Cihang barely suppressed his injuries and sped away from Kunlun.
Kunlun was not a place he could remain for long. He needed to find somewhere to enter seclusion and heal as soon as possible.
"Please wait, little friend!"
Before Cihang could leave the Kunlun Mountains, a shout stopped him in his tracks.
The instant he heard that voice, Cihang's heart sank.
It was Randeng.
A moment later, Randeng appeared before Cihang, riding the Nine-Colored Immortal Deer.
"Greetings, Senior. May I ask why you stopped this junior?"
Cihang cautiously offered his respects.
There was no grudge between Cihang and Randeng, but knowing Randeng as he did, Cihang did not dare relax in the slightest.
This man was capable of anything for the sake of cultivation.
Randeng had listened to the Dao at Zixiao Palace. Though he was not among the strongest few, he was still a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, not someone a Mystic Immortal like Cihang could handle.
"Did you come from Kunlun Mountain, little friend? I heard that the Three Pure Ones were accepting disciples, so I wished to try my luck.
Could you introduce me to them, little friend?"
Randeng spoke gently, carrying an inexplicable air that made one feel close to him and inclined to trust him.
Yet the more he acted this way, the more cautious Cihang became.
As fellow disciples of Zixiao Palace, Randeng and Yuanshi could barely be considered peers.
Yet for the sake of cultivation, he had shamelessly joined the Chan Sect and taken Yuanshi as his master.
After failing to achieve what he wanted in the Chan Sect, he had secretly colluded with Zhunti.
If Cihang had been forced to join the Western Buddhist Sect, then Randeng was a true traitor to his sect.
How could Cihang possibly let down his guard around such a person?
Still, Randeng's heart for the Dao was indeed firm; he was simply lacking in fortune.
"Senior misunderstands. This junior is not a disciple of Kunlun.
The Three Pure Ones preached the Great Dao of Sages, and this junior longed for it as well. Unfortunately, I have no affinity with the path of the Sages, so I was just preparing to return!"
Cihang put on an expression of loss and helplessness.
He did not mention that he had offended Yuanshi by refusing to become his disciple. If Randeng learned of it, Cihang feared he would become Randeng's contribution for joining Kunlun.
That was absolutely something Randeng would do.
To avoid drawing Randeng's attention, Cihang even forcibly circulated his cultivation technique to temporarily conceal his injuries.
At the same time, he remained secretly on guard, ready to flee at any moment.
"So that is how it is. It seems I misunderstood you, little friend.
Then I shall not disturb you further!"
Once he learned that Cihang was not a Kunlun disciple, Randeng's attitude immediately cooled considerably.
"It is this junior's honor to resolve Senior's doubts.
This junior wishes Senior success in joining Kunlun and having all your wishes fulfilled!"
Cihang carefully saw Randeng off.
"Then I shall borrow your auspicious words!"
Leaving behind a burst of laughter, Randeng drifted away.
"Puh!"
Only after Randeng's aura had completely vanished did Cihang finally cough up a mouthful of blood.
Already severely injured, forcibly circulating his cultivation technique this time had worsened his injuries even further.
"This is troublesome. I originally planned to leave Kunlun as quickly as possible, but if these injuries are delayed any longer, they will truly damage my foundation. Recovery in the future will only become more troublesome!"
Cihang frowned deeply. In his current state, he simply could not sustain a long flight by circulating his mana.
Yet remaining in Kunlun was even more dangerous.
Although the Sanqing had said they would no longer pursue the matter, their disciples might not think the same.
Given the chance, they would certainly eliminate someone like him who had offended Yuanshi.
In his prime, he naturally would not have feared those old acquaintances, even if Yuanshi had never valued him much. His cultivation had never lagged far behind theirs.
Now that his shackles were gone, he would naturally become even stronger.
His future opponents had never been those former fellow disciples, but true supreme experts such as Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti.
But this was his weakest moment, and he could only avoid such troubles as much as possible.
"It seems I can only find a hidden place to recover from my injuries first!"
Cihang quickly made his decision.
Compared to unknown dangers, his foundation and future were more important.
If, after getting a second chance, he still ended up worse than before, then he would truly have wasted this great opportunity.
Fortunately, having cultivated here for countless years in his previous life, Cihang was exceedingly familiar with the Kunlun Mountains.
Before long, Cihang found a secluded valley at the border between Eastern and Western Kunlun.
But just as Cihang was about to enter the valley and enter seclusion, he suddenly sensed the aura of a fairly strong cultivator within.
"Hm, when did my luck become so poor? First I encountered Randeng, and now there is this unfamiliar cultivator?"
Cihang could not help frowning.
But recovering from his injuries was more important now, so Cihang immediately turned around, intending to find another place to heal.
"Who goes there? How dare you rashly spy upon my Western Kunlun!"
A cyan feather shot straight toward Cihang.
A trace of the aura he had leaked due to his severe injuries had been sensed by the cultivator in the valley.
"Clang!"
Cihang instantly brought out the Glazed Pure Vase, blocking the cyan feather.
"You misunderstand, fellow Daoist. I entered this place by accident and did not know I had already stepped into Western Kunlun."
Cihang also breathed a sigh of relief, not only because he had blocked the attack, but because the other party came from Western Kunlun.
Although Eastern and Western Kunlun bordered one another, cultivators from Western Kunlun had always kept a low profile, so Cihang was genuinely unfamiliar with the place.
"Are you a disciple of Eastern Kunlun?"
A woman in green flew out of the valley. Though she no longer attacked Cihang, her face remained filled with vigilance.
Seeing Cihang's exquisitely handsome features, even more delicate than a woman's, the green-clad female immortal's attitude softened considerably.
"Cihang, an independent cultivator from the South Sea, greets you, fellow Daoist. I am not a cultivator of Eastern Kunlun. I came this time to listen to the Dao, but not only did I fail Eastern Kunlun's trial, I was injured because of it.
I intended to find a quiet place to recover, but instead I disturbed you, fellow Daoist. Cihang apologizes to you here!"
Cihang quickly revealed his identity and bowed apologetically to the green-clad female immortal.
"Qingniao, attendant to the Queen Mother of Western Kunlun, greets you, fellow Daoist.
I misunderstood you this time.
Hundred Flowers Valley is not my Daoist abode, merely a place where I come to relax in my spare time. I was just about to leave. Your injuries seem serious, fellow Daoist, so why not remain in Hundred Flowers Valley and recover?"
Cihang was not only handsome, but also radiated an approachable, tranquil aura that made Qingniao feel favorably toward him.
"Thank you, fellow Daoist. Cihang's injuries truly cannot be delayed further, so I shall shamelessly accept your kindness this time!"
Cihang did not hesitate for long before deciding to enter seclusion here to heal.
Cultivators of Eastern Kunlun generally would not set foot in Western Kunlun, so staying here was most suitable.
"You are too polite, fellow Daoist. I have a spiritual fruit here that will be of considerable help in restoring your injuries. I shall give it to you as well!"
Qingniao took out a cyan spiritual fruit, from which dense Innate Qi radiated.
"An Innate Spiritual Fruit? This is far too precious. I have already occupied your valley, fellow Daoist. How could I accept such a valuable treasure from you?"
Cihang hurriedly refused.
"You need not decline, fellow Daoist. This spiritual fruit is not particularly precious in Western Kunlun, and healing your injuries is more urgent.
I will be leaving now!"
Fearing that Cihang would refuse again, Qingniao left behind the cyan spiritual fruit and the formation command flags of Hundred Flowers Valley, then transformed into a streak of escaping light and departed.
Before you continue