I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night-Chapter 1317 - 690: An Encounter with an Old Acquaintance (Part 2)

"It seems that even the sanctuaries of the world are no longer peaceful and stable." The elderly man named Shi sighed and said, "As long as nothing happens to you all here, that's good."

"There aren't many people in this sanctuary." The middle-aged Martial Artist said, "That group of Yin Soldiers didn't mind us, and after they broke through another sanctuary, dawn was approaching."

"Many more people have died."

Grandpa Shi took a deep breath and sighed, "I wonder how many of us will survive by the time we reach Ice City?"

Saying this, he hesitated for a moment and said, "We should hurry along and throw everything except weapons, food, and clothing into the sanctuary. If the peace returns, we can come back to retrieve them."

"This... "

The young girl quickly hugged a bundle in her arms and said urgently, "No, Grandpa Han's ashes, we agreed to find a good place for them and eventually move them back to his hometown."

"Even if he were alive, he would not want his ashes to cause your death."

Grandpa Shi said, "We must travel light and reach the city under the protection of the Divine Spirit as soon as possible; fewer people will die that way."

As he said this, he reached out to take the bundle from the girl's arms and said, "Old Han was in the chaos of the Deceit Night for a long time, nearing loss of control, and he took his own life. His ashes may have absorbed some strange Qi Mechanism; they are an ominous thing, and should have been laid to rest in the earth earlier."

——

An hour later.

The group gradually left, heading north.

After a moment, another figure slowly appeared.

Lin Yan looked at the mounds of graves within the sanctuary and fell into silence.

In particular, the wooden tablet on the first grave made his emotions incredibly complex.

The owner of this grave was named Han Liuzhen.

He was a son of the Han Family in Qifeng Prefecture City, and a kin of my mentor Han Zheng.

He once served in the large-scale Pure Land of Qifeng Prefecture.

He was the previous Great Guardian of Yanshou Pure Land, entrusted with the Old God's Magical Objects.

Later, he established significant merit and was promoted.

After the South Mountain Sacred Land was incorporated into the Holy Alliance, he was transferred within the Holy Alliance to become the Deputy City Governor of a city.

"So, that old man Shi just now..."

No wonder Lin Yan felt a sense of familiarity with him.

Recalling the past, he realized.

Shi Wen, Deputy Commander of the City Guard Front Army in Qifeng Prefecture.

He was nurtured by the Han Family and followed Han Liuzhen.

Back then, Shi Wen was just a young officer.

But now, decades later, the years have fleetingly passed.

His cultivation did not progress significantly, halting at the Peak of the Refining Essence Realm.

Decades have slipped by, leaving him aged, and he is now respectfully addressed as Grandpa Shi.

"So it was him."

Looking at the grave before him, Lin Yan said, "Your cultivation, status, and origin all exceeded those of Shi Wen, yet you died before him."

He understood from earlier words that Han Liuzhen was also a good man, nearly losing control, and chose to end his own life.

Despite his perception extending outward, Lin Yan couldn't sense Han Liuzhen's soul.

Logically, if he took his own life, not being devoured by evil spirits or consumed by Yin Soldiers, his soul would remain in the world.

However, Han Liuzhen has been dead for many days, and it's feared that any soul lingering in the world has been divided and consumed by evil spirits or Yin Soldiers.

"Something's not right."

Lin Yan thought to himself, "The obsession of this corpse seems to have a strong connection with these people... Could he once have been one of their group?"

He remained silent for a moment, then quickly practiced the Creation of All Things Skill to disperse the Corpse Demon Energy, and transformed into an ordinary human of the Human Clan.

Though this was not his true form, his mastery of magic methods was still intact.

This transformation could not be seen through by anyone below a Heavenly God.

——

By nightfall.

Shi Wen's group had already gathered over a hundred people.

As night approached, they once again scattered across various sanctuaries.

And during the day, they would gather, support one another, and share food.

They also hunted for birds and beasts that escaped the Yin Soldiers, and even demons.

"Once we scatter tonight, who knows how many will gather again tomorrow?"

Shi Wen's expression changed slightly, letting out a sigh.

In the first two decades, though the mortal world was in turmoil, hiding in various sanctuaries was still manageable.

But the passage of Yin Soldiers left no plant life behind.

In a short time, each night saw people die.

And there's still over a hundred miles to Ice City from here.

He muttered, "How many more will die in these hundred or so miles?"

"Grandpa Shi, have something to eat."

The young girl handed over a fruit.

"You all eat; I am a being at the Peak of Refining Essence Realm. Though I crave food, I've long been able to fast."

Shi Wen waved his hand lightly.

"Who are you fooling! Even in the Qi Refining Realm, it's hard to fast; it's not like I haven't practiced before..."

The girl stubbornly stuffed the fruit into his mouth, and said, "You're already old, your Qi-Blood is waning, if you don't eat a little, you'll starve."

Accepting the fruit, Shi Wen's expression turned complex, and he sighed, "Since the Northern Cities were destroyed, we've been displaced and have taken refuge in various sanctuaries. It's become a habit."

His expression changed, looking at the girl with a sigh, saying, "I probably won't live to see the Human Clan reclaim their lost lands, but at least I've witnessed the days of the Human Clan growing stronger day by day... You were born during the Deceit Night, who knows if you'll ever see that day."

"Didn't you say, Grandpa Shi, that Ice City is guarded by a Divine Spirit, like during the prosperous times?"

The girl took a bite of the fruit, muttering, "Why do you have no confidence?"

"..."

Shi Wen fell silent.

According to reports, Ice City should be as it is.

But if Ice City was indeed protected by the Old God, by now, all Human Clans would have sought refuge there.

As of now, the city is overcrowded and can't accommodate more people.

How will they be received when they reach Ice City?

"Who's there!"

Shi Wen's expression changed suddenly as he looked outside.

They saw a man approaching outside the sanctuary, dressed in a black robe with ordinary facial features.

Inside the sanctuary, the ten or so people behind Shi Wen withdrew their blades, ready and vigilant.

"What? Does this sanctuary belong to you?"

Lin Yan's tone was calm, "Within a sanctuary, fellow clan members cannot be driven away; this is iron law..."

Shi Wen glanced back once.

The others breathed a sigh of relief, sheathing their weapons.

Shi Wen stepped forward half a step and said, "Living during the Deceit Night, one can't help but be cautious, please understand..."

As Lin Yan stepped into the sanctuary, Shi Wen let out a long sigh.

To enter a sanctuary means one isn't a demon, evil spirit, or transformed Yin Soldier.

"..."

Lin Yan glanced toward the depths of the sanctuary, thinking: "This is a small sanctuary, not of a Heavenly God, and the residual Old Divine Power in the Suppression Object is rather weak... With the Creation of All Things Skill, they cannot discern my true nature, which is expected."

With this thought, he sat across from Shi Wen.

Shi Wen's gaze was solemn, not daring to be careless.

In these times, one couldn't even trust fellow clansmen.

Order was long chaotic, and rules had long collapsed.

Though mutual support and assistance allowed them to survive,

there were also those who used the Human Clan as medicine to empower themselves.

Some sought refuge with the Old Gods, becoming Tribulation Ash, serving the Evil Gods and hunting ordinary Human Clans.

There were also those, with high cultivation, treating all beings as mere weeds, seeking only to survive.

"May I ask who you are?"

Shi Wen hesitated for a moment.

"Originally from Heavenly Destiny City, a member of the Ling Family."

Lin Yan said, "When Heavenly Destiny City fell, my clan scattered and became exiles; I luckily broke through the Refining Essence Realm and fled from the demon threat, but I took the wrong path..."

"I see."

Shi Wen nodded, but his heart was more suspicious.

When Heavenly Destiny City fell, one ought to go south; how did you end up in the north?

Meanwhile, Lin Yan looked at the girl beside him and asked, "Where are you all from?"

The girl, appearing not used to seeing outsiders, was awkward and spoke nervously: "We came from the north and are heading to Ice City..."

In that moment, Lin Yan felt his whole body seize up.

The obsession of this body was extremely intense.

With an overwhelming intent to resist.

Ice City!

There's a problem!