With a crane's cry, a slender, elderly Daoist rode a red-crowned white crane down from the clouds.
This was none other than Venerable Zhongyu, vice sect master of the Immortal Crossing Sect and a Heavenly Immortal Realm expert. His cultivation ranked among the sect's top ten.
Auspicious clouds followed behind Venerable Zhongyu, and two green lotuses floated at his sides. He gave off no aura at all, yet still seemed solemn and dignified.
When he appeared, he didn't launch into a long speech. Instead, he went straight to his instructions.
"While you're out this time, remember the sect rules at all times. Uphold the good name of the Immortal Crossing Sect, and do nothing that would bring shame upon us..."
After just two brief sentences, he handed things over to Elder Ge. Then he rode off on his crane without lingering, leaving the disciples to bow and see him off.
Elder Ge stepped forward and cupped his hands toward the direction Venerable Zhongyu had gone.
"Those heading to the East Sea Coast to slay demons, come to the far left. Your cultivation must be at least Qi Refining Sixth Stage..."
Before long, the first ten of the twelve destinations had been assigned. Lan Ling'e hadn't gone to the East Sea Coast as she had in the Original Novel, but had instead chosen to head to the southeastern border of the Central Divine Continent.
Dozens of disciples went with her, all of them at the Nascent Soul Cultivation level.
Only the last two destinations remained: East Sea Lin Yun Island and the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest in the southeast of Northern Juru Continent.
Both places were extremely dangerous, and disciples were often injured there. That was why only the "immortal seeds" from the various peaks went to train there.
Soon, seventeen people chose the safer East Sea Lin Yun Island.
Only six people remained, including Li Yang and Li Changshou.
By then, Li Yang had shifted his gaze from Fairy Jiujiu to Youqin Xuanya, who wore a fiery red immortal dress and carried a broad-bladed sword on her back.
Her cultivation's decent. She's been in the sect for sixty years and is at Void Refining Fourth Stage, still a little behind Junior Sister.
She's pretty, truly a peerless beauty, with a face that could make fish sink and geese fall.
But...
Li Yang glanced at Youqin Xuanya, then shifted his gaze to the refined, gentle young Qi Practitioner standing behind her.
This person was none other than Yuan Qing, the first antagonist in the Original Novel, with cultivation at Void Refining Fifth Stage.
Though his eyes never left Youqin Xuanya, and he looked like a lovesick fool, he was actually a schemer and a crafty old fox.
If not for Senior Brother, you would've succeeded.
But... with the butterfly effect caused by my arrival, what will your ending be like now?
Li Yang was coldly indifferent. He really wanted to see whether these things would change.
If they did, then that Madman could only control the so-called grand scheme of things. He couldn't control the details—or, at least, he couldn't control them completely.
Who knew?
A faint, pleasant curve appeared at the corner of Li Yang's mouth, then vanished, leaving behind only the impression that it had been there.
Only Li Changshou, who kept a close eye on his junior brother, noticed the change. He turned his gaze to Youqin Xuanya and Yuan Qing, wondering what Li Yang had in mind.
He believed Li Yang wouldn't do anything pointless.
There had to be something about those two that interested Li Yang.
But what was it?
Youqin Xuanya, or Yuan Qing, who was practically a lovesick puppy?
Thinking this, the cautious Li Changshou decided to keep an eye on them too.
At that moment, Elder Ge said, "Those heading to the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest in the southeast of Northern Juru Continent, wait inside the hall. It's extremely dangerous there, so your cultivation must be at least Ninth Stage of Spirit Transformation."
As soon as Elder Ge finished speaking, Youqin Xuanya opened her eyes. She lightly tapped the ground with her toes and drifted into the hall under everyone's gaze.
Yuan Qing followed close behind. While everyone's attention was on the two of them, Li Changshou displayed his Void Refining First Stage cultivation and entered the hall.
After him came Liu Yan'er from Du Lin Peak and Wang Qi from Lesser Spirit Peak. Li Yang was the last to make the cut, with his Ninth Stage of Spirit Transformation cultivation.
Inside the hall, more than a dozen curious gazes fell on Li Changshou and Li Yang.
They looked at Li Changshou because they didn't know who he was. He was already at Void Refining First Stage, yet none of them had any impression of him.
They looked at Li Yang because they knew who he was. He'd been in the sect for ten years and had reached Ninth Stage of Spirit Transformation. Such talent was downright frightening.
Fairy Jiujiu held a bamboo switch in her hand, her expression far from pleasant.
Yuan Qing and Youqin Xuanya are cultivation prodigies from Sky Breaking Peak, ranked second and sixth among this generation of disciples. Liu Yan'er and Wang Qi are also talented cultivators, ranked in the top twenty.
As for Li Yang, his cultivation may be low, but he's a genius among geniuses.
Sending such young geniuses to the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest? Has our sect really become so stingy with its disciples?
And Li Changshou—he's reached Void Refining First Stage in a hundred years. That's not bad, either, but the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest is still extremely dangerous for him.
Thinking this, Fairy Jiujiu's face darkened, and she immediately scolded Li Yang.
"Li Yang, what are you going to the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest for with your measly Ninth Stage of Spirit Transformation cultivation? Go to the East Sea and beat up some shrimp demons!"
Li Yang: "..."
Huh?
Wait, wasn't that how Senior Brother was treated? Why was she—
Oh, right. Now I'm the Ninth Stage of Spirit Transformation cultivator from Lesser Qiong Peak!
Well, in that case!!
So he put on a solemn expression, bowed to Fairy Jiujiu, and said, "Martial Aunt Jiujiu, I need to go to Northern Juru Continent to look for a medicinal herb, so I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you!"
"What herb?"
Fairy Jiujiu curled her lip, exasperated with him. "With your current cultivation, it'll be easy to die in Northern Juru Continent.
"If a genius disciple like you dies there, I'll lose more than ten years' worth of wine money.
"And besides, why are you risking your life to go there?"
As she spoke, Fairy Jiujiu fished a jade token from her wine-stained short jacket and tossed it to Li Yang.
"I'm on pretty good terms with Master Li. Take this to the Scripture Pavilion and find Elder Qiling. Get the herb you need, and tell him to put it on my monthly allowance."
Then she turned to Li Changshou and scolded him. "And you! You're Li Yang's senior brother. How can you just let him act recklessly?
"How old are you? How old is he?!
"Have you thought about what'll happen if he dies there? Your crybaby of a master will definitely come running to me in tears.
"Do you know how annoying that is?!"
Li Changshou took an undeserved scolding and felt quite aggrieved. He gave a wry smile.
"Martial Aunt, this is Junior Brother's decision. I can't make it for him. Besides, according to the sect rules, you can't refuse a disciple's request to go out and train, can you?"
As soon as Li Changshou finished speaking, Li Yang took the opportunity to step forward with the jade token. He bowed, held it out in both hands, and offered it back to Fairy Jiujiu.
"Martial Aunt, if I had a choice, I wouldn't want to risk going to Northern Juru Continent either. But I truly have no other option this time. I hope you'll grant my request."
Fairy Jiujiu frowned slightly and studied Li Yang before giving a cold snort and snatching the jade token back.
"Such a pain! You there—Yuan Qing, Xuanya, Changshou."
The three answered at once. "Present!"
Fairy Jiujiu said crossly, "If you three have the time, help keep an eye on him. Don't let him die."
Then she glared fiercely at Li Changshou. "Especially you. You're his senior brother, so you need to take good care of him!"
Youqin Xuanya replied expressionlessly, "I will obey."
Li Changshou cupped his hands. "Understood."
Yuan Qing looked at Li Yang with warm goodwill, a gentle smile on his lips. He was the very picture of a refined gentleman.
"Don't worry, Martial Aunt. I'll take good care of Junior Brother Li Yang!"
Fairy Jiujiu looked at everyone. Only after the other disciples in the Hall of Hundred Affairs had left did she toss out a wine gourd, which transformed into a huge gourd.
"Everyone, hop on. It's time for us to set out!"
Before you continue