Junior Sister is skilled in subduing demons.

Chapter 165 Bad News for Lingjizi

As evening fell, the afterglow of the setting sun draped the world in a golden veil. Anzhi led Tuantuan toward the Purple Bamboo Forest Cloud Platform. Along the way, Tuantuan excitedly skipped and jumped, sometimes running ahead and sometimes turning back to rub against Anzhi's legs. Anzhi hadn't done any cultivation these past few days, focusing instead on spending time with Tuantuan.

Before long, they ascended the cloud platform, where the view was extremely expansive, and the entire bamboo forest stretched out before them.

"Tuanbao, can you feel that we're getting closer and closer to leaving this place?" Anzhi asked.

Tuan Tuan is quite big, and he wobbled over to An Zhi's side: "Mommy, where are we going?"

Anzhi shook her head, then suddenly squatted down and looked at Tuantuan's dark circles: "Tuantuan, do you think this place is nice?"

“Okay, we can’t finish eating bamboo every day,” Tuantuan blurted out.

Anzhi's face became more serious. Just a few days ago, when Anzhi talked about Tuantuan, the bamboo weaving elder suggested that Tuantuan stay in the bamboo forest, since it was a paradise for pandas. But Anzhi was still reluctant to part with her.

A gentle breeze swept by, and the bamboo groves swayed in unison as if on command, their leaves rustling against each other, creating a continuous, rustling sound.

The setting sun casts its light on the bamboo forest, giving each bamboo stalk an orange-red glow. The original emerald green color blends with this warm hue, and the bamboo forest is dappled with light and shadow. The interlacing light shines through the gaps in the bamboo, casting long shadows on the ground.

Anzhi appeared to be quietly observing the bamboo forest, but in reality, she was conflicted. It was her fault for not training Tuantuan properly. Now, the Qiang-Ge war was about to begin, and she herself bore a heavy responsibility. Looking at Tuantuan...

As the sun gradually set and the sky slowly darkened, the orange-red halo turned into a purplish-red, leaving only the rustling of bamboo leaves echoing in the air.

……

The next day, early in the morning

Anzhi took Tuantuan out of the house and began to educate it carefully, especially trying to temper its character through special training, or perhaps trying to activate Tuantuan's latent fighting spirit through some means.

Suddenly, Anzhi sensed a muffled sound coming from the depths of the bamboo forest, a sound that was all too familiar.

"Duoqi!" Tuantuan was the first to stand up, her eyes darting around.

Anzhi also sensed it, so he got up and went to the bamboo forest path.

Duoqi was carrying Lingjizi as it walked towards them. Duoqi's fluffy fur further accentuated its size and might as a mythical beast of the snowy region. Its eyes were bright and piercing. With each step it took, it brought with it a whistling sound that whistled through the bamboo forest, causing the bamboo leaves to rustle.

Lingjizi sat upright on Duoqi's back, his white robes fluttering in the wind, exuding a free and easy demeanor. His face was still handsome, but after this trip, it had gained a touch of vicissitude.

Tuantuan was the first to approach Duoqi, jumping up and down, but Duoqi only glanced at her and then continued carrying Lingjizi towards the bamboo house, which made Tuantuan seem a little disappointed.

"Senior Lingjizi, you're finally back!" Anzhi quickly stepped forward to greet him.

Duoqi slowly lay down, and Lingjizi lightly jumped off Duoqi's back, a gentle smile on her face. She walked towards Anzhi, saying as she went, "Oh, you're finally back. It's been a tough journey. Hurry, hurry, let me borrow your thousand-year snake wine. Hurry, hurry, hurry."

Lingjizi's urging made Anzhi a little flustered, and he hurriedly took the Demon Refining Gourd from his waist and handed it to Lingjizi.

Lingjizi opened the wine pot and quickly handed it to Duoqi. The precious thousand-year-old snake wine slowly went down Duoqi's throat. Smoke began to rise from Duoqi's body, and muffled growls came from his throat.

"Duoqi, Duoqi is injured." Anzhi noticed. Lingjizi smiled and stroked his beard, saying, "Hehe, as expected of a divine beast from the snowy plateau. On the way back, I was blocked by several demon soldiers. Duoqi fought against three demon beasts and was injured, but they were evenly matched."

These words struck a chord with Anzhi, and she couldn't help but glance at Tuantuan, who was patting Duoqi beside her.

Seeing that Duoqi was slowly getting better, Lingjizi patted Duoqi's head and said, "Get some rest."

After saying that, Lingjizi walked towards the bamboo table.

"Senior, how is it?" Anzhi asked with great concern.

After Lingjizi sat down, he still seemed worried about Duoqi, so he looked at him and instructed, "Tuanzi, don't play around with Duoqi right now. Wait until an hour later."

An Zhi was annoyed, so she immediately got up and walked to Tuan Tuan's side and said seriously, "Tuan Bao, look at Duo Qi, hmph, from now on, Mom will make you suffer a lot. Your life is too comfortable."

Tuantuan frowned and, knowing better, lay down next to Duoqi.

Anzhi poured a cup of wine for Lingjizi in a bamboo cup and handed it to him: "Here, have a sip too."

A gentle breeze blew by, and the bamboo forest, as if responding to nature's call, began to sway slightly. Lingjizi then began to recount the situation of their journey, which, in any case, was not optimistic...

It is certain that the Qiang-Ge war is inevitable, and the demon army has officially intervened. Shushan has been in a state of chaos for the past few months. Just ten days ago, a group of demon soldiers attacked Shushan's Tiangang Platform. Emei Mountain is not having an easy time either, and has arranged for a large number of disciples to be stationed behind Qiang City to protect the people. Qingcheng Mountain has also sent the "Five Tigers of Qingcheng" down the mountain. It seems that only the bamboo sea area in the entire Bashu region still lives in a paradise.

"Senior, what should Anzhi do next?" Anzhi was a little impatient, after all, he had been cultivating in the bamboo forest for two years, and it was time to fulfill the three-year agreement.

Lingjizi's lips moved, as if the words were about to come out but he swallowed them back, and then asked in return, "Anzhi, what are your thoughts?"

Anzhi looked at Tuantuan and Duoqi in the distance and said, "The situation outside is so tense right now. I want to find the Demon-Slaying Sword. I think I must find the Demon-Slaying Sword."

Lingjizi slowly picked up his teacup, and Minlemin fell into deep thought...

“Senior, thanks to your and the Bamboo Weaving Elder’s guidance over the past two years, the Bamboo Weaving Elder also tested my Demon-Slaying Gourd during your absence. It is one of the divine artifacts, the Demon-Refining Gourd,” An Zhi said.

Lingjizi looked shocked: "The Demon Refining Gourd?"

"Yes!" Anzhi handed the Demon Refining Gourd to Lingjizi: "I've tried it, and the thousand-year-old bamboo worm has been refined into a pill."

Lingjizi looked on incredulously; this was indeed something he hadn't expected. He examined the Demon Refining Gourd repeatedly.

“Therefore, I believe that I am the one destined to find this sword, and I want to go and find it.” Anzhi pleaded again, “I hope Senior Lingjizi can give me some guidance.”

Realizing what was happening, Lingjizi suddenly stood up and asked incredulously, "This is the Demon Refining Gourd?"

“Absolutely genuine.” Anzhi nodded affirmatively.

Seeing Anzhi's certainty, Lingjizi let out a long sigh of relief and said, "It's fate."