Another Encounter with Emei

If this were a game, then "delivering a letter to General Gao Xing's camp and asking someone to treat Gao Ao" would probably be the quest for Aruba to join the Heavenly Soldiers Army.

Of course, according to Li Fan's analysis, the immortal he was looking for was actually the father of his two stupid girlfriends. The probability that it Ling Chendao, the abandoned disciple of Penglai, was actually not high. At this time and place, it was more likely that he would encounter another mission target, Cheng Chengzhi, the Cheng Chengzhi of Penglai.

After all, if he were to put himself in Penglai's shoes and defect to Gen Province to hide, the best option would naturally be to hide in the headquarters of a regional military governor. There, he could find a powerful patron and wouldn't miss out on cultivation resources. Compared to the other xenophobic locals, Gao Xing, a commander who didn't discriminate between Chinese and barbarians and only valued talent, was an excellent choice. Of course, he certainly wouldn't use his own name anymore, and since all the members of the Cheng generation were dead, disguising himself as Ling Chendao, who had long been expelled from the sect, would be a good solution.

In short, whether it's true or false, we'll know once we meet. If it really is Cheng Chengzhi, Li Fan can use this mission to lure him out of the army and kill him.

Of course, it would be a miracle if Aruba, a mere barbarian, could actually summon anyone from the Heavenly Soldiers Army camp during the Northern Expedition by simply taking a letter.

Gao Ming naturally thought of this as well, so in addition to Li Fan, he also sent a trusted general with the Outer Core Nascent Soul Stage and a trusted retainer who was also present at the table, and the three of them went out together to send the message.

It has to be said that the Gao family really knows how to win people's hearts. They are quite generous. Regardless of whether the mission has been completed or not, they gave Li Fan a full set of equipment and a mount.

Their equipment was the Heavenly Soldiers Army's set, sturdy and durable. Their mount was a divine steed, a well-bred and trained military horse with yellow skin, a black muzzle, and a body covered with whorled hair. It was as big as a fist, hence the name 'Quan Mao Ju'.

It is said that this is a local dragon-blooded horse. Everyone knows that dragons have a thing for that, so people, animals, and livestock around the dragon's lair are all doomed to perish. The horse herds on the nearby grasslands are also said to be descendants of dragons.

Although it's unclear whether this is true or just boasting, 'Quan Mao Ju' is indeed tall and strong, with a mouth full of fangs, demonic energy emanating from its mouth and nose, and flames shooting into the sky from its eyes. It can only eat grains mixed with leftover dragon blood and meat. Its muscles are as thick as steel plates, and it is a great demon beast at the level of Golden Core Perfection, only one step away from Nascent Soul Stage Transformation.

Li Fan took a great liking to this fine steed, hugged its head and inhaled its breath for a long time, almost strangling the great demon to death.

"Rest assured, my lord! Aruba will deliver the letter!"

Li Fan decided to spare Gao Ming's life out of consideration for Long Geng and 'Quan Mao Ju', letting Li Wugou avenge herself.

Gao Ming assumed the expert had submitted, and said with satisfaction, "Young Master Hou eagerly awaits your good news!"

So the three of them dressed up as Heavenly Soldiers Army, mounted their horses, and headed north beyond the border, speeding towards the grasslands south of the mountains.

The two traveling together this time included Han Jiu, a vassal general with the outer core and Nascent Soul Stage. He was also a governor, and although he wasn't as powerful as the Martial God Body, he was still a true inheritor of the ancient immortal army, having honed his skills through iron-fighting and combat. He was a trusted general of the Heavenly Soldier General, stationed in Ba Fu to assist the eldest son.

The other Nascent Soul Stage cultivator was a wretched-looking old man who called himself the Qianchun. Li Fan vaguely remembered him; although he had easily dealt with him with a single punch last night, this man was a master of poisons. Whether it was a poison technique or a mutation, he had hidden his poison sacs deep within his skin. When he took off his clothes, his entire body was covered in herpes-like cysts. A single punch would release a lot of foul-smelling venom. Although he had used the Hundred Bone Fan to neutralize the poison, it was still incredibly disgusting. What was even more disgusting was that because of this unique physical characteristic, he could only watch from the sidelines for the second half of the battle, yet he seemed to enjoy it. In short, the level of disgust doubled, making it a true visual pollution. That was probably why he was kicked out of the field mission.

Having witnessed the might of this fierce man Aruba, the Qianchun naturally dared not provoke him. Han Jiu was also a confidant of the Gao family. Gao Ming had instructed him to only travel under the banner this time. He would lead the way out of the pass, and once they reached the grasslands, the two of them would follow the instructions of the 'local Aruba,' going wherever he pointed.

Li Fan had no idea where to go. Although he could disguise himself as a northern barbarian, he knew nothing about grasslands, waterways, underground rivers, pastures, or the settlements of various tribes. The itineraries of the nomadic tribes on the grasslands were classified. Once the grass in one place was gone, where to go next, where there was grass and water, how far away, whether there were wolves, monsters, other tribes, or bandits—these were things passed down through generations of experience and were usually only known to the tribal chiefs. If they were to be leaked, they might be attacked and purged by other forces. It was a matter of life and death, and ordinary herders would never know.

Especially after crossing the Yinshan Mountains, the situation on the northern ice plains became even more treacherous and complex. Without a professional guide, it would be suicidal for an army to wander aimlessly through the snow and ice. Therefore, even though the military strength of the Central Plains was overwhelming for many years, it was still difficult to completely wipe out the various Hu Barbarians tribes on the ice plains. They were always forced to hide and reappear in the spring.

Although Li Fan was completely clueless and had no idea where to find the army's tracks, his Divine Sense had a wide range, and he also had the compass Si Nan metaphysical guidance, so no matter how aimlessly he wandered around, he could always find some tribes, clans, monster groups, battlefield traces, etc., and he would never leave empty-handed.

The other two, having also been on the battlefield, knew that getting lost on the grasslands was common. They thought Aruba was indeed a professional shepherd; he would just squat down and look around, chasing after whatever he saw, and always managed to find some random things. He was far more efficient than the Heavenly Soldiers Army's eagle whistles or the Shuofang Army's falcons, as if he were coming home. With such high efficiency, he would find the main force of the Heavenly Soldiers Army sooner or later, so they had no doubt whatsoever.

Galloping across the grasslands at breakneck speed, day and night, the three arrived at the foot of Yinshan Mountain that very night.

Under the moonlight, the Yinshan Mountains blend seamlessly with the sky, forming a unified whole. The undulating snow-capped peaks stretch across the horizon, almost like a high wall connecting the clouds and separating the heavens. On one side is an endless grassland, and on the other side are snow-covered glaciers under the starry sky and bright moon. Li Fan really wanted to capture this magnificent and colorful scene with his camera.

The scene has been added and can be set as wallpaper and viewed in meditation.

Damn, system, why do you always work so unexpectedly? Speaking of last night...

Some opportunities, once missed, are gone forever.

Damn it!

"Your Excellency Aruba, the Jiezhen (military governor) is unlikely to lead a large army across Yinshan. Why don't we search in a different direction?" Han Jiu suggested, seemingly aware of the Heavenly Soldiers Army's strategy.

Ugh, what a hassle. We could have just crossed the mountain to the feast, but now there are two burdens and a side quest I haven't finished. Will I have to postpone it again? So annoying! Where is that Heavenly Soldiers Army? Just hurry up and find Cheng Chengzhi and kill him, that'll be the end of it...

Li Fan then dismounted and descended from the clouds, pretending to rub a handful of soil, smell it, and pointed northeast, saying, "There are people over there, two Golden Core cultivators and two Foundation Establishment. Go and ask them."

"Isn't that downwind? How can you smell that..." Qianchun was also astonished.

So the three of them rode quickly and soon caught up. Suddenly, a courtyard house in the style of the Central Plains appeared on the grassland, probably a magical Magic Treasure used for camping.

Qianchun acted immediately, disregarding the proper etiquette of greeting. He swept a banner across the room, instantly dismantling the magic array surrounding it. "Those inside! Come out and answer!"

Three women and one man emerged from the house. They appeared to be a family: a boy and a girl, seemingly siblings, whose cultivation had just reached the Foundation Establishment; and two older women, both at the Golden Core Stage, who looked similar and were probably the mother or aunts. They were dressed in the style of people from the Central Plains, though they hadn't had time to dress up much, clearly having been startled awake from their sleep. They were only wearing nightgowns and bodices, barely enough to cover their figures.

When the Qianchun saw the three women below, who had just woken from a deep sleep, their eyes glazed over, their alluring yet coy appearance, his eyes lit up. He immediately used his cultivation to rush down, grabbing the two women, both at the Golden Core stage, and sealing their cultivation. "Hehehe! Beauties! This desolate desert is not a place to sleep soundly!"

Li Fan sighed. What kind of hentai plot is this...?

"Monster! Let go of my mother!" The girl was so frightened that her legs went weak, but the boy shouted and drew a dagger, rushing forward to fight desperately.

However, Qianchun only blew a breath at him, and the boy's eyes rolled back, his legs kicked, his face turned pinkish-purple, and he collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth. Alas, what a weakling...

"Xuan'er!" A woman, held in the arms of the Qianchun, screamed and nearly fainted.

Qianqiu stuck out his tongue and licked his lips. "Don't worry, beautiful lady. As long as you behave and answer all my questions, your son will definitely be fine, and none of you will die, hehehe!"

The other woman, trembling, still managed to answer, "Who are you people! How dare you! We are the families of Emei disciples! When my master returns from Moon Worship, don't expect this to end peacefully!"

What? Emei? Moon Worship? Wait! What moon? There's no False Moon today!

Li Fan had just dismounted and was about to stop them when he heard those words and paused for a moment.

Then, Qianchun handed the two women to Li Fan with both hands, fawningly saying, "Hey, these days, nine out of ten people claim to be from Emei, so don't worry. Please, Lord Aruba, I've already drugged you and trained you. Once the drug takes effect, I guarantee you'll be obedient! I'll serve you comfortably, hehehe!"

Holy crap, you're making me look like a tyrant! And stop with that expectant look in your eyes! It's disgusting!

Li Fan was speechless. Han Jiu also joined in the fun, drawing his ring-handled sword and threatening, "Speak! Have you ever seen the Heavenly Soldiers Army? If you lie, you will be killed without mercy!"

No, I was just asking for directions. Can't you guys speak properly?

Li Fan could only smile kindly at them. When the Foundation Establishment girl saw the Hu Barbarians staring at her with a sinister grin, she gasped and fainted from fright, seemingly realizing something.

Li Fan,...

"Don't hurt my child! Take it out on me!"

"Sister! Let's fight them!"

"Little sister! You're still young! Let me do it!"

"Hehehe! The sisters are arguing! Don't worry, with a strong adult like me, you'll both get a share, hehehe!"

"Enough with the nonsense! Have you ever seen the Heavenly Soldiers Army? Tell me the truth now!"

"Shut up, all of you!"

Li Fan unleashed his aura, his Dao power soaring to the heavens, finally subduing everyone. "One by one! You go first! Who is your master?"

The 'Golden Core Sister' pointed at by Li Fan looked at the fierce-looking, burly Hu Barbarians with fear, barely managing to stand and rebuked him, "Let you rats know! My master is Yang Nanying, a disciple of Emei! Isn't there an Emei golden seal hanging on the eaves? Go see for yourselves if you don't believe me!"

Li Fan did indeed see something shiny. He looked at the golden seal and saw that it was like a waist tag with two characters written on it...

"Ah! Emei!" The expression of the Qianchun had just looked lewd, changed drastically, and he jumped behind Li Fan.

"Hiss! Emei!" Han Jiu, who had just been looking fierce, immediately sheathed his knife and retreated to Li Fan's side.

Li Fan glanced at them sideways...

Damn, look at you guys, so scared of Emei, what are you pretending to be so arrogant about... But the "Nan" generation, you sound like Outer Sect Disciple preparing for graduate school entrance exams, hmm, Nan Ying...

"Is your owner also a woman?"

"My lord! This is someone from Emei! Please find another one!"

"Yes, yes, we probably got the wrong person. It's all a misunderstanding!"

Li Fan glanced sideways at the two good-for-nothings...

But Emei's reputation is really effective in Gen Country... I wonder how many people they've slaughtered to earn that reputation; it's left a lasting psychological scar on everyone...

Seeing her momentum rising, "Golden Core Sister" puffed out her chest and shouted, "I, my master Yang Nanying, am a rising star of Emei! The most favored Daoist of this generation! You cowards, if you know what's good for you, retreat at once! Otherwise, when she returns from her cultivation of Moon Worship, you'll all suffer!"

Li Fan bowed his head respectfully, and 'Golden Core Sister' was immediately frightened and shrank back, clutching her collar and not daring to speak, for fear of arousing the Hu Barbarians's bestial nature and causing him to pounce on her recklessly.

Of course, Li Fan only glanced at her; besides, there was something more important than the beauty before him. "Moon Worship? Did she go up the mountain? How many days has she been gone?"

The 'Golden Core Sister' couldn't answer for a moment, but the older sister knelt on the ground crying and begging, 'Master has been gone for three days. He's probably helping Xuan'er collect rare and Heavenly Treasure for his breakthrough, which has delayed him. Please, please spare Xuan'er! He's the only heir of my Yang Family! Ah! He seems to be dying! Xuan'er!'

Upon hearing that this Emei disciple had not returned for three days, the two scoundrels became even more arrogant, chuckling and snickering.

"What? They've all gone over Yinshan Mountain. They won't be back anytime soon."

"Lord Aruba, you just go ahead and do it. We can just watch from the sidelines..."

But Li Fan suddenly leaped into the air and looked out at the summit of Yinshan Mountain.

"Sir, are you going to go or not?"

"Could it be that the Emei one has returned?"

Seeing that Li Fan's expression was off, the two dared not make a move and flew up to ask him what was wrong.

"Here it comes, it's jumped over here..."

"Jump?"

Then they heard a woman scream coming from the mountain.

But saying it was a woman's scream doesn't seem quite right. If it were a woman, her scream would have been far too loud, enough to cause an avalanche on the mountaintop.

"Take them and disperse!" Li Fan roared, mounted his 'Quan Mao Ju', and charged straight into the clouds.

Qianchun and Han Jiu instinctively obeyed the orders, each taking one large and one small, knocking out the four burdens and putting them on horses before they realized what was happening.

"No, we have important business to attend to. Why would we bring them along? Sir, you can just play with them for a bit and then throw them away... I... I'll go..."

"That... thing..."

Just like Li Fan said, he jumped over it.

With a leap, the thing descended from the sky, as if it had jumped straight down from the summit of Yinshan Mountain, smashing the fairy house to pieces. Amidst the ruins, it raised its neck and stood upright.

At first glance, it appears to be a 'gammon' with snow-white fur and hooves gleaming with silver light. When it straightens its back and shoulders, it is actually twenty zhang tall. However, upon closer inspection, it is not a 'gammon' because a goat does not have insect-like mouthparts on its lower jaw, and there is no woman's upper body growing out like fleshy buds between its horns or on its forehead.

The woman was a female Daoist priest dressed in white robes and black robes, with disheveled hair. The entire 'antelope' seemed to grow out from under the robes. When she raised her head, one could see that her face clearly had no eyes or nose, only a mouth like a black hole. When she shrieked, endless gales and sound waves shot out, sweeping away the clouds in the sky.

"Ah--!"

"Aaaaaah--!" "Emei, aaaaah!!"

The Qianchun and Han Jiu screamed like little girls and rode away on horseback.

"Ah--!"

The 'antelope' also screamed and chased after them.

Li Fan, hiding in the clouds, also wiped away a cold sweat.

Damn it! What the hell is Emei doing?! They can't even do a proper moon worship ceremony! What a mess they've made! Not a single person who came to help during the demon exorcism was seen, and now they're even asking me to transform into Devil Embryo to do more work! This is just too ridiculous!

And this Devil Embryo is a bit troublesome. I don't know if it's because Yang Nanying's talent is too high, or Moon Worship has stayed for too long. Judging from this momentum, it seems to have already reached the Divine Transformation stage! Only three days? Isn't that outrageous?

If Li Fan were in the Tai Su Realm, he would have his own combat power boosted, and wouldn't need to worry about the depletion of his baleful energy. He would have pounced on this kind of food as soon as he encountered it.

However, fighting such Devil Embryo in the Taiji Realm is a bit tricky. It's not that it's impossible, but we still need to plan carefully and try to preserve the strength of the Gui Xu Nascent Soul. In the past, we were penniless and had no choice but to fight desperately. Now that we have so many methods, there's no need to exhaust our cultivation and destroy Nascent Soul Stage every time we fight a 'Non-Thing'. In the end, we're neither gaining nor losing.

In short, use those two good-for-nothings as bait first, and see what this thing is capable of. If we can find its core, it would be best to kill it with a single glare.

Okay, it's decided then.