"The Gazetteer of Qingxi."
Jia Ren was browsing through the Jade Slip for useful items when he unexpectedly discovered a travelogue written by someone known as the Qingxi Ascendant, chronicling his adventures wandering the world.
The Qingxi Ascendant was not weak; he was a rare Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator who enjoyed traveling the world and possessed extensive knowledge.
The sects of the Great Wilderness’s extreme regions, such as the Five Elements Sect, Vajra Gate, Spirit Beast Mountain, Heavenly Sword Sect, and Blood Demon Sect, were all recorded.
Each sect had its own sphere of influence, occupying territories large and small, and controlled local resources.
The Five Elements Sect bordered the Great Wilderness and covered a region extending over 2,500 miles, with two Golden Core Stage powerhouses stationed within the sect.
When was this information recorded? The Five Elements Sect only has one Late Golden Core Stage Five Elements Ancestor.
The sects mentioned in The Gazetteer of Qingxi did not include Thousand Beasts Mountain; the closest was the Spirit Beast Sect. Could the Spirit Beast Sect be the predecessor of Thousand Beasts Mountain?
Thousand Beasts Mountain had been wiped out, and the Five Elements Sect had annexed its territory, expanding their domain even further.
Jia Ren had never heard of the Vajra Gate. Is it too distant, or am I simply out of the loop?
For some reason, Jia Ren thought of the Body Refining Techniques Yang Bingzhi had given him: the Mixed Refining Vajra Body. Could it have originated from the Vajra Gate?
He searched in The Gazetteer of Qingxi and found more information.
The Vajra Gate was a sect that focused on Body Refinement. The high likelihood that the Mixed Refining Vajra Body from the Five Elements Sect had come from the Vajra Gate suggested that this sect had likely perished in history, its core teachings becoming a legacy of the Five Elements Sect.
He had heard of the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Blood Demon Sect a few times.
The Blood Demon Sect was in decline, barely leaving any traces.
The Heavenly Sword Sect did not get along with the Five Elements Sect; the two often clashed.
While old sects had perished, new ones had emerged.
The Yuding Sect and the Black Soul Sect were not found in the records, indicating they were newly established sects.
The Jade Slip was ancient, and much of its information was outdated.
Loose Cultivators had too few channels to access information, resulting in relatively shallow knowledge.
Jia Ren read with great interest, considering it a review of history to supplement his understanding of this world.
"Bizarre Evils never perish, resurrecting from the dead?"
"Bizarre Evils are the true darlings of this world, unkillable and indestructible. No matter the method used to slay them, within a short period, they will revive and return in force."
Jia Ren was stunned for a long time after reading the message left at the end by the Qingxi Ascendant.
"The only solution is to use Sealing Arrays and artifacts to seal them away."
This was the first time he had come across such information, having never heard similar rumors among Loose Cultivators. Was it concealed by the sects?
"Some Bizarre Evils are terrifyingly powerful, growing stronger the more people are aware of them."
The name had been redacted; the Qingxi Ascendant did not wish information about the Bizarre Evils to leak out.
This record sent a chill through Jia Ren’s heart. He had previously thought that although Bizarre Evils were powerful, cultivators, with their absolute strength, could still ensure their own safety and easily exterminate such beings.
Humans were supposed to be the protagonists of this world, the children of heaven and earth.
Reading The Gazetteer of Qingxi shattered Jia Ren’s worldview.
Were Fiendish Bizarre Evils the true protagonists of the world? Undying, and could only be sealed or avoided?
The mysterious beings that grew stronger the more people knew of them were truly horrifying.
No wonder I had never heard any rumors about them. Jia Ren felt downhearted, becoming increasingly wary and fearful of these Fiendish Bizarre Evils.
The truth is only known to a select few. The rulers don’t want more people to be aware of this, otherwise, these types of Fiendish Bizarre Evils would become even more powerful. Ignorance is sometimes bliss; at least it keeps one from constantly living in despair.
Fiendish Bizarre Evils can still be sealed; it’s not without a solution. Methods like Evil Warding Talismans were crafted by cultivators specifically to combat Fiendish Bizarre Evils. Similar methods must also exist in other cultivation arts such as formations, elixirs, and artifacts. Cultivators are in a tough spot, but at least there’s still a glimmer of hope. No matter how difficult the world is, I must persevere and not be defeated.
Jia Ren took a deep breath, regaining his composure.
Being shrouded in despair all day would affect his cultivation, which was not beneficial to him.
As my strength continues to increase, even if I can’t deal with Bizarre Evils, I’ll still have the ability to protect myself. Moreover, the Qingxi Ascendant was at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Just because that stage couldn’t solve the problem doesn’t mean cultivators at the higher Golden Core and Nascent Soul Stages can’t solve it either. The fact that cultivators and humans have survived to this day without going extinct is the best proof.
I must find a way to learn the Evil Warding Charm Art.
Jia Ren had initially been interested in the Evil Warding Charm Art mainly because Evil Warding Talismans were valuable; learning it would mean earning Spirit Stones quickly.
Now, the situation is completely different. If I master the Evil Warding Charm Art and level it up through the Proficiency Panel, the talismans I produce will be more effective. They would offer stronger protection against Fiendish Bizarre Evils. Improving the Evil Warding Charm Art to the Extraordinary Saint Level would also significantly increase its power against these Fiendish Bizarre Evils.
I’ll first try to obtain the Evil Warding Charm Art through Yang Bingzhi’s channels. If that’s not possible, I can consider making a move against the Talisman Cultivators’ Association. The Talisman Cultivators’ Association is not weak. I must increase my strength before I have the power to deal with them.
Jia Ren had just made a fortune and possessed many elixirs like Minor Restoration Pills and Spirit Bud Elixirs.
The elixirs from the Chang Le Gang members were of poor quality, mostly inferior goods bought cheaply from street stalls.
I don’t dare to consume such elixirs; I can only try to sell them off. Once things calm down, I’ll use the Thousand Fantasies Face to disguise myself and slowly sell them at a stall.
Alternating between consuming Spirit Bud Elixirs and Major Restoration Elixirs would strengthen his cultivation level.
Upon reaching the Late Stage Qi-Refining, both the quantity and quality of his Spiritual Energy would improve.
The Spirit Bud Elixirs and Major Restoration Elixirs were effective at the Mid Stage of Qi Cultivation, but less so at the Late Stage Qi-Refining. Even so, they were still far better than meditating and consuming Spirit Rice.
Elixirs for the Late Stage Qi-Refining aren’t cheap; it’s another significant expense.
After ingesting an elixir, Jia Ren quickly entered a meditative state, oblivious to the world around him.
The medicinal power swiftly transformed into Spiritual Power, slowly circulating through his meridians.
After an unknown amount of time, Jia Ren heard a door being smashed in the distance. It was not his dwelling, but his neighbor’s.
"Law Enforcement Office! Search! Come out!"
Could they be searching for Mosquito Daoist?
Jia Ren could not remain calm. He quickly stored the Impenetrable Defense Array in his Storage Bag. He also concealed the Spirit Beast Bag and the Array underground, wrapped in tattered cloth to hide any Spiritual Power Fluctuations.
He kept only a Storage Bag containing a few dozen Spirit Stones on him as camouflage.
He controlled the Corner Worms to block the underground entrance and erase any traces.
These ruthless bastards, once they consider you a fat sheep, won’t stop until they’ve skinned you alive.
"Heh heh, are you a spy from Thousand Beasts Mountain? The Law Enforcement Office has its own judgment. Come with us."
"I am truly not affiliated with Thousand Beasts Mountain! Please, my lord, understand!"
Peering through a crack in his stone house, Jia Ren saw two Enforcement Division Cultivators enter the neighbor’s house and search for suspicious items. If they found something they liked, they would casually put it into their Storage Bags.
The cultivator forced a smile and respectfully handed over some Spirit Stones.
The Enforcement Division Cultivators took the Spirit Stones and left after confirming there were no further issues.
The next house to be inspected was Jia Ren’s.
Jia Ren watched as the Enforcement Division Cultivators arrived at his stone house. Just as they were about to force their way in, a Sound Transmission Talisman flew over.
A voice emitted from the Sound Transmission Talisman: "Mosquito Daoist spotted! Need backup immediately!"