Chapter 29 What is Zhu Shibai secretly hiding?
The air she breathed in had a damp feel to it, and Ji Mingran turned her eyes to look at the place the teleportation array had brought her to.
The dense forest remained, but there were more low bushes. Small holes were turned up in the damp soil, from which fist-sized centipedes emerged, wriggling their bodies as they climbed onto the moss-covered and shiny black ants-like rocks.
There were plenty of insects, but no human figures, let alone buildings. It's unlikely that the Dingsheng Sect would deliberately conceal Fengshu Hall by setting up any mechanisms or spells to make things difficult for new disciples; if it's not here, it's probably nearby.
Ji Mingran stood there pondering for a long time, finally deciding to take a walk around the area. However, the bear arm on her back grew heavier and heavier, and her shoulder blades ached from the ropes. She had clearly drunk all the water in the gourd before setting off, but whether it was her imagination or not, the gourd hanging from her waist seemed to have a weight on it, and it kept falling down.
My throat was dry from the greasy food I had just eaten and the long walk I had taken.
Ji Mingran unconsciously touched the brocade pouch tied around his waist.
She tried many times, and although she could activate low-level formations by drawing upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, she could only activate spiritual artifacts, spells, and talismans by refining and storing spiritual power in her sea of consciousness. The brocade pouch that Boss Jiang gave her was a good thing, but since her sea of consciousness was not yet open, she could not use it.
The sound of flowing water lingered faintly in my ears.
Ji Mingran swallowed hard, bent down and shook the bear arm that was gradually slipping off his back, tightened the gourd around his waist, and walked towards the source of the sound of flowing water.
Let me have a drink of water first, then I'll look for Fengshutang. Last time, Quanfengyujingtang was at the confluence of water streams; Fengshutang might be in a similar location.
She walked along, climbing over giant, horizontal trees, passing through tangled vines and branches, and leaping between undulating rocks. She almost slipped and fell hard on the lichen and moss, but fortunately, the heavy bear arms on her back acted as cushions for her, preventing her from falling flat on her face.
Ji Mingran touched his buttocks and found that his clothes were soaked. Looking down, he saw a thin stream of water flowing between the pebbles.
He quickly stood up and jogged along the direction of the water flow, where the gently flowing stream came into view.
There's water! Ji Mingran took out the gourd and was about to pour it in, but she stopped just as the gourd's mouth was about to reach the water.
The stream looked clean, but I wondered if there might be any parasites, especially since this was downstream, where it was probably even less clean. My gaze swept over the surrounding trees; a thin layer of mist covered the drooping branches. The air was thick with moisture, and the damp branches were difficult to ignite, making it unsuitable for burning firewood to make water.
Ji Mingran felt a chill run down his spine when he recalled the ants he had just seen, each one no bigger than a fist.
She wasn't afraid of insects, but if she was unlucky enough to drink unclean water and get diarrhea, and some insect crawled out of the ground, that would be a real disaster.
Ji Mingran suppressed his thirst and started walking upstream. He had to find clean water whenever possible.
She chose a direction and headed uphill, deliberately staying away from the water and searching for the driest possible branches and leaves in the jungle. She walked and stopped along the way, and when she had collected most of the firewood, the sound of rushing water became deafening.
Ji Mingran carried a small bundle of firewood out of the dense forest, and sure enough, a waterfall cascaded down between the dark green rocks, stirring up white spray. The rushing water accumulated into a pool of emerald green, and at the edge of the pool, a stream slowly flowed away.
Since the waterfall was too difficult to climb, Ji Mingran lit firewood in a shallow spot at the edge of the pool, placed a gourd filled with most of its water on it, and waited for the water in the gourd to boil.
Ji Mingran propped his head up, watching the flames dance, and kept thinking that the things the Dingsheng Sect gave to its disciples were really good. This gourd alone was already very practical. In addition to its large capacity, it was also heat-conducting and fire-resistant.
The water inside the gourd boiled quickly. Ji Mingran took out a vine that he had cut off and tied it tightly to the gourd. He then tied one end of the vine to his walking stick, attached a stone to it, and threw it into the pool. Like fishing, he lowered the gourd into the pool to cool the boiling water inside.
What a fine gourd! It's heat-resistant and cool-resistant, truly an essential item for travel. I wonder if Feng Shu Hall distributes all these good things to its new disciples. The more Ji Mingran thought about it, the more he hoped to reach Feng Shu Hall as soon as possible to receive the free items.
The gourd floated on the water, creating shallow ripples. Ji Mingran stared at the water with utter boredom. The roar of the waterfall and the crackling sounds of it hitting the rocks were deafening. After a while, just as he was beginning to hallucinate the faint clanging and banging in his ears, Ji Mingran slowly pulled the gourd back, opened its mouth, and took a big gulp of water.
The sweet, refreshing spring water instantly relieved the dryness and greasiness in his throat, and even his drowsy mind was instantly awakened. Ji Mingran stood up, drinking the spring water while slowly walking around the pool.
The faint, continuous ping-pong sound was not an illusion; it was simply masked by the sound of the waterfall, making it difficult to detect without careful listening.
The pool was deep and the stone wall was half-embracing it. Ji Mingran walked back and forth five times, carefully examining every place to make sure there was no place to hide anything in the stone wall, but the ping-pong sound never stopped.
Ji Mingran stopped in front of the pile of embers, looked down at the pool of clear spring water, and stood quietly listening.
The sound didn't seem to be coming from the pool, so there's only one possibility left.
His gaze shifted to the pebbles in the shallow pool in front of the woodpile. Ji Mingran slowly blinked and came back to his senses. He put the bear arm and cane that had been lying on the ground back on his back, tied the gourd, and returned to the spot where he had been fishing for the gourd. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and concentrated.
The waterfall's roar and misty spray made it an ideal place to conceal the flow of spiritual energy. If it weren't for the gourd being thrown into the pool, creating subtle ripples, it would be difficult to discover that a teleportation array existed here.
Just how many formations did the Luanfeng Ancestor set up in the five major peak regions back then?
Clearing her mind of distractions, Ji Mingran sat quietly for a quarter of an hour, finally sensing a faint change in spiritual energy hidden in the misty vapor. Following the change in spiritual energy, she searched for the location of the teleportation array.
After a while, Ji Mingran opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow at the pile of firewood beside him.
The point I randomly picked turned out to be the key to the formation, but it took me a while to realize that it was the very key.
Is it lucky or unlucky?
Ji Mingran raised an eyebrow and muttered to himself. The breath he exhaled lifted his bangs, which were about to cover his eyes. As his bangs covered his eyes again, he had already switched to another scene.
The cave was pitch black, and the passage was so deep that no one knew where it led. The ping-pong sound was coming from inside. It had been faintly heard before, but now she could hear it clearly. The ping-pong sound was the sound of weapons being hammered.
The surging waterfall behind them completely concealed the entrance to the cave. From the outside, it was impossible to discover that there was a cave hidden in the waterfall with the naked eye.
But Ji Mingran had already experienced walking through the waterfall to the other side when he went to Quanfeng Yujing Hall, so it didn't feel new to him. He only regretted that if he had brought a match with him earlier, he wouldn't have to proceed in the dark now.
Unsure if insects or snakes might be hiding in the cave walls, Ji Mingran used the Vajra Formation to protect herself. The cave was extremely deep, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. To prevent the bear arm from getting stuck in the cave, she had to hunch her back and carry the bear arm as she slowly moved forward through the passage.
Is this a test set by Fengyutang for its new disciples? Just like the test she had to pass at Luanfeng. Free things are really hard to come by.
Ji Mingran pondered for a while, walking in the darkness for an unknown amount of time, when suddenly he saw some flickering lights.
The ping-pong sounds stopped at that moment.
Ji Mingran stopped, slowed his breathing, and when he took another step, it was almost silent.
As she drew closer, the sparks reflected in her eyes grew larger and larger. They were not flames, but the cave entrance illuminated by a bright orange glow. She saw two rows of torches burning brightly on the stone walls on either side of the passage ahead, and she also saw the elongated and distorted shadows cast on the stone walls swaying and flickering.
The figure was holding a hammer-like object in its hand.
Ji Mingran stopped walking without making a sound.
However, the other end had already sensed something, "Who's there?"
After the Vajra Formation was completed, Ji Mingran took several steps back, quickly made a hand seal behind his back, and prepared to run away. However, a person had already appeared in front of him in an instant.
Ji Mingran, bent over with the bear arm slung over her back, was in the shadows. From the side, the bear arm on her back did indeed resemble a human silhouette. The man's expression was stern. Realizing he couldn't make out the person in front of him, he took a few more steps forward.
Facing the light, Ji Mingran looked up and saw clearly. His gaze fell on the man's lapel. He seemed to have come in a hurry. The loose robe he casually draped over his upper body revealed his taut muscle lines and the beads of sweat sliding down his chest.
Under the orange-red light, the man's expression was cold and aloof. Realizing that the blurry outline in his sight was not a real person, and recognizing the faint breathing sound, he lowered his eyes and stared at the person who was raising the back of his head to examine him.
"......"
His gaze lingered on the dark circles under Ji Ming's eyes, a flicker of surprise crossing his vision before settling on Ji Ming's tattered, ashen garments. He looked enlightened, his tone softening: "So it's Uncle-Master Ji of Luanfeng." He gave a slight bow, saying, "Nephew Zhu Shibai of Quanfeng, I arrived in haste and my attire is disheveled; my apologies."
Ji Mingran, his hands still clenched behind his back, asked warily, "How do you know who I am?"
Since she entered the sect, she has remained secluded in Luanfeng, so how come everyone recognizes her?
Zhu Shibai had tidied his appearance and took out a jade pendant from his waist to show Ji Mingran: "I once watched the sect entrance competition with the sect's experts." He paused for a moment and then added: "And I have heard that my uncle and Venerable Luanfeng are always... well, simple and honest, so I recognize my uncle."
Simple and honest? Ji Mingran recalled the look of realization in his eyes after examining his clothes, and felt that he didn't mean it literally.
But Ji Mingran didn't care about that and carefully examined the jade pendant in front of him.
The image of the waterfall and the green peak vividly appears on the translucent jade plaque, indicating that the person is indeed a disciple of the Dingsheng Sect and has quite high aptitude.
The two disciples in blue robes called her Grand Master Aunt, while Zhu Shibai called her Martial Aunt.
"Are you a direct disciple of Patriarch Quanfeng?" Ji Mingran asked.
"Yes. I was fortunate enough to become a disciple of Master Liu in this sect entrance competition," Zhu Shibai replied. He then asked urgently, "Why is Uncle-Master here? I heard that Venerable Hongyan has set up a restriction, and you can only leave after completing the Luanfeng mission."
Zhu Shibai was Liu Zhiqing's last disciple from Quanfeng, and knew more about the inside story than other disciples from other peaks. Although he didn't show it on his face, his heart was in his throat.
The little ancestor in front of us is no different from a walking dynamite. Not to mention how she broke through the restrictions to go out, if she suddenly exploded, the two of us would be buried in the hole.
Hearing his question, the little ancestor simply lifted the bear arm on his back and replied briefly, "I'm hungry."
"I see." Zhu Shibai began to persuade, "The mission at Luanfeng is urgent. Now that you have the ingredients, Grand Uncle, please go back quickly." He took a step forward and raised his arm to signal Ji Mingran to return.
It turns out she had a mission to Luanfeng and was under a ban, which explains why she couldn't leave Luanfeng directly.
Ji Mingran tilted his head back and sniffed, saying, "The air circulates between the two ends, so there's an exit at the other end, right? I still need to go to Fengshu Hall. I couldn't find it on the way here, so I guess it's over there."
She took a step forward, but Zhu Shibai blocked her way, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension: "What important business does Grand Uncle have at Fengshu Hall?"
Ji Mingran moved aside: "I'm going to collect the free items assigned to the new disciples."
Zhu Shibai smiled slightly and said in a gentle tone, "I see. Martial Uncle's mission in the Peak Region is important. As for retrieving the items, this is a small matter. I will take care of it for you."
He blocked himself again.
Ji Mingran frowned, suddenly straightened up, and with a jerk of his bear-like arm behind his back, he almost hit Zhu Shibai on the head. The latter turned his head to dodge, and the light from inside the cave shone on his face, revealing his deep and handsome features.
She completely disagreed with Zhu Shibai's statement: "Retrieving the items is a big deal. I need to check each item carefully to avoid missing anything. Besides, I'm quite certain that there are no other formations on the way here that can send me back. I don't know how to cast spells, I don't know how to fly on a sword, and I don't have any magical artifacts. How can I possibly get back?"
She said bluntly, "Why are you blocking my way? Is there something inside that you don't want me to see? I can close my eyes and go through."
Zhu Shibai covered his head and stared at her, then suddenly smiled and sighed helplessly, "Uncle, you misunderstand. I was in a hurry and didn't think things through. I didn't mean to hide anything. The nearest teleportation array is indeed on the other side. I'll lead the way now."
After saying that, he turned around nimbly and walked deeper into the cave. "Uncle-Master, please follow me."
Ji Mingran followed along, the cave passage was long and winding, and the two walked one after the other through it.
"Are you cultivating inside?" she asked.
Zhu Shibai said in a low voice, "Yes."
Ji Mingran became interested: "What are you fixing?"
Zhu Shibai replied briefly: "Quanfeng mainly cultivates magic, and so does this disciple."
"Oh, I think Lan Yi mentioned it. Lan Yi was the disciple who led me to see the sect leader back then, and he was also from Quanfeng, I think."
"The people on night duty that night were Junior Brother Wu Luo from Kuangfeng and Junior Brother Qin Shijiu from Quanfeng. You must be referring to Junior Brother Shijiu."
As they spoke, the passageway gradually widened, and Ji Mingran no longer needed to squeeze in and shrink his body.
As if sensing something, Zhu Shibai hurriedly took two steps forward without turning his head.
As he took a step forward, Ji Mingran straightened his back and swept his arm across him.
"Oops, sorry, sorry, I almost hit you again. Huh, what's this?" Ji Mingran kicked something.
She looked down and saw what appeared to be a fist-sized black ore.
Zhu Shibai continued walking, "This cave is a mine, full of rocks. Uncle, step on the ground."
The cave widened, and Ji Mingran kept kicking one thing or seeing another.
The round, white stone, Zhu Shibai said, was a crystal formed inside the cave.
The long, brown stick, Zhu Shibai said, was a broken piece of stone.
The oval-shaped gemstone, Zhu Shibai said, was his lost ring.
The further she went in, the more scattered things appeared on the ground. She walked and stopped, and the space gradually expanded. Ji Mingran stopped; this was the end of the two rows of torches, a room inside the cave. The floor was messy, filled with strangely shaped objects she couldn't quite describe. Her gaze settled on the center of the floor.
The charred, sunken area should have held a heavy object.
Zhu Shibai made no attempt to explain; he hadn't looked back the entire way, and he wasn't now. He said to the opposite cave entrance, "Uncle-Master, walk this way, go through, and walk a little further, and you'll be able to get out."
Ji Mingran hurriedly followed, his eyes catching a glimpse of something hanging on the stone wall.
Something looked familiar. Ji Mingran turned his head to look again and exclaimed in surprise, "Huh?"
She stopped in her tracks and blurted out, "I recognize this kite." Finally, there was something she could name: "It can grow bigger and carry people!"
Zhu Shibai, who had been hurrying forward, stopped and turned around, asking suspiciously, "You... Uncle-Master, have you seen this thing before?"
Ji Mingran nodded repeatedly: "Yes, it was thanks to it that I was able to participate in the sect entry competition." Recalling the scene of the first time she saw the kite, she said with a smile: "This thing is magical. It looks like a kite, but it is actually a vehicle for carrying people. The person who created this thing was really ingenious. It is both fun and practical."
Zhu Shibai's aloof and cold expression softened slightly: "Is that so? I found this. If you like it, Uncle-Master, then take it."
"Okay, okay." Ji Mingran nodded quickly, ran to the stone wall to stand on tiptoe, and took down the kite above and put it in her hand. Just then, she noticed that there was a black sword hanging in the shadows where the light from the stone wall couldn't reach.
It is completely black, and difficult to spot unless you get very close.
Even with Ji Mingran's broad mind, she eventually realized that this was Junior Nephew Zhu's treasure trove.
No wonder they wanted her to go back the way she came.
Pointing to the black sword high up, Ji Mingran asked, "Junior Nephew Zhu, what is this?" Recalling the scene where Zhu Shibai gave the kite to her after praising it, Ji Mingran said, "This sword is very similar to the sword my friend often uses. It is truly a fine sword, sharp and light."
These words also came from the bottom of his heart, after all, Yu Tianxing's sword was indeed a good sword.
Zhu Shibai simply smiled and said, "It's just a replica. Uncle-Master, please come with me."
Well, the plan failed. Ji Mingran glanced at the black sword several times with reluctance, picked up the kite, and quickly followed Zhu Shibai's pace.
After walking for a while through the winding tunnels, Ji Mingran finally followed Zhu Shibai into the lush and green outside world.
There was no longer any mist in the air, and this place was far from the original entrance to the waterfall.
Zhu Shibai stopped, his hand gestures shifting to a sword. A complex array of light golden light, its patterns shimmering on a small patch of flat grass amidst the bushes ahead. "This array leads directly to Yaofeng." He took the kite from Ji Mingran's hand, infused it with spiritual power, and the kite's patterns shimmered with light gold. "Upon arrival, Uncle-Master, grip the kite tightly, concentrate your mind, and tell it you need to go to Luanfeng. It will then carry you to the suspension bridge."
He was respectful and polite, but he solemnly instructed, "I will take care of the matter of receiving the items for the new disciples. Please return as soon as possible, so as not to worry the Venerable One."
Senior Brother Sanyang only remembers Senior Brother Xiaosen now. Ji Mingran muttered to himself, but agreed, "Alright, alright, I'll go back now." After all, there were still mountains of ancient books to memorize.
Before the words were finished, a huge roar came, and birds darted out of the dense green foliage in a panic.
What was that sound?
Ji Mingran turned to look, but Zhu Shibai grabbed him and pushed him toward the teleportation array, saying, "Lin Feng is just normal. If you're worried, Uncle-Master, I'll go check on him. You should go back now."
"Okay, okay." Ji Mingran had no choice but to suppress his curiosity and cooperate by stepping towards the teleportation array.
Zhu Shibai breathed a sigh of relief as he saw her enter the formation, and smiled gently, "See you later." He immediately kept his promise, used his magic, and went to the source of the great sound.
Lu Li's aura rippled outwards, and the air currents caused by the fluctuations in spiritual energy ruffled Ji Mingran's sleeves and bangs.
A mournful screech came from behind.
What is that? The sound of horses.
Ji Mingran swiftly reversed the formation and leaped out of it.
Isn't Shen Qingluo looking for a horse?
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