Down the Mountain

"Impossible... This is impossible..."

Qin Lie lay sprawled on the ground, gasping in pain. His pride of so many years lay there with him, shattered today by a single palm strike from Chen Ning.

The onlookers had long since covered their mouths in horror. The sight had shaken them far too deeply.

Qin Lie, one of the ten leading inner sect disciples and a cultivator at the third level of the Spirit Martial Realm, had actually been defeated by a single palm strike from the sect master.

From this moment on, no one would think the sect master was a mere mortal.

Who had ever seen a mortal body instantly defeat a Spirit Martial Realm expert?

"Hiss!"

There were Spirit Martial Realm cultivators among the onlookers, and they could tell from the sect master's presence that his cultivation was clearly at the peak of the Human Martial Realm.

He was only one step away from the Spirit Martial Realm.

"The sect master's talent is just too monstrous, isn't it? He defeated an opponent across realms, and three levels above him at that. No wonder the old sect master passed the position down to him."

Someone spoke in amazement.

Chen Ning looked at Qin Lie, who lay on the ground like a puddle of mud. His face showed neither sorrow nor joy as he approached step by step.

"You kept saying that my riding the Golden-Winged Peng would damage the dignity of spirit beasts. What about you?"

"Beyond every person is someone greater, and beyond every heaven is another heaven. With that arrogance of yours, this was bound to happen to you sooner or later."

Chen Ning extended his right hand, his imposing presence suddenly surging. "I'm taking three years of your cultivation. Do you accept it?"

Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand activated. Faint specks of light drifted from Qin Lie's body and flew into Chen Ning's hand.

Qin Lie's body instantly weakened. To his horror, he discovered that his cultivation had actually fallen back to the Human Martial Realm.

Boom!

It was as if something had exploded in his head. Qin Lie looked at Chen Ning, utterly devastated and too terrified to speak.

The surrounding crowd was already dumbstruck, though they had no idea what had happened.

That did nothing to diminish the shock on their faces, however.

The sect master's words just now had truly struck a chord. They had stabbed right at the heart.

If the sect master riding the Golden-Winged Peng damaged the dignity of spirit beasts, then what did that make Qin Lie? He probably wasn't even worthy of breathing.

Ignoring Qin Lie on the ground, Chen Ning walked straight toward the Golden-Winged Peng. The peng seemed to understand him now, extending its head to nuzzle Chen Ning's sleeve.

"Let's go."

Chen Ning gave the brief command, and the Golden-Winged Peng spread its wings and took flight. Just as it was about to rise into the air, a faint voice rang out:

"This disciple... wholeheartedly accepts it."

"Good."

With that one word from Chen Ning, the Golden-Winged Peng soared into the sky and flew into the distance.

Only after returning to his courtyard did Chen Ning breathe a slight sigh of relief. On Verdant Peak, he had been on the grand elder's turf, after all.

Danger had lurked on every side, and he had had to stay on guard.

Chen Ning had just used Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand to take three years of Qin Lie's cultivation, but he found that it couldn't help him break through to the Spirit Martial Realm.

It had only strengthened his foundation at the peak of the Human Martial Realm.

Normally, breaking through to the Spirit Martial Realm required the aid of heavenly treasures, but he didn't have to go to so much trouble. He only needed to complete a task to break through.

What Chen Ning was most curious about now, however, was the spirit beast egg. While outside, he had too many things to worry about. Only after returning to Vermilion Bird Peak could he hatch it.

Chen Ning summoned the system, looked at the spirit beast egg expectantly, and selected the command to hatch it.

"Ding! Insufficient Star Essence Liquid to hatch the spirit beast egg."

Black lines appeared on Chen Ning's forehead, but fortunately, the system told him where to find the Star Essence Liquid.

A piece of information about Star Essence Liquid appeared before him.

Heavenly treasure: Star Essence Liquid

Effect: Contains boundless stellar essence power; a superior spirit liquid for tempering the body.

How to obtain: Heavenly Ox Chamber of Commerce, Gold and Iron City

Chen Ning had originally wondered whether he could find some Star Essence Liquid in the sect, but according to the little loli, it was most beneficial to Body Tempering Realm cultivators. Though rare, it was something of a chicken rib to cultivators at higher realms.

As such, the Dragon-Seeking Sect had no Star Essence Liquid in storage.

Even if it did, Su Ling'er might have stolen it, Chen Ning thought to himself.

"Sect Master Brother, what are you thinking about?"

Su Ling'er asked, blinking at him.

"Ah, nothing. Ling'er, how about I take you down the mountain for some fun?"

Chen Ning spoke with a smile. He really did need to make this trip to Gold and Iron City himself, and as his personal guard, Su Ling'er would naturally have to come along.

"Yes! Ling'er gets so bored on Vermilion Bird Peak every day. I've always wanted to go down the mountain and play."

Su Ling'er was overjoyed, and Chen Ning was looking forward to it too. He had been here so long without ever leaving the Peach Blossom Spring Mountain Range.

The farthest he had gone was Verdant Peak.

It was a bit of a regret that he had never truly experienced the bustle and prosperity of the mortal world.

Before long, Chen Ning and the little loli finished their preparations and mounted the Golden-Winged Peng for their journey.

Once they left the mist-shrouded Peach Blossom Spring Mountain Range, a trace of everyday life entered the air.

The peng flew swiftly, darting through the clouds. It made Chen Ning even more eager to have a spirit beast of his own.

If nothing else, traveling would be much more convenient.

Before long, Gold and Iron City came into view.

Gold and Iron City was the largest city in the area and the closest to the Peach Blossom Spring Mountain Range. It was prosperous, with a constant stream of merchants coming and going.

"It's so lively, Sect Master Brother!"

Su Ling'er gazed at the sights of the city, unable to take it all in, her face brimming with smiles.

"It is."

Chen Ning voiced his admiration as well. Compared to the tranquility of Vermilion Bird Peak, this place was much livelier.

Chen Ning didn't particularly like crowds, but he wasn't a recluse either. He needed a taste of ordinary life now and then.

"Sect Master Brother, look!"

Hearing the little loli's excited voice, Chen Ning looked up and saw a grand restaurant with an enormous sign standing outside.

On the sign were images of dishes carved from essence power.

They looked extraordinarily tempting.

Steamed hundred-flower fish.

Snow ginseng stewed with hundred-year-old deer leg.

Seven-star lotus seed soup.

Roasted crimson-gold pig trotters.

All kinds of delicacies adorned the sign, making it look downright appetizing.

Chen Ning touched the gold note tucked inside his robes. It was still the money Li Changtian had paid him in compensation last time. By any measure, he wasn't short of money now; he could certainly afford a meal.

"Come on, Ling'er. I'll take you in for a meal."

With grand confidence, Chen Ning took Su Ling'er by the hand and led her into the restaurant.

The Dragon-Seeking Sect was an immortal cultivation sect, after all, and didn't pay much attention to food, so most of its fare was quite bland. The food at Gold and Iron City's restaurant, however, was delicious.

The two ate to their hearts' content, and by the time they came out of the restaurant, the sky was growing dark.

Following the directions they had learned at the restaurant, the two easily found the Heavenly Ox Chamber of Commerce.

But at that moment, several figures were blocking the chamber's main entrance. A woman was being berated by another woman with a fat head and big ears.

"What rotten luck! Any little slut dares come and compete with us without taking a look at what she is?"

Even after being spoken to like that, the woman didn't argue. She merely lowered her head and let the other woman hurl abuse at her.