Chapter 10: Xuan Ya's Apology

"I apologize for my previous rudeness, Senior Brother. Please forgive me."Li Changshou sat calmly at the front of the large gourd, observing Youqin Xuanya as she bowed with cupped hands before him. While he harbored a strong urge to make a sarcastic remark, he merely offered a dismissive "It's nothing."

Li Changshou noticed that the gazes directed at him no longer carried the previous disdain or dissatisfaction. Instead, they were now filled with sympathy and pity.

"Changshou," Immortal Jiu Jiu coughed and said earnestly, "This must be an inner demon plaguing you, perhaps a result of your prolonged solitary cultivation with your master in the mountains.""Senior Brother Changshou," Yuan Qing floated over, offering a bottle of pills. "These are calming and mind-clearing pills," he whispered, "they might help with your condition.""Thank you, I appreciate the thought."

Li Changshou offered a slightly awkward smile. Yuan Qing instantly understood, deftly changing the subject.Seizing the moment, Li Changshou also observed the reactions of the other disciples.

Throughout the minor spectacle, Yuwen Ling remained unfazed, calmly meditating with closed eyes.Liu Yan'er's gaze held a newfound sympathy, while Wang Qi observed him with an expression full of wistful regret.It seemed they were thinking: "This Senior Brother (or Junior Brother) has only ordinary cultivation aptitude and now suffers from an inner demon. Finding a Dao companion will be an unattainable luxury for him in the future. How challenging his life as a cultivator must be."— Forming Dao companion pairs for shared cultivation is quite common within the Immortal Du Sect.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yuan Qing retreated to the back of the gourd. Wang Qi, in turn, initiated a short conversation.Li Changshou simply responded with a smile, saying little.He mused that, aside from Yuan Qing, these fellow disciples, though 'advanced in age' for their generation, seemed surprisingly naive in their single-minded pursuit of cultivation.It made sense; these were the 'top students' of their generation, dedicating most of their time to training and having limited social interactions.

The minor disturbance quickly subsided.Soon, quiet returned to the gourd. Everyone resumed their meditation and cultivation, and Li Changshou picked up his scroll, reading with evident pleasure, his mood entirely unperturbed.

Immortal Jiu Jiu sat cross-legged at the very front, arms crossed, now deep in thought. She was pondering how to help Li Changshou overcome his inner demon and restore his joyful cultivation life.*Perhaps I should use a woman's charm? Fight fire with fire?*Immortal Jiu Jiu glanced down at herself, then let out a peculiar chuckle.

Li Changshou didn't give much thought to the sudden new 'persona' he had adopted.While it was merely a temporary strategy to avoid his Martial Aunt Jiu Jiu from probing his cultivation and aptitude, he resolved to constantly maintain this pretense for the remainder of their journey.Sustained vigilance was not a difficult task for Li Changshou.

"Senior Brother Changshou," a voice suddenly called from behind. Li Changshou turned to see Youqin Xuanya's apologetic face.Though he longed to tell her, "Please maintain the composure and pride befitting an 'ice beauty'," he could only offer a faint smile and wave a hand, indicating she needn't elaborate. He then turned back to his scroll.

Youqin Xuanya pursed her lips, her gaze still filled with apology.Li Changshou's spiritual sense, however, keenly detected a slight frown from Yuan Qing, who sat behind them with closed eyes.

...Two days later.

The vast and sparsely populated Dongsheng Divine Continent, dotted with numerous immortal sects, gradually receded behind them.The large gourd, flying continuously day and night through the clouds and mist, finally reached the northwestern border of the Dongsheng Divine Continent.

Li Changshou hadn't cultivated at all during the journey, keeping his focus on his immediate surroundings. His peripheral vision frequently caught glimpses of figures flying through the air, flashing across the horizon.Fortunately, they encountered no obstacles along the way.

Jiu Jiu stretched, and the large gourd began to slow, descending towards the towering mountain ranges below.The Immortal Jiu Jiu yawned and called out to those behind her, "Alright, everyone, perk up! We're about to enter the border region of the continent.Listen closely, all of you!North Continent is not a benevolent land. Your purpose here is to gain experience, so do not risk your lives vying for treasures or spiritual herbs.I'll now take you to one of North Continent's entrances. Memorize this location, so if you return on your own, you won't wander aimlessly."

The five disciples rose simultaneously, bowed with cupped hands to Jiu Jiu, and chorused, "We shall heed Martial Aunt's instructions.""Good," Jiu Jiu nodded, satisfied.

Liu Yan'er quietly inquired, "Martial Aunt... isn't North Continent one of the Four Great Continents? Why is there talk of an 'entrance'? Does the miasma here form a natural grand array?"Jiu Jiu pursed her lips, stating indifferently, "Who knows why? Someone explain it to her."From behind, Yuan Qing chuckled, "The miasma of North Continent isn't difficult for cultivators at the Void Returning Stage, who have already formed an inner circulation, to resist.The real trouble here lies in the poisonous insects and plants spawned by the miasma, and the ubiquitous ferocious and venomous beasts, which are quite challenging to handle.""That's not what she asked!" Jiu Jiu rolled her eyes, scolding Yuan Qing. "She asked why there's an entrance! What kind of answer was that?"Yuan Qing offered an awkward smile and could only bow apologetically.

Yuwen Ling stated gravely, "Due to the demon race.""Exactly, because of the demon race. General Big Guy is quite insightful, it seems," Jiu Jiu remarked.She then looked down, steering the large gourd towards a valley nestled within the mountains, and explained earnestly:"Human destiny converges in the Southern Continent. North Continent, however, is a land of exile for the Witch race.In ancient times, to prevent the sky from collapsing, several revered Sages intervened and severed the four legs of a primordial Mystic Tortoise here, transforming them into pillars to support the heavens.The Mystic Tortoise, filled with resentment, perished in despair. Its immense body and vast magical power solidified into the perpetual miasma that shrouds North Continent. Look to the northwest; those aren't rain clouds."

The group simultaneously gazed northwest. They were now nearing the mountains, perfectly positioned to observe the surging, grayish-black clouds on the horizon.The expanse was vast and boundless.

Jiu Jiu continued:"The miasma has given rise to numerous poisonous insects and plants, deterring ordinary creatures and creating a breeding ground for a vast array of rare flowers and exotic fruits. It teems with various ferocious and venomous beasts; even Heavenly Immortals dare not venture too deep.After the war between the Witch and Demon races, the surviving Witches were exiled here. They settled in the extreme north of North Continent, a place of ice and snow with fewer creatures, where they barely manage to survive. It's said they are on the verge of extinction, a truly tragic fate.Meanwhile, demon races harboring animosity towards the Witches, as well as those driven away by human cultivators, converged along the borders of North Continent.Over time, this narrow region, stretching hundreds of thousands of li from east to west, became the primary sanctuary for the demon race."

At this point in her explanation, Jiu Jiu surveyed the disciples' expressions. She noted that, with the exception of Li Changshou, they all showed varying degrees of nervousness.*Excellent, let's intensify it,* she thought.Jiu Jiu gave a soft chuckle, then said gravely, "Look at these formidable mountains surrounding us. They hide countless powerful and ancient demons, some with terrifying strength, who particularly enjoy feasting on human cultivators~"

The disciples immediately grew more wary. Li Changshou, however, simply nodded calmly, then continued to gaze downwards.Jiu Jiu, feeling a sudden lack of interest, pointed beneath the gourd and continued dispassionately:"The town below is one of the entrances to North Continent, forcibly established by our human experts. It's said that there's been a truce with the demon race for the past few millennia, but no one knows when hostilities might resume.Once we enter the town, I'll take you to buy some miasma-repelling talismans and detoxifying pills.While our sect does provide these, some inexplicable rule dictates that I must bring you here to experience cultivator life and teach you the ways of bartering.Remember, do not fly recklessly above this town. Several masters are stationed here, so you must always maintain a respectful awe for powerful individuals. We will land on the southeastern slope and walk a short mountain path to reach it."

The five disciples bowed their acknowledgment, internalizing Immortal Jiu Jiu's cautions.The town itself was nestled within a valley, with various caves carved into the cliff faces on either side, along with numerous suspended walkways and wooden structures.The valley floor was crammed with all sorts of buildings, appearing quite chaotic from a distance.While there were grand, luminous palaces and towering pagodas, wooden and earthen structures predominated. The layout was haphazard, with only a few narrow, barely passable alleys.Naturally, most cultivators traveled by flying through the air, negating the need for pedestrian paths.

It was clear that a considerable number of cultivators traveled to North Continent. The area bustled with activity, and cultivators had set up numerous stalls on the rooftops of the wooden and earthen buildings, offering a wide array of herbs and valuable materials sourced from North Continent.Most of these herbs and materials were associated with poison.

Familiar with the area, Jiu Jiu conjured a white cloud and led the five disciples and Yuwen Ling on a half-circuit through the town. After comparing goods at several stalls, she finally instructed them to retrieve their spirit stones and purchase some good quality, inexpensive pills and talismans.*Hmm? Why isn't he moving?*Jiu Jiu glanced at Li Changshou, who stood behind her with his hands clasped behind his back. With an internal sigh, she casually tossed a purse over her shoulder, landing it in Li Changshou's arms.This type of purse was a simple storage artifact, typically used for holding a fixed amount of spirit stones.Jiu Jiu grumbled, "I knew your master wouldn't give you much. I still don't understand why he insists on staying on that small peak...Detoxifying pills and miasma-repelling talismans are essential. Go buy them quickly; don't dawdle like a big man!"

"Uh," Li Changshou paused, then looked up at his plainly dressed Martial Aunt, offering a gentle smile—a rare expression he usually reserved only for his master and junior sister.He was about to explain that he had already prepared everything, but before he could speak, a slender hand appeared from the side, holding a stack of yellow paper talismans and two plump ceramic bottles.It was the girl with the large sword on her back, clad in a fiery red gown.

Youqin Xuanya turned her head away, stating in as calm a tone as possible, "Consider this an apology to Senior Brother, for earlier..."As she spoke, she subtly flicked her fingers, employing a clever force to send the pills and talismans directly into Li Changshou's hand. She then turned and casually walked towards a nearby stall, feigning indifference.

Li Changshou found this slightly amusing. He cupped his hands towards her retreating back, saying nothing more.*This 'ice beauty' is definitely not living up to her moniker.*