Chapter 108

Chapter 108

After deciding to venture out for training, they reported their decision to Sheng Zhenhai, the sect master and their teacher, at Heavenly Cloud Peak.

When Sheng Zhenhai heard of their plan, he was momentarily taken aback before recalling something and said, "That's for the best! However, Mozong has been closely watching our Chi Xiao Sect recently. When you leave, remember to conceal your tracks and avoid being discovered by those fiend cultivators."

Sheng Zhenhai had received word that Mozong attributed the death of Blood Lotus Sect’s Elder Qing Yun and the loss of the Bloodthirsty Fiendus Lotus to the disciples of Chi Xiao Sect. They specifically targeted Chi Xiao Sect's disciples, lying in wait to ambush and kill them whenever they ventured outside for training, as retribution for both incidents.

Naturally, Duan Haoyan, who directly destroyed the Bloodthirsty Fiendus Lotus, was also under the watchful eyes of the fiend cultivators.

As a result, the Duan clan directly summoned Duan Haoyan back to the Duan family in Ming Yang. The area around Ming Yang was controlled by the Duan clan, and if Mozong dared to cause trouble there, those hot-tempered Duan disciples would burn them to ashes without leaving a trace.

Fiend cultivators were ruthless lunatics; once they set their sights on someone, they wouldn't rest until they were dead. Sheng Zhenhai couldn't help but worry about the two of them being targeted.

Ning Yuzhou smiled and said, "Xiao A'chuo and I will be careful."

Wen Qiao nodded in agreement, assuring that she would be cautious.

Sheng Zhenhai looked at them, thinking to himself that Ning Yuzhou was level-headed and should not require excessive concern.

Then he asked, "How long do you plan to train?"

"We're not sure. It depends on the situation. It could be a few months or three to five years; it's uncertain," Ning Yuzhou said, unable to give a precise assurance due to the uncertainty of the circumstances at their destination.

Sheng Zhenhai became increasingly worried, but his concerns were futile. He couldn't control these two disciples, nor did he dare to meddle too much.

Thus, he couldn’t help but meticulously advise them, even rummaging through his storage bag to see what might be suitable for their use.

As a high-level cultivator at the Primordial Emperor realm and the head of a sect, Sheng Zhenhai had a considerable fortune. Finding life-saving items for the two of them was not an issue.

While Sheng Zhenhai was diligently searching his storage bag, Sheng Yunsen came over to look for his father.

Upon learning that the two were going to venture out for training, Sheng Yunsen immediately said, "Where are you going? Take me with you, I’m very capable!"

Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou remained silent, merely looking at Sheng Zhenhai.

Sheng Zhenhai slapped him away, pushing him aside, "Scram, what are you meddling for? With your cultivation, wait until you reach the Primordial Void realm to talk."

"What do you mean, my cultivation?" Sheng Yunsen felt indignant, believing that this couldn’t possibly be his real father; how could a father discourage his own son like this? "I am at the late stage of the Primordial Vein realm, higher than Little Junior Sister and Junior Brother Ning."

"True, at the late stage of the Primordial Vein realm yet unable to defeat someone at the middle stage of the same realm."

Sheng Yunsen felt embarrassed, defending himself, "Don’t just pick on me. Even other cultivators at the same rank would struggle, alright? Little Junior Sister is a body cultivator, just like Senior Sister, capable of challenging opponents above her rank. Who can compare to them?"

"Truly pathetic!"

Sheng Zhenhai thought this couldn’t possibly be his son; he was too pathetic.

Then, Sheng Zhenhai handed Ning Yuzhou a talisman shimmering with golden light, saying, "This talisman seals one-tenth of my power. Keep it. If you find yourselves in a life-or-death situation, you can use it to fend off danger."

Everyone present was momentarily stunned.

They understood the implications of one-tenth of a Primordial Emperor cultivator's strength. They didn't expect Sheng Zhenhai to hand it over so easily.

Sheng Yunsen quickly came to a realization, feeling that his father's actions were justified. Little Junior Brother and Little Junior Sister had made significant contributions to the sect, and Ning Yuzhou's existence was crucial to Chi Xiao Sect. If anything happened to them outside, they would regret it deeply, thus providing ample safeguards was necessary.

Ning Yuzhou reached out to accept it, genuinely expressing gratitude, "Thank you, Master."

Sheng Zhenhai laughed, "Since you call me Master, it's my duty to protect you."

The words held deeper meaning, which Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao both picked up on, promptly offering another thank you.

"When are you leaving?" Sheng Zhenhai asked.

"We'll depart tomorrow."

Sheng Zhenhai then didn't detain them, allowing them to return and make preparations. He instructed them that there was no need to inform anyone about leaving for training; they should simply depart.

Sheng Yunsen watched them leave with longing, almost shedding tears as he clung to his father, "Father, why won't you let me go with Junior Brother Ning? Am I not your real son?"

"If you weren't my real son, I would have thrown you out long ago," Sheng Zhenhai affectionately patted his foolish son's head, smiling, "Your little junior sister wants some alone time with her partner. What would a bachelor like you do following along? Don't you think you'd be in the way?"

Sheng Yunsen: "…" Was being single his fault?

Sheng Zhenhai patted his son's shoulder, urging him to focus on cultivation. Once he successfully advanced to the Primordial Void realm, he would allow him to venture out for training.

**

The next day, Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou left the sect.

First, they headed to the market near the Stacked Emerald Mountains, purchasing a batch of supplies at the market. These included food, daily necessities, and even some seasonings, all stored in their storage bags.

After shopping, they rented a room at an inn within the market.

Ever since they stepped out of Chi Xiao Sect's gate, a pair of eyes had been secretly watching them, observing them arrive at the market at the foot of the mountain, watching them buy things at the market, and then renting a room at the inn within the market.

The person tailing them stood guard outside the inn, keeping a close eye on the entrance. As soon as the duo emerged, they would be spotted instantly.

However, after watching for half a day, there was no sign of them leaving.

A day passed, and still, the two hadn't emerged from the inn.

Three days later, the tail finally realized that the pair had already left the market, their whereabouts unknown.

***

At this moment, Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou were leisurely traveling in a demon beast carriage toward the northwest region of Central Continent.

The driver was Puppet Man Ah Qing, handling simple tasks like driving.

Wen Tutu squatted on Ah Qing's shoulder, holding a spirit pill in her paws, her ruby-like eyes looking around curiously.

Originally, Wen Tutu wanted to stay with her sister inside the beast carriage, as she preferred the scent of Wen Qiao over others; it was the smell of little Miao Miao, which was particularly alluring to beasts. But Ning Yuzhou lured her out with spirit pills, using them to coax her into serving as both a driver and lookout for the carriage.

Wen Tutu thought that since Big Brother Ning was being so generous, showering her with an entire bottle of spirit pills, being a driver wasn't such a bad deal. She knew how to make choices.

Inside the beast carriage, Ning Yuzhou was drawing talismans.

Wen Qiao sat by his side, helping him use spiritual energy to cut large sheets of blank talisman paper into appropriately sized pieces, making them easier for him to use.

Ning Yuzhou could now draw talismans of the Profound rank.

True to his perfectionist nature, these were also top-grade talismans, and he drew them in sets of ten, each set forming a talisman array. When used against enemies, they could catch them off guard, their combined power far exceeding that of a single talisman.

After cutting all the blank talisman paper, Wen Qiao saw that there was nothing else to do, so she took out the map given to them by Senior Brother Chen to examine it.

The place where Senior Brother Chen found the stone was in a deserted Yellow Sand City within the shifting desert in the northwest.

The northwest region of the Central Continent was a vast expanse of sand-covered desert, known as the shifting desert among cultivators, because the sands moved, causing the locations of the oases within to shift as well. The only thing that remained constant was the presence of the Yellow Sand Cities, standing tall amidst the sands.

The Yellow Sand Cities within the shifting desert weren't built by cultivators but were naturally formed sandstone caverns. After being modified by cultivators, they transformed into the Yellow Sand Cities, providing shelter and resting places for cultivators traveling through the shifting desert.

The beast carriage didn't move quickly, and it took them over half a month to finally reach the border of the shifting desert.

At the border of the shifting desert stood a cultivation city named Yellow Sand City.

From afar, Yellow Sand City looked like a fortress made from golden sand, with wind and sand passing over it, lifting the corners of the cloaks worn by cultivators. The whole city appeared vast and desolate.

The city gate was roughly thirty feet wide, with many cultivators coming and going.

Most of the cultivators in Yellow Sand City wore hooded cloaks, which not only regulated temperature but also protected against the sands of the shifting desert.

Upon arriving at Yellow Sand City, Wen Qiao and the others sold the beast carriage they brought outside the city walls. They then entered the city for a brief rest and proceeded to purchase many items needed for their journey into the shifting desert.

"Husband, we need to buy several cloaks," Wen Qiao said, observing the people draped in cloaks on the streets. "Also, two camel beasts and tents..."

As Ning Yuzhou listened to Wen Qiao list the things they needed to buy, he smiled gently without interrupting her.

When she finished and turned to look at him, asking, "Husband, is there anything we've missed?"

Ning Yuzhou thought for a moment and replied, "We also need yellow crystal ants and Fragrant Leaf Powder."

Wen Qiao exclaimed softly, nodding in agreement. "Indeed, we must buy those."

Yellow crystal ants were a type of ant beast found in the shifting desert, gentle and harmless, with an extraordinary ability to discern directions. Many cultivators entering the shifting desert liked to use yellow crystal ants to guide them, often keeping one or two as pets.

Fragrant Leaf Powder was a specialty of Yellow Sand City, made from a spirit plant called Ant Fragrant Leaf found in the shifting desert. Ant Fragrant Leaf grew beside the sand nests inhabited by yellow crystal ants, with each nest feeding exclusively on the Ant Fragrant Leaf growing next to it.

Once processed into Fragrant Leaf Powder, it emitted a special fragrance. After consuming it, yellow crystal ants would remember its taste, able to find traces of Fragrant Leaf Powder no matter the distance.

The two arrived at the area in Yellow Sand City dedicated to selling yellow crystal ants.

It resembled a small market, filled with stalls selling yellow crystal ants. The ants were kept in cages while the sellers called out to potential buyers on the roadside, creating a lively atmosphere.

Wen Qiao felt as if she had entered a market in the secular world.

Although she hadn't been to the secular world, Dongling was so remote that it was home not only to cultivators but also many ordinary people unable to cultivate. These ordinary people formed towns and markets, and Wen Qiao had once passed through one during her childhood, pausing for a long time to enjoy the bustling atmosphere tinged with the warmth of human life.

The two walked into the market, browsing the yellow crystal ants displayed on the stalls as they went.

"Dear customers, would you like to take a look at my yellow crystal ants?"

"Customers, my yellow crystal ants are better; they eat less, have strong constitutions, and bright eyes. They'll definitely lead you deep into the shifting desert without getting lost."

"Customers, customers, look at my yellow crystal ants; they're about to mutate. Just buy a pair, and they'll ensure your safe passage through the shifting desert."

"Customers..."

The various calls for attention were dizzying, capable of confusing even the most steadfast, making them unsure of what to do.

Wen Qiao couldn't help but chuckle at how these people exaggerated to attract customers.

Ning Yuzhou calmly ignored the calls, slowly scanning the offerings.

As they walked, Ning Yuzhou didn't stop, and Wen Qiao could tell that he wasn't impressed with the yellow crystal ants they'd seen so far.

They left the bustling market and approached a more secluded stall.

The stall owner was a down-on-his-luck middle-aged man, squatting with a cage before him, containing a pair of yellow crystal ants.

Upon seeing the two stop at his stall, he hesitantly asked, "Are the two customers interested in buying yellow crystal ants?"

Ning Yuzhou examined the two yellow crystal ants in the cage.

Clearly not a smooth talker, the stall owner babbled incoherently, "C-customer, this pair of yellow crystal ants are male and female. I caught them in the shifting desert recently. There were over a hundred in the nest, and these two are the strongest..."

Wen Qiao squatted down to look at the yellow crystal ants in the cage, with Wen Tutu also curiously peeking in.

Ning Yuzhou asked, "Can we take them out to have a closer look?"

"Of course!"

The stall owner opened the cage, grabbed the two yellow crystal ants, and placed them on his palm for the two to see.

When picked up, the two golden ants didn't struggle, quietly lying on the palm of the middle-aged man. Their two golden antennae trembled gently, and their golden abdominal eyes resembled two yellow crystals, docile and beautiful.

Wen Qiao thought that these small creatures were indeed very beautiful.

Ning Yuzhou flipped them over to examine their mandibles and legs, asking, "How much for this pair of yellow crystal ants?"

The vendor's eyes lit up, somewhat agitated. His mouth opened and closed slightly as he whispered, "I don't want essence crystals or spirit stones. Could you give me spirit pills instead?"

"Do you want spirit pills?" Ning Yuzhou asked calmly. "What kind of spirit pills do you need?"

The vendor swallowed his saliva and said, "S-Spirit Orifice Pills."

Ning Yuzhou furrowed his brow slightly, saying, "Spirit Orifice Pills are Profound-grade pills, thirty spirit stones per pill. Your pair of yellow crystal ants is worth at most five spirit stones."

Yellow crystal ants weren't expensive. Along the way, they had even seen pairs selling for just one spirit stone each, though they didn't look very appealing, clearly not very capable either.

The reason Ning Yuzhou was interested in this pair of golden ants was because they were particularly beautiful in appearance and color, but that didn't mean he wanted to be taken advantage of.

The vendor looked embarrassed as he said, "A-Apologies, I really need Spirit Orifice Pills. If the guest doesn't have any, I'm afraid it will be disappointing for both of us..."

Although he said this, a dejected expression appeared on his face.

Wen Qiao was already playing with one of the yellow crystal ants. Wen Tutu jumped into her arms, pawing at it. The two of them were having a great time.

After watching them, Ning Yuzhou turned to the vendor and asked, "For this nest of yellow crystal ants you caught, did you also collect any ant-fragrant leaves near their nest?"

"Yes, yes," the vendor hurriedly replied. "I collected a few plants and made several batches of fragrant leaf powder with them."

"Are there any whole ant-fragrant leaves left?"

The vendor exclaimed, "There's one plant left, but its leaves have wilted. If the guest wants to use it to make fragrant leaf powder, the effect might not be very good..."