In Baidi City in April, a fine rain began to fall.
On the main road of Guanjia Lane, a person dressed in a green shirt and wearing a straw hat appeared, carrying a sword box on his back. He walked slowly in the rain. However, the raindrops falling from the sky could barely wet his green shirt, being blocked by an invisible sword intent. He walked for a long time and stopped by the roadside, looking at a steamed bun shop.
"Boss, five meat buns, please."
"Alright, please wait a moment, honored guest. Ten copper coins!"
"So expensive?"
The green-shirted swordsman frowned and said, "The large meat buns at Tianji City only cost one copper coin each."
"Honored guest, that's not quite right."
The boss, while wrapping the buns in oil paper, chuckled and said, "You can't get Baidi City buns in Tianji City, can you? Honored guest, isn't that the case?"
The green-shirted swordsman's expression grew stern: "That's true. Boss, you are truly a perceptive person."
"Haha, thank you for your patronage!"
After counting out ten coins and giving them to the boss, the green-shirted swordsman took a bite of a bun on the spot and said with a smile, "It smells delicious. The boss's words are not false. Baidi City buns are big and fragrant."
The boss chuckled, repeatedly praising the honored guest's good taste.
"..."
Not far away, a figure of peerless beauty appeared in front of a mansion gate. She was dressed in a red dress, holding an oil-paper umbrella in her left hand. Beneath the umbrella was a face of breathtaking beauty. In her right hand, she held a sword, frowning as she looked at the sword cultivator of the twelfth realm of the Mohist school who was eating buns not far away. Her face was filled with speechless exasperation. Xu Shuo, a dignified member of the Mohist school, looked just like those bumpkins visiting Baidi City for the first time.
At first glance, he seemed to be that kind of person, but the dense sword intent radiating from him was undeniable.
As Xu Shuo turned, he saw the woman holding the umbrella. A apologetic smile immediately appeared on his face. He jogged over while still eating a bun and said with a laugh, "My apologies, my apologies. I have kept the Pavilion Master of Xiuyixuan waiting. It is Xu Shuo's negligence. Pavilion Master, would you like a bun?"
"I've already had breakfast."
Cao Ying forced a smile and said, "Immortal Master Xu, His Highness Prince Jinan, and the Director of the Shanhai Division have been waiting at the prince's mansion for a while. Why don't we... eat and discuss when we get there?"
"That won't do."
Xu Shuo finished his bun in a few bites, clapped his hands, and grinned, "I, Xu Shuo, am not an uncivilized person."
Yet, a sprout of bean sprout was clearly still stuck between his teeth.
Cao Ying's smile was about to freeze. She said awkwardly, "Let's go. I will lead the way for Immortal Master Xu."
In fact, Cao Ying, like Xu Shuo, was a sword cultivator of the twelfth realm. In terms of sword intent and swordsmanship, Cao Ying believed that even if she couldn't defeat Xu Shuo, she should at least be his equal. However, Cao Ying maintained a very humble stance before this Mohist swordsman. It couldn't be helped; his status was there. Ranked second among the direct disciples of the Mohist Grandmaster, he was known as Xu Lao Er. His considerable achievements in mechanisms and formations meant he was more than just a twelfth-realm sword cultivator. The Emperor himself had wished to meet Xu Shuo upon hearing of his visit to Baidi City, but Xu Shuo had refused, claiming he didn't know how to act. Should he kneel to the emperor of that secular dynasty, or should the emperor kneel to him? Both seemed awkward, so it was better not to meet at all.
...
Inside Prince Jinan's Mansion.
In an extremely luxurious pavilion, Prince Jinan Zhao Qiyang had prepared tea. Beside him was the extremely deferential Director of the Shanhai Division, Huang Qingning, a twelfth-realm spirit cultivator of the human race. Although his strength was not comparable to that of sword cultivators, he was still a highly influential elder in the court, respected and revered among the mountains of the Great Shang Dynasty.
Xu Shuo, accompanied by Cao Ying, followed a winding corridor of wind and rain into the pavilion. He cupped his fists lightly and said without bowing his head, "Mohist Xu Shuo, greetings to Prince Jinan and fellow Daoist Huang."
"Immortal Master Xu!"
Prince Jinan Zhao Qiyang stood up and said with a smile, "Immortal Master Xu, please be seated. Please try our exquisite Furong Prefecture specialty, the Red Rhubarb Spring Tea."
"Thank you!"
Xu Shuo sat down, and Cao Ying also took a seat. The four of them conveniently occupied the four corners of the small table in the pavilion.
"This time, what news has the Mohist school brought?"
Zhao Qiyang frowned and said, "Please, Immortal Master Xu, speak frankly."
"Mm."
Xu Shuo nodded. "We have Mohist wanderers traveling in the Ghost Domain. Recently, we received news that the entire Kuzong River, spanning over ten thousand li, has been dragged away by a magic technique. Just as the worst-case scenario predicted by the Confucian Sages, the ox demon dwelling by the great river has already entered the thirteenth realm. His next step will be to cut off the entire water transport of the Kuzong River. The Kuzong River is a downstream tributary of the Xijian River. Perhaps this thirteenth-realm demon will fight his way up the Xijian River from the Kuzong River. At that time... the consequences would be unthinkable."
Cao Ying's delicate brows furrowed. "What do the demons want with such a large-scale movement?"
"It's nothing more than slow cooking a frog in warm water," Xu Shuo said lightly. "The ultimate goal is to move south, to devour the entire human world, making humanity completely subservient and becoming the slaves of the demons."
As he spoke, Xu Shuo took a sip of tea and continued, "Not only that, but it is said that the Demon Ancestral Mountain has successively dispatched several twelfth-realm great demons into the Ghost Domain to help cut off the tributaries of the Kuzong River, preventing the leakage of spiritual energy. This is all to gather all the spiritual energy downstream of the Xijian River for one person. If this is the case, although this ox demon dwelling by the great river is in the thirteenth realm, its true combat power may well be comparable to the fourteenth realm!"
Prince Jinan's expression grew solemn. "What are the intentions of the Mohist and Confucian schools?"
"Prepare to enter the Ghost Domain."
Xu Shuo raised his eyebrows slightly. "Once the demons dispatch more twelfth-realm cultivators into the Ghost Domain, our human race's peak twelfth-realm cultivators must also make a move. At least we must fight for the qi luck being lost from the Xijian River. Otherwise, if that white ox swallows it all, we will have to pay a greater price to regain the situation, and even Saints might lose their lives. Our human race has already lost one Confucian Saint. Do we want to lose the Martial Saint, the Dao Saint, and other Saints as well?"
Huang Qingning narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Immortal Master Xu, you can speak directly. Has the Mohist ancestral court made a specific request?"
"Yes."
Xu Shuo said, "Within Baidi City, the Pavilion Master of Xiuyixuan, the twelfth-realm sword cultivator Cao Ying, and the Director of the Shanhai Division, the twelfth-realm spirit cultivator Huang Qingning, you two are on the list jointly prepared by the Confucian and Mohist schools. If it is truly necessary to go to the Ghost Domain, I will come again."
Zhao Qiyang's brows furrowed, and he looked at Cao Ying, his most trusted subordinate, who might never return.
Cao Ying smiled faintly, a smile curling at the corner of her lips. "I, Cao Ying, have cultivated the twelfth-realm sword path and have already absorbed a lot of the human world's sword path qi luck. If it is truly necessary to go, Cao Ying will not refuse."
Xu Shuo cupped his fists and smiled, and Cao Ying returned the gesture.
Huang Qingning took another sip of tea and said, "I obey His Highness's command. If His Highness asks Huang Qingning to travel far, I will travel far. This old life was given to His Highness long ago. Huang is willing to die!"
"Mm!"
Prince Jinan Zhao Qiyang nodded heavily. "It's best if we can return alive. Besides, it's not necessarily a certainty that we will go. Right? After all... there are only a handful of twelfth-realm cultivators in the human race. If too many are lost, it will not be a good thing for the entire human world..."
Xu Shuo smiled slightly and ignored him. You are a regent, only concerned with the petty gains within the Great Shang Dynasty's territory. There's no need to beat the drum for the Mohist Five Realms.
Cao Ying frowned. "Who else will be going?"
"Peak twelfth-realm cultivators will likely all go," Xu Shuo said. "Lin Wanhua of Fusang Great Wall, Su Qingjiu of Changming Mountain, and myself, Xu Shuo of the Mohist school, are all on the list."
"That is excellent."
Cao Ying nodded with a smile.
"By the way."
Zhao Qiyang suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "Since Immortal Master Xu has graced my humble abode, my Baidi City also has a matter on which we wish to beg Immortal Master Xu's assistance. Not long ago, a蛟 Dragon Boat from the Shanhai Division was lost in the Xueyu Tianchi area and was dragged away by the person in white at Xueyu Tianchi. Our Great Shang Dynasty, for this reason..."
"Ah?"
Xu Shuo couldn't help but laugh. "Does Your Highness also know my sworn brother in white?"
"Sworn brother?"
Prince Jinan was taken aback, then smiled. "I meant no offense, but rather, can the Mohist ancestral court forge a few more蛟 Dragon Boats for our Great Shang Dynasty?"
"Yes."
Xu Shuo nodded. "Your Highness can first dispatch people from the Shanhai Division to the East Sea to search for ten-thousand-year-old蛟 Dragon bones. If they are found, the Mohist ancestral court will naturally be willing to send people and resources to forge treasures for the human race."
"Good, it's a deal!"
Xu Shuo stood up and said, "I'm leaving. I still need to go to Changming Mountain. I won't delay your important matters."
"Immortal Master Xu, you are too kind!"
...
In the afternoon, at the Demon Ancestral Mountain.
Shi Jungang ascended the mountain path with a slender sword. After walking not far, her gaze fell towards the back of the Ancestral Mountain. There, demonic energy surged, as if streaks of flames were rising and soaring towards the clouds. The back mountain seemed to have turned into a fiery mountain due to the appearance of that abyss. She couldn't help but frown. It seemed that that person would soon break through to the thirteenth realm.
In terms of status in the heart of the Demon Ancestor, that person was the true supreme being of the younger generation of demons. Compared to him, Shi Jungang was merely a pawn on the battlefield.
Not far away, a figure flew down from the back mountain and landed on the mountain path. His body flickered slightly. It was Lu Xiuyuan, who was originally a two-headed parrot. After Lin Wanhua cut off one of his heads with a sword, he fell to the eleventh realm. Now, there was a very clear wound on his wrist, and he appeared to have bled profusely.
"Lord Shi Jungang!"
Lu Xiuyuan quickly saluted.
Shi Jungang nodded. "Did you just go to the back mountain to offer your vital blood?"
"Yes..."
Lu Xiuyuan dared not show any hint of complaint and said with a smile, "That person's appetite is growing larger. Every three days, the eleventh-realm cultivators cultivating on the Ancestral Mountain have to offer vital blood. Twelfth-realm cultivators are even worse, offering it every two days. As for the thirteenth realm, they have to offer a few drops of essence blood almost every day."
Shi Jungang frowned. "Giving all the qi luck of the demon world to one person, I wonder if it is right or wrong. We shall wait and see."
"Mm!"
Lu Xiuyuan chuckled. "Didn't Lord Shi Jungang sit in command of the four military camps in the south? Why are you back at the Ancestral Mountain? Could it be that there is good news, and you are here to personally deliver it to Lady Yuzhi?"
Shi Jungang was startled, then glared resentfully at the noisy parrot. How could you bring up such a sensitive topic? No wonder you fell in realm!