Chapter 8

"Yuan Qing, Xuan Ya, you two are ranked second and sixth among the disciples of this generation. Why are you in such a hurry to go gather herbs?

Dulin Peak's Liu Yan'er, Xiaoling Peak's Wang Qi, hmm... also among the top twenty talents of this generation. Why are you all rushing to the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest? Has our sect become so stingy with young disciples?

Beijulu Continent is no place for the faint-hearted. No one has gone there in the last two times...

Hmm?"

In a corner of the Bai Fan Hall, a female immortal with a strong smell of alcohol tilted her head, glared at Li Changshou standing behind four dazzling young disciples, then looked down at the bamboo strip in her hand, and then back at Li Changshou, repeating this twice, her expression gradually turning grim.

"Xiao Qiong Peak, Li Changshou.

What is your cultivation level? Why are you going to the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest right after reaching the Ninth Stage of the Spirit Transformation realm?

Go, go, go! Go to the Eastern Sea and fight those shrimp demons!"

The female immortal's straightforward words were utterly blunt, but they were also very reasonable, clearly considering Li Changshou's safety.

The female immortal had a large and a small wine gourd hanging from her waist, and her attire was very simple: long pants, a short shirt, and medium-length light brown hair, making her a rare oddity among the female cultivators with long, flowing black hair.

In terms of appearance and demeanor, she resembled a miscellaneous disciple who had been overworked and had given up on herself.

Fortunately, the slender waist bound with a cloth strip, the hemp short shirt that was almost bursting, and the occasional display of a bit of pressure, made it clear that she was a powerful female immortal.

This person's Daoist name was Jiu Jiu, a disciple of Potian Peak. She looked to be in her early twenties but was actually over eight hundred years old, having become an immortal for more than six hundred years. She was one of the standout disciples of her generation and was now capable of handling things independently.

The fact that she was the only one from the sect going to the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest in Beijulu Continent also demonstrated her extraordinary strength.

Li Changshou's face turned solemn, and he bowed to the famous Jiu Jiu, saying, "Senior Jiu, I need to find a few medicinal herbs, one of which can only be found in Beijulu Continent. I will trouble you, Senior Jiu, this time."

"What herbs?"

The female immortal's lips curled, her actually very beautiful face showing a hint of disdain. "I have some connection with your master. Here, take this and go to Elder Qilin at the Dao Treasury Pavilion."

As she spoke, she fished out a jade token from her wine-stained short shirt and casually threw it to Li Changshou.

"Just say it's from my monthly supply, and go get the herbs you need!

Beijulu Continent is a place you can go to at the Ninth Stage of the Spirit Transformation realm?

If you really die there, I'll be docked ten years of wine money, and your tearful master will definitely come to cry to me...

Ugh, just thinking about it is annoying!"

The two men and two women beside her were slightly surprised, their gazes falling on the jade token.

A jade token of an elder from the sect, given so easily to a Ninth Stage Spirit Transformation disciple from a different peak?

"Senior, " Li Changshou smiled bitterly, took a step forward, and handed the jade token back to the female immortal, "If I had a choice, I wouldn't want to take the risk of going to Beijulu Continent, but this time it's out of necessity.

According to the sect rules, Senior cannot refuse my request to go out for training. Please grant me your approval."

Jiu Jiu frowned slightly, looking at the young disciple bowing before her, and huffed, snatching the jade token back.

"Really! You, Yuan Qing, Xuan Ya."

The girl in the fiery red immortal dress and the refined young cultivator both bowed in response, "Disciple is here!"

Jiu Jiu said irritably, "If you have the strength, help look after him."

"Disciple understands," You Qin Xuan Ya responded expressionlessly.

"Senior, don't worry," Yuan Qing cast a kind glance at Li Changshou, his smile gentle, "I will take good care of Junior Brother Changshou."

Jiu Jiu couldn't help but hold her forehead, scolding Li Changshou, "He entered the sect earlier than you and Xuan Ya.

Really, Li Changshou, how did you manage to cultivate for over a hundred years without reaching the Void Return realm... Forget it.

Given the conditions at Xiao Qiong Peak, it's not bad that you can keep up with most disciples."

"Uh," Yuan Qing looked embarrassed but quickly bowed, "Sorry, Senior Brother Changshou, don't take it to heart."

Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, feeling a bit sentimental.

The emotionless girl and the warm-hearted guy, they make a good pair...

But it has nothing to do with me.

Li Changshou suddenly felt two unfriendly gazes, but he didn't investigate further, calmly thanking Jiu Jiu and bowing to You Qin Xuan Ya and Yuan Qing before stepping back to stand quietly behind them.

Those two gazes naturally came from the other two.

—Liu Yan'er in the light yellow silk dress and Wang Qi in the green Daoist robe, both top-ranking Void Return realm experts of this generation, two excellent immortal seeds.

Their gazes, though not friendly, were not malicious, at most a bit disdainful.

Li Changshou stood quietly, listening to the continuous sounds of breaking air as batches of disciples ascended under the protection of various immortals.

He also divided a thread of his spiritual consciousness to check the few storage magical artifacts on his body.

This wasn't out of a habit of organizing, categorizing pills, magical artifacts, etc.; the items stored in these artifacts were all the same, divided into three equal parts: pills, magical artifacts, spirit stones, etc.

The bracelet on his left wrist was the main storage magical artifact. As a precaution, the pendant around his neck was a backup storage magical artifact. As a further precaution, the bag tied to his thigh was a backup of the backup storage magical artifact...

When going out for training, it's always better to be over-prepared, especially when going to a dangerous place like Beijulu Continent.

This time, Li Changshou had brought most of his possessions.

The other half, he gave to his junior sister for self-defense.

...

Half a day later, a huge gourd slowly ascended in front of the hall.

Immortal Jiu Jiu stood with her arms crossed above the gourd's mouth, looking quite impressive; several young disciples stood steadily in various spots on the gourd.

Once the gourd flew out of the great array, Immortal Jiu Jiu formed a hand seal, and the wine gourd emitted a faint green light, forming a protective film to block out the external wind.

Then, she pointed her finger northwest, and the gourd began to accelerate slowly.

"Relax, don't be nervous, there are fewer rules outside the sect."

Jiu Jiu yawned, sitting down at the gourd's mouth, her legs dangling on either side, leaning back without a care, and casually picking up the wine gourd from her waist, a satisfied smile on her lips.

She took a slow sip, her cheeks flushing slightly, her moan blending into the wind, her whole body exuding a sense of satisfaction and comfort, then turned to look at the five young disciples behind her.

The one farthest from her was Li Changshou, sitting at the back of the gourd.

Li Changshou kept a distance from the others, his body tense, not sitting in meditation like the others, his left fingertips pressing two yellow paper talismans.

Liu Yan'er and Wang Qi were in the middle of the gourd, both quietly adjusting their breathing.

Closest to Jiu Jiu was You Qin Xuan Ya, sitting in meditation a foot behind her, her large sword lying in front of her.

Behind You Qin Xuan Ya, the elegant Yuan Qing said gently, "Junior Sister, I will definitely help you find the Yanhuo Mingxin Grass this time."

You Qin Xuan Ya frowned slightly, saying calmly, "Senior Brother Yuan Qing, there's no need to trouble yourself. This is my own cultivation matter, and I don't need others to intervene."

Yuan Qing smiled gently, "More people mean more chances."

You Qin Xuan Ya didn't say more, continuing to meditate, a flame-like aura surrounding her, beautiful without a flaw.

"Ha," Jiu Jiu found this amusing, raising an eyebrow at Yuan Qing.

Yuan Qing made a helpless expression, continuing to meditate three feet behind You Qin Xuan Ya, his smile gradually fading.

'Tsk, another case of the fallen leaf having feelings while the flowing water is indifferent.'

Jiu Jiu took another sip of the immortal wine, savoring it, but reluctantly hung the gourd back on her waist.

She leaned against the edge of the gourd's mouth, looking up at the clouds in the blue sky, slightly lost in thought.

After flying for a while, Jiu Jiu couldn't resist reaching for the gourd at her waist, but hesitated and stopped, saying, "It will take two days and three nights to fly to Beijulu Continent. Do you plan to meditate the whole time?

Wang Qi, sing a little song for Senior."

"Senior Jiu..." Wang Qi said hurriedly, "I don't know how to sing."

Jiu Jiu immediately looked disdainful, "Who can? Changshou, can you?"

Li Changshou shook his head solemnly, instead using the voice transmission technique to remind Jiu Jiu, "Senior, there seems to be a figure in the clouds above us."

"Hmm?"

Jiu Jiu looked up, calmly transmitting back to Li Changshou, "In the vast Five Continents, there are countless cultivators who can fly and travel through the earth. Don't be alarmed; we're not far from our sect."

Despite this, Jiu Jiu still spread her immortal consciousness, and soon the gourd's speed began to slow down steadily.

A moment later, the gourd hovered in the air, and Jiu Jiu, still sitting loosely, called out loudly, "I wonder why the Daoist friend in the clouds has been following us for so long?"

Immediately, the four disciples meditating on the gourd opened their eyes, and Li Changshou, who had been observing the rear, withdrew his right hand into his sleeve, his fingers gripping his storage magical artifact.

From the clouds behind, a towering figure flew out, wearing chainmail armor, with a rough and rugged face, his aura solid and heavy, a large battle axe hanging on his back.

'An immortal?'

Li Changshou carefully sensed, this person seemed to have become an immortal not long ago, not giving him much pressure.

A hundred feet away, the towering man bowed to Jiu Jiu, saying loudly, "I am the palace guard of Honglin Kingdom in the Eastern Divine Continent, specially sent to protect the Sixth Princess. If I have offended you, please forgive me, Senior Immortal!"

"Sixth Princess?"

Jiu Jiu tilted her head, looking at the two female disciples behind her.

Li Changshou's gaze also subconsciously fell on Liu Yan'er, with her slightly round face and a hint of earthly烟火气 (earthly烟火气 translates to 'earthly烟火气', which is a cultural term that can be interpreted as 'down-to-earth' or 'ordinary' in this context), but Liu Yan'er directly looked at the other young female disciple...

Then, You Qin Xuan Ya spoke in an extremely cold tone,

"Go back, there's no need to trouble yourself for me."

Princess? Palace guard?

Appearing suddenly when they were going to Beijulu Continent?

Li Changshou's nose twitched, sensing... a familiar pattern.