Chapter Twenty-Five: Han Qiaoman, the Guardian of Blossoms

Seeing that Zhou Qi was unwilling, Han Yuanzheng decided to throw out another condition.

“I’m asking you to seek treasure in the Immortal’s Cave, not to send you to your death. This is the Qiankun Ring—it holds fifty square meters. If you succeed, it will be yours,” Han Yuanzheng said leisurely.

What? This was a precious item. Zhou Qi had always used a storage pouch, which could hold at most a few square meters. Storage rings were extremely difficult to craft, requiring deep mastery of spatial array techniques. Their price was always in the hundreds of mid-grade spirit stones, an astronomical sum for Zhou Qi at present.

Zhou Qi shook his head, unshakable. Though the storage ring was valuable, it was not rare.

“There is also the Myriad Beast Armor in the ring, which can withstand a strike from a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator; and a Groundbreaking Talisman—activate it, and it will teleport you a thousand miles, though it can only be used once,” Han Yuanzheng continued.

“The sect has commanded; even if I must face blades and fire, I will not refuse death,” Zhou Qi said, unable to reject further. He could do without the storage ring, but the Myriad Beast Armor and Groundbreaking Talisman were precious life-saving items. To withstand a peak Foundation Establishment strike—Long Feiyu was only at the third level of Foundation Establishment; with these, what was there to fear from him?

Seeing Zhou Qi agree, Han Yuanzheng felt secretly triumphant. Principles? In the end, they bowed to my sugar-coated bullets.

Han Qiaoman was startled by Zhou Qi’s quick change, but saw him turn and bow respectfully.

“Senior Sister, you must have noticed—Long Feiyu has intentions toward me. But my preferences are normal. I have refused him several times, and now he bears hatred born of love, which may bring me harm. If Long Feiyu truly has evil intentions, I beg you to help me,” Zhou Qi said earnestly. “Just now, when you sought me, I mistook you for Long Feiyu. His cultivation is higher than mine, and now I only wish to stay far from him, lest he seize an opportunity.”

Han Yuanzheng and Han Qiaoman were stunned—the gossip was true; the person involved admitted it. Though cultivators came in all types and had varied tastes, and they themselves did not discriminate, it still felt odd, hard to comprehend such behavior.

“Rest assured, Junior Brother Zhou. You are a disciple of the Gate of Life and Death. I will protect you. Forced fruit is never sweet. If he tries to use force, he’ll have to answer to my sword,” Han Qiaoman suddenly felt a surge of protectiveness, her words bold and resolute.

With the key person settled, the rest were easy to select: Han Qiaoman as leader, Zhou Qi as the treasure-seeking child. Gathering thirteen more peak Foundation Establishment disciples would not be difficult.

Han Yuanzheng instructed Zhou Qi in some precautions. The sweet rewards had been given—the stick could not be spared. Only when all was settled did he let Zhou Qi go, agreeing to seek the Immortal’s Cave at the Immortal Union Sect in a month.

Returning to his cave, Zhou Qi could not help but feel a surge of excitement. He had been anxious, but with the Myriad Beast Armor and Groundbreaking Talisman, dealing with Long Feiyu seemed promising. However, as the son of the Immortal Union Sect’s master, Long Feiyu surely possessed numerous treasures, so Zhou Qi still needed to improve his cultivation. There was time before the expedition, so Zhou Qi entered seclusion once more.

A month passed, and Zhou Qi emerged from his cultivation. The day to explore the Immortal’s Cave had arrived.

Han Yuanzheng stood at the front, a group of elders behind him, then fourteen Foundation Establishment disciples led by Han Qiaoman. They waited a long time in the sect master’s hall, but Zhou Qi was nowhere to be seen.

Han Qiaoman recalled Zhou Qi’s poor sense of direction and turtle-like speed, suggesting they go directly to Liu Ruicai’s cave. It was a sensible suggestion.

They happened upon Zhou Qi just as he was leaving. With a wave of his hand, Han Yuanzheng placed Zhou Qi onto Han Qiaoman’s flying sword, and the group set off grandly for the Immortal Union Sect.

Upon arriving, the Immortal Union Sect was already prepared. Long Feiyu was overjoyed to see Zhou Qi on Han Qiaoman’s sword—he had paid such a price; if Zhou Qi hadn’t come, it would all have been for nothing.

Han Qiaoman noticed the look in Long Feiyu’s eyes as he gazed at Zhou Qi—there was joy, longing, and murder. Junior Brother Zhou was right; Long Feiyu’s love had turned to hate. She shifted, quietly positioning herself in front of Zhou Qi. Today, she, Han Qiaoman, would be his protector.

The group departed from the Immortal Union Sect, riding a flying artifact northward. The vessel was vast, like a giant palace.

Inside were countless rooms. With over a hundred people from both sects, there was more than enough space for everyone to have their own chamber. The energy required to operate such a flying palace must be immense, no wonder the Immortal Union Sect could not bear it alone.

Knowing Long Feiyu’s ill intentions toward Zhou Qi, Han Qiaoman placed Zhou Qi’s room in the midst of the Gate of Life and Death disciples. If anything happened, everyone could rush in together—not because Zhou Qi was so highly valued, but because it would be disgraceful for a Gate of Life and Death disciple to fall to Long Feiyu. Had Zhou Qi been a woman, it would have been less of an issue—at worst, a marriage alliance. But as a man, the rumors would not sound good.

Han Yuanzheng tacitly approved Han Qiaoman’s arrangement—his expectations for Zhou Qi were greater still.

On the journey, Long Chengye finally revealed more information.

The Immortal’s Cave was discovered by a Golden Core disciple of the Immortal Union Sect who was training outside. While pursuing a demon beast, he stumbled into the place.

The cave was located on Black Xing Mountain, which was covered in all sorts of trees and inhabited by many demon beasts and monsters. After discovering the cave, the Golden Core disciple tried to enter, but was attacked by the cave’s formation. He died soon after delivering the news.

The Immortal Union Sect then sent elders to investigate, finding that the stronger the cultivation, the fiercer the formation’s attack at the entrance. Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining disciples, however, were not attacked and could enter, though those sent in never returned, suggesting other dangers awaited inside.

Thus, the upper limit for exploring the Immortal’s Cave was Foundation Establishment disciples. Presumably, the immortal was seeking a successor.

As for the existence of perfect Foundation Establishment pills, it was speculation by the elders. When attacked by the formation, a rich medicinal fragrance emanated from within, including the scent of Foundation Establishment pills, but much stronger and more concentrated than ordinary ones.

The journey from the Immortal Union Sect to Black Xing Mountain would take over half a year. With nothing to do, Zhou Qi decided to focus on improving his cultivation, quietly practicing the Xuan Tian True Art and refining spirit stones. If anyone asked, he would say it was a technique passed down from his master—Liu Ruicai was mysterious enough for that.

As for Long Feiyu, he need not worry for now. Should Long Feiyu approach, the soul of True Lord Tianxuan would surely sense it; Zhou Qi could simply call out for his senior sister to save him, and the many elders and disciples of the Gate of Life and Death would surely come to his aid.

Half a year passed in a blink. Aside from meals and being summoned by the sect master, Zhou Qi never left his room. His cultivation finally reached the middle stage of Qi Refining Level Nine. To reach the peak before entering the Immortal’s Cave was impossible—the further one advanced, the slower progress became.

Even with the Xuan Tian True Art, a first-rate technique, Zhou Qi’s cultivation had risen quickly—from Qi Refining Level Three to Level Nine in under a year. Ordinary cultivators might spend decades or a century.

Even the prodigy Long Feiyu took ten years for the Qi Refining stage. As for when the soul of True Lord Tianxuan entered his soul sea, it was likely around the same time as Zhou Qi’s; whether he had cultivated to Level Ten Qi Refining or achieved perfect Foundation Establishment remained unknown.