“Assassin Dove’s aura has vanished, and that Divine Transformation ninth stage Crossing Immortal Gate disciple has also disappeared. This is rather strange.”

Deep in the dense forest, in a hidden valley, several dark figures lurked in a thicket, discussing something in whispers.

One person cursed: “Most likely took the payment for the kill and left directly! Hmph! Such people truly can’t be trusted. Self-trained subordinates are far more reliable!”

“Is the Dragon-Trapping Formation ready?”

“It’s all set up. It can trap that Crossing Immortal Gate True Immortal.”

“Very good. Though the situation has changed, it shouldn’t be a major problem,” the leader pondered for a moment. “Send word to Fourth Young Master later, arrange for a group to deliberately ambush him to draw that Crossing Immortal Gate True Immortal away.

We’ll personally move to capture those two disciples and take them to the trap formation, then lure this True Immortal in.

This matter concerns the great endeavor of restoring the country. The Sixth Princess is our best opportunity. We must control the Sixth Princess this time, and incidentally let the Fourth Young Master fulfill his wishes as well.”

The dark figures chuckled softly. The leader made a fist-clenching gesture, and the other shadows dispersed, quickly vanishing.

Half a day later, several black-clothed figures suddenly attacked Yuan Qing and You Qin Xuanya. Yuan Qing decisively crushed his communication talisman.

Jiu Zhou, who had been sitting cross-legged above Wang Qi and Liu Yan’er, suddenly jolted to attention and turned to fly southwest. Yu Wen Ling barely managed to keep up with her form, following behind.

As soon as Jiu Zhou flew away, more than ten auras burst forth below, with two Return to Dao realm cultivators directly launching sneak attacks, knocking Wang Qi and Liu Yan’er unconscious and carrying them away.

Half an hour later, Jiu Zhou hurriedly flew back, while Yu Wen Ling remained above to secretly protect Yuan Qing and You Qin Xuanya.

By now, Jiu Zhou had also caught a whiff of something unusual, but she had rushed too quickly. By the time she found Liu Yan’er and Wang Qi, she had already fallen into some grand formation. White mist surrounded her everywhere, and her immortal awareness could only detect a vast expanse of whiteness in all directions.

Tucking Wang Qi and Liu Yan’er under her arms, Jiu Zhou flew chaotically within the trap formation. Already not skilled in formations, she quickly discovered she was merely flying in circles.

“At least that big general stayed behind to guard Yuan Qing and Xuanya.”

Just as Jiu Zhou’s heart relaxed slightly, planning to calm down and consider ways to break the formation, Li Changshou’s warning when entering the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest echoed in her ears:

‘Senior Sister Jiu, those of unknown origins are always suspicious. Don’t trust them lightly.’

Could that be Yu Wen Ling perhaps…

Cold sweat suddenly beaded on Jiu Zhou’s forehead.

One thing led to another—it seemed she had been deceived from the very beginning!

How was Li Changshou doing? His cultivation was the lowest—had these people already killed him?

These people were most likely targeting Xuanya and Yuan Qing. How had she not realized this earlier?

Jiu Zhou couldn’t help but curse loudly: “You bunch of petty villains, if you have the ability, come out and fight this immortal for three hundred rounds! What kind of cultivators use such ghostly tricks!”

However, within the formation’s range were only swarms of poisonous insects and several equally lost venomous beasts—there was no response whatsoever.

“Aiya!”

Jiu Zhou threw the two unconscious people to the ground and began stomping her feet in frustration. The cord in a certain area of her short hemp garment suddenly found itself in a precarious position, pressure increasing exponentially.

“Formations are simply infuriating!”

…

‘Immortal Resolving Grass… this thing is truly hard to find.’

On the twelfth day after entering Northern Luzhou, having left the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest, Li Changshou had advanced northwest another thousand six hundred li, arriving “on schedule” at the area marked on his map.

This region covered roughly three hundred li in diameter, with complex terrain including hills, swamps, and mountain range endings. Being slightly deeper into Northern Luzhou, the venomous beasts and insects were much fiercer than the outer regions.

Li Changshou maintained utmost vigilance, carefully searching for the “poisonous grass” he sought. However, after six consecutive days of searching, though he had collected many types of poisonous grasses and spirit herbs, there was still no trace of the “main objective” that had brought him to risk Northern Luzhou.

This afternoon, a sudden “poison rain” occurred—the rainwater falling from the sky was highly toxic.

Not daring to move rashly, Li Changshou found a nearby cliff, carved a hole in the rock face, and crawled inside. He used his spiritual sense to explore the surroundings while waiting for the rain to stop so he could continue searching for herbs.

Over these six days, he had almost finished searching this area but still couldn’t find any trace of the Immortal Resolving Grass.

‘Oh Immortal Resolving Grass, why must you play such hide and seek? Wouldn’t it be better to meet straightforwardly?’

Li Changshou yawned and sat cross-legged in the cave, adjusting his state to optimal condition.

He had obtained information from an ancient text indicating that Immortal Resolving Grass grew in this area.

Coming here to search directly was the least costly way to obtain this herb. If he truly couldn’t find it, Li Changshou decided to try his luck at the previous town on his way back.

Even if it meant spending all the spirit stones and treasures he had saved up over the past hundred years through scamming—ahem, through frugal living—obtaining a single Immortal Resolving Grass would be worth it.

If this path also proved fruitless…

Then Li Changshou had no other options and could only return to the mountain to make new plans.

This downpour had come suddenly and showed no signs of letting up.

Li Changshou could finally rest a bit, slightly relaxing his tense spirit. Though he had a small amount of Scarlet Yang Poison Dragon Saliva consistently protecting him from toxic substances, being in such dangerous territory made it difficult to tell himself “Don’t worry.”

Senior Sister Jiu should be fine.

Thinking of the cultivator he had eliminated nine days ago, Li Changshou took out that “Soul-Capturing Zhenzhu” wanting to look at those memory fragments again, but the remnant soul within had long since dispersed.

Never mind, it had nothing to do with him anyway.

These people had planned meticulously and had Yuan Qing the great warm guy as an inside man. With Senior Sister Jiu’s intellect… she would probably be very easily tricked into the formation.

Senior Sister Jiu was someone with high cultivation and a rather lovable personality, but sometimes she was just too hasty, especially when alcohol went to her head—she would act without consideration.

It was rather unfortunate for You Qin Xuanya. After cultivating in the immortal sect for so long, she still couldn’t escape secular power struggles. And her childhood sweetheart who had been constantly courting her turned out to be the most sinister schemer.

Li Changshou never considered himself a hero, nor did he have any obligation to rescue princesses or change others’ fates. In his eyes, You Qin Xuanya was just a beautiful “trouble.” He would avoid such major karmic entanglements if possible, and if he couldn’t avoid them, he couldn’t let himself be dragged in…

Boom—

Sudden thunder rolled overhead as Li Changshou began checking his remaining resources.

Pills were sufficient, talismans were sufficient, and the Scarlet Yang Poison Dragon Saliva could last another nine days—enough for him to finish searching this area and leave at his leisure. If he moved faster from now on, after searching this area, he could explore more regions to the north or west.

“Oh Immortal Resolving Grass, brother is getting quite agitated now.”

Boom!

The cliff suddenly trembled, and this vibration frequency…

Li Changshou quickly spread his spiritual sense and soon saw something unusual in the clouds above—the clouds had formed a vortex with lightning flashing within as if something was trying to “squeeze” out.

Calculating with his fingers, he determined: The heavens and earth were changing!

Li Changshou raised a barrier of spiritual power around himself and immediately rushed out of the rock cave, quickly descending toward the ground to employ the Cloud-Exploring Dragon Step.

But just as his form began to descend, he heard a boom overhead as a fire-red figure shot out from the vortex, crashing toward the ground like a thunderbolt.

This human figure landed exactly three zhang in front of Li Changshou’s landing spot, splashing up mud.

Li Changshou’s form quickly retreated, three paper figures already gripped in his palm!

But then, Li Changshou saw the figure wrapped in a faint red light barrier and slightly furrowed his brow.

This…

Had the Heavens seen him gathering spirit herbs and poisonous plants too comfortably and deliberately increased his task difficulty?

Or had he encountered some fatal destiny on this journey, a small disaster written in his fate that he couldn’t avoid?

The figure before him wearing a fire-red immortal dress was none other than—You Qin Xuanya.

However, she was heavily injured now, with a bone-deep wound on her left shoulder. Fresh blood mixed with poisonous rainwater continuously slid down her jade arm. The greatsword gripped tightly in her right hand had lost its scabbard, and spider web-like cracks covered its blade…

She had at least ten wounds on her body, though all avoided vital points.

As Li Changshou saw her clearly, You Qin Xuanya also noticed a figure in the rain curtain before her. She coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, her gaze showing some determination as she slowly stood up supporting herself with the greatsword, but then she felt this figure looked somewhat familiar…

Li Changshou frowned. At this moment, he spread his spiritual sense but didn’t detect any pursuers approaching.

Considering the earlier disturbance, You Qin Xuanya had used some life-saving treasure to directly transport herself here using a space-traversing technique.

The troublesome thing was, of all places, it had to be here.

If he ignored a fellow disciple in mortal danger and You Qin Xuanya survived to report him to the sect, it would be enough trouble for him. But Li Changshou didn’t want to be involved in this conflict—it had nothing to do with him in the first place.

Though being reported would indeed be troublesome, it would just mean having his monthly allowance docked or something…

“Ah, the rain is so heavy, visibility is completely blocked, can’t see anything at all.”

Li Changshou muttered softly, calmly turned around to face the cliff behind him, and began quickly forming hand seals for the earth escape technique.

Looking online for a foolish old man!

Urgent!

“Senior Brother… Changshou?”

You Qin Xuanya looked at Li Changshou’s silhouette in the rain curtain with some bewilderment, coughing up another mouthful of fresh blood before urgently saying: “Quickly leave, don’t mind me. Your cultivation is too low, they are many and powerful… ful…”

Before she could finish speaking, You Qin Xuanya’s eyes closed weakly, her energy completely chaotic as her injuries erupted, causing her to collapse face-first into the muddy ground along with her sword.

Lightning appeared in the dark clouds overhead as the rain grew increasingly noisy.

“Fine, considering you still have some conscience, I’ll use Earth Escape to take you halfway.”

As for what comes after, I really can’t help—you’ll have to leave it to fate…