The Exorcism Began in America.

The two descended, climbing down the dense tangle of wooden vines; when they grew tired, they simply found a gap among the countless vines to squeeze into and rest for a while.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the bottom of the cliff as the moonlight overhead slowly faded.

"At last, we've left that hellhole, the Spirit Refining Sect!" Lin Xiao exclaimed. He stepped back a couple of paces before plopping down on the firm ground.

Chu Feng, who landed just behind him, rubbed his sore arms. He looked back at the endless Ironwood Vines they had descended and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

"It's a good thing these Ironwood Vines are strong enough and had places to rest, otherwise..."

He looked up. The cliff bottom was strewn with boulders. A fall from that height wouldn't just be talk; it would mean being literally smashed into pulp.

Sitting on the ground, Lin Xiao watched Chu Feng, whose brow was furrowed from the soreness, and smiled softly.

"Chu Feng, what are your plans now? Are you going back to the village?"

"No. If the Spirit Refining Sect finds out we're missing tomorrow, they'll definitely send people to the village!" Chu Feng replied, shaking his head. Then he asked, "What about you? Any plans?"

"Me?" Lin Xiao unconsciously touched the ring on his finger, his eyes filled with longing. "I want to find the gates of the Tai Qing Sect and try to gain admittance."

"That's a true Immortal Path Sect, not like this Spirit Refining Sect that sacrifices living people to refine artifacts!" He looked up at the cliff beside him, his eyes filled with disgust and hatred.

The Tai Qing Sect? Chu Feng quietly repeated the unfamiliar name to himself, a glint of intrigue flashing in his eyes as he watched Lin Xiao stand up.

This youth, who had left the mountain village with him, seemed to know a lot about Cultivators.

After resting for a moment and regaining some strength, Lin Xiao pointed to his left and outlined his plan.

"Let's head this way. If we go in this direction, it'll take about ten days to reach White Cloud City, the nearest city."

"Once we get there, the Spirit Refining Sect will have a hard time finding us!"

Without waiting for Chu Feng's response, he started walking in the direction he had just pointed.

"Lin Xiao, have you ever heard of any Immortal Path Sect that has an Artificing Technique?" Chu Feng asked hesitantly as he caught up with Lin Xiao.

This time the system hadn't directly granted him the content of the Casting Spirit Scripture, clearly intending for him to acquire it himself.

But without any clue about the technique, he could only hope the youth before him, who might have had a fortuitous encounter, would know something.

"Artificing Technique?" There was a hint of surprise in Lin Xiao's voice as he looked at the figure that had appeared beside him, a sudden feeling of unfamiliarity washing over him.

Could this companion from my village have also had a fortuitous encounter?

"There are countless Artificing Techniques among the various Immortal Path Sects. If you name it, let's see... uh, let me see if I've heard of it."

"Then... the Casting Spirit Scripture, have you heard of that?" Chu Feng asked tentatively, looking at the youth beside him.

If I could get information from this youth, who seems like the protagonist of this world, it would be incredibly fortunate.

"The Casting Spirit Scripture?" The youth's gaze revealed a touch of confusion.

"I haven't..."

Just as Lin Xiao was about to shake his head, the ring on his finger suddenly pulsed with an obscure light.

"Wait, I seem to have heard that name before; let me think carefully."

The youth's gaze unfocused slightly, as if his concentration was wavering.

Hearing this, Chu Feng's eyes lit up. He quietly waited for the youth's answer.

A moment later, Lin Xiao, having regained his composure, looked at the figure walking beside him with an unreadable expression.

If what Elder Qi said is true, then where on earth did my fellow villager hear this name?

An ordinary Immortal Gate would likely never have even heard of this name!

Only the major sects of both the Immortal and Demonic paths would know of its existence.

"The 'Casting Spirit Scripture'..." Lin Xiao began, "is one of the foundational scriptures of the Qingxuan Sect, an Immortal Holy Land. It's forbidden to all but Direct Disciples."

"Immortal Holy Land?" Chu Feng was slightly startled by Lin Xiao's words.

He had initially thought it would be a Cultivation Technique from some Artifact Refining Sect, but he hadn't expected it to be connected to an Immortal Holy Land.

In that case, merely gaining access to the Cultivation Technique was already an exceedingly difficult task.

Damn system, come out! Can my aptitude this time even get me into this Immortal Holy Land?

Chu Feng called out in his mind for a long while, but received no response whatsoever.

An Immortal Holy Land, Direct Disciples... It was clear how incredibly difficult it would be to get access to the 'Casting Spirit Scripture'.

No wonder the system actually gave me three thousand years this time... he thought, looking at the countdown in the upper right corner of his field of vision, and fell silent for a long while.

Lin Xiao, standing beside him, furrowed his brow slightly as he observed Chu Feng's prolonged silence.

Why does he suddenly seem so dejected?

He shook his head and once again engaged in communication with the spirit within the ring.

The rest of their journey was exceptionally quiet, both young men lost in their own thoughts.

「Over a dozen days later.」

On this day, at the bustling gates of White Cloud City, two ragged, pale-faced youths suddenly appeared.

The two were Chu Feng and Lin Xiao, who had walked for more than ten days.

"We've finally arrived!"

Seeing the city gates brought them immense relief.

The first two days after their escape from the Spirit Refining Sect were uneventful. They saw no trace of other humans, only occasionally encountering wild beasts in the mountains.

But on the third day, while Lin Xiao was eating wild fruit with a carefree expression, his face suddenly changed.

He immediately pulled Chu Feng into a tree hollow.

Moments later, a thin, green-robed elder with a sinister face flashed past above the tree where they hid.

This sudden pursuit by the Spirit Refining Sect forced them to alter their travel schedule.

For days, they traveled by night and hid by day, striving to cover their tracks and evade the Monks from the Spirit Refining Sect.

Though the journey was fraught with danger, thanks to the guidance from the entity within Lin Xiao's ring, they managed to remain undetected.

As they drew closer to White Cloud City, they weren't sure if the Monks from the Spirit Refining Sect had given up the pursuit, or if it was due to the city's proximity.

For two whole days, they hadn't seen a single Monk from the Spirit Refining Sect.

"Chu Feng, why don't you just come with me to the Tai Qing Sect? The hope of entering the Qingxuan Sect is too slim..." Lin Xiao hesitated before speaking, looking at his companion who had been through so much danger by his side.

Chu Feng looked at the earnest youth beside him and smiled softly.

Although his companion had obtained a powerful golden finger, he clearly hadn't lost his kind heart.

"I have to at least try!" Chu Feng patted the youth's shoulder, smiling. "Don't worry. If it doesn't work out, I'll come find you!"

"Farewell! Get strong quickly. I'm still waiting for you to take me back to the Spirit Refining Sect for revenge!"