In the following days, Song Yan’s life returned to normal.

Aside from his daily patrol duties, he focused on absorbing Qi and refining spiritual energy, accumulating his spiritual power and cultivation.

Although the Six Major Sects’ Disciples had comprehensively increased their patrol intensity, the original duties of Alpha Team One hadn’t increased much.

Moreover, with Cheng Yu dead, there was no one to trip him up now.

He even had a lot more time off.

There wasn’t much useful stuff in the Five Han Mountain Demons’ universe bags; genuinely useful Spirit Pills were scarce.

However, there were quite a few Spirit Stones; the five of them combined had over three hundred Spirit Stones.

After keeping one Formation Plate for a Illusion Array (illusion formation), the remaining demonic Cultivator items were sold off one by one at Huangshan Market, totaling over four hundred and sixty Spirit Stones.

Quite substantial.

In reality, Song Yan hadn’t anticipated one thing.

That is, there was no need to prepare too many resources when stationed in Changping.

Because there simply wasn’t enough time to convert those resources into one’s own strength.

For example, currently, Song Yan didn’t lack Cultivation resources.

But due to the existence of patrol duties, he could only maintain basic daily Cultivation.

Going into seclusion was simply a luxury... For the past four months, Song Yan’s primary patrol area was Cheng Family Village.

Next, due to duty rotation, it was his turn to patrol Shiguping.

Shiguping was considered the most dangerous village near Changping.

Because it was closest to Corpse Bone Abyss.

Sometimes Song Yan would also feel strange, wondering why so many Mortals lived near such a dangerous place.

Later, Dai Rui told him.

On one hand, although Corpse Bone Abyss was dangerous, the monks of Huadu Temple were stationed there year-round.

Few demons would brazenly come out to cause trouble.

On the other hand, the large area outside Corpse Bone Abyss was considered very fertile land within the entire Changping Prefecture.

It was very suitable for farming.

Furthermore, the demon Cultivators of Corpse Bone Abyss had no interest in Mortals.

Only the bodies nourished by the Spiritual Qi of Cultivators ’had the chance’ to become resources for the demons.

Going back a few decades.

In Shiguping’s history, there even appeared a very strange phenomenon.

That is, when Demonic Cultivators wanted to use the Mortals here as resources to Cultivate Demonic Techniques or refine evil treasures,

the demons of Corpse Bone Abyss simply used this as bait, luring Demonic Cultivators to come, and then slaughtering them.

Few Mortals died in this process.

Most of those who died were Demonic Cultivators ambushed by demons.

A very unique and somewhat bizarre ecology.

Yet, it existed in this place just like that.

This made the Mortals of Shiguping the most numerous among the surrounding villages and towns.

This day.

Song Yan and Li Qingfeng were together, patrolling in Shiguping.

"Old Song, if what you say is true, in another four months, you’ll be able to return to the Sect?"

Seeing him nod, Li Qingfeng was somewhat surprised: "How is it so fast...?"

"Is it that easy to slay Demonic Cultivators?"

He mumbled, patting the large black pot on his back, looking a bit eager to try.

The Mortals in Shiguping village knew about the Six Sects’ Disciples’ patrols.

After all, it had been almost a year since the Six Sects jointly settled in Changping.

These Mortals still showed great respect to the Cultivators who appeared from time to time, but they were no longer as surprised as they initially were.

Song Yan’s mind stirred, and he slightly turned his head to look back.

But he found nothing.

Thanks to his powerful Divine Sense, in recent days, he always felt a hint of abnormality, as if someone was constantly monitoring him from behind.

Demonic Cultivator?

Not very likely.

With the current level of patrols, perhaps only Foundation Establishment Realm Demonic Cultivators would dare to show their faces near Changping Prefecture City.

There was no reason for a Foundation Establishment Realm Demonic Cultivator to be targeting him.

So, does this mean someone within the Six Sects has become suspicious of him?

It doesn’t matter.

Song Yan hadn’t planned on having any more contact with Gou Sheng anyway.

"Oh dear..."

A cry of surprise.

An old farmer passing by, pushing a small cart, stumbled and collided with the distracted Song Yan.

Song Yan was naturally unharmed.

But when the old farmer came to his senses, he looked at him with terror in his eyes and immediately knelt down.

"Ah... Immortal, spare my life! Immortal, spare my life!"

"This humble one was careless while walking, this humble one deserves to die!"

It was as if if this Immortal was displeased, he would be punished and killed on the spot.

But Song Yan casually waved his hand: "It’s fine."

He lightly applied Spiritual Qi, lifting the old man who was kneeling and kowtowing.

Seeing that the old farmer’s small cart, piled with straw and hay, hadn’t overturned, he and Li Qingfeng slowly walked away.

"Thank you, Immortal, for sparing my life, thank you, Immortal, for sparing my life..."

Only after the two Immortals left did he push the small cart again.

And returned to his own house.

Click.

The wooden door’s latch was fastened.

Inside the small house, a sound-insulating Spirit Formation rose.

The old man’s appearance gradually dissipated like gray mist in a breeze, revealing Liu Ciming’s face and figure.

He was expressionless, and along the side of the stable, he walked into the cellar through a passage hidden within an illusion formation.

A candlelight inexplicably lit up in his hand.

In the darkness of the cellar, a figure, hearing footsteps behind him, slightly turned his head.

"Brother Jin, how have you been...?"

Liu Ciming’s spiritual power stirred, and spiritual light illuminated the cellar.

It revealed Jin Tianya’s face.

"Heh heh..." Jin Tianya’s voice was somewhat hoarse: "What, can I leave now?"

"..."

Liu Ciming said nothing, then his tone became relaxed: "Haha, not yet."

"How long do you intend to keep me here?!"

It was evident that Jin Tianya’s state was very unstable.

"Brother Jin, please calm down..."

Facing the roar of a Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator, Liu Ciming surprisingly didn’t show any anger.

"You took such a great risk to bring out the replica of the hell transformation diagram. Once we return to the Demon Ruins, you will surely gain Master’s favor and rise rapidly within the Sect in the future."

"Don’t talk about those useless things... I just want to know, when can I go back?"

Liu Ciming quickly reassured him: "At most, three to five days, and we can leave Changping and teleport back to the Demon Ruins."

"However, Brother Jin, you must tell me what exactly is so profound about this hell transformation diagram."

Jin Tianya’s emotions seemed to calm down somewhat after hearing Liu Ciming’s description.

He snorted coldly and sat back on the ground: "If I tell you, and you kill me, wouldn’t you be able to claim this treasure for yourself?"

Liu Ciming’s expression remained unchanged: "Brother Jin, you jest."

"If I killed you, how would I explain it to Master...?"

Jin Tianya remained silent.

"Besides, now in the branch of the separate courtyard, who doesn’t know that Brother Jin, you returned alive from the Central Region? Are you still afraid that I’ll steal your credit?"

More silence.

The so-called riot in the Central Region ended in failure for the Demonic Path.

Only he, being too weak, and the item he snatched was merely a painting, not some supreme treasure, instead seized the opportunity to escape.

He seemed to have made some decision, and slowly spoke.

"The hell transformation diagram..."

"It is an ink treasure left by the Soul Transformation Realm Grand Cultivator, Wu Daoxuan, from the Central Region, during his youth."

Liu Ciming’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

What?!

Soul Transformation Realm?!

Although it was left during his youth... Liu Ciming’s heart still uncontrollably pounded rapidly, even suspecting if he had misheard.

Oh my God!

Jin Tianya seemed to have anticipated Liu Ciming’s reaction, sneered, and continued.

"The temple where the original painting was located was destroyed countless years ago."

"Only this diagram remains, which is said to have been personally copied by him to disperse the fierce Qi of the original painting."

Jin Tianya slightly turned his head: "Legend has it that within this painting..."

"There are clues to Wu Daoxuan’s former residence."