Reversing the Milky Way

That evening, Bai Cheng returned to the main hall. As the quiet night deepened, an eerie silence began to spread throughout the Si Nan family mansion.

Just then, a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy caught Bai Cheng's attention.

Bai Cheng: "Hmm? Someone's here!"

Bai Cheng immediately got up and rushed in the direction from which the spiritual energy fluctuations came. Under the cover of night, a dark figure moved swiftly through the mansion. His movements were ghostly, and each time he stepped on the grass, it would cause a slight ripple. Before the grass even bent, his feet would have already left the grass, making it look as if he were flying close to the ground.

As the man in black approached the enormous stone statue in front of the main hall, he began to look around.

Not far away, Bai Cheng concealed himself with a spirit-concealing array and carefully observed the scene.

Bai Cheng: "I didn't expect anyone would actually come here!?"

The man in black looked around and, after finding no one else, took a small bottle out of his pocket.

The small bottle was opened, and a shimmering bluish-purple flying insect slowly emerged from its mouth. Bai Cheng watched this scene from a distance, and to find out what it was, he extended his divine sense to observe the strange flying insect hovering in mid-air.

However, just as his divine sense locked onto the flying insect, a sudden change occurred. The insect's wings rapidly turned bluish-purple and emitted faint fluctuations.

Upon seeing this, the Black man immediately became alert.

"who?!"

The sudden change made Bai Cheng stop what he was doing, and he also saw the flying insect clearly. He had seen it before in the Spirit Beast Compendium.

Bai Cheng: "That bug just now!? Could it have been a Mystic Spirit Bug?!"

The Mystic Spirit Insect is a fourth-grade spirit insect. It is tiny in size but is particularly sensitive to things related to spiritual power. It is usually used to search for traces of spiritual power that are not detectable by humans. After detecting fluctuations, it will flap its wings and emit a faint bluish-purple spiritual light.

After sensing that someone was probing him with their divine sense, the man in black quickly put away the spirit insects and then turned to flee.

Upon seeing this, Bai Cheng immediately gave chase. During his investigation, he discovered that the black man's cultivation level was not high; he was at the same mid-stage of the Qi Condensation Realm as himself.

Bai Cheng flew up on his sword, quickly closing the distance with the man in black. Since he was investigating the people who had entered this place, he had to grab someone and ask them questions.

Seemingly sensing Bai Cheng's presence, the man in black leaped into the air while running, revealing a flying sword beneath his feet. He then turned and swung out a long halberd.

The halberd sliced ​​through the night sky, and a fierce attack hurtled toward Bai Cheng.

Bai Cheng: "Huh?!"

Faced with the swift attack, Bai Cheng raised his hand and condensed dozens of flying swords. With a full-force collision, he managed to barely block the attack.

Bai Cheng: "Something's not right! This person is actually hiding their cultivation level? This spiritual power is at least at the Great Perfection of the Qi Condensation Realm!"

After the shock of the explosion, when Bai Cheng looked in the direction of the black man again, he found that the man had already flown out of the Si Nan family's mansion at an extremely fast speed.

Helpless, Bai Cheng returned to the spot where the man had been standing and carefully examined the area.

After circling the stone statue several times, nothing suspicious was found.

Before long, the two guards at the gate rushed over because of the commotion.

Guard 1: "What just happened?"

Guard Two: "Has someone come again?"

Seeing their serious expressions, Bai Cheng recounted what had just happened.

Guard 1: "These people are really inexplicable."

Guard 2: "That's right. With the Si Nan family's immense power, even if there are treasures, they'll take them with them."

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng couldn't help but nod.

Bai Cheng: "By the way, I've never understood why we're still guarding this place when it's already abandoned."

Guard 1: "This is all from above. We're just following orders. But I've heard that this place will be confiscated and then resold. As for the specifics, we don't know. By the way, you can go back and report after tonight."

After saying that, the two guards left, leaving Bai Cheng standing alone beneath the statue.

The next day, Bai Cheng returned to the Supervisory Office to report back. To his surprise, he actually received ten cultivation points after completing the mission.

Two more days passed, and the team exploring Kulinling was ready.

The person leading the team was named Li Hui. He looked quite old and his cultivation level was already at the Great Perfection of the Qi Condensation Realm.

Li Hui: "Gentlemen, please allow me to introduce these two. They are esteemed disciples from the String Sound Immortal Sect, and they are also our special reinforcements."

Upon hearing the introduction, Bai Cheng's gaze immediately locked onto the woman in front of him. Her name was Li Qingrou, and with just one glance, her slightly flushed pretty face and otherworldly temperament deeply attracted Bai Cheng.

The man beside her was named Ling Feng, who also possessed an otherworldly air and an aura of detachment from worldly affairs.

Ling Feng: "Captain Li, you flatter me. My junior sister and I just happened to be here for training. We are not worthy of being called outstanding disciples."

Li Hui: "Fellow Daoist Ling, please don't be modest. I've heard that you are among the top disciples in the inner sect of the String Sound Immortal Sect. I believe that with your help, this mission will be much smoother."

The String Sound Immortal Sect is located in the northeastern part of the Cloudfall Mountains. Although the sect borders the Lingjiang Kingdom, it is not under its jurisdiction. The sect's status is equal to that of the Spirit Beast Sect, belonging to the second-tier sects. The cultivation method in the String Sound Immortal Sect is very special, using sound waves as the source of spiritual power, and their weapons are various musical instruments that produce musical notes.

After getting to know each other, the group began to introduce themselves.

The team consists of eight people, including Bai Cheng. Two of them are mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivators, one of whom is Bai Cheng. Apart from the captain and two external supporters, the other three are at the late stage of Qi Condensation.

After some investigation, Bai Cheng learned that he was not the only one who encountered the strange buzzing sound at Yuelin Manor. According to the information from the previous patrol of Kulin Ridge, the Supervisory Office also knew that the strange monster also used sound waves as its main means of attack, which is why they invited the two people from the String Sound Immortal Sect.

After making some preparations, the team set off. On the way, Bai Cheng told everyone about what happened that night.

After half a day, the group arrived at the territory of Kulinling.

The surrounding valleys were winding and twisting, and Bai Cheng wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt that this place was even more eerie than when he last came here.

Upon arriving at Yuelin Mountain Villa, Yue Qunxiong personally greeted his team.

Yue Qunxiong: "We've finally been waiting for you."

Li Hui: "Master Yue, our main purpose in coming here this time is to investigate. Please tell us in detail what has happened recently."

Yue Qunxiong: "This is what happened. Since last year, people in the villa have been disappearing inexplicably. Although similar things have happened before, they have not been as frequent as they have been recently. At least five people have gone missing every month, including men, women, and children. From last year to now, at least a hundred people have gone missing."

Upon hearing this, a look of horror appeared on everyone's faces.

Li Hui: "More than a hundred people have disappeared in just one year?!"

Ling Feng: "It seems that the monster Bai Cheng mentioned is most likely true."

After Ling Feng finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to Bai Cheng.

Yue Qunxiong: "To be honest, that monster is elusive. Even now, I haven't encountered it once. It has caused panic among the people in the manor, and even the guards on the tower are not at ease."

Li Hui: "Don't worry, we're here to investigate what happened in Crying Forest Ridge. But I heard that a few months ago, someone from the White House Academy also came here?!"

Yue Qunxiong: "That's right, four months ago, a team from the White House Academy did come to Kulinling to investigate, but..."

At this point, a look of unease crossed Yue Qunxiong's face.

After learning everything, the group strolled through the mountain villa.

Li Hui: "Let's investigate the villa first, and then head to Kulin Ridge tomorrow. We'll split into two teams now, so please, Miss Li and Ling Feng, separate for now."

Li Qingrou: "It's alright. Most of the missing people disappeared mysteriously after leaving the manor. They shouldn't encounter any danger inside the manor."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ling Feng looked at Li Qingrou with a worried expression.

Li Hui: "In order to ensure that the combat strength of our team is even, Miss Li and I will lead these two people with lower cultivation levels. I would like to trouble Fellow Daoist Ling Feng to lead the other three."

After some discussion, the two teams officially separated.

Bai Cheng's group went to the west side of the villa and inquired about the latest news from the people living there, while another group went to the other side.

As they walked along the road, Bai Cheng asked around for directions, and he could see deep fear in the eyes of these passersby.

Just then, the person in the group who was at the same level as Bai Cheng spoke to him. His name was Zhang Ji, and he looked to be in his thirties.

Zhang Ji: "Sigh, Bai Cheng, I see that you are already a mid-stage Qi Condensation Realm cultivator at such a young age. You will surely achieve great things in the future."

Bai Cheng: "Not at all, I have only just advanced to this realm. The path of cultivation is long and arduous, and we have only just begun."

Upon hearing this, Li Qingrou, who was walking ahead, turned her head slightly.

Li Qingrou: "I thought that all cultivators in the secular world were trapped by desires. I didn't expect there to be someone like you who is on the right path. May I ask how many years you have been practicing the Dao?"

Bai Cheng: "Me? I'm exactly twenty-three this year. May I ask how old Miss Li is?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qingrou silently turned her head away without answering. However, a soft voice then reached Bai Cheng's ear.

"thirty."

This was Li Qingrou's voice transmission. Bai Cheng deduced that she didn't want too many people to know her age, since she looked to be only in her early twenties.

Yuelin Manor is about the size of a village, with a total population of around 10,000, all headed by the Yue family. The manor has a variety of industries, and with these industries intertwined, it is almost self-sufficient.

As evening approached, the two groups met up.

Li Hui: "So? Have you found out any important information?"

Ling Feng: "No."

Li Hui: "It seems we'll have to explore Kulinling tomorrow."

Ling Feng: "I still think it's not safe to separate. It's better to act together. Besides, that demon has already reached the level of a demon general. If we encounter danger, we can help each other."

Ling Feng's words made sense, and Bai Cheng also felt that separating was too dangerous.

Just as Li Hui was pondering, two monks were walking towards them from not far away.

Li Hui: "Who are you??"

Li Hui asked a question, while Bai Cheng saw a familiar face among the two. It was the monk Hui Wu, whom he had met when he came here last time to carry out a commission. However, Bai Cheng did not recognize the other person beside him.

Huimin: "Greetings, esteemed benefactors."

After some introductions, Bai Cheng learned that the speaker was named Hui Min, who was Hui Wu's senior brother and also at the Great Perfection of the Qi Condensation Realm.

Their purpose in coming here was to find Huinong.

According to their descriptions, Huynh also came to this place four months ago as part of the White House Academy team to investigate, and the two of them came this time to investigate Huynh's whereabouts.

Li Hui: "I see. So your goal is the same as ours. How about we act together tomorrow?"

Li Hui's words made Hui Min think for a while.

Huimin: "To be honest, we have been here for several days and have learned about the situation here from these residents. If there really is a demon general-level monster, I'm afraid we are no match for it."

Li Hui: "Our main purpose in coming here is to investigate. If we encounter any monsters, we will immediately call for reinforcements."

At night, the group arrived at a pre-arranged place to stay. A curfew was imposed in the manor, with only patrols of guards carrying spirit-storing beads for illumination patrolling the streets.

Li Hui gathered everyone together in the room and then took out a compass from his storage bag.

The design of this compass is the same as the one Bai Cheng has seen before; it is the Demon-Seeking Compass.

In front of everyone, Li Hui began to activate the compass, and everyone stared at the compass interface and observed it carefully.

Li Hui: "The range that this compass can detect can cover the entire manor and its surroundings. So far, it seems that no monsters have appeared inside the manor."

Ling Feng: "During today's investigation, we discovered that there are quite a few independent cultivators inside the manor, whose cultivation levels range from the early to the late stages of Qi Condensation."

Li Hui: "That's right, we also encountered a few. Overall, there are no fewer than forty or fifty cultivators inside the manor, otherwise, how could the manor be so peaceful?"

Huimin: "I never expected that a gathering place with less than 10,000 people would have so many independent cultivators. It's truly remarkable."

Li Hui: "Actually, there are many settlements like Yue Lin Manor in Baifeng City, where individuals set up their own territories. Most of them are well-known cultivators in the city who have opened up their own territories because they are unwilling to join other forces."

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng also had many questions.

Bai Cheng: "So, Yue Lin Manor is like a small sphere of influence? And the Yue family is the manager here, protecting the local people and some independent cultivators?"

Li Hui: "You could say that, but places like this are a mixed bag. Among the people they shelter are some murderers and robbers, like the Yue Lin Manor right now. The city guards don't patrol these places. However, these places still pay a certain amount of money to the city lord's mansion every year to ensure that the area is not subject to the city lord's crackdown."

After speaking, Li Hui turned to look at Bai Cheng.

Li Hui: "You should be very clear about this within the Bai family."

Upon hearing this, Bai Cheng remained silent. He had never heard of such a thing in the Bai family, but he could sense that it must exist. So far, he had only come into contact with less than 40% of the secrets of the Bai family. Even though he inquired everywhere in his spare time, there were still many secrets he did not know.

Li Hui: "Alright, get some rest tonight. We'll head to Kulinling tomorrow."

Time flew by and the next day arrived. After leaving Yuelin Manor, the group went straight into the territory of Kulin Ridge.