Chapter Forty: The Alliance of Humanity

Shi Qi frowned. “The Twelve Provinces are so vast. Could it just be someone who looks similar?”

Sun Fanbai replied, “That was my first thought as well, but… how should I put it? If you’ve ever met Master Egret, then see this ancient painting, your instinctive reaction would be: this is the same person.”

Shi Qi thought to himself: Though I always call my master an old witch, she can’t have really lived for ten thousand years, right…

Sun Fanbai continued, “Brother Shi, you should visit my Yunqing Sect when you can. I could show you this painting. Master Egret once gifted me the Celestial Fire Banner and stated directly that she had a connection to Yunqing. I have a sense there’s a link here.”

After a moment’s thought, Shi Qi said, “Alright. Once I’ve finished my business in the Eastern Province, I’ll head north to Yunqing. There’s something I need to ask of you anyway.”

“Excellent,” Sun Fanbai nodded. “I’ll take my leave then.”

Bai Qiu spoke up, “Xiao Qi, are you in Yongzhou City right now?”

“That’s right,” Shi Qi replied.

Bai Qiu said, “Then tomorrow, pay a visit to the Yongzhou branch of the Alliance of Humanity. Apply for and pass the trial to become a member.”

“The Alliance of Humanity?” Shi Qi echoed.

“Yes,” Bai Qiu explained. “It’s a cultivator alliance directly connected to the imperial court. Regardless of sect or age, any cultivator at or above the Golden Core stage can apply and, after passing the trial, become a member. The main work involves taking on various missions issued by the organization—such as apprehensions, escorts, item retrieval, and so on.”

He went on, “There’s a branch in every major city, Yongzhou included. With your abilities, you’ll breeze through the trial. I’m a member myself now. There’s plenty of fun to be had, and since you’re heading east anyway, we could meet up in the Eastern Province, have some fun, and perhaps even pick up some rare treasures while completing missions.”

“I see,” said Shi Qi.

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The next morning, Shi Qi knocked on Su Xiaomu’s door. Seeing that she was still sound asleep, he couldn’t help but think: This girl does nothing but eat and sleep, yet her cultivation progresses so quickly.

Shi Qi left the inn alone and wandered through the streets of Yongzhou City.

Even at dawn, the city was bustling with people. After some wandering, Shi Qi found himself standing before a grand building.

He took in the sight: the lofty entrance hall, the imposing main doors, the rounded arched windows, and the stonework around the corners—all embodying dignity and stability.

Above the doors hung a plaque bearing two large characters: “Alliance of Humanity.”

“So, this is it,” Shi Qi murmured.

He stepped inside, where an elderly man approached.

“Young friend,” the old man greeted him with a respectful gesture. “How may the Alliance of Humanity assist you?”

Shi Qi returned the gesture. “Senior, could you tell me more about your organization?”

With a nod, the elder beckoned Shi Qi to follow him inside. There were only a few others in the hall, a couple of people chatting quietly.

The old man led Shi Qi to an inner chamber and gestured, “If you have any tasks to post, you may do so in the side hall to the left. The Alliance currently recognizes three main categories of missions.”

“The first: Apprehension. These are official tasks and may not be posted by private individuals—only the imperial government or certain designated sects may issue them. The targets are criminals who have violated the fundamental codes of cultivation. The missions are divided into capture and kill, with different rewards depending on the circumstances.”

“The second: Escort. These can be posted by either officials or private citizens. The tasks typically require guarding someone for a set period. The rewards vary according to the cultivator’s level and the situation. The poster can choose freely from those who accept the task, but let me remind you: the Alliance does not guarantee the performance of the escorts. There is always the risk of failure. The fundamental bottom line for an escort is self-preservation. If the actual situation is much more dangerous than described, the escort has the right to unilaterally withdraw.”

“The third: Item Retrieval. These too can be posted by officials or private individuals. The mission is usually to find a specified item somewhere within the Twelve Provinces, with rewards varying according to the item’s value.”

Shi Qi nodded, having gained a basic understanding of the Alliance’s operations. Its existence formed a bridge between cultivators and the imperial court—between the extraordinary and the common folk. Though there were no binding policies, it still provided a layer of protection for ordinary people.

The old man asked, “So, young friend, how may I help you?”

Shi Qi bowed. “Senior, what is the process for joining the Alliance?”

The old man smiled, “To join, one must first be at the Golden Core stage… you, ah…”

Shi Qi realized the elder was holding back out of politeness, likely underestimating him because of his youth.

With a smile, Shi Qi answered, “Senior, I have already reached the Golden Core stage.”

“Oh?” The old man was surprised. “Forgive my poor eyesight, but you can’t be more than seventeen or eighteen, yet already at the Golden Core stage? Which prestigious sect are you from?”

In truth, the old man’s surprise was understandable. Since leaving the island, everyone Shi Qi had met—Bai Qiu, Liao Hongda, Sun Fanbai, Yuanwu, even Bai Yunxin and Leng Lingmeng—had all come from renowned backgrounds or had famous masters.

Among them, Bai Yunxin, Leng Lingmeng, and Liao Hongda were all ranked among the top ten young experts of the Twelve Provinces, the most outstanding disciples of venerable sects. For Shi Qi to hold his own against them meant he had long since joined the ranks of young elite cultivators.

For most cultivators, either their talent is mediocre—reaching Foundation Establishment by twenty and Golden Core by forty, with a lucky few making Nascent Soul by sixty—or, if exceptionally gifted, reaching Golden Core before twenty. But those prodigies are often “vases”—cultivation without combat experience, having never suffered setbacks. This is why so many sects, Yunqing included, send their disciples out to temper themselves. Jade must be carved to become a gem, and in this age where even cultivators must chase after profit, unless one retires to some hidden place, there’s no escaping the tide of the times.

Shi Qi replied, “I am an unaffiliated cultivator, with no sect or master.”

He didn’t mention Master Egret. For one, her name wasn’t well-known—few might recognize it, though that did not mean she wasn’t powerful. With just an avatar, she could send small-ascension experts flying with two slaps. Few in all the Twelve Provinces could match that. For another, Shi Qi knew his master had many secrets. He didn’t wish to draw attention to her because of his own activities.

The old man’s eyes lit up. “Then your talent is truly exceptional! This way, please.”

With a wave, he led Shi Qi out of the inner chamber and into another hall. The elder pointed to a transparent crystal sphere in the room. “Young friend, please channel your spiritual energy into the test orb. It will determine whether you’ve attained the Golden Core stage.”

Shi Qi nodded, stepped forward, placed his right palm on the orb, and began to send his spiritual energy into it.

As his energy poured in, the orb flashed brilliantly with white light.

The old man nodded approvingly. “That’s enough, young friend. When spiritual energy at or above the Golden Core stage is channeled into the orb, it shines white. The brighter the light, the purer the energy. You have passed this stage with ease.”

Shi Qi withdrew his hand, and the orb gradually faded to transparency once more.

The old man continued, “Please follow me.”

Shi Qi did so, and after a moment they arrived at another door.

“This is the second trial,” the old man announced.

“How many trials are there in total?” Shi Qi asked.

“Three,” the old man replied with a smile.

Shi Qi nodded and pushed open the door.

Inside, symbols and talismans had been drawn on the floor, forming some sort of formation.

The old man, standing behind him, explained, “This is the trial illusion array. Once inside, you’ll enter an illusion where you’ll face an opponent in combat. Defeat your opponent to pass; if you are defeated, you’ll be ejected from the array. You won’t die within the illusion, so there’s nothing to fear.”

Shi Qi nodded and stepped into the formation.

Suddenly, his vision was engulfed by white light, the world spinning around him. He felt dizzy, but summoned his spiritual energy to his crown, and gradually the sensation faded.

When the light receded, Shi Qi found himself no longer indoors but standing atop a dueling platform.

In front of him stood a man in purple, his face entirely wrapped in black cloth.

Outside the formation, the old man exclaimed in shock, “It’s that lord’s phantom! This young man is truly remarkable!”

Shi Qi was about to speak when the purple-clad man vanished in a flash, sword in hand, attacking Shi Qi at lightning speed.

“He’s fierce,” Shi Qi muttered, reaching behind his back with his left hand. With a flick, the Biyun Umbrella sprang forth. Without looking, Shi Qi snatched it from the air with his right hand.

A piercing sound cut through the air as the sword thrust for Shi Qi’s face. He raised the umbrella, sweeping it in front of him.

A metallic clang rang out—the sword’s direction was knocked skyward by Shi Qi’s block.

The man in purple lost his grip; the sword flew from his hand, spinning into the air.

Shi Qi seized the advantage, lunging forward, the tip of his umbrella striking the man’s chest.

The point pierced through, but Shi Qi felt no resistance—as if it had passed through thin air.

“A remnant image, or a clone?” Shi Qi instantly realized something was amiss—the figure before him was not the true body. But where had the real one gone?

He didn’t look back. The greatest danger was always at one’s back.

Shi Qi decisively summoned his spiritual energy and dashed forward.

In the very next instant, the sword that had been knocked into the air split into eleven blades, stabbing toward the spot where Shi Qi had just stood.