91: Chapter 91 Entering the Town

Yun Song gripped the gunwale of the wooden boat tightly with his right hand, a thin layer of sweat forming on his palm.

This was his first time setting foot on a flying Spirit Boat, and it was hard not to feel nervous.

As the hull slowly lifted off the ground and the space beneath his feet suddenly vanished, a sense of weightlessness struck him. He instinctively bent his knees and leaned forward, steadying himself.

The scenery below shrank at an astonishing speed; towns, mountains, and rivers quickly turned into blurred patches of color, soon swallowed by the sea of clouds beneath his feet.

The Spirit Boat pierced through layers of clouds, darting toward the horizon like a bolt of lightning. The wind howled in his ears, its speed so fast it was startling.

During the flight, the four of them exchanged names.

The woman in yellow was named Su Qinghan, at Qi Refining 11th Layer.

The man in grey, Gu Licheng, was also at Qi Refining 11th Layer.

The White-clothed Man, Yu Yang, was at Qi Refining 10th Layer.

This mission had been posted by Su Qinghan. Three days ago, her family had sent word that a strange phenomenon had appeared in Nanshan Town, and she needed to return immediately to investigate.

Upon hearing the details in her father's letter, she felt that something was amiss and immediately posted the mission within the Sect.

Yu Yang paced over to Yun Song's side with a gentle smile on his face: "Junior Brother looks unfamiliar; I wonder which Elder you are a Disciple of?"

"I am ashamed to say that I am currently just an Inner Sect Disciple and have not yet had that Opportunity." Yun Song replied honestly with a wry smile.

Yu Yang was taken aback for a moment, then patted his shoulder with understanding: "To have reached Qi Refining 9th Layer within the Inner Sect is already rare."

"Although not being under an Elder's tutelage means fewer personal instructions, it also allows for more freedom."

"Accepting missions is an excellent form of training; who knows, you might even encounter a great Opportunity!"

As he spoke, he enthusiastically retrieved a small table from his Storage Pouch, then pulled out a roasted chicken, several wine cups, and a wine pot.

"Come, let's all eat and drink a little; it can count as building some rapport beforehand."

Gu Licheng sat over upon hearing this, but only Su Qinghan remained gazing into the distance, her expression indifferent, ignoring Yu Yang's invitation.

Yu Yang did not mind and skillfully poured wine for the three of them: "This spirit fruit wine is brewed from thousand-year spirit fruits. Drinking it for the first time can widen one's meridians; it is a treasure I found in Xuanyuan City."

Yun Song took a small sip; the spiciness and sweetness intertwined on his tongue, and he then downed it in one gulp.

A burning sensation traveled down his throat straight to his Dantian, and warmth rapidly spread throughout his body, even causing his ear tips to turn slightly red.

Gu Licheng's face was also flushed with intoxication, but only Yu Yang looked as usual. Seeing this, he smiled and said: "It seems this is the first time you two have drunk this spirit fruit wine?"

"Indeed, this is our first time tasting it. Many thanks for your kindness, Senior Brother." Yun Song nodded in thanks.

After a few rounds of drinks, Yun Song couldn't help but ask: "I have always heard that the Sect Elders possess vast Divine Abilities. May I ask which Elder you are a Disciple of, Senior Brother Yu?"

"I am a Named Disciple of Elder Ye Linyuan." Yu Yang answered frankly. Seeing the envy in Yun Song's eyes, he consoled him: "Cultivation is all about Opportunity. No matter how high one's starting point is, without Opportunity, it is all in vain."

During their conversation, Yun Song asked about a few questions regarding his Cultivation Technique. The insights of Yu Yang and Gu Licheng were actually identical to what Chen Changsheng had said, and they shook their heads repeatedly while patiently offering guidance.

The two soon discovered that the Junior Brother before them was as pure as a blank sheet of paper when it came to cultivation knowledge and worldly affairs.

When asked about his preparations for the mission, Yun Song scratched his head and asked blankly: "Do I need to bring gifts for a mission?"

This remark made both of them laugh until their sides hurt. Gu Licheng suppressed his laughter and explained: "When walking in the Cultivation world, Spirit Stones, spirit gathering pills, and healing medicine are indispensable; they can save your life at critical moments."

Yu Yang added from the side: "Moreover, there are always unreasonable Cultivators who look for trouble; one cannot let their guard down for even a moment."

These words made Yun Song suddenly realize the true dangers of the Cultivation world, which were far beyond anything in the Mortal world.

The wooden boat traveled through the sea of clouds for about an hour. When they neared Nanshan Town, to avoid disturbing the Mortals, Su Qinghan found a remote spot to land.

After putting away the Spirit Boat, the four of them walked into the town.

Upon first entering the town, they could still hear the peddlers hawking their wares, the noise of the crowd, and a scene of lively activity.

But the further they walked toward the center of the town, the more bizarre the atmosphere became.

The pedestrians seemed to be walking normally, but the vendors all looked listless, their eyelids heavy, with intense drowsiness.

The closer they got to the town center, the more people were drowsy; most couldn't help but yawn, and their Qi seemed exceptionally weak.

Su Qinghan's expression was calm, as if she had expected this.

Unable to suppress his curiosity, Yun Song asked in a low voice: "Senior Brothers, have you noticed anything?"

Yu Yang guessed casually: "Perhaps they were exhausted from last night and haven't rested."

However, Gu Licheng's expression was grave: "Things are not that simple."

Su Qinghan spoke coldly: "These people are suffering from a loss of vital essence; nine times out of ten, they have been fed upon by a Ghost Demon."

"A Ghost Demon?!" Yu Yang's voice trembled, clearly somewhat nervous.

"Look at how pathetic you are." Su Qinghan cast a disdainful glance at him, "We are just going to investigate first, figure out the situation, and then decide what to do."

Yun Song had never heard of a Ghost Demon, so he quickly asked: "What is a Ghost Demon?"

Gu Licheng explained slowly: "They are departed souls unwilling to reincarnate, having escaped the constraints of the underworld. They absorb Yin Qi to gather and take form, becoming wandering spirits."

"To balance Yin and Yang, they will feed on the vital essence of the living."

"Powerful Ghost Demons can possess human bodies and hide their presence."

"But there is no need to worry; books record that there has yet to be a Ghost Demon capable of appearing in broad daylight."

"They mostly possess beautiful women at night to lure people into their traps."

"It is just that now, people throughout the whole town are suffering from a loss of vital essence, which is completely inconsistent with the records in the books."

Yun Song pondered for a moment and asked in confusion: "Could it be a group of demons causing trouble?"

Gu Licheng shook his head, denying it: "Ghost Demons naturally devour each other; one place can hardly tolerate two demons."

This conversation cast a shadow over Yun Song's heart.

He looked at the drowsy pedestrians on the street, and a chill slowly crept up his spine; he felt that deep within this town, there was an unspeakable danger lurking.