The boat sails on the river.

The boatman glanced ahead, then hurried back into the cabin and knocked on a door.

"Sir, the Ghostly Pass is just ahead."

>

After a moment. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

Qin Sang walked out of the cabin.

The boatman, with a smile on his face, chattered: "By imperial decree, only official boats are allowed to pass through Ghostly Shepherd's Pass. If we private boats dare to cross the line, the River God will raise storms and waves as a warning. Should we proceed further, he will summon mighty waves to capsize our vessels as punishment. Therefore, I kindly ask you, esteemed guest, to go ahead and switch to an official boat..."

>

Qin Sang walked to the bow of the ship, looking left and right. He couldn't see the riverbank at a glance. On the surface of the river ahead, a black shadow appeared. It was a magnificent flag tower, like a bridge spanning the river.

A black gold flag fluttered in the wind, inscribed with the two characters "Ghost Shepherd." It was connected to both sides by a floating bridge and across the water surface. You could see figures walking on the bridge.

Qin Sang recalled the information he had previously inquired about. After passing Guigu Pass, it wouldn't be far to Gushan Ridge. The area ahead was not peaceful, and there might be demons and ghosts attacking along the river. This move was also to protect them.

He set out from Zhongmaozhi in the west, traveling sometimes on foot at a quick pace, and sometimes like ordinary people, taking boats and staying in inns. Not only could he experience the customs and folkways of the various places under the rule of Emperor Ting, but he could also cultivate his inner self along the way.

By this time, he had already arrived at Beishi, under the jurisdiction of the Northern Pole Exorcism Institute. It was less than three years since the day he set out.

It wasn't that his speed of movement was particularly fast or that the Dao court grounds were small. Rather, each Jing within the Dao court had a grand teleportation formation set up. As for the transfer nearby, the artistry of the spiritual formations surpassed even those ancient transmission arrays in the Windstorm realm.

The Dao Ting region is vast, and it's a must-pass for cultivators from the Dao Sect. Even on an average day, there's a constant stream of people coming and going.

>>>Using the Grand Displacement Formation only requires spirit stones, and it generally doesn't thoroughly check identities. As long as Qin Sang doesn't activate his Celestial Demon Transformation, he can completely conceal his demonic aura. With a little trickery, it wouldn't be difficult to pass through undetected.

Shikiji is located northeast of Zhongmaozhi. Qin Sang only walked along the edge of Shikiji, and both settlements gave him a similar feeling.

>

Along the river where Mokui Pass is located, one can reach Mount Jizhi directly, but it's not the best option.

>>>At the border of Shizhi, even official ships wouldn't continue forward. If you want to enter Guishanchi, you can only travel alone, and along the way, you may face all sorts of dangers.

The safest way is to seek the protection of the Bei Ji Driven Evil Academy. Any Taoist disciple who wants to hunt down demons and ghosts can invite the immortals of the Bei Ji Driven Evil Academy to obtain protection.

Cultivators who are stationed in Gu Shan are responsible for hunting down demons and ghosts, and they must not leave the two courtyards of Dao Court.

Even though Taoist disciples are dedicated to eradicating demons and upholding righteousness, they still need sufficient cultivation and corresponding external objects as a prerequisite.

While it is true that Kuzhu Shanji gains merit, he can exchange for rare worldly treasures at the two courtyards of Dao Ting to aid his cultivation. This is also the reason why so many Daoist disciples are willing to go through fire and water.

Upon learning this, Qin Sang knew he had made the right decision. There were undoubtedly more opportunities for Kuizhan.

The Two Courtyards of Dao are fighting against the Ghost Nation, so their laws won't be as strict as those within Dao's territory.

One might find their own destiny here.

With a turn of her thoughts, Qin Sang retracted her gaze, paid the boatman his fare. Changing boats before Guimenguan was something they had agreed upon beforehand, so there was no need to blame the boatman.

The boatman weighed the cargo and, full of joy, rowed back to his ship. In a short time, he reached the flag tower.

Qin Sang disembarked and boarded the tower, guided by a guard towards one of the official vessels. As he was about to board, his figure hesitated slightly before resuming his usual composure and stepping onto the ship.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

The guards did not notice that the person behind them had a slight change in their aura.

The official ship wasn't as elaborately decorated. The cabins were open, and all the passengers sat in the main hall, with most being ordinary people.

"Big brother, today is the last day, it's almost noon. Where is your Liu brother?"

>

In a corner of the ship's hall, a round table was occupied by a man and a woman, both in Taoist robes.

A round table had ten seats, and the young couple sat there. Everyone was afraid to disturb the immortal master, fearing that they would avoid it even if they were sitting at nearby tables.

As for the several cultivators on board, sensing that the man and woman's cultivation far surpassed theirs, they did not dare to approach rashly.

The one who was speaking just now was a woman. She wore a goose-yellow Daoist robe, with a Qingxin pendant hanging from her waist. She rested her chin on her arms and lay on the table, her voice lazy with a hint of resentment. Her little feet swung back and forth under the table.

The man sitting beside the woman had handsome features and wore a plain white Taoist robe. He spoke softly, comforting her: “There is still one hour until noon. Don't worry, sister. Brother Liu is a man of his word and will definitely...”

At this point, the man seemed to sense something. He turned his head and glanced back, his eyes landing on Qin Sang who had just entered the room.

They looked at each other, then Qin Sang bowed to show respect.

The man hurriedly stood up and bowed in return. Seeing Qin Sang bypass them and sit inside, he hesitated for a moment before not approaching.

The woman merely glanced at Qin Sang with her apricot eyes before losing interest and withdrawing her gaze.

Just then, the clouds in the sky churned violently. A gust of wind swept away the layers of white clouds, roaring through the air, and waves arose on the surface of the river.

In the midst of the raging wind, there was a golden eagle with wings spanning several dozen feet.

Suddenly someone screamed, "There's a monster!"

A black shadow rose from the water's surface, two eerie eyes peering up into the sky before sinking back down.

Suddenly, chaos erupted in the hold. A Taoist priest's voice boomed, "This is no monster, but a fellow Taoist whose spirit talisman has come to life! Fear not!"

The golden eagle spotted the official boat and suddenly swooped down, causing another round of screams.

The two figures appeared on top of the official ship at some unknown time.

The man raised his hand, and as the golden carving was about to descend, his figure suddenly shrank, transforming into a paper kite the size of a palm. It danced around in his palm before becoming a talisman that floated down.

After reading, the man let out a light sigh.

"Liu elder brother's disciples received an urgent summons and couldn't come."

"I told you he was slick and wouldn't be trusted!" the woman said with a disdainful curl of her lip.

"Junior sister, be careful with your words!"

The man's voice grew heavier, "Liu ge, using your most treasured golden talisman for communication means you truly encountered an urgent matter. It can't be a simple case of breaking a promise."

The woman let out a huff, dissatisfiedly saying, "We've already accepted the summons and have to complete it within the time limit. Mr. Shen is still waiting for us ahead, and suddenly one person is missing. Where can we find help in this remote place? What about what happens behind?"

There is some truth to this. The man couldn't help but frown, "I wonder if it's still in time to seek Master Yi's help..."

At that moment, the man suddenly remembered something. His expression changed slightly, and he pulled his junior sister back into the cabin.

The ship's officer ran up to inquire whether to set sail.

The man casually sent it out, and after a short while, the boat body lightly shook, splitting the water.

After observing for a while, the man suddenly got up and walked towards Qin Sang.

Here it is!

Qin Sang had her back to the man, but she knew his every move.

Along the way, Qin Sang would sometimes release his breath like this, inviting people to come and chat. This way, he didn't have to put in effort to fabricate a persona, instead appearing profound and unfathomable, which always worked.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like translated!

"This brother is courteous."

Qin Sang was the only one at his table. The man walked to the side and bowed.

"Greetings, fellow cultivator."

Qin Sang bowed and gestured with his hand.

The man didn't hesitate and sat across from Qin Sang, "My name is Shi Xuan from Jiuhua Cave Heaven. May I ask your honorable name?"

Qin Sang remained indifferent, "I am merely the wind."

Shi Xuan was slightly taken aback. There were at least eight hundred Qingfengs in the Daoist sect, especially those old Daoists who liked to give their apprentices Dharma names using "Qingfeng" and "Mingyue."

This person must be using a pseudonym!

Shi Xuan secretly thought to herself, and considering the other party's unwillingness to reveal their origins, as well as the area ahead, she felt she had guessed a few points. It was very likely that the other party wanted to go to Gu Shanchi to hunt demons, make a name for themselves, and didn't want to accept the legacy of their sect, or perhaps they were bound by the sect, so they went to Gu Shanchi alone.

He once had this thought, but after weighing it, he still made the most rational choice.

On thinking about this, Shi Xuan couldn't help but admire, "Brother Dao wants to do what ordinary people can't, I admire you."

Qin Sang didn't know where this person had gone, nor did he point it out, so he tacitly agreed.

Thus, Shi Xuan's expression became even more resolute, but his tone changed. "Brother Dao, your actions are extraordinary, and your courage is commendable, but you must also know your limits."

"Shi Daoyou, do you think my cultivation is insufficient?"

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Qin Sang frowned.

Shi Xuan quickly shook his head, “Brother Dao’s cultivation level is comparable to mine. We are already quite capable in the treacherous world of Guishan. But demonic and ghostly powers are unpredictable, one must be cautious. There will always be times when one person is insufficient. It is best to find a few like-minded fellow cultivators to support each other.”

At this time, Qin Sang's aura was similar to theirs, roughly at the middle stage of the Golden Core.

Qin Sang's lips curled into a mocking smile, "It's not that I, a poor Taoist, don't understand etiquette. You two were exchanging words on the boat without deliberately hiding them, and just happened to reach my ears. Daoist friend, are you planning something big and lacking an assistant?"

Shi Xuan felt a bit embarrassed, she hadn't expected Qin Sang to be so sharp-witted. This made her even more determined to recruit him, "Since my brother has seen through me, I will be honest with you. A few days ago, my sister and I uncovered a summoning scroll from the Beiji Exorcism Institute, which needs to be completed at Mount Ju. We invited two helpers, but one couldn't go because of an urgent matter. Time was short, and seeing that you were traveling alone and seemed to have no pressing business, I thought about recruiting you."

Qin Sang's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

Before that, he had heard that Fa Zhao was from both the Dao Court's two halls.

The Dao Ting Two Halls issued a decree, outlining the tasks to be accomplished and the rewards upon completion. Some, confident in their abilities, would uncover the decree. It was most common on Mount Gu, where the rewards were often extremely generous.

Seeing Qin Sang seem somewhat moved, Shi Xuan continued, "As long as Dao-brother agrees, upon entering the Guishan sect, I will reveal the content of the summoning to you. After the success, we are willing to divide half of the merit with Dao-brother, but the two treasures among the rewards must be given to my younger siblings."

Karma is one of the rewards for hunting monsters and completing law summons, it is said to be very useful.

Qin Sang was going to investigate the situation of Kuzan anyway, so he might as well do it now. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded.

Easily persuaded, Shi Xuan beamed with delight and immediately invited Qin Sang to join them. He introduced the woman, "This is my junior sister, Luo Yin."

Luo Yin's features were delicate, with a hint of playfulness in her brows. Looking at the helper her senior brother had picked up halfway, there was undisguised suspicion in her eyes. She frowned and just about to speak when a hearty laugh came from outside the cabin.

"Miss Luo, Big Brother Shen is here, why don't you come out to greet him?"

Luo Yin's nose wrinkled tighter, and she snorted, "Here comes the annoying person!"

Several splashes of water.

Suddenly, the cabin plunged into darkness. Everyone instinctively looked toward the doorway, where a hulking figure stood blocking their way.

This man had a tiger's back and a bear's waist, stood nine feet tall, and was wider than a door panel, completely blocking the doorway.

The Taoist robe fit him like a tight suit, bulging and making one worry it might burst.

Seeing the three people in the corner, the burly man laughed again and stepped into the cabin. The ship rocked back and forth immediately.

"Luo family miss, a year hasn't passed, do you miss Shen Big Brother?"

"Brother Shen, don't tease my younger sister like that. Wasn't the last lesson enough?" Shi Xuan smiled as she got up to greet him, leading the burly man to Qin Sang. "Allow me to introduce you two. This is my good friend Shen Huo, from the Shen family manor, and this is Daoist Qingfeng."

Shen Huo looked up and down at Qin Sang, a little puzzled, "Didn't you send a message saying you invited someone surnamed Liu? How come it's this Daoist Qingfeng?"

“Things have changed...”

Shi Xuan led Shen Huo to sit down and explained the reason in detail.

When Shen Huo heard this, he scoffed, “The miss of the Luo family is right. Liu must have run away at the last minute. When I get back, I'll settle the score with him!”

Saying that, Shen Huo slapped the table and turned to Qin Sang, "Qingfeng Daoist friend, Shen doesn't know how to beat around the bush. This matter is of great importance and cannot be delayed in any way. To allow Shen to fight alongside you with peace of mind, I need to test your strength first."

Shi Xuan and her siblings did not stop him, turning their gazes to Qin Sang instead.

From beginning to end, Qin Sang had yet to utter a word.

Jiuhua Cave Heaven, he had heard of it before. It was a force under the jurisdiction of the Beiji Exorcism Academy, and its reputation wasn't small.

<<

Shenjiashan yet did not know where it was located.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

In his view, Shen Huo was very likely a physical cultivator and wanted to test the other party's abilities.

"How will Daoist Shen proceed with the test?"

Qin Sang rose gracefully, her voice calm and composed.

"Just try it!"

Shen Hualang let out a laugh, raising his arm. In his palm was an obsidian heavy sword, appearing at some unknown time.

This sword was taller than he was, like a door panel dancing in the air. Yet, it felt incredibly light in his hands.

“Be careful!”

With a nimble flick of his sword, Shen Huo tensed his right arm muscles, a golden light swirling as he raised his blade and swung it down towards Qin Sang!

Shi Xuan made a timely move, striking out a blue light that filled the cabin, protecting everyone else within it.

"Whew!"

A strong wind blew in your face.

The swordsmanship was incredibly fierce, splitting the ship in half was as easy as breathing.

Qin Sang remained unfazed, slightly raising his head to glance. His body was already enveloped by the sword's shadow, yet he remained motionless until the Xuan Iron heavy sword was about to strike his crown, when his right shoulder twitched ever so slightly. Please note that I can only translate the text content within the tags. I cannot process or understand any HTML code itself.

‘Dong!’

The sound of gongs and drums resounds through the heavens, reaching beyond the clouds.

The menacing heavy sword abruptly halted mid-air. Qin Sang, at an unknown time, had raised his right fist and smashed it into the side of the heavy sword.

>

Neither party moved.

And beneath him, the treasure ship shuddered violently. Outside the ship, a hundred-meter wave rose suddenly, blotting out the sun. After a while, it crashed down heavily.

Shen Huo's wrist trembled slightly as he slowly retracted his heavy sword, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. He suddenly burst into laughter: "Splendid! I didn't expect Daoist Qingfeng, who looks like a frail scholar, to be just like me, Shen. We both forgo military training and cultivate the Dragon and Tiger Citadel!"

Qin Sang smiled and retracted his fist.

He had long known that not all Taoist cultivators conscripted soldiers. Others, like demon cultivators, condensed their vital energy into a cauldron, calling it the Dragon-Tiger Cauldron.

(End of Chapter)