280: Chapter 279 The Black Witch Cult

"I want to know if the Black Witch Cult has any connection to the Dragon Slaying True Person." Jiang Hanzhou did not hide his intent, as he needed Shaman Turdan's help. "While I was in the East Sea, I had been investigating a matter. The Ten Thousand Gu Sect colluded with an ancient Dao Lord named Dragon Slaying True Person to plant dao seeds within the Sects of the East Sea. These seeds used the Divine Souls and Dao Principles of Cultivators as nourishment, waiting to be Reborn after a thousand years. If the Black Witch Cult is the Northern Altar Branch of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect, then it is highly likely that the Dragon Slaying True Person's layout has extended to the Northern Territory as well."

Shaman Turdan's expression changed completely.

He walked back to the rug, sat cross-legged, and pressed both hands onto the black stone slab. The runes on the slab began to glow slowly, emitting a faint black light. His Shamanic Power poured into the slab, resonating with the runes, and a blurry image slowly emerged above the stone.

It was a map—not of the East Sea, but of the Northern Territory. The Mystic Ice Vast Sea, ice fields, mountain ranges, and rivers were marked with dense annotations. One particular location was marked with blood-red runes, standing out prominently.

"This is the main headquarters of the Black Witch Cult, located in the Permafrost Mountains at the northernmost tip of the Northern Territory." Shaman Turdan's voice was raspy. "Thirty years ago, the Black Witch Cult suddenly appeared in the Mystic Ice Vast Sea. No one knew their origin or their purpose. But looking at it now, their appearance coincides with the timeline of the Dragon Slaying True Person's layout."

He paused, his gaze falling on Jiang Hanzhou. "Physician Jiang, if what you say is true and the Dragon Slaying True Person has a backup plan in the Northern Territory, then the Black Witch Cult is a chess piece he buried here. They manipulate tribes and expand their influence not to contend for hegemony with the Mystic Ice Sword Sect, but to harvest dao seeds and provide nourishment for the Dragon Slaying True Person's Rebirth."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded. "That is exactly what I was thinking."

He retrieved the heavenly secret mirror from his sumeru pouch. The jade talisman was pure white, its surface silver patterns flickering slightly. After the third Seal was unlocked, the heavenly secret mirror contained much more information regarding the Dragon Slaying True Person's layout, but he hadn't had time to carefully organize it yet. Now, he needed that information.

He extended his Divine Sense into the heavenly secret mirror, searching through the fragmented information for clues related to the Northern Territory.

An image surfaced in his Sea of Consciousness: The Dragon Slaying True Person stood with his hands behind his back on the ice field, five-colored brilliance flowing around him. Before him knelt a man dressed in black fur robes, his face tattooed with dense black lines—the unique witch markings of a Northern Territory Shaman.

"From this day forth, the Black Witch Cult shall be my eyes in the Northern Territory," the Dragon Slaying True Person's voice echoed in the image. "You will plant dao seeds in the Northern Territory on my behalf and harvest them in secret. When the thousand-year period arrives and the five regions open simultaneously, all the dao seeds will be drained. At that time, I will be Reborn, and you shall receive everything you desire."

The image dissipated.

Jiang Hanzhou opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them.

As expected. The Black Witch Cult was indeed a chess piece buried in the Northern Territory by the Dragon Slaying True Person. The Ten Thousand Gu Sect and the Black Witch Cult, one in the south and one in the north, were both part of the Dragon Slaying True Person's thousand-year layout. There were dao seeds in the East Sea, and there were dao seeds in the Northern Territory. Those dao seeds were hidden within the bodies of Martial Artists from major tribes, within the Disciples of the Mystic Ice Sword Sect, and within every Cultivator in the Northern Territory who had entered a Dragon Slaying Cave Mansion and absorbed memory fragments.

Once the thousand-year period arrived and the five regions opened, all the dao seeds would be drained. At that time, it would not just be a disaster for a single Sect, but a catastrophe for the entire world.

"Shaman Turdan," Jiang Hanzhou spoke, his voice calm, "I would like to ask you for a favor."

Shaman Turdan looked at him. "Speak."

"I want to know if there are any tribes near the White Deer Tribe controlled by the Black Witch Cult. Are there any Martial Artists who have been planted with dao seeds?" Jiang Hanzhou's gaze was piercing. "I need to find evidence of the Black Witch Cult planting dao seeds in the Northern Territory and find the flaws in the Dragon Slaying True Person's layout. Only then can I stop him."

Shaman Turdan remained silent for a long time.

Then, he slowly nodded. "There are. Three hundred miles east of the White Deer Tribe is a large tribe called the Ice Fang Tribe. It has a population of over a thousand and possesses Martial Artists at the Peak of the Soul Condensation Realm. Three years ago, the leader of the Ice Fang Tribe defected to the Black Witch Cult, and the entire tribe is now under their control. If the Black Witch Cult has planted dao seeds in the Northern Territory, someone in the Ice Fang Tribe must have been planted."

He paused and said word for word, "But Physician Jiang, your Cultivation is currently Sealed, and your body has not fully recovered. The Ice Fang Tribe has Martial Artists at the Peak of the Soul Condensation Realm and a Shaman from the Black Witch Cult stationed there. In your current state, going there would be suicide."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded. "I know. That is why I won't go now. I need time—time to restore my Cultivation and adapt to the fighting style of the Northern Territory."

He laid the tiger soul saber across his knees, the dark gold patterns on the blade flickering slightly under the reflection of the campfire. "But I need intelligence. Intelligence on the Ice Fang Tribe, intelligence on the Black Witch Cult, and intelligence on the dao seeds in the Northern Territory. Shaman Turdan, can you help me find this out?"

Shaman Turdan looked at him and was silent for three breaths.

Then, he nodded. "I can. Although the White Deer Tribe is weak, we have survived in the Mystic Ice Vast Sea for hundreds of years and have our own connections and eyes. Give me ten days, and I will compile the intelligence on the Ice Fang Tribe and give it to you."

Jiang Hanzhou stood up and cupped his fists in a salute. "Thank you."

He turned and walked toward the tent entrance.

As he reached the door, Shaman Turdan's voice came from behind him. "Physician Jiang, the people from the Black Witch Cult will arrive within three days. What do you plan to do?"

Jiang Hanzhou stopped in his tracks and said without looking back, "If they come, I will kill them. I will let them know that the White Deer Tribe is not something they can touch."

He lifted the door curtain and stepped out of the tent.

In the night, the wind and snow howled.

He stood on the snow, looking into the depths of the ice field, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

The Black Witch Cult, the Ten Thousand Gu Sect, the Dragon Slaying True Person.

One in the north and one in the south, one Gu and one Dao—they were all his enemies.

He would not retreat, nor would he be afraid.

Because his saber was specifically meant to slay all monsters and demons.

The people from the Black Witch Cult did not come.

At least, they did not come in the following three days.

Jiang Hanzhou didn't know if they had changed their minds, were observing in secret, or were waiting for more reinforcements. But regardless, this gave him a chance to catch his breath. He used these three days to continue using his fate power to repair his damaged Foundation, using the extreme cold environment to hone his Li Fire Golden Body, and using the ice field's storms to temper his newly created Mystic Ice Tidal Slash.

The White Deer Tribe's camp was also being rebuilt. The tribespeople re-stacked the collapsed fences, repaired the damaged tents, and buried the deceased tribesmen on the icy slope north of the camp. Ayiguli led the young and strong Martial Artists in day and night patrols, staying alert for possible retaliation from the Black Witch Cult. Shaman Turdan spent every day divining in his tent, using his Shamanic Power to sense the subtle fluctuations of aura deep within the ice field.

On the morning of the fourth day, Jiang Hanzhou was practicing his saber techniques on the ice at the edge of the camp. The tiger soul saber slashed out slowly in his hand, each strike containing the intent of the Mystic Ice Tidal Slash. The saber light was ice-blue, leaving behind cold arcs in the air. His movements were very slow, so slow that each strike seemed as if it were being swung through water, yet the power contained within the saber light caused the surrounding air to condense into fine ice crystals.

He stopped his movements and looked up into the distance.

At the end of the ice field, three white figures were rapidly approaching. They were dressed in white long robes, their long hair tied up with silver crowns, and translucent longswords hung at their waists. Their speed was as fast as the wind, stepping on snow without leaving a trace, crossing several yards with every step, leaving only a string of shallow footprints on the ice field.

Jiang Hanzhou's pupils constricted slightly.

He sensed a familiar aura from those people. It wasn't the blood-and-qi Shamanic Power of the Northern Territory, but the spiritual energy and True Intent of the East Sea. Those three contained a rich Golden Sharpness True Intent and an ice-attribute True Intent he had never seen before. The two types of True Intent were intertwined, forming a thin layer of Protective Aura around their bodies.

The Mystic Ice Sword Sect.

Shaman Turdan had mentioned to him that the Mystic Ice Sword Sect was the number one Sect in the Northern Territory, famous for its sword dao. Generations of Disciples Cultivated ice-attribute Cultivation Techniques, and it was known alongside the Dragon Abyss Palace of the East Sea, the Ten Thousand Gu Sect of the Southern Border, and the Esoteric Sect of the Western Desert as the four great Sects of the world. But what Shaman Turdan hadn't told him was that the connection between the Mystic Ice Sword Sect and the East Sea was so close that their Disciples also Cultivated spiritual energy and True Intent.

The three figures stopped outside the camp. Leading them was a woman in her early thirties, with a cold expression and features as beautiful as a painting. Her black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, tied only at the ends with a silver hair tie. She wore a white long robe with intricate silver patterns embroidered on the hem; the patterns wound like dragons, flickering slightly in the morning light. At her waist hung a translucent white longsword, with two ancient characters engraved on the scabbard: Mystic Ice.

Behind her stood two young men, also dressed in white robes with longswords at their waists. Their Cultivation was not as high as the leading woman, but they were still at the Early Stage of the Soul Condensation Realm, equivalent to the Early Stage of the Dragon Fetus Realm in the East Sea.

Ayiguli rushed out from the camp, holding an iron spear, her face alert. Shaman Turdan leaned on his wooden staff and walked slowly to the camp entrance, his aged face showing no expression.

"Honored guests of the Mystic Ice Sword Sect," Shaman Turdan spoke, his voice calm. "May I ask what business brings you to the White Deer Tribe?"

The leading woman looked at him, her gaze lingering on Shaman Turdan's wooden staff for a moment before she spoke, her voice as cold as ice. "I am Teng Qinghan, an Inner Sect Disciple of the Mystic Ice Sword Sect. By order of the Sect Master, I am patrolling the various tribes of the Northern Territory to investigate the Black Witch Cult's manipulation of the beast tide. A few days ago, the White Deer Tribe encountered a beast tide, and we sensed a powerful Sword Intent fluctuation here, so we came to investigate."

Her gaze passed over Shaman Turdan and landed on Jiang Hanzhou at the edge of the camp. An indescribable light flashed in those cold eyes.

Jiang Hanzhou stood his ground and did not move. His right hand was pressed against the hilt of the tiger soul saber, the Dao-Slaying Blade Intent circulating slightly in his Sea of Consciousness. He sensed the aura within Teng Qinghan—Peak of the Soul Condensation Realm, equivalent to the Peak of the Dragon Fetus Realm in the East Sea. In his prime, he would not fear such an opponent. But now, his Cultivation was mostly Sealed, and he could only activate less than thirty percent of his True Intent. If Teng Qinghan was an enemy, he would have almost no chance of winning.

Teng Qinghan walked toward the camp at a steady pace. Her two companions followed behind, their gazes alertly scanning the surroundings. Shaman Turdan stepped aside and did not block them, as he knew the Mystic Ice Sword Sect and the Black Witch Cult were mortal enemies; someone from the Mystic Ice Sword Sect could not be sent by the Black Witch Cult.

Teng Qinghan entered the camp, her eyes fixed on Jiang Hanzhou. She walked up to him, stopped, and looked him up and down. Her gaze lingered on his black wetsuit for a moment, then stayed on the tiger soul saber at his waist for a long time.

"You are not from the Northern Territory." she spoke, her voice cold yet carrying a hint of undisguised curiosity. "You are a Cultivator from the East Sea. Your aura carries traces of the Dragon Abyss Palace's Cultivation Technique."

Jiang Hanzhou's pupils constricted slightly. He hadn't expected Teng Qinghan to be so familiar with the auras of the East Sea, recognizing his origin at a single glance.

"Jiang Hanzhou, a Disciple of the Red Fire Peak of the Dragon Abyss Palace." He did not hide his identity, as he sensed no hostility from Teng Qinghan. "My ship encountered a spatial turbulence at sea and was swept here."

Teng Qinghan's brow twitched slightly. "Spatial turbulence? You are lying. Spatial turbulence does not appear without reason. Were you being pursued, or did you accidentally enter some Forbidden Ground?"

Jiang Hanzhou fell silent. He didn't know whether he should tell Teng Qinghan the truth, nor did he know her relationship with Teng Yuzhi or if she could be trusted.

Teng Qinghan seemed to see his hesitation. She took out a palm-sized jade talisman from her robes and handed it to Jiang Hanzhou. The jade talisman was deep green, its surface engraved with fine water-ripple patterns—the unique mark of the Bibo Pool. At the corner of the jade talisman was a fine crack, as if it had been burst open from the inside by something.

Jiang Hanzhou took the jade talisman and extended his Divine Sense into it. Within the talisman was only one sentence, the handwriting cold yet containing an indescribable concern: "Junior Brother Jiang, if you encounter my aunt Teng Qinghan in the Northern Territory, you can trust her. She is the person I am closest to in this world."

It was Teng Yuzhi's handwriting. Teng Yuzhi's spiritual sense brand. Teng Yuzhi's entrustment.

Jiang Hanzhou returned the jade talisman to Teng Qinghan and cupped his fists. "Senior Sister Teng, my apologies for the discourtesy."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Teng Qinghan's mouth—her first smile since entering the camp. "Yuzhi mentioned you in a communication talisman. She said you are a very interesting person, exceptionally talented, with a steadfast Dao Heart and a limitless future. She also said that if you ran into trouble in the Northern Territory, I must help you."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded. "Senior Sister Teng overpraises me."

Teng Qinghan's gaze fell once more on the tiger soul saber at his waist. This time, her gaze was more focused and sharper. She raised her right hand, her fingers lightly touching the hilt, then she suddenly pulled back, a flash of shock in her eyes.

"This saber," her voice trembled slightly, "contains the sword dao brand of the Innate One Qi Sect. And also the Dragon-Slaying Sword Intent of the Dragon Slaying True Person. Where did you get this?"

Jiang Hanzhou was silent for a breath before slowly speaking, "I entered the Dragon Slaying True Person's Immortal Cave in the East Sea and absorbed his memory fragments. This saber was tempered by the Dragon-Slaying True Intent in that Immortal Cave and developed spirituality."

Teng Qinghan's expression changed. She turned around and nodded to Shaman Turdan. "Shaman Turdan, we need to borrow your tent. Some things cannot be discussed outside."

Shaman Turdan glanced at Jiang Hanzhou, and seeing him nod slightly, he stepped aside. "Please."

The four of them entered Shaman Turdan's tent. Shaman Turdan set up a Shamanic Power barrier outside the tent, cutting off all external perception. Inside the tent, the campfire danced, and the runes on the black stone slab flickered slightly.