The territory of the Great Wu Dynasty is vast.

In the four great heavenly domains of the east, south, west, and north, beneath the domains are "roads," beneath roads lie mansions, and beneath mansions are counties or states.

Not long after leaving the manor, the setting sun disappeared, leaving complete darkness.

The divine horse did not move fast but was extremely steady with every step. Li Xian sat outside the carriage, holding the reins, yet the specific destination wasn't for him to decide.

Madam Wen meditated and rested inside the carriage.

With nothing else to do, Li Xian pondered over the "Jade Palm" in his mind. He had already gained a deep understanding of this palm technique, simulating its variations in his mind.

Gradually filling the gaps...

"Every hour, ring this bell to ward off demons." Madam Wen, intending to gather her energy and adjust, suddenly sensed a trace of demon aura and with a wave of her hand, sent a black Copper Bell out of the carriage.

Li Xian asked, "Madam, is this the Exorcism Bell?"

"Mm..." A voice came from inside the carriage, Madam had closed her eyes.

Li Xian received the bell, different from the Exorcism Bell Pang Long held last time; this was the genuine Beast-Driving Bell.

This outing was to collect medicinal herbs. Madam did not wish to complicate matters, so she drove away demons along the way to avoid disturbance.

Li Xian shook the bell. Strangely, there was no sound. He used his Inner Qi, shook it again. Only a faint sound came out, but how could such a sound intimidate demons?

Li Xian infused a great amount of Inner Qi into the Exorcism Bell and shook it forcefully.

A "clang" sound echoed, carrying a mysterious power.

From the depths of darkness, rustling sounds immediately emerged.

Frightened by the bell sound, the demons lurking in the shadows scattered in fear.

"Goodness, there are indeed a lot of demons." Li Xian was taken aback, aware that demons exist in the world, hiding everywhere, but he didn't expect this many.

When he was in Black River Village, he often went into the mountains to hunt, sometimes going deep into the mountains and staying overnight in the wild.

Yet he never encountered this demon surveillance.

Why, when traveling with Madam, is it so troublesome?

In fact, Martial Artists who have undergone rebirth naturally attract demons.

And Qingning County has been quite chaotic recently. Troubled areas naturally become habitats for demons, thus many demons lurk with covetous eyes.

It will be much better as long as they leave Qingning County.

Every hour, Li Xian would ring the bell. Every time the bell sounded, a group of demons would surely be scared away.

But ringing the bell is not easy work.

By the third ring, the sky gradually turned white, and there were fewer demons.

"There's a river ahead, let's stop for repairs."

From inside the carriage, Madam spoke again.

Li Xian looked ahead, and indeed a few miles away, there was a river. He immediately stopped the carriage on a green grassy area by the riverbank.

"Madam, where are we going?" Li Xian asked.

"Red Wood State, Fulai Manor." Madam answered casually. But Li Xian had never heard of "Fulai Manor" or "Red Wood State."

This was his first real trip out.

Previously, he had been to Huangyu County, but he stayed there for less than two days to save his younger brother.

During a break, unwilling to waste time, Li Xian found a place to practice Martial Arts.

[Skill Level +1]

[Skill Level +1]

The Setting Sun Bloodsword became more refined, striking fiercely and fiercely with scorching energy mixed in the sword's edge.

[Setting Sun Bloodsword]

[Skill Level: 1367/3000 to Mastery]

Madam Wen watched from a distance, nodding slightly. This Li Xian is indeed "perseverance makes up for lack," his talent is not top-tier, but his diligent and resolute character ensures his achievements won't be lacking.

She sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and concentrated, seemingly practicing some strange technique. After a long time, she slowly opened her eyes and murmured, "Such practice has poor results, even showing signs of regression. That Silkworm Feather Mismatched Jade Technique...is there really no other way?"

Madam Wen called out, "Come back, continue to head southeast."

Li Xian, hearing this, halted his sword momentum and returned to the carriage. But while practicing the Setting Sun Bloodsword Technique earlier, his Righteous Yang Qi was strong, and his blood was boiling. Approaching, he surged towards like a heat wave.

Madam Wen, seeing Li Xian's strong Yang Qi and youthful vigor, couldn't help but take a few extra glances. She added, "Alright, wait a moment, go stabilize your breath in that river."

The river water was cool. After soaking for half an incense stick's time, Li Xian's feeling of heat was suppressed. Acting as the Imperial Coachman again, he drove the carriage southeast...

By afternoon, they've already left Qingning County, even out of Qiong Heavenly Mansion.

While traveling on a mountain path, the horse "Baiyun" trotted lightly, seeming to travel amidst clouds and mist. Though the path was narrower than the carriage, it could travel steadily on it.

Li Xian, realizing he wouldn't fall off the cliff, felt relieved.

He experienced an illusion of Cloud Riding, looked around, and gazed into the distance.

He saw intertwined mountains, displaying a myriad of sceneries. The mountains varied, some had strange steep rocks, others pierced into the sky, and some were lush with greenery...

In the farther distance, a silvery white waterfall poured down, the rushing water endlessly cascading. It was a sight never seen before.

A hundred yards? A thousand yards?

Probably far more than that!

"Such a magnificent world, if a man born here cannot fully experience it, it would indeed be a wasted trip!"

The beautiful landscape inspired him. Li Xian took in all the wonders of the world, his heart grew with the grand ambition of "inquiring about the vastness of the heavens."

If Li Xian were walking alone, he would truly want to find a mountain peak, face the wind, and shout out, unleashing his youthful vigor and boundless ambition.

"Madam, where is this place?" Li Xian asked.

After a long while, Madam simply replied, "This is Yunshan State, a barren and barbaric land, with terrains full of mountains and forests." Having seen many beautiful sceneries, Madam found nothing remarkable.

Thus they traveled for two days.

Though Li Xian had only been practicing martial arts for a short time, the "Setting Sun Bloodsword" steadily increased, and now the skill level had reached [1584] points.

Only halfway remained to reach Minor Achievement.

On the third day, Madam Wen wanted to enter a major city to purchase some rare feed to reward the horse beast "Baiyun".

Not familiar with the area, she asked Li Xian to inquire about the city.

The carriage stopped in the wilds, and Li Xian, lightly equipped, went down the road, confident he would soon see pedestrians.

"These footprints are dense, it seems many people have just passed through. I'll try to catch up and ask around."

Soon, he saw many chaotic footprints. Li Xian gathered energy to his chest and followed the prints. The more he followed, the more unsettling it felt, as the imprints varied in depth, reflecting disorder and panic...

Sure enough, after seven or eight miles, there were traces of people.

Only to hear a cacophony.

"Damn bastards, hearing that our Yellow Dragon Army is coming, you should've hosted a banquet for three days, willingly sent your sons and daughters, or joined the army. How dare you run away instead."

"If you run and everyone else runs, how can we accomplish great things? More importantly, if you all run, what will our Yellow Dragon Army eat?"

"Brothers, show them our skills!"

"Let these lowly civilians taste our might!"

Not far ahead, seven or eight commoners in plain clothes, with families and children, were surrounded by four soldiers.

The soldiers were on horseback, donned in armor, wielding long spears. They were well-built, fierce, and full of hostile energy.

Evidently elite soldiers of the "Yellow Dragon Army", they were highly valued.

Li Xian focused his gaze again…

Seeing blood on the ground, someone was already wounded. It was an eight or nine-year-old child, impaled by a long spear, suspended mid-air.

"Ha, catch."

The soldier shook the spear, flinging the child into the air. Another laughed loudly: "Watch my prowess!" As his spear shot out, piercing the child.

"My son…" A middle-aged man cried, kneeling. His family huddled together, eyes full of despair.

The child, barely breathing, was too weak to scream and was about to die.

Li Xian felt a chill in his heart. Growing up in Qingning, he knew the Great Wu Dynasty was unstable, with numerous rebel armies gaining momentum.

Though Qingning County was remote, it had been lucky to evade several uprisings.

Until today.

The Great Wu Dynasty's court was corrupt, naturally not good. But the bloodthirsty rebels were no better.

Witnessing their brutal acts, Li Xian frowned, "These people are truly despicable. Just the opportunity to test my sword's might!"

Eager to try, he immediately drew his sword from its sheath, charging forward, slicing off a soldier's head crown.

"Who!" The four were all shocked.

Li Xian replied, "Your uncle." He stabbed upward diagonally. The sword's power was so pure it pierced through the armor, entering the abdomen, rupturing liver and spleen.

One sword strike killed...

"Kill!" The other three, both shocked and scared, charged on horseback, their spears thrusting together.

Li Xian raised a palm and struck. The martial arts displayed a marvel, with inner qi turning into a green wave illusion, surging out. It toppled the horses, scattering their formation in chaos.

Leaping high, Li Xian executed the "Three Yangs Opening" move, unleashing three swords in succession. Killing all three.

Rescued, the commoners hugged the grievously dead child and wept, bowing in gratitude for Li Xian's immense kindness.

Li Xian consoled them briefly, then went straight to the point, asking, "I happened to pass by here, wishing to find a major city to rest. Is there a decent-sized city nearby?"

An old man replied, "Benefactor, no... definitely not... we just escaped from the city."

"What's happening?" Li Xian frowned.

The old man said, "Three days ago, we heard that the Yellow Dragon Army would enter 'Xiangle City', so we prepared to flee."

"That damn county magistrate said it was all rumors, telling us not to believe them. Even executed the rumor spreaders in the street."

"We foolishly believed him. Unexpectedly, last night, that county magistrate fled first. As my family realized, we hurriedly fled as well."

"But it was too late. This morning, the Yellow Dragon Army entered the city, rampant in burning, killing, and looting. Some mounted personal guards even took pleasure in capturing people."

Li Xian asked, "Yellow Dragon Army?"

The old farmer knew little.

But from his words, Li Xian indeed learned that within a hundred miles, Xiangle City was the largest. But now it was occupied...

"Alright, you better flee quickly." Li Xian took out some water and supplies, distributing them to the crowd.

Helping as much as possible was challenging.

"Thank you benefactor, thank you benefactor."

The crowd kowtowed three times, received the water and supplies, and fled into the distance.

As for the four corpses... Li Xian searched them, taking valuables. Items like "armor" and "long spears," he wanted to take, as they were worth money.

But traveling with the lady, it was truly inconvenient, so he reluctantly gave up.

As he wandered around, he continuously rescued several fleeing commoners, clarified the situation, then returned to the carriage to report everything to the lady.

The lady frowned, "Yellow Dragon Army?"

"These rebels can't achieve anything, but they certainly do a lot of burning, killing, and looting."

"What a pity."

The lady didn't suddenly develop compassion, sighing for the unfair world.

Martial artists who boil essence food need a lot of manpower assistance. Thus such wanton killing was, in her eyes, extremely "pity."

Compared to the rebels, the lady was a veritable goddess of mercy.

"Madam, should we still go to Xiangle City? Within a hundred miles, only Xiangle City can supply precious horse feed," Li Xian asked.

"Though the Yellow Dragon Army is no threat, they are numerous, and it's better to detour," Madam Wen said calmly.

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