Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 268 was extremely rewarding.
The void shattered, and Chen Ye, soaking wet, returned to the Yellow Springs Palace.

His original clothes had long been discarded in the depths of the sea, but Chen Ye was not naked. Instead, he wore a black robe, which gave him a mysterious and dignified appearance.

Qu Heng looked at Chen Ye's attire and laughed, "You actually found a protective robe that can change shape at will?"

Chen Ye said, "Didn't you say that Guixu has this magic weapon, Master?"

Qu Heng chuckled.

"I just said it offhand, who knows what's in the Ruins of Guixu."

Chen Ye: ...

This grandmaster is quite unreliable. If it weren't for my good luck, this trip might have been a waste.

Qu Heng said excitedly, "It seems you've had a great haul! What treasures did you bring back?"

Chen Ye opened the treasure box and then took out the treasures he had obtained from the Ruins of Return one by one.

Four dragon pearls, a branch of a seven-colored coral tree, a water-repelling pearl, a flying sword, a golden seal, a black iron halberd, a gourd... all sorts of glittering magical treasures were placed in front of Qu Heng.
Qu Heng looked at these treasures with a calm expression until Chen Ye took out the halberd, at which point Qu Heng's eyes lit up.

"This treasure is quite extraordinary."

Chen Ye asked curiously, "Grandmaster, is there any special significance to this halberd?"

The halberd looked ordinary. Chen Ye tried to infuse it with spiritual energy, but apart from becoming heavier, he didn't see any other effect.

Qu Heng held the halberd in his hand and weighed it in his hand, then said, "You've hit the jackpot. This is the legendary Ruyi Divine Weapon."

"The Ruyi Divine Weapon?"

"Okay, let me try."

Behind Qu Heng, the phantom of the Crimson Dragon Buddha appeared, and a vast amount of spiritual energy gathered and poured into the halberd.

Qu Heng leaped out of the Yellow Springs Palace.

Chen Ye was puzzled, but then he saw Qu Heng raise his halberd high and slash forcefully towards the sky.

To Chen Ye's astonishment, the halberd suddenly grew thicker and longer, leaving a clear cut in the sky.

Qu Heng sheathed the halberd, turned around and returned to the Yellow Springs Palace. He handed the halberd to Chen Ye and said, "This is the Ruyi Divine Weapon. It can be long or short, big or small, changing according to your will. Its power also changes with the master's cultivation level. If you are capable, you can split the sky with this halberd."

Chen Ye took the halberd and exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't this the Golden Cudgel?"

Qu Heng asked in confusion, "What golden cudgel?"

Chen Ye explained, "The Ruyi Jingu Bang (the magic staff) is also a divine weapon that can change size at will."

“Never heard of it, but that’s not surprising. There’s more than one Ruyi Divine Weapon. I heard that these Ruyi Divine Weapons were all made in imitation of an ancient divine weapon. The Azure Dragon Demon Lord also had a Ruyi Divine Weapon back then, which was a halberd, perhaps the one in your hand. But I remember that the Azure Dragon Demon Lord was killed by Zhang Qi with a single sword strike. Why would his personal magic weapon appear in the Ruins of Return?”

Chen Ye didn't listen very carefully, but he knew that Qu Heng had made a mistake.

The Ruyi Jingu Bang (Monkey King's Staff) is not one of the Ruyi Divine Weapons; rather, all Ruyi Divine Weapons are modeled after the Golden Cudgel.

The Ksitigarbha Sutra, the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts, the Ruyi Jingu Bang... Chen Ye was already certain that this world was closely related to Journey to the West and Investiture of the Gods.

Qu Heng handed the halberd to Chen Ye and said, "This Ruyi Divine Weapon has only one characteristic: you have a lot of spiritual energy, so its power is strong, which is perfect for you."

Chen Ye also thought it made a lot of sense. He wasn't good at using weapons, especially those that required skill, like flying swords, which he could never learn as well as others.

However, Chen Ye has eighteen Qi Seas, and his spiritual energy is many times stronger than others, making him perfect for using this powerful, brick-like magic weapon.

Unexpectedly, this trip to Guixu yielded not only a protective magic treasure but also a Ruyi Divine Weapon. My luck was truly exceptional.

Just as he was feeling smug, Qu Heng said, "You shouldn't go out for a while, kid."

Chen Ye asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"Good fortune may turn into misfortune. Your gains from this trip to Guixu are astonishing. I'm afraid you'll be hit by a meteor tomorrow."

Chen Ye: ...

Qu Heng emphasized, "I'm not joking with you. You should know that your grandmaster is very skilled in divination. This time your luck is too outrageous. Not only are you unharmed, but you also brought back so many treasures, each of which could be a sect's most prized possession. No matter how good your luck is, it's about to come to an end this time."

Qu Heng then calculated with his fingers and shook his head repeatedly: "Something's not right, very not right. You were supposed to face a fatal calamity, which would have directly clashed with your good fortune, leaving you with a sliver of hope. After surviving such a calamity, you should have been blessed with good fortune. But you returned unharmed, not only avoiding this calamity but also gaining immense benefits... What exactly did you do in Guixu?"

After hearing Qu Heng's words, Chen Ye also became somewhat worried, so he carefully recounted what he had seen on his trip.

Upon hearing this, Qu Heng pressed on, asking, "Are there still hundreds of treasures in the Guixu Treasure Vault that haven't been retrieved?"

Chen Ye nodded and said, "That's right, I haven't fully explored the treasure vault yet, there might be more."

Qu Heng couldn't help but say, "You really have good self-control, kid. How can you hold back like this?"

Chen Ye firmly said, "There are so many treasures in the world. I will only take what I need. Being too greedy will only hinder my cultivation."

Just like when he first saw the burial site where the monk Kua'e hid his treasure, Chen Ye's first reaction was to cultivate and break through to a higher level before digging for treasure.

As it turns out, Chen Ye's caution and restraint were always the right thing to do.

Qu Heng could only explain, "You are not greedy, so you have escaped a life-threatening calamity. However, this calamity has not been completely resolved. You may not be in mortal danger, but you will definitely have a lot of bad luck recently. You'd better not run around."

"Can a death calamity be resolved this way?"

Qu Heng explained, "Of course, a person's fortune fluctuates. Unless one has clearly calculated their death date, there are always variables. Especially after the establishment of the Yellow Springs Sect, the changes in fortune have become even more complex."

Chen Ye asked in confusion, "What does this have to do with the Yellow Springs Sect?"

Qu Heng laughed and said, "Sect Master, you decided it yourself. To make this world have cause and effect, to make good be rewarded and evil be punished, the underworld of Fengdu and Huangquan has already been built, and the world's cause and effect will naturally be affected. Sect Master, don't underestimate yourself anymore. Although you are only at the Tongxuan Realm, the cause and effect you bear now is heavier than mine, and every word and action you take will have a great impact."

Chen Ye countered, "Then why are you asking me to go treasure hunting in the Ruins of Return?"

Qu Heng said helplessly, "Otherwise, besides you and me, who else in our Yellow Springs Sect is of any use? I told you to take in those Incense Burning Sect disciples, but you wouldn't listen. Otherwise, we would have a lot more useful talents, and the sect leader wouldn't have to go there personally."

"Talent? You mean consumables, right?"

Chen Ye knew exactly what Qu Heng was thinking: he believed that once the disciples of the Burning Incense Sect were taken in, they could be sacrificed at will, and he wouldn't feel sorry for them if they died.

Although the Yellow Springs Sect was indeed lacking some capable disciples, Chen Ye still adhered to his principles.

Especially after seeing Qin Ze's corpse in Guixu, Chen Ye warned himself that he must never fall into demonic ways like the Mirage Sect.

Chen Ye asked Qu Heng, "There's no rush to recruit disciples. Our Huangquan Sect should focus on building a solid foundation first. Grandmaster, what's the situation in the Northern Frontier lately? Have any demons appeared?"

When Chen Ye was away, Qu Heng usually took charge of the entire Yellow Springs Sect. Chen Ye was really worried that something unexpected might happen since his journey to the Void had lasted for more than half a month.

"The Demonic Sect certainly engages in petty tricks, but most of them are insignificant. We don't know how many demons are hiding underground, but there are very few with high cultivation levels, and even reaching the Profound Realm is rare. On the contrary, there are countless fools who think they can do whatever they want after just learning a couple of spells." Although the Demonic Sect hides underground, it is difficult for them to carry out large-scale massacres to practice their skills.

However, the number of Blood Pills required for the Qi Awakening and Qi Sea realms is not large. The world is so vast, and the nations of the world do not care much about the life and death of mortals.

With a little instigation from some random demon, even an unknown small country could kill tens of thousands of ordinary people.

The number of disciples in the five righteous sects is too small to monitor the world at all times.

For example, the Central Plains Dynasty captured young boys and girls to practice martial arts, and the Qinghe Sword Sect only discovered this several months later. If it weren't for Chen Ye's help, it might have been too late.

The advantage of the demonic path lies in its speed and convenience; killing is always easier than saving.

Therefore, the overall strength of the underground demonic sect is far inferior to that of the righteous path, but the number of these low-level demons is by no means small.

Recently, there have been quite a few of these little devils appearing in the northern border region, killing people to practice their skills, or plotting some kind of conspiracy.

The northern frontier is too vast, and even if all of Chen Ye's city gods were mobilized, it would be impossible to ensure that there were no leaks. Therefore, there have been reports of casualties among the people of the northern frontier recently.

However, the number of such cases is not large, and after most murders occur, the City God will arrive quickly with his ghostly soldiers. They can usually save the souls and send them to the underworld in Fengdu City.

As for those demons, they will naturally pay for their crimes with their lives and be sent to the underworld to be punished.

According to Qu Heng, several of the murdered herdsmen from the northern frontier were immediately chosen as ghost soldiers to escort the demons who killed them. They were beaten along the way, and by the time they were sent back to Fengdu City, the demons had been tortured by the ghost soldiers to the point of wishing they were dead.

This is probably a unique spectacle found nowhere else in the world.

The minor disturbances of the Demonic Sect had little impact, but Fengdu City was not without its troubles. In the half month since Chen Ye left, the number of mortals migrating from the Central Plains had increased dramatically, and recently, many conflicts had arisen between them and the people of the Northern Frontier.

Qu Heng reminded him, "You'd better go and handle this. The Yellow Springs Sect can no longer do without incense and vows. If the affairs of mortals are not handled well, the incense offerings will be in trouble."

Chen Ye nodded and said, "Okay, I'll handle it."

Although he had just returned from Guixu, this time without any incidents or dangers, Chen Ye did not feel tired.

Just as he was about to call Toya Lier to report, since Toya Lier was now handling all the affairs of mortals in the Northern Frontier, he turned around and saw that Chen Guang was still obediently kneeling to the side.

Chen Ye asked in confusion, "Why don't you go back to the City God Pavilion to rest? Is there something you want to discuss with me?"

The Mirage Demons love to lie down in secluded corners where no one cares. Chen Ye was used to their idleness and thought Chen Guang had left long ago, but he didn't expect her to be waiting by his side all this time.

Chen Guang shook his head and said, "No, Sect Master, in the past, my Mirage Demon Clan was too lazy, just consuming the incense offerings of the Yellow Spring Sect without making any achievements. Now I have realized that I should stay by your side and share your burdens."

Chen Ye was somewhat taken aback by these words.

"There's no need to be so deliberate. I promised to save the Mirage Demon Clan before, and I'm just keeping my promise."

Chen Guang hurriedly said, "Sect Master, we, the Mirage Demon Clan, have no way to repay your great kindness. If we only consume incense offerings all day long, I will feel guilty. Please let me share your burdens, even if it is just to be a maid who pours tea and water."

Chen Ye shook his head and said, "Fine, do as you please."

With too many things to do at Huangquan Sect, Chen Ye really didn't have the time or inclination to explain the downsides of this compensatory mentality to Chen Guang.

Summoning Toya Lier directly, Chen Ye asked, "I've heard that a large number of civilians have migrated from the Central Plains and caused quite a few conflicts with the people of the Northern Frontier?"

Toya Lier first bowed respectfully to Chen Ye before reporting, "Sect Master, indeed quite a few people from the Central Plains have migrated to Fengdu City. I have reported this before as well. They are not ordinary refugees, but several large families."

"I heard that a strange plague has appeared in the Central Plains, forcing them to migrate outwards. I have sent people to inquire, and it is true that there is a plague in the Central Plains. The five righteous sects have sent people to investigate, but it seems that they have not yet found a cure."

"This migration was also suggested by the five righteous sects, allowing the people of the borderlands to temporarily move to the northern frontier to avoid the spreading plague."

"Oh? A plague that even the Five Righteous Sects can't cure?"

Chen Ye was quite surprised; this was a bit exaggerated.

For cultivators, all kinds of ailments of ordinary people can be broadly summarized as "insufficient resistance". As long as ordinary people are physically strong, most of the ailments can be cured quickly.

Every sect has a plethora of elixirs for strengthening the body, and Chen Ye had originally planned to refine some to gain the trust of those wealthy merchants.

If these pills are also useless, then it is very likely that it is the work of the demonic sect.

How many people migrated here?

"As of yesterday, there were approximately eight thousand people."

"That's a lot."

There are less than five thousand permanent residents of Fengdu City in the northern frontier, but eight thousand people migrated from the Central Plains at once. This must have been done with the help of cultivators, otherwise it would have been impossible for thousands of mortals to travel thousands of miles to the northern frontier.

Chen Ye asked, "Which sect escorted them here?"

"It was Master Yu Shenxing of the Yunlu Immortal Sect. He originally wanted to catch up with the Sect Master, but the Sect Master went to Guixu. He waited for several days but did not see you return, so he took his leave and left a letter for you."

Chen Ye took the letter, opened it, and read it, thus understanding the general situation.

After the battle at Rift Mountain, the Demonic Sect began to operate in various parts of the world. Without Zhang Qi and Lu Xingzhou, both at the Dao Integration Realm, suppressing the world, the righteous path lost the deterrent power of killing demons with a single sword strike from thousands of miles away.

This is why, many times, when righteous cultivators receive intelligence from the demonic sects, it is already too late by the time they arrive.

For the five righteous sects, a thousand years of peace has made it difficult for them to adapt in a short time.

According to Yu Shenxing's letter, the Yunlu Immortal Sect had already taken in tens of thousands of survivors. For these cultivators who had lived in seclusion for many years, simply ensuring that these tens of thousands of people were fed was already a great challenge.

But the plague did not stop, and more and more cities and towns were affected. Yu Shenxing had no choice but to send the survivors who were closer to the border to Fengdu City.

Chen Ye smiled. Not every sect is as down-to-earth as the Qinghe Sword Sect, living directly across the river from ordinary people.

Resettling disaster victims has never been an easy task in any dynasty, and the intervention of immortals is no exception.

"Then why are they causing trouble? Is it because there isn't enough food in the city?" Chen Ye asked.

Toya Lier quickly replied, "Your subordinates have already made preparations. We have purchased enough livestock from various tribes and also bought grain from the Central Plains. There is certainly no problem with food and clothing. However, these people from the Central Plains have many demands. They are unwilling to live in tents and insist that we prepare fertile land and houses for them."

"Not only that, they also want to drive out the northern border people in the city, saying that this is a city of the Central Plains people, and foreigners are not allowed to live with them."

Chen Ye asked doubtfully, "Such unreasonable demands should not be made by disaster victims."

Toya Lier said, "They said the gods promised them that after the migration they would have fertile fields and houses, and the new place would be exactly the same as their hometown, so they were willing to migrate."

Chen Ye immediately covered his face.

Yu Shenxing, will your Yunlu Immortal Sect actually provide disaster relief?

(End of this chapter)