Chapter 45

Sun Ergou was an abandoned child, his parents unknown. His master raised him, and everyone in the Pingyuan Sect found it strange that Qi Du, known for his fierce reputation, would give his disciple such a rustic and lowly name.

Qi Du had a keen eye, and Sun Ergou did not disappoint. He easily formed a Dao embryo, though it was only of medium quality. Among the generations of disciples in the Pingyuan Sect, he was the first to achieve this.

Influenced by his master, Sun Ergou enjoyed appreciating flying swords, and he could talk about them eloquently. However, when it came to actual practice, he felt nothing. Qi Du once commented that Sun Ergou's sword practice was like wielding a firewood stick, only poking and jabbing.

Sun Ergou discovered by chance that he had a special affinity for exotic weapons.

For a sword cultivator to abandon sword practice and instead use exotic weapons would be considered a grave transgression in other sects. However, Qi Du did not care. He refined a python bone whip for Sun Ergou, taught him the Six辟 Whip Technique, and the Soul Capture Spell. The Dao techniques of the Pingyuan Sect emphasized neither good nor evil, but adhering to one's true nature. Forcing someone to do something against their nature, like making a cow drink water, would not benefit Sun Ergou and could also affect Qi Du's Dao heart.

Sun Ergou had already mastered the Six辟 Whip Technique. He came to the Ghost Gate Abyss to practice the Soul Capture Spell.

The Soul Capture Spell was a widely known and quick method. Its essence lay in capturing a wisp of a monster's soul and using the soul's resonance to control the monster, making it attack enemies. The monsters controlled by the Soul Capture Spell were more flexible than puppets and more convenient than spirit pets, making them very popular among the disciples of the seven minor sects.

The wolves and leopards, though somewhat intelligent in life, were not true monsters and could only be used for practice to familiarize himself with the technique. His true target was the human-faced dove in the Ghost Gate Abyss.

The human-faced dove was agile and incredibly strong. Subduing such a fierce bird and forcibly capturing a wisp of its soul was more difficult than he had anticipated. The appearance of Wei Shiqi gave him a pleasant surprise. A powerful body cultivator with an equally powerful iron staff was a perfect match.

The only concern was whether Wei Shiqi would harbor any resentment after the incident in Kunlun Mountain where he had not come to his aid.

Sun Ergou pondered and then probed, "Brother Shiqi, we seem to have a connection. This is our third meeting, right?"

"Yes, I must thank you for speaking up for me back then."

Sun Ergou felt a bit awkward and said with a forced smile, "Unfortunately, my master did not listen to my advice... Fortunately, you have the protection of the heavens..."

"Everything is about the heart, not the outcome. You don't need to worry."

Sun Ergou breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that this person was worth befriending. He then invited him, "To be honest, Brother Shiqi, I came to the Ghost Gate Abyss to capture a few human-faced doves to practice the technique taught by my sect. Unfortunately, I lack the strength. Could Brother Shiqi lend me a hand?"

Wei Shiqi had a good impression of Sun Ergou. Since the other party had asked, forming a good relationship would not hurt. However, he did not immediately agree. He pointed to the dead wolves and leopards and asked, "Are these the monsters you subdue with your secret technique? Why did they ignore me when I was standing behind the stone tablet?"

Sun Ergou was somewhat surprised but then realized, "Brother Shiqi is still a trial disciple of Xiandu, so it's no wonder you don't know. According to the elders, the Ghost Gate Abyss connects to the monster nest. Tens of thousands of years ago, the monster race invaded the human world. The ancestor of Kunlun set up the Heaven-Connecting Array here, capturing and imprisoning the leaders of the monster race under the Flowing Rock Peak. There are forty stone tablets on the Yin-Yang Ridge, spread throughout the Ghost Gate Abyss, which are the remains of the Heaven-Connecting Array. They have various magical effects, but no one can figure out the mysteries now. However, it is a well-known fact that the monsters in the Ghost Gate Abyss never cross the stone tablets."

Wei Shiqi felt more at ease. The human-faced dove was a fierce bird, and he feared it might chase him for days and nights. With the stone tablets as cover, he would have a way out in case of an emergency. He pondered for a moment and asked, "How can I help you?"

Sun Ergou was delighted, "It's not difficult. Just beat the human-faced dove to a pulp, and I'll take care of the rest."

"Alright, if we deal with one at a time, it shouldn't be a problem."

"Have you encountered the human-faced dove before?"

"Previously, I met one near the stone bridge and managed to kill it."

Sun Ergou marveled, "Impressive, truly impressive! Brother Shiqi, even without a Dao embryo, you can kill a human-faced dove on your own. Your future is boundless!"

His voice still had a childlike quality, and Qin Zhen couldn't hold back a laugh, "Pfft."

Sun Ergou glared at her and turned back, "What reward do you want for your help, Brother Shiqi? Just say it—"

He looked at Wei Shiqi expectantly, waiting for him to name his price.

"If I can get more human-faced doves, can you give me some?"

Sun Ergou replied generously, "I only need three. The rest can be yours."

The two agreed, and as the sky began to brighten, the wind was light and the clouds were thin.

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