“As one’s cultivation grows higher, resolving a cultivator without killing them becomes troublesome.”
Lu Li let out a long breath, looking at the huge crater on the ground, as well as a golden talisman lying within it and a fiery red fruit.
“And this counts as an extra gain.”
With his divine sense sweeping the surroundings, Lu Li confirmed there was no one around before carefully storing the talisman into his storage bracelet, also stuffing the Heavenly Fire Fruit inside. Stepping on his long sword, he returned to the peak where he had first been teleported.
Flying against the wind, Lu Li felt his True Yuan constantly being consumed.
Fortunately, he had already reached the 13th Layer of Qi Refining and opened his Ren and Du Meridians. With the vast True Qi continuously replenishing, he returned to the hot spring lake that was as smooth as a mirror.
“Let’s make this a temporary rest spot. Ordinary cultivators who want to climb the mountain will have to go against the wind, and the sounds they make will be too loud. Besides, there’s nothing useful here.”
However, for safety, Lu Li set up many traps around, buried many Waste Pills, and also concealed many worldly mechanisms in the snow.
“Hoo… my current gains are the Golden Bell Sect’s talisman, which should protect me a few times. And most importantly, the Heavenly Fire Fruit.”
Lu Li looked at the fingertip-sized fruit.
“One fruit is a decent harvest.”
“However, the biggest problem is that in my male form, I don’t have the ability to charm others; I can only fight with real weapons.”
Lu Li briefly calculated the consumption from just taking down that one cultivator.
“I finally turned back into a man, do I really have to do this for that…”
“But the efficiency is really low…”
Lu Li thought carefully. If he were in his female form, he would only need to use the Charm Technique. While the opponent is charmed, a single sword strike would easily finish them.
“Forget it, let’s treat this as a way to win more easily.”
Lu Li sighed deeply, then sat cross-legged again and began cycling the Yin-Yang Reversal Art.
Amid the familiar contraction of his body, Lu Li once again stared at his reflection in the water, his emotions complex.
“Forget it, forget it.”
While sighing, he took out the light gauze ruqun from his storage bracelet, skillfully put it on, and then began to groom himself facing the water.
“When did I get used to this…”
But it must be said that after transforming into a female body, control over the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was much easier than as a male. The True Yuan consumed earlier for setting up traps and flying recovered easily within a dozen breaths.
“Going down the mountain again.”
Lu Li stepped on his light gauze and floated down through the white snow. Just as he was about to return to the original valley to investigate, he caught sight of the young man surnamed Ye and his junior sister he had encountered earlier.
The two of them had survived amidst the storm of arrows, and from their joyful expressions, it seemed they had obtained the most important Heavenly Fire Fruit.
“Junior Sister Meng, we’ve already obtained the Heavenly Fire Fruit. Next, we’ll travel a long distance to another place to search for the Earth Vein Flower.”
The Ye-surnamed cultivator comforted her.
“The secret realm is vast; we don’t seek other opportunities, only the herbs needed for Foundation Establishment.”
A thought stirred, and a new plan emerged in Lu Li’s mind.
“However… I’ll have to make use of knowledge I’d rather not use.”
Lu Li closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the cherry-pink color in his pupils had become more pronounced. With a soft laugh, he gracefully walked toward the two.
“You two must be… fellow daoists from the Beast Gate, right?”
“Yes, Miss, are you the Saintess of the Yin Yang Sect?”
The young man surnamed Ye, upon seeing Lu Li’s pupils, felt his mouth go dry and couldn’t help but blush.
“Senior Brother!”
Meng Fang glared at Lu Li and immediately stood in front of him.
“What do you want to do?”
“I have no ill intentions.”
Lu Li performed a bow, his expression bitter.
“Daoist friend Meng, I didn’t mean to. Our sect’s Charm Technique activates involuntarily, and with Brother Ye being a man, naturally…”
“It’s fine, it’s fine, we’re all from the Three Sects and Four Gates.”
The Ye-surnamed cultivator chuckled.
“My name is Ye Tingfeng, and this is my junior sister, Meng Fang.”
“Senior Brother, how can you just—!”
Meng Fang looked at Ye Tingfeng, who was now all smiles.
“It’s nothing, I can understand Daoist friend Ye’s situation…”
Lu Li covered his face and turned sideways, but this action only made Ye Tingfeng even more infatuated.
Meng Fang, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue.
“So, do you have something to say?”
Meng Fang asked impatiently.
“It’s like this…”
Lu Li embellished the story of defeating the Golden Bell Sect cultivator earlier.
“We’re all from the Three Sects and Four Gates. Why not cooperate? That way we can deal with the other party better.”
“Miss Lu is right.”
“Senior Brother Ye, don’t interrupt!”
Meng Fang slapped Ye Tingfeng’s shoulder and stared intently at Lu Li.
“So your plan is that you use the Charm Technique, and then we ambush from behind, right?”
“Yes, I have used the Charm Technique before, but it consumes too much. While fighting others, my True Yuan would be unable to sustain.”
Lu Li sighed softly.
“Besides, Daoist friends Meng and Ye, we’re all from the Three Sects and Four Gates. After leaving the secret realm, we’ll still have to interact in the future. There’s no need to burn bridges.”
“Miss Lu is right.”
“Hey!”
Meng Fang slapped him again.
“Hmm… but what you said is right. Three people working together is much more convenient than one. My senior brother and I were separated from Senior Brother Zhao earlier. If we could coordinate with his Beast Mimicry Art, it might be even easier.”
“Ah… is Daoist friend Meng referring to a Senior Brother Zhao who is burly and, after using his technique, is covered in sharp spines?”
Lu Li covered his mouth with a delicate hand, a look of fear and unease on his face.
“What’s wrong? Was Senior Brother Zhao defeated by someone else?”
Mentioning their Senior Brother Zhao, Ye Tingfeng also shook his head and looked at Lu Li nervously.
“It’s complicated… After the initial teleportation, I encountered your Senior Brother Zhao. But because I couldn’t control the Charm Technique well, I caused him to… Under duress, I shattered his token and eliminated him.”
Lu Li bit his lip and lowered his head. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a Heavenly Fire Fruit.
“As compensation, I’ll give this fruit to you two…”
“No, that won’t do.”
This time, it was Meng Fang who struggled with her expression.
“…Senior Brother Zhao can indeed be impulsive sometimes.”
“Besides, I can understand. Any man in the world who sees Miss Lu would probably… ahem.”
As Ye Tingfeng was speaking, he was met with a glare from Meng Fang and had to rephrase.
“Not to mention being suddenly teleported and suddenly on guard.”
“But you did defeat our Senior Brother Zhao… How about this: This Heavenly Fire Fruit remains yours. Because sudden teleportation always has unexpected situations.”
Meng Fang thought for a moment, then looked at Lu Li.
“If we manage to find more Heavenly Fire Fruits, you can give us one extra.”
“No problem.”
Lu Li extended his hand toward Meng Fang.
“Then we’ll cooperate for now.”
“Mm, cooperate for now.”
Meng Fang reached out, looked at Lu Li’s face, then let out a silent sigh.
Lu Li could now understand what some women’s sighs were about.
“Don’t worry.”
Lu Li held Meng Fang’s hand and pulled slightly closer, whispering softly in her ear.
“I’ll teach you some unique methods to make you and that Daoist friend Ye… inseparable.”
“Senior Sister Lu… what are you saying…”
These words made Meng Fang blush deeply, but she glanced at Ye Tingfeng, who was keeping watch in the distance.
“Then… in this aspect, I’ll have to ask for Senior Sister Lu’s guidance.”
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