Spiritwalker Street

Spiritwalker Street is the oldest in the city. It is said that once the city was established, the Heavenly Conqueror's consciousness itself descended on this very street, forcing everyone, be they mortal or cultivator, to kneel. People took it as a sign of blessing from him. Hence, the street was filled with cultivators for a long period until, for some unknown reason, it became just an old and shabby street, inhabited by only the poor and beggars.

In a dark corner of the street, lay a small building, the building was dilapidated, with faded paint and chipped wooden shutters. The sign above the entrance read "Jade Lotus Inn" in crooked letters. Inside, the walls were rough and bare, with cracks spreading like spiderwebs. The furniture was cheap and worn out, and the air was thick with the scent of mould and stale beer. Despite its dingy appearance, the inn was a popular spot among the locals, who came here to gamble, drink, and forget their troubles for a few hours.

Five people were seated around one of the inn's worn-out tables.

If Liang Yifei were here, he would have recognized two of them, Mi Ling and Bai Shuan, while the other three were two men and one woman.

The first man was tall and muscular, with dark skin and black hair that was tied back in a ponytail. He wore a sleeveless shirt that showcased his bulging biceps, and loose pants that flowed around his legs as he walked. His features were rugged, and his eyes sharp, giving him a menacing aura.

The second man was shorter, but no less impressive. He had sharp features and piercing blue eyes that seemed to scan the room constantly. His hair was short and smooth, and he wore a long white robe that covered his lean frame. He had an air of mystery and aloofness about him as if he were keeping a secret from everyone.

The woman was the most striking of the three, with flowing purple hair that cascaded down her back in gentle waves. Her eyes were bright green, and her features were delicate, giving her an otherworldly beauty. She wore a long dress that flowed around her like water, and her movements were fluid and graceful. She had an air of power about her as if she could command attention without even speaking a word.

With a sly grin, Mi Ling informed the trio before her, "As per our plan, we have acquired the third and the last key."

Chang Jin, the first man, nodded in agreement. "That was expected. Did you come across any complications?"

Li Yan, with a beautiful purple hue that radiated from her long hair, spoke with a serene air of mystery. "I heard that the Forbidden Grounds no longer exist. It has transformed into a barren forest - no poison Qi, no giant black lotus. This was roughly around the same time you were present."

Bai Shuan's eyes grew cold as he replied, "We were just as clueless as you, but it could be related to the Golden Serpent that we encountered!"

Xue Ren, the last person, asked with a hint of interest, "A Golden Serpent? I had searched extensively after receiving your voice transmission message, but could not find anything related to it."

Chang Jin's expression remained neutral. "Interesting. But let's not forget our primary goal. With the third key, we can proceed to the next step of our plan, The Devil Warding Incense. With it, venturing through the devil realm would be much easier."

Mi Ling gazed out the window, her eyes scanning the old and shabby street that lay beyond the inn. "Unknown to most ordinary cultivators, deep down under this street, lies an underground city, a cultivation paradise only inhabited by dao integration realm cultivators."

With a subtle grin on her face, she disclosed, "The Devil Warding Incense was last spotted in the possession of the Evil Warding monk - an enigmatic Buddhism cultivator who emerged five millennia ago. At the time, his cultivation level was estimated to be at the tail end of the Spirit Severing Realm, countless evil cultivators met their demise at his hands. During the last invasion, he surfaced and covertly protected the lower-level cultivators and mortals, ultimately preventing any severe casualties in the City."

Xue Ren surveyed the group with a grave expression and articulated, "While the alliance can undoubtedly get us to the underground City, But due to the treaty that forbids any attacks between Dao Integration Realm cultivators, they can't assist us in dealing with the monk."

Li Yan gazed at Mi Ling and asked, "With the amount of intel Sister Mi has, do you happen to know his current cultivation?"

"Mildly speaking," Mi Ling replied nonchalantly, "his cultivation is estimated to be at the late stage of The Dao Integration Realm."

Xue Ren took a deep breath. "That wouldn't be easy at all, although the monk doesn't have any special physique like us, he is not an ordinary Dao Integration Realm cultivator."

The group fell silent, deep in thought about their next move. It was clear that they were facing a formidable opponent and would need to be well-prepared if they were to succeed.

Chang Jin finally spoke up, "We will need to come up with a strategy. We cannot afford to underestimate the monk or his abilities. We'll need to gather more information about him, study his tactics, and plan our attacks accordingly."

With a smirk, Mi Ling reassured them, "There's no need to worry so much. I already have a plan."

Li Yan's eyes lit up. "Just as expected from Sister Mi."

Bai Shuan laughed. "Now we're talking. The Devil Warding Incense will be ours before we know it."

As they continued to plan and discuss their next steps, the old and shabby Spiritwalker Street remained quiet and unnoticed, unaware of the plans that would soon unfold within its depths.

*********

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, a figure appeared on the outskirts of the Heavenly Mist Palace, it was none other than Liang Yifei.