Now that they’ve entered Qi Kingdom, even if Bai Susu and the others catch up, they won’t have any way to act.
This territory belongs to the Emotion Crossing Sect.
If Bai Susu were to come personally, it would surely attract the attention of the Golden Core True Men, bringing about deadly consequences.
"This is the goal of that demon cultivator... slowly driving them into Qi Kingdom to prevent any reinforcements."
Chen Ye’s face was grim.
He estimated that Zhang Chuxi had some tool which made it difficult for the demon cultivator to deal with her quickly, so they didn’t rush to make a move, only to drive her onward.
"Alas! If Zhang Chuxi had one-fifth of Zhiwei’s wisdom, she might be able to use her trump card to continue maneuvering. But this Zhang Chuxi is so scared, she is simply driven forward without resistance."
The cold wind grew fiercer, and the air gradually filled with a salty, fishy ocean scent.
After an unknown time of pursuit, a massive silhouette, towering and entirely black, finally appeared at the horizon.
Black Cliff City.
The most chaotic city of the demon cultivators in Qi Kingdom.
From time to time, escape lights could be seen dropping into Black Cliff City from the sky.
Chen Ye felt uneasy:
"Damn, since entering the cultivation realm, this is the first time I’ve come to such a distant place... and it’s the territory of the Emotion Crossing Sect!"
But for the sake of his disciple, he had to enter Black Cliff City, no matter what!
Chen Ye took out an inconspicuous dark gray Taoist robe from his storage ring and put it on, using a secret technique to conceal the pure aura of his cultivation technique.
His Concealing Qi Method, unbeknownst to him, had already reached the master realm, making it easy to cover up his aura.
Moreover,
Black Cliff City was a gathering place for loose cultivators, where cultivators included not only those practicing demonic techniques but also ones cultivating techniques from other sects that had leaked out.
After completing his preparations, he lowered his bamboo hat and walked step by step toward the giant city towering by the East Sea.
The closer he got, the stronger the aura mixed with the salty sea breeze became.
The city walls were not ordinary stone but black netherstone, soaked in evil qi for hundreds of years, towering into the clouds, and their surface was covered with marks from magical battles.
Beneath the city walls stood a row of cultivators wearing uniform red robes, expressionless.
The leader was a cultivator of the ninth layer of qi cultivation.
"I thought it would be Foundation Establishment cultivators guarding the gate... but thinking carefully, the disciples of the Lingyin Sect’s market areas are mostly at the middle to late period of qi cultivation."
Chen Ye blended into the queue, silently observing his surroundings.
The queue mostly consisted of loose cultivators with varying expressions and some with eerie auras from the demon path.
Occasionally, there were some very unusual cultivators.
These cultivators had auras different from those of Yan and Qi, even their appearances had slight differences, most likely cultivators from other countries.
Their cultivation level was generally higher than that of ordinary people.
Not that other countries were stronger, but because anyone who could travel from other countries to Black Cliff City already had considerable strength.
"Well... No wonder the Emotion Crossing Sect only outwardly has three Golden Core True Men, yet can suppress the Lingyin Sect. Black Cliff City is an important port by the East Sea, gathering cultivators from all directions, allowing the Emotion Crossing Sect to derive many benefits."
Chen Ye marveled.
The location of Black Cliff City was so advantageous, the profits one could extract from it were beyond imagination.
No wonder the Emotion Crossing Sect, being a demon sect, should have been rampant, yet restrained themselves to turn Black Cliff City into a city for loose cultivators, rarely interfering in the city’s affairs.
"Perhaps the Emotion Crossing Sect doesn’t dare to interfere at all..."
Chen Ye speculated, much like certain small countries from his past life situated at key transport routes, which invariably had to consider the interests of larger nations.
Even to the point of losing sovereignty.
"The entry fee is five Spirit Stones." The guard’s voice was cold, collecting the entry fee one by one.
It was Chen Ye’s turn.
He lowered his bamboo hat, fumbling inside his robe for a moment, and like other panicked loose cultivators, he pulled out five Spirit Stones and respectfully placed them in the red-robed guard’s hand.
The guard didn’t even look at him, swept away the Spirit Stones, and irritably waved him on: "Next."
Pft...
The price was indeed steep.
Back when Yunxi District’s dust tax only required Spiritual Sand.
Chen Ye clicked his tongue, stepping straight into the city gate.
Completely different from the orderly Lingyin Sect’s markets, Black Cliff City was chaotic to the extreme.
The streets were wide, but the ground was covered with filth that was revolting.
The pedestrians each harbored malicious intent, exuding murderous aura.
There were demon cultivators with bare chests and arms covered in demon patterns, loudly laughing while swinging a bloody demon beast head; ghost path cultivators, looking skeletal with deep-set eyes, led frightening-looking zombies, patrolling the streets.
"Truly chaotic... The Emotion Crossing Sect seldom intervenes, lest we forget it is a demon sect..."
As Chen Ye turned a corner, he saw two cultivators engaging in a magical battle over a pill in the street, one being killed on the spot, having his storage bag snatched, while passersby indifferently walked around, some even taking advantage to rummage through the corpse.
There were no rules here, or rather, the only rule was the survival of the fittest.
Most cultivators in Black Cliff City didn’t stay long either; they only passed through Black Cliff City en route to the East Sea.
"Aunt Lan, have you arrived at Black Cliff City yet?"
Along the way, Chen Ye naturally maintained contact with his current only ally.
"Hmm...Chuxi should have used the escape talisman given by the Elder, so she is relatively safe for now."
Aunt Lan responded from the other side,
"Taoist Friend Chen, let’s meet up first; we’ll discuss other matters in person."
Chen Ye frowned.
The Fourth Elder didn’t grant any offensive methods?
Even Xu Henshan prepared a true seal from the ancestor for Qing Jun...wait, Qing Jun might appear foolish, but she is indeed clever.
If she were beside Zhang Chuxi, relying on the ancestor’s true seal, along with Zhang Chuxi’s escape talisman and other methods.