Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy-Chapter 394 - 357: Evernight Ancient Kingdom_2

"Little Five Thunder Palm..."

With black smoke billowing from their mouths, the twins stared at the old man in disbelief, unable to comprehend that the seemingly listless old fellow they’d traveled with actually concealed such terrifying strength.

"Are you still in a rush?"

Having subdued the twins with a single palm strike, the old man caressed his rough hands, about to pick them both up when his earlobe suddenly twitched.

BANG—

The clash of palms caused a violent shock.

The rampant and fierce Lei Mang burst forth, emitting a piercing screech in the void.

"Not bad. There are no Thunder Magic sects in Qinlong Province. Seeing that you’re a cultivator from this province as well, where did you learn this Thunder Magic?"

With a calm expression, Qi Xiu retracted his right hand and curiously questioned the old man before him.

"Damn, a Thunder Law Cultivator!"

Seeing that Qi Xiu was completely unharmed after taking his Little Five Thunder Palm, the old man’s expression changed slightly. During the palm clash, he had also acutely sensed the terrifying, boundless thunder power within the other’s body.

It was like Li Gui coming face to face with Li Kui.

"Senior, get him! This old codger calls himself ’Wanlitong,’ but when he led the way, it was either windy or rainy, or he had us digging pits all over the mountains. Utterly heartless, it’s an offense against heaven itself!"

The old man was clearly at a disadvantage. The twins, who had been electrocuted until they were charred on the outside and tender on the inside, and had lost control of their bladders and bowels, hastily shouted their accusations, detailing the old man’s crimes.

"Bullshit! I’m no soothsayer; I can’t be that accurate. Besides, the money you gave me isn’t even enough for a good meal at the Drunken Fairy Building."

Hearing the twins lash out at him, the old man turned his head and cursed fiercely. Normally, he wouldn’t have taken such insults to heart, considering them mere trifles. But things were different now. What if this Thunder Law Cultivator before him was a stubbornly righteous type who abhorred evil? Then he would have truly kicked an iron plate.

"Wanlitong? Are you the Wanlitong who claims that ’the boundless desert is like your own backyard, and you know every path, past and present’?"

The twins’ rebuke elicited a hint of surprise in Qi Xiu’s eyes.

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

Detecting from Qi Xiu’s tone that he seemed to be looking for him, Wanlitong’s eyes darted, and he quickly said, "Seeing your distinguished appearance and profound cultivation, you must be a Sect Member from some major sect, right? What, are you also here to seek treasure?"

"Something like that."

Having found Wanlitong, the man he had been searching for, Qi Xiu smiled. With a flip of his palm, he produced a palm-sized, purple-gold token shaped like a knife handle. This was a Dao Gold Medal. One purple-gold Dao Gold Medal could be exchanged for 10,000 Dao Gold.

"I want to ask you for a favor. This is a deposit. Interested?"

"Yes!"

With a shriek, Wanlitong’s eyes practically bulged at the sight of the Dao Gold Medal in Qi Xiu’s hand. He discarded all pretense of dignity and reached out to grab it.

"Hey, I haven’t told you what I need help with yet."

Raising his hand to dodge Wanlitong’s grimy, grasping fingers, Qi Xiu said with a smile.

"Just tell me! There’s nothing on this Loess Plateau that I, Wanlitong, don’t know. Tell me which great tomb you want to visit, and I guarantee you’ll be standing at its entrance within three days."

Eyes fixed on the purple-gold token, Wanlitong grinned shamelessly, patting his chest to vouch for his abilities.

"Is that so? What if I want to go to the Evernight Ancient Kingdom?"

The hand that was about to grasp the purple-gold token suddenly stiffened. Wanlitong woodenly turned his head to look back at the smiling Qi Xiu.

"You’re messing with me, aren’t you?"

Spitting a mouthful of tobacco dregs fiercely in Qi Xiu’s direction, Wanlitong, whose eyes always lit up at the sight of money, turned to leave. It seemed even 10,000 Dao Gold weren’t enough to make him go near the words ’Evernight Ancient Kingdom.’

"20,000."

"30,000."

"50,000. Can’t add any more."

"Deal!"

Wanlitong spun back around to face Qi Xiu and thrust out a large hand. "The money!"

Money really can make a ghost turn a millstone...

Watching Wanlitong return, Qi Xiu chuckled lightly. He flipped his palm, and five purple-gold tokens appeared.

"The money can be yours. But if you treat me as you treated them... you know the consequences."

Jerking his chin, Qi Xiu gestured towards the twins still sprawled on the ground nearby.

"Don’t worry! Different prices mean different standards of service. You’re a VIP; I’ll make sure you’re satisfied."

Blissfully accepting the five Dao Gold Medals, the wrinkles on Wanlitong’s old face seemed to smooth out instantly.

Cui Hong! Xiao Yue! Old Wei has really struck it rich this time! Just you wait, we’ll be able to live it up for a whole month very soon!

As Wanlitong was lost in his daydreams of happy days to come, a fair and slender hand suddenly rested on his shoulder.

BOOM—

In an instant, the Sky Dome changed color. Endless, terrifying dark clouds gathered overhead. Thunder sound boomed, and faint Lei Mang surged within the clouds, looking as if they might roar down at any second.

"I’ve already taken the money. When can we set off?"

Although he didn’t turn around, Wanlitong’s mind conjured a towering figure, its face shrouded in shadows, emanating an immensely oppressive aura.

"We’ll set off right away!"

Not daring to hesitate in the slightest, Wanlitong quickly answered.

The storm-like pressure at his back vanished in an instant. The pale, slender hand gently patted Wanlitong’s shoulder, "This has been hard on you."

"Hehe, not at all, not at all."

Forcing a wry smile, Wanlitong pocketed the Dao Gold Medals and turned to bow to Qi Xiu. "My surname is Wei, and my given name is Xun. You can just call me Wei, sir. May I ask how to address you?"

"My surname is Qi. You can call me Qi. I’ve heard from people around here that the Evernight Ancient City moves with the wind—elusive, ethereal, with no fixed location. Many have found their way in by chance, but only you have entered more than once."

According to the information from the bronze ring, a legacy of the Food Demon Sect was hidden within this Evernight Ancient City.

Qi Xiu had initially planned to return to the Shenxiao Sect and discuss the matter with his master, Daoist Yunxiong, before making a decision. But a premonition deep within him made him feel that if he didn’t retrieve the legacy quickly, he might miss out on this inheritance coveted by cultivators everywhere.

Since his premonitions were usually accurate, Qi Xiu sent a simple letter back to the Shenxiao Sect and immediately rushed to this Loess Plateau. After inquiring for a few days, he finally found this Wanlitong, who had traveled to and from the Evernight Ancient Kingdom multiple times.

"Qi, although I’ve taken your money and agreed to help, I have to be upfront about some things. This Evernight Ancient Kingdom is known throughout Qinlong Province as a dangerous place, a forbidden zone, a deadly land. I know you’ve heard that treasures from the ancient Sheng Tang Empire are hidden inside. But that’s all hearsay; I, an old man, have never seen anyone bring anything out of there. Moreover, the Evernight City is filled with endless dangers. Even Dao Experts have met their downfall there. If it’s not absolutely necessary, I would advise you not to join the commotion."

Wei said this with sincere emotion. In his many years as a broker, he had sent quite a few people into the Evernight Ancient City. But without exception, none returned alive. That ancient city, filled with endless allure, was like an abyss, constantly devouring any living beings that drew near.

"I appreciate your concern. Don’t worry, if it’s really dangerous, I will give up."

Seeing Qi Xiu’s resolve, Wei said no more, though he couldn’t help muttering to himself, Good advice is wasted on a stubborn fool bent on his own doom...

...

Under Wei’s guidance, the two men navigated endlessly through the vast Loess Plateau.

Quietly memorizing the paths Wei took him on, Qi Xiu nodded to himself. This Wanlitong might have a mediocre character, but he did possess some skill. His path seemed random and chaotic, but it actually concealed profound secrets, as if he were following a route invisible to ordinary people.

Qi Xiu could clearly feel that although they seemed to wander around the Loess Plateau, the Universe Space around them was constantly changing, and there was a tremendous fluctuation in the Earth Vein’s qi beneath their feet. This change, however, was something he could only glimpse by activating his Observing Qi Skill. Ordinary cultivators could not sense it and would just think the old man was leading them in circles, purely to swindle their money.

After traversing the Loess Plateau for five whole days, Wei, who had walked non-stop against the wind and sand for all that time, suddenly let out a long breath. He looked up at the perfectly round, bright moon overhead, pounded his lower back, and plopped down. "We’ve finally arrived..."

...