Dongfang Xiaotian sat at the bow of the immortal vessel, reclining in his rocking chair.
Beside him were a sunshade and a refrigerator he had crafted himself, all while basking in the gentle breeze, looking utterly relaxed and carefree.
“Dongfang Xiaotian! Stop right there!”
Suddenly, a faster immortal vessel caught up from behind and drew alongside Dongfang Xiaotian’s ship.
Looking over, Dongfang Xiaotian recognized the maid and her mistress who had blocked the sect’s path earlier. The other servants were likely still inside the Four Sages Academy.
Finally catching up, Chun’er lifted her skirt slightly and leapt onto Dongfang Xiaotian’s immortal vessel, demanding, “Why are you running off in such a hurry? We chased you for two whole quarters of an hour!”
“Don’t shout so loudly; I stayed up all night yesterday and I’m tired.”
Dongfang Xiaotian yawned slightly and said, “Besides, my junior brothers and sisters went missing in the Ruins. If it wasn’t urgent, would you want me to just lie in my cave abode eating popsicles?”
You have to understand, the chance to earn the protagonist’s favor waits for no one!
What if the protagonist’s junior brother resolved it himself because I was late?!
“Stop making excuses!”
Chun’er was naturally skeptical. Her junior brothers and sisters never went missing—why did it happen precisely on the day her own mistress came? That was just too coincidental!
Before Chun’er could continue lecturing, Dongfang Xiaotian shifted his hips and said, “Alright, fine, cancel the engagement. I agree. Go ahead, go ahead.”
They’d chased for two quarters of an hour just to cancel the engagement; it was clear the other side really didn’t want the marriage.
Dongfang Xiaotian couldn’t be bothered to say more and waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away flies. He just wanted to be left alone to find his junior brothers and sisters and earn some goodwill.
Chun’er was dumbfounded—this wasn’t the reaction she expected.
Logically, with her mistress being such a prodigious beauty, a peerless genius, and Dongfang Xiaotian just some poor guy, he should have been dodging, delaying, and throwing tantrums to avoid breaking off the engagement, right? So why was he so calm? There was even a hint of… disdain?
Chun’er’s plans to persuade Dongfang Xiaotian with compensation and her mistress’s kindness instantly fell apart. Not a single sentence could be used anymore.
“Th-That’s good then.”
Seeing Dongfang Xiaotian so cooperative, Chun’er softened her tone and reached out, “Then hand over the things. My mistress and I need to clear this up.”
“Things, huh.”
Dongfang Xiaotian glanced toward the Ruins entrance, which was not far away, then stretched lazily.
“I’ll look for them when I get back. There’s too much stuff, and I haven’t sorted my Space Spirit Artifact in over half a year. Won’t find it in a moment.”
Dongfang Xiaotian guessed that Chun’er was probably after the Marriage Letter or something similar. The Beichen Old Patriarch had given him such a thing once.
But over five years of wandering and performing heroic deeds, the gifts and thanks he collected had piled into a mountain.
Who knew if their Beichen family’s gifts were mixed with salted fish from the commoners?
Seeing Dongfang Xiaotian dodge, Chun’er frowned and asked, “How much will it take for you to return my mistress’s things?”
“So there’s bargaining, huh? The more, the better.”
Dongfang Xiaotian got out of the rocking chair and stretched again. “But I’m about to enter the Ruins. I’ll get them to you when I have time.”
He walked to the railing of the immortal vessel, gazing ahead.
Chun’er followed his gaze to see the outline of a large market slowly materializing below.
At the market’s center was a massive sacrificial altar topped with a weathered Stone Gate wide enough for dozens to pass through.
Beneath the gate was a Light Screen, guarded by two Xiao Sect disciples.
Undoubtedly, behind the Light Screen lay a self-contained Little World.
Chun’er frowned immediately. What if Dongfang Xiaotian just hid inside the Ruins and never came out?
“Who knows if what you say is true…” she muttered.
“Enough, Chun’er.”
The cool, aloof woman beside her finally spoke, interrupting the fruitless back-and-forth and looked at Dongfang Xiaotian.
“If you find the senior brothers and sisters of Dongfang Gongzi, you’ll have time to look for what we need, right?”
“Of course.”
Dongfang Xiaotian piloted the immortal vessel down not too far from the market.
“Then let’s make a deal.”
Beholding Dongfang Xiaotian’s eyes, Bei Chen Yue said, “Chun’er and I guarantee the safety of Dongfang Gongzi on this trip.
And you, Dongfang Gongzi, return the things to their original owner when this mission is over, and compensation will be given as well. How about that?”
“What!?”
Chun’er shouted in disbelief—her mistress was actually going to serve as a bodyguard for this kid!
A bodyguard was one thing, but this was basically working for free!
“Miss, this is absolutely not okay!”
Chun’er immediately objected loudly.
Putting aside her mistress’s noble status making it improper to act as a mere bodyguard, Chun’er had seen enough greedy people to know that Dongfang Xiaotian might try to demand more later.
Even worse, if her mistress and Dongfang Xiaotian got along too well, misunderstandings might arise, causing trouble for her mistress and no good for Dongfang Xiaotian either!
She knew all too well the dangers of giving someone in dire straits a glimmer of hope—once spoiled, they think they’re special, and in the end, neither side benefits.
“Enough, it’s settled. Chun’er, no more fussing.”
Bei Chen Yue ignored her maid and explained, “Dongfang Gongzi’s debt to the Beichen family is an undeniable fact. This is just repaying a favor.”
“…Yes, Miss.”
Chun’er did not resist her mistress’s decision but glared at Dongfang Xiaotian, saying, “Hmph, I advise you not to harbor any impure thoughts about my mistress!”
“You know the Ice Ling Immortal Palace cultivates the Dao of Forgetting Emotions! Severing love and attachment, marriage with you is impossible!”
Ascension.
The Dao of Forgetting Emotions, in essence, is about forgetting emotions to stabilize one’s state of mind.
Only with Supreme Emotionlessness and an Unblemished Dao Heart can one see clearly ahead and sit in Dao Forgetting the Self.
There are many ways to forget emotions: Killing Husband to Attain Dao, becoming a nun, or even severing one’s own lifeblood.
The cultivation world has always been ambivalent about the Dao of Forgetting Emotions, but Bei Chen Yue’s path was one of repaying kindness and hatred fully, then freeing the mind from demons and karmic obstacles to reach the state of emotionlessness.
It was considered a well-regarded path.
Only…
“You’re really going?”
Dongfang Xiaotian was stunned and looked at Bei Chen Yue. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you…”
“Hmph, it’s only a second-tier Ruins.”
Chun’er said confidently, “Even if it’s become perilous lately, I’m a true Foundation Establishment, and my mistress is a prodigy. Neither of us are weaker than mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators here!”
A second-tier Ruins meant its output was most suitable for second-stage cultivators, and since Sword Cultivators and Technique Cultivators shared the same system, second stage was Foundation Establishment.
—Is this the confidence of a paying player?
Dongfang Xiaotian muttered internally, but the problem this time was the protagonist had entered the Ruins!
The protagonist! Who knew if the Heavenly Dao would place something inside the Ruins to help the protagonist grow, or if something would awaken from within?
According to Dongfang Xiaotian’s knowledge of all kinds of trope research, when the protagonist was involved in a Ruins, the difficulty would be raised at least one level.
Still, with two cultivators who could match mid-Foundation Establishment strength helping, Dongfang Xiaotian was happy to take it easy.
“Fine, but I know this Ruins better than you. You handle the fighting; I’ll plan the route.”
Dongfang Xiaotian looked to Bei Chen Yue, the decision-maker. “What do you think?”
“Agreed.” Bei Chen Yue nodded lightly.
Communicating simply and directly with the Dao of Forgetting Emotions, Dongfang Xiaotian quickly descended from the immortal vessel.
***
After retracting their immortal vessels back into their Space Spirit Artifacts, they headed toward the Ruins entrance together.
However, two Xiao Sect disciples blocked the path, standing one on each side.
“The Ruins has changed. No outsiders are allowed entry!”
Seeing the two disciples, Chun’er immediately smiled smugly.
“See? We can’t get into the Ruins.”
“Tch.”
Dongfang Xiaotian clicked his tongue. No wonder it’s so troublesome to rescue the protagonist.
As he considered whether a bribe might work, a mocking voice came from beside him.
“Well, well, look who’s here?”
A chubby boy, about seventeen or eighteen, with a protruding belly and wearing Xiao Sect robes, walked over with a disdainful expression.
“Isn’t this the famed Azure Dragon Sword Immortal? Lucky me to bump into the great Azure Dragon Sword Immortal.”
The two Xiao Sect disciples immediately bowed upon seeing him.
“Greetings, Young Master Li!”
Chun’er and Bei Chen Yue looked at the chubby boy, who wore a scornful expression, far from respectful.
Chun’er’s sharp ears picked up whispers from the market crowd.
“Isn’t that the son of the Xiao Sect Elder? What’s he doing here?”
“Oh, that guy causes trouble wherever he goes. Wonder who’s unlucky today.”
“I heard he’s already at Qi Refining level ten, bullying someone at Qi Refining level seven… shameless.”
Chun’er immediately understood—the plain-faced, slightly overweight boy was Li Yuze, the son of the Xiao Sect Elder.
“Li Yuze, spit it out.”
Dongfang Xiaotian sighed helplessly. Rescuing the protagonist and building favor was so difficult.
No wonder the protagonist’s backers only show up at the last moment, a whole bunch of troublemakers in the way.
Li Yuze ignored him and scolded the two guards, “You’re so clueless. How can you treat the Azure Dragon Sword Immortal so disrespectfully? If he wants in, you let him in.”
The guards exchanged glances but ultimately stepped aside, signaling permission for Dongfang Xiaotian to enter.
Dongfang Xiaotian didn’t bother caring about their attitude. Just as he was about to step into the Ruins, Li Yuze reached out and blocked him.
“Hey, Azure Dragon Sword Immortal, even if you’re going in, the Ruins belong to our Xiao Sect. The rule about paying Spirit Stone tolls can’t be ignored.”
The chubby boy wore a self-satisfied smirk. “One Spirit Stone per person as a toll, but for the Azure Dragon Sword Immortal… you should pay at least a thousand Spirit Stones, right?”
“What?! Why don’t you just rob him!”
Chun’er angrily scolded, “A disciple of the Four Sages Academy outer gate earns only ten Spirit Stones a month! A thousand Spirit Stones is over a decade’s salary for a regular disciple! Dongfang Xiaotian can’t possibly have saved that much!”
“If he can’t even pay a thousand Spirit Stones, why is he coming to the Ruins?”
Li Yuze said, “I’ll tell you, even if I’m robbing him, so what? Hmph! Azure Dragon Sword Immortal? I spit on that! If you can’t even pay a thousand Spirit Stones, why would my Xiang’er ever remember you?”
Chun’er wanted to retort but froze at the mention of “Xiang’er,” clearly a girl’s name.
She sensed some juicy gossip.
Just as she was about to ask who this Xiang’er was, a fist suddenly smashed into the chubby boy’s face.
Li Yuze’s plump body immediately plowed a furrow in the ground as wide as himself, his eyes rolling back before he fainted.
“You’re blocking me just over this?”
Dongfang Xiaotian twitched at the corner of his mouth and twisted his wrist.
He had thought this was some hostile faction jealous and envious of his junior brothers and sisters.
He could tolerate a bit of story to hear about his juniors.
But to come looking for trouble over some hopeless romantic nonsense? How was this any different from a background villain? Don’t you know there’s no future in this!
But he blamed himself too. He shouldn’t have tried to walk the arrogant Dragon Overlord path back then, only to bring himself this kind of trouble now.
“Follow me.”
Dongfang Xiaotian turned, intending to tell the two girls to follow and help block the Xiao Sect disciples.
But they both wore expressions of surprise.
“What are you looking at? Lives are more important.”
Dongfang Xiaotian gave them a strange look. If they really didn’t want him to enter, why bother not taking action?
The slower they moved, the more likely his junior brothers and sisters would deal with things themselves.
Bei Chen Yue and Chun’er reluctantly nodded and prepared to follow Dongfang Xiaotian into the Ruins.
Suddenly, an angry shout rang out.
“You brat! How dare you commit assault in broad daylight!”
A person flew in on a sword, then slammed a heavy palm down on Dongfang Xiaotian!
Sword flight! A Qi Refining Sword Cultivator’s calligraphy technique! This move was clearly meant to kill Dongfang Xiaotian!
Yet Dongfang Xiaotian calmly pulled out a Ling Talisman and said, “Ice Ling Immortal Palace!”
Instantly, as if by reflex, the middle-aged man pulled back his force, stomped his feet heavily, and retreated in alarm.
Of course, it wasn’t Dongfang Xiaotian’s words alone that frightened him, but the Ling Talisman in his hand.
Though not a top-grade talisman, a Foundation Establishment cultivator could tell it was no ordinary Ling Talisman.
A misstep now could cost him dearly!
Thus, the man immediately withdrew his strength, landed beside Dongfang Xiaotian, and glared fiercely. “Young friend! You attacked without cause. Don’t you owe the Xiao Sect an explanation?”
Seeing the man wasn’t reckless, Dongfang Xiaotian relaxed and arrogantly said, “My mistress is a direct disciple of Ice Ling Immortal Palace! If she wants to enter the Ruins, who are you to block the way?”
Chun’er was stunned. Wait, whose mistress did he just say?
She’d said not to give Dongfang Xiaotian any hope! And now, barely any time had passed before he learned to use his mistress’s name to intimidate others?