Li Zhōujūn, having left Kaishan Sect, appeared on a quiet official road.
He was in no hurry to return to Dao Tian Sect.
After all, he had been in this world for more than forty years, yet had never properly explored it.
He might as well take this opportunity to wander around.
However, the heavens were uncooperative.
Dark clouds suddenly gathered, and a fine drizzle began to fall.
The raindrops were just about to land on Li Zhōujūn when they miraculously veered around him.
It was as if a transparent barrier surrounded Li Zhōujūn, keeping the rain at bay.
Not only that, but the rain turned the earthen road into mud, leaving nowhere for anyone to set their feet.
Strangely, however, as Li Zhōujūn walked through the mud, not a speck of it stained his shoes.
"I haven't even used my cultivation. Why is the rain avoiding me?" Li Zhōujūn asked in surprise.
[Ding: The True Immortal Physique is a flawless body. Naturally, worldly dust cannot approach it.]
"So I'm a True Immortal? Why didn't I know?" Li Zhōujūn wore a thoroughly bewildered expression.
[Ding: Of course you aren't a True Immortal. This is all thanks to the True Immortal special effect.]
"I see." Li Zhōujūn suddenly understood.
As he walked along, a small blade of grass beneath a roadside tree caught Li Zhōujūn's eye.
The grass was pinned beneath a stone, yet it had miraculously pushed the stone up.
"It's actually a weed that has developed a trace of spirituality." Li Zhōujūn was quite surprised.
Li Zhōujūn immediately walked over, crouched beside the grass, and said with a smile, "Meeting is fate. I'll lend you a hand today and move this stone away."
With that, Li Zhōujūn moved the stone aside.
The weed's stem sprang upright at once.
[Ding: The host is so kindhearted that the system is issuing a random reward: 'Spirit Gathering Formation!']
"This works too?" Li Zhōujūn was dumbfounded.
[Ding: The system has detected that this grass possesses considerable spirituality. Quest issued: The host is to inscribe a Spirit Gathering Formation for this grass and aid its cultivation, thereby planting a seed of virtue! Reward: If this grass succeeds in cultivation someday, it will naturally seek the host out to repay his kindness.]
"So you're asking me to take in a Chess Piece, aren't you? Even the reward is so arbitrary. I'm speechless." Li Zhōujūn was at a loss for words.
Despite saying that, Li Zhōujūn still looked at the weed and smiled. "In that case, I'll give you another gift."
As he spoke, Li Zhōujūn's index finger moved with nimble grace, drawing an exquisite Spirit Gathering Formation directly above the weed.
Once he finished, Li Zhōujūn clapped his hands and said, "Little fellow, once your cultivation succeeds, you must never cause trouble. Otherwise, I'll personally cut you down."
Who would have thought that the weed actually seemed to understand him? Its stem swayed several times, as if responding and thanking Li Zhōujūn. It was remarkably humanlike.
At that moment.
Two people approached from behind Li Zhōujūn.
One was a simple and honest-looking youth with downy hair at the corners of his mouth, while the other was an old man with grizzled hair.
A young man with an honest appearance carried an umbrella on his back and held another in his hand, sheltering himself and the old man beneath it.
When the honest youth saw Li Zhōujūn crouching beneath the tree, he could not help sizing him up. The young man in blue robes looked refined and handsome, much like the great scholar he and his master had visited some time ago—except that scholar was already in his sixties.
The honest youth smiled and asked, "Sir, are you taking shelter from the rain here?"
"Exactly." Hearing a voice behind him, Li Zhōujūn turned back in surprise. Seeing an old man and a youth, he smiled in reply.
"I happen to have an extra umbrella on my back. If you don't mind, you can make do with it." As he spoke, the honest youth removed the umbrella from his back and handed it to Li Zhōujūn.
Li Zhōujūn paused slightly, then smiled. "Then thank you. I, Li Mou, will remember this kindness of yours in giving me the umbrella."
With that, Li Zhōujūn accepted the paper umbrella the honest youth held out.
At the same time, Li Zhōujūn sized up the old man and the youth.
The old man's hair was grizzled, yet his face carried an otherworldly, immortal bearing. Knowing that the old man was no ordinary person, Li Zhōujūn still could not discern the extent of his cultivation. He had likely surpassed Nascent Soul and reached the Spirit Transformation realm.
As for the honest youth who had given him the umbrella, Li Zhōujūn could see through him. He was at the Foundation Establishment stage, and judging from his bone age, he was only a little over sixteen.
For a sixteen-year-old to possess Foundation Establishment cultivation, the old man beside him naturally could not be an ordinary person.
While Li Zhōujūn was sizing up the old man and youth, the old man was sizing him up as well.
He had recently heard that this road was rife with demons. A young man who could appear here alone was most likely no simple person.
Moreover, this person possessed an otherworldly bearing. Every gesture appeared ordinary, yet seemed to contain some profound principle.
Thus, the old man smiled and asked, "May I presume to ask whether Mr. Li is heading to Jiang City?"
"I'm just touring the mountains and rivers. As for where this road leads, I don't know either." Li Zhōujūn thought for a moment before answering with a smile.
He did not know where the road led. He had simply grown tired of flying and wanted to come down for a walk and enjoy the scenery. As for his destination, Li Zhōujūn did not care.
"Mr. Li certainly knows how to enjoy life." The old man smiled. "I've long heard that bandits appear around here and demons run rampant. If you don't mind, why not travel to Jiang City with this old man? The city was built along the river, and its scenery is enchanting. You'll likely enjoy it."
"There's no need, Elder." Li Zhōujūn shook his head and lightly declined. "I'm accustomed to coming and going alone. I can make my own way there. Take care, both of you."
With that, Li Zhōujūn opened the paper umbrella, holding it in one hand while clasping the other behind his back, and slowly walked into the rain.
The old man and youth watched Li Zhōujūn grow farther away until he turned left onto a small path and disappeared from sight.
"Master, look at that grass!" the honest youth suddenly said, pointing at the remarkably spiritual weed.
"What an exquisite formation!"
When the old man saw the Spirit Gathering Formation on the weed, his expression filled with shock.
"This should have been laid down by that gentleman just now," the honest youth said.
The old man nodded in agreement. "To lay down such an exquisite Spirit Gathering Formation, that gentleman's attainments in formations are likely unparalleled beneath the heavens."
The honest youth's mouth fell open. He knew that his master's attainments in formations were extremely high—absolutely above that of a Fifth-Rank Formation Master.
For his master to praise that gentleman so highly, the man truly had to be extraordinary. Unfortunately, that gentleman had just taken a road other than the one to Jiang City, so he would never again have the chance to behold such an expert's face.
"You were favored by that expert. This is your opportunity. However, we arrived so abruptly that gentleman seems to have forgotten to conceal this formation. I might as well add the finishing touch."
The old man looked at the weed and smiled faintly. With a gesture, he concealed the formation Li Zhōujūn had laid down.
"All right, Ashi. We should be on our way," the old man told the honest youth.
"Yes, Master." The honest youth called Ashi nodded solemnly.
The master and disciple were heading to Jiang City to treat the beloved granddaughter of the master's good friend. It was said that the girl had entered a Void Immortal Cave Mansion and had been bedridden ever since she came back out.
Before you continue