Chapter 4: Traveling Together

Chapter 4: Traveling Together. On the third day, the three of them entered the mountain range where the dense forest lay.

Deep in the mountains, there were no villages or roads, and the area was rarely visited. Cultivators on the move each chose their own paths and vanished among the mountains. They flew for a long time without seeing any sign of human presence, though they did spot one or two low-level demon beasts.

They didn't have a detailed map, so they could only rely on the nearby topographic map drawn by their sect to find the general location.

After half a day, they came across only a group of disciples from a small sect, all dressed in the same uniform, heading to find the Gu Yuan Secret Realm. The other party didn't know about the Midnight Lotus, and when they saw them heading the other way, they thought they had made a mistake about the location and came over to ask.

After pointing out the direction for them, the other party returned the favor: "On our way here, we saw several rogue cultivators heading northwest together. Not sure if they're going to the same place as you."

"Thank you!"

They picked up speed and pursued in the direction the other party had indicated, and sure enough, they spotted a group of rogue cultivators flying through the forest.

This group consisted of over a dozen people, all at the Qi Refining stage. There were two at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, two at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, and the rest were at the sixth or seventh layer of Qi Refining. They flew in a self-formed formation, which finally looked somewhat organized, no longer a ragtag bunch.

Upon seeing them, the other party immediately became alert. At first glance, they confirmed they were after the same thing.

"May I ask, fellow cultivator, are you senior brothers from Taiyuan Sect?" Seeing their disciple robes, the leading rogue cultivator broke the stalemate first, politely inquiring.

Shang Yunduo grunted in acknowledgment, inwardly surprised that there were so many people!

Seeing that Senior Brother Shang didn't want to say much, Wang Ming took the initiative to communicate: "Yes, indeed. And you are?"

"I am Niu Chengdian, a rogue cultivator from Yunxia Mountain. This is my good friend Li Wuzi and Fairy Yuezhang. These two are..."

Before Niu Chengdian could finish introducing, a man and a woman with somewhat similar features in the middle of the group said: "We are the Zhang siblings from Baihong City."

One of them was at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, the other at the Eighth Layer; they were among the highest in cultivation.

However, Shang Yunduo didn't recognize any of them—he had never heard of them.

He glanced at Yan Jia and Wang Ming—well, they didn't recognize them either.

So they probably weren't the kind of characters you'd need to steer clear of.

The three of them exchanged simple greetings among peers.

Before Niu Chengdian could continue introducing the others, Zhang Yu, the sister, directly asked: "You three aren't going to the Gu Yuan Secret Realm for the Floating Cloud Flower—could it be that you've come for the Midnight Lotus as well?"

Having said that, Zhang Yu swept a hostile glance over the three of them, finally landing on Wang Ming and Yan Jia.

Meanwhile, the brother, Zhang Yan, fixed his eyes on Shang Yunduo and frowned.

Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

Shang Yunduo hadn't expected to be regarded as an imaginary enemy at first sight. He felt both bitter and speechless.

He was just at the Qi Refining stage!

The most cannon-fodder existence in cultivation novels! Why would cannon fodder make things difficult for cannon fodder? This guy must be out of his mind. If his own peak ninth layer were genuinely real, wouldn't the siblings be afraid of getting beaten up for provoking them like this?

It would be three against two: he would take on the brother, and the two junior brothers would team up against the sister. Although Zhang Yu had a higher cultivation level than Yan Jia and Wang Ming, they had the advantage in a two-on-one fight.

Unfortunately...

His own peak ninth layer was just a gilded exterior—all bluff.

Shang Yunduo swallowed his pride, feeling wronged but holding back.

However, although he held back, his two junior brothers had no intention of backing down.

Having been provoked, they refused to show any weakness. Suddenly, Yan Jia emitted waves of icy cold aura, and a ring of ice cones circled him, pointing at the Zhang siblings. "So what if we are?"

Zhang Yu whipped out a white ribbon from her hair, which snapped taut in her hand, looking like both a sword and a whip. "I will have the Cold Toad and the Midnight Lotus!"

Shang Yunduo watched nervously, feeling both frightened and uneasy. By now, he belatedly understood: the sister cultivated water-type techniques, the brother fire-type. As it happened, he was fire-type, so the other outer disciples who also practiced fire-type techniques knew they were inferior to him and didn't come, instead going with Xiao Chi to the Gu Yuan Secret Realm. The ones traveling with him, Yan Jia and Wang Ming, had water-wood and water-earth spirit roots respectively, both specializing in water-type techniques.

As it happened, he had the highest cultivation level, and they were from a large sect, so they looked formidable at first glance. The other party glanced over and dismissed their own companions as inconsequential, while the newcomers seemed hostile—two titans clashing head-on.

Shang Yunduo felt extremely wronged inside.

He really had no intention of snatching the Midnight Lotus!

His two junior brothers could probably handle the sister, but he wasn't sure if he could take on the brother—the guy looked tough. Was his magic armor fireproof...

While thinking, he quietly slipped on a fireproof jade pendant.

Wang Ming saw Shang Yunduo making a move and thought he was about to strike, so he summoned a frosty black banner. Zhang Yan snorted in contempt, removed a string of wooden beads from his wrist, and the beads flew into the air, each one bursting into blazing red flames that heated the surrounding air.

Shang Yunduo: "..."

Ah? Had even the seemingly steady Junior Brother Wang turned out to be hot-tempered when provoked?

Fairy Yuezhang, caught in the middle, frowned, seemingly bothered by the fire energy. She didn't want to get involved in their conflict, so she moved aside with distaste several dozen feet. Li Wuzi, seeing that, also moved aside to give them space.

Shang Yunduo: "..."

Wait, were they really about to fight?

His sword was still beneath his feet!

Niu Chengdian looked left and right, as if just figuring out the situation. He quickly flew between the two sides, cupping his hands. "Everyone, everyone! There are still a few days' journey to the valley where the Midnight Lotus is located. We'll need to work together to break the restrictions. Why not bury the hatchet? Let's travel together for now, and once we enter the valley, it's every cultivator for themselves?"

Niu Chengdian was also at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivation, and as the leader of this venture, only he knew the exact location of that valley. Zhang Yan snorted and stowed his bracelet, giving him face.

Seeing that Senior Brother Shang didn't intend to show his weapon, Wang Ming also put away his Banner of Shuo Feng. Yan Jia and Zhang Yu also put away their artifacts one after another.

Niu Chengdian let out an "aiya" and said with a good-natured grin: "That's better! Three senior brothers, shall we travel together?"

Shang Yunduo was taken aback at being called "senior brother."

In the cultivation world, strength is paramount. It was acceptable to address those of the same level as "fellow cultivator" or "senior brother" as a friendly compliment, but Niu Chengdian was at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, while Yan Jia and Wang Ming were only at the seventh layer. Why was he calling them "senior brother"?

Shang Yunduo looked at him again, a hint of wariness rising in his heart. This guy definitely wasn't as straightforward as he looked!

Yan Jia didn't react to being called "senior brother." Rogue cultivators always showed extra politeness to sect disciples. He was probably buttering up Senior Brother Shang. He didn't take it to heart and asked, "Do you know the way?"

Niu Chengdian: "Yes, I do! Senior brothers, just follow me!"

Shang Yunduo hesitated a bit.

Since Yan Jia and Wang Ming had found a guide, and he wasn't that interested in the Midnight Lotus, should he tag along or not?

"Senior Brother?" Yan Jia called him.

"Mm." Shang Yunduo glanced at the crowd, thought for a moment, and followed along anyway.

If spiritual power and Sword Flight ability reflected his strength, then he should be around the seventh or eighth layer of Qi Refining. Most of these people were only at the sixth or seventh layer, meaning he was at an upper-middle level among them.

If he didn't go for the Midnight Lotus and avoided conflict with the experts at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, he should be quite safe.

Based on experience from novels, places where rare Spiritual Plants grow are rich in spiritual energy. Besides the most precious ones, there would also be other spiritual herbs and medicines nearby, which would attract Spirit Insects and Spirit Beasts, as well as Demonic Insects and Demonic Beasts. The rarer the secret realm, the more treasures there are.

The big shots would fight over the top-tier items and generally wouldn't bother with or look down on the junior cultivators scavenging for ordinary spiritual plants. As long as one wasn't too greedy or extremely unlucky while exploring the secret realm, it should be relatively safe, right?

The Zhang siblings must see the three of them as thorns in their side. If he ran off alone, he didn't know if Yan Jia and Wang Ming would be targeted.

He wouldn't do something like provoke Zhang Yan, but he could hold back his two hot-tempered junior brothers when necessary, persuade them to get along, and go find some other spiritual herbs and insects.

As Shang Yunduo thought, he couldn't help pulling out his spiritual plant manual from his storage pouch and flipping through it. Finding the page on the Midnight Lotus, he glanced at it quickly—about half the characters he didn't recognize. He guessed by context that the accompanying Cold Toad and Fire Toad should be more than one or a pair; there were several drawn in the illustration.

He might misread the characters, but he could never mistake the drawing.

Shang Yunduo felt relieved. He put away the manual and decided that his goal for this trip was the Cold Toad and Fire Toad!

As for the Midnight Lotus, forget it—whoever had the stronger fist could fight over it.

To be absolutely sure, Shang Yunduo took out a spiritual beast manual instead and flipped through quickly, but there was no Cold Toad or Fire Toad!

He put the book away, filled with regret. Careless—he only thought to buy manuals for common spiritual plants and beasts, but forgot about creatures like insects and toads. He couldn't help cursing the library in his mind: couldn't they just make a collection?

What a rip-off!

Just as he was grumbling, he suddenly heard an extremely sycophantic "Senior Brother," which made Shang Yunduo shudder, nearly falling off his sword.

He turned his head expressionlessly to look at Niu Chengdian.

After being here for over half a year, mixing with Qi Refining cultivators, he'd been called "senior brother" all the time, but this was definitely the most sycophantic one he'd ever heard.

Then this shameless and overly familiar Daoist Niu sidled up to him, rambling about this and that, making Shang Yunduo miserable.

So close—wasn't he afraid Shang Yunduo would lose balance on his sword and crash into him?!

Author's note:

Yunduo: Such a vast sky—can't you fly safely?