Stop grinding, I'm really just a free spirit.

Chapter 79 Good Fortune

"Zzzzt—"

Everyone suddenly became alert, and the sounds of swords being drawn filled the air.

But soon, they saw what the newcomer looked like.

Duan Heisi sat on the ground leaning against a tree trunk, completely unharmed, though his complexion was not good.

Miao Wuniang stood beside him, her hand on her short sword, her gaze icy as she stared at the crowd approaching her.

"It was them..."

Xue Zhen's expression froze slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.

He pushed through the crowd and stepped forward, glancing behind the two men to confirm that there were only two of them. Then, a smile returned to his lips: "Fellow Daoist Duan, Fellow Daoist Miao, congratulations on returning alive."

I wonder which Fellow Daoist Chen...

Duan Heisi stood up, patted the dirt off his backside, and said expressionlessly with his hands clasped, "Brother Chen told us to come back and report first."

"Hey Xue, that Ironback Bear has been lured away. We've completed our mission."

Xue Zhen's smile deepened. He turned around and glanced at Yao Ye behind him, who nodded slightly.

Xue Zhen didn't ask any more questions and waved to the group: "Now that the mission is complete, there's no need to wait any longer. Let's move on."

He spoke in a relaxed and casual tone, as if he had heard something he had long expected.

Of the three rogue cultivators, it's already quite good that two of them survived. As for that one surnamed Chen...

It's probably already a pile of minced meat under the claws of a demon beast.

Wu Liang and Lü An, upon hearing Duan Heisi's voice...

At first, his face lit up with joy, but then he saw that only two people had returned, and the joy on his face froze.

Wu Liang opened his mouth, wanting to step forward and say something, but Duan Heisi's gaze swept lightly across his face without lingering, so he couldn't say anything.

Lu An didn't even dare to raise his head, but simply hugged the alchemy furnace in his arms even tighter.

The team resumed their journey.

Duan Heisi and Miao Wuniang walked at the back of the group.

Miao Wuniang turned back several times to look at the way she had come from, her lips pressed tightly together; Duan Heisi also walked silently without saying a word.

Half an hour later, the group stopped to rest by a mountain stream.

While everyone was busy fetching water and distributing dry rations, a figure appeared from around the corner of the mountain road behind them and slowly walked over.

The man's steps were not fast, but his gait was steady.

A few withered leaves clung to the cuffs of his dark gray, fitted outfit, and the pouch at his waist swayed slightly.

The moonlight fell on the person's face, revealing a young and serene countenance.

It's Chen Bai.

Duan Heisi jumped to his feet, the gloom on his face vanishing instantly, and he grinned, "Brother Chen, I knew you'd be alright!"

Miao Wuniang's tightly pursed lips relaxed, and she let out a long breath, "It's good that you're back!"

When Wu Liang looked up and saw Chen Bai, he was stunned for a moment, then a hint of shame flashed across his face, but he eventually showed a relieved smile.

Xue Zhen turned around abruptly, but the smile on his face froze instantly upon seeing Chen Bai.

He narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the young rogue cultivator who was walking towards the group.

There was no blood on Chen Bai's body, and his robes were barely wrinkled, with only a few leaves stuck to his cuffs. His hair was slightly disheveled by the wind.

His face showed neither the relief of surviving a disaster nor the suppressed anger.

There was only a calm, almost nonchalant composure, as if one had just gone out for a walk, gotten lost in the mountains, and now found one's way back.

"Damn peasant, a mere rogue cultivator, what makes you think you can't be killed?!"

Xue Zhen's brows furrowed sharply, and he roared inwardly.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but Chen Bai had already walked past him without stopping or even glancing at him.

………………

The rest isn't finished yet; I'll revise it later.

……

"..."

Chen Su lay quietly on a flat rock, her brows furrowed and her breathing rapid, her chest heaving.

This is his 124th day in the Changxiao Realm. Two days ago, his predecessor fell seriously ill and lost consciousness.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Before transmigrating, Chen Su grew up eating food from many different families.

After graduating from university, I joined the army. After two years of service, I returned home and started working for a private company.

Work as a security guard.

It saved us at least sixty years of detours.

If nothing unexpected happens, she may get married and have children in the future, and have her own family.

A life lived in a dull and monotonous way is probably just like that.

He was drunk that day; it was a high school reunion!

I took a walk alone along the riverbank, enjoying the evening breeze.

Unexpectedly, after walking a few hundred meters along the riverbank, he vaguely heard a young woman calling for help from the river.

He snapped out of his daze, his mind clearing, and instinctively jumped into the water to rescue her.

"thump!"

Chen Su swam with all her might toward the struggling figure.

Actually, he wasn't good at swimming, let alone after drinking alcohol.

In early spring, the river water was icy cold, gradually numbing his hands and feet. Chen Su choked on several mouthfuls of water, finally managing to reach the woman's skin, which was smooth and icy, and struggled to turn her over.

The cries for help that had been echoing in my ears just moments before vanished, replaced by boundless silence.

He vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

"This woman is so light and airy, it's so easy to hold her in my arms!"

He looked down and his pupils suddenly contracted, a chill running down his spine.

Where is that young woman who fell into the water?!

What I was looking at was clearly a paper effigy of a woman to be burned at a funeral!

What made his scalp tingle even more was—

It wore brightly colored clothes, half-submerged in water, its face deathly pale, like a waterlogged corpse. Its crimson, hooked mouth stretched eerily to its ears, and two jet-black eyes laughed silently, as if to say:

"You're here!"

-----

The Shifang Mountains, the outer perimeter of Tianfu Mountain.

"call......"

Chen Su let out a long sigh of relief. Opening her eyes, she was met with the dark cave walls.

Emerging from his horrifying memories, he began to contemplate his current situation. Having slept for a day and inherited all of the boy's memories, he gained a certain understanding of this world.

The good news is that Changxiao Realm is a small world where immortals, Buddhas, ghosts, and monsters exist.

This can be confirmed by his memories. His parents were of noble birth, both disciples of a celestial sect. He could be considered a second-generation immortal.

But the bad news is that his parents died unexpectedly, and his immortal lineage was stolen by his enemies. Now, he has left his homeland and come to the Kingdom of Shaotang to seek refuge under his uncle's command.

It is said that Uncle was exceptionally talented in his youth and was a young and outstanding figure among the hermits practicing fetal breathing in the Shaotang Kingdom.

Unfortunately, his cultivation went awry not long after, and he was reduced to a mortal body. Later, he found a job in the Immortal Market of Seven Fragrance City, responsible for slaughtering various demonic beasts and dismembering them.

With his meager income, Uncle was quite well-off in this Xianjia Market, and could even occasionally go to brothels to listen to some music.

If we add Chen Su, this idle fellow, to the mix, things will become a bit tight.

This is also why the original owner insisted on following the demon-hunting team to hunt demons in the Shifang Mountains, which are known as the "demon's den".

Chen Su sniffed, her stomach rumbling; she hadn't eaten in a long time.

He struggled to sit up and looked ahead, following the scent.

This is a dimly lit cave, only a few dozen square meters in size, and the stench of wild animals still lingers inside.

Several figures sat scattered around the campfire, talking quietly.

The firewood crackled and popped. The two bear paws resting on the campfire were gradually cooking, their meat plump and juicy, displaying an enticing golden hue, and emitting a fragrant aroma.

This demon-hunting team, named "Eastern Warehouse Messenger," consists of five people, including him, who is an unofficial member.

Hunter Zuo Hu is the team's ranged archer and scout.

He has lived by hunting in the mountains since childhood, and is very good at archery and setting various traps.

He was dressed in coarse cloth, of medium build, with a hunting bow hanging on his back. His face was rough and dark, but his eyes shone with a sharp light. He looked mature, but was actually not that old.

Perhaps due to long-term archery practice, his index finger and thumb are covered with thick calluses.

Seeing that Chen Su had just recovered from his serious illness and was awake, he turned around and greeted her:

"Su-ge'er, wake up! The bear meat is almost ready, come and have a taste, or you'll miss it!"

The tone was meaningful.

The hunter Zuo Hu and he had a fairly good relationship; the original owner learned a lot from him.

Chen Su knew that Zuo Hu meant that if he woke up any later, the demon-hunting team would definitely abandon him in this desolate wilderness to fend for himself.

Unaffiliated practitioners have no compassion to speak of and have no need for worthless people.

Chen Su forced a smile and nodded to him.

His gaze shifted and landed on the burly figure at the cave entrance.

Xiong Li comes from a half-demon tribe.

According to his understanding, his role in the Dongcang messenger team should be that of a tank and a berserker.

His relationship with Zuo Hu has always been very bad.

It is said that his ancestors were descendants of a transformed bear demon and a mortal, living together in the Ten Directions Mountains. By his generation, the concentration of demon blood in his bloodline had become negligible, with only his square beast eyes remaining quite prominent.

In addition, it can barely stimulate demon blood and enter the "demonization" state.

Regardless, at least his imposing physique and the half-person-high wooden shield in his hand were genuine.

Ling Xue is the only woman in the team.

She wore a flowing, elegant dress, applied fragrant powder, and had a refined appearance. Even when venturing out on adventures, she remained impeccably clean.

He was a handyman at a pharmacy in the market area under the Sanfeng Daoist Temple of the Immortal Sect. He only knew some basic medical skills and a few "foolproof" magic tricks.

Just like Chen Su, there was a lot of hype surrounding his inclusion in the team.

After his predecessor fell ill, Ling Xue simply gave him some herbal medicine and then ignored him.

The last one is the captain of the [Eastern Warehouse Envoy] demon-hunting team, who is probably also the strongest member of their team.

Qian Mufeng, a martial artist.

He was dressed in leather armor, had a resolute face, and appeared to be in his early thirties, exuding a certain heroic air.

He served in the army in Yu State in his early years. Later, by chance, he came here. He is skilled in military swordsmanship, which is sharp, ruthless, and deadly.

In short, their team consisted of half-demon, hunters, women, warriors, and novice teenagers.

Normally, according to Chen Su's understanding, the most important thing for a demon-hunting team is to have a Nascent Soul cultivator, which is what mortals often respectfully call an "immortal".

Where is the [East Warehouse Messenger] team?

Let alone cultivators of the embryonic breathing stage, the only two who can be associated with the "immortal family" are Chen Su and Ling Xue.

Even Qian Mufeng, the strongest among them, is still far from being a true "immortal".

In this realm of Changxiao, the Daoist traditions of immortals and Buddhas dominate, apart from some ancient remnants and recently created cultivation systems.

There are also many unorthodox and unorthodox practices. For example, the "Gu Masters" of the Southern Frontier, the "Duan Gong Shamans" of the barbarians in the mountains and forests, and the "Warriors" path chosen by Qian Mufeng.

Even the strongest among these unorthodox practitioners are no match for the weakest among the "immortals," hence most of them are only practiced by mortals.

The aroma of roasted meat made Chen Su's stomach rumble loudly. She wanted to replenish her energy, but she was too weak. Just sitting up was enough to make her breathless.

Left with no other choice, I could only sit down and conserve my energy while sorting out the information in my mind.

According to team leader Qian Mufeng, their hunting target this time was a group of one-legged mandrills, numbering about eleven or twelve, which were not considered any particularly powerful monsters.

However, the bounty for this trip is quite substantial.

Twelve spirit stones, nine spirit shells, and three talisman coins—almost my uncle's wages for a year.

In the Immortal Market, one spirit stone can be exchanged for ten spirit shells, which is equivalent to one hundred talisman coins.

This hefty bounty is why they traveled thousands of miles to hunt the demon.

"We're less than a mile from where those mandrills are hiding on the mission map."

Qian Mufeng carefully maintained the long knife in his hand with a soft cloth, lowered his head and furrowed his brows, revealing no expression, and instructed, "Everyone be careful tonight, don't let things capsize halfway."

"Mu Feng is right!" Ling Xue smiled sweetly, her voice charming and innocent, her beautiful eyes filled with adoration. Sitting close to him, she almost nestled into his arms.

Chen Su, pale-faced, silently watched the two adulterers flaunt their affection.

He swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the roasting meat over the campfire, the rich oil dripping down with a sizzling sound.

"I really want to eat it!"

Chen Su's gaze swept across the group, looking for someone to help her.

He then sadly realized that, in the eyes of the rest of the team, he was practically invisible, not worth paying much attention to. Whether he lived or died, it didn't matter.

"As expected, everything depends on oneself..."

He sighed almost imperceptibly and continued to close his eyes to rest.

A moment later, Ling Xue seemed to remember something, and stretched out her slender finger, saying imperiously, "Xiong Li, you'd better keep a close watch on the cave entrance tonight! I'll bring you some food later."

Beside the cave entrance, the burly man scratched his head, turned around and grinned foolishly, "Good Xue'er, I'll stand guard for you too."

Hunter Zuo Hu loosened the bowstring and skillfully wiped it with grease.

The bow and arrow are like hunting dogs; you can't just drive them around all the time. If you want to use them smoothly, you have to learn to give them some benefits occasionally so that they can be used more easily.

"That bastard really knows how to flatter, even calling Xue'er over!" Seeing the two interacting intimately, he felt indignant and a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.

Over there, the smile on Ling Xue's pretty face hadn't faded yet.

Seemingly sensing Zuo Hu's slight mood, he quickly turned around.

She pouted, fanned her nose twice with her little hand, and asked, "Ah Hu, is the barbecue ready yet? I'm so hungry!"

Just moments ago, Zuo Hu had been sulking and looking grumpy, but now his face lit up with a wide smile: "Alright, alright! Sorry to keep you waiting, Xiao Xue. I specially grilled this for you. Try it, see if it's good? Be careful, it's hot..."

On the rocks.

Chen Su reached for a gourd beside him, took a sip of water, and barely managed to regain some of his strength.

Ignoring the group of people chatting and laughing in front of him, the boy's pale face flushed with excitement, the reason being—

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, there was a three-legged, two-eared cauldron suspended in mid-air, extraordinary and wondrous.

This small cauldron is about a foot tall, cast in bronze, and looks no different from ordinary sacrificial vessels.

At the center of the cauldron lies a broken, pale green seed, which is slowly rotating and absorbing spiritual energy.

......