Xiaotou hurried over, not explaining very clearly.

After all, it was all information gleaned from Song Qiying, inevitably containing some embellishments.

But there were two pieces of information that could be confirmed without error.

First, the two most outstanding direct descendants of the He Family's first branch, He Jinghong and He Jingyun, who were students at the Daoist School, both died in an unknown Inner Scenic Land.

Second, the White Sun Sect, which had been silent for more than a decade, seemed to be making a comeback, provoking the Daoist Official of Yihai Prefecture into a fury.

"White Sun Sect? What's their background? Acting so brazenly! Truly daring beyond measure!"

Bai Ming widened his eyes in astonishment, having understood the laws of the Dragon Court, that intentionally harming students of the Daoist School was a monumental crime that would alarm the Celestial Water Prefecture and reach the central hub of the court.

Once caught, either their souls would be extracted and used as lanterns, or they'd be degraded to pigs and dogs.

Without enduring extreme torment, they would not find peace.

"Indeed, a storm is brewing."

Bai Qi tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, Yuanyang Temple and Zhi Xin Temple were the two government offices in Yihai Prefecture, each managing various administrative matters such as tax collection and mining.

The two Daoist Officials in the County City, granted credentials by the Dragon Court, one named "Chongxu Zi" and the other "Master Xuanji," were both at the Dao Skill Fourth Realm, nearly breaking the barrier between life and death to attain the status of a Ghost Immortal master.

They held spiritual artifacts that had been passed down and nurtured for generations, and even if confronted head-on by a Four Cultivation Grandmaster, it might not withstand their full power strike.

"Ah Qi, should we go into the city for a feast? You have a good relationship with that Young Master He, and he's lost two brothers..."

asked Xiaotou cautiously.

"Let's wait and see for now, trapped in the vast void of the Inner Scenic Land, neither alive nor dead, there might be a turnaround."

Bai Qi never expected that the reason for his first visit to Yihai Prefecture was to attend a feast at Thirteenth Hang.

"Prepare some gifts first, and watch for the He Family's subsequent reactions.

The Daoist Official plans to root out the remnants of the White Sun Sect, but it won't affect us in Black River County, so live at ease.

Remember to find some night watchmen, beat drums and gongs to inform the villagers not to go down the river today.

Yesterday, Bing Fire raged, and today Ren Water floods, both can easily cause trouble.

You and Ah Xie gather the fish stall workers, set up a canopy to distribute food and porridge, making sure they get two meals, lest some reckless ones sneak out to fish." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

He pondered slightly, keeping the matter of the White Sun Sect, and He Family's eldest and third sons' murders in his heart, turning instead to instruct Xiaotou.

Black River County relies on its waterways, and the disorder of the four elements makes Ren Water's flooding the most dangerous, especially needing caution.

"Got it! I'll get right on it!"

Xiaotou agreed, patting his chest.

"You, practice your punches diligently, don't slack on the martial skills, or else you might not even be able to beat my Ah Di."

Bai Qi reminded, under the rule of the Dragon Court, hierarchy was strict, whether in large cities or remote villages, it ultimately recognized strength and skill.

"Ah Qi, you're underestimating me! Every early morning, I practice stance training with Ah Xie, and the Martial Arts Hall instructor said my Iron Crotch Skill has reached minor success."

Xiaotou said proudly.

"Iron Crotch Skill... what's the use of practicing that? When confronted by a formidable enemy, do you plan to show that off to scare them away?"

Bai Qi was speechless internally.

"I heard from Senior Brother Deng at the Broken Blade Sect, that outside the county city, there are plenty of female ghosts and demons that suck one's Yang energy.

As the saying goes, having multiple skills never weighs you down, I'll master the Iron Crotch Skill, and even if surrounded by female ghosts and demons, I can withstand them!"

Xiaotou scratched his head, during a previous corpse exploration, he and Ah Xie not only found Golden Spear Strength Pills but also several volumes of meticulously detailed erotic paintings.

The common storyline was of scholars spending the night in desolate temples on wild mountains, entangled and teased by alluring female demons, whispering secrets, sparking one's imagination.

"Brother Xiaotou, those are all fabricated lies, Ah Brother once told me an essay from the 'Grass House Notes,' that powerful and beautiful ghostly females often mimic tigers by controlling chong ghosts, keeping a few pen-wielders to specifically write such captivating tales, luring the lustful."

Bai Ming, sitting beside, said earnestly:

"Ah Brother said, this is called 'native advertising.'

Bai Qi shook his head, teasingly saying:

"Let Brother Xiaotou trip up a couple of times, and he'll know fear."

The two brothers exchanged smiles, and the main hall instantly filled with a joyful atmosphere.

...

...

"Ah Di, wandering through the void, was drawn to an Inner Scenic Land that's a celestial Divine Tree? Chopping down the tree yields treasures, what kind of fortune is this? I'll ask Master later."

After sending off Xiaotou, Bai Qi's thoughts gradually calmed, pondering the tales Bai Ming shared with him.

In the Dezhen Tower of the Tongwen Hall, there were too few texts on the path of Dao skills, leaving his knowledge in this area quite lacking.

"That Guardian Vault has literature and historical records from various eras, it's impossible to finish reading it all at once, I wonder if when my Dao skills break through to the Third Realm, I could venture inside once more."

Bai Qi's thoughts were slightly chaotic, thinking about He Jingfeng's two brothers who suffered untimely disasters, losing their lives:

"This suggests that Inner Scenic Land is not peaceful."

...

...

The sun slanted westward, and Bai Qi stepped into Tongwen Hall at mealtime, Uncle Dao's cooking skills were truly excellent, not much different from those at the grand restaurants in the Inner City.

But today was unusual, Old Dao, usually sitting on his small stool guarding the gate, was nowhere to be found, and the main hall was empty, silent, and deserted.

"Hmm, where did everyone go?"

Bai Qi frowned slightly, passing through the cloister and into the back courtyard, where he saw a donkey, head down, chewing on grass leaves.

A few steps further, Qiu Changtian in yellow, Ninghai Zen in a blue robe, and Old Dao in a mink fur hat, were all gathered together.

"Ah Qi is here."

Ninghai Zen, having already noticed the commotion, waved and said:

"Just right, your Uncle Qiu can use your help."

Bai Qi was full of questions, not knowing what these elders were up to.

Drawing closer, he discovered they surrounded an altar three to four feet high, on which a piece of black-stained, mottled stone lay, resembling a large square stele.

"Your Uncle Qiu is setting up a Nether Sacrificial Altar, and needs to borrow some Pure Yang Qi from a child's body."

Ninghai Zen coughed lightly and said:

"In the whole Tongwen Hall, only you can help."

Nether Sacrificial Altar?

Bai Qi's heart skipped a beat. The Daoist sects have always had a tradition of performing "ritual ceremonies," used for various purposes like blessing, rain-praying, offerings, fasting, and so on.

This is called "performing rituals according to tradition."

Whatever trouble needs solving, there is a specific ritual ceremony to perform.

Many names exist for these, such as "Rain-Praying Nine Dragon Ritual," "True Unity Transition Ritual," and so forth.

These are divided into "Clear Sacrificial Altar" and "Nether Sacrificial Altar."

In essence, they refer to "Yang matters" and "Yin matters."

Clear Sacrificial Altars include blessing and thanksgiving, healing and long life, averting calamities, and celebrating birthdays.

Nether Sacrificial Altars involve summoning departed souls, bathing and crossing bridges, breaking prisons and lakes, refining, and offering food.

"Master wants... to escape into the void and explore the Inner Scenic Land?"

Bai Qi looked at the altar several feet tall, as well as the broken black stone used to initiate the Nether Sacrificial Altar.

This clearly aims to materialize the virtual and establish a Daoist technique to connect with the Void Gate.

"Your Uncle Qiu insisted repeatedly, so I can't avoid it, just hanging around with him to see if we can stumble upon any fortuitous encounter."

Ninghai Zen laughed it off, couldn't let the disciple know that the esteemed head of Tongwen Hall was secretly engaging in such shady activities.

Once inside the Inner Scenic Land of the void, he would be merely a puppet warrior for Donkey Daoist!

"Quickly. Your disciple, though young, is robust and vigorous, with abundant Pure Yang Qi!"

Qiu Changtian urged.

"Blood dripping? Or?"

Bai Qi carefully asked.

"Just press your palm onto it. This stone thrives in the Yin Sha Land and will emit a burst of white light when touched by Pure Yang Qi from a Child."

Qiu Changtian explained.

"Alright."

Bai Qi nodded and decided to comply, pressing his fingers onto the cold, as if touching ice, black stone placed on the altar.

Afterward, the Nether Sacrificial Altar hummed, creating visible ripples of airwaves, as nine feet high white light gushed forth, merging with the vast void, sketching the outline of a gate.

However, it resembled a fine line drawing, appearing notably simple.

"Uh-oh, Lao Ning, the altar seems to be set too high; your disciple's years of Child-like skills might not suffice."

Qiu Changtian worriedly glanced at Ninghai Zen:

"Do we have to rely on you?"

Ninghai Zen's eyes flickered coldly:

"Old Qiu, what do you mean? Back when I was rampant in Yihai Prefecture, numerous unmarried girls longed for me in secret. How could I still be a Child!"

Qiu Changtian sneered:

"Yet intention was there, but the heart was unattainable; you didn't even become the Dragon Court groom of the Water Monarch Palace. What's the point of saying this?

Hurry up. It's rare to set up a Nether Sacrificial Altar, and it cost me more than a bucketful of Spiritual Sand. Don't waste it!"

He nudged Ninghai Zen, who reluctantly placed his hand onto the stone.

Boom!

Approximately ten zhang of Essence Smoke surged into the sky, while the white light bubbling from the black stone overflowed like a massive flood, almost disrupting the concealment array set by Qiu Changtian.

"Lao Ning! Your Child-like skill is still formidable!"

Qiu Changtian giggled teasingly, yet the aura intertwining the Nether Sacrificial Altar, the gate coagulating remained unstable, not entirely solidified.

"Haven't you done this in quite a while, and your skills have regressed? It's just a simple ritual for exploring the void, why set the specifications so high?"

Ninghai Zen infused his robust and abundant Pure Yang Qi, yet fell short by a degree.

"Old Qiu, step up yourself."

Qiu Changtian's face twitched, angrily saying:

"Spouting nonsense! My renowned escapades in the Observatory Tower could fill your Dezhen Tower!

Such as charming junior sisters, enchanting senior sisters, and the noble women of the Eight Pillars of the Realm, who wouldn't want to chat with me by candlelight?"

Ninghai Zen lightly teased:

"Sure, but some with wooden heads found themselves alone with women, actually just discussing profound philosophy until dawn.

Old Qiu, let me see if you've maintained your purity for decades!"

Qiu Changtian hesitated, reluctantly pressing his palm against the black stone.

Bang!

A deafening but silent boom exploded at Bai Qi's ear, as if his eyes were filled with drifting snow, unable to see anything else.

"Such deep Child-like skill! A Pure Yang Body without even a trace of feminine touch!"

The clear light of the Nether Sacrificial Altar spread, and the gate to the void was completely stabilized, slowly opening halfway.

A cold aura emerged faintly from it.

"Still half lacking... seems the Inner Scenic Land's rank might be too high."

Qiu Changtian scratched his head, with Ninghai Zen and Bai Qi—a combination of three Child-like skills, still insufficient?

Usually, just Lao Ning alone would suffice.

"Let me try."

Suddenly a loud declaration, Lao Dao strode confidently to the altar, grabbing and pressing the black stone.

Crash!

As soon as they touched, the "One Leaf Blocks the View" array set by Qiu Changtian instantly cracked, and blazing white light like scorching midday sun enveloped the whole Tongwen Hall.

If Qiu Changtian hadn't reacted swiftly, shaking out two talisman papers that shielded the senses, it surely would have alarmed the Black River County.

"Uncle Dao... is really a Child-like skill as well?"

Looking at the tall and sturdy Lao Dao, Bai Qi couldn't help but feel admiration, then worry:

"The three laws in Tongwen Hall don't include avoiding female company, right?

Yet both Master and Uncle Dao have Child-like skills, the only one who married a widow, Master, got driven out by the Master... Maybe Tongwen Hall should be renamed to Pure Yang Palace."