Anomalies, Lin Heng, Border Battlefield

The cold energy within the Millennial Ice Soul Pearl had been absorbed in large quantities by Xu Yang. It was now depleted by a full ten percent; although this had not damaged its foundation, the color exposed on the surface of the pearl had become significantly paler.

Although Xu Yang was very pleased with his rapid progress in cultivation, his Indestructible Golden Body Art Iron Body chapter was nearing completion. To cultivate the next chapter, the Bronze Body, he required True Spirit Essence Blood. However, Xu Yang possessed no such blood, and his Indestructible Golden Body Art would soon be impossible to continue.

Therefore, he had no choice but to end his seclusion, step out of his pavilion, and go in search of spirit beasts possessing True Spirit bloodlines to hunt, refine their blood, and condense True Spirit Essence Blood.

Stepping out of the pavilion where he had been in seclusion for three years, Xu Yang was surprised to find several message talismans outside the pavilion's barrier. He reached out to draw them in, then probed them with his divine sense. Upon seeing the information within, his expression shifted. After a moment of thought, he turned and headed toward the depths of the residential area.

After a short while, Xu Yang arrived before an exquisite pavilion. He flicked his finger, sending a burst of condensed energy that struck the barrier outside the pavilion.

A moment later, the barrier opened, and Li Qingqing walked out holding Wu Yuan's small hand, coming to stand before Xu Yang. Seeing this, Xu Yang immediately stepped forward and bowed to Li Qingqing, saying, "I apologize, Senior Sister, for not knowing you were looking for me. I have been in seclusion and unable to leave; please forgive me."

Li Qingqing said coldly, "Wu Yuan missed you, so I brought him to see you. I didn't want to disturb your cultivation, so I left the message talismans outside your pavilion, but I never expected you would be in seclusion for three years."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yang quickly apologized, "This is my fault. I had no idea you would come to find me, and this little fellow—I never expected him to be thinking of me."

Hearing Xu Yang's words, Li Qingqing's expression softened slightly. She pushed Wu Yuan toward Xu Yang and said, "Look! This little one has been pestering me to find you! He has grown quite a bit in these three years."

Xu Yang turned his gaze to Wu Yuan, seeing that he was now a big boy of eight or nine years old and had just broken through to the first level of the Qi Refining Realm, though his aura was not yet stable.

Xu Yang stepped forward and picked him up, saying, "Wu Yuan! You've grown quite a bit; you should be more sensible now. Uncle knows you missed me, but seeing that you've broken through to the first level of the Qi Refining Realm, it means you have spiritual roots and are a cultivator now!"

When Wu Yuan saw Xu Yang, he had originally looked aggrieved, thinking that Xu Yang didn't want to see him after such a long time. Now, being held by Xu Yang and hearing his question, Wu Yuan said happily, "Of course! I have the rare Light Spiritual Root. I broke through to the first level of the Qi Refining Realm a few days ago. I am a real cultivator now."

Xu Yang was surprised by Wu Yuan's words and quickly looked at Li Qingqing. Li Qingqing nodded at Xu Yang and said, "Wu Yuan's aptitude is excellent; he truly has the rare Light Spiritual Root. When Master Qing Yuanzi found out, he was very happy and said he wanted to see him in person."

Xu Yang felt a surge of envy. He hadn't expected this little fellow to have such good aptitude that even Master Qing Yuanzi wanted to teach him personally; he was truly lucky.

Thinking of this, Xu Yang continued to say to Wu Yuan, "Little Yuan, since you have such good aptitude and the guidance of Master, you must cherish this opportunity and cultivate diligently!"

At this point, Xu Yang joked with Wu Yuan, "Uncle's spiritual roots are not good, and cultivation is very difficult, which is why I am often in seclusion; otherwise, my lifespan will end in vain. You must cultivate hard, and perhaps you can help Uncle in the future!"

Hearing Xu Yang's words, Wu Yuan immediately puffed out his small chest and said to Xu Yang, "Don't worry, Uncle! When my cultivation is high in the future, I will help you beat up the bad guys!" "Haha! Then you must cultivate well; Uncle will be waiting for your help!" Xu Yang laughed heartily as he said this to Wu Yuan.

Seeing that the two were chatting happily, Li Qingqing stepped forward and said to Xu Yang, "You haven't been to my place before, have you? Why don't you come into my pavilion and we can talk inside?"

Hearing Li Qingqing's invitation, Xu Yang readily agreed and walked into her pavilion while holding Wu Yuan. Upon entering, he saw that the interior was filled with pink, which took him by surprise. Seeing Li Qingqing's cold, aloof demeanor, he hadn't expected her private quarters to be so sentimental; one truly cannot judge a book by its cover.

Seeing Xu Yang's surprised expression, Li Qingqing felt a bit shy, and two blushes rose to her face. She hurriedly led Xu Yang to the side hall, where the decor was quite simple. Xu Yang took a brief look and sat down in a nearby seat.

Afterward, Xu Yang, Li Qingqing, and Wu Yuan began to talk. Through their conversation, Xu Yang was shocked to discover that quite a few major events had occurred over the past three years, and their sect had even gone to war with the Blood Refining Sect.

Speaking of the war between the two sects, Xu Yang asked Li Qingqing curiously, "Senior Sister Li, why didn't you go to the battlefield? And since I was in seclusion for three years, no one came to disturb me. Did the sect not send us there?"

Li Qingqing giggled, her cold, frost-like face blooming like a winter plum, looking incredibly beautiful. Xu Yang was stunned for a moment, but fortunately, his mind was firm, and he quickly recovered. He heard Li Qingqing say, "How could that be? The sect is very strict with its disciples. Every disciple above the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm must go to the border battlefield for a trial; this is a mandatory rule with no room for negotiation. Once the trial is complete, you are free to choose whether to withdraw from the battlefield or continue fighting. Of course, the sect provides rewards for killing opponents; the more you kill, the higher the reward."

Xu Yang was stunned and asked Li Qingqing, "Then why haven't you and I gone to the battlefield?"

Li Qingqing glared at Xu Yang and said, "Who said I didn't go! I returned from the battlefield a long time ago. You are the only one in the sect who hasn't been to the border battlefield because you were in seclusion. The sect gave Master face and didn't force you, but now that you have come out of seclusion, you still need to make a trip to the battlefield."

At this point, she looked Xu Yang up and down and said, "Not bad, you have already broken through to the eighth level of the Qi Refining Realm. As long as you are careful on the battlefield, there won't be any danger."

Xu Yang suddenly realized the situation. He quickly asked Li Qingqing about the conditions on the border battlefield. Upon hearing that only Qi Refining Realm cultivators were fighting and that Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators were holding the line in the rear, he immediately felt relieved. With his current strength, Qi Refining Realm cultivators no longer posed a threat to him.

Afterward, Xu Yang chatted with Li Qingqing for a while longer, took the opportunity to encourage Wu Yuan to cultivate hard, not to be mischievous, and to listen to Senior Sister Li. He also promised to visit him when he had time, before finally rising to leave Li Qingqing's pavilion and heading toward the External Affairs Hall.

Arriving at the External Affairs Hall, Xu Yang scanned the room and immediately saw Lin Heng sitting behind a counter. He walked straight up to Lin Heng and said, "Junior Brother Lin, I hope you have been well. Your cultivation has improved quickly; you've reached the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm."

Seeing Xu Yang, Lin Heng immediately smiled and said, "It is all thanks to Senior Brother Xu's blessing. I was accepted as a disciple by Vice Hall Master Xu last time, and under his cultivation, I have achieved this progress. Is there anything I can help you with today, Senior Brother Xu?"

"Oh! You are fortunate, Junior Brother, to be accepted as a disciple by Vice Hall Master Xu. He is a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator; you have a bright future ahead! I have come to sign up for the border battle. I have been in seclusion and only came out today, so I have not yet been to the border battlefield," Xu Yang replied with a smile.

Hearing Xu Yang's words, Lin Heng was overjoyed. He said excitedly, "So that's it; what a coincidence. I just broke through to the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm recently and haven't been to the border battlefield either. I was just about to go alone! Why don't we go together, Senior Brother Xu?"

Hearing Lin Heng's words, Xu Yang secretly scanned him. Seeing his happy expression and clear eyes, he knew he was likely not lying and had no ulterior motives. After a moment of thought, Xu Yang agreed to Lin Heng's suggestion, and the two decided to travel together.

Seeing that Xu Yang had agreed, Lin Heng was overjoyed. He immediately took Xu Yang's identity token to register, then took out his own token to register as well. He called over a disciple of the External Affairs Hall, gave him some instructions to cover his work, and left the External Affairs Hall with Xu Yang.

The two left the sect and flew on their swords toward the border of the Wu Kingdom. On the way, Xu Yang asked Lin Heng curiously, "Junior Brother Lin, have you never been to the border battlefield before?"

Lin Heng smiled bitterly and said, "Of course not. The border battlefield is too dangerous. For cultivators below the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm, it is a gamble with one's life. If you win, the gains are huge; if you lose, everything is over. Master was afraid I would die on the battlefield, so he never let me go. Now that I have broken through to the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm, the sect rules require me to go once, so Master finally let me go."

"I see. With your current cultivation, Junior Brother Lin, as long as you are careful, there shouldn't be any major danger. After all, cultivators above the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm already have decent strength."

"Haha! Let's hope I can return safely! Life and death are fated; sometimes it depends on luck and how the heavens arrange it!" Lin Heng said with a carefree laugh.

Hearing this, Xu Yang curled his lip and said disapprovingly, "Junior Brother Lin, that kind of thinking is no good. We cultivators are going against the heavens; we must have the will to forge ahead and struggle. Otherwise, how can we ever become true immortals?"

Hearing Xu Yang's words, Lin Heng looked thoughtful. He cupped his hands at Xu Yang and said, "Senior Brother is right; I was being too passive."

The two chatted all the way as they flew on their swords toward the border battlefield. A day later, they finally crossed the Border City Prefecture and approached the border battlefield. The two immediately became alert, paying close attention to the movements around them. Fortunately, nothing happened, and they arrived safely at the camp established by the sect.