Three days later, in a dense forest, Bai Ziyue silently followed behind the Elder Scholar.
"I wonder what Elder Zhou actually wants me to do?"
They were now in the Lingxia Forest Mountain, a full seventy li away from Qinghe Town, with shrubs and woods blocking the way, making it almost impossible for ordinary people to enter.
Even though they were both skilled, their speed wasn’t fast as they walked and they had to be cautious, guarding against poisonous creatures startled from the shrubs.
Over these three days, Bai Ziyue naturally considered whether he should attend the Elder Scholar’s meeting.
After much thought, he still decided to come.
The offer of the spiritual eye technique from the other was one reason, but the most crucial one was the excessive commotion caused by Right Guardian Zhao Jing this time.
The day after Zhao Gangyi disappeared, Zhao Jing seemed to sense something and immediately sent subordinates to search. Then the Law Enforcement Team got involved. Although they hadn’t found anything yet, it still worried Bai Ziyue greatly.
The people in the Law Enforcement Team were all sharp and capable, and their search methods were no worse than those of the government’s arresting officers.
At this point, he naturally worried that something might go wrong on the Elder Scholar’s side.
"Knowing my surname is Zhou, it seems indeed that you’ve done some investigation on me these past few days."
The Elder Scholar said, unsurprised.
"Elder Zhou, you’re joking. For someone like you, a master, I am weak, so I must be cautious.
It just so happens my master holds me in some regard. Though I left in haste and couldn’t speak to him in person, I wrote a letter through someone. Soon, the master will know that I left with Elder Zhou.
This way, he won’t worry."
Bai Ziyue said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
"Truly gutsy and clever, even knowing how to leverage your master’s prestige against me.
But if I really wanted to harm you, would I have waited until now?"
The Elder Scholar’s mouth twitched as he said this with some astonishment.
He hadn’t really anticipated Bai Ziyue being so meticulous, not quite like an average youth.
"I naturally trusted Elder Zhou, otherwise, would I dare to come with you so boldly? But you still have to tell me what this is all about, so I can be prepared."
Although Bai Ziyue said he trusted him, he naturally didn’t believe it. The Incense Fire Dao wasn’t exactly the Evil Dao, but neither was it orthodox Immortal Dao. So, he was indeed wary of the Elder Scholar.
"Do you know about demons?"
The Elder Scholar suddenly asked.
Bai Ziyue paused and asked, uncertain, "Kill demons?"
Almost instantaneously, Bai Ziyue turned to leave, saying, "I know my own limits and truly dare not undertake the task of killing demons. I hope Elder Zhou understands."
He knew well this world was one roamed by demons and spirits.
If wild beasts devour spiritual objects, there’s a chance they could evolve into exotic beasts. Such beasts often possess immense strength, enhanced physique, beyond ordinary beasts. Powerful exotic beasts are no match even for martial artists at the peak of inner cultivation.
Like the Golden Armor Beast discovered in the mine three years ago, it wasn’t taken down even by Qin Yu, who was at the peak of inner cultivation. It required Bai Ziyue’s master, Liu Dong, to be invited to finally slay it.
Above exotic beasts are demons.
This means that even the weakest demon has power that can rival martial artists in the Inner Qi Realm.
Even with his confidence, Bai Ziyue dared not face a demon; it was no different from seeking death.
The Elder Scholar quickly stopped Bai Ziyue, speaking irritably, "Let me finish, alright? Even I, the Elder Scholar, would meet a dead end against a demon."
"Really not a demon?"
Bai Ziyue examined his expression carefully.
"Of course not. Do I have a death wish to provoke a demon? I always avoid the area near Liugang Temple, would I go provoke a demon?
What I’m talking about is a kind of existence separate from demons, spirit monsters."
The Elder Scholar hurriedly explained.
Bai Ziyue asked with confusion, immediately drawn in by what he had said earlier.
Avoiding the area near Liugang Temple? Could there be a demon there?
"Ordinary people usually find it difficult to distinguish between demons and spirit monsters. It’s actually quite simple: when an animal cultivates and nourishes, giving birth to spirituality, it becomes a demon, whereas when plants and inanimate objects like stones give birth to spirituality, they become spirit monsters.
If further distinguished, plants with spirituality become spirits, while inanimate objects like stones with spirituality become monsters.
Normally, we collectively refer to them as spirit monsters.
Generally, spirit monsters, in order to wander the world, often devour surrounding living beings, hoping to form a soul body.
This way, although their main body is restricted and cannot leave their original place, their soul body can transform into various shapes, and even powerful ones can change into human form and walk among humans.
Their main bodies are usually spiritual objects, often treasures for us to craft magical artifacts.
This time, what we aim to deal with is a spirit monster born from a locust tree."
The Elder Scholar, knowing that if he didn’t clarify, Bai Ziyue would surely leave, explained in detail.
"What is the strength of this locust tree spirit?"
Though Bai Ziyue understood the difference between demons and spirit monsters, he was most concerned about the opponent’s strength.
If it were like a demon, at least equivalent to an Inner Qi Realm being, he naturally wouldn’t want to take the risk.
"Compared to demons, the strength of spirit monsters is generally weaker, and this locust tree spirit hasn’t been spiritual for long, its strength is even less than the weakest demon.
Besides, it’ll mainly be me dealing with it this time. You just need to be responsible for holding it in check on the side."
The Elder Scholar said dismissively.
"Then how strong is Elder Zhou?"
Bai Ziyue asked with curiosity.
The Elder Scholar’s face turned dark, and he said sullenly, "Though I’ve only cultivated to the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation, it’s enough to deal with that locust tree spirit."
"It seems not much stronger than myself..."
*Bai Ziyue muttered to himself*, but he also knew that immortal cultivators often had mysterious methods. Even if their realm was a bit weaker, they could still unleash formidable combat power.
After all, this Elder Scholar was different from him. Perhaps he possessed magic and magical artifacts that could unleash powerful combat forces, and was confident enough to slay that locust tree spirit.
So, even though he still had some doubts, he nodded, temporarily accepting what he was told.
Thus, the two pressed forward again, heading deeper into the forest.
The deeper they went, the denser the forest grew. This place was already uninhabited by people, with no proper mountainous roads.
What they found were just some beast paths, twisted and winding, making it difficult to walk.
Suddenly, a green figure shot out like an arrow from a patch of grass, lunging directly at Bai Ziyue.
The flash of a blade sliced through, and a green snake as thick as a forearm was cut into three or four pieces, falling to the ground.