Mortal: Li Feiyu, who came from the realm of a supreme being

With the map provided by Jia Ding, Li Feiyu and Han Yunshu quickly determined their location.

Only now did they truly appreciate the complexity of this mountain range. Its branches intertwined, deep valleys were everywhere, and the vegetation was dense and similar; without clear guidance, it was easy to get lost while walking through it.

After searching for a while, they found no suitable ready-made cave. As noon approached, the two stopped in a clearing in the woods by the stream, lit a campfire, and cooked dry rations and game they had hunted along the way, as a form of rest.

After the meal, the two did not rest, but instead began to study the basic spells they had acquired that day.

For Li Feiyu, the operational routes and incantations of these low-level spells were almost effortless. His past life's Celestial Immortal realm remained intact; understanding such basic spells was like a college student looking at elementary arithmetic—it was instantly clear.

Han Yunshu's learning progress was much slower.

Although she is a martial arts prodigy who is rare in a century, having mastered all nine orifices and opened her ancestral orifice in just over four years, and possessing spiritual perception and learning abilities far exceeding those of ordinary people, magic is ultimately a different power system, focusing more on the refined external release of spiritual energy.

It's normal for one's initial performance not to be as impressive as that of martial arts.

However, with her strong mental control and precise grasp of her own power, and with Li Feiyu's brief guidance, she successfully mastered the basic application of the "Object Control Technique" after about an hour, and was able to initially control the banana leaf flying artifact.

"Come on, give it a try," Li Feiyu gestured.

Han Yunshu took a deep breath and, following the incantation, channeled her magical power into the banana leaf beneath her.

The pale blue leaf trembled slightly, then glowed with a soft, ethereal light, lifting her shakily off the ground. She wobbled a little at first, but quickly regained her balance, slowly circling and rising and falling within a few feet of the ground.

An unprecedented sense of novelty and excitement seized her.

Even though his martial arts skills had become increasingly refined and his movements were as swift as the wind, the feeling of being grounded was completely different from the sensation of being detached from the earth and floating in the air. The sky seemed within reach.

She looked up at the blue sky cut off by the tree canopy, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Li Feiyu looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips. He then smoothly lifted another banana leaf into the air.

As his feet finally left the ground, a long-lost feeling, a mixture of freedom and nostalgia, quietly welled up inside him. Perhaps it was because his mortal body had been reforged and his power was meager, but he suddenly clearly remembered his past life. The first thing he did after advancing to the Outer Realm was to fly freely in the sky of the Realm for a full eight hours.

The wind howls, the clouds flow, the world is vast and boundless, there is no more restraint... that is the ultimate joy of breaking free from constraints.

Unfortunately, my cultivation level is still shallow, so I can only rely on this lowest-grade flying artifact and can only fly at low altitudes, thus experiencing a much weaker version of the feeling of "flying".

After getting used to it, the two finally said goodbye to relying on their own two legs to cross mountains and valleys.

Although the speed of the banana leaf is only slightly faster than that of an ordinary horse, and continuous flight consumes a lot of mana during the Qi Refining stage, its advantage of ignoring terrain is simply too great.

Mountains and ravines flashed by.

After consulting the map, Li Feiyu decided to first go and check out the treasure-hunting location that Jia Ding had mentioned.

The two rode their magical artifacts forward, soaring over the mountains.

While passing by a rather large lake, I was attracted by its unique shape.

The lake's outline resembles a clear, giant footprint, imprinted amidst the surrounding mountains. The map labels the place as "Ruyu Lake," but makes no mention of its footprint-like shape.

"Like jade? This shape... isn't it a foot?" Han Yunshu asked in confusion.

Li Feiyu did not answer. Although jade feet are still jade, he would not comment on them until he saw the owner of the large feet.

As they surveyed the area, their gaze was drawn to the chaotic aftermath of a battle by the lake. A fierce fight had clearly taken place there; large trees were broken, the ground charred, and large patches of dark brown blood had long since dried.

Based on the age of the traces and the location where Jadin mentioned hunting the "Ironclad Bear," this place is very likely the battlefield.

"It seems Jia Ding wasn't lying; the battle was indeed fierce." Li Feiyu glanced at the battlefield and pondered, "Since they successfully seized the spirit herb, even if that demon beast isn't dead, it must be severely injured, and perhaps it hasn't fled far yet."

He had a sudden thought: "Since it's on the way, why not go and take a look? A wounded second-tier demon beast is a treasure trove. Hunting it and taking it to the market to trade would be a good 'gift' for our first visit."

Han Yunshu had no objection. The two lowered their altitude and searched the vicinity along the traces of battle and lingering scents.

About an incense stick's time later, they found their target in a shady, rocky ravine.

It was a giant bear, comparable in size to a small elephant, covered in thick, dark blue scales, but now its scales were shattered in many places, and its aura was weak. It was the level-two demonic beast "Ironclad Berserker Bear". It sensed the uninvited guests, struggled to its feet, its bear eyes bloodshot, staring intently at the two people in the air, letting out a low growl that was a mixture of pain and rage.

"It's indeed badly injured, but its ferocity hasn't diminished," Li Feiyu assessed. "Yun Shu, you take the lead in the attack, and I'll provide support from the sidelines. This is a good opportunity for us to hone our skills in actual combat."

"Yes, Brother Li!" Han Yunshu's eyes narrowed, she put away the banana leaf, landed lightly, and faced the raging bear.

Li Feiyu landed on a distant boulder, standing with his hands behind his back, his aura seemingly locking onto the battle situation.

Although the armored bear was severely injured, its instincts remained. Sensing hostility, it immediately stood up on its back, waving its giant paws and lunging forward, bringing a stench to the air!

Han Yunshu dared not take the blow head-on. With a light tap of her toes, she unleashed the "Treading the Moon, Leaving Fragrance" technique, her figure gliding like the wind through the gaps between the bear's paws. With a backhand strike, she slapped the edge of the bear's cracked scales on its ribs. The force of her palm penetrated, causing the bear to roar in pain, and the blood from its wound flowed faster.

It grew increasingly ferocious, striking repeatedly with both palms, causing the ground to tremble. Han Yunshu relied on her exquisite agility to maneuver around it, constantly searching for an opening. Although she had all nine orifices open and her true energy was abundant, conventional palm and finger techniques had limited effect against the thick-skinned monster.

Li Feiyu transmitted his voice: "Use weapons. The 'Eight Slashes of the Mad Dragon' technique is fierce and powerful, suitable for dealing with such a powerful demonic beast. The long sword in the storage bag can be used for now."

Upon hearing this, Han Yunshu quickly retreated and took out a long, sheathed sword from her storage bag. The blade was narrow and long, with a cold edge; although it was not a legal weapon, it was tough enough.

She took a deep breath and recalled the sword technique. Her calm nature did not fully match the wild and unrestrained spirit of the "Eight Slashes of the Mad Dragon" technique, so she only mastered two or three moves as offensive means when necessary.

In the blink of an eye, a decision was made.

The bear pounced again, but Han Yunshu did not retreat. Instead, she advanced and accelerated forward. Just as she was about to collide with the bear's paw, she skillfully dodged and drew her long sword. The bright blade flashed as it slashed diagonally upwards at the bear's armpit and ribs!

The blade sliced ​​through the damaged scales, leaving a trail of blood. The bear roared in pain and swung its paw. Han Yunshu had already used the momentum to spin around, the blade following her body, delivering a simple horizontal slash that precisely struck the forearm joint, causing the bear to pause in its movement.

With a solid foundation in swordsmanship and powerful, heavy strikes, combined with the agility of "Treading the Moon and Leaving Fragrance" and the inexhaustible, powerful true energy within her inner world, she maintained a balanced offense and defense, gradually suppressing the raging bear.

Li Feiyu nodded slightly. Han Yunshu's comprehension and practical adaptability were indeed outstanding.

After a brief struggle, the bear's injuries worsened, its breathing became unsteady, and its movements sluggish. Han Yunshu seized the opportunity, leaping back several meters to create distance.

She gripped the hilt of the sword tightly with both hands, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground, her eyes closed and head tilted back. Her aura was restrained, as if she were one with the long sword, exuding a deep and powerful sharpness.

Li Feiyu's eyes brightened slightly: "You used that trick? You certainly know how to choose your timing."

Han Yunshu slowly spun around herself, her speed gradually increasing, causing her robes to flutter. She seemed to be gathering some kind of momentum, her figure and the sword blurring into a spinning top. At a certain moment, reaching the top, she suddenly exerted force with her feet, propelling herself and the sword skyward!

At its highest point, it paused slightly, then its eyes snapped open, blazing with a sharp light. All the power of rotation, the soaring momentum, and the condensed true energy and a portion of its magical power were poured into the blade!

The next moment, she gripped the sword with both hands and plummeted straight down from the sky with resolute grace! The blade whistled through the air, transforming into a vertical beam of energy that slashed down fiercely at the head of the slightly bewildered armored bear below!

This is precisely the move of "Mount Lu remains unmoved, yet a sword mark remains"!

This strike brought together most of the power she could muster at that moment, and it was also her first attempt to combine lightness skill, mental techniques, sword moves, and the magic power she had initially mastered in actual combat!

The bear instinctively sensed a deadly threat, roared, and raised its wounded arms to block, its remaining demonic power surging to the top of its head.

"cut!"

The blade's energy clashed violently with the bear's arm!

With a deafening roar, shockwaves rippled outwards, sending dust flying everywhere.

As the dust settled, the massive body of the armored bear stood frozen in place, its arms hanging limply at its sides. A deep, gruesome gash ran from its head to its chest, exposing bone, from which blood gushed. It stared in despair before collapsing to the ground with a thud, twitching a few times before falling silent.

Han Yunshu landed gracefully, leaning on her sword, panting. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her face was slightly pale. That last strike had taken a heavy toll, but her eyes shone brightly. This battle had given her a new understanding of how to utilize her own power.

After catching her breath, she asked doubtfully, "Brother Li, is this the second-tier demonic beast that Jia Ding and the other four attacked? Even though it's heavily injured now, I still need to use all my strength to deal with it. With their late-stage Qi Refining level strength, it seems unlikely that they could directly confront this beast at its peak."

Previously, she had no clear concept of the strength comparison between cultivators and demonic beasts. Now, having experienced it firsthand, even though the demonic beast was seriously injured, its defense, strength, and ferocity left a deep impression on her.

Jading's group doesn't seem capable of taking down this beast head-on.

Li Feiyu thought for a moment and explained, "The way cultivators fight is different from how martial artists fight; it's not all about brute force. Magical artifacts, formations, talismans, elixirs, spirit beasts... and so on are all means to an end, so the outcome of a fight is often highly unpredictable."

He pointed to the old, bluish-black wounds on the monster's corpse, showing signs of muscle atrophy: "Take a closer look at these. I suspect that Jia Ding and his men most likely used poison, or some kind of insidious talisman or formation that could weaken the monster's spiritual power and physical strength, to significantly weaken it before launching a siege. Even so, they probably paid a price."

"If you were to fight a Foundation Establishment cultivator in a confined space of ten zhang square, there's a 99% chance that the cultivator would die at your hands. But if you were in an open area, and the opponent could take to the air using magical artifacts and attack from a distance with spells and artifacts, you would only be able to flee, putting you at a significant disadvantage," Li Feiyu summarized. "This is the difference between the systems, and it's something we currently need to compensate for using immortal techniques before reaching the Outer Realm."

Han Yunshu pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "I understand. Although we have the advantage of close combat, cultivators will never give us a chance to fight in close combat. Only land-based demonic beasts will confront us head-on. So, if we could create conditions that restrict cultivators' ability to fly..."

"The idea is good, but it needs to be considered carefully. Let's focus on the present first." Li Feiyu put away the monster's corpse.

Without further delay, the two ascended into the air once more, heading towards the market town of "Suspended River Valley".

As dusk fell, following the map, they flew into a deep valley nestled between two steep cliffs.

The valley is flat, with a winding stream and numerous wooden houses, stone houses, and several exquisite pavilions built along the mountains and water. Scattered lights, carrying faint fluctuations of spiritual energy, illuminate the valley. Figures move about at the valley entrance, and the sounds of conversation can be faintly heard.

This place is undoubtedly the market town of Xuanhe Valley.

However, when Li Feiyu looked down from the air at the layout of the entire valley, the naturally narrow "One Line Sky" pass at the entrance, and the locations of several scattered boulders and ancient trees in the valley, his brows furrowed deeply.

He'd seen this place before!

About three years ago, when he first attained enlightenment, the evil cultivator surnamed Xu whom he killed possessed a jade tablet containing a map of this market town. However, the map also depicted some of Yunzhou's iconic landforms, which did not match the market town of Xuanhe Valley at all.