After bidding farewell to Jin Yangqiu, Xu Shan headed straight for the Outer Sect.
He had no idea what this Shuijing Domain centennial competition was, but he knew it had to be something incredibly important.
With various sects being invited, preparing the banquet was a rare opportunity for him to prove himself.
He could earn some extra resources, and it was also a chance to go down the mountain and test his magical artifacts on a few ordinary people.
Xu Shan was already on familiar ground by the time he reached the Outer Sect.
Putting on the airs of a senior disciple, he quickly found Lu Xiangjun.
At that moment, Lu Xiangjun was in the Outer Sect chopping firewood, swinging his axe half-heartedly, the very picture of indolence.
Before Xu Shan could even get close, Lu Xiangjun seemed to sense him and quickly turned his head.
Seeing it was Xu Shan, he broke into a smile and waved. "Junior Brother Xu, what brings you here?"
Xu Shan gave an awkward cough, leaned in close, and whispered, "Senior Brother, didn't you say you were done with women? Why did you go and challenge our junior sister to a duel?"
Lu Xiangjun flashed a cryptic smile. "I went back and thought about it, and it seems I like them even more now!"
"..."
Xu Shan was silent for a moment before saying, "Senior Brother, I asked you to put her down a peg, not beat her up. How did you end up injuring her so badly?"
Lu Xiangjun's expression turned playful. "Do you think I'm an idiot, Junior Brother? That I can't tell the difference between putting someone down and beating them up? But some things are just hard to explain."
"The day I challenged our junior sister to a duel, I just couldn't stop once we started... It felt so damn good to beat her up. I've been thinking about it these past two days. After simping for so long and getting nowhere, after giving her so many pills, what's wrong with giving her a good thrashing?"
This wasn't just a veteran simp; he'd been enlightened with a single push and had even developed a vengeful streak!
Is a simp's awakening this terrifying?
Xu Shan stroked his chin thoughtfully, then asked, "But wasn't the price too steep? You have to stay in the Outer Sect for another year."
Lu Xiangjun waved his hand dismissively. "Ah, but I hate cultivating! I've been doing it since I was a kid. Life in the Outer Sect is much more relaxing, and I still get my Inner Sect Spirit Stone allowance as usual."
"Besides, after beating up Junior Sister Li Ting, my Dao heart has never been clearer... I'd say I came out on top!"
How could he be so carefree?
Xu Shan complained silently in his head, but said aloud, "Master has an order. The sect is hosting guests for the Shuijing Domain's centennial competition, and he wants us to prepare some dishes to entertain them. I'm planning to go to the town down the mountain to buy some ingredients. Want to come?"
"Go down the mountain?" Lu Xiangjun's face lit up. He casually tossed his axe aside. "Let's go! It's not often we get to leave. Wait for me, I'll go check the sect boards to see if I can pick up a mission first."
"We're just going to town, not slaying demons or gathering herbs. What kind of mission would there be?"
"Who knows? Sometimes problems that mortals can't solve pop up in the town below. If we can handle it easily, why not?" Lu Xiangjun said. "You stay here and don't wander off. I'll be right back!"
With that, he stepped onto his flying sword and sped away.
Watching Lu Xiangjun's figure disappear on his sword, Xu Shan was filled with envy.
Sword Flight really was flashy. He didn't have time for it now; he'd have to learn it later.
Soon, Lu Xiangjun returned, landing in front of Xu Shan.
"Let's go. I've got one."
"What did you get?" Xu Shan asked, his interest piqued.
He was quite interested in hunting demonic beasts. After all, he had been cultivating in the Outer Sect this whole time and had never seen a demonic beast, let alone had a chance to fight one.
There were no demonic beasts in the forests near the Outer Sect. Given the Xinglan Sect's destitute state, any that might have appeared would have been hunted to extinction long ago.
Lu Xiangjun raised a spiritual talisman. "Capture a Nether Spirit. A wasted trip."
"A Nether Spirit? What's that?"
Lu Xiangjun said helplessly, "A so-called Nether Spirit is what mortals call a ghost. You can see them if you channel spiritual energy to your eyes."
"This thing is the most worthless piece of trash in the Cultivation World. No one would give it a second glance. It's completely useless."
"The reward for this mission is one low-grade Spirit Stone for every fifty you catch. You can go catch the Nether Spirit in a bit. Find a jar, stuff it inside, slap this Spirit-Binding Talisman on it, and take it back to complete the mission."
Xu Shan took the talisman, puzzled. "Ghosts... aren't they supposed to be powerful?"
"Hah," Lu Xiangjun scoffed. "That's just stuff mortals imagine. Nether Spirits are formed from the remnants of living beings after death. Their creation is a rare coincidence, only happening at the right time and place."
"They have extremely low intelligence and only retain some of their instincts from when they were alive. Usually, they just do things like push on people's windows, blow out candles, or try to sleep on a bed and end up pressing down on someone."
"Some people are naturally sensitive and can feel themselves being held down... but it goes away after a few days. Nether Spirits usually don't last long and dissipate on their own."
Xu Shan rubbed the Spirit-Binding Talisman, feeling a very faint fluctuation of spiritual energy from it.
It didn't seem like anything impressive.
He looked up and asked, "Then what about all the legends of malevolent ghosts harming people? Are those all fake?"
"No, Nether Spirits have different strengths. Some are a bit smarter, and it's not impossible for them to harm people. The one we're supposed to collect this time has killed over a dozen people in town." Lu Xiangjun clicked his tongue. "But don't worry. No matter how strong it is, that's only in the eyes of mortals. We could slap it into oblivion with a single blow."
Having said his piece, Lu Xiangjun summoned his flying sword. "If there are no more questions, let's go."
Looking at the flying sword hovering beside Lu Xiangjun, Xu Shan sighed softly. "I haven't learned the Sword Control Technique yet."
Lu Xiangjun chuckled. "Then I'll take you!"
With that, he grabbed Xu Shan and shot into the sky!
...
Litai Town.
The two landed outside the town, and Xu Shan gasped for air.
The sword's speed had been too fast, the sensation too unfamiliar. The ascent had left him feeling dizzy.
In the past, Outer Sect Disciples often had to go down to the town to purchase spices and ingredients, so Xu Shan had been here many times.
Usually, the trip took over an hour by foot.
This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
But this time, the flight had seemed to take only a little over ten minutes.
Lu Xiangjun teased, "You lucked out this time, Junior Brother. I'm famous for how fast my Sword Flight is!"
"Right, I still don't know what your cultivation level is, Senior Brother."
"Late-stage Foundation Establishment."
Lu Xiangjun clapped him on the shoulder and pointed south. "See over there? There's a mountain range about forty li away. That's where the Inner Disciples go to hunt and gather herbs. We don't go any further than that. When you have time, you can get a few people together and go check it out."
"Why not go further? It's not good to keep picking the same place clean, is it?"
"Our sect is poor. We can't afford too many healing pills, and the higher-ups are afraid of losing disciples... so everyone hunts in the safe zone. Get it?"
Xu Shan forced a twitch of his lips.
He got it... No wonder Lu Xiangjun had the personality he did. Xu Shan didn't know if he was lucky or unlucky.
To have chosen a sect like Xinglan Sect.
It was like a startup company: full of camaraderie and nice people, but with poor resources and no appetite for risk... a surefire recipe for bankruptcy.
But then again, if he had tried to join a better sect, he probably wouldn't have even made it into the Inner Sect.
"Alright, let's go. Once we're in the city, you go buy the ingredients, and I'll go for a stroll. We'll meet back here at sunset. Give me the silver," Lu Xiangjun said, holding out his hand.
Xu Shan nodded and handed over a pouch of silver.
It was best they split up. He had to make a trip to the brothel later, after all...
...
Proofreader: Peter Pan