Three Hundred Years of Separation

The sun had just risen, and Misty Cloud Mountain was shrouded in immortal light, like a paradise.

No, this was paradise.

Zhang Li stood in the courtyard and looked around before he turned around to leave.

After this departure, he would be separated from the cultivation world for 300 years.

As he left, he saw a female cultivator in pink and white standing outside.

Her robes were light and flowy, while her face was gentle. She gave off a great otherworldly aura.

The female cultivator was slightly stunned when she saw Zhang Li.

He was stunned as well.

It was Zuo Qiong, the outer court disciple who had a "scandal" with Zhang Li.

Zuo Qiong bowed slightly and spoke in a low voice.

"Senior, if I remember correctly, Senior Brother Zhang Li lives here. I wonder if he—"

"That kid has gone to the mortal world to guard it for 300 years." Zhang Li's voice was hoarse, and he sounded old.

Only outer court disciples who were nearing the end of their lifespans would accept missions to guard the mortal world. Would it not seem unusual if they looked too young?

Zhang Li had used a Face Illusion Pill to transform his face into an old one.

Hence, Zuo Qiong did not recognize him.

Hearing that Zhang Li was gone, Zuo Qiong looked disappointed as she softly said, "Thank you for telling me, Senior."

"You must be Zuo Qiong. The kid left you something." Zhang Li handed Zuo Qiong a small cloth bag and left.

She opened the pouch and saw two spirit stones inside.

One was of Middle grade, and the other was of High grade.

Her entire body trembled as she raised her head to look at Zhang Li's back.

"Senior Brother Zhang Li, take care…"

...

Fifteen minutes later, three figures quietly arrived and flipped into the courtyard to search it. They found nothing and left quietly.

...

The Misty Cloud Sect was not the only sect guarding the Lu Yang continent.

To guard the mortal world, one had to first enter the Gate of Mortals and Immortals that opened once every 300 years.

The Lu Yang continent's Gate of Mortals and Immortals was located 80,000 kilometers away on Crimson Bright Mountain. It was the headquarters of the Crimson Bright Sect.

Tens of thousands of years ago, the Crimson Bright Sect had also been a major sect in the Lu Yang continent. Unfortunately, it went on the decline.

Various sects had to send their disciples to the Crimson Bright Sect by airship, and they would step through the Gate of Mortals and Immortals.

When Zhang Li arrived at the square of the Foreign Affairs Hall, there were many airships parked there.

The airships were more than 30 meters long, and they had two long, round flying magic compartments that resembled wooden shuttles.

Hundreds of people could sit inside.

Such magical equipment could only be operated by a Foundation Establishment expert. Ordinary small sects did not have them.

This time around, the Misty Cloud Sect had sent a total of 120 guardian disciples to the mortal world. They just happened to fill up an airship.

The seven or eight airships parked together were obviously not loaded with the disciples who were guarding the mortal world.

"How f*cking strange. The prices of materials in the market have skyrocketed. The master hasn't even bought all the resources to establish a sect."

"That's right. It seems like the spirit stones have all been swept clean by someone. I wonder which family is so crazy."

Some people were talking in low voices in front of the airships.

Zhang Li walked past the airships until he reached a lonely and dilapidated grayish-black airship. He stopped there.

This ship seemed suitable for transporting the guards of the mortal world.

A middle-aged cultivator dressed in green robes came to greet him in front of the airship. "Zhang Li, you're the only one left. Hurry up and board the airship."

This surprised Zhang Li.

He did not have any ties in this world, so he did not have much karma.

However, those other outer court disciples were not young, and their path of cultivation had been severed. Did they not drag their children and grandchildren along to say goodbye before they left?

They were all in such a hurry to be reincarnated... no, to guard the mortal world.

Zhang Li walked along the gangway, and when he stepped onto the airship, he was stunned.

There were people dressed in robes of various colors on the ship.

Some of them had handsome faces and fans in their hands. They looked elegant and refined.

Some of them wore martial arts attire and carried long swords on their backs.

Others wore green robes with long sleeves.

Even the few women present were dignified and delicate.

Zhang Li was at a loss. The people in the cabin looked at him as well.

He was the only one with white hair and a beard there.

"Haha, Brother, since you're coming to the mortal world, how can you be so old?"

"Hurry up and take off those cultivator robes. Aren't you sick of cultivating for more than 100 years?"

"Brother, life in the mortal world is short. Change your appearance."

...

Zhang Li lowered his head and walked to an empty seat. By the time he raised his head, his appearance had returned to normal.

He took their advice willingly.

"That's more like it." Beside him, a young man in a white brocade robe cupped his hands and said, "I'm Zhu Yunshan, a Level 2 Spirit Refinement cultivator. I'm 150 years old."

A 150-year-old at Level 2 of the Spirit Refinement Realm no longer had the chance to advance on the path of cultivation.

No wonder he wanted to be a guard in the mortal world.

"Salutations, Elder Brother." Zhang Li cupped his hands.

It was not appropriate for him to say his age or his cultivation realm.

He was afraid of making things awkward.

Zhu Yunshan laughed. He did not care that Zhang Li did not reveal his cultivation base and age. Instead, he looked at Zhang Li and said, "Brother Zhang, have you thought about which state and city you're going to?"

Which state?

When it came to guarding the mortal world, Zhang Li had a simple understanding.

The mortal world under the Lu Yang continent's rule was vast. It was once a beautiful world with abundant spirit energy.

However, cultivators demanded too much down the line and fought endlessly. This caused the world to be abandoned. Hence, it became a piece of mortal land.

The seven kingdoms of the mortal world were divided. The Han, Zhao, Wei, Qin, Zhou, Chu, and Northern Barbarians often fought each other from a distance.

However, that was 300 years ago. He did not know whether the seven kingdoms were still around.

"Perhaps I'll go to the Zhao state?" Zhang Li hesitated for a moment and answered.

He had no place to go, but Lin Zhaoyang had asked him to take care of the Lin family in Zhao, so he decided to go there.

"The Zhao state... Hmm, although its literary talent is inferior to that of the Chu state and its martial arts are not as prosperous as that of the Qin state and Wei state, it's still considered a big place. I heard that it has many beautiful women, haha."

Before Zhu Yunshan could speak further, the young man sitting opposite him said, "I'm Tao Yun, and I'm heading to Zhao too."

Pausing for a moment, he grinned and said, "The beautiful women in Chu are a little too reserved."

Zhang Li opened his mouth and looked around.

In the entire cabin, more than 100 of them were actually chatting about which state had the best food and which city had the most beautiful scenery.

In various groups of threes or twos, they talked about how wild horses were the easiest to tame or how a particular land would be moist if there was a lot of water around.

However, it made sense. He was the abnormal one there.

These disciples had already given up on the path of cultivation, and they were prepared to enjoy life in the mortal world.

The airship floated slowly in the air and gradually moved forward. It flew out of Misty Cloud Mountain while it was surrounded by immortal clouds.

Looking out the window, Zhang Li could see an Immortal Floating Cloud Bird and another airship heading in a different direction.

"Those must be the elites of the sect who are going to the bitter cold land in the north to open a sect," Zhu Yunshan said softly. He had a complicated look in his eyes.

They were true talented cultivators. They had bright futures in the path of cultivation.

The others also looked out of the porthole and slowly fell silent.

"One hundred and eighty-three years of seeking immortality.... It's time to wake up from my dream." Someone in the cabin sighed gloomily.

"I come from the cultivation world, but when I enter the mortal world, my path will be severed forever. Boohoo…" A low sob rang out.

Those outside the porthole were immortals, and those inside were mortals.

Who did not want to be a heavenly being?

Unfortunately, there was no way out. They could only enter the mortal world. After a few decades, they would return to dust.

Zhang Li's eyes lit up as he spotted two streaks of light in the sky.

He recognized them.

"Chen Zhi, the Foundation Establishment officer of Green House Peak.

"Zhu Wu, the Foundation Establishment elder of Dragon Boat Peak.

"You mustn't die early…"

Zhang Li lowered his head and slowly circulated the True Essence in his meridians.

Others were going to the mortal world to enjoy life, but he was not. He could not neglect his cultivation at all.

The airship pierced through the clouds and caused the wind to whistle.

However, the swift ship gradually fell silent.

At some point, the entire airship shook.

"We have arrived at the Gate of Mortals and Immortals on Crimson Bright Mountain."