Chapter One: Ah, a Life of Hardship

“Was it you who triggered the grand formation?” A voice echoed above Li Chengzhu.

Looking up, Li Chengzhu saw a strikingly handsome young man floating in the air overhead, gazing down at him with a cold expression.

Li Chengzhu hastily scrambled to his feet and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, senior. I was unaware there was a Heaven-Covering, Earth-Carrying Grand Formation here. I triggered it by accident—please do not take offense.”

Li Chengzhu was well aware that, in the Immortal Realm, there was no one he could afford to offend. So upon seeing this man, he was exceedingly polite. After all, anyone stationed here to guard such a formation must at least be of immortal rank; it was no loss to address him as “senior.”

The man’s voice was icy. “This is a forbidden zone. Leave at once.”

Li Chengzhu felt the oppressive spiritual pressure emanate from the man in an instant, breaking out in a cold sweat. He quickly replied, “I’ll leave right away, senior.” With that, he called to his little companion and fled without once looking back.

The Immortal Realm was nothing like Li Chengzhu had imagined. He had thought it was all white skies and clouds of immortal energy drifting over the land. Only after exiting the Heaven-Covering, Earth-Carrying Grand Formation did he realize how far off his imaginings had been.

To his astonishment, the Immortal Realm was just like Earth, with flowers and trees, a round sun in the sky, and billowing white clouds moving gently on the breeze. Many low-level spirit beasts frolicked and soared among the branches.

So, it turned out that everything he’d seen for over a year had been because he was inside the Heaven-Covering, Earth-Carrying Grand Formation.

Immersed in this vibrant world, Li Chengzhu could not help but feel his spirits lift.

He continued forward for half a day, yet saw not a single living soul. He guessed that, since the formation lay not far behind him, this entire region was deserted as a result.

Now that he had left the formation, returning to his master was out of the question. Li Chengzhu felt a pang of regret—he had never even asked his master which sect he belonged to. The Immortal Emissary, too, had been rather muddled—his first time ever taking a disciple, only to find the disciple didn’t practice the sect’s own cultivation method, so he’d neglected to explain anything about the sect itself.

Fortunately, the name of the Immortal Emissary should not be obscure in the Immortal Realm. He could ask around and surely learn where his master’s sect was located.

Besides, as his master had said, every Immortal Emissary served a term of a hundred years; his master still had three years to go. After that, he could leave the Heaven-Covering, Earth-Carrying Grand Formation and meet with him.

Turning these worries over in his mind, Li Chengzhu relaxed his furrowed brow. With his little companion in tow, he soared onward without pause.

The most important thing now was to find a populated place. He’d spent months alone in the forest and was nearly driven mad with boredom.

Another day passed, and Li Chengzhu finally sensed the presence of people ahead. Elated, he hurried forward.

Before he could glimpse anyone, the distant clash of flying swords reached his ears.

People fighting in the Immortal Realm? Li Chengzhu was astonished; he slowed his steps. He had hoped to meet someone from whom he could inquire about the matters on his mind, but it turned out those ahead were engaged in combat. With his meager cultivation, barely stronger than an infant’s, charging in would bring nothing but disaster.

Just as Li Chengzhu hesitated, a man’s voice rang out: “Hao Meili, do you really think you can escape with your meager cultivation?”

A clear, melodious female voice snapped back, “Cui Xiaosa, you shameless scoundrel! My cultivation may not match yours, but don’t think you’ll get anything out of me!”

Li Chengzhu staggered mid-stride, nearly toppling over. Hao Meili, Cui Xiaosa—their names were laughable.

Cui Xiaosa laughed heartily. “Though my cultivation is only a shade higher than yours, your magical treasures are far inferior. If we really fought, I fear I’d accidentally mar that beautiful face of yours, and that would be a crime.”

Hao Meili spat. “Don’t push me too far! Force me, and I’ll self-destruct my nascent soul before I let you succeed.”

Cui Xiaosa’s face froze—this crazy woman just might do it. He decided not to press her further, instead softening his expression. “Let’s talk this over, shall we?”

Hao Meili answered coldly, “If you have something to say, spit it out. I’m in a hurry.”

Cui Xiaosa was unfazed by her words, still smiling amiably. “You’ve acquired two Destiny Spirit Stones. Give me one, and we’ll call it even. How about it?”

Destiny Spirit Stones? Li Chengzhu, who had been about to slip away from the battlefield, perked up his ears; he even stopped in his tracks.

Destiny Spirit Stones! Good heavens—even a low-grade Destiny Spirit Stone was enough for ordinary cultivators to fight to the death. Yet this crazy woman had two?

Li Chengzhu couldn’t help wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth, stealthily concealing his presence as he crept closer to the battlefield.

Hao Meili seemed to realize she could not escape Cui Xiaosa’s pursuit. After pondering a while, she finally spoke, “How can I trust you? If I give you a Destiny Spirit Stone, what if you go back on your word?”

“My flying sword can serve as collateral. We can exchange first, then, once you’re somewhere safe, you can transmit the sword back to this place by teleportation. Of course, you don’t have to return it—the sword is yours if you wish.” Clearly, Cui Xiaosa had already thought this through.

Hao Meili flew into a rage. “Pah! That broken sword of yours—one Destiny Spirit Stone could buy a thousand like it. And you have the gall to offer it as collateral?”

Cui Xiaosa spread his hands. “What then? My storage ring, and everything in it as well?”

Hao Meili still shook her head. “That pile of junk isn’t worth a Destiny Spirit Stone.”

Cui Xiaosa pondered for a moment, then suggested, “How about letting that friend over there act as a witness?” He pointed straight at Li Chengzhu’s hiding place.

Hao Meili sneered. “Him? A rookie at the nascent soul stage—hardly more than a bug to you. He’d be all too convenient for you to kill and destroy the evidence.”

Li Chengzhu was startled—they had discovered his presence all along. Now that he’d been exposed, he couldn’t very well keep hiding. He stepped out boldly and forced a laugh. “Hello, everyone, heh heh. Don’t mind me, please continue. I’m just passing by—I didn’t hear a thing.”

Without waiting for a reply, he turned to run.

Cui Xiaosa waved his left hand. “Please, don’t be in such a hurry. I have a small favor to ask of you.”

Suddenly, Li Chengzhu felt his legs grow unbearably heavy; he couldn’t take another step. For someone to restrain him so easily, Cui Xiaosa’s cultivation must be at least at the soul division stage.

Li Chengzhu put on a long face, bemoaning his ill fate. No matter where he went, danger seemed to find him. If he’d known, he would never have gotten involved with these two in the first place.