A month later, Xi Ranchen set off with a group of Inner Sect disciples, according to the plan she had agreed upon with those few old fellows.
The group was a grand procession, riding the Sunset Sect’s flying boat toward the Luo Xu Mountains.
Inside the flying boat, Xi Ranchen studied the terrain map of the Luo Xu Mountains and occasionally gave a few instructions to Yang Yao beside her.
When she was young, Xi Ranchen had also visited the Luo Xu Mountains, but that was centuries ago, and the scenery had surely changed by now.
For instance, back then, aside from the deepest parts being rather dangerous, the other areas of the Luo Xu Mountains could be freely explored.
According to legend, in ancient times, a Demon Court was located there, which made the Luo Xu Mountains quite lively, with cultivators seeking experience and treasure hunters coming in an endless stream.
It was said that some had obtained fortuitous encounters there, but no one had ever known the exact location of the Demon Court.
Because of this, many sects had always kept an eye on the situation there.
There was a fairly credible theory that the Ancient Demon Court site had always been sealed, and the time for its emergence had not yet come.
In just the past century or so, a faint aura had begun leaking from the center of the Luo Xu Mountains, and its oppressive laws repelled those above the Life and Death Realm, preventing them from entering. Even Xi Ranchen herself was deeply wary of it.
This time, the aura there was even stronger. For those in the Life and Death Realm like them, forget entering, even approaching the outer perimeter would result in suppression.
This made it impossible for those old fellows at the Sect Master level to enter, which instead became an opportunity for the younger generation. At the same time, it spawned many roving cultivator groups that killed for treasure and had entrenched themselves deeply within.
“Yao’er, this time you juniors are going in deep, and we old folks can do nothing to help.”
Xi Ranchen’s expression was cold and stern, though she still felt some worry in her heart. “Learning from last time’s lesson, you should just act within your means.”
Last time, Yang Yao had been wounded inside, which was enough to show that aside from the dangers of the Luo Xu Mountains, one also had to guard against outsiders.
Although Yang Yao now had the strength to fight those in the Heavenly Firmament Realm, Life and Death Realm cultivators could not enter. In between, there were still those in the Orifice Entering Realm, and those guys were the most troublesome.
“Yes, Master.”
“However, since you managed to obtain that thing last time, you must have already gotten close to the depths. You should know your limits.”
Thinking back on it now, Xi Ranchen was still astonished by Yang Yao’s courage.
Going deep alone, obtaining the Phoenix Nirvana Feather, and escaping from those who killed for treasure—one could no longer describe it as simply being lucky.
As for the Phoenix Nirvana Feather… after learning that this was what Yang Yao had obtained, Xi Ranchen had specifically looked into it.
If that Demon Court was related to the True Phoenix, then it was a great opportunity.
If not for the aura restriction preventing old folks like them from entering, the younger generation would have no business here at all.
Yang Yao nodded, understanding in her heart.
Last time, if she had not been impatient and recklessly trespassed into a restriction that had not yet fully dissipated, she would never have been in such a sorry state.
In her previous life, everyone had waited for the restrictions to dissipate before entering, but by then, there was no advantage to be had, and she could not rely on the advantage of her memories either.
She just had not expected it to turn out like that—first suffering a backlash from the restriction, then being attacked by others.
Fortunately, it was not entirely without gain. She had obtained a Phoenix Nirvana Feather.
Xi Ranchen had intended to continue studying the terrain map and use her youthful memories to give Yang Yao a few more reminders. Noticing the movement beside her, she coldly raised her eyes.
In her line of sight, Xu Lin, wearing the Bronze Ghost Mask, was sitting on a chair, one hand propping up the table beside him, his head nodding and bobbing from time to time, dozing off and drooling.
Looking at the table again, it was covered in the remnants of spirit fruits he had devoured.
This scene could not help but make Xi Ranchen frown. She slightly raised her hand and beckoned, and in the void, a cold, sharp longsword appeared, instantly shooting toward Xu Lin, its killing intent undisguised.
As the killing intent surged forward, Xu Lin raised his eyelids, unhurried, and tilted his head slightly to the side.
It was precisely this slight tilt that caused the longsword, which had intended to cut a strand of his hair, to miss, not even touching a single hair.
“Sect Master Xi, I just ate a plate of your fruit, is there really a need for this?”
Xu Lin put on a smile, glancing at the longsword stuck in the wall behind him from the corner of his eye.
This scene was like a student dozing off in class being forcefully woken by the teacher.
“Boy, you really are carefree.”
Xi Ranchen truly felt Xu Lin was utterly thoughtless. “This time, you are also entering the Luo Xu Mountains. Do you really not have the slightest bit of caution?”
“Then what should I do? Be like your precious disciple and earnestly listen to your instructions?”
Xu Lin took the opportunity to scratch his head.
Xi Ranchen shook her head. If Xu Lin were really her disciple, she probably would be angered to death every day.
Rotten wood cannot be carved, yet Xu Lin was not rotten wood—that was what made it most exasperating.
“This time, you will follow Yao’er and obey her commands. Make good use of those eyes of yours.”
Xi Ranchen spoke slowly. “If you perform well, I will not treat you poorly when we return.”
Xu Lin tilted his head slightly. One eye narrowed slightly while the other was wide open, giving him a mismatched look.
The brow above the widened eye arched, and suspicion churned in the depths of his gaze.
His slightly open mouth seemed about to speak but hesitated, remaining half-open.
After quite a while, Xu Lin sighed, feeling only boredom. “Sect Master Xi, stop drawing me a pie in the sky. Last time your pie nearly stuffed me to death, and you’re pulling this again?”
Last time, she said that if he helped Yang Yao remove the Poison, she would release his Restriction. In the end, she only undid the first layer.
Now she was telling him this again—was she really addicted to drawing pies for him?
“Believe it or not.”
Xi Ranchen could not be bothered with this brat. “On the premise of helping Yao’er, you had best not die inside.”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
Xu Lin stood up, stretched, and walked toward the door, wanting to get some fresh air outside the flying boat.
In the original work, inside the Luo Xu Mountains, Xu Lin had helped the protagonist. He had not expected that now he would actually be helping the female villain.
Helping the protagonist had still allowed him to live to the Life and Death Realm. Now, helping the female villain—he did not know if the protagonist would cut him down after finding out.
Both sides were thankless roles.
“Wait.”
Xi Ranchen called Xu Lin to a stop, raised her hand to beckon the sword stuck in the wall, and with another wave, sent it toward Xu Lin again.
Xu Lin paused, turned around, and caught the sword, this time somewhat puzzled.
“This sword is named Li Lun. It was one of the swords I once carried. This time, I lend it to you for self-defense.”
Xu Lin blinked, not expecting Xi Ranchen to be so generous this time. This made him involuntarily appraise the longsword in his hand.
The aura of this sword was much weaker than the Baleful Meteor Sword, but it could still be considered mid-grade.
Xu Lin revealed a smile. Not to mention, Xi Ranchen really did not want him to die inside.
Seeing that Xu Lin remained motionless for a long time, Xi Ranchen narrowed her eyes and gave a low hum.
“Hm?”
He had originally somewhat changed his impression of Xi Ranchen, but seeing her like this, Xu Lin rolled his eyes at her in his heart, though his body properly performed a salute of gratitude.
“Thank you for your kindness, Sect Master Xi.”
Seeing this, Xi Ranchen nodded in satisfaction.
In his heart, Xu Lin was utterly speechless. He had figured it out—Xi Ranchen not only drew him pies in the sky, but this whole posture was also invisibly training him.
Even Xu Lin could not guess what Xi Ranchen was thinking. Did she really want to train him into the Holy Son of the Sunset Sect?