So the remaining people sat down to discuss. If they continued to fight like this, and all the mortals were killed, not many cultivators would be left either. Although it's said that cultivators have severed all ties with the mundane world and are devoid of the seven emotions and six desires, that is easier said than done. Who doesn't have descendants or a sect to belong to?
Even if one truly has no feelings or morality, Immortals still need the reverence of incense offerings. If all mortals are killed off, who will handle the mundane affairs on normal days? And regardless of being good or evil, these cultivators also need their sects to continue their lineage. Without mortals, where would they find disciples?
Therefore, after some discussion, they agreed that whether it was a fight between righteous or Demonic Path cultivators or between sects, they must set up Barriers, or keep their distance from the mortal world to prevent harm to ordinary people.
However, many evil Cultivation Techniques involved harming mortals, so there were quite a few cultivators who took the sinister path and secretly did evil deeds in the mundane world. Therefore, there were righteous cultivators cooperating with the Official Government to form the Spirit Clearing Guard. The guards of the Spirit Clearing Guard were rotated from the disciples of the Great Sects and were sent to various parts of the continent to work with the government to eliminate evil spirits and eradicate evil cultivators causing trouble in the world.
However, in the vast and populated Ancient Continent, the Immortal Gates had no such concerns. They would fight whenever they said they'd fight, and kill whenever they said they'd kill. Those Great cultivators who occasionally visited the Ancient Continent returned with their faces full of fear,
"The people there have profound Mana, numerous magical treasures, and they start fighting at the drop of a hat. In my opinion, that place isn't the human world at all, it's almost like the legendary Demon Realm!"
Such cruel places are not favored by good-hearted people. Li Yaner listened and frowned,
"Such a place is really terrifying. Let's not go there!"
It sounds like the Beautiful Country, where people pull out guns and shoot each other at the slightest disagreement!
Gu Shi Yi laughed,
"Don't worry, even if we wanted to go, we couldn't. The Illusion Sea isn't something one can just cross whenever they wish!"
Fortunately, the Illusion Sea was there as a barrier. Otherwise, if people from that side started killing their way over, this side would likely be a river of blood!
On the streets of the small town, passersby saw a woman dressed in mourning clothes, with her hair disheveled, holding a broken clay pot and mumbling to herself. Everyone thought she was a bit mad and steered clear of her as they passed. Gu Shi Yi didn't care and continued walking, while reminding the other two,
"The Spirit Clearing Guard deals not only with evil cultivators but also with demons and monsters. In their eyes, you two, one a Tree Spirit and the other a vengeful ghost, would meet with a soul-shattering end if you fall into their hands. Be careful on a daily basis, don't expose yourselves, or let someone see and report you to the Spirit Clearing Guard. My little Cultivation can't protect you both!"
Li Yaner and Big Boss both shrank back in fear and said in unison,
"Understood!"
As they were speaking, someone suddenly grabbed Gu Shi Yi's arm, startling her,
"My goodness, the Spirit Clearing Guard came so quickly!"
Turning around, she saw a tall, plump man with a simple and honest demeanor, who broke into a smile upon seeing Gu Shi Yi,
"Shiyi, you've come down from the mountain. Are you going to our Niu family to buy wine?"
When Gu Shi Yi saw it was him, she breathed a sigh of relief,
"It's you! You gave me such a scare!"
He was the eldest son of the Niu family, the family that sold alcohol in the town. However, their business practices weren't honest; they often sold watered-down wine to Gu Shi Yi and her mentor. But since it was cheap, the Old Taoist Priest didn't make much of it, satisfied just with the taste of alcohol, so Gu Shi Yi often bought wine from the Niu family.
Gu Shi Yi shook her head,
"I'm not buying wine!"
Niu Da looked her up and down, noticing the bundle on her back and the broken pot she was holding with a young tree planted in it. He also noticed the small white flower behind her ear and that she was wearing mourning clothes,
"Shiyi, you... why are you in mourning?"
Gu Shi Yi forced a bitter smile,
"I... My master, he has passed away..."
"Ah!"
Niu Da's eyes widened,
"The Old Taoist Priest is dead?"
Gu Shi Yi nodded,
"Niu Da, my master is gone, and I'm going to leave here to return to my hometown..."
No matter what, she and her master had lived in the mountains for several years, and they had dealt with the people in the town below for a few years. It was time to say goodbye.
Upon hearing this, Niu Da was initially surprised, but then joy spread across his face. He grasped her hand tightly and refused to let go,
"Shiyi, didn't you say you're an orphan? There's no one left for you in your hometown. Why don't you stay in this town instead..."
Before Gu Shi Yi could respond, he continued,
"My wife died two years ago, and I've been thinking about marrying you as my second wife. Your master was firmly against it, but now that he's gone, there's no one to stop us. Marry me, my father said that our family's liquor shop will be mine to inherit. I'm the eldest, and my brothers can't claim it. With me, you'll have all the wine you could ever want!"