Hidden moth

Chapter 323 Traveling Through the Mountains: A Dreamlike Experience

An excellent alchemist should be able to distinguish the properties of various substances, and even if they have never seen something before, they should be able to develop a reasonable processing method... He Kao only had some knowledge of alchemy, so he was not an alchemist, but he was a chef.

An excellent chef should be able to recognize all kinds of delicacies, and even if the ingredients are unfamiliar, he should be able to figure out a reasonable way to cook them... So He Kao prepared a feast with the characteristics of Fengwei Township, and everyone was very satisfied after tasting it.

When Li Xiuyuan got into a good mood, he told He Kao that if he were ever laid off from his job and couldn't find another one, he could come to Fengwei Township and open a local restaurant; the premises were already there...

Elder Li is a local. He has a courtyard here and runs a farmhouse restaurant. Of course, he doesn't run it himself; he entrusts it to his younger disciples to manage. He also has a shop in town, so it's no problem for He Kao to open a restaurant.

Unfortunately, although He Kao sometimes enjoys cooking a delicious meal, it's just a hobby skill in life. He has no intention of making it a profession, let alone opening a restaurant. His family has been carpenters for generations!

After finishing the meal, He Kao finally said goodbye and left, but he felt a little reluctant to leave because he didn't know if he would ever see Grandpa Jiang again.

He told himself that he was sure he would successfully overcome his tribulation.

Wei Luo was also very reluctant to part with him, but she was more worried about her master's condition. During Jiang Daozhen's seclusion, she would not leave Jinghua Cave. He Kao could come here to find her if he needed anything.

Gu Chun knew what they were worried about, and quietly told He Kao with his divine sense: "The cultivation of the Spirit Rhinoceros Technique has its own rules. If you hope that Elder Jiang can break through the barrier as soon as possible, do your best to do what he plans. It is in the hands of Heaven and also in human effort."

According to Gu Chun's deduction, Jiang Daozhen has glimpsed a corner of the secrets of heaven. The chessboard he has laid out is not only aimed at the Xiaomeng, but also at the future vision of the entire art sect. Whether the vision can be realized is closely related to his cultivation level.

If He Kaoru really wants to help Jiang Daozhen, then he should properly complete the tasks assigned by Jiang Daozhen.

He Kao bought a lot of things in Fengwei Township. Although he left a lot at Jinghua Cave, he still carried a full bamboo basket when he left. He walked down the mountain road with Gu Chun, Li Xiuyuan, and Guo Qianhuai. At the back entrance of Jinghua Village, he met Xingrui Jushi again.

Xingrui must have been waiting here on purpose, as he first bowed to the elders upon seeing them. Li Xiuyuan smiled and said, "Little Kao, let me introduce you. This is Song Fengyang, the steward of the Dan Ding Sect."

She is a Taoist priestess who has been ordained; her religious name is Xingrui. You can just call her Xingrui.

This introduction is quite interesting. Actually, there's no need to introduce the name "Song Fengyang." Even ordinary disciples of the Dan Ding Sect might not know her. In the Shu Sect, people usually just call her Xing Rui.

Xingrui stepped forward and bowed, saying, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Junior Brother He. You are indeed a man of great talent. I have come here today specifically to express my gratitude!"

What did she have to thank He Kao for? The sorcerer Jiao Bide of the Xiaomeng had framed her, so she resigned from her position as deacon and accepted the investigation by the sorcery sect, and Geng Yanxin took over as deacon in her place.

Taking advantage of his shift to oversee the cave, Geng Yanxin secretly let Danqiu Master and his disciples in, but they fell right into the ambush set by the Sect Law Hall, and Geng Yanxin's identity as an undercover agent for the Free Alliance was exposed...

Looking back now, this was an arrangement made by the Clan Court in response to the situation. But at the time, Xingrui was indeed framed, and she really did resign from her position as deacon and accept the investigation.

Later, He Kao unearthed Jiao Bide in Qiyuan and sent Lan Jiuwan to capture him. The person sent by the Zongfa Hall to take over was Xing Rui, which completely cleared Xing Rui of suspicion, and she became a steward again.

Xingrui didn't know Lan Jiuwan's identity. She just went to the designated location to take Jiao Bide away as instructed. But she later heard that the capture of Jiao Bide and the clearing of her suspicion were mainly due to He Kao's efforts.

He Kao quickly returned the courtesy, saying, "This is not my achievement alone, and it is all part of my duty. I was just completing the task assigned by the Clan Court... Senior Brother, there is no need to be so polite."

He Kao had actually met Xing Rui before, having secretly spied on her as instructed by Elder Li, but this was their first time interacting face-to-face. Rui Xing was Li Xiuyuan's junior, and according to the traditions of the martial arts sect, he could address her as "senior brother."

Xingrui was originally a wandering cultivator from the Jianji Palace sect. Fifteen years ago, while attending university, he broke through to the fourth level of cultivation and returned to the sect of magic. At that time, the person responsible for investigating his past behavior was Li Xiuyuan.

She is now a steward of the Dan Ding Sect and a fifth-level herb gatherer. Judging from her appearance, she is around thirty years old, with a slightly plump figure and very fair skin. She looks a bit like Gao Xue'e and is a very charming woman.

Luckin Coffee lowered his head slightly and said, "The tasks assigned by the Clan Law Hall vary from person to person, and you have done far better and more than required, otherwise you would not have been specially commended."

As for me, I really should thank you properly. I wonder if I could ask you for another favor?

He Kao: "I wonder what brings you here?" As he spoke, he had already vaguely guessed what was going on.

Sure enough, Xingrui replied, "I also obtained a Pure Yang Pill this time, and I would like to invite you to take it together."

Before He Kao could answer, Li Xiuyuan interrupted, "He Kao, it was I who told Xingrui about Qiyuan uncovering Jiao Bide's secrets, and I was the one who set up today's events. This is fate!"

At the same time, a divine thought was secretly sent.

As a steward of the Dan Ding Sect, Xing Rui also obtained a Pure Yang Pill this time, and she's been quite bothered lately. She definitely needs to find someone to take the Pure Yang Pill with, but she can't just find anyone, and she certainly doesn't want to use it for any kind of transaction.

Among the elders of the Clan Law Hall, she was closest to Li Xiuyuan, who was also the elder she trusted the most. So she asked Elder Li for recommendations on reliable and suitable people.
She was quite adept at handling interpersonal relationships, and Li Xiuyuan naturally recommended He Kao. However, this wasn't something Elder Li could forcefully appoint; Xing Rui herself had to be willing.

Considering that Xingrui and He Kao were not familiar with each other before, Elder Li asked Xingrui to come and see for himself, to meet He Kao in person, and then make a decision. If he felt it was not suitable, then so be it. If Xingrui thought it was suitable, then he should tell Li Xiuyuan in private, and Li Xiuyuan would then talk to He Kao... Xingrui waiting in Jinghua Village today was also at Li Xiuyuan's behest.

However, as soon as they met and finished exchanging greetings, Xingrui directly invited He Kao to take the pill together, which surprised Elder Li. This was different from what had been agreed upon beforehand!

However, Elder Li also instructed He Kao that there was no need to be reserved about such matters; he should simply agree readily.

This was a wonderful thing, and Elder Li had already given the order, so He Kao wouldn't refuse. Therefore, there was no reason to hesitate. He immediately nodded and said, "Such an opportunity, I should thank Senior Brother Xingrui properly!"

It's certain that Xingrui really came to express his gratitude, and his willingness to share such an opportunity shows his sincerity.

Upon hearing this, Gu Chun clapped his hands and laughed, "That's perfect. You can all come with me to the Immortal Pot Cave Heaven to take the pills together. I will personally oversee the cave heaven, and I can guarantee that everything will be fine."

From Xingrui's perspective, this isn't like blind dating or finding a partner, but it's more important for cultivators than finding a partner; at least they have to be someone they like.

When she saw He Kao, she was very satisfied, even more satisfied than she had expected. Moreover, He Kao had really tried his best to clear her name from the suspicion of being framed by the Xiaomeng. With this predestined connection, and what cultivators care about most is predestined connection.

So she readily extended the invitation on the spot, to prevent others from coveting the Pure Yang Pill in her possession. As for trust, it was guaranteed; with Elders Li Xiuyuan and Gu Chun backing her up, there was nothing to worry about.

This time, there was no need to take a three-wheeled vehicle. Xingrui drove here and gave everyone a ride. They drove through Jinghua Village, Pijing Village, and Fengwei Township, dropping off Guo Qianhuai when they passed Guanshu Village. They got off the car outside Xianhu Village and walked into Xianhu Cave.

This was He Kao's first time here, but the layout of the mountains and rivers in all the major magic sects and grotto heavens was basically the same.

The traces of various artificial constructions in the Immortal Pot Cave Heaven are obviously more numerous than those in the Startling Flower Cave Heaven. After passing through the stone archway with the words "Danqiu" written on it, the traces of that great battle are almost invisible, and the damaged Ancestral Master Hall has been repaired.

In the same location, there is a cave dwelling similar to the Immortal Pot Abode, and all the major sects have set up the Yin-Yang Tai Chi Formation there without prior arrangement.

Qi Nansheng, who was in seclusion in the cave, was not found. Gu Chun went to the Ancestral Hall to oversee things, while Xingrui and He Kao went to the Immortal Pot Abode to take elixirs.

The process was different from, and could not be the same as, Wei Luo's. Both of them were sitting in meditation with their minds and bodies at peace, without any other issues.

Guided by a lucky spell, He Kao completely let go of his physical and mental abilities, behaving no differently from an ordinary person with no cultivation.

He discovered that Xingrui's method of transforming the elixir's efficacy was subtly different from Wei Luo's. This should be due to the difference in cultivation foundation and the cultivation technique, but the final process of circulation and absorption was also very smooth.

He Kao felt this way, but Xing Rui felt extremely surprised. It was her first time taking the pill, and it was with He Kao, whom she was not very familiar with, so she was inevitably a little uneasy.

But the whole process went exceptionally smoothly, far exceeding Xingrui's expectations.

Although He Kao did not display his cultivation level, Xing Rui could not possibly treat him as an ordinary person, otherwise she would not have been able to cooperate so smoothly. This at least shows that the other party's cultivation level is no lower than hers, and his foundation is even more inclusive.

Slowly finishing his practice and opening his eyes, Xingrui couldn't help but ask, "Junior brother, you've actually reached the fifth level of cultivation?"

He Kao: "I managed to pass the test not long ago."

Xingrui asked curiously, "I wonder which secret technique you cultivate?"

He Kao smiled without saying a word, but Xing Rui heard Gu Chun cough in her primordial spirit. She immediately realized that her question was inappropriate and quickly added, "I'm sorry, I was being presumptuous!"

If He Kao Ruo is a secret disciple of an elder, answering this question would be tantamount to hinting at who his master is, and he cannot reveal this without his master's permission.

He Kao smiled and said, "It's alright... Actually, I have also studied and dabbled in the techniques of your Dan Ding Sect, including the special transmission of sword control techniques."

Xingrui: "Oh, Elder Mei taught you, right... What are your plans next, Junior Brother?"

He Kao: "I should go back to work."

Xingrui: "I see that my junior brother has bought a lot of things. Let me drive you to the high-speed rail station."

This time, He Kao used a completely normal mode of transportation to leave Fengwei Township—the high-speed rail. The journey from Hanning to Qiyuan takes nearly eight hours and can be completed in one day.

When he returned to Qiyuan, only a week had passed, but the experience and gains from this trip were indescribable, and it felt like a lifetime had passed.

**
(End of this chapter)