Nuwa, the goddess of immortality, said that cultivating immortality does not require spiritual energ

On the other side, in Tianyang City.

Having just finished a fierce battle, Luo Qiuyue was walking side by side with a girl dressed in a neat black outfit and carrying an ancient longsword at her waist, heading into the city.

On Luo Qiuyue's shoulder, a shrunken, jet-black serpent was lazily coiled—it was her bloodline contract partner, Jin Yu.

The iconic pair of golden wings occasionally shimmered in the sunlight.

The girl in black is named Youxiong Yaoyao.

She looked like a girl of only seventeen or eighteen, but was actually more than a hundred years older than Luo Qiuyue.

However, in terms of cultivation, Xiong Yaoyao is now at the peak of Earth Immortal, which is slightly inferior to Luo Qiuyue, who is already at the early stage of Heaven Immortal.

However, cultivation level is not the measure of everything.

In terms of troop deployment and battlefield command, Xiong Yaoyao is an expert, with far more experience than Luo Qiuyue. She is also one of the rare young generals in the Heavenly Realm who has comprehended the art of war.

Under the arrangement of her master Yue Cijing, Luo Qiuyue became the deputy general of Youxiong Yaoyao.

The two led a highly skilled team, not stationed in one place, but moving between several medium-sized battlefields that needed support, providing assistance and gaining experience.

As for why Yue Cijing doesn't personally mentor his apprentices?

Firstly, as a renowned Golden Immortal general, Yue Cijing is often required to personally oversee high-level battlefields and cannot leave for extended periods. Secondly, such battlefields are too dangerous for Luo Qiuyue at present, and even with her mastery of military strategy, she would find it difficult to exert much influence.

Training under Xiong Yaoyao would be a more suitable choice for Luo Qiuyue.

The two people and the snake walked into the popular Kitchen God Restaurant in Tianyang City, seemingly familiar with the place.

Finding a quiet spot by the window, Jin Yu lightly leaped onto an empty chair next to it, adjusting its size to that of an ordinary snake.

After ordering several signature dishes, while waiting for the food to be served, Luo Qiuyue's gaze couldn't help but fall once again on the seemingly ordinary longsword at Xiong Yaoyao's waist.

She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Sister Yao Yao, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure~" Xiong Yaoyao said with a smile, resting her chin on her hand. "What does Little Luo want to ask?"

Upon hearing the nickname "Little Sister Luo," Luo Qiuyue's lips twitched slightly, but she suppressed the urge to retort and asked the question that had been lingering in her mind for days:

"Sister Yao Yao, why do you always carry that sword at your waist? It looks like it's just a sword made of ordinary iron."

In the half month since Luo Qiuyue became Xiong Yaoyao's deputy general, she had never seen this sword drawn.

No matter how she tried to sense it with her divine sense, the sword showed no signs of spiritual power or Daoist energy.

However, Xiong Yaoyao's appreciation for this sword was obvious to the naked eye—she didn't wipe it constantly, but the scabbard and hilt were always spotless. If they occasionally got a speck of dust on them, she would immediately and carefully brush it away, as if she were dealing with some fragile treasure.

Hearing this question, Xiong Yaoyao's smile deepened. She gently stroked the cool hilt of the sword, her tone carrying an indescribable gentleness:

"This...this is a 'treasure' passed down through generations in our family."

"I see..." Luo Qiuyue suddenly realized, and the doubt in her heart dissipated.

Since it is a family heirloom, regardless of its intrinsic value, it carries emotions and commemorative significance far beyond the object itself, and it is only natural to cherish it.

Seeing Luo Qiuyue's "So that's how it is" expression, a sly glint flashed in Xiong Yaoyao's eyes. She leaned closer and whispered with a laugh:

"Little Luo, would you like to guess the name of this sword? If you guess correctly, I'll teach you a powerful divine skill!"

"I won't guess." Luo Qiuyue shook her head decisively without even thinking.

Are you kidding me? The name of someone else's family heirloom isn't something you can just guess.

Moreover, having spent time with Xiong Yaoyao, Luo Qiuyue had already experienced firsthand the eccentric nature of this superior and senior colleague, who loved to play pranks on people from time to time.

She wouldn't be foolish enough to jump into a pit.

"Oh dear, little Luo, don't be such a spoilsport~" Xiong Yaoyao blinked, feigning a pitiful look: "How about I give you a hint? It's very simple!"

"No." Luo Qiuyue stood firm and shook her head again.

"Tsk, you stingy person." You Xiong Yao Yao pouted, sat up straight, and stopped insisting.

Jin Yu, standing to the side, flicked its tail, already used to this scene.

Since Luo Qiuyue started working for this boss, similar conversations—one digging a pit and the other not jumping in—have been playing out several times almost every day.

At this moment, the restaurant staff brought out the steaming, fragrant dishes.

The two people and the snake temporarily put aside their conversation and began to enjoy the rare peace and delicious food during this lull in the battle.

While eating, Luo Qiuyue suddenly sensed something and took out a piece of divine jade that was faintly glowing from her storage ring.

She sent a wisp of her divine sense into the area, and Qin Le's familiar, smiling voice immediately echoed in her mind:

"Where is the autumn moon?"

Upon hearing this voice, Jin Yu, who was sitting cross-legged in the chair, merely raised his eyelids, showing no surprise.

You Xiong Yaoyao put down her chopsticks and looked at Luo Qiuyue with some curiosity—she had never heard this voice before, but it was clear that after receiving this message, Luo Qiuyue's aura had become visibly brighter and lighter.

"I'm in Tianyang City, at the Kitchen God Restaurant. What's up?" Luo Qiuyue replied with a smile that unconsciously appeared on her face.

"Tianyang City? Then wait for me, I'll be there soon, we'll talk when I get there." Qin Le's voice quickly returned.

"Okay." Luo Qiuyue smiled and accepted, putting away the Divine Jade.

"Little Luo, who was that just now?" Xiong Yaoyao finally couldn't contain her curiosity and asked.

She keenly noticed that Luo Qiuyue's mood had noticeably improved after receiving the message.

"It's Qin Le." Jin Yu answered for Luo Qiuyue, his voice still carrying a hint of serpentine languor.

"Qin Le?" You Xiong Yaoyao was taken aback at first, then a rather subtle smile appeared on her face, tinged with amusement and scrutiny, as she drawled, "Oh—so it's him..."

Luo Qiuyue felt that Xiong Yaoyao's reaction was a bit strange, but her tone and eyes seemed to have nothing to do with her, so she didn't bother to think about it and continued to focus on the food in front of her.

Not long after, the light at the entrance of the restaurant dimmed slightly, and a figure walked in. After scanning the room, the figure walked straight toward their table.

It was Qin Le.

"Qiuyue, Jinyu." Qin Le greeted them with a smile, then her gaze fell on the unfamiliar Youxiong Yaoyao. She nodded politely, "Hello, I'm Qin Le."

You Xiong Yaoyao put down her chopsticks, raised her head, and smiled, but the smile didn't fully reach her eyes. Instead, a faint, almost fighting spirit flickered deep within her pupils.

"My name is Youxiong Yaoyao."

Her tone of self-introduction was normal, but Qin Le, Luo Qiuyue, and even Jin Yu, who was standing next to her, all keenly caught that fleeting, peculiar hostility.

It wasn't the murderous intent of facing an enemy; it was more like... a wariness and rivalry of regarding the other party as a potential competitor.

Qin Le was somewhat confused, but he didn't pay it any mind. His purpose in coming here was clear: after delivering the items, he still had to continue with his business and didn't intend to cause any unnecessary trouble.

With a thought, he took out an item from his personal space—a miniature model of a pass, shrunk to the size of a fist and constructed entirely of some kind of dark stone.

The pass was stained with large patches of dark red blood that had long since dried and turned black, yet was still shocking to behold.

However, in stark contrast to this tragic appearance is the powerful and sorrowful aura that emanates from it—it is not spiritual power or Daoist charm, but a pure humanistic spirit that embodies countless acts of protection, sacrifice, and indomitable will!

Upon seeing this aura, Luo Qiuyue's pupils constricted sharply, and her breath caught in her throat. The foundation of the military strategy she had comprehended was the spirit of humanity!

Youxiong Yaoyao, who had been watching curiously from the side, also tensed up at this moment, and a clear look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

"Here, take this. It should help you understand the principles of warfare."

Qin Le smiled and handed the miniature, blood-stained ancient pass to Luo Qiuyue.

Luo Qiuyue took a deep breath, suppressed the shock in her heart, and solemnly extended both hands to accept it.

The moment her fingertips touched the cold stone, she seemed to hear countless sounds of clashing swords and galloping horses, deafening battle cries, and the final, resolute roars and sighs.

"Thank you." She didn't ask where it came from.

Anyway, it's common knowledge in their little circle that Qin Le always manages to get her hands on all sorts of incredible treasures.

However, just as Qin Le thought the matter was settled and was preparing to take his leave—

Suddenly, Xiong Yaoyao stood up. Her eyes, which always carried a hint of a smile, were now fixed on Qin Le, burning with a clear and ardent fighting spirit.

She placed one hand on the seemingly ordinary hilt of the sword at her waist, and spoke in a clear, distinct voice, enunciating each word clearly:

"Qin Le—how about we have a match?"