After Zhou Yuan's grouping, two Inner Sect disciples each led a team. Alaric Ye was assigned to Zhou Yuan's group, along with five female Outer Sect cultivators and three male cultivators.

After the grouping, two small task teams were formed. Each team gathered and began to introduce themselves and their strengths.

Zhou Yuan said, "First, let me introduce myself briefly. I have been cultivating in the Top Xuan Sect for over fifty years. I have trained in blade techniques, sword techniques, spells, and even the Body Forging Technique."

Seeing the astonished looks on everyone's faces, Zhou Yuan smiled wryly and said, "Don't envy me for learning so much. It was out of necessity. If I had other choices, who would want to learn such a wide array of skills?"

"The main reason is that my talent is mediocre, and I am old. Breaking through to a higher realm is a luxury unless I have a great opportunity. I had no choice but to spend time learning various techniques to improve my strength."

"I hope you, Junior Brothers and Sisters, don't follow my path. I have already seen the end of my cultivation journey. I am crazily taking on tasks just to accumulate enough merit to exchange for a Semicentury Pill to extend my lifespan by another sixty years, hoping to find a chance for further advancement."

Another female Outer Sect cultivator, around forty or fifty years old and at the fifth level of Qi Refining, smiled wryly and said, "Actually, most cultivators are like Senior Brother. In the cultivation world, those who can break through to the Foundation Establishment stage are the elite, known as the 'Chosen.' Those who can't break through will, after a hundred years, become old and frail like ordinary mortals, turning into a pile of yellow earth."

"In our group, I should be the second oldest, so let me introduce myself next. My name is Wu Lingjuan. Besides the Body Forging Technique, I have dabbled in various areas, but I am best at earth-based spells, which can provide protection at critical moments."

"It's my turn. My name is Zheng Haoran. Before joining the sect, I was a scholar who enjoyed poetry and painting. Although I haven't produced any famous works yet, I am confident I will in the future. I am skilled in sword seals and sword control techniques. In critical moments, I can help two teammates escape."

...

Basically, everyone in the team introduced themselves according to their age. The youngest, without a doubt, was Alaric Ye, who had joined the Top Xuan Sect just over a year ago.

At this moment, he was only fifteen years old. Due to his handsome appearance and heroic demeanor, he was quite popular among the female cultivators in the group.

Alaric Ye said, "Senior Brothers and Sisters, I am Alaric Ye. I am not skilled in sword techniques or spells yet. I practice the Body Forging Technique. As a disciple of the Spirit Beast Peak, I also raise some Venomous Insects. If needed, I can provide support in close combat, and the Venomous Insects have some combat power."

"My cultivation is shallow, and my combat experience is not rich. I hope Senior Brothers and Sisters will take care of me. Thank you in advance."

As he spoke, Little Blue crawled from his sleeve to his fingertip. Seeing the smelly fart worm, everyone’s expressions changed slightly, and some even held their breath and covered their noses, fearing Little Blue would demonstrate its farting ability on the spot.

Zhou Yuan was the calmest. He said, "Junior Brother Ye, at such a young age, you have already become an Insect Cultivator. That's rare. Hmm, your name sounds familiar. Oh right, a year ago, wasn't it you who escaped from the Demonic Sect's ambush? I also heard that a miscellaneous cultivator named Alaric Ye embarrassed the Black Shark Society in front of the Skill Transference Pavilion, and one of the five Chosen, Senior Brother Louis Ren, personally invited you to join..."

Alaric Ye said calmly, "That was me."

Everyone seemed to recall the rumors about Alaric Ye, and their expressions changed slightly.

"Unexpectedly, in just a year, Junior Brother Ye has already reached the third level of Qi Refining, becoming a senior Outer Sect disciple, and has learned to raise Spirit Insects. Junior Brother Ye's talent is truly enviable," Zhou Yuan sighed.

Reaching the third level of Qi Refining in a year, although not earth-shattering, was already an excellent cultivation speed.

Everyone looked at him with astonishment. Initially, they thought he was the weakest among them, but now they couldn't help but see him in a new light.

It was rare for someone to be noticed and personally invited by one of the five Chosen.

The most outrageous part was that while most cultivators would go to great lengths to associate with the five Chosen, even spending countless Spirit Stones to get acquainted, Alaric Ye had unhesitatingly rejected Roger Ren's olive branch.

After the introductions, Zhou Yuan arranged the battle formation. Although Alaric Ye introduced himself as skilled in close combat and the Body Forging Technique, his cultivation was the lowest and he was the youngest, so he was placed in the center of the formation to be protected by teammates on both sides.

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After all, in everyone's impression, the Body Forging Technique was extremely difficult to cultivate. Even with some achievements, it was hard to resist attacks from higher-level cultivators' magical treasures and spells. Since Alaric Ye was good at controlling Spirit Insects, which could move quickly, his position wouldn't affect the insects' attacks.

Alaric Ye found that outside the sect, the cultivators of the Top Xuan Sect were more united and harmonious than inside. Under the new sect rules, everyone lacked a sense of security and trust, but once outside, they saw themselves as a family, working together to complete tasks as the only goal.

This was also because the sect rules stipulated that challenges could only occur within the sect with the enforcement team witnessing. Outside the sect, the new rules didn't apply.

The speed of a top-grade Flying Boat was much faster than a mid-grade one. After half a day, the Flying Boat slowly descended from the clouds. By then, Alaric Ye and the others had already left the Top Xuan Sect far behind, and even the vast Dragon-seeking Mountain Range was just a black silhouette on the horizon.

Below the Flying Boat was an endless plain, and the boat was heading swiftly towards a medium-sized town.

The mission location, Paoma Town in Baiyun County, had been reached!

The atmosphere on the Flying Boat became slightly tense. Everyone stood by the rail, infusing mana into their eyes, releasing spiritual light to observe the terrain and situation below using their Divine Eyes.

Cultivators' Divine Eyes could detect demonic energy, blood aura, demonic aura, and ghost aura within a certain range, making it the most common investigation method in demon-slaying missions.

Usually, upon reaching the mission location, opening the Divine Eyes would precisely identify the source of trouble, which could then be surrounded and killed.

But this time, even the highest cultivation among them, Zhou Yuan, found nothing unusual.

Alaric Ye also opened his Divine Eye, enhancing his vision several times. Even from a thousand meters high, he could see the movements on the ground.

He saw many wild horses on the plain and several herders, dragging their families and belongings, looking terrified as they fled their homes. Yet, he found nothing unusual.

The cultivators frowned.

The lack of abnormalities felt endlessly strange, making everyone's heart tighten!

They were even prepared to encounter powerful demons, but the most frightening thing was finding nothing.

This would drastically increase the danger level of the mission.

Because an unknown enemy, one whose whereabouts couldn't be tracked, was the most terrifying.

Zhou Yuan said, "Everyone, remember to maintain the demeanor of Immortal Elders. Let's go down and question these people fleeing Paoma Town. We might get crucial information from them."

"Understood."

As the Flying Boat descended, the fleeing mortals on the road finally noticed the Immortal Treasure in the sky and quickly got off their carts, kneeling in excitement.

"The Immortal Sect has sent a Flying Boat! The Immortal Sect hasn't forgotten us! We are saved!"

"Everyone, come down and pay respects."

When the Flying Boat was about ten meters high, Zhou Yuan led Alaric Ye's team, using aerial levitation to descend slowly. The other Inner Sect disciple's team stayed to guard the Flying Boat.

"Greetings, Upper Immortals!"

Dozens of herders, dragging their families, kowtowed to Alaric Ye and his group.

"We are here by the sect's order to investigate and eliminate the demonic disturbances. No need for formalities."

With a wave of Zhou Yuan's hand, everyone felt a gentle but irresistible force lifting them to their feet.

Zhou Yuan asked, "Are you from Paoma Town?"

An elderly man with graying hair respectfully replied, "Yes, Immortal Elder. We are all from Paoma Town. Our ancestors have lived there for generations, making a living by herding horses."

Zhou Yuan nodded, "Elder, tell us about the strange occurrences in Paoma Town recently. Leave nothing out, no matter how trivial it may seem."

The old man replied, "Immortal Elder, the strange events began some time ago. At first, only some homeless beggars went missing, and no one paid much attention. After all, beggars are often sick and wander from town to town. It's not unusual for them to suddenly die or disappear."

"But five days ago, five young men vanished overnight. According to their wives, they were still in bed before sleep, but by morning, they were gone without a trace. No matter how hard they searched, they found no clues, as if they had vanished into thin air."

"The town's constables investigated but found no blood or signs of struggle in their rooms. Even the doors and windows were intact, yet five living men disappeared!"

"Since then, at least five, sometimes up to eight people, have gone missing every night. Mostly young men, but also some women and children. Recently, two young Immortal Elders who came to investigate also disappeared during their night patrol in the town."

"Now, dozens of people have gone missing. Families with young men are terrified and are moving to nearby towns. We are also heading to relatives' homes to stay until the town is safe again."

Zhou Yuan asked, "What do you think is causing this?"

In this world, demons and monsters are not uncommon. Older people often have some experience with them.

The old man sighed, "Immortal Elder, no one has seen the culprit. I have no idea."

Zhou Yuan nodded.

"We will do our best to find and eliminate the cause. Rest assured, you will be able to return soon."

"Thank you, Immortal Elder!"

Everyone knelt again in gratitude.

After gathering the basic information, the group levitated back to the Flying Boat.

Zhou Yuan shared the old man's information with the other team, sparking a discussion.

Zhou Yuan speculated, "To make people disappear without a trace, without any sound or struggle, and mostly targeting strong young men, it is likely an evil spirit that feeds on yang energy. However, an evil spirit's aura should be detectable by the Divine Eye."

The other team's leader, an Inner Sect female disciple, said, "It could also be a snake demon skilled in transformation. Snake demons like to swallow living beings, shrinking to enter houses through small gaps and then enlarging to swallow people whole. After swallowing, they shrink again and escape. Their transformation skills might conceal their demonic aura, making it hard to detect without close proximity."

Another person suggested, "It could be a demonic cultivator skilled in earth escape techniques. They could use earth escape to enter houses, release poison gas to knock people out, and then use earth escape to take them away without anyone noticing."

...

Everyone had their own theories, but none were widely accepted.

Alaric Ye, lacking experience in demon-slaying missions, listened carefully, noting down various guesses while recalling stories from the "Dragon-seeking Mountain Range Chronicles."

He realized that both cultivators and demons had related abilities, making it impossible to identify the culprit with the current information.

The Flying Boat continued, soon reaching the mayor's residence in Paoma Town.

The mayor, looking haggard and pale, almost wept with relief upon seeing twenty Immortal Elders, kneeling in gratitude.

Unlike others, he couldn't flee. He had to cooperate with the investigation, or the Great Xuan Dynasty and the Top Xuan Sect wouldn't spare him.

"Mayor Ma Wencai of Paoma Town greets the Upper Immortals!"

The presence of twenty Top Xuan Sect disciples gave him a sense of security.

Both teams descended from the sky. Zhou Yuan cast a spell, shrinking the Flying Boat to palm size and storing it in his Universe Bag.

"No need for formalities. Assign a clerk to accompany my Junior Sister to investigate the east side of the town. You will accompany us to the west side. We must not miss any house where people have disappeared."

"Yes, Immortal Elder!"

The chubby mayor, Ma Changwen, was terrified of being the next to disappear, knowing that "disappearance" likely meant death.

Demons and monsters were known to eat people alive.

Zhou Yuan exchanged a glance with the other team leader, "If you find anything important or face danger, send a message immediately. We will come to support you."

With that, the two teams split as planned. Since leaving the Flying Boat, they were ready for battle at any moment. Everyone was serious, and Alaric Ye, in the center, was extremely cautious.

Zhou Yuan said, "Let's go to the house of last night's victim first. The shorter the time, the easier to find clues."

"Understood, Immortal Elder. Please follow me."

As they approached the victim's house, Alaric Ye suddenly heard Little White's voice in his mind.

"Master, be careful. Little White smells a faint aura of evil and demonic energy. There were both demonic cultivators and evil spirits here last night!"