Lu Xiangleng over there seemed slightly stunned seeing Jian Chou accept the jade bowl so graciously, then nodded and smiled.

Jian Chou herself wasn’t particularly thirsty. She patted Little Marten’s head, signaling for it to come down.

Little Marten tilted its head, immediately understanding Jian Chou’s meaning. It leaped from her shoulder and landed on the massive white stone, looking up at Jian Chou.

Jian Chou took the jade bowl, bent down to draw water from the clear stone pool, then crouched and placed the jade bowl before Little Marten, smiling: “There we go, drink up quickly. After you finish, we’ll continue our journey.”

Little Marten was somewhat delighted, actually circling the jade bowl twice, calling “wu wu wu” while wagging its tail.

Its gaze at the jade bowl was sparkling.

This was…

In that instant, Jian Chou had an ominous premonition.

Little Marten’s nature…

The thought had barely surfaced before she could react – Little Marten had already extended its tongue toward the jade bowl!

“…”

Complete silence.

Baiyue Valley’s Feng Li had just handed the bowl to Jian Chou and returned to Lu Xiangleng’s side, barely standing steady when she turned back to witness this scene, immediately gaping in astonishment—

Why was this little marten licking not the water in the bowl, but the jade bowl itself?

Even with her extensive knowledge, Lu Xiangleng couldn’t help but freeze slightly, looking at Jian Chou’s little marten in surprise.

This marten gave an unusual impression.

Jian Chou remained silent for a long while, slowly pressing her hand to her forehead.

Headache.

Loved collecting junk, loved hoarding, couldn’t resist licking anything nice…

Should she consider whether Little Marten also liked licking her because she was a “good thing”?

No, no no no, I’m not a thing.

“…Enough, stop licking, drink water!”

Jian Chou had fallen into strange thoughts and finally couldn’t help but gently “kick” Little Marten with her foot, looking at it sternly.

“Wu wu…”

Little Marten whimpered once, seeming aggrieved.

But under Jian Chou’s firm gaze, it didn’t dare embarrass her further in front of so many people, quickly lowering its head to drink all the water in the bowl.

Throughout this process, Lu Xiangleng’s gaze remained on Little Marten.

Seeing it finish drinking, Jian Chou thought this should be the end and reached for the bowl, but unexpectedly, two paws moved faster!

Swish!

Gray shadow flashed!

When she looked again, the jade bowl was already tightly clutched in Little Marten’s paws!

Damn…

Could it be any faster?

Jian Chou looked at Little Marten almost in shock.

“Wu wu wu…”

Such a pretty little bowl, it must be a good thing. I want it so much.

Little Marten looked at Jian Chou pitifully, hoping she would be kind and let her take this jade bowl.

Embarrassing, embarrassing, too embarrassing!

Jian Chou wanted to grab Little Marten and throw it away. Someone casually gave you a jade bowl, and you treasure it this much!

She was about to reach out and pry the jade bowl from its grasp when gentle laughter came from beside her.

“Fellow Daoist’s marten seems quite spiritual.”

The gentle words emerged, and Lu Xiangleng couldn’t help coughing twice. A faint layer of black qi rose from her blood vessels, then she frowned and pressed it down with her hand.

Lu Xiangleng’s gaze rested on Little Marten, seeming quite curious.

With others speaking, it would be inappropriate for her to snatch the bowl from Little Marten.

Jian Chou sighed, simply shaking her head helplessly as she stood up: “Spiritual? What spirituality? I see more bad habits – not only disobedience, but also treasuring whatever it sees, clutching things, and refusing to let go. Just an ordinary little marten…”

She said this, though naturally Jian Chou didn’t think so in her heart.

But Little Marten didn’t know what Jian Chou was thinking. Hearing her dare call it “ordinary,” it immediately hugged the jade bowl and started howling, showing its fangs and claws in an arrogant display.

The Baiyue Valley female cultivators resting there were all stunned.

The fluffy little marten showing fangs and claws was undoubtedly a killer weapon for capturing female cultivators’ hearts. Immediately, someone couldn’t look away, finding the little marten adorable no matter how they looked.

Even Lu Xiangleng’s gaze became gentler.

“Fellow Daoist is too modest. I’ve walked the cultivation path for over ten years and seen quite a lot. I’ve encountered countless spiritual beasts and creatures, but one so humanlike as a fellow daoist’s little marten is rare. I can’t even judge its depth. Just looking roughly, it seems like an ordinary marten.”

“Oh?”

Hearing Lu Xiangleng say this, it seemed she held Little Marten in high regard.

Jian Chou couldn’t help reaching out to grab Little Marten’s neck, lifting it and shaking it left and right as she looked, shaking her head: “Getting fatter and fatter… During my recent seclusion, you’ve become increasingly carefree. Master was right – perfect for one pot…”

“Ao wu wu wu!”

Here we go again!

Bullying the marten again!

Little Marten angrily kicked its legs in midair, seeming about to kick Jian Chou, but unfortunately, it only had two short legs that couldn’t reach her no matter how it flailed.

Why use legs?

Because…

Its two paws were still holding the jade bowl!

Even when wanting to kick its master, it wouldn’t let go, truly leaving Jian Chou speechless.

She directly slapped it once, instantly making Little Marten behave, then placed it on her shoulder. Looking back at Lu Xiangleng: “Little Marten has taken a liking to this jade bowl. I’m afraid I can’t get it back, so I must shamelessly ask a fellow Daoist to gift the bowl. If we meet again someday, I shall return it.”

“It’s merely a jade bowl – fellow daoist needn’t worry.” Seeing Jian Chou seemed about to leave, Lu Xiangleng couldn’t help looking eastward: “We came from the west and didn’t encounter a fellow daoist along the way. Presumably fellow Daoists came from the east. Where are you heading now?”

“Westward, to rest at Flying Heaven Town, then continue west.”

Jian Chou only gave a general route without specifying her destination.

Lu Xiangleng naturally understood the meaning – after all, they were strangers meeting by chance, so reserving some information was proper.

Considering Flying Heaven Town’s recent situation, Lu Xiangleng spoke: “When we returned from Gathering Medicine Peak to Flying Heaven Town previously, we heard that many cultivators have died in town recently. Unknown who’s behind it, Flying Heaven Town is now somewhat panicked. The dead cultivators were mostly below the Golden Core stage. If a fellow daoist plans to rest at Flying Heaven Town, you should be extra careful.”

“Gathering Medicine Peak?”

The first thing Jian Chou noticed was this name.

Wasn’t this her destination?

Lu Xiangleng naturally hadn’t expected Jian Chou to notice this insignificant detail. She frowned slightly but still replied: “Gathering Medicine Peak – it’s called that because though the mountain is small, it has myriad climates and can grow many different spiritual herbs and immortal flowers, which is extraordinary. There’s even a black wind cave beneath the cliff. In recent years, it’s attracted many Shijiu Zhou cultivators to explore. I understand medicine principles somewhat and can refine some pills, so I went to Gathering Medicine Peak.”

“Is Gathering Medicine Peak’s Black Wind Cave still there now?”

Hearing another topic of interest, Jian Chou was suddenly in no hurry to leave.

Since she’d encountered Lu Xiangleng, she might as well take this opportunity to inquire.

Lu Xiangleng immediately understood, a smile appearing on her pale face: “So the fellow daoist’s destination is Gathering Medicine Peak.”

However…

She was truly a cultivator who had either practiced briefly or been in seclusion too long.

“Gathering Medicine Peak’s Black Wind Cave is a place some odd cultivators in the Central Domain’s Left Three Thousand like to visit. I heard someone found a magical artifact inside some time ago. These past few years, somehow rumors spread that Black Wind Cave contains treasures, so many cultivators went, though all returned empty-handed. Is the fellow Daoist going for that too?”

“Half and half.”

This was honest.

Jian Chou was going for Black Wind Cave, but not for the ethereal so-called treasures.

The news from Lu Xiangleng differed from what Jian Chou learned from Fudao Shanren.

Gathering Medicine Peak’s Black Wind Cave was such a famous existence, so presumably the black wind within still existed. Fudao Shanren hadn’t been in Shijiu Zhou for three hundred years and recently only squatted at Yashan gnawing chicken legs, so he probably wasn’t clear about outside news.

Initially, Jian Chou worried Black Wind Cave might lack black wind and she’d return empty-handed.

Now, hearing Lu Xiangleng’s words, her heart settled.

Lu Xiangleng increasingly felt Jian Chou carried a mysterious air.

First, she knew very little about external affairs, yet remained composed and calm, not feeling awkward or nervous about her ignorance.

Such bearing wasn’t something everyone could possess.

Second, no matter how uninformed, she shouldn’t be unaware of even the Upper Five’s Baiyue Valley.

After her self-introduction, Jian Chou’s reaction was remarkably bland, as if Baiyue Valley was nothing special.

This represented only two possibilities: First, the other party’s cultivation exceeded her own and didn’t need to care about her, but obviously, Jian Chou was only late Foundation Establishment stage. So only the second possibility remained—

Jian Chou came from a sect at least no lower than Baiyue Valley.

Counting the Central Domain’s Left Three Thousand, sects no lower than Baiyue Valley totaled just a few, and several of them didn’t accept female cultivators.

So with just brief consideration, Lu Xiangleng could determine which sect Jian Chou might come from.

However…

That was all.

Lu Xiangleng’s thoughts remained in her heart, her mind turning extremely quickly.

Jian Chou hadn’t noticed anything and didn’t think her attitude was problematic. She touched Little Marten on her shoulder, remembering Lu Xiangleng’s earlier warning, and suddenly asked: “Flying Heaven Town is also where cultivators gather. That person only kills Golden Core stage and below cultivators, so their cultivation probably isn’t very high. Has no one brought them to justice?”

“I’m ashamed to say.” Lu Xiangleng coughed twice more, smiling bitterly: “Flying Heaven Town is close to Baiyue Valley, so our people should have investigated the culprit. Unfortunately, the first to die in Flying Heaven Town was a Baiyue Valley female cultivator. If I hadn’t been poisoned by Earth scorpion venom this time, I would have investigated this matter. Regrettably, my will exceeds my ability now.”

So that’s how it was.

It seemed cultivation world sects had spheres of influence – places within Baiyue Valley’s range should receive protection from the nearest sect.

Jian Chou understood more things.

Seeing Jian Chou lower her eyes in thought, Lu Xiangleng assumed she was worried about Flying Heaven Town’s situation: “Though Flying Heaven Town is dangerous now, fellow daoist needn’t worry. This matter was reported to Yashan by our Baiyue Valley not long ago. Yashan is only a hundred li from Flying Heaven Town – they’ll arrive soon. No matter how vicious that villain is, they wouldn’t dare oppose Yashan.”

When mentioning Yashan, Lu Xiangleng’s eyes held natural respect without any frivolity.

For Jian Chou, suddenly hearing Yashan’s name gave her an indescribable feeling.

Perhaps in everyone’s eyes, Yashan was a very reliable existence.

Though just mentioning a name, Jian Chou could vaguely sense how much magnificence was carved beneath these simple two characters.

Lowering her eyes slightly, Jian Chou cupped her hands: “Regardless of Flying Heaven Town’s situation, I must make this trip. Thank you for Fellow Daoist Lu’s guidance. If we meet again someday, I’ll repay today’s bowl gift. Farewell.”

Seeing Jian Chou about to leave, Lu Xiangleng was slightly stunned: “But I still don’t know fellow daoist’s surname, name, or sect…”

The many Baiyue Valley female cultivators behind, hearing this, couldn’t help but exchange glances.

When had Senior Sister Lu become so interested in an ordinary passerby?

Jian Chou raised her hand as the Liwai Mirror flew from her sleeve, brilliant yet gentle glazed golden light spreading out.

She stepped directly onto the enlarged mirror surface, looking back at Lu Xiangleng with a smile: “Surname, name, sect – why need to know? Just an unknown nobody.”

After speaking, Jian Chou was too lazy to explain further and directly transformed into a streak of light flying away.

On White Stone Mountain, by the stone pool’s edge, Lu Xiangleng looked up.

After that light vanished, Feng Li beside her couldn’t help saying: “Senior Sister, you… Is there something wrong with that person?”

“Nothing wrong. Cough…” Her misty eyebrows furrowed as black qi rose again, shrouding Lu Xiangleng’s pale face: “I just guessed at her identity somewhat, though I’m probably wrong.”

She used a mirror, not the rumored fierce Ghost Axe. Besides, there was no word that Yashan’s senior sister raised a little marten.

Slowly shaking her head, Lu Xiangleng dismissed her previous thoughts.

Just strangers meeting by chance, feeling the other seemed extraordinary – indeed, shouldn’t think too much.

Faint purple light rose as the black qi on Lu Xiangleng’s face was finally dispersed again, though when it cleared, that face became even paler.

“Let’s go—”

Her voice cut off abruptly. Lu Xiangleng suddenly coughed violently, immediately spitting up a small mouthful of fresh blood.

This blood, staining her moon-white robes, was purple-red, looking extremely eerie.

The surrounding female cultivators were startled, all anxiously saying: “Senior Sister Lu!”

Feng Li hurried to support her. Seeing Lu Xiangleng’s swaying appearance, tears welled in her eyes as she cried: “Senior Sister Lu, stop talking. Let’s return immediately. Perhaps Master has a way to dispel the earth scorpion poison…”

What method could Master have?

Baiyue Valley wasn’t a sect specializing in poison and medicine theory. Lu Xiangleng knew clearly that she was the most skilled in this area throughout the sect. Though Master’s cultivation was good, she could only be helpless against this earth scorpion poison.

“Forget it. I’ve accepted fate – what’s there for you to cry about? Ice Vine Jade Essence disappeared hundreds of years ago and can’t be found anywhere. Perhaps Heaven doesn’t pity me. Live or die, let nature take its course. Let’s go.”

Speaking thus, Lu Xiangleng smiled, looking down at the bloodstain on her collar, actually feeling she was beginning not to care.

“But…”

How could it be like this?

Feng Li stared at Lu Xiangleng blankly: “But Senior Sister, don’t you still have to attend the Left Three Thousand Small Assembly in two years?”

Lu Xiangleng didn’t speak, only walking forward.

West of White Stone Mountain faced exactly toward the sunset.

Jian Chou leisurely rode the Liwai Mirror, listening to Little Marten constantly licking the jade bowl by her ear, couldn’t help asking: “Little Marten, do you think the earth scorpion poison in her body can be cured?”

About This was an extremely fierce and domineering poison. Jian Chou had roughly read about it – it greatly affected one’s cultivation.

She couldn’t see through the other party’s cultivation level, which was certainly higher than her own, though probably not by much – should still be within the Golden Core stage.

With Earth scorpion poison’s influence, what would happen in the future was hard to say.

Little Marten listened in confusion, or perhaps wasn’t listening carefully at all.

It casually “wu wu wu” ed a few times, then lowered its head to continue licking the jade bowl.

Looking back, Jian Chou immediately realized that ancient literati played music to cattle, while today Jian Chou shared her heart with a marten – both equally lacking perception and wasting emotion.

Sighing deeply, she was too lazy to speak and simply hurried on.

The crimson sun wheel continuously sank into the western endless earth as Jian Chou kept traveling west.

Mountain ranges prostrated beneath Jian Chou’s feet. Watching vast darkness envelope the entire earth, she finally crossed the last mountain range under the final rays of light and saw a sizeable town on the other side.

Throughout Shijiu Zhou’s lands, the Central Domain had the most sects.

Among the mixture of plains and mountains, a few large sects were born, but many small sects emerged. Due to mixed populations and intersecting spheres of influence, with many disciples descending mountains for training, towns similar to the mortal world gradually formed in some places.

Shijiu Zhou had many cultivators, but not everyone was suitable for cultivation. Some spent their entire lives in the Qi Refining stage, others in the Foundation Establishment stage, and naturally, some had no cultivation at all. These cultivators basically concentrated in towns, doing small cultivation-related businesses to support themselves.

Flying Heaven Town was such a place.

Backed by vast mountains and plains with abundant resources, near Baiyue Valley, whenever something happened, Baiyue Valley provided protection. Being one of the Central Domain’s Left Three Thousand Upper Five sects, few dared challenge Baiyue Valley’s authority, so Flying Heaven Town had been very lively and prosperous these years.

Until…

The recent appearance of that mysterious “culprit” killing many cultivators below the Golden Core stage.

Just putting away the Liwai Mirror and entering Flying Heaven Town, Jian Chou heard several cultivators under a nearby pavilion talking.

“I heard Baiyue Valley cultivators can’t handle this villain either and have already requested Yashan’s intervention.”

“Disturbing Yashan over such a small matter seems like making a mountain out of a molehill.”

“Sigh, who knows?”

“Recently, with the Left Three Thousand Small Assembly approaching, have all kinds of demons and monsters emerged?”

“Hard to say. The villain’s matter is just one thing. Just this morning, someone saw Baiyue Valley’s Miss Lu coming down from Gathering Medicine Peak.”

“Medicine Woman Lu Xiangleng?”

“Exactly her. Don’t know if she found something good at Gathering Medicine Peak again.”

“Baiyue Valley will probably make a big splash at this Left Three Thousand Small Assembly. Lu Xiangleng is also a hot candidate for solo ascending the One Person Platform!”

…

Central Domain’s Left Three Thousand, Kunwu’s One Person Platform.

Baiyue Valley, Lu Xiangleng, a hot candidate for solo ascending the One Person Platform?

Walking past the street, Jian Chou’s heart rippled with waves.

The noisy crowd carried a feeling of worldly dust.

For a moment, Jian Chou felt like she’d returned to a lonely island in the human world.

Just looking up, the signs hanging above shops all sold various spiritual herbs, immortal medicines, and spiritual energy, obviously different from the mundane world.

Jian Chou snapped back to reality and laughed.

Laughing at the illusion and her strange thoughts.

Because in that instant, she was wondering whether the annoying Qu Zhengfeng and hateful Xie Buchen might already be fighting by now.

***

Outside Qingfeng Nunnery’s Hidden Realm gate.

The huge light sphere had stopped rotating. The thirty-zhang-high gate was covered with deep cracks, with an especially deep sword mark at the center seam, as if some powerful cultivator had left this terrifying trace with an angry sword strike.

Xie Buchen stood before the giant gate, frowning slightly.

Before coming here, Hengxu Zhenren had mentioned that Fudao Shanren once split the demonic beast inside the gate with one sword.

Unknown what the current situation was.

“Chirp chirp chirp chirp…”

A gray-furred mouse suddenly emerged from a water pool not far from the platform before the gate. In this remote place with few visitors, the mouse completely failed to notice someone’s presence. Only when it bumped into him did it startle with all its fur standing on end!

It’s originally ordinary calls immediately became shrill.

“Chirp chirp chirp chirp!”

Xie Buchen looked down and merely smiled slightly, actually stepping back and moving his foot aside, making way for this gray-furred mouse that had bumped into him, letting it run back into the water pool.

“Splash splash…”

Water sounds still carried the mouse’s panic.

“Kunwu has such kind-hearted disciples – truly rare…”

Laughter suddenly came from behind.

Xie Buchen heard the sharp mockery hidden in these words, couldn’t help frowning as he turned back.

The newcomer wore dark robes with golden trim, standing on a sea-blue long sword, lightly landing outside the Hidden Realm’s great gate.

It was Qu Zhengfeng.

The teleportation array here was broken, so Qu Zhengfeng had to travel from Immortal Road’s Thirteen Islands, doing some things along the way that delayed him slightly. He hadn’t expected such a coincidence – meeting Xie Buchen right at the gate.

Interesting.

After a full month, whether Yashan or Kunwu had only just reached the Hidden Realm’s gate.

Qu Zhengfeng was curious what Xie Buchen had done during this time, while Xie Buchen harbored the same suspicions.

Though they’d never met before, both had long heard of each other.

One was Kunwu’s currently most prominent new genius, the other was Yashan’s former senior brother, who was invincible below the Soul Severing stage, possessing countless glorious battle records…

Xie Buchen stood with hands behind his back, his heart like a calm lake without ripples, smiling lightly: “Big rat, big rat, it poses no hindrance to me. Where one can forgive, one should forgive – why should I trouble a small mouse?”

Qu Zhengfeng listened without responding further.

He gazed at the deep sword mark left on the giant gate.

This was a trace left by Wooden Sword Wuliu.

His master, even with regressed cultivation, still had terrifyingly strong attack power…

One step, two steps.

Qu Zhengfeng walked toward the giant gate, finally stopping two feet away. He slowly raised his right hand as deep-sea-like transparent blue emerged, pressing against the giant gate.

“Rumble…”

Under the special technique’s operation, the sphere overhead that had long stopped rotating began turning again.

Five-colored celestial light gradually rose, brilliant and dazzling…

— Qingfeng Nunnery’s Hidden Realm, opening.

***

Shijiu Zhou, Flying Heaven Town.

Jian Chou walked forward while thinking, having traveled quite far.

People along the roadside occasionally discussed recent events at Flying Heaven Town, which seemed quite sensational. Jian Chou learned much previously unknown information.

The entire face of Shijiu Zhou gradually gained a concrete outline in her heart.

She needed to find a place to rest, then preferably obtain a recent, detailed map before exploring Black Wind Cave.

With this thought, Jian Chou heard hawking voices.

“Black Wind Cave, Black Wind Cave! Anyone want to explore Black Wind Cave together? Form a five-person team and go, ten spirit stones for collecting Wind-Swallowing Stones, a generous reward! Anyone coming?”

A shrewd, slippery voice like a typical merchant from the mundane world.

And…

Vaguely familiar.

“Clack clack clack clack…”

The sound of abacus beads was especially clear.

Jian Chou looked in that direction.

A slightly plump man with two small mustaches held a shiny golden abacus, so vulgar it was surprising – Shijiu Zhou had golden abacuses!

The man was constantly shaking his golden abacus, standing under a crooked-neck willow tree, shouting at passing cultivators.

“Hey, this fellow Daoist, want to come? Ten spirit stones! Ten spirit stones! Just enter the cave a hundred feet, collect Wind-Swallowing Stones, and leave, absolutely no danger. Golden Abacus Qian Que, honest with young and old, guaranteed reputation!”

Golden Abacus, Qian Que.

Jian Chou glanced at Little Marten on her shoulder, suddenly whispering: “Don’t make a sound unless I tell you to, understand?”

“Wu?”

Little Marten was extremely confused, holding the jade bowl with its short paws. After thinking for a while, it finally understood, quickly nodding and covering its mouth with the jade bowl.

Very good.

Jian Chou smiled with satisfaction.

At this moment, Qian Que was still shouting ahead. She couldn’t help raising an eyebrow, suddenly feeling that though Shijiu Zhou was vast, the world remained small.

Who else could this be but the one who swindled Gu Qingmei in the Killing Red Small Realm?

Step by step, Jian Chou slowly walked over.

By now, Qian Que’s throat was nearly hoarse from shouting without recruiting a single person, truly anxious and frustrated.

Just five people would do – five people could form an array to prevent black wind from harming the body, barely lasting until reaching where Wind-Swallowing Stones could be collected. But today seemed cursed – everyone appeared uninterested.

Damn, he was new to Flying Heaven Town, so apparently the Golden Abacus’s golden reputation wasn’t working here.

Qian Que was extremely depressed.

He wiped sweat from his head, considering whether to raise the price, when looking up, he suddenly saw a beautiful female cultivator approaching, slender in stature, seeming to curiously observe the surroundings. Her gaze toward him held confused appraisal, while the little marten on her shoulder was adorably naive…

Oh my, she’s even wearing clothes woven from yin-yang spider silk!

Qian Que nearly slapped his thigh!

A fat sheep!

A second-generation disciple from a major sect – low cultivation, no experience, curious about the colorful world, easily tempted, and perfect for swindling!

In an instant, Qian Que’s mental abacus clattered frantically.

Seeing the target approaching, he unhesitatingly shook his abacus and approached: “This fairy maiden, Black Wind Cave – want to go to Black Wind Cave?”

Fairy… fairy maiden?

Jian Chou stopped, looking at this suddenly appearing plump face with its ingratiating smile, dazed.

She silently touched her cheek.

In the Killing Red Small Realm, who was it that shouted, “Senior is a real man”?

Seeing Jian Chou’s action, Qian Que nearly laughed himself silly – it seemed he’d flattered correctly!

A second-generation disciple fresh from the sect!

Heh heh heh heh…

Grandpa Qian’s fat sheep-slaughtering blade was already thirsting for action!