I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 182 Distress
He had just emerged from his cave when Xun Sizhou came looking for him.

He has been at Canglan Academy for two days. He came on the orders of Dong Jiacun to deliver resources to Xue Xiang.

As early as after deciding to take on the sealed-off mission, Xue Xiang wrote to Dong Jiacun, asking him to help prepare a batch of resources.

The important resources inside the storage rings he acquired from the four major families were all handed over to Dong Jiacun for auction.

Today, the United Merchants' status has risen rapidly, and it has become the second largest merchant in Canaan County after Guangfeng Merchants.

Dong Jiacun's ability to gather resources has also reached a new level.

As a result, Xue Xiang also benefited.

Xue Xiang and Xun Sizhou were old friends, and since they hadn't seen each other for a long time, they felt a special connection.

Xue Xiang put aside his trivial matters and took Xun Sizhou on a tour of the Canglan Academy, inside and out.

At noon, he personally cooked a meal for Xun Sizhou inside the cave.

After a hearty meal and drinks, as he was about to leave, Xun Sizhou reiterated his desire to resign from his public office and follow Xue Xiang.

Xue Xiang urged him to think it over carefully, but Xun Sizhou remained resolute in his decision.

Xue Xiang then agreed.

He really does need someone like that by his side.

Mengde was originally his secretary, and when he left Canaan County, he also arranged a future for Mengde.

But Mengde was, after all, a Confucian scholar, and it was impossible for him to be willing to be his attendant.

Xun Sizhou is insightful, discreet, and decisive.

If he is willing to come, Xue Xiang will have much less to worry about.

After Xue Xiang agreed, Xun Sizhou left happily.

………………

Sunlight streamed in obliquely from the cave entrance, its light as pale as if it had been washed with water.

The stone table was slightly cool, and the ink on the paper was still wet.

Xue Xiang put down his pen; the paper was already covered with dense writing.

The above content is his summary of the key information regarding the operation to repatriate Chung-mu's remains.

He had already obtained the mission index from the palace regarding the operation to bring back the remains of Zhongwu. Combining the relevant information provided by Su Ning, he summarized it on paper, resulting in this full book.

There are many details, but in summary, there are two major challenges.

The first difficulty lies in how to reach the chaotic sea of ​​Wenyuan.

The Wen Yuan Chaos Sea is located five thousand miles away from the northeastern border of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The surrounding area is already a demon realm, and entering it is extremely dangerous.

The second challenge is to explore the chaotic sea of ​​Wenyuan.

It was a space that stretched for hundreds of miles, but it wasn't that big.

However, the internal energy is chaotic and extremely active, often mutating and attacking living beings within, and there are also lurking demons that are exceptionally fierce.

Over the past century, various countries have attempted to repatriate Chung-wu's remains, sending out no fewer than a hundred teams.

The vast majority of them perish while passing through the Demon Realm due to excessive damage.

According to the information Xue Xiang obtained, there were two teams that had entered the chaotic Wen Yuan Sea.

However, they could only hold on for a hundred breaths before they could not survive and suffered considerable losses before finally escaping the chaotic Wen Yuan Sea.

On the return journey, they were attacked by a group of demons, and almost all of them were killed or wounded.

It is precisely this harsh reality that has made the repatriation of Chung-wu's remains almost a taboo topic in the past decade.

But in Xue Xiang's view, although it was a dead end, there might still be a solution.

What would be a dilemma for others, he saw as only one difficulty: how to cross the demon realm.

Although the literary energy in the chaotic sea of ​​literature is violent and disorderly, the more disordered the literary energy is, the more lively it is, and the more lively it is, the easier it is to be stirred up.

As a poet with a vast knowledge of poetry and lyrics, when would he ever fear being too lively in his writing?
Xue Xiang was pondering the details when there was a double knock on the door, and Xun Sizhou walked in.

He waved a black envelope in his hand. "I have fulfilled my mission."

It turns out that the information Su Ning gave Xue Xiang showed that some adventurers risked their lives to enter the demon realm to collect a rare item called Morning and Evening Dew.

It gradually developed into a specific industry.

Where there is demand, there is supply, and so people risk operating ships to enter the chaotic seas of the demon realm.

Xue Xiang then asked Xun Sizhou to inquire about it, and two days ago, Xun Sizhou said he had news.

Unexpectedly, this directly led to a result.

This black envelope contains the ship ticket, and the price is fifty spirit stones.

After receiving the boat ticket, Xue Xiang instructed Xun Sizhou to participate in more social interactions and gather more information. He then gave Xun Sizhou a bag of spirit stones and allowed him to move freely.

Xun Sizhou had just left when Wei Fan came looking for him.

The old man disagreed with Xue Xiang accepting the sealed-level mission and had repeatedly advised Xue Xiang not to put himself in danger, but to no avail.

Xue Xiang thought the old man had come to persuade him again, so he went straight to the point and said, "Master Wei, I appreciate your kindness."

But my mind is made up.

It's not that I'm unwilling to wait three years, but that someone is unwilling to give me three years.

I know in my heart that by destroying the powerful families of one county in Canaan, I will offend all the powerful families in the world.

If I rise through the ranks, they might have some reservations.

The moment I show signs of fatigue, it will immediately turn into a situation where wolves devour tigers.

So some things are incredibly difficult, but I still have to do them.

Wei Fan nodded. "I've also thought of this. I've come here today not to advise you."

Here, take this. It's something we old guys chipped in.

Even disregarding the opinions of others, we must consider the reputation of Senior Mingde Dongxuan.

With a wave of his hand, Xue Xiang had three teleportation talismans in his palm.

This talisman is extremely precious. Once released, it can instantly teleport one a hundred feet, which is tantamount to having an extra life.

Xue Xiang bowed and thanked him. Wei Fan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Extraordinary people should have extraordinary achievements."

I won't say anything more; perhaps you've already embarked on a legendary path.

………………

The morning breeze surged in from the sea, carrying a cool, salty scent.

The deck undulated slightly, and the wood grain exuded a damp, fishy smell.

Xue Xiang stood at the bow of the ship, his hands behind his back, gazing at the deep sea ahead.

Although it was early morning, the sky looked like dusk, and the sea was a deeper color than the night. Occasionally, grayish-white foam would rise from the crests of the waves, flashing in the shadows.

He had already used the medicine, and his face had become rough and dull, making him look like just a middle-aged man with gloomy skin, unremarkable.

This is a merchant ship engaged in deep-sea fishing; it is unwilling to venture into the deep sea.

Xue Xiang stared at the deep sea. The sky in front of him had completely darkened, and the dark clouds stretched out like a mountain range across the sea.

He knew the merchant ship was about to change course.

As the captain's command to turn southwest rang out, Xue Xiang leaped into the air, boarded the magic carpet, and crashed into the mountain range formed by gathering dark clouds.

The magic carpet broke through the fog, and the sea receded rapidly beneath their feet.

The wind howled, like a thousand arrows whistling in my ears.

Xue Xiang stood as steady as a rock, his gaze cold and sharp, piercing straight into the depths of darkness.

After traveling about thirty miles, the black envelope in his arms suddenly trembled slightly, and a wisp of dim light appeared on the cover, gradually turning into an arrow pointing diagonally south.

With a thought, Xue Xiang lowered the altitude, and the magic carpet quickly turned and sped along the direction of the arrow.

The sea fog slowly dissipated on the south side, making the seawater appear even darker.

Suddenly, at the end of the darkness, a giant ship appeared.

It was a ship made of bones.

The ship's ridge is high, like the spine of a giant beast standing on the sea; the ribs on both sides flare outward, the masts stand like a forest of withered bones, and the rigging makes a dry sound in the wind.

The ship's hull appeared and disappeared in the fog, like a corpse that had been awakened, breathing slowly on the sea.

The deck was extremely wide, with people scattered about. Many were sitting or standing, some wearing cloaks or straw hats. Even those who showed their true faces must have used secret methods to conceal their true appearance, just like Xue Xiang.

Xue Xiang showed him the black envelope. A rugged-looking old man standing on the deck nodded to Xue Xiang and pointed to the west deck.

Xue Xiangteng landed.

"My name is Lao Qi, and I'm the captain of this ship. May I ask your name?"

Old Qi's voice is very loud and has a strong penetrating quality.

"Call me Good Luck."

"That's a good name, it's refreshing."

Old Qi said with a chuckle.

Someone on deck shouted, "After hearing so many names, yours is the most pleasing. It seems we're all going to have good luck this time."

"..."

An uncertain journey, an obviously fake name, but with auspicious connotations, caused a stir.

Within two hours, another thirty or forty people boarded the Bone Boat.

After checking the number of people, Lao Qi announced loudly, "Everyone, everyone is here."

I don't care what everyone's purpose is in entering the Chaotic Sea of ​​Demons; I'll just state my rules.

First, follow orders in all actions.

Second, follow orders in all actions.

Third, obey all commands.

Everyone, please remember these three points. Otherwise, if anything goes wrong, I will not only not take responsibility, but I will also kill someone.

As he spoke, his violent aura spread out, and Xue Xiang was secretly alarmed.

Judging from his aura alone, Old Qi has at least the strength of the late Core Formation stage.

"He's a strong and experienced captain, no wonder he dares to do this kind of business."

Xue Xiang made a judgment in his heart.

The bone boat was very large and contained many rooms.

The adventurers sat cross-legged in their respective spots, mostly scattered on the deck, so quiet that only the sound of the waves urging the boats on could be heard.

The white bone boat moved with incredible speed, cutting through thorns and brambles, undaunted by the surging waves.

Xue Xiang sat on the deck for a while, then found it boring.

He carried a flask of wine and found Old Qi.

"I don't drink during work hours, sorry Mr. Good Luck."

Old Qi refused decisively.

Xue Xiang tossed over a money pouch, and Old Qi's eyes lit up. He caught it in his palm and weighed it in his hand. "Fellow Daoist, I can make an exception for you, but I will only drink one cup of wine."

He knew perfectly well that Xue's invitation to drink was a pretense; his real purpose was to gather intelligence.

This is not uncommon.

Xue Xiang tossed another money pouch over, and Old Qi was taken aback. "Sir, you've really put me in a difficult position. I can only afford to drink one pot."

Whoosh, another money bag landed in Lao Qi's hands.

“Alright, esteemed Mr. Good Luck, you win. If you wish, I can even let you control this Bone Boat.”

Old Qi accepted the three money pouches with slight excitement.

Xue Xiang took out the boundary seal and created a barrier that enveloped the two of them.

He didn't pour wine for Lao Qi because he knew that even if he did, Lao Qi wouldn't drink it, or he would just pretend to drink it.

Because here, it's obvious that no one would eat food or drink alcohol from strangers.

"I'm going to the chaotic Wen Yuan Sea. Old Qi, do you have any guidance for me?"

Xue Xiang is more open and frank about his purpose when dealing with strangers.

Old Qi was taken aback and looked Xue Xiang up and down. "Mr. Good Luck, you are a man of few words. My apologies."

Those who dare to plot against Wen Yuan in the chaotic seas are all among the strongest. Although I cannot discern Mr. Good Luck's cultivation level, it must be astonishing.

But if I may be so bold, this is not a good choice.

The dangers of Wen Yuan's chaotic seas far exceed ordinary people's imagination; it is truly a place teeming with murderous intent.

Of course, since you dare to go, you must have something to rely on.

I must remind you that my ship will only travel another three hundred miles, and after collecting the morning and evening dews, it will return to port.

The spot where I stopped to gather materials was still 1,300 li away from the chaotic sea of ​​Wenyuan.

This stretch of thirteen hundred miles is dotted with countless islands, inhabited by countless demon races. Once exposed, there is virtually no chance of survival.

Xue Xiang nodded. "If we set up a teleportation array, is it feasible?"

Xue Xiang arrived with another advantage: the Wenxu Blessed Land.

As long as spatial teleportation is not restricted, one can be transferred to the Wenxu Blessed Land at any time if danger arises. Old Qi said, "Our predecessors have long considered this approach. Various countries have made considerable efforts to bring back the remains of Zhongwu."

Previously, some people occupied a deserted island and built a teleportation array on it.

Unfortunately, during the teleportation, the array light could not be concealed, and spatial ripples were detected by the powerful demons.

In that battle, powerful demons laid an ambush, resulting in countless deaths and injuries among the human race.

In other words, you build a teleportation array, but you only have one chance to use it; using it again afterward is tantamount to suicide.

Xue Xiang frowned deeply.

Therefore, his wishful thinking is unlikely to come to fruition.

Clearly, even if the teleportation function is to be used, it can only be used when returning home.

"Is there really not even the slightest hope? I don't need you to tell me about the dangers. If there had to be a path, if you were in my shoes, how hard would you try to get closer to the chaotic Wen Yuan Sea?"

Xue Xiang still refused to give up.

Old Qi pondered for a moment, "If we really have to go, we can only take a gamble."

Later, the opportunity will lie in gathering the morning and evening dew.

When the morning and evening dews disperse, all the demons gather. You choose an opportunity to act, select a giant demon, and possess its body.

Demons below the Qi Refining stage have extremely poor intelligence, and some also have poor eyesight.

Once it successfully possesses you, it will conceal your presence and, while they roam the chaotic seas of the demon realm, try your luck to approach the Wen Yuan Chaotic Sea.

Xue Xiang nodded, "That is indeed a good idea, but there is still one thing I don't understand."

I heard that when you collect morning and evening dew, demons gather. In such circumstances, how do you conceal your existence?
If there is a miraculous method, I am willing to pay a high price to purchase it.

Old Qi shook his head, "There's no magic solution."

Morning and evening dews have a remarkable effect on invigorating blood and qi, and the demon race uses this substance to temper their physical bodies.

Human cultivators should not consume it directly, but if it is harvested and refined using secret methods, it can be used to make superior elixirs, which are extremely precious.

Otherwise, no one would bother coming here to risk their lives.

Did you hear me clearly? I said it's not advisable to take it directly, not that it can't be taken at all.

If discovered by the demon race, one only needs to swallow the morning and evening dew, and one's qi and blood will swell, and one's face and limbs will be rapidly strengthened under the influence of the qi and blood.

In this way, we can temporarily transform into demons and deceive the demons.

Xue Xiang's eyes lit up. "How long does the effect of Chaomu Dew last?"

Old Qi said, "At most an hour, but I would love it to last for ten days or half a month. Is that possible?"

Also, don't even think about taking it repeatedly.

While morning and evening dews have the wonderful effect of strengthening qi and blood, they contain too many chaotic forces.

Resolving these chaotic forces is a major test of the quality of one's immortal foundation.

If the quality of the immortal foundation is slightly inferior, it may even cause chaotic forces to obscure the lotus flower of the immortal foundation, directly damaging the immortal foundation.

Even for a Core Formation cultivator, repeated consumption within a short period of time will damage the foundation of their Golden Core.

The approach of repeatedly taking the medication in a short period of time is simply not feasible.

Therefore, if you insist on taking this risk, you will have no choice but to find a gigantic demon and attach yourself to it.

Old Qi would do his job as soon as he got paid, and Xue Xiang would ask him anything he knew without reservation.

He truly lived up to his reputation as a veteran leader in the chaotic Demon Realm, possessing extensive experience and a thorough understanding of all the various demon races.

"...Most familiar demons live within the human realm. Over the years, they have become literate and sensible, and their beliefs are no different from those of humans. They are only discriminated against by many people because of their physical differences. In fact, within the human cultivation world, familiar demons are not considered outsiders..."

...In addition, many of the familiar demons serve as officials in the imperial court. One familiar demon named Qi Beiyi even had the opportunity to enter the Confucian Temple and be regarded as a sage, but for some unknown reason, it all came to nothing in the end...

As for unborn demons, in essence, they are no different from mature demons, except that they are more numerous and more difficult to mature. Those that have not entered the Qi Refining Realm are not even considered to be enlightened, and are no different from wild beasts, and may even devour their own blood relatives.

Those who cultivate to the Qi Refining Realm are considered enlightened by chance, but they do not read books, do not understand the principles of things, and act impulsively. Such people eat raw meat and drink blood, and also devour blood food.

A great demon who has cultivated to the Foundation Establishment stage is no different from a mature demon.

If one had to pinpoint a difference, it would be the hostility towards humans, which is almost ingrained in their very bones.

...It is worth mentioning that the demon race seems to have inherited more bloodlines from ancient races. They cultivate at an extremely fast speed, have extremely powerful physical bodies, and some even awaken innate divine abilities.

If it weren't for the brilliant cultivation civilization of our human race, and the protection of generation after generation of sages and grandmasters, we would probably have been devoured by these bloodthirsty savages long ago...

...The demon race is also divided into clans, and these clans are constantly at war with each other. They have no morality and show no mercy when they kill. Otherwise, given their enormous numbers, if they could unite as one, the human race would have long since been wiped out...

...Language? In the early days, the demon race had its own language, and they even created a writing system, but they were eventually assimilated by the powerful civilization of our human race. Later on, the demon race stole our writing system, engraved it on bronze vessels, falsely claiming that the demon race was the first to invent writing, and wrote it into their demon race's book of books.

After the written language was stolen, language naturally began to converge entirely towards written language...

...All demons above the Qi Refining stage possess demon cores, but this was only because early humans had incomplete knowledge of demons, thus mistaking demon cores for demon cores. In reality, only those demons at the Core Formation stage condense demon cores, but this name has been passed down through generations and cannot be changed..."

The two chatted for more than an hour before a sailor came to inquire about the course, at which point Old Qi bowed and took his leave.

Half an hour later, Lao Qi returned, ready to start chatting.

Suddenly, Old Qi's expression changed. He looked at the vast sea ahead and whispered, "If there's a situation, without my permission, everyone, do not move or make a sound."

Otherwise, there is no chance of survival.

Upon hearing this, the entire ship fell silent.

Xue Xiang amplified his senses and activated his Xuan Ye Tong (Mysterious Night Eye), piercing through the fog ahead. He then saw several square steel plates suddenly protruding from the sea surface, moving rapidly.

He didn't know how to deal with the demons, but Old Qi was the old leader, and listening to him wouldn't be wrong.

With a splash, the water surface suddenly bulged, the bottom of the boat shook, and the ropes creaked.

Everyone was on edge.

The next moment, the sea exploded.

The black sea suddenly bulged, and a giant shadow leaped out, landing heavily on the bow of the ship.

The ship's hull nearly tilted due to the vibrations in its hull.

It was a monster, entirely black, shaped somewhere between a lizard and a crocodile, with bony spurs all over its back, but its eyes were milky white and had no pupils.

It climbed onto the bow of the boat, exhaling white mist from its nostrils, and coldly surveyed the surroundings.

Xue Xiang held his breath and concentrated. He could tell that this demon was not powerful, far from the Qi Refining Realm, and could be killed with a single sword strike.

But he knew even better that what everyone feared was that killing the monster would inevitably trigger an unbearable chain reaction.

Bang!
The second monster pounced from the port side and climbed onto the deck.

It was longer in size, and its tail swung, slapping against the railing, causing the bone and wood to shatter with a loud crash.

Immediately afterwards, bubbles rose to the surface of the sea, and seven or eight enormous figures climbed aboard.

Some of them have feathered wings, but drag on fish tails;

Some of them have four arms, covered with gray scales;

Others are entirely made of stone, like underwater monuments that have come to life.

Seven or eight monsters were scattered at the bow, sides, and stern of the ship. They breathed heavily and growled hoarsely.

Strangely, they seemed unable to recognize Xue Xiang and the others, and instead of attacking, they turned their heads and looked around.

Milky white eyes and bluish-black pupils shimmered in the mist.

Suddenly, the monster whirled around and slammed its tail into the face of a cloaked man.

He exclaimed "Oh dear!" and in an instant, everyone's expression changed.

Suddenly, all the demons turned around and looked at the cloaked man.

Xue Xiang had already secretly seized Jian Dan.

Just then, a muffled thud came from the bow of the ship, and a sack was thrown out of the hatch, rolled down the deck to the edge of the ship, and then fell into the sea with a "plop".

The stench of blood immediately filled the air, strong and pungent.

Dark red seeped from the bag opening, and a large cloud of blood mist immediately rose to the surface of the water.

The sack contained a pig; its artery had just been cut, and fresh blood was gushing out as it struggled violently on the surface of the sea.

Suddenly, a group of demons pounced down and chased after the fat pig.

The sea surface immediately boiled.

The monsters fought over the sack, their teeth tearing and their tails clashing, producing a sharp, grinding sound. Blood quickly stained a large area of ​​the sea red, and the spray created a breathtaking scene of carnage.

Almost simultaneously, dozens of bags containing live animals were sent out.

The sea surface churned, and the white bone boat suddenly accelerated, like a giant bone being propelled forward by a gale.

"Gentlemen, just follow orders and you'll be fine."

Old Qi said calmly, "The Demon Realm is full of dangers. If someone had killed a demon just now and its blood had spilled on our ship, we would all be finished."

Fortunately, everyone maintained good composure, which I find very gratifying.

"It's all thanks to Lao Qi's skillful coordination."

"Indeed, it seems my friend made the right recommendation."

"........."

Everyone praised it.

Before the cheers had subsided, a loud bang was heard, and a huge gray shadow rushed in from the port side.

The rope suddenly tightened, and the entire ship nearly tilted.

It was a dark blue-black monster with a raised back and a layer of rocky shell on its skin, resembling a giant sea turtle with long limbs.

It stretched out both claws with lightning speed and directly wrapped around a cloaked monk on the deck.

Before the man could even cry for help, he was dragged away and soared into the sky.

All that could be heard was a mixture of cracking bones and screams, which quickly faded away.

"Foundation Establishment aura!"

"It's a powerful demon!"

"not good!"

"alert!"

"........."

Before the shout had even finished, another dark figure lunged at the starboard side.

It has four wings, wet feathers, and red eyes, and is shaped like a giant crow.

Its wings whipped up a whirlwind, knocking down a group of people, and one claw swept a cultivator into the air. The man swung his sword to resist, the sword light raining down, but he couldn't break through the gray scales covering the demon's claws.

Panic spread across the deck, and within seven or eight breaths, several more enormous monsters pounced.

Someone unleashed a magical artifact, its light flashing, but it shattered instantly under the demon's claws. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight people were swept away one after another, their screams piercing the thick fog.

Xue Xiang was standing at the stern of the boat when a sudden gust of cold wind hit his face.

His heart tightened as he saw a giant claw sweep across, its black armor cold and menacing, bringing with it a salty, pungent wind that rushed straight toward him.

Those claws were over ten feet long, sharp as hooks; if one were to be caught, one would surely be crushed to pieces.

His eyes narrowed, and his sword spirit was already in his palm.

The light burst forth, transforming into a long sword that cleaved through the claw shadows.

With a resounding clang!
The demon's claw suddenly trembled, and blood splattered.

The great demon cried out in pain, letting out a piercing howl that sent a stench through the air.

Xue Xiang's heart sank – he had clearly struck the claw bone, but only managed to cleave the scales, failing to sever it completely!

In mid-air, among the crowd swept away, two people suddenly burst forth with spiritual light and forcefully broke free from the demon's claws.

The cloaked figure on the left unleashed a fire wheel, while the old man on the right unleashed a thunder mace, striking the two great demons simultaneously. After a shower of scales fell, the two transformed into two streaks of light and prepared to flee back to the bone boat.

"As expected of a Core Formation expert."

Xue Xiang secretly praised him.

No sooner said than done, a colossal demon tore through the fog.

With a low growl, it moved with lightning speed, its giant claws snapping shut, and two Core Formation experts exploded into a rain of blood in mid-air.

The moment this demon appeared, the entire audience gasped in shock.

"The aura of Core Formation."

Old Qi said coldly.

At this point, there were no more demons attacking from the deck.

After all, those who can get here are all powerful figures, and the demons just now benefited from the surprise attack.

At this juncture, Lao Qi activated the protective array on the bone boat, its light gleaming ominously.

However, everyone's attention was focused on that Core Formation demon.

His enormous figure, standing three zhang tall and two zhang wide, exuded a terrifying sense of oppression.

Its entire body is covered in scales and armor, the scales are jet black and shiny, and there are two protrusions on its forehead, like bull horns, but they shimmer with a cold, sinister light.

Its body moved like a dragon or snake, and its two giant claws were like iron hooks.

A terrifying aura of power dominated the entire area.

In Xue Xiang's view, this aura overwhelmed all the Core Formation experts he had ever seen.

(End of this chapter)