Chapter 7

When Li Changshou and Ling E landed in front of the Bai Fan Hall, there were already hundreds of figures gathered here.

From a distance, one could see young men and women in Taoist robes and long skirts chatting and laughing, with few having unattractive appearances.

The number of female cultivators here was not less than that of men. Most of them had delicate faces and slender figures, each with their own charm, but a few stood out like cranes among chickens, like the moon among stars.

For example, the blue-clad Ling E beside Li Changshou...

"That's not Ling E from Xiao Qiong Peak? She's really becoming more and more beautiful. I heard her talent is also very good; she has reached the eighth stage of Qi Cultivation in just ten years and is about to break into the Soul Transformation realm."

"I heard that even some Supreme Elders want to take her as a disciple. We don't have such good fortune."

"Who is the person beside her?"

"Oh, probably her senior brother. There aren't many people on Xiao Qiong Peak, and this person doesn't seem to be among the top three hundred in the sect, so I don't have much of an impression."

"I remember, his Daoist name is Changshou, right?"

"This Daoist name is truly... simple and unique."

"Don't gossip about disciples from other peaks! Be more disciplined! If the elders hear, they'll think our peak is undisciplined!"

The whispers reached Li Changshou's ears, but he seemed unaware, a gentle smile on his face. He didn't look around but took Ling E to register inside the hall and then went to a secluded corner to wait.

The bell kept ringing, and more and more young Qi Cultivators flew in from various peaks.

Today was the Du Xian Sect's five-yearly disciple outing, aimed at letting disciples see the world and deepen their cultivation insights.

Any formal disciple could sign up for this activity, and there were twelve destinations to choose from, catering to disciples at different cultivation stages.

The Du Xian Sect recruited disciples on a two-hundred-year cycle, with each generation spanning two hundred years.

In this generation, the fastest progressors were said to have reached the sixth stage of the Reversion to Emptiness realm, surpassing many thousand-year-old elders with mediocre talent.

The four major realms before becoming a仙—Qi Cultivation, Soul Transformation, Reversion to Emptiness, and Return to Dao—determined one's strength after becoming a仙, as well as the progress and upper limit of cultivation after that.

Ling E, who had reached the eighth stage of Qi Cultivation in just ten years, despite having a relatively unknown and even unascended master, naturally attracted much attention.

The two stood three feet apart under a tree, and many gazes fell upon them. Most of these gazers would think the relationship between the senior brother and sister wasn't very good.

Ling E broke a tender willow branch and twirled it between her fingers, several times wanting to speak but holding back.

The first rule: Maintain a three-foot distance in front of others.

The second rule: Don't chat idly outside unless necessary.

"Senior Brother, where are you going?"

"Guess."

"You won't say, I've been asking for days," Ling E huffed, muttering, "Anyway, wherever you go, I'll go too. I have to keep an eye on you."

Li Changshou smiled calmly, his lips slightly parting, and his voice directly entered Ling E's ears through a secret transmission technique.

"Little Sister, you're now a somewhat accomplished Qi Cultivator. You need to learn to face difficulties independently."

Ling E said with a righteous tone, "I'm following Master's orders to keep an eye on you, so you don't cause trouble and tarnish our Xiao Qiong Peak's reputation!"

Li Changshou smiled slightly and didn't say more.

After the bell rang six times, figures flew out of the Bai Fan Hall, and over sixty Qi Cultivators stood in the air.

Their appearances and auras varied; some were already white-haired and wrinkled, while others looked like young maidens in their prime, but most presented a mature and steady appearance.

These sixty-three disciples slightly opened their auras, and the Bai Fan Hall fell silent. The figures in the air were surrounded by a faint divine light.

These were the immortals from various peaks, responsible for guarding this outing.

A crane's cry was heard, and a red-capped white crane descended from the clouds, with a lean old man sitting on it.

If one looked closely at this old man, they could see a faint cloud of auspiciousness behind him, two green lotuses floating around him, and an extraordinary aura. His aura was not outwardly revealed, but he gave an impression of solemn dignity.

This was Deputy Sect Leader Zhong Yu, said to be a Celestial Immortal and one of the top ten cultivators in the Du Xian Sect.

Zhong Yu did not give a long speech. His eyelids half-closed, and his lips parted, his voice echoing throughout the main peak:

"You must always remember the sect rules during this outing, uphold the Du Xian Sect's reputation, and avoid any actions that would disgrace the sect.

This outing has twelve destinations. Recently, there have been demons causing trouble along the East Sea coast. We hope you can eliminate these demons and protect our fellow clansmen.

Elder Ge, begin."

With that, Zhong Yu rode the crane away, and the disciples bowed in unison to see him off.

An old man standing in the air stepped forward, bowed, and then announced loudly:

"Those going to the East Sea coast to slay demons, come to the far left, with cultivation not lower than the sixth stage of Qi Cultivation! Rewards will be based on the number of demons slain."

The disciples immediately began to move, with nearly half going to the left side, which quickly became crowded.

This was a common practice at each outing. Among the twelve destinations, one was always relatively easy and less dangerous but offered generous rewards.

Ling E turned to stare at her senior brother, noticing his legs remained still.

His goal was indeed not to seek benefits...

"Little Sister, your cultivation is still shallow. Follow the majority," Li Changshou transmitted, and Ling E's lips curled slightly as she stood still with her senior brother.

Elder Ge continued, "Those going to the southeastern border of Central神州 to slay demons, come to the right side, with cultivation not lower than the eighth stage of Qi Cultivation."

This time, only a few dozen disciples moved, all with good cultivation, all at the Soul Transformation stage.

As Elder Ge continued to call out destinations, the disciples chose their paths one by one.

The minimum cultivation requirement for the destinations called out by Elder Ge kept increasing. When he called out "minimum Soul Transformation second stage," Ling E's bright eyes were filled with resentment...

Her true cultivation was Soul Transformation second stage.

"Senior Brother, where are you really going?"

Li Changshou still smiled without speaking.

Soon, only twenty-three people remained unmoved, and only two destinations were left unannounced.

These twenty-three people, except for the senior brother and sister in the corner, were mostly the "immortal seeds" of various peaks, the key disciples of this generation, and ranked high among the disciples.

Elder Ge glanced at Ling E and then called out:

"Those going to the East Sea's Lin Yun Island for training, come inside the hall, with cultivation not lower than the ninth stage of Soul Transformation."

Seventeen of the remaining twenty people moved simultaneously, each revealing their auras, all at the second or third stage of Reversion to Emptiness!

Praises echoed around as these seventeen disciples quickly flew into the hall.

Now, only six people remained unmoved, and the gazes of the disciples quickly focused on a girl in a fiery red immortal dress, carrying a broad-bladed sword.

The girl stood with her eyes closed, like a transcendent immortal, a celestial being, as if the words "Do Not Disturb" floated around her.

She was one of the most well-known disciples of the current generation, not only beautiful and charming but also with outstanding cultivation talent. She had already revealed her aura at the fourth stage of Reversion to Emptiness, having been in the sect for only sixty years.

Her talent made her highly valued by the Du Xian Sect, and she had early on joined the lineage of the sect's leader on Po Tian Peak.

'Yue Xianya is also going to the Northern Continent? Not bad.'

Li Changshou smiled faintly. Traveling with such a well-known "attention magnet" would make him less noticeable.

Beside him, Ling E sniffed a few times, immediately sensing something unusual.

Her gaze moved between her senior brother's smile and the girl in the fiery red dress...

Indeed, something was up!

A few murmurs came from the crowd:

"Senior Sister Xianya is going to the Northern Continent to gather herbs?"

"Senior Sister Xianya is going to the Northern Continent, so Senior Brother Yuan Qing is also going there."

"Isn't that obvious? Senior Brother Yuan Qing hasn't moved, clearly waiting for Senior Sister Xianya to decide."

"Be careful, don't offend these two cultivation geniuses of Po Tian Peak."

In the air, Elder Ge frowned at Li Changshou and Ling E, shook his head slightly, and continued to call out:

"Those going to the Southeastern Chaos Forest of the Northern Continent, come inside the hall. This place is very dangerous, and many disciples have been injured. Minimum cultivation required is the ninth stage of Soul Transformation!"

The girl in the fiery red dress opened her eyes, her phoenix-like eyes clear. She lightly tapped the ground with her toes, her dress fluttering in the wind, like a blooming fire spirit flower, drawing gazes as she floated into the hall.

Following her was a young man who looked refined and gentle, revealing his aura at the fifth stage of Reversion to Emptiness. His eyes never left the fiery red figure in front of him, clearly the "Senior Brother Yuan Qing."

Li Changshou also stepped forward. With Yue Xianya and Yuan Qing drawing all the attention, he wasn't noticed by others, which made him quite comfortable.

But after just a few steps, he shivered, feeling a pair of resentful eyes following him...

"Senior Brother, why are you suddenly going to the Northern Continent?"

Li Changshou felt a cold wind on his back, stopped, and turned to say sternly, "To gather herbs, of course."

"Senior Brother? Don't we have enough herbs at home? You..."

"Little Sister Ling E of Xiao Qiong Peak."

A voice suddenly called out from the air. It was Elder Ge, frowning at the senior brother and sister. "Do you still want to participate in this outing?"

"Yes."

Ling E looked up and answered, feeling gazes from all around, her face turning slightly red.

Just a moment ago, it was a thousand miles of gloom, but now it was spring and flowers blooming, a natural transition...

Ling E quickly said, "Thank you, Elder. My cultivation is still shallow, and I was unsure earlier. Now, I've decided to go to the East Sea coast with the other senior brothers and sisters."

Elder Ge nodded, a kind smile on his face, and said warmly, "Go back to your group quickly. Don't delay the departure time."

"Yes."

Ling E breathed a sigh of relief, turned to look for her senior brother, but he was already gone.

"Really, why must you go to such a dangerous place?"

She pouted, muttering, "Not even a word of caution... take care, you stinky senior brother!"

Turning around, Ling E's expression returned to normal, and she walked toward the crowd, greeted by several smiling young men from various peaks.

...

Inside the hall, several gazes fell on Li Changshou in the corner, most with a hint of suspicion, unsure who he was.

Li Changshou silently released his aura...

Soul Transformation ninth stage, just passing the line, an above-average level among the current generation.