Chapter 14: This Can Still Fall from the Sky?

Cijiu's aura has vanished, and the ninth-rank Spirit Transformation disciple from Immortal Ascension Sect has also disappeared. This is rather odd.

Deep in the dense forest, in a hidden valley, several dark figures lurked in a thicket, whispering to each other.

One person cursed, "He probably took a bribe, killed someone, and then just left!"

"Humph! Such individuals truly cannot be trusted. It's better to rely on subordinates we've trained ourselves!"

"Is the Dragon Trapping Array ready?"

"It's already set up. It will definitely trap that True Immortal from Immortal Ascension Sect."

"Excellent. Although the situation has changed, it shouldn't be a major problem," the leader mused. "Later, send a message to the Fourth Young Master. Arrange a group of people to deliberately ambush him to lure that True Immortal from Immortal Ascension Sect over. We will personally capture those two disciples and bring them into the array, then lead this True Immortal into the array. This matter concerns the great task of restoring our nation. The Sixth Princess is our best opportunity. This time, we must control the Sixth Princess, and incidentally, allow the Fourth Young Master to achieve his desires."

The dark figures chuckled softly. The leader made a fist gesture, and the other dark figures scattered, quickly vanishing.

Half a day later, several black-clad figures suddenly attacked Yuan Qing and Youqin Xuanya. Yuan Qing decisively crushed a communication talisman.

Jiu Jiu, who was meditating above Wang Qi and Liu Yan'er, suddenly perked up. She turned and dashed southwest. Yuwen Ling barely kept pace with Jiu Jiu, following behind her.

No sooner had Jiu Jiu flown away than over a dozen auras surged from below. Two Dao-Return Realm Qi Refiners directly launched a sneak attack, knocking out Wang Qi and Liu Yan'er and taking them away.

Half an hour later, Jiu Jiu hastily flew back. However, Yuwen Ling remained above Yuan Qing and Youqin Xuanya, secretly protecting them.

By this time, Jiu Jiu also sensed something unusual, but she had rushed too quickly. By the time she found Liu Yan'er and Wang Qi, she was already trapped in a grand array. White mist covered the surroundings, and her immortal sense could only detect a vast expanse of white.

Clutching Wang Qi and Liu Yan'er under her arms, Jiu Jiu flew erratically within the trapping array. Not skilled in array formations to begin with, she soon realized she was just circling in place.

"Good thing that big general is guarding Yuan Qing and Xuanya."

Jiu Jiu had just sighed in relief, intending to calm down and ponder a way to break the array, but then Li Changshou's warning from when he entered the Tangled Mist Treasure Forest echoed in her ears:

'Aunt Jiu, those whose origins are unknown are always suspicious. Do not trust them easily.'

Could that Yuwen Ling be...?

Suddenly, two drops of cold sweat appeared on Jiu Jiu's forehead.

One trap leading to another, it seemed she had been fooled from the very beginning!

What about Li Changshou? He has the lowest cultivation; could he have already been killed by these people?

These people are most likely targeting Xuanya and Yuan Qing. Why didn't I realize this earlier!

Jiu Jiu couldn't help but curse loudly, "You despicable scoundrels! If you have the guts, come out and fight this immortal for three hundred rounds! What kind of Qi Refiners use such devious tricks!"

However, within the array, there were only swarms of poisonous insects and a few lost venomous beasts. There was no response at all.

"Agh!"

Jiu Jiu tossed the two unconscious individuals onto the ground, then stamped her foot in frustration. The ties of her linen tunic over her chest seemed precariously stressed.

"Arrays are just utterly annoying!"

***

'Immortal Dissolution Grass... this stuff is really hard to find.'

On the twelfth day of entering North Continent, after leaving the Tangled Mist Treasure Forest, Li Changshou traveled over 1,600 li northwest, arriving 'on schedule' at the area marked on his map.

This area spanned approximately 300 li, featuring complex terrain such as hills, swamps, and mountain foothills. As it was slightly deeper into North Continent, the venomous beasts and insects were far more aggressive than those in the outer regions.

Li Changshou maintained extreme vigilance, meticulously searching for the 'poisonous herb' he sought. However, after six consecutive days of searching, he had collected many types of poisonous herbs and spiritual medicines, but his 'main objective' for venturing into North Continent was nowhere to be found.

That afternoon, he suddenly encountered a 'poisonous rain.' The raindrops falling from the sky were all highly toxic.

Li Changshou dared not move rashly. He found a nearby cliff, carved a hole into the cliff face, and entered it. He extended his spiritual sense to survey the cliff walls, waiting for the rain to stop before continuing his search for herbs.

In these six days, he had almost finished searching this area, but still couldn't find any trace of Immortal Dissolution Grass.

'Oh, Immortal Dissolution Grass, why must you play hide-and-seek like this? Wouldn't it be better if we just met pleasantly?'

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

He had obtained information from an ancient text, which indicated that Immortal Dissolution Grass grew in this area.

Coming directly here to search was the least costly way to acquire this herb. If he truly couldn't find it, Li Changshou decided to try his luck in the previous town on his way back. Even if it meant spending all the spirit stones and treasures he had saved over the past century through scheming and trickery—ahem, frugality—it would be worth it if he could obtain a single Immortal Dissolution Grass.

If this path also failed, then Li Changshou would have no other option. He would have to return to the mountain and make new plans.

The heavy rain had started abruptly, but showed no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Li Changshou also had a rare opportunity to rest, slightly easing his strained mind. Although he possessed a small amount of Crimson Sun Poison Dragon Saliva, which kept him immune to toxins, it was difficult for him to tell himself 'not to worry' while in such a dangerous place.

Aunt Jiu should be fine, right?

Recalling the Qi Refiner he had killed nine days ago, Li Changshou took out the 'Soul-Snatching Pearl,' intending to review the memory fragments. However, the residual soul within had already dissipated.

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

This group's plan was meticulous. With Yuan Qing, the 'warm-hearted gentleman,' acting as an inside man, given Aunt Jiu's intelligence... she would probably be easily lured into the grand array.

Aunt Jiu, despite her high cultivation and rather endearing personality, can sometimes be too impulsive. When the alcohol gets to her head, she acts recklessly.

It's a pity about Youqin Xuanya. Even after cultivating in the immortal sect for so long, she still couldn't escape the mundane struggle for power. And her childhood friend, who had always been so attentive, turned out to be the most sinister.

Li Changshou never considered himself a hero, nor did he feel obligated to save princesses or alter others' fates. In his eyes, Youqin Xuanya was merely a 'trouble' with striking looks. Such major karma should be avoided if possible; if not, he mustn't get entangled...

Rumble—

Thunder suddenly rumbled overhead. Li Changshou began checking his remaining resources.

His pills were plentiful, and his talismans were ample. The Crimson Sun Poison Dragon Saliva would last another nine days, enough for him to thoroughly explore this area and then leave at his leisure. If he acted quickly and finished searching this area, he could also search more areas to the north or west.

"Oh, Immortal Dissolution Grass, this brother is getting quite agitated right now."

Boom!

The cliff wall suddenly trembled. The frequency of this tremor...

Li Changshou swiftly spread his spiritual sense, and soon noticed an anomaly in the clouds overhead. The clouds formed a vortex, with lightning flickering within it, as if something was about to 'squeeze' out.

Calculating with his fingers, he realized the universe was in flux!

Li Changshou conjured a layer of magic barrier around himself, and immediately rushed out of the rock cave. He rapidly descended toward the ground, ready to activate his Cloud-Exploring Roaming Dragon Steps.

But just as he descended, he heard a roar overhead. A fiery red figure burst from the vortex, crashing rapidly onto the ground like a falling bolt of lightning.

The figure landed precisely three zhang in front of where Li Changshou had intended to land, splashing a pile of mud.

Li Changshou swiftly retreated, three paper effigies already clutched in his palm!

But then, Li Changshou clearly saw the figure enveloped in a faint red light shield. His brows furrowed slightly.

This...

Did Heaven see him digging spiritual herbs and poisonous grasses too comfortably, and specifically increase his mission difficulty?

Or did he encounter some destined misfortune on this trip, and this was a minor disaster written in his fate that he couldn't avoid?

The figure in the fiery red immortal dress before him was none other than Youqin Xuanya.

However, she was severely injured at this moment. There was a deep, bone-deep wound on her left shoulder, and blood mixed with the poisonous rainwater constantly dripped down her jade-like arm. The greatsword tightly clutched in her right hand was without its sheath, and its blade had several spiderweb-like cracks.

She had at least a dozen wounds on her body, but none were fatal.

As Li Changshou recognized her, Youqin Xuanya also saw a figure in the rain curtain ahead. She lowered her head, spitting out a mouthful of blood, her eyes revealing a hint of determination. She slowly stood up, leaning on her greatsword, but then found the figure somewhat familiar...

Li Changshou frowned. At this moment, his spiritual sense spread out, but he detected no pursuing enemies.

Recalling the disturbance just now, it was clear that Youqin Xuanya had used some life-saving treasure, directly using spatial magic to teleport to this location.

The killer was, it had to be this very location.

To abandon a fellow disciple to their fate—if Youqin Xuanya survived and reported him to the sect, he'd be in for it. But Li Changshou didn't want to get involved in this conflict; it had nothing to do with him to begin with.

While being reported would indeed be troublesome, it would just mean a deduction in his monthly allowance or something similar...

"Ah, the rain is so heavy. My vision is completely blocked. I can't see a thing."

Li Changshou mumbled under his breath, calmly turned around, facing the cliff behind him, and swiftly began forming hand seals for Earth Escape.

Just need a miracle!

Urgent!

"Chang... Senior Brother Changshou?"

Youqin Xuanya looked at Li Changshou's retreating back in the rain curtain, somewhat stunned. She lowered her head and coughed up a mouthful of blood, then urgently said, "Go quickly, don't mind me! Your cultivation is too low, and they outnumber us... significantly..."

Before she could finish her words, Youqin Xuanya's eyes weakly closed. Her aura completely chaotic, her injuries flared up, and she collapsed onto the muddy ground, her sword still clutched in her hand.

A bolt of lightning flashed in the dark clouds overhead, and the sound of the rain grew noisier.

"Fine," Li Changshou sighed, "seeing as you're still somewhat considerate, I'll use Earth Escape to take you halfway."

After that, I truly won't be able to help anymore. You'll just have to leave it to fate...