Chapter 90

Chapter 90

Upon realizing that the group of cultivators who had traveled from afar were all here for Shui Liyin, Sheng Yunshen wisely refrained from engaging in further conversation.

Despite his silence, the others assumed he was also here for Shui Liyin and considered him an ally, pulling him into their conversation with warmth and familiarity. Sheng Yunshen felt rather awkward but didn't wish to make a scene.

Fortunately, the queue moved swiftly, and soon it was their turn.

As Tai Ze City conducted strict inspections on incoming cultivators, Yi Xuan and his three companions didn't hide their identities, openly declaring themselves to the guards conducting the checks.

The city's cultivators were overjoyed and promptly reported this to the patrolling squad leader. The squad leader arrived promptly, beaming with delight. "So you're fellow cultivators from Crimson Heaven Sect! Our city lord has been awaiting your arrival. Please come in, fellow daoist."

With that, he instructed the others to continue their duties and led the quartet through the crowd and into the city.

The chatty cultivators, who had just moments ago been engrossed in conversation, watched them depart without looking back, feeling a touch of awkwardness.

It turned out that they weren't actually here for Fairy Waterlily but rather due to the madness of the cultivators in Tai Ze City. They had just warmly engaged in conversation with him – that was awkward.

***

Upon entering Tai Ze City, Yi Xuan and his companions paid special attention to their surroundings. The once bustling cultivation city now had sparse pedestrians on its streets. Those passing by were in a hurry, their faces tense. Businesses along the sidewalks were desolate, with dejected attendants standing at their entrances, sighing.

The incident in Tai Ze City had not only tarnished its reputation but also prompted its cultivators to evacuate. Outsiders were too afraid to enter, resulting in a significant decline in business as there were no cultivators visiting. Thus, the arrival of disciples from Crimson Heaven Sect, who could potentially help, was a source of joy for the city's guards.

The gate guards directly escorted them to the City Lord's Manor.

The City Lord of Tai Ze City was a cultivator at the Yuan Zong realm.

In the Holy Martial Continent, cultivators at the Yuan Zong realm were known as Realms, capable of guarding a region and revered by others. A practitioner with such cultivation, like the City Lord of Tai Ze City, was commonly appointed as the City Lord in most cultivation cities across the Holy Martial Continent.

The City Lord's surname was Xu. He appeared to be around forty, with a beard and an imposing demeanor.

Upon receiving the news of the Crimson Heaven Sect disciples' arrival, City Lord Xu had been eagerly waiting at the entrance of the City Lord Manor to greet them.

Seeing the disciples of the Crimson Heaven Sect arrive, and it being the direct disciples of the Sect Master no less, City Lord Xu was overjoyed. Despite being a major realm higher in cultivation than Yi Xuan, he did not dare to act senior, instead treating the four with great respect and courtesy.

While cultivators usually determined status by cultivation, there were times when the identity of the core disciples from top-tier major sects carried even greater weight, and one dared not provoke them. Even if their cultivation levels were not high, they still received ample respect when traveling outside.

"Gentleman Yi, Gentleman Sheng, Gentleman Ning, Miss Min, your names have long echoed in my ears."

Indeed, they had, especially Ning Yuzhou's. City Lord Xu couldn't help but steal a few more glances at him.

This was a genius alchemist who had recently gained immense fame, with rumors that all his pills were of supreme quality. His comprehension abilities were said to be unparalleled, and if he continued to develop smoothly, becoming a King Alchemist would be within reach.

Moreover, he was proficient in formations and artifact refinement, making him a true prodigy. No wonder the Crimson Heaven Sect had made an exception to accept him as a disciple.

Yi Xuan, not one for pleasantries, got straight to the point. "City Lord Xu, could you lead us to those frenzied cultivators first?"

"Certainly," City Lord Xu promptly answered. "When they went into a frenzy, they attacked anyone in their path. We had no choice but to confine them in the dungeon of the manor and separate them with restrictions, to prevent harm to others or themselves."

City Lord Xu personally led them to the dungeon.

As they walked, City Lord Xu narrated the incidents of cultivators going berserk.

Actually, half a year ago, there had been a case of a cultivator losing his mind. However, due to its sudden occurrence, it hadn't been taken seriously.

The first one to go mad was an employee at a pill shop in the city. The employee was a native of Tai Ze City.

Half a year ago, that employee had suddenly attacked a customer who had come to purchase spirit pills and also assaulted the other employees who tried to stop him. He was eventually caught by the patrolling guards of Tai Ze City and thrown into the dungeon.

The incident had been so unexpected, and since the employee didn't have any relatives in Tai Ze City – his father had perished during an adventure when he was still young, leaving him an orphan – no one cared much about him. His madness became a topic of discussion in the city for a while before being forgotten by all.

Little did anyone expect that several months later, more and more cases of cultivators going mad would occur, especially this month, with the number of such cases increasing alarmingly. The situation had even caught the attention of the City Lord himself, prompting him to take it seriously.

City Lord Xu realized that the number of mad cultivators in the city was spiraling out of control, and their condition seemed to be spreading at an alarming rate, as if it were contagious. It had left the citizens in a state of panic, making it impossible to keep the matter under wraps. He had even consulted a Tier 3 Alchemy Master to examine those affected, but no cause for their madness could be determined, nor could it be treated.

In desperation, he sought help from Scarlet Heaven Sect, hoping they would send a Tier 4 Alchemy Master.

A Tier 4 Alchemy Master held high prestige and possessed vast knowledge, surpassing the abilities of a Tier 3 Alchemy Master. They should be able to uncover something.

As for a Tier 5 Alchemy Master, that was out of the question.

King Rank Alchemists were the pinnacle of alchemy in the Holy Martial Continent. Currently, there were only two such alchemists on the continent, one in the Qingyun Sect and the other in the Danmeng.

Tai Ze City was affiliated with the Crimson Heaven Sect, so it naturally couldn't seek help directly from the Qingyun Sect. Their request could only be made through the Crimson Heaven Sect. Otherwise, why would the Qingyun Sect bother with a mere cultivation city's plea, sending their King Rank Alchemist? The distance between Tai Ze City and the Danmeng was too great. If they attempted to invite one, the journey would take too much time and there was no guarantee that they could even persuade a King Rank Alchemist to come.

Therefore, their only hope was that the Crimson Heaven Sect's envoy could provide assistance.

City Lord Xu was delighted with Yi Xuan and his companions, who had been sent by the Crimson Heaven Sect. He had already placed his hopes on Ning Yuzhou.

As for Ning Yuzhou being only an Xuan Rank Alchemist, not even reaching the Earth Rank? That wasn't a problem at all, considering he was a genius.

It had to be said that after Ning Yuzhou's fame spread across the Central Continent, rumors had gradually embellished his abilities, making them sound more and more mystical. This led some uninformed cultivators to blindly believe in him.

The City Lord of Tai Ze City seemed to be one of those believers.

This made Sheng Yunshen feel a sense of familiarity, considering City Lord Xu to be a man with keen insight.

Wen Qiao shared the same opinion about Sheng Yunshen's perceptiveness.

Yi Xuan glanced at Sheng Yunshen and Wen Qiao, then quietly looked away, unable to bear watching them.

Arriving at the dungeon, Lord Xu led them deeper into its heart.

The dungeon was considered the most fortified area of the City Lord's Manor. It was a secure place to confine frenzied cultivators, ensuring that no innocents would be harmed.

When the guards posted at the dungeon saw the City Lord approach with his entourage, they hurried forward to pay their respects.

"Unlock the seals. I'll bring these fellow Daoists from Crimson Heaven Sect inside," Lord Xu instructed.

The guard promptly opened the seals, allowing the group to enter.

As they drew near, they could hear inhuman screams and the sounds of bodies slamming against walls and iron bars.

Inside the cells, the imprisoned cultivators were disheveled and covered in filth, frantically attacking the very prison that held them. Fortunately, the iron bars were protected by seals, or else such relentless attacks would eventually break through.

Upon seeing someone arrive, the prisoners grew even more agitated, slamming their bodies against the bars with a loud clanging, seemingly oblivious to pain. Those standing outside the bars watched, their scalps tingling with a chill running down their spines.

Yi Xuan remained expressionless.

Ning Yuzhou remained calm and composed as he observed the raving individuals in the cells.

Wen Qiao appeared curious, while Sheng Yunshen seemed slightly startled, but both maintained their composure.

City Lord Xu discreetly assessed the situation, secretly nodding in approval. The disciples from the main peak of Crimson Heaven Sect were indeed exceptional; unlike other cultivators who would typically be startled by such a scene for the first time.

Amidst the commotion, Ning Yuzhou asked, "City Lord Xu, have they always been like this?"

City Lord Xu hurriedly replied, "Yes, they've lost their minds. They can't hear anyone else and merely continue to rave wildly. When they eventually tire themselves out, they'll fall asleep, only to resume their madness upon waking up, attacking anything they can. There's no respite."

Ning Yuzhou acknowledged with a soft hum and continued walking down the passage.

Cells lined both sides of the corridor, housing the frenzied cultivators. As they passed by, these individuals rushed towards them in a mad dash, violently slamming into the iron bars, baring their teeth and claws, and letting out guttural screams.

The dungeon was illuminated by a harsh white light that accentuated the terrifying sight of the crazed cultivators and their haunting cries.

Ning Yuzhou remained unperturbed, calmly strolling past while observing the reactions of the prisoners within the cells.

City Lord Xu, Yi Xuan, and the others followed closely behind, not disturbing his observations.

From start to finish, nearly a thousand frenzied cultivators were confined here. Although this number wasn't large, it was still significant. With nearly a thousand cultivators going mad without any apparent reason, how could people not be worried and fearful, fearing that they might be the next to succumb?

After his inspection, Ning Yuzhou turned to City Lord Xu and said, "City Lord Xu, please arrange for an empty room and bring one of the frenzied individuals there. I'll examine them personally."

Of course, there was no issue with that.

City Lord Xu immediately made the necessary arrangements and asked eagerly, "Young Master Ning, have you discovered anything? Is there a solution?"

Ning Yuzhou spoke warmly, "I need to conduct further investigations before I can determine the outcome. City Lord Xu, there's no need to worry too much. These frenzied cultivators don't spread their condition to others through contact."

City Lord Xu heaved a sigh of relief. "That's good! Ever since more and more cultivators started going mad, the city has been in a state of panic, thinking that it was contagious…" Suddenly, he realized something and asked with a delighted expression, "How did Young Master Ning know that it's not contagious?"

Ning Yuzhou smiled but didn't respond.

This mysterious demeanor appeared arrogant to ordinary people, as if he, as an Alchemist, deemed himself above explanations.

City Lord Xu felt a jolt in his heart, afraid to ask further for fear of offending him.

Alchemists held high status on the Holy Martial Continent and were greatly respected by society. This reverence had cultivated a sense of arrogance and aloofness among Alchemists. Most capable Alchemists wouldn't tolerate any disrespect from cultivators.

Of course, it was the fault of other cultivators that alchemists had such quirks.

Mayor Xu was very efficient. He soon made the arrangements and personally brought the frenzied individual over.

The crazed cultivator was bound with ropes, wriggling desperately but unable to break free. He could only let out maddened roars like a trapped beast. Under his disheveled hair, his face was twisted, and his eyes held a faint, bloodshot glint, resembling those of a wild animal.

Mayor Xu asked, "Young Master Ning, should I untie him?"

"No need," Ning Yuzhou replied. "Just tie him to a chair."

Mayor Xu personally took action, binding the crazed cultivator to a chair. Worried that he might suddenly attack and injure the fragile alchemist, he intended to stay and keep watch.

"Ning Yuzhou said, "If Mayor Xu has other matters to attend to, you can go. My senior brother is here, so there's no need for you to stay and watch constantly."

At present, Mayor Xu was most concerned about the issue of the city's cultivators going mad. He opened his mouth, wanting to stay, but considering that Ning Yuzhou might not want outsiders witnessing the treatment process, he wisely left.

It could only be said that Mayor Xu was overthinking things.

Ning Yuzhou merely didn't want any outsiders staring here; it was fine as long as he and his fellow disciples were around.

Sheng Yunshen closed the door behind him and skipped over to inspect the bound figure on the chair, asking, "Junior Apprentice Brother Ning, how do you plan to deal with him?"

Ning Yuzhou glanced at him. "Of course, I'll heal him."

"Ahh, you can really heal him?" Sheng Yunshen asked in surprise.

Even Wen Qiao and Yi Xuan couldn't help but stare at him.

"It depends on their condition. If the episode of madness was brief, then it's naturally treatable. But if it's been too long..."

Though he didn't finish his sentence, everyone present understood that Ning Yuzhou seemed capable of healing them.

Sheng Yunshen immediately regained his confidence. "You're right. Who is Junior Apprentice Brother Ning? Is there anything he can't do? Little Junior Sister, let's sit here and not disturb Junior Apprentice Brother Ning."

Seeing that the issue could be resolved, he relaxed once more, adopting an upbeat attitude that was both exasperating and amusing to watch.

Sheng Yunshen pulled Wen Qiao to a window seat, retrieving various snacks and spirit wines from his storage bag. As they munched and sipped, they watched Ning Yuzhou attend to the frenzied cultivator, even inviting Wen Tuzi to join them.

Yi Xuan observed this trio and their rabbit companion, shaking his head discreetly. A good senior brother would naturally indulge them.

***

As night fell, the quartet of siblings remained huddled in their room without any signs of movement.

At first, there were still some muffled roars, but gradually, those sounds faded away. City Lord Xu kept his gaze fixed on them. When he noticed the silence, it gnawed at him, leaving him eager to know what had transpired.

Had they killed that frenzied cultivator?

The thought startled City Lord Xu himself. While these cultivators had gone berserk, they were still living beings. One would not take such drastic measures unless absolutely necessary. As the leading righteous sect, Crimson Sky Sect wouldn't do something like this, right?

In the end, City Lord Xu couldn't resist and approached the door to knock.

He came up with a plausible reason, "Young Master Yi, Young Master Ning, Young Master Sheng, and Miss Min, it's late. Are you all planning to rest?"

Yi Xuan opened the door and replied, "Not yet, we'll be staying here tonight."

City Lord Xu seized the opportunity to peer inside the room. He noticed that the person tied to the chair was now subdued, sitting there in a daze. Although they still seemed mentally unstable, their condition was significantly better than before.

Startled, City Lord Xu hurriedly asked, "Young Master Yi, what happened to him?"

Yi Xuan shifted aside, allowing him entry.

After City Lord Xu came in, his gaze swept across the room and noticed Ning Yuzhou seated at the table, writing something with a brush. On the other side, two men and a demonic rabbit were sitting together, with a pile of melon seeds, spiritual fruit, and other snacks on the table. They were enjoying their feast with apparent delight. How could such a carefree scene seem so out of place?

City Lord Xu: "…."

"Junior Brother Ning fed him a spirit pill to calm him down," Yi Xuan explained.

City Lord Xu immediately forgot about the incongruous trio and asked eagerly, "What kind of spirit pill? Our alchemists have tried feeding them various spirit pills before, but none seemed to work."

"Ning Yuzhou replied coolly, "It was a Young Yang Pill."

City Lord Xu: "… What kind of spirit pill is that?"

Ning Yuzhou gave him a glance and said, "It's a type of yang-based pill, a derivative of the Young Yang Breakthrough Pill."

City Lord Xu became even more perplexed.

As an cultivator in the Yuan Zong realm, he had knowledge of many different types of spirit pills. However, he had never heard of these two. Could it be that these were secret spirit pills of Crimson Heaven Sect, not circulated outside their sect?

If that were the case, it would make sense. After all, which major sect at the apex doesn't have some hidden trump card?