Sorry, I'm Slightly Better Below

Chapter 12: Map

After spending about half an hour in Xunfeng City, the flow of people on the streets gradually decreased. Chen Ze didn't linger any longer and instead prepared to deeply observe a few key targets.

This Ruifeng City is divided into five areas: east, west, south, north, and central.

It is impossible for him to explore all five areas in a short period of time, but he can still exclude all risks in one area as a safe zone during the trial.

...

Half an hour later.

In front of a grand mansion in Ruifeng City, a thin man dressed as a warrior cautiously walked in under the guidance of the gatekeeper.

"Do you have the things with you?"

As soon as he entered, the thin man was stopped by a fat middle-aged man in luxurious clothing and a long beard.

"Yes, please take a look."

The thin man took out a transparent bead from his pocket and handed it to the fat middle-aged man.

Taking the bead, the fat middle-aged man saw faintly visible faces of several suffering people inside, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

"Well, not bad. I will set up the formation in three days, and you can come then."

Upon hearing this, the thin man's face immediately showed ecstatic joy.

This Mr. Xue is the one who taught him the techniques. It is said that there is a special formation in his mansion that can completely isolate demonic energy and avoid detection by the Law Weapons of the Azure Sun Sect.

However, due to the small size of the formation, the number of people allowed to enter is limited.

During this period of time, he has been searching day and night for prey, and finally gathered five living souls, which he exchanged for a spot.

With the ability to avoid the formation and his own strength not being weak, once the people from Azure Sun Sect leave, his chances of successfully joining the Demon Dao Sect are high.

"Thank you, Mr. Xue. I will take my leave now."

"Well, go ahead."

Mr. Xue waved his hand, and the thin man turned and left.

After the thin man left, Mr. Xue suddenly turned around and respectfully handed the bead to a middle-aged gatekeeper wearing a black coarse linen robe.

Taking the bead, the humble expression on the gatekeeper's face had long disappeared, replaced by an indescribable depth.

"I still need a few more living souls, and my Soul Gathering Banner can be promoted to the Hundred Soul Gathering Banner. By then..."

Thinking of this, a sharp glint flashed in the gatekeeper's eyes.

A few years ago, when he obtained the Demon Dao techniques, he also obtained a formation that can isolate demonic energy. With the help of this formation, he has successfully passed the trial for three consecutive years, and his cultivation has reached the seventh level of Qi Refining.

According to reason, he could have joined the Demon Dao Sect long ago.

But there are also differences within the Demon Dao Sect, and it is said that the internal competition is extremely fierce.

Even if that fool who just arrived really manages to join a demonic sect, he probably won't survive for more than a year.

What's the point of joining those Demon Dao Sects?

It's better to stay hidden in this city and slowly improve his strength with the advantage of this formation.

"With the seventh level of Qi Refining cultivation and a Supreme Grade demonic weapon, it shouldn't be difficult to kill two weak disciples of the Azure Sun Sect.

If I can kill disciples of the Azure Sun Sect, I will definitely gain the favor of those powerful Great Demon sects.

Furthermore, once I join the sect, I will have a Supreme Grade demonic weapon by my side, and other Demonic Cultivators won't dare to provoke me easily."

Countless thoughts raced through the gatekeeper's mind.

Calculating the time, he has been hiding for three years, and it's time for him to leave this place and see the vast sky outside.

...

"The gatekeeper has reached the seventh level of Qi Refining in Demon Dao, while Mr. Xue has reached the fourth level of Qi Refining. Quite interesting."

Chen Ze, who had been following the thin man from a distance, glanced through the crack in the door and saw through Mr. Xue and the gatekeeper.

He also noticed the Demonic Gathering Banner and the diagram of the Demonic Formation in the gatekeeper's storage bag.

Combining this with the thin man's actions earlier, he was able to deduce the intentions of these people quite clearly.

The lean man seems to want to obtain a spot in the formation by offering sacrifices.

As for Xue Yuanwai, he is just a puppet.

After all, hiding a group of Demonic Cultivators in the formation carries great risks. If any information leaks out, it will surely attract a joint attack from the cultivators of Azure Sun Sect.

But with a puppet blocking the way, if they really encounter such a situation, he, as the gatekeeper, can easily escape.

"This person's scheming is truly terrifying."

Chen Ze secretly praised in his heart.

In his eyes, the Soul Gathering Banner of the gatekeeper is called the Ninety Soul Banner, only ten living souls away from the Hundred Soul Banner...

If he really upgrades the Ninety Soul Banner to the Hundred Soul Banner, and combines it with his cultivation at the seventh level of Demon Dao Qi Refining, with his current strength, he would probably be unable to do anything to him.

Of course, he would also be unable to do anything to him. The situation between them is fifty-fifty.

But even so, Chen Ze is determined to deal with this person.

Because this person also has a formation, and who knows how many low-level Demonic Cultivators are hidden in that formation...

If he can deal with this person and then dismantle his formation, this trial will be almost half secured.

Although he is currently unable to do anything to this person with his current strength, didn't he deliberately leave a few days to prepare for dealing with this kind of person?

"The Xue family..."

Chen Ze glanced at the plaque at the entrance and then pretended to leave like a passerby.

At this moment, in his heart, he has already regarded the gatekeeper of the Xue family as his primary target.

...

Time slowly passed, and Chen Ze changed into several different sets of clothes and wandered around Ruifeng City.

Two days passed, during which he discovered many low-level Demonic Cultivators and several Qi Refining seventh level Demonic Cultivators.

The low-level Demonic Cultivators are not worth mentioning; he can easily deal with them.

As for those Qi Refining seventh level Demonic Cultivators, just like the gatekeeper before, he is unable to do anything to them. However, they are not people who would take his life if he encounters them, so although they caught his attention, there is no need to pay too much attention to them.

On this clear morning, Chen Ze finished scouting and packed his luggage, ready to leave.

Compared to when he arrived, there was now a map of Ruifeng City in his storage bag.

The eastern part of the map was covered with dense markings.

And this map is his biggest gain from this trip.

With this map, even if the other members of the fifth group have many means, he is confident in securing the top two.

...

After packing his luggage, Chen Ze found the same merchant caravan as before, preparing to leave Ruifeng City.

The carriage moved forward, and as the city gate was only a few miles away, a long line caught his attention.

Most of the people in this line were impoverished and barely clothed.

Not only were they dressed extremely shabbily, but they all had a look of pain on their faces.

Some had pale faces, some walked unsteadily, clearly suffering from physical ailments.

"Could it be that someone is providing free medical treatment?"

Chen Ze looked towards the end of the line and indeed saw a young man in a blue cloth shirt, with a gentle smile, sitting at the front of the line, taking the pulse of an old woman clutching her stomach.

After finishing the pulse diagnosis, the young man directly took some medicine from the pile behind him and handed it to the old woman, explaining the usage of the medicine.

After listening, the old woman knelt down on the ground with a thud, continuously kowtowing. The young man quickly helped her up and then persuaded her with kind words before sending her away...

And then it was the next patient.

...

When Chen Ze saw that young man, his heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, he immediately pulled open the curtain of the carriage and asked the leader of the merchant caravan who was traveling with him, "Wang Tou, who is that young man providing medical treatment? Do you know him?"

Please collect and vote for recommendations. Thank you for your monthly votes.

(End of this chapter)