Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy-Chapter 424 - 379: Northwestern Daliang
"Sect Master, have you ever been to the Valley of Deceased Gods?"
After accepting the Haotian Mirror, Qi Xiu and Dongfang Qing strolled on Sect Master Peak, their Taoist Robes fluttering loudly in the gusting wind that met them.
"No."
Dongfang Qing shook his head and said slowly, "Or rather, no direct disciple of any Sect Master has ever entered the Valley of Deceased Gods. This is tradition, because the Sect Master’s direct disciples are highly likely to become the next Sect Master. We must ensure nothing affects the succession. Besides the "Nine Heavens Shenxiao Thunder Commanding Scripture," the Sect Master’s lineage also cultivates another True Scripture Volume. After cultivating the "Nine Heavens Shenxiao Thunder Commanding Scripture" to the Blood-Stained Peak, one switches to this other True Scripture Volume, which virtually guarantees no bottlenecks in achieving the Dao Body."
"No bottlenecks?"
Qi Xiu showed a hint of surprise. Breaking through bottlenecks had always been the greatest challenge for cultivators. Success meant advancing to the next realm; failure meant being trapped, gloomily awaiting the end of one’s lifespan. He had not expected that this world contained True Scripture Volumes capable of eliminating such desperate struggles.
Seeing the astonishment on Qi Xiu’s face, Dongfang Qing smiled faintly. "Don’t be too surprised. Such True Scripture Volumes are common among ancient, great sects like ours. Well, would you like to learn it?"
Dongfang Qing’s sudden question made Qi Xiu pause, but he quickly smiled and shook his head.
Seeing Qi Xiu refuse with little hesitation, Dongfang Qing seemed to have anticipated it. "What a pity. If you had been born into our Shenxiao Sect, the position of the next Sect Master might have been contested between you and Qingshan."
"Sect Master, please don’t joke. I’m too carefree by nature to be Sect Master. If I were even put in charge of Yunti Peak, I’m afraid I’d make a mess of it." Waving his hand with a smile, Qi Xiu repeatedly insisted he was unsuited for the role.
And he was not being modest. His lifelong ambition had always been to be a carefree wanderer, honing his skills daily and enjoying the world’s scenery; that was the perfect life for him. Others coveted the Sect Master position, driven by a desire for power and, naturally, for various resources, True Scriptures, and Magical Treasures. But these held little attraction for him. Compared to those, peace, contentment, and the pursuit of immortal truths were his lifelong goals.
"On this trip to the Valley of Deceased Gods, remember to be cautious. Watch out not only for the God’s Loathful Remnants but also for other Sect Aristocracy. The human heart is unfathomable; you must guard against it."
After offering a few words of advice, Dongfang Qing turned to Qi Xiu. "I initially thought of giving you a few Magical Treasures and Talisman Scripts for protection. However, upon reflection, I fear that having such items might breed complacency. If so, what would be the point of going to the Valley of Deceased Gods? Therefore, this time, you can only rely on yourself. Life and death are fated; the attainment of the Dao is up to the heavens. Be careful in all things."
"Rest assured, Sect Master. Your disciple will remember."
The vast, boundless desert of yellow sand stretched to the horizon. This endless expanse merged indistinguishably with the vast sky, blurring the line between where the earth ended and the sky began. Whistling winds raced between the grains of sand, whipping up sandstorms. These storms rolled forward like massive waves, then dissipated in an instant, leaving behind an even more desolate sea of sand. The world was a dull yellow, a solitude that enveloped everything. It was as if all things came to an end here.
「Northwestern Daliang!」
Of the twelve provinces of the Great Xuan Dynasty, it was the most desolate and barren land. Compared to Qinlong Province, which shared a similar landscape but still contained 30 percent fertile land, Northwestern Daliang was virtually a wasteland abandoned by the heavens and earth. Endless stretches of yellow sand covered the entire province. Strong winds, high temperatures, and drought—extreme, harsh weather—had nearly eliminated all signs of life in Northwestern Daliang. The Spirit Beings that lived here faced such brutal conditions. Aside from migrating, they could only silently endure, surviving with toughness and willpower beyond the ordinary.
Indeed, this constant, age-long struggle had caused Northwestern Daliang to develop a unique societal structure.
The Fifty-Five Tribes of Daliang!
Compared to the Sect Aristocracy of other provinces, a special community of Spirit Beings gradually formed in Northwestern Daliang. This was due to the harsh environment, the lack of blessed immortal lands, and the infighting among major powers over various resources.
Tribe! Unlike groups bound by bloodline, a tribe was no longer based on kinship. Instead, it was founded on territorial bonds and established private ownership, creating this societal structure. The fifty-five tribes of Northwestern Daliang each ruled over fifty-five territories. These fifty-five territories were established by their respective tribes. They could withstand the harsh climate of Northwestern Daliang, forming sanctuaries for Spirit Beings to thrive and reproduce.
If someone said that the extent of desertification in Northwestern Daliang had nothing to do with the Valley of Deceased Gods, I wouldn’t believe it.
High above, Qi Xiu sat cross-legged on a cloud, propping his cheek with one hand, gazing thoughtfully at the vast, barren Gobi Desert below.
The Tianyuan Main Realm was not the Blue Planet of his previous life. This world had cultivators capable of overturning rivers and moving mountains to fill seas. For a Primordial Spirit expert, transforming the large area of Northwestern Daliang into a verdant, watery land was not impossible. Reforming this barren land would not be difficult at all. Even if Primordial Spirit experts were, for some reason, unwilling to act, those in the Dao Body Realm, or even the Blood-Stained Realm, could gradually erase this desert over many years. Yet, in reality, the tragic state of Northwestern Daliang seemed to have always persisted. It was as if something had been constantly influencing this land, keeping it in such a desolate, lonely condition.
From the current perspective, the Valley of Deceased Gods was obviously the prime suspect. After all, it was the forbidden area where the bodies of countless gods were buried. Even if the original seals had been strong, countless years had passed. Nobody could guarantee there were no oversights.
There are still over two months before the Valley of Deceased Gods opens. This might be a good opportunity to visit Yan Baizhe.
As this thought occurred to him, a resolute and mature face appeared in Qi Xiu’s mind. Yan Baizhe, an old friend who had participated in the Shenxiao Sect’s examination with him. During that examination, he, Yan Baizhe, and Zhu Mo had been comrades, forged through life-and-death battles. But when the examination ended, Yan Baizhe did not join the Shenxiao Sect. Instead, he took away a Nine Heavens Frofound Thunder Town Demon Treasure Seal. Since then, the two had not met. Eighty-odd years had passed in the blink of an eye.
I wonder how far this lad has progressed by now. With a slight smile, Qi Xiu’s thoughts stirred, and the Qingyun beneath his feet suddenly accelerated, darting into the depths of Northwestern Daliang towards a certain tribe.
「Wolf Saint Tribe!」
One of the Fifty-Five Tribes of Daliang, currently ranked forty-ninth.
There was a time when the Wolf Saint Tribe was among the most dominant tribes of Northwestern Daliang. Their Daliang wolf cavalry was renowned far and wide, its fame reaching even beyond the provincial borders. However, more than two hundred years ago, the Chief of the Wolf Saint Tribe fell in battle. He died without completing the tribal succession. This led to the new chief being unable to awaken the Wolf Saint Totem, and the tribe’s wolf cavalry strength plummeted. In just two hundred years, they had fallen from being one of the top five tribes to near the bottom of the ranks. As time passed, the situation continued to worsen.
In the vast yellow sand, dreadful sandstorms strong enough to carry away mountaintops raged. Amidst this, poles with majestic wolf-head banners stood on the endless earthen structures. Under the protection of these banners, a faint halo enveloped the entire Wolf Saint Tribe, shielding its Spirit Beings from the sandstorm’s fury.
"Chief, there’s a recent resurgence in demonic calamities. The Nine Heavens Frofound Thunder Town Demon Treasure Seal brought back by the Young Clan Leader is weakening. We’re failing to suppress the rampant calamities."
Within a towering earthen structure adorned with numerous wolf totems, a middle-aged man, missing his left arm, his skin rough and complexion dark, spoke slowly.
Below a giant wolf-head totem, an old man with silver hair and a dignified face slowly raised his pale eyes and picked up a curved knife from the table. "If it truly comes to it, continue the blood sacrifice. Has Baizhe returned?"
"Not yet. However, people from the Baichuan Tribe have urged us several times. They demand we hand over the Young Clan Leader by the first day of next month, or they’ll issue a war decree."
"Hmph!" The silver-haired old man slammed the curved knife onto the table with a bang, his expression fierce. "A tiger that falls onto flat plains is bullied by dogs! Two hundred years ago—no, even one hundred years ago—the Baichuan Tribe wouldn’t have dared to utter such nonsense!"
"It’s said that the Chief of Baichuan Tribe’s eldest son has successfully broken through to the Blood-Dyed Ninth Layer. According to the rules of Daliang, if they issue a war decree, the Young Clan Leader must answer the challenge. But the Young Clan Leader, he..."
"What about me? As for that waste Gao Leqi, he only managed to reach the Blood-Dyed Ninth Layer by relying on a blood exchange his father arranged for him. If he dares to come, I may not be able to defeat him, but I can ensure we die together."
The door curtain of the earthen structure was flung open, and a stalwart man, travel-worn, his hair messy and armor still dripping blood, strode in.
"Father, your son has returned." Kneeling on one knee before the silver-haired old man, Yan Baizhe took out a purplish-red Spiritual Object. It was shaped like a tortoise and glowed faintly in his hand.
"Xuanzhi Grass! Young Clan Leader, you really found it!" exclaimed the one-armed middle-aged man beside them, surprised.
"With this, Father, your injuries will no longer worsen." Raising his eyes to the silver-haired old man above, Yan Baizhe’s cracked, pale lips curved into a sincere smile.
"Report!"
A hurried, rushed cry came from outside, followed by a flustered figure tumbling in. It was Su He, one of the wolf cavalry who had taken part in the Shenxiao Sect examination with Yan Baizhe.
"Presumptuous! What’s all this panic about?" the one-armed middle-aged man bellowed sternly at Su He’s reckless entrance.
"A savior has come! A savior has come!" Su He blurted out, his face alight with joy, leaving Yan Baizhe and the other two bewildered.
"Speak clearly! What savior has come?"
"Old Yan, your family is in such trouble, and you didn’t breathe a word. You don’t consider me a friend, eh?"
A calm and gentle voice sounded. Upon hearing it, Yan Baizhe was initially stunned, then a strong sense of familiarity surged through him.
Could it be...
The next second, the door curtain, lifted by a breeze, was pushed aside. A young Daoist stepped in. He bowed with folded hands to the silver-haired elder above, "This junior, Qi Xiu, a Sect Member of the Shenxiao Sect, greets Chief Yan."
