Chapter One Hundred Sixty – Returning Home (Part One)

“Ah these two are selling themselves to bury their brother.”

“Look closely, this brother and sister pair are quite fair and pretty. Who knows where they’ve fled from?”

“Their faces are so dirty, but they must be stunning when cleaned up.”

“Well, although we don’t have any major sects here, we do have a couple of immortal masters who are particularly fond of such individuals.”

Mu Zhanting remained in deep slumber, while Nan Yan and Yin Ya were exhausted and unable to move. As the crowd of onlookers grew, the wealthy young man, fearing competition, hurriedly said, “Recently, a Foundation Establishment immortal master in the city has been sending thugs to search for male and female vessels. If you stay here too long, miss, you might be harassed by these ruffians. It’s better to come with me. I plan to study Confucian cultivation next year, and if I can enter an immortal sect, I won’t mistreat you.”

Confucian cultivation was an emerging path that adhered to Confucius’s principle of education for all, lowering the barrier for ordinary people to enter cultivation. Although it currently lagged behind the Daoist, Buddhist, and Demonic schools, it was developing rapidly.

Nan Yan finally understood that this place was a small mortal city. She asked, “May I ask which State this is?”

The young man replied with surprise, “This is the Si State.”

No wonder. In other States, it was rare for cultivators guarding small cities to openly search for vessels, but it was common in the Si State, a territory of demonic cultivators.

The young man continued, “My family owns a hundred mu of spiritual fields and a library of ten thousand books. All I lack is a beautiful woman to discuss poetry and share my life with…”

Before Nan Yan could respond, the sleeping Mu Zhanting suddenly stirred, sitting up with a dazed expression. “Who wants to discuss poetry with me?”

His qi had been self-regulating in his meditative state, making him appear barely breathing to mortals. Seeing him suddenly sit up, the crowd was startled and scattered quickly.

“Good heavens! Even the dead can come back to life. Let’s get out of here!”

Mu Zhanting turned to Nan Yan, still confused. “Did someone want to discuss poetry with me?”

Nan Yan pulled out a wooden fish mallet from her robes and tapped Mu Zhanting’s head, emphasizing each word: “No! One! Here! They’re! All! Illiterate! Go! Back! To! Sleep!”

After Mu Zhanting fell back into slumber, a group of thugs the wealthy young man had mentioned earlier came rumbling down the street.

Upon arrival, seeing the three exhausted individuals, the thugs skipped any pretense of enticement and simply declared, “Not bad, they all look strong and healthy. We’re running out of time, take them all!”

Yin Ya started, “You guys are looking for—”

“Wait, brother, something’s off,” Nan Yan interrupted.

She didn’t resist, noticing that these thugs seemed to have some basic qi cultivation. As they hurriedly hoisted the three onto their shoulders, Nan Yan asked, “Gentlemen, where are you taking us?”

One thug, with a hint of panic, replied, “We’re taking you to enjoy good fortune with the immortal master. Don’t be afraid, you’ll see that following the immortal master gives you a better chance of survival.”

Nan Yan feigned ignorance: “Oh, I see. We’re from a village, and our parents died early. We don’t know what’s happening. Why is everything in such chaos?”

The thug exclaimed, “The world is at war! Isn’t that major enough?!”

Nan Yan exchanged a glance with Yin Ya, thinking that the inevitable had finally come.

The thug continued, “The Way of Heaven issued three orders yesterday, saying they’re searching all states for rebels, looking for some black jade talismans. Each State must assign a Heavenly Teacher to oversee this matter.”

Nan Yan asked, “And all the states agreed?”

Fear flashed across the thug’s face. “The Yin, Mao, Chen, and Wei States directly declared war on the Way of Heaven. Now all the states are in chaos. Those major States are enraged, but it’s the smaller States that are suffering. Have you heard of the Yuan clan from the Wu State?”

Remembering her encounter with Yuan Ang, the imperial son of Wu State, Nan Yan replied, “Yes, the family of the Sacred Magnetic Light.”

“Overnight, the main sect of Wu State, the Sacred Magnetic Sea, was wiped out amidst the roar of ten thousand ghosts. Sixty thousand souls were turned into ghosts, all under the command of a Heavenly Teacher sent by the Way of Heaven. Now… they’ve reached Si State.”

Sixty thousand people! This was the terrifying power of the Nine Hells. While high-level cultivators of the Great Way could only threaten life and death, those who cultivated the Nine Hells’ Ghost Path could control a person’s entire cycle of reincarnation.

As they spoke, the thugs quickly brought them to a flying ship. They bowed and scraped before three demonic cultivators at the Foundation Establishment level at the bow, saying, “Immortal masters, these… these are the last three. We’ve gathered forty-nine vessels. Can you now take us to the Mortal State to escape?”

One of the demonic cultivators glanced at Nan Yan’s group and asked, “Why is one of them dead?”

The thug carrying Mu Zhanting slapped him lightly. “He’s not dead, just breathing. Probably famished.”

“Tch, we’re out of time. Hurry up, everyone. We’re at the border between Si and Wu States. If we don’t catch the whale ship soon, we’ll be too late once they seal off the coast.”

Nan Yan was led to a cabin filled with terrified mortals. She realized that these Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators were likely planning to flee to the Mortal State with their “resources”—including human vessels.

Mere Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn’t discern the level of these Nascent Soul realm cultivators. After observing for a while, Nan Yan said to Yin Ya, “Second Brother, I want to go to the Mortal State.”

Yin Ya knew she wasn’t seeking refuge from the war. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “You want to go to the Filthy Valley?”

“I…” Nan Yan’s mind flashed back to a scene she had witnessed while receiving the Seven Buddhas’ Karmic Cultivation in the Filthy Valley.

“That year in the Filthy Valley, Ying Zewei dug out my mother’s Vermilion Emperor Demon Heart. To save her life, Master Ji Ming gave her the Buddha Bone Zen Heart. But the Demon Heart had been part of her for so long that it was tied to her life force. To sustain her life, the Buddha Bone Zen Heart had to consume its original owner’s lifespan.”

Nan Yan took a deep breath and continued, “My mother… didn’t want to burden others. Severely wounded, she didn’t dare return to the Upper State, fearing the Way of Heaven would obtain the Buddha Bone Zen Heart. So she passed it on to her unborn child.”

She was a new, flawless life. The Buddha Bone Zen Heart could protect her, and she could nurture it through her growth.

Yin Ya frowned as he listened. “You want… to go back and find your father?”

If there was anyone in the world that Ying Zewei would consider an unforgivable enemy, it would be Ji Ming.

Nan Yan concealed the deep hatred in her eyes. “At the very least… I want him to know that the killer didn’t spare my mother after all. He used her completely, making her the heart demon he must slay on his path of cultivation.”

Only before Ying Zewei was she not a monastic, but a mortal who longed to flay and devour her enemy.

“How are you sure he’s still alive?”

“Because…” Nan Yan’s gaze was resolute, “Shao Cang has seen him.”

At that moment, the flying ship shuddered, and commotion erupted outside. Nan Yan’s Nascent Soul realm divine sense swept out, revealing that they had arrived at a coast. The once-arrogant Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators were now bowing like obsequious dogs before another cultivator wearing the emblem of Si State’s Evil Dao.

“…Manager Li, everyone’s here. Didn’t you want to refine a batch of Blood Core Powder recently? Many young women among these vessels would be perfect for that. Take a look, and if you like any, feel free to choose.”

The mortals from overseas States differed from those of the Mortal State. Nurtured by spiritual energy, eight out of ten possessed spirit roots. With minimal cultivation, they could awaken their spiritual awareness and serve as vessels.

The Evil Dao cultivator, seemingly in charge of entry and exit, idly played with a ring on his finger as he spoke, “Human lives are worthless. You lot planning to trick small sects in the Mortal State with these vessels – you’re the fourth batch I’ve seen today. I’m tired of accepting vessels. The quality from your backwater place is mediocre at best, all Five Element Spirit Roots. I’m not interested.”

The demonic cultivators seeking refuge in the Mortal State kowtowed repeatedly, offering treasures and spirit stones. Finally, the manager reluctantly agreed.

“This is the last whale ship. It’s carrying Core Formation elders from major sects. After you load these mortals, some nobles might come to choose slaves. Stay alert then.”

Nan Yan withdrew her divine sense and said, “Brother, if you have matters to attend to, once we’re past Si State’s coastal defenses, take Big Brother to Chen State before the whale ship sails too far. These demonic cultivators plan to sell Upper State mortals to the Mortal State. So many lives will be lost on the journey. We can’t ignore this since we’ve encountered it.”

Yin Ya indeed had demon realm matters to handle. He asked, “But didn’t they say there are Core Formation cultivators aboard? You’ve just used the Buddha Bone Zen Heart; your spiritual energy must be depleted. Can you fight them if it comes to that?”

Nan Yan replied, “No worries. I’m a proper Buddhist cultivator from Chou Shan Academy. My recovery rate is among the best in the world. I’ll be fully restored in five days. Moreover, I once saved the daughter of the Prison Evil Marquis in the Mountain and Sea Prohibition. She gave me a high-ranking guest token of the Evil Dao. The cultivators on the whale ship might even welcome me.”

Soon, they were all taken from the flying ship.

This was Nan Yan’s second time aboard a whaling ship. Unlike her anxiety during her Foundation Establishment days, now at the Nascent Soul stage, she could cross this vast sea separating the Upper State and the mortal realm alone. However, to avoid sea storms, traveling by whale ship was safer.

About half an hour later, the demonic cultivators completed the procedures and led them to a long street inside the whaleship. They were locked in cages facing the street in groups of ten or more, sold alongside rare beasts.

Human trafficking was forbidden on Chen State’s whale ships, but this one belonged to Si State, where righteous rules didn’t apply.

As dusk fell, high-level cultivators browsing for vessels or slaves increased, creating a night market atmosphere.

A bejeweled Qi Condensation stage old woman approached their cage. She scanned them with her triangular eyes and said disgustedly, “Don’t you know the rules? Stand separately for easy pricing.”

Seeing the mortals’ confusion, she irritably said, “You can’t even do this? Useless lot. Those with intact Yin and Yang essence, stand on the left for vessel pricing. Those who know carnal matters, right side for menial labor pricing!”

Most were young girls who reacted with fear and shame. The old woman, seemingly annoyed, took out a pink jade bead. “Fine, just stand still.”

The bead emitted pink halos enveloping the entire cage. A peach blossom mark appeared on some young people, indicating those who knew carnal matters.

Yin Ya, unmarked, mocked, “Interesting tool, probably made by some old lechers. But trying it on your fox demon grandpa is laughable. Right, Ball?… What the hell?”

Nan Yan, covered in pink peach blossoms, closed her eyes and said, “Amitabha.”

Yin Ya’s face contorted as he mentally bombarded her, “You’ve grown up too fast! You’re only thirty! Your brother won’t allow you to date… Damn it, you’re covered in peach blossoms! Who is it? Man or woman? Human or demon?!”

Nan Yan’s expression was detached: “Originally there is nothing, where can dust alight? Brother, you’re being materialistic.”

Yin Ya: “I’m beyond materialistic, I’m panicking! If Third Brother finds out… Wait, you’ve been acting normal all this time. It’s probably not someone else. You two…?”

Nan Yan tried to elevate the conversation: “Brother, be open-minded. I cultivate karmic Buddhism. I’ve transcended life and death, so what of mortal affairs?”

Yin Ya declared confidently: “The culprit is Third Brother.”

Nan Yan: “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Since entering the Way, I’ve been willing to sacrifice myself to ferry all beings. Although Shao Cang is the most difficult to ferry, if I don’t enter hell, who will? Countless cultivator predecessors have strived to fill the world with love. I’m simply embodying this spirit…”

Yin Ya: “Stop, I can’t face Old Master Chi Ku. Don’t let your Big Brother hear this. If he does, it’s like all your future step-fathers hearing it. They’ll probably raise a banner to annihilate the Way of Heaven, including Third Brother’s entire clan.”

“I heard it all.”

Nan Yan and Yin Ya looked at Mu Zhanting, who had opened his eyes as if seeing a ghost.

Nan Yan stuttered, “When did you wake up?”

Mu Zhanting: “From ‘Amitabha’ onwards.”

Nan Yan: “…”

Mu Zhanting: “I’m going with you to the Mortal State.”

Nan Yan: “Chen State needs you as emperor to issue formal declarations of war. Just don’t tell the Dragon Lord after you return.”

Mu Zhanting: “No, I can’t bear it. I’ll tell everyone.”

Nan Yan broke down: “It’s not a big deal. Can’t you all just leave me alone?”

Mu Zhanting said to Yin Ya with a pained expression: “See? She’s grown up and won’t listen. Alone out there, she’s easily deceived. How can we be at ease without someone accompanying her?”

Yin Ya sided with Mu Zhanting this time: “Exactly!”

As Nan Yan felt isolated and helpless, a clear, smiling voice came from outside the cage.

“What are you saying, brother? I’ll accompany her to the Mortal State. What’s there to worry about?”

The three turned their heads in unison. Qi Yang, who seemed to have just arrived, looked down at Nan Yan’s price tag, both amused and annoyed: “I was careless to let you be treated this way by insects.”

Qi Yang appeared normal. He was about to reach through the bars to check Nan Yan’s condition when she was protectively shielded behind the others.

Mu Zhanting stepped forward, questioning with immense pressure: “Third Brother, I have something important to say to you today.”

Qi Yang felt a chill down his spine but maintained a calm facade: “Please, go ahead.”

Mu Zhanting: “Have you considered how this might affect her cultivation? You child! Ah Yan is still a beast! How could you do this to her?! Come out, let’s fight!”

As Mu Zhanting rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge out, Qi Yang stepped back and pointed behind him.

“Are you afraid? Too late for regrets!”

After Mu Zhanting spoke, he sensed a murderous aura. Turning back, he saw Nan Yan holding up a pot-sized bronze wooden fish, her expression sinister.

“Who are you calling a beast?”