“Not bad, it fits quite well.”
Qi Wanxi turned and walked toward the street.
“Since we are clear between us, I won't linger here any longer.”
“Miss Wan Xi, aren't you returning to the Sacred Hall?”
Chu Canyuan was somewhat at a loss upon hearing this; he had hoped Qi Wanxi could take him to Huangzhou sooner, but now it seemed hopeless.
“I still have an unfinished Sect mission, so I cannot return just yet.”
“Alright, have some confidence in yourself. I look forward to seeing you stand out during the Selection in a few years.”
Qi Wanxi waved her right hand in farewell as she walked into the distance, not looking back.
“Miss, it is my failure for not protecting you well enough, causing you to be injured.”
After Qi Wanxi turned into a small alley, a masked man in a Black Robe knelt before her and spoke in a hoarse voice.
“Uncle Yun, what are you doing? This is not your fault. I insisted on taking on this mission by being reckless; ultimately, it is because my strength is insufficient.”
Qi Wanxi quickly helped up the man in the Black Robe kneeling before her.
“Who was that young man just now? I saw he was only in the First Realm, why did the Miss show him such care?”
“What if I told you that just one day ago, he was a Mountain City Resident with no cultivation at all?”
The man in the Black Robe looked up at the towering mountain reaching into the clouds upon hearing this, greatly shocked. He hadn't expected such a Monstrous talent to exist in such a remote place.
“Truly worthy of being Miss; she usually doesn't act, but when she does, it's extraordinary!”
“Uncle Yun, what are you talking about?”
“Nothing, nothing. Let’s go quickly, Miss. I already know their location. This time…”
The man named Uncle Yun stopped speaking as he looked at the heavy expression on Qi Wanxi’s face.
Qi Wanxi nodded lightly, and then she and the man in the Black Robe instantly transformed into a wisp of Black Mist and vanished without a trace.
Chu Canyuan watched Qi Wanxi depart, unable to regain his composure for a long time: “I should set off too.”
After traveling for an entire day, Chu Canyuan finally arrived within a stretch of Mountain forest at dusk.
Having grown up in the mountains, Chu Canyuan knew how dangerous the mountain forest was at night, and he urgently needed to find a place that could help ward off Savage Beasts.
After walking cautiously for a while, an old temple came into Chu Canyuan’s sight.
The old temple had long lost its main door, and the threshold was dilapidated from being stepped on. The temple walls were so broken down they looked like they could collapse at any moment.
Chu Canyuan looked at the dilapidated old temple before him but revealed a look of relief, quickening his pace as he rushed inside.
As soon as he stepped into the Ruined Temple, he saw a Buddha statue standing in front. Having endured the baptism of time, the statue was already incomplete, even carrying a hint of terrifying, murderous intent.
Besides a pile of dry firewood inside the temple, there were scorch marks left by fire on the ground and walls.
Chu Canyuan set down his bundle and used the unburnt firewood and dry grass in the temple to start a fire.
“Is being invincible to ordinary people achieved just by reaching the First Realm?”
As he spoke, he picked up a stone fragment scattered nearby and attempted to circulate Spiritual Power to his hand.
Since there was no stagnation within his body, the Spiritual Power condensed smoothly in his hands, and Chu Canyuan immediately felt a warm sensation.
With a slight exertion, the stone shattered into pieces. Chu Canyuan did not show much shock at this sight.
“It’s not enough, far from enough.”
The Sword Scar dozens of meters deep at home, and the massive pit smashed out by the Bronze Tripod, made Chu Canyuan understand that his current ability was merely a drop in the ocean.
Chu Canyuan tightly clenched his hands and resolutely took out the last two Steamed Buns.
He stared at the only two Steamed Buns before him, hesitating for a long time.
“It doesn't matter. I can earn Silver Taels based on my knowledge of Medicinal herbs.”
The two Steamed Buns were quickly devoured. Chu Canyuan lay flat on the ground, hands crossed under his head, planning how to develop his path forward.
“Roar~”
A chilling roar reached Chu Canyuan’s ears.
“A Tiger? Fortunately, I found this Ruined Temple, otherwise…”
A series of slow footsteps interrupted Chu Canyuan, who was still immersed in his luck.
Chu Canyuan quickly got up and stood behind the bonfire, circulating his Spiritual Power to better handle any sudden events.
A Tiger stopped at the entrance of the Ruined Temple. The Tiger’s head was massive, its cheek muscles developed, and a pair of sharp Tiger eyes flashed with wild light, staring intently at Chu Canyuan inside the temple.
The two faced each other across the threshold. Chu Canyuan had grown up in the mountains and had seen countless Savage Beasts; even though he hadn't reached the First Realm yet, he felt no fear.
Strangely, the Tiger only paced back and forth outside the temple, showing no intention of entering.
“Could it be sensing my First Realm strength? Is it afraid to approach?”
After a long stalemate, the Tiger finally turned and showed signs of leaving.
The Tiger walked deeper into the forest, but in the last second, it turned its head back to look at Chu Canyuan and the bundle beside him emitting a Red light.
However, Chu Canyuan did not notice this action by the Tiger. After the Tiger walked away, he lay back down.
He didn't know why the Tiger came, nor why it left, and he was unaware that the Red light emanating from the bundle beside him was gradually dimming.
After one night, the morning sunlight shone softly, the air was filled with a fresh scent, and the weather was exceptionally pleasant.
Chu Canyuan dared not delay any longer. He picked up his bundle and left the Ruined Temple to continue his journey.
“I thought Qingzhou only had that one great mountain of ours, but Qingzhou is mountains everywhere.”
Looking at the rugged mountain path before him, Chu Canyuan felt a bit helpless.
Just as Chu Canyuan sighed, the ground beneath his feet gave way, causing him to lose his balance and tumble down the small path.
……
After a long time, Chu Canyuan painfully opened his eyes, feeling throbbing pain in his head.
“What’s going on? Why is it almost dark? I set off from the temple around the Chen hour.”
Chu Canyuan looked at the setting sun with some surprise.
“You rolled down the mountain and hit your head, causing you to be unconscious until now.”
“Old Man, you were… taking care of me the whole time?”
Chu Canyuan asked the Old Man, whose hair was completely white, with emotion.
“No. I didn't know if you would survive, so I didn't bother with you for fear of being implicated in a death.”
Although the logic was sound when the Old Man said this expressionlessly, Chu Canyuan felt an inexplicable urge in his heart.
Seeing that Chu Canyuan was unharmed, the Old Man turned and walked away. His steps were steady, showing no signs of old age; his weathered face revealed a rare ruddy complexion, and his eyes were bright and piercing.
“Grandpa, can you tell me how to get back from here?”
Chu Canyuan observed his surroundings. The trees were unevenly distributed and layered thickly; he couldn't find any small path leading out.
All that came into view was a vegetable patch and a simple Thatched hut.
“You cannot go back.”
The Old Man spoke faintly without turning around.
“Why?”
Chu Canyuan immediately circulated his Spiritual Power to guard himself upon hearing this.
“You are only in the First Realm now. If you insist on going, you will be courting death.”