Chapter 11

"Um, are you the one guarding the ancestral hall, Zhu Ganglie?"

Palm Teacher Qingyunzi glanced at Zhu Ganglie and asked indifferently. This made Zhu Ganglie's expression tense, and he did not dare to relax in the slightest. He stepped forward and said respectfully, "Palm Teacher's keen eyesight!"

"Very good!"

On the side, the provincial governor of Chilong, Yu Shinan, nodded in approval at Zhu Ganglie, who had sword-like eyebrows and a face as handsome as a jade crown. Although Zhu Ganglie was dressed in tattered clothes, he exuded a noble and dignified aura, and his every move had a sense of ease and composure.

"Prince Zhu Xu of the Qingqiu Kingdom is holding a blessing ceremony, gathering all the cultivators within the kingdom. Our Zhen Gang Sect and Taiyin Sect will also send disciples. Our Zhen Gang Sect will be led by the eldest disciple, Linghu Yilang, along with Wang Kui and Gui Chenxi. The miscellaneous disciple Zhu Ganglie will also go to Longyan City."

Palm Teacher Qingyunzi's words made everyone slightly stunned. Sending Linghu Yilang, Wang Kui, and Gui Chenxi was not inappropriate, as they were all elite disciples, especially Linghu Yilang, who had already cultivated magical power.

However, Zhu Ganglie was merely a miscellaneous disciple, and why he was given this honor puzzled everyone in the hall, and some looked at him with unfriendly eyes.

"This trip to Longyan City, you must be cautious and not act rashly. You must not tarnish the reputation of our Zhen Gang Sect."

Qingyunzi ignored everyone's confusion and gave them a gentle reminder.

Wang Kui looked at Zhu Ganglie with dissatisfaction and said, "Master, why send a miscellaneous disciple with us? Isn't this just a burden?"

This comment resonated with the others in the hall, and they looked at Zhu Ganglie even more unfavorably.

However, Zhu Ganglie was not angry. He kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, as if he did not notice. As a miscellaneous disciple, he was no different from a servant in their eyes. Arguing now would only bring humiliation upon himself.

"There is a deeper meaning. The three of you must protect this person and escort him to Longyan City!"

Qingyunzi did not avoid Zhu Ganglie's presence and said casually, making Linghu Yilang and the others stop asking questions. They all thought they were just bringing a useless burden.

After giving his instructions, Qingyunzi dismissed everyone, but kept Linghu Yilang and the others, seemingly to give them further instructions.

Zhu Ganglie was not bothered by this. He intended to use this opportunity to leave the Zhen Gang Sect and seek apprenticeship at the Taibai Sword Sect.

According to the information he had gathered, the Taibai Sword Sect was located in the west of the Qingqiu Kingdom. Passing through the capital, Longyan City, was the shortest and best route.

The Qingqiu Kingdom was located in the southwestern border of the Dongsheng Divine Land, surrounded by demons and evil spirits. Cultivators, demons, and heretical practitioners were as numerous as cattle and sheep. It was best to be cautious with his current strength.

Zhu Ganglie spent a sleepless night, still sitting cross-legged, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth to strengthen his divine soul.

When dawn broke, Zhu Ganglie got up early and waited for the three elite disciples at the mountain gate.

"Let's go!"

Seeing the waiting Zhu Ganglie, Linghu Yilang said indifferently and led the way out of the mountain gate, heading for Longyan City.

On the way, Zhu Ganglie pondered the information about the three in his mind. Linghu Yilang was powerful, having already cultivated magical power and tamed a golden-winged iron-clawed eagle, making him the strongest fighter.

Wang Kui and Gui Chenxi were also elite disciples, but they had only cultivated about five or six magical powers, making them less powerful than Zhu Ganglie.

Zhu Ganglie was only concerned about Linghu Yilang. As long as he did not use his spiritual energy or magic, Linghu Yilang would not discover that he was a cultivator.

The three walked and soon left the Piaomiao Mountain, arriving at a small village. They planned to rest there for the night before continuing their journey.

"Little miscellaneous disciple, find your own place to stay. Don't disturb our cultivation, or I will punish you."

The three entered a better house and drove Zhu Ganglie out, with Wang Kui scolding him fiercely.

Zhu Ganglie was not angry. This was a good opportunity for him to cultivate and strengthen his divine soul, aiming to condense his eighth magical power as soon as possible.

He found a thatched cottage and sat down to meditate. However, before it got dark, the originally busy villagers suddenly rushed into their houses.

Zhu Ganglie, who was focused on cultivation, did not notice anything unusual. He continued to run the Taiyin Cultivation Technique, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth to strengthen his divine soul, making his soul power sufficient to condense the eighth magical power.

In the middle of the night, Zhu Ganglie felt the essence of heaven and earth gradually become cold, as if something was changing. He stopped cultivating and used his divine soul to check the surroundings.

He was startled to find that the entire village was pitch black, with no starlight or moonlight, as if a huge pot had been inverted over the village.

The villagers who had gone to bed early suddenly came out, with blank expressions and strange movements.

For example, an old man slowly walked west on the street, and when he reached the village entrance, his figure flickered and reappeared at the eastern end of the village, repeating the same path over and over, never stopping.

There was also a middle-aged man less than five feet tall who was selling steamed buns on the street, but his basket only contained a few women's heads. These female ghosts laughed and giggled, unaware that they had become merchandise.

The street was filled with many strange and bizarre figures, like a bustling market, but there was no sound, making it extremely eerie.

"Screech! Screech!"

Two sharp eagle cries echoed in the darkness, and then three figures and a golden-winged iron-clawed eagle broke through the thatched cottage. Seeing the strange scene, the eldest brother, Linghu Yilang, said with a slight change in expression, "It's the Yin-Yang Boundary!"

"Eldest Brother, what is the Yin-Yang Boundary?"

Gui Chenxi looked puzzled, with a talisman sword circling around her, always on guard.

Linghu Yilang frowned and cautiously surveyed the surroundings, saying, "These people must have experienced some major disaster in their lives and all died. However, after death, they did not realize they were dead and continued their daily routines. The place is heavily shrouded in yin energy, which nourishes these spirits, gradually forming this Yin-Yang Boundary.

However, this place does not seem to be a place of yin energy. I suspect that some heretical practitioners are up to something. Be careful."

"Zhu Ganglie, come to us and don't wander around."

Noticing Zhu Ganglie, Linghu Yilang called out, making Zhu Ganglie slightly frustrated. He had planned to leave the three and head to Longyan City alone, but now he would have to find another opportunity.

"You have cultivated some martial arts of our sect to the point of burning blood for qi, but to some ghosts, you are a great tonic. So don't leave us, or you might be killed, and we will be punished by the Palm Teacher. Little Brother Wang Kui, protect him!"

Linghu Yilang said to Zhu Ganglie indifferently, seemingly afraid that his two junior disciples would not take care of Zhu Ganglie, so he emphasized it a bit.

Zhu Ganglie smiled slightly and followed behind the frowning and unhappy Wang Kui, feeling a bit more goodwill towards Linghu Yilang. In such a situation, he still thought of him, showing that he had a good heart.

"Eldest Brother, let's get out of here first and deal with this matter."

Seeing the unconscious people moving around, Wang Kui was worried and did not want to stay in this place.

"To get out, we must first find the boundary point of the Yin-Yang Boundary and destroy it."

As Linghu Yilang spoke, a gourd-shaped magical power flickered in the air and disappeared, searching for the boundary point.

Zhu Ganglie did not relax either, secretly forming a sword gesture with one hand and lightly holding the Primordial Yang Ruler in his sleeve, ready to act at any moment.

"I found it, follow me quickly!"

Linghu Yilang's face brightened, and he flew directly towards the center of the village. Gui Chenxi followed closely behind, and Wang Kui looked at Zhu Ganglie with a mix of anger and annoyance, "Follow us, or the ghosts will eat you, and don't blame me."

After saying that, Wang Kui also flew away.

"Hehe!"

Watching Wang Kui's flying back, Zhu Ganglie chuckled, and with a swift movement, he ran like a galloping horse. Although his predecessor in the Zhen Gang Sect did not secretly learn cultivation techniques like him, he practiced martial arts day and night, reaching the pinnacle of human martial arts.

When he caught up with the three, Zhu Ganglie saw Linghu Yilang and the others surrounding a white bone tower in the center of the village, their expressions alert, their magical robes glowing, and their talisman swords emitting white sword qi.

"Hundred Ghosts Locking Yin Tower! It's from the heretical practitioners of the Hundred Demons Mountain."

The three exclaimed in unison, their magical robes glowing even more brightly. Linghu Yilang's wrist flicked, and a green, willow-leaf-like flying sword rotated in his palm.