The trio left Jumu City and sped along the main road toward the north.
Their prior experience, coupled with these days spent exploring much of Canglin State’s map—especially around the major roads which were mostly uncovered—made this return journey far easier. They encountered almost no danger, and the occasional menacing monster could be easily bypassed.
By midday, they had reached Sky Wolf City.
Since they were headed back to Fengyin State, they naturally wanted to say goodbye to Hidden Dragon Do Not Use and check on his status.
When the three arrived at the entrance of the Five Immortals Sect, Xiao Jie went in to check and, finding no one, sent a private message to Hidden Dragon Do Not Use.
Not long after the message was sent, Hidden Dragon Do Not Use appeared at the gate with Hao Ye Xinghe.
"Hey, have you guys completed your quest?" Hidden Dragon Do Not Use asked in surprise.
"Yes, we’ve secured all three volumes of the Heavenly Book, and we’re preparing to head back to Fengyin State. What about you? How much longer will you stay? Do you want to go back with us?"
As he spoke, Xiao Jie took a moment to glance at both their levels.
Hidden Dragon Do Not Use had gone up a level and was now Level 29, just one level away from advancing.
Currently, he was only two levels above Xiao Jie, nearly in the same level bracket.
That wasn’t strange though. With Xiao Jie’s overnight advancement of four levels, there were very few who could match his pace.
In fact, rapid leveling wasn’t entirely impossible. The game granted players plenty of experience, though not exceedingly more than past online games. However, due to the severe penalties for dying, most players would grind low-level monsters to ensure safety, hence leveling up far slower.
Hao Ye Xinghe, on the other hand, had leveled rather quickly; within a few days, he’d reached Level 13. Indeed, leveling with the help of a high-level player was fast.
Listening to this, Hidden Dragon Do Not Use hurriedly said, "We’re planning to go back too. Hao Ye Xinghe has completed his Profession change and quest. Now, he just needs to wait until Level 20 to advance to Spirit Summoner. The monsters in Canglin State are too fierce; for safer leveling, Fengyin State seems better, especially since leveling with the guild provides more security."
Xiao Jie looked at Hao Ye Xinghe and indeed, his title now read ’Hao Ye Xinghe (Shaman)’.
Xiao Jie was quite curious about the Shaman Profession.
"So, Xinghe, you’ve learned spells now?"
"Yes, Feng, my Soul Summoning Technique is already very proficient. This spell is so powerful, you have no idea. It was exhilarating when I used it in reality, and I even discovered some interesting things there," Hao Ye Xinghe said excitedly.
Interesting things? Xiao Jie was somewhat surprised. Could there actually be demons and Divine entities in the real world?
Hao Ye Xinghe’s study at the Five Immortals Sect was Soul Summoning Technique, a spell used to communicate with Wan Ling, which were various powerful demon and ghost Spiritual Bodies. Shamans could commune with Wan Ling, seeking help or even Summoning demon spirits to Possess them, allowing the use of unique demon Skills.
If he could use Soul Summoning Technique in reality, it meant that real-world Wan Ling existed and could be communicated with and summoned.
To Xiao Jie, raised in a materialist tradition, this revelation was astounding, but thinking about the supernatural Strength, immortals, and demons present in the game...
His own Qi Refining Skill was usable in reality, and he could see Spiritual Energy, so some supernatural life forms also seemed plausible.
After playing the game for a while, Xiao Jie, upon deeper reflection, found it not so strange anymore.
But suddenly, he felt an uncanny sense of unreality, as if his entire understanding of the world had been overturned.
Xiao Jie didn’t ask about the appearance of real-world Divine entities or demons; some things were better preserved with a sense of mystery.
If he truly wanted to witness them, he would wait until he became an Immortal later on.
Some things become more dangerous the more you know about them.
Xiao Jie joked, "Congratulations, then. You’re pretty much a Master of Magic now, huh?"
"Hahaha, Feng, you’re too kind! What Master? It’s all thanks to your help that I achieved this. Just say the word if you need anything—I wouldn’t dare call myself a master in your presence. I’m just a follower..."
It was clear that the kid was struggling to express respect, or perhaps gratitude, though he clearly wasn’t very eloquent.
Xiao Jie didn’t mind it. "Then let’s get moving."
The five of them gathered and left Sky Wolf City, continuing their journey northward.
Upon reaching Qingqiu Village, they found it completely turned into ruins, with ghostly Demon Spirits—creatures half-human, half-demon—wandering among the charred remnants of buildings.
Although the demon folk of Canglin State considered themselves human, there was a clear difference in nature, reflected by the fact that their Demon Spirits took on animal forms upon death.
The group had no choice but to perform a physical exorcism of these Spirits.
Unfortunately, the Spirits were too low-level, so Xiao Jie and Hidden Dragon Do Not Use received no Experience Points. Ye Luo and I Want to Be Immortal gained only a little, but for Hao Ye Xinghe, it was another wave of experience, rising him to Level 14.
Xiao Jie mused that for new players unafraid of death, leveling could be quite fast when mixed with veterans.
Veteran players, however, would find it less profitable, as battling monsters below Level 20 would yield little reward in the future.
After passing Qingqiu Village, they arrived at a crossroads and stopped. Xiao Jie felt a bit conflicted.
To the east was the lake they had crossed on their way here, but since their boat had sunk, returning the same way was now difficult. It was unknown whether the unfortunate boatman had died or had found someone to send word back.