Chapter 9: No Need for Rotation [Additional for Alliance Hierarch "TianPig Peak"]_1

At the bottom of the Sword Exchange Pavilion, the atmosphere was not exactly harmonious.

After Chu Liang finished his sentence, a sudden awkwardness emerged from his surroundings.

Disciples of the Shu Mountain Sect were generally close to each other…except for those from the Silver Sword Peak and Jade Sword Peak.

These two peaks, part of Shu Mountain's Five Swordsmen Peaks, had always been considered as one entity since ancient times. It's just that their current leaders, Jade Sword Peak Master Wang Xuanling, who bore a prominent status and a tough personality, and Silver Sword Peak Master Empress Feng, who was young and hot-blooded, would inevitably argue whenever they met.

Given the strained relationship between the two masters, it was only natural for their disciples to act in kind. Particularly, since the news about Wang Xuanling's bet with Empress Feng had spread across Shu Mountain, the disciples of Jade Sword Peak naturally viewed those of Silver Sword Peak as their enemies.

However, they didn't often encounter the sole disciple of the Silver Sword Peak...hence, they didn't recognize Chu Liang.

But Chu Liang was unperturbed, the faint smile on his face remaining. At times like these...as long as you're not embarrassed, the one embarrassed would be other people.

A few disciples from Jade Sword Peak bore rigid expressions. After a pause, Lin Beilang laughed out, saying, "Hey, hey, hey!"

He threw his arm around Chu Liang's shoulders, "I heard that Silver Sword Peak only has one disciple and we met him today. Quite a coincidence."

"Yes, quite a coincidence," Chu Liang admitted with a smile.

"Since we've already gotten the mission tokens, let's hurry up and get started," Lin Bei then turned to his fellow disciples of Jade Sword Peak and loudly exclaimed.

While he seemed to be rushing to get started, his underlying message was clear: since they had already received the mission tokens, there would be no point in attempting to revert the situation—better to just go ahead as things were.

Upon hearing this, the other three disciples from Jade Sword Peak nodded in agreement and turned to walk outside. Their expressions, however, seemed somewhat unnatural, not sparing Chu Liang a second glance.

They were quite indifferent, to say the least.

Chu Liang didn't mind, though, walking side by side with Lin Bei. As far as he was concerned, who he teamed up with wasn't important—as long as he could fight monsters.

The wide-browed and big-eyed Lin Bei was quite enthusiastic, taking the time to introduce Chu Liang to the other three disciples of Jade Sword Peak.

Walking at the front was a tall and sturdy-looking disciple named Fang Ting, carrying a large longsword on his back. He was the Golden Core Realm disciple leading the mission, currently at the early stage of the Golden Core Realm.

Chu Liang nodded in agreement, as expected.

Ordinary disciples from the Shu Mountain Sect wore standard Flying Sword Bracelets that could be transformed and worn on the wrist. Those who carried their own sword, like Fang Ting, indicated both higher sword proficiency and personal ability.

Although the Golden Core Realm was only one realm above the Divine Consciousness Realm, it was separated by the crucial transition from the Human level to the Earth Barrier, an obstacle that many could never surpass in their lifetime. The gap was, therefore, massive.

The female disciple by Fang Ting's side was a petite cutie. She wore a duck yellow mini dress and white trousers, with a string of tassels dangling. Her face was so white and tender, still somewhat childlike. Her gentle, delicate eyes created an image of shyness and vulnerability, which was likely to inspire a sense of protectiveness from others at first sight.

"This little junior sister is Xu Ziqing. We are mainly accompanying her this time because it's her first time carrying out a mission down the hill," said Lin Bei with a smile. "Her elder brother is our eldest senior brother Xu Ziyang from Jade Sword Peak. As Senior Brother Xu has recently been in retreat, it fell to us to accompany her down the hill."

At the mention of the name Xu Ziyang, Chu Liang understood.

The Shu Mountain Sect had been in decline for many years, with fewer talented young disciples compared to the other Nine Heavens Immortal Sects. Among the few talented individuals from this generation were Jiang Yue Bai and Xu Ziyang.

Xu Ziqing, like Lin Bei, was at the early stage of the Divine Consciousness Realm, having just broken through recently.

Typically, disciples who had just entered the Divine Consciousness Realm would participate in team missions during their first trip down the hill, relying on the guidance of their senior brothers and sisters. Chu Liang, however, was part of the minority who, on their first trip, couldn't wait to hunt monsters on their own.

The ordinary-looking disciple who lagged behind was named Lu Ren, a mid-stage cultivator of the Divine Consciousness Realm.

...

As they walked out of the Sword Exchange Pavilion, arriving at the edge of Tontian Peak, Xu Ziqing raised her hand and made hand signs with a loud shout.

She raised her fingertip high, releasing dots of sparkling light, as if tied by a thread, and a distant, resonant call echoed from the sky.

Following this, a huge white bird, several yards long, emerged from the sea of clouds. Its body was covered in cold frost and mist, all of which dispersed as it flapped its wings and landed.

This little girl actually has a spirit pet as a mount, with her cultivation it would naturally be impossible for her to keep one. It shows that her older brother spoils her greatly.

"Cluck——" The white bird immediately lowered its head, nuzzling Xu Ziqing with its feathery soft neck. The little girl laughed and hugged it, then beckoned everyone to get on the bird's back.

However, after calling out everyone from Jade Sword Peak, she did not beckon Chu Liang. She turned around and went straight up.

Chu Liang didn't mind, and followed suit.

Long-distance flight, although faster with a flying sword, can be both tiring and cold. So, having a towering mount like this is naturally a good thing.

Sitting on the back of the white bird, enveloped by long and soft white feathers, with the wind whistling at their ears, they quickly ascended towards the heavens. Their destination this time, was called "Zhennan Region's Mountain."

Zhennan Region's Mountain lies at the border of the southern region and the central land, stretching eight hundred miles, like a tall barrier separating the two places. The mountain is high and the valleys deep, the dense forest is vast beyond measure, hiding countless legends of Evil Demons, and even powerful cultivators dare not delve too deeply.

However, the place they are going to this time is merely the periphery of Zhennan Region's Mountain, a small forest at the edge, so it's not particularly dangerous. Plus, with the presence of a Golden Core Realm Disciple, they should face little difficulty.

On the bird's back, Fang Ting, Xu Ziqing, and Lu Ren sat at the front, while Chu Liang and Lin Bei sat at the rear, quite far apart.

"This Human-faced Jade Essence Flower, it is said to be a double flower that grows on the same stalk. It was once encountered by a senior of our Shu Mountain Sect. However, it was not mature at that time and could not be picked, hence the task was handed over to the Sword Exchange Pavilion. Doing the math, the flower is about to bloom now, so we have been assigned to complete this task..."

Lin Bei at his side kept talking, briefing Chu Liang about the task at hand. But Chu Liang found that this fellow sect member was not particularly zealous, he was simply a chatterbox.

From the time they met, he hasn't stopped talking, as if closing his mouth would make him uncomfortable.

Chu Liang even thought that the reason those three people were sitting this far was probably not to isolate him, but to isolate Lin Bei...

Boom——

After around half an hour, the white bird flew to the foot of Zhennan Region's Mountain, a gust of wind spread out, and everyone landed steadily.

"There are numerous Evil Demons and fierce beasts in Zhennan Region's Mountain, we can't continue flying, the path ahead of us needs to be traversed on foot." The team's leader, Fang Ting, finally spoke up.

"There are many plant spirits in this forest, and even during the day, it is filled with miasma. We must hold our breath and move ahead discreetly which will prevent us from refilling True Yuan, so every strike must be measured."

"I need to save my cultivation for potential unexpected situations, so the task of clearing the way ahead will be undertaken by Lu Ren, Lin Bei, and Chu Liang, taking turns. Does anyone have any objections?" He ordered without any expression on his face.

Although there's miasma in the forest, cultivators who have reached a certain realm have their meridians interlinked, and can hold their breath for a long time. However, if they can't breathe, they can't replenish True Yuan, then everyone's True Qi will be limited and extremely precious.

But if they encounter plant spirits blocking their way, someone will need to clear the way.

Fang Ting, as the person with the highest cultivation, needs to save his True Yuan to deal with potential emergencies, and won't waste it on small matters like clearing the way. Xu Ziqing, with the weakest cultivation and who is making her first trip out of the mountain, is protected in the middle of the team. The other three will take turns to take responsibility.

Such an arrangement, is definitely fair and reasonable.

But...

"I have an objection." Chu Liang who has been standing at the end of the team suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?" Fang Ting frowned at him.

The eyes of the crowd also fell on his smiling face, with a hint of displeasure. They were uncertain as to what this individual from Silver Sword Peak was up to.

Next, they heard Chu Liang say, "The task of clearing the way and eliminating demons can be handled by me alone, there's no need for rotation."