Immortality: Starting with a grave, I'm invincible when burying corpses.

Qingxi grabbed her hand and walked excitedly down a path. "Come with me, I know a place with really nice scenery."

Qingxi took Muling'er to a small lake halfway up the mountain. At an altitude of over a thousand meters, there was a small, emerald-green lake, a truly rare sight.

When the two arrived, it was just before sunrise. The mountains were always shrouded in mist in the early morning, with the morning fog that had accumulated overnight spreading through the mountains, making it possible for ordinary people to see only about ten meters.

Fortunately, both of them were newly promoted Celestial Martial Saints, so they could naturally see the world under the thick fog.

The swirling mist, the hazy green mountains, and the small lake shrouded in thick fog made Mu Ling'er think she had stumbled upon some kind of paradise.

"This lake is called Alchemy Lake. Legend has it that our first patriarch of the Qiyun Sect once refined elixirs here. On the day the elixir was completed, heavenly lightning struck, forcefully splitting this lake into existence..."

"Of course, these are just rumors. The first patriarch of Qiyun Sect was a figure from three thousand years ago. He was probably just an ordinary land immortal, not as powerful as the Five Elements True Lord, and he couldn't refine a pill that could attract heavenly lightning."

Hearing Qingxi praise Mu An's abilities, Mu Ling'er's face visibly lit up with joy. She looked around and nodded repeatedly.

"Great, great, this is it!"

Seeing Mu Ling'er so satisfied, Qing Xi also laughed out loud. She found a relatively suitable place to dig a hole and started digging with Mu Ling'er.

As they dug, Qingxi looked up at Mu Ling'er again and reminded her.

"This is, after all, the territory of our Qiyun Sect. If you want to hide something, Miss, you'd better tell the sect leader first, lest a disciple accidentally dig it up."

As she spoke, Qingxi glanced at Mu Ling'er with a half-smile.

The double entendre made Mu Ling'er freeze in her hand holding the shovel. She dug for a long time before replying, "I'll just visit your sect."

The subsequent developments were uneventful, just as Mu Ling'er had predicted.

Once Mu An's name was brought up, everything became boring.

As always, they were treated with the utmost respect and the highest level of hospitality, but all they did was offer fake smiles.

The only difference is that she and Qingxi fought again at the Qiyun Sect's martial arts arena.

This time, Qingxi deliberately gave in, but in front of many disciples, she was brutally beaten by Mu Ling'er and ended up begging for mercy on the spot, losing face in the process.

After the martial arts competition, Mu Ling'er's expression turned sour; she felt she had been tricked.

Beating up Qingxi used to be something that made her very happy, but now it's become meaningless. She would rather beat her in private and get her revenge than have someone deliberately let her have her way.

But Mu Ling'er didn't ask any more questions; she just sulked to herself.

The night before they left Qiyun Sect, the two sat together on a rock on a cliff and drank.

Under a sky full of stars, another strange question arises, another similar joke.

"You promised to do me a favor, are you still keeping your word?"

"Tell me what you need my help with first."

"Let me be your personal bodyguard."

The moonlight, like water, made Qingxi's already fair face even more beautiful.

Mu Ling'er did not agree, but instead asked, "Why?"

Qingxi didn't answer. Instead, she stood up, opened her arms, shouted into the mountains, and then sat down again under Mu Ling'er's gaze that looked at her like she was a fool.

"Forget it, never mind. Being your bodyguard is never a good thing. I'll probably be nitpicked every day."

Mu Ling'er glanced at her sideways, and mimicking Qingxi's manner, she also called out towards the mountain.

"Ahhhhh—"

……

"What are you yelling about in the middle of the night! Can't a person get some rest?!" ×n

……

"Pfft—" x2

Amidst bursts of laughter, Qingxi took Muling'er's hand.

"Aren't you going to ask me why?"

"My dad once told me that in this world, there are many chance encounters, and when you make friends, there's no need to ask too many questions. Everyone has their own story, so just cherish what you have..."

Qingxi laughed even louder, shaking Mu Ling'er's hand incessantly.

"I'm becoming more and more envious of you. I have some things to do tomorrow, so I won't be able to see you off."

The voice paused, becoming even more ethereal.

"Let me tell you in advance, we'll meet again someday."

Looking at the female swordsman under the moonlight, Mu Ling'er smiled and clasped her hands in greeting.

"We'll meet again someday!"

"If you're really having trouble, you can come find me in Qishan Road. At most, I'll just beat you up. I'm not interested in nitpicking..."

Qingxi clutched her stomach and laughed heartily, nodding vigorously as she laughed.

"Fine! If I can't make it here, I'll come find you in Qishan Road. Just remember not to slap me in the face then..."

……

The next day, Mu Ling'er continued south, carrying a pile of gifts from the Qi Yun Sect.

Although she has successfully broken through to the Celestial Martial Saint realm, her most important goal has not yet been achieved.

Qingxi didn't come to see her off, and Mu Ling'er didn't seem to care much.

Everyone has their own life and their own things to do.

She was able to break through thanks to Qingxi's help, and Mu Ling'er acknowledged Qingxi as a friend.

He genuinely wanted to give Qingxi a good beating; she was petty and would definitely retaliate if she got beaten up.

But one thing is one thing, wanting to beat up Qingxi doesn't affect her making this friend.

If Qingxi explicitly asks her for help, she will naturally do her part. Qishan Dao is tolerant enough and doesn't mind having one more trouble or provoking another force.

Mu Ling'er believed that as long as her Da'an made a trip, all the troubles would be resolved.

He didn't even need to leave; the mere mention of the name of the Five Elements True Lord was enough to terrify most people.

But since Qingxi herself hadn't figured out her own feelings, she naturally wouldn't say anything more.

Now, Mu Ling'er is preparing to travel south to Changzhou, the southernmost city, to visit the Datong Academy founded by Zhuang Sheng and to see the teacher who left a deep impression on her during her childhood.

Over the years, she and Zhuang Sheng occasionally exchanged letters, but they never had a face-to-face conversation.

She also wanted to discuss some ideas with Zhuang Sheng.

If Datong Academy is truly beneficial to the development of Qishan Road, she wouldn't mind opening several academies in Qishan Road.

Perhaps we could give Zhuangzi a communication stone so that we could discuss political matters.

Of course, this is on the premise that Zhuangzi's philosophy is truly suitable for the Qishan Dao, rather than being as far-fetched as some of Mu An's ideas.

While it may inspire longing, it is not suitable for this era.

Managing a large area is never an easy task.

……

"Don't be afraid, it won't hurt. It's just that you've lost your mouths. Don't worry, I'll send you back to the embrace of heaven and earth soon."

The five divine lights shone brightly in the forest. In front of the six cultists whose mouths had disappeared, Mu An stared intently at their faces, his expression extremely focused.

"Sure enough, scrubbing the arms and thighs is the easiest, but scrubbing the mouth and other areas is much more difficult."

"Huh? How did you all die so suddenly?"

"That shouldn't be happening. It's just missing a mouth, how could it be dead? Did I use too much soap and brainwash you all?"

Amidst the whispers, the five divine lights soared into the sky, returning the corpses of the six cultists to the heavens and earth.

The figure in white strolled leisurely southward.

"Never mind, anyway, there are cultists everywhere in the south now. We'll just arrest more next time and try to be able to do whatever we want as soon as possible."

"Speaking of which, the little girl seems to be heading south too. I wonder where she's planning to go..."