Clutching the jade slip that recorded his "enemy's" name, Xuanwei felt less like he was going on a business trip and more like he was heading to a feast of treachery.
"Lingxiao... could this guy be planning to find some deserted spot overseas and physically exorcise me, this 'heretic'?" He squatted in the Medicine Garden with a miserable expression, looking at the Vermillion Fruits and Jade Marrow Grapes that had only just begun to bear fruit. He felt like an unlucky project manager forced to abandon an important project while still having to deal with office politics.
"What about the Myriad Immortals Gathering order? My Contribution Points!" His heart ached so badly he could barely breathe. But he did not dare disobey Eldest Senior Brother Duobao's orders.
"Forget it. I'll treat it as a company-funded vacation... pfft, a company-funded expedition! Maybe I'll really find some treasure, or... clues to other Chaos Bead fragments?" That was the only way he could console himself.
Over the next three days, Xuanwei rushed to cultivate as many Vermillion Fruits and Jade Marrow Grapes as possible, barely meeting the order's minimum requirements before entrusting Senior Brother Ma Sui with the handover. At the same time, he frantically crammed every scrap of information in the jade slip concerning Liubo Immortal Island and the East Sea, especially knowledge related to survival and escape.
He also made a special trip to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, spending the Contribution Points he had painstakingly saved on several life-saving Evasion Talismans—capable of randomly teleporting him up to a hundred li away in danger, though the destination was uncertain—as well as pills for healing and restoring spiritual energy. His Contribution Points shrank dramatically once more, making his heart bleed.
[Host resource reserves updated: Evasion Talisman x3, Restoration Pill x5, Calming Pill x3. Contribution Points balance: 35.] [Kind reminder: The host's current condition (energy level 9%, origin injuries not yet healed) poses a high risk for participating in this operation. It is recommended that you remain in the "Deep Immortal Seclusion" state throughout and prioritize your own safety.]
"Like you needed to tell me that?" Xuanwei rolled his eyes—mentally. "Do I look like some fool who'll get fired up over sect honor and charge headfirst into a fight?"
Survival came first, slacking off came second, and if there was an opportunity, he would grab whatever benefits he could. That was the guiding principle of this "business trip."
Three days later, at the mountain gate of Golden Ao Island.
Xuanwei arrived on time and found more than a dozen Interception Sect disciples gathered there already. Their cultivation ranged from True Immortal to Mysterious Immortal, and they came in all shapes and forms. Some radiated sharp auras, while others were calm and reserved.
His arrival drew quite a few eyes. After all, he was something of a "celebrity" within the Interception Sect now—a mere Earth Immortal whom a Saint had accepted as a registered disciple, and one skilled at cultivating Spiritual Plants. Curiosity, scrutiny, disdain, and even deeply buried jealousy... all kinds of gazes converged on him.
Xuanwei kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, pretending not to notice. He silently found a corner to hover in while pushing [Deep Immortal Seclusion] to its limit, doing his best to reduce his presence.
Before long, he spotted the figure that made his heart tighten—Lingxiao.
Lingxiao saw him as well. His eyes were icy, and a trace of undisguised mockery and chill curled across his lips, as though he were saying, "Just you wait."
Fuck me, Xuanwei cursed inwardly, though his face remained calm and unruffled. He even gave Lingxiao a slight nod and offered what he believed was a friendly, restrained smile.
Lingxiao was visibly taken aback. His expression immediately turned even colder, and with a disdainful snort, he turned away.
Punk, trying to kill me with your eyes? Back in the office, what kind of monsters and freaks hadn't I dealt with? Xuanwei secretly reveled in it.
Just then, three clear and elegant streaks of escaping light arrived together, descending before the mountain gate and drawing everyone's attention.
As the light dispersed, it revealed three breathtaking female immortals.
The foremost wore plain white cloud-patterned robes. Her beauty was peerless, her temperament cold and distant as the moon. Dao Rhyme faintly circulated around her, and her cultivation was unfathomable—at least at the peak of the Mysterious Immortal realm. She was the leader of San Xiao—Lady Yunxiao.
To her left stood a woman in multicolored azure robes. Her brows and eyes were lively, her every glance radiant, and a playful smile rested on her lips, making her seem bright and adorable. She was Lady Bixiao.
To the right was a woman in a water-green immortal dress. Gentle and tranquil in bearing, with clear and soft eyes, she was Lady Qiongxiao.
The moment the three sisters appeared, even the surrounding spiritual energy seemed to become brighter and more vibrant. Many Interception Sect disciples, including several with profound cultivation, stepped forward to greet them respectfully. It was clear how esteemed and beloved San Xiao were within the sect.
Xuanwei's eyes lit up as well. The San Xiao ladies! They were renowned figures in the Interception Sect, possessing both beauty and power! Yunxiao in particular was a formidable figure who would one day set up the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation and strip the Three Flowers from above the heads of the Twelve Golden Immortals!
If I can build a good relationship with these three senior sisters, won't I be able to swagger around the Interception Sect in the future? The thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly suppressed it. Calm down, calm down. This isn't the time for that. Staying alive is what matters...
Yet things often developed in unexpected ways.
Perhaps Xuanwei's desperate attempts to diminish his presence had instead made him seem somewhat "conspicuous" to the senses of three female immortals at the peak of the Mysterious Immortal realm? Or perhaps his unique Innate Immortal Qi origin had caught their attention?
Just as Xuanwei was trying his hardest to become invisible, the lively Lady Bixiao swept her gaze over the crowd. It suddenly landed on him, and curiosity appeared on her pretty face.
"Eh? Are you Xuanwei, the new junior brother Master accepted, the one who's so good at growing spiritual herbs?"
At once, every gaze in the area focused on Xuanwei again! Even Lingxiao, standing nearby with a cold face, grew more sinister-eyed.
Xuanwei groaned inwardly. Senior Sister! Could you not pay so much attention to me? I'm under enough pressure already!
Still, he could only put on what he believed was a shy yet polite smile, step forward, and bow respectfully. "This disciple is Xuanwei. Greetings, Senior Sister Yunxiao, Senior Sister Bixiao, and Senior Sister Qiongxiao."
Lady Yunxiao gave a slight nod. Her cool gaze lingered on him for a moment, as though she had sensed both the injuries deep within his origin and his unusual aura. A nearly imperceptible flicker of surprise passed through her eyes, but she said nothing.
Lady Qiongxiao merely smiled gently in return.
Only Lady Bixiao looked him over with great interest. Grinning, she said, "I heard the Vermillion Fruits you grow are big and sweet. Bring some for your senior sister to try next time, okay?"
Xuanwei: ... Senior Sister, we're going exploring, not going on a picnic! And your overly familiar attitude is making me a little nervous...
He could only force himself to reply, "Senior Sister is joking. If Senior Sister likes them, then when this disciple returns, I will certainly bring some for you."
"Then it's settled!" Bixiao smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.
At that moment, a Fire Division senior brother named Luo Xuan, who was at the peak of the Mysterious Immortal realm and responsible for leading the party, saw that everyone had arrived and announced loudly, "Junior brothers and sisters, everyone is assembled. We depart now for Liubo Immortal Island!"
With that, he brought out a crimson Flying Boat artifact. It expanded with the wind, growing to a hundred zhang in length. Everyone boarded one after another.
Xuanwei deliberately lagged behind, hoping to find a secluded corner. Unexpectedly, Bixiao waved at him. "Junior Brother Xuanwei, come over here. There's plenty of room here!"
Xuanwei looked at the obviously central area beside Bixiao, then felt the complicated gazes cast in his direction—especially Lingxiao's nearly murderous stare. His heart wept bitterly.
"Senior Sister... wouldn't this be inappropriate? This disciple's cultivation is low..."
"Oh, what are you afraid of? Your senior sister will protect you!" Bixiao did not give him a chance to refuse. A gentle immortal light swept him over and placed him in a spot near the three sisters.
Yunxiao glanced at Bixiao and frowned slightly, but said nothing. Qiongxiao covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
Xuanwei felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles, like a little quail roasting beneath a spotlight. He could only keep his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, fully circulating his seclusion technique and pretending to be mere decoration.
The crimson Flying Boat became a streak of light and departed Golden Ao Island, heading for the vast, boundless East Sea.
Most of the disciples aboard were meditating with their eyes closed or chatting in small groups. Lingxiao, however, kept staring coldly in Xuanwei's direction, making no effort to conceal his hostility.
Bixiao seemed very interested in Xuanwei and occasionally struck up conversations, asking him amusing questions about cultivating Spiritual Plants. Xuanwei could only answer carefully, afraid of saying something wrong.
Yet during their conversations, he keenly sensed that while Yunxiao was cold and sparing with words, the occasional looks she gave him seemed to contain more than her initial surprise. There was also a faint sense of scrutiny and calculation. Beneath Qiongxiao's gentleness, her eyes likewise held intelligence and spiritual elegance. She was not as simple as she appeared.
None of these three sisters are simple... Xuanwei thought.
After flying for roughly half a day, they had penetrated deep into the East Sea. Below them stretched a rolling expanse of azure waters, where enormous sea beasts occasionally churned through the waves, giving off powerful Demonic Qi.
Just as the Flying Boat was about to approach the sea region where Liubo Immortal Island lay, suddenly—
[Warning! High-intensity spatial fluctuations detected! Source: one thousand li ahead to the left. Suspected unstable energy eruption from a secret realm entrance!] [Multiple powerful Demonic Qi signatures also detected rapidly approaching! Energy levels: ranging from True Immortal to Mysterious Immortal!] [Warning! Chaos Bead fragment has produced a weak resonance! Suspected detection of an aura from the same origin or... clues to other fragments?!]
The system notifications rang out one after another!
Xuanwei was startled!
A secret realm eruption? A Demon Race attack? And... Chaos Bead resonance?!
He instinctively looked ahead to the left. At the point where sea and sky met in the distance, space was violently twisting, with streams of rosy light and chaotic energy bursting forth! At the same time, countless powerful strands of Demonic Qi shot up from beneath the sea like signal fires, surging toward the erupting radiance!
Meanwhile, deep within his sea of consciousness, the Chaos Bead fragment that had long remained dormant began to emit a faint yet clearly discernible hum, as though craving something—or warning him of something!
Luo Xuan, the senior brother leading the group, abruptly rose to his feet, his expression grave. "Something has changed ahead! The secret realm has erupted early and drawn a large number of demons! Junior brothers and sisters, prepare for battle, or... act according to the situation!"
The atmosphere aboard the Flying Boat instantly became tense!
Everyone's gazes turned toward that sea region filled with countless rays of light and soaring Demonic Qi!
Xuanwei's heart—his mental core—rose into his throat as well.
He knew this "business trip" was likely to be far more thrilling than he had imagined!
His gaze could not help drifting back toward the place where the radiant light had erupted, feeling the strange resonance coming from the Chaos Bead.
What... was there?
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