Chapter 18: Thrilled Xiao Changhua
Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Thrilled Xiao Changhua
"Junior Sister Si, the Peak Master has assigned you to collect the grain again this year."
At Qingbi Pond on Purple Cloud Peak.
A pool of clear spring water shimmered in the light. In the distance, the autumn wind swept through the mountains, causing the towering pines in the mist to sway and RUSTLE. It added a touch of autumn charm to the scenery. Si Yu, dressed entirely in white, slowly opened her eyes. Upon seeing the newcomer clearly, she shot her a feigned glare of annoyance. "Senior Sister Sun, you’re making fun of me again."
"What? You still don’t want to go?" Sun Xueying stepped forward with a look of amusement and asked in return.
"It’s going to waste another half a month, and I’ll have to deal with those lowly peasants every single day. Tell me, isn’t it infuriating?" Si Yu had no fondness whatsoever for the grain collection task. Not only did it delay her cultivation, but the worst part was the way those farmers looked at her!
Instead of refuting her, Sun Xueying nodded. "That’s true. However, since it’s a Sect mission, you can only endure it. Still, with Senior Brother Li around, those lowly fellows shouldn’t dare try anything, right?"
"Like they would dare?" Si Yu chuckled contemptuously, a trace of disdain appearing on her beautiful face. "But just looking at those people makes me sick! It even makes me lose my appetite for Spiritual Food."
Sun Xueying nodded in deep agreement, fully understanding her difficulties. However, the Peak Master intended to groom Junior Sister Si, allowing her to use this grain collection period to interact with the various Marketplaces. No matter how worthless the Spirit Plant Cultivators were, they were still the assets of Purple Cloud Peak. Enduring a little grievance was only natural.
The two of them chatted idly for a while. Not long after, a Flying Sword tore through the sky in the distance. Following that, a man in cyan robes, his sleeves fluttering in the wind, arrived riding his sword. Whether it was his appearance or his bearing, he was entirely unmatched. Last year it had been Li Shangxian, and this year it was Li Shangxian again.
Sun Xueying gazed at her senior brother’s receding figure, a sense of infinite longing welling up in her heart. She wished she could have a chance to be alone with Senior Brother Li one day.
Li Shangxian. He possessed the most Talent on Purple Cloud Peak and was equally outstanding in his looks. At less than thirty years old, he was already at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer. His strength was so formidable that no one among the younger generation of Purple Cloud Peak could rival him. There was a very high possibility that he would achieve the status of a Golden Core Great Power in his lifetime! Yet despite this, he was extremely well-mannered within the peak, causing Cultivators from Purple Cloud Peak, and even the entire Cyan Yang Sect, to hope to become his Dao companion.
The two of them stepped onto the Flying Sword and descended from the mountain peak. The fierce wind blew against their faces, making their clothes FLUTTER wildly.
About an hour later, Li Shangxian and Si Yu arrived at the first Marketplace. Accompanied by the Pavilion Master, they began this year’s grain collection journey.
Purple Cloud Peak enjoyed another bumper harvest this year. The faces of the Spirit Plant Cultivators were filled with joy as usual. However, in Si Yu’s eyes, this not only failed to evoke any empathy but instead made her feel intensely uncomfortable. They were just a bunch of lowly peasants. If it weren’t for Purple Cloud Peak giving them a few acres of Spirit Fields, would they even be worthy of being called Cultivators?
A few days flashed by. After continuously visiting seven or eight Marketplaces, Li Shangxian arrived at the Ancient Dust Marketplace without stopping to rest.
Niu Youliang had been waiting at the outer gates of the Marketplace early on. When he saw the two arriving on a sword, his expression momentarily froze. Then, the look in his eyes as he gazed at Li Shangxian filled with astonishment. However, the surprise was fleeting, and he quickly cupped his fists in a flattering gesture. "It’s been a year, and Senior Brother Li has improved once again! You truly are a peerless genius of Purple Cloud Peak that appears only once in a millennium!"
Li Shangxian nodded nonchalantly. Along the way, Niu Youliang was not the first Pavilion Master to notice his breakthrough. However, his ambitions lay elsewhere, so he paid absolutely no mind to these remarks.
"There’s no need for more words. Time is tight, so let’s talk as we walk," Li Shangxian said, remaining on his Flying Sword this time without even jumping down.
If this had been last year, Niu Youliang might have felt somewhat dissatisfied. But given the circumstances this year, he didn’t feel the slightest bit uncomfortable. The world of Cultivators was just like this—strength reigned supreme! Niu Youliang also summoned his Long Sword. He led the way while reporting on the harvest of the Ancient Dust Marketplace for the year...
Over an hour later, the three of them arrived together at Xiao Changhua’s Spirit Field.
Xiao Changhua had also been waiting here early. Unlike his calm and disdainful demeanor when facing Chen Mo, he was incredibly nervous at this moment.
Soon, the three figures arrived from the horizon. After landing, Li Shangxian remained silent. As the Pavilion Master, Niu Youliang pointed at the surrounding Spirit Fields and asked, "Where is the grain?"
"Please wait a moment, Immortal."
Xiao Changhua trotted over quickly and immediately brought out a wheelbarrow full of grain. It was fully loaded with ten whole sacks!
Niu Youliang immediately frowned. "Is this a thousand catties?"
"Reporting to the Pavilion Master, I contracted five acres of Spirit Fields, so I should rightfully pay five hundred catties of grain. However, the Spirit Plant Cultivator next door, surnamed Wang, was conscripted three months ago to go to the mine between Purple Cloud Peak and Yellow Cloud Peak..."
Si Yu, who had been utterly bored, instantly perked up with interest upon hearing the words "Purple Cloud," "Yellow Cloud," and "mine." That mine did indeed contain the ruins of an Immortal, but the Restrictions inside had yet to be broken. In the year or so since its discovery, only one person had managed to escape alive. The entire Cyan Yang Sect had been putting out a warrant for that person, but after so much time had passed, there was still no trace of them. One had to consider that the escapee was merely a Cultivator at the Qi Refining Third Layer! It was evident just what kind of treasures lay hidden within the ruins of the Immortal!
"I was thinking of applying to the Marketplace next year to take over those five acres of Spirit Fields as well, so I managed them together this year to prevent Purple Cloud Peak from suffering any losses," Xiao Changhua spoke with assurance, completely omitting the fact that this was the result of Chen Mo’s hard work. He directly claimed all the credit for himself.
"I remember you," Li Shangxian suddenly spoke up, standing with his hands behind his back upon his Long Sword.
"Greetings, Elder Li!"
"If I recall correctly, you were only at the Qi Refining Second Layer last year?"
"That’s correct!" Xiao Changhua’s voice grew noticeably excited. Being able to converse with someone from Purple Cloud Peak was a spectacularly good thing!
"That year you wanted to join the Cyan Yang Sect, your Talent and aptitude weren’t bad, but you lost out because of your age," Li Shangxian mused. "I remember you used to be the vice gang leader of the Nu Sha Gang?"
"Reporting to the Elder, everything you said is true!" Xiao Changhua’s body began to tremble involuntarily. He hadn’t expected the Immortal of Purple Cloud Peak standing before him to actually remember a nobody like him! He even remembered his identity in the Mortal Realm with absolute clarity!
"Reaching the Qi Refining Third Layer in four years. You are quite impressive," Li Shangxian said.
At this, even Niu Youliang beside him cast a sideways glance. For such words to come from the mouth of this genius of Purple Cloud Peak was truly unimaginable.
"Thank you for the undeserved praise, Elder!"
Li Shangxian stepped forward. After collecting the thousand catties of grain, he said again, "In two years, if you can break through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, I will take you in as my disciple."
THUD!
The moment those words were spoken, Xiao Changhua instantly dropped to his knees, bowing repeatedly with overwhelming excitement. "This disciple will remember, this disciple will remember!"
However, while he was speaking, Li Shangxian had already hopped onto his Flying Sword and vanished before him.
In the blink of an eye, the three of them had arrived in front of Chen Mo. They didn’t shy away from this Spirit Plant Cultivator at the Qi Refining First Layer at all, directly conversing openly.
"Senior Brother, are you really going to take that old thing in as a disciple?"