Chapter 9: There’s No Need For a Rotation
The atmosphere at the Sword Exchange Pavilion was far from relaxed.
The moment Chu Liang responded, an abrupt wave of awkwardness swept through the surroundings.
The disciples of the Mount Shu Sect functioned as a cohesive family, except for two notable factions within the sect: the Silver Sword Peak and the Jade Sword Peak.
These two peaks were part of the Mount Shu Sect's Five Peaks of Swordsmanship and had always maintained a close connection, akin to branches of the same tree throughout the sect's history. However, the Peak Master of the Jade Sword Peak, Wang Xuanling, held the esteemed position of Grand Peak Master and had always possessed an imposing and stubborn nature. On the other hand, the Peak Master of the Silver Sword Peak, Di Nufeng, was young and in her prime, unwilling to accept anyone surpassing her in status. As a result, the two would engage in heated arguments whenever they crossed paths.
The two Peak Masters had showcased their rivalry, providing an example for their respective disciples to emulate. Especially since the recent gambling wager between Wang Xuanling and Di Nufeng had spread throughout Mount Shu, the disciples of the Jade Sword Peak naturally regarded the Silver Sword Peak as their enemy.
However, they hadn't had many opportunities to encounter the only disciple of the Silver Sword Peak in their daily lives, so they didn't know Chu Liang.
Chu Liang showed no change in his expression. He still wore that faint smile on his face. In moments like this, as long as one didn't show any awkwardness, it would be the others who felt awkward.
The facial expressions of the Jade Sword Peak disciples appeared rather stiff.
After an awkward pause, Lin Bei laughed, "Heheheh!"
He wrapped his arm around Chu Liang's shoulder and added, "I heard that there's only one disciple in the Silver Sword Peak, and we happen to meet the one today. What a coincidence!"
"Yeah, it's quite a coincidence," Chu Liang replied with a smile and nodded.
"We've already accepted the mission slips, so let's set off quickly," Lin Bei said loudly, looking at his fellow disciples from the Jade Sword Peak.
It might have seemed like he was urging them to depart quickly, but the underlying meaning was that since they had already accepted the mission slips, there was no turning back. They might as well continue as planned.
Upon hearing this, the other three disciples of the Jade Sword Peak nodded and walked out. Their expressions seemed unnatural, and they didn't spare Chu Liang a second glance.
Their demeanor was rather cold.
Chu Liang didn't mind and walked alongside Lin Bei. To him, it didn't matter who he was with as long as they could slay some demons.
Lin Bei, with his big eyes and thick brows, was very friendly. He introduced Chu Liang to the other three disciples of the Jade Sword Peak.
Leading the group at the front was Fang Ting, a tall and imposing young disciple with a stern and aloof expression. He carried a broad longsword on his back and was currently at the beginning stage of the Golden Core Realm.
Chu Liang nodded. It was just as he had expected.
Ordinary disciples of the Mount Shu Sect typically wore the Flying Sword Bracelet, which had been specially crafted by the sect. This bracelet could transform into a sword and be worn on the wrist. Those who carried their own swords were generally more skilled in swordsmanship and often wielded more power.
Although the Golden Core Realm might seem to be only one major level above the Spiritual Awareness Realm, in reality, there existed a significant gap that many individuals couldn't breach in their lifetimes. It was a barrier positioned between the Mortal Gate and the Earthly Gate, signifying a substantial difference.
The young female disciple next to Fang Ting donned a short goose-yellow jacket with a pure white inner lining and pants adorned with tassels. She possessed a petite and adorable figure, with a delicate face that retained a youthful appearance. Her eyes were soft and gentle, presenting a somewhat timid and vulnerable demeanor that readily invoked a protective instinct in others.
"This junior sister is Xu Ziqing, and we've mainly come to accompany her on her first mission down the mountain," Lin Bei said with a smile. "Her older brother is our eldest senior brother, Xu Ziyang, from the Jade Sword Peak. Eldest Senior Brother Xu has been in closed-door cultivation lately, which is why we're here to accompany her down the mountain."
Upon hearing the name Xu Ziyang, Chu Liang immediately grasped the significance.
The Mount Shu Sect had experienced a decline for many years, and the number of exceptional young disciples, in comparison to other immortal sects, was notably lower. Among the select few who had gained recognition in this generation were figures like Jiang Yuebai and Xu Ziyang.
Xu Ziqing, similar to Lin Bei, had recently advanced to the beginning stage of the Spiritual Awareness Realm.
In practice, disciples who had just attained the Spiritual Awareness Realm generally embarked on team missions like this during their initial descent from the mountain, accompanied by senior disciples. Those who, like Chu Liang, were keen to venture down the mountain and obliterate demons on their own from the very start, belonged to the minority.
As for the final male disciple, he had reached the middle stage of the Spiritual Awareness Realm. He had an unremarkable appearance, and his name was Lu Ren.
...
The group left the Sword Exchange Pavilion and reached the edge of the Heaven-Reaching Peak. Xu Ziqing raised her hand and called out loudly, making a gesture.
She lifted her fingertip high, and it emitted twinkling, star-like lights, resembling a guiding rope.
A clear and resonant cry immediately echoed in the distant sky.
Following that cry, a massive white bird, measuring several dozen chi[1] in length, emerged from the sea of clouds. Its entire body exuded a frosty mist, which dissipated as it folded its wings.
This girl had a spirit animal as her mount. Given her current level of cultivation, it would have been impossible for her to afford such a pet. It was evident that her older brother doted on and pampered her.
"Kaa..."
The white bird promptly lowered its head and, with its soft-feathered neck, emitted a melodious cry, nuzzling Xu Ziqing. The young girl smiled, gave it a hug, and then invited everyone to climb onto the bird's back.
However, after summoning the disciples from the Jade Sword Peak, she didn't invite Chu Liang. She simply turned and boarded the bird.
Chu Liang didn't mind and followed suit, boarding the bird.
During long-distance flights, even if one used a flying sword for transportation, it could be both tiring and cold. Having a mount at this time was undoubtedly advantageous.
He stayed seated on the white bird's back and protected by its long, soft white feathers. As the wind gently rustled in his ears, they swiftly ascended into the sky. Their destination for this trip was a place known as Southern Bastion Mountain.
Southern Bastion Mountain lay at the boundary between the Southern Regions and the Central Lands, extending for eight hundred miles like a towering barrier that separated the two regions. It was a land of towering mountains, deep valleys, and vast, dense forests, harboring numerous legendary demons and monsters. Even powerful individuals wouldn't dare to venture into the deepest areas of Southern Bastion Mountain.
Nonetheless, the destination for their current journey was a forest situated on the periphery of Southern Bastion Mountain, which was not particularly dangerous. What's more, with a disciple at the Golden Core Realm leading them, this mission shouldn't be overly challenging.
Fang Ting, Xu Ziqing, and Lu Ren occupied the front of the bird's back, while Chu Liang and Lin Bei took seats at the rear, a considerable distance away from them.
"The Human-Faced Jade Essence Flowers referred to a pair of flowers that shared a common stem. A senior at the Mount Shu Sect happened to come across these flowers. However, at the time, the flowers weren't mature and couldn't be collected. Therefore, that senior assigned this task to the Sword Exchange Pavilion. Days have passed, and the flowers' maturation date draws near. That's why we're undertaking this mission..."
Lin Bei continued to talk incessantly beside Chu Liang, offering him information about the mission. Yet, Chu Liang realized that this fellow disciple wasn't trying to be cordial; he was just a chatterbox.
Lin Bei hadn't stopped talking since they met, as if he suffered from some peculiar condition that made him uneasy when he didn't speak.
Chu Liang even suspected that the reason the three people in front of them had opted to sit so far away was not to isolate him but to isolate Lin Bei.
Boom—
After about half an hour, the white bird descended at the foot of Southern Bastion Mountain, causing a gust of strong winds. The group safely touched down.
"Southern Bastion Mountain is filled with many demons and fierce beasts. We can't continue flying openly. From now on, we must proceed on foot," said the leader, Fang Ting, finally breaking his silence.
"In this forest, there are many peculiar creatures, and it's shrouded in miasma even during the daytime. We'll need to hold our breath and circulate our internal qi as we advance. This means our foundational qi won't be replenished. Hence, if we engage in combat, we must exercise restraint."
"I need to conserve my cultivation energy, so the task of clearing the way will be rotated among you three—Lu Ren, Lin Bei, and Chu Liang. Any objections?" he ordered with an expressionless face.
While miasma filled the forest, cultivators of a certain level had clear and unobstructed meridians, allowing them to hold their breath for an extended period without issues. However, the drawback was that they couldn't replenish their foundational qi without more air going into their bodies, making their qi a precious and limited resource.
But if there were more of those plant demons obstructing the way, someone would need to clear the path.
As the one with the highest cultivation level, Fang Ting needed to conserve his cultivation energy for potential emergencies and couldn't afford to waste his foundational qi on clearing the path. Meanwhile, as the weakest in cultivation and on her first trip down the mountain, Xu Ziqing was to be protected in the middle of the group. The remaining three would take turns.
This arrangement was undoubtedly fair and reasonable.
However...
Chu Liang, who had been standing at the back of the group, suddenly spoke up. "I have a suggestion."
Fang Ting frowned at him. "Yes?"
Every eye in the group was locked onto his smiling face, harboring a touch of suspicion. They were unsure of the intentions of the disciple from the Silver Sword Peak.
Then, they heard Chu Liang say, "I can handle the task of clearing the path and obliterating the monsters on my own. There's no need for the rotation."
1. The Chinese measurement unit "chi" is an ancient unit of length traditionally used in China and other East Asian countries. It is approximately 0.333 meters ☜
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