Immortality begins with raising apprentices

Chapter 135 If You Don't Come Back, I'll Go Looking for You (Two chapters! 5k words! Please subscribe!)
Yuexi Lake Market Herbal Pavilion.

Under the guidance of Steward Sun, Chen Ye was familiarizing himself with the environment of the medicinal herb garden.

This medicinal garden is much larger than the one he had in Luoli Courtyard, and it has a wider variety of rare and precious medicinal herbs. However, many of these herbs carry a hint of illness.

"Deacon Chen, this purple orchid has been inexplicably curling its leaves lately, and its spiritual energy is gradually waning. Please take good care of it."

Manager Sun pointed to a patch of drooping orchids and said politely.

Chen Ye nodded and was about to step forward to take a closer look when he heard hurried footsteps and shouts behind him.

"Brother Chen! Brother Chen! Something terrible has happened!"

He Qi rushed into the herb garden, breathless and covered in anxious sweat. He didn't care that Steward Sun was there and grabbed Chen Ye's arm.

"Brother He? What brings you here?" Chen Ye's heart tightened when he saw his appearance.

"Brother Chen," He Qi gasped for breath, his face extremely pale, "your...your two precious disciples are currently being hunted down by a large group of rogue cultivators in the Misty Forest!"

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye frowned.

Misty Forest? What kind of place is that?
How did Qingjun and Zhiwei end up there?

His first reaction was disbelief: "Brother He, are you sure you're not mistaken? My two disciples should be at the Luoli Courtyard of the Lingyin Sect right now, how could they be here at Yuexi Lake Lane?"

He Qi was stunned: "Really not?"

Chen Ye nodded: "Absolutely impossible!"

"Two girls, one with black hair and one with white hair. The girl with black hair is calm, while the girl with white hair is lively. Brother Chen, these... these look too much like your two disciples. Never mind, perhaps I'm just being redundant."

He Qi was a little embarrassed.

He thought Chen Ye owed him a huge favor, but it turned out to be a complete misunderstanding.

"and many more……"

Chen Ye pondered the matter deeply, but ultimately remained somewhat uneasy.

Even though he knew in his heart that it could never be his disciple.

It's better to be safe than sorry!

Oh well, at worst I'll just consider it a wasted trip.

Chen Ye immediately cupped his hands to Steward Sun and said, "Steward Sun, I have urgent business to attend to in the Misty Forest. Please postpone the matter of the herb garden for one day!"

Seeing his anxious expression, Manager Sun didn't press him further and could only nod in agreement.

Chen Ye did not rush out as recklessly as before.

He is now at the seventh level of Qi Refining and is also a steward of the Lingyin Sect. He no longer needs to act solely on impulse as before, and he has already acquired his own resources.

He pondered for a moment and said to He Qi, "Brother He, please wait here for a moment, I'll be right back!"

After saying that, he turned around and hurried towards the top floor of the Herbal Pavilion.

He remembered Li Qiuyun saying that there was also a Foundation Establishment True Person from the Lingyin Sect guarding Yuexi Lake Ward.

Chen Ye is no longer the same as before. With his status as a deacon of the Lingyin Sect and his "friendship" with Bai Susu, he can still persuade a Foundation Establishment True Person to come after paying a certain price.

There's no need to beg for help like before.

"These two little girls... even in the Lingyin Sect, I still can't rest easy about them."

Chen Ye was helpless, but he was more afraid of the worst-case scenario than the most likely one.

However, it is absurd to ask a Foundation Establishment cultivator just for this one possible scenario.

But what could he do? These two girls were his disciples...

Before long, Chen Ye invited the Foundation Establishment True Person stationed at the Herbal Pavilion, named Protector Ning He.

The status of Yuexifang is far higher than that of Yunxifang. There is a Foundation Establishment True Person in the Herbal Pavilion here.

"Be good..."

When He Qi saw the old man following behind Chen Ye, his eyes widened instantly.

This Brother Chen of his is truly remarkable; a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he invited him just like that…

……

Outside the Misty Forest, miasma churned, and a restless atmosphere permeated the air.

Ning Hufa initially didn't think much of it when he came with Chen Ye.

If this person hadn't spoken so confidently about his close relationship with Bai Susu, he wouldn't have bothered coming at all.

"wrong?"

As soon as Protector Ning stepped into the forest, he abruptly stopped, his gaze flashing like lightning as he looked into the depths of the dense woods, and said in a deep voice:

"There are fluctuations of fighting ahead, and... it's the aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator! Hmm... is this the Myriad Manifestations Sword Technique?!"

The Myriad Manifestations Sword Technique is an inner sect sword technique of the Lingyin Sect.

This means that there are Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Lingyin Sect fighting against others inside!
"The Myriad Manifestations Sword Technique?" The Lingyin Sect disciples traveling with him were also surprised.

"Wait here, I'll be right back!"

After leaving those words, Protector Ning's figure blurred, and he transformed into a streak of light, shooting towards the direction of the battle's fluctuations.

"..."

Chen Ye cursed under his breath.

Did the old man just leave like that?
What was the point of calling him over?
He was extremely anxious and cupped his hands in greeting to his disciples: "Fellow Daoists, may I go ahead? My disciple is probably in grave danger..."

The leading disciple said expressionlessly, "Deacon Chen, we apologize for any offense. We came with Protector Ning, who instructed us to wait here, so we cannot act rashly."

Another round-faced disciple hesitated, "Senior Brother Xu, this... we were originally here to help Deacon Chen rescue people, and Deacon Chen's disciples are also members of our Lingyin Sect. Why don't we go in with him first..."

Senior Brother Xu glanced coldly at the round-faced disciple without uttering a word.

But before he could speak, other disciples began to murmur, "He's just a steward, why should we help him when his disciples won't see him?"

"Yes... If Protector Ning hadn't called us here, who would want to come to this wretched place?"

The round-faced disciple heard this and wanted to retort, but dared not speak.

They are all of the same kind!
The Lingyin Sect is not a demonic sect; it has always advocated mutual assistance among fellow disciples, whether they are stewards or disciples...

At this moment, Chen Ye was too lazy to argue with his disciples. He had already activated his Qi Concealment Technique, and his figure disappeared into the thick miasma like a ghost.

In fact, Chen Ye could even understand them; they simply didn't want to take risks for others.

"Damn it... I might as well ask Li Qiuyun for help."

……

"Why is Qingjun so unlucky...?"

The little girl wiped away her tears, looking aggrieved.

She felt like the world was against her!
Either her bad master is bullying her, or her bad mother-in-law is trying to capture her, and now someone else has their eyes on her precious child!

It's as if even God hates her!

But Qingjun still intends to forgive God, after all... no matter what, now her master no longer bullies her, but treats her very well.

The two girls were back to back, surrounded by a dozen or so unfriendly rogue cultivators.

After all, even with the best of luck, they couldn't withstand a carpet-bombing encirclement; they could only buy some time.

The eyes of these rogue cultivators gleamed with greed and ruthlessness as they stared intently at the two girls, or more precisely, at the pair of flying swords in their hands, which shimmered with spiritual light.

"Brother, what if these two little girls...maybe they really have some powerful background?"

A slightly timid rogue cultivator whispered to the scarred man at the head of the group.

"Otherwise, how did they obtain these second-tier flying swords?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of hesitation flashed in the eyes of the scarred man.

Second-tier flying sword magic weapons are rare even among Foundation Establishment cultivators, so their appearance in the hands of two Qi Refining stage girls is indeed strange.

Before he could speak, a weasel-faced cultivator next to him sneered:
"What kind of background? In my opinion, this flying sword must have been obtained by luck from some secret realm! Have you ever seen a girl with a background go out without some kind of protective means left by her elders? Like high-level talismans or protective magic artifacts? Ha, these girls are different. Apart from this pile of conspicuous magic treasures, they can't even produce a decent talisman. Isn't this just courting death?"

What he said made some sense. If someone truly had a powerful background, why would their elders only give them magical treasures and not protective items?
"Don't talk nonsense!" Qingjun's face turned red with anger at the weasel-faced cultivator. She gripped the Xiaohan Sword tightly and mustered her courage to shout, "If you dare to hurt us, my master will never let you get away with it!"

"Master?"

Upon hearing this, even the monkey-faced cultivator was slightly taken aback, and a sense of unease arose in his heart.

Could there really be some powerful figure behind these two girls?
The scarred man's eyes flickered, and he asked in a deep voice, "Oh? Who is your master? Tell us, and perhaps we'll recognize him and spare your lives for his sake."

Upon hearing this, Qingjun immediately puffed out her little chest, her face full of pride and joy, and announced in a clear voice, "My master is amazing! He's the best cook! He's also the most skilled plant master in the world! And the best storyteller in the world!"

"..."

An eerie silence fell over the scene. The group of rogue cultivators were first taken aback, exchanging bewildered glances, and then burst into deafening laughter.

"Hahaha! A cook? A plant master? And a storyteller? Little girl, are you kidding me?"

"My goodness, in all my years of wandering the cultivation world, this is the first time I've ever heard of such a... such a powerful master!"

"Has this little brat been scared out of her wits?"

"Once we get the treasure, we'll go find your chef and ask him to cook us a delicious meal! Hahahaha!"

Laughter rose and fell, filled with disdain.
Qingjun's fair face turned bright red with anger: "You're not allowed to talk nonsense! My master is indeed very powerful!"

Zhiwei remained calm as she looked around at the scattered cultivators: "My master is a cultivator from the Lingyin Sect."

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Lingyin Sect!
These three words were like a boulder thrown into the center of a lake, causing the expressions of all the rogue cultivators present to change.

However, the eldest girl did not believe that these rogue cultivators would stop; on the contrary, she became even more vigilant.

The scarred man's face twitched a few times, filled with apprehension but also with ferocity.

He exchanged a glance with the monkey-faced cultivator, and they both saw the same resolute determination in each other's eyes.

"So what if it's the Lingyin Sect?" the weasel-faced cultivator sneered first. "This is Yuexi Lake Town, far from the emperor's reach! If we kill you and seize your magic treasures, we can simply flee to the territory of the Wan Kui Sect, or even escape to the Qi Kingdom! No matter how far the Lingyin Sect's reach is, it can't extend there!"

"That's right!" the scarred man said fiercely. "Such immense wealth is right before our eyes, how can we give it up for some unknown Lingyin Sect disciple? Brothers, let's attack! Let's finish this quickly, lest things get complicated!"

These rogue cultivators were already desperate criminals; the allure of second-tier magic treasures and the potential existence of secret realms had long since made them disregard life and death.

The threat posed by the Lingyin Sect is indeed terrifying, but compared to the enormous benefits at hand, it is not unbearable.

"I never imagined that Master would be so amazing in Qingjun's eyes..."

Just as tensions were about to rise, a panting man squeezed through the crowd of rogue cultivators on the periphery.

He was still covered in dirt and grass, his clothes were a little disheveled, fine beads of sweat were seeping from his forehead, and his chest was heaving violently; he was exhausted.

"Master!"

Zhiwei and Qingjun exclaimed in surprise at the same time.

Looking at his two disciples, especially Qingjun's words of protection, Chen Ye was filled with mixed emotions, but a slightly gratified smile appeared on his face.

Immediately, his face darkened, and he glanced at the surrounding rogue cultivators who were eyeing him menacingly, gritting his teeth as he said:
"When we get home, Master will show you that Master's most powerful skill is actually whipping meat!"

"Woo!!"

The quick-witted Xiaoqing understood immediately.

Where is the whip stir-fried with meat? It's clearly whipped with green ginger!
The little girl trembled with fright.

But upon seeing her master's broad and kind back, the little girl suddenly froze.

As long as Master is by my side, it seems... there is an endless sense of security.

……

Chen Ye wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling relieved.

Fortunately, when He Qi mentioned the two girls before, he secretly kept an eye on the movements of the rogue cultivators.

These rogue cultivators were indeed heading in this direction, allowing him to find his two disciples effortlessly.

His gaze shifted to the rogue cultivators, and his voice suddenly turned cold: "Fellow Daoists, I am a deacon of the Lingyin Sect. I advise you all that Protector Ning of the Lingyin Sect is currently not far from this Misty Forest. Do not make a mistake that cannot be undone!"

Upon hearing this, the rogue cultivators who had been itching to act indeed hesitated for a moment.

Foundation Establishment True Person? This is not someone that Qi Refining stage cultivators like them can afford to offend.

But the scarred man and the monkey-faced cultivator exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with ruthlessness.

"Haha, kid, are you trying to fool us?" the weasel-faced cultivator sneered. "If there really is a Foundation Establishment cultivator here, why haven't we seen him? I think you're just bluffing!"

“That’s right!” the scarred man chimed in. “If he were really here, why would he send a mid-stage Qi Refining steward like you to risk your life alone? I bet that master has already left!”

They were already blinded by the rumors of second-tier magic weapons and secret realms, and were unwilling to give up easily.

Moreover, we have already offended the Lingyin Sect. If we let the tiger return to the mountain, there will be endless troubles in the future!

"Since that's the case, then we're going to have to offend him to death!" The scarred man's eyes flashed with ferocity. "Brothers, let's charge forward! Kill this old bastard first, then grab those two girls!"

The dozen or so rogue cultivators started making a ruckus again, their various magical artifacts flashing with spiritual light, clearly indicating they had no intention of letting things go peacefully.

Chen Ye's heart sank, knowing that today's matter could not be resolved peacefully.

He glanced at his two pale-faced disciples behind him and whispered, "Zhiwei, Qingjun, hold on tight to your master! Let's break out!"

He cannot linger in the fight; he must first get his disciple to a safe place!
Before he finished speaking, he had already launched the first attack. His Geng metal energy, which had broken through the limits, roared out from his fingertips like a swarm of golden bees, rushing straight towards the few rogue cultivators at the front!
At the same time, he grabbed Zhiwei and Qingjun's slender waists, pushed his heavy body technique to the limit, and stepped out with his Cloud Chasing Step, his figure rushing towards the weakest point of the encirclement like a ghost!
"Stop him!"

The rogue cultivators were caught off guard by Chen Ye's daring attack, and their formation was momentarily disrupted. Two or three of them were even riddled with holes by the Geng metal energy.

However, they outnumbered him and quickly reacted, unleashing a barrage of spells and magical artifacts upon Chen Ye.

Chen Ye was caught in a precarious situation, struggling to protect his disciple in his arms, fending off attacks from all sides, and searching for an opening to break through. He was in grave danger.

"boom!"

The Heart-Protecting Jade emitted three light shields in succession before finally being exhausted.

At the same time, a "poof!" sound was heard.

A sharp blade of energy sliced ​​through his arm, and blood instantly stained his sleeve.

This seems to be a signal.

Then, one spell after another rained down on him.

Blood splattered onto the two girls' fair faces.

"Master!" Qingjun exclaimed, her small hands tightly gripping Chen Ye's clothes.

Zhiwei suddenly stretched out her hands and hugged Chen Ye's waist tightly, wanting to use her tender back as a shield for Chen Ye.

"Silly girl..."

Chen Ye gritted his teeth. Fortunately, although the Heart-Protecting Jade had failed, another protective shield, which was also of the first-grade superior quality, was actually more useful in this situation.

Ignoring his injuries, he forcefully activated his spiritual power and the small shield. At the same time, he released a burst of Geng metal energy, forcing back several rogue cultivators in front of him. Finally, he led his two disciples out of the encirclement.

only……

There are many more rogue cultivators in the Misty Forest than just this group!
Chen Ye remembered clearly that on the way here, there were two or three cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining in groups!
He dared not linger for a moment, carrying his two apprentices, and desperately fled into the depths of the dense forest.

After running for an unknown amount of time, until the shouts of the rogue cultivators behind him gradually faded into the distance, Chen Ye finally found a cave hidden by a boulder and staggered down to put his two disciples down.

He leaned against the cold stone wall, panting heavily, his face as pale as paper.

The sleeve of his left arm was already soaked in blood, and a deep, bone-revealing knife wound ran from his shoulder to his elbow, the flesh turned outwards, a gruesome sight.

In addition, he had several wounds of varying depths on his back and legs, all caused by the aftershocks of spells or fragments of magical artifacts during his breakout.

If it weren't for the two first-grade high-quality protective magic artifacts, even if Chen Yezhong's body technique realm broke through two more levels, he would have died from the torrential rain of spells!
"Master, you...you're injured? Don't die, Master!"

With a sob in her voice, Qingjun's small hands trembled as she tried to touch Chen Ye's wound, but she didn't dare.

She wasn't afraid of bloodshed, but rather worried about hurting her master.

Master was so badly injured, but she and her senior sister... were completely unharmed.

"It's okay... I won't die."

Chen Ye took out a Rejuvenation Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it without hesitation.

The pill melted instantly upon entering the mouth, and a warm current flowed throughout the body, relieving the pain of the wound and reducing the dizziness caused by blood loss.

He leaned against the stone wall, regulated his breathing for a moment, and then said to his two disciples, "You two stay here and don't go anywhere. Master will go out and hold them off."

We just need to delay a little longer.
Currently, Protector Ning is fighting against another True Person from the Lingyin Sect.

Once they finish fighting, all the trouble will be resolved!

"No. Master, you're so badly injured..."

The two disciples objected in unison.

Chen Ye noticed their worry and suddenly smiled mysteriously:
"Don't worry, Master is actually immortal. I've never died, have I? As long as you still need me, I am immortal."

Qingjun sniffed, forcing back tears, and said:

"Master, even at this point, you're still spouting nonsense! Qingjun and Senior Sister haven't died! Then Qingjun is immortal!!"

Zhiwei wiped away Qingjun's tears, her dark eyes fixed on Chen Ye, and said, word by word:

"Yes, I believe you, Master. I will believe whatever you say, even if it's a lie."

"I'll wait here and not go anywhere. If you don't come back, I'll come looking for you."

(End of this chapter)