Chapter 28: I Want to Learn Too
Song Jiulai grabbed Lin Qian and ran.
She could barely handle one, but this aerial type was cunning and knew to call for backup. It was too much for her, a Qi Condensation early stage cultivator on her first training trip.
Of course, while running, Song Jiulai also conjured a Water Ball and sent it towards the two birds, slightly hindering their pursuit.
The Flame Birds were not slow. Lin Qian and Song Jiulai used their Spiritual Energy to flee, their speed increasing as if riding the wind.
One Flame Bird let out a sharp cry, its wings unfurling with a swish. It spat a stream of fire towards Song Jiulai’s retreating back.
Song Jiulai sensed something was wrong and instantly let go of Lin Qian’s hand.
The two dodged to opposite sides, and the stream of fire grazed past the space between them.
It instantly scorched the ground black.
The temperature was quite intense.
Lin Qian reacted quickly, “Junior Sister, into the forest.”
The path they were on was a continuous stretch of mountains and forests, with only a few open roads. This was where they currently were.
Song Jiulai replied while running, “What if they set the forest on fire?”
Lin Qian said, “They won’t be able to set it on fire. There are other Demonic Beasts in the forest, and also Cultivators training…”
As she spoke, a violent Spiritual Energy fluctuation erupted in the distance. Several Ice Swords suddenly shot out, aimed directly at the two Flame Birds.
The Ice Swords were incredibly fast. The Flame Birds had almost no time to react before they were pierced through.
The two Flame Birds let out piercing cries of agony. Without even a struggle, they died.
Their corpses fell to the ground, and the Ice Swords that had pierced them dissolved into streaks of water.
Song Jiulai and Lin Qian were both surprised.
Song Jiulai had only two words in her heart.
I want to learn.
I really want to learn.
“System, don’t you have a function that can copy others’ moves just by looking at them?”
System: “Why do you always ask questions so absurd they make the System laugh.”
Song Jiulai: “Because I want to know what you look like when you laugh absurdly.”
System: “…”
After a few breaths, a Female Cultivator slowly flew over, her expression somewhat strange.
Upon seeing her, Lin Qian exclaimed with surprise, “Senior Sister Qiao!”
The Female Cultivator addressed as Senior Sister Qiao wore a purple dress. Her aura was strong and oppressive; she was at least at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
She looked at Lin Qian with some surprise, “You recognize me?”
Lin Qian nodded, “I am Lin Qian, a disciple from the Outer Hall’s Benevolent Hall. I saw you two years ago at the Sect competition.”
“Oh…”
Senior Sister Qiao nodded and didn’t seem to mind.
Perhaps the Benevolent Hall was just an insignificant branch within the Peach Blossom Sect.
And this Senior Sister Qiao was at the Foundation Establishment Stage, holding at least some status in the Peach Blossom Sect.
Her gaze slowly shifted to Song Jiulai, who immediately replied, “Song Jiulai of the Longevity Sect.”
Perhaps the Longevity Sect was too obscure. The Female Cultivator merely furrowed her brow slightly and didn’t pay much attention, only saying, “Are you two heading to First Mountain?”
Both Lin Qian and Song Jiulai nodded.
Although the Female Cultivator’s tone was cold, it wasn’t unfriendly. “First Mountain has been restless lately, with many Tier 1 and Tier 2 Demonic Beasts that shouldn’t be there being driven in. Are you going to First Mountain to gather Spirit Herbs?”
This question was directed at Lin Qian.
Lin Qian quickly nodded, “Spirit Herbs are scarce in the Sect. I… I don’t have enough Spirit Herbs for practice, so I want to try my luck at First Mountain.”
Senior Sister Qiao then said, “It’s still half a day’s journey. I’ll take you there. But remember, training is based on your own abilities. If you encounter danger, I might not be able to save you in time. Consider it carefully.”
Lin Qian had certainly considered this when she left home, and she nodded without hesitation.
Song Jiulai was overjoyed to hear that a Big Shot was willing to escort her and Lin Qian.
Indeed, it was easier to get things done with more people. If she hadn’t met Lin Qian, she would have struggled alone and it would have taken so much longer.
However, even a Big Shot at the Foundation Establishment Stage had a cool demeanor. Since they weren’t from the same Sect, Song Jiulai had to suppress her many questions.
After Senior Sister Qiao dropped them off at First Mountain, there were noticeably more Cultivators.
At least a few Cultivators could be seen flying by from high above.
One could also see groups of Cultivators hunting Demonic Beasts.
First Mountain was vast. You could encounter people anywhere. After dropping them off, Senior Sister Qiao departed.
Lin Qian hadn’t dared to speak on the way. Only after Senior Sister Qiao left did she breathe a sigh of relief, “That’s our Inner Disciple Senior Sister Qiao, also the Sect Master’s beloved disciple. She has high status, but she’s very kind.”
Song Jiulai: “I could tell. She’s indeed very kind.”
Lin Qian had brought a map of First Mountain with her. She had a general idea of where the Tier 2 Spirit Benefiting Grass she needed to collect was located. However, that area was surrounded by many Demonic Beasts, with Tier 2 Demonic Beasts also appearing.
Generally, no reckless individuals would go there directly. Most would form groups to tackle it, giving them a fighting chance against Tier 2 beasts.
Lin Qian suggested, “Should we find other Cultivators to cooperate with? Or stay here for a few days and wait for an opportunity?”
Song Jiulai was thinking.
Coming out here was so troublesome, traveling so far. Just staying for two days and going back wasn’t realistic.
Hunting Demonic Beasts had no downsides for her, only benefits. So she said, “Let’s just stay for now. I’ll practice with Tier 1 Demonic Beasts.”
The resource-scarce fringe areas weren’t entirely without ways to improve.
That was to kill Demonic Beasts madly. With ten days to half a month of intense effort, the chances of breaking through to the Mid Qi Condensation Stage were high.
But the higher you went, the slower the progress would naturally be.
However, for ordinary disciples, their Spiritual Energy would be depleted after killing just a few beasts. Recovering Spiritual Energy at First Mountain was also dangerous and relied entirely on consuming pills.
Those without a strong foundation couldn’t stay at First Mountain for long.
Moreover, many Demonic Beasts were poisonous. Once bitten, the losses would outweigh the gains.
Seeing that Lin Qian, an Outer Disciple, was on her first outing, she understood this.
Not everyone had the courage to stay at First Mountain continuously. Most who came out were like Song Jiulai, looking for opportunities, or those who specifically hunted Demonic Beasts to make money.
Song Jiulai at least had the System as a safety net.
She couldn’t always hide in a safe shell and not come out.
Besides, in a world of Cultivation, not fighting would be quite pathetic!
She came here wanting to see her own Strength while practicing her Soul Cultivation Method and killing.
She had previously thought the System had forcibly given her the most basic Spiritual Root, but now, after hearing Lin Qian’s words, she vaguely felt it wasn’t quite like that.
Moreover, practical combat was always different from practicing in the Sect.
The Player was currently using Spiritual Energy to control Chopping Wood, while she was directly going into battle.
It was obvious whose progress would be faster.
She wanted to kill the Players before they could grind her to death!
Meanwhile, a Player who had been ground to death had already undergone a change.
After logging in, Chen Miaomiao continued to observe Spirit Herbs. She quickly grasped the rules of Spiritual Energy circulation, and with the aid of her Cultivation Technique, she successfully became the first Player to officially stabilize at the Early Qi Condensation Stage.
【Ding, the number of Early Qi Condensation Stage Players in the Sect is currently 1. 】
