trivial for them; with a few swift motions, they were all wiped out. Just as Xia Zhiyu was about to ask Huo Shiqing what he had meant earlier, Jiang Heng suddenly lunged forward and tackled Han Jie to the ground...