Chapter 31 - 38-46

Chapter 38

Li Shiyin had always lacked confidence in reading and writing, but was quite confident in fighting and sports.

The first time she stood on a flying sword, she felt she was born to ride swords.

Indeed, after circling around the gym on the Qingxing Sword a couple times, she had basically mastered the sword riding skills and could go up and down with ease.

Then, she wanted to go faster. She increased the output of her mystical powers, then she lost control, then she crashed through the window and flew out...

The Qingxing Sword under her feet kept swaying irregularly. Li Shiyin couldn't stand firmly and felt she could fall off at any moment. The direction of the flying sword was already beyond her control.

The speed was very fast, the wind was strong, and the raindrops hitting her face were painful. The height was so high that the mud pit she had dug in the lawn looked very small.

She was so scared...

But she didn't dare stop. If she stopped circulating her powers, she would fall directly. She was already at an altitude of 10,000 meters.

She could only keep flying forward. Overhead were gloomy clouds, seemingly exerting a force of millions of pounds, suffocating her until she couldn't breathe.

"Master, save me!" She kept calling out. Only her master could save her now.

As he had always taught Li Shiyin, protecting one's life was the first priority in cultivating immortality. Qin Ran naturally led by example.

Aside from combat, Qin Ran's speed and concealment techniques, his ability to flee, were definitely top notch.

He estimated that even if he encountered a normal Yuan Ying stage cultivator, he would have a chance to escape.

Although the price would be, in direct combat, he probably couldn't even beat a normal Foundation Establishment stage cultivator...

Cough! This is unimportant. What's important is that Qin Ran's escape techniques were really amazing.

Even though Li Shiyin had a solid foundation and was using all her power to ride the sword, and had already flown quite a distance, he was still able to catch up very quickly.

However, although he was close, he didn't dare rescue her recklessly.

It was like rescuing a drowning person - you had to be extremely careful, otherwise you could easily be dragged down by the drowning person... Don't underestimate the power of the survival instinct.

So you also had to be very careful when rescuing someone mid-air.

"Stay calm!" Qin Ran sent a voice transmission to Li Shiyin, "Don't panic!"

Staying calm was the best response when faced with an unexpected situation. Calmness was the only solution.

The master had arrived, but he didn't come to rescue her. Li Shiyin looked back and saw her master right behind her. She didn't understand why.

It was only after a while that she heard her master's gentle voice in her ears...

"Stay calm?"

Ah, the big raindrops kept hitting her face...

"I will definitely save you!"

Her master kept talking to her without stopping for a moment.

Her panicked heart gradually calmed down. Her master was right behind her. Her master had great mystical powers. She didn't doubt at all that her master would save her.

"Trust me!" her master said, "Do as I say."

She looked back again. Her master was right behind her. The wind and rain were pulling at him, but her master's slender figure didn't sway at all.

"Pay attention to your mystical power control!"

Her master's voice became clearer and clearer, and the roaring wind around her ears couldn't blow it away.

She took a deep breath. The air carrying water vapor rushed into her lungs. Her tender spiritual sense moved, surveying the inside of her body.

The mystical powers in her dantian were gushing out uncontrollably, all flowing into the flying sword under her feet.

"Control of mystical powers..." She remembered her master's control over his mystical powers, basically achieving mastery over them like an extra limb. If it was her master, he definitely wouldn't have lost control over his powers.

She circulated her cultivation technique, trying to control her powers.

"Slow down!" her master was teaching her.

She controlled her powers and her speed slowly decreased bit by bit.

"You can go slow, but don't stop!" her master's voice continued.

She knew what to do now.

"Treat the flying sword as part of your cultivation path!"

Following his words, she circulated her cultivation technique, treating the flying sword as an extension of her meridians. Her powers flowed from her dantian to the flying sword, then back to her dantian.

The flying sword seemed to become a part of her. She tried changing the direction of the sword, and it turned...

"Yes!" She yelled excitedly, "Master! I did it!!"

Li Shiyin looked back and saw that Qin Ran was still not far behind her.

Just as she had been so scared before, now she was equally excited. She suddenly sped up, drew an arc in front of her and flew back to Qin Ran's side, flying abreast with him.

"Master, look, I can do it now!!" She laughed loudly, "Hahaha..."

Qin Ran looked over and knew Li Shiyin had grasped the sword riding skills. It was needless to say that his foolish disciple was talented. Actually, as long as he could calm her down, there was no problem.

He relaxed, only then noticing that it was still pouring rain, and realized...

Damn, how high up were they?!

Must be tens of thousands of meters...

He felt dizzy and nauseous!

His eyes blurred and his body stiffened. The smoothly circulating mystical powers in his body suddenly stopped, and he fell straight down...

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a miserable cry came from the master beside her. Li Shiyin, caught up in excitement, suddenly remembered that important matter... her master was afraid of heights!

She looked over. Where was Qin Ran's figure? She hurriedly looked down. Qin Ran had already fallen several hundred meters!

"Master!" She shouted loudly. Her mystical powers circulated rapidly as she pressed down the sword tip and rushed towards Qin Ran.

Since she accelerated on her own initiative, she was naturally much faster than Qin Ran's free fall. In no time, she was at Qin Ran's side.

She called out to Qin Ran: "Master, I'm here to save you!"

"Don't..." Although dizzy and nauseated, Qin Ran still remembered to warn Li Shiyin not to casually reach out to catch him...

But her hands were faster than her mind. Before he finished speaking, she had already reached out.

Then, as expected, she hadn't controlled their relative speed properly. In the instant they made contact, Li Shiyin dislocated her arm.

"Ah!" She couldn't help crying out in pain, but still tried to grab Qin Ran with her other hand.

In his dazed state, seeing this scene, Qin Ran's worry for his foolish disciple finally made his internal powers start circulating again. He subconsciously used his movement technique, and his body suddenly felt light.

Li Shiyin grabbed and caught Qin Ran's collar, finally lifting him up.

Her strength was enough to lift up Qin Ran single-handedly, but her mystical powers were insufficient to support her carrying someone while riding the sword... She had consumed too much power when she lost control earlier.

So before they could descend many meters, she could no longer support them. In the rain mid-air, they swayed back and forth unsteadily, like a dilapidated small boat in a storm, in danger of capsizing at any moment.

Although not fully unconscious, in his dazed state Qin Ran consciously tried to reduce Li Shiyin's burden.

Even so, Li Shiyin still couldn't do it. When your internal powers are empty, they're just empty, not a single drop left.

At a certain moment, master and disciple plummeted straight from mid-air!

The dense foliage of the primal forest reduced their momentum considerably. After breaking many branches, they crashed to the ground with a "thud".

Qin Ran rolled several times on the thick rotting leaves before he could no longer hold on, and vomited loudly.

After vomiting for a while, he felt much better.

"Where exactly are we?"

He raised his head. The surrounding trees were tall and huge, with dense branches and leaves. Raindrops kept falling with a "pat pat" sound, hitting the ground and rotting leaves, making strange "gu gu" sounds.

No one answered him. He hurriedly shouted loudly, "Shiyin!"

"Mas...ter..." Li Shiyin's voice sounded weakly from the bushes nearby.

Chapter 39

When Qin Ran reached the ground, he had already vomited and had slowly regained his senses as his IQ reclaimed its high ground.

He had flown after Li Shiyin for so long and under these environmental circumstances...they had probably truly arrived deep within the Hengduan Mountains.

"Damn!" Qin Ran couldn't help but curse in his heart.

He had lingered at the Dao Sword Sect for twenty years. The Dao Sword Sect was situated within the Hengduan Mountains. He had never taken a single step deeper into the Hengduan Mountains. As a modern man at the beginning stage of scientific civilization, he held immense reverence towards the immortal cultivation world. He had never thought of probing the dangers of this world.

Yet unexpectedly...

He had arrived deep within the Hengduan Mountains in this manner.

"Master..." Just as he was filled with shock and alarm, Li Shiyin called out to him from the bushes. He looked over to see his silly disciple's face as pale as a sheet, leaning against the branches and leaves, weakly saying to him, "Master, my hand hurts."

Just now, to save him, Li Shiyin had urgently and directly used her hand to catch him. That impact had probably fractured her bones.

Qin Ran took a deep breath, reminding himself that he was the master and suppressed the turmoil and fear in his heart. Then he walked towards Li Shiyin, comforting her, "It's fine, it just dislocated...Master is here."

The dried branches and withered leaves that he stepped on had accumulated for who knows how many years, layer upon layer, of unknown depth. Stepping down, his knees disappeared from sight.

On a rainy day like this, water had gathered in this pile of dried branches and rotting leaves, becoming like a swamp.

"Huff...huff..." Qin Ran constantly adjusted his breathing, reminding himself that he was still a cultivator, circulating his magic power, forcefully pulling his foot out, then hurriedly summoning water to wash away the filth on his feet. The decaying leaves had been buried for endless years so no one knew what was inside.

Gathering water under his feet to form a protective layer, he stepped on the surface of the leaves, walking to Li Shiyin's side with a water-gliding technique.

It was hard to say that the silly disciple was leaning against the bushes. It was more like she had crashed down and ended up in this position. She could no longer move at all. Her entire body was drenched now. Her usually flyaway bangs were now plastered wetly against her forehead. Her face was devoid of color, extremely frail.

Qin Ran first took out a Great Returning Pellet from his Universe Bag and fed her one, saying, "For healing external injuries."

With great difficulty, Li Shiyin swallowed the medicinal pill.

They had fallen from the sky. Although Qin Ran's body was already quite strong, he still ached all over now and didn't know if he had any internal injuries. Li Shiyin's physique was even weaker than his. Aside from her arm, he didn't know the extent of her other injuries. Worried that her bones and meridians were displaced, Qin Ran didn't dare move Li Shiyin randomly.

Brushing aside Li Shiyin's bangs, Qin Ran tested her forehead temperature. It was very high. Looks like it wasn't just external injuries, she had also contracted an illness from the wind and rain. Drenched in the rain, frightened, and injured, it was normal that the silly disciple couldn't withstand it.

"Does it hurt?" he asked gently.

Li Shiyin nodded.

So he fed her a Warming Pellet, saying, "For pain relief."

Then formless and invisible magic power emerged from his palm, gathering up the water on their clothes and hair into a large water sphere. The water sphere opened up again, enclosing them like a bubble to prevent continued drenching from the rain.

"Can you circulate your magic power?" Qin Ran asked Li Shiyin again.

Li Shiyin shook her head. "I don't have any magic power left."

Then he fed her a top grade Returning Yuan Pellet.

The Returning Yuan Pellet entering her body brought extremely refined magic power. The pellet's medicinal efficacy automatically circulated, guiding the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to enter her body. Li Shiyin's depleted dantian slowly regained magic power.

"How about now?"

Li Shiyin tried circulating it but her entire body hurt as soon as she moved her magic power so she hurriedly stopped.

"It hurts everywhere on my body," she said.

Although the Great Returning Pellet Qin Ran had fed Li Shiyin was top notch, Li Shiyin's physique was not an ordinary one. Her physical constitution had long surpassed that of mortals. It was precisely because of this that after being injured, her recovery speed was very slow.

Qin Ran furrowed his brows, raising his head to look at the sky. It would be dark soon. Due to the gloomy rainy day, the light was fading extremely quickly.

"We can't keep staying here, it's too dangerous," he said. At night, ordinary forests belonged to the beasts while the forests of the Hengduan Mountains were a paradise for demonic beasts. They had to hurry and find a place to hide. He asked again, "Can you walk?"

Li Shiyin tried moving but couldn't get up at all.

Qin Ran deeply inhaled, turned around, and squatted down in front of Li Shiyin, saying, "Let me set your bones first. It'll hurt a lot."

"Mm," Li Shiyin wasn't an ordinary girl and wasn't afraid of pain either.

Qin Ran closed his eyes, his divine sense drilling out from between his brows, entering Li Shiyin's arm to observe the state of her muscles and bones in preparation to set them.

Although it was his first time setting bones, his divine sense assisted him after all so there were no issues. With a "pop", he neatly set the bone back in place.

Opening his eyes, he saw Li Shiyin frowning and asked, "Done?"

Li Shiyin moved her hand a little and nodded.

"Alright...let's find a place to hide first and talk tomorrow," Qin Ran said.

"I...I still can't move," Li Shiyin said.

Qin Ran deeply inhaled again, turned around, and squatted down in front of Li Shiyin, saying, "Come, I'll carry you."

Li Shiyin's face that had gradually regained color clearly turned red. She appeared shy. Then she got up and draped herself over Qin Ran's back.

Qin Ran reached back to grasp Li Shiyin's legs, lightly and easily carrying the silly disciple on his back... Very unexpectedly, the already tall silly disciple with a increasingly full figure was actually very light.

It reminded him of a joke: A 100 jin (60 kg) brick might be too heavy to lift but a 100 jin maiden can be carried while running; 100 jin of gold can be lifted and flown away...

Sheltered by the bubble, Qin Ran carried the Falling Star Sword and Li Shiyin as he tread on the surface of the leaves, travelling between the tall trees.

He felt something was off.

For example, the silly disciple had clearly suffered heavy injuries and couldn't move or walk, so how could she have climbed onto his back so quickly; for example, the silly disciple should have been entirely weak, so how could she prop herself up on his back, mindful of a maiden's modesty?

But he didn't want to think too deeply about it. Since coming to this dangerous and cruel immortal cultivation world, he had understood many things. So for some matters, it was better to not think too thoroughly.

In life, ignorance can be bliss. What's wrong with playing dumb?

Actually, the paths in the primitive forest weren't that hard to traverse, if one could tread on the surface of the fallen leaves. To compete for sunlight, the massive trees grew very thick and tall, branches flourishing and leaves abundant, the layers of leaves completely covering the area under the trees, only occasionally missing a bit of light here and there...

Thus, between the thick trees, there would only occasionally be a clump of bushes or wild grass. Most of the way was surprisingly clean.

After walking for quite a while, the sky had already darkened but Qin Ran still hadn't found any caves or landforms that could provide shelter from wind and rain.

After walking a bit more, he suddenly realized, looking towards a thick nearby tree trunk.

The trees in the primordial forest grew extremely tall, several tens of meters, even a hundred meters tall, and also extremely thick, with diameters of several meters or over ten meters. If it was possible to...

Qin Ran carefully set Li Shiyin down, picked up the Falling Star Sword, and chopped at the tree trunk in front of him that was like a wall.

"Ding!"

It was as if this sword strike hit an iron rock.

Qin Ran deeply inhaled, circulating his magic power, and struck again...

"Puff!"

Finally it moved.

He quickly combined his sword techniques and magic arts, carving out a hole around two meters wide before the sky completely darkened.

It was a tight squeeze for two adults but the sky had already darkened and there was no time left...

"Hurry!"

As night descended, bringing horror with it, continuous blood-curdling beast roars rang out. Qin Ran hurriedly embraced Li Shiyin and jumped into the hole in the tree, then raised his hand to gather the water droplets in the forest, forming a water membrane to seal the hollow.

Chapter 40

Rainy Night, Forest, Demon Beasts...

Fear!

The dense canopy caught every raindrop, not letting a single drop fall directly to the ground, until they could hold no more. The excess raindrop coalesced into fat droplets that fell with loud splats below the trees. Thus, the sound of rain in this forest was a constant pitter-patter of large droplets falling.

The thick layer of rotting leaves on the ground had already absorbed much water, becoming marshy. When the fat droplets splashed into it, strange "plop plop" sounds were made.

"Plop plop plop", the strange sounds kept occurring, near and far, where the eye could not see. Mixed with the constant birdsong and beasts' cries, it resembled an eerie nocturnal concerto of horror.

Master and disciple sat side by side in a tree hollow, backs against its wooden wall, looking out into the darkness through a transparent watery film over the hollow's entrance.

In truth they could see nothing, but neither knew what else to do.

Suddenly at some point, the faintest footsteps climbed up the tree trunk below them. Based on the sound of padded paws and claws against bark, it was likely a feline or leopard-like beast.

"Master..." Li Shiyin whispered, fear in her voice.

"Shh!" Qin Ran immediately hushed her.

The big cat climbed up the tree and was gone, but soon the sound of snake-like slithering could be heard. Judging by the sounds of its movement along the ground, this was a sizable snake. It slid through the marsh, climbed the tree, passed by the hollow, then...stopped.

For an instant, both Li Shiyin and Qin Ran stopped breathing.

The giant snake hovered outside the hollow, flicking its tongue, striking the watery film over and over with faint "pop pop pop" sounds.

The rhythmic, terrifying sounds continued.

Though protected by formations, Qin Ran quietly prepared a hand seal, compressing energy in his dantian, ready to face the snake should it enter.

"Awooo..."

Suddenly the big cat in the tree let out a cry. The snake's "pop pop" strikes ceased, and frightful silence descended outside the hollow for several seconds before the snake's slithering resumed. The giant serpent moved on, continuing up the tree.

Quiet persisted in the hollow until the horrifying sounds faded completely. Only then came the soft exhale from Li Shiyin, and after a longer pause, the heavy breath from Qin Ran.

"Master, why did the snake listen to the tiger?" Li Shiyin whispered.

"That was no tiger, likely some type of leopard," Qin Ran replied in a hushed voice. "Their relationship is unclear. Not necessarily subordinate..."

The two were squeezed together in the tiny hollow, sitting pressed against one another. After the tense moment, the mood settled and they noticed the warmer temperature inside.

Qin Ran felt himself sweating, something he hadn't done for many years since beginning cultivation. But he was sweating now. He knew why.

In this enclosed space he seemed to smell a gentle, warm, faintly sweet scent...

"Qin Ran, this is beastly instinct, hormones, biochemical reactions." Qin Ran scolded himself internally.

"You are a cultivator, beyond worldly desires. You seek the dao, how can you be disturbed by such base impulses! You are human, you are immortal, not a beast!"

"Master, which is more powerful, the snake or the leopard?" Li Shiyin asked again.

She seemed to have shifted closer. Her warm, sweet breath brushed his skin as she spoke.

"It's an illusion, a delusion, a heart devil!" Qin Ran struggled internally.

"Judging by their energy," he replied evenly, "the snake is stronger." In the dark hollow, none could see the struggle on his face.

"The snake is stronger?" Li Shiyin sounded surprised. "What kind of snake is it? What level?"

"I don't know the species, but based on its energy, it is comparable to Golden Core, quite powerful at that stage," Qin Ran answered.

"Laozi, Queen Mother of the West, Buddha, Confucius, Yan Hui..." In his mind he recalled noble exemplars of virtue. "Chaste Liu Xiahui..."

"Liu Xiahui?" Li Shiyin asked. "Who is that?"

"Ah?!" Qin Ran was startled, accidentally voicing his thoughts aloud.

"Liu Xiahui, um..." Qin Ran's voice finally betrayed panic. "An ancient gentleman of high moral character."

"What does 'chaste' mean then?"

"Ah!!!" Qin Ran lost his composure, to have blurted even this out?

"It means, er..." He stammered, unable to find the words.

Just then a loud "bang" sound came from outside the hollow, pulling their attention outward.

"Roar!!!"

An enormous roar followed, likely from the leopard.

After roaring, a bright beam of light appeared. Peering at it, Qin Ran made out a golden cloud leopard, fully grown, ox-sized. Likely also Golden Core level. Now it stood on the ground, breathing upwards at the tree.

The column of light brightened and dimmed. With a heavy "thud", something slammed down from the tree into the dead branches and rotting leaves below, splashing water high in all directions. Numerous droplets struck the watery film over the hollow's entrance.

Clearly the giant snake had been slammed down. It quickly slithered into a coiled, upright defensive posture, head raised...

So the snake and leopard were not subordinate, nor even friendly, but adversaries!

The snake had stealthily followed the leopard up the tree to ambush it!

But now the snake coiled defensively while the leopard remained aggressive. That was surely because the leopard was injured.

In the flash of light earlier, Qin Ran had clearly seen two dark puncture wounds on its neck - the snake's bite marks. The snake waited now for its venom to take effect.

Unwilling to surrender, the leopard growled warnings, pacing around the coiled serpent, seeking an opportunity to attack.

After prolonged stalemate, the leopard seemed to realize it must act now or lose its chance. It halted its prowling and lunged, leading with its claws, fangs to follow, trying to pin the giant snake before delivering a killing bite.

But the leopard had misjudged - from the moment it realized it might lack the chance to act, it already had no chance left. The snake's venom was already acting. Slowed reflexes meant death. Sensing opportunity, the snake sprang its tensed body forth like a released spring to meet the leopard's exposed neck in a lightning strike.

The leopard failed to evade. Bitten again in the neck, it thrashed futilely with its paws. But the snake gave no quarter, rapidly coiling around the leopard's torso, constricting tightly.

Sounds of struggle outside the hollow grew fainter as the leopard weakened until finally ceasing altogether.

The snake loosened its coils and slithered away, carrying the leopard in its jaws toward the forest depths.

Listening to the fading sounds, Qin Ran frowned. "It's not eating the leopard directly?"

Rather than consuming it immediately, where was it taking the body? Did snakes behave this way? He was unsure.

"Is the snake gone?" Li Shiyin asked.

"Mm," Qin Ran nodded. Though puzzled, he had no intention to investigate...that would be a death wish.

With the snake and leopard quieted, stillness suddenly reigned in the hollow, veering toward awkwardness. The sounds of the night forest resumed around them.

Qin Ran was not one for small talk. He pondered a bit but found nothing to say, so feigned sleep.

After futilely hailing her master several times, Li Shiyin also lay down, pillowing her head on Qin Ran's shoulder with a soft sigh.

At first both pretended to sleep, but true slumber overtook them before long after the day's exhaustion set in.

Until suddenly, in the dead of night, the ground began to shake...

Qin Ran startled awake!

Chapter 41

Qin Ran slept, but not completely. After all, he had ten thousand parts respect for the Hengduan Mountains, so how could he dare to sleep unguardedly in the wilderness? At the first sign of movement on the ground, he noticed something was wrong and woke up.

"What's going on?" The tree hollow was still shaking continuously, and Qin Ran was a little panicked, "Is it an earthquake?"

But he didn't have to struggle for long before the clear sounds of a beast herd trampling the ground gave him the answer.

"Boom boom..."

It was very obvious that a large group of demonic beasts had run past the huge tree where they were, heading towards somewhere in the forest.

The beast herd didn't seem to notice this tree hollow. Qin Ran's panicked heart gradually calmed down. Only then did he start paying attention to the causes and consequences of the beast herd's actions. He listened carefully - the direction the beast herd was heading seemed to be... precisely the direction where the snake had bitten the leopard and left.

Qin Ran couldn't see clearly what kind of demonic beasts were in the herd, as there wasn't a ray of light in the darkness. But he always felt something was wrong. His keen perception brought by his spiritual sense told him the state of this group of demonic beasts was not right, somewhat frenzied.

Of course, although he felt something was wrong, Qin Ran still had no intention of going to investigate. Walking in the pitch darkness of the primeval forest was no different from seeking death.

Soon, the beast herd had completely passed by. The rumbling sound of the stampeding herd faded into the distance. The darkness suddenly became silent. The original noisy sounds of the forest had also disappeared because of the beast herd. In the darkness, there was only the sound of Li Shiyin's breathing, as if the beast herd had never come.

The night in the primeval forest should not be so quiet. There was definitely something wrong with the Hengduan Mountains... Qin Ran didn't dare sleep anymore. He stared wide-eyed into the darkness outside, but could see nothing but darkness.

"Maybe I should cultivate an eye technique," he thought to himself.

The tree hollow was very cramped. Sitting and sleeping with bent legs, Li Shiyin was sleeping very uncomfortably. She suddenly twisted her body and fidgeted for a good while before finally finding a comfortable position. She smacked her lips and her breathing gradually became steady.

After Li Shiyin settled down, Qin Ran continued to vigilantly watch the outside. This girl really knew how to find a good position. Her upper body was lying in his arms with her head resting on his thigh. She curled up and, although not as comfortable as a bed, she had actually managed to lie down and sleep in this tree hollow.

The scent of the young girl's body filled the entire tree hollow, the smell warm, sweet and fragrant, very pleasant to the nose. Qin Ran sniffed lightly as he felt the softness of the girl's body on his thigh. Strangely, in the darkness of this primeval forest, he felt a trace of tranquility... a feeling of home.

Although they were in the primeval forest, with darkness, demonic beasts and danger outside the tree hollow, Qin Ran had an inexplicable feeling of snug comfort, like listening to the sound of rain on a rainy night while nestled under the quilt.

"Is it because of her?" he asked himself inwardly.

No one answered him, but he started to enjoy the fragrance, gently caressing Li Shiyin's hair with his left hand, and placing his right hand on her back. He gently hugged the young girl's soft body to let her sleep more comfortably.

Qin Ran looked out again into the darkness outside. Suddenly he no longer felt the danger within.

He started thinking that before Li Shiyin came, his life was dull and boring. Although he had made plans for each of his future steps that would allow him to safely form his core from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, such a life was really too boring. It was because he was too afraid of this world, and had made plans to escape.

After Li Shiyin came, although everything was disrupted, and his life had completely centered around Li Shiyin, little by little, his future was no longer clear, but... he felt hopeful.

"Is this raising a daughter or a wife?" he jokingly asked himself inwardly, "It's taking on a disciple..."

Qin Ran's mind began to recall the plot of "The Return of the Condor Heroes". Hmm, is this a gender-swapped version? In that case, wouldn't he be... by a certain female demon...

Ah!

Suddenly, there was a light in the darkness outside. The light was piercing. Qin Ran instinctively closed his eyes, then squinted to see. Under that giant tree, something was glowing, blurry in shape, looking like lingzhi mushroom or ginseng.

"Life prolonging medicine?" Although he had never seen it, that was what Qin Ran's mind told him. He felt surprised and delighted - he, Qin, actually had a chance to pick up a windfall treasure!

He hurriedly got up, wanting to go pick it up, but the next moment he sat back down with a thud...

Not because of anything else, only because his thighs had gone numb from Li Shiyin pressing on them.

But with this sitting down, it cleared his mind. Forget that it couldn't possibly be any life prolonging medicine. Even if it really was, given his personality, he would never just go and pick it up, at least not without making several plans first.

That was definitely no immortal medicine. He realized it and knew for sure it was a trap. Just now he had been bewitched in his mind unconsciously.

"Phew..." Qin Ran breathed lightly, silently activating the nameless mantra from Dan Peak to steady his mind.

Soon, more lights representing other medicinal materials emerged from that bright light, but Qin Ran was unmoved. After a while, it showed swords and medicine cauldrons, but Qin Ran remained unmoved. After another while, the light and shadows gradually converged.

An enchanting and beautiful woman emerged, absorbing the light. She was wearing only a few scraps of clothing, revealing snow white skin, a perfect face, plump breasts, captivating waist, perky buttocks, slender legs - every inch of her body was perfect.

As the light and shadows converged towards her, she turned her body to the side, like a peacock spreading its tail, once again revealing her graceful and alluring figure, bewitching and soul-stealing.

Qin Ran no longer silently recited the mantra, but read it aloud: "The universe is mine, chaos becomes clear. As I am the cosmos..."

Despite this, he was unable to stop his brother from rebelling - his pants stood at attention. Before long, he felt his nose go hot as blood started to flow out.

He wanted to get up again to spend a passionate night with the woman under the tree, but with hands propped on the hollow entrance, he still did not get up.

The woman stood under the tree for a good while. Seeing that Qin Ran showed no intention of coming out, the light completely receded and a bewitching, charming voice spoke disdainfully from the darkness:

"A coward with desire but no guts."

Before the light and shadows faded away completely, Qin Ran saw the woman turn around - several fluffy tails had grown from her buttocks. Her upper body then leaned forward as fur grew over her body, transforming into a fox shape. She leapt into the depths of the darkness.

"So it was just a fox demon!" He breathed a sigh of relief, "She already has five tails."

A five tailed fox demon had at least the strength of early Core Formation.

As for why the fox demon didn't simply break through the barrier and enter the tree hollow... Qin Ran didn't really understand either.

Asked whether Qin Ran had resisted the fox demon's seductions, the answer was no.

Then why could he restrain himself from going out? Because he was afraid.

This was why the fox demon had called him a "coward with desire but no guts". Her bewitching techniques had already taken effect, but he just didn't go out, which was why she directly left instead of wasting more effort.

After the fox demon left, the danger was eliminated, but...

Some of the danger remained.

His brother still seemed very spirited, stubbornly refusing to calm down. Qin Ran kept taking deep breaths, even reciting "the mind like still water, unmoved by the collapse of heaven", but nothing worked. The scent of the young girl that had previously seemed warm and fragrant now turned into a fatal poison.

Until...

Li Shiyin turned over and struck down with her elbow.

"Ah!"

Qin Ran cried out in pain, and then the whole world settled down.

It was a long night full of twists and turns, and extreme danger. Qin Ran waited for a very long time for daylight, remaining tense the whole time, eyes wide open and vigilant.

Much, much later, the darkness in the forest gradually became visible. The world slowly became clearer, covered by a layer of gray. Then, light began to emerge.

Day had finally broken.

Chapter 42

Li Shiyin made a "wu wu" sound and groped around with her paws to find her face. It looked like she was about to wake up. Qin Ran hurriedly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

Although he did not know what he was feeling guilty about, he instinctively did this.

Soon after, Li Shiyin woke up and suddenly realized that she had actually fallen asleep in someone's arms. Her heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly sat up...

Then her head bumped into the top of the tree hollow.

"Ouch!" she cried out in pain and turned around to see who the man under her was. Oh, it was Master. She immediately relaxed.

Then she rubbed her head and looked around at her surroundings - the tree hollow, the forest...

The memories of yesterday came flooding back into her mind.

"The tree hollow. So Master and I spent the night safely in the primitive forest."

Wait a minute?! She and Master spent the night together in this small tree hollow??

Li Shiyin still had a young maiden's shyness at heart. Her heart suddenly became chaotic. She hurriedly glanced at Qin Ran and found that Qin Ran was still asleep. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

"Master, Master?" she called out tentatively.

At this time, Qin Ran finally pretended to wake up groggily.

"Is it morning?" he asked with a yawn.

"Yes," Li Shiyin replied.

Okay, it's not a big deal. She twisted her waist and lazily stretched.

"Since it's morning, let's go back," Qin Ran said, raising his hand to collect the water membrane that sealed the hollow. He was eager to leave this place.

When collecting the water membrane, Qin Ran found some strange things on it...

That seemed to be willow catkins? Strands of them were stuck to the water membrane.

He frowned, blew the willow catkins away, and did not dare to get contaminated.

Qin Ran jumped out of the tree hollow first. He maneuvered his body skills and floated without directly stepping on the ground.

He looked around and saw Li Shiyin was also coming out, so he took out the Qingxing Sword and threw it to her, saying, "Don't step on the ground."

Li Shiyin took the sword and clumsily established a connection with the Qingxing Sword. Then she stepped on the Qingxing Sword and swayed unsteadily out of the tree hollow.

"Is your injury not healed yet?" Seeing her like this, Qin Ran asked.

Li Shiyin stopped to feel it carefully and shook her head, "It's healed. Master, your elixir is really effective."

"Then you haven't mastered the sword controlling technique yet?" Qin Ran asked again.

"Well..." Li Shiyin circled Qin Ran on the flying sword. She was already very agile.

Okay, he didn't understand the world of geniuses as an ordinary person. Something that would be unimaginable for ordinary people like mastering the sword controlling technique in one day now seemed matter of fact to him. He had started to doubt why others were not proficient.

"Master..." Li Shiyin called out.

"Hmm?" Qin Ran looked at her and saw that she was staring at his face. He frowned and asked, "Is there a problem?"

"Didn't Master sleep well last night?" Li Shiyin asked. "Such dark eye circles!"

Qin Ran rolled his eyes at her. Of course he couldn't sleep well!

He shook his head and ignored Li Shiyin, focusing on observing the surroundings. The marshy land beneath their feet had become a mess after being ravaged by the beast horde last night. All kinds of footprints were faintly visible in it.

And floating above these beast footprints were strands of white willow catkins, which looked very out of place.

"Willow catkins again?" Qin Ran thought, looking up. Some wispy white willow catkins were floating in the air, and under the trees on the opposite side, there were no willow catkins at all. "Fox demon, willow catkins?"

"Come closer," he said to Li Shiyin.

Li Shiyin stopped flying randomly and came to Qin Ran's side on the flying sword, asking, "What's wrong?"

"Something's not right..." Qin Ran waved his hand to bring out a transparent bubble to envelop them. He pointed to the willow catkins in the air and said, "Look at those willow catkins."

Li Shiyin looked over but did not notice anything unusual.

"This is the primitive forest. Willow trees should not be the native plants here," Qin Ran explained. "And there are no willow trees around here...

"Forget it," he sighed. "Let's hurry up and leave."

After being reminded by Qin Ran, Li Shiyin vaguely sensed the danger. She asked, "How do we leave?"

"Fly back!" Qin Ran glared at her impatiently.

"But Master, aren't you..." Li Shiyin said. "Afraid of... heights?"

Qin Ran paused. He coughed drily and pretended to be calm. He took out a strip of cloth from the Universe Bag and said, "It's fine if I close my eyes. You can carry me and fly later."

"Oh!" Li Shiyin responded with a pout, blinking her big eyes.

That scene looked so strange. Just thinking about it made her want to laugh.

Qin Ran also didn't look at Li Shiyin, who was pouting and holding back her laugh. He took an empty porcelain bottle from the Universe Bag on his own, operated his spiritual power, and drew in a few strands of willow catkins into the bottle. He was going to take them back for research.

"Okay..." After collecting the willow catkins, he threw one end of the cloth strip to Li Shiyin and said, "Let's go back now."

Li Shiyin caught the cloth strip, flew to the front, and puffed up her cheeks with her big eyes smiling into crescents.

The two of them flew out of the primitive forest and came to midair. Qin Ran determined the direction, raised his hand, and pointed to Li Shiyin, "Fly that way."

Then he closed his eyes and let Li Shiyin carry him to fly.

With his eyes closed, Qin Ran didn't know how far they flew. He just felt like they flew for a long time but still hadn't arrived. So he began to doubt whether Li Shiyin was reliable and whether she could be trusted.

The longer the time, the more he doubted Li Shiyin had malicious intent, and the more he doubted, the longer the time felt.

Time became extremely long, and every second was hard to endure. He didn't know how long they flew. Just as Qin Ran was about to lose patience and open his eyes, Li Shiyin's voice finally came: "Master, we're home!"

Qin Ran opened his eyes. In front was the tall Sword Peak piercing the clouds, and below was Dan Peak.

This was indeed Dan Peak, but...

They were still in midair!

Qin Ran only felt dizzy and hurriedly closed his eyes again.

Seeing his appearance, Li Shiyin let out her maiden-like, smug laughter.

Qin Ran strongly suspected she did it on purpose... She did harbor malicious intent!

After a while more, his feet touched the ground and Qin Ran was sure they were really home now. He opened his eyes. In front of him was the familiar one acre and three fen field.

The riverside hut, the old locust tree in front of the house, the grass under the tree, the mud pit in the middle of the grass... It really felt intimate!

"Master, we're home..." Li Shiyin called out again. "I didn't lie to you!"

Qin Ran gave her a sidelong glance. He collected the protective water bubble and didn't really want to respond to her.

"Hehehe..." Li Shiyin giggled foolishly as she held the Qingxing Sword and hopped forward.

The clouds cleared and a few wisps of white clouds were in the blue sky after the dark clouds.

The sword-holding maiden ran on the grassland along the river back home. A big white cat leapt out of the door by the riverside hut and ran to meet her.

"Chasing the Wind..." the maiden called out happily, her clear and pleasant voice carried very far.

Qin Ran followed slowly behind Li Shiyin, looking at the girl then the cat. It really was tranquil...

Wait a minute!

The aura in Chasing the Wind was no longer chaotic!

Chapter 43

Qin Ran sat on the sofa while Chasing the Wind sat on the tea table. Qin Ran stared at Chasing the Wind as he licked his fur.

"What's going on?!" Qin Ran asked Chasing the Wind.

"Meow..." Chasing the Wind took a break from grooming himself and let out a soft, tender meow in response.

Li Shiyin came out from the kitchen, carrying three cups of milk. She handed one to Qin Ran, put one next to Chasing the Wind, and held one for herself as she stood by the sofa.

After taking a big gulp of milk, she asked Qin Ran, "What's up with Chasing the Wind? Did he do something bad?"

Qin Ran took the milk and glanced at Li Shiyin. He noticed a ring of "white beard" around her upper lip where the white milk had stuck, looking rather amusing. He laughed inwardly but didn't plan on pointing it out to her.

Holding back his laughter, he said, "Chasing the Wind has started cultivating."

"Huh? Master, when did you teach him cultivation?" Li Shiyin was puzzled. "How did I not know about this?"

Qin Ran glanced at her. What a silly disciple.

"I didn't teach him," he replied.

"Oh!" Li Shiyin nodded, then realized the gravity of the situation. Her eyes widened in surprise as she exclaimed, "Can Chasing the Wind cultivate on his own? Did you awaken your bloodline inheritance, Chasing the Wind?"

"Meow meow..." Chasing the Wind meowed helplessly twice. He didn't want to bother with these two boring people. He started washing his face with his paws.

The techniques of demonic beasts could be passed down through their bloodline, similar to how human civilization was passed down through writing. As long as one possessed the bloodline of a demonic beast capable of passing down techniques, they could awaken their ancestral memories and obtain cultivation methods or mystic arts upon meeting certain conditions.

Chasing the Wind was a Xuanming Spirit Tiger, a level 7 demonic beast, and was qualified to inherit techniques through his bloodline. So if he had awakened his ancestral bloodline, it would make sense that he could cultivate.

But...

The problem was, Chasing the Wind had not awakened his ancestral bloodline. He was still too young and did not yet qualify. He may awaken his bloodline inheritance in the future, but not now.

Qin Ran shook his head. "No, he has not awakened his ancestral bloodline inheritance yet."

He looked at Chasing the Wind and said word for word, "So someone must have taught him how to cultivate."

Li Shiyin was shocked. "Who?"

"It wasn't me. And if it wasn't you either, then..." Qin Ran's expression became grave.

Following his train of thought, Li Shiyin also fell silent in contemplation. She took another sip of milk and analyzed, "Someone who is not from Danfeng but could come to Danfeng."

Seeing the master and disciple duo putting on an act, looking utterly serious as they analyzed this issue, Chasing the Wind finished grooming himself, washed his face, glanced disdainfully at Qin Ran, then went over to his milk. He hugged the cup with his two burly front paws and gulped it all down in one go.

He let out a satisfied burp, licked his lips, jumped off the tea table, and stumbled outside... The milk had made him a little drunk.

"Did he just roll his eyes at me?" Qin Ran asked Li Shiyin, pointing at Chasing the Wind walking away.

"Yeah, I saw it very clearly. Scornfully too," Li Shiyin nodded.

"I was looked down on by a cat?" Qin Ran couldn't believe it.

Li Shiyin corrected, "A Xuanming Spirit Tiger."

After having some breakfast, the master and disciple duo discussed their plans for the day.

What? How could Chasing the Wind cultivate?

Well...it could only be said that someone at Danfeng had very poor innate talent for cultivation. He couldn't stand seeing others, especially other creatures, naturally gifted and able to easily embark on the path of cultivation. He wanted to find fault. I won't say who it is, but I hope he watches himself.

As for how Chasing the Wind could cultivate, the reason was that he was the child of a level 7 demonic beast and was extraordinary by bloodline. Even if he grew up freely in the wild, it wouldn't take him long to be able to absorb the essence of the sun and moon and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to start on the path of cultivation, let alone growing up at Danfeng where Qin Ran had intentionally explained things in more detail for him when lecturing Li Shiyin...

So Qin Ran was very clear why Chasing the Wind could cultivate. He was just putting on a show!

"It's sunny today. You can continue digging the lake," Qin Ran said, looking out the window at the weather before speaking to Li Shiyin.

"Master~" Li Shiyin drew out the word cutely, "Can't we rest for a day?"

Her coy act made Qin Ran's scalp tingle. He responded coldly, "If you rest today and rest tomorrow, when do you plan on finishing digging the lake?"

"Oh..." Li Shiyin sighed and walked outside with a pout. "No rest today, bad master! Stinky master!"

Qin Ran headed for the stairs, planning to go upstairs.

"Are you going to sleep, Master?" Seeing him go upstairs, Li Shiyin called from the doorway, "Unfair! Unfair! I have to work while you sleep. I want to sleep too, no... I want to play!"

"Sleep?!" Qin Ran responded impatiently, "When do I have time to sleep?!"

Ignoring her, Qin Ran went straight upstairs to the study.

He took out the porcelain bottle containing the willow catkins, unsealed the jade stopper, and examined the catkins' appearance before placing the bottle on the desk.

"Willow tree, Hengduan Mountains, primordial forest, berserk spiritual energy..." he murmured as he searched through the bookshelf. Soon he found a thick tome recording the special plants of the Hengduan Mountains.

There weren't many willow trees that could survive in the primordial forest, let alone thrive arrogantly. He quickly identified the true identity of the willow catkins.

Comparing the drawing of the catkins in the book to those in the porcelain bottle, he easily confirmed their identity:

Devouring Demon Willow!

A legendary being...

According to the records in the book, deep within the Hengduan Mountains there was a willow tree that was at least a level 9 demonic beast. Every thousand years, the Hengduan Mountains would have a massive bloom of willow catkins that drove all the demonic beasts in the mountain range berserk. Rumor had it that the first massive bloom was nine thousand years ago.

Closing the book, Qin Ran felt a chill down his spine. A demonic beast this dangerous actually existed deep within the Hengduan Mountains... Not only that, he happened to run into it during its blooming period.

Moreover, the book only recorded rumors of such a willow tree, meaning no cultivator had actually seen the tree before. How incredibly powerful must this willow tree be?

Qin Ran couldn't help but think of Chasing the Wind's mother chasing the Lightning Unicorn to Daojian Sect and the Golden Cloud Leopard being hunted by the giant snake in the darkness. It was very likely they had been affected by the willow catkins.

"Should I consider running away?" Qin Ran had to contemplate this idea.

He had originally thought the demonic beast frenzy was a small-scale event and planned to have Li Shiyin hurry up and practice her swordwork and techniques to gain experience in the demonic beast hordes. But it seemed the problem was much bigger now!

Qin Ran put the book back on the shelf. Suddenly he heard Li Shiyin giggling loudly outside. He frowned. What was his silly disciple up to now?

He quickly walked to the corridor and strained to see what Li Shiyin was doing. He discovered she was wielding a sword, hacking and slashing in the mud pit.

She was practicing her swordsmanship while also digging the lake, playing joyfully.

"Li..." Qin Ran was about to call out and stop her, but on second thought, didn't.

After watching Li Shiyin practice for a while, he eventually returned to the study.

"Running away is the last resort," he thought.

Chapter 44

The sky had cleared for a spell during the day, but by evening the dark clouds had scurried back in and, as night fell, a steady, drizzling rain began to fall again.

After Qin Ran had prepared a medicinal bath for Li Shiyin, he emerged from her bedroom and turned to enter his own.

Before long, he had changed into jet black nightwalker's garb and donned a black cloak. With a wave of his hand before his face, he conjured a mirror out of water. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, then wiped a hand across his face, transforming his delicate features into a fierce countenance.

Disguise techniques - an essential skill for every cultivator traveling the jianghu.

"I'm Batman!" he said in a low voice, listening to the timbre. Just the right flavor.

After double checking his temporary storage bag to make sure nothing was missing, he fastened his cloak hood and walked out the door.

Arriving in the hallway, he took one more look at Li Shiyin's bedroom to make sure nothing seemed amiss, then shut her door behind him before leaping into the rain and disappearing into the downpour.

Shrinking technique, like fleeting years. Qin Ran practiced the most profound shrinking technique recorded in the foundational manual he cultivated—the Water Blossom Heart Sutra.

This shrinking technique wasn't very fast, about the speed of an average one, but Qin Ran favored it uniquely because encountering water allowed it to dissolve into water, instantly maximizing its concealment.

It could be said that Qin Ran chose this foundational manual solely for the sake of this shrinking technique.

Merging into the rain, Qin Ran flew rapidly along until before long, he had descended Dan Peak and arrived in a remote corner. Checking his surroundings warily again to make sure no one else was around, he used his identity medallion to open the protective grand formation guarding the Dao Sword Sect's mountain gate.

Flickering fleetingly visible before the mountain gate, after getting his bearings he dissolved back into the rainwater and vanished once more.

Linxian City, a city situated at the junction between North Chu Country and the Hengduan Mountains.

Like the Dao Sword Sect, it also occupied the border region where North Chu Country met the Hengduan Mountains, but one lay within the Hengduan Mountains while the other existed outside of them.

The reason the city was called Linxian or 'Overlooking Immortality' City was because it overlooked Immortal Fate...

Overlooked what immortal fate?

The Hengduan Mountains themselves implied immortal fate.

Commoners of North Chu Country recognized a simple understanding that immortals dwelled in the Hengduan Mountains.

Within the Hengduan Mountains lay the Dao Sword Sect, the Boundless Sword Sect—both ranked among North Chu Country's Five Great Immortal Sects. Even Zhican Valley, first of the Five Greats, wasn't located too far from the Hengduan Mountains. Not to mention the Hengduan Mountains were also home to fierce beasts and heavenly treasures...

Occupying such a position and bearing such a name was quite reasonable and true to its nature.

In fact, the atmosphere of cultivating immortality within Linxian City was even richer than that inside the Dao Sword Sect, let alone a certain peak.

On a rainy night like this, cultivators zipping about atop clouds and swords were still not few in number within the city. The shouting voices hawking cultivation methods, magic treasures, talismans, and array diagrams in the streets remained clamorous as ever. Walking a bit further, one might see people kneeling in muddy puddles begging wandering cultivators to take them as disciples; peerless beauties dancing in the rain, voluntarily offering themselves as furnace cauldrons...

Enveloped inside his cloak, head lowered, steps swift, Qin Ran threaded through the crowds with a clear destination in mind as he headed towards a certain teahouse in the city center, not daring to glance at the surrounding chaos.

Before long, he arrived outside that teahouse called Yuanlai or Destiny Teahouse. It had an ordinary name and ordinary decor, seemingly far removed from seeking immortality.

But Qin Ran didn't hesitate, directly striding inside to the front counter where he took out a medallion and exchanged glances with the shopkeeper, speaking in a low, hoarse voice: "Batman."

The shopkeeper didn't understand what "Batman" meant, but he recognized it as the secret passphrase belonging exclusively to the alchemist master before him. He looked Qin Ran over, confirmed it matched his appearance, then bowed and addressed him: "Master You Shi."

Next, he took out a mask from under the counter and handed it to Qin Ran. Without another word, the shopkeeper then led the way, bringing Qin Ran through the teahouse's main hall and into the rear courtyard. After opening up an array formation, they journeyed along the passageway within for some time until finally stopping before the last stone door.

"Master You, we've arrived," the shopkeeper said.

Qin Ran nodded, tossing the shopkeeper an elixir pill and raspily murmuring, "Many thanks."

Then he personally pushed the door open and entered.

Inside was a small auction house setup—a podium up front where a man stood holding up a sword soliciting bids, and seven or eight rows of seating below, around fifty or sixty seats, of which only a dozen or so were sporadically occupied, all by people wearing masks identical to Qin Ran's.

When Qin Ran entered, some people looked his way, but no one paid him much mind.

He found an inconspicuous spot and quietly sat down to wait.

This was clearly a private, small-scale auction frequented exclusively by cultivators, and even calling it an auction was somewhat inaccurate—it was more akin to a cultivation exchange club. The people gathered here either possessed formidable strength, abundant financial resources, or special abilities. Qin Ran, for example, was an alchemist.

Linxian City outwardly appeared to be a city steeped in a rich immortal cultivation atmosphere, but at the same time, it was also a mortal city. It contained many cultivators, but even more mortals; there was an immortal cultivation culture, but even more mortal culture.

Indeed, larger places selling cultivation-related goods existed within the city, along with huge auction houses, but those venues were impure—too many people, too complex.

Thus, many private, cultivator-exclusive auctions like this one could be found throughout the city...not too different from exclusive circles in modern society.

This particular auction house was one Qin Ran had joined during a previous trip selling elixir pills. After attending a few times and finding the atmosphere agreeable, he naturally gave priority to coming here when a need arose.

On stage, the sword sold for 100 low-grade spirit stones. Next, someone selling a magic treasure came up, and an upper-grade treasure fetched a price of 300 medium-grade spirit stones.

Just then, a medium-sized fellow took the stage holding a jar. In a deep voice, he declared, "Honey produced by Silver-winged Long-tailed Honeybees. I want a Gold phase foundation establishment stage cultivation method aligned with the metal element."

Silver-winged Long-tailed Honeybees were level four demonic beasts residing in the Hengduan Mountains whose honey was toxic, but could greatly enhance the physique after detoxification.

"Geng Metal Flying Sword Art, coincidentally also Gold phase foundation establishment," Qin Ran called out, thinking to win it for Li Shiyin's use.

"A sword technique?" The man on stage murmured, unmoved.

Qin Ran didn't raise his bid again. He had researched water-type spirit root techniques and gold-type sword techniques—if this guy didn't want a sword technique, then he was at a loss.

This kind of physique-boosting substance was hard to come by. After several more rounds of bidding below that failed to satisfy the man on stage, a figure in red robes raised his hand. "Jinyuan Body Refining Technique, all the way until YuanYing stage."

Wearing red robes? Qin Ran examined him more closely. At places like this, most people wore inconspicuous black clothing, so someone bold enough to wear red really stood out.

"A body refining technique?" The delight on the man on stage's face was evident. "Deal!"

So he cultivated body refinement techniques—Qin Ran understood.

After those two made the exchange with the teahouse, the next person on stage was a woman declaring her urgent need for information about Silver-backed Demon Monkeys, with the price negotiable.

Qin Ran's heart stirred slightly. The beast pack from last night seemed to contain Silver-backed Demon Monkeys, but after a moment's hesitation he still didn't call out a bid.

After that woman left the stage, several more people went up. Qin Ran also calmly ascended, taking out three porcelain bottles from his temporary storage bag. In his muffled voice he announced:

"Upper grade Returning Origin Pill, upper grade Gathering Spirit Pill, and middle grade Foundation Establishment Pill..."

Elixir pills and alchemists were always hard currency in the immortal cultivation world. As soon as he finished speaking, a stir rose from below.

"I recognize him—he's that You-surnamed alchemist who exclusively sells pills," someone suddenly whispered below.

Qin Ran's heart skipped a beat, his gaze concentrating as it shifted to the red-robed man who had spoken. At places like this where everyone understood identities must be concealed, his actions were undoubtedly deliberate!

Moreover, how did he know Qin Ran's surname was You...

Qin Ran's expression didn't waver in the slightest as he continued repressing his voice. "What I want—starry stones, body movement techniques for the sword path, gold-type sword techniques—anything works."

Elixir pills and alchemists were truly the hardest currency in the immortal cultivation world. He had just finished speaking when a scrawny fellow below raised his hand. "You want starry stones? Your things aren't enough."

Starry stones were meant to forge Li Shiyin's personal flying sword following the Nine Revolutions Star Sword Technique. Securing starry stones was the entire purpose of Qin Ran's trip tonight, and his most important objective.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ran took out a porcelain bottle from his temporary magical storage bag and put it on the auction stage, saying: "A mid-grade Break Barrier Pill."

Immediately, there was an uproar below. Break Barrier Pills increase the chance of forming a golden core, and even these pills were being auctioned?

"Sold." The man below quickly said.

Qin Ran then handed over the pill to the auction house staff waiting at the side, to complete the transaction through them.

"Illusory Butterfly Dance Steps, a body technique of the Golden Core stage," the man in red below raised his hand and said, "I bid ten Gathering Spirit Pills."

Before Qin Ran could speak, another person asked: "How many Gathering Spirit Pills do you have?"

"How many do you need?" Qin Ran asked.

"Fifty."

"Martial technique?"

"Star Shadow Sword Technique, created by a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage."

"Okay."

Qin Ran took the Star Shadow Sword Technique instead of the Illusory Butterfly Dance Steps.

Chapter 45

As long as one meets the qualifications of this auction, one can join the auction at any time. For example, after Qin Ran entered, there were also other cultivators who entered, and similarly, one could also leave at any time.

Qin Ran had already bought the Starlight Stone and the Star Shadow Sword Technique, so he was planning to leave. He exchanged all the elixirs he had taken out for display for spirit stones, and after leaving the stage, he directly went out the door.

He pushed the door and left. The waiting attendant led the way and took him to trade the things he had bought at auction. Then, without any hesitation, he directly left through a certain secret door from the teahouse.

Exiting through the secret door, the outside was a certain remote alley. Qin Ran tightened his cloak, discerned the direction, and walked towards the street outside. There were many people on the street, which made it easier to confuse people's eyes and ears and hide more easily.

Not long after Qin Ran came out from the secret door, two people followed him out, one after the other. The one walking in front wore red robes, and the one walking behind had a thin build.

They stood at the door. The thin man sensed for a moment, discerned the direction, and pointed at the street outside, "That way."

Then following that direction, they chased to the outside street. The street was bustling with people coming and going. The eyes of the Man in Red Robe narrowed as he looked left and right, and he quickly spotted that patch of black shadow in the crowd, and hurriedly led the Thin Man to chase after him.

But unfortunately, by the time they chased here, that black shadow had already disappeared without a trace.

"He's become wary," the Man in Red Robe said. "And is quite cautious as well."

The Thin Man let out a cold laugh and said, "Useless."

He closed his eyes to sense, once again judging the direction: "That way!"

Bringing along the Man in Red Robe, the two chased continuously, chasing into midair, chasing above the city wall.

On the city wall, the two of them stood still. The Man in Red Robe looked ahead, but saw Master You's figure blur for a moment, splitting into two, one to the left and one to the right, flying out in two directions. The one on the right flew out several dozen meters before turning into a puddle of water falling down, while the one on the left maintained human form and kept flying straight, eventually disappearing into the darkness.

"Which one?" His eyes couldn't discern the real from the fake, so he turned to ask the Thin Man.

"Hmph! Childish trick!" The Thin Man sneered disdainfully, raising his hand to point at where the puddle of water had disappeared. "That one."

"Such great concealment arts!" the Man in Red Robe exclaimed, then flashed his body technique and chased in that direction.

"Still can't shake them off?" Qin Ran frowned, looking back to see the two unhesitatingly coming after him. "They didn't even hesitate."

"Something's wrong with the item!" He realized, hurriedly probing into his storage bag with his divine sense, "Elixir jade slips? Spirit stones? Starlight Stone?"

Very quickly, he found the problematic item.

The Starlight Stone! A trace of markings was hidden within the Starlight Stone, almost assimilated into it.

Fortunately it was his divine sense, otherwise it would have been very difficult to detect that trace of markings assimilated into stardust.

"The Starlight Stone was tampered with... How did they know I would buy the Starlight Stone? Did Li Shiyin betray me?" Shiyunianhua was not fast. With the two people flying quickly closer behind him, Qin Ran adjusted his breathing and calmly analyzed, "No, impossible..."

He suddenly recalled how the Man in Red Robe had seen through his disguised identity at the auction hall, and he realized something terrifying, "It was premeditated! The teahouse sold me out! No matter when I came or what I bought, I would encounter an ambush. With such means, it's not personal, but some organization that has had its eye on me for a while now!"

At this time, he had arrived above a small hill. He adjusted his mentality, revealing his figure from the rain, standing on the treetop of a big tree at the top of the hill, waiting for those two people flying quickly closer.

Those two approached, stopping a short distance away warily. Qin Ran said hoarsely, "Starting from Linxiang City, you two have been following me the whole time. May I ask what business you have?"

The Man in Red Robe glanced at the Thin Man. The Thin Man nodded at him, indicating that the person before them was the real body. The Man in Red Robe then laughed loudly, "I have long heard of Master You's great name, but have never had the chance to meet you before. Now that we've met, I must get acquainted."

Long heard my ass, he didn't even recognize Qin Ran at all.

"Who are you?" Qin Ran asked.

"Who I am is not important. What's important is..." The Man in Red Robe said with a smile. "I have always respected Master You, and know that Master You is an alchemist. So I'd like to ask Master You for a favor."

Alchemist? The key point was he's an alchemist! Qin Ran understood. The trait of his that attracted attention was this alchemist identity. Even though he had been prudent enough, selling elixirs over and over had finally attracted people's attention.

"What favor?" He found that Batman's voice was really useful.

"Nothing but pill refining!" the Man in Red Robe said. "It's very difficult for cultivators to obtain elixirs of the quality that Master You has. We hope that Master You can help refine a few high quality Break Barrier Pills. There will be no lack of spirit stones if it succeeds."

This Man in Red Robe spoke in a proper negotiating tone, with a good attitude and gentle voice, easily lowering people's guard. However...

While he was speaking, the Thin Man had already quietly approached from the front right. They had no intention of asking Qin Ran to refine pills at all. Their target was Qin Ran himself!

Qin Ran was not to be trifled with. From the very start he had not trusted them at all, remaining fully vigilant. The Thin Man's little movement completely failed to escape his wary eyes.

"Break Barrier Pill?" Qin Ran deliberately put on an appearance of bargaining, and said, "Break Barrier Pills are very difficult, my cultivation base..."

But he stopped mid-sentence, suddenly erupting, caught them completely off guard...

And turned to flee.

Yes, fighting was out of the question. Only escape could maintain his livelihood.

Qin Ran knew his own strengths and weaknesses. His frontal combat ability was trash. If they got close, it would be instant defeat.

So the question was, if he was going to run anyway, why did he wait here for them?

Because...

"Boom!"

Qin Ran's sudden escape took the two by surprise, but they didn't think too much of it and directly gave chase. But just as they had chased right above the small hill where Qin Ran was before, the small hill below them suddenly exploded.

In an instant, the terrifying shockwave carried countless rock fragments and iron nails shooting at the two like bullets, and mixed within these projectiles were some invisible sword qi as well.

"It's a formation! A killing formation!" The Man in Red Robe quickly deployed a defensive barrier, recognizing what it was, and hurriedly warned the Thin Man, "He set up a formation in advance."

The Thin Man's reaction was not as fast as the Man in Red Robe. After several holes were punctured in his body by the iron nails, he finally deployed a defensive barrier, but even so, he was still cut by the chaotic sword qi several times.

"Damn bastard!" He was furious beyond measure, the spiritual power within his body exploded, and an invisible shockwave spread out from him as the center, directly blowing away the iron nails and sword qi shot out by the formation.

He went to pursue that Master You, and only saw the figure in the black cloak shake once in the darkness, splitting into one on the left and one on the right, one flying out a hundred and eighty meters to the left before turning into a stream of water blending into the rain, while the one on the right maintained human form as it flew straight, eventually disappearing into the distant darkness.

"Clown tricks!" the Thin Man sneered disdainfully. "Truly brainless."

He had already seen through it the first time, yet this guy still dared to pull the same trick again.

He sensed slightly, and the markings on the Starlight Stone were on that stream of water to the left.

He let out a cold laugh, gathering the blood that had flowed out of him to form a clump in the rainwater, then exploded it. He passed through the exploded bloody mist, his speed sharply rising, catching up to that stream of water to the left in just a few blinks.

"Go die for me!" He punched out, punching through the human silhouette hidden within the rain.

That transparent human silhouette struggled on his fist to reveal itself, changing into the black-cloaked figure, looking at him in terror, mouth opening and closing, but seemingly unable to speak like a fish on land struggling in its death throes.

"Hmph! Coward!" The Thin Man withdrew his fist, pinching Master You by the neck like carrying a little chick, his face twisted viciously, "Let's see where you can run this time!"

At this time the Man in Red Robe flew over to catch up. From a distance away, he suddenly saw the terror disappear from Master You's face. His mouth moved, a mocking expression on his face, seeming to be saying something. The Thin Man leaned in closer.

The Man in Red Robe realized something and shouted in terror: "Run!"

The Thin Man glanced back at him, not quite understanding. Looking back at Master You in his hand, he saw that Master You in his grip had suddenly turned into a puddle of water, flowing through his hand and falling from midair.

"Fake?" The Thin Man was quite unhappy, angry at being tricked.

He looked forward again and saw that where Master You had disappeared, he had left behind a temporary Universe Bag, hovering in midair.

Only then did he finally realize what was happening...

In the next moment, the temporary Universe Bag exploded with a deafening boom!

A bolt of heavenly tribulation lightning lit up the darkness, piercing heaven and earth.

Chapter 46

The reaction of the man in the red robe was already swift enough. When he reminded the thin man, he had already turned around and started to flee. However, he couldn't escape and was caught in the tribulation lightning.

If given another chance to escape, he would surely run faster because this time he didn't perform to his full potential.

"Why can a Foundation Establishment Stage alchemist cause such a commotion?! Tribulation lightning!?"

While half of his body was charred and the tribulation lightning ran rampant within him, he couldn't comprehend it.

He fell from the sky and crashed into a damp grassy thicket, with fine rain pouring down on the man in the red robe. But he couldn't feel it anymore. He stared at the fading remnants of lightning in the darkness and questioned his life, murmuring, "Tribulation thunder of the Golden Core to Nascent Soul transformation?"

"Quite knowledgeable, not bad," a deep, hoarse voice sounded nearby. Struggling to look in that direction, the man in the red robe saw a black figure emerging from the rain. The figure was shrouded in darkness.

They were so close...

This made him realize something. After the explosion, both left and right were fake. The true master, You Dashifu, had long hidden in the rain and taken cover on the ground.

No matter how they chose, they were wrong. Two Golden Core Stage cultivators were played with by a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator. They were like two clowns!

"Ah..." the man in the red robe shouted in confusion, perhaps due to the intense pain.

"What's your name, what organization do you belong to, and what is your purpose in capturing me?" Qin Ran approached, raising a bubble with his hand, enveloping the man in the red robe. He held a sword and asked repeatedly.

The man in the red robe stopped shouting, looking at the bubbles around him and then at the sword in You Dashifu's hand, feeling even more desperate.

As Qin Ran got closer, he suddenly noticed that half of the man in the red robe's body was charred by the tribulation lightning while the other half remained relatively intact... This appearance was like that of Two-Face.

I created a Batman-like image for myself, but ended up with a Two-Face. What a coincidence!

After pondering for a moment and seeing the man in the red robe remaining silent, Qin Ran put away his sword and took out a red pill and a blue pill from his Universe Bag, indicating to the man in the red robe, "One is a high-grade Great Redemption Pill that can repair your physical body as much as possible, giving you a glimmer of hope. The other is a Murdering Pill that leads to death. I'm giving you a chance to choose."

He seemed to have become Two-Face.

The man in the red robe looked at the pills in Qin Ran's hand. He didn't understand pills, but based on his experience, the red one should be the Murdering Pill. However, he couldn't fathom why this person, whose scheming ran so deep, would be so kind?

"Do you really want to die? After experiencing countless dangers to form your Golden Core, you want to die like this?" Qin Ran suddenly began to persuade.

At this moment, a lightning bolt struck down from the sky...

The man in the red robe was startled and trembled all over. He looked up at the sky and realized it was just an ordinary thunderbolt.

Taking advantage of the lightning's illumination, he looked at You Dashifu in front of him and saw that his face was divided into two halves by the lightning... Like a devil.

He instinctively felt afraid, as if he were back in his childhood, abandoned in the rainy night. But soon, he felt desolate. He remembered that he was a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, while the person in front of him was merely a small Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.

"What... do you want?" he asked bitterly.

"What organization wants to capture me?" Qin Ran asked directly.

"Fate," the man in the red robe replied.

Fate? Fate Tea House? Qin Ran remembered the name from the auction.

"Why are you capturing me?"

"Because you are an alchemist who can refine pills."

That was the reason. Control the alchemists, refine the pills, and then sell them through the organization.

"Split!" Another bolt of lightning struck, leaving Qin Ran's face completely blackened.

"Make your choice!" He didn't want to ask any more questions and said in a deep voice.

Although he felt that the blue pill was the Great Redemption Pill, the man in the red robe hesitated before saying, "Blue."

Qin Ran let go, and the blue pill was wrapped in bubbles and flew into the man in the red robe's mouth.

As soon as the pill entered his mouth, it quickly dissolved, and the medicinal power spread throughout his body. Feeling the situation inside his body, the man in the red robe squinted his eyes—it was indeed the real Great Redemption Pill!

He looked at the Master You in front of him, who hadn't even tried to escape, and couldn't help but smile. "Master, do you want to serve the organization?"

"After refining the pills, how will the distribution be?" Qin Ran asked.

Still thinking about distribution? The man in the red robe sneered inwardly, but still answered, "Fifty-fifty."

Qin Ran nodded and asked again, "Besides you, are there others coming to pursue me?"

"Aren't two Golden Core Stage cultivators enough?" the man in the red robe replied with a question.

Indeed, he was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and two Golden Core Stage cultivators coming was already giving him face. Qin Ran breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "How many people are there in this organization called Fate?"

The man in the red robe wasn't stupid. It was just that he had lost his composure amidst the constant shifts between life and death. But when he saw that Master You had clearly relaxed, he suddenly realized that something was wrong.

He remembered the two figures that had appeared after the second dispersal. Both of them were fake. So, these two pills...

By now, the medicinal power that had been absorbed by his body began to take effect, but...

Instead of repairing his body, the medicinal power began to devour it!

That wasn't the Great Redemption Pill; it was the Murdering Pill!

The man in the red robe's expression changed to one of horror...

"Split!"

Qin Ran looked calmly at him.

The two pills were indeed one Great Redemption Pill and one Murdering Pill, but the Great Redemption Pill was a failed refinement, a Murdering Pill with impurities and no medicinal power.

The Murdering Pill, formed according to the rules of pill refinement, possessed not the ability to save lives but the power to snatch souls!

As the body was destroyed by the Murdering Pill, the Tribulation Lightning was no longer restricted. It eroded the body along the damaged areas, a process that tore and burned the flesh into fine particles.

"Ah!" The man in the red robe couldn't bear it any longer and let out a miserable scream.

This was a kind of torment! No matter which pill he chose, whether it was the Murdering Pill or the Great Redemption Pill, it was torture.

He was too naive. How could Qin Ran let him live?

On this rainy night, the man's agonizing screams echoed for a long time, until they eventually weakened and were drowned out by the sound of rain.

Another seeker of immortality ascended.

The man in the red robe's body was completely charred by the Tribulation Lightning. Qin Ran confirmed that he was dead and took out his specially prepared corpse-dissolving powder, sprinkling it on the body to ensure that it would decompose into air particles without damaging anything else.

He carefully probed with his divine sense to ensure that no remnants of souls or the like remained, completely dissipating them.

In short, he exerted his utmost power to leave no future troubles.

He then dealt with the emaciated man who had died directly under the tribulation lightning. Qin Ran took the Universe Bag belonging to the two individuals and thoroughly searched it, leaving only spirit stones that couldn't be tampered with, while noting down a few useful alchemy recipes. As for the rest, such as magical tools, treasures, and cultivation techniques, he didn't dare take a single one.

He packed their belongings into the Universe Bag and manipulated the bag's spatial formation, causing the interior space of the bag to distort. Eventually, the distorted space ground the bag and its contents into powder.

After dealing with those items, Qin Ran breathed a sigh of relief. He took the two identity tokens that would surely have tracking marks and headed straight to the riverside.

He took a final look at the tokens. Both tokens had the same external design, with one side imprinted with the character "Fate" and the other side with the character "Dao." He randomly chose one, enveloped it in water flow, and threw it into the river, allowing it to float downstream.

Before long, a large fish swallowed the token in one gulp, and he paid no further attention. Then, he caught a large waterbird by the riverbank, tied the other token to it, and fed it a berserk pill, causing it to fly aimlessly in all directions.

After dealing with the tokens, Qin Ran breathed a sigh of relief.

He watched as the bird disappeared into the night sky and the fish vanished downstream, silently praying that there would be no further consequences.

Then, Qin Ran plunged into the river, utilizing the Flowing Water Technique, and swam upstream, embarking on his journey back home.

At a certain location upstream, he took off his cloak and wrapped it in water flow, allowing the cloak to continue upstream while he went ashore. Activating his Shadow Steps, he dashed into the depths of the mountains, running all the way into the Hengduan Mountains.

Upon entering the Hengduan Mountains, his figure flickered, splitting into three individuals with different appearances, each running in a different direction. Among them, his true body meandered through the forest for a long time, arriving at another formation he had set up in advance, and then he plunged into it.

He waited within the formation until daybreak, and no one came chasing after him. Qin Ran stealthily used the Flowing Water Technique from a certain location, concealing himself from the formation and emerging. Then, he proceeded towards the Daojian Sect.

It wasn't until the sky brightened, the clouds dispersed, and the sun emerged from behind the eastern mountain that Qin Ran stumbled back to the Dan Peak.

Li Shiyin was in the living room eating, teasing the cat with some breakfast candy. "One for you..." she tossed it forward, and Chasing the Wind leaped to catch it. "One for me..." she popped it into her own mouth. Both the human and the cat were happily amused.

Seeing Qin Ran push open the door and enter from outside, Li Shiyin exclaimed, "Master, you're up so early today?" Then she noticed Qin Ran in his night-travel attire and remarked, "Master, your outfit is quite stylish!"

Qin Ran shot her a glance, panting heavily, and directly took off his black coat, throwing it on the floor. He only wore an undershirt as he ascended the stairs, instructing, "Help me wash the clothes. I'll take a shower and rest for a while."

This world is indeed dangerous. It's safer to stay in one's own nest. If possible, one should avoid going out. It's too terrifying. Qin Ran thought as he lay in his own bed.