A sign-in opportunity appeared on his first step into Jiangnan.

[Sign-In successful. Received Jiangnan Hundred Ghosts Portrait!]

A portrait appeared in Lin Jiufeng's hand.

Then, every information regarding the Jiangnan Hundred Ghosts Portrait appeared in his mind.

"This is actually a magic treasure portrait. Naturally born in the Jiangnan area at that!"

Lin Jiufeng exclaimed in surprise.

The portrait in his hand looked elegant.

He slowly opened it.

Inside was the rich, beautiful, poetic, and picturesque scenery of Jiangnan.

There were small bridges with flowing water and families as far as the eye could see.

But upon closer inspection, there were countless imperceptible black spots hidden in this painting.

One black dot represented a single ghost or evil spirit.

"The Jiangnan Hundred Ghosts Portrait is a treasure naturally born in the Jiangnan area. Since I've received this portrait as a reward for signing in. Does this mean that the land of Jiangnan wants me to help in removing these ghosts from the Jiangnan area?"

Lin Jiufeng murmured.

The Jiangnan Hundred Ghosts Portrait was a gift from the land of Jiangnan.

"The land here is sentient. It gave me this powerful magic treasure that can suppress ghosts and refine them into energy. Once I've exterminated the ghosts in the Jiangnan area, this magic treasure will absorb a huge amount of ghost energy and turn into an immortal artifact!"

Lin Jiufeng read through all the information he received and was surprised by the discovery.

He originally thought that it was simply just a painting, but who would have thought that it was a magic treasure?

But just as he thought that being a magic treasure was its limit, it turned out that it could be an immortal artifact.

Although it didn't have the might of an immortal artifact yet, nor was it as terrifying as a real immortal artifact, as long as Lin Jiufeng exterminated the evil ghosts and spirits in the Jiangnan area, he would be able to make up for what this magic treasure lacked.

"The land of Jiangnan is tempting me." Lin Jiufeng laughed.

"If this is your attempt in tempting me…"

"I just want to say."

"You've succeeded!"

Lin Jiufeng decisively put away the Jiangnan Hundred Ghosts Portrait.

After all, he had a kind heart.

Moreover, the crucial question was, who possibly could reject an immortal artifact?

…

Lin Jiufeng gradually calmed down. After obtaining the Jiangnan Hundred Ghosts Portrait, he finally understood why the moment he stepped into the Jiangnan area, the system immediately alerted him that he could sign in.

The process behind it was simple.

In short, the land of Jiangnan itself gave Lin Jiufeng an immortal artifact to ask for his help in eliminating the ghosts and evil spirits in Jiangnan.

In the beginning, Lin Jiufeng was puzzled as to why there was a choice to sign in when he had just stepped into the Jiangnan area. He hadn't arrived in a special place yet, he had just stepped foot into its borders, yet he could already sign in?

In the past, when he stepped onto the plains and the desert lands, he never received a notification to sign in.

Why was there a notification immediately upon reaching Jiangnan?

"It seems that the population of ghosts and evil spirits in the Jiangnan area has already reached unprecedented levels, and that's why the land of Jiangnan is so desperate." Lin Jiufeng started to feel a sense of urgency upon realizing this.

Emperor De pleaded for him to visit the Jiangnan area. He also said that the situation in the Jiangnan area was already to the point that it could no longer be delayed nor ignored.

But despite this, Lin Jiufeng had never expected to receive an incomplete immortal artifact as a welcome gift upon his arrival in the Jiangnan area.

"This Jiangnan Hundred Ghosts Portrait was obviously not born in this era." Lin Jiufeng observed carefully and was very certain of this theory of his.

How many years had it been since the world started to recover its spiritual energy?

The foundations of the forces in the Jiangnan area weren't that deep yet. Not to mention nurturing an immortal artifact, the resources in the Jiangnan area weren't even enough to satisfy the Demon Slaying Sword in Lin Jiufeng's hand.

And this incomplete Jiangnan Hundred Ghosts Portrait wasn't something that could be born in just tens of years.

'I'm even more curious about the Jiangnan area now.' Lin Jiufeng's interest was piqued.

"Perhaps the changes in the Jiangnan area all started because of the Ten Thousand Buddha Sacred Tower's arrival.' Lin Jiufeng's gaze was deep.

"Meow, why are you still standing here?" The white cat asked curiously.

She watched as Lin Jiufeng stood without moving nor speaking.

A painting suddenly appeared in his hand, but he then put it away.

Strange…

Lin Jiufeng came back to his senses and said, "It's my first time in Jiangnan. Of course, I'm excited."

But the white cat didn't understand why he was so excited.

There didn't seem to be any scenery worthy of his attention around them.

Lin Jiufeng didn't explain.

He carried the white cat and advanced deeper into the Jiangnan area at a rapid pace.

…

Jiangnan, spring rain, river…

When the sun rose, the flowers on the river would always become redder than fire.

When spring came, the river water turned as green as blue.

Standing beside a big river in Jiangnan, Lin Jiufeng looked at the green mountains on both sides of the river. Rain fell and landed on the water.

Rings of circles spread out like the growth rings of a tree.

This was Jiangnan Prefecture—the largest state in Jiangnan.

There were tens of millions of people living here, and the lands of the five states were built close to the stunning sights of Jiangnan.

The river rippled with green waves.

A small boat was currently crossing the river. An old man was supporting the boat when he saw a young master, Lin Jiufeng, standing close to the shore. Lin Jiufeng was dressed in embroidered clothes and had an ethereal bearing, looking indescribably noble.

"Young master, do you want to take a boat across the river?"

The old man shouted with a thick Jiangnan accent.

Lin Jiufeng lowered his head and asked the white cat, "Do you want to take a boat?"

The white cat meowed lazily. "Yes!"

Lin Jiufeng waved for the boatman to come over.

The boatman waved the paddle happily. The boat came slowly and leaned against the shore.

Lin Jiufeng boarded the boat and put the white cat down.

"Young Master, where are you going?" The boatman asked.

"Just stroll around and follow the river. Anywhere is fine," Lin Jiufeng said nonchalantly as he handed a handful of Yuhua God Dynasty's silver to the boatman.

The boatman agreed happily.

He moved the boat and weaved through the misty rain.

The boat wasn't moving fast.

There were green mountains on both sides of the river, and it was also morning. The morning fog from the mountains filled the air and spread over the water. Together with the spring rain, the hazy beauty of the landscape painting came crashing into his face.

Lin Jiufeng and the white cat sat in the cabin of the boat. Both of them were more obedient than the other. Their eyes were filled with curiosity as they watched the scenery that belonged solely to Jiangnan.

Misty Rain Jiangnan, a hazy beauty.

Those similar to Lin Jiufeng and the white cat who had never seen such a scene before, it was extremely attractive.

The old man who was rowing the boat wore a raincoat.

He was not afraid of the rain as he asked with a smile.

"Young Master, is this your first time in Jiangnan?"

"Yes. How old are you?" Lin Jiufeng asked with a smile.

"I'm 69 this year. To be honest with you, young master. Old folks my age are often already six feet under in the previous years. But thanks to the recovery of the world's spiritual energy, despite my age, I don't feel old."

"I feel healthy; my body has never been this great."

"In addition, the reigning emperor is wise and mighty. We are able to eat three meals a day until we're full all thanks to his reforms and laws. I have to admit, the Yuhua God Dynasty had never enjoyed this much development compared to when it was still in the hands of the previous emperors." The boatman was quite talkative.

"Young Master, you look quite young. Are you still cultivating in a martial temple?" The boatman asked curiously.

A strange expression appeared on Lin Jiufeng's face.

'Little Brother, you're only 69 years old. I'm already more than 100 years old.'

Lin Jiufeng muttered in his heart.

But he didn't say anything.

He just shook his head and smiled. "I'm not a student of any martial temple."

"That's a pity… Young Master is so young, you should've gone to a martial temple…"

The boatman sighed.

In the eyes of ordinary people like them, being a student of a martial temple was the key to success!

They considered it one of the best places to be in the world.

Since its establishment 30 years ago, everyone in the world has come to know about martial temples. The martial temples dominated every other school out there, and it reigned supreme over those that aspired to be peerless cultivators.

Emperor De even went around inviting powerhouses to be the teachers in the countless martial temples that he had established. In addition, he even invited the demons that Lin Jiufeng had suppressed back then to come and teach the students.

He also ordered a few powerhouses to search and plunder all sorts of secret manuals and techniques from ruins and other sects so that they could be shared with the students.

More importantly, Emperor De also taught the students one thing—To love their country.

His work had greatly increased the cohesion of the entire Yuhua God Dynasty.

When Lin Jiufeng heard the boatman's words, he echoed with a sigh. "It's a pity that the martial temples do not want me."

The white cat rolled her eyes at Lin Jiufeng.

If Emperor De heard what he had just said, the latter would definitely be confused.