Screams erupted from all directions, and scarlet flames surged into the sky.

  The moment I saw those flames, I understood.

  I could no longer live here.

  Well, it was not as though I had bought the house with my own money.

  It had been rented cheaply by Qingliu City as a form of welfare.

  If I tried to resist the approaching tide, I would only lose my life.

  For now, seeking shelter was the wisest choice.

  [You have successfully slain a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a Qi Refinement Stage 6 cultivator.

  Level increased.

  Level increased.

  Level increa—]

  Notifications rang out announcing the rise in level and points, but that was hardly important at the moment.

  I immediately began to move.

  Fortunately, every formation I had installed in the house could be stored in Formation Plates.

  It was precisely to leave no trace behind.

  I had worked hard to set them up—naturally, I would take them all.

  Retrieval was swift.

  I had always lived with escape in mind, so there was little to pack.

  The moment I opened the courtyard gate, the street was already a scene of chaos.

  People, terrified out of their wits, ran about in confusion.

  Where should I go?

  I hesitated briefly.

  The hesitation did not last long.

  There was only one place to go—the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion.

  I was a registered official of Qingliu City, assigned to the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion.

  Qingliu City would protect me.

  Therefore, I would go to the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion.

  The thought of wartime conscription worried me slightly, but that could be considered later.

  They would not summon us immediately.

  In any case, fleeing beyond the city walls was impossible in this situation.

  If I hesitated and was struck down by a Demonic cultivator, how unjust would that be?

  Once my mind was set, there was no room for doubt.

  I unfolded the Rarong Step I had learned yesterday at the Qing Script Pavilion.

  Then I sprinted toward the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion at full speed.

  It was far more effective than running blindly.

  Had I known it was this useful, I would have learned it sooner.

  The distance from my house to Qingliu Pavilion was fifteen to twenty minutes on foot.

  Using spiritual power to operate Rarong Step, I was confident I could arrive within a minute.

  Halfway there, a paper slip appeared in midair and dropped into my palm.

  A message sent by Senior Brother Yang Dongwu through the Message Transmission Art.

  I hurriedly read its contents.

  [Quickly bring your identity jade token and flee to the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion. If you have acquaintances, you may bring a few along. The other officials are bringing their families as well. Senior Brother Ling Xuan and I are safe, so do not worry.]

  Even in such a dire situation, Senior Brother still thought of me.

  My nose tingled slightly.

  I also felt a bit proud that my decision to head to the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion had been correct.

  Suddenly, the Plum Blossom Elder of Huami Inn came to mind.

  Aside from my seniors, he was the only acquaintance I had in Qingliu City.

  After a moment’s hesitation, I made my decision.

  If I did not lend a hand in such danger, how could I face him later?

  While running, I formed hand seals and cast the Message Transmission Art.

  [I am heading to the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion to seek shelter. If you have nowhere to go, would you care to join me there?]

  The characters formed in midair turned into white paper and vanished in an instant.

  By the time I reached the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion, another slip flew toward me.

  It was the Plum Blossom Elder’s reply.

  [I have taken refuge at Huami Inn with my granddaughter. I was just about to send you a message myself—many thanks. Take care of yourself, and let us meet again.]

  A sigh of relief escaped me.

  Fortunately, Huami Inn had not forgotten the Plum Blossom Elder.

  Huami Inn was one of the largest inns in Qingliu City.

  With such backing, their safety was assured.

  I arrived before the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion.

  Officials of the Enforcement Hall stood sternly at the entrance, inspecting those who sought entry.

  I presented my jade token.

  An unknown force swept over my entire body.

  They were likely checking for disguises or transformations.

  I tensed slightly, but nothing happened.

  I exhaled inwardly in relief.

  Heavenly Treasure was truly supreme!

  The interior of the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion was protected by airtight formations.

  With precious spiritual herbs and medicines within, such precautions were only natural.

  Many officials had already gathered inside.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Most were familiar faces.

  Like me, they likely rented houses from Qingliu City.

  Quite a few were gathered as families.

  The cries of young children could be heard.

  Those with firm roots within the city, like Senior Brother Ling Xuan and Senior Brother Yang Dongwu, were nowhere to be seen.

  The cultivation clans surely had their own means of survival.

  Aside from those inspecting at the entrance, quite a number of Discipline Hall personnel were present as well.

  There were Foundation Establishment cultivators—and even several Core Formation Zhenren.

  Only then did my heart settle.

  Seeking employment as an official of Qingliu City had truly been the right choice.

  Avoiding eye contact with them, I found a place in the corner.

  People gathered in small groups, conversing anxiously.

  I curled up inconspicuously and pricked up my ears.

  “They say Xianhua Street has been completely devastated. The Demonic cultivators invaded there first—there was no time to react. From infants to the elderly, all were beheaded and laid out in rows.”

  “How dreadful. It is closest to the city gate, after all. What in the world is happening?”

  “Meibang Street is the same. Burned to ashes—nothing remains.”

  The constant stream of grim news left my mind numb.

  Qingzhu Street, where I had lived, was located fairly deep within the city.

  Those who rented houses, like me, resided in similar areas.

  It was structurally inevitable that the Demonic cultivators’ invasion would be delayed there.

  So this was why everyone struggled to live in prime locations.

  Clutching my startled heart, I prayed for the souls of the fallen.

  Had I not survived a desperate struggle myself? Ahem.

  ***

  A few hours earlier, at Ghost Music Pavilion.

  Within a hall steeped in sinister aura, a malicious-looking old woman abruptly rose from her seat.

  Before her flickered dozens of life lamps.

  One of them had just gone out.

  “Who… dared to kill my grandson?”

  One hundred and fifty years ago, he had been selected as a great spy of the Demonic Path and had advanced smoothly ever since.

  The only Foundation Establishment cultivator among her descendants—the one meant to inherit all her achievements.

  And now, his life lamp had extinguished.

  There was only one meaning.

  Her grandson, infiltrated within Qingliu City, was dead.

  Had his identity been exposed?

  No—that could not be.

  The life lamps of his great-grandchildren still burned brightly.

  Had his identity been revealed, the entire family would have been exterminated.

  Even if they escaped annihilation, at least some of those lamps should have gone out as well.

  The old woman stared grimly at the remaining lamps.

  Then what had happened?

  Her rage boiled uncontrollably.

  No matter what, I shall avenge.

  With vicious eyes, she formed hand seals before the extinguished lamp.

  “Ha!”

  With a sharp cry, she spat out a mouthful of essence blood.

  In midair, the image of a skeletal figure with three heads and six arms formed, and ghostly winds surged.

  A Ghost King.

  At the same time, from her sleeves floated souls of every shape and size.

  The Ghost King brightened at the sight and opened its enormous maw.

  The souls were sucked helplessly into its mouth.

  “Track the traces of my grandson, Exíng Suo. Reveal where he died, how he came to his death, and who the murderer was!”

  The skeletal Ghost King with three heads and six arms let out an eerie cackle and vanished.

  She had offered essence blood and all the souls she had gathered.

  Soon, the truth would be known.

  Two days later.

  The Ghost King had yet to return.

  This should not be so.

  Normally, such divination concluded within a day.

  This was unprecedented.

  Unable to endure the wait, she summoned the Ghost King once more.

  The skeletal figure appeared, slightly turned aside, avoiding her gaze.

  “I offered essence blood and all the souls I had gathered. Why is there no result?”

  After a long silence, the skeleton answered in a hoarse voice.

  […It is beyond my power. I have done my utmost. The souls cannot be returned.]

  Veins bulged at her temples.

  Damnable Ghost King! If that were the case, it should have said so sooner!

  With a furious wave of her hand, the Ghost King vanished.

  “Damn it. I did not wish to seek that old man.”

  But there was no choice.

  The grievance of losing her grandson surged anew.

  She mounted her flying spirit vessel.

  Soon, she appeared upon a cliff swept by sinister winds, where an old man with long black beard sat.

  Upon seeing him, she burst into tears and pleaded.

  “Old Zhong, my grandson has died. Please, help me.”

  The man called Old Zhong opened one eye lazily.

  “Guiyan, even after reaching Core Formation, have you still not severed your attachment to blood ties?”

  She flared in anger.

  What nonsense was this old man spouting?

  Nowadays, one cultivated by fully utilizing the seven emotions and six desires.

  “If you speak so, then one must detach from all things. Walking the path against the heavens itself is filled with obsession.”

  Old Zhong coughed awkwardly.

  “Ahem. In any case, what is your request?”

  “Open your Heavenly Eye and tell me how my grandson died. I cannot live with this injustice.”

  “The Heavenly Eye? You know the price.”

  “I know. Here.”

  Old Zhong glanced at the offered payment.

  Though she was disagreeable, she was generous.

  One thousand mid-grade spirit stones.

  Two Dharma Treasures.

  One flying spirit vessel.

  Three bottles of cultivation pills.

  One hundred fifty living spirits.

  At the sight of the living spirits, Old Zhong licked his lips.

  Mo Yan Hua, the Spirit Severing cultivator, had forbidden him from using the Heavenly Eye privately.

  But with that many living spirits, he could replenish the lifespan he had lost mastering new techniques.

  “Very well. Wait a moment.”

  Guiyan watched anxiously as he formed hand seals.

  A blood-red mist gathered.

  Another eye appeared upon his forehead.

  The bloodshot eyeball trembled.

  Through the Heavenly Eye, he followed the mark left by her grandson.

  The third eye twitched.

  “Have you found it?”

  At that instant—

  With a loud pop, the eye upon his forehead burst apart.

  “Gaaah!”

  Old Zhong screamed, clutching his forehead.

  Blood splattered across the old woman’s face.

  Supporting his collapsing body, she stammered,

  “W-What happened?”

  She hastily fed him a restorative pill.

  Moments later, he awoke and pointed at her furiously.

  “I nearly died because of you! My Heavenly Eye is gone—how will you compensate me?”

  “What—what did you see?!”

  Spittle flew as he raged.

  “Your grandson was killed by an existence too powerful to speak of! An existence surpassing Spirit Severing—beyond the very plane! I never wish to see it again.”

  The memory of that enormous eye staring back at him surfaced.

  Even recalling it felt as though his soul might shatter.

  Guiyan stood stunned.

  “An existence… beyond Spirit Severing?”

  Old Zhong wept tears of blood.

  “Yes. Do not pursue this further. Think first of preserving your life.”

  Guiyan trembled.

  In the cultivation world, strength was absolute.

  The weak must live as the weak.

  With Old Zhong crippled and the trail gone cold, the pursuit of her grandson’s death faded into nothing.

  She hurried toward her flying vessel.

  But before she could depart—

  A gigantic hand descended from the heavens.

  [You wretched adulterous dogs! How dare you cause such disaster? Zhong, you ungrateful cur!]

  Mo Yan Hua had learned of the Heavenly Eye’s destruction.

  A stream of blood flowed down the cliff where Old Zhong and Guiyan had stood.

  ***

  Startled by a strange sensation, I jolted upright.

  I lay within the duty chamber attached to the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion, yet an intense chill seized me.

  Why did it feel as though someone were watching?

  I spread my divine sense to scan the surroundings.

  No one.

  Was I merely frightened by shadows?

  Then the system notification rang out.

  [The peeping eye has been eliminated through backlash.]

  What did that mean?

  So that earlier feeling had been real?

  …Well, if it had been eliminated, it should be fine.

  Just as I exhaled in relief, a cough sounded outside.

  “Ahem, Junior Brother Xuanyuan. Please come out. The Pavilion Master has summoned everyone.”

  The Pavilion Master?

  For what reason?

  The man outside continued, sounding almost pleased.

  “Perhaps our assignments are to be reorganized. Is that not good news?”