Yinlan City, part 3

After assigning tasks, the twelve teams departed in shifts.

Deep night with heavy dew and condensing fog wasn’t ideal for entry.

Su Qing’s first team was set to enter the Inner Subsidiary City at dawn.

Faint light edged the horizon—time to move.

Tang Yueling scanned around and suddenly asked Tian Ning, “I didn’t see the Qi family arrive.”

Of her three sisters, only Tang Qimei, a talisman cultivator, came with them.

Her cultivation wasn’t outstanding, so she wasn’t selected for the twelve central street teams, exploring the outskirts with other Sword Sect disciples.

But the Qi family’s Daozi was different—Golden Core stage, with Qi Liwei, Qi Libei, and Qi Lifeng all at Foundation Establishment.

If here, the first street mission might’ve been theirs.

Tian Ning’s tone was icy. “Normal. He only shows when it benefits him.”

Sword Sect shared power with noble families; the Qi family, top of Zhongzhou’s four great houses, ignored sect rules.

Beast tide aid was grunt work—they’d come for spoils, not now.

Tian Ning had told Su Qing the Qi Daozi was coldly self-interested.

His absence proved this aid was pure trouble.

“What kind of Daozi is he? Just because of his innate Dao body?” Tang Yueling scoffed, disdainful. It wasn’t his achievement—just good reincarnation luck.

“Better he’s not here,” Su Qing said. “We’d have to guard against him too.”

The fog hid assassins well—if she could kill him before toppling the Qi ancestor, fine.

But she couldn’t bear the cost yet. His presence would complicate things; Su Qing preferred him absent.

Tian Ning agreed.

Lin Ziyue raised a brow, realizing they meant the famed Qi Daozi.

Though top among the new generation, Sword Sect students rarely saw him—she’d glimpsed him once at the sword tomb opening.

Without Xiaoyao Sword, his prestige paled against Su Qing’s Dragon Boat fame.

Xie Ying and Ling Xiaorui spoke of Su Qing, building trust—Lin Ziyue accepted her as captain. But Qi Daozi? No tales.

His twin sister Tian Ning, however, was a daily sight—practicing sword, eating, practicing.

Admirers waited on her routes just to glimpse her, some smitten, though none dared approach.

Tian Ning was oblivious.

Pei Jingzhi, from the eastern continent’s notable Pei family—far below Zhongzhou’s four—smiled silently, pondering: Zhongzhou’s Qi, western continent’s top Tang, and this promoted Su Qing—was she truly lowborn or feigning weakness?

Sword Sect rumors swirled darkly.

Was Su Qing the sect leader’s direct disciple, rising under his protection?

But “direct disciple” required something to impart.

What could Sect Leader Wang teach her? Pei Jingzhi couldn’t fathom.

Su Qing folded the map, stood, glancing at the dawn.

“Final gear check. We leave in fifteen minutes.”

Before departure, Lin Hebai patted Su Qing’s shoulder, handing her a talisman.

Lin Ziyue returned from Xu Ruyi. As the riskiest area, they prepared thoroughly.

Each wore a Sky Eye talisman from Xu Ruyi—yellow paper with an ancient eye, allowing environmental scouting.

With Sky Eye, they became Array elders’ eyes in the Inner Subsidiary City.

Masks covered mouths and noses against the poison.

Su Qing secured hers, eyes exposed.

“Let’s go.”

The first team crossed the Pinghe River to the clear boundary.

Tang Yueling frowned.

“Yesterday, the fog hadn’t reached here.”

It was a meter from the riverbank yesterday; now it nearly touched the water.

Lin Ziyue sighed.

“Urgent indeed. If it crosses the Pinghe, disaster.”

Pei Jingzhi gripped his array disk, foreboding rising.

No hesitation—they entered the fog.

Formation: Su Qing and Tian Ning led, Tang Yueling, Pei Jingzhi, Lin Ziyue in back. Pei Jingzhi, central, needed protection for array-breaking and was the frailest—even Lin Ziyue outmatched him.

In the fog, visibility dropped to a meter despite sharp senses.

Ambush risk high, Su Qing called, “Close ranks.”

Lin Ziyue held a thin talisman; after one street in fifteen minutes, it corroded black.

She inwardly shuddered—potent poison.

Too brief for discomfort.

Foundation Establishment lasted three days and nights; priority was haste if safe.

@Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

Su Qing memorized the Inner Subsidiary City map.

Low visibility and toxicity slowed them; landmarks corroded into ruins.

When the fog hit, many civilians couldn’t evacuate.

Now, no flesh, bone, or cloth remained—everything dissolved.

Half a day in, Pei Jingzhi felt it first: fog eroding his spiritual energy, burning skin, throat swelling.

Others seemed fine; he circulated energy, feigning ease.

He couldn’t lose face.

Su Qing noticed his bloodshot eyes. “Stop. Rest half an hour.”

No objections; Pei Jingzhi quietly exhaled.

They entered a dilapidated tavern.

Lin Ziyue and Pei Jingzhi sat, immediately drawing spirit stones to replenish.

Pei Jingzhi’s pride faded—he was the neediest, unable to laugh bitterly.

Body School trio felt fine.

Lin Hebai’s five-year hellish training forged iron hides; brief exposure was negligible.

Tang Yueling sipped wine—the fog was cold and damp; her fire root hated it.

Half a day chilled her.

Warm wine burned down, sweating out cold, easing her.

“Drink?” She offered Tian Ning, refusing Su Qing. “You’re a lightweight.”

Tian Ning took the warmed flask.

Su Qing shook her head. “This tavern’s in the market district.

A bit further to the main city. Six hours in—time enough to explore and return.”

If no surprises.

The path was easier than expected.

Last to enter among twelve teams, they might meet others.

Chen Minjing in fourth, Xie Ying and Ling Xiaorui in sixth and eleventh. How were they?

Some thoughts were unspeakable, even unthinkable.

After rest, they exited, heading central.

After a thousand meters and a turn, the tavern reappeared—same corroded lantern frame.

Su Qing realized: they’d looped back.

All eyes on Pei Jingzhi.

“Maze array.”

Su Qing asked, “Tier?”

Pei Jingzhi studied his disk’s runes. “Traces all the way—linked maze arrays, high within low.

This one’s second-tier. I can break it.”

Tang Yueling sneered. “Must be breakable—or was the sword qi exam wasted?”

Pei Jingzhi helpless. “I wasn’t involved.”

“Don’t believe you. You’d still profit.”

True; he was speechless.

Su Qing cut in. “We guard. Break it now.”

Breaking required calculation and testing—time for the eye.

Pei Jingzhi sat, deploying ten artifacts of varying sizes and functions. Golden runes and arcs spread under his control.

Su Qing watched him and surroundings.

Post-sword qi exam maze trap, she’d tried array study at Wuya Pavilion—specialized field, hard entry, impossible quick mastery.

Easiest: Body School senior path—eliminate the array expert.

Two hours later, Pei Jingzhi rose, swapping three wall bricks. On the third, gold light flashed.

“Done.”

Array School efficiency shone.

Tavern vanished; a new street appeared, dominated by a seven-story tower—twelfth street landmark, Thousand Treasures Restaurant.

Food stalls along it were ruined, outlines fog-shrouded.

Su Qing surveyed. “Main city ahead. Careful.”

She summoned Man Qing Sword, Tian Ning gripped Snowfall Sword, Tang Yueling readied her storage bag, Lin Ziyue held talismans, Pei Jingzhi deployed his array disk.

Stepping into the twelfth street, skies darkened, cold wind whipping fog.

A voice shouted from a pastry shop’s second floor southwest: “Careful! Run! No noise!”

As he spoke, a terrifying shadow struggled from the fog, lunging!

He rolled back inside; the gray-black shadow pursued, smashing the brick wall. Crunching sounds—second floor collapsed.

Lin Ziyue paled, recognizing her Talisman School peer. “Yu Hongxuan!”

He was from the twelfth street team.

Before she finished, a force yanked her waist—Su Qing, pulling her away.

Su Qing’s voice tense, face grim. “What is that?”

Where they stood, a gray-black beast shadow emerged!

Fog-born specter, blurry outline, four limbs low, claws gleaming, tail whipping like steel.

Head grotesque: sunken eyeless sockets, black voids; mouth agape, drooling; throat pulsing in silent roar.

Tian Ning and Tang Yueling leaped aside, slashing sword qi. It passed through harmlessly, blasting the stone wall behind. The shadow grew agitated.

Pei Jingzhi activated a light-body talisman, leaping ten meters. Teeth clenched, heart pounding. “No entity!”

In their brief talk, two more shadows condensed, stalking behind the first, eyeing them hungrily.

Su Qing relaxed slightly: danger meant right place.

No entity—likely gas or fog condensate.

She and Tian Ning eyed Tang Yueling, who acted: fingers together, a dozen-meter red fire whip formed, lashing the shadow.

Flames neared; it weakened.

Wrapped, it writhed, mouth wide in silent agony.

“Effective.”

But Tang Yueling probed: not gas—soul body. “Beast soul.”

Soul? Su Qing flung purple qi at the rolling soul beast.

Pure yang qi burned through instantly, evaporating it.

Man Qing Sword, pure yang, countered yin evil.

Cultivation basics: dead beings—human or beast—rarely formed souls for ghost cultivation.

Needed talent, luck, intense pre-death emotions, deep resentment or obsession.

Most souls eroded, mindless, trapped in pain and grudge.

Yet streets teemed with beast souls.

Su Qing linked: beast tide—born from it.

First soul gone, more gathered—dozens, drooling, feral.

The five stood back-to-back, Body trio frontlining.

Lin Ziyue urged, “Retreat to the tavern, plan, then return?”

Su Qing stared ahead. “No time, and—”

Pei Jingzhi lips tight. “Can’t. Path sealed. Maze active—we’re trapped.”

In moments, souls pounced—five at once, from all directions.

Tang Yueling shouted, pinching seals; fourth-tier earth fire ring burst from her chest.

Su Qing’s Man Qing Sword qi cleaved fog; fire fed on wind, surging like living flames, engulfing pouncing souls, annihilating them.

Rear souls leaped over front ones, crashing through flames.

“Bad!”

Pei Jingzhi deployed defensive array disk—souls phased through.

“Fall back!” Lin Ziyue flung Thunder God talismans.

Ten booms; scorched air.

Talismans worked—five shadows shattered.

No relief: fragments trembled, black fog thickening ominously, reforming into one larger soul beast.

They fused, regenerating.

Given breath, they’d overwhelm via attrition.

Thunder God talismans insufficient; explosion intensified poison.

Lin Ziyue coughed blood, throat knife-like from inhaled toxin.

No rest—new beast pounced.

Su Qing saw its throat void. No choice—last purple qi into its maw, exploding it inward-outward into fragments.

Man Qing Sword’s three purple qi: one left.

Fight drew more—seven, eight new ones behind.

Tang Yueling cursed. “Persistent ghosts—restless even dead!”

Tian Ning’s attacks useless on souls.

To Pei Jingzhi: “You’re water root.”

He smiled bitterly. “Yes, but can’t touch them.”

He hated dragging, but in the city, he was weakest.

Tian Ning ordered. “Cooperate.” To Lin Ziyue: “You too.”

Forming soul rolled.

Su Qing eyed Thousand Treasures Restaurant two hundred meters away, transmitted: “Next strike, withdraw there.”

Twelfth team hid; they could too. One opening!

Souls devoured wounded front ones, swelling.

Dead but beast instincts: throats rolling, limbs bent, tails low, void eyes locked.

Su Qing recognized wolf pack hunt posture from back mountain.

She intuited attack timing.

“Coming!”

Eight souls leaped, unstoppable from all angles—even above.

Team max alert, unleashing killers.

Tang Yueling’s earth fire broke first, Su Qing’s purple qi erupted, flanking souls.

One soul shifted, stepping on two others, vaulting over fire and qi.

As it escaped, the eight below dissolved into black fog, surging into it.

Its interior churned; bones, muscles exploded outward like wild grass.

It grew to over three meters.

Even now, Tang Yueling taunted. “You—ugly as hell, hurts my eyes.”

Su Qing nearly facepalmed.

The beast, as if understanding, roared silently, invisible airflow whipping poison fog, blasting shops, debris flying.

Tang Yueling shielded with artifact.

“Mouth so wide, see your stomach—disgusting.”

Lin Ziyue covered nose silently.

Tang Yueling deviated from haughty lady rumors.

Pei Jingzhi, per Tian Ning, surged water spiritual energy, forming Water Vortex Technique.

Moisture condensed into a massive vortex, coiling like a python, growing with input, center spinning devouringly.

He flung it, enveloping the giant.

Water alone harmless.

Tian Ning infused ice qi, freezing it solid.

Lin Ziyue slammed twenty prepared Thunder God talismans.

Arm-thick lightning burst, shattering the ice vortex.

Thunderous booms shook air; lightning’s heat vaporized ice into steam, scorching heat burning soul and ground through.

“Go!”

Per plan, they escaped before more arrived, retreating to Thousand Treasures Restaurant.

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