First Steps on Liubo, Undercurrents and Immortal Fate

Clutching the jade slip bearing the name of his "enemy," Xuanwei felt less like he was going on a business trip and more like he was walking into a trap.

"Lingxiao... this guy isn't planning to find some deserted place overseas and 'physically transcend' me, this 'heretic,' is he?" He crouched in the Medicine Garden, a frown on his face, looking at the Vermillion Fruits and Jade Marrow Grapes that had just begun to bear fruit. He felt like an unlucky project manager forced to interrupt an important project to deal with office politics.

"What about the orders for the Myriad Immortals Gathering? My contribution points!" He was so heartbroken he could barely breathe. But he didn't dare disobey Senior Brother Duobao's orders.

"Forget it, let's just call it a sponsored trip... no, a sponsored adventure! Maybe I'll actually find some treasures, or... clues to other Chaos Bead fragments?" He could only console himself this way.

For the next three days, Xuanwei seized the opportunity to accelerate the growth of as many Vermillion Fruits and Jade Marrow Grapes as possible, barely meeting the minimum order requirements. He entrusted Senior Brother Ma Sui to handle the handover. Meanwhile, he frantically studied the information on Liubo Immortal Island and the East Sea from the jade slip, especially focusing on survival and escape techniques.

He also made a special trip to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Using his hard-earned contribution points, he exchanged them for several life-saving Evasion Talismans (which could randomly teleport him a hundred miles away when in danger, but the location was uncertain), as well as some pills for healing and restoring spiritual energy. His contribution points plummeted again, causing him physical pain.

[Host resource reserves updated: Evasion Talisman x3, Restoration Pill x5, Calming Pill x3. Contribution point balance: 35.]

[Friendly Reminder: Host's current condition (energy level 9%, original injury not healed) carries a high risk for this operation. It is recommended to maintain a "Deep Immortal Seclusion" state throughout and prioritize your own safety.]

"Do I need you to tell me that?" Xuanwei rolled his eyes (mentally). "Do I look like the kind of idiot who would get hot-headed for the honor of the sect and charge headfirst into a fight?"

Survival first, slacking second, and grabbing benefits when possible – this was his operational guideline for this "business trip."

Three days later, at the Golden Ao Island mountain gate.

Xuanwei arrived on time and found that over a dozen disciples of the Intercepting Sect had already gathered. Their cultivation levels ranged from True Immortal to Mysterious Immortal, and their appearances varied. Some had sharp auras, while others were calm and reserved.

His arrival attracted many gazes. After all, he was now something of a "celebrity" within the Intercepting Sect – a named disciple of a Saint with the cultivation of an Earth Immortal, who was also skilled at accelerating the growth of spirit plants. Curiosity, scrutiny, disdain, and even a hint of deeply hidden jealousy... various gazes converged on him.

Xuanwei kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, pretending not to see, and silently found a corner to hover in. At the same time, he activated his Deep Immortal Seclusion to the extreme, trying to minimize his presence.

Soon, he spotted the figure that made his heart tighten amidst the crowd – Lingxiao.

Lingxiao also saw him, his eyes cold, a barely concealed sneer and chill curving his lips, as if to say, "Just you wait."

Xuanwei cursed inwardly, but his face remained calm and breezy. He even nodded slightly in Lingxiao's direction, displaying a (self-perceived) friendly and subtle smile.

Lingxiao clearly froze, then his expression grew colder. He snorted and turned his head away.

"Little punk, trying to play mind games with me? What kind of weirdos haven't I seen in the office back in the day?" Xuanwei reveled in his inner triumph.

Just then, three graceful streams of light arrived in unison, landing before the mountain gate, drawing everyone's attention.

As the lights dispersed, three peerless female immortals were revealed.

The one leading the group, dressed in plain white cloud robes, had a face of unparalleled beauty and a temperament as cold as the moon. Daoist rhymes subtly flowed around her, and her cultivation was unfathomably deep, at least at the peak of Mysterious Immortal. She was the foremost of the Three Xiao – Lady Yunxiao.

To her left was one in a jade-colored robe, with lively eyes that sparkled. A playful smile graced her lips, making her appear lively and adorable. This was Lady Bixiao.

To her right was one in a water-green immortal dress, with a gentle and serene demeanor and clear, soft eyes. This was Lady Qiongxiao.

The moment the three sisters appeared, it was as if even the surrounding spiritual energy became brighter and more vibrant. Many disciples of the Intercepting Sect, including some with high cultivation levels, stepped forward to pay their respects with deference. This demonstrated the Three Xiao's status and popularity within the Intercepting Sect.

Xuanwei's eyes also lit up. The Three Xiao! These were the representatives of beauty and strength within the Intercepting Sect! Especially Lady Yunxiao, she was a formidable figure in the future Investiture of the Gods, capable of setting up the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation and severing the "three flowers on the top of the head" of the Twelve Golden Immortals!

"If I can get on good terms with these three senior sisters, won't I be able to walk sideways in the Intercepting Sect from now on?" The thought flashed through his mind, and he quickly suppressed it. "Calm down, calm down, now is not the time to think about this, survival is paramount..."

However, things often develop unexpectedly.

Perhaps it was Xuanwei's extreme effort to minimize his presence that, to the perception of the three peak Mysterious Immortal female immortals, seemed somewhat "abrupt"? Or perhaps it was his unique Innate Immortal Qi origin that caught their attention?

Just as Xuanwei was trying his best to be invisible, the lively Lady Bixiao's gaze swept across the crowd and suddenly landed on him. A hint of curiosity appeared on her pretty face:

"Huh? Are you the new junior brother that Master just accepted, the one who's good at growing spirit grass, Xuanwei?"

Instantly, all eyes refocused on Xuanwei! Even Lingxiao, who had been wearing a cold expression, looked even more menacing.

Xuanwei cried inwardly, Sister! Can you please not pay so much attention to me? I'm under a lot of pressure!

But outwardly, he could only muster a (self-perceived) shy yet polite smile, stepped forward, and respectfully bowed, "Disciple Xuanwei greets Senior Sister Yunxiao, Senior Sister Bixiao, and Senior Sister Qiongxiao."

Lady Yunxiao nodded slightly, her cold gaze lingering on him for a moment. She seemed to have sensed the injury deep within his origin and his unusual aura. A barely perceptible surprise flashed in her eyes, but she said nothing more.

Lady Qiongxiao offered a gentle smile in return.

Only Lady Bixiao, however, appraised him with great interest and said with a giggle, "I heard the Vermillion Fruits you grow are big and sweet. Will you give me some to try next time?"

Xuanwei: "..." Sister, we're going on an adventure, not a picnic! And your familiarity is making me a little nervous...

He could only brace himself and reply, "Senior Sister is joking. If Senior Sister likes them, I will offer them upon my return this time."

"Then it's settled!" Lady Bixiao's smile curved her eyes into crescent moons.

At this moment, a peak Mysterious Immortal realm senior brother from the Fire Department, named "Luo Xuan," who was in charge of leading the group, saw that everyone had arrived and announced loudly, "Fellow junior brothers and sisters, everyone is here. We shall depart now for Liubo Immortal Island!"

With that, he conjured a crimson flying boat artifact. It grew rapidly in the wind, transforming into a hundred-zhang-sized vessel. Everyone boarded.

Xuanwei deliberately lagged behind, wanting to find a secluded corner. To his surprise, Lady Bixiao waved to him, "Junior Brother Xuanwei, come here, it's spacious over here!"

Xuanwei looked at the position next to Lady Bixiao, which was clearly in the core area, and felt the complex gazes from all around (especially Lingxiao's almost murderous glare). He felt like crying inwardly.

"Senior Sister... isn't this inappropriate? Your disciple's cultivation is low..."

"Oh, what are you afraid of! Senior Sister will protect you!" Lady Bixiao, without further ado, enveloped him with a gentle immortal light and placed him in a spot near the three sisters.

Lady Yunxiao glanced at Lady Bixiao, her brow furrowing slightly, but said nothing. Lady Qiongxiao covered her mouth and chuckled.

Xuanwei felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, like a quail being roasted under a spotlight. He could only keep his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, fully operating his Seclusion cultivation technique, pretending to be a mere decoration.

The crimson flying boat turned into a streak of light and departed from Golden Ao Island, heading towards the vast and boundless East Sea.

On the boat, most disciples were meditating with their eyes closed or chatting in small groups. Lingxiao, however, kept staring coldly in Xuanwei's direction, his hostility unconcealed.

Lady Bixiao seemed very interested in Xuanwei, striking up conversations with him from time to time and asking him interesting questions about cultivating spirit plants. Xuanwei could only cautiously respond, afraid of saying the wrong thing.

However, during their conversations, he also keenly sensed that while Lady Yunxiao was aloof and reserved, the occasional glances she cast his way, beyond the initial surprise, seemed to hold a hint of... scrutiny and calculation? And beneath Lady Qiongxiao's gentleness, her eyes revealed a sharp intelligence and grace, making her far more complex than she appeared on the surface.

"None of these three sisters are simple..." Xuanwei thought to himself.

After flying for about half a day, they had ventured deep into the East Sea. Below them lay a turbulent azure ocean, where massive sea beasts occasionally thrashed about, emitting powerful Demonic Qi.

Just as the Flying Boat was about to approach the waters where Liubo Immortal Island was located, suddenly—

[Warning! High-intensity spatial fluctuations detected! Source: A thousand miles to the front left, suspected unstable energy burst from a secret realm entrance!]

[Multiple powerful Demonic Qi signatures also detected rapidly approaching! Energy levels: True Immortal to Mysterious Immortal!]

[Warning! Chaos Bead (fragment) exhibiting faint resonance! Suspected detection of a similar energy source or... other fragment clues?!]

The System's prompts sounded one after another!

Xuanwei was jolted!

Secret realm eruption? Yaoi attack? And... Chaos Bead resonance?!

He instinctively looked to the front left. In the distance, where the sea met the sky, the void distorted violently, with streams of divine light erupting alongside chaotic energy! Simultaneously, from beneath the sea's surface, countless powerful Demonic Qi signatures shot skyward like smoke signals, surging towards the area where the divine light was erupting!

And deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the Chaos Bead fragment, which had been silent until now, was emitting a faint yet clearly discernible hum, as if yearning for something, or perhaps warning him of something!

The senior disciple leading them, Luo Xuan, suddenly stood up, his expression grave. "Something's happening ahead! The secret realm has erupted early and attracted a large number of Yaoi! Junior brothers and sisters, prepare to face them, or... act according to the situation!"

The atmosphere on the Flying Boat instantly tensed!

All eyes turned towards the sea area where divine light blazed and Demonic Qi soared!

Xuanwei's heart (willpower core) leaped into his throat.

He knew this "business trip" was likely to be far more thrilling than he had imagined!

His gaze involuntarily drifted back towards the erupting divine light, feeling the strange resonance from the Chaos Bead.

"What exactly is there...?"