Chapter 76: Shen Liqian Extra: This Chapter Doesn’t Count, Doesn’t Count!
The night before the Talisman Saint’s Secret Realm opened, it was Shen Liqian’s fifteenth birthday.
Ming Zhaoshuang took her down the mountain from the Ao Tian Sect and found a noodle shop to sit in.
At that time, the bright moon hung high, the night was as cool as water, and boundless stars were scattered in the Milky Way, reflecting the dark town even more desolate.
Only one shop was lit with a bright lamp.
Ming Zhaoshuang raised her hand and called out to the old woman working inside, “Old woman, two bowls of noodles, with eggs.”
The old woman responded, and Ming Zhaoshuang sat on the table and chairs and said to Shen Liqian:
“In the mortal world, people eat a bowl of longevity noodles on their birthdays, symbolizing that a person’s lifespan can be as long as the noodles.”
Shen Liqian chuckled upon hearing this, “The meaning of living a hundred years?”
Ming Zhaoshuang nodded, “Yes, yes. Qianqian, today is your fifteenth birthday, so I’ll treat you to a bowl of longevity noodles.”
Shen Liqian, however, said, “But I have already broken through to the Nascent Soul Stage, and my lifespan is five hundred years.”
Therefore, Ming Zhaoshuang’s wish for her to live a hundred years, was it not a curse?
Ming Zhaoshuang was stunned by her words, and then she shamelessly replied, “This… how about you eat a few more bowls, Qianqian? One bowl for a hundred years, five bowls for five hundred years, and five hundred bowls for fifty thousand years. Eat as much as you want, Qianqian, it’s all on my tab.”
Hearing this, Shen Liqian laughed out loud again.
She extended a finger as delicate as a green onion stalk and tapped Ming Zhaoshuang’s head, scolding playfully:
“You, not to mention whether I can finish five hundred bowls, can the old woman manage to be busy?”
However, despite her words, Shen Liqian understood Ming Zhaoshuang’s intentions.
Before long, their noodles were served, steaming hot and misty.
They each took a couple of bites and hadn’t said two sentences before they heard a zither melody coming from inside the shop.
The melody was cheerful, but in the desolate shop, it seemed somewhat out of place.
The old woman paused in her work and smiled at them, “Two immortal fairies, please excuse us. My son heard it was a young lady’s birthday, so he specially played a song for you. We hope you will like it.”
Ming Zhaoshuang had not practiced music, so she couldn’t tell if the song was good or bad.
Shen Liqian, however, lowered her eyebrows, clearly savoring the artistic conception, and it was likely that she didn’t play poorly either.
“Old woman, I see you are working hard. Since you have a child, why don’t you let him help out.”
Ming Zhaoshuang chatted idly with the old woman.
The old woman smiled shyly and explained, “He is not well and cannot bear the wind, so he can only sit on the couch and play the zither to amuse the young ladies.”
This, in turn, piqued Shen Liqian’s curiosity.
She slightly furrowed her brows and said, “If that is the case, then why not rest early? It is so late at night, and it is even worse for your health.”
The old woman said, “Alas, this child is sensible and cares for me.”
At this, Shen Liqian and Ming Zhaoshuang understood. The young master playing the zither was likely worried about his mother and didn’t want her to work too late, so he stayed to accompany her.
Shen Liqian put down her chopsticks and asked, “May I see this young master?”
The old woman said, “If the immortal fairy wishes to see him, why not? It’s just that our humble abode is simple, so please don’t mind it.”
The old woman made way, and Shen Liqian and Ming Zhaoshuang walked in, finally seeing the scene inside the shop—the room was not large, but it was clean and meticulously organized by the old woman.
On the bed lay a young man.
He was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a delicate appearance and a pale complexion. A zither was placed on his emaciated body.
Obviously, this was the old woman’s son.
Seeing Shen Liqian and Ming Zhaoshuang enter, a hint of panic flickered in the young man’s eyes. He put down his instrument after a long while, finally smiling helplessly at Ming Zhaoshuang and Shen Liqian, “You’ve seen my clumsiness.”
Shen Liqian asked, “May I take a look?”
The young man immediately extended his hand and said, “Does the immortal fairy also know medicine?”
Shen Liqian’s cool fingertips brushed over the young man’s wrist, her spiritual power exploring his entire body, and she said slowly, “Some cultivators do, and some do not.”
Ming Zhaoshuang pointed at Shen Liqian and said, “This immortal fairy does, but I do not.”
The young man pursed his lips and remained silent.
What he actually wanted to ask was, would an immortal fairy really bother with a mortal like him?
Their noodle shop was located at the foot of the Ao Tian Sect mountain, and countless immortal fellow daoists passed by.
Although most cultivators abstained from grain, many immortals still indulged in gluttony, so he had met quite a few immortal fellow daoists.
Many immortal fellow daoists had heard of his condition, but they all dismissed it with a smile. No one had meddled as much as Shen Liqian and Ming Zhaoshuang.
After a while, Shen Liqian released the young man’s hand and said,
“This is an illness you’ve had since birth, and it’s a bit difficult to cure quickly. I’ll use my spiritual power to nourish your body for a while. Afterwards, go to the Ao Tian Sect and buy ten Longevity Pills. Take one every six months, and in five years, you can live like a normal person.”
The old woman, however, gave a wry smile upon hearing this.
Longevity Pills were merely the most basic of pills in the eyes of cultivators, but for mortals, they were worth a fortune. Their family, let alone ten pills, couldn’t afford even one.
Shen Liqian noticed the old woman’s predicament and paused for a moment.
She took out a jade hairpin from her hair and said, “Use this to exchange for it.”
The hairpin Shen Liqian wore was naturally not an ordinary item. Even if it only served as decoration, it was a high-grade Yellow Rank spirit tool.
Upon hearing this, tears streamed down the old woman’s face uncontrollably. She was so grateful that she almost knelt down to Shen Liqian.
Shen Liqian used her spiritual power to nourish the young man’s meridians, finished the bowl of noodles with Ming Zhaoshuang, and after a while, they got up to leave.
“Young lady, please stop!” The young man, draped in a robe, actually chased after them.
Shen Liqian turned back and saw the bright moonlight. The young man’s eyes were clear, and he smiled at her.
Shen Liqian said, “Although you can get up now, it’s best not to be exposed to the wind.”
The young man reached out and handed her a silver hairpin, saying, “I know you wouldn’t fancy such a common item, but I have nothing of value. I heard it’s your fifteenth birthday. So I want to give this hairpin as your coming-of-age gift!”
“I hope… I hope you won’t dislike it.”
The young man lowered his head, panting, his face flushed red, and said to Shen Liqian.
Shen Liqian did not refuse. She accepted the silver hairpin and left with Ming Zhaoshuang on their sword.
The night wind was cold, rustling.
The young man, as if he had mustered his last breath, said to Shen Liqian, “Young lady! May I ask when you will come here again to eat… to eat a bowl of noodles.”
Hearing this, Shen Liqian did not reply. Ming Zhaoshuang, who was in front of her, smiled and loudly replied, “That’s simple, if you eat five hundred bowls of noodles, you can meet us again!”
After replying, Ming Zhaoshuang was about to tease Shen Liqian a few words when she saw her loosen her grip and toss the silver hairpin away.
The night was dark, and the surroundings were silent.
The silver hairpin seemed to have never existed.
76.2: Talisman Saint’s Secret Realm
The Talisman Saint’s Secret Realm has existed for tens of thousands of years, opening every twenty years, allowing twenty people in each time.
The secret realm is filled with formations, and no one has ever fully cleared it, all having been defeated in the final trial.
This time is different from the past. The Ao Tian Sect has ten disciples competing, which is truly enviable. As for the pitiful Lingxiao Sect and Bixia Sect, they did not choose to participate this time, meaning there are only eighteen people in the Talisman Saint’s Secret Realm this time.
Of the Six Great Families, the Ming Family and the Fei Family attended, leaving only the Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li families.
Seeing the Zhao family’s displeased expression, Fei Changxiu said, “Zhao Congmo is the legitimate eldest son of the Zhao family. He is now dead by my hand, and they will likely target me.”
In fact, Fei Changxiu couldn’t understand. The Fei Family was very close to the Lingxiao Sect, so when he first sought knowledge, he chose the Lingxiao Sect, but the Lingxiao Sect did not accept him. Instead, they accepted Zhao Congmo, who had rebelled from the Ao Tian Sect.
This made Fei Changxiu feel that the Lingxiao Sect was targeting him.
Ming Chenxing glanced at him and said, “Are you that timid?”
Ming Zhaoshuang comforted him, “What are you afraid of? We have many people, no need to be afraid. When we enter the secret realm, Zhao Congbai will give them a slap, Zhao Conghua another, and those who obstruct us from getting opportunities will face the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.”
Hearing this, the disciples of the Ao Tian Sect burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, the faces of the Zhao family representatives, Zhao Congbai and Zhao Conghua, turned grim.
In a short while, a warm yellow light enveloped them. Ming Zhaoshuang and the others felt their bodies shake and found themselves in a mountain forest.
In front of them, text appeared: “First Trial, Beast Subduing Formation.”
A cheerful voice came from all directions:
“Dear friends, hello! Let me introduce myself, I am Ao Tian Sect’s Feng He, the number one person in the last hundred thousand years to traverse heaven and earth. But I must regrettably inform you that you have fallen into the illusion set by Wei Shuo, and you must hunt one hundred spiritual beasts within three days.”
“Of course, of course, I know you like to take shortcuts like me, so I don’t mind telling you that the formation core is on that mid-stage Nascent Soul Gu Diao. Go and take it if you dare!”
The voice of Feng He Du Xian!
Everyone present was shocked, and then their eyes filled with admiration.
In the cultivation world, no one did not know Feng He, and no one did not revere Feng He. Even though her temples had all been destroyed by the Heavenly Dao, it did not stop people from passing down her deeds and telling her achievements to the next generation.
It can be said that you may not remember which immortals ascended from your ancestors, but you must remember the Du Xian Feng He who failed to ascend!
Shen Liqian said, “I originally thought Feng He Du Xian was the type of mature and serious person who looked old despite being young. I didn’t expect her to be like this.”
Ming Zhaoshuang said nothing. She just felt that this voice was inexplicably familiar, as if she had heard it before.
Meanwhile, Fei Changxiu on the side was already hopping and skipping, hugging Ming Chenxing, like a pervert.
“That’s my goddess’s voice! Ah! How can Feng He Du Xian be such a beautiful, cool, lively, and cute woman? Ahhh… You said she’s so kind to directly tell us the secret to passing!”
Ming Zhaoshuang: “…”
She didn’t understand, but she respected him and wished him good luck.
Hunting a hundred spiritual beasts in three days was not difficult for Ming Zhaoshuang and the others. After all, most of the spiritual beasts in this illusion were at the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment stages, and all were below Earth Rank.
Therefore, everyone was generally delighted, believing that they had secured this trial.
However, Ming Zhaoshuang tilted her head and smiled at the Ao Tian Sect disciples, saying,
“Don’t you find the mid-stage Nascent Soul Gu Diao very charming?”
Charming as hell!
Although they had worked together with Ming Zhaoshuang to deal with a mid-stage Nascent Soul spiritual beast last time, that one was only mid-grade Earth Rank. This Gu Diao was a genuine low-grade Heaven Rank spiritual beast.
Heaven Rank and Earth Rank, a single word difference, a world of difference.
Heaven Rank spiritual beasts possessed some divine beast bloodline, but Earth Rank spiritual beasts had pure spiritual beast bloodlines. They were not species that could be compared at all.
Last time, they spent so much effort to slay a low-grade Earth Rank Flesh-Tearing Beast, and now they had to slay a low-grade Heaven Rank Gu Diao. This was nothing short of a dream.
Even the System felt it was a bit difficult and said, “Why don’t you choose to hunt those spiritual beasts instead? It’s safer.”
The Gu Diao was not an ordinary spiritual beast. For cultivators under twenty years old, even at their peak, they could at most reach the early Nascent Soul stage.
Under the same cultivation level, human cultivators were far inferior to spiritual beasts, let alone Heaven Rank spiritual beasts. Therefore, when Talisman Saint Wei Shuo set up this trial, he had already considered that it was impossible for one person to kill the Gu Diao.
So, if they wanted to kill this Gu Diao, they would definitely need the twenty people entering the secret realm to unite.
However, it was obvious that everyone immediately chose to hunt other spiritual beasts, and didn’t even consider killing the Gu Diao.
After all, hunting spiritual beasts would definitely allow them to pass the trial, while killing the Gu Diao might not only lead to failure but also death.
Hearing this, Zhao Congbai beside him sneered, “A group of Golden Core cultivators wanting to kill a mid-stage Nascent Soul spiritual beast? What a pipe dream.”
Zhao Conghua also said, “Don’t you really think you can snatch two spots from the Lingxiao Sect and Bixia Sect and then kill a mid-stage Heaven Rank Gu Diao!”
The Qian Family had always been very close to the Zhao Family, so their Chief Senior Disciple, Qian Ye, also looked at Ming Zhaoshuang with sarcasm:
“As the head of the Six Great Families, you don’t want to hunt spiritual beasts with us, but instead associate with the Ao Tian Sect.”
Sun Family’s Eldest Young Lady, Sun Qianshan, also said to Ming Zhaoshuang, “Sister Zhaoshuang, you should come with us.”
The Li Family remained silent but stepped back several feet from the Ao Tian Sect, their intention clear.
It was clear that the Four Great Families were united and did not want to hunt demonic beasts with them, nor did they want to hunt the Gu Diao with them.
However, Ming Zhaoshuang and the others had no time to pay attention to them. Except for Duan Hua and Qin Yunxi, who had not participated last time, the remaining disciples were all eager to try.
Shen Liqian smiled and said, “Breaking the formation core directly is not impossible.”
Fei Changxiu excitedly said, “Junior Sister, you are so right! Watch how your Senior Brother Fei will beat this Heaven Rank spiritual beast so badly it can’t find its teeth!”
Ming Chenxing drew his sword.
Ji Qi also drew his sword and said, “Let’s slay the Gu Diao.”
He Jiusi smiled and said, “Junior Sister has already said it, how could we not obey.”
He Qingqing even laughed wildly, “Come on, I want to see how difficult this Gu Diao is to deal with in front of this Beast Tamer of mine!”
Even Qin Feilong said, “What’s the point of only killing Earth Rank spiritual beasts? If we’re going to kill, let’s kill the strongest.”
Duan Hua and Qin Yunxi: “…”
No, are you guys okay?
That is a mid-stage Nascent Soul Heaven Rank spiritual beast, not some common stray!
Why are they all so eager, as if that Heaven Rank spiritual beast is already a dead soul under their swords.
