Chapter 273: Chapter 193: Time to Put an End to It
The situation in Bian Province grew increasingly bewildering and tense, but this didn’t affect Song Changsheng. By now, his party had traversed Yang Province and entered Xiang Province.
Although Xiang Province was the Rong Clan’s territory, their control and influence didn’t actually extend throughout the entire province—or more accurately, it didn’t extend to the vast population of Loose Cultivators.
This was because Xiang Province was home to a very famous organization of Loose Cultivators—the Independent Cultivator Alliance.
The Independent Cultivator Alliance was a rather loosely-knit organization that existed in many parts of the Daqi Cultivation World. They were all self-organized, but they held great influence and prestige among the Loose Cultivator community.
This was especially apparent in Xiang Province, where the vast majority of Loose Cultivators were affiliated with the Alliance, to the point that it nearly undermined the Rong Clan’s rule in the province.
And Song Changsheng’s destination was the City of Independent Cultivators, established in the southern part of Xiang Province.
It had originally been a marketplace jointly established by a group of Foundation Establishment Independent Cultivators. After over a hundred years of development, the marketplace gradually grew and eventually evolved into a city.
Although its scale was far from matching Luoxia City’s, it was still considered somewhat famous in the southern part of the Daqi Cultivation World. It was also the headquarters of Xiang Province’s Independent Cultivator Alliance.
Song Changsheng’s party traveled hard, braving the elements. By the time they reached the City of Independent Cultivators, half a month had already passed.
"We’re finally here. We can get some proper rest."
Song Changsheng said, rubbing his tired cheeks as he looked at the city walls, which weren’t particularly imposing.
After traveling nonstop for half a month, even he was starting to feel the strain.
After paying the entrance fee, Song Changsheng and the others found an inn to stay in. He then turned to the Chi Huo Old Ghost, who had been very quiet and taciturn throughout the journey, and said, "Chi Huo, go out and inquire about the Celestial Artisan in the City of Independent Cultivators. I’d like to pay him a visit."
The Chi Huo Old Ghost replied hurriedly, "This servant obeys."
After he left, Song Changsheng took the two juniors, Song Qingxing and Song Qingxi, into a tavern. After calling over a waiter and ordering a few dishes, he pricked up his ears to listen to the conversations around him.
No matter the era, a tavern was always an excellent place to gather information, as it brought together all sorts of people from every corner of the land.
Song Changsheng had been away for nearly a month. The situation in the Daqi Cultivation World was in constant flux, and the Celestial Sword Sect they were headed to was right in the middle of a battlefield. He had to take any opportunity he could to gather news and understand the current state of affairs.
The main hall on the first floor was noisy, but Song Changsheng still managed to faintly overhear some information that piqued his interest.
"Hey, Mr. Chen, you just said the Celestial Vein Sect was defeated? For real?" a shifty-eyed young Cultivator asked, holding his wine cup. He leaned his head close to a middle-aged Cultivator and deliberately lowered his voice.
Hearing this, the middle-aged Cultivator glanced around discreetly before throwing his head back and downing his wine. "I just fought my way out of the north. You think I’d lie to you? It was in Xi Province. A fierce battle that lasted for more than ten days.
Damn, it was a massacre. A few thousand people died in that single battle, and the blood flowed in streams. Those high-flying Foundation Establishment Cultivators were dropping from the sky like flies.
They say even several of those lofty Purple Mansion Great Cultivators died.
The Celestial Vein Sect has completely abandoned Xi Province now. I hear the battlefield is shifting south. Sigh... The way I see it, Xiang Province’s peaceful days are numbered."
At his words, the shifty-eyed Cultivator’s face also filled with sorrow. "Then what are we supposed to do? We’re just small-timers. If we don’t want to get dragged into this, our only choice is to flee. But the north is already a complete mess. If the fighting comes south, where can we possibly go to hide?"
A trace of contempt appeared on the middle-aged man’s face. "What the hell is there to be afraid of? If worst comes to worst, we’ll just go to the Gusu Kingdom or the Yua Kingdom. The world is a big place; I refuse to believe there’s nowhere for us to go."
"Sigh... I guess that’s our only option. What are these big shots even thinking? They control so many resources, yet they still have to fight to the death."
"Tch. Who knows? In the end, it’s always us small-timers who get the short end of the stick..."
Hearing this, Song Changsheng shifted his attention away, turning to a group of people who had just walked in.
The group consisted of a dozen or so people, carrying with them a faint, almost imperceptible smell of blood and a heavy Evil Qi. They were clearly the kind of people who lived on the knife’s edge.
This was quite common among Loose Cultivators, but what drew Song Changsheng’s attention was a strangely familiar aura he sensed from them. This couldn’t help but pique his interest.
As soon as they entered, they found a corner and sat down. One of them, a big, tall man, muttered in a low voice, "Boss, are we really going to the Yua Kingdom? The road there isn’t safe."
A middle-aged man in white robes shook his head. "Where in the Daqi Cultivation World is it peaceful right now? My original plan was to take you all to Bian Province. The Hundred Thousand Mountains are dangerous, but they’re rich in resources and opportunities.
But I just received news that Luoxia City has been sealed. They say the Demon Beasts in the Hundred Thousand Mountains are about to march north again. Going there at a time like this would be suicide, wouldn’t it..."
Song Changsheng’s heart jolted. ’The Demon Beasts are marching north?’
He told Song Qingxi and Song Qingxing not to wander off, then stood up and walked over to the group. Cupping his hands in salute to the man in white, he said, "Fellow Daoist, I was wondering if you could tell me more about this Beast Tide?"
The big, tall man saw how young Song Changsheng was and immediately looked down on him. He waved his hand impatiently. "Get lost, get lost! Don’t bother us while we’re drink—"
