The scene was quite bizarre. Feng Wuxie was trying to devise ways to take out Li Xiaobai and seize his treasures, while all Li Xiaobai could think of was how to improve his relationship with his senior brother and enhance their emotional bond.
For a moment, Feng Wuxie was somewhat caught off guard.
"Ahem, ahem, let's do it another day, junior brother. I need to focus on my cultivation and prepare for tomorrow's contest, so I shall take my leave!"
"Senior brother, take care!"
Watching Feng Wuxie's retreating figure, Li Xiaobai smiled. What a nice senior brother, mild in temperament and kind to others, without showing any airs despite being a true disciple.
When compared to the likes of Lin Mang and Hao Jian, these were also true disciples, but why was there such a big gap in their behavior?
"Hehe, it's just as well that he didn't come; I thought the pool was too small anyway!"
Liu Jinshui had complaints about Feng Wuxie's behavior. To him, such a person was clearly a smiling tiger, but why couldn't his little junior brother see that?
"Let's go, let's continue our bath. That bathhouse is ours from now on!"
...
Atop the mountain, the group of seven senior and junior brothers neatly soaked in the pool, shivering with comfort.
"Junior brother, what exactly is this water made of? You've managed to create another pool in such a short time."
Ye Wushuang couldn't stop thinking about the substance contained in the water.
She studied medicine and found such magical water naturally attractive.
"Unspeakable, unspeakable..."
Li Xiaobai shook his head, feeling that the more he soaked, the more comfortable it became.
"Who cares what material it is. In the future, if we want a bath, we just find our junior brother. He can't run away," Yang Chen said in a daze.
This was just a pool of very ordinary water, but it somehow filled them with pleasant bliss, and they were almost sleepy.
Suddenly, an angry roar came.
"You little rascals, Elder has been looking for you at the mountain foot for half a day, and here you are, hiding in this place indulging in luxury!"
"Who made this bathhouse? Is this what cultivators should be doing?"
At some point, Feng Lingzi came up along the slope of the mountain, guessing that his disciples must be hiding here.
"Master, lower your voice. We are practicing here!"
"Don't believe it? Master, why don't you come in and soak too?"
Su Yunbing was very dissatisfied with Feng Lingzi's shouting; she was almost asleep and was abruptly awakened by his loud voice.
With Feng Lingzi's interruption, the rest of them were completely devoid of sleepiness, with wretched expressions.
"All of you out and stand properly. It's utterly disgraceful, each of you. Going to the Holy Demon Sect, do you also plan to be so lazy?"
"You represent the face of Immortal Feather Sect. You must not become complacent!"
Feng Lingzi puffed his chest and glared, his face full of fury.
Reluctantly, the few in the pool stood up, dried their clothes with their cultivation, and lined up.
"Li Xiaobai, why are your clothes still dripping wet?" Feng Lingzi asked with a frown.
"Master, I don't know how to dry them," Li Xiaobai said.
"Just like your senior brothers and sisters, dry your clothes with your cultivation. Aren't you a genius? Do I need to teach you such a minor thing myself?"
"Master, I've only realized the way to get stronger quickly; I haven't grasped the method to dry clothes quickly."
Li Xiaobai lied through his teeth, which infuriated Feng Lingzi again; with a sweep of his hand and a gust of wind, the dripping clothes were instantaneously clean and dry.
[Attribute Points +10...]
Delicious!
"I didn't come over today just because I had nothing better to do after a full meal. Recently, a major incident has occurred outside, are you aware of it?"
Feng Lingzi composed himself and spoke slowly; he did indeed have important business.
"Is it a demonic beast uprising?" Third Senior Brother Lin Yin asked.
"Yes, that's right, a demonic beast uprising. For the past two months, there have been signs of unrest among the beasts in the Divine Beast Mountain Range, and today, they finally erupted. An envoy from Zhenyuan Country has notified our sect of this matter, and the Sect Leader is currently deliberating strategies with a few elders."
Feng Lingzi nodded, relieved that there was at least one disciple who was reliable.
"Then Master, if you're not joining in on the strategy discussions, what are you doing here with us?" Yang Chen asked, puzzled.
Feng Lingzi's forehead throbbed with visible veins as he repeatedly reminded himself that these were his precious disciples, whom he could neither hit nor scold, and he was not necessarily able to beat them, either.
"I have come naturally because I have a matter to entrust. The incident is of great importance; I will head to other towns first. Tomorrow, the Sect Leader will notify you all to go to Zhenyuan Country to clear out the demonic beasts."
"As for the cause of the outbreak, I suspect that it is very likely due to the emergence of treasures, otherwise these demonic beasts would not be so excited and agitated."
"During your trip to the Divine Beast Mountain Range, in addition to slaying demonic beasts, you must also search for treasures. There are many Heaven and Earth Treasures in the mountain range, and whether you can get them will depend on your luck."
"You must be careful. When you are abroad, be sure to beware of being killed for your treasures and do not meddle in other's business. Xiaobai is the junior brother; you should all look out for him."
"I'll leave it at that. Prepare well and don't be careless. I shall take my leave."
Feng Lingzi turned around and disappeared on the spot.
...
Li Xiaobai pondered how to deal with the demonic beast uprising, only to see his senior brothers and sisters confusedly soaking in the bathhouse again, which left him rather speechless at their carefree attitudes.
Once more, the group sat in a row and soaked in the pool together.
"Senior brothers and sisters, is the demonic beast uprising that Master mentioned dangerous?" Li Xiaobai couldn't help but ask.
"It's not dangerous. In the nooks and crannies of the Divine Beast Mountain Range, the strongest demonic beasts are at the Golden Core Great Perfection stage, and it's not even certain whether there are any at the Nascent Soul Stage. We go in and it's a bloodbath!"
Lin Yin said indifferently. He had spent many years traveling abroad and was very knowledgeable about these matters. Perhaps to others, the Divine Beast Mountain Range was a dangerous place, but to him, it was nothing special.
"Listen to your Third Senior Brother; he's experienced and knowledgeable. If he says there's no problem, then there's basically no problem," Su Yunbing said nonchalantly, not concerned about the trip to the Divine Beast Mountain Range, confident in her unparalleled prowess at her level.
"That's right, when the time comes, we brothers will sweep through the Divine Beast Mountain Range and take all the treasures for ourselves!"
Liu Jinshui became excited at the mention of treasures.
He was the most enthusiastic about treasures; one that could trigger a demonic beast uprising must be something significant.
"What kind of place is Zhenyuan Country, then?"
"Zhenyuan Country? It's a nation with a rather high opinion of itself. The people there seem to have a natural sense of superiority. Every time I go there, I come back infuriated," Yang Chen said.
"Indeed, I'd rather not get involved with them at all. Those people have no self-awareness," Liu Jinshui agreed wholeheartedly.
"They're just a bunch of bookworms. Too much studying has made them silly, so they see everyone else as fools," Ling Feng said with detachment.
"We are going to the Divine Beast Mountain Range; we'll just be passing through Zhenyuan Country, so we won't have much to do with them," Ye Wushuang frowned.
"No matter how high they hold their tails, they'll have to bow down before me!" Su Yunbing said with rising killing intent.
Li Xiaobai always felt that his senior brothers and sisters could make enemies wherever they went. The hate was already at its peak even before they arrived; following them was just too difficult.
...
At the same time
Inside the Sect's grand hall, the elders were once again engaged in a heated argument.
"Absolutely not, when Zhenyuan Country comes to us proactively, it could hardly be for anything good. It's most likely they just need the smaller sects to serve as cannon fodder for them!"