In the depths of the Great Wildlands of the Xuanyuan Realm, Qingyuan Mountain stood tall at its center.
Below Qingyuan Mountain lay shadows upon shadows, which upon closer inspection, were flocks of birds and beasts. They occasionally glanced at Qingyuan Mountain, yet were intimidated by the Sect-Protection Grand Array.
Qingyuan Mountain was barren, resembling a desolate mountain, with its structures clearly visible, and even some humans could be seen within.
The mountain was surrounded by floating rays of light, with occasional flashes of lightning, showcasing its might.
That was the Sect-Protection Grand Array of the Azure Thunder Sect, the Five-Thunder Annihilation Array, a formidable force.
Unable to break through after prolonged attacks, they could only resort to besieging the Azure Thunder Sect cultivators to exhaust them.
At the center of the demonfolk camp, a wolf demon with a wolf's head and a human body anxiously waited. He was Hei Lie, the leader of the half-demon tribe.
Surrounding Hei Lie were leaders from various half-demon tribes, engaged in heated debates.
"I said from the start, our resources in the Great Wildlands are scarce, and now we have to fight humans. We're all poor; even if we rob the humans, will we really become rich?"
"Exactly, I don't know if the humans can hold out, but we half-demons will definitely suffer great losses."
"That's not entirely true. Although Qingyuan Mountain is barren, it at least has a Thunder Spirit Vein beneath it. Wouldn't it be good to seize it?"
"That useless spirit vein is worthless!"
"Lord Demon, shouldn't you tell us why you suddenly want to wage war against humans?"
Listening to the voices below, Hei Lie felt his head throbbing.
These guys, do they think he wants this?
Just then, an old man suddenly appeared in the center of the camp.
"Who goes there!"
The sudden appearance of the old man went unnoticed by everyone, making the demons realize they were not on the same level.
The old man ignored the demons and looked at Hei Lie.
"Lord Demon, why haven't you attacked yet?"
Upon hearing this, Hei Lie immediately put on a flattering smile: "Sir, that Sect-Protection Grand Array is formidable. We can't break through it, so we're just holding them off..."
"Hmph! I think you just don't want to!"
The powerful aura made it hard for the surrounding half-demons to breathe.
Elemental Infant! An Elemental Infant monster!
In this desolate place, an Elemental Infant could practically walk sideways.
Why would an Elemental Infant powerhouse come to such a place?
"Please calm down, sir. You may not know, but our rash attack on the Azure Thunder Sect has alarmed the human cultivators in the Great Wildlands. They're worried that after we conquer the Azure Thunder Sect, we'll turn on them. Now they've all gathered at the Azure Thunder Sect to unite against us."
Although Hei Lie's orders were to annihilate the Azure Thunder Sect and spare no one, the Great Wildlands was such a small place that when the human cultivators saw the half-demons attacking the Azure Thunder Sect like madmen, they feared for their own safety and united.
The Azure Thunder Sect was undoubtedly the top human sect in the Great Wildlands. If it fell, the smaller sects wouldn't last long.
Though the sects in the Great Wildlands were small, once united, their power couldn't be underestimated.
The old man snorted coldly upon hearing this: "A rabble, but it doesn't matter. The situation with the Supreme Elder is already stable, and now it's time to deal with these disobedient ones."
Hei Lie kept his head down, nodding repeatedly, his heart full of bitterness.
What kind of mess had he gotten into? Why did the humans' problems have to involve the half-demons?
"But you do have some use. At least you've trapped them here, preventing anyone from escaping."
Hei Lie cautiously glanced at the old man and whispered: "Actually, a woman escaped, but don't worry, sir. I've already sent someone to hunt her down!"
The old man was taken aback and quickly took out a drawing, which clearly depicted Luo Qingyi.
"Is it her?"
"Uh, yes."
At that moment, a small wolf demon rushed in to report: "Lord Demon, the one sent to hunt down that human's kin is dead."
"What!"
Before Hei Lie could react, the old man grabbed the small demon, the immense pressure causing the small demon to cough up blood.
"Did she escape?"
The small demon shook his head repeatedly and quickly said: "No, that woman came back."
Hearing this, the old man released the small demon.
Hei Lie also realized something was amiss and hurriedly said: "Shall I go kill her?"
"No, let her return, and take Bai Ling with her."
The old man leisurely walked out of the camp, with Hei Lie quickly following, puzzled: "But the Azure Thunder Sect used all its strength to break our siege just to seek aid. What if powerful reinforcements arrive..."
"Powerful reinforcements?"
Hearing this, the old man laughed, looking at the Great Wildlands before him with disdain.
"Haha, what powerful force can compare to the Dao Xuan Sect?"
The Dao Xuan Sect was the top sect in the Middle Lands, the leader of the righteous Alliance.
Hei Lie knew the terror of this old man, but he didn't expect such a terrifying background, that he was from the Dao Xuan Sect.
Annihilating all human cultivators in the Great Wildlands was merely to ensure that little girl had no escape? No place to hide?
How did the small Azure Thunder Sect provoke the Dao Xuan Sect, and how could a girl who wasn't even at the Foundation Establishment stage warrant being hunted by an Elemental Infant powerhouse?
Instinct told him it was best not to know these things.
***
Something was off, very off.
Heyu stared blankly at the three-foot wooden sword on the table. The sword was pitch black, covered in runes Heyu couldn't understand.
The hilt of the wooden sword was inlaid with a crystal that resembled white jade, making it clear that it was no ordinary item.
Heyu carefully picked up the wooden sword, finding it unexpectedly light, with a warm sensation in his hand.
Without a doubt, this was the wooden sword of Luo Qingyi that he had taken from the glass case yesterday.
But last night, this wooden sword was the size of a hair strand, and now it was three feet long.
Could the items taken from the case be used?
Heyu's heart raced.
It seemed he might not have to die after all.
If he could retrieve healing pills from the Cultivation Realm, they might cure him.
If he remembered correctly, Heyu recalled Luo Qingyi saying last night that this thing was for practicing sword control, and even ordinary people could use it. The spirit stone on it would provide spiritual Qi to operate the sword-control formation.
Looking at the wooden sword, Heyu was at a loss.
How was he supposed to use it?
Heyu tried to imagine the wooden sword taking flight in his mind.
Buzz.
The flying sword trembled slightly, slowly leaving Heyu's hand, floating in the air, and flying in the direction Heyu imagined within the room.
Heyu quickly controlled the flying sword to return, his heart pounding uncontrollably.
Alive, alive, he was truly alive now.
Who would want to die if they could live?
Heyu carefully placed the wooden sword down and hurriedly turned on the glass case.
***
Luo Qingyi had gotten up early, circling the small plastic house, occasionally touching it, clearly very fond of it.
She seemed to want to take the small plastic house with her, but her storage pouch was already full.
"If you like it, I have more."
Heyu smiled as he saw Luo Qingyi's reluctant expression.
"Ah, senior."
Luo Qingyi's face turned awkward, quickly tidying her clothes.
"Senior, I'm preparing to return to the sect. Would you like to come and take a look?"
"I have things to do, maybe another time."
Heyu thought for a moment and replied.
Hearing this, Luo Qingyi felt disappointed, but quickly recovered.
She couldn't expect the senior to accompany her all the time.
"In that case, Qingyi will take her leave. If the senior has time, the Azure Thunder Sect always welcomes you."
With that, Luo Qingyi hurriedly headed into the depths of the Great Wildlands.
She had been delayed another night and didn't know how her master and the others were doing.
Heyu stood outside the glass case, watching Luo Qingyi move. Sure enough, as Luo Qingyi moved, the scenery inside the glass case changed accordingly.
However, it always centered around Luo Qingyi, like a third-person game, with the view always revolving around her.
The world inside this glass case was strongly bound to Luo Qingyi!
Heyu concluded.
But right now, Heyu didn't have the mind to focus on the glass case; he needed to confirm something.
That was the identity of the old man who sold him this case!
***
Heyu quickly washed up and prepared to head to the city to find the old man.
Before leaving, Heyu glanced at the glass case on the table and decided to turn it off.
Looking at it now, it was just an ordinary glass case with some miniature landscaping inside.
Afterward, Heyu took the wooden sword and headed to the urban district.
After all, it was a wooden sword, not a controlled weapon, so it didn't matter if people saw it.
On the way, Heyu casually bought two buns and then took the subway.
He thoughtfully wore a mask, as he was a bit shy. Although the wooden sword in his hand looked ordinary, the runes and gemstone on it were quite eye-catching. When he bought breakfast, he noticed people glancing at him multiple times.
As if they were looking at someone out of the ordinary...
Fortunately, it was Sunday, and most people were busy catching up on sleep, so the subway wasn't too crowded.
A quick look at "pawread.com" will leave you more fulfilled.
Heyu had just sat down when a group of people in strange costumes with brightly dyed hair suddenly appeared on the subway.
Most of them, like Heyu, wore masks, but while Heyu wore a medical mask, theirs were much more flamboyant.
"Hey? Brother, are you going to the anime exhibition too?"
Seeing the wooden sword in Heyu's hand, a young college student quickly sat next to him, giving Heyu his first taste of the terror of a social butterfly.
"Wow, this sword is cool. Must have cost a lot, huh?"
Heyu awkwardly nodded.
"What character are you cosplaying as? I can't figure it out. Is it from a domestic anime?"
Looking at the mysterious runes on the wooden sword, the college student marveled and repeatedly exclaimed.
Heyu was already regretting bringing the sword out; he should have wrapped it in cloth.
This was a reminder to Heyu that items from the Cultivation Realm, though ordinary there, were quite eye-catching in this world.
Fortunately, the people around were even more eye-catching, so comparatively, the wooden sword in Heyu's hand seemed normal.
Heyu remained silent throughout the journey, and the college student, realizing he might have been too talkative, stopped asking questions.
***
Half an hour later, Heyu finally arrived in the urban district.
He quickly went to the spot where the old man had been yesterday, only to find that both the old man and his stall were gone.
Heyu hurriedly looked at the adjacent stall and asked the vendor:
"Uncle, where's the old man from yesterday?"
The person glanced at Heyu and laughed:
"Young man, did that old man scam you?"
Heyu:?
"Let me tell you, that old man's son was actually a tomb raider. His son did the digging, and the old man did the selling."
Heyu:!
"Tsk tsk, I only found out today. The old man's son died while tomb raiding, and then the old man went crazy, talking nonsense and openly selling those underground items at his stall. They were all genuine. He was taken away yesterday, and everyone who bought antiques from him was taken for questioning."
Heyu:!!
"You're lucky, young man, you just bought a glass case."
As everyone knows, glass is a modern product, not an antique.
"So your eight hundred yuan is gone for good. The old man had a heart attack and died as soon as he entered the station last night. He's probably being cremated now."
Heyu was stunned.
So the glass case was actually dug up from underground, and everyone who came into contact with it died?
Heyu shivered, but then remembered he didn't have many days left to live, and suddenly he wasn't afraid anymore.
"Young man, want to buy something?"
The uncle suddenly pointed to his stall, and Heyu thought for a moment. Since the uncle had told him quite a bit, he decided to buy something.
He set his sights on the cheapest item, a laser pointer.
"How much?"
"Eighty."
"Eight!"
"Deal!"
Heyu:...
Sometimes he really wanted to call the police.
"Aren't you afraid of not having repeat customers?"
The uncle chuckled, casually pulling out a black raincoat from a nearby box and pointing to the sky.
"There'll be repeat customers soon."
The previously clear sky suddenly became overcast, and it looked like it was going to rain.
"Young man, want to buy a raincoat?"
Heyu:...
Can't you fleece someone else for a change?
"How much?"
"Twenty will do, I'm closing up too."
Heyu was surprised, not expecting the man to be kind for once.
Just then, Heyu's phone rang.
Heyu looked at it and saw it was his cousin, Li Yang. It was Li Yang who had introduced him to his current job.
They kept in touch and occasionally went out for drinks.
"I heard you quit and threatened that Tang guy?"
Heyu laughed: "Yeah, Tang the Skinflint was withholding my pay."
It seemed Tang hadn't told him about the terminal illness, which made sense; Tang was a coward, afraid Heyu might really retaliate.
"Jobs are hard to find now. Come up to Vast-Expanse Mountain, I have a temporary job for you. We can also find some time to talk."
"Alright."
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan