Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 122 The Longevity Sect is finished.

Time flies, and another month has passed in the blink of an eye.

Spring goes and summer comes.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter.

Chen Li made a special trip to Luanluo City to renew his rent for another year in advance.

Although Luanluo City's house is temporarily no longer occupied, no one can be allowed to move in. After all, there is an underground passage hidden in the house, and if it is discovered and spread, it could become another hidden danger.

Due to the impact of the war, Luanluo City has become much quieter. As Chen Li walked along, the number of people had decreased by more than 50%, and it was no longer as lively as it used to be.

Chen Li walked to the front door of his former home.

open the door.

It was covered with a thick layer of dust.

"what!"

Chen Li picked up a letter with some surprise. It was unsigned. He tore open the cover and took out the letter to read it.

The letter was written by Zhang Meng, and the contents were so cryptic that they would be completely incomprehensible to anyone else. But Chen Li knew at a glance that it was written by Gu Mengqing. He noted down the letter’s current address and put it into his storage bag.

"Now that the storm has passed, I should go and take a look!" he thought to himself.

Next, he cleaned the room, dusted it off, and then closed the door again and left.

……

Two days later.

Chen Li went out and walked into the wilderness, then used his wind-controlling spell to rise into the air.

His destination was another gathering place of independent cultivators not far away. It was close to the forest, and the independent cultivators who gathered herbs and hunted frequently came and went, which naturally formed a settlement and trading market mainly composed of independent cultivators.

According to the information Chen Li gathered, the area was a mixed bag and quite chaotic.

Gu Mengqing settled there.

After flying for dozens of miles, Chen Li spotted a low, dilapidated settlement in the distance. He quickly landed, changed his appearance, and strolled in. This settlement was not small; it was much larger than an ordinary village.

At this time, the sky was still dark.

Many of the hermits who looked like old farmers had already set out early, carrying hoes and sacks, to make a living in the forest.

"The third house on the left side of the mangrove forest by the river... What a weird address." Chen Li thought to himself, exasperated, as he searched for the address.

Fortunately, it wasn't too hard to find.

Following a river flowing from the forest, Chen Li quickly found the mangrove forest.

This tree grows in water, with pale red leaves. It grows quite lushly, forming a dense, sprawling patch where countless small birds roost, chirping noisily as morning approaches.

"This should be the place!"

Chen Li walked to the third dilapidated hut on the left side of the mangrove forest and knocked on the door.

"Bang bang bang! Is Zhang Meng there?"

"Who is it?" A woman's voice came from inside, along with the rustling sound of clothes being put on: "Old Zhang just went out into the woods."

Not long after, with a creak, a female cultivator opened the door.

She was petite, and judging from her middle age, she must have been quite beautiful in her youth. She subtly looked Chen Li up and down, her gaze carrying a hint of wariness: "Fellow Daoist, you're not from around here, are you? What business do you have with Old Zhang?"

"Sister-in-law, don't be nervous. I'm his friend. He wrote me a letter last time, so I came to see him." Chen Li said with a smile, taking out the letter and handing it over.

The female cultivator took it and saw that it was indeed her husband's handwriting. A smile bloomed on her face: "Oh, come in and sit down, come in and sit down. He went to chop firewood and will be back soon."

Chen Li followed the female cultivator through the door.

The interior was cramped and dimly lit, but very clean.

It has to be said that Gu Mengqing is quite adept at dealing with women. After losing Lu Qian, he quickly found himself another companion.

"Have some water, there's nothing much to offer." The female cultivator brought over a glass of water.

Chen Li took the water and put it aside.

The female cultivator was quite enthusiastic, constantly inquiring about Chen Li's background, but he brushed her off one by one.

I stayed for an hour or two.

Gu Mengqing returned and was taken aback to see a man in the house. His expression immediately turned somewhat unpleasant, but upon recognizing the man's familiar robes, he quickly realized what was going on and tentatively asked:
"Big brother..."

Chen Li nodded, stood up and said, "Let's go for a walk outside."

"Okay! I'll put the firewood away first."

Gu Mengqing carried firewood toward the kitchen, and the female cultivator quickly followed him in, whispering, "Who is this? I've never heard you mention him before."

“The older brother I used to hang out with.” A genuine smile appeared on Gu Mengqing’s dark, worried face. “If nothing unexpected happens, the family will be rich in the future. You can stay home and wait patiently. I’ll be right back.”

He left in a hurry and didn't carry many spirit stones with him. Since arriving here, he has been like the other rogue cultivators, making a living by hunting and gathering herbs. He has enough to eat and wear, but it's impossible for him to live a good life.

I only earn a few low-grade spirit stones a month, not even enough to buy spirit rice.

Compared to before, it's more than a hundred times worse.

……

When Gu Mengqing came out, Chen Li was already standing by the river.

He activated a mute note, and only after the faint light of the mute enveloped the surroundings did he speak: "Zhou Xutang is dead, you know that, right?"

"I heard about it, could it be my eldest brother..."

"Of course I didn't do it!" Chen Li denied, the fewer people who knew about it the better: "The Longevity Sect is currently engaged in a major battle and can't afford to investigate anymore. The storm has completely passed. If you want to come back, you can come back anytime. Of course, it depends on your own wishes."

As he spoke, he took out a money pouch from his storage bag, which contained fifty mid-grade spirit stones that he had prepared beforehand, and handed it over: "Take this money. Don't take any more risks in the future. Just live a good life."

Gu Mengqing took the money bag, felt a slight heaviness, opened it, and his hand trembled involuntarily: "This...this is too much, brother, I can't accept it!"

He knew Chen Li was generous and never stingy, and that he would definitely bring him money this time, but he didn't expect so much. Fifty mid-grade spirit stones—as long as he didn't squander them, he'd be set for life. "Take them. True friendship is revealed in times of trouble. What are spirit stones? You essentially saved my life last time. Does my life have no value?" Chen Li patted his shoulder and said with a faint smile.

"Yes, brother!" Gu Mengqing said, moved.

Before leaving, Chen Li told him to be careful and not to let anything slip, and also told him his current address before taking his leave.

……

The war has lasted for two months, but it has not affected this place at all. Apart from a slight gloom in their hearts, most of the independent cultivators continue to live their lives as before.

Chen Li's daily life was smooth, with basically nothing major to worry about. After successfully drawing the Golden Light Amulet, the Golden Light Protection Technique was also successfully cast. He originally thought that such peaceful days would continue.

Until one afternoon...

Four flying boats, distinct from those of the Longevity Sect, flew in from afar.

Under the blazing sun, cicadas chirped their hearts out.

At the foot of the shantytown, the streets were packed with people. Everyone stared blankly at the four enormous flying ships approaching from the horizon. Their faces were filled with fear and unease mixed with excitement and bloodlust. The crowd was incredibly noisy and bustling.

"The Longevity Sect is finished!"

Chen Li was extremely familiar with this scene.

He's been through it.

A normally honest and harmless rogue cultivator, once he smells the blood of profit, will quickly turn into a wild beast unleashed from its cage, killing and robbing, slaughtering entire families as if it were nothing more than breathing.

Zhou Hong gripped Chen Li's arm tightly, her face pale.

Feeling a sense of unease, Chen Li gently patted her hand, reassuring her, "Don't worry, I wouldn't stoop to robbing such bloody wealth."

"This is the flying boat of the True Sect!" a well-traveled rogue cultivator exclaimed.

"So that's how it is!" Chen Li thought to himself.

Several years ago, three factions besieged the Longevity Sect, one of which was the Reality Sect.

That great battle.

This led to the deaths of the Golden Core Ancestors of the Longevity Sect and the Artifact Sect, and serious injuries to the Golden Core Ancestors of the True Soul Sect and the Red Mountain Sect. However, after so many years, they have obviously recovered.

Two dogs fight, play off.

Currently, the majority of the Changsheng Sect's forces are engaged in external battles, leaving its internal strength depleted. The timing of the Zhenhuan Sect's deployment this time can be described as quite astute.

The enormous airship slowly approached, its imposing presence growing stronger with each passing moment.

The crowd began to stir and become restless.

Zhang Yan, leading Zhang Shuniang, squeezed through the crowd, sweating profusely with anxiety.

"What should we do? Should we go somewhere else for now?"

"Logically speaking, the True Sect shouldn't attack us rogue cultivators!" Chen thought for a moment and said, "However, for safety's sake, let's leave here first and wait for things to calm down."

“That’s exactly right.” Zhang Yan nodded repeatedly, thinking even more deeply: “Once the war starts, everything will descend into chaos.”

"Fellow Daoist Chen, could you please take us, a widow and her child, with you?" Wang Qing, who was holding the child's hand, asked hurriedly.

“Okay, you guys go back first and take all the valuables with you,” Chen Li nodded.

Wang Qing and Zhang Yan each left their children behind and hurriedly went home.

"Uncle, Aunt Zhou!" Zhang Shuniang called out timidly.

Zhou Hong affectionately hugged Zhang Shuniang and comforted her, "Don't be afraid, it will pass soon."

"Hmm!" Zhang Shuniang glanced at Chen Li and responded.

"Uncle, Aunt Zhou." The little kid left behind by Wang Qing also obediently called out.

Chen Li smiled and patted his head.

This kid is quite mischievous, but he's also a little afraid of him and never dares to be disrespectful in front of him, which is rather strange.

"You stay here and watch them. I'm going back inside to tidy up," Chen Li said to Zhou Hong.

Zhou Hong responded.

He hurried back home, packed several hundred kilograms of medium-grade spirit rice into a storage bag, then went to the talisman-making room to collect the blood ink and talisman skins before closing the door tightly.

This is the only valuable thing in the whole house.

Both of them have storage bags, where they usually keep valuables.

Soon, Zhang Yan and Wang Qing returned in a hurry, each carrying a bundle on their backs.

Then the group pushed through the crowd and quickly left. Fortunately, this place was on the outskirts of the shantytown at the foot of the mountain. After passing through a few streets, they would reach the wilderness.

After leaving the dense crowd, the group couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

In fact, quite a few people have already come to the wilderness to seek refuge.

They had only walked a few miles.

A bright light came from behind, followed by a loud "boom" that echoed from afar.

Chen Li turned his head to look.

The mysterious mountaintop, once shrouded in mist, has now completely shed its fog, replaced by a massive protective array. Through the array's protective barrier, Chen Li could vaguely see various palaces and pavilions appearing and disappearing, a truly magnificent sight.

A dense array of cultivators surrounded the mountain-protecting formation, coordinating with the continuous attacks from the flying boats.

Countless rays of light shone upon the mountain-protecting array.

The protective array around the mountain was on the verge of collapse.

The group couldn't help but stop and stare blankly ahead, their faces filled with complex emotions.

(End of this chapter)