Chapter 35 – 35 Departure
“`

The remuneration wasn’t high, and the points given were not plentiful, but the task’s simplicity was its winning feature.

Lu Qingshan wasn’t here at the Demon Hunter Alliance to take on tasks for the sake of earning rewards.

After killing the Crying Soul Sage and seizing those two Storage Rings, Lu Qingshan’s assets now roughly equaled the entire wealth of a small Cultivator family.

The reason he registered as a Demon Hunter was solely to find companions who could take him to Zhenjiang City.

Yes, Lu Qingshan was preparing to leave Yuanshan City.

After all, Yuanshan City was just a novice village, too small for him.

Moreover, he had already gained enough benefits in Yuanshan City.

If not now, when would he leave?

He certainly couldn’t become the Shili Slope Sword God and only leave the novice village after reaching max level.

His next destination was Zhenjiang City.

That’s right, the very Prefectural City of Zhenjiang that would suffer a massacre five months later.

However, the problem facing Lu Qingshan was that there was no Teleportation Array set up within Yuanshan City.

Not only are Teleportation Arrays incredibly expensive to build, but the Spirit Stones needed for a single use are also beyond what a common Cultivator can afford.

Thus, you won’t find Teleportation Arrays in County Level cities of the Human Race.

—-If a Teleportation Array were built within a Prefecture City, it would seldom be used throughout the year, lacking practical value.

Between Yuanshan City and Zhenjiang City, the distance spanned over a thousand miles.

To go to Zhenjiang City, one obviously couldn’t just close their eyes and walk outward blindly.

Players have the big map to check, can always know their exact coordinates, and can also infinitely resurrect, so they can fearlessly blaze through directly.

Lu Qingshan now lacked these auxiliary functions and his life was singular; he needed to be extremely cautious.

If he were a Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm, it wouldn’t be an issue, as he could ignore various terrains and fly straight to Zhenjiang City using Sword Control.

If someone took a straight line and still got lost, then there was nothing Lu Qingshan could do.

But he was currently only a Qi Refining Cultivator, and had to rely on his own two legs to travel.

Rushing off without caution, not to mention getting lost in complex terrains, the mere accidents that could happen on the way might cost him his life.

Therefore, he needed to find a squad of Cultivators or a merchant convoy that was extremely familiar with the route between the two cities to follow to Zhenjiang City.

At least they could look out for each other and not accidentally stumble into a nest of Demon Beasts.

…

Lu Qingshan fiddled with the Jade Slip for the task in his hand for a while before finally deciding, “I’ll take this task.”

“Okay, I’ll register you for it right away. This task is quite popular, and you’ve just taken the last spot,” the receptionist female Cultivator said as she recorded, then looked up to remind, “The task is rather urgent. You are to gather at the East City Gate tomorrow at noon, remember not to be late.”

Lu Qingshan nodded to indicate he understood.

Departing tomorrow afternoon?

The timing is indeed urgent.

Before leaving Yuanshan City, he still had some things to do and some items to prepare.

After leaving the Demon Hunter Alliance, Lu Qingshan quickly disappeared into the crowd.

…

By the time Lu Qingshan returned to the inn.

The King of Western Rats was in the room, looking groggy as if he hadn’t woken up yet.

Ever since eating the two Blood Spirit Beads, the King of Western Rats had been in this state.

Lu Qingshan knew that this was because the effects of the Blood Spirit Beads enhancing the Bloodline Power had been triggered again.

“`

—-The bloodline talent of the King of Western Mice was much higher than he had imagined.

“I’m ready to leave Yuanshan City,” Lu Qingshan bluntly told the King of Western Mice.

“Where are you going?” The King of Western Mice was startled and asked eagerly.

“Zhenjiang City.”

“Where is that?” A trace of confusion flashed in the King of Western Mice’s eyes.

“It’s the prefectural city of Zhenjiang Prefecture, a very distant place, thousands of miles away from Yuanshan City,” Lu Qingshan explained.

“The prefectural city of Zhenjiang Prefecture,” the King of Western Mice’s eyes gleamed: “I will follow you there; you can’t leave me behind!”

“Are you sure you want to go with me? It could be very dangerous to accompany me,” Lu Qingshan wasn’t trying to scare the King of Western Mice.

The things he was going to do in Zhenjiang City indeed posed a great risk.

“Anyway, I must follow you, Lu Qingshan, you can’t just abandon me! I’ve fought side by side with you against a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, we share a bond of life and death!” The King of Western Mice looked at Lu Qingshan with an aggrieved expression, as if Lu Qingshan was about to abandon his wife and children like a heartless scoundrel.

Lu Qingshan looked at the King of Western Mice with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile: “That’s true, then come with me when it’s time to leave.”

The King of Western Mice, seeing that Lu Qingshan agreed to his request to accompany him, had a glint of slyness flash through the befuddled eyes he had been displaying.

You really think you can fool your King, eh? Who you are, Lu Qingshan, I might not have understood before, but how can I not be clear about it now?

And you, a Qi Refining Cultivator, managed to slay a genuine Foundation Establishment expert with your sword, not to mention speaking calmly with those two terrifying cultivators.

Which Qi Refining Cultivator could do as you do?

Though I don’t know your background, you’re undeniably a big thick thigh to cling to, and I must hold on tightly, even if it’s just to rub a few leg hairs.

Besides, you’ve got so many Blood Spirit Beads in your hand; I have to figure out a way to get them; the torment in my heart is real!

The King of Western Mice felt pleased with himself.

…

The King of Western Mice’s little tricks were, of course, all seen by Lu Qingshan.

The reason he didn’t expose them, letting the King of Western Mice play his part, was because Lu Qingshan also had his eyes on the King of Western Mice.

Having awakened the “Sneaky” ability and considering the situation, after consuming a few more Blood Spirit Beads, the bloodline of the phantom mouse inside him was likely to level up.

A stock with true potential, and very naive to boot, incredibly easy to deceive.

And now, having tricked him into following him to Zhenjiang City, this den of tigers and wolves, the King of Western Mice still thought he’d struck it big.

Isn’t this the very embodiment of someone being sold and still happily counting the money for you?

…

The next day.

Lu Qingshan, after several turns, arrived near the eastern city gate of Yuanshan City.

There, at least a dozen large carts were parked, with quite a number of people gathered around.

There were family cultivators from the Lin Family as well as Demon Hunters who had taken up tasks from the guild.

“You must be Lu Qingshan,” a dark-skinned middle-aged male cultivator approached.

Lu Qingshan nodded and handed over his Spirit Seal, which represented his identity as a Demon Hunter.

The middle-aged cultivator took the Spirit Seal, inspected it, then returned it to Lu Qingshan and introduced himself: “My name is Lin He, I am in charge of this caravan. If you have any problems along the way, you can come to me. Now hurry up and join the group; we’re about to set off.”

Lu Qingshan pocketed the Spirit Seal and blended into the crowd with the caravan.

Meanwhile, on one of the carriages of the caravan.

Lin He stepped forward and whispered through the curtain of the carriage door, “Miss, everyone has arrived.”

“Then let’s not delay; prepare to depart!” a voice with a hint of allure came from within.