Traveling in a group was indeed much more convenient than going solo.
Although the Beast Gate was not as outstanding as the three great sects, the little tricks they possessed made Lu Li somewhat envious.
“Senior Sister Lu, the Gold-Seeking Beast is reacting,” Meng Fang said, holding a small mouse with white and gold fur that was making squeaking sounds toward a certain spot. “It’s due west.”
“Such little beasts really are convenient.” As Lu Li spoke in admiration, Ye Tingfeng also took out a furball-sized spirit beast from his pocket. “Fellow Cultivator Ye, this one can sense danger, right?”
“Correct, this is a Spirit-Seeking Beast. Normally, it reacts to cultivators like us.” Ye Tingfeng crouched down, placed the Spirit-Seeking Beast on the ground, and watched the tiny ball of fluff roll around. “If we encounter other cultivators, we’ll have to trouble Holy Maiden Lu to handle it.”
“That’s only right.” Lu Li watched as the Spirit-Seeking Beast stopped in one spot and trembled. “Also, I’m curious—why don’t you each tame multiple types of spirit beasts?”
“That has to do with our cultivation levels.” Meng Fang put away the little mouse and pulled out a dagger. “Our daily compulsory lessons are cultivation and training the spirit beasts we’re best at. We earn money and make traveling around easier… but our energy is limited.”
“I see.” Lu Li understood after a moment of thought. “So due west, there are other cultivators, right?”
“And not just ordinary ones.” Ye Tingfeng crouched down, his expression grave as he pinched the trembling ball of fluff in his hand. “I’m at Qi Refinement Layer 12, Junior Sister Meng is at Layer 11. For the Spirit-Seeking Beast to be so terrified…”
“Layer 13,” Lu Li said, retrieving a long sword from her storage bracelet and holding it horizontally before her chest.
As the three walked forward slowly, a sharp sound of something breaking through the air came from far away, growing closer.
A green flash struck Lu Li’s long sword.
“Hm?” Lu Li swept her divine sense over it and found the green flash somewhat familiar.
It was a bamboo leaf.
“Could that be Fellow Cultivator Liu of the Imperial Sword Sect up ahead?” Lu Li thought for a moment, then called out.
“Indeed. Such a sound must be Holy Maiden Lu of the Yin Yang Sect,” Liu Qingyun’s voice came from the distant forest, accompanied by the footsteps of another person. It was none other than Yuan He, whom they had met before.
“Relax, I know them.” Lu Li looked at the two Beast Gate disciples, who were still somewhat hesitant. “Fellow Cultivator Liu, Fellow Cultivator Yuan, would the two of you be willing to cooperate for this trial?”
“I was just looking for someone to team up with. No problem at all!” Yuan He was quite casual. If not for his smooth, shiny head, Lu Li would have taken him for an ordinary mortal cultivator.
“Fine.” Liu Qingyun glanced at Lu Li and let out a long sigh. “Actually, Miss Lu, there’s something I need to discuss.”
“What is it?”
“My long sword isn’t listening to me anymore.”
“Huh?” Lu Li was momentarily stunned.
As the five of them walked, Lu Li listened to Liu Qingyun recount what had happened after their spar.
According to his original plan, Liu Qingyun intended to wander the trial alone.
But ever since Lu Li touched his bamboo sword earlier, no matter how he tried to communicate with it, the sword had no reaction.
His sword art was still intact, but the Sword to Bamboo Transformation—his Sword Zen—could no longer be used.
“So he teamed up with me. I have to thank Benefactor Lu for this. He’s always had that sour face all these years—this is the first time I’ve seen him like this.” Yuan He clapped and laughed without restraint.
“For a monk, you’re not very dignified at all,” Ye Tingfeng said with a frown, watching Yuan He’s boisterous laughter.
“Hey, that’s where you’re wrong.” Yuan He immediately turned to look at Ye Tingfeng, his brows furrowed in a way that made Meng Fang instinctively press closer to Ye Tingfeng. “To be honest, I never willingly joined the Buddhist Light Sect. If you ask me, joining you Benefactor Lu and your Yin Yang Sect would be much better.”
“Well…” Lu Li could only force a bitter smile. “You wouldn’t want to join.”
“Still better than my situation. My master said I had great spiritual insight and dragged me into the Buddhist Light Sect when I was a kid. But it’s just chanting sutras every day—so painful!” Yuan He sighed deeply and looked at the two Beast Gate disciples. “Plus, there are precepts. I can’t even start a family!”
“This Saint Son of the Buddhist Light Sect is quite a character,” Meng Fang whispered to Lu Li.
“I think so too… The so-called saint sons of the two sects aren’t what I imagined,” Lu Li said, watching Liu Qingyun hugging his long sword and murmuring pleadingly, and Yuan He clenching his fists while ranting.
“At least you’re good, Senior Sister Lu. You’re beautiful, and you taught me so much…” Meng Fang gave a shy smile. “You really live up to being a holy maiden.”
“Ah… you flatter me.” Lu Li could only smile bitterly.
If Meng Fang knew that this holy maiden was originally a man, she would probably be scared out of her wits.
‘But it’s strange… After so many years, don’t the other sects know that we can perform Yin-Yang Reversal? Oh well, I’ll ask Master when I leave the secret realm.’ Shaking her head, Lu Li cast aside the distracting thoughts.
Amid Liu Qingyun’s sighs, Yuan He’s groans, Meng Fang’s and Lu Li’s whispers, and Ye Tingfeng’s cautious probing, the five finally arrived at their destination: a dilapidated ruin.
“There should be some treasures inside,” Meng Fang said. The little mouse in her arms was now squeaking even more loudly.
“My Heavenly Eye can sense something too.” Yuan He’s eyes glowed with a faint golden light. “And there are no demon beasts or enemies.”
“Then let’s follow the rules we agreed on earlier.” Liu Qingyun temporarily regained his usual composure. “If the number is a multiple of five, we split evenly. If it’s smaller, priority goes to Yuan He and Brother Ye of the Beast Gate first.”
“That’s fine.” Ye Tingfeng breathed a long sigh of relief.
“Let’s all enter together.” Lu Li swept her divine sense around again, confirming there was no danger.
The group walked down slowly and entered a large room, then began to look around.
“Hmm…” Lu Li searched the room as well. This place had an inexplicable attraction to her.
‘Maybe it’s because of the Yin and Yang Qi?’ As a woman now, Lu Li’s perception of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was exceptionally keen. ‘Or could there be a Yin Yang Spring or some Yin-Yang Dual Qi Pills here?’
Click.
A crisp mechanical sound made everyone stand up straight and look toward the source.
It was the door they had entered through.
For some unknown reason, a Yin and Yang Qi restriction had suddenly appeared.
“Is it a trap?” Liu Qingyun immediately moved to the front. “No, there’s writing on it.”
“Let me see.” Yuan He’s eyes lit up. “‘To leave this place, Yin and Yang must unite.’”
“Otherwise… you will be trapped here.”
“In other words,” Lu Li said, “this is a room we can’t leave without doing that.”
“Yes. It’s up to you two.” Yuan He looked at the blushing Meng Fang and the stunned Ye Tingfeng. “You’ll have to handle it.”