The situation in Bian Prefecture was growing increasingly complex and tense, but none of it seemed to affect Song Changsheng. At this moment, his group had already crossed through Yang Prefecture and entered Xiang Prefecture.
Although Xiang Prefecture was nominally under the Rong Clan's control, their influence and authority hadn't truly extended across the entire region. More precisely, they hadn't reached the vast population of independent cultivators.
This was largely due to the existence of a very well-known loose organization, the Rogue Cultivators' Alliance.
The Rogue Cultivators' Alliance was a decentralized group present in many parts of the Great Qi Cultivation World. Though loosely organized and self-governed, it wielded significant influence and prestige among unaffiliated cultivators.
This was especially true in Xiang Prefecture. The vast majority of rogue cultivators aligned themselves with the alliance, to the point where it had nearly begun to threaten the Rong Clan's dominance in the region.
Song Changsheng's destination was the City of Rogues, located in the southern part of Xiang Prefecture.
Originally, it had been a marketplace jointly established by a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Over more than a hundred years, it had gradually grown, eventually developing into a full-fledged city.
Though it couldn't compare in scale to Luoxia City, it was still a fairly well-known place in the southern part of the Great Qi Cultivation World, and it also served as the headquarters of the Rogue Cultivators' Alliance in Xiang Prefecture.
After half a month of traveling through wind and rain, Song Changsheng and his party finally arrived at the City of Rogues.
"We finally made it. Time for a proper rest," Song Changsheng murmured, rubbing his tired face as he gazed at the modest city walls ahead.
Even someone of his cultivation was feeling the toll after traveling nonstop for two weeks.
After paying the entrance fee, the group found an inn and checked in. Song Changsheng then turned to the usually quiet and reserved Old Ghost Redfire and said, "Redfire, go ask around about that artificer in the City of Rogues. I want to visit him."
Redfire quickly bowed. "At once, Young Master."
Once he left, Song Changsheng took the younger two, Song Qingxing and Song Qingxi, to a nearby tavern. After ordering a few dishes from the waiter, he pricked up his ears and listened to the conversations happening around them.
No matter the time or place, taverns were always the best places to gather information. Here, travelers from all over the land mingled and exchanged stories.
Song Changsheng had already been on the road for almost a month. The political landscape of the Great Qi Cultivation World had become increasingly unstable, and the Heavenly Sword Sect was right in the middle of the conflict. Naturally, any opportunity to gather intel was worth seizing.
Though the tavern's main hall on the first floor was a bit noisy, Song Changsheng still managed to catch some intriguing pieces of conversation.
"Hey, Daoist Chen, did you just say the Heavenly Vein Sect lost a battle? Are you serious?" A shifty-looking young cultivator leaned toward a middle-aged man, speaking in a hushed voice while holding his wine cup.
The middle-aged cultivator glanced around cautiously, then downed his drink and said, "I just escaped from the north. You think I'd lie to you? It was in Xi Prefecture. The battle raged for over ten days."
"Man, it was a bloodbath. Thousands dead. Rivers ran red with blood. Foundation Establishment cultivators were dropping from the sky like dumplings in a pot."
"Even some lofty Purple Mansion realm masters lost their lives."
"The Heavenly Vein Sect has now completely withdrawn from Xi Prefecture. I've heard the front lines are shifting south. If you ask me, Xiang Prefecture probably won't be peaceful for long either."
Hearing this, the shifty cultivator's face turned pale. "What are we supposed to do then? We're nobodies, just small fry. If war breaks out here too, we'll have no choice but to run. But the north is already a war zone… If the fighting reaches the south, where else can we even go?"
The middle-aged man sneered, "What're you so scared of? Worst case, we head to Gusu or Yu Kingdom. The world is vast, don't tell me there's nowhere left for us."
"Sigh… I suppose you're right. Still, what are these powerful sects even thinking? They control all the resources, so why keep fighting to the death?"
"Tch. Who knows what they're thinking? All I know is, it's always us little people who suffer in the end…"
At that point, Song Changsheng lost interest in their conversation and shifted his attention to a new group of people entering the tavern.
There were a dozen or so of them. A faint, bloody aura clung to their bodies, along with a heavy killing intent, clearly the kind of people who lived with their blades always at the ready.
Such groups weren't rare among rogue cultivators. But what drew Song Changsheng's attention was the strange sense of familiarity he felt from them.
He couldn't help but become intrigued.
The group immediately headed to a corner table, and one particularly tall man muttered, "Big Bro, are we going to Yu Kingdom? The road ahead isn't exactly safe."
A white-robed middle-aged man shook his head. "Where in the Great Qi Cultivation World is safe anymore? I was originally going to take you all to Bian Prefecture. The Ten Thousand Mountains are dangerous, yes, but full of resources and opportunities."
"But I just got word that Luoxia City has gone into lockdown. Rumor has it that the beasts from the mountains are starting to move north again. Going there now would be suicide…"
Song Changsheng's heart skipped a beat. The beasts are moving north again?
He quickly told Song Qingxi and Song Qingxing to stay put and not wander around. Then, he got up and walked over to the group, cupping his fists at the white-robed man.
"Fellow Daoist, I wonder if you could tell me more about this beast tide you mentioned?"
The tall man looked at Song Changsheng, young, clean, and unfamiliar, and immediately dismissed him, waving impatiently, "Scram, scram, scram. Don't come bothering us while we're drinking."
Before the tall man could finish speaking, the white-robed cultivator beside him immediately covered his mouth, shooting him a sharp look to stop him from saying another word.
Then, with a somewhat nervous expression, he bowed respectfully to Song Changsheng and said, "Senior, please forgive my brother. He tends to speak without thinking. I hope you won't take offense."
Song Changsheng gave him an approving glance. This man had seen through his cultivation level, and yet in such a situation, he still dared to stand up for his comrade. He was indeed a worthy leader.
Seeing his older brother's reaction, the tall man finally came to his senses. His face turned pale instantly, and cold sweat began to seep from every pore.
Song Changsheng waved his hand. "No need to be nervous. I just wanted to ask about Luoxia City. Did you just say it's been sealed off?"
The white-robed cultivator let out a silent sigh of relief and discreetly wiped the sweat from his forehead. "To answer you, Senior, I don't know much myself. I ran into a friend on the road just now.
He told me that Luoxia City has been locked down, and a warning about a beast tide has been sent to the surrounding provinces. All major powers have been urged to stay on high alert. That's about all I know."
After finishing, a hesitant look appeared on his face.
"Speak freely," Song Changsheng said.
The white-robed cultivator gritted his teeth and added, "There's also a rumor going around… supposedly, the upcoming beast tide will be massive. It's said that the old flood dragon from Heishui Marsh might take action personally.
No one knows where the rumor started, and its credibility is questionable, but thinking it's better to be safe than sorry, I decided to take my brothers and head for the Yu Kingdom to make a living."
"The old flood dragon personally involved…" Song Changsheng's heart sank. He was no stranger to the old flood dragon of Heishui Marsh, one of the most powerful demon kings in the Ten-Thousand Mountains, and dangerously close to the fifth rank.
For nearly a thousand years, the most devastating beast tides to threaten the cultivation world of Great Qi had all been orchestrated by that creature.
Though the white-robed cultivator said it was just hearsay, Song Changsheng's instincts told him it might very well be true.
If he were that old flood dragon, he too would seize this moment when Great Qi's cultivation world was at its most chaotic to launch a fatal strike.
His heart grew restless. Lingzhou and Bianzhou were closely connected. While Luoxia City was the front line against the beast tide, it couldn't possibly stop every monster.
Even if just a portion of the beasts slipped past its defenses, it would still be a grave threat to Lingzhou, which had only just emerged from a major battle.
Seeing that Song Changsheng remained silent, the white-robed cultivator stayed bent in a respectful posture. No one around them even dared to breathe loudly.
After a moment of contemplation, Song Changsheng looked at the white-robed cultivator and said, "Your answer pleased me. Therefore, I'm willing to offer you all a chance to live depending on whether or not you're willing to cooperate."
At those words, everyone's expressions shifted. They looked at Song Changsheng in confusion and alarm, unsure of what he meant.
Though the white-robed cultivator was unsettled as well, he forced himself to remain calm and asked, "May I ask what you mean, Senior?"
Song Changsheng swept his gaze around and said, "This isn't the right place. If you trust me, follow me somewhere more private to talk."
The white-robed cultivator only hesitated for a moment before responding firmly, "Please lead the way, Senior."
"Good. Come with me."
Song Changsheng nodded and called over the innkeeper. "Give me a private room large enough and move that table of food and wine into it."
The innkeeper quickly fulfilled his request.
Song Changsheng then looked at the two siblings who had been watching from the side. "You two come with me as well. Might be a good learning experience."
Once everyone was led into a private room by the innkeeper, Song Changsheng flicked his sleeve, sealing all doors and windows and setting up a barrier.
This move made the gathered rogue cultivators' hearts skip a beat. If Song Changsheng had any intention of killing them, they wouldn't even get a chance to escape.
Sitting at the head of the room, Song Changsheng looked at the white-robed cultivator, who was now drenched in sweat, and said in a heavy tone, "Think carefully since yesterday, have you provoked or come into contact with anyone unusual?"
His question left them stunned.
The white-robed cultivator wore a puzzled expression. "We only arrived in the city yesterday and haven't offended anyone."
Song Changsheng's brow furrowed slightly. He turned his gaze to the tall man who had spoken rudely earlier and said, "Let me see your hand."
The tall man, a little fearful, stretched out his hand.
"Rip!"
Song Changsheng pinched the man's wrist with his left hand, while his right hand formed a blade with two fingers and slashed directly across the center of the man's palm. Crimson blood gushed out immediately.
Under everyone's confused gaze, Song Changsheng slightly channeled his spiritual power, then picked up a jade chopstick from the table. Using it, he extracted a tiny black worm about the size of a soybean from the bloody slit.
The tall man turned pale with fright the moment he saw it.
The rest of the group stirred in alarm as well. The white-robed cultivator widened his eyes and stammered in panic, "Senior, w-what... what is that?"
Song Changsheng didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned to the two younger cultivators and asked, "Do you know what this is?"
"This should be… some kind of Gu worm?" Song Qingxi leaned in for a closer look and answered hesitantly.
"That's right," Song Changsheng said calmly. "This is a Blood Fiend Gu. Once implanted, it slowly turns the host into a breeding vessel without them realizing it until their body rots away and they die a gruesome death."
"You've only been exposed to it for a short time, so the worm is still in your flesh. But once it reaches the heart, even I won't be able to save you." A cold glint flashed in his eyes. From the start, he'd had his suspicions, and now, he was sure who was behind it.
"Gu… Gu worm?" The white-robed cultivator turned ashen.
Gu masters were rare, and many cultivators went their whole lives without encountering one, but everyone knew how terrifying Gu worms could be.
"Who did this? Who would be so cruel?" The white-robed cultivator trembled, his lips shaking. "Senior… are you saying we all have one of those things inside us, too?"
Song Changsheng nodded. "Yes, each of you has been infected. That's why I asked if you had any enemies. Otherwise, why would someone target just your group out of so many others?
"To be honest, I know who planted the Gu. He's an elite among Foundation Establishment cultivators, not someone who would strike for no reason."
Everyone fell silent, wracking their brains in deep thought.
After a moment, a timid voice broke the silence. "Senior… I think I might know."
"Speak."
"Before we entered the city, we hunted a batch of demon beasts and happened to pass by a cultivation family. Big Brother sold them the materials. On our way out, we came across a strange man in a black robe. His whole body was covered, and he acted oddly.
"Our Fourth Brother made a few mocking remarks when he saw him. The man didn't respond. But as we passed by, I was at the end of the group, and he suddenly lifted his head. I saw a pale, ghostly face… It gave me chills.
"I didn't think much of it at the time. But looking back now… that's the only suspicious incident I can recall."
As soon as he finished speaking, the white-robed cultivator glared furiously at the tall man, then turned to Song Changsheng and pleaded, "Senior, I beg you, please save us! I'll give you everything I have!"
Song Changsheng shook his head. "I don't need payment. But I want you to take me back to where you encountered that black-robed man."
"I'll go with you, Senior!" the white-robed cultivator responded without a moment's hesitation.
"Good."
Song Changsheng found himself growing somewhat impressed by the man's attitude.
He then removed the Gu worms from each of them, one by one, and took the opportunity to teach the two younger cultivators how to defend against Gu worms and how to remove them if found.
Once everything was settled, Song Changsheng turned to the younger duo and said, "You two, head back to the inn. I'm going outside the city with this Daoist friend to resolve a personal matter."
"Be careful, Uncle," Song Qingxi replied obediently, pulling the stiff-faced Song Qingxing along as they left for the inn.
"There's no time to waste. Let's go now."
With that, Song Changsheng grabbed the white-robed cultivator and, following his direction, transformed into a streak of light shooting toward the outskirts of the city.
It had been years, but Song Changsheng had never forgotten this grudge. He once believed he'd lost his chance for revenge forever. Yet now, as fate would have it, what he sought had landed right in front of him with no effort at all.
"Feng Wuming… It's time we settled this, once and for all!"
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