Xiao Mei heard what I said and transformed into a human form.
She pouted, looking unhappy.
"Qin Ze, but I just like following you."
I spread my hands, looking helpless:
"There's nothing I can do, this is how the higher-ups arranged it."
"Hmph!"
This little fox was acting like a sulking little girl, puffing out her cheeks.
Old Mo was tidying his things nearby, not paying attention.
But I wasn't in the mood to comfort her. Who spoiled this bad temper of hers?
So I continued:
"Xiao Mei, why don't you turn back into your original form? We're leaving soon."
Seeing that she couldn't change my mind, Xiao Mei could only roll her eyes at me:
"What they say on TV is right, no man is any good. You're a bad man."
As she spoke, she transformed into her fox form and jumped into the pocket beside me.
When I heard this, my composure completely shattered.
What did this have to do with me being a good or bad man?
Old Mo, hearing this, was stunned and somewhat speechless.
It seemed I couldn't let Xiao Mei watch those idiotic romance dramas anymore. She'd been brainwashed so quickly.
Without dwelling on it, I finished tidying up with Old Mo, confirmed we had enough magical artifacts and talismans, and then carried Xiao Mei outside.
By now, the entire Kumoku Temple was in motion.
Three teams were converging.
Disciples from various sects were gathering for speeches.
"North Fragrance Daoist Academy, assemble."
"Canglan View disciples, everyone down the mountain!"
"Keyue, where is your senior brother? We're about to depart, why isn't he here yet?"
"Master, senior brother went to defecate."
"..."
Old Mo and I, listening to the conversations around us, were almost doubled over with laughter.
But it also proved that although everyone here was a cultivator, they were still within the five elements. Eating, drinking, urinating, and defecating were no different from ordinary people.
Soon, Old Mo and I arrived at the main square.
Uncle-Master had been waiting for us for a while.
Besides Uncle-Master, Xiao Yao was also there.
Old Mo saw Xiao Yao and flew over:
"Xiao Yao, Xiao Yao..."
This kid didn't even greet Uncle-Master.
I was the one who called out to Uncle-Master:
"Uncle-Master, be careful on your journey. I'll entrust Xiao Mei to you."
Uncle-Master nodded:
"You're the filial one, look at Old Mo's behavior."
Old Mo, upon hearing this, chuckled:
"Master!"
Uncle-Master, having had some wine, said:
"I'll say it again, you and Qin be careful. You only have one life."
"Understood!"
"Got it, Master!"
"Alright, you two go gather at the foot of the mountain! It should be time to depart soon."
Old Mo and I didn't hesitate.
We cupped our fists towards Uncle-Master:
"Uncle-Master, we'll see you at Black Demon Gorge!"
"Master, this time we will definitely defeat the Demonic Cult."
Uncle-Master didn't reply, he just waved us down the mountain.
Thus, Old Mo and I, under the watchful eyes of Uncle-Master and Xiao Yao, turned and headed down the mountain.
Many fellow cultivators were already heading down.
By the time we reached the foot of Spearhead Peak, several hundred fellow cultivators had already gathered.
Senior Bai Daozi, who was leading the group, was already present.
He was taking attendance.
Xia Qiuxia and the others had arrived earlier.
We greeted them and returned to our respective small teams.
Our small team was a bit slow, just Old Mo and me.
Yun Long and Yun Hu, Gu Qian Yue, and the others were all there.
Seeing us approach, they all waved. Li Cong was particularly excited:
"Brother Qin, Brother Mo, over here, over here."
We walked over smiling, but as soon as we got close, he pulled out two bags of luosifen:
"Come, come, take these, eat them on the road, eat them on the road."
Neither Old Mo nor I liked eating this stuff. Looking at the luosifen in our hands, we stiffened slightly.
Li Cong, with a heavy local accent, said:
"Man is iron, food is steel. Slurp a bowl of noodles on the road, and your whole body will be strong."
Since it was a kind gesture, Old Mo and I didn't refuse and accepted them.
This fellow was quite enthusiastic.
We chatted after meeting, and since we were on the same team, we introduced our specialties.
For example, Yun Long and Yun Hu were skilled in formations and ranged attacks.
The Meng Fang and Meng You brothers were skilled in talismans.
Gu Qian Yue had a good swordsmanship. Old Mo cultivated lightning techniques and had a strong physique, making him suitable for close combat.
As for me, I was more versatile, capable of both close and ranged combat, and also proficient in talisman arts.
I was quite well-known among the younger generation of the Daoist Alliance.
Some of my techniques had been demonstrated at the alliance assembly.
Hearing me say this, everyone didn't seem surprised, my strength was evident.
Everyone knew about the capture and killing of the Black Demon Son of God below the mountain...
After waiting for more than ten minutes here.
Senior Bai Daozi spoke to us:
"We depart in three minutes. We will first follow the west route, and then detour to the Misty Swamp..."
Senior Bai gave a general outline of the plan.
More specific details were not revealed.
Three minutes passed quickly, and about two hundred people from the west route set out.
We mixed in with them.
Then we marched towards the mountains west of Spearhead Peak.
On the way, everyone was full of fighting spirit, shouting about slaying all enemies.
However, after experiencing the Black Demon Palace and the ghost nest stronghold outside Wudang Mountain, I understood how dangerous and terrifying it was to fight these demonic cultists.
Let alone slaying enemies, in a real fight, it was difficult enough to ensure one's own survival.
Heading west, we walked along a canyon.
The path was not easy to traverse, and in many places, there was no path at all.
But thankfully, everyone here was a cultivator, so their speed was not slow; in fact, it was quite rapid.
After traveling for about four hours overnight, the main force stopped.
Before us stood a short mountain emitting a strong aura of corpse qi.
On either side of this short mountain were continuous snow-capped mountains.
The leader of the west route was the Sect Master of the Kongtong Sect, True Man Qi Shang, and the Sect Master of Longhu Mountain, Daoist Qing Shan, whom Uncle-Master called "effeminate."
At this moment, True Man Qi Shang addressed everyone:
"Fellow cultivators, we have entered the territory of the Demonic Cult. The short mountain before us is a corpse-breeding ground.
From this mountain onwards, for about fifty li, there are numerous corpse-breeding grounds of various sizes.
There are countless corpse monsters and zombies.
Our mission is to traverse this corpse land, clear all obstacles on the west route, rendezvous with the other two teams, and eliminate the Demonic Cult.
Fellow cultivators, do you have confidence?"
"Yes!"
Everyone responded in low voices.
"Good, follow me and Daoist Qing Shan, and let us ascend the mountain together!"
Saying this, True Man Qi Shang drew his personal sword.
It was a silver treasure sword, intricately carved with dragon patterns all over, making it extremely dazzling.
Even from a distance, one could feel the chill emanating from the sword.
Silver swords had a certain restraining effect on corpse qi.
This sword was also the foremost magical artifact of the Kongtong Sect.
It was known as the Silver Dragon Corpse Suppressing Sword. Legend had it that hundreds of years ago, a prominent figure from the Kongtong Sect had appeared.
With one person and one sword, he had once slain over a hundred zombies, as well as a super corpse king that was on the verge of evolving into a Jiāngshí.
Seeing this, everyone present also drew their swords.
Then, following True Man Qi Shang and Daoist Qing Shan, they charged towards the short mountain.
However, our small team did not move.
Senior Bai Daozi, who was in front, said:
"Everyone, wait. The path to the Misty Swamp is on the other side of the short mountain.
After our fellow cultivators ahead have carved out a path of blood, we will then quietly infiltrate..."