Wangbei City.

Though it's called the main city of humanity, in such a backward time of productivity, it is merely a larger human settlement.

There aren't even proper city walls, just low earthen walls.

The Outer City District consists of rows of civilian homes and shops, while the Inner City District is where the warrior class resides. The City Lord's Mansion, located in the center of the Inner City, counts as a relatively impressive collection of villas.

However, Bai Pu did not underestimate this backward city.

In his view, even with towering walls, they couldn't stop a Demon Spider Lady, a demon skilled in climbing and demonized spider silk spray.

The method Wangbei City uses to defend against demons lies in the Demon-Subduing Talismans surrounding the city!

These talismans are invisible to the naked eye, but Bai Pu, with his ability for small-scale Mental Scans, sensed the subtle pressure brought by these talismans when he approached the "city gate."

As Bai Pu was observing Wangbei City, the eerie sight of him carrying a headless corpse also caught the eye of the gate guards.

"Who are you!"

The gate guard stopped Bai Pu, shouting sternly.

Bai Pu put down the corpse and said calmly, "I'm a wandering warrior from afar. In the jungle ruled by demons, I found an innocent victim who died undeservedly. I brought his corpse back, hoping the family could identify him."

"Oh, a wild warrior."

The gate guard rubbed his fingers, intending to ask for benefits. But seeing the turtle body with snake-tail emblem on the dead corpse's clothes, he suddenly shivered.

"It's the Black Tortoise Clan Emblem of the Beiming Family!" The guard spoke sharply, "Quickly report to the City Lord that Master Tie Yue of the Beiming Family has been found... uh, found dead."

After a flurry of chaos at the city gate, Bai Pu, surrounded by heavy guards, was taken to the City Lord's Mansion.

The City Lord of Wangbei City is named Luanshan.

City Lord Luanshan was initially afraid to meet Bai Pu, so he first ordered two warriors under his command to use a probe-like device to pierce Bai Pu's fingertip and draw blood.

Bai Pu inquired to find out that this was a "Demon-Seeking Needle," capable of detecting demon qi and demonized energy. If Bai Pu was lying and had demon energy present in his blood, the Demon-Seeking Needle would turn black.

Bai Pu asked, "What if some demonized energy got on me when I retrieved Master Tie Yue's corpse from fighting the Demon Spider?"

The warrior shook his head and replied, "The Demon-Seeking Needle only reacts to the demon energy within your own blood, not from external contamination. Otherwise, those Ghost Warriors carrying demonized weapons couldn't prove their innocence."

Bai Pu felt slightly relieved; this way, even if awakened ones who arrived earlier wanted to frame him, it would be hard to do so.

After verifying the Demon-Seeking Needle was correct, City Lord Luanshan finally appeared.

City Lord Luanshan was a plump middle-aged man with slightly curled mustache; his voice was somewhat shrill:

"Hmm... You're the wild warrior who brought back Master Tie Yue's remains? Being able to defeat the Demon Spider Lady from Hanging Mountain shows you have some skills. But to gain my trust, you must acquire one thing."

Spirit Realm Will prompt message:

[Your camp selection progress has been updated: The headless corpse has been brought to one of the main cities of the Guardian Camp.]

[You have joined the Guardian Camp.]

[Based on your success in defeating the Demon Spider Lady and reclaiming Master Tie Yue's corpse, your initial Reputation Level within the Guardian Camp has increased by 400 points; you've earned 40 Merit points.]

[Current Reputation Level: Friendly (400/1000).]

Bai Pu asked, "What thing?"

"The Oath Curse Seal of the Beiming Family."

City Lord Luanshan twirled his mustache and explained, "For wild warriors like yourself who fight demons, you are often infected by demon energies; it's easy to fall into becoming a demon! Therefore, to protect me, the City Lord, you must have the Beiming Family's Oath Curse Seal."

Bai Pu sneered to himself, City Lord Luanshan was clearly giving himself undeserved praise. What "fighting to protect the City Lord," when, as he understood, the strong of the Heart Demon World generally fight for obsession, such as those they care about—friends, lovers, etc.

With an obsession, one is bound. Although individual native strong ones have great power, their cherished friends and loved ones often do not.

To ensure their loved ones can live happily in the world, strong ones may succumb to a virtually powerless City Lord.

Of course, some strong ones fight for special "obsession."

For instance, the contemporary Patriarch of the Beiming Family, the current Sect Leader of the Beiming Xuanjing Style, revered as the "King of the North"—Beiming Jihu—his obsession is "to reach the supreme swordsmanship with a mortal body."

In summary, the strong ones of the Guardian Camp fight more "for the protection of the people" than "for the protection of the City Lord." The consciousness of the Heart Demon World's strong is far superior to that of this self-important City Lord.

"With the Oath Curse Seal, won't demon energies affect you?" Bai Pu asked.

City Lord Luanshan chuckled and said, "What are you thinking? If demon energies were that easy to isolate, the infamous events of Ghost Warriors falling into demonhood wouldn't occur. The role of the Oath Curse Seal is to warn everyone... to stay away from you when you fall into demonhood!"

Spirit Realm Will prompt message:

[Main Quest Ⅰ: The Oath of Protection]

[Quest Objective: Obtain an Oath Curse Seal of the Guardian Camp.]

[Quest Time Limit: 10 days.]

[Quest Difficulty: B-]

[Quest Reward: Unlock merit exchange function of Guardian Camp]

[Failure Penalty: Exile.]

Triggering the main quest, Bai Pu nodded slightly, losing interest in further conversation with the fat City Lord. He stood up and said, "I understand. I will obtain this qualification."

As he left the City Lord's Mansion, Bai Pu faintly heard City Lord Luanshan's shrill voice behind him, "Wild warrior from a small place, doesn't know the rules... If it weren't for him bringing back Master Tie Yue's corpse and contributing some merit..."

...

Walking on the relatively tidy streets of the Inner City District, Bai Pu felt a hunger pang.

The shops in the Inner District are more upscale compared to the Outer District, with plenty of street-side snack shops, and the aroma of food is overwhelming.

Having just spent a drop of Pure Blood, Bai Pu's appetite was aroused. This is a biological response, as his heart wants to absorb more spiritual energy nutrients to store new Pure Blood.

Yet Bai Pu resisted, for no other reason than being financially strained. He longed for the Plane World of Three Kingdoms: Chibi, where he had a thousand coins of pocket money and huge military funds for purchasing herbs, spending however he wished.

Unfortunately, the gold and silver exchanged from those thousand coins couldn't be taken out of the Chibi scene. Otherwise, Bai Pu wouldn't have to worry about money while exploring the Spirit Realm.

In reality, gold and silver, precious objects, cannot be taken to the Spirit Realm; only currency that's likewise produced within the Spirit Realm can circulate there.

Bai Pu quickly walked a bit faster to leave the snack street. His target was none other than the dojo next to the City Lord's Mansion.

Beiming Dojo!

As one of the four major heritage families, the Beiming Family is undoubtedly the uncrowned king of the entire Black Tortoise Mountain Range.

Though this mysterious strong family doesn't dabble in worldly politics, all human cities of the Black Tortoise Mountain Range, irrespective of the City Lord's competence, hold the Beiming Family in high regard.

Beiming Dojo is the Beiming Family's sole outpost in Wangbei City.

The "Oath Curse Seal" Bai Pu needs for his main quest can be obtained from this dojo.

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