Dongsheng Shenzhou Realm, Nanzhao Kingdom.
Apart from being separated by great distances, the various major continents had vastly different local customs and cultures.
Some even differed greatly in their national structures.
For example, Nanzhanbu Continent's Xuanwu Kingdom was unmistakably centralized. Put more simply—the Emperor held absolute power.
Xuanwu Kingdom's national conditions were basically representative of the centralization situation in Nanzhanbu Continent's nations.
At the very least, the Emperor possessed the right to tear off all pretense with anyone.
Dongsheng Shenzhou naturally had such centralized nations too. But due to different local customs and historical trajectories, the feudal system and alliance system prevailed here.
It could be roughly summarized as nations within nations—the Emperor enfeoffed land rights to various kings, and the Emperor could order the kings to obey, but couldn't specifically control the internal affairs of each king's territory.
Different circumstances gave rise to entirely different organizational structures.
Under Xuanwu Kingdom's system of imperial supremacy where all land under heaven belonged to the Emperor, facing demons and various supernatural events, to stabilize the realm, the Demon Suppression Bureau naturally emerged—an organization that could spread throughout the country, serve as combat power, and provide certain intelligence capabilities.
The Demon Suppression Bureau was basically directly under the Emperor's command.
Under the Emperor's centralized power, an organization like the Demon Suppression Bureau naturally had no issues.
But in Dongsheng Shenzhou, things were different.
Although the Emperor was nominally supreme, his power couldn't extend into the various vassal states. Naturally, an organization like the Demon Suppression Bureau that spanned the entire country couldn't emerge.
With local people's livelihoods managed by various feudal lords, the organization of resistance against abnormal events varied greatly between different vassal states.
Some were dying of drought while others drowned in floods.
Fertile land and abundant spirit mines naturally allowed wealthy vassal states to develop themselves. With money, they could organize sizable demon-suppression forces.
As for remote locations with no spirit stones and no spirit veins, those vassal states were basically in a semi-abandoned state.
There was a sense that as long as demons didn't kill their way to the doorstep, everything was song and dance.
After all, if you couldn't afford to support cultivators, you couldn't expect cultivators to selflessly contribute, right?
Even if some cultivators might be entranced by the glittering world, how could such cultivators possibly risk their lives for it?
However, different national conditions would inevitably give rise to similar organizations when necessary.
Most nations in Dongsheng Shenzhou gave birth to an organization formed by rogue cultivators and sects working together—the Demon Hunter Guard.
Unlike the Demon Suppression Bureau which was fully funded by the state, this organization operated on a work-for-pay basis—a mission system.
Complete designated missions to receive designated compensation.
The birth of this organization greatly alleviated the pressure on impoverished vassal states facing demon ravages.
Although handling certain matters required paying extra money, normally there was no need to support high-level cultivators. Overall, it was still cost-effective.
The Demon Hunter Guard was composed of sects and rogue cultivators from Dongsheng Shenzhou.
Sects were responsible for core regions and highly dangerous missions, while rogue cultivators were scattered about handling relatively less dangerous missions.
Under this system, Dongsheng Shenzhou had the most rogue cultivators and nominally the most organizations among all the major continents.
This was also why Li Yingling could recruit so many Golden Core cultivators in Dongsheng Shenzhou.
Because as long as you dared to risk your life, you could obtain quite a few resources as a demon hunter without necessarily joining a sect.
With most rogue cultivators having to work as demon hunters for cultivation resources, the rogue cultivators of Dongsheng Shenzhou were the most reliable and practical bunch compared to other continents, with decent temperaments too.
After all, when away from home, you really had to rely on friends.
Dongsheng Shenzhou, a vibrant and unique realm. Apart from the land itself, even the people gave one an extraordinarily distinctive feeling.
At least, that was what Chen Baiqing thought.
When Chen Baiqing stepped into Dongsheng Shenzhou, she considered for a long time before obtaining a demon hunter identity plate.
The Demon Hunter Guard issued different identity plates based on different cultivation levels.
Qi Condensation cultivators received copper plates, Foundation Establishment received silver plates, Golden Core cultivators received gold plates, and Nascent Soul cultivators received jade plates.
As for Soul Formation cultivators and above, they wouldn't lower themselves to become demon hunters.
Even if they insisted, the Demon Hunter Guard would enshrine them as honorary elders, not making extra tokens.
The token system allowed quick identification of whether a cultivator was reliable and knowing teammates' cultivation levels without causing offense.
It also allowed rapid assessment of one's own side's strength.
To avoid assigning dangerous missions to a clueless novice.
Chen Baiqing actually hadn't originally wanted to get one. But when Li Yingling returned to the sect, she had also enthusiastically bragged about her glorious history as a demon hunter, organizing a large group of followers at her command.
Whether this history was true or false, only Zhang Miaoyu knew. But Zhang Miaoyu had always made Li Yingling the center of everything.
Li Yingling's claims had become an unsolvable mystery.
However, under Eldest Senior Sister's influence, Chen Baiqing hesitated for a moment, then went and got her demon hunter credentials, receiving a gold plate.
She had to admit, the way they issued these plates was quite interesting.
After all, a Qi Condensation cultivator might sell their gold plate for food, but a Golden Core cultivator wouldn't do something so tasteless.
When Chen Baiqing was little, besides listening to Master tell stories, she listened to Eldest Senior Sister tell stories.
Eldest Senior Sister told the most stories because during that initial period, Chen Baiqing actually slept together with Li Yingling.
When preparing to sleep at night, Eldest Senior Sister would always tell some strange and unusual stories.
Only later when Chen Baiqing started reading books did she discover that quite a few of those stories were actually things Eldest Senior Sister had read in books herself.
Compared to Eldest Senior Sister, Master told fewer stories, but the quality was much higher, vivid and interesting.
Most importantly, Chen Baiqing had never found stories similar to what Master told in any book.
But... Eldest Senior Sister hadn't told Chen Baiqing stories in a long time either.
The most recent stories were Eldest Senior Sister's personal experiences.
They could be roughly summarized as—The Days of a Child of Fortune as a Demon Hunter in Dongsheng Shenzhou.
Chen Baiqing's subconscious reason for coming to Dongsheng Shenzhou was actually that Eldest Senior Sister had been here.
But unlike Eldest Senior Sister who pulled together a massive team and became the team leader...
Chen Baiqing had no interest in that. If she wanted to, she believed she could do it too.
But... Chen Baiqing didn't want to put that kind of thought into people who were destined not to walk the same path.
In the words of Dongsheng Shenzhou's rogue cultivators, cultivators like Chen Baiqing who only joined other people's teams during missions were collectively called—solo cultivators.
However, the mission Chen Baiqing accepted this time wasn't a solo mission.
Because this mission's compensation might be nothing more than a word of thanks and some items useless to cultivators.
This was a mission even rogue cultivators wouldn't take. So this time, Chen Baiqing would complete the mission alone.
But saying that wasn't entirely accurate either.
Because there was also a mortal employer with no cultivation at all to help out.
Turning from the main road onto a country path, Chen Baiqing rode a horse, wearing a purple veil that hung below her eyes.
Although Chen Baiqing kept her illusion technique active all day, making her appear to others as an extremely ordinary-looking, somewhat rustic and poor Golden Core cultivator...
Chen Baiqing still wore the purple veil, in case she encountered some high-level cultivator who could see through her illusion at a glance.
Chen Baiqing actually didn't know how to ride a horse very well, and she hadn't practiced any horse-riding tutorials.
But she knew how to make a horse obedient to her.
"The horses from big cities really are spirited."
Behind Chen Baiqing, an admiring young male voice rang out.
She sighed softly in her heart and glanced back. She saw a young man with dark skin, short and thin stature, wearing tattered hemp clothes, with grass sandals whose straps were nearly broken.
"Are we almost there?" Chen Baiqing asked.
The young man raised his head and quickly showed a fawning smile.
"Immortal Master, we're almost there. I'm truly troubling you."
Chen Baiqing shook her head slightly as her gaze drifted to the road ahead.
She wondered... if Master had returned safely.
But if he had returned, Eldest Senior Sister would probably have sent word.
[
Dear Readers,
I want to speak with you directly for a moment.
For the past two years, I have been here every single day, translating two chapters daily, pushing out bonus releases, and keeping early access running for those who want more. Three novels are being worked on simultaneously. The schedule is relentless, but I have kept it consistent because I know readers are waiting.
The truth is, the financial side of this work has become difficult. Patreon is what makes this sustainable. It is what allows me to keep the daily releases going instead of slowing down or stopping. If you have been reading along and the stories have meant something to you, joining a tier is the most direct way to ensure they continue without interruption.
Here is exactly what each tier offers:
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30 advanced chapters instantly for the same price the old 20-chapter tier used to cost. That comes out to 56 chapters per month for each fic, and I am working on 3 fics right now. You can do the math on how much content that is. This tier also includes access to character images.
A quick but important note: Subscribing through the Apple App adds an extra 30% fee because of Apple and Patreon policy. Subscribe through your browser to avoid that extra charge. Apple also processes payments very late, around 2 to 3 months, which makes it much harder to receive money quickly after you subscribe.
If you can support, it genuinely helps keep the daily releases alive. If you cannot, reading and sharing the work still matters more than you know.
---
New Novel Announcement
I am excited to announce a new addition to the lineup.
Title: The Greatest Immortal Sect of All Time
Synopsis:
This is an invincible sect. This is the strongest sect to ever exist across all ages.
The ultimate trickster, Chen Xi, transmigrates to a foreign continent and obtains a heaven-defying system.
You call yourself the Heavenly Profound Saint Venerable? Barely acceptable. You will serve as a menial disciple.
The Yellow Springs Great Emperor? Not bad. From now on, you are in charge of cleaning the latrines.
The number one female emperor of the Nine Heavens? The strongest demon god of the Primordial Era?
Sorry. Our sect is full of people like you.
This is not a story where the main character starts off completely invincible. Chen Xi begins slightly stronger than average, but he is still weak-to-strong with clear goals and steady progression. The power scale builds over time, and the journey is what drives the story.
The first 30 chapters will be free to read on Patreon, so you can get a feel for the tone and decide if it is something you want to follow.
I think this one is going to be a lot of fun, and I cannot wait to start sharing it with you.
Thank you for your time, and thank you for being here.
Patreon: patreon.com/Alex_Cruise
]