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Although Wen Xiangli had always been the eternal second fiddle, overshadowed by Xie Hengyu, his dislike for A Shang—Xie Hengyu’s Daoist partner—was perfectly understandable.
However, in her past life, during the days when A Shang was being hunted down by the sect, Wen Xiangli had once stepped in to help her.
At the time, she had been utterly surprised. After all, she wasn’t close to Wen Xiangli and had only occasionally heard others mention how he, as the perpetual runner-up, deeply resented Xie Hengyu for monopolizing the top spot. So when he extended his aid, it had caught her completely off guard.
Because he had helped her in her previous life, A Shang didn’t take Wen Xiangli’s current attitude to heart.
The group boarded the spirit carriage for travel, with Xu Zhiyan leading the team this time.
“I sent the details of this demon-hunting mission to your spirit cards yesterday. Have you all reviewed them?” Xu Zhiyan had barely finished speaking when Shen Xi’er immediately chimed in:
“Reporting to Senior Brother Xu, He An and I have already gone through everything!”
“Mm.” Xu Zhiyan nodded, his gaze settling on A Shang across from him.
The day before, A Shang had been swindled out of five spirit stones by that damned shady merchant, so she hadn’t checked her spirit card at all and had no idea Xu Zhiyan had already sent the demon-hunting details.
“Sorry, I’ll look now,” she said, preparing to delve into the spiritual sea within her card. Xu Zhiyan smiled. “No need, I’ll just explain directly.”
Hearing this, A Shang halted her movement.
Xu Zhiyan began, “The place we’re heading to this time is called Anning Town, located within Qingzhou’s borders. A month ago, people in the town began disappearing without reason—mostly young, unmarried men and women. The local authorities investigated for nearly half a month and determined it was the work of a snake demon. They eventually reported it to Lin’an Prefecture, which then issued the task to the major sects.”
“Aside from our Immortal Sect, several other sects have also accepted this mission. Since the three of you are new to demon-slaying, this task won’t be too difficult, so there’s no need to worry too much.”
“I have a question.” Shen Xi’er slowly raised her hand like an eager student.
Xu Zhiyan: “Go ahead, Junior Sister Shen.”
Shen Xi’er said, “If this demon-slaying mission isn’t very hard, then why is Senior Brother Wen coming along?”
Wen Xiangli, of all people!
Ranked second on the Heavenly Ranking, just below Senior Brother Xie Hengyu—a true master who wouldn’t even bat an eye at such a minor demon-slaying task. So why was he here?
Surely, everyone was wondering the same thing.
Shen Xi’er’s confusion mirrored A Shang’s own bewilderment. She couldn’t fathom why Wen Xiangli would bother with such a minor demon-slaying mission.
His presence alone made it seem like this task was far more dangerous than it actually was.
Xu Zhiyan explained, “Originally, another senior brother was supposed to accompany us, but he had urgent family matters. The others were already assigned to different missions, and Xiangli happened to be free, so I dragged him along.”
Wen Xiangli and Xu Zhiyan were close friends, so it made sense for him to step in as a favor.
The journey from the Immortal Sect to Anning Town in Qingzhou would take about a day.
By evening, the five of them arrived at Taiping Town, just outside Anning, planning to rest overnight before heading to their destination at dawn.
The spirit carriage came to a stop in front of an inn.
As soon as it halted, Shen Xi’er eagerly hopped out, stretching her limbs with a groan. “Finally! My back’s about to break—that seat was way too hard.”
A Shang had thought it wasn’t too bad, but hearing Shen Xi’er’s complaint, she couldn’t help but rub her own waist, realizing it did ache a little.
“Wow, look at all the food!” Shen Xi’er gaped at the bustling street lined with stalls of all kinds. “Let’s just grab something here for dinner!”
Though dusk was approaching, the streets remained lively, packed with pedestrians. Lanterns glowed outside every shop, thousands of them flickering in the dimming light, filling the air with warmth and noise.
A Shang stood still, watching the endless flow of people. It had been so long since she’d last seen such a vibrant, bustling scene—so thick with the scent of mortal life.
“I’ve already arranged dinner at this inn. Xiangli and I plan to eat here, but if you’d prefer the street food, that’s fine too,” Xu Zhiyan said.
Just then, Wu Zhu’s voice buzzed urgently in A Shang’s mind.
“Shang Shang Shang Shang Shang Shang—that flatbread looks so good, I want it!”
Wu Zhu, a starving ghost imprisoned for nearly ten thousand years, was utterly defenseless against the temptation of so much delicious food.
No sooner had he whined about the flatbread than he added, “And those meat skewers smell amazing! Hurry, Shang Shang, go over there—I need them!”
A Shang ruthlessly shot back in her mind: “No money.”
Wu Zhu: “…”
“A Shang, what are you eating?” Shen Xi’er asked.
Only then did A Shang notice everyone’s eyes were now on her. “I’ll eat at the inn.”
Xu Zhiyan was paying for the inn meal; outside, she’d have to cover the cost herself. With not a single coin to her name, she had no choice.
Seeing A Shang opt for the inn, Shen Xi’er hesitated, then said, “Then He An and I will join you inside too.”
If everyone else was eating at the inn, it’d seem oddly standoffish for just the two of them to dine outside.
Wu Zhu’s pitiful voice echoed in A Shang’s consciousness: “Shang Shang, if you’re eating at the inn, what about me? I’m so hungry, so hungry, so hungry…”
As an ancient demon, Wu Zhu wouldn’t starve to death from missing a meal. So when his whining continued to flood their mental link, A Shang replied coolly:
“Once this mission is over and we get those fifty spirit stones, I’ll let you eat your fill.”
The moment those words were spoken, Wu Zhu’s incessant nagging instantly fell silent.
The five of them had just settled into their seats at the inn when a commotion erupted at the entrance:
“It’s just a demon hunt—what’s the rush?”
“But Miss, the others have already arrived in Anning Town. If we’re too late, won’t it look bad?”
“Today, tomorrow—what’s the difference? This young lady has been jostled around in a carriage all day and is exhausted. Right now, I want food and rest. Understand?!” Yun Luoyi snapped irritably. “Keep yapping, and you can go by yourself!”
Hearing this, her maid, Yu Xiao, didn’t dare say another word.
Spotting Yun Luoyi’s entrance, the inn’s waiter hurried over. “Esteemed guest, will you be staying or dining? If staying, we have two rooms left. If dining, all seats are currently full—you’ll need to wait.”
“Staying the night.” Yun Luoyi casually tossed a pouch of silver to the waiter, then glanced at a man eating nearby and threw another pouch onto his table with an air of arrogance.
“Hey, I’m buying your seat!”
—
Cultivation World Mini Encyclopedia
Cultivation Spirit Card:
Originally created by a sect cultivator as a communication tool, the Spirit Card gradually expanded its functions as its usage spread. It now includes features such as mission assignments, ranking checks, messaging, and even an in-app marketplace for purchases.
The Spirit Card has no access restrictions—while sects distribute them to disciples, independent rogue cultivators can also purchase them with spirit stones. However, the various group chats within the cards are a chaotic mix of truth and misinformation. Fellow cultivators, please exercise caution and discernment to avoid scams!