Journeying with the Righteous Path

Leaving the Black-armored Gu to keep watch over ten li away, Song Wen continued along the river. If he encountered a danger he could not resist, he could instantly dive to the riverbed and use the turbid floodwaters to conceal his figure.

Since the demonic path's territory was located in the Tuocang Mountain Range, the terrain was much higher. As long as he followed the river downstream, he would leave the demonic path's domain and reach the mortal lands controlled by the righteous path cultivators.

After walking for less than an hour, Song Wen saw a flying ship approaching in the sky dozens of li away.

The flying ship was not large, measuring only six or seven meters in length, and human figures could be vaguely seen moving across its deck.

Song Wen immediately concealed his aura and hid himself at the bottom of the river.

When the flying ship entered the range of his spiritual sense, Song Wen discovered that the highest cultivation on board belonged to an early Foundation Establishment cultivator. The remaining twenty or so people were all late Qi Condensation cultivators.

These cultivators possessed pure spiritual power and imposing, righteous auras.

They were a group of righteous path cultivators.

They were traveling in a direction leading away from the Corpse Demon Sect.

A sharp light flashed in Song Wen's eyes as a scheme crept into his mind.

He restrained his demonic aura, halted the spiritual power circulation of the Corpse King Blood Refining Art, and began to channel the Everlasting Longevity Art!

Instantly!

The baleful aura around Song Wen dissipated, and his corpse Qi vanished without a trace. It was entirely replaced by the righteous energy of heaven and earth.

Nourished by a massive supply of Spiritual Qi over the years, his Everlasting Longevity Art had unknowingly advanced to the fourth layer of Qi Condensation.

He then adjusted his aura, making it somewhat chaotic and fractured to appear as though he had suffered severe injuries.

Next, he changed into the robes of a Rogue Cultivator.

With all his preparations complete, Song Wen slowly emerged from the water. He altered his features to take on the appearance of a young Rogue Cultivator in his twenties, then lay down upon the riverbank, dripping wet.

This place was only a little over a thousand li away from the Corpse Demon Sect. For an early Foundation Establishment righteous cultivator to brazenly appear here with more than twenty Qi Condensation cultivators...

It could only mean one thing.

The Corpse Demon Sect's current situation was extremely unfavorable. They had likely already been besieged by the righteous Sects.

The safest way to distance himself from this area now was to disguise himself as a righteous Rogue Cultivator, hitch a ride on their flying ship, and leave.

...

Aboard the flying ship.

A pretty young female cultivator, about seventeen or eighteen, suddenly let out a cry of surprise.

"Look, there is someone lying on the riverbank."

Everyone on the flying ship looked in the direction she pointed. The riverbank was wide and open, allowing them to spot a young Rogue Cultivator collapsed by the water at a single glance.

Chatter instantly broke out among the group.

"What happened? Why are you shouting?"

A stern reprimand rang out, and the flying ship instantly fell dead silent.

A middle-aged male cultivator stepped out from the ship's pavilion, sweeping an unhappy gaze over the crowd.

Clearly, they held him in considerable awe; no one dared make a sound.

A moment later, the girl who had first spotted Song Wen mustered her courage and spoke.

"Reporting to Elder Wu, there is a cultivator lying on the riverbank several li ahead. We don't know if he is dead or alive."

Upon hearing this, Elder Wu's expression remained icy. He stepped slowly to the ship's railing and looked into the distance, indeed discovering a motionless figure lying on the shore several li away.

He commanded sternly.

"This place is demonic path territory. Even though our five righteous Sects have exterminated all the major and minor demonic forces within a radius of several thousand li, aside from the Corpse Demon Sect, there may still be survivors who slipped through the net. We must not be careless."

After lecturing the Sect's Junior disciples, Elder Wu ordered the flying ship to slowly approach the riverbank.

Once they were about one li away, Elder Wu finally used his spiritual sense to investigate Song Wen's condition.

Just a fourth layer Qi Condensation Rogue Cultivator!

He had also suffered significant internal injuries, and the circulation of spiritual power within his body was sluggish and obstructed.

But why would a righteous path Qi Condensation Rogue Cultivator appear entirely alone so close to the Corpse Demon Sect?

"Two of you, head down and bring him aboard! Remember to exercise caution," Elder Wu commanded.

"Yes!"

Two late Qi Condensation male cultivators leaped from the ship, gliding down toward the riverbank.

A short while later, the two men tossed Song Wen, who was pretending to be unconscious, onto the deck of the flying ship.

"Feed him a healing Pill," Elder Wu said.

A Pill was shoved into Song Wen's mouth, followed by a surge of spiritual power to help him refine it.

Seven or eight minutes later, Song Wen estimated that the Pill should have taken effect and slowly opened his eyes.

After putting on a show of adjusting to the glaring sunlight overhead and his injured, weakened body, Song Wen spoke slowly.

"Where... is this?"

The male cultivator who had fed him the Pill replied.

"We are cultivators of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect. You collapsed on the riverbank, and it is fortunate that we intervened to save you."

Profound Heaven Sword Sect!

Song Wen suddenly recalled—wasn't the red-clothed woman, Yan Yuyan, from this very Sect?

He struggled to climb up from the deck, his expression turning somewhat agitated. He bowed deeply with clasped fists and said,

"Thank you, Seniors, for saving my life. This Junior, Chen Feihe, is endlessly grateful. The Profound Heaven Sword Sect truly lives up to its reputation as a great righteous Sect, having repeatedly saved a mere Rogue Cultivator like myself. I am moved to tears and will definitely do everything in my power to repay this great kindness."

Faced with Song Wen's effusive praise, Elder Wu remained unmoved. His expression was still icy as his eyes fixed intently upon Song Wen.

"Oh? From what you are saying, you have been saved by other members of my Profound Heaven Sword Sect before?"

Song Wen nodded, his gaze drifting upward as if recalling a memory. His face was filled with reverence and gratitude.

"Half a month ago, I was abducted by the demonic cultivators of the Corpse Demon Sect. They intended to take me back to their sect to extract my blood and refine my soul, turning me into a Living Corpse. I thought I would be made into an undead Puppet Corpse, doomed to be enslaved and ordered around for all eternity."

"Unexpectedly, we crossed paths with a Sword Immortal from your esteemed Sect along the way."

Saying this, Song Wen's face brimmed with admiration and yearning.

"That Sword Immortal descended like a celestial maiden. Dressed in red robes and exuding a heroic, elegant bearing, she wielded a snow-white longsword. With just a single strike, she slaughtered several demonic path experts and saved the dozen or so of us Rogue Cultivators."

"That sword strike was as graceful as a startled swan, as supple as a swimming dragon, as swift as lightning, and carried the momentum of collapsing heavens. It was truly a breathtaking, peerless sword technique."

Upon hearing this, Elder Wu's expression still carried a trace of suspicion. He asked in a deep voice,

"Are you saying you received help from my Profound Heaven Sword Sect's Senior Martial Aunt, Yan Yuyan? On what day did this occur?"

Song Wen clasped his fists and replied.

"Reporting to Senior, it should have been three or four days ago."

After saying this, he murmured softly to himself, "So that Sword Immortal Senior is named Yan Yuyan..."

Elder Wu nodded. The timing matched up.

Senior Martial Aunt Yan had been heavily injured three days ago. In the two days prior, she had indeed been active in this area. It was entirely reasonable for her to have conveniently saved a few Rogue Cultivators in passing.

"You said there were over a dozen of you Rogue Cultivators in total. Where are the others?"

Song Wen shook his head helplessly, his expression slowly turning sorrowful.

"After Senior Yan rescued us, she departed. We intended to return to righteous territory as quickly as possible, but we ran into several demonic path Rogue Cultivators along the way. We were no match for them and could only scatter and flee. In the chaos, I fell into the river, badly injured, and blacked out."

"I never expected to be saved by your esteemed Sect again. The rumors are indeed true—the members of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect are all righteous cultivators who eradicate demons, uphold the Dao, and champion the weak."

Under Song Wen's flattery and effortlessly fabricated lies, Elder Wu gradually let his guard down. Meanwhile, the inexperienced Qi Condensation cultivators on the flying ship practically swallowed his words whole.

After all, the imposing, righteous aura emanating from Song Wen's body could not be faked.

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