There are some places that you can only truly understand by setting foot on them yourself.
The first impression West Niu Continent gave Chu Xingchen was one of oppressiveness and deathly silence.
With a sweeping glance, Chu Xingchen could see that those deeply carved canyons were eight or nine out of ten times blasted out by cultivators.
Moreover, for reasons unknown, trees and flowers were extremely scarce here, yet the land was not sandy soil.
It seemed there were some things that even time could not smooth away.
Chu Xingchen had already finished researching the records at Heavenly Dao Sect, reminded Lu Xuan, and even left a letter for Bai Xuanling.
The Heavenly Dao Sect did not stop Chu Xingchen from reading the ancient texts regarding the great catastrophe from years past, and Lu Xuan straightforwardly brought them all out for him.
However, perhaps because the fighting back then was simply too devastating, there were serious gaps in the records from many years.
There were even inconsistencies between earlier and later accounts.
There was some useful information, but it couldn't be considered extensive, and with so much time having passed, the actual details had become difficult to verify.
The Heavenly Dao Sect's records were comprehensive. What remained was to verify the information and seek out new intelligence.
As for where to find this information, the choice was quite clear.
The great catastrophe originated in West Niu Continent, and it was there that it ultimately ended.
Regardless, West Niu Continent surely retained the most traces and information regarding the so-called [Demon].
This time, Chu Xingchen came alone. He told Lu Xuan that if his disciples came looking for him out of boredom, he should say he was in secluded cultivation preparing to break through to the next realm.
He also left behind a spirit stone infused with his spiritual power.
It would make deceiving others a bit easier.
If there was urgent business, they could contact him immediately, and Chu Xingchen would return right away.
Being classified as a main quest by the system, with the task description being the gravely serious phrase [Great Catastrophe Approaching], the level of danger was self-evident.
Back then, Wan Ban's mission to take down Misty Mystery Temple had been somewhat difficult.
This was a quest directly classified as a main quest, without even listing any rewards.
Chu Xingchen had to assume the worst-case scenario: the highest reward for completing this quest would be—staying alive.
If West Niu Continent truly had some connection to the [Demon], the danger level would absolutely skyrocket.
Chu Xingchen was now at the Integration realm. Wielding Wan Ban, not only was his combat prowess pure, but he could also flee quickly.
His disciples might have bright futures ahead, but right now they were still somewhat green. At the Golden Core stage, they might genuinely run into trouble.
Chu Xingchen wasn't careless enough to bring his disciples here to take risks with him.
However, coming to West Niu Continent didn't mean Chu Xingchen was completely without support, left to investigate entirely on his own.
Because the great catastrophe had taught the human race an enormous lesson, after West Niu Continent was restored and the catastrophe quelled, a rather large-scale patrol organization was established there—the Sky Patrol Bureau.
In the beginning, after the great catastrophe, the Sky Patrol Bureau was an organization with extremely pure purposes. After all, the bloody lessons were still fresh in everyone's minds.
But as time passed and matters settled, once the blood and hatred of the past remained only with the previous generation, the Sky Patrol Bureau became less pure.
It evolved to the present day, where the Sky Patrol Bureau was jointly managed by eighteen Immortal Sects, with all other Immortal Sects completely withdrawing from it.
After the other eighteen Immortal Sects divided up West Niu Continent among themselves, the Sky Patrol Bureau became awkward.
After all, most of the territories they could manage had been carved away by the Immortal Sects.
And the Demons had gone silent for a thousand years. What this department could do grew fewer and fewer.
But this department survived to this day for good reason.
Immortal Sects whose spheres of influence were not in West Niu Continent could rely on this organization to openly obtain the information they needed there.
Even the Buddhist Sect had no choice but to grudgingly accept this.
Because there were more Immortal Sects whose territories were not in West Niu Continent.
As one of the eighteen Immortal Sects, the Heavenly Dao Sect naturally had personnel stationed at the Sky Patrol Bureau, and the number was not small.
While deep investigations might not be something to expect from these Sky Patrol Bureau members, they could handle quite a few tedious tasks.
Most importantly, Chu Xingchen now had a legitimate identity in West Niu Continent. Whatever he did would have the backing of justice.
Even the sects of West Niu Continent understood the might of the eighteen Immortal Sects.
Chu Xingchen did not rush straight to the Sky Patrol Bureau. Instead, he first examined the surrounding terrain.
Across this vast territory, most of it was endless desolation.
Only then did he proceed as planned to the nearest major city—Huangliang City.
The only thing about this major city that qualified it as "major" was perhaps its size.
The entire city appeared to have only its walls as the most magnificent feature.
Very little wood was used in the buildings inside. It seemed they used brick wherever possible.
So the colors were either black or yellow.
The citizens' clothing was extremely plain, nearly all undyed or yellow hemp garments.
The population wasn't particularly large, but the streets were still lively.
Chu Xingchen didn't wear luxurious clothes, only relatively plain martial attire. To match the surroundings, he even wore a yellowish-brown color he didn't particularly like.
Yet even this outfit drew countless stares.
The people around looked at Chu Xingchen with expressions that were hard to describe.
But whether it was the honest folk of West Niu Continent or just the honest folk of Huangliang City, Chu Xingchen couldn't say.
As he walked casually along the street, he could hear cursing from both sides without pause.
First would come greetings to one's mother, then the actual conversation would begin, and every sentence would inevitably end with a phrase similar to "chicken."
They had pre-casting and post-casting delays to their speech.
Chu Xingchen had originally wanted to blend in with the local customs, but such wild local customs were truly hard to accept.
Forget it. As a cultured and ambitious young man, he would skip immersing himself in these customs.
Chu Xingchen quickened his pace and arrived at the meeting place.
The most magnificent building in Lianghuang City, a towering three and a half stories—the top-tier establishment called Zhaocai Tavern.
The name plainly displayed the owner's thoughts.
The building might not be tall, but the tavern made up for it in size.
The decoration might seem extremely plain, but it made up for it in size.
Chu Xingchen circulated his spiritual energy, and in the next moment, stepped into the tavern.
The tavern was large, with many patrons.
But Chu Xingchen had no intention of drawing attention. He employed a technique and instantly flashed into the agreed-upon room on the third floor.
Without hesitation, he pushed open the door. Chu Xingchen's gaze swept across the room.
He saw a young woman with dark skin but rather delicate features sitting in a chair, her expression showing some impatience.
At the sound of the door opening, the young woman raised her head. Seeing Chu Xingchen, her expression finally showed some relief.
She put on a fawning smile and hurriedly bowed with cupped hands:
"Damn it, you're finally here. I've been waiting for you for quite..."
The young woman stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something terrible.
Oh no! She said "damn it" out of habit.
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