Immortality begins with raising apprentices

Chapter 184 Pampered Sister Qingzhu
He didn't know how much time had passed before he slowly opened his eyes when the first rays of dawn shone on his face.

I felt a heavy weight on my chest, as if something was pressing down on it.

Chen Ye looked down and saw his eldest disciple, who was wrapped tightly around him like an octopus, using both hands and feet.

"This little girl usually sleeps peacefully with Qingjun, but why does she act like a little brat when she sleeps with me?"

Chen Ye was helpless. He suspected that his disciple was trying to strangle him while he was sleeping!
Lu Zhiwei is so wicked!!
Chen Ye was angry and wanted to poke her fluffy head with his chin, but he was worried about waking his disciple, so he had to suppress his desire to punish her.

at this time,

The little girl was resting peacefully on his chest, her long, flowing black hair cascading over the bed, with a few strands playfully clinging to his chin, tickling him slightly.

But I must say, having an apprentice by my side makes sleeping so much better...

I haven't slept this soundly in a long time.

no way,
Who can blame him when his eldest disciple is so soft and fragrant, even the world's finest body pillows can't compare!
Looking at his eldest disciple's unguarded and peaceful sleeping face, Chen Ye reached out, intending to gently brush away the strands of hair that were pressed against his cheek.

"Ok?"

Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat. He noticed that the long, butterfly-wing-like eyelashes of the little girl in his arms trembled almost imperceptibly.

He quietly stopped his outstretched hand and carefully examined the little girl.

Uh……

Chen Ye noticed that the little head buried in his chest was rubbing against his robes with an extremely subtle motion.

He coughed once: "Cough... Could it be that the girl has woken up?"

The next moment, the slightly trembling eyelashes froze instantly.

Her breathing, which was originally steady, was deliberately made to be longer.

However, in Chen Ye's view, wasn't this just a case of protesting too much?

This girl has probably been awake for a while now.

No wonder Chen Yefang dreamed that in the dark abyss, a pair of terrifying eyes were staring at him when he fell asleep.

It seems that it was his wicked disciple's eyes that were the source of this!
Chen Ye didn't point it out, but instead used his languid voice from just waking up to mutter to himself:

"Sigh, my eldest disciple is so adorable even when he's asleep. But his drool is all over my robes...tsk tsk, Zhiwei's drool must smell pretty bad, right?"

He stretched out his finger and mischievously pinched his eldest disciple's tightly pursed lips, deliberately showing disdain.

"Wow, there really is saliva in it..."

"No way! When Zhiwei woke up, there was definitely no drool!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the fluffy little head that had been pretending to be asleep could no longer hold back and suddenly lifted its face.

Zhiwei's pretty little face was full of embarrassment and anger.

"Oh?" Chen Ye found it even more amusing. He stretched out his hand and showed it to Zhiwei.

The fingertips were wet and slippery; if it wasn't saliva, what could it be?
"me……"

Zhiwei felt both ashamed and angry at her master's shameless appearance.

This is clearly from when Master pinched her lips just now!

Wei knew perfectly well that no matter how she explained herself to her master, this shameless scoundrel, it would be useless!
She could only bury her face in her master's chest again, muttering to herself:

"Qingjun is right."

"?" Chen Ye was bewildered.

"Master is a bad guy, a really bad guy!"

Chen Ye chuckled, the warm sunlight shining on his face, and he couldn't help but rub his disciple's head.

At this moment, the morning light is just right, and life is peaceful.

……

Playing with my apprentice is certainly relaxing.

But ultimately, the important matter is what matters most.

An hour later.

Near the mouth of Linsong Valley.

Chen Ye, accompanied by his newly appointed guard Duan Ling, escorted a carriage loaded with various spiritual plants and a large quantity of common herbs produced by Lin Song Valley this month, out of the mountain protection formation.

Although it is the cultivation world, large storage bags are very expensive, and only the middle and upper levels of sects can afford them.

As for this small Linsong Medicine Valley, they could only use twenty low-grade storage bags to put the spiritual plants in according to their categories.

Even so, twenty low-grade storage bags alone cost six hundred spirit stones.

What's more, considering the spiritual plants inside?

Chen Ye estimated that the goods were worth around 2,400 spirit stones.

Two thousand four hundred spirit stones can buy a decent magic weapon.

Not to mention Duan Ling, even Chen Ye was somewhat apprehensive.

If anything happens to this carriage, he'll lose his head!
“Deacon Chen…this…this is the first time I’ve ever served as a guard for such valuable cargo.”

Duan Ling rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, completely focused, staring intently at his sword.

Despite his meticulous and composed demeanor, cold sweat trickled down his temples.

Chen Ye reassured him, "Fellow Daoist Duan, don't panic. This carriage is a special vehicle of the Lingyin Sect, and it is equipped with seven or eight formations of various sizes. Unless a Foundation Establishment cultivator comes, with the two of us working together, no one can seize this carriage."

Normally, at this time...

Both were managed by two managers from Lin Song Valley, who were at the late stage of Qi Refining, one at the eighth level of Qi Refining and the other at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

In addition, five disciples at the mid-stage of Qi Refining accompanied them, and still, no accidents occurred.

The previous lineup seemed impressive, but Chen Ye was confident that he and Duan Ling together would be no less powerful than the former Lin Song Gu team.

What truly worried Chen Ye was something else entirely.

“Deacon Chen…”

Duan Ling glanced at Chen Ye silently. He saw that Chen Ye was holding a sword in one hand and saying "Don't panic" but he seemed more panicked than Duan Ling.
He couldn't help but ask:

"Then why is Deacon Chen being so cautious? Could it be that..."

Chen Ye thought for a moment, then made no attempt to hide anything and told him the truth: "Fellow Daoist Duan, you must be careful on this trip. I think there is a high chance that someone will come to steal the spiritual plants."

"A spirit-destroying plant?" Duan Ling was taken aback.

Linsong Valley is located on the edge of Taoshanfang, near the Sanqian Mountain.

It takes about half a day to get to Taoshanfang, and a lot of the journey is through deserted areas, making it seem like an easy place to be spotted.

But this is a spiritual plant of the Lingyin Sect, who would dare to steal it?

Duan Ling was nervous simply because the goods were too valuable, which is only natural, not because he was worried about someone robbing the goods.

"Yes. As the saying goes, money can move people's hearts. Think about it, the two experienced stewards of Lin Song Valley have both left. The only ones guarding this spiritual plant are me, a newly promoted spiritual plant master from a rogue cultivator, and you, a young inner disciple. Who wouldn't want to rob it when they see it?"

Chen Ye gave a rather serious explanation.

Seeing Duan Ling's "Are you overthinking this?" expression, he could only smile and didn't explain further.

He knew that what he was saying did sound somewhat alarmist.

However, it's not appropriate to discuss the Wei family matter openly.

The Wei family is also a cultivation family of the Lingyin Sect, and it seems that he has only had conflicts with Wei Cheng.

If he says the Wei family is coming to steal the spiritual plant...

If this were to get out, it would inevitably have a negative impact.

He wasn't familiar with Duan Ling, so he couldn't say it outright.

In short, the result is the same whether you speak or not, so Chen Ye naturally prefers to speak less and make fewer mistakes.

Besides, the Wei family might not even come...

But Chen Ye always believed that caution is the best policy.

The carriage entered the main road that led to Taoshanfang, the only way to get there.

On both sides of the road are ordinary peach orchards so dense that they seem to stretch as far as the eye can see.

It's the height of summer, a time when cicadas chirp and birds sing, a time of great liveliness.

But today, it seems...too quiet.

"Someone actually dared to rob us! There must be a powerful expert nearby, their hidden spiritual power has startled the ordinary birds and beasts!" Duan Ling's heart skipped a beat, and his grip on the sword hilt tightened instantly. He quickly released his divine sense, vigilantly scanning his surroundings, but apart from the peach tree swaying in the wind, he found nothing else.

"Just someone passing by?" he muttered to himself.

"Fellow Daoist Duan, don't panic... Eight people have arrived. Hmm, two are at the eighth level of Qi Refining, and one is at the seventh level of Qi Refining."

Chen Ye's calm voice came from beside him.

Compared to Duan Ling, his divine sense was exceptionally powerful.

A quick scan revealed all eight individuals.

"So they really did come..." Chen Ye sneered.

He never thought of running away. If he had to consider the threat from the Wei family at every turn, then the business in Linsong Valley would not be able to proceed.

It wouldn't be right to tell the sect without any evidence that he was worried someone would steal the spiritual plants, and therefore he wouldn't send them out, would it?

"What?! Eight people?!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Ling's expression changed drastically!
As an inner disciple with the cultivation level of the eighth stage of Qi Refining, he was about 80% confident in a one-on-one fight.

But now, the opponent has as many as eight people, including two at the eighth level of Qi Refining and one at the seventh level of Qi Refining!
This lineup is more than enough to devour the two of them alive!
And this Deacon Chen beside him...

Duan Ling glanced at the man beside her, a bitter taste in her mouth.

His admiration for Chen Ye's spiritual plant cultivation techniques does not mean he believes in Chen Ye's combat abilities.

How can a cultivator who focuses solely on spiritual plants possess outstanding combat power?
It seems we can't count on him for a magical duel.

It seems that today, I can only rely on myself!

"Deacon Chen!"

Duan Ling took a deep breath, stepped forward, shielding Chen Ye behind him, and said in a deep voice,
"You stay safely inside the carriage, activate its defensive array, and notify the sect! I, Duan, will handle these petty scoundrels outside!"

He just finished speaking.

Suddenly the clouds burst open, and several black stones crashed down from the sky!
On the stone, there were even runes that shimmered with an earthy yellow light!

"It's a rockfall talisman!" Duan Ling's expression changed again. "They came prepared! These talismans are specifically designed to counter the defensive formations of our sect's carriages!"

as predicted!

"Boom—! Boom—!"

The several massive boulders, each weighing tens of thousands of kilograms and formed from talismans, slammed heavily onto the light array of the carriage!
The seemingly indestructible light barrier, under the bombardment of the boulder, emitted a series of teeth-grinding cracking sounds, its light dimmed instantly, and the entire carriage began to shake violently!
"Not good!" Duan Ling was terrified. He knew that this defensive formation wouldn't last long!
Just then, eight figures dressed in black with their faces covered by veils leaped out from the peach grove and surrounded the entire carriage!

"Attack!" The leader of the men in black seemed to know that things might get complicated if he waited too long. Without saying a word, he pointed his long sword and slashed fiercely at the two of them!

"court death!"

Duan Ling roared, and his long sword was drawn from its sheath, transforming into a sharp sword light as he headed towards the leader of the men in black.

But at that moment, a light that was faster, sharper, and brighter than him flashed past him.

That was a flash of sword light.

A sword light so fast it was almost impossible to see with the naked eye!
"puff--"

A very faint sound of flesh being pierced rang out.

The leader of the men in black, who was charging forward, suddenly stopped.

In disbelief, he looked down and saw a gaping hole in his chest, a hole that seemed to have appeared from front to back.

The afterimage of an ivory-colored flying sword lingered faintly on his chest.

"How...how..."

He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but ultimately collapsed to the ground, powerless.

Until his death, he never saw how the sword light was unleashed.

And it was at this very moment!

"Boom——!"

A thunderous explosion finally arrived, resounding loudly on the silent official road!
Quiet.

Deathly silence.

The men in black, who had initially come with great momentum, all stood frozen in place, staring in horror at the blue-robed steward who hadn't moved an inch, but had simply put a flying sword into his sleeve.

Are you kidding me?
Is this a cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining?

"This is... the thunderous sound of sword energy!"

Duan Ling was an inner disciple and had always been familiar with the realm of sword energy and thunderous sound.

This is the first realm of sword intent. Don't underestimate it just because it's only the first realm. Anyone who can comprehend sword intent is a prodigy!

His face immediately lit up with wild joy!

Therefore, with Deacon Chen around, his life is safe!

"What are you standing there for? Go!"

Chen Ye said irritably, instantly pulling Duan Ling, who was still immersed in shock and ecstasy, back to reality.

"That leader is just a Qi Refining Level 7 guy. The other two, who knows where they're hiding, like cowards, at Qi Refining Level 8."

Although he spoke lightly, he was secretly suffering in his heart.

His lightning-fast sword strike just now, though seemingly effortless, actually consumed most of his spiritual energy!
After all, he was only a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining. Forcibly activating a second-tier magic weapon and unleashing such a flying sword technique containing sword intent would have consumed a great deal of energy.

If it weren't for his master-level Evergreen Technique, which gave him spiritual power far exceeding that of other cultivators at the same level, he wouldn't have been able to unleash a single sword strike!
He originally intended to kill one of the eighth-level Qi Refining cultivators first, but since he had never used sword intent in combat and was unaware of its power, he killed the leader first.

However, those two were really sneaky, letting the seventh level of Qi Refining lead the way while they hid in the crowd.

"promise!"

Duan Ling let out a long roar, and the long sword in his hand transformed into a sharp blue rainbow as he charged towards the group of black-clad men who were already terrified!
In an instant, sword light flashed everywhere, and blood and flesh flew everywhere!
Those men in black were already terrified by Chen Ye's "Sword Qi Thunder Sound" technique. Now, facing Duan Ling, an inner disciple with an imposing aura, they had no will to fight left.

In just a short while, he had killed one of them!
Two people in the crowd exchanged a glance and, without the slightest hesitation, immediately began to use their escape techniques to flee in two different directions!

of course,

They knew that Chen Ye was only at the Qi Refining stage, and it would be difficult for him to continue using such a powerful flying sword.

But they were just killing for someone else, so there was no need for them to take that risk.

In the world of cultivation, only by seeking absolute certainty can one survive and prove the Great Dao.

But one man sought even greater security than they did:

"Trying to escape? Sister Qingzhu, I'm begging you."

Sister Qingzhu? Who is that?
Duan Ling was chasing after the fleeing ordinary men in black when he couldn't help but glance around.

But deep within this peach grove, apart from the swaying shadows of the trees, there was no one else around.

But the next moment,
A pink peach petal, without warning, drifted gently down from the forest.

Then, the second piece, the third piece...

In an instant, a shower of flowers filled the sky!

A figure in green robes appeared amidst the falling peach blossoms, descending silently from the sky.

Her long, black hair was loosely tied up with only a simple, antique jade hairpin.

At the tip of the hairpin, a point of cold jade light flickered and faded.

Just like the gaze of a young girl—only Chen Ye knew she was a young woman.

"Uh..." Chen Ye rubbed his temples.

I must say, these big dumplings and little dumplings really do look alike. They both love to put on an act, making a special appearance by showering peach blossoms, right?

But this scene really stunned everyone else.

Even Duan Ling was mesmerized.

Mao Qingzhu stretched out her slender, jade-like hand and gently pressed it down in mid-air towards the two men in black who were trying to escape.

"boom--!"

A powerful pressure belonging to a Foundation Establishment cultivator suddenly descended!
The two Qi Refining Level 8 cultivators, who had already escaped dozens of feet away, were forced to the ground by the terrifying spiritual power that descended from the sky, unable to even let out a scream. They coughed up blood and were unable to move.
Duan Ling stared blankly at the miraculous scene before him.

Then he glanced at the stunningly beautiful woman who had quietly flown to Chen Ye's side, her face even showing a hint of doting affection.

"Am I too late? These people scared Yedi..."

　Thank you to StrugglingMotivation for the generous donation of 1933 coins!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)