"Everyone, relax. Don't be nervous. Once we're out of the mountain gate, there aren't so many rules."
After the Gourd flew off, Fairy Jiujiu made a hand seal and cast a protective barrier over it. Then she yawned and walked to the Gourd's mouth, where she sat down, legs dangling on either side, and leaned back without a care for her image.
She casually picked up the wine gourd at her waist and took a slow sip. A satisfied smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, and then she turned to look over the six young disciples behind her.
The farthest from her was Li Changshou, seated at the rear of the Gourd.
The closest was Youqin Xuanya, sitting cross-legged about a foot away. Behind her, in order, were Yuan Qing, Li Yang, Liu Yan'er, and Wang Qi.
Then, under Li Yang's watchful gaze, Yuan Qing began fawning over Youqin Xuanya like a lovesick puppy. Even when she turned him down, he didn't get upset.
Li Yang sat behind Yuan Qing, simply watching him perform.
At the very back of the Gourd, Li Changshou wasn't sitting cross-legged and resting like the others. Instead, he held talismans between his fingers, tense and alert as he watched everyone present and kept a constant eye on their surroundings.
So naturally, he noticed Yuan Qing and Youqin Xuanya.
After all, she was someone his Junior Brother was paying attention to, so he had to keep a close eye on her.
He also noticed the faint smile that faded from Yuan Qing's face after Youqin Xuanya rejected him.
There's something wrong with this guy!
Looking at Yuan Qing's refined, elegant appearance, a phrase suddenly came to Li Changshou's mind: a beast in human clothing.
Heh, interesting. What exactly does my Junior Brother know?
Thinking this, Li Changshou sent Li Yang a voice transmission. He didn't ask outright, though, and instead began probing him indirectly.
"Junior Brother, didn't you keep saying this world was too dangerous, and that you wouldn't leave the sect until you reached Chaotic Origin? What's so special about Star Stone that it made you come out?"
Li Changshou thought it over and realized that Li Yang hadn't been dragged along by him. He'd chosen to come of his own accord.
That meant Li Yang had clearly held back when they sparred.
That reassured Li Changshou, but it also made him highly wary of Li Yang.
Had his teachings really made his Junior Brother even more cautious than he was?
"Star Stone? I need it for alchemy and crafting artifacts."
Li Yang's answer was perfectly ordinary. He'd said nothing at all, which left Li Changshou speechless.
Li Changshou had studied these things himself, though his focus differed from Li Yang's. Still, he knew the basics.
Star Stone had formed from the fragments left behind after the Witch-Demon War, when heaven and earth were overturned and stars rained down. Heaven and earth were later rebuilt, and the stars returned to the sky. In essence, Star Stone was no different from the Celestial Stars above.
Star Stone was exceedingly rare. The ancient stars in the firmament had already dwindled considerably, and now they were under the control of the Heavenly Dao and certain true ancient Star Lords. Very few had been left scattered outside.
The fragments left behind back then had become Immortal Islands in the East Sea, and mineral deposits in other regions. Once mined, they were no longer called Star Stone, but instead went by names like Star Iron and Star Geng Metal.
The only place where intact Star Stone could still be found was Northern Juru Continent, an ancient land filled with baleful energy, Killing Qi, miasma, and Grievance Qi.
But using their derivatives for crafting artifacts and alchemy was clearly more suitable than using Star Stone itself, wasn't it?
"Alchemy? Crafting artifacts? Junior Brother, don't lie to your Senior Brother."
Li Yang replied, "I wouldn't dare deceive you, Senior Brother. But this is one of my trump cards. Please forgive me for keeping it to myself."
Li Changshou understood. This was probably connected to his own secrets, such as his Avatar and that hidden space, so he didn't press further.
"Thank you for understanding, Senior Brother."
In truth, Li Changshou's guess wasn't far off. Li Yang really did intend to use Star Stone for those purposes.
It all started with a thumb-sized piece of Star Stone he'd exchanged for at the sect.
Four years ago, on a whim, he'd infused it into one of his "Golden Pill" Avatars.
Three years later, that "Golden Pill" Avatar had advanced to the "Immortal Artifact" and "Immortal Pill" level, gaining the combat strength of a Primordial Immortal.
But that was only the most basic benefit. The Avatar had given Li Yang an advantage beyond his wildest expectations.
It didn't need to absorb spiritual energy from the outside world. It could instead convert Void Energy into spiritual energy to sustain itself, then release any excess into the space he had created.
The amount of spiritual energy this single Avatar could convert was enough to supply his other "Golden Pill" Primordial Immortal Avatars.
This terrifying ability to convert spiritual energy helped Li Yang understand why the Demon Race had been able to stand against the Witch Race after occupying the Circulating Star Dou.
The Star Dou Great Array was one reason. Another was the vast, nearly inexhaustible spiritual energy, which had helped the Demon Race produce countless powerful cultivators.
Inspired by this, Li Yang had used the boost provided by the Work-Life Balance trait to derive an incomplete Star Dou Great Array.
The array would use Star Stone to create a large number of "Golden Pill" Avatars, then elevate them to the Primordial Immortal Realm. They would provide energy for the Sanctuary he had built and suppress its space to keep it stable.
With this spiritual energy, he could cultivate more and stronger Immortal Realm Avatars, while also reducing his Karma with the Primordial Wilderness and earning some Merit.
For him, it was an arrangement with nothing but benefits.
After that, Li Yang and Li Changshou discussed a few other topics. Gradually, under Li Changshou's guidance, the conversation turned to Youqin Xuanya and Yuan Qing.
"So, Senior Brother, you think there's something going on between them too?"
"Of course. Yuan Qing feels strange to me. He doesn't seem as gentle as he makes himself out to be.
"So if there is something going on, my suggestion is that we find a way to slip away!"
Unlike Li Changshou, Li Yang knew the story, so he wasn't worried. He gave him a subtle reminder.
"Senior Brother, Youqin Xuanya is the Sixth Princess of Honglin Kingdom in the Eastern Divine Continent, and Yuan Qing is her childhood sweetheart. They grew up together."
Just then, Fairy Jiujiu sensed that someone was following them. She stopped the Gourd and called out, "I wonder what business you have with us, Daoist on the clouds, after following us for so long?"
A burly figure flew out from the clouds behind them.
He wore chain mail and had a massive frame and rugged features. A huge battle-axe hung across his back. His aura was solid and imposing; he was clearly an immortal.
This was Yuwen Ling, the Palace Guard General of Honglin Kingdom in the Eastern Divine Continent, and a minor antagonist at the beginning of the Original Novel.
Yuwen Ling didn't approach directly. Instead, he stopped a hundred zhang away from the large Gourd, clasped his hands toward Fairy Jiujiu, and called out, "I am Yuwen Ling, the Palace Guard General of Honglin Kingdom in the Eastern Divine Continent. I have come to protect Her Highness, the Sixth Princess. Please forgive me if I have caused any offense, Immortal."
The Sixth Princess?
As everyone wondered who he meant, Youqin Xuanya spoke in an extremely cold tone. "Go back. There's no need to trouble yourself over me."
Yuwen Ling bowed with clasped hands, his posture deferential and his expression troubled.
"Your Highness, I came at the king's command. If I return like this... I'll have no way to report back!
"An enemy kingdom has been making suspicious moves lately, and the king fears they might secretly target you.
"Your Highness, please allow me to accompany you on your journey. Once you return to Immortal Crossing Sect, I will return as well."
Youqin Xuanya frowned slightly. A trace of helplessness showed on her beautiful face, which had been expressionless until then.
Yuan Qing advised, "Junior Sister Xuanya, we're going to Northern Juru Continent, where danger lurks everywhere. Having General Yuwen with us means we'll have another person to rely on."
Then he turned to Fairy Jiujiu. "Martial Aunt, this general is Yuwen Ling, the most trusted officer of Xuanya's father. He usually guards her father's side. The fact that he's come all this way to protect her shows that the situation really is rather dangerous, so I hope you'll..."
Yuan Qing didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.
Youqin Xuanya didn't want him to come, so she looked toward Fairy Jiujiu, a hint of pleading in her eyes.
"Your Highness, the Sixth Princess," Yuwen Ling called again. His tone was respectful but firm; after all, he was acting under orders.
Fairy Jiujiu leaned against the edge of the Gourd's mouth and waved a hand. "Fine. If he's your guard, then he can come along. He's just a big guy who's only recently become an immortal. He can't cause us any trouble."
Then she looked at Yuwen Ling. "Big Guy, go sit at the back of the Gourd. But don't make a fuss. The sect rules don't forbid disciples from bringing their own guards when they leave, but you're the first to do so in all these years. It's still a little inappropriate."
Yuwen Ling immediately clasped his hands and thanked her. "Thank you, Immortal."
Fairy Jiujiu then opened a gap in the protective barrier at the back of the Gourd and let Yuwen Ling in.
Meanwhile, the cautious Li Changshou silently took a couple of steps to the side, then circled around to the very front of the Gourd and asked Fairy Jiujiu,
"Martial Aunt Jiujiu, may I sit behind you?"
His timid and overly cautious manner left Fairy Jiujiu laughing helplessly, but she still let him sit down.
Then Li Changshou sent Li Yang a voice transmission,
Li Changshou: "Junior Brother, this man appeared just as we were about to head to Northern Juru Continent. I smell a plot."
Before you continue