Chapter 234: Merchant Caravan, Meng Hai! Worshiping the Sun, Moon, and Stars!

Just over a month left...

Li Yanchu thought to himself.

Although he had mastered the Fasting Art, he still went into the city to purchase a large amount of food, water, and other essential supplies, just in case.

At this moment, the Universe Pouch proved to be extremely useful.

As for the silver needed to buy supplies, Li Yanchu was not lacking. He already had a few thousand taels in silver notes, and after leaving a portion with the innkeeper, the rest was more than enough.

He went to the livestock market and bought the strongest, best-looking camel he could find.

Then, he prepared to join a merchant caravan.

Outside the frontier was a different world compared to within the borders. Even though he carried the Wind Tamer, he didn’t want to recklessly ride the clouds and fly.

He wanted to avoid unnecessary complications.

Besides, he also needed a guide. Otherwise, it would be all too easy to lose direction in the boundless desert.

Many merchant caravans had their own warriors to protect their goods. Some also directly hired armed escorts from security firms.

Beyond the border, there were brutal and murderous bandits on horseback and sand raiders, who often attacked passing caravans. In the vast and sparsely populated frontier lands, this was everyday life.

After all, the desert and mountains were outside the jurisdiction of the imperial court of the Kingdom of Qian. So basic protection was a necessity.

Li Yanchu, leading his camel, joined a caravan that was about to depart from the border.

The caravan leader was named Meng Hai, a man in his forties with a weathered face. His body had grown slightly stout over the years, but his limbs were still nimble, as he was a martial artist. He had been in this line of trade for ten years.

Starting off as an obscure wandering warrior, he’d worked his way up to owning a camel caravan, marrying a wife, and fathering a son. If nothing else, Meng Hai had a wealth of experience in frontier trade.

After all, storms, bandits, and all kinds of dangers could easily cost a man his life. One could die silently in the wilderness, without a trace.

At first, Meng Hai didn’t think much of Li Yanchu. A handsome, refined young Daoist Master Like him, what use would he be out in the wild?

An old Daoist Master, maybe, could at least help with geomancy or divination.

But, when the strongest warrior in the caravan, Duan Dali, a man known to be able to kill a wild ox with a single punch, was easily taken down by Li Yanchu, Meng Hai began to look at him differently.

With that level of skill, he’d have no trouble surviving beyond the frontier.

And besides, weren’t monks and Daoists just the kind of lucky charms people liked to bring along for blessings?

So, the group set off from Tianhai Pass, heading toward Mount Hengduan.

Inside and outside the pass were two entirely different worlds. Even the desolate regions within the border still had signs of human life; it was rare to find truly uninhabited places.

But beyond the border, it was different. The sky stretched high, the earth wide and endless. It was boundless wilderness!

When they left Tianhai Pass, the surrounding area was still part of an oasis. But as they journeyed deeper, the land gradually became barren. Much of it turned into desert.

Meng Hai, a warm and talkative middle-aged man, rode his camel side by side with Li Yanchu. “Daoist Master Li, you’re a Daoist, what brings you to Mount Hengduan?” Meng Hai asked.

Li Yanchu explained, “I’m looking for someone. A friend of mine was taken, he’s likely been brought to Mount Hengduan.”

Meng Hai nodded slightly.

“Didn’t expect someone from beyond the mundane world to be so loyal to his friends. Was your friend taken by one of the barbarian tribes? I actually have ties with several of the tribes in the Hengduan range. If that’s the case, I might be able to put in a word on your behalf.”

Li Yanchu shook his head. “Thanks, but my friend was taken by the Shaman Sect.”

He didn’t try to hide it.

Upon hearing that, Meng Hai’s expression shifted slightly. His face tensed in surprise. “The Shaman Sect?”

He was clearly stunned, then added, “The Shaman Sect is considered a sacred religion among the barbarian tribes, they usually have no dealings with outsiders.”

His tone had changed; clearly, he knew the Shamanists were no trivial matter.

Li Yanchu hadn’t known Meng Hai long, but the man didn’t carry resentment or bad karma. In fact, he seemed rather blessed.

From his appearance, he seemed like a straightforward and upright person. Therefore, Li Yanchu didn’t hide anything.

“Mr. Meng, have you ever heard of the Heavenly Palace of Myriad Phenomena? My friend was taken by the Shaman Sect, because they’re searching for the Heavenly Palace of Myriad Phenomena,” Li Yanchu said.

When Meng Hai heard this, he seemed to understand. “Then your friend must have a noble destiny or a fate blessed by lucky stars, that’s probably why the Shamanists took him.”

Li Yanchu was a bit surprised. “Is that kind of thing common?”

Otherwise, how had Meng Hai so quickly grasped the reason behind it?

Meng Hai gave a sigh and a half-smile. “The Shamanists are the faith of the tribes beyond the frontier. They worship the sun, moon, and stars... the mountains, rivers, and all things in nature. They believe everything has a spirit and can be worshipped.

“I heard from the elders that the legendary Heavenly Palace of Myriad Phenomena can only be found by someone with a destiny, someone whose fate is extraordinarily noble. I always thought it was just a tale passed down by word of mouth.”

His voice grew lower and lower, as he was deliberately lowering his tone. In the frontier, talking about the Shaman Sect was highly taboo. But perhaps it was Li Yanchu’s Daoist robes that gave off a sense of familiarity and trust, causing Meng Hai to let down his guard a bit.

Li Yanchu nodded slightly, a thoughtful look in his eyes. So Hongtu’s fate involved such heavy karma?

“Mr. Meng, how much do you know about the Shaman Sect?” Li Yanchu asked.

Meng Hai glanced at him and sighed.

“Daoist Master Li, what I’m about to say may be a bit inappropriate, and it might come off as too forward given how little we know each other. But we’re both citizens of the Kingdom of Qian, so I’ll give you a word of advice: don’t get involved with the Shaman Sect.”

“Oh? Is it because they’re powerful?” Li Yanchu asked.

“Not just that. The Shaman Sect is

sinister

. They perform live sacrifices, skin people, gouge out hearts, or hollow a person out until only the skin remains, and use that to make human-skin drums. Their methods are horrifying.

“It’s a cult worshipped by the barbarian tribes. They’re uncivilized, bloodthirsty, and savage, especially their shamans. They can summon spirits, cast curses, even invade your dreams... They're practically demons. You’re young and full of fire, traveling all this way to rescue a friend. That loyalty is admirable. But I advise you, don’t mess with the Shaman Sect. You could end up paying with your life.”

Li Yanchu knew he was speaking out of concern. “Thank you for the warning, Mr. Meng.”

But still, he would save his friend, no matter what.

No matter how fearsome the Shaman Sect was, they couldn’t be worse than the demonic forces found in the Blissful Lands.

Meng Hai opened his mouth as if to say more, but in the end, just sighed. He could see the resolve in Li Yanchu’s eyes.

When you’re young, full of fire, you’ll bleed and fight for your friends without a second thought, loyalty was everything.

But Meng Hai was already in his forties. He had a wife, a child, a family, and a business. There were far more concerns now.

If it weren’t for wanting to provide a better life for his family, Meng Hai wouldn’t still be risking his life running trade routes beyond the border.

The caravan pressed on toward Mount Hengduan, the sound of camel bells echoing gently in the wind.

Beyond the frontier, the climate was harsh and cold.

Just moments ago the skies had been clear, but in the blink of an eye, strong winds began to howl. The weather changed just like that without warning!

Fortunately, Meng Hai was experienced, and the caravan was full of seasoned travelers who had spent years beyond the border. They had already anticipated the coming winds.

They found a windbreak and got both the camels and people settled safely.