A small ferry about seven zhang in length was slowly sailing through the sky.
From another direction, another ferry was slowly approaching that small ferry.
When the distance between them was about three to five zhang, several ropes were launched from the second ferry, securing the small ferry and slowly pulling it closer.
Over a dozen cultivators leaped from the second ferry onto the small ferry.
Their daoist robes and the tokens at their waists undoubtedly revealed the identities of these people.
The Enforcement Hall of the Night Weaving Gate of the Star Heaven Sect.
Leading them was a Martial Spring Realm cultivator who looked to be in his thirties.
His position was a manager disciple of the Night Weaving Gate's Enforcement Hall, and this was his ninth year in this post.
Both his seniority and his achievements had met the standard. As soon as a vacancy opened above him, he could immediately be promoted to administrator.
"How long has this ship been drifting in the air over the Southern Region?"
This manager disciple of the Night Weaving Gate walked forward a few steps and raised his hand to knock twice on the railing beside him.
This ferry was very new; its service life was definitely less than a year.
"At least half a month, Senior Brother Zhang."
A Star Heaven Sect disciple following the manager replied.
Half a month ago, this small ferry passed over an active mine belonging to the Star Heaven Sect.
Because it was flying at a very low altitude, it quickly aroused the vigilance of the Star Heaven Sect's outer sect disciples.
To avoid alerting anyone, the disciples from the External Affairs Hall of the Star Heaven Sect's outer court had been secretly tracking this small ferry.
However, they found this ship increasingly strange.
It wasn't sailing normally but was merely drifting in the air.
The outer court disciples of the Star Heaven Sect reported the above intelligence to the inner sect.
Immediately after, disciples from the Night Weaving Gate's Enforcement Hall arrived here, planning to board the ship to investigate the truth.
Manager Zhang of the Night Weaving Gate was not surprised by this at all.
Because basically every year, he would investigate and seize several unmanned ferries drifting around in the air.
These unmanned ferries were mostly small to medium-sized cargo ships.
Because those bandits loved targeting precisely this type of small to medium-sized ferry.
Good profit, low risk.
As for those large cargo ferries, those bandits wouldn't act rashly.
Because the cargo on those large freight ferries was usually guarded by Qi Sea Realm or higher cultivators.
"Begin."
Manager Zhang raised his hand, extended his index and middle fingers, and gently hooked them in the air, signaling his subordinates behind him to start the search.
These Enforcement Hall disciples of the Night Weaving Gate quickly sprang into action.
This ferry wasn't big, or you could even say it was very small.
About seven zhang long and four zhang wide, it was divided into only three levels: two decks above and one deck below.
In about half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, these Night Weaving Gate disciples had thoroughly investigated the entire ferry.
"Senior Brother Zhang."
The Night Weaving Gate disciple who had been following Manager Zhang earlier walked over, leaned in close, and lowered his voice:
"Over a dozen corpses were discovered below the ferry's deck. Judging by their clothing, they should all be Rogue Cultivators from the Northern Region of the Chenping Continent."
"Rogue Cultivators from the Northern Region?"
Manager Zhang frowned.
Something wasn't right.
According to his original guess, this should have been a ferry belonging to cultivators from the Southern Region returning from purchasing ores or other cultivation resources in the Northern Region.
Then they were killed by bandits, and the cargo was completely looted.
But if the dead were Rogue Cultivators from the Northern Region...
"I'll go take a look."
Manager Zhang said.
He walked down the stairs from the deck. In the cargo hold below the deck, over a dozen corpses were piled up.
Manager Zhang walked forward.
The rate of decay for a cultivator's corpse is much slower than that of a mortal's.
A corpse of a Qi Circulation Realm cultivator would probably need to be exposed to the sun for a month before showing signs of decay.
And determining the approximate time of death for a cultivator is also a simple matter.
Manager Zhang walked to the side of the pile of corpses, placed his hand on the wrist of one of the bodies, and slowly injected his true qi into the corpse's meridians.
He was judging the time the meridians had dried up by assessing the integrity of the corpse's meridians.
It was about a month ago.
"...Very strange."
Manager Zhang muttered to himself. What happened on this ship was probably extremely bizarre.
"Junior Brother Sun."
Manager Zhang turned his head and spoke to the young disciple behind him:
"Tow this ferry to the nearest dock, then send a message to Supervisor Huang. Ask him to send more manpower over."
"Yes..."
Just as the young disciple addressed as Junior Brother Sun by Manager Zhang was about to speak, he suddenly froze, his face showing alarm:
"S-Senior Brother Zhang, behind you..."
Manager Zhang of the Night Weaving Gate's Enforcement Hall frowned slightly, then turned around.
He saw the pile of corpses behind him beginning to collapse, and one of the corpses was crawling in the direction of Manager Zhang and the Sun-named disciple.
His throat was completely pierced, only able to emit a leaking, eerie sound with a "gurgle gurgle" noise:
"I... found... you..."
...
Outside the Profound Scripture Hall on Heavenly Summit Mountain.
A handsome young cultivator dressed in moon-white daoist robes sat upright on the steps outside the hall.
Realman Lingxuan, the Eighth Generation Steward of Heavenly Summit Mountain.
In this life, he was originally the sect master of a first-rate sect in the Eastern Region of the Chenping Continent.
As he broke through to the Passable God Realm, the memories originally belonging to Realman Lingxuan completely took over him.
And now, sitting outside the Profound Scripture Hall on Heavenly Summit Mountain, everything around him felt both familiar and strange.
Heavenly Summit Mountain had fallen.
The current Heavenly Summit Mountain had been completely carved up by the Five Great Sects of the Chenping Continent.
In Realman Lingxuan's heart, he held no particular view of the Five Great Sects.
And Realman Lingxuan had no intention of restoring Heavenly Summit Mountain. Just as he had felt before, everything had long since changed beyond recognition.
As for the Heavenly Summit Mirror...
Even with the Heavenly Summit Mirror, what could he possibly change?
Not to mention, those few Ascending to Immortality from the Five Great Sects would never return the fragments of the Heavenly Summit Mirror to him.
Realman Lingxuan slowly opened his eyes and looked straight ahead.
A young man dressed in pure white daoist robes stood there, looking at Realman Lingxuan with a bright smile and bowing with hands clasped:
"This junior pays his respects to Realman Lingxuan."
"I made an agreement with the elders of your Five Great Sects. No one is allowed to come within half a step of the Profound Scripture Hall without my permission."
Realman Lingxuan said slowly.
"This junior has come here specifically to pay a visit to you, Realman."
The young disciple said.
"......"
Realman Lingxuan remained silent.
"I want to help you, Realman, recover the fragments of the Heavenly Summit Mirror that have fallen into the hands of the Five Great Sects."
The young man said with a smile.
The token at his waist, engraved with the four characters "Kongshan Walking," swayed slightly.