Chapter 879: Chapter 875: Forcefully Seizing a Civilian Woman

The Jialou Region is the largest area within the entire Pan Gu Realm, comparable to the land area of dozens of Earths. In the Jialou Region, there have also begun to appear large rivers and lakes, some with freshwater, others with saltwater, and the ecological environment is basically similar to that of Earth.

“The Emperor Sect is the largest sect in the Jialou Region and holds a status comparable to the Tianxuan Sect in the entire Pan Gu Realm, though it is somewhat inferior to the Diyuan Sect,” Shen Biancheng explained while piloting the magic sword. “Xuanyue Palace has always had a friendly relationship with the Emperor Sect. One of the elders, Fa Ying, and Qing Lian Master address each other as sisters. Since Xuanyue Palace is in trouble, they should be seeking refuge with Fa Ying at the Emperor Sect.”

Ye Fan asked, “Does our Lihuo Sect have any relationship with the Emperor Sect?”

Shen Biancheng shook his head, “Master never mentioned it, so it seems there is no relationship. Therefore, when we arrive, we must be cautious with our words. Our main purpose is to inquire about the whereabouts of Master and our second senior brother, and also to help you find your beloved. It’s best not to easily cause any discord.”

Ye Fan nodded, “Understood.”

The magic sword swiftly sliced through the sky, dispersing clouds wherever it passed. Looking down from high above, all the scenery appeared as just a drop in the ocean, even those so-called famous mountains and rivers were nothing more than insignificant points.

Since Shen Biancheng had never been to the Emperor Sect, he had to occasionally fly low, being careful not to disturb the ordinary townspeople, choosing to land at the positions of mountain ranges and using the Immortal Pointing Needle to discern the direction.

After two days of flying, the three of them finally found the location of the Emperor Sect’s mountain gate, Emperor Mountain.

The area surrounding Emperor Mountain spans hundreds of miles, with the main peak being the highest. The main peak of Emperor Mountain is a towering summit like Mount Tai, though it appears even steeper. The height of the mountain is also greater than Mount Tai, standing proud in the distance; however, getting there would still take some time.

“Around Emperor Mountain there are obstacles set up by people, similar to traps laid out by hunters. When we reach the vicinity of Emperor Mountain, we’ll walk up the mountain,” Shen Biancheng explained to Ye Fan after landing at the edge of a small human town.

The three of them walked into the town, which appeared no different from an ordinary ancient town, but here one could spot figures with cultivation.

In the Pan Gu Realm, cultivators are everywhere, and the common people also need the protection of cultivators. Around some major sects, there are towns and villages specifically providing materials and services for cultivators.

Just like this town before their eyes, in the Jialou Region, materials beneficial to cultivators that humans could find are mostly available in small towns. Cultivators purchasing these materials mostly don’t use silver or money but rather low-level magic artifacts that offer some attack and defense capabilities.

However, places like inns and wine taverns, commonly set up by humans, also exist, serving ordinary travelling merchants.

In the Pan Gu Realm, many itinerant merchants make a living by operating materials for cultivators. Most of them also possess cultivation, but their cultivation is generally low; their aim of cultivation is mostly not to achieve immortality, but for physical strength, longevity, and acquiring some level of cultivation as self-defense.

Due to days of travel, the three were somewhat exhausted.

Shen Biancheng said, “Let’s first find an inn to stay one night, and go up the mountain tomorrow. We have to first find out the way, and also prepare some etiquette. A visiting card is necessary; we need to see if the Emperor Sect will show some favor to our Lihuo Sect by letting us into the mountain gate.”

After entering the town, they headed straight to the tavern. The tavern had two floors, with guestrooms in the backyard, and a room for a day only cost one tael of silver.

After ordering drinks and food, Shen Biancheng said, “Junior Brother, wait here, I’ll go and gather some information.”

“Okay.” Ye Fan nodded. After a few days of fatigue, his internal spiritual energy was somewhat scattered and needed adjustment.

Although after cultivation one doesn’t need to eat daily for energy replenishment, as a habit, eating and drinking are still indispensable.

Ye Fan invited Bai He to sit down and eat together. Just as he picked up the chopsticks, an elder came up the stairs with a girl about fourteen or fifteen years old. The elder had a huqin in hand, likely artists wandering the streets performing for a living. Although the clothes of the grandfather-granddaughter duo were tattered, they were clean.

“Get out. This is not a place for you to perform. Even if you must perform, go elsewhere!” The shop assistant shouted at the elder and the girl.

However, near Emperor Mountain, most people are either cultivators or those serving cultivators. Human kindness is thin, and nobody shows much pity for them.

Feeling a pang of compassion, Ye Fan beckoned, “Come here, perform a tune for us.”

“Thank you, kind sir,” said the elder as he walked over, supported by the girl.

The elder was in his sixties or seventies, his face creased with age. The girl had a pristine appearance, delicate and lovely, her eyes clear yet a bit timid, clutching a white handkerchief in her hand, seemingly a bit fearful of Ye Fan.

“Play well, and there will be a reward.”

The elder began to play the huqin. Although it couldn’t compare to modern music in complexity, it had a very tranquil melody. With the girl’s singing, the melody became complete. She sang a folk ditty with a bit of a soft regional accent that Ye Fan didn’t quite understand, though he found her voice clear and resonant.

Though the guests in the inn were all in a hurry, many looked over upon hearing the girl sing, though it was clear they had no intention to give rewards.

After finishing a song, the girl stopped and looked shyly at Ye Fan and Bai He.

Ye Fan took out the silver pouch Shen Biancheng had given him, extracting a small two-tael piece of silver, and handed it over. The elder was incredibly grateful to Ye Fan, almost having the girl kowtow in thanks.

“The singing was wonderful, but it’s not safe around here. You should leave as soon as possible,” Ye Fan advised.

The elder said with a laugh, “The kind sir is right, but this old man and my granddaughter wander the world, singing wherever we go, with nothing to hold us back.”

Ye Fan said no more, watching the elder and the girl leave downstairs. At the stairway, the girl looked back at Ye Fan, her eyes sincerely grateful.

Ye Fan ate a few bites, not feeling hungry, he closed his eyes, meditating to adjust his state.

Just as he was fully concentrated, a sense of crisis suddenly approached him. In an instant, he opened his eyes. Realizing that the cultivator’s target wasn’t him, he eased a breath.

“Master, why are you looking at me?” Bai He was even more scared because she thought Ye Fan suspected her.

Ye Fan stood up, walked to the window, and traced the position of the person with cultivation. He discovered a young man in his twenties with a piece of green jade in hand, used for cultivating magic artifacts, followed by several others, one shouldering a girl – the same girl who had been singing in the tavern.

The girl, slung over a shoulder, struggled, but in the eyes of these cultivators, she was nothing more than a sacrificial lamb. Her eyes brimming with tears, her pitiful face, and almost hoarse throat would not evoke a shred of pity from these villains.