Three hundred li north of this town lay the boundary of the miasmic region of the North Continent, and at its very edge was the training ground for the five Du Xian Men disciples—the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest.

The barren mountains outside the miasma formed a stark contrast with the endless black forests within, drawing a clear boundary line.

As they approached the miasmic forest’s edge, Jiu Jiu transformed completely, her gaze filled with vigilance as her immortal awareness monitored every movement within several hundred li.

Flying low with the group, she expended immortal power to create a white cloud, transforming her large gourd into a three-foot container strapped to her back. The gourd’s mouth emanated a pale blue light, ready to spray at any moment…

Finally, at the forest’s edge, Jiu Jiu descended from the white cloud and turned to face the five disciples with a serious expression.

“According to the rules, this training period is twenty days. Starting from when you enter the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest, if you withdraw before the twenty days are up, you’ll fail this trial and face punishment back at the sect.”

Jiu Jiu blinked, her tone suddenly lightening:

“It’s just a deduction from your monthly allowance, nothing serious. Put your safety first—if you find it too difficult, withdraw immediately. Don’t try to be heroes.

I’ll wait here for you. Since this training is meant to temper disciples, I naturally won’t follow behind you or serve as your guard.

This big fellow will stay here too.”

General Yu Wen Lin clasped his hands and requested: “This humble official was ordered to protect the Sixth Princess. Please allow me to…”

Jiu Jiu replied indifferently: “Would you prefer to stay here willingly, or be tied up here?”

“General Yu Wen, please wait outside. We must follow Master-Aunt Jiu’s arrangements,” You Qin Xuan Ya spoke up, emanating a subtle authority—clearly someone used to giving orders since childhood.

“This official obeys!” Yu Wen Lin responded gravely, then frowned at Yuan Qing.

Yuan Qing immediately declared loudly: “General Yu Wen need not worry. Even at the cost of my life, I will protect Junior Sister Xuan Ya.”

You Qin Xuan Ya maintained her usual “ice queen” expression, showing no response.

Meanwhile, Li Chang Shou, standing behind Jiu Jiu, let his gaze drift between Yuan Qing and Yu Wen Lin.

‘Sure enough, something feels off about these two.’

Jiu Jiu cleared her throat and continued: “I have two pieces of advice for you.

First, help each other inside. Remember you’re sect siblings. Try to avoid acting alone. Yuan Qing, Xuan Ya, since you two have higher cultivation, look after the others if you can.”

Yuan Qing smiled, “Rest assured, Master-Aunt.”

You Qin Xuan Ya also said: “Disciple accepts the command.”

Immortal Jiu Jiu continued: “Second, don’t be greedy for opportunities or risk your lives searching for herbs. Precious spiritual herbs are usually guarded by fierce beasts, and these beasts aren’t stupid—you would be their finest supplements.”

At this point, Jiu Jiu suddenly moved her left hand quickly as an illusion, pinching You Qin Xuan Ya’s cheek. “Especially delicate morsels like you!”

“Master-Aunt, please show restraint,” You Qin Xuan Ya frowned as she spoke, while Jiu Jiu giggled strangely.

“Wow, so smooth! I’m jealous of your natural beauty. Your poor Master-Aunt’s skin is all dry, and no one follows me around calling ‘Sister Jiu Jiu, Sister Jiu Jiu~'”

Laughing, Jiu Jiu took out five crescent-shaped jade pieces from her robes and tossed them to the five disciples.

“Here, these are communication jades for calling for help. If you run into trouble, just crush them, and I’ll sense it and rush in to rescue you.

Using the communication jade means you’re giving up on this trial, but you’ll just lose some monthly allowance—no big deal.

Now go, and be careful!

Don’t die in there!”

The five disciples put away their communication jades, bowed to the Immortal Jiu, applied their miasma-protection talismans, and headed toward the miasmic forest with You Qin Xuan Ya and Yuan Qing taking the lead.

Li Chang Shou fell half a step behind because he…

First attached a miasma-protection talisman to his Daoist robe, then efficiently lifted his robe hem to attach another to his inner thigh, and finally placed a third talisman on the back of his undershirt collar.

This way he could be completely secure, without worrying about talismans falling off unexpectedly. He would just need to replace them every few days.

A gust of wind arose as a foot flew toward him in a kick.

Li Chang Shou appeared to stumble forward two steps but easily dodged the flying kick.

Jiu Jiu cursed in exasperation: “Hurry up and get in there! Stay close to the others! You Nascent Soul Ninth Stage!

Why even come to this awful place if you’re going to be so careful!”

“Take care, Master-Aunt,” Li Chang Shou turned and cupped his hands, his lips moving slightly as he transmitted something to Jiu Jiu.

Then he quickly caught up, trailing at the back of the group.

As the miasma approached, the protection talismans on the four people ahead emitted a faint light, each creating a thin transparent membrane that clung to their bodies.

Li Chang Shou’s situation was more extreme—his entire body was covered by three layers of membrane, making breathing slightly difficult.

But the air he forcefully inhaled was exceptionally fresh.

Wang Qi cleared his throat and announced: “Senior Brother Chang Shou can come with me later. I’m just here to try my luck, with no specific herbs to find, so we needn’t bother Junior Brother Yuan Qing and the others.”

“Good,” Li Chang Shou gave Wang Qi a knowing smile, and the latter raised his eyebrows at Li Chang Shou. These two had developed some tacit understanding.

Perhaps this was the awareness of being mutual third wheels.

[Continued in next section due to length…]

Those who hadn’t achieved immortality had to avoid flying when traveling in the North Continent. The miasma was too dense three zhang above ground, and it was an area where numerous poisonous insects and fierce birds frequently operated. The ground was safer.

At present, they only had one path beneath their feet, bordered by black wood that looked burned, mostly branches without leaves, yet pulsing with an alternative form of vitality.

The five walked along the path, extending their spiritual sense as far as possible, occasionally spotting one or two poisonous beasts hiding in the darkness, coldly watching these intruders.

Darkness prevailed, and danger lurked everywhere.

The Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest produced several types of treasure medicines and dozens of varieties of poison herbs, but being a relatively less dangerous border region, most medicinal materials had already been harvested by demon cultivators and human spirit cultivators. Finding what they wanted would be quite challenging.

Moreover, the poisonous herb Li Chang Shou sought wasn’t even in the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest, but in a deeper region.

As they walked, Li Chang Shou took out a palm-sized sheepskin map, looking at several markings he had made on it, confirming which direction he should take next.

First, he needed to find a suitable reason to leave the group;

Most importantly, he had to ensure that Master Aunt Jiu, who was secretly following them in the air, wouldn’t stop him from leaving…

After walking for about half an hour, the forest ahead grew increasingly dark, a rotting smell permeated the air, swarms of poisonous insects buzzed chaotically, and predators hiding in the darkness began to fix their attention on these five fresh lives.

Swamps floating with white bones, alluring but deadly flowers, and fruits, demon spiders perched in tall trees emitting mocking laughs…

The Du Xian Men disciples proved skilled and brave, walking faster as they gradually adapted to this environment.

Li Chang Shou followed closely behind the four, still far from the point where he needed to change direction, so he wasn’t in a hurry to leave the group.

Suddenly, a suppressed beast’s roar rang out, the buzzing of poisonous insects suddenly increased, and a murderous aura swept in from ahead!

A poisonous beast couldn’t resist anymore and was about to attack their group!

You Qin Xuan Ya at the front immediately raised her hand, stopping everyone from advancing, while the great sword on her back began to vibrate slightly;

Yuan Qing’s right hand flicked lightly, immediately grasping a blue immortal sword, his entire being emanating a pressing sharpness.

While the four ahead were distracted by the black shadow darting from the left front of the forest, Li Chang Shou’s gaze fell to the right. He stepped forward to stand behind Wang Qi and said softly:

“Watch the right.”

Almost as soon as Li Chang Shou finished speaking, a zhang-long black shadow suddenly burst out from the left front of the forest!

It was a black-skinned leopard with wings growing from its ribs, its front claws gleaming with a faint dark green light. As soon as it appeared, it pounced fiercely at the four without hesitation!

“Beast seeking death!”

Yuan Qing shouted lowly, his form like a fresh breeze rushing out from beside You Qin Xuan Ya, his three-foot blue sword extending eight inches of blue light, his footwork leaving trails of afterimages!

The sword light flashed in an elongated ‘Z’ pattern, and just as the black leopard raised its claws, streams of black blood shot toward the sky!

Its head and body were instantly separated!

At this moment, two black shadows suddenly burst out from the forest on the right, pouncing directly at Liu Yan Er and You Qin Xuan Ya…

“Let me!”

Wang Qi shouted, rushing in front of Liu Yan Er, his hands already wrapped in flames, pressing remotely toward these two leopards.

But before the flames could explode, a fire-red figure had already flashed past, the still-sheathed great sword bringing a muffled sound of breaking air. The two charging leopards were simultaneously struck by the great sword and sent flying like sandbags.

It was just a horizontal sweep, with no follow-up attack, but when these two black leopards were knocked into the air, two fire-red lotuses burst from within their bodies, their forms directly exploding, and the remaining blood and gore were completely devoured by that gorgeous flame!

In the blink of an eye, nothing remained of the two black leopards…

Wang Qi smiled sheepishly, dispersing his spell and honestly retreating to one side.

Li Chang Shou’s eyes lit up.

‘Nine Lotus Departing Fire Force, You Qin Xuan Ya mastered it?’

With three black leopards instantly slain, most of the gazes lurking in the darkness watching the five people immediately diminished;

The five resumed their formation and continued forward, with You Qin Xuan Ya and Yuan Qing beginning to employ simple footwork, while the three behind easily kept up.

Until they reached a fork in the road ahead, where the five tacitly stopped.

You Qin Xuan Ya turned and said: “Senior Brothers, Senior Sister, I need to go in this direction to search for the Fire-Resistant Heart-Clarifying Grass. Our sect records mention this spiritual herb being discovered in this direction.

Please take care of yourselves and don’t venture too deep.”

Liu Yan Er also stated her desired medicinal herb, requiring her to head in another direction;

The group began to split up, with Yuan Qing naturally accompanying You Qin Xuan Ya, as he came to serve as both assistant and protector.

Wang Qi was here to gain experience and decided to help Liu Yan Er search for herbs.

Then, four pairs of eyes fell on Li Chang Shou.

“I’ll take this path, and must temporarily part ways with you all,” Li Chang Shou pointed in a direction different from the others, causing them all to frown slightly.

You Qin Xuan Ya asked: “What herb is Senior Brother Chang Shou seeking?”

Li Chang Shou replied seriously: “I cannot speak of this matter, but please don’t worry about me. Take care, everyone.”

Yuan Qing advised: “Senior Brother Chang Shou, why not go with Senior Sister Yan Er…”

Before Yuan Qing could finish, Li Chang Shou had already stepped onto his chosen path, employing simple footwork, his clothes floating, his long hair unmoving, quickly disappearing around the bend in the forest ahead.

“Treating kindness like donkey liver and lungs.”

Liu Yan Er muttered somewhat dissatisfied, while Yuan Qing and Wang Qi also shook their heads slightly, probably thinking Li Chang Shou was just too proud to accept help at this moment.

Only You Qin Xuan Ya seemed lost in thought as she turned to walk toward her chosen path, her slender figure appearing even more delicate with the great sword on her back.