Master of Strange Dao

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Old Yang's words calmed the already restless and insecure crowd.

The Abyss of Despair, the name given by Yu Ziqing, was now universally accepted; everyone was well aware of the strangeness of that place.

However, everyone considered Cece as one of their own, allowing free passage in and out, reaffirming their original judgment.

But it was not as welcoming to outsiders.

Previously, when An Yue came to trade, the Seventh Floor people infiltrated the village, avoiding the Abyss of Despair, as none dared to venture inside without knowing what lay within.

Now, a formidable enemy dared to charge straight into the Abyss of Despair, making the villagers less anxious.

Another reason was the trust in Old Yang's knowledge and experience.

Every domain had its strengths and weaknesses; the Abyss of Despair was starkly obvious in both, with its strength being particularly formidable.

"Perhaps the changes in the Wilderness this year have caught these sons of the Evil Dao's attention.

Many years ago, the White Sun Evil Cult suddenly appeared across the land, establishing Immoral Temples and recruiting believers. After being defeated by joint forces, they vanished. Yet, in just a few years, they're back, causing trouble again.

The outsiders should include a Joy Lamp Priest from the White Sun Evil Cult, a prominent figure within; these people are quite sinister, practicing dual cultivation of Refining God, or solely as God cultivators.

Extremely strange, you body cultivators should avoid confronting them directly, lest you become bewitched and lose yourselves."

"What is such a sinister figure doing here?" Yu Ziqing wondered.

No matter how ridiculous the development strategy, it shouldn't involve expanding into deserted areas, right?

The Wilderness now almost had no living people, with Jinlan Mine being the only occupied point, but barely containing a few people. It seemed of no value.

"The White Sun Evil Cult's slogan is 'Red Sun's Calamity Ends, White Sun Shall Rise,' understand?"

Yu Ziqing suddenly understood.

A few months earlier, the Great Sun appeared over the Wilderness, resulting in numerous casualties, leaving hardly anything alive to find now.

For such a big event matching their slogan perfectly, these Evil Dao practitioners would be foolish not to exploit it.

They would claim it as a heavenly sign, making their slogan a prophecy that came true, heralding the rise and prosperity of their White Sun Evil Cult.

They could easily bury some ancient artifacts in the Wilderness, unearthing one every now and then to maintain the narrative, facilitating brainwashing.

Most importantly, after the changes in the Wilderness, impoverished and desperate people around the border with the Three Kingdoms would continue to rise, providing these Evil Dao practitioners with new development opportunities…

Considering this, these Evil Dao practitioners must have arrived earlier, but today, for some reason, intruded into the village's territory.

"A Joy Lamp Priest acting alone must have achieved at least the level of Yin God, likely able to perform out-of-body experiences, always accompanied by white-robed Daoist soldiers.

In the Abyss of Despair, I only saw the Joy Lamp Priest alone; his white-robed Daoist soldiers didn't enter and weren't absorbed by the Abyss of Despair.

Those white-robed Daoist soldiers surely lack self-awareness, being no more than Third or possibly Fourth-tier.

In this context, the Joy Lamp Priest is at most a Fourth-tier Yin God, unlikely to be among the Evil Dao from decades ago. When they retreated and disappeared back then, some children had been led away and never found, presumed dead. Now it seems this priest was likely among those children who grew.

We must first deal with the incoming white-robed Daoist soldiers before anything else."

Old Yang spoke rapidly, analyzing everything at length, and Yu Ziqing listened intently with envy.

Being knowledgeable and wise was truly admirable.

With just a glance, anyone could almost decipher the opponent's identity, origins, practice paths, adept secret techniques, magical treasures, and ultimate cards, nearly stripping them bare.

Yu Ziqing imagined if he had such abilities, he would merely approach the enemy demanding their name in the future.

"Who comes there? State your name. Grandfather Yu Ziqing spares no nameless ghosts."

The opponent only needed to respond, "I am so-and-so."

He figured he'd immediately meet the minimum criteria to unsheathe his sword and strike the opponent down.

Thinking it over, the supposed powerful yet useless cheat he had resembled less of an issue with itself, but rather his lack of knowledge and narrow understanding.

If Old Yang had this cheat, he might easily roam about as a goat, defeating top experts across the Wilderness single-handedly.

Unfortunately, Yu Ziqing didn't quite understand his cheat yet, otherwise, he'd lend it to Old Yang without hesitation.

While they spoke, white-robed people staggeringly emerged from the mist at the village entrance.

As expected, what Old Yang said was accurate; lacking self-awareness or possessing chaotic minds devoid of ego, they wouldn't be drawn into the Abyss of Despair, before only Yu Ziqing was pulled in, marking that fact for Old Yang.

"These white-robed Daoist soldiers are Joy Lamp Priest's puppets; their ranks aren't high, likely all body cultivators, so you should be able to handle them.

Be cautious; these folks resemble living dead, as shattering their hearts or decapitating them might not result in death.

Also, if not controlled by the Joy Lamp Priest, the white robes of these Daoist soldiers will automatically seek new puppets upon their deaths. Don't let them clothe you, or it'll be very troublesome."

Yu Ziqing hadn't planned to move; among the dozens of body cultivators in the village, his progress was near the bottom, their accumulation was far beyond him.

Yet, gazing at the over thirty white-robed people approaching, Yu Ziqing couldn't help but mutter to himself.

With all these potentially Third-tier body cultivators disappearing mysteriously outside, not causing any upheaval, one could deduce that there was an abundance of low-tier body cultivators, with their status being much lower than he had expected.

The first to charge forward was Er Han, roaring violently, his whole body's Qi-blood surging, making him appear larger, with muscles bulging like stones, exuding a heavy oppressive presence.

With a direct clash, he flipped four to five white-robed people on the spot, scattering their formation.

From the side, a slim, sinewy man tightly wielding boning knives crouched, catching one of the thrown white-robed people, transforming his knives into a series of shadows, piercing the robe's seams, targeting vital points and joints.

Within moments, a white-robed person fell to the ground, limbs twisted grotesquely, with blood pouring from within the robe.

The lean man glanced at his boning knife, observing the blades he obtained from An Yue had rolled...

Indifferently, he sharpened them across his arms with sparks flying, prepared to continue seizing other opportunities.

From afar, Yu Ziqing watched, growing increasingly alarmed.

This butcher slaughtered far more efficiently and cleanly than the brute Er Han.

Examining the others wielding mining pickaxes acquired through trade, they pierced through white-robed people, nailing them to the ground; others fought bare-fisted, hammering until death ensued...

Even the two older women swung metal rods fiercely, preventing any approach from white-robed people, knocking them away with a single hit.

Yu Ziqing completely abandoned the thought of engaging, acknowledging his status as just a Second Tier body cultivator.

Encouraging the villagers to begin body cultivation was indeed wise.

In a place incapable of Qi Refinement, hosting a batch of burly body cultivators, with arms sturdy enough to sharpen knives, became forbidden territory for regular Qi Refining cultivators.

Originally believing the white-robed people, likely all Third-tier body cultivators numbering over thirty, would engage in prolonged battle, no one anticipated the white-robed individuals—bereft of control, self-awareness, or instinct—wouldn't endure one incense stick's time against villagers of generally lower ranking...

In conclusion, over thirty living white robes were pinned to the ground or balled tightly in the strongmen's hands.

"Ziqing, if we endure until the Wilderness calms, when you go out, never admit you taught these people body cultivation. You should also warn them..."

Old Yang whispered to Yu Ziqing stealthily by his side.

"What's the matter?"

"I worry you'll be beaten to death outside."

"What are you talking about, what does that have to do with me? I'm merely Second Tier, they are much stronger, I learned from them."

"..."

With the chaotic fight concluded, Yu Ziqing gestured towards the robes.

"Don't destroy them immediately, let me ask something. If I go see that Joy Lamp Priest, would it be dangerous?"

"Yes, I just counted, there are thirty-four white robes here, meaning that Joy Lamp Priest has at least two more. At your level of body cultivation, he only needs to throw a white robe over you upon meeting, controlling you instantly."

"What about Er Han?"

"With him, it'd be challenging; even robed, Er Han could at least retreat."

Yu Ziqing nodded.

"Er Han, you go handle something. Go to Cece's side and ask the person there their name. After asking, return immediately. If they don't respond, say we don't wish to make enemies and would prefer peace, bring back their white robe."

"Alright."

Obediently, Er Han thrust his head into the Abyss of Despair, spotting a man holding a white lantern in the distance.

"Who are you? What's your name? My brother said he doesn't want any trouble with outsiders, name your affiliation, and you'll receive your white robe back to leave."

The Joy Lamp Priest, already thrown off-balance by the Abyss of Despair, wore a frosty demeanor, murderous intent in his eyes. Without hesitation, he waved a sleeve, with a white robe transforming into a streak of light at Er Han.

Remembering Yu Ziqing's words, Er Han immediately retreated.

The Joy Lamp Priest, appearing ghostly in midair, pursued, but entering the mist repelled him to his original spot.

On the other side, as Er Han exited, awaiting villagers promptly pinned the half-clad white robe to the ground.

Seeing Er Han unharmed, Yu Ziqing felt reassured.

"Did he say nothing? Was his temper high? Did he attack immediately?"

"Yes."

"Ask him again, say we prefer no contact with outsiders. This is the final inquiry. Should he remain nameless, he should prepare to reside here permanently."

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