Starting My Cultivation With Time Management

Chapter 251: Chapter 43 Qilin’s Entrustment

Southern Border, Yu Long Mountain.

For some reason, Wei Dongliu had keenly noticed that Jiang Liyan’s attitude toward him had grown increasingly affectionate recently.

Could it be because he had driven away her senior martial sister for her?

But Wei Dongliu was well aware that the reason Jiang Liyan had put on a performance in front of him was to have him eliminate her senior martial sister, not just to chase her away.

In any case, the thoughts of this witch were truly hard to fathom; Wei Dongliu could only react accordingly, appreciating any increase in Synchronization Value no matter how small.

Finally, the day of departure arrived. Everyone stood in front of the Eastern Emperor Divine Palace’s plaza, only to see the peach blossom miasma in the distance receding fast toward the south like a tidal wave.

It revealed the lush, tropical forest below, layered and stacked like hues of cyan and indigo.

“Legend has it that this peach blossom miasma is an ancient curse from the Demon Race,” Long Xiaoqi suddenly said in a ghostly voice, “At the end of ancient times, a large number of the Demon Race were driven to the Eastern Emperor Demon Realm; those who refused to leave were slaughtered to near extinction.”

“In this Southern Border, the number of the Demon Race slaughtered was in the millions. After the Eastern Emperor Realm’s Boundary Gate was sealed, the peach blossom miasma also appeared. Within three days of entry, one’s complexion turns crimson, within five days blood flows from all seven orifices, and if one doesn’t leave, they are certain to die within seven days.”

“Therefore, there’s another theory claiming that this peach blossom miasma is a deliberate curse and revenge left by the Demon Race… What do you all think?”

“Either way is fine,” Gu Lie said nonchalantly.

“It doesn’t make a difference whether it is or not,” Wen Yang said.

“If the Demon Race really had such great power, wouldn’t they have just cursed the Human Race to death directly?” Jiang Liyan said with a sneer, “Would they have ended up like homeless dogs, being chased in groups to the Eastern Emperor Realm?”

Long Xiaoqi was silent for a moment, then turned to Wei Dongliu and asked,

“Fellow Daoist Wei hasn’t spoken. What do you think?”

“I think only the Demon Race knows the truth,” Wei Dongliu said indifferently.

“Not necessarily,” Long Xiaoqi said after a moment of silence, “After more than a hundred thousand years, even the current Demon Race probably doesn’t know the situation of the Demon Race back then.”

“What does it matter if they know or not!” Gu Lie said impatiently, “Oh! We can set off now!”

Just then, they saw multi-colored banners rising rapidly in the wind in the distance, and on the plaza of the Eastern Emperor Divine Palace, countless Sword Lights ascended, rushing toward the continuous mountain ranges and rainforests in the distance.

The five-person team here naturally wouldn’t fall behind; they quickly took to Sword Control, soaring into the sky and plunging down along the slopes of Yu Long Snow Mountain.

Suddenly, Wei Dongliu seemed to sense something. He turned his head and saw the Qilin lying on the plaza’s floor tiles, opening its eyes. Its pupils, like yellow brass bells, rotated slightly, looking in his direction.

It was impossible to discern any emotion.

Wei Dongliu slightly furrowed his brow and then turned his head back.

“The area around the Eastern Emperor Divine Palace has basically been fully explored,” Wen Yang said quickly to the others while they flew by Sword Control, “Currently, there are two directions.”

“To the north, the danger level of the heritage sites is lower, and there are more Human Race sites than Demon Race sites. The likelihood of us being able to mutually use any treasures or opportunities found there is also higher.”

“However, that direction is Shushan’s main focus, and it’s highly likely that we will encounter conflict with the Shushan team—especially since this time, five paths are united in opposition to Shushan, which is sure to greatly increase the risk level in that area.”

“To the south, the closer we get to the Eastern Emperor Realm’s Boundary Gate, the higher the danger level of the heritage sites, with more Demon Race sites to be found. If we struggle greatly only to end up with a Cultivation Technique that only the Demon Race can use, you can imagine how infuriating that would be.”

“But the problem is, it would help us avoid the battlefield with Shushan.”

“Wait, Wen Yang,” Jiang Liyan interrupted him, “Haven’t we already decided? We’re going north this time.”

“Indeed,” Wen Yang said off-handedly, “I’m just reminding you all, if you want to change the plan, now is the last chance.”

“If we get to the north and then find the battle situation too severe and want to turn back south—surely it would be too late then.”

“What’s there to hesitate about?” Gu Lie said with a glum expression, “If anyone wants to back out then, they’ll need to ask if my sword agrees first.”

“Wait a moment!” Wei Dongliu suddenly called out.

His voice was so loud that the other four reflexively grabbed their Sword Light and suspended themselves in mid-air.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Liyan asked, puzzled.

“The Qilin is speaking to me,” Wei Dongliu said with a frown.

The other four: ?

Their expressions were incredibly complex for a moment. But if one observed carefully, Jiang Liyan was skeptical, Wen Yang was serious, Gu Lie was shocked, and Long Xiaoqi had no expression… She always had no expression.

“Go south,” came the sonorous and low voice of the Qilin in his mind.

“Why?” Wei Dongliu asked with a furrowed brow.

“There is a Mirror Pond there,” the Qilin said in a muffled voice, “which can increase your Refining Mansion Cultivation level by seventy years — that’s what you need the most.”

Wei Dongliu: !!!

“What’s the price?” he asked again in a deep voice.

“Help me retrieve an item from there,” the Qilin replied.

The people around saw Wei Dongliu standing still, sometimes frowning deeply, sometimes widening his eyes… They quickly exchanged glances.

Wen Yang’s gaze was full of disbelief.

Jiang Liyan shook his head almost imperceptibly and moved closer to Wei Dongliu, clearly taking his side.

Gu Lie’s eyes whirled around a few times and he also moved closer to Wei Dongliu from another side — he did not believe that this mysterious and elusive Wei Daoist Friend was the type to lie for attention.

Moreover, everyone had witnessed the Qilin addressing him before.

Long Xiaoqi shrugged and looked towards Wen Yang.

So Wen Yang put on an expression that read, “Alright, but I will need an explanation afterward.”

After finishing his conversation with the Qilin, Wei Dongliu came back to his senses and saw the four of them looking at him with burning gazes and serious expressions.

Even Long Xiaoqi, who was always lazy and absent-minded, seemed unusually serious at this moment.

“Lord Qilin wants me to retrieve an item for him,” Wei Dongliu stated concisely, “The reward is… a secret realm that adds seventy years to Refining Mansion Cultivation.”

Seventy years!

Gu Lie’s eyes immediately bulged, and Wen Yang’s eyes twitched, with only Jiang Liyan and Long Xiaoqi maintaining their composure.

The former was well prepared, after all, with so many suspicions about Wei Dongliu’s identity, it wouldn’t be surprising what he could offer.

The latter, however, displayed a contemplative expression.

“What item do you need to retrieve, Daoist Friend Wei? Can you disclose it?” Wen Yang asked with a solemn expression.

Wei Dongliu shook his head, then suddenly turned his gaze back to the Qilin lying prone on the plaza.

As soon as the Qilin opened its mouth, a streak of light flew over and went straight into his sleeve.

Immediately, everyone stopped their thoughts; they were not so presumptuous as to spy on the Qilin’s secrets. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

But similarly, since it was indeed an order from the Qilin, it was probably not a lie… After all, with its rank made clear, if it truly wanted help, many seniors within Eastern Emperor Path would volunteer without needing any reward, just for a bit of favor from it!

There was no need to concoct a lie to deceive them.

Which meant that seventy years of Refining Mansion Cultivation was likely true.

Seventy years… Thinking of this, their hearts heated up.

If there indeed existed such a large benefit, they would dare to brave even a mountain of blades and a sea of fire.

At the top level of the Eastern Emperor Divine Palace in the distance, Hu Li leaned lazily against the balcony railing, looking down at the Qilin and Wei Dongliu and the others’ interaction.

After a long while, she yawned languidly, then lowered her eyelids, her lips slightly curled, deep in thought.