A Chance Encounter with Lü Yang

"Huh, why does this aura feel so familiar?" In mid-air, Shen Ge suddenly stopped, frowned, and stretched out his divine sense to scan downwards.

Li Xue also stopped and, after sensing the area for a moment, said, "It does feel somewhat familiar; it seems to be the aura of Flowing Gold Valley."

"Wasn't the entire Flowing Gold Valley merged into the Evergreen Sect? Could it be scattered disciples?"

After a moment's thought, Shen Ge suddenly remembered who this aura belonged to. He smiled and flew down in a flash.

Seeing this, Li Xue followed.

Arriving at a cave entrance concealed by a simple array, Shen Ge called out, "Brother Lü, what are you doing hiding here?"

"You know him?"

"I'm not really familiar with the people from Flowing Gold Valley. I only remember one named Tang Wang, and the others are some elders."

"We met when we were Rogue Cultivator, and now, more than fifty years later, this is the first time we've met," Shen Ge explained.

Soon, a commotion came from inside the cave, and a distinguished-looking man emerged. Upon seeing Shen Ge, he quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Brother Shen, I never expected to meet you here. What a coincidence!"

"And who is this person next to you?" Lü Yang glanced at Shen Ge, his eyes slightly amused, as if waiting for Shen Ge to introduce him.

Shen Ge jokingly introduced, "This is Fellow Daoist Li Xue from the Evergreen Sect. Don't get the wrong idea, though. If she gets angry and wants to hit me, I won't stop her."

Upon hearing that it wasn't the kind of relationship he had imagined, a faint hint of disappointment flashed in Lü Yang's eyes, but he quickly greeted her politely, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Li Xue."

Li Xue nodded and said, "If I'm not mistaken, you should be from Flowing Gold Valley, right? Why are you in such a sorry state now?"

Lü Yang understood Li Xue's meaning. Now that Evergreen Sect had opened a separate peak for Flowing Gold Valley, and even the Sect Master of Hanyue Sect had become the Vice Sect Master of the Evergreen Sect, he could completely use his previous identity as a member of Flowing Gold Valley to rejoin Evergreen Sect.

However, Lü Yang didn't want to. He was tired. Joining a sect did have many benefits, but he would feel reluctant to leave later.

Lü Yang had been through it once, and he didn't want to go through it again. Besides, he was already a disciple of Flowing Gold Valley. In his master's words, he was a person of Flowing Gold Valley Flowing Gold Valley in life and in death. Changing his identity would be tantamount to betrayal, and he didn't want to do that.

"Forget it, being alone is carefree and enjoyable. Not only are there fewer constraints, but it also makes my pursuit of the Dao more steadfast."

"Enough about me." Lü Yang turned to Shen Ge and laughed, "I didn't expect you to have already broken through to the Golden Core Stage, Brother Shen. Back in Sunset Valley, you were only two levels higher than me. Now, the difference between us can only be described as worlds apart."

"I was thinking of bringing you into Flowing Gold Valley back then, and thankfully you didn't agree, otherwise, maybe you would have..."

Lü Yang stopped talking, feeling that it was inappropriate to continue, so he changed the subject and said, "Brother Shen, with your Golden Core Stage cultivation now, you must be an elder in the Spirit Moon Sect, right?"

"I've left the Spirit Moon Sect. Although my master didn't agree, I probably won't be going back for a very, very long time."

"Fellow Daoist Li Xue is the same. She has already left the Evergreen Sect. Now we are both Rogue Cultivator, without any sect or faction. So, Brother Lü Yang, you don't need to be so reserved. Let's just be friends."

"You two?" Lü Yang's questioning gaze swept over Shen Ge and Li Xue, his eyes filled with suspicion. They've both become Rogue Cultivator cultivators; could they have eloped for love?

That shouldn't be the case. Logically speaking, they are both Golden Core, and their status and position are almost the same. These two sects would be more than happy to form a marriage alliance.

"Hey, if you keep thinking like that, I'll bury you alive! I've already said we're not in that kind of relationship, why are you still having these wild thoughts?" Li Xue said angrily.

Lü Yang quickly waved his hand and apologized, saying, "I'm so sorry, I'm really sorry, it was my fault. It was just a fleeting thought, and I promise I'll never do it again."

"Hmph." Li Xue snorted coldly and said, "Also, let me remind you, Shen Ge's heart has already died along with someone else. Don't talk nonsense in front of him in the future, or he might take action."

Shen Ge shook his head helplessly and said with a wry smile, "Sister Xue, you really know how to bring up the most sensitive topics. You ask others not to say it, but you also openly say it to my face."

"So what? I'm not afraid of you hitting me."

"Gentlemen, why don't we go up to the top of the mountain to talk? I happen to have a little wine here. If you two would do me the honor, how about we drink and chat?" Lü Yang quickly tried to smooth things over, fearing that the two of them might actually start fighting.

The three flew to the mountaintop and found a scenic spot to enjoy wine and conversation.

Meanwhile, on the Ice and Snow Plateau of the north, Meng Yan, ragged and disheveled, escaped with his Thunder Eagle. He glanced back at the icy world and spat out a mouthful of blood. "Damn it, what bad luck! I never expected to run into Ice Crystal Bird. I almost perished here."

This Ice Crystal Bird is no ordinary Demon Beast; it possesses a trace of Ice Crystal Phoenix bloodline and can basically grow to the Nascent Soul Realm. After that, how much it can achieve depends on luck.

Although the one Meng Yan encountered was only at the Peak Third Tier, in this icy world, on its home turf, Meng Yan was far from being its match. Even with the Thunder Eagle beneath his feet, Meng Yan almost died.

"No wonder this Ice and Snow Plateau is listed as a restricted area; it's really dangerous. Although it's not as dangerous as the deep sea, it's not much less so."

The entire Southern Barbarian Lands has three forbidden zones: the Gods and Devils Abyss, the Deep Sea, and the Ice and Snow Plateau. All three places are capable of devouring Nascent Soul Realm and are extremely dangerous.

"Fortunately, we obtained the demon core of the Ice and Snow Flying Bear." Meng Yan smiled as he looked at the white demon core in his hand. "Flying Bear Core, Flat Peach Fruit, Juejian Grass... Master, your great medicine will be ready soon. You have protected your disciple for so many years, and I have no way to repay you. So I will give you this great fortune. Whether you can break through to the Nascent Soul depends on yourself. I have done my best."

Zhu Lian, Meng Yan's master, has been stuck at the Golden Core Peak for decades. Now his lifespan is about to end. If he cannot break through to the Nascent Soul, he will die and his cultivation will be in vain. Meng Yan could not bear to see his master disappear like this, so he risked his life to venture into this Ice and Snow Plateau.

Just as he said, his master had protected him for many years, and now it was time for him to repay him.

"But that flower that looks like a blazing flame is really strange. It's supposed to be an extremely cold place, yet it grows a Fire Element spiritual plant. Is this a case of extremes meeting their opposites? It seems to be a good thing. I'll steal it when I get the chance."

Meng Yan took a deep look at the Ice and Snow Plateau, then turned and slunk away. After all, the Ice Crystal Bird was still perched on him, and he had no intention of going to his death.