Phantom Shadow Demon Trace

Volume 2: Phantom Shadow Demon Trace, Chapter 13: Dingguo of Cangzhou

"Hmm." Because they were going on a journey, Bai Qiuran had refashioned a Storage Bag for his disciple to carry her things. The pile of cushions she used to maintain her "external image" really took up a lot of space, so with the Storage Bag, Bai Qiuran and Tang Ruowei were able to travel light, empty-handed, and avoid the misery of lugging around big and small bags while wandering the world.

"But don't get too happy just yet." Traveling at lightning speed, Tang Ruowei didn't know how many miles she had been carried by Bai Qiuran while watching the scenery blur past. By the time the surroundings recovered from the distortion, the maiden realized she had been brought to an entirely unfamiliar land.

Bai Qiuran patted her shoulder.

However, Bai Qiuran gave a very blunt reply: "As always, a futile struggle. I have already seen the future of Princess Taiping."

"If I want to find things for you to do, I naturally have to gather intelligence first." Tang Ruowei hummed a tune along the way, clutching medicinal herbs, and walked into the courtyard with a grin to place them in Bai Qiuran's alchemy room.

"Our Azure Nether Sword Sect, although we do not interfere in worldly affairs, is a renowned sect within the Guzhou Cultivation World and even the entire Ten Lands of Jiuzhou. Especially in Guzhou, it is basically our sect's backyard. Once you step out in Guzhou and reveal your identity as a disciple of Azure Nether, aside from those half-baked fools who practice from scraps picked up on the side of the road like your ancestors, who the hell would be bored enough to come and cause you trouble?"

"Let me think, this place is..."

"Compared to Master, I am still far behind."

Three days later, having made full preparations, Bai Qiuran took Tang Ruowei and left the Mountain Gate of the Azure Nether Sword Sect.

"I have something to tell you, a serious matter." Even though Bai Qiuran had repeatedly emphasized that those who cultivate should sever their ties to the mortal world, Tang Ruowei still couldn't help but care upon hearing news of her blood relatives.

Bai Qiuran rolled his eyes and thought for a moment before answering: "Cangzhou, Dingguo."

Tang Ruowei perked up and asked: "Then Master, where are we going now?"

"Why?"

Bai Qiuran explained: "You didn't know, did you? Your younger brother, the Crown Prince of the Shangxuan Kingdom, got married last year."

"He married a big-breasted woman."

Tang Ruowei was secretly shocked.

Looking at his beaming disciple, Bai Qiuran, who was sitting cross-legged in the alchemy room, asked leisurely: "Smiling like a female monkey that just won the right to mate, has your estrus cycle finally arrived?"

"So if Guzhou won't work, where are we going?"

"Oh, I think I understand."

"Hey!"

"Fate can be changed!"

"Sigh, wait, don't leave yet."

We have only been walking for less than half an hour; just how fast is Master? Tang Ruowei was caught off guard and appeared somewhat hesitant.

For an ordinary mortal, the distance between two great provinces is equivalent to the distance between two worlds, but this distance had been easily crossed by Bai Qiuran. And the geographical location of Cangzhou within the Nine Provinces is to the northwest of Guzhou, with the province of Yunzhou separating the two. In other words, Bai Qiuran had traveled at least hundreds of thousands of miles, crossing several countries along the way.

"Why the sudden decision to go down the mountain?"

Descending into the mortal world, breathing in the long-lost air of the mundane, Tang Ruowei looked up at Bai Qiuran and asked: "Master, where are we going next? Back to Shangxuan?"

"Ah..." While feeling admiration, Tang Ruowei also couldn't help but remind herself.

"Wandering and training is something every disciple of every sect must experience. You've been holed up on the mountain for almost six years; it's time to go down and broaden your horizons." Bai Qiuran continued: "Although this is my training, it is also yours, but primarily yours. Therefore, no matter what situation you encounter on the road, unless you are so unlucky that you run into something you truly cannot defeat, I will not step in to help. You must solve problems on your own."

Every region within the Ten Lands of Jiuzhou is incredibly vast, almost equivalent to a continent on a planet. It is thanks to the vastness of this world that it can withstand a crowd of gods, demons, Demon Immortals, and ghosts all piling together and causing chaos.

Perhaps noticing Tang Ruowei's expression, Bai Qiuran said to her: "Cultivate well. Once you ascend to the upper realm, your speed should be able to approach mine... after all, you can control a Flying Sword."

Tang Ruowei indignantly prepared to leave the alchemy room.

Tang Ruowei retorted with her neck stiffened.

Bai Qiuran glanced at Tang Ruowei's palms and her Purple Mansion.

"Married?" Tang Ruowei whispered...

"Are you stupid?" Bai Qiuran called out to her.

"No need to be surprised, I have lived for three thousand years, after all."

Looking at the slightly different clothing and attire of the pedestrians on the road before her, Tang Ruowei asked in a low voice: "Where are we now?"

"Hmph hmph hmph, hmph hmph hmph..."

Bai Qiuran brushed it off and continued: "In any case, this is your first time wandering for training. I happen to be heading down the mountain myself to seek an opportunity to break through the Foundation Establishment Stage, so I will accompany you."

"True Essence flowing, stone powder on your palms, you've been in a fight with someone... Let me think, the only one on the mountain who has a grudge against you is that monkey. I never expected it, Ruowei; there is actually a human in this world who would feel smug about defeating a female monkey. You have truly opened my eyes, Master..."

"Follow me."

Hearing this, Tang Ruowei relaxed slightly.

"Master, you make it sound like we only go down the mountain to find trouble."

Bai Qiuran replied: "What is called wandering down the mountain is exactly coming down to find trouble."

Tang Ruowei's good mood was immediately ruined, and she said angrily: "How can you say that about your cute disciple?"

Tang Ruowei asked nervously: "What kind of woman did my brother marry?"

"What's wrong with you?" Bai Qiuran grabbed Tang Ruowei's arm, and then said...

So the girl kicked the threshold, circled back, and sat down across from Bai Qiuran, pouting.

"Cangzhou?"

"No, we are not staying in Guzhou."

And he had only used less than an hour to do it.

"I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Bai Qiuran checked the situation around them and then replied: "Follow me. Today, this veteran driver will take you for a walk through the jianghu."

"Yes, you guessed right."

Bai Qiuran didn't make any more snide remarks this time and said directly: "I'm saying that since you've reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, it's about time you went down the mountain."

"Master."

"Then do your best. Fortune Body Forging Technique, level fifty. I have high hopes for you."

The two did not disturb the Mountain Gate of the Azure Nether Sword Sect, but instead, with Bai Qiuran leading, they quietly left the territory of the Azure Nether Sword Sect's mountains from Seven Star Peak.

Bai Qiuran turned his head to look at Tang Ruowei and flicked her forehead.