Chapter 105: The Prefect of Lizhou Prefecture
"A master from the Corpse Immortal Sect! Stronger than that supernatural practitioner called He Yin earlier, at least one realm higher than him!"
Qin Mu's heart shook violently. These corpse beetles were likely raised by a master from the Corpse Immortal Sect. Being able to remotely control and command so many corpse beetles at once, using them to manipulate the countless skeletons and corpses in the graveyard, along with the various wild beasts in the wilderness—one could only imagine how profound this person's cultivation was!
This was far more difficult than controlling a flying corpse.
These corpse beetles entered the skeletons and beasts, causing strange transformations. The skeletons' bones glowed red, while the beasts directly turned into red-furred animal corpses, madly chasing after Qin Mu!
This technique was far superior to He Yin's.
"He's using these corpse beetles to control the skeletons and beasts, not to kill me, but to stall me!"
Qin Mu channeled his primal energy to control his sword. The Shaobao Sword flew out, executing the Cloud Sword Technique. The treasured sword circled around him continuously, drawing ring after ring. As he sprinted forward, the Shaobao Sword kept cutting ahead, shredding the skeletons and red-furred animal corpses that lunged at him from all directions!
But every time a skeleton shattered or a red-furred animal corpse was cut apart, red corpse beetles would fly out from the remains, either burrowing into the ground or flying off into the distant forest. More skeletons kept emerging from the earth, and more red-furred animal corpses kept charging out of the woods!
Qin Mu's scalp tingled. These animal corpses and skeletons were still slowing him down. The master tracking him would surely catch up soon!
Just then, Hu Ling'er was jolted awake. Seeing the situation, she quickly cast a spell, summoning a demonic wind. The wind grew stronger, turning into a tornado that swept away the red-furred animal corpses and skeletons blocking the path ahead.
Qin Mu's pressure eased, and he sped up, charging forward.
At that moment, a red corpse beetle flew over, landed on Qin Mu's bundle, and crawled toward Hu Ling'er's mouth and nose.
Hu Ling'er shrieked, quickly jumped out of the bundle, and scrambled onto Qin Mu's shoulder. More beetles buzzed over, clearly sent by the Corpse Immortal Sect master tracking them. He had noticed Hu Ling'er controlling the wind and was targeting her with corpse beetles, trying to turn her into a red-furred animal corpse.
"Sunlight Yang Soul Refined in the Sky!"
Qin Mu's primal energy transformed, blazing like fire. He stamped a seal into the sky, and his Vermilion Bird primal energy manifested as a blazing sun, radiating brilliant light. The corpse beetles screeched, wisps of green smoke rising from their bodies as they fell to the ground, motionless.
"The Thunderclap Eight Forms works! It can destroy the souls inside the corpse beetles!"
Qin Mu was both startled and delighted. As he ran, he continued executing Sunlight Yang Soul Refined in the Sky. The charging animal corpses and skeletons, bathed in the sun's radiance, emitted wisps of green smoke from their bodies. Skeletons clattered to the ground, and animal corpses collapsed outright.
But then the skeletons and animal corpses stopped blocking his path and instead ran alongside him. As they ran, the skeletons suddenly reached out, pulled out their own ribs, and hurled them like curved blades at Qin Mu!
Hundreds of ribs whistled through the air, densely packed, spinning in arcs. Even if they missed, they would return to the skeletons' hands.
Qin Mu was exasperated. He had to use the Cloud Sword Technique again to defend against the rib blades coming from all directions, slowing him down once more.
The Corpse Immortal Sect's attack methods were truly bizarre: flying corpses, yellow paper talismans, corpse beetles, skeletons, red-furred animal corpses, and skeletons that dismantled their own bones to use as throwing knives—a bewildering array.
Suddenly, Qin Mu spotted farmland ahead, with farmers working the fields. It was the spring harvest season, and many peasants were up early, reaping crops.
"Get out of the way!"
Qin Mu waved and shouted, "Everyone, get out of the way quickly!"
The farmers looked up and were startled. Skeletons and red-furred animal corpses surged toward them like a tide, truly terrifying. They dropped their sickles and fled in panic. But their speed was far slower than Qin Mu's or the red-furred animal corpses'. At this rate, they would be caught.
Qin Mu quickly veered off to avoid them. However, beside the rice paddies ran the official road, which also had travelers. Leading the way was a carriage, flanked by guards on tall horses. From inside the carriage came a woman's voice: "What's all the commotion outside?"
A guard bowed from his horse and said, "Your Excellency, there's a calamity of skeletons chasing a richly dressed young man. The youth is worried about alarming the farmers in the fields and has led the skeleton horde onto the official road. There are also some red-furred animal corpses, very strange in form. They're likely controlled by corpse beetles, probably from the Corpse Immortal Sect of western Hunan."
"Now that the world has just settled, there are always demons and monsters jumping out to wreak havoc on the people."
The woman in the carriage said, "Guard Shi, go and eliminate the skeletons and red-furred animal corpses. Don't let them harm the common folk."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Guard Shi didn't dismount. Instead, he took out a silver sword pellet, flicked it into the air. The pellet spun rapidly, and with each rotation, a dazzling sword light shot out.
The pellet spun extremely fast, and beams of sword light rained down like threads. As Qin Mu ran, he heard a clattering sound all around. The charging skeletons shattered one by one, turning to dust!
The red-furred animal corpses also lost their heads. In less than a breath, the hundreds of skeletons and animal corpses chasing him were completely wiped out.
Red corpse beetles flew out from the remains, but before they could take off, they were annihilated by the sword lights.
"Orthodox swordsmanship!"
Qin Mu quickly stopped and looked at the carriage ahead. The guard beside it was using orthodox swordsmanship. He had seen similar techniques from the Lijiang Sword Sect—proper and upright.
This technique involved refining many swords into a sword pellet, which was very powerful in battle and could also be used to form a sword formation.
Of course, those who could wield a sword pellet were usually masters, because the pellet was extremely heavy. Being able to lift it with primal energy required immense cultivation.
If a mere guard beside the carriage was this formidable, the person inside must be truly remarkable.
In the distance, Uncle Qiao, who had been racing over, suddenly sensed that all his corpse beetles had died in an instant. Startled, he didn't advance but instead stood on a treetop to observe.
"The Lizhou Prefecture Deputy Prefect's carriage!"
His face changed dramatically, and he immediately turned and fled: "The Lizhou Deputy Prefect is a ruthless one. I'm no match. I'll retreat for now!"
He vanished in a flash.
Guard Shi reported to the carriage: "Your Excellency, the Corpse Immortal Sect has retreated."
The woman inside said, "Summon the young man."
"Yes."
Guard Shi dismounted, bowed, and said, "Young master, my lady requests your presence."
Qin Mu approached the carriage. The curtain was lifted, revealing the woman's profile—a beautiful face with rosy lips and powdered cheeks. She turned to look Qin Mu over, noting his fine clothes, likely from a wealthy family. She asked, "Young master, where do you come from?"
Qin Mu replied calmly, "I come from Dijiang County."
The woman asked, "Has Dijiang County fallen to the Corpse Immortal Sect?"
Qin Mu nodded and praised, "Sister is very clever."
"Sister? In all my years as Lizhou Deputy Prefect, this is the first time I've been called 'sister.'"
The woman was amused. She summoned Guard Shi and said, "Send word to Huyang, Yukang, and other counties to prepare troops for Dijiang."
Guard Shi acknowledged and left immediately.
The woman looked at Qin Mu and said, "The Corpse Immortal Sect of western Hunan has occupied Dijiang County. I'm afraid the people there are in grave danger. That you managed to escape is quite extraordinary. I see you're well-dressed, so you must come from a notable family. What are your plans?"
Her gaze held pity, clearly believing that with Dijiang County under the Corpse Immortal Sect's control, no one in the town could have survived. Since Qin Mu was from Dijiang, his family had likely perished there as well.
That was why she asked about his plans.
Qin Mu hesitated for a moment, then said, "I plan to go to the capital."
The woman nodded. "Going to the capital is a good idea. Our Lizhou Prefecture is about to send troops to Dijiang County. With the chaos of war, bandits will surely arise. This is no place to settle down. On your way to the capital, do you have a travel permit?"
Qin Mu looked confused and shook his head.
The woman thought for a moment, then said, "I am Yu Yuan Chuyu, the Deputy Prefect of Lizhou Prefecture. That Dijiang County, under my jurisdiction, has fallen into rebellion—that is my fault. That you fled Dijiang in panic without a travel permit is understandable. I imagine the county magistrate also died in the rebellion. Guard Qu, prepare brush, ink, and documents."
A nearby guard acknowledged, quickly fetched writing materials, and handed them into the carriage. The woman dipped her brush and wrote a few lines in elegant script. She then asked, "What is your name?"
Qin Mu quickly gave his name.
Deputy Prefect Yu Yuan Chuyu wrote "Lizhou Prefecture resident Qin Mu" and other details, then stamped it with the official seal. Once the ink was dry, she handed the document out of the carriage for someone to give to Qin Mu.
"This is your travel permit and customs clearance document. With this, you can enter any major city along the way without trouble."
Yu Yuan Chuyu let down the curtain, and her voice came from inside the carriage: "Don't dwell on home. There's nothing left for you in Dijiang County. Head straight to the capital. My elder brother, Yu Yuan Chuyun, serves as an official there. When you arrive in the capital, tell them I recommended you. I hope we meet again someday."
"Thank you, Sister!" Qin Mu bowed and hurried off along the official road.
Yu Yuan Chuyu sighed. "Poor child, so young and already orphaned. He's probably the only survivor from Dijiang County..."
"This Sister Chuyu is really kind."
Qin Mu tucked the travel permit away and thought to himself, "On this journey to the capital, if I'm questioned, I can say I'm from Lizhou Prefecture. No one will suspect I'm from the Great Ruins. I haven't slept all night. I should rest in Huyang County."