Chapter 571: Battlefield of the Boundary Sea |
The two quickly arrived at the mountainside, where there was a square, with two grand halls on either side.
On the slopes of the mountain on both sides were many cave dwellings, clearly for the disciples here to cultivate in.
"Senior Sister Xu, someone is here to see you."
This person called out towards one of the pavilions.
Ning Qi looked over curiously, not saying anything, just quietly watching the pavilion ahead.
"Coming!"
Soon, a long-unheard voice came.
It was precisely Xu Qingqiu's voice.
She came down from the pavilion, first seeing her junior brother,
Ning Qi at this moment wore a smile on his face, looking at her.
"Ning Qi!"
Xu Qingqiu exclaimed in surprise, her pretty face filled with disbelief.
She never expected that after so long, she could actually meet Ning Qi again.
He had even found his way to her sect.
"Long time no see!"
Ning Qi's face also broke into a bright, brilliant smile.
"Miss Xu!"
Pill Spirit was also hopping excitedly on his shoulder.
Extremely happy.
"Pill Spirit."
The first to call his name wasn't Xu Qingqiu, but the Nine-Tailed Cat.
Although they hadn't spent much time together, they had missed each other.
Seeing the Nine-Tailed Cat, Pill Spirit flew straight over.
Then began hopping around on the Nine-Tailed Cat's body.
"How did you find your way here?"
Xu Qingqiu looked at Ning Qi, her pretty face still wearing an expression of disbelief.
"What, are you not welcoming me?"
Ning Qi said with a smile.
"Of course I welcome you, how could I not!"
Xu Qingqiu quickly agreed, then proactively invited, "Come on, let's go up and talk."
"Alright!"
Ning Qi agreed.
"Junior brother, thank you for your trouble!"
Before leaving, Xu Qingqiu didn't forget to thank the Myriad Swords Sect member who had just escorted them.
"Senior sister, no need to be polite, I'll take my leave then!"
The man clasped his fists and then followed them away.
Ning Qi followed Xu Qingqiu directly up to the pavilion.
This was clearly where she stayed, with some ancient books and similar texts placed on shelves inside.
"You usually stay here?"
Ning Qi looked at the classics here and couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Yes, this month is my duty shift!"
Xu Qingqiu nodded, then continued asking, "You still haven't answered me, how did you find your way here?"
"You told me yourself, so I just found it."
Ning Qi smiled, describing a very complicated matter in a very casual, understated way.
"Thank you, for still remembering to come see me!"
Xu Qingqiu naturally knew the process couldn't have been that easy.
"Why be so polite."
Ning Qi smiled, then continued, "We are friends. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to you back then, I haven't even apologized yet."
"No, it was me who didn't say goodbye to you!"
Xu Qingqiu corrected him, then asked curiously, "By the way, how did you get out?"
"That place was already sealed back then, I waited for you outside for a long time."
"Unfortunately... a Distorted Monster was about to attack, I had no choice but to leave."
"I was taken as an Immortal Race inheritor by an old monster inside."
"Then he forced me to cultivate for a very long time. When I came out, I found everyone had already left."
"Later, after I came out, I couldn't find you either, so I relied on my memory and came to your realm."
Ning Qi said in a torrent of words, "Eventually, I inquired about where you were, and then I came."
He similarly simplified a very complex process.
Xu Qingqiu could naturally hear the meaning behind his words.
"So that's how it was, I was worried you were sealed inside!"
Xu Qingqiu breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "You must have had a hard journey. Let me take you to taste some of our delicacies here!"
"These are delicacies only immortals can enjoy, you'll definitely like them."
"Oh? Then I must taste them, to see if they're as miraculous as you say."
Hearing her words, Ning Qi couldn't help but become curious.
"I want to eat too!"
Pill Spirit, hearing their conversation, immediately started hopping around.
The Nine-Tailed Cat said from the side, "Still such a glutton, huh."
"Of course, who would turn down good food!"
Pill Spirit didn't mind at all, coming over to Xu Qingqiu's side, "Then let's hurry up and go, I really feel hungry now."
"Alright, let's go!"
Xu Qingqiu gently patted Pill Spirit, then looked at Ning Qi, "Let's go."
"Let's go!"
Ning Qi didn't hesitate either. After agreeing, he followed her directly, heading downstairs.
After reaching the lower floor, they didn't head down the mountain, but continued upwards.
They soon reached the mountain peak, then without stopping, continued down the other side.
This way, they essentially arrived directly at the back mountain of the Myriad Swords Sect.
Reaching the foot of the mountain, Ning Qi looked at the scene before him and couldn't help but feel refreshed and invigorated.
Immortal herbs and exotic flowers were everywhere here. On one side was a dense forest, and further ahead were lush green spirit vegetables.
This place was clearly deliberately cultivated by someone, arranged in an orderly fashion.
Further ahead were several residences.
"These residences are the dwellings of the elders."
"The innermost valley is where our Grand Elders live, all in cave dwellings."
"And do you see that mountain peak opposite?"
Xu Qingqiu began introducing things to Ning Qi.
"Hmm, I see it. Is there something special about it?"
Ning Qi glanced forward and asked curiously.
"Right, that's the residence of our core disciples."
"It's also the mountain peak where they cultivate. Our Sect Master and several guardians cultivate and reside up there."
"In the back mountain of their peak, there's also a place like this, just even better than ours."
Xu Qingqiu began to explain, "My master lives in the residence right ahead."
"Oh? So that means I have a chance to meet your master?"
Hearing her words, Ning Qi couldn't help but ask with a smile.
"Yes, I'll take you to meet my master."
"And, by the way, treat you to our delicacies in his residence!"
Xu Qingqiu said with a smile.
Ning Qi could tell that she and her master had a very good relationship.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to bring others to his residence so casually.
These were definitely places where these elders cultivated, not somewhere people could just come and disturb them.
Ning Qi followed her all the way to the entrance of the residence.
They smoothly walked inside.
He then discovered that there were actually formation restrictions in this courtyard.
But with Xu Qingqiu leading the way, they naturally weren't triggered.
"Master!"
As soon as Xu Qingqiu entered, she called out.
"Little junior sister, Master has gone out."
A young man came out at this moment and said.
"Senior brother, where did he go?"
Xu Qingqiu asked.
"He went to the opposite mountain. The Sect Master summoned him, said there was something important to discuss."
The young man pointed towards the peak Xu Qingqiu had just introduced to Ning Qi.
"Oh? Went to discuss matters."
"That's a shame, we'll have to eat by ourselves then."
Xu Qingqiu nodded, then said to Ning Qi, "Come on, I'll take you to the kitchen in the backyard. You're in luck today, I'll cook for you personally."
"Alright! Then I must taste your culinary skills."
Ning Qi happily agreed, showing an expectant look.
"I want to eat too!"
Pill Spirit said from behind.
"Junior sister, who is this?"
The young man looked at Ning Qi, examining him curiously.
This person looked very unfamiliar, so he asked curiously.
"Senior brother, this is the Ning Qi I told you all about, the one who saved me several times!"
Xu Qingqiu looked at the young man and proactively introduced him.
"Ah? So you're Ning Qi! Pleased to meet you!"
Hearing it was Ning Qi, the young man proactively greeted him.
"Senior brother, sorry to disturb you."
Ning Qi was also very polite.
"Not at all! You saved my junior sister several times, we haven't properly thanked you yet!"
The young man waved his hand, then continued, "You go ahead and eat, I have some matters to attend to!"
"In the evening, I'll gather a few of our senior and junior brothers, and we'll go out to a restaurant to express our gratitude to you."
"Senior brother, that's really not necessary. My coming here is already a disturbance, how could I let you treat me?"
Ning Qi waved his hand.
He never expected them to be so polite.
"Nonsense! You are the savior of our junior sister, this is what we should do!"
The young man insisted, continuing, "It's settled then, you must come. I'll take my leave first."
"Senior brother, take care!"
Xu Qingqiu waved with a smile, then patted Ning Qi, "Come on, let's go to the backyard."
"Miss Xu, your senior brothers are really enthusiastic!"
Ning Qi followed her, saying with a smile.
"Yes, we are all very united."
"Compared to other elders, our lineage is the most friendly!"
Xu Qingqiu said very seriously, "So, we all cherish our brotherly bond with each other."
"Alright, understood!"
Ning Qi nodded, then followed her further into the backyard.
They soon arrived at the backyard.
"Alright, you handle the fire. You need to use internal energy to burn it, otherwise these spirit vegetables won't cook properly."
Xu Qingqiu began assigning tasks to Ning Qi.
"Alright!"
Ning Qi didn't hesitate either, agreeing immediately.
Xu Qingqiu began bustling about. The Nine-Tailed Cat and Pill Spirit weren't idle either, helping out together.
For a while, the few of them were happily busy.
They soon prepared a table full of dishes.
Four dishes and one soup, a mix of meat and vegetables.
Looking at the delicious, aromatic, and visually appealing feast, Pill Spirit had long been drooling.
"Wow, it looks so delicious!"
Pill Spirit rubbed its hands together, already a bit impatient.
"Then let's start eating, don't stand on ceremony."
Xu Qingqiu said with a smile.
At the same time, she didn't forget to put food in Ning Qi's bowl, "Try this, it's venison. We brought this back from the Immortal Realm."
"Oh? You can go to the Immortal Realm?"
Hearing her words, Ning Qi immediately became interested.
"Yes, our Sect Master has Peak Celestial Immortal strength."
"Every three years, he goes to the Immortal Realm once!"
"Each time he can bring back many rare treasures."
"These spirit deer were all brought back by him. We raise them in pens on the back mountain."
Xu Qingqiu said very proudly, "In our realm, our Sect Master's strength is the strongest, unrivaled."
"Oh? Peak Celestial Immortal strength is the strongest?"
Hearing her say this, Ning Qi immediately became even more interested.
If that was the case, then wouldn't his own strength also be a peak existence in this realm?
"Right, you just arrived, so you probably don't know yet!"
Xu Qingqiu nodded, then put a piece of meat in his bowl, "When there's a chance, I'll take you to meet our Sect Master, then you'll know."
"What about the strength of your Grand Elders? And your guardians?"
This instead became something Ning Qi was interested in.
"They all have Celestial Immortal strength. The two guardians also have Ninth-Grade Celestial Immortal strength."
"It's said our Sect Master has already reached Half-Step Golden Immortal strength."
Xu Qingqiu thought seriously for a moment and told Ning Qi.
"They are all very strong!"
Ning Qi said with emotion.
Compared to their True Martial Spirit Realm, this was indeed not on the same level.
The few people from their realm only had True Immortal strength. Placed in the Myriad Swords Sect, they would only qualify as ordinary elders.
They wouldn't be qualified to be Grand Elders at all.
"Come, eat!"
Xu Qingqiu began urging Ning Qi to eat.
"Alright!"
Ning Qi stopped overthinking and began to eat heartily.
The two ate with great relish. Pill Spirit and the Nine-Tailed Cat also ate very happily.
"Stay with us for a few more days, I'll show you around properly!"
Xu Qingqiu said enthusiastically while eating, "Let you see the mountains, rivers, and local customs here."
"Alright, I'd like to learn more about it!"
Ning Qi agreed immediately. He actually wanted to see the strength of their Myriad Swords Sect.
"That's great! Let's finish eating quickly, I'll take you tomorrow!"
Hearing he would stay for a few more days, Xu Qingqiu was immediately overjoyed.
"By the way, besides your Fang Sword Sect, what other sects here have decent strength?"
Ning Qi was also very interested in this.
He wanted to see exactly how big the gap in strength was between the True Martial Spirit Realm and this Lower Realm.
"There are two other sects."
"Their strength, although not as good as ours, also has several experts with Celestial Immortal strength."
"If we wanted to fight them head-on, we would suffer losses."
"Moreover, we actually don't dare to fight head-on. If a fight gets serious, they will join forces."
"If we defeat one faction, the other faction will also take the opportunity to ambush us."
"In short, this tripartite balance of power situation is not easily broken."
Xu Qingqiu talked non-stop to Ning Qi, "We all understand this well, so there are generally few conflicts, and we mostly coexist peacefully."
"I see, no wonder there are so many experts here."
"If there are no conflicts, naturally no one falls, so strength just keeps increasing."
"But there's also one thing: your people probably lack practical combat experience, right?"
Ning Qi thought of something and asked curiously.
"Where did you get that idea? Not at all!"
Xu Qingqiu shook her head, refuting, "Every year, people from the Immortal Gate conscript a batch of people from here to go to the Realm Sea battlefield!"
"Those people have experienced countless battles, crawling out from piles of corpses!"
"Each one is a seasoned veteran!"
"Oh? There's a Realm Sea battlefield?"
This was the first time Ning Qi had heard of this place, and he immediately became curious, "What kind of place is that? Is it very dangerous?"