After confirming that there were no cultivators from the Wangsheng Tower within a hundred-mile radius, Ji Yuan set up two layers of formations and several restrictions before quietly heading to a distant county town.
Upon returning to the town, he found it under strict martial law. All citizens were confined to their residential areas, and no one was allowed to enter or leave the county town. Squads of city guards were stationed everywhere, and over a dozen cultivators were spread throughout the town. Additionally, various martial arts factions that had pledged allegiance to the rebels were diligently assisting the county yamen in searching for suspicious individuals. It was evident that the battle the previous night had profoundly impacted the county town.
However, the so-called martial law was not a problem for Ji Yuan. With a slight application of his techniques, he concealed his presence, moving through the town without anyone detecting him. After the demise of a few demonic beasts, the highest cultivation realm among the cultivators in this county town was merely in the early to middle stage of the first realm.
Before long, Ji Yuan arrived outside the half-collapsed county yamen. His divine sense quickly swept the surroundings, and he soon located the county magistrate. The man was in a study room, frowning and diligently writing, his content primarily focused on shirking responsibility and requesting reinforcements from higher authorities. After a brief moment of thought, Ji Yuan stepped forward, his figure merging with the void. Within a few breaths, he appeared inside the study.
"Magistrate of Liucheng County!" Ji Yuan exclaimed, his voice resonating towards the middle-aged man before him. To outsiders, the sound might have seemed ordinary, but to the county magistrate, it was like rolling thunder. The man looked up in alarm, only to meet a pair of eyes filled with profound light. In an instant, his eyes lost their luster, becoming vacant and listless.
"Why did the demonic beasts of Wangsheng Tower harvest the lives of the citizens in the city?" Ji Yuan inquired, confirming that his illusionary technique had been effective. Although the magistrate was a mortal, his official seal typically provided a measure of protection against such illusions. However, this man had been appointed by the rebels and lacked the protection of the Great Yu Dynasty's destiny, thus losing this safeguard.
"To collect souls," the middle-aged man replied stiffly.
"Why collect souls?" Ji Yuan's brow furrowed. He already had a suspicion, but it was better to obtain definitive confirmation, as this matter would be significant if true.
"Because Wangsheng Tower intends to refine the Ten Thousand Souls Yin Spirit Banner." As the words fell, Ji Yuan's expression darkened. Despite his preparedness, hearing the confirmation sent a chill down his spine. Although he had never heard of this item, he could surmise it was no ordinary artifact, but perhaps a supreme and incredibly powerful treasured artifact. In subsequent questioning, he learned that the harvesting of lives by demonic beasts was not confined to Liucheng alone. Throughout the Fengming Prefecture, which had been occupied by the rebels, demons and ghosts from Wangsheng Tower were actively killing lives in various ways to seize their souls for the refinement of this artifact.
"This is becoming troublesome." Ji Yuan's eyes flickered. Though lacking concrete evidence, he was certain that Wangsheng Tower in Chongyuan Prefecture was refining this so-called Ten Thousand Souls Yin Spirit Banner with the intention of dealing with the Shenxuan Sect and the powerful individuals in the prefecture capital. The refinement process alone would inflict countless karmic debts, and he could only imagine the devastation it would cause once completed. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the land would be plunged into misery, and the number of lives lost would be incalculable once this treasure was successfully forged.
After a long silence, he couldn't help but sigh. Regardless of what was about to happen, it had little bearing on him, a cultivator of the third realm. With his current cultivation level, he could indeed be considered a powerhouse among ordinary cultivators. However, to prevent Wangsheng Tower from refining the Ten Thousand Souls Yin Spirit Banner, his current cultivation was insufficient.
Before leaving, Ji Yuan flicked a wisp of sword energy, extinguishing the life force of the Liucheng county magistrate. He did not linger in the city, having obtained the answers he needed. He then quietly returned to his hidden sanctuary.
As soon as he re-entered the small courtyard in the woods, he found Zhao Yuansong awake from his slumber. Zhao Yuansong was currently in the courtyard, conversing with Cao Yan. Upon seeing Ji Yuan, Zhao Yuansong's eyes gleamed. Although they hadn't seen each other for half a year, there was no sign of estrangement.
"It's been a few years. How have you been?" Zhao Yuansong stepped forward and, without preamble, embraced Ji Yuan before asking.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan smiled knowingly and recounted some of the events that had transpired in recent years. When he learned that Xuantian Peak was gradually on the right track and had established its influence in Feiyun County, Zhao Yuansong's smile deepened. He felt no envy, only happiness for his friend.
"Once the other two wake up, we will go and rendezvous with Elder Hong Tian and the other inner disciples," Ji Yuan suddenly said after their casual chat. The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression.
Seeing this, Zhao Yuansong immediately sensed something was amiss and cast a questioning glance. Ji Yuan then explained the matter of the Ten Thousand Souls Yin Spirit Banner, along with some of his own speculations. Although these were unverified hypotheses, they were not far from the truth, and any deviations would likely be minor. As he spoke, not only Zhao Yuansong's expression turned grave, but Cao Yan and his family also showed a range of complex emotions, a mixture of fear, dread, and a profound sense of helplessness for the future.
Being in Fengming Prefecture, if such a day were to come, there would be nowhere to hide. They would inevitably be swept into the coming calamity. As ordinary mortals, even Cao Yan, who was merely a first-realm martial artist, possessed no self-preservation ability in the face of such a disaster.
Zhao Yuansong suddenly seemed to recall something and instinctively looked over, his gaze then dimming. He had naturally considered taking them away. Over their recent interactions, a considerable bond had formed between them. However, he was also aware of his own limitations; taking people away from Fengming Prefecture was somewhat unrealistic. Furthermore, Zhao Yuansong would not ask his friend and fellow disciples to bear unnecessary risks for a mere whim of his.
"Don't worry. This place is remote, and hardly anyone will find us," Ji Yuan said with a slight smile. "Coupled with the formations I've left behind, it's sufficient to guarantee safety." However, this safety was relative. Anyone with cultivation exceeding the second realm would have the strength to forcibly break through the formations. But for Cao Yan and his family, this level of protection was more than adequate, as there were virtually no cultivators above the second realm within hundreds of miles.