17 Xinjiang City

The flurry of notifications made Xie Qing narrow his eyes in irritation. At this moment, he felt terrible, both physically and mentally.

It was the first time he had killed someone. Although the feeling was unpleasant, he quickly accepted the fact that his hands were now stained with blood.

"There's no other way. What kind of cultivator am I if killing a bandit affects me?" he thought, sighing as the disgust gradually faded. He pondered, "My future path may be adorned with corpses. So, I need to get used to bloody scenes."

While resting, allowing his cultivation technique to replenish his Qi on its own, he shifted his attention to a notification he hadn't read due to a crucial moment in the battle.

[True Yin Technique] | [Rank: Unique] | [Description: This technique is designed for the use of True Yin, possessed only by virgins or powerful cultivators who have enhanced their Yin through various spiritual herbs. Thanks to a special Yin element, the sword movements will be concealed, making it impossible to track the blade. By the way, men cannot use it, so don't use it unless you want trouble...]

"This..." Xie Qing shockingly opened his eyes, and upon reading the last line, fear gripped his heart. He understood well that techniques based on the Yin element were dangerous for men.

"I won't die, right? This looks dangerous," Xie Qing pondered but felt no discomfort.

This greatly puzzled him. In essence, he should be writhing in severe pain right now, but all he felt was fatigue after the battle.

As they say, ignorance is bliss. His cultivation technique was so powerful that it effortlessly absorbed the Yin formed due to the use of the True Yin Technique.

Thus, he began to recover gradually.

***

Xie Qing left the place after finishing his rest. Staying there any longer would be dangerous, as the surrounding area was open, and their battle could attract beasts.

At the spot where the unburied corpse lay, a beautiful woman in an elegant pink dress appeared, covering her entire body from prying eyes.

It was Xu Mei!

"Hmm? I distinctly feel his Qi in this place... only who is this wretch? A strong aura of death emanates from him... it seems his karma is tainted," Xu Mei thought, then looked at the sword thrust into Guan Baichi's chest. She was surprised, "Did my foolish disciple do this? How amazing... approaching a peak Foundation Building cultivator is not an easy task. How did he manage it?"

Despite Xu Mei seeing this battle as if two children were fighting, she never forgot to analyze the situation. Her spiritual sense touched the bloodstains, and her face suddenly distorted in anger. One of the blood droplets belonged to Xie Qing.

"This bastard... if he were alive, I would torture him until he begged for death!" she muttered coldly. Narrowing her eyes over Guan Baichi's body, she memorized his face. Then, using a token, she connected with Lian Lin.

"Master..." came a sleepy voice.

"Wake up," Xu Mei said irritably, then added sternly, "I need you to find information about one scoundrel. I'm sending details about his appearance to your consciousness, so release your spiritual sense through the token."

"Eh? Ugh, fine..." Lian Lin sounded as if she were given another complicated task, but despite that, she obeyed her master. After receiving information about the man's appearance, she disconnected to gather intel on him.

Meanwhile, Xu Mei activated the "Gaze of God" and began following Xie Qing's somewhat blurred tracks.

***

The city of Xinjiang looked like an ordinary trading town, with many stalls and shops open every day. Usually, an entrance fee was required, but Xie Qing's status as a disciple of the Sect of Heavenly Sword made the guards freeze in fear, and he passed without payment.

Xie Qing's appearance was a bit dirty, and there were bloodstains on his hanfu that didn't wash off even after a thorough cleaning. So, he hastened and quickly reached the city of Xinjiang.

"Finally, I'm in this damn place. I need to rest and complete tasks the next day," Xie Qing thought, taking out a pouch from his pockets, given to him by Elder Lian. Inside it was 150,000 Huang, the currency of the Huanglun Dynasty. Such a sum of money would be enough for an ordinary family to live carefree for one and a half months, but for cultivators, it barely covered essential expenses.

Of course, Xie Qing intended to use this money. Although it seemed more like Elder Lian was his sugar mommy... who said he was against that?

"I need to thank Elder Lian," Xie Qing thought, smiling.

Stopping one of the residents, who happened to be a girl, he asked her about inns. Although the girl was embarrassed, she pointed to a large and luxurious building.

"Thank you..." Xie Qing said, suddenly taking her hand and kissing the back of it. Ignoring the fact that the girl's face turned red and steam rose from her head, he started walking towards the inn.

Throughout his time in the city of Xinjiang, Xie Qing attracted numerous glances, ranging from envy to admiration. Of course, he didn't miss the chance to flirt. Since becoming a true cultivator, his confidence had soared, so he didn't hold back.

"Kyaah!"

Loud girlish screams echoed as Xie Qing smiled at the crowd of girls, and they all vied for his attention.

At the entrance of the inn, two guards silently observed the situation.

"Hey... he's just at the Foundation Building stage, but he grabs attention as if he's reached Transcendence," complained one guard with evident envy in his voice.

"Of course. A handsome cultivator attracts twice as much attention, even if he's just an Enlightenment stage cultivator," replied the other guard, rolling his eyes. He lamented, "Oh, Heavens, as if being born ugly wasn't enough, I have to endure seeing him? What am I being punished for?"

Ignoring the guards, Xie Qing opened the door and entered.

The first floor of the inn was beautifully decorated, with small tables and sofas on both sides, and there was even a bar in the corner. At the registration desk stood a girl with a cute appearance.

"H-hello..." she greeted Xie Qing with a soft, almost mosquito-like voice.

"Hello. I would like to rent a room... for two days," Xie Qing said with a smile, then added, "Also, I need three meals a day. How much do I have to pay?"

"Uh, um..., cultivators can stay for free for up to a week, but you need to pay for meals. For three days... it will be 150 Huang!" The girl, though shy, answered the question quite clearly. Xie Qing nodded and handed over the specified amount, placing it on the registration desk.

At that moment, a group of people descended from the upper floor. They were cultivators similar to Xie Qing. Their appearance caught the young man's attention.

"Three at the Qi Condensation stage, one at the Core Formation stage, and another at the fifth stage of Foundation Building..." he thought, roughly analyzing their strength, then looked away to avoid seeming rude. "An unusual group. I dare say these are some influential individuals who came to relax in Xinjiang."

The group of cultivators stopped at the sofas, discussing something. Thanks to his acute hearing, Xie Qing caught some keywords that made him raise an eyebrow in surprise.

"Guys, have you heard about the recent strange activity of demonic beasts in the area? Presumably, it could be the work of evil cultivators," suddenly said the young man at the Foundation Building stage. He had short black hair and deep chestnut eyes.

"Young master, I'm amazed at how smart you are!" exclaimed the Core Formation stage cultivator in admiration.

Xie Qing, who was eavesdropping on them, was left speechless.

"Smart? He just made a guess that might not even be true... besides, what would devilish cultivators be doing on the Eastern Continent? This place is beyond their sphere of influence!"