Chapter 80

After going crazy for a while, Dahu finally reluctantly jumped off the back of the primitive giant elephant, stood up, and, like a warrior returning from battle, beat his chest with both hands, his heart filled with intense emotion.

This must be a case of madness. Buli looked at Dahu, who was so excited he couldn't control himself, and laughed inwardly. Then he saw Dahu run over to the bonfire on all fours, clearly not mad, but still thinking about the good food and drink. This dog, eating and drinking were his whole world. Today was an exception. At least over the years, Buli had never seen Dahu resist the urge to run for food first.

Hu Wu didn't explain any further, grabbed the wine gourd, and took another big gulp.

Dahu ran to Hu Wu's side, squatted down next to him, and didn't make a fuss. His saliva hung in threads, reflecting the light of the bonfire, crystal clear and disgustingly beautiful. But Buli didn't care at all. After living with Dahu for so many years, he was long used to this glutton's ugly face.

Laughing and chatting, the night passed. Li Shaowei, with a great tolerance for alcohol, showed no signs of drunkenness. As the stars scattered, he said goodbye to Buli, rode the primitive giant elephant, and headed back toward the Western Mountains. Buli watched until Li Shaowei's figure disappeared, then covered his head with his hand, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

It's not a hangover if you haven't slept yet, Buli thought.

After a simple wash, the female disciple of Hushan Sect looked at Buli, as if asking if he wanted to continue the journey today. Buli had been up all night, and he still looked a bit drunk. Buli smiled shyly and nodded slightly. At this moment, Buli seemed to have forgotten that he had almost strangled the female disciple of Hushan Sect with one hand yesterday.

Buli and his group continued toward Hushan. They didn't walk as fast as the previous day. After a nap, Buli felt much better, his spirit refreshed, and a faint warmth in his dantian, like a small flame, was burning.

It turned out that the wine from Li Shaowei's clan was medicinal, capable of strengthening the body. Buli knew the value of the wine, but he didn't think about expressing gratitude. Between brothers, there was no need for such formalities.

The journey continued without much conversation. After three days, they finally saw a towering mountain in the distance. This was no longer the Western Mountains, but a solitary peak rising from the ground, majestic and lonely.

This must be the legendary Hushan, Buli thought, looking around. Indeed, there were no signs of the various clans that had left Hushan living here.

"The sect is just ahead. Once inside, be careful. The elder of the Punishment Hall is strict and harsh, so don't offend him. The instructor of the outer disciples, Fan Jiaoxi, is also a bit petty and likes to scare new disciples a couple of times. Just get used to it and don't argue with him," the female disciple of Hushan Sect warned. As soon as she spoke, she felt something was off. Why was she being so considerate of Buli, who had offended her twice and even lifted her by the neck? Her cheeks flushed.

With her cheeks flushed, the female disciple of Hushan Sect, when not throwing a tantrum, had a certain charm.

Dahu grunted a couple of times next to Buli, inwardly cursing, truly a masochist. If Buli had just mated with her, would it have been better? Numerous lewd thoughts flashed through Dahu's mind, and he lowered his head, secretly pleased.

Buli "hmm"ed, didn't say much, and continued toward Hushan.

This was a new beginning, finally stepping onto the path of cultivation!

His steps were firm, hoping that his future path in cultivation would also be solid.

Although they had already seen Hushan, it took them a whole day to reach its base. The female disciple of Hushan Sect looked back at Hu Wu, Cai Xiaoxian, and Yang Caiyan, hesitating, unsure how to say goodbye to Buli.

Hu Wu said, "You go up and report to the sect. I'll set up a hut nearby and cultivate. Don't worry, I'll take care of Xiaoxian."

Buli was silent, feeling as if this was the first time he was parting with Cai Xiaoxian in so many years. Although the distance wasn't far, just one on the mountain and one below, he still felt reluctant. A faint sense of parting enveloped Buli, making him feel uncomfortable.

He squatted down, his forehead touching Cai Xiaoxian's, and said, "Xiaoxian, be good. I'll come down to see you once I'm settled. Don't wander around, or you might get lost, and that's no joke."

Cai Xiaoxian knew Buli was going to cultivate, but even a short farewell was hard to bear. Not wanting Buli to be sad, she held back her tears, her vision blurring as she leaned in and gently touched Buli's nose with her small, pointed nose, saying, "Brother, cultivate well. Xiaoxian will be good."

Buli hugged Cai Xiaoxian and roughly tousled her hair.

Parting has always been a source of sorrow, from ancient times to the present.

Walking up the green stone steps of Hushan with the female disciple of Hushan Sect, Buli forced himself not to look back. This was the first time he was parting with Cai Xiaoxian since coming to the Hunlan Continent, and although he knew they would meet again soon, he couldn't help but feel poetic.

Each step of the green stone was over three inches high, fitting together seamlessly, without a single blade of grass or moss. Each stone was worn smooth, but not slippery, providing a firm footing.

Buli looked up, seeing Hushan towering thousands of feet high, with countless steps of green stone.

The female disciple of Hushan Sect walked ahead, gently saying, "There are 3,546 steps of green stone. The highest point is the inner hall of Hushan Sect, where the sect leader is waiting for you. However, you can only go there once and will usually live in the outer sect."

This was something Buli had expected, with no surprises. Yu Ze wasn't his long-lost father, so he wouldn't be immediately elevated. Having the opportunity to join Hushan Sect, even in the outer sect, was a great opportunity.

After walking for about an incense stick's time, they hadn't even reached the halfway point. In the distance, they saw countless houses in a misty valley, like a fairyland. People could be seen moving or standing still among the houses, like a painting.

The female disciple of Hushan Sect pointed to the houses in the mist and said, "This is where the outer disciples live. You will live here from now on."

As she spoke, her voice suddenly became somewhat coquettish and strange. She felt ashamed, wondering why she was having such random thoughts today. Her cheeks flushed, thinking it was a good thing she was facing away from Buli, or he might have seen and guessed her thoughts, and she would be ruined.

Buli sensed a slight change in the female disciple's blood qi but didn't spend much time thinking about it. Since there was no hostility, her actions were irrelevant to him. In Buli's mind, the female disciple of Hushan Sect had no presence. Or rather, she represented the attitude of the Hunlan Continent toward the Western Mountain remnants, which Buli found somewhat repulsive.

They continued walking for a while and saw another valley between the hills. It was higher, with thicker clouds, and the houses within were even more exquisite.

"This is where the inner disciples live. I live here," the female disciple of Hushan Sect said, having adjusted her mindset, her voice calm and showing no signs of her earlier thoughts. Buli noticed that the soul power grew more abundant the higher they climbed. He imagined that the peak, where the sect leader lived, must have the most abundant soul power.

Seeing that Buli had been silent since they climbed Hushan, the female disciple of Hushan Sect thought he might be nervous and comforted him, "You are a Western Mountain remnant chosen by the sect leader as an exception. As long as you cultivate well, you have a bright future, unlike the previous remnants. You..." She stopped abruptly, realizing she had said something wrong, feeling a bit regretful. Why had she been so infatuated, saying such taboo things to Buli?

Buli, though not good at reading people's minds, was good at understanding their intentions. He knew the female disciple's embarrassment and smiled slightly, saying, "Thank you, Senior Sister, for your concern. I didn't hear some of what you said. Once on Hushan, I will focus on my cultivation."

Buli wasn't cold to those who showed him kindness. Although he didn't know why the female disciple's attitude had changed so quickly, he didn't hesitate to give her a smile and a kind word.

The female disciple of Hushan Sect softly "hmm"ed, so quietly that even she didn't hear it clearly.

They both fell silent and continued climbing. In the distance, they saw three people descending the mountain, chatting and laughing. The female disciple of Hushan Sect said, "These are the top three outer disciples. The outer sect competition is in a few months, and these three have the best chance of entering the inner sect."

Seeing the female disciple of Hushan Sect climbing, the three people quickly moved to the sides, bowing their heads in respect. The middle one, not very tall but extremely agile, raised his head slightly, his eyes scanning the female disciple with a lecherous look before hiding it, and said, "Senior Sister, you must have been busy with your mission."

"Um," the female disciple of Hushan Sect replied indifferently. The three didn't take offense and respectfully escorted her past. Seeing Buli following behind, they watched as he disappeared into the mist, and the lowest one said, "This must be the remnant disciple the sect leader made an exception for."

"I've seen him in the mirage. It's him. He's a pattern hunter and quite skilled in the mountains. If the soul power array hadn't malfunctioned, the sect leader wouldn't have selected him to appease the remnants," the last outer disciple of Hushan Sect said.

"Don't underestimate him. He can kill Chu Zhongze, so he's definitely skilled," the agile man said, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes. "Tonight, let him know the rules. Remnant? Ha!"