Chapter 19 (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The short Daoist priest cupped his swollen cheek and complained, “I was just making a joke to ease the tension in the air. Why are you so aggressive, Little Jiu? I have overcome many hards.h.i.+ps to raise you up. Anyway, back to business.”

The Dao name of the short Daoist priest was Jiu Wu. When Jiu Jiu had been accepted as a disciple, the Exalted w.a.n.g Qing had started undergoing secluded cultivation regularly. Jiu Wu was indeed the person who had raised her up.

Although they were martial siblings, their relations.h.i.+p was similar to that of a dad and his daughter. They were used to fooling around together.

Jiu Jiu looked as though she was about to have an outburst. Jiu Wu’s eyes circled, and he changed the topic of the conversation immediately. He pointed at the people behind him and threw a series of questions at her.

“Their masters are all here. Who are the missing ones? Where did they go missing? How long have you been trapped here?”

Jiu Jiu’s face turned gloomy. She cupped her hands and bowed to those people standing behind. Jiu Jiu was at a loss for words momentarily, so she lowered her head and bit her lips.

Liu Yan’er and w.a.n.g Ji looked elated. They flew there from the corner and paid their respects hurriedly to their master, uncle-masters, and aunt-masters.

Many powerful immortals were standing behind Daoist priest Jiu Wu. There was Jiang Jingshan from the Heaven-Breaking Peak. She was a Perfected Immortal, the master of Youqin Xuanya, and was the disciple of the current sect leader of the Immortal Du Sect.

There was also Lin Qi from the Heaven-Breaking Peak. He was a Perfected Immortal and the master of Yuan Qing.

The immortals from the Du Lin Peak and Little Ling Peak were from the same generation as Jiu Jiu. They had found their respective beloved disciples, so there was no need for further explanation about their ident.i.ties.

Jiu Jiu’s gaze fell on the white-headed old Daoist priest that was standing at the end of the cl.u.s.ter.

He was Qi Yuan from the Little Qiong Peak. He was also Li Changshou’s master.

This old Daoist priest looked haggard. Jiu Jiu could not look at him in the eye. She lowered her head and sighed. She knew internally that Li Changshou was a very important disciple to this old Daoist priest. He was hopeful and hesitant about Li Changshou.

Jiu Jiu said in a low voice, “Senior Brother Qi Yuan, the last time I saw Changshou, he was heading towards the north. Yuan Qing and Xuanya headed north-west. They were accompanied by a general from the Xuanya clan. His name is Yuwen Ling. If I am not wrong, this is a plan against Xuanya.”

“Haiz.” The old Daoist priest Qi Yuan laughed bitterly. He cupped his hands at Jiu Jiu, bowed deeply, and said, “Life and death are all destined. It’s all part of the priming process outside the sect. I have yet to ascend to become an immortal. It is hard for me to do anything in the North Continent. Please… please help me search for the whereabouts of my disciple. The Little Qiong Peak will be incredibly grateful for that!”

Jiu Wu replied anxiously, “People who are from the same family need not be very polite to each other. Rest a.s.sured, Junior Brother Qi Yuan. We will split up to search for the missing disciples. Jiu Jiu and I will head north with you.

“Ninth Junior Sister, snap out of your daze! Pull yourself together! We’ll talk about the punishment only after we find them!

“These two Essence Immortals were guarding the array formation. When I found them, they were busy mending the array formation. It is apparent that they are two of the culprits that plotted against you lot. Both search parties will grill one of them. Let’s see if we can get anything from them!

“Come on. Let’s go!”

Jiang Jingshan and Lin Qi completely agreed to the idea without raising any doubts. It was apparent that they were all extremely anxious.

As the short priest Jiu Wu waved his sleeve, the two unconscious Essence Immortals appeared beside him by telekinesis. He threw one of them to Lin Qi.

They did not say anything else. At that moment, the most important task at hand was to search and rescue the missing disciples.

They agreed to a frequency to transmit letters to one another and designated an area for each group to search. Finally, they decided to split into three groups.

w.a.n.g Ji’s master would bring w.a.n.g Ji and Liu Yan’er to the nearby town to ask around.

Liu Yan’er’s master would head north-west to search with Jiang Jingshan and Lin Qi.

Jiu Wu would head north to search with Qi Yuan and Jiu Jiu.

These immortals from the Immortal Du Sect stepped on the journey in search of their disciples hurriedly.

At the same time, a pretty girl who did not wish to be named was hiding in a newly formed cave far north. She started a bonfire and held a bamboo book roll in her hand as she waited for the arrival of her powerful aids. She was not at all fl.u.s.tered but was instead a little too comfortable.

Youqin Xuanya sat cross-legged inside the cave. She closed her eyes and meditated. Every once in a while, she would open her eyes to look at the silhouette that was at the entrance of the cave.

She wanted to start a conversation with him, but she could sense that Li Changshou did not want to talk every single time.

After killing Yuan Qing, Youqin Xuanya had lost her consciousness for three days. When she woke up about twelve hours ago, she had found that her wounds were almost healed. The only thing that was hurting was her scalp.

“Senior Brother Changshou, are we going to wait here?”

“Yes,” Li Changshou replied casually. “I have left Immortal Du Sect’s secret markings in many places within a 150-kilometer radius from here. I have also set up an array formation that conceals our tracks outside the cave. This place should be safe for now. According to what you have described, Yuan Qing has other accomplices. We could land in their hands if we head further south. Counting the number of days that have pa.s.sed, no matter if Aunt-Master Jiu Jiu managed to escape or not, the immortals that were sent from the sect to help us would have reached the North Continent already.”

Li Changshou paused, lifted his head, and looked at Youqin Xuanya. “If you are still worried, we can also make a detour and walk for around 1,500 kilometers. However, there is still a chance for us to be caught by them.”

“I… am not worried…” Youqin Xuanya replied softly. She lifted her head and looked at Li Changshou. Their lines of sight crossed.

Youqin Xuanya used to think that she was an upright person who would not do anything that hurt her conscience. However, for an unknown reason, she could not look at Li Changshou in the eye. She lowered her head and looked away.

She felt that her heart was a little empty. It felt as though there was a cat’s paw scratching the walls of her heart.

She was a little uneasy and unsure.

‘The reason should be because Senior Brother has saved me twice,’ she thought.

Youqin Xuanya thought that she should find a way to return the favor, even if she was still currently enjoying the protection by Senior Brother Li Changshou.

“Senior Brother, is there anything I can do for you?” she asked meekly.