On the wanted poster was the image of a man wearing a ghost-faced mask. There was no name—only the title "Ghost-Faced Old Demon" and a bounty.
The reward was shockingly high. Besides massive amounts of mortal gold and silver, the poster promised that anyone who provided information about the man would receive a reward from the immortals themselves. And if someone managed to kill him, they would be granted a cultivation technique as a divine reward.
A demon who kills immortals…
Could this Ghost-Faced Old Demon truly be so vicious?
If even immortals feared him, it explained why they would work together with mortals to post a wanted notice.
Chen Sanshi soon met up with Ningxiang and Zhaozhao.
The news they gathered was similar.
Lately, strange events had been occurring near the town—immortals descending from the heavens, monsters appearing, and even spirit beasts coming down from the mountains to devour humans. The commotion had drawn officials from Southern Xu's prefectural city to investigate, stirring up great unrest.
"Let's find a place to stay first."
They still planned to head out to sea, but the sky was already burning red with the setting sun, and darkness was closing in fast. They would have to wait until morning to find a ship at the docks.
As they walked deeper into town, Chen Sanshi used his Qi Observation Technique. What he saw made his eyes narrow—these so-called "immortals" were disguising themselves as ordinary people, hiding right among the townsfolk.
Some dressed as wandering heroes, others as local villagers.
At the entrance of a tavern, an old man holding a donkey's reins appeared to be buying wine. But spiritual energy circulated through his body, and his cloudy eyes flickered faintly with spiritual light invisible to mortals. He was scanning every person who passed—including Chen Sanshi and his companions.
'So, he's using some kind of detection spell…'
Chen Sanshi frowned slightly. He had always been the one seeing through others, but now he was the one being seen through. The feeling was uncomfortable, to say the least.
Looks like once I enter the cultivation world, I'll need to learn some concealment techniques.
Still, he noticed one thing different—these "immortals" had to channel spiritual energy to perform their detection, while his Qi Observation Technique relied purely on his eyesight. It consumed no spiritual power and left no trace for others to sense.
"Old fool!"
A young cultivator appeared and barked at the elder, "If you use your 'Detection Art' to stare around one more time, I'll dig your eyes out!"
"Hehehe, don't be angry, fellow Daoist," the old man chuckled apologetically. "I was just checking—who knows, maybe I'll find a clue."
Their voices weren't loud, but neither did they bother to hide them. It seemed whatever they were looking for was no secret among cultivators.
Chen Sanshi quickened his pace toward the town's only inn, intending to stay the night and leave at dawn.
To avoid drawing attention, Ningxiang cast an illusion on the White Swan Horse, turning its coat into a reddish-brown hue.
Meanwhile, under Chen Sanshi's Art of Disguise, both Ningxiang and Zhaozhao changed into plain-looking commoners, so as not to attract trouble like before.
The town was small, with just one inn—but it had quality rooms. Chen Sanshi booked an entire courtyard to make things easier and safer.
Traveling required constant caution, but once food, lodging, and security were settled, he could finally relax a little.
Having barely eaten all day, he decided to buy some food and try the local specialties.
"Welcome, honored guest!"
The innkeeper greeted him eagerly. "Our shop may be small, but our food is top-notch! We serve all kinds of exotic fish and beasts favored by martial masters."
"Oh?" Chen Sanshi raised an eyebrow. "You serve beast meat here?"
"Of course! Plenty of it!"
The innkeeper puffed out his chest proudly. "All the nearby prefectural cities get their supplies from our town. Even the mountain hunters working for high-ranking officials bring their catches here!"
So they were supplying multiple prefectures?
Chen Sanshi asked casually, "Has it always been like this here—so many treasures in one place?"
"Not really," the innkeeper said, counting on his fingers. "To tell you the truth, it only started about a year ago. The mountains and the sea nearby suddenly began producing valuable beasts and treasures in great numbers. Our little shop's been packed every day since. Martial heroes come from all over just to taste something fresh."
He grinned. "How about some General Crab or Horned Fish? Perfect for a warrior like you!"
Seeing the scabbard at Chen Sanshi's waist, the innkeeper's eyes gleamed. "You must be a hero from the city. Eating beast meat here will do wonders for your martial cultivation!"
"Ha, words are cheap," Chen Sanshi said with a half-smile. "Who knows what tricks you're pulling? Maybe once it's cooked, you'll charge whatever you want. I'll need to see the goods first."
"No problem at all! Please, come with me."
The innkeeper quickly called someone to watch the counter, then led them next door into a large courtyard.
The moment they entered, Chen Sanshi was stunned.
The massive yard was filled with iron cages and water tanks, each holding a different kind of exotic beast—scales, fur, fins, feathers, and fangs of every color imaginable.
Inside the compound, several Meridian-Connecting cultivators were stationed, with one Profound Manifestation expert overseeing everything.
So it wasn't the locals benefiting from these riches—it was the Southern Xu officials and sect members. The innkeeper himself likely served under some high-ranking noble.
The sheer number of beasts here was astonishing.
Even Chen Sanshi, an experienced hunter, was impressed. Each one was a priceless treasure in Great Sheng—resources that money alone could never buy.
To find so many gathered in this tiny Southern Xu town explained why so many immortals were flocking here.
Something's not right…
It reminded him of the Luotian Mountain Range—except there, poisonous beasts were rampant. Here, spirit beasts were gathering. Could the two be connected somehow?
Using Qi Observation Technique, Chen Sanshi scanned the area. His gaze soon landed on a bright-red sea fish in a tank. Its internal energy wasn't the faint blue of normal beasts—it pulsed with a deep, vibrant azure glow.
That wasn't just a beast—it was a spirit beast.
If eaten, it could provide an immense boost to strength and vitality.
He immediately asked, "Innkeeper, how much for that fish?"
"Ah, sharp eye, hero!" the innkeeper said, grinning. "That one was caught fresh today. Hard to transport, hard to keep alive—otherwise it'd already be sold to the prefecture's lords. It's not expensive though, only 6,000 taels of silver."
6,000 taels—a fair price indeed.
And that was only because the innkeeper didn't realize what he truly had. If he knew it was a spirit beast, the price would have been astronomical.
"Alright, I'll eat that fish raw. As for that white jade rabbit, the general crab, and the purple-feathered bird over there—cook them using your best recipes and send them all to my private room."
Chen Sanshi began ordering calmly.
"Right away!"
The innkeeper clicked his abacus quickly, the beads clacking in a flurry before he smiled and said, "I'll round it down for you—14,000 taels even. Our shop's rule is payment first before we start butchering. These creatures are rare treasures, we can't afford losses. I hope you understand, hero."
"Mm."
Chen Sanshi reached into his robe to take out his silver notes.
Before he left Liangzhou, the Grand Marshal's Office had already prepared silver drafts from the major banks of Southern Xu for him.
Just as he was about to hand over the payment, a loud, rough voice rang out.
"Hold it! That fish—I'm taking it!"
A bearded man carrying a snakeskin sack strode in.
"This guest…"
The innkeeper opened his mouth, about to speak, when the man dropped the sack to the ground with a heavy thud, ripped it open, and revealed stacks of gold bars gleaming under the torchlight. "5,000 taels of gold!"
"This, this…"
The innkeeper's pupils widened. He picked up a gold bar, bit down hard, checked it several times, and finally stammered, "It's real?"
"Nonsense!"
The man snorted coldly. "You selling to me or to him? Choose!"
The innkeeper turned to look toward the courtyard, where the Profound Manifestation-realm enforcer was stationed. Receiving a silent nod, he coughed lightly and said to Chen Sanshi, "Ahem, apologies, honored guest. Our little shop has an unspoken rule—the highest bidder wins. Unless you can offer more…"
"Old fool!"
The bearded man glared fiercely. "You really want to compete with me?"
As he spoke, spiritual energy flared faintly around him—about Qi Refining Stage 3—clearly meant to intimidate.
But Chen Sanshi saw everything.
Before opening the sack, the man had secretly channeled spiritual energy into it. The gold was almost certainly fake, likely transformed through some illusionary art.
This wasn't competition—it was intimidation.
After a brief silence, Chen Sanshi said evenly, "Since this brother's offer is higher, it should go to him."
"Hahaha! At least you know your place!"
The bearded man laughed wildly, reached into the tank, and grabbed the glowing spirit fish. Without hesitation, he bit straight into it raw, swallowing both flesh and scales as he walked out of the courtyard.
"Honored guest," the innkeeper said awkwardly, rubbing his hands, "perhaps you'd like to look at something else?"
"I'll take that Green Tree Frog," Chen Sanshi said flatly.
His luck wasn't terrible.
In a corner tank, he spotted another spirit beast—not nearly as high-grade as the fish, but still valuable.
This time, no one tried to fight him for it.
Soon, the private room table was covered with a spread of fragrant dishes.
Zhaozhao's eyes lit up, and she immediately grabbed her chopsticks to start eating.
"General," Ningxiang said softly as she lifted a piece of meat with her chopsticks and placed it near his lips, "should we stay here for a few days? With so many immortals around, there must be great fortune here."
"We're leaving," Chen Sanshi replied firmly. "Once we find a ship to take us out to sea, we go. We're not lingering here."
He had spent the day observing the situation.
The strongest cultivator in town was only Qi Refining Complete, most others mid-stage at best. The man earlier, with Qi Refining Level 3, was already considered weak among them.
To meddle in their disputes, one would need to reach at least Martial Saint to matter.
"Understood," Ningxiang nodded obediently.
After their meal, Chen Sanshi locked the door and began cultivating in the courtyard.
He had brought both his bow and spear on this journey—this time not the Liquan Spear, but another mystic weapon taken directly from the Grand Marshal's armory. It was fully metallic, designed with detachable joints, and could be disassembled for travel and reassembled for battle. Its name was the Golden Tiger-Head Spear.
He had also brought his Iron-Bellied Bow, both weapons stored together in a wooden case that Zhaozhao usually carried on her back.
[Technique: Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression · Profound Manifestation (Beginner)]
[Progress: 401/500]
Chen Sanshi trained until late into the night, his clothes drenched with sweat before he finally lowered his spear and exhaled a deep breath.
Beside him, Ningxiang quickly came forward with a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his shoulders.
"You don't need to flatter me," Chen Sanshi said indifferently. "Though there's a contract between us, as long as you keep your thoughts clean, I won't use it to control you. When we return, I can lift the contract."
He had no interest in holding anyone's life as leverage.
The blood contract had only been a precaution—a necessary means of self-protection.
"General, are you serious?" Ningxiang's eyes widened in disbelief.
In Seeking Immortals Tower, once you signed a blood contract, it could never be undone. That was how the sect controlled its people forever.
Who would willingly release a life-bound servant? It was like a brothel madam giving her girl freedom for free—unheard of.
"Do I have any reason to lie to you?"
Chen Sanshi's tone was calm but cold. "Besides, the Grand Marshal's Office will continue to protect you. You won't be abandoned once this task is done. So stop trying to curry favor—just do what's needed."
With that said, he turned and went back inside to cultivate the Five Elements Technique.
Ningxiang watched his back quietly, her gaze soft and uncertain.
"Spiritual energy really burns fast…"
Chen Sanshi sighed as he pulled out a mid-grade spirit stone. The light inside was growing dim, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of distress.
"Boom—!"
"There's an immortal!"
A thunderous explosion suddenly shook the air outside.
"Let's go take a look."
Chen Sanshi immediately grabbed his blade and rose to his feet.
He wasn't going to gawk—but in such a strange place, he needed to know what was happening around him to plan his next move.
The sound came from nearby.
Leaping onto the roof, he quickly saw the scene unfold.
In the courtyard of another inn stood an old man with white hair, wearing a ghost-faced mask. In his hand was a long spear, and under his foot lay the corpse of a cultivator.
On the rooftop around him stood four other cultivators, their spiritual energy radiating strongly—all mid-stage Qi Refining or higher.
One of the four stood tall in a white robe, holding a blue-edged sword. The night wind rippled his sleeves, and his aura was sharp and proud—like a sword immortal who had descended to the mortal world. Or rather, to mortals, he was a sword immortal.
The sword cultivator's voice was cold as he called out to the ghost-faced old man standing in the courtyard.
"Old demon, hand over the spirit vein now!"
The ghost-faced elder let out a mocking laugh. "And if I don't? What can you possibly do?"
"Old demon, you can't escape!"
The sword cultivator shouted, "Your bounty is posted everywhere across Daze Market! Until you surrender the spirit vein, wave after wave of cultivators will come to hunt you down!"
"Fellow Daoist Fang is right."
An old crone beside him added in a hoarse voice, "Such a treasure of heaven and earth—you think you can swallow it alone? You'll choke to death before you finish it!"
"That's right."
A man wearing a bamboo hat chuckled, his eyes narrow and glinting with false warmth. "If you just hand over the spirit vein, the cultivation world will reward you handsomely. Why fight to the death over it?"
"Or…"
The last cultivator's face hardened. "Are you saying you intend to make an enemy of every cultivator under heaven?"
"Heh!"
The ghost-faced elder cut him off with a sneer. "You actually guessed it right."
"Courting death!"
Buzz—!
The sword cultivator's blade rose into the air, splitting into two, then four, then finally eight glowing sword shadows. They spread like a storm, descending upon the old demon in the courtyard.
But when they struck—he was gone.
"Fellow Daoist, behind you!"
A murderous aura surged from the darkness.
The sword cultivator's heart clenched in shock. "You're a martial cultivator! How can you use an escape technique?!"
"Just lightness skill," came the cold reply.
Boom—!
The ghost-faced old man thrust his spear. It roared forward like a colossal python devouring the heavens. The sword cultivator hastily formed hand seals, summoning back his eight sword lights—but they shattered instantly like glass. The python-like force smashed through everything, biting off his head in one clean motion. The aftershock blasted through the courtyard wall, sending debris flying.
At the same time, the hat-wearing cultivator slammed his foot down, casting a spell. The collapsed wall and the earth around it surged like waves, encasing the ghost-faced elder in an earthen prison.
Taking the chance, another cultivator swung a giant hammer crackling with violet lightning, while the old crone conjured a cloud of toxic mist that morphed into hundreds of black butterflies fluttering toward the target. The three attacked in perfect unison.
But then—
A violent shockwave erupted beneath the earthen walls. The next instant, the walls shattered into dust, the poison butterflies vaporized into smoke, and the hammer-wielding cultivator was hurled into the air.
From the swirling dust, the ghost-faced elder's spear shot out like lightning, piercing straight toward the hammer cultivator's heart. Spells rained down in his path—but every attack was smashed aside by raw power. Nothing could stop him.
Still in midair, the hammer cultivator crushed a talisman, golden light fusing into his body. Wings of radiant energy spread from his back, letting him steady himself in defiance of gravity. With a roar, he unleashed all his strength, swinging his thunder hammer down toward the oncoming spear.
Boom!
A thunderous blast echoed through the courtyard. The spear snapped in half—but the old demon was unharmed. The hammer cultivator, on the other hand, bled from all seven orifices before the old demon caught up and punched him, smashing half his body to pulp.
"Retreat!"
The man in the hat cried out in terror. He raised his hands, summoning a massive boulder to block the way as he tried to flee—but it was too late.
The ghost-faced elder picked up the dead cultivator's thunder hammer, crushed the boulder to dust, then dropped from the air like a falling mountain. The impact splattered the hat-wearer into a pool of gore.
Without pause, he hurled the hammer again. It shot through the air, crushing the fleeing old crone a hundred zhang away into a cloud of blood and ash.
The entire fight lasted no more than seven or eight breaths.
Four cultivators—annihilated.
Chen Sanshi witnessed the entire battle.
Daze Market?
Was that a place in the Immortal Realm?
Was this old demon truly a fugitive from the cultivation world?
His strength was terrifying.
Even though he seemed to be a martial cultivator, his power far surpassed that of his own senior brothers. Those Qi Refining Completion cultivators had been utterly helpless before him.
When the battle ended, the ghost-faced elder began looting the corpses.
He searched each body thoroughly but seemed dissatisfied with what he found.
Above, the night sky rippled.
Dozens of cultivators were flying toward the courtyard—at least twenty by Chen Sanshi's count—and some of their spiritual pressure felt even stronger than those who had just died.
The ghost-faced old man sighed softly, popped a few pills beneath his mask, hefted the thunder hammer over his shoulder, and leapt away into the night.
The twenty-plus cultivators arrived seconds later—only to find nothing.
Chen Sanshi returned to his room.
He asked quietly, "Do you know what they meant by 'spirit vein'?"
Ningxiang shook her head. "It sounds like it's connected to the world's spiritual energy."
"Heaven and earth's spiritual energy…"
Chen Sanshi pondered deeply.
What kind of treasure could appear here, in the mortal realm, that would draw so many cultivators from the Immortal World—risking their lives to chase it?
Whatever it was, it was far beyond his current reach.
'When in doubt—retreat.'
It was already the third watch of the night.
After such chaos, no one in town could sleep.
Chen Sanshi waited silently until dawn, then led Ningxiang and Zhaozhao toward the docks, eager to leave this cursed place as soon as possible.
More than half the people of Nanling Town were fishermen.
By early dawn, the docks were already bustling. Some were setting out to sea, others returning from long voyages, while squads of soldiers patrolled to keep order.
Everywhere he went, people were talking about what had happened the night before.
Groups of immortals soared through the sky, stepping on their flying swords.
For the villagers who had lived their whole lives in this remote corner of the world, such sights were beyond belief. Rumors spread that even the government of Southern Xu was preparing to send troops to negotiate with these "immortals."
"Stop right there!"
"You insolent peasant! How dare you try to hide a treasure fish!"
Not far away, a fisherman returning from the sea was caught by several soldiers. They had discovered a rare fish hidden in his basket and beat him brutally on the spot.
"There's no justice left in this world!"
"We've been fishermen here for generations!"
"When we were starving, no one cared whether we lived or died!"
"Now that there are treasure fish and spirit beasts, you officials take everything for yourselves!"
"Insolent wretch! Courting death!"
After some questioning, Chen Sanshi learned the full story.
Not long ago, Southern Xu had sent officials to Nanling Town. They sealed off the nearby mountains, forbidding hunters from entering. Then they seized control of the docks, demanding that all fishermen hand over a fixed number of treasure fish each month as tax, and that all sales go through the government.
As for payment—some corrupt clerks didn't even bother pretending. They simply took everything, not giving the fishermen a single copper coin.
To the martial artists and cultivators, this land was a place of miraculous opportunity. But to the people of Nanling Town, it had become a sudden and senseless disaster.
Walking along the pier, Chen Sanshi began inquiring about "The Edge of the World"—the Ends of the Earth—but every local he asked shook their heads in confusion. None had ever heard of such a place.
So he changed his approach, asking whether any fishermen offered passage for hire.
At first, many were tempted by his generous offer. But when they learned he wanted to sail past the horizon—beyond The Edge of the World—they paled in fear and backed away.
After pressing for answers, he finally learned the reason.
Four thousand li out to sea lay the "end of the ocean."
Beyond that, a vast mist covered the waters. Any ship that entered never returned.
"Thick fog…"
Hearing this, Chen Sanshi became even more certain he was on the right path. It sounded exactly like a barrier—an artificial boundary separating this mortal world from the realm of cultivation.
He continued asking around, hoping to find an experienced sailor willing to guide them.
By noon, an old fisherman finally stepped forward.
"The Edge of the World, eh…"
The old man squinted at the endless sea and sighed. "That was fifty years ago. A bunch of wanderers came to this very town, saying the same thing—that they wanted to sail to The Edge of the World. My father took them there."
He shook his head slowly. "None of them ever came back."
He looked Chen Sanshi up and down. "Listen to this old fool's advice, young man. Cherish your life. Don't throw it away chasing death."
No matter how much Chen Sanshi offered, the old man refused to guide him. He would sell him a boat, yes—but not set foot beyond the shore himself.
And that made sense. If even seasoned sailors perished in the fog, Chen Sanshi couldn't expect to navigate it alone. He only had a vague direction. Searching aimlessly in the open sea could take an eternity.
"Fellow Daoist, might you be one seeking immortality?"
A hoarse voice came from behind him.
Chen Sanshi turned and saw the old man with the donkey—the same one he'd seen buying wine the night before. There was no hiding the aura of a cultivator. Chen Sanshi, still under his false identity, didn't bother to deny it. "That's right."
"No need to waste your time, then," the old man said with a genial smile. "This world is wrapped in a barrier laid down by an ancient powerhouse. No mortal vessel can reach The Edge of the World. If you insist on entering the fog, you'll have a ninety-nine percent chance of dying there. Don't throw your life away."
"Unless…"
He paused, a cunning glint in his cloudy eyes. "Give me two spirit stones, and I'll point you toward a real path forward. Think of it as buying a friend."
Two spirit stones…
Chen Sanshi grimaced.
He had only seven stones left in total—not counting the mid-grade ones he was saving. Losing two meant giving up nearly a third of his fortune.
But after spending half a day asking around, it was obvious—without help, reaching The Edge of the World was nearly impossible.
"Are you serious about this?" Chen Sanshi asked.
"Two spirit stones only," the old man replied, taking a sip from his gourd. "I'm old, but not a liar. Think carefully, young friend—time waits for no one."
"Deal," Chen Sanshi said finally.
He had no other choice but to gamble.
The old man grinned, his hands like withered bark as he snatched up the stones and tucked them away.
"Fellow Daoist," Chen Sanshi said with a helpless sigh, "that's more than half my wealth gone in one go."
"Don't worry, don't worry."
The old man chuckled. "I wouldn't cheat you. My surname is Mo—Mo Zhu. You can just call me Old Mo."
"My surname is Zhang. Everyone calls me Scabby-Head Zhang," Chen Sanshi said casually, using his alias.
"Good, Brother Zhang. Let's talk as we walk."
Leading his donkey along the beach, Mo Zhu looked out at the waves and mused aloud, "Who would've thought the heavens would open once more—and so many mortals would rush to seek the immortal path?"
"Oh?"
Chen Sanshi asked, "There are many people heading there?"
"Plenty," Mo Zhu said slowly. "They're all gathered at The Edge of the World. Some are holding jade tokens, waiting for the Gate of Heaven to open. Others are kneeling there, begging immortals to take them as disciples. And not just from your Southern Xu kingdom—people from all across the Nine Continents have come."
"Fifty years…"
Chen Sanshi's eyes narrowed. "Senior Mo, may I ask—why does the gateway between heaven and earth only open once every fifty years?"
Since he had already paid the price, he intended to get every answer he could.
Mo Zhu took another sip of wine and said slowly, "That's a long story…"
Mo Zhu wasn't stingy with his explanation. "I read about it in an old text. It's said that after a great war between gods and demons in ancient times, the ancestral spiritual vein connecting heaven and earth was shattered. The destruction caused the world's spiritual energy to rapidly thin out and gave birth to countless corrupted energies that polluted the mortal realms—like a plague spreading across the human world. If it hadn't been contained, it would've consumed everything."
"So, the ancient powers sealed those places completely."
"From that point on, mortals could only enter the cultivation world through teleportation formations—what you people call 'Heaven and Earth's One Line.'"
"This restriction only applies to mortals. It doesn't affect cultivators. Though, truth be told, none of us in the cultivation world bother returning to the mortal realm anymore. What you're seeing now is different, because…"
He smiled faintly. "The spiritual energy in your world is about to recover."
"Spiritual energy recovery?"
Chen Sanshi thought for a moment. If the world's spiritual energy was truly reviving, then maybe he wouldn't have to risk his life sailing all the way to The Edge of the World.
"That's right," Mo Zhu said. "The damage caused by that ancient battle is slowly healing. The places that were once sealed occasionally repair themselves and give birth to new spirit veins."
Seeing Chen Sanshi's expression, Mo Zhu chuckled. "Don't get your hopes up. Among all the veins of heaven and earth, spiritual veins are the slowest to recover. It'll take at least a hundred years before one fully forms. By then, you'll be long turned to dust. Your best option now is to head for Daze Market, the closest cultivation hub, and find an active spirit vein to cultivate from."
A hundred years…
Chen Sanshi sighed inwardly. That was far too long. "Then why are all these cultivators coming here?"
"In the cultivation world, whoever finds a recovering spiritual vein first gets to claim it," Mo Zhu explained. "Not long ago, Daze Market issued a bounty—anyone who can locate a site where a spirit vein is reviving can exchange it for a Foundation Establishment Pill or rare spiritual materials. Before a vein is born, a spirit of the vein—a mailing—always appears first. Only by tracking that mailing can one find where the spirit vein lies."
"I see."
Chen Sanshi nodded. "So you came here to hunt for the mailing too? No wonder that ghost-faced demon was surrounded last night—he must've had the mailing in his hands."
Mo Zhu's tone turned wary. "My cultivation's not high enough to fight over such treasures. I'm just here to scavenge what's left behind. Every time a spirit vein revives, some spiritual beasts appear as well. Catching a few can still earn me some spirit stones. As for that demon…"
His voice dropped lower, and his expression grew tense. "He's insane."
"Insane?" Chen Sanshi asked. "How so?"
"Hold on."
Mo Zhu glanced around, making sure no one was near before he spoke again. "That ghost-faced demon found the mailing weeks ago. But instead of turning it in for the bounty, he hid it. Nobody knows why. The factions in Daze Market tried to negotiate, but he refused every offer. In the end, they had no choice but to attack him—and that's when he went on a killing spree."
Mo Zhu shook his head. "I really don't understand. Holding onto the mailing without claiming the reward—what's the point? He's alone, with no faction behind him. What, does he plan to control an entire spirit vein by himself?"
"So strange," Chen Sanshi muttered. "Do you know where he came from?"
"No idea," the old man said. "He appeared in the market years ago, then vanished. Only recently did he resurface. But unlike you and me, he doesn't cultivate immortality—he practices martial arts. I'm not getting anywhere near him. I'll wander around a bit longer, and if I don't find anything worthwhile, I'm heading back."
He then added, "Come here tonight at midnight. A large ship will be taking cultivators back across the sea. Each passenger pays one spirit stone for passage. Make sure you have enough."
Another spirit stone gone.
Chen Sanshi sighed inwardly. Just like Shunzi said—everywhere you go, it's spirit stones, spirit stones, spirit stones.
If he ran short, he might have to break apart one of his mid-grade stones. But who knew what the exchange rate would even be?
"Thank you, Daoist friend," Chen Sanshi said, bowing slightly.
"Ha! You paid, so it's only fair I do my part," Mo Zhu said cheerfully. "By the way, I'm actually a talisman master. Want to buy a few charms for protection? I sell them cheap—honest price, guaranteed."
"Daoist friend, please forgive me," Chen Sanshi replied politely. "As you can see, I'm just a mortal-born wanderer. I don't have that many spirit stones. I only have four left total. If I spend any more, I'll have none."
He clasped his hands. "If I ever need talismans in the future, I'll be sure to buy from you."
"Then remember to come on time tonight," Mo Zhu reminded him. "If you're late, the ship won't wait."
"Of course."
Chen Sanshi left soon after. He had enough information for now—he'd verify it before taking any risk.
One thing was certain: a ship like that wasn't something you boarded carelessly.
And this so-called "revival of spiritual energy"… it defied everything he understood.
If the world's energy truly was reviving, drawing all these immortals here, then what about Liangzhou?
And what exactly was that ghost-faced demon trying to do?
With those thoughts swirling in his mind, Chen Sanshi returned to the inn and soon spotted Ningxiang outside.
"Master Chen, I'll head back first."
She stood at the doorway, speaking softly to a handsome young noble.
To Chen Sanshi's surprise, Ningxiang was dressed nothing like her usual self. The flirtatious charm of her brothel days was gone. Instead, she wore a light purple veil, her every movement refined and graceful like a lady from a noble house. Beneath the thin silk, her beauty seemed ethereal—otherworldly, almost divine.
The young noble across from her tried to maintain decorum, but his eyes betrayed him—glazed and greedy, his mouth curved in a foolish grin as if he might drool at any moment.
"Ningxiang, you must come tonight! I'll be waiting!" he stammered eagerly.
Then he turned, only to spot Chen Sanshi. "Ah—this is…?"
"Master Liu," Ningxiang said quickly, stepping closer to Chen Sanshi. "This is my cousin."
She spoke sweetly, her tone calm and proper.
"Ah, of course! Of course!"
Master Liu cupped his hands politely, his grin widening. "Since this Daoist friend is your cousin, then he's my friend as well! Tonight, when we board the ship, you both come along. I'll cover both your fares!"
"That's… far too kind of you, Young Master Liu," Chen Sanshi said with an easy smile.
Ningxiang smiled politely and said, "Young Master Liu, I only meant that perhaps we could travel together. How could I let you pay for me?"
"It's nothing—just a few spirit stones!"
Young Master Liu thumped his chest confidently. "It's settled then! I'll see you later!"
With that, he hurried off, grinning from ear to ear.
"How did I do, cousin?"
The moment they stepped back into the courtyard, Ningxiang's refined demeanor vanished. Her voice turned teasing and her scent sweet as she leaned close to him. "I told you I could be useful. Everything's settled."
Chen Sanshi narrowed his eyes warily. "You didn't use illusion arts, did you?"
If she had, that would've been suicidal.
This wasn't the mortal world anymore.
Even if a cultivator fell under a spell, they could sense it in moments, and that would mean real trouble.
"Do I look that stupid?"
Ningxiang rolled her eyes playfully. "Relax. I relied purely on charm. Cultivators are no different from mortals—men will always be men, no matter how high their cultivation. Lust never changes. Zhaozhao, pay attention and learn."
"Uh-huh!"
Zhaozhao nodded hard with serious eyes.
"Fine," Chen Sanshi muttered.
He'd spent two spirit stones just to gather a bit of information, while Ningxiang had not only spent nothing but had people offering her spirit stones instead. And she hadn't even flirted improperly—just polite conversation.
Was that guy really that much of a fool?
Forget it. It was time to exchange what they'd learned.
After comparing notes, their conclusions matched.
Mo Zhu hadn't been lying.
The world's spiritual energy truly was reviving, and the only way to reach The Edge of the World was aboard one of the cultivators' ships.
If that weren't the case, fifty years ago, the difficulty of reaching The Edge of the World would have been a hundredfold worse.
That night, the three of them packed up and arrived at the dock right at midnight.
By then, a crowd of cultivators had already gathered.
"Daoist Zhang, you're leaving too?"
"Of course! We're just rogue cultivators after all. We came here for the bounty—why stay and throw away our lives?"
"True, the spirit vein mess is for the powerful sects to worry about."
"At least I caught two spirit beasts this trip."
"Hahaha! I tricked a guy into trading me a treasure fish with a pile of worthless stones!"
That same scruffy cultivator—the one who had used illusion tricks to buy the treasure fish yesterday and threatened Chen Sanshi into silence—was also among them. Chen Sanshi noticed him but didn't spare him a word.
After waiting about half an hour, a slightly plump cultivator arrived, flying in on his sword.
"Daoist Xu, you're finally here!" someone called. "Let's go already—set sail!"
Xu Youliang, the sword-riding cultivator, looked down at them, speaking in a shrill, nasal voice. "You're all in such a hurry? You don't even want to wait? If you can find any clue about the mailing's location, you could still earn a mountain of spirit stones!"
"Earning spirit stones won't matter if we're dead!"
"Exactly! Five more died last night chasing that demon! Who dares to go now?"
"We cultivators should cultivate peace, not bloodshed."
"That's right!"
"Fine, suit yourselves," Xu Youliang said.
He held out his palm. A walnut-sized miniature boat appeared out of thin air. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it toward the sea. A flash of spiritual light filled the air, and when it landed, the tiny boat expanded into a massive ship.
"Same rules as always," he said. "One spirit stone per person."
"I'll pay!"
Young Master Liu immediately stepped forward, eager to show off.
"No need."
Chen Sanshi spoke first, cutting him off and handing over three spirit stones.
He'd already gotten all the information he needed from the man. Accepting his generosity now could create an unwanted karmic tie later—and those were harder to escape than debts.
"Ah, a straightforward man!" Xu Youliang said approvingly.
Soon, everyone paid their fare.
Before boarding, each person's identity was also verified.
Chen Sanshi's cover story—that he was a mortal seeking the immortal path—was vouched for by Mo Zhu, earning him passage without issue. His two spirit stones hadn't been wasted after all.
The ship's interior was luxurious, each cultivator assigned to a private cabin.
Chen Sanshi was among the last to board. His quarters were near the end of the lower deck. As he was about to sit, he activated his Qi Observation Technique—and caught a flicker of Gang Qi through the wall. Then, suddenly, another aura went dark.
Damn it.
Chen Sanshi instantly gathered his spiritual power, ready to activate a defensive technique. He planned to make as much noise as possible to draw attention—anything to avoid being silently killed.
Just then, a calm voice came from the other side of the wall.
"Well, now that's strange."
"Cultivators' detection spells only sense spiritual energy. I just killed that man using martial Qi—without a trace of spirit power or sound. Yet you noticed?"
The voice paused, then continued evenly.
"You and I have no quarrel. I won't touch you."
"You've no grudge against me either."
"So why don't we keep quiet about this? Once we reach our destination, I'll leave on my own."
"Let's just… make things easy for each other, shall we?"