“Go on. The path of cultivation is long and arduous. I am merely a guide.”
With that, Xie Linlang faded away like a wisp of mountain mist.
Shen He watched the dispersing black-clad figure with a sense of loss.
He didn’t know who Xie Linlang had been seeing through him, but those focused, pitch-black eyes had been too brilliant, brimming with an indescribable mystery and story, stirring in Shen He an urge to uncover the truth.
The Purple Radiance Mountain Secret Realm ended. After exiting, Shen He found himself in a barren mountain range.
He took out the sect-issued identity token and activated it, receiving a response from the northeast. Thus, Shen He sped off in that direction.
A day later, a mortal mountain village appeared before him. Shen He disguised himself slightly and entered the village.
Most of the people in the village were locals, making outsiders particularly conspicuous.
Thus, Shen He spotted at a glance the pink-skirted woman sitting on the steps of a rugged mountain path—Le Qingping, whom he hadn’t seen in the secret realm.
Le Qingping’s face was slightly pale, as if she were injured. A basket sat before her containing some scattered wild mushrooms, as if she were selling them.
Yet with her refined beauty and dust-free pink skirt, the villagers kept their distance, not daring to approach.
Upon seeing Shen He, Le Qingping’s eyes flickered, and she smiled before speaking.
“So it’s Junior Brother Shen.”
Shen He was puzzled. “What is Senior Sister doing?”
Le Qingping sized Shen He up and down, pondering for a moment before saying, “Some Immortal Sect orthodox cultivators from Purple Cloud Sect somehow ambushed me collectively when I exited the secret realm. I suspect they used some special technique to align my exit point with theirs.”
Shen He recalled that before entering the secret realm, he had indeed seen a group of Immortal Sect orthodox cultivators scouting the Purple Radiance Mountain.
However, demonic cultivators and orthodox cultivators generally didn’t clash or launch direct ambushes unless provoked—let alone a group targeting Le Qingping.
Shen He said, “I see. Does Senior Sister hope I can help repel the invaders?”
“There were five of them in total. This village is protected by a Golden Core Stage senior demon beast that once received great favor from my shizun, allowing me to take refuge here. But the senior demon beast doesn’t wish to offend the Immortal Sect orthodox, so it merely barred them from entering.”
Le Qingping smiled at Shen He. “I’m injured, and one junior brother alone probably can’t handle them. So I only hope you can relay the message back to the sect and ask the senior brothers and sisters there for help.”
With a flip of her hand, she produced an exquisite-looking aroma orb.
“When you entered, those Purple Cloud Sect cultivators likely noticed you already. This Magic Artifact can alter one’s appearance. Use it to evade their pursuit and hurry back to the sect.”
Shen He took the aroma orb, looking troubled. “This seems to be a spirit tool. I can’t use it.”
Le Qingping stared fixedly at Shen He. This aroma orb was a new magic tool she had found in one of the three sealed spaces in the ruins.
Junior Brother Shen truly seemed to have no connection to Nine Spirits Sect.
“I’ll teach you.”
She smiled radiantly.
Meanwhile, after leaving the Purple Radiance Mountain Secret Realm, Xie Linlang identified the direction and headed west toward the Demon Domain.
He had never come to the Demon Domain before. As an orthodox cultivator, he wasn’t accustomed to the environment there. Moreover, he disliked socializing and wandering about. Whenever he needed materials, Pei Ji would prepare them in advance, sparing Xie Linlang any worry.
After Pei Ji’s fall, Jiuxia Mountain supplied Xie Linlang’s daily needs. As a renowned Pill King, Nine Summer Mountain also feared any mishap befalling him in the Demon Domain—if some unreasonable demonic cultivator detained him, it would be a huge loss for the sect.
Yet demonic cultivators occasionally made their way to Nine Summer Mountain to ask Xie Linlang for pill refining help.
Xie Linlang also needed demonic cultivators to investigate certain matters for him. Over time, despite never visiting the Demon Domain, he had made one or two demonic cultivator friends.
Among them, the most steadfast relationship was with Li Pinghu of Sunset Death Gate.
It was said that Li Pinghu had been a famous scholar of a certain dynasty. Later, framed by court intrigue, he was imprisoned and died miserably in jail. After death, due to the countless people who missed and respected him, combined with his exceptional literary aura and talent, he entered the Dao as a spirit ghost and later turned to demonic cultivation, becoming a cultivator of Sunset Death Gate.
Because of his past life, Li Pinghu was quite righteous and had a personality somewhat similar to Pei Ji’s.
Conveniently, Xie Linlang had a favor to ask of Li Pinghu, so he had specifically inquired about Li Pinghu’s affairs and preferences, scheming carefully until he befriended him.
Now reincarnated and recultivating, Xie Linlang had no intention of contacting Nine Summer Mountain.
Though his sect had nurtured him, the sect leader uncle of Nine Summer Mountain back then had tried every way to dissuade him from troubling Nine Spirits Sect. Past life matters ended with the past life—since he had fallen, they could part ways cleanly.
Sunset Death Gate was in the western part of the Demon Domain. He had heard Li Pinghu mention it before but had never visited.
The Demon Domain was vast, with long-distance teleportation arrays at major city nodes. Though the fees were steep, Xie Linlang had refined pills in the secret realm and sold a few bottles to cover the cost.
About half a month later, he finally arrived at Futu Mountain, where Sunset Death Gate was located.
Following the contact method Li Pinghu had taught him years ago, Xie Linlang left a message at the market at the foot of Futu Mountain and began a long wait.
Fortunately, Xie Linlang’s luck held—Li Pinghu wasn’t in seclusion. Five days later, at dusk one day, as Xie Linlang sipped tea in the lobby of his rented inn, a middle-aged man in a gray scholar’s robe and gray headscarf walked in.
The man’s features were ordinary, and he even held a slightly yellowed copy of the Three Character Classic, looking just like a school tutor.
But the moment he saw Xie Linlang, the scholar’s eyes lit up with excitement, followed by astonishment.
“…It’s really you?”
Xie Linlang set down his teacup, first showing joy on his face, then his eyes reddening slightly as he lowered his head. Strands of crane-feather black hair slid over his shoulders, revealing a touch of vulnerability and sorrow.
“Big Brother Li, long time no see.”
He pursed his lips, curving them into a faint arc that seemed like a smile yet was more heartbreaking than tears. “I’m only brave enough to come see you.”
