Chapter 4

Time flies, like a white horse passing through a gap, and two months passed in the blink of an eye.

"Hey ha hey!"

On the flat ground halfway up the mountain, covering an area of a hundred feet, hundreds of disciples in blue robes either practiced alone or in pairs, engaging in various martial arts, creating a lively scene.

It was already a hot summer morning, and the presence of these lively young men and women added a vibrant energy to the air.

"Hey, you there, bring the water bucket over!"

Suddenly, a shout came from the edge of the area.

"Sure thing!"

On the small path made of blue stones at the edge of the area, Li Chen quickly approached with two buckets of water.

Splash!

The outer disciples who had called him did not hesitate to gather around. One of them, a burly young man who looked a few years older than Li Chen but still had a childish air, picked up the bucket of well water and poured it over his head without any fear of the cold water.

After the young man took a few sips, the others rushed forward and, in no time, the well water that Li Chen had carried for over half an hour was completely used up.

Li Chen stood by, looking shyly and occasionally smiling foolishly, secretly observing the disciples practicing martial arts in the distance.

Seeing this, the people who had gathered wiped the sweat from their foreheads and tried to move closer, but the burly young man gave them a cold look, making them shrink back.

Seeing no one step forward, the burly young man nodded in satisfaction, grabbed the hundred-pound water bucket, and walked straight toward a group of female disciples nearby.

Li Chen, peeking through his disheveled hair, noticed that among the four or five young women, who were all in their early twenties, was Li Yuerong, the third miss of the Li family.

"Junior Sister Chu, it's so hot today. This cold spring water is perfect for cooling down and detoxifying!"

The burly young man walked up, gently placed the wooden bucket, and said in a deep voice.

"Hey! Pang Wenshan, you're at it again, trying to win our favor. You should be more sincere. Are you using water fetched by others to please our Senior Sister Ziyun?"

A female disciple with a good figure and a few freckles on her face looked up and down at the young man, her arm around another girl with a clear and beautiful face, who was slightly more attractive than Li Yuerong.

"Shanshan!"

Chu Ziyun frowned slightly and gently shook the freckled girl.

"Junior Sister Zhao is right. Next time, I'll fetch the water myself! By the way, Senior Brother He said he's going into the mountains tomorrow, and we can go with him."

Pang Wenshan scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.

"Ha ha, don't waste their good intentions!"

Zhao Shanshan laughed coquettishly, took out a silk handkerchief, dipped it in the water, and began to wipe herself.

The other girls were not shy either, each taking out a handkerchief to wipe their youthful and beautiful faces, except for Li Yuerong, who coldly glared at Li Chen.

"He he!"

Seeing that they had finished, Pang Wenshan chuckled, turned around, and waved his hand, "Hey, you there, take the water bucket away!"

"Sure thing!"

Li Chen ran up, grabbed the water bucket, and bowed to Li Yuerong, "Good day, Third Miss!"

"Hey! Does this ugly fellow know Junior Sister Li?"

Zhao Shanshan's eyes lit up, looking at Li Yuerong with ill intent. The Zhao family was also one of the families in Luohuang City and was an enemy of the Li family.

"Hmph, just a lowly slave!"

Li Yuerong turned her head in disgust.

The girls giggled, pointing and laughing at Li Chen's back as he left, their expressions full of disdain and disgust. Only Chu Ziyun frowned slightly but did not say anything.

Such unreserved words naturally reached the ears of those around, but Li Chen, who was a short distance away, seemed completely unaware and left the area in a few steps.

In fact, Li Chen was not ugly; he even had a delicate appearance. However, the prominent dark red birthmark covering his left eye and temple made him look extremely ugly.

Of course, for these pampered young ladies, whether Li Chen was handsome or not had nothing to do with them.

...

Hundreds of miles south of Luoyun Peak, in a hidden ravine on the outskirts of Ancient Cang Mountain, a dozen disciples of the Xuan Yun Sect gathered, divided into three groups, discussing something.

Among the three leading figures, who were wearing blue robes and were inner disciples, was He Kongming. The eight people in the middle, wearing blue robes, included Li Yuerong, Chu Ziyun, Zhao Shanshan, Pang Wenshan, and others whom Li Chen knew.

"Senior Brother Chen, my name is Liu Chengfeng. Once we enter Ancient Cang Mountain, please take care of me!"

Among the last three disciples wearing gray robes, a young man of medium build with narrow eyes looked up to Chen Songtai, who had a sheathed long sword slung over his back.

"My cultivation is on par with yours. Being able to enter the mountain this time is mainly due to the care of Senior Brothers He and Lu. How can I talk about taking care of Junior Brother Liu?"

Chen Songtai tightened the long sword on his back, glanced at the people in front, lowered his voice, and waved his hand casually.

"Being able to work with Senior Brother He is truly a blessing. I've heard that Senior Brother He's success rate in refining first-grade intermediate-grade elixirs has already reached thirty percent, and his future is boundless!"

Liu Chengfeng said with envy.

"Hehe, that's right!"

Chen Songtai raised his chin, "Among the inner disciples, when it comes to alchemy, if Senior Brother He says he's second, no one dares to claim first!"

The proud look on his face made it seem as if he himself were the best alchemist among the inner disciples.

Li Chen had not spoken, following the group in a daze, but his eyes, hidden under his hair, carefully observed the surroundings.

He had long heard that Ancient Cang Mountain was a gathering place for beasts, with many dangers and opportunities. Various treasures were abundant, and countless martial artists entered and left the mountain over the years to seek treasures and opportunities.

This time, he was just there to lend a hand, helping the disciples with miscellaneous tasks.

Of course, as inner disciples, He Kongming and the other two were just leading this group of outer disciples to the mountain; they had their own important matters to attend to.

"Alright, start searching for medicinal herbs in this area. The beasts here are mostly at the mid-first-grade level. With your strength and the care of Junior Brother Pang, there should be no danger!"

After the group rested for a while, He Kongming clapped his hands, stood up, arranged the tasks, and exchanged glances with the other two inner disciples before they darted into the forest together.

"You few, come over here!"

Seeing this, Pang Wenshan stood up and beckoned to Chen Songtai and the others.

"This time, we're mainly here to collect auxiliary herbs for Senior Brother He. Most of you have never been to Ancient Cang Mountain before. When you see beasts, don't panic. Form groups of three to support each other. If you encounter a beast, use the whistle as a signal and prioritize your own safety, understood?"

Pang Wenshan's large, slightly older figure gave him a commanding presence. He took out a green whistle from his robe.

This was the Qingfeng Flute, which could transmit sound for several miles and was often used by Xuan Yun Sect disciples to communicate in the mountains.

According to Li Chen's knowledge, Pang Wenshan's cultivation had reached the peak of the sixth level, just one step away from the seventh level and the rank of inner disciple.

A group of boys and girls around fourteen or fifteen years old, though excited and eager to fight the beasts, also understood the dangers and nodded in agreement.

Among these eight people, besides Chen Songtai and the other three, who had no background and were only at the fifth level, there were a few others at the fifth level as well.

However, they were all young, only fifteen years old, and had good potential.

As for Chu Ziyun, though only fourteen, she was already at the peak of the sixth level, showing remarkable potential.

Under Pang Wenshan's arrangement, the group of three or four began to enter the ravine and forest, searching for various low-grade herbs hidden within.

Although Ancient Cang Mountain was rich in treasures, many martial artists also came here. This time, He Kongming had led them to a remote valley.

Besides the beasts, the most dangerous were the adventurers who frequently entered Ancient Cang Mountain.

Chen Songtai and the other two, who were weak and accompanied by two inner disciples, formed a group.

Relying on his experience of managing herbs for He Kongming for a year, Chen Songtai took charge of the group without hesitation, talking incessantly about various herbal principles, which left Liu Chengfeng confused.

"Hmm?"

As they walked, Li Chen lightly sniffed the air, his eyes flashing with a hint of excitement, and he turned to walk to the side.

Whoosh!

His clothes fluttered, and Chen Songtai lightly stepped forward, passing Li Chen and running several yards ahead. He bent down with a look of joy, took out a jade spade, and dug up a small, green, three-leafed herb about the length of a finger.

"Xuqi Grass, a first-grade intermediate-grade medicinal herb. Good luck!"

Chen Songtai took out a jade box from his backpack, carefully placed the herb inside, and continued forward without even glancing at Li Chen.

"Senior Brother Chen is amazing. Do you have any secrets? Teach me, please!"

Liu Chengfeng hurried forward, looking envious.

"Hehe, the secrets of the universe cannot be revealed!"

Chen Songtai chuckled, acting mysterious, and shook his head as he searched around.

As the two moved forward, they did not notice that Li Chen, who had been following them, had fallen behind and disappeared into the dense forest.

When the two realized Li Chen was missing, Chen Songtai's expression changed slightly. He took out the Qingfeng Flute from his pocket, put it to his lips, and hesitated before putting it away.

After some conversation with Liu Chengfeng, the two continued as if nothing had happened.

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