General Yuwen Appears, Conspiracy Emerges

"Everyone relax, don't be tense. Once we're out of the mountain gate, there aren't so many rules."

The gourd departed. Fairy Jiujiu formed a hand seal to envelop the gourd in a protective barrier, then yawned, walked to the gourd's mouth, and sat down. She let her legs dangle over either side of the gourd's rim, leaning back without a shred of dignity.

She casually grabbed the wine gourd at her waist, took a slow sip, and a satisfied smile already spread across her lips. Then she turned her head to appraise the six young disciples behind her.

The farthest from her was Li Changshou, seated at the gourd's rear.

Closest to her was Youqin Xuanya, sitting cross-legged in meditation about a foot away. Behind her, in order, were Yuan Qing, Li Yang, Liu Yan'er, and Wang Qi.

Then, under Li Yang's gaze, Yuan Qing—like a lapdog—began fervently fawning over Youqin Xuanya, unbothered even when rejected.

Li Yang, behind Yuan Qing, simply watched his performance.

At the gourd's very end, Li Changshou wasn't meditating like the others. Instead, he gripped talismans in both hands, his nerves taut as he observed everyone present and constantly monitored their surroundings.

So, naturally, he also noticed Yuan Qing and Youqin Xuanya.

After all, this was a person his junior brother was keeping an eye on, so he had to watch from every angle.

Thus, he also caught the faint smile that faded from Yuan Qing's face after being rejected by Youqin Xuanya.

'This person has issues!'

Watching the elegant and refined Yuan Qing, a phrase suddenly rose in Li Changshou's heart: a beast in human skin.

'Heh, interesting. Just what does my junior brother know?'

With that thought, Li Changshou sent a voice transmission to Li Yang, though he didn't ask directly. Instead, he began to probe indirectly.

"Junior Brother, weren't you always shouting that this world is too dangerous and you didn't want to leave until you reached Chaotic Origin? What kind of magic does this Star Stone have to drag you out?"

Li Changshou took stock and realized that Li Yang hadn't been dragged out by him—he had volunteered to come.

In other words, Li Yang had clearly held back when they sparred.

This brought him some relief, but it also made him highly vigilant toward Li Yang.

This junior brother, taught by him to be even more cautious than himself—how was that acceptable?

"Star Stone? I need it for alchemy and artifact refining."

Li Yang's answer was by the book, saying nothing substantial. Li Changshou found it quite exasperating.

After all, Li Changshou had some research into these things too, just with a different focus from Li Yang's, though the general information was still familiar.

Star Stones were formed from debris left behind during the ancient Witch-Demon War, when heaven and earth overturned and stars rained down. Later, when heaven and earth were rebuilt and the stars rose again, these fragments remained. In essence, they were no different from the Celestial Stars in the sky.

Star Stones were exceedingly rare. The ancient star dou in the starry sky had long since shrunk significantly, and now they were mostly governed by the Heavenly Dao and some true ancient Star Lords, with very few left drifting outside.

The debris left behind back then—in the Eastern Sea, it turned into Immortal Islands; in other continents, it formed mineral veins. What was mined was no longer called Star Stone but rather various Star Iron, Star Geng Metal, and the like.

The only place where intact Star Stones could still be preserved was the Northern Juru Continent, this ancient land filled with Sha Qi, Killing Qi, miasma, and Grievance Qi.

But using these for artifact refining or alchemy was clearly less suitable than derivatives of Star Stone, wasn't it?

"Alchemy? Artifact refining? Junior Brother, don't deceive your senior brother."

Li Yang replied, "I naturally wouldn't dare deceive Senior Brother, but this is this junior brother's trump card. I beg Senior Brother's forgiveness."

Li Changshou understood. This thing was like his own possessions—probably related to avatars or that hidden space—so he stopped pressing.

"Thank you for understanding, Senior Brother."

In truth, Li Changshou's guess wasn't far off. Li Yang genuinely intended to use the Star Stones for these purposes.

It all stemmed from that thumb-sized Star Stone he had exchanged for back in the sect.

Four years ago, on a sudden whim, he had fused the Star Stone into one of his 'Golden Pill' avatars.

Three years later, that 'Golden Pill' avatar had advanced to the 'Immortal Artifact' and 'Immortal Pill' grade, possessing the combat power of an Origin Immortal.

Yet that was just the basics. This avatar brought Li Yang a benefit beyond his imagination.

That benefit was that this avatar not only didn't need to absorb spiritual energy from the outside world but could also convert Void Energy into spiritual energy to sustain itself, while releasing the excess spiritual energy into the space he had created.

The amount of spiritual energy this single avatar could convert was enough to supply all his other 'Golden Pill' Origin Immortal avatars.

This terrifying spiritual energy conversion ability made Li Yang understand why the Demon Race, after occupying the Circulating Star Dou back then, could stand against the Witch Race.

The Star Dou Great Array was one factor; the other was the vast, nearly inexhaustible spiritual energy that had spawned a multitude of experts for the Demon Race.

Thus inspired, Li Yang used the boost provided by the Work-Life Balance trait to deduce a fragmentary Star Dou Great Array.

This array used Star Stones to refine a large number of 'Golden Pill' avatars, transforming them to the Origin Immortal stage, providing energy for the Sanctuary he had built, and suppressing the Sanctuary's space to ensure its stability.

With this spiritual energy, he could not only nurture more and stronger Immortal Realm avatars but also reduce his Karma with the Primordial Wilderness and gain some merit.

For him, this was a win-win situation with no downsides.

Then, Li Yang and Li Changshou began discussing other topics. Gradually, under Li Changshou's guidance, the conversation turned to Youqin Xuanya and Yuan Qing.

"So Senior Brother also thinks there's something off between those two?"

"Of course. This Yuan Qing gives me a strange feeling. He doesn't seem as gentle as he appears.

So if there is a problem, Senior Brother's suggestion is that the two of us find a way to slip away!"

Unlike Li Changshou, Li Yang knew the plot and naturally wasn't afraid, so he offered a subtle reminder.

"Senior Brother, Youqin Xuanya is the Sixth Princess of the Honglin Kingdom in the Eastern Divine Continent, while Yuan Qing is her childhood friend who grew up alongside her."

Just then, Fairy Jiujiu sensed someone following them. She halted the gourd and called out, "I wonder, this Daoist friend in the clouds—why have you been tailing us for so long?"

From the clouds behind, a burly figure flew out.

The man wore chainmail armor, was powerfully built with a rugged face, and carried a massive broad axe strapped to his back. His aura was dense and heavy—clearly an immortal.

This man was none other than the Palace Guard General of the Honglin Kingdom in the Eastern Divine Continent, a minor antagonist from the original story's opening.

Yuwen Ling did not approach directly. Instead, he clasped his hands in salute a hundred zhang away from the large gourd and said loudly, "I am the Palace Guard General of the Honglin Kingdom in the Eastern Divine Continent, sent to escort Her Highness the Sixth Princess. If I have overstepped, I beg the immortal's forgiveness!"

Sixth Princess?

As everyone looked around to see who that was, Youqin Xuanya spoke in an extremely cold tone: "Go back. No need to trouble yourself over me."

Yuwen Ling bowed in salute, his posture low and his expression troubled.

"Your Highness, I came on the king's orders. To return like this... I truly cannot report back!

Moreover, the enemy kingdom has been stirring lately, and His Majesty fears they might make a move against you in secret.

Your Highness, please allow me to accompany you. Once you return to the Immortal Crossing Sect, I will head back myself."

Youqin Xuanya furrowed her brows slightly. Her usually expressionless, beautiful face now carried a trace of helplessness.

Yuan Qing spoke up to persuade her: "Junior Sister Xuanya, we're heading to the Northern Juru Continent, a place full of dangers. Having General Yuwen along would give us an extra hand."

Then he turned to Fairy Jiujiu: "Martial Aunt, this general is named Yuwen Ling. He is the most trusted commander of Xuanya's father and usually guards the king's side. His coming here to escort us shows the situation is truly dire. So, I ask Martial Aunt to..."

Yuan Qing didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Youqin Xuanya didn't want this, so she looked at Fairy Jiujiu with a hint of pleading in her eyes.

"Your Highness, the Sixth Princess," Yuwen Ling called out again, his tone respectful but firm, as he was acting on orders.

Fairy Jiujiu waved a hand from the edge of the gourd's mouth. "Forget it, since he's your family's guard, let him come along. A big fellow who just became an immortal—he won't cause much trouble in my hands."

With that, she looked at Yuwen Ling: "Big guy, go sit at the back of the gourd. But don't make a sound. Though the sect rules don't forbid disciples from having personal guards while out, you're the first case in years, and it's still a bit improper."

Yuwen Ling quickly clasped his hands in thanks. "Thank you, immortal."

Then, Fairy Jiujiu opened a gap in the barrier at the back of the gourd to let Yuwen Ling in.

The cautious Li Changshou quietly took two steps to the side, then circled around to the front of the gourd and asked Fairy Jiujiu.

"Martial Aunt Jiujiu, may this disciple sit behind you?"

This timid and overly careful nature made Fairy Jiujiu laugh despite herself, but she still allowed him to sit.

Then Li Changshou sent a voice transmission to Li Yang.

Li Changshou: "Junior Brother, this man appeared just as we were about to head to the Northern Juru Continent. I smell a conspiracy."