Chapter Ninety-Five: The Divine Magistrate

After capturing the three demons, Qi Xiu shook the pouch of gathered ingots in his hand with satisfaction.

He then took out a clean, close-fitting long robe to change into.

During the tribulation, his clothes had already been battered beyond recognition by the fierce heavenly energy.

Later, in the pursuit of the three demons, he had no time to change.

Now that everything had settled, he naturally could no longer maintain the appearance of a Beggar Sect disciple.

"Chasing all this way, I haven’t paid attention to other things. I wonder which territory I’ve ended up in?"

Having now become a Dao cultivator, Qi Xiu’s cautiousness had somewhat lessened, and he curiously scanned his surroundings.

The vast, boundless mountains stretched before him.

Apart from the towering ridges that seemed to stretch endlessly, there were hardly any distinctive buildings in sight.

Helplessly rubbing his brow, Qi Xiu was about to summon his light-speed escape when a sudden loud explosion erupted on the distant horizon.

A foul-smelling, black blood cloud rose abruptly, swarming flies and carrion birds circling it, condensing into a grotesque, viscous mass of flesh that crashed heavily to the ground. A faint, hideous phantom of a bird-beast humanoid flickered in the air.

In the next moment, countless sword lights shot skyward.

Dozens of ancient bronze flying swords, as large as door panels, emitted sharp, piercing shrieks. Their fierce sword intent blazed like ten scorching suns blazing across the sky, relentlessly shredding and annihilating the repulsive flesh mass.

"Such a commotion—this must be at least a battle between Dao cultivators or higher."

Nodding thoughtfully, Qi Xiu’s mind stirred, and he immediately summoned his light-speed escape.

He fled in the opposite direction!

Now was not the time to get involved.

Although he had successfully stepped into the Dao realm,

due to the secret essence of the Hunyuan Dragon-Tiger Classic, all his martial arts and spells had been thoroughly integrated and lost.

He was left only with a thick, robust aura that even old Dao cultivators lacked.

It was like a top-tier game character undergoing rebirth and refinement.

His attributes had improved, but his levels and skills were gone.

This period was an awkward window for his strength.

His available means were limited.

He needed time to relearn various techniques.

So, before then, he must adhere to the core principle of cautious development.

To avoid overplaying and ending up in disaster.

Summoning his light-speed escape, Qi Xiu traveled onward.

Flying at light-speed was a completely different experience from lightness skill.

The feeling of being entirely detached from the ground and freely galloping was even addictive, making one reluctant to set foot on the earth again.

No wonder when he previously met Yuan Baiyi, even a hundred meters’ journey was done by light-speed.

The sensation was indeed excellent.

About half an hour later, after crossing a wide, clear river, the horizon ahead revealed the outlines of several buildings.

It was a county town.

Even from afar, one could sense the weight and gravity it exuded.

Noticing the extraordinary nature of this county, Qi Xiu landed by an official road.

Beside the road stood a boundary stele.

Three powerful characters were inscribed on it:

Qingliu County!

"Qingliu County? This name sounds so familiar."

Staring at the stele, Qi Xiu felt as if he had heard this place’s name somewhere before.

He glanced at the stele, then at the rushing river behind him.

Suddenly, he slapped his forehead.

He remembered!

Qingliu County!

The divine county magistrate Li Jiufang, who once single-handedly lured the waters of the Nu River to drown tens of thousands of rebel troops from the Golden Flower Mother Cult.

Wasn’t this the county he governed?

Moreover, Yuan Baiyi had been ordered to march here.

Looking at the stele, Qi Xiu hesitated and took a half step back.

Clearly, Qingliu County, gathering so many talented youths and with a divine county magistrate, was undoubtedly a dazzling presence.

But dazzling also meant attracting attention.

Such a place was no good for laying low.

It was easy to get entangled in conflicts.

Not suitable for his steady growth.

Just as Qi Xiu was about to leave, a thought crossed his mind, and he stopped again.

Now that he had reached the Dao realm,

he needed to supplement his Dao-level techniques.

Although dangerous, Qingliu County had many people and opportunities.

In contrast, small counties like Baohe were remote and peaceful.

But it was nearly impossible to find Dao methods or techniques there.

Their ghost markets couldn’t even buy martial true skills, let alone Dao-level methods.

"I still have over ten Shadowless Phantom talismans. If anything urgent occurs, combined with my light-speed escape, I can retreat safely.

Besides, my luck shouldn’t be that bad.

Qingliu County withstood tens of thousands of rebels.

Would it really fall just because I arrived?"

Nodding thoughtfully, Qi Xiu shook his sleeves and summoned his light-speed escape, heading along the official road toward Qingliu County’s city gate.

...

Qingliu County, the rear hall of the county government.

This was a study strictly forbidden to outsiders.

The room was simply yet exquisitely decorated, giving a sense of tranquility and comfort.

Inside was an ancient redwood desk with several old books resting on it.

Beside the desk stood a sandalwood chair made of redwood, emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance.

On the desk, papers, writing instruments, and a bronze porcelain pen holder were neatly arranged.

The walls were adorned with calligraphy and manuscripts, some yellowed with age.

The calligraphy flowed with grace and the brushstrokes were concise, appearing vivid under the light.

The manuscripts were densely written with words.

"Young master, there’s a letter from home. They urge you to proceed to Qingzhou Prefecture to assume your post as planned soon.

You’ve lingered too long here in Qingliu County."

Carrying a cup of clear tea, an elderly man with white hair and a kindly face approached Li Jiufang, setting down the tea and gently reminding him.

Li Jiufang slowly raised his head, rubbing his nose with some weariness.

This renowned divine county magistrate appeared to be in his thirties, with long hair at his temples and a broad, kind face.

He wore a wide robe, resembling a learned scholar.

"I know, Shoubo. But recently, monsters and demons have frequently disturbed the outskirts, and the Golden Flower Mother Cult’s rebels still linger.

If I leave now, Qingliu County may face grave danger."

Taking a light sip of tea, Li Jiufang’s gaze fell on a map covered in dense markings on the desk.

This was a map of Qingliu County and its surroundings within five hundred li.

The dense markings indicated the movements of monsters, evil cultivators, and foreign cult rebels.

These chaotic lines encircled the entire county like giant hands trying to uproot it from the earth.

"In this era, troubles never cease.

Your time is precious and cannot be wasted here forever.

Young Master Wuji broke through to the Bloodstained Realm yesterday.

Third Master ordered me to tell you that if you don’t set off soon, he himself will come."

Frowning slightly, Li Jiufang waved his hand.

"I understand. Please reply to my father that I will depart promptly and take up my post, so he can rest easy at home."

"Very well, young master."

Nodding gently, the white-haired elder bowed and left.

The study was left with Li Jiufang alone.

After a long silence, a slow, deep sigh escaped him.

"Alas… As fellow humans, should the lives of the common people truly be treated as mere grass and weeds?"

...

Qingliu County.

Upon entering this famous county on the first day of the month, Qi Xiu felt somewhat dazed.

The streets were bustling with endless traffic—carriages, carts, and throngs of pedestrians jostling for passage.

The noisy clatter of vehicles, footsteps, and shouts mingled into a lively, bustling atmosphere.

Shopfronts were adorned with all manner of signs, owners busy arranging goods and attracting customers.

He had not seen such a vibrant scene in a long time.

What was even more peculiar was that, besides the townsfolk,

soldiers in various armor and military uniforms were everywhere.

In addition, there were crowds wearing Dao robes, monk’s robes, short and sturdy battle attire—clearly martial practitioners and cultivators.

And now and then, light-speed escapes streaked across the sky.

Such a prosperous and noisy spectacle astonished Qi Xiu.

Compared to Qingliu County,

Baohe County was truly a poor, remote backwater.

"Interesting, coming to Qingliu County was indeed the right choice."

Watching a group of sword-bearing cultivators leading dragon-scaled steeds walk past, Qi Xiu felt an inexplicable sense of ease.

It was as if he had returned to his comfort zone.

"First, I’ll find a place to settle."

Strolling leisurely through the city, perhaps after so long in seclusion and loneliness, Qi Xiu felt like a curious child, eager to explore everywhere.

After crossing two streets, he stopped in front of a rather large restaurant.

"Sir, will you dine here or stay overnight?" A waiter with a white towel over his shoulder greeted him with a smile.

"I’ll eat first. Bring out the signature dishes—four kinds."

Finding a seat by the window, Qi Xiu picked up a pair of chopsticks and boredly surveyed the restaurant.

The three-story layout had dining areas on the first and second floors, with at least half of the twenty or so tables occupied.

The dishes on the tables included fish, meat, and wine—quite lavish.

With the chaos outside, how could these restaurants still operate normally? Were supply caravans still delivering?

A trace of doubt flickered in his eyes.

Soon, the waiter returned with dishes, and Qi Xiu asked,

"Waiter, I’ve heard things are quite chaotic outside. How do you get your meat, fish, and vegetables here?"

The waiter smiled.

"Sir, you must be from outside. You don’t know, Qingliu County is not like other counties. We don’t need supplies sent from outside."

"Oh? How so?"

"After your meal, head straight east out the door, past Ziwu Street. There you’ll see a cluster of wooden buildings. Once you get there, you’ll understand."

Leaving Qi Xiu with a small riddle, the waiter nodded and retreated.

"Not needing outside supplies? Could it be that the entire city’s food and meat are self-sufficient? They can’t be growing all this in such a short time."

Curiosity piqued, Qi Xiu quickly finished his dishes, then followed the waiter’s directions.

After leaving, he headed north, crossing Ziwu Street.

Amidst the bustling crowd, he found the cluster of wooden buildings mentioned.

Looking up at the towering archway over ten zhang tall, adorned with carved beams painted with rosy clouds and morning sun,

Qi Xiu’s gaze fell upon the gilded characters at the center:

Shen’s General Store!

...

(End of chapter)