A Magnificent Journey Was About to Begin

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

"Kid, I never expected you to deliver yourself right to our door!"

Excitement filled the round-faced brute's eyes. He pinched a talisman between his fingers; a faint glow lit up as he shouted, "Freeze—"

Whoosh!

Chen Xun moved. A violent gale rose without warning, flattening the grass beneath an immense pressure. At the same time, his cultivation kept rising.

Qi Condensation Stage 5.

Qi Condensation Stage 6.

Qi Condensation Tenth Layer!

Every member of the Liao Family felt their scalps tingle, their eyes nearly splitting wide open. The round-faced brute's pupils trembled violently—Chen Xun was already before him, interrupting even his spellcasting.

"Too slow."

With one hand, Chen Xun lifted the round-faced brute. The man's entire body shook, his lips quivering as the talisman in his hand slowly fell onto the grass.

"Moo!!"

Big Black Ox let out an enraged roar. A Flame Cyclone whirled ceaselessly, and in an instant, boundless flames erupted with a thunderous boom. Firelight filled the heavens as towering walls of flame surrounded every member of the Liao Family.

Wave after wave of scorching heat washed over them. The flames carried violent magical fluctuations, concealing a fury visible to the naked eye.

"W-what is going on?!"

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

"It's over."

The remaining members of the Liao Family went limp all over, their hairs standing on end. Their voices shook without stop, their eye sockets filled with firelight, while their skin could feel the searing heat.

The Middle-Aged Man had remained in a daze. He watched helplessly as Chen Xun carried the round-faced brute and approached him step by step. Instinctively, he sent his flying sword shooting forward.

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 out, and he said in a trembling voice, "Senior, we failed to recognize Mount Tai..."

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

"H-Here! They're here!"

In a fluster, the Middle-Aged Man hurriedly took several bags of seeds from his Storage Bag and handed 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?!!"

"Fellow Daoist!!!"

"Don't!!!"

Miserable, inhuman screams rang out from within the four walls of flame. Chen Xun and Big Black Ox headed toward Nine Stars Valley with cold expressions. They had asked around—these Liao Family members 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 infused it with spiritual power and looked in a certain direction. "Old Ox, let's go!"

"Moo moo~" Big Black Ox answered.

In an open clearing within the valley stood a flying boat. More than a dozen people gathered beside it, while several others dressed in matching attire respectfully faced a straight-backed man.

He was one of the Outer Sect Elders, Ao Gu, 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 and said, "I heard there are several independent cultivators with remarkably young bone ages."

"One of them is twenty by bone age and has already reached Qi Condensation Stage 7. With one hand, he broke ten puppet beasts of the Purple Cloud Sect."

A look of amazement flashed through Yin Jun's eyes as well. "He also has a spirit beast at Qi Condensation Stage 2. It is just that his cultivation aptitude is a Mixed Spirit Root."

"Oh? There is actually such a person? If he had gone to challenge the trials of other immortal sects, he likely would not have ended up in our Five Elements Sect."

Ao Gu nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of satisfaction. Such a person would certainly be a key force in the Southern Dipper Mountain Secret Realm. Yin Jun had truly found a bargain.

Chen Xun arrived at that moment, leading Big Black Ox. He was dusty and weary, with the clattering of pots, bowls, and utensils ringing nonstop.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, let me introduce you."

Yin Jun came forward with a smile. "This is Elder Ao, an Outer Sect Elder of the Five Elements Sect."

Then he turned to Ao Gu. "Elder Ao, this is the person I just mentioned."

"Greetings, Senior Ao. I arrived a little late; I hope you will forgive me."

Chen Xun gave a cupped fist salute and lowered his head. He hurriedly removed his hood, revealing a handsome and refined face, his eyes looking utterly harmless.

"Not bad, not bad."

Ao Gu looked at Chen Xun and Big Black Ox with a slight smile. He liked juniors who understood etiquette. "Go to the back."

"Yes." Chen Xun promptly led Big Black Ox over to stand with the other independent cultivators, smiling as he began greeting them.

After another half an hour, everyone had arrived. They stood before the flying boat, while Chen Xun and Big Black Ox's hearts pounded with excitement.

The flying boat was enormous, over a dozen zhang long. It had neither mast nor sails, and its entire body was constructed like wood. It could hold over a hundred people. Though it could not compare to the Ten Great Immortal Sects, it was still a sect of considerable strength.

"Let's go."

Ao Gu stepped onto the flying boat. His palms and fingers struck together, and a stream of spiritual power shot toward one spot. A dull, thunderous sound came from the vessel.

Yin Jun led the independent cultivators aboard. Chen Xun took Big Black Ox around to touch and inspect everything. At a glance, this material was clearly no ordinary wood.

"This flying boat is huge."

Chen Xun exclaimed repeatedly. It was his first time encountering a flying boat at close distance. "Old Ox, jump twice."

"Moo moo~~" Big Black Ox really did jump twice. Not a sound came through—it was solid!

The other independent cultivators also sighed in wonder, joy on their faces. They were no different from Chen Xun.

Hum—

Another tremendous rumble sounded. The flying boat slowly rose into the air, and Chen Xun and the others all swayed. They hurried to lean over the edge of the boat and look down at the ground.

"Old Ox, we're taking off!"

"Moo moo!!"

Blasts of frigid wind swept over them, making Chen Xun and Big Black Ox's lips tremble. Nine Stars Valley also began to grow clearer and clearer.

Ao Gu sat cross-legged, array flags placed around him. He pointed with both hands, and a transparent protective barrier enveloped the entire flying boat. No more fierce wind blew against them.

"Awesome!" Chen Xun stared at the Light Curtain and swallowed hard, one hand clutching Big Black Ox tightly.

"Moo~"

Big Black Ox was panicking terribly. It had discovered that it was somewhat afraid of heights, and hurriedly buried its bovine head into Chen Xun's embrace.

The entire expanse of Nine Stars Valley lay before them. Chen Xun stared blankly. So Nine Stars Valley was this vast, with all kinds of exotic flowers and rare herbs growing throughout it.

The figures on the ground gradually shrank. Mountains, veins of earth, and great rivers came clearly into view. The flying boat finished ascending and began speeding forward at full force!

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

Chen Xun gave a low, excited growl, one hand gripping the edge of the flying boat tightly, his eyes stretched wide. "Ningyun Mountain Range!"

"Moo!"

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

"Old Ox, look! Pan Ning City—it's so huge!"

Chen Xun pointed in another direction. The outline of a giant city appeared before them, and they could even see countless figures moving within it. This was their first time looking down upon it from above.

"Moo? Moo moo!" Big Black Ox seemed to be searching for something, looking down everywhere.

The flying boat pierced through clouds and mist, passing one enormous mountain range after another.

"Sun Lao's mountain peak!"

Chen Xun saw it. Big Black Ox saw it. Suddenly, Chen Xun shouted outward, "Sun Lao!!!"

"Moo!!!"

Big Black Ox became excited as well. Though clouds and mist drifted past, it had seen it too.

For some reason, water mist rippled in Chen Xun's eyes. Perhaps the wind was too strong and sand had gotten into them. He saw once more the resting place where his master and Shimu lay in eternal sleep.

"We're leaving..."

Everything on the ground became smaller and blurrier. The flying boat was incredibly fast. Pan Ning City gradually disappeared. The Ningyun Mountain Range gradually disappeared. At last, they could no longer see them at all.

The man and ox continued gazing in that direction. That place carried too many of their beautiful memories.

Hum—the flying boat streaked across the sky, scattering clouds and mist in all directions. Their thoughts had already been cast into the distance. Farewell, Small Mountain Village. Farewell, Pan Ning City. Farewell, Ningyun Mountain Range...

The world was vast. Countless birds soared through the sky, set against blue heavens and white clouds. They flew alongside the flying boat, only to be left far behind.

Chen Xun and Big Black Ox had stepped away from the edge of the flying boat, their gazes firm as they looked ahead.

The winding mountain ranges grew farther and farther away. After adjusting its direction several times, the flying boat began heading in a straight line toward Zhiyang Province of the Qian Kingdom. A magnificent journey was about to begin...