Senior Sister Zhou Zhirou

"Creak!"

A sharp sword light flashed, cleanly severing the stem of the strange flower. The flower immediately let out a piercing scream, emitting a cloud of bizarre smoke before rapidly melting into a pool of foul-smelling slime.

Lu Changsheng clutched his head. The splitting headache he'd been experiencing receded like a tide as the strange flower died.

"So close, phew..."

Cold sweat streamed down Lu Changsheng's face. He glanced at the flower, now a puddle of stinking goo, and felt a wave of lingering fear.

Swish!

A faint scent of fragrance wafted from behind him. Lu Changsheng turned and saw a mysterious black-clothed girl, sword in hand, leaping gracefully towards him from not far away.

The girl was slender and tall, with fair skin and a head of long, dark hair. Dimples graced her cheeks.

Before Lu Changsheng could react, the girl arrived before him. Her voice was as gentle as flowing water.

"You... you should be a junior disciple from the Outer Disciples of Lingxiao Sect, right?"

Lu Changsheng nodded. He glanced at the girl's robes, which were indeed the uniform of an Outer Disciple. He immediately cupped his fists in gratitude.

"That's right. Thank you for your timely rescue just now, Senior Sister!"

His tone was sincere. If this Senior Sister hadn't intervened, he would likely have died by the demonic flower's hand.

"Junior Brother, this must be your first time descending the mountain, to not know the danger of the Charming Fragrance Demonic Taro?" the mysterious black-clothed girl asked.

"Charming Fragrance Demonic Taro?" Lu Changsheng looked puzzled.

"Yes, the Charming Fragrance Demonic Taro is a very dangerous demonic entity within the Cloud Sea Mountain Range. It emits a unique fragrance to lure prey and can also launch psychic attacks. If it successfully ambushes you, it will likely devour your brain marrow."

The mysterious black-clothed girl explained.

"That dangerous?"

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng couldn't help but feel a chill. No wonder his head had been splitting; he had been attacked by the Charming Fragrance Demonic Taro's spiritual sense.

"Charming Fragrance Demonic Taro is quite common in the Cloud Sea Mountain Range. Many disciples who have just descended the mountain have met their end by this flower," the mysterious black-clothed girl said gravely.

"My first time leaving the sect, and I almost met my end. I didn't expect the Cloud Sea Mountain Range to be so dangerous," Lu Changsheng sighed.

He had thought the demonic beasts in the Cloud Sea Mountain Range were dangerous enough, but he hadn't expected demonic plants like this.

Disciples like Lu Changsheng, inexperienced and descending the mountain for the first time, probably wouldn't even know how they died.

"By the way, I still don't know Senior Sister's name?" Lu Changsheng asked, cupping his fists.

"Zhou Zhirou."

"And you?" the mysterious black-clothed girl asked with a smile.

"Lu Changsheng!" Lu Changsheng replied solemnly.

"Lu Changsheng? Could you be the one who, not long ago, defeated Liu Yan, who was in the top fifty on the Outer Disciple rankings, while you were only at the eighth level of Core Condensation Realm?" Zhou Zhirou asked, surprised.

"Something like that..." Lu Changsheng scratched his head. He hadn't expected his victory over Liu Yan to cause such a stir in the sect that even Zhou Zhirou had heard of it.

"Wow! Junior Brother Lu, you're truly amazing! Liu Yan was at the first level of Divine Palace Realm!" Zhou Zhirou's beautiful eyes sparkled, clearly showing her admiration for Lu Changsheng.

"You flatter me, Senior Sister!" Lu Changsheng said sheepishly.

"Right, Junior Brother, since this is your first time descending the mountain, how about we travel together? The Cloud Sea Mountain Range is full of hidden dangers, and there are many threats you don't yet understand. It might be better if we stick together," Zhou Zhirou suggested with a smile.

"Okay!" Lu Changsheng agreed without hesitation. He had been thinking the same thing. It was his first time descending the mountain, and he knew nothing. Having a knowledgeable Senior Sister like her would be perfect.

"By the way, where are you headed, Junior Brother? Are you also planning to go to Tianyang City?" Zhou Zhirou asked.

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng pondered for a moment. This was his first time leaving Lingxiao Sect in over a decade. However, he had heard that Tianyang City was a city near Lingxiao Sect.

Lu Changsheng didn't have a specific destination for this trip.

But since Senior Sister Zhou asked, he could only nod.

"Yes!"

"That's great, I was just about to head to Tianyang City too!"

Zhou Zhirou's smile bloomed like a flower.

The two immediately decided to travel together and continued through this Cloud Sea Mountain Range.

Along the way, they chatted and laughed, talking about everything. From their conversation, Lu Changsheng learned about Senior Sister Zhou's background.

Senior Sister Zhou was from the Zhou family, one of the two major families in Tianyang City.

However, this time, she seemed to have received a letter from her family, possibly due to some troublesome issue, which required her to return.

Lu Changsheng didn't pry too much about the specifics of the trouble. Still, he had a good impression of Senior Sister Zhou, not just because she had saved him earlier.

Even more so, because of their time traveling together, he found Senior Sister Zhou to be warm, cheerful, and kind. The two quickly became good friends.

However, traversing the Cloud Sea Mountain Range was not a smooth journey, and they encountered many dangers along the way.

Especially when they passed through a valley, they were attacked by a pack of Black Wind Demonic Wolves. But neither of them was ordinary, and they easily resolved the danger.

After a day and a night of non-stop travel, they finally emerged from the Cloud Sea Mountain Range at noon on the second day.

"We're finally out!"

Emerging from the forest, they both took a deep breath and couldn't help but smile at each other. Their journey together had clearly been very enjoyable.

"Senior Sister Zhou, could that be Tianyang City over there?"

On a hillside, Lu Changsheng gazed into the distance. Not far away, a vast, flat plain appeared.

Upon that plain stood a magnificent city, like an ancient fierce beast, quietly crouching on the land. Black city walls stretched into the distance, giving off an incredibly imposing aura.

Furthermore, the city was bustling with activity; a dense throng of people, like ants, could be seen as far as the eye could see.

"Yes, let's go!"

Zhou Zhirou nodded, and then she and Lu Changsheng walked towards the city gate.

The city gate in the distance looked grand and majestic. Above the city hung a golden plaque with the three powerful characters for Tianyang City.

Upon reaching the city gate, they saw soldiers on guard. Entrance required the payment of spirit stones.

Currently, a long line of martial artists was waiting to enter the city.

The two joined the queue. In less than half an hour, after paying the required spirit stones, they entered Tianyang City together, chatting and laughing all the way