After crossing over, he has no taboos among the zombies.

Chapter 1400

As the crowd outside the shrine gradually dispersed, Qin He found a quiet tavern to sit down. He tapped the table with his fingertips, and the Black Demon Banner quietly floated above his knees, creating a hidden soundproof barrier.

"Tell me the details about Changyang County," he said calmly, pouring himself a cup of cool tea.

Long Qingyun's soul flickered inside the banner, his voice carrying a hint of familiarity: "This place is a no-man's-land. The Lingyue and Weiwu dynasties are vying to collect taxes, and the Lieyan Demon Kingdom comes every now and then to plunder some cultivators for food. Nobody has the heart to really take charge."

"The Ziyang Venerable sent by the Divine Court is, to put it bluntly, just a crony with connections who's just coasting along." He sneered. "He got the position of Earth God through his clan's connections. He's supposed to be guarding the area, but in reality, he's just lording it over everyone in Ziyang City and extorting money from the land like no one else."

Qin He raised an eyebrow slightly: "At the mid-stage of the Other Shore Realm, you're quite powerful enough to roam freely in this barren land."

"you do not say!"

Long Qingyun's voice rose a few decibels, "He is a fire-element cultivator with a temper as explosive as a firecracker. He will burn down people's residences if he is slightly displeased. The cultivators in Ziyang City have been oppressed to death or fled by him. The noble families in the thirty-six cities also have to pay tribute to him on time."

"It's funny, many of those aristocratic families aren't actually afraid of him. It's just that he's shameless and relies on his divine court background, so many of them just hold their noses and throw him some worthless things."

"This Master Ziyang is also opportunistic; in short, he's no good."

"The Divine Court is indifferent?"

"Is it any of your business?" Long Qingyun sneered. "Changyang County is poor in resources. The Divine Court is too lazy to even send someone to inspect it. As long as Master Ziyang ensures that there are no problems with the merits of the temple, and makes up some lies about 'eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path,' why would the Divine Court investigate?"

"Furthermore, most people are unaware that Master Ziyang is the Earth God of the mortal realm. Moreover, this fact is shrouded in mystery by the divine court's secrets, making him invisible to the world. There's no way to file a complaint against him."

"Ordinary cultivators only know that Master Ziyang has committed many evils, but they have no idea about his background. Master Ziyang wouldn't be so stupid as to go around spouting nonsense."

Qin He's fingertips traced the rim of his cup, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Perfect, taking him means taking the shrines of these thirty-six cities."

"Wait, you're not planning to force your way in, are you?"

Long Qingyun was somewhat anxious, “Master Ziyang is, after all, a registered Earth God of the Divine Court, and he is protected by the divine light of merit. Although he is no match for you, his fight would trigger the laws of heaven and earth, which could easily alert the surrounding Divine Court strongholds.”

"I have my own way of dealing with this." Qin He shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Once the agreement was reached, Qin He paid for the tea, stood up, and transformed into a faint shadow, speeding towards Ziyang City.

For Qinhe, a journey of two thousand miles would take no more than half a day at a leisurely pace.

The outline of Ziyang City quickly came into view. The city walls were made of dark red rocks, and faint fire-attribute spiritual energy lingered on the city walls. The patterns of fire-type laws could be vaguely seen flowing on the walls—that was the city-protecting formation set up by Master Ziyang. With his own laws as the guide, ordinary cultivators could not force their way in.

The city was filled with a sense of oppression.

Qin He concealed his aura, transformed into an ordinary cultivator, and mingled with the crowd entering the city.

The pedestrians on the street looked solemn and hurried by, even speaking in hushed tones, as if afraid of disturbing something.

"Hurry up, today is Master Ziyang's birthday. If we miss the appointed time, our entire clan will suffer." A middle-aged man carrying a heavy cloth bag said anxiously.

"Sigh, this is unbearable. We just collected the city tax last month, and this month they want birthday offerings. They're practically sucking our marrow dry. This old bastard is draining the clan's resources." Another young man said through gritted teeth.

"Shh, you guys are crazy, just shut up."

"..."

Within the group, various whispers and curses could be heard incessantly.

Qin He's gaze darkened slightly. With a thought, he conjured a few ordinary spirit crystals at his fingertips and joined the queue of people offering tribute as they entered the city.

He concealed all his aura of law, his body shrouded in a faint, deliberately feigned flattery, blending seamlessly with the expressions of those around him as he quietly observed the commotion in front of the city lord's mansion.

The city lord's mansion occupies a vast area, with two stone lions standing in front of the vermilion gate, their bodies wrapped in flame patterns and radiating a scorching aura.

The open space in front of the mansion was crowded with cultivators who came to offer sacrifices. Each of them held various spiritual materials and treasures in their hands, and their faces were full of fear.

Even in the most barren areas, a vast territory spanning four thousand miles can yield a considerable amount of resources if plundered.

Qin He found it strange, though. These things were precious to ordinary families and cultivators, but they were of little use to cultivators in the Other Shore Realm.

Why would Master Ziyang, with his infamous reputation, collect all these things?

Moreover, judging from the situation, he won't be able to find anything good at all.

For cultivators at the Other Shore Realm, the resources of ordinary families are practically worthless. Powerful families aren't afraid of them at all; throwing some trash at them is considered a favor.

It is truly rare for a great cultivator of the Other Shore Realm to demean himself so much.

The procession moved slowly, with two armored guards wielding flaming longswords, inspecting the offerings one by one. If they displeased the guards, they would smash or smash the offerings with their swords, their shouts echoing throughout the room.

"What are you dawdling for? You dare bring this piece of junk? Get back and rearrange it!" A guard kicked a cultivator to the ground and shouted sternly.

The cultivator huddled on the ground, not daring to utter a single word of rebuttal.

Suddenly, an angry shout came from inside the mansion, accompanied by the scorching sound of flames: "A bunch of useless trash! You don't even have a single offering worthy of your attention. What use are you?"

Everyone's expression changed drastically, and they all lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound.

A fiery red figure rushed out of the mansion, surrounded by dense fire-attribute laws, with crimson light patterns flowing across its surface like burning magma.

His face was contorted with rage, and his eyes were filled with ferocity; he was none other than Master Ziyang. He was currently burning with anger because the spiritual materials offered by several aristocratic families were of poor quality.

"Please calm down, Your Excellency. We have done our best." Several cultivators in the front row quickly knelt down and begged for mercy, raising the treasures in their hands high.

Master Ziyang glanced at the treasures, his eyes growing increasingly violent. He kicked one of them away, saying, "Trash, you dare to offer these as tribute to me?"

The group became restless, everyone feeling insecure.

When it was Qin He's turn, he slowly stepped forward, handing over the spirit crystal in his hand. At the same time, he subtly flipped his fingertips, and a wisp of pale blue flame appeared out of thin air. The flame seemed weak, but it exuded an extremely pure fire attribute aura. Golden patterns were faintly visible in the center of the flame, which was the Vermilion Bird Strange Flame - the Southern Bright Fire.

The guard, seeing that it was only a few spirit crystals, was about to reprimand them when he was startled by the aura of the flame, and his expression changed drastically: "This is... a strange fire?"

Master Ziyang had already turned to return to his residence, but upon hearing the words "strange fire," he suddenly turned back, his gaze fixed on the Nanming Li Fire at Qin He's fingertips.

He flashed and instantly appeared in front of Qin He, the fire attribute laws around him surging uncontrollably, his eyes filled with greed: "What grade is this fire...?"

As a fire-type cultivator, his perception of strange fire far surpasses that of ordinary people. The Vermilion Bird Law contained in this flame caused his spiritual power to resonate wildly.

Qin He lowered his head at the opportune moment, feigning fear, but deliberately made the aura of the Nanming Li Fire even stronger: "Reporting to the Venerable One, this is the Nanming Li Fire, which I obtained by chance. Knowing that the Venerable One is a great power of fire, I have come to offer it to you, hoping only to have the Venerable One see it and to follow you by your side."

Master Ziyang stared intently at the wisp of Nanming Li Fire and burst into laughter.

He had cultivated for many years, but had never been able to find a different kind of fire. If he could integrate the Southern Bright Fire into his own laws, his cultivation would definitely be able to break through to the mid-stage of the Other Shore Realm, or even reach the threshold of the late stage.

"Good, good!" Master Ziyang said twice, then waved away the guards and commoners around him, "Get the hell away from me."

Upon seeing this, everyone quickly scattered and retreated, their eyes filled with confusion and surprise as they looked at Qin He.

Is this person an idiot?

Are you really offering up your precious treasure?

Master Ziyang turned to look at Qin He, his tone softening slightly, but still carrying the arrogance of a superior: "You are quite sensible. Come inside with me. If this flame is real, I will grant you a chance."

Fearing that Qin He might change his mind, he subconsciously released a wisp of the pressure of the law, enveloping Qin He as if he were in control of the situation.

Qin He's expression grew even more respectful: "Thank you for your grace, Your Excellency!"

With that, he put away the Nanming Fire and followed Master Ziyang into the City Lord's Mansion. The vermilion gate slammed shut, completely shutting out the noise from the outside world.