Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 453 - 450: Arrival!

Chapter 453: Chapter 450: Arrival!

Junzhou, Yankang Prefecture.

Despite the absence of expansive farmland or a river providing ample water, wisps of cooking smoke rose continuously amidst the mountains and forests, unable to conceal their withering yellow hue.

At a glance, among the unending stretches of barren forest land, stood densely packed, simple dwellings.

A rough count revealed that at least ten thousand people could live there, resembling the scale of a small town.

Occasionally, one could see disheveled children running around chasing each other, elders basking in the sun at their doorsteps, and women spreading roots to dry on the ground...

This picture of extreme poverty was, in these chaotic times, quite a rare and peaceful sight.

Only when one saw the high walls surrounding the camp, built of stone and wood, and the able-bodied men patrolling along the tops of the walls with weapons in hand,

did one realize how difficult it was to maintain this simple peace.

And there, atop a very tall gatehouse, written with vermillion mixed with tiger blood, were three unevenly written large characters—"Beggar Camp"!

Beggar’s life! Beggar’s life!

Chewing over and over again made one feel somewhat tragic.

With sunset tinted slightly with the color of blood under their feet,

Two exceptionally beautiful women walked down a path that seemed very old, leaving from a graveyard situated halfway up the mountain.

The one hopping and skipping ahead was a petite and pretty girl, wearing a faded white robe that, despite its tattered condition, was clean and washed.

One could not help but be affected by the optimism and openness in her eyes.

The other woman, dressed in a dark green satin horse-faced skirt, had a fair, melon-seeded face with no need for makeup, yet her features were picturesque.

She was a voluptuous and graceful beauty.

These two beauties, who looked roughly sixty percent alike, were mother and daughter Xin Xiaowei, the "Poverty God," and Xin Ruoheng, the "Broom Star Lord."

They were also "Yin Department Ghost" Immortal Officials, the "Judge of Financial Case" and "Judge of Disaster," respectively.

The grave that they had just paid respects to naturally contained the body of Xin Xiaowei’s father, the short-lived husband of Xin Ruoheng.

Although the "Broom Star Lord" was a rarely seen woman of extreme beauty,

the "Iron Broom Eight Defeats" that came with her Eight Defeats fate could not be easily withstood by ordinary people.

"Once the Iron Broom is fated to trace, a person plagued by it will undergo disasters in every case...

If a woman is born under this moon, her entry into her man’s house will sweep it bare soon!"

Before their family had stepped into the cultivation world, they naturally lacked the relevant knowledge.

Xin Xiaowei’s father had joyously married the lovely Xin Ruoheng into their home, and now, it was evident that even his bones had already crumbled to dust.

Ordinarily, combining the "Poverty God" and the "Broom Star" was a recipe for disaster.

Even though their Divine Positions as officials under the Yin Department could balance their own disaster and poverty auras, it wasn’t suitable for them to live together all the time.

The reason the mother and daughter returned to the "Beggar Camp" this time was that it happened to be the death anniversary of Xin Xiaowei’s father.

"Mother, winter is fast approaching.

I just checked the granary, and our Yankang Prefecture’s ’Beggar Camp’ reserves of roots, bark, and dried Earth Dragon are slightly insufficient.

We must have these prepared before the first snowfall.

Otherwise, this winter, predicted by the ’Dou Department’ to be colder than last year, might actually freeze people to death.

If we could somehow get more corn, it would be even better to occasionally provide a better meal for the children and elderly."

Although she was so poor that she often had to ’drink the northwest wind’, Xin Xiaowei’s primary concern was still the common people of the "Beggar Camp."

This had been the tradition of the "Beggar Camp" all along.

Since its creation 1,500 years ago by the "Immortal Official," the "Mourning Heavenly King of War,"

the "Beggar Camp" had always tried its best to lead the homeless and displaced common people to beg for survival during times of chaos and natural disasters.

Perhaps some might wonder why they couldn’t clear and farm land in the mountains?

This was because only with a sufficiently stable hinterland would people be willing to invest huge efforts and resources for an uncertain harvest months in the future.

In times of chaos, this was simply wishful thinking.

Added to this the harsh conditions of the "Little Ice Age," suitable farming locations simply weren’t something a group of refugees could afford to desire.

Those places were the foundations upon which vassal Hidden Dragons built their enterprises.

Unlike other so-called "rebel armies" that often involved refugees, devouring everything edible like locusts, as soon as they reached a place, leaving nothing behind,

Then abusing women to vent their desires, abandoning the cumbersome elderly and children, and dragging along the able-bodied to the next place of plunder,

Although they call themselves rebel armies, in reality, they are the biggest disruptors of order in chaotic times.

They can easily destroy the accumulation of centuries in one area.

"Beggar Camp," however, would teach refugees the "Mourning Military Skill," allowing them to persist like weeds in places others disdained to fight over and which had no resources.

Unlike other military skills that imitate tigers, oxen, birds, and such for greater strength, speed, or destructive power,

the "Mourning Military Skill," which mimics the earthworm, emphasized survival above everything else.

Just eat a large amount of dried earthworms, and one would quickly awaken the Innate Divine Ability "Melt Gold and Iron"!

With this Divine Skill, it was no trouble at all to consume tree roots, bark, straw, or drink stagnant water in ditches—things that only wild animals could endure.

And at Xin Xiaowei’s level, she could eat anything—even stones, soil, or ’drink the northwest wind’—extracting nutrition from microorganisms and fine worms.

Even in the Underworld, simply licking a stone could prevent her from starving to death.

The so-called weakest "Mourning Military Skill" was intended solely to ensure survival.

It could also be described as a pared-down "beggar’s version" of the "Gou Dao Longevity Technique."

Just like this forest, the carrying capacity of the environment was extremely limited. Ordinary people simply couldn’t survive in such an enclosed woodland.

But for these refugees, all of whom were practicing the "Martial Mourning Military Skill," it could at least maintain their bare minimum needs for survival.

It allowed them to extricate themselves from the whirlpool of turbulent times, year after year, surviving until the chaos ended.

Vermillion, after hearing her daughter’s words, held her slender waist and said in annoyance:

"You make it sound so easy, but we’re talking about more than ten thousand people here!

Last time, all the silver I earned with Guo Feihu (Fire Star Lord) from Yunjing City was poured into this again, not to mention all the extra help we gave to other Beggar Camps.

We didn’t even have money left to buy ourselves new clothes for the New Year."

"I wanted to tell you last time. You silly girl, you don’t even think about helping your poor mother, letting such a good father slip away for nothing.

Star Lord Taibai knew we were short of warm clothes for the winter and without a second word sent over a thousand bolts of top-quality cotton.

He’s usually so frugal, but when his friends really needed help, he didn’t even ask for a penny from us.

He’s got the looks, the money, and the sentimentality, the perfect golden son-in-law, indeed.

If only I could make a small sacrifice in terms of my appearance, once he becomes part of the family, with the vast business of Cloud Tower Ghost Market, wouldn’t our "Beggar Camp" have everything?

We could stuff ourselves with corn bread every day, and they’d be happy to death!"

Vermillion gave her mother, who was still a stunning beauty despite her age, a sideways glance and snorted with disdain:

"Sacrifice? Mom, wipe your drool before you talk.

What ’sacrifice a little something for the Beggar Camp,’ you’re just salivating over Taibai’s body, oh, and his money!

Too bad... all the good men are already taken!"

Her ulterior motives plainly pointed out by her daughter, Zhou Huangwu simply stopped pretending.

She took out a small copper mirror and looked at her own face, bemoaning:

"To think that I, Zhou Huangwu, am only thirty-five, the age when one is like a blooming flower. According to Yellow Seal’s lifespan limit of 240 years, I could maintain this for another two hundred years.

I’m only four years older than her, Zhou Huangwu. I’ve got legs, a waist, and a butt.

Star Lord Taibai obviously has a taste for this sort of thing, so why can’t he just take a fancy to me?

In this lifetime, I really want to experience what it’s like to be the grand lady of a wealthy family!

Moreover, this rich young hound is even younger than my daughter, ohhhh..."

As she spoke her disordered thoughts, both mother and daughter simultaneously stiffened in their movements.

They looked at the empty space in front of them, where the "Myriad Phenomena Heavenly Net" was sending them each a message.

The next moment.

Clang—!

Both mother and daughter’s eyes simultaneously flashed with brilliant golden light.

Without hesitation, they both rose into the air and charged towards the Beggar Camp below the mountain.

Vermillion shouted loudly:

"Foodie! Breeding well! Hurry up, we’re finally going to get rich!"

The Pig Spirit and Deer Spirit, who were sacrificing their physical bodies for the refugees, quickly ran out.

Not just them.

Wang Yuan’s Underworld development plan stirred up a thousand waves with one stone.

Friends from his circle, like Giant Gate Star Lord Xu Zhenzhi, Punishment Evil Thunder God Cui Baiyu, Fire Star Lord Guo Feihu, Wine Star Lord Du Sanbei...

And so on, all responded at the first call.

The Immortal Officials from the Yin Department Ghost God division didn’t miss out either.

The "Wanxiang Hall" in the Pengxuan Grotto Heaven, used for receiving Divine Positions, also became busier than ever before.

Even the "Beimang Mountain Blessed Land property," which could help cultivators increase their affinity for the Ghost Path, simultaneously rose in response!

...

Meanwhile.

On the other side of Yin Mountain, at the edge of the Rashamon Ghost Country.

Gao Jisheng, the second disciple who had activated the "Six Paths Reincarnation Technique," also opened his eyes full of anticipation, clear as lake water.

Feeling a slight stuffiness, he subconsciously touched his chest.

But the strange and unfamiliar feeling of "large pectoral muscles" made his eyes suddenly bulge.

It seemed he had already realized something.

With one in a million hope, he slowly reached his hand down towards his legs.

A groping, and another groping...

Regrettably, no matter how many times he tried, the result was the same.

"It’s gone?!"

It felt like a bolt from the blue had struck right on his head!

Gao Jisheng’s jade-like complexion immediately became visibly pallid, and his eyes that had widened in shock painfully closed again.

It seemed he was questioning whether he was actually dreaming, a nightmare of the utmost terror!

At that moment.

An "amiable" voice suddenly sounded in his... her ears:

"Oh, number two, you’re awake? The first reincarnation was extremely successful!

Just as you requested, you are now a tall, fair-skinned, beautiful, and strong Asura.

Are you happy? Your master really went through a lot of trouble to get this body for you."

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