Leaving the Sect

The next day, just as dawn broke, Lu Changsheng packed up all his belongings and headed to the Internal Affairs Pavilion once more.

Lingxiao Sect disciples were not allowed to leave the sect freely. If they wished to leave the sect, they had to register at the Internal Affairs Hall and complete the necessary procedures.

Only after completing the procedures could they descend the mountain and leave the sect.

This time, he was leaving the sect partly to lie low. Lu Changsheng knew that Qin Wentian coveted the treasure in his possession and would certainly come looking for trouble again, so the best course was to leave the sect and hide for a while.

Secondly, leaving the sect this time was also an excellent opportunity for training.

Before long, after successfully completing the procedures, Lu Changsheng wasted no time descending the mountain gate.

"Finally, I'm out..."

After leaving the mountain gate, Lu Changsheng let out a long breath, as though an unprecedented sense of relief had washed over him.

He had been a Miscellaneous Servant Disciple in the Lingxiao Sect outer sect for more than a decade, and this was his first time descending the mountain. He could hardly suppress the excitement in his heart.

Beyond the mountain gate lay a vast range of mountains, stretching dozens of kilometers from east to west.

Mist and clouds coiled around the mountains, which were filled with lush, dense forests, like a primeval woodland.

From time to time, the roars of demonic beasts could be heard from deep within the mountains.

"This mountain range should be the Cloud Sea Mountain Range. Only after crossing it can I truly be considered outside the Lingxiao Sect's territory."

Lu Changsheng gazed at the mountain range before him, sprawled like a crouching dragon, and eagerness flashed in his eyes.

However, crossing this mountain range on foot would be no easy task.

The Cloud Sea Mountain Range could be said to be fraught with danger at every turn. Countless demonic beasts lurked within, and one careless step could cost him his life.

Lu Changsheng sighed softly. If only he were a Transcendent Realm expert, he could fly directly over the Cloud Sea Mountain Range. But for now, he could only cross it on foot.

Shaking his head, Lu Changsheng entered the Cloud Sea Mountain Range.

The moment he entered the mountains, a forest shrouded in mist appeared before him.

Lu Changsheng moved through it, his robes soon dampened by the mist. His expression remained vigilant, for man-eating savage beasts lay hidden everywhere in the Cloud Sea Mountain Range. The slightest carelessness could lead to his death.

Roar!

Sure enough, not long after he entered the Cloud Sea Mountain Range, a deep roar sounded from ahead.

Lu Changsheng looked over and immediately spotted a demonic beast.

Its body resembled that of a leopard, yet its tail was like a scorpion's. The venomous hook at its tip gleamed with a metallic sheen.

Its entire body was grayish-brown, and its pair of scarlet eyes stared fixedly at Lu Changsheng. It had clearly already taken him for prey.

"Scorpion Leopard!"

Lu Changsheng was slightly startled.

The Scorpion Leopard was an exceptionally rare and savage demonic beast. Its fur was as tough as iron, and the venomous hook on its tail in particular contained a lethally dangerous poison.

Whoosh!

At that moment, the Scorpion Leopard suddenly launched an attack. Its sharp venomous hook shot toward Lu Changsheng like lightning.

"You're courting death!"

Lu Changsheng's gaze turned cold. This Scorpion Leopard was merely at the fourth level of Core Condensation Realm, yet it dared to take the initiative and attack him.

At once, Lu Changsheng dodged like a phantom. With a boom, the sharp venomous hook stabbed into a tree, instantly tearing the entire trunk in half.

Lu Changsheng circulated his spiritual power, and his body shot forward, appearing before the Scorpion Leopard in an instant.

"Wind Thunder Fist!"

Crackle! Crackle!

Strands of lightning immediately leaped and crackled across his fist.

Boom!

Lu Changsheng threw a punch. His fist, imbued with the might of thunder, pierced straight through the Scorpion Leopard's head with a speed too swift to cover one's ears.

"Roar~"

The Scorpion Leopard let out a roar before collapsing to the ground, dead.

Lu Changsheng reached out and retrieved the demon core from the Scorpion Leopard's body, then continued deeper into the forest.

The Cloud Sea Mountain Range truly housed far too many demonic beasts. After hunting the Scorpion Leopard, Lu Changsheng encountered quite a few more savage beasts.

However, he released the aura of the eighth level of Core Condensation Realm from within his body. Upon sensing it, some demonic beasts could only slink away in disappointment, no longer daring to eye him like a tiger eyeing its prey.

After traveling through the Cloud Sea Mountain Range for two days and two nights, Lu Changsheng reached its depths.

During that time, whenever he was thirsty, he drank clean mountain spring water. Whenever he was hungry, he ate the dried provisions he had brought with him. Of course, he occasionally hunted demonic beasts and ate their meat as well.

Besides that, he also came across rare spiritual fruits in the mountains. These fruits could not only stave off hunger, but even aid his cultivation.

"It should take just one more day to leave the Cloud Sea Mountain Range..."

Lu Changsheng calculated the time.

He quickened his pace, intending to leave this place before tomorrow evening.

"Hmm?"

However, just then, Lu Changsheng suddenly caught a scent on the wind.

"What is that smell?"

The sudden fragrance piqued Lu Changsheng's curiosity. It was simply too peculiar—could it be the scent of a heavenly spiritual fruit?

With that thought, Lu Changsheng began searching curiously. Before long, he found the source of the fragrance.

"That is..."

Lu Changsheng looked ahead and saw a massive black boulder not far away. Atop that black boulder was rooted a bewitching Crimson Flower.

A faint mist curled around the flower, and it released wisps of an exceptionally rich fragrance.

"What is this?"

Lu Changsheng looked puzzled. He had never seen such a strange thing before. Could it be some rare spiritual medicine?

At once, Lu Changsheng approached the Crimson Flower curiously. Apart from its rich fragrance, the flower actually emitted waves of spiritual power.

Clearly, the flower before him was no ordinary thing.

Lu Changsheng rejoiced inwardly. Though he did not know what it was, he guessed it must be a rare treasure. He immediately lowered his head and reached to pluck it.

Whoosh!

However, at that moment, a scarlet beam suddenly shot out from the center of the flower and pierced directly into Lu Changsheng's glabella.

Boom!

The instant that scarlet light entered his glabella, Lu Changsheng's head felt as though it had been struck by lightning. Agonizing pain erupted within it, while ceaseless booming rang through his mind.

"Ah!"

"Damn it!"

Lu Changsheng's expression changed. The violent pain in his mind made him cry out miserably. Yet that red beam battered about inside his mind like a primordial savage beast.

Lu Changsheng's head felt as though it were splitting apart. At that moment, the Crimson Flower slowly bloomed, revealing rows upon rows of sharp fangs within its petals as it tried to swallow Lu Changsheng whole.

Whoosh!

However, just as the Crimson Flower was about to devour Lu Changsheng, a streak of sword qi suddenly came from behind and severed that demonic flower...