Chapter 10

"Earlier, I was quite rude, I hope Senior Brother can forgive me."

Sitting at the front of the large gourd, Li Changshou's face was calm as he looked at You Qin Xuanya, who was bowing with clasped hands in front of him. Although he really wanted to comment, he could only say a few words of reassurance.

Li Changshou felt that the gazes on him no longer carried the previous disdain and dissatisfaction, but instead...

were filled with sympathy and pity.

"Changshou," Immortal Jiujiu coughed and said earnestly, "This is likely a heart demon, perhaps a result of your master's long-term seclusion in the mountains for cultivation."

"Senior Brother Changshou," Yuan Qing floated over from the side, holding a bottle of pills, and said in a low voice, "These are pills to calm the mind and focus the spirit, which might help with Senior Brother's condition."

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

Li Changshou gave a slightly awkward smile, and Yuan Qing immediately understood something and skillfully changed the topic.

Taking this opportunity, Li Changshou also observed the reactions of the others.

Yuwen Ling did not pay attention to this small farce throughout, sitting quietly with his eyes closed in meditation, very composed.

Liu Yan'er's gaze on him contained more sympathy, while Wang Qi looked at him with a gaze full of sighs.

It was as if they were saying:

This Senior Brother (Junior Brother) has ordinary cultivation potential and has even developed such a heart demon. Finding a cultivation partner in the future will be a luxury, and the life of a cultivator is truly difficult.

— Forming a cultivation partnership is quite common in the Du Xian Sect.

After a few words of greeting, Yuan Qing retreated to the back of the gourd, and Wang Qi came over to chat for a bit.

Li Changshou just smiled and responded, without saying much.

He felt that apart from Yuan Qing, these fellow disciples who were fully focused on cultivation, though 'old in age,' had surprisingly simple minds...

It made sense, as these were the 'top students' among the fellow disciples, spending most of their time on cultivation, with little social interaction.

This small incident soon came to an end.

After a short while, the gourd became quiet again, and everyone continued their meditation and cultivation. Li Changshou picked up the scroll and read it with great interest, completely unaffected.

Immortal Jiujiu, with her arms crossed, sat at the front and fell into deep thought; she was considering how to help Li Changshou overcome his heart demon and return to a happy cultivation life.

"Perhaps, I should use the charm of a woman? Fight poison with poison?"

Immortal Jiujiu looked down at herself and then let out a strange laugh...

Suddenly giving himself this setup, Li Changshou didn't pay much attention;

Although this was just a temporary measure to avoid being probed by Senior Uncle Jiujiu for his cultivation level and potential, he would be mindful of this detail throughout the journey.

Remaining vigilant was not a difficult task for Li Changshou.

"Senior Brother Changshou," a voice called from behind, and Li Changshou turned to see You Qin Xuanya's apologetic face.

Although he really wanted to say, "Please maintain the dignity and pride of an ice queen," he could only show a slight smile, wave his hand to indicate she didn't need to say more, and then turn back to continue reading the scroll.

You Qin Xuanya pursed her lips, and the apology in her gaze did not fade.

Li Changshou's spiritual senses keenly detected that Yuan Qing, who was closing her eyes behind, slightly frowned...

...

Two days later.

The vast and sparsely populated Dongsheng Divine Land, with its numerous immortal sects, gradually disappeared behind them.

The large gourd flew through the clouds day and night, finally reaching the northwest border of Dongsheng Divine Land.

Li Changshou did not cultivate throughout the journey, keeping his attention on the surroundings and often catching glimpses of figures flying in the sky at the edge of his vision.

Fortunately, they did not encounter any obstacles along the way.

Jiujiu stretched, and the gourd began to slow down, descending toward the mountains below.

This immortal yawned and called out to the others, "Stay alert, we are about to enter the border of the continent.

Listen up!

Beijilu Continent is not a safe place. This trip is for training, so don't risk your lives for treasures or medicinal herbs.

I will first take you to an entrance to Beijilu Continent. Remember this place, and if you come to Beijilu Continent on your own in the future, don't wander around recklessly."

The five disciples stood up, bowed to Jiujiu, and said in unison, "We will follow Senior Uncle's teachings."

"Good," Jiujiu nodded in satisfaction.

Liu Yan'er asked softly, "Senior Uncle... Beijilu Continent is one of the Four Great Continents, why is there an entrance? Is it because the miasma forms a natural barrier?"

Jiujiu's lips curled, and she said indifferently, "Who knows? Let her explain it."

Yuan Qing laughed, "The miasma of Beijilu Continent is not difficult to resist for cultivators who have reached the Reversion to the Void realm and can form an inner celestial sphere.

The real problem is the poisonous insects and plants, as well as the ferocious beasts and venomous creatures that roam the area, which are very difficult to deal with."

"Off-topic!"

Jiujiu rolled her eyes and scolded Yuan Qing, "She asked why there is an entrance, and what did you answer?"

Yuan Qing gave an awkward smile and could only bow.

Yuwen Ling said in a deep voice, "Because of the demon race."

"Exactly, because of the demon race. The big general has some insight," Jiujiu looked down and controlled the gourd to descend into a valley in the mountains, and said seriously,

"The human race's fortune is concentrated in Nanshen Continent, while Beijilu Continent is the place of exile for the witch race.

In ancient times, to prop up the sky that was about to collapse, several sages chopped off the four legs of a primordial giant turtle, using them as pillars to hold up the sky.

The giant turtle, filled with resentment, died in sorrow, and its massive body and vast power transformed into the miasma that has persisted in Beijilu Continent for ages. Look to the northwest, that is not rain clouds."

The five disciples looked to the northwest. They were almost at the mountain, and they could see the surging gray-black miasma on the horizon.

Endless and vast.

Jiujiu continued,

"The miasma has spawned many poisonous insects and plants, making it dangerous for ordinary beings to approach, and it has become a place where various rare flowers and fruits thrive. Inside, there are all kinds of ferocious and venomous creatures, even Celestial Immortals dare not venture too deep.

After the war between the witches and demons, the remaining witches were exiled to the far north of Beijilu Continent, where it is icy and cold, with fewer insects and beasts, allowing them to barely survive, but they are said to be on the brink of extinction, indeed quite pitiful.

Those demons who bear grudges against the witches, and those who were driven away by our human cultivators, have gathered at the border of Beijilu Continent.

Over time, this narrow area stretching for hundreds of thousands of miles from east to west has become the most important habitat for the demons."

Seeing the expressions of the disciples, Jiujiu noticed... except for Li Changshou, they all began to feel somewhat nervous.

The effect was good, let's push it further.

Jiujiu chuckled and said in a deep voice, "Look at the mountains around us, there are countless powerful demons, some of which are extremely terrifying, and they especially like to eat human cultivators~"

The five disciples became even more alert, while Li Changshou nodded calmly and continued to look down.

Jiujiu felt it was no fun and pointed to the town below, continuing in a flat tone,

"The town below is one of the entrances that our human experts have forcibly opened to enter Beijilu Continent. For thousands of years, there has been a ceasefire with the demons, but it is unknown when the fighting will resume.

When we enter the town, I will take you to buy some miasma-avoiding talismans and detoxifying pills.

Although we have these in the sect, some rules require us to bring you here to experience the life of cultivators and teach you how to barter.

Remember, you cannot wander around the sky above the town. There are several experts here, and you must always have a sense of respect for the powerful. We will land on the hill to the southeast and walk a section of the mountain path."

The five disciples bowed and accepted the instructions, keeping Immortal Jiujiu's words in mind.

The town was located in a valley, with cliffs on both sides carved with caves and built with many wooden and stone structures.

The valley was filled with various buildings, looking very chaotic from a distance.

There were grand and bright halls and towering pagodas, but more were simple wooden and stone buildings, with only some narrow streets勉强能通行。

当然，大多数炼气士都在半空中飞行，不需要走路。

可以看出，前往北俱芦洲的修士其实并不少，这里人来人往，许多木楼土屋的楼顶都有炼气士摆摊，可以找到众多北俱芦洲产出的药草和宝材。

这些药草和宝材，大多都与“毒”字有关。

酒玖轻车熟路，催出一朵白云，带着五个弟子和宇文陵在城镇内转了半圈，在几个摊位上左右比对，才让他们几个拿出灵石，买下一些物美价廉的丹药符箓。

嗯？这家伙怎么不动？

酒玖看了一眼一直背着手站在自己身后的李长寿，心底一叹，随手将一个荷包甩过肩头，砸到了李长寿怀中。

这种荷包是最简单的储物法器，一般用来存储固定份额的灵石。

酒玖吐槽道：“就知道你师父没太多东西给你，也搞不懂他非要守着那个小峰头干嘛……

解毒丹和避瘴符是必须要准备的，快去买，一个大男人别磨磨唧唧！”

“呃，”李长寿怔了下，抬头看着面前这位不喜打扮的师叔，露出几分温和的微笑。

这种微笑，只有在师父和师妹面前才会显露。

他刚想解释一句，自己把所有东西都提前准备好了，但话还没说出口，一旁又有一只纤手递了过来，手中握着一摞黄纸符，两只胖肚子瓷瓶。

是那个背着大剑、身着火红长裙的少女。

有琴玄雅正扭头看向别处，尽量淡定地说道：

“算是给师兄的赔礼，之前……”

说着，她手指轻弹，用了一股巧劲，将丹药和符箓直接送到了李长寿手中，随后便转身故作无事地走去了一旁的摊位。

李长寿略感有趣，对着她的背影拱拱手，并未多说什么。

这冰山，绝对名不副实。