Don't farm, cultivate immortality!

"Granted."

"Just remember to prioritize your own safety above all else."

"If those demons are unreasonable, just come back, and I will seek justice for you."

"Disciple understands." Zhuang Xing stood up.

After leaving Qiluzhai, he returned to his study, picked up his pen and wrote a letter, which he sent to his old friend in Yidu.

Nowadays, pilgrims come and go from Yidu in an endless stream. With more people traveling the road from Yidu to Qingxuan Mountain, it is no longer as difficult to travel as it used to be.

Although that road was not an official road, inns had already been set up on both sides of the road for people to rest their carriages and horses, and for which people would pay for lodging.

In this way, one can ask an official to help deliver the letter, and a reply will be received in about ten days.

He folded the letter and sealed it in a piece of parchment.

He then went to prepare for his trip, thinking that the earlier he went, the better the chances of finding the little demons.

Chapter 315 Willing to Go Through Fire and Water

Having received his master's permission, Zhuang Xing went to the market to buy some spare talismans and elixirs, and asked Master Wu to sharpen his sword. He made ample preparations in all aspects.

Although he told the old Taoist priest that he was traveling alone, he still planned to bring a companion along.

"Your Majesty, shall we go up the mountain to pick fruit?"

The one-eyed panda followed at his feet, moving forward with his steps.

Zhuang Xing had already entered the wild forest. The ground was covered with rotting leaves, and stepping on it felt like floating, soft as cotton.

"We won't pick any fruit today," Zhuang Xing said.

He led Shoumu to a difficult area, deep in the jungle, where low bushes and wild grasses, left untrimmed, became obstacles.

This is often the case in wild forests. Where there is sunlight, plants and trees take root. However, you can also see animal trails in the forest. When wild animals walk in the forest, they actually follow some traceable routes, just like humans.

Zhuang Xing stopped and looked around. He said, "Shoumu, run as fast as you can through this forest. Stop and run back when you can no longer see me."

"Your Majesty, what is this all about?" Shoumu asked.

Zhuang Xing said, "I want to see how skilled you are."

Of the five red pandas, only Shoumu didn't get fat.

Although Zhuang Xing started urging the pandas to exercise last winter, the pandas still eat more and move less on weekdays. They can only barely maintain their weight and stop gaining weight, but there is no sign of weight loss.

It's obvious without even looking that, apart from Shoumu who runs around every day, the other four red pandas have lost a lot of their athletic ability compared to when they were in the wild.

Nowadays, only Shoumu can still move freely in the mountains.

Zhuang Xing knew that Shoumu could run very fast. When they first met that year, it nimbly swatted Zhuang Xing with its claws. After that, it even learned the warm-up technique from Zhuang Xing. It was the only one who could completely imitate Zhuang Xing and finish the whole set of movements.

Unlike its younger brother, Shoumu has not mastered any magical arts. Because it has no other means, it is never careless in training itself.

Upon hearing Zhuang Xing's words, Shoumu peered ahead and asked, "Your Majesty, which way should we run?"

“Go wherever it’s easy to travel,” Zhuang Xing said.

“Then I’m going to run away,” Shoumu said.

“Go ahead,” Zhuang Xing nodded.

As soon as he finished speaking, the panda darted forward.

Because Zhuang Xing said to use all its strength, it used its life-saving skills to run.

The little guy really ran very fast. Zhuang Xing only saw a red ball of fur flash by. Even with his eyesight, he couldn't see the little panda's movements clearly.

Those obstacles couldn't stop it at all; it nimbly slipped through the gaps between the bushes, and this time it didn't get stuck in any crevice. It simply disappeared from Zhuang Xing's sight in an instant.

After all, it was a panda that had become a spirit, possessing spiritual energy. It ate well with Zhuang Xing and never went hungry. Its brothers turned what they ate into fat, but it was different. Compared to three years ago, it had become stronger and more powerful.

Moreover, not long ago, it learned the inner breathing method of the Red Cat Bear Demon Clan. Although it was only a beginner in that method, it was already full of qi and blood and knew all the tricks. After obtaining the demon clan's method, its cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds in a short time. It was able to gather true qi in its limbs to enhance its speed.

Don't let its small size fool you; if an ordinary person were to face it, they would be no match for it. Although it doesn't have the strength to pounce on an adult, its seemingly cute claws and sharp teeth can pierce a person's throat. For it, climbing onto a person's shoulder and biting them to death is not a difficult task.

Zhuang Xing was surprised by the speed that Shoumu had suddenly displayed. Usually, the little guy would just foolishly call for the king to eat, or wander around the temple with his satchel in line, asking people for snacks.

Their appearance is indeed deceptive, but thinking back, when Zhuang Xing and Yun Ling first met the five pandas that year, they were almost fooled as well. If the five brothers had not been flustered at that time, Zhuang Xing and Yun Ling might not have been able to catch them.

Even on that day, Shoumu was not bound by Yunling's protective vine. It could have escaped, but it couldn't bear to leave its younger brother and ended up walking into the trap, where Zhuang Xing smashed it into the snow with the hilt of his sword.

Zhuang Xing was ashamed of his speed, but in just a few seconds, Shou Mu returned to him from a distance without even panting.

"Your Majesty, am I fast?" Shoumu looked up at him, wagging his tail, his face full of anticipation for praise.

"They run incredibly fast."

Zhuang Xing bent down and rubbed its head. The little guy squinted its eyes, thoroughly enjoying Zhuang Xing's praise.

"I have a favor to ask of you. Are you willing?" Zhuang Xing asked.

“Your Majesty, please leave it to me!” Shoumu said.

"I haven't said what it is yet," Zhuang Xing said with a smile.

"I will go through fire and water for Your Majesty's sake," Shoumu said.

"Where did you learn that from?" Zhuang Xing asked.

Shoumu said, "That day I was on the roof and I saw a man and a woman sitting under an empty pavilion. That's what the man said."

He said that he would go through fire and water for his junior sister's sake.

Shoumu stood up, his fluffy little face mimicking human expressions.

"That person must be a good person. I heard that woman say, 'Senior brother, you are a good person.'"

"Maybe." Zhuang Xing picked up Shoumu and placed him on his shoulder. "But the thing I need your help with might be a bit risky. It involves finding some minor demons and going down the mountain. It's not a trip for fun."

“The king is good to me, so I will listen to the king,” Shoumu said. “I will do whatever the king tells me to do.”

“Alright, then you can come down the mountain with me.” Zhuang Xing nodded. “I’ll definitely treat you well when we get back.”

"Yay!" Shoumu cheered.

...

Two days later, Zhuang Xing led Shou Mu and Mr. Bai down the mountain.

The red panda was hidden in a pouch at his waist, its face concealed.

Zhuang Xing went to the stable and led out the black horse, then turned and asked, "Mr. Bai, are you sure you don't need a horse?"

"No need for horses."

A wisp of green smoke descended, and Bai used his transformation technique to become a snow-white owl.

Those around who witnessed this method gasped in surprise, but Bai paid no attention. It flapped its wings and flew up, landing on the neck of the black horse.

"Just tell your horse to stay close to me. If it can keep up, we'll be there in two days," Bai said.

"Then please lead the way, Mr. Bai." Zhuang Xing put the panda bag into the horse saddlebag and mounted the horse.

"Come with me."

The owl flew ahead to lead the way, and the horse carried the Taoist priest forward.

Chapter 316 Wild Cat and Bear Spirit

Zhuang Xing rode his horse behind the owl that Bai Suohua had transformed into. The owl flew very low and always chose to go where there was a path, so that the horse would not have any difficulty passing.

Although the black horse runs on the ground, it is not much slower than a bird flying in the sky.

Two days later, two hundred miles south of Qingxuan Mountain.

Zhuang Xing dismounted and arrived at a village he had never been to before.

The owl also descended from the sky and, amidst the blue smoke, transformed back into human form.

The further south you go, the fewer mountains there are, and the flatter the terrain becomes.

The village is built along the river, with lush wheat and bean seedlings in the fields, people drinking tea under the trees, and children chasing and playing, presenting a picture of peaceful and prosperous life.

If there are no floods or droughts this year, there should be a good harvest.

The mountain forest where Mr. Bai encountered the demon race seemed to be very close to this village.

Zhuang Xing couldn't help but think, if those monsters had plundered this small village, where would this peaceful and harmonious scene be now?

"Mr. Bai, how far is it into the woods?" Zhuang Xing asked.

"It's less than half a day's journey," Bai said. "However, the road ahead might be difficult for your horse. There happens to be a village nearby. In my opinion, you should go and borrow a pot and stove to cook a proper meal. That's the most urgent thing."

It seems Mr. Bai is craving something again. He's been busy traveling these past two days and has only been eating dry rations. Although Zhuang Xing brought some snacks down, they were all eaten by the panda, the horse, and Mr. Bai yesterday.

There was still grain in the bundle, but it was all coarse grains and dried meat, which certainly couldn't compare to a meal cooked in a hot pot.

Zhuang Xing then led his horse into the village, bought some fresh vegetables and meat from the villagers, and started a fire to cook.

Seeing that he was wearing Taoist robes and had a handsome appearance, the villagers treated him very kindly and asked, "Why has the Taoist priest come here?"

He simply said he was going down the mountain to travel and cultivate, so as not to cause unnecessary worry among the villagers.

However, he still asked if there had been any thefts of rice or chickens and ducks in the village recently. The villagers looked at each other and shook their heads, saying that two years ago, wild animals had stolen rice from the fields, but then a celestial master brought celestial seeds, planted them, and then they hadn't seen them again.

Upon inquiring, Zhuang Xing learned that the immortal seed was a soil-hidden vine cultivated by Yun Ling. It was likely that a senior brother or sister had come here and spread the seeds. Usually, the vine was hidden in the soil and could not be seen on the surface.

He subtly inquired about some things, ate a meal in the village, and picked some fresh radish leaves for Wuzhui.

He then asked Mr. Bai to continue leading the way, and soon they came to a grove of trees.

"This is the forest," Bai said.

Zhuang Xing gathered his Qi in his eyes, but could not see any demonic aura.

The demon's aura could only be concealed by the trees. He had not yet entered the forest, but it was already deserted and overgrown with weeds. There should be no great demon there.

It's not harvest season yet, and the demons are planning to seize food from humans, so there's no need to act now. There's no need to come to the human world so early and alert them.

Zhuang stopped here, as going any further would inevitably attract the attention of the demons. He found a low-lying spot and led his horse there.

Shoumu jumped down from the bag, and Zhuang Xing said, "Shoumu, have you remembered everything I told you two days ago?"