Chapter 8: Thieving Rat

Wang Shenyang left the Ancesteral Temple and headed towards the QingHai city.

The sun was shining bright and hot over the sea, and the sky above was clear blue. Wang Shenyang flew above the clouds, his sword flight technique enabling him to hover on his sword like a bird. After a few hours, he reached QingHai island which seen to be an enormus island. Flying through the air he looked down at the land below, observing if changes that had occured since he last visited.

The rice field were larger and more abundant. The rivers along the shoreline had been widened and deepened, allowing for large ships to sail smoothly along the ocean. In fact, there were many large boats that were anchored near the coast waiting for passengers.

Wang Shengyang landed in the middle of a small village near the harbour. After a short walk he found a restraunt, where a group of men were drinking and laughing loudly. They looked like fishermen who had returned from a long voyage.

As soon as he entered the restraunt, the men stopped laughing and stared at Wang Shengyang. Some of the men walked away from their tables, but most simply stood up to see what was happening.

Wang Shenyang couldn't understand why these fishermen were staring at him, so he asked one of them.

"What are you looking at?" Wang Shenyang said.

"We've never seen someone like you before. Who are you?" The man asked.

"I am Wang Shenyang from Fallen Dragon's Wang Family."

"Are you travelling alone?" The man asked.

"Yes, I am travelling to Qinghai."

"It's dangerous to travel alone. How about you come with us?"

"I don't need any escort."

"Come now, it's not safe to travel alone."

"What are you afraid of?" Wang Shengyang asked.

"The demon cultivators have invaded Qinghai, they're attacking everywhere."

"And you think I'm going to fight them?"

"That's why we're offering you our help."

"Why should I trust you? I could kill you right now."

"You can kill us if you want to, but we will protect you at all costs."

"So you're telling me that you won't try to harm me?"

"Of course not."

"Then why did you stop laughing?"

"Because we know that you are a kind man."

Wang Shenyang thought for a moment, then decided to accept the offer knowing full well it was a trap.

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"Very well. But be warned, if anything goes wrong I'll slaughter you all."

"Don't worry, no one will dare to bother you," the fisherman assured.

"Alright, let's go."

They all walked through the forest towards the east. When they reached a river, Wang Shengyang waited for the others to catch up.

A few minutes later, the other fishermen arrived.

"How far is it to the city?" Wang Shenyang asked.

"Just follow the river westwards," said the oldest fisherman, "then when you see the golden bridge, turn left and continue towards the city. It's about an hour."

"Alright then," Wang Shenyang said.

After another half an hour, they finally reached the river. Wang Shenyang saw a golden bridge ahead, and he turned left and continued walking along the riverbank. After a while, he saw that there was a large settlement ahead, surrounded by fields of crops.

"What is this place?" Wang Shenyang asked.

"Qinghai City." said the fisherman, "This is the main city of Qinghai Island."

"Isn't this your hometown?"

"Not anymore."

"So how long have you been living here?"

"About ten years."

"Where do you live now?"

"That's a secret. Do you really want to know?"

"No, but I'll tell you anyway. I'm staying in a large house in Qinghai City."

"Sounds very interesting."

"I'm not interested in you, so why should I answer you?"

"Fine. Then please continue to Qinghai City, I wish to find a place to stay."

"Okay."

Wang Shengyang continued walking through the city streets, looking for a place to stay.

"Wow, hear I thought that they going to ambush me."

He didn't know where to look for a room to rent, so he had no choice but to ask someone. After asking around, he managed to find a hotel named the Royal Spirit Inn.

Wang Shengyang entered the inn, and requested a room.

"How much for 1 night?"

"2 low-grade spirit stones"

"Alright" Wang Shenyang said as he handed the owner 2 spirt stones.

The owner told him to wait, and went to find a suitable room for him. After about half an hour, the owner returned with a key and led Wang Shengyang to his new room.

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

"Please take care of yourself, and make sure you get some rest."

After settling down in his new room, Wang Shenyang took out his jade box and opened it. From inside the jade box, he took out a blood jade and placed it on the table.

"My Bloodline has is currently 2.1% purity." Wang Shenyang said.

Wang Shenyang took out the red amulet and placed it on top of the blood jade, and watched as the two pieces fused together.

After that Wang Shenyang, he put them around his neck and sat down to cultivate. A short while later, Wang Shenyang's vision started to blur and he felt dizzy. His body became weak and numb. The pain in his meridians started to increase.

Wang Shenyang fell flat on his back in exhaustion.

"Ahhhhhh!" He yelled.

His meridians were throbbing painfully and his mind was clouded in agony. Wang Shenyang's eyes were filled with tears as he tried to focus on the pain. A few seconds later his consciousness faded away and he passed out.

***

Wang Shenyang woke up to the sound of chirping birds outside his window.

He looked around his room, and noticed that everything was still there. However, there was a strange sensation in his body, as though he was being drained of all his energy. Wang Shengyang got up and looked at himself in the mirror, noticing that his face was pale and dark circles were under his eyes.

"These blood jade and amulet absorb high levels of blood and Qi in order to purify one's bloodline. " Wang Shenyang thought to himself as he took out a blood recovery pill and ate it.

Wang Shenyang had used almost all of his blood and Qi in one night, but he felt that he had achieved something. He decided to leave Qinghai Island and head to Yiyan island after buying some alchmey materials.

After leaving the Royal Spirit inn, he started to walk towards a massive pagoda-like building with a sign 'ShengDan Pavilion'.

After walking for a while he reached the ShengDan pavilion, located near the center of the city. There was a group of people standing outside, most of them were young men and women dressed in white robes.

One man was wearing a yellow robe, and he was leading the group.

"Welcome to the ShengDan Pavilion, I am shopkeeper Shi."

"Hello." Wang Shenyang replied.

"How may I help you, Good sir?"

"I'm looking for alchemy materials."

"Are you an alchemist by any chance, sir?"

"Yes, but i'm just a beginner." Wang Shenyang said as he humbled himself.

"Then how may I adress you sir?"

"My Surname is Wang"

"Alright, please this way Master Wang."

Shopkeeper Shi led Wang Shenyang to his storeroom. Inside the storeroom, there were a few shelves filled with various items.

"Have a look around, master Wang." Shopkeeper Shi said.

Wang Shenyang looked at the different medical ingredients and noticed that they were mostly 1 rank alchemy materials.

"There isn't much left."

"Alright, let me show you something." Shopkeeper Shi said.

After searching for a while, he found a green grass with red leaves.

"This is pretty good."

"Yes, it's called the Scarlet Berry Grass. You can use it to make medicine to cure poisons and diseases."

"Tell me more about it."

"It grows only on Poison Star Island at the Thousand Poison sea territory. It's extremely rare, and not many people know about it."

"May I buy it?"

"Of course, it's quite expensive."

"How much?"

"It costs 2 low grade spirit stones per leaf"

"Alright, I'll take it."

Wang Shenyang paid 2 low-grade spirit stones and took the herbs from the shelf. After that, he started to walk back to the Royal Spirit Inn.

When he reached his room in the inn, he noticed that the door was open and the bed had been rummaged through.

"Someone must have broke in." Wang Shenyang said.

Wang Shengyang walked over and inspected the room.

"Thankfully, I put everything in my spacial Storage."

Wang Shenyang quickly left the Royal Spirit inn and withdrew his flying sword.

He quickly road it into the sky and quickly notice that he was being followed.

Wang Shenyang flew higher to gain height and distance from his pursuers.

"Hey, stop!" A voice suddenly shouted.

He stopped mid air.

"Who are you and why are you following me?" Wang Shenyang cusiously.

"I'm the just a simple wanderer."

"I know, but why are you following me?"

"Because you look like a rich young man."

"How offering me a poor monk some charity."

"Why?"

"No, reason" the other cultivator said as he gave a sadistic smile

"You might as well say that you are robbing me in the plain of day."

"If you want to rob me then fine. Go ahead and try."

Wang Shenyang took out his flying sword and launched it at the cultivator.

It struck his cultivator's shoulder, but he didn't even flinch.

"Get off my tail!" He said as he pulled out his spear.

Wang Shenyang dodged the spear attack before launching his second flying sword. The cultivator blocked the sword with his spear, which caused the flying sword to cut into his skin. The cultivator's expression changed from anger to shock.

"What is this?" He asked.

"What kind of idiot are you to attack without proper preperation."

Wang Shenyang swiftly took out 3 First rank talismans labeled Water, Fire, Thunder.

The cultivator laughed.

"You think these talismans will work?"

"I don't know." Wang Shenyang answered.

"Well, what's the point of fighting then?"

"Well, This fight might be more interesting than you might think."