Faced with Wang Ping’s question, Zuo Xuan chose silence. Wenhai also hesitated for a few breaths, but as the lowest-ranking person present, he ultimately had to be the one to speak. He clasped his fists respectfully and said,

"I was just about to report to you. Daoist Zi Luan intends to re-establish the monitoring points throughout Mozhou Road in the near future. This will require cooperation from all regions, and key locations will need to be garrisoned by Entering Cultivators and some Foundation Establishment Disciples..."

Wenhai spoke cautiously, his head lowered as he stared at the gravel path in the small courtyard. "Qianmu Temple has been allotted a quota of five hundred Qi Cultivators, thirty Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and one Entering Cultivator."

At this point, his words suddenly sped up. "Daoist Zi Luan said... you are at a critical juncture in your cultivation, and Qianmu Temple also needs someone to watch over it to prevent any accidents when the monitoring devices are activated. Therefore, I can take the place of the Entering Cultivator, and you only need to preside over Qianmu Temple."

"However, before that, there is a simple task that requires you to handle it personally, or to delegate a Second Realm Cultivator to resolve it in your stead."

As Wenhai spoke, he produced a case file and explained, "Along the hundred-li stretch of coastline bordering Nanlin Road and Mozhou Road, vast swathes of dead fish have inexplicably appeared. The nearby Mingshan Temple sent people to investigate and discovered a dense Netherworld Aura. They suspect an Evil Cultivator of the Taiyin Second Realm is performing some sort of malevolent sacrifice."

Wang Ping took the file and opened it. The records inside were more detailed. The hundred-li coastline where the dead fish appeared was now devoid of all life. The Daoist Scripture Halls of both regions had jointly sealed off the area, prohibiting merchant ships from entering the waters and caravans from using that section of the trade route.

There was another crucial point: the Observatory Master of Mingshan Temple, an Entering-rank Earth Vein Cultivator, had nearly not made it back when he went to investigate the situation. According to him, he distinctly felt the presence of a Netherworld Aura.

It was indeed an extraordinary matter. As the Patrol Envoy of Mozhou Road, it was his duty to make a trip there.

"Fellow Daoist, if you trust me, you can entrust this matter entirely to me. You just focus on your cultivation," Zuo Xuan offered, volunteering for the mission.

Wang Ping was stunned for a moment, then nodded. He really didn’t want to make too many public appearances lately, especially with the Wulang situation still unresolved and lurking in the shadows.

"Very well..." Wang Ping casually handed the case file to Zuo Xuan, then took out his Patrol Envoy identity token from his storage pouch and offered it as well. Zuo Xuan received them both with cupped hands.

"Have there been any results regarding Wulang?" After handing the items to Zuo Xuan, his gaze fell upon Wenhai.

"To answer your question, Daoist, there are no results yet. Our investigation is currently focused on those around Wulang, but ever since the incident at the Sacred Heart Swamp, most of them have chosen to enter Death Seclusion. They haven’t emerged once in over a decade."

Wenhai answered cautiously, "Recently, I’ve ordered my men to pull all of Wulang’s files from the last few hundred years, intending to find his network of contacts from them. At the same time, we are secretly investigating the Evil Cultivators he was first associated with..."

He said a great deal, but the theme was singular: he had done a lot of work and was busy every day, but after more than ten years of this, there were still no clues.

Wang Ping showed no sign of blaming him, but he didn’t offer any encouragement either. He just nodded lightly and said, "Continue the investigation. Don’t let up..." After saying this, he paused for two seconds, then returned to the initial matter. "My eldest disciple, Liu Shuang, has already reached the Entering rank. He can fulfill the garrison duty for Qianmu Temple. You just need to assist him."

"Yes!"

...

After Wenhai finished his report, he took his leave, but Zuo Xuan was in no hurry to depart.

"That Dongshui Mountain place is quite nice. Can you give it to me to use as my Dao Field?" Zuo Xuan stated her intentions very directly to Wang Ping after Wenhai had left.

"Are you sure?" Wang Ping asked seriously.

"Yes!"

An age of chaos was approaching. All those who understood the stakes would either retreat from the world, seek a way to break the deadlock, band together for mutual protection, or face it head-on.

Zuo Xuan chose to ally with Wang Ping. This way, she not only had the great tree of Zi Luan for shelter, but also the escape route to the Southeast Islands. She was a clever woman; she had known Wang Ping’s plans ever since she met Liu Chang.

"I’ll go take a look at my Dao Field first, then I’ll handle the case," Zuo Xuan said with a smile.

Wang Ping made a gesture of invitation.

After the guest left, Shen Xiaozhu, who had been standing obediently to the side, came forward again to clear away the tea set. Wang Ping, however, waved his hand, and Yu Lian spoke in a human voice, "The days of the past were still more peaceful."

"It can’t be helped. This is all for the sliver of a chance at survival that the Celestial Dao has given us. Everything under the heavens must be earned; it doesn’t just fall into your hands."

"True. The capable obtain, while the mediocre retreat."

Yu Lian coiled a tendril around a teacup and took a leisurely sip. Her gaze then fell upon Shen Xiaozhu. "Did you hear that? You need to work harder. Next time, make sure you beat that little fox to the ground."

"Yes, Martial Aunt!"

Wang Ping looked up at the sky, his mood unconsciously relaxing. His disciples were finally maturing. As a Patrol Envoy, he was no longer a general without an army, and he could finally cultivate his Dao in peace and stability.

「One month later.」

Wang Li sent someone to inform Wang Ping that he would attempt to reach the Entering rank in half a month. Yu Lian, true to her promise, went in Wang Ping’s stead to act as his Guardian.

But less than two days later, Yu Lian was back. She landed on the Mountain Peak Dojo and said angrily, "That grandson of yours is a total coward. He got scared at the critical moment."

"..."

Wang Ping’s expression was a mixture of emotions upon hearing this, but in the end, he was left speechless. He finally responded, "How did I never notice that about him before?"

"They always say human nature is complex. I suppose this was a real eye-opener for me."

Yu Lian slumped dejectedly on Wang Ping’s shoulder. "I didn’t see it either. I always thought he was someone destined for great things, that he embodied duty and responsibility. But in the end, he’s just a worthless fool."

"There’s nothing wrong with cherishing one’s life. We can only say that he gave up at the right time. If he had given up in the middle of the promotion process, that would have been truly terrible."

Wang Ping banished the regret from his thoughts and replied calmly, "Don’t let him enter Qianmu Temple again. Just let him live out his days in the Wang Family Ancestral Mansion. You can help me find another reliable successor."

"I suppose that’s the only way."

Yu Lian departed in a hurry again, but just as she rose into the air, she descended once more, then wrapped up Shen Xiaozhu and left with her.

Wang Ping suddenly found it all rather amusing.

The next day, Zuo Xuan returned to the Daoist Temple after being away for more than a month.

She did not seem to be in a good mood. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"A whole month. I’ve been running around for a month, covering most of the sea regions of Nanlin Road and Mozhou Road. I was just starting to find some clues, but then the Mozhou Road side suddenly ceased all cooperation. There’s a rumor that Daoist Zi Luan has lost control of Mozhou Road, and another that says this whole incident was orchestrated by one of Mozhou Road’s own Patrol Envoys in the first place."

Upon seeing Wang Ping, Zuo Xuan immediately voiced the dissatisfaction in her heart.

"And what is your sense of it?" Wang Ping asked.

"First, I’ve seen several of the sites. They must be using a massive number of marine creatures for a sacrifice. The target of this sacrifice is likely an Outer Realm Demon Soldier. Its power is bizarre—any land it contaminates loses all signs of life!"