Under the cultivators' rigorous purging of the Deceit Beasts, Rong Town gradually returned to the stability it had before the Beast Calamity.
Even if it was merely surface-level peace, it still attracted numerous merchant caravans. After all, with everything needing reconstruction, all kinds of supplies were in high demand.
The morning sun rose beyond the horizon, and the summer heat had started to reveal its traces.
At the gates of Rong Town, several merchant caravans were already waiting. Only the farmers, who traveled under the stars and moon, arrived earlier than them.
To enter Rong Town, merchant caravans had to first gain approval from the Government Office in advance.
Thus, they would often offer tributes to a Rong Town cultivator, or in some cases, the caravan itself would be established by the blood relatives of cultivators.
Even so, entering or exiting the town gates required meticulous inspections by the soldiers.
The blazing sun climbed high into the sky.
The ground began releasing vapor, distorting the air. Annoying flies circled around merchants reeking of decay.
Clack, clack, clack...
The town gates slowly opened, and the merchant caravans orderly moved forward.
Before the Beast Calamity, they wouldn't even have been allowed within ten miles of Rong Town, as store managers would usually handle the transportation of goods directly.
The soldiers lined up in two rows, led by Liu Danan, a minor officer.
Liu Danan had been in service for twenty years. Lacking the talent for cultivation, he had relied on seniority to barely rise to the rank of minor officer.
"Liu, look..."
A soldier, unsure of what to do, pointed hesitantly into the distance.
Shielding his eyes with one hand, Liu Danan noticed a battered wagon at the end of the queue, being pushed forward by four burly men.
Usually, anyone aware of Rong Town's taboos would switch to flatbeds instead.
Without livestock to pull the wagon, it was difficult to maneuver and took an immense toll on physical strength. A journey that should take three or four days could end up lasting ten or more—a thankless effort.
"Don't be surprised."
After a few seconds of hesitation, Liu Danan remarked, "Ah, they've likely left their livestock ten miles away in compliance. First-time visitors to Rong Town often make mistakes like this."
The soldiers relaxed, but Liu Danan couldn't help casting a few more glances at the wagon.
The other caravans were somewhat boisterous, but the four burly men remained eerily silent, perhaps too exhausted from the journey to even speak.
The caravans handed over their travel permits to enter the town, and the soldiers' pouches grew noticeably heavier from the bribes slipped to them.
Smiles broke out on their faces. Even Liu Danan appeared satisfied, occasionally glancing at the side gate of Rong Town.
Unlike the bustling main gates, the side gate was reserved for True People to come and go. Half a day had passed, and not even a Ghost Shadow could be seen.
The soldiers stationed at the side gate gained no perks and were forced to greet True People with fawning deference.
After all, any True People capable of leaving the town unaccompanied certainly possessed great demon-slaying and monster-subduing skills.
The wagon creaked as its wheels ground against the arid earth, producing ominous groans.
It wasn't until noon that the wagon neared the gates. Liu Danan and the soldiers quickly moved forward to inspect it.
The burly men halted, and the wagon came to a stop.
Liu Danan stepped forward for inspection, only to notice the blank, lifeless expressions on the faces of the four men. On the official road behind them lay a trail of bloody footprints.
Finally, he observed that their cloth shoes were in tatters, their feet raw and bloody from walking across the gravelly road.
Even for adults, whose sensitivity to pain diminishes over time, such a sight was unnerving. It was impossible to be so indifferent under these conditions.
Liu Danan instinctively placed his right hand on the hilt of his blade and barked, "What's in your cargo?"
"I'm talking to you!!"
After repeating himself several times, one of the men finally raised his head and replied, "Sir, it's thirty-six ceramic embryos, delivered urgently."
"Ceramic embryos..."
Pulling back the canvas covering the wagon, Liu Danan indeed saw ceramic embryos made of clay—though their color was an unusual dark red.
He let the cover fall back but heard a strange sound from the wagon's compartment.
Although the wagon had come to a stop, the ceramics should not have been subject to any external disturbance.
Without hesitation, Liu Danan drew his long blade and slashed at the nearest ceramic embryo. A metallic clang rang out.
A knife mark appeared on the ceramic surface, and to his horror, blood began to seep from it.
Then came the chilling cry of an infant from inside the wagon, sending shivers down everyone's spine.
Gasping, Liu Danan turned and—without a second thought—beheaded the burly men pushing the wagon, grabbing his soldiers to retreat toward the gates.
Bang!!!
The wagon suddenly shattered apart, its ceramics unfurling like flower petals to reveal rows of sharp teeth. At the core extended a long, sinewy tendril of bloody flesh.
The burly men finally showed fear, but their abdomens began to writhe grotesquely.
A skinless python-like creature slithered out of their bodies, its floral-shaped maw whipping wildly and spraying a dense fog of blood into the air.
"D-demon!!"
Liu Danan's face went ashen. He hurled his long blade with all his strength, only to see it fail to pierce the Fake Beast's hide. Helplessly, he watched as his soldiers were snatched away by the monstrosity's oral organ.
Despair filled his eyes. Desperately, he glanced up at the city walls.
Although City Guardian Monks were stationed there, their first reaction wasn't to provide aid but to seal the heavy gates shut.
The clinking sound of chains echoed as the gates slowly drew closed.
With a final scream, Liu Danan's thigh was impaled by one of the flesh tendrils and dragged toward the monster's serrated maw. He was completely powerless.
He could feel the tendril burrowing through his veins, creeping towards his internal organs.
Just as Liu Danan lost control over his body, several monks descended from the walls, surrounding the Fake Beast with tacit coordination and gradually closing in.
"A Fake Beast born from mortals, but don't let your guard down."
They ignored the soldiers' pleas and began releasing Alien Spiritual Power. Their limbs showed signs of morphing into beast-like appendages.
"True People… help..."
Liu Danan's cries for help fell on deaf ears. The tendril suddenly pierced his heart, draining his blood. His vitality dimmed rapidly.
At that moment, the monks simultaneously took a few steps back.
They scanned their surroundings in disbelief, as if searching for something.
Boom!!!
Scarlet light erupted, shrouding the Fake Beast in dense smog.
The Fake Beast shrieked in terror, as though faced with an unbeatable force. Amid the smog, a two-meter Fox Head faintly emerged.
The Red Fox bit down with ferocity, sending blood splattering in all directions.
The smog dissipated as quickly as it appeared, leaving behind only the mangled remains of the Fake Beast.
Trembling, Liu Danan collapsed to his knees. He seemed to have seen something so horrifying that he could only let out incoherent ramblings.
"A fox… a Fox Immortal..."
The monks exchanged uncertain glances. They had only witnessed the magic but could not locate its caster. The methods deployed were utterly breathtaking.
Li Mo nonchalantly emerged from the side gate, having just tested the power of Hui Qingyi while using the leakless body's Concealing Breath to evade detection.
He tucked the Storage Bag back into his robe. The newly acquired twenty-cubic Storage Bag could easily hold the remains of a Fake Beast.
Li Mo had accepted a mission in River God Village through the Government Office. The destination was two days' travel from Rong Town, with Niu Village conveniently along the way.
Most importantly, the mission's target could greatly benefit Hui Qingyi.
"If only I had a Flying Artifact, it'd save so much time."
Pawn shops were most famous for dealing in various Magic Artifacts such as scrolls, ceramics, jade carvings, and miscellaneous items.
However, joining the Calligraphy and Painting Hall meant that each month, you had to turn in artifact products as compensation—essentially becoming a hired hand.
Although Li Mo was deeply interested in the Artifact Refining Technique, he could currently only purchase such methods from the black market.