Unfortunately, plans didn't always went as planned, and it took about a month before I finally had the opportunity to leave Human Peak.
It wasn't as if I wasn't allowed to leave Heaven and Earth Sect and explore Tian Xuan Continent. The other peak masters, including my predecessor, often came and went. In fact, the previous master of Human Peak died while out on an expedition somewhere, and nobody knew until we received news that he had been surrounded by several orthodox cultivator sects and hacked into pieces. We only found out a few months after that had happened, and coincidentally because one of our disciples heard the news when visiting a nearby city too procure supplies.
That was how disjointed and disunited the demonic sects were.
Even so, I took my responsibilities very seriously. I didn't have any direct subordinates because I couldn't be bothered to. I was always a loner, often keeping to myself in Human Peak to train and cultivate. I wasn't interested in the external or internal affairs of the sect. Consequently, I didn't have many friends here in Heaven and Earth Sect.
Not that I wanted to. Anybody who approached me to be "friends" were either scheming to steal my position by backstabbing or they were sucking up to me like leeches and would abandon me the moment things went south. It was very hard to make friends with fellow demonic cultivators. You simply couldn't trust any of them.
Hell, I didn't trust myself.
Honestly, there was nothing holding me back…and given the nature of demonic sects, nobody would miss me if I was gone. Master might get annoyed and demand to know where I was when he had a task for me, but he couldn't assign it to me if I wasn't there. In that case, he would just grumble and assign it to someone else. We were demonic cultivators, after all. He knew more than anybody else how we just did whatever we wanted. Elders and masters of the sect disappeared for years, often hiding somewhere to suck the qi and vitality out of entire villages, or were accumulating their own military forces so that they could attempt to overthrow the current sect leader.
By tradition, Master welcomed such coup d'états. It prevented him from becoming complacent, weeded out the weak and revealed who the strong and cunning were. If he fell and was overthrown, then it was his own fault for not being strong and cunning enough to secure the position of sect leader. That was all.
None of that had anything to do with me. I had no interest in becoming the next leader of the Heaven and Earth Sect.
Instead, I prepared to set out. One simply did not venture out into the vastness of the Tian Xuan Continent unprepared. Obviously I would have to gather supplies and resources. While I didn't mind sleeping in the wilderness or hunting for my own food, I would have instances where it was more convenient to stay in the city. As such, I needed currency. I needed intelligence. I required information. I couldn't just walk out there and expect everything to be fine.
"Hmm, so the major orthodox sects would be the Elemental Mountain Sect, the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion, the White Herb Sect, the Azure Water Sect, the Golden Thunder Sect, the Astral Star Sect, and the Dragon Phoenix Sect."
These were simply the Seven Powers, the seven biggest sects. There were more, of course, and the rankings would often shift, but by and large, these seven sects remained constant at the top of the hierarchy.
Master would probably plot to destroy them, but as powerful as the Heaven and Earth Sect was, we couldn't destroy all seven major orthodox sects by ourselves. And obviously the other demonic sects refused to bow down to his leadership. They were far too independent, arrogant and autonomous for that. Also, we couldn't trust them. They were notorious for turning on their erstwhile allies even before the battle ended.
And so we were at an impasse. The orthodox sects weren't powerful enough to destroy us demonic sects, but we weren't united enough to annihilate them either.
Again, I couldn't care less about that. My only goal was to marry a girl I like and live a peaceful life. I already had my eyes set on a particular girl. So I would have to move in the direction of the White Herb Sect.
"How should I go about this?"
Much of my preparation was planning to infiltrate the White Herb Sect. But I was no doctor.
"Also, Lan Bei Er already rejected me. Even if I show up again, I doubt she will accept my proposal."
Well, that was why I had been preparing all this time. The next time I appeared in front of her, it wouldn't be as a demonic cultivator…but I would be disguised as an orthodox cultivator.
"I hope the month spent learning these so-called orthodox techniques and skills will be worth it…"
The previous occupant of the Human Peak had raided and destroyed orthodox sects, stealing their techniques and treasures. I found them in an armory and decided to pick them up. One of them drew my attention in particular. Apparently it belonged to the Black Shadow Sect, which no longer existed. Even so, I found the Shadow Steps and Shadow Strike techniques useful.
They would help me disguise myself in the Tian Xuan Continent. Obviously I couldn't use the Heaven and Earth Formula or I would reveal my true origins. The moment I did that, all the orthodox cultivators would come down on me like a bear drawn to honey.
Still, I was relieved that it only took me a month to master the Black Shadow Sect techniques. They were basic techniques, so it wasn't difficult to learn them. However, it might be difficult to rely on them long term. It was unfortunate, but I couldn't find anything else in the armory. The other techniques didn't seem as strong or as useful.
Then again, I might have been comparing them to the Heaven and Earth Formula, so that was pretty unfair.
"All right, let's go."
Placing everything in my spatial pouch, I set off. My fellow disciples ignored me while I walked past them. Perhaps it was my clothing – I had changed to very plain robes. It wouldn't make sense for me to stride out into the outside world broadcasting to everyone that I was a peak master in the Heaven and Earth Sect. I wasn't looking for trouble.
I was looking for a girl.
"Oh? What's this? A new disciple walking around on his own? Do you think you own the place or something?"
Unfortunately, before I could reach the exit, someone barred my way. A muscular, burly guy who was almost two meters tall. What was his name again? Ah, right. Gao Shan.
"Can I help you?" I asked politely.
"Hmph. A four-eyed nerd too. Where do you think you're going?"
"Out."
"Then you should pay the toll fee." Gao Shan raised his hand and gestured at me. "Your resources for this month. Hand them over and I'll let you pass."
"Hmm…how about this?" I pushed my glasses up my nose. "Why don't you hand your resources over and I'll abstain from breaking your limbs?"
"Huh? What did you say?!" Gao Shan roared. "Courting death!"
Crimson qi coalesced around him and took the impression of a mountain. His muscles bulged, the veins popping out in them as they hardened and stiffened from the immense amounts of qi pouring into them. Resembling a gigantic statue of an Asura, Gao Shan lunged forward, throwing his fist forward. Mountain Shattering Punch, huh?
A powerful technique, undoubtedly…but useless if it didn't hit me.
"Huh?! Where did he go?!"
Even though Gao Shan's Mountain Shattering Punch smashed a crater into the ground and unleashed a sonic boom that tore through the front of the sect's territory, he was astute enough to realize that he hadn't hit me. The feeling of hitting rock was different from striking flesh and blood, after all.
"Oh, looks like this is really a useful skill," I remarked as I emerged from the shadows and appeared right behind a stunned Gao Shan. This was the first time I was using Shadow Steps in actual combat, and I was pleased with the results. The burly disciple turned around, swinging his other arm to launch a second Mountain Shattering Punch, but I simply smacked his chest with a hand.
Heaven and Earth Strike.
Blood spurted from Gao Shan's mouth as his chest cratered, his ribcage shattering and piercing his lungs. An explosion of qi lifted him off the ground, splitting apart his shirt and hurling him several meters away. He crashed and writhed, coughing and choking on his own blood.
"You…you…" he spluttered, his eyes wide in fear. "You're Peak Master Hei Ye! I…I'm so sorry! I had eyes but didn't see Mount Tai!"
Not that bullshit line again…how many times did they have to use it?
It took Gao Shan several attempts to untie the spatial pouch from his waist because his hands were shaking so violently from the impact. He tossed it at me, his eyes pleading.
"S…spare me, great lord!"
Dude…I wasn't a great lord. Or was this a reference to a newly broadcasted donghua or animation that was based off a popular manhua? You know, the one with Lu Shu and his adopted younger sister as the main characters? Keep an eye out for it every Friday…or if you want to read the web comic, the translated version was actually on the Webnovel site itself.
"Fine," I said, catching the spatial pouch and fumbling with it. Whoops, I was always a clumsy person. Pretending that I didn't just frantically try to grab hold of the spatial pouch and missed, I placed it inside my own one. Turning away, I tried to act cool. "Since you so generously offered me your resources, I won't break your limbs."
"T…thank you very much!"
It might seem weird because I had effectively robbed him, but Gao Shan was more grateful that I didn't kill him than angry that he was forced to give away his resources. Resources could be earned back. But if he lost his life, he would never get it back again.
Waving my hand casually, I turned away and took the steps down the mountain that served as the entrance to the Heaven and Earth Sect. It was a long descent, but I completed it in less than ten minutes, reaching the foot of the mountain.
Hmm, I didn't think I would get extra resources for the journey. Gao Shan's provocation came at a fortuitous timing indeed. And the incident also proved that disguise was working. None of them recognized me until I used Heaven and Earth Strike.
Excellent.
My first stop was Dragon Gate City. Even though it had already been a month, I was hoping that I would be able to run into Lan Bei Er there. Those hopes were dashed when I walked through the streets. Dragon Gate City was a massive city, its streets bustling with hundreds of people. It was practically akin to searching for a needle in the sea.
While I walked, I observed my surroundings. There were merchants setting up street stalls to sell food, amulets, paper, pottery and a variety of other things. I stayed away from them – this being the first day, it wasn't a good idea to start spending cash unnecessarily. I didn't know how long I would be out here for.
Then I caught sight of a group of armed cultivators gathering near a carriage and discussing amongst each other. I was disappointed to see that Lan Bei Er was not among them, but the conversation from passers-by caught my attention.
"The master cultivators are going to hunt the demonic beast that has been appearing in Verdant Forest."
"Finally…that demonic beast has killed so many people. I'm glad they're finally doing something about it."
"Yes, it has been affecting businesses badly. The merchants from the south no longer dare to come to our city because of the constant attacks, so trade has suffered. Also, more and more civilians are being attacked by it, and it's getting closer to Dragon Gate City…"
An idea blossomed in my head. Of course…the best way to find a cultivator was to participate in cultivator missions like this. Perhaps I might find a clue pertaining to Lan Bei Er's whereabouts…she did participate in the attack against Heaven and Earth Sect, after all.
Not only that, but I might be able to earn enough to sustain my outside expedition indefinitely. Or even enough to buy myself a home outside.
Without any hesitation, I proceeded toward the closest cultivator guild building.