I asked you to go down the mountain and get married, not to shock the world!

Seeing Ye Chuhan's resistance, Ji Zhou smiled and said, "I'm new here and unfamiliar with many things. It will definitely be much easier with you leading the way. Don't worry, if I find any good treasures this time, I will definitely not forget you."

Upon hearing this, Ye Chuhan raised an eyebrow: "Really?"

"Once a man makes a promise, it's hard to chase him back!" Jizhou said.

"Okay!" Ye Chuhan readily agreed. "Then I'll have to get back everything Mingchuan owed me from you!"

Seeing that the two of them had reached an agreement, Sect Leader Ye's expression softened considerably.

"That's more like it. When we get back, I'll pick out a few suitable missions for you two, missions that will hone your skills and also enhance the reputation of my Qingfeng Yu Sect!"

“Okay,” Jizhou replied.

The three returned to Qingfeng Yumen, and Sect Master Ye quickly selected a mission.

"There are a few tasks you can consider." Sect Master Ye handed several jade slips to the two of them. "First, head north to the Black Wind Mountains and wipe out a group of evil cultivators who are ravaging mortal villages and are said to have late-stage Core Formation cultivation. If this matter can be resolved, you will definitely gain prestige in the northern region."

"Secondly, exploring the newly discovered ancient site of Shuiyun Cave in the southwest presents both risks and opportunities, and it is easy to gain fame."

"Thirdly, escorting supplies to Jinsha City requires passing through the bandit-infested Wasteland of Bones, which is a good opportunity to demonstrate our strength."

After carefully examining the jade slip, Ji Zhou pointed to the first one: "Let's choose to eliminate the evil cultivators. It will not only rid us of harm but also make us famous as quickly as possible, which suits my purposes perfectly."

Ye Chuhan leaned over to take a look and commented, "The environment in the Black Wind Mountains is indeed a bit poor, but those evil cultivators have really caused a lot of trouble. They should be dealt with."

Sect Leader Ye made the decision: "Alright! It's decided then. Make your preparations and depart tomorrow morning. Chu Han, listen to Ji Zhou on the road, be cautious in everything you do, and don't cause any trouble."

"Understood." Ye Chuhan nodded in agreement without saying anything more this time.

The following morning, Ji Zhou and Ye Chuhan boarded their spirit boat and quietly left the sect, heading towards the Black Wind Mountains in the north.

Jizhou stood at the bow of the ship, gazing into the distance against the wind, with mountains sweeping past below, his heart filled with anticipation for this experience.

This was not just a mission, but also an important step for him to establish himself in the Spirit Realm.

He needs to grow faster and have enough power so that he can bring his relatives and friends from the lower realms up to the upper realms as soon as possible.

Ye Chuhan was organizing her belongings in the cabin. Although she didn't say anything, her eyes showed less of her usual carefree attitude and more seriousness.

He took out a detailed map and handed it to Ji Zhou: "Here, I've marked the distribution of forces around the Black Wind Mountains and the known dangerous areas. Let's study it first, so we don't go there clueless."

Jizhou took the map and examined it carefully.

The map was drawn with great detail, not only marking the main peaks and rivers of the Black Wind Mountains, but also using different colors to mark several areas.

These include the villages most severely affected by evil cultivators, the area suspected to be the stronghold of evil cultivators, and even several dangerous areas that may be inhabited by powerful demonic beasts.

"Not bad, you're well prepared," Jizhou praised.

Ye Chuhan proudly raised his chin and leaned over to point to a deep rift valley circled in red on the map: "Look here, the Burial Abyss. This place has the heaviest yin energy and the most complex terrain. I reckon that those shady characters' hideout is most likely in this area."

He paused, then pointed to another area marked with a monster pattern and reminded them, "But we also have to be careful. It's said that there's a Shadow Leopard in this Ghost Howling Forest that's about to transform into human form. It's incredibly fast and specializes in ambushing lone cultivators. Although that evil cultivator is the primary target, we shouldn't let ourselves be caught off guard."

Jizhou nodded, memorizing the information on the map.

He sensed that although Ye Chuhan occasionally complained, he was very meticulous and reliable when it came to getting things done, which put him at ease.

“Oh, right,” Ye Chuhan seemed to remember something, took out two inconspicuous gray wooden talismans from his storage bag, and handed one to Ji Zhou, “Here, take this. It’s a concealment talisman. It will activate when we get close to the Black Wind Mountain Range and can conceal most of our presence.”

"We're here to raid their hideout, not to challenge them. It's always better to keep a low profile."

Ji Zhou took the wooden talisman, which felt slightly cool to the touch. He sensed the hidden energy contained within it and calmed himself down, saying, "Okay."

The spirit boat was moving extremely fast, and after about half a day, the scenery on the horizon ahead began to change.

The once verdant mountains were gradually replaced by a gray-black hue, and a faint, chilly atmosphere permeated the air, with even the passing wind carrying a biting cold.

In the distance, the outline of a continuous, undulating black mountain range, resembling a crouching behemoth, appeared at the edge of the field of vision; that was the Black Wind Mountains.

"We're almost there." Ye Chuhan's smile faded, and his expression became more serious. "This godforsaken place has thin spiritual energy mixed with yin energy. No wonder it's become a den of evil cultivators. Let's put away the spirit boat first, sneak in on foot, and proceed according to plan."

The two landed in a secluded mountain hollow, stowed away their spirit boat, and activated the concealment talisman.

Instantly, their presence became almost imperceptible, as if they had merged with their surroundings.

Ye Chuhan identified the direction and whispered, "Follow me. Let's go check out the nearest village that was attacked. Maybe we can find some clues."

Jizhou nodded, and the two of them, like two ghostly shadows, silently slipped into the black forest that seemed to devour light.

The forest was dimly lit, with jagged rocks and twisted, withered branches reaching towards the sky like ghostly claws.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the occasional, chilling low whistling of the wind coming from who-knows-where.

Ye Chuhan unusually kept quiet, not daring to make a fuss in this place, for fear of attracting something unpleasant.

As they went deeper, a faint smell of blood and decay began to waft through the air.

Both of them became serious and quickened their pace.

Soon, a small, deserted village nestled in a mountain valley came into view.

The broken walls, charred beams, scattered debris, and the nauseating stench of blood that lingered even in the cold wind all testified to the horrific tragedy that had occurred here.

Ye Chuhan stood up, dusting off his hands: "Looks like we're heading in the right direction. Let's go, let's go meet these bastards!"

"This time, I will definitely help you solidify your reputation as a new powerhouse in the Spirit Realm!"

Jizhou nodded: "Okay, let's go."

The two left the desolate village and headed deeper into the Black Wind Mountains along the path shrouded in gloom.

The further you go, the more twisted and bizarre the surrounding trees become, and the dimmer the light becomes, as if even the sky is shrouded in an invisible gray veil.

While cautiously observing their surroundings, Ye Chuhan whispered to Ji Zhou, "Be careful, this place is very eerie. I have a feeling that there are eyes watching us from the shadows."