Wine Immortal Appears—Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader "Time Without Snow"!

Wine Immortal Appears—Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader "Time Without Snow"!

"Yuan Qing, Xuan Ya, you rank second and sixth in cultivation among this generation of disciples. Why are both of you rushing off to gather herbs?

"Liu Yan'er of Du Lin Peak, Wang Qi of Lesser Spirit Peak... Hmm, you two are also among the top twenty talents of this generation. Why are you all so eager to go to the Treasure Forest of Chaotic Miasma? Has our sect become this stingy toward its young disciples?

"The Northern Julu Continent is no pleasant place. No one even went there the last two times...

"Hmm?"

In a corner of the Hall of Hundred Affairs, the female immortal reeking of alcohol tilted her head. She glared at Li Changshou, who stood behind the four dazzling young disciples, then lowered her head to look at the bamboo slip in her hand. She looked up at Li Changshou again, repeating this twice as her expression gradually darkened.

"Lesser Qiong Peak, Li Changshou.

"What is your cultivation? You're only at the Ninth Stage of Spirit Transformation, so what are you going to the Treasure Forest of Chaotic Miasma for?

"Go, go, go! Go to the Eastern Sea and fight those Shrimp Demons!"

The female immortal spoke bluntly and showed no mercy, but her words made perfect sense. Clearly, she was considering Li Changshou's safety.

A large and a small wine gourd hung from her waist, and her attire was equally simple: long trousers, a short shirt, and light-brown hair cut to medium-short length. Among the female Qi Refiners with their flowing black hair, she was a rare oddity.

In both appearance and temperament, she looked exactly like a menial disciple who had been exploited for labor by the sect for so long that she had simply given up on herself.

Fortunately, her slender waist bound with cloth strips, her burlap short shirt that looked ready to burst, and the occasional trace of pressure she exuded made it immediately clear that she was a formidable female immortal.

Her Daoist title was Jiu Jiu. She was a disciple of Sky-Breaking Peak and looked barely over twenty, but she was actually eight or nine hundred years old. She had become an immortal over six hundred years ago, had been among the best of her generation when she entered the sect, and was now capable of standing on her own.

She alone had been assigned as the sect's escort for this journey to the Treasure Forest of Chaotic Miasma in the Northern Julu Continent, which was enough to show her extraordinary strength.

Li Changshou's expression turned solemn. He cupped his hands and bowed to the renowned Wine Immortal. "Martial Uncle Jiu, this disciple needs to find several medicinal herbs. One of them can only be found in the Northern Julu Continent, so I must trouble Martial Uncle Jiu this time."

"What herb?"

The female immortal curled her lips, a trace of disdain appearing on her otherwise beautiful face. "I have some ties with your master. Take this and go find Elder Qi Ling at the Daoist Scripture Pavilion."

As she spoke, the female immortal fished a Jade piece from inside her wine-stained short shirt and casually tossed it to Li Changshou.

"Say it'll be deducted from my monthly allowance, then take the herbs you need!

"The Northern Julu Continent is a place someone at the Ninth Stage of Spirit Transformation can go to?

"If you really die there, they'll dock my wine money for ten years. Your crybaby master will definitely come running over to cry at me too...

"Ugh, just thinking about it is annoying!"

The two men and two women nearby were slightly surprised, their gazes falling on the Jade piece.

An identity Jade Card belonging to a Sect Elder, given so casually to a Ninth Stage of Spirit Transformation disciple from another peak?

"Martial Uncle," Li Changshou said with a bitter smile. Holding the jade piece, he took two steps forward and handed it back to the female immortal. "If I had a choice, this disciple would not wish to risk going to the Northern Julu Continent either. But this time, I truly have no choice.

"According to the Sect Rules, Martial Uncle cannot refuse this disciple's request to go out and gain experience. I ask Martial Uncle to grant it."

Jiu Jiu frowned slightly and stared at the junior before her, who bowed with his head lowered. She snorted and snatched back the Jade piece.

"Honestly! You there, Yuan Qing, Xuan Ya."

The girl in a fiery red immortal dress and the refined young male Qi Refiner cupped their hands at the same time. "This disciple is here!"

Jiu Jiu said irritably, "If you two have the spare energy, help keep an eye on him."

"This disciple accepts the order," Youqin Xuanya replied expressionlessly.

"Rest assured, Martial Uncle," Yuan Qing said, casting Li Changshou a faintly friendly look. The smile at the corner of his mouth was gentle. "I will certainly take good care of Junior Brother Changshou."

Jiu Jiu could not help raising a hand to her forehead as she launched into a tirade at Li Changshou. "He entered the sect before both you and Xuanya.

"Honestly, Li Changshou, how did you manage to cultivate for over a hundred years without reaching the Void Returning Realm... Forget it.

"With the conditions at your Lesser Qiong Peak, it's already not bad that you've managed to keep up with most disciples."

"Uh..." Yuan Qing looked awkward, but quickly cupped his hands in a salute. "My apologies, Senior Brother Changshou. Please do not take offense."

Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, feeling somewhat emotional inside.

The expressionless girl and the warm-hearted guy. They really were quite well matched...

Though it had nothing to do with me.

Li Changshou suddenly sensed two gazes that held little goodwill. He did not investigate further, calmly thanked Jiu Jiu, then turned and cupped his hands to Youqin Xuanya and Yuan Qing. Afterward, he retreated behind the four of them and stood quietly.

Those two gazes naturally came from the other two people.

Liu Yan'er, dressed in a pale-yellow silk dress, and Wang Qi, clad in a green Daoist robe, were both highly ranked Void Returning Realm experts among this generation of disciples, two excellent immortal seedlings.

Though their gazes had not been friendly, they did not hold much malice either. At most, they found him somewhat distasteful.

Li Changshou stood quietly, listening to the constant sounds of air being torn apart outside as batch after batch of disciples rose into the sky under the protection of various immortals.

He also sent out a thread of spiritual awareness to inspect the several Storage Magic Tools on his person.

This was not because he had a habit of careful organization, categorizing his pills and magic tools for storage. In truth, the contents of these magic tools were identical. Pills, magic tools, spirit stones, and the like had all been divided evenly into three portions.

The bracelet on his left wrist was his primary Storage Magic Tool. In case of emergencies, the pendant around his neck was a backup Storage Magic Tool. And in case of an emergency within an emergency, the cloth bag tied to his thigh was a backup-on-top-of-backup Storage Magic Tool...

When going out to gain experience, it was never wrong to make more preparations, especially when heading to a dangerous place like the Northern Julu Continent.

This time, Li Changshou had brought more than half of his entire fortune with him.

He had given the remaining smaller half to his junior sister for self-defense.

Half a day later, an enormous gourd slowly rose before the hall.

Immortal Jiujiu stood atop the gourd's mouth with her arms folded, looking rather imposing. The young disciples stood quietly at various points on the gourd, each one steady on their feet.

Once the gourd flew out of the grand formation, Immortal Jiujiu formed a hand seal. Threads of pale-green light radiated from the wine gourd, forming a thin membrane around it that blocked out the sound of the wind.

Then she pointed toward the northwest, and the wine gourd began to accelerate gradually.

"Relax, don't be nervous. Once we're out of the sect gates, there aren't so many rules."

Jiu Jiu yawned and sat down at the gourd's mouth. Her small calves dangled on either side of it as she leaned back without the slightest concern for her image. She casually picked up the wine gourd at her waist, a satisfied smile already appearing on her lips.

After taking a small sip, a faint flush spread across Jiu Jiu's cheeks. She let out a moan that dissolved into the wind, her whole body radiating comfort and satisfaction. Then she turned to examine the five young disciples behind her.

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

Li Changshou sat a short distance away from the others, his body remaining tense. Unlike the others, he was not meditating and cultivating. The fingertips of his left hand pressed against two yellow Paper Talismans.

Liu Yan'er and Wang Qi were in the middle of the gourd, both quietly regulating their breathing.

Closest to Jiu Jiu was Youqin Xuanya. She meditated just one foot behind Jiu Jiu, with her Greatsword laid across before her.

Behind Youqin Xuanya, the elegant Yuan Qing said gently, "Junior Sister, this time, I will definitely help you find the Flame-Averting Heart-Clearing Grass."

Youqin Xuanya frowned slightly and replied blandly, "Senior Brother Yuan Qing need not trouble yourself for my sake. This concerns my own cultivation. There is no need for anyone else to interfere."

Yuan Qing merely smiled warmly. "One more person means one more chance."

Youqin Xuanya said nothing more and continued meditating with her eyes closed. Flame-like wisps of aura swirled around her, making her flawless from every angle.

"Heh." Jiu Jiu found the sight amusing and raised an eyebrow at Yuan Qing.

Yuan Qing made a helpless expression, then continued meditating three feet behind Youqin Xuanya. The smile on his lips gradually faded.

Tsk, another fine show of falling leaves in love while the flowing water has no heart.

Jiu Jiu took another sip of immortal brew, savoring it endlessly, but could only hang the gourd back at her waist with great reluctance.

Leaning against the edge of the gourd's mouth, she looked up at the clouds drifting and unfurling beneath the azure sky, slightly lost in thought.

After flying for some time, Jiu Jiu could not resist reaching for the gourd at her waist again. But after hesitating, she stopped and said, "It'll still take two days and three nights to fly to the Northern Julu Continent. Are you all planning to meditate the whole way?

"You there, Wang Qi. Sing your Martial Uncle a little tune."

"Martial Uncle Jiu..." Wang Qi hurriedly said from behind, "How would I know how to sing?"

Jiu Jiu immediately looked disgusted. "Then which of you can? Changshou, can you?"

Li Changshou shook his head with a grave expression. Instead, he used the Sound Transmission Method to remind Jiu Jiu, "Martial Uncle, there seems to be a figure in the clouds above and behind us."

"Hmm?"

Jiu Jiu glanced upward and replied to Li Changshou through sound transmission without changing her expression, "Across the vast Five Continents, there are countless Qi Refiners who can fly through the skies and Escape Underground. Don't make a fuss over nothing. We aren't far from Du Xian Sect."

Though she said that, Jiu Jiu still spread out her immortal awareness. Before long, the Large Gourd's speed through the air began to slow steadily.

A moment later, the Large Gourd stopped safely in midair. Jiu Jiu remained seated in her slovenly posture and called out loudly, "May I ask what business this fellow Daoist in the clouds has, after following us for so long?"

At once, the four people meditating on the gourd opened their eyes. Li Changshou, who had been watching the rear all along, withdrew his right hand into his sleeve, his fingers closing around his Storage Magic Tool.

A burly figure flew out from the clouds behind them. He wore chainmail, had a rough and rugged face, and emanated a solid, heavy aura. A massive battle-axe hung from his back.

An immortal?

Li Changshou sensed him carefully. This man seemed to have become an immortal only recently and did not exert much pressure on him.

A hundred yards away, the burly man cupped his fists toward Jiu Jiu and called out, "I am the Palace Guard General of Hong Lin Kingdom in the Eastern Divine Continent. I have come specifically to protect Her Highness the Sixth Princess. If I have offended you in any way, I ask the immortal elder not to take offense!"

"The Sixth Princess?"

Jiu Jiu tilted her head and examined the two female disciples behind her.

Li Changshou's gaze also instinctively fell on Liu Yan'er, whose face was slightly round and carried a faintly worldly air. Yet Liu Yan'er looked directly at the other young female disciple...

Then Youqin Xuanya spoke in an exceedingly cold tone.

"Go back. There is no need to trouble yourself for me."

A Princess? A Palace Guard General?

Appearing out of nowhere just as they were heading to the Northern Julu Continent?

Li Changshou lightly twitched his nose, catching the scent of... a certain familiar pattern.

PS: Thanks to the great "Time Without Snow" for becoming this book's first Alliance Leader!

I originally did not dare update too much during the early seedling stage of a new book, but bonus chapters still had to be added. Even with my eyes closed, I still had to add one.