Two people came, five people came back.
Li Xingkong originally thought that after completing the mission, he and Liu Shinian would simply return home. However, he did not expect that after Qingjue and the others learned of his identity, they would truly treat him like a treasure.
If we don't return to Flying Cloud Pass in a day, we won't leave for a moment.
Yanran became one of the three bodyguards.
Li Xingkong couldn't get used to this kind of life, but he was afraid of offending them by directly kicking them out, Li Xingkong didn't dare to speak up.
Fortunately, the task was only in its final stages, so after everything was settled, the group stepped through the portal back to Flying Cloud Pass Traversal.
Once inside the pass, perhaps because Flying Cloud Pass was quite safe, Qingjue and the others bid farewell to Li Xingkong.
"You little rascal, oh my, I really didn't know that coming."
With outsiders around, she was still a little reserved, but once Qingjue and the others left, she Qingjue more at ease.
"Come on, you didn't ask."
Li Xingkong has never hidden his background, but no one ever asks about it!
"Get out of here! This kind of thing shouldn't happen three light-years away with servants holding up signs, shouting 'All things step back,' and then having eight dragons break up the fight or something."
Liu Shinian thought for a moment, and in her memory, the disciples of major sects seemed to be like this. She had never seen someone like Li Xingkong who had no pomp or circumstance at all.
"What you need to do now is turn off your Tomato Novel!"
Li Xingkong was speechless for a moment.
Where would he get all that pomp and circumstance?
Are you kidding? Wouldn't that cost money?
After a few casual words, Liu Shinian got down to business.
"We won't be able to work together anymore."
"Why is that? Are you going back?"
Liu Shinian rolled his eyes at Li Xingkong.
"You don't think your identity is unimportant, do you?! If Huang Feihu can let you leave Flying Cloud Pass again, I'll take his surname!"
"Hiss, this..."
Li Xingkong thought about it and realized it was true. If this commander knew his identity, he would inevitably feel some protectiveness towards him.
Will I still be able to go out and have fun? I guess I won't have the chance.
That is indeed the case.
As soon as Li Xingkong and his companion submitted their mission, Li Xingkong was taken to the main camp.
Huang Feihu sat at the table with a serious expression, staring at Li Xingkong.
"You've come all the way to my Flying Cloud Pass, and you haven't even mentioned it!"
After staring at Li Xingkong for a long time, he finally uttered a sigh.
"General..."
"What are you calling me 'General' for? Jiang Ziya told you to call me 'Senior Brother,' so just call me 'Senior Brother' too! Honestly, you're being so secretive here. If something happens to you, I'll be the bait on your fishing rod!"
Huang Feihu stood up, took a few steps forward, and patted Li Xingkong on the shoulder.
"Hey, we're family, no need for formalities. You just stay here at Flying Cloud Pass and tell me what you need."
"I came here today also to gain more experience..."
Li Xingkong clearly still wanted to go out and see the world.
"Alright, go ahead and fight whoever you want. Here, take this."
Huang Feihu tossed Li Xingkong a bunch of empty mission tokens.
"If there's anything that's not available inside the pass, just issue a quest. You, sit tight and be quiet."
Without Li Xingkong, Huang Feihu made his decision for him.
"Well, since I'm just killing time anyway, I'll give you a small task."
"I will do my best to fulfill my senior brother's request."
Seeing that he couldn't persuade Huang Feihu now, he might as well digest this newly acquired concept, practice with this military sage, and then come back to find him after his combat skills have improved.
"Alright, you've been out there once now, and you've seen the Calamity Ash beyond the Great Wall. How did you feel?"
Li Xingkong.
"Class A dangerous goods."
"Exactly. Although these Calamity Ash are nothing in this Era of Chaos, if they were taken to other eras, they would be a huge problem. My task is simple: you think of a way to deal with these Calamity Ash."
Upon hearing Huang Feihu's words, Li Xingkong and fell into deep thought.
This actually matches what Li Xingkong.
Asking this group of battle immortals to think about problems would be tantamount to taking their lives.
This kind of knowledge that requires research should be left to scholars.
"I guarantee the mission will be completed."
Li Xingkong accepted the job.
"Hey, hey, there's no need for that. I'll just find you something to do, that'll be enough."
Huang Feihu waved his hand.
Anyway, the Calamity Ash have accumulated for countless years, so a little more time won't make a difference.
"Thank you, senior brother, but I still want to give it a try."
"Alright, alright, I knew you were like this. If you're short-staffed, just hire your own. I've already given you the title. I'm thinking of giving you a section of the logistics department as your research lab."
Huang Feihu quickly summoned two men and took Li Xingkong away.
Confused and disoriented, he followed the soldiers back to the logistics mini-world, and after a long journey, he finally arrived at the place designated for Li Xingkong.
This area is all research facilities; I wonder what else they're researching on the front lines.
Li Xingkong found his assigned spot, which was next to a biological laboratory.
Countless specimens and frozen, strange creatures were piled up at the entrance of the laboratory, without any regard for decorum.
"Hey, a new guy has arrived!"
The door to the laboratory next door was half open, and an old man with a sparse physique poked his head out.
He was also holding a pair of eyeballs in his hand, which looked rather eerie.
"My name is Li Xingkong, and I am new to this place."
Although it looked somewhat bloody, Li Xingkong knew that anyone who could conduct experiments in this place was definitely not an ordinary person.
"Old man, my name is Qian Yuanzi. I've been in Flying Cloud Pass for tens of thousands of years. This is the first time I've seen someone as young as you."
As he spoke, he threw the eyeball in his hand into the trash can by the door.
"This damn thing, it clearly had Three-Manifestation Golden Pupils when it was alive, but now that it's dead, why can't we find its third eyeball?"
Li Xingkong upon hearing Qian Yuanzi's self-talk.
What is this guy researching?
Never mind, since he was already here, he might as well make the best of it. After taking a stroll around his laboratory, Li Xingkong activated his first mission token.
Liu Shinian is a capable guy, and we get along quite well, so there's no reason to let her go out and explore on her own.
If you're doing experiments all by yourself, you'll eventually need to find an assistant.
Liu Shinian would be a good fit.
With a casual wave of his hand, the already written mission order was sent out, transforming into a flash of light and flying into the mission list.
"And then there's this Calamity Ash; I need to figure out a way to deal with it."
The Calamity Ash are formed after the death of high-level cultivators, and even carry a trace of their original rules, making them inherently difficult to handle.
Li Xingkong didn't have any good ideas at the moment, after all, he hadn't examined the Calamity Ash in detail yet.
If only this thing could be used for alchemy.