Chapter 213: Re-encountering the Spiritual Object

The people of Yilong City, with their families in tow and the old and young in their care, moved slowly southward.

Yu the Scholar and Zhao Tieshan led three thousand soldiers, marching on either side of the column, while Sword and Axe Mantises circled overhead on guard duty.

The Black-Horned Bulls and their herd brought up the rear, carrying what little food and supplies they had.

Zhu Ge stood on the city wall, watching the procession disappear into the morning mist.

“Master, when are we leaving?” Liu Jianjian squatted on the city’s battlements, keeping a wary eye on Yilong Marsh in the distance.

“About time. Let’s go now.” Zhu Ge vaulted off the city wall. “We’re heading to Fenshui City.”

Fenshui City was about three hundred li northwest of Yilong City.

“The Strong Monkey King used to be active around Fenshui City,” Liu Jianjian said. “It told me it had an agreement with the city’s Lord—they would stay out of each other’s way. But then the Plague God Sparrow ordered an attack on the city, and it had no choice but to obey.”

“Now that we’ve subdued it, who knows what the situation is over in Fenshui City.”

“We’ll see when we get there,” Zhu Ge said with a nod.

With the Strong Monkey King as an inside contact, retaking Fenshui City shouldn’t be difficult.

What Zhu Ge was thinking about was how Liu Jianjian could bring more Demon Beasts under her control.

And also about training the soldiers under his command.

Of course, he hadn’t neglected his own cultivation.

Whenever the army stopped to rest, Zhu Ge would cultivate the Water Refining technique of his Great Sun Glaze Body in a wooden tub.

He never lasted more than twenty seconds each time.

After each session, he needed Hua Liusha to apply ointment.

But as he continued to cultivate, his body grew correspondingly stronger.

Zhu Ge only stopped his Body Refinement when Fenshui City was visible in the distance.

“Quite a nice view.”

The city was built at the confluence of two rivers, hence its name, Fenshui City.

The city walls weren’t high, but they were thick, built from bluestone quarried from the riverbed. Worn smooth by the current over countless years, their surface was like a mirror.

But now, the walls were completely deserted.

The city gates stood wide open, and a dead silence lay within.

“Something’s not right.” Zhu Ge frowned. “It’s too quiet.”

He signaled for his Mechanical Dao specialists to release a few Reconnoitre Puppets to fly into the city and investigate.

A moment later, the Reconnoitre Puppets sent back their report: the city was empty.

“Empty?” Zhu Ge was stunned. ‘Everyone in the entire city is gone?’

“The puppets didn’t detect the presence of any living person,” Liu Jianjian said, her face paling. “Master, could it be…”

“Let’s go in and see for ourselves.”

Zhu Ge took the lead, charging into the city.

Fenshui City was smaller than he had imagined, with narrow streets and low-slung buildings.

But every house was completely bare. No furniture, no clothes, no food—even the pots, bowls, and ladles had been taken.

“This wasn’t a massacre.” Zhu Ge crouched down, running a finger across a stove. “It’s cold, but clean. The ashes have been swept away. This was an organized evacuation.”

“But where could they evacuate to?” Liu Jianjian asked, puzzled. “The surrounding area is all Demon Beast territory. Where could they have gone?”

Zhu Ge pondered for a moment before something clicked.

‘The Strong Monkey King said the City Lord of Fenshui City was a smart man. He had a deal with the City Lord to stay out of each other’s way, but he had no choice but to obey the Plague God Sparrow’s command.’

“Maybe… the City Lord sensed something was coming and evacuated the population.” Zhu Ge frowned. “Into the wilderness?”

Liu Jianjian was also curious. “But where could they have gone? The nearest city is Yilong City, and it was on the verge of falling.”

“Could they have gone to Mengzi City?” Hua Liusha chimed in.

“That’s a definite possibility. Yilong City couldn’t hold out, but Mengzi City did,” Zhu Ge said with a nod.

“If the City Lord of Fenshui City is as smart as they say, he would have led his people toward Mengzi City.”

“And the Strong Monkey King is clever, too. It might have even escorted them the entire way.”

“Then does that mean we missed our chance?” Liu Jianjian asked, taken aback.

“It doesn’t matter if we missed it.” Zhu Ge shook his head. “Can you sense the Strong Monkey King’s location?”

At his words, Liu Jianjian closed her eyes. A single strand of hair floated up from her head. A moment later, she opened her eyes again and shook her head. “It’s too far.”

“Then we won’t worry about it,” Zhu Ge said with a smile. “I’m guessing the Strong Monkey King really is escorting them.”

Liu Jianjian nodded, and the floating strand of hair settled back into place. “So, where to now?”

“Lvchun City.” Zhu Ge pulled out a map and pointed to a city in the south. “Of the Thirteen Cities of Red River Prefecture, Yuan Yang, Jianshui, Mengzi, Eagle, Yilong, and Fenshui, plus Lvchun, are the last seven still in the hands of the Human Race.”

“We’ve already helped the first six, either directly or indirectly. Only Lvchun remains.”

“Lvchun City is to the south. We’ll have to cross a huge swamp called Mist Marsh.” Liu Jianjian’s eyes lit up as she looked at the map. “I hear there are several Third Realm Demon Beasts hiding in there. The path won’t be easy.”

‘You’re getting addicted to collecting Third Realm beasts, aren’t you…’ Zhu Ge shot her a sideways glance. “Lvchun City is the last unfallen city in the south of Red River Prefecture. If it falls, the southern Demon Beasts will have a clear path to march straight for Mengzi City and Jianshui City.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Liu Jianjian leaped to her feet, buzzing with excitement.

The group reassembled.

“Master, we may have fewer people, but we have more Demon Beasts,” Liu Jianjian said, patting her hair. “I can release tens of thousands of Demon Beasts at a moment’s notice. That’ll be enough to give those Third Realm beasts a real headache.”

“Don’t get cocky.” Zhu Ge swung himself onto his horse. “Mist Marsh is nothing like Yilong Marsh. The Demon Beasts there have been entrenched for years, and the terrain is complex. We’ll go around if we can. We fight only as a last resort.”

“Okay!” Liu Jianjian was surprisingly compliant.

And so, they resumed their march until Mist Marsh appeared on the horizon.

This marsh was several times larger than Yilong Marsh. A milky-white fog hung over the water’s surface, so thick it seemed tangible.

Low roars occasionally echoed from within the fog, making it impossible to identify the type of Demon Beast.

Zhu Ge ordered the group to halt at the edge of the marsh.

The farther south they traveled, the more great marshes they encountered.

Not to mention the Demon Beasts, the area was also teeming with snakes, insects, rats, and ants.

The venomous insects, in particular, were a terrible nuisance.

“Wait here. I’m going to scout ahead.” Zhu Ge executed the Incense Lighting Body Technique, his landing completely silent.

With that, he plunged straight into the marsh’s interior.

After about an hour, the fog ahead suddenly parted, revealing an open expanse of water.

Dozens of enormous lotuses floated on the water’s surface. Their petals were a deep purple, and a faint, mysterious light emanated from their centers.

‘A Spiritual Object!’ Zhu Ge’s eyebrow shot up. ‘At least high-grade Spirit Level!’

He didn’t rush forward. Instead, he carefully observed his surroundings.

The water’s surface was eerily still, without a single ripple. Not even weeds grew around the lotuses.

Zhu Ge observed for a moment longer, then decided to turn and leave.

‘Spiritual Objects are important, but securing Lvchun City comes first. It won’t be too late to come back for this later.’

He continued scouting, but surprisingly, he encountered no danger along the way.

There were only a few First Realm Demon Beasts, and even Second Realm ones were rare.

He didn’t sense any Third Realm beasts at all.

Afterward, Zhu Ge returned to the group.

“Let’s move out! Who knows where the Strong Monkey King is. We’re going to Lvchun City.”