Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

The West Sea Spirit Domain spans a vast and boundless area, stretching a million miles from south to north and divided into five states.

As the sole dominator of the West Sea Spirit Domain, the West Sea Sect has governed this region for thousands of years.

Although the West Sea Sect is the largest Immortal Gate in the Mountain and Sea Realm, with over a million disciples under its wing, managing such a vast territory is no easy feat.

The West Sea Sect's approach is to continuously dispatch disciples to various locations such as Southern State, Northern State, Eastern State, and so on, to keep watch.

Over thousands of years, countless sect disciples have taken root in the places they guarded, establishing families large and small.

And even new sects.

These families and sects loyal to the West Sea Sect form the most crucial foundation of the West Sea Sect's dominion over the West Sea Spirit Domain.

State, prefecture, county, town, village – each tier down, families of cultivators of varying levels and sects of different sizes form a tight-knit network, hunting Monster Beasts, expelling Evil Wraiths, capturing bandits, eliminating Evil Cultivators...

Compared to people in other regions, the ordinary mortals living in the West Sea Spirit Domain are much more fortunate.

Even in the most remote places, nature's spiritual energy is abundant, there are families of cultivators and sects standing guard, and threats like Monster Beasts, Evil Wraiths, and bandits are negligible, so as long as one is willing to work hard, earning enough for a warm meal is completely feasible.

The people's lives are very comfortable.

However, in the past two years, the situation in the West Sea Spirit Domain has been quietly changing.

In the core area of the West Sea Spirit Domain—West Sea—while still as peaceful and serene as ever, the other four states, including remote areas of Central State, have seen a sudden increase in the proliferation of Evil Wraiths, and occurrences of strange and Evil Cultivators have become rampant,

Many towns and villages have been invaded by Evil Wraiths, with heavy casualties among the townsfolk, and there have even been cases where entire villages have been wiped out.

Some county towns have also suffered, with the guarding families unable to cope and having no choice but to seek help from the prefectural government.

Faced with a flurry of urgent pleas for help, the prefectural governments are unable to respond to all, and can only report up to the sect.

Naturally, West Sea Sect couldn't remain indifferent to this, on one hand sending high tier cultivators to suppress the local disturbances, and on the other, issuing a large number of tasks, encouraging their disciples to go to the grassroots level and eradicate the scourge.

Those disciples who accepted the tasks were all given the title "Exorcist."

Wang Chen happened to be at the right place at the right time and took on a task to rush to the aid of a county town and eradicate an Evil Wraith infestation.

After taking up the task, he first traveled to the prefectural government below via the sect's Transmission Array and then rushed to the destination on Sword Flight.

Originally, Wang Chen's destination was a county town called "Huai Mountain."

However, halfway through his journey, he suddenly noticed suspected Evil Wraith activity below, on the Chi Path, and a group of people were in peril.

Thus, Wang Chen immediately descended to their rescue.

Faced with a crowd of townsfolk covered in scars, he took out a Healing Pill from his Storage Bag, dissolved it into a water jar, added a measure of Spiritual Wine, and distributed it for everyone to consume.

A gulp of the healing concoction, and the child who was previously barely breathing quickly regained color.

The wounds on their body healed at a visible pace.

The child could now speak, "Mommy, it hurts."

But the mother was overjoyed and immediately knelt down to kowtow to Wang Chen, "Thank you, Immortal Master, thank you, Immortal Master!"

Wang Chen shook his head; he didn't bother to stop her anymore.

He asked Zhang Dahuhu, "How many people are left in your town?"

Zhang Dahuhu had been waiting for Wang Chen's question and hurriedly replied, "Reporting to the Immortal Master, there should still be three to four hundred people."

Dark Rock Town was just a small town with a population of just over three thousand people. A few months ago when the Evil Wraith disturbances broke out, many had fled to the county town and other places to take refuge.

Zhang Dahuhu and others found it hard to leave their beloved land, thinking that the county town would send people to eradicate the threat, and the problem wouldn't be too serious.

But this wishful thinking nearly cost them their lives.

By a few days ago, the situation had become very serious, several families had been wiped out, and all the shops in town had closed their doors.

Zhang Dahuhu realized that staying in the town meant only awaiting death, so he organized people to break through.

There had already been several groups that left earlier, and none had been heard from again.

Zhang Dahuhu suspected they might have encountered an Evil Wraith on the road.

As for those who still remained in the town, most were elderly people who had accepted life and death, or misers who couldn't bear to leave their possessions.

"Upper Cultivator."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

After saying this, Zhang Dahuhu swallowed nervously and pleaded cautiously, "Could you please escort us to Huai Mountain County? I am willing to give up all my family wealth."

He took off his Storage Bag and held it up with both hands.

Zhang Dahuhu knew that his request was very presumptuous and might anger Wang Chen.

How could the Exorcist sent by the West Sea Sect, revered by the big shots of the Prefectural Government, be at the beck and call of these villagers?

But he had no other choice, and for the safety of his family, he had to take the risk and speak up.

His companions nearby weren't fools either; hearing this, they each offered up their Storage Bags: "Upper Cultivator, please show us mercy."

For those mortals without Storage Bags, they knelt and kowtowed.

Everyone was very aware that making it to the county safely without a powerful cultivator's protection was nearly impossible.

But Wang Chen did not accept the Storage Bags presented to him and pondered, "How about this? I can escort you to Huai Mountain County, but I will take those in the town who are still willing to leave with us."

The Evil Wraith from before was very cunning, and he had only managed to injure it severely, without gaining a single point of Human Virtue.

From the others' accounts, Dark Rock Town was almost turning into an Evil Nest.

Wang Chen planned to clear the place, both for the mission and to earn Human Virtue points.

Only, once the battle with the Evil Wraith started, those left in town would undoubtedly be in danger.

Although Wang Chen was not one of those with a tender heart and soft hand, he did not wish to drag innocent bystanders into the conflict.

To needlessly sacrifice lives.

Hearing this, Zhang Dahuhu was momentarily stunned.

He never expected that Wang Chen would consider the people in the town.

In Zhang Dahuhu's mind, the disciples of the sect were high above, looking at villagers like him as mere ants.

Truthfully, the kindness displayed by Wang Chen greatly overturned his expectations.

"Okay."

Zhang Dahuhu agreed without hesitation: "I will accompany you!"

Then someone raised an objection: "Immortal Master, the people in town don't want to leave; just leave them be."

This opinion was echoed by a few others: "Yes, let's just go first."

Zhang Dahuhu could hardly believe his ears: "You..."

Dark Rock Town was small, and most of the townspeople were related in some way. Many who chose not to leave simply didn't want to burden their children and family; it wasn't that they truly desired death.

If possible, he certainly hoped that everyone could leave safely.

Who would have thought...

Zhang Dahuhu felt an overwhelming sense of shame and wanted to scold them for their selfishness, but when he opened his mouth, he found himself unable to speak.

Only to hear Wang Chen say indifferently: "Those who wish to leave may go ahead."

Wang Chen wasn't angry.

Even though his compassion was seen as a weakness by some, and they took advantage of him,

he had his own way, and for these contemptible beings, they were not worth the emotional tumult!

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Here's the second update.