Born with immortal seed

Chapter 197 True Fellow Travelers

The sword flashed, cutting through the white clouds and past a flock of wild geese.

A large bird with a powerful aura, a fleshy crest on its head, and colorful feathers on its tail let out a clear cry, seemingly wanting to compete, and chased after it all the way.

As they approached the Black Mountain Range, the distance between them and the sword light did not shorten; instead, it grew further and further apart.

It let out two angry shrieks, spitting out a beam of light that shattered several boulders before turning and flying back after venting its anger.

"The true depths of Black Mountain are indeed dangerous, not a place to venture lightly... If it weren't for the presence of a blue phoenix, perhaps still asleep, it would be an excellent place to test one's swordsmanship in the future."

Bai Zichen held a mid-grade spirit stone in his hand, trying his best to restore his depleted mana.

That large bird with multicolored feathers is a peak second-tier demon beast. In a different setting, it would definitely be interested in fighting demons with a sword.

But at this moment, he couldn't afford to waste a single second; he was racing against time.

As he flew out of the Black Mountain Range, he vaguely sensed several places that made him wary and were fraught with danger, which were probably occupied by third-tier demonic beasts.

Fortunately, no monsters came out to bother him, allowing him to leave smoothly.

Finally, the towering mountains disappeared from view. Bai Zichen used his fingers to determine his location and, comparing it with the location of Xiaoyushan, continued speeding forward.

He flew a long distance on his sword for the first time and finally understood why his senior brother Pei Dongyong had advised him to have a flying artifact.

Maintaining this high speed consumes almost as much mana as fighting on a sword, and the rate at which the spiritual liquid in the dantian decreases is visible to the naked eye.

Two hours later, he had to change into a white cloud-patterned robe and begin to regulate his breathing to recover his magical power.

Although he could still fly thousands of miles, he needed to reserve some of his magic power to deal with unexpected situations.

The difference in speed between flying on a sword and using a low-grade flying artifact was immediately noticeable, like comparing heaven and earth.

"Normally, I wouldn't notice, but the flying speed of the colorful white cloud robe has slowed down a bit..."

Bai Zichen held a mid-grade spirit stone in each hand, and after absorbing it, he immediately replaced it with two new ones.

After about an hour, most of the liquid mana in his dantian was restored. He put on the willow-leaf sword again and transformed into sword light.

When it comes to flying on a sword, among his several second-tier flying swords, the Sound Bamboo Sword is the slowest, but it consumes the least amount of mana.

Normally it would be fine, but it's definitely not appropriate now.

The Tianxin Sword and the Willow Leaf Sword have similar speeds, but the Willow Leaf Sword requires the most mana to wield.

Even so, Bai Zichen still chose the willow-leaf sword.

This sword, besides being able to conceal its light, making it suitable for surprise attacks and assassinations, also produces a silent sword light.

He didn't want to draw attention to his sword, get into a conflict, or waste his time.

Although Senior Sister Zhou Suqing told me that she had inherited the array formation treasure from Ancestor Yang, and that she had a secret treasure that could enhance the array's power at critical moments, she would be able to survive for several days without any problem.

But who knows if the Core Formation cultivators from the Ghost Spirit Sect will use their trump cards right away?

If several Core Formation cultivators were to go all out and use all their trump cards, the 3,600-ring Water Smoke Array certainly wouldn't last long.

However, firstly, the Ghost Spirit Sect cultivators and the Blood Demon Sect's guest elders may not be of one mind, and secondly, if victory is assured, the opponent may not be willing to use their trump cards.

They set off at 9:00 AM and arrived at Xiaoyushan just before dusk.

In the middle of the day, he traversed more than 15,000 li, setting a new record for his own sword flight.

As the sword flashed, everyone swayed slightly.

This so-called Little Jade Mountain is nothing more than a small mountain, a hundred feet high, with no spiritual energy, jagged rocks, exposed yellow sand and sparse trees.

Bai Zichen didn't have time to rest. He made a hand seal and a hidden wave of magical power spread out in all directions.

"Boy, are you a disciple of the Azure Maple Sect?"

A flash of green light appeared, and a tall, upright cultivator suddenly appeared without the cultivator noticing.

"Greetings, Uncle-Master of the Five Elements Sect... This is Bai Zichen of the Qingfeng Sect. This is my sect identity token."

Bai Zichen felt a chill run down his spine. As expected of a Core Formation True Person, he hadn't even noticed how the person appeared right in front of him.

But he must possess some kind of miraculous escape technique. I've had contact with Old Ancestor Yang more than once or twice, and I've never seen such a strange figure before.

While contact information can be leaked or falsified, identity tokens cannot.

In sects like Qingfeng Sect, elders and true disciples would use their essence and blood to make soul lamps, and their identity tokens would also contain essence and blood.

Only when activated by the individual and resonating with their bloodline will the identity token react.

This is also a way for various sects to prevent enemies skilled in changing appearance and aura from infiltrating after a disciple has perished outside.

However, since one's own essence and blood are difficult to fake, the possibility of impersonation is basically eliminated.

When the tall and imposing cultivator saw the sect token emitting spiritual light, his expression relaxed slightly. He reached out and grabbed Bai Zichen's shoulder.

The two figures changed one after another. Bai Zichen felt as if a huge weight was pressing down on him. All around him was chaos and darkness.

In another flash, they found themselves in a cave.

Wood escape!

Bai Zichen's heart skipped a beat; he already knew this person's identity.

The Five Elements Sect is famous for its Five Elements magic. The sect is divided into five peaks, and only a Core Formation cultivator can take over as the peak master.

The Five Elements Escape Technique is also a secret transmission of the Five Peaks, and each peak master has mastered the corresponding escape technique, making them first-rate escapers.

However, the sect's strongest divine power is the Great Five Elements Annihilation Divine Light, which is said to be able to overcome all Five Elements spells and objects in the world.

However, the cultivation conditions are harsh, requiring one to be a Core Formation cultivator to even begin, and no one has succeeded in cultivating for hundreds of years.

We have no way of knowing whether the recorded power of the Great Five Elements Annihilation Divine Light is exaggerated or truly so.

That's why Wei Dao left a message in his message to Zhou Suqing, saying that even though the two senior uncles of the Five Elements Sect were seriously injured, it would be easy to find them and help the two juniors escape.

Defeating them is easy, but killing them requires a significant difference in cultivation level or setting up an array beforehand to block the effects of escape techniques.

Otherwise, it would be almost impossible to do.

"Greetings, Uncle-Master Qingmu; greetings, Uncle-Master Heishui..."

After the Five Elements Sect's Core Formation True Person took over as Peak Master, he stopped using his previous name and began to refer to himself by his Peak Title.

Since Bai Zichen recognized the Wood Release technique, he immediately realized that the tall and upright middle-aged cultivator was none other than the Green Wood Peak Master.

Another person, sitting cross-legged on the ground, with an unpredictable and effeminate demeanor, pale complexion, and unstable breathing, appeared to be the Blackwater Peak Master.

"How did you end up here? Did Junior Nephew Wei send you?"

Peak Master Qingmu was full of energy. Even though he was no match for the Ghost Spirit Sect cultivators and suffered a defeat, he still maintained his confidence.

"We beg our two senior uncles for their help. Our sect is safe, but Jade Moon Lake is in imminent danger."

Without hesitation, Bai Zichen directly explained the difficulties currently facing Feiyue Lake and his purpose for coming.

"At this moment, the Jade Moon Lake Grand Formation should be under heavy attack, with only Senior Sister Zhou holding it up... I know a secret route that can take us around to the vicinity of Jade Moon Lake. As long as we break into the formation and get help from our two senior uncles, the third-tier Grand Formation will be as stable as Mount Tai!"

"I see……"

Peak Master Qingmu did not answer immediately, but hesitated for a moment.

“We should have gone there immediately, but Junior Brother Blackwater was seriously injured… Originally, the two of us were enough to suppress True Man White Bone, but a few days ago a mysterious demonic cultivator came and actually used the Black Lotus to trap Junior Brother Blackwater, directly knocking away sixty years of his cultivation.”

"The level of true essence condensation has regressed by sixty years!"

"My injuries have stabilized, and I can maintain my Core Formation level by making three to five attacks in a short period of time."

The Blackwater Peak Master stood up silently, having already finished his healing process at some point.

"Back then, when our Qingfeng Sect's seniors traveled alone to Yunnan to save our sect from peril, did they hesitate to risk their lives? When they were already ill, they slew a third-tier demon king and obtained a third-tier demon core for our sect. When they were further injured, did they ask for anything in return?"

"So senior brother, you don't need to worry about my injuries. Although I am not talented, I still follow the example of the sages... Moreover, Lake Feiyue should be mostly water, which is suitable for me to use water escape techniques. If I encounter that Black Lotus Demon Cultivator again, I can also entangle him for a while."

"That's right. Jade Moon Lake was originally the dwelling place of a third-tier dragon, which was seized by our sect during the last reclamation... It is a lake of three thousand hectares, with numerous tributaries around it and a vast expanse of water."

When Bai Zichen saw that Blackwater Master's gaze had turned to him, he quickly responded.

“Junior brother is right. It was my selfishness that caused this… Let’s set off immediately and follow the route that Junior Nephew Bai mentioned to head to Jade Moon Lake.”

Master Aoki readily admitted his mistake and waved his hand to release a blue spirit boat.

Once Bai Zichen boarded the spirit boat, he pointed out the route on the map, and that was it; he just needed to sit quietly in the spirit boat.

Unexpectedly, he persuaded the senior of the Five Elements Sect so easily. He was even preparing a long speech to prove the necessity of rushing to the aid of Feiyue Lake from various angles.

No, it wasn't through their own persuasion, but rather because the two Core Formation Realm experts from the Five Elements Sect had already decided to act this way.

'Everyone has selfish desires and dark thoughts; it's unavoidable... but the ability to constantly reflect and be vigilant, and to admit one's mistakes, is truly rare. The Qingfeng Sect made the right choice in choosing the only sect to associate with; the founders didn't help the wrong people.'

Bai Zichen felt that the speed of the cyan spirit boat was slightly better than his own speed on the Azure Sword, and knew that he would definitely be able to return to Jade Moon Lake before Hai Shi (9-11 PM), which made him feel much more at ease.

The story of "a small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment" is all too common.

The great kindness of helping others through hardships and preserving their lineage is something that not every sect will remember.

Many sects maintain close personal relationships, but in such a critical moment, it's impossible for them to risk losses by sending out half of their high-end combat power. They would usually find some excuse, such as the long distance or the many things happening within the sect, to get by.

A small minority might even secretly hope that you and your entire family are wiped out as soon as possible.

So that it won't forever remember this great kindness, and feel a little weak-willed whenever they meet.

It is remarkable that Aoki Makoto was able to admit his mistakes so readily in front of a junior, acknowledging that his selfishness had caused him to hesitate in responding to the plea for help from Feiyue Lake.

Open and honest, without any concealment.

Bai Zichen believed that such a mindset and magnanimity were rare even among Core Formation cultivators.

"We've arrived! Jade Moon Lake is just fifty miles ahead!"

The cyan spirit boat was put away, and the three of them appeared in the air. Qingmu Zhenren took out a talisman and affixed it to Bai Zichen.

Bai Zichen's aura had diminished to nothing, his skin was dry, and his blood and qi were sluggish, making him look like a withered tree.

“Nephew Bai, there’s no need to panic. This is a third-tier withered wood substitute talisman… It can temporarily transform your physique, making you as indistinguishable as grass and trees. Most Core Formation cultivators would overlook it if they didn’t pay close attention.”

Aoki Makoto explained something, and at the same time, he himself changed, giving the impression of becoming a towering tree.

(End of this chapter)