A Magnificent Journey Was About to Begin

A calm voice struck the Liao Family like a heavy hammer. When had this man and bull appeared? Why had they sensed nothing at all...

"Kid, I never thought you'd deliver yourself right to our doorstep!"

Excitement gleamed in the round-faced man's eyes. He pinched a talisman between his fingers. A faint glow flickered as he shouted, "Freeze..."

Whoosh!

Chen Xun moved. A violent gale erupted, pressing the grass flat beneath an immense wind pressure. At the same time, his cultivation steadily rose.

Qi Refinement Level Five.

Qi Refinement Level Six.

Qi Refining Tenth Level!

Every member of the Liao Family felt their scalps go numb, their eyes bulging wide enough to split. The round-faced man's pupils trembled violently, for Chen Xun was already before him, interrupting even his spellcasting.

"Too slow."

Chen Xun lifted the round-faced man with one hand. The man's entire body shook, his lips quivering without stop as the talisman in his hand slowly fell onto the grass.

Moo!!

Black Bull roared in fury. A fiery vortex spun ceaselessly, and in an instant, boundless flames burst forth. Firelight filled the sky as towering walls of flame surrounded every member of the Liao Family.

Waves of scorching heat rushed toward them. Violent spell fluctuations churned within the flames, concealing a frenzy of power visible to the naked eye.

"Wh-what is going on?!"

"Foundation Establishment... a Foundation Establishment Realm senior..."

"It's over."

The remaining Liao Family members went weak all over, every hair standing on end. Their voices shook constantly, their eyes filled with firelight, while their skin could feel the scorching heat.

The middle-aged man had remained dazed all along. He watched helplessly as Chen Xun carried the round-faced man toward him step by step, and instinctively sent his flying sword flying out.

Crack, crack.

Chen Xun caught the flying sword in his hand and crushed it inch by inch, just like the middle-aged man's heart. His legs gave way as he trembled and said, "Senior, we failed to recognize Mount Taishan..."

"Where are my half-bag of spirit herb seeds?"

"H-Here! Here!"

The middle-aged man fumbled frantically, hurriedly taking several bags of seeds from his storage pouch and handing them all to Chen Xun.

Chen Xun accepted only half a bag of spirit herb seeds. His gaze suddenly turned cold. "But I have never spared anyone who harbors killing intent toward us."

"You?!!"

"Dao Brother!!!"

"Don't!!!"

Miserable screams rang out from within the four walls of fire. Chen Xun and Black Bull headed toward Nine-Star Valley with stern expressions. They had learned that the Liao Family had been lying in wait for them for years.

The next day, the sunlight was just right.

The sub-token in Chen Xun's hand emitted a faint glow. He injected a stream of spiritual power into it and looked in a certain direction. "Old Bull, let's go!"

"Moo moo~" Black Bull answered.

In an open area within the valley stood a flying vessel. More than a dozen people gathered beside it, while several others dressed in matching attire respectfully faced a man standing straight as a spear.

This man was Ao Gu, one of the outer sect's steward elders, at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

"Elder Ao, a few people have yet to arrive," Yin Jun said respectfully.

"No matter. This year's disciples are rather good."

Ao Gu stroked his beard. "I heard there are several Rogue Cultivators with remarkably young Bone Ages."

"One is twenty years old and has already reached the Seventh Layer of Qi Refinement. He broke through ten puppet beasts of the Purple Cloud Sect by himself."

A look of amazement flashed through Yin Jun's eyes. "He even has a spirit beast at the Qi Refining Second Level. It's just that his aptitude for cultivation is a Mixed Spiritual Root."

"Oh? There is actually such a person? If he had gone to challenge the other Immortal Gates, he likely would not have ended up with our Five Aggregates Sect."

Ao Gu nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with satisfaction. Such a person would definitely be a mainstay in the Nandou Mountain Secret Realm, yet Yin Jun had managed to pick him up as a lucky find.

Chen Xun arrived then, leading Black Bull behind him. They were covered in dust from the road, while the clinking of pots, bowls, and utensils rang without pause.

"Daoist Chen, let me introduce you."

Yin Jun came forward with a smile. "This is Elder Ao, an outer sect elder of the Five Aggregates Sect."

He then looked at Ao Gu. "Elder Ao, this is the person I was just telling you about."

"Greetings, Senior Ao. I arrived somewhat late. I hope you will forgive me."

Chen Xun cupped his hands and lowered his head. He hurriedly removed his hood, revealing a delicate and handsome face that looked utterly harmless.

"Not bad, not bad."

Ao Gu looked at Chen Xun and Black Bull with a faint smile. He liked juniors who understood propriety. "Go to the back."

"Yes." Chen Xun hurriedly led Black Bull over to stand with the other Rogue Cultivators, smiling as he began greeting them.

Another half hour passed before everyone arrived. They all stood at the front of the flying vessel, while Chen Xun and Black Bull's hearts pounded with excitement.

The flying vessel was enormous, over a dozen zhang long. It had no mast or sails, and its entire body was made of wood-like structures. It could hold more than a hundred people. Though it could not compare to the Ten Great Immortal Sects, this sect was still quite powerful.

"Let's go."

Ao Gu stepped onto the flying vessel and brought his palms together. A stream of spiritual power shot toward a certain spot, and a deep, rumbling boom came from the vessel.

Yin Jun led the Rogue Cultivators aboard. Chen Xun pulled Black Bull around, touching and inspecting everything. At a glance, this material was clearly no ordinary wood.

"This flying vessel is huge."

Chen Xun kept exclaiming in wonder. It was his first time seeing a flying vessel from so close. "Old Bull, jump twice."

"Moo moo~~" Black Bull actually jumped twice. Not a sound came through. It was solid!

The other Rogue Cultivators also exclaimed continuously, their eyes full of delight. They were no different from Chen Xun.

Buzz—

Another tremendous boom rang out. The flying vessel slowly rose into the air, and Chen Xun and the others all swayed. They hurriedly pressed themselves against the vessel's edge and looked down at the ground.

"Old Bull, we're taking off!"

"Moo moo!!"

Gusts of bitterly cold wind blew over them. Chen Xun and Black Bull's lips trembled as Nine-Star Valley became clearer and clearer below.

Ao Gu sat cross-legged, formation flags arranged around him. He pointed with both hands, and a transparent barrier enveloped the entire flying vessel. No more fierce winds blew against them.

"Fucking awesome!" Chen Xun stared at the light barrier and swallowed hard, one hand clutching Black Bull tightly.

"Moo~"

Black Bull was scared out of its wits. It had discovered that it was somewhat afraid of heights, and hurriedly tucked its bull head into Chen Xun's arms.

The entirety of Nine-Star Valley spread out before them. Chen Xun stared in a daze. So Nine-Star Valley was this vast, with all kinds of strange flowers and exotic grasses growing everywhere within it.

The figures on the ground gradually shrank. Mountains, veins of earth, and great rivers came into clear view. The flying vessel completed its ascent and began speeding forward at full force!

"Old Bull, we're leaving. We're really leaving!"

Chen Xun growled in excitement, one hand gripping the edge of the flying vessel tightly, his eyes opened wide. "Ningyun Mountain Range!"

"Moo!"

Black Bull also stretched out its head, looking at the Ningyun Mountain Range where they had spent so many years. This time, they were truly leaving it for good.

"Old Bull, look! Panning City, it's so big!"

Chen Xun pointed elsewhere. The outline of a vast city appeared before them, and they could even see countless people moving through its streets. This was their first time looking down on it from above.

"Moo? Moo moo!" Black Bull seemed to be looking for something, peering down everywhere.

The flying vessel pierced through clouds and mist, passing one massive mountain range after another.

"Elder Sun's mountain peak!"

Chen Xun saw it. Black Bull saw it. Chen Xun suddenly shouted outward, "Elder Sun!!!"

Moo!!!

Black Bull grew excited as well. Though wisps of cloud and mist drifted past, it had seen it too.

For some reason, mist welled in Chen Xun's eyes. Perhaps the wind was too strong and sand had gotten into them. He saw once more the place where his master and mistress lay buried.

"We're leaving..."

Everything on the ground became smaller and blurrier. The flying vessel was incredibly fast. Panning City gradually disappeared, the Ningyun Mountain Range gradually disappeared, until they could no longer be seen.

The man and bull continued looking in that direction. It carried far too many beautiful memories for them.

Buzz— The flying vessel streaked across the sky, scattering clouds and mist in all directions. Their thoughts had already been cast far away. Farewell, Little Mountain Village. Farewell, Panning City. Farewell, Ningyun Mountain Range...

The vastness of Tiandi stretched endlessly before them. Countless birds soared through the heavens, set against blue skies and white clouds. They flew alongside the vessel, only to be left far behind.

Chen Xun and Black Bull had stepped away from the flying vessel's edge, their gazes fixed resolutely ahead.

The winding mountain ranges receded farther and farther away. After adjusting direction several times, the flying vessel began flying straight toward Zhiyang Prefecture of Gan Kingdom. A magnificent journey was about to begin...