After Chu Liang finished speaking, there was a sudden awkwardness in the surrounding atmosphere.
The disciples of Shu Mountain were as close as family... except for Yin Jian Peak and Yu Jian Peak.
Originally, these two peaks belonged to the five peaks of the Sword Dao of Shu Mountain and had always been closely related. However, the two peak masters of this generation, Wang Xuanling, the master of Yu Jian Peak, had a dominant and stubborn demeanor as the leader of the peaks. Empress Di Nüfeng, the peak master of Yin Jian Peak, on the other hand, was young and spirited, never allowing anyone to outshine her, which inevitably led to conflicts whenever they met.
The two masters were upfront about their rivalry, and naturally, the disciples followed suit. Particularly, Wang Xuanling and Empress Di Nüfeng's recent gambling had spread throughout Shu Mountain, making the disciples of Yu Jian Peak consider Yin Jian Peak their enemy.
However, they probably didn't have many opportunities to encounter this solitary member of Yin Jian Peak in their daily lives... so they didn't recognize Chu Liang.
Chu Liang remained unchanged, still wearing a faint smile on his face. In times like these, as long as you're not embarrassed, others will be the ones feeling awkward.
The expressions of the Yu Jian Peak disciples appeared somewhat stiff. After a pause, Lin Bei said with a loud laugh, "Hey hey hey!"
He put his arm around Chu Liang's shoulder. "I heard that your Yin Jian Peak only has one disciple, and today we have actually met him. What a coincidence!"
"Yeah, quite a coincidence," Chu Liang smiled and nodded.
"Anyway, now that we've all signed for the mission, let's set off quickly," Lin Bei said loudly, glancing at the several Yu Jian Peak senior brothers.
Although it seemed like he was urging them to set off, he also implied that since they had all signed up for the mission, there was no turning back... they might as well go ahead.
Upon hearing this, the other three Yu Jian Peak disciples nodded one after another and walked out. Their expressions were somewhat unnatural, and they didn't look at Chu Liang much.
They were quite aloof.
Chu Liang didn't mind, walking alongside Lin Bei. In his view, it didn't matter who he was with as long as they could fight demons.
The thick-eyebrowed Lin Bei was very enthusiastic, introducing the other three disciples of the Yu Jian Peak to Chu Liang.
Leading the way was a tall and imposing young disciple, with a cold and firm expression. He carried a large broadsword on his back, known as Fang Ting. He was the leader of the Golden Core stage disciples, currently at the initial stage of the Golden Core realm.
Chu Liang nodded, as he expected.
The ordinary disciples of the Shu Mountain usually wore the standard flying sword bracelet of the sect, which could change its shape and be worn on the wrist. Those who carry their own swords are usually more powerful, both in terms of their skills with the sword and as individuals.
Although the Golden Core realm seems to be only one level higher than the Spiritual Sense realm, in reality, there is a significant gap that many people are unable to break through. The difference is immense.
The female disciple beside him, dressed in a light yellow short skirt, white inner lining, and trousers with tassels, had a delicate and lovely figure. Her appearance was youthful, with gentle eyes, giving her a timid and vulnerable look, the kind that easily evokes a protective instinct in people.
"This junior sister is called Xu Ziqing. We mainly came with her because this is her first time going down the mountain for a mission." Lin Bei smiled and continued, "Her brother is our senior brother Xu Ziyang, who has been in seclusion recently, so we are taking her down the mountain."
At the mention of the name Xu Ziyang, Chu Liang understood.
The Shu Mountain Sect had been in decline for many years, and the number of outstanding young disciples was much fewer compared to other nine celestial sects. Among the few young and famous of their generation were Jiang Yuebai, Xu Ziyang, and others.
Xu Ziqing, like Lin Bei, had just broken through to the initial stage of the Spiritual Sense realm not long ago.
In fact, for newly-advanced disciples who have just broken through to the Spiritual Sense realm, it is typical to participate in team tasks like this for the first time and be guided by senior brothers and sisters. It is rare for someone like Chu Liang to be so eager to go down the mountain and fight demons on his first time.
As for the last male disciple, he was at the mid-stage of the Spiritual Sense realm, with an average appearance, named Lu Ren.
...
As they walked out of the sword exchange pavilion and arrived at the edge of the Tiantian Peak, Xu Ziqing raised her hand and made a gesture, shouting clearly.
Suddenly, the tips of her fingers emitted twinkling light, as if being guided by a line that then caused a clear and melodious long cry from the distant sky.
Immediately after, a giant white bird with a body several zhang long emerged from the sea of clouds, exuding a frosty mist as it flapped its wings and landed, causing the mist to scatter.
This little girl actually had a spiritual pet as a mount, which she could not afford to raise with her current cultivation. It seemed that her elder brother doted on her quite a lot.
"Ah—", the white bird immediately lowered its head, rubbing its soft-feathered neck toward Xu Ziqing, who smiled and hugged it before inviting everyone to mount it.
However, after calling everyone from the Yu Jian Peak, she did not invite Chu Liang and went straight up.
Chu Liang didn't mind and followed up on his own.
Long-distance flying could be tiring and chilly even with sword maneuvering. Having a mount was certainly a good thing.
Sitting on the back of the white bird with long and soft white feathers embracing them, the sound of the wind whistling in their ears, they ascended to the high sky in no time. Their destination this time was a place called the "Zhen Nan Yu Mountain."
The Zhen Nan Yu Mountain was located at the junction of the Southern Domain and the Central Earth, spanning eight hundred li. It resembled a high barrier separating the two lands. The mountains were deep, the valleys were deep, and the dense forest was vast and was said to hide countless demon legends that even powerful individuals dared not venture into.
However, the place they were going to was just the periphery of the Zhen Nan Yu Mountain, a relatively safe area. Coupled with the presence of a Golden Core stage disciple, it shouldn't be too difficult.
On the back of the bird, Fang Ting, Xu Ziqing, and Lu Ren sat in the front, while Chu Liang and Lin Bei sat in the back, far apart.
"This human-faced jade spirit flower, it is said to be a pair of flowers born together. It was encountered by a predecessor of our Shu Mountain before, but it wasn't mature at that time, so we couldn't pick it. That's why we handed it over to the Exchange Sword Pavilion. Now that the flowering period is approaching, let's go and complete the task..."
Lin Bei kept talking on the side, explaining the details of the task to Chu Liang. However, Chu Liang noticed that this fellow disciple was not particularly enthusiastic, he was just a chatterbox.
Ever since they met, he hadn't stopped talking, seemingly suffering from a strange illness that made him uncomfortable when his mouth was closed.
Chu Liang even felt that the reason the three people in front were sitting so far away might not be to isolate themselves, but to isolate Lin Bei...
Boom!
After about half an hour, the white bird flew to the foot of the Zhen Nan Yu mountain, and a strong wind ripples spread out as everyone landed steadily.
"There are many monsters and beasts in Zhen Nan Yu mountain, we can't fly in the open anymore. We'll have to walk into the mountain from here," said Fang Ting, who was leading them, finally speaking.
"There are many strange plants and trees in the forest, and it's full of miasma even in broad daylight. We must hold our breath as we move forward, and our true energy won't be replenished. Therefore, we must use our energy sparingly."
"I need to conserve my cultivation, so the task of clearing the way ahead will be taken on by Lu Ren, Lin Bei, and Chu Liang, rotating between the three of you. Any objections?" He issued the command expressionlessly.
Although there was miasma in the forest, practitioners at a certain level were able to maintain their breath for a long time. But without breathing, they couldn't replenish their true energy, making everyone's true energy limited and very precious.
However, if they encountered any strange creatures blocking the way along the road, someone had to clear the path.
As the most advanced in cultivation, Fang Ting needed to conserve his cultivation to deal with possible emergencies, so he wouldn't waste his true energy on such minor matters as clearing the path. As the weakest in cultivation and also descending the mountain for the first time, Xu Ziqing was to be protected in the middle of the group. The remaining three would rotate and take on the task.
This arrangement was absolutely fair and reasonable.
But...
"I have a suggestion." Chu Liang, who had been standing at the end of the group, suddenly spoke up.
"Hmm?" Fang Ting frowned and looked at him.
The others' eyes also fell on his smiling face, vaguely suspicious. They didn't know what this disciple from Silver Sword Peak was up to.
Then Chu Liang said, "The task of clearing the way of demons can be handled by me alone, there's no need to rotate."