"Alright, alright, look at me, I'm fine, please don't cry." Du Xin'er said in a calm comforting voice, despite not knowing exactly what had happened, she was still consolingly Pure Heart Sacred Woman.
But Du Xin'er's words felt like a knife stab to Pure Heart Sacred Woman's heart, causing her distress. She managed to muster her spirits and introduced, "This is the current Human Emperor, Jiang Li."
Du Xin'er lightly covered her mouth in surprise, "So you're the one my elder sister often talks about..."
She seemed to recall something, made faces at Pure Heart Sacred Woman, and flashed a mischievous smile. Pure Heart Sacred Woman gave a forced smile in return.
"Human Emperor, Human Emperor, I heard you have supreme martial abilities, regarded as the first of Jiuzhou, capable of anything, equating the Immortal, is that true?" Du Xin'er asked curiously.
"I thought I was capable of everything, but I've realized that I can't become an Immortal or reverse life and death. I'm just a mortal."
The atmosphere at the scene was a bit awkward. Jiang Li helped Pure Heart Sacred Woman up and said, "Red Dust Pure Land is planning to circulate and dispatch each Golden Core cultivator to experience life in small towns for some years. I wanted to ask for your opinions and thoughts."
Excitement flickered in Du Xin'er's eyes, interpreting this as a chance to return to the sect. However, her excitement dampened instantly. Now that she can't improve her strength, she thought her return to the sect would be a waste of resources. It'd be better for her to stay here.
"I...I'm fine here."
"Hmm, sticking to your duties, diligently persevering without asking for anything, continue your commitment to diligent practice even after leaving the mountain. I will tell Daoist Qingyu the truth."
"Eh, why?!" Du Xin'er got anxious, glaring at Jiang Li, "And why is the Human Emperor responsible for our sect affairs?"
If the sect leader knew about her attitude, she would undoubtedly receive praise and be replaced by a more talented sister, wouldn't that be a waste of the sisters' time?
"Your sect's management is lacking, I'm giving my advice on behalf of Daoist Qingyu." Seeing that Du Xin'er still had words to say, Jiang Li subtly changed the subject, asking casually, "Let's leave this matter aside. We didn't see Yuan Ling in Upper River Town, where did she go?"
"Hmm-- not sure, recently Sister Yuan Ling often leaves Upper River Town, and she's gone for several months each time, but she'll be back during autumn harvest, which is these few days."
Since they couldn't find Yuan Ling, both of them decided to stay in Lower River Town and keep Du Xin'er company.
...
Jiang Li took out the Remote Communication Talisman and called Zhang Konghu, "Konghu, go to the Southern Border and find some Gu Clan people to investigate. Figure out what cultivation level is needed to develop a corpse Gu that can make the dead move freely and unaware of their death."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Konghu rushed towards the Southern Border, ignoring Dream River Dynasty and Emperor Wei's calls to "finish eating before leaving".
...
A few days passed quickly. Du Xin'er felt so happy. She had Pure Heart Sacred Woman and Human Emperor Jiang Li by her side, teaching her cultivation and imparting knowledge on cultivation, and telling stories about Jiuzhou.
She also told Human Emperor Jiang Li that she was unable to increase her cultivation. Jiang Li simply pat her on the head, reassuring her that it was normal, cultivation couldn't be rushed, and it would get better over time. He himself had also experienced this before.
However, Du Xin'er didn't notice Jiang Li's gloomy eyes.
How could cultivation from a dead body possibly lead to an increase in cultivation?
"Junior sister Xin'er, we're going to inspect other towns, it's time for us to leave."
Pure Heart Sacred Woman detected with her divine sense that Yuan Ling had finally returned. A rare cruelty flashed in her eyes, gone as quickly as it came, without Du Xin'er noticing.
Pure Heart Sacred Woman and Jiang Li smoothly flew to Upper River Town and they pinned Yuan Ling, who was obviously drunk, to the ground.
"Who are you! You dare to act against me in our Red Dust Pure Land... Oh, it's elder sister Pure Heart."
Initially, owing to her intoxication, Yuan Ling was defiant and aggressive, but she immediately quieted down upon recognizing Pure Heart Sacred Woman.
Pure Heart Sacred Woman didn't speak, she just took Yuan Ling to an empty room and threw her into a corner. The whole process was quite rough, completely disregarding her previous dignified and generous Sacred Woman image.
Yuan Ling was also an exceptional beauty, which had led to her becoming a disciple of Red Dust Pure Land. As a member of the Gu Clan, she still loved dressing up with silver earrings and headpieces after leaving the clan. Her dressing style was quite revealing and easily attracted men's attention.
She was in pain from Pure Heart Sacred Woman's rough handling. Her silver ornaments were disheveled, and her revealing clothing was even more torn. Yet, she didn't dare to utter a word.
Yuan Ling had never seen Pure Heart Sacred Woman so angry before.
Jiang Li quietly followed behind her, letting Pure Heart Sacred Woman vent her anger. Such events caused Jiang Li anger, but Pure Heart Sacred Woman was even angrier.
Two whole small towns of Red Dust Pure Land had turned into Dead Towns. She viewed this as her failure!
A serious failure!
"Speak, where have you been? Why haven't you returned for several months!"
"There's nothing here, just a bunch of farmers. I went to play in the Dream River Dynasty for a while." Yuan Ling answered honestly and immediately defended herself, "But I always come back for the autumn harvest, you see, I always submit my Spirit Grain on time, never late."
Pure Heart Sacred Woman felt like fire was burning in her chest, wanting to vent but unable to.
Yes, exactly because there was never a problem with the spirit grain, no one came to inspect.
If there was a problem with the spirit grain, they could have discovered the problems with the two towns!
"Then why is there not a single living person in Upper River Town and Lower River Town!" Pure Heart Sacred Woman asked in an almost accusing manner, more like a reproach than a question.
Yuan Ling was taken aback, breaking into a cold sweat. Initially, she thought Pure Heart Sacred Woman was angry because she left her post without permission. She hadn't thought that the incident involving the use of corpse bones could be carried out.
"Master... Master, what are you talking about..."
"Answer me!" Pure Heart Sacred Woman roared so loudly that Yuan Ling's heart skipped a beat.
Stiffening her scalp, Yuan Ling stutteringly said, "I... I wasn't willing, you know. To play in the Dream River Dynasty, I need Spirit Stones. So, I took a bit of the Spirit Stones meant for buying Spirit Grain, just a little... Those troublesome people complained that I gave them too few Spirit Stones and they refused to work. In a fit of anger, I... I killed a few of those troublemakers who were stirring up trouble…"
"Then, someone started to shout about telling the sect, I panicked, and... and I killed everyone. To prevent the sect from discovering, I used the corpse Gu to control their dantian, letting them continue to plant the Spirit Grain. Sister, look, making them plant Spirit Grain, we wouldn't have to give them Spirit Stones in the future, isn't it great?"
What Yuan Ling did not say was that after she used the corpses to nurture the Gu, the sect would still issue Spirit Stones for her to buy Spirit Grain. Of course, she wouldn't give the Spirit Grain to a bunch of dead people, instead she spent all the Spirit Stones luxuriously in Dream River Dynasty.
"What about Lower River Town! Du Xin'er is your junior sister, how could you attack her!"
Yuan Ling whined, "I had no choice. Lower River Town is too close to here. I was afraid that Junior Sister Du Xin'er would sense something, so I... I killed her too, and while I was at it, I killed everyone in Lower River Town."
Yuan Ling cried, "Elder Sister, please be generous and forgive me this once, I didn't do it on purpose!"
Pure Heart Sacred Woman coldly said, "Do you know that you're already dead?"
In the eyes of Pure Heart Sacred Woman and Jiang Li, Yuan Ling was also a corpse controlled by the Gu, the only thing was, she had no idea of it herself!