Cultivation: I Can Steal Lifespan from Spirit Beasts

Chapter 123: The Upheaval at Meng Xing Village

Though it bore the name “village,” Meng Xing was, in truth, a sprawling township teeming with inhabitants.

Its geographical location was distinct, serving as a vital thoroughfare connecting the north and south. It was not far from the Eastern Sage Garrison; an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator could reach it in perhaps two or three hours of flight. However, sustaining flight for such a duration was a heavy burden on a Qi Refining cultivator’s Qi reserves. Consequently, Wang Ba’s party was forced to rest twice along the journey.

By the time the five of them finally arrived at Meng Xing Village, the moon hung high in the midnight sky.

Being cultivators, they were not easily fatigued. They prepared to enter and settle down immediately, but the old man surnamed Huo stopped them.

“The Incense Path is bizarre, mysterious, and insidious. Meng Xing Village is populous; who knows if their agents are hiding within? If we expose our tracks now, it will likely end poorly.”

A flicker of apprehension gleamed in Senior Brother Huo’s eyes.

During the journey, Wang Ba had learned the origins of Huo and the other two. They were all unorthodox cultivators from the Sword Billow Garrison, compelled to come here by a mandatory mission.

Bu Chan, always mindful of her image, frowned slightly. “Does Fellow Daoist Huo mean we should not enter?”

“Not exactly. If we don’t enter, we can hardly investigate the presence of the Incense Path.” Huo shook his head slightly, then proposed a plan. “Before coming, I specifically checked the records. This place is a major north-south hub with frequent merchant traffic. We might as well disguise ourselves as a small caravan, blend in, and inquire cautiously. Once the situation is clear, we strike with thunderous force.”

The plan immediately won the approval of the middle-aged female cultivator. “Senior Brother Huo’s plan is excellent.”

The young cultivator surnamed Pan did not object either.

The three then turned their gaze to Bu Chan.

As for Wang Ba… during the journey, the trio had subtly probed his background. Concluding he was merely a minor cultivator who raised Spirit Poultry and lacked even the Qi to sustain a flying magic tool, they had summarily dismissed him.

Bu Chan’s expression remained composed as she nodded slightly. “Fellow Daoist Huo is prudent and experienced. This plan is indeed sound.”

With the consensus reached, the youth surnamed Pan volunteered to make the arrangements. He returned after a considerable time, wearing a satisfied, unhurried expression. He tossed several bundles of mortal merchant attire from his storage bag.

“The carriage and horses are nearby. We can head over shortly.”

Pan casually flicked a speck of fresh blood from the hem of his robe, his expression placid as his gaze swept over the group.

Catching the faint scent of blood clinging to him, Wang Ba and Bu Chan exchanged a glance but remained silent. Huo and the middle-aged woman remained expressionless, seemingly accustomed to such methods.

They were all unorthodox cultivators, unburdened by the moral baggage of the righteous sects. They immediately changed clothes and restrained their auras, successfully assuming the guise of a small caravan.

Since it was already the Hour of the Rat, entering Meng Xing Village now served little purpose. They waited until daybreak before driving the carriage—clack-clack—into the town.

Meng Xing Village lived up to its reputation as a thoroughfare. Early in the morning, the streets were already bustling with people. Vendors hawked morning tea and fried dough sticks, and the air was thick with the smoke and fire of mundane life.

It bore absolutely no sign of Incense Path corruption.

The five did not delay. They found an inn, left the carriage outside, and split up to act according to the plan.

Pan had proposed a ruthless alternative: encircle the entire village with a formation and perform a blood sacrifice. Under such a technique, regardless of whether they were innocent mortals or hidden cultists, none would escape death.

However, Huo rejected the proposal immediately.

“If we do that, the moment the Foundation Establishment deacons in the sect find out, they’ll execute us first!”

Although the Heavenly Gate Sect followed the Demonic Path, certain rules were absolute. Massacring a mortal town on a large scale might go unpunished if kept secret, but once discovered, it would invite a joint crusade from other sects. The Heavenly Gate Sect might not fear the conflict, but they would certainly not spare the instigators who caused them trouble.

Seeing the group’s opposition, Pan resentfully abandoned the idea.

The five split up according to their assigned directions.

Not long after Wang Ba and Bu Chan separated from the others, ensuring they weren’t being tailed, they immediately reunited. In a place like this, isolation was dangerous.

Pretending to be travelers, they strolled through Meng Xing Village, carefully fishing for information. However, by evening, they had found no trace of the Incense Path.

“The situation isn’t right…” Wang Ba couldn’t help but frown. “According to the sect’s intelligence, large areas around the Eastern Sage Garrison have been infiltrated. Logically, as a crucial traffic hub with a constant flow of people, Meng Xing Village should see Incense Path believers passing through. Yet, after watching all day, there isn’t a single trace.”

Bu Chan pondered thoughtfully. “Senior Brother means… it is so normal that it has become abnormal?”

“Exactly.”

Wang Ba gave Bu Chan an appreciative look, making her heart flutter with joy. He then raised a question that made her expression shift.

“There is another point. If we assume the Incense Path is definitely here, why haven’t we seen them? Have they always been hidden this well? Did they start hiding recently? Or perhaps… are they hiding specifically for us?”

Bu Chan’s heart jolted, her gaze darting around the street. “We’re being watched?!”

“I’m not sure.” Wang Ba shook his head slightly.

From the moment he entered Meng Xing Village, he had maintained a subtle Yin Spirit camouflage. Deceiving the senses of mortals cost him very little energy. Furthermore, ordinary people rarely noticed minute details; only a cultivator with keen eyesight would pierce the veil.

To Wang Ba’s disappointment, his Yin Spirit consumption remained perfectly stable. There were no sudden spikes in drainage, which indicated that no cultivator was actively monitoring him.

It was baffling.

But one thing was certain: Meng Xing Village had a problem. The fact that the corruption was disguised so perfectly that even a Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivator like Wang Ba sensed nothing… was the problem.

Bu Chan whispered, “According to intelligence, Incense Path cultivators can rarely resist the temptation of large-scale preaching. If there are cultivators here, there must be believers…”

Hearing this, Wang Ba’s eyes lit up as a realization struck him. “Think in reverse. In Meng Xing Village, who has the authority and ability to conceal the information of these believers?”

Wang Ba and Bu Chan locked eyes, simultaneously whispering the answer:

“The Village Chief!”

At that precise moment, Wang Ba snapped his head toward the distance. Bu Chan reacted a beat later, sensing the disturbance.

In the northeast corner of the town, a pillar of earthen-yellow light shot into the sky!

Immediately following it was Huo’s voice, filled with startled delight: “Haha! They are here!”

The sounds of intense combat erupted.

However, simultaneously, Wang Ba keenly sensed movement. Under the dusky light of the setting sun, stiff, bizarre figures shot out from every corner of the town. Their auras were obscure; even with his eyesight, he couldn’t gauge their exact cultivation levels.

Worse still were the mortals surrounding them. The people who had been bargaining, walking, and hawking just moments ago…

They all stopped.

Their expressions turned cold and indifferent. Hundreds of heads turned in unison, their gazes dark and ghostly as they stared at the two interlopers.

In a split second, the bustling, lively town transformed into a silent, graveyard-like trap.

“The mortals of Meng Xing Village… have all been infiltrated by the Incense Path!”

Even as cultivators, witnessing this sudden, mass transformation sent a violent shock through their hearts.

The only relief for Wang Ba was that the vast majority of the stiff, bizarre figures were surging toward the northeast corner—Huo’s location. Only about 20 figures silently blended into the surrounding crowd, moving like vipers in the grass, flicking their tongues as they waited to strike.

“Be careful,” Wang Ba whispered.

“Mn. Senior Brother, you too.”

Facing such a scene, Bu Chan did not panic. Perhaps her ordeal at Mirror Moon Mansion had tempered her nerves. She circulated her Qi, quietly activating the top-grade defensive magic tool Wang Ba had given her beneath her robes.

Suddenly, the hidden figures lost their patience. They darted out from the blind spots of the street!

Most lunged straight for Bu Chan, while six or seven thrust toward Wang Ba like jagged spikes!

Facing them head-on, Wang Ba finally saw their appearances clearly.

Their bodies were twisted, stiff, and wooden, yet their movements carried a terrifying, whistling speed. They wore the clothes of ordinary commoners, but their eyes were filled with fanaticism, bloodlust, and undisguised mockery.

“Cultivators?”

“Haha! Daring to deliver themselves to our doorstep!”

“The High God protects!”

“Kill them! Sacrifice them for the High God’s revival!”

Their speed exploded!

Fanatical believers of the Incense Path!

Wang Ba recognized them instantly. During his days in the sect, he had studied the intelligence reports. These were mortals who, after worshiping the Evil Gods, were granted power. The deeper their faith, the greater the power. Some die-hard zealots received the god’s favor, temporarily gaining strength comparable to high-level Qi Refining cultivators.

Since this power was external and sudden, they lacked fine control, resulting in their stiff movements. But facing so many fearless maniacs alone still gave Wang Ba a massive fright!

He had never faced so many opponents alone before.

No, strictly speaking, he had never personally fought anyone!

Without a shred of hesitation, his survival instincts kicked in.

The Jade Flow Armor instantly encased his body. The Soul Suppressing Jade Talisman shielded his heart. The Flying Yellow Ruler hovered, ready to strike. A pale white Qi shield from the Heaven-Returning Life-Guarding Art enveloped him.

Then, he frantically summoned Alpha-Seven from his spirit beast bag.

And…

Top-grade Spirit Poultry Alpha-Eleven. Supreme-grade Spirit Poultry Alpha-Thirteen. Top-grade mutated spirit turtle Rice Bucket. Six top-grade female Emerald Water Spirit Turtles. Two supreme-grade male Emerald Water Spirit Turtles.

The fanatical believers, whistling as they charged to harvest Wang Ba’s head, froze.

The fanaticism, bloodlust, and mockery in their eyes stalled. After a brief moment of stunned bewilderment, their expressions merged into a single, indescribable emotion:

“!!!”