Celestial Official!

Ten days have passed in a flash.

Since the day Yan Chen and Chen Fayan agreed to go to the vast desert together, he has stayed on Xiangzhi Mountain, focusing on cultivation and improving his skills.

However, life is not static.

Aside from cultivation, in his spare time he would occasionally instruct the chubby girl on how to absorb qi and ingest the primordial energy of heaven and earth.

Strangely enough, the chubby girl had clearly never been involved in cultivation before, yet she seemed to possess a remarkable wisdom. No matter what the incantation was, whether simple or difficult, she could learn it immediately, which greatly surprised Yan Chen.

If it weren't for the Jade Sleeve Sect's prohibition against privately transmitting its lineage, coupled with his own Bing Fire Dao, it wouldn't be very compatible with it.

Yan Chen might really teach her the "Crimson Glow Bright Light Control Technique".

"Now that I think about it, could the 'golden boy and jade girl' beside Senior Sister Zhu, like that chubby girl, be some kind of innate being transformed?"

After pondering for a moment, Yan Chen nodded secretly, acknowledging the guess.

"If there is an opportunity in the future, I may ask Senior Sister Zhu for some advice."

Just then, the chubby girl came running over, holding a letter in her short hand.

Yan Chen raised an eyebrow and asked in confusion:

"What is this?"

The chubby girl rushed upstairs, still out of breath, her face flushed, and said:

"Sir, someone has delivered a letter to you!"

Yan Chen took it and opened it. With just one glance, his expression already understood.

It turned out that this letter was sent by someone entrusted by Chen Fayan.

The letter stated succinctly—

This trip to the Vast Desert involves stewards from all three valleys, making it a significant undertaking. Now, the stewards of the Melting Gold Valley have all gathered and agreed to meet in front of the Flame Pavilion in three days to embark on their journey to the Vast Desert together.

After carefully putting away the letter, Yan Chen instructed the chubby girl:

"Three days from now, I will be leaving for a while."

"Stay here and focus on practicing the Qi-gathering method I taught you. Don't be playful. When I return, I will test you. Do you understand?"

Upon hearing that Yan Chen was leaving, the chubby girl immediately pouted, tears welling in her eyes, but she forced a smile, revealing her naive and simple nature.

He nodded and said:

"Okay... I understand. I'll wait here for Master to return, and I won't go anywhere!"

In the past two months, the chubby girl who was transformed from the ginseng had already developed a special dependence on Yan Chen, so it was naturally hard for her to part with him suddenly.

Yan Chen shook his head and chuckled, then pinched her chubby cheeks to comfort her:

"This trip won't last too long. If nothing unexpected happens, it will take at least ten days and no more than a month before we can return."

After saying that, he took out paper and pen, wrote two words on the paper, and handed it to her.

"Master, what is this?"

"If you find your spiritual practice tedious, you can copy these two characters in your spare time. When you can imitate them to about 80% similarity, I will return."

"Sir, I can't read..."

The chubby girl pouted even deeper.

"I'll teach you when I get back."

Yan Chen laughed heartily, flicked his sleeves, and stepped out of the bedroom.

……

……

Three days later, outside Yanxuan Palace.

A streak of fire pierced through the clouds and fog, a lightning bolt sweeping across the sky, approaching from afar.

On the flying shuttle, Yan Chen's crimson robe fluttered in the wind, his sideburns flying. His gaze swept across the scene and he saw several familiar figures who were already waiting there.

"It seems I'm late."

He chuckled softly, slowly pressed down the escape light, and landed on a flat, open field.

He immediately leaped down, lightly flicked his sleeves, and the flying shuttle instantly transformed into a thin stream of light, which he then collected into his sleeve.

Only then did he stride forward, bow to the crowd, and then look at the leader, speaking with a smile:

"I hope I haven't kept you all waiting too long?"

Chen Fayan, still dressed in a cloud-colored Taoist robe and carrying a long sword, smiled slightly upon hearing this, seemingly unconcerned, and said:

"Several junior brothers and sisters have not yet arrived, so Junior Brother Yan's arrival is just in time."

Having said that, she turned slightly to the side, making room for him.

"That's good."

Yan Chen raised his eyes and swept them over the crowd. Where his gaze fell, he saw Wang Fu and several stewards he had dealt with before.

They secretly marveled at Senior Brother Chen's extensive network of connections, while outwardly nodding in acknowledgment.

He then walked over to Chen Fayan's side and stood there without saying a word, closing his eyes to rest.

After a few breaths, Chen Fayan suddenly spoke:

"Judging from Junior Brother Yan's demeanor and actions, his cultivation seems to have improved again?"

Yan Chen opened his eyes and nodded in response:

"Half a month ago, I was fortunate enough to open up Yang Prefecture and have completely stabilized my Qi Refining Level 3."

Chen Fayan suddenly realized, and sighed deeply:

"I've heard that Junior Brother Yan's journey has been quite arduous. He started as a mortal servant, yet within a few months he reached the third level of Qi Refining and was promoted to a steward. You can imagine the hardships he endured."

Upon hearing this, Yan Chen looked at Wang Fu behind him and saw him give an embarrassed smile, about to explain.

Chen Fayan immediately said:

"It was on my brother's orders that I asked a few more questions. Please don't take offense, Junior Brother Yan."

Yan Chen smiled nonchalantly and said frankly:

"The path of cultivation is inherently fraught with difficulties and detours. Looking back now, I feel only感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion) and there is nothing unbearable to say about it."

Chen Fayan was slightly taken aback, then shook his head, admitting his inferiority:

"Junior Brother Yan's Daoist heart is so profound, I admire him greatly!"

"You're too kind, senior brother."

Yan Chen didn't say much, but raised his eyebrows and looked into the distance. Seeing this, everyone looked in the same direction.

Then, amidst the swirling clouds, a dark shadow appeared, which soon emerged from afar, revealing a majestic flying boat.

The ship's side was billowing with huge sails, billowing in the fierce wind. In the center stood a three-story building with upturned eaves and corners, its undulating shape resembling a mountain ridge. At first glance, it looked like a mountain peak flying down from the clouds!

Chen Fayan's eyes flickered slightly, and he smiled:

"Junior Sister Lu truly keeps her word; she actually borrowed a Cloud Platform Flying Boat!"

A young disciple asked:

"Senior Brother Chen, what is the Cloud Platform Flying Boat?"

Chen Fayan explained:

"The so-called flying boat, like the land boat and the flying shuttle, is nothing more than a means of transportation, but it combines the advantages of both, being able to fly and cross, which is quite convenient."

"The vast desert is located at the border of Nan Zhuo and Bei Mang, thousands of miles away. Without a flying boat, it would take many days to travel back and forth."

"Fortunately, Junior Sister Lu comes from the Yuanding Lu Clan and has her own connections. Otherwise, with our status as stewards of the Three Valleys, we would not be qualified to ride the flying boat at all."

As they were talking, the flying boat landed slowly a few feet away. Chen Fayan immediately stepped forward to greet her, and the words "Junior Sister Lu" were about to slip out of his mouth.

However, a middle-aged man in white robes stepped out of the flying boat first. With his hawk-like nose and hawk-like eyes, he did not seem like an easy person.

"Fourth level of Qi Refining?"

Chen Fayan frowned slightly. Such cultivation was rare even among the Three Valleys.

He was about to ask.

Then Lu Jinhuan jumped down from the flying boat, glanced at the middle-aged man in white robes with slight impatience, and then introduced him:

"Senior Brother Chen, this is an elder of my Yuanding Lu clan. Hearing that Junior Sister was going to the Great Desert, he was worried about her and insisted on accompanying her... I hope Senior Brother will not take offense."

"I am Lu Sheng of the Lu family, and I greet all the esteemed disciples of the Jade Sleeve Sect!"

The middle-aged man in white robes gave a slight bow, his tone somewhat dismissive.

"In that case, I'm afraid it's somewhat illegal."

Chen Fayan frowned slightly and said seriously.

Lu Jinhuan also felt her cheeks burning, and couldn't help but whisper:

"Third Uncle, why don't you go back? Jin Huan has her senior brothers to look after her, she'll be fine!"

Lu Sheng waved his hand and said:

"My dear niece, what are you saying? You are the apple of the Lu family's eye. Even if I promised you you wouldn't go to that vast desert, your third brother, who is cultivating in the Eight Veins, would never agree!"

After speaking, seeing that Chen Fayan's expression changed slightly, he put on a smiling face and said amiably:

"Rest assured, my esteemed disciples of the Jade Sleeve Sect, my sole purpose in coming here is to protect Jin Huan; I have no other concern myself with anything else!"

Chen Fayan sighed inwardly, but there was nothing he could do but agree.

……

……

Before long, the sails of the Cloud Platform Flying Boat billowed, enveloped in layers of rosy light, and disappeared among the drifting clouds.