CHAPTER 1035: NOT BAD LUCK

The sudden question caught her off guard.

Seeing the expectant look in Yi Feng's eyes, she could guess the truth.

Yi Feng was merely a Half-Saint, with no traces of Great Dao power emanating from him—his talent was quite limited, and his cultivation would likely never advance further in this lifetime. Having heard of Lanxing's might, it was only natural for him to yearn for it.

People always strive for greater heights; there was nothing strange about that.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Qing Yin Xianyun fixed her gaze on him seriously.

"We are indeed preparing to select talents to be sent to Lanxing for training. But to be honest, your aptitude does not meet the requirements."

"However, if you accompany us on this mission and fulfill your duties as a guide, it would count as a significant contribution. At that time, I might be able to grant you a spot."

Just as Yi Feng was about to speak, the elderly man standing silently at the front suddenly spoke up.

"Trouble ahead! There are traces of demons!"

Qing Yin Xianyun followed his gaze and indeed saw massive shadows flickering within the black mist. Extending her divine sense, she also detected several powerful auras.

She stood up and lowered her head to speak to Yi Feng. "You already know what's at stake, so this journey is of utmost importance. Now that demons have been spotted, we will go to exterminate them. Please stay behind and guard the flying vessel."

With that, three streaks of light shot into the black mist, leaving Yi Feng to watch helplessly from afar.

Lady Qing Yin and the other two were immensely powerful. After a quarter-hour of earth-shaking battle, they returned to the flying vessel in mere moments.

The vessel continued its journey through the endless black expanse.

Unfortunately, the peace didn’t last long.

Less than half a day after resuming its course, the vessel had to stop again for a brief rest. Yi Feng intended to volunteer for guard duty once more and take the opportunity to ask more about Lanxing.

But Qing Yin Xianyun kindly dissuaded him.

"You should rest for a while. This time, let someone else take guard duty."

As she spoke, her gaze flickered toward the young expert.

The youth was eager and stepped forward with a respectful bow, volunteering for the task.

Yi Feng didn’t bother protesting. While slaying monsters could earn him experience, it also made his quest for death more difficult.

So, these things couldn’t be forced—if there were monsters, he’d fight; if not, he wouldn’t.

Time passed, and the sound of snoring gradually filled the air.

But before long, shouts erupted once more.

Rubbing his bleary eyes, Yi Feng saw the young man looking solemn as he roused the other two. The trio rushed off the vessel with grave expressions, engaging in fierce combat before returning moments later.

Likely, they had only encountered some weak demonic creatures.

Yi Feng wasn’t concerned about whether the three "aliens" were exhausted, but being woken up repeatedly was undeniably annoying.

This young expert was overly cautious, raising alarms at the slightest sign of trouble, as if seeing enemies in every shadow. At this rate, sleep would be impossible.

After a brief consideration, Yi Feng turned to the man and spoke.

"Brother, why not let me take guard duty? If demons appear, I’ll call for you to handle them."

The young man glanced at Yi Feng and refused outright.

"No need."

"We’ve ventured deep into the Black Expanse. There’s no room for carelessness. If anything happens, we must respond immediately."

His words were polite, but the underlying meaning was clear—he didn’t trust Yi Feng’s lowly cultivation.

Yi Feng shrugged and didn’t bother arguing.

The vessel continued its stop-and-go journey, with the three taking turns on guard duty.

Except for when the beautiful woman stood watch, Yi Feng was woken up several times. Bored and unable to sleep, he finally spoke up after the third halt.

"How about… letting me keep watch this time?"

The moment the words left his mouth, the two men cast meaningful glances his way.

Their expressions were complicated—not quite disdainful, but still odd.

Their looks seemed to say, "You’re still too green."

In contrast, Qing Yin Xianyun’s words were far more pleasant.

"Let’s continue taking turns. The demons we’ve encountered recently have grown stronger. You should rest too. Later, when we venture deeper to deal with the Star Gate, you’ll need to guard the vessel alone."

Her words were as straightforward as ever, but this time, they carried weight.

At the very least, it was better than those strange, scrutinizing looks.

Yi Feng spread his hands and reluctantly agreed.

"Fine."

This time, the old man took guard duty.

But the brief respite was soon interrupted again.

Before long, the old man called out urgently, and the three charged into battle. It took them a while to return, with Qing Yin Xianyun looking slightly fatigued and the other two panting heavily.

"How are you holding up?" Yi Feng asked casually upon seeing their condition.

"We’re fine. The demons this time were a bit troublesome, but nothing serious," Qing Yin Xianyun replied calmly.

But the other two were struggling, and they couldn’t help but vent.

"Whew…"

"The demons we’ve encountered lately keep getting stronger and more numerous. This journey is truly perilous!"

"Indeed. Thankfully, it was Lady Qing Yin and us on guard. If it had been him, with his mere Half-Saint cultivation, he wouldn’t even have noticed if demons slipped aboard. That would’ve been disastrous!"

The three sat down to meditate, their exhaustion palpable.

After a short while, the two men almost simultaneously volunteered again.

"My lady, let me take guard duty this time."

"My lady, this old one’s cultivation is shallow. Later, when dealing with the Star Gate, we’ll rely on your strength. Allow me to stand guard now."

Qing Yin Xianyun opened her eyes and objected.

"No."

"You’ve both expended much energy in the last two battles. The Black Expanse is strange—you must conserve your strength. I’ll take this shift."

The three argued, their sense of duty shining through in times of crisis.

Meanwhile, Yi Feng kept replaying their earlier words in his mind, his eyes gradually lighting up.

The demons were getting stronger?

Judging by their tense expressions, it seemed true.

This was a golden opportunity—he had to test it himself.

If he succeeded in dying, all the better. At worst, he could send them a message before perishing. If he failed, there was no loss—he’d just gain some more experience.

The more he thought about it, the more motivated he became. Watching the three argue, it almost felt like fate was hinting that the next wave of demons would be overwhelmingly powerful.

Yi Feng suddenly slapped his thigh and declared loudly:

"Enough arguing!"

"This time, it’s my turn! No matter what, I’m taking guard duty!"

His bold proclamation stunned the three.

Never had they imagined that a mere Half-Saint could speak with such conviction.

The two experts looked at him with newfound respect.

Even Qing Yin Xianyun’s eyes flickered with surprise as she quietly observed him.

"Are you sure you—"

Before she could finish, Yi Feng’s resolute voice cut in. "I’m sure."

"Then… very well."

After a long hesitation, considering her subordinates’ exhaustion and the unexpectedly dire situation, she finally relented.

"But remember, we’re deep in the Black Expanse now. You must remain vigilant at all times—caution is paramount!"

She emphasized again, "Above all, prioritize your safety. If anything happens, send word immediately!"

Yi Feng nodded solemnly, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

His spirited demeanor even made the other two regard him with admiration, and they felt a twinge of guilt for their earlier attitudes.

The young man stood and bowed respectfully, his demeanor completely changed.

"Brother Yi Feng, your courage is commendable. I will remember this!"

The old man also stepped forward with earnest advice, his expression warm.

"Young man, it's rare to see such righteous spirit in someone. This old man is deeply grateful! If anything unusual happens, remember to send us a message. As the lord said, your safety comes first!"

"Remember, do not leave the flying boat recklessly, and never engage with the demonic creatures on your own!"

As he spoke, he gently patted Yi Feng’s shoulder.

Not only had his attitude changed, but even his address had become much more familiar.

Yi Feng played along with the mood, responding earnestly.

"Don’t worry!"

As for all the warnings and admonitions…

In one ear, out the other.

Once the three of them had settled down and completely suppressed their auras, $2i Feng finally revealed an eager grin, quietly drawing out his greatsword!

Standing at the bow of the flying boat, he gazed at the shadowy land below.

Unable to resist, Yi Feng leaped into the black mist, immediately diving into a fierce battle. Unfortunately, he encountered no powerful demons—just a bunch of bloated weaklings.

In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, only a few fleeing stragglers remained!

A dark line of sweat slid down Yi Feng’s forehead, his eyes burning with frustration.

What the hell is all this? Where are the powerful demons I was promised?

With a swing of his greatsword, a few more experience points flashed in his mind.

Looking around, the black mist was now eerily still—even more silent than before. There wasn’t a single threat in sight, not even a ghostly shadow.

In this situation, there was no chance of dying.

With no living creatures left, what was the point of keeping watch?

Yi Feng was utterly disappointed, his enthusiasm for hunting monsters completely gone.

Thinking it’d be boring to return now, he decided to head back for breakfast and a quick wash.

Summoning Manman, he blinked back to the village in an instant.

After a simple meal of plain congee and a few sips of bitter wine, he had no appetite at all. Halfway through, he plucked a peach, took a bite, and immediately wore a pained expression!

"Pah!"

"What kind of cursed peach is this? So damn sour!"

When luck turns bad, even cold water chokes you!

Nothing was going right. Grumbling, Yi Feng climbed onto Manman’s back for the return trip, tossing away the half-eaten peach.

He left, but the peach traced a perfect arc through the air.

"Thud!"

Wei Donghai was meditating in his courtyard when he suddenly heard familiar cursing, followed by a dull impact—a half-eaten peach had cratered the ground!

Not an illusion, not a hallucination!

This time, there was solid evidence.

"Senior Yi Feng… Senior Yi Feng has really returned!"

Wei Donghai snatched up the peach and rushed inside, his face alight with excitement. He nearly shoved the peach into Zui Wuya’s face, his eyes burning with vindication.

His frantic, peach-waving demeanor bordered on madness.

Zui Wuya slowly pushed the sour peach aside, then fell into silence.

This time, he didn’t laugh or scold. Instead, his expression turned grave as he watched Wei Donghai’s frenzied state.

"Ah…"

A sigh laden with complex emotions was nearly drowned out by the manic cries.

Back on the flying boat, Yi Feng lay sprawled in boredom, all anticipation gone.

The surroundings were unnervingly quiet, as still as the dead of night.

After an unknown stretch of time, the three awoke one after another. Seeing no disturbances, they couldn’t help but marvel.

Qing Yin Xianyun, for once, had rested properly, her clear eyes free of exhaustion.

All three looked relaxed as they approached Yi Feng.

"Any unusual occurrences?"

The question slipped out, and Yi Feng, still lying on the deck, answered offhandedly.

"Nothing at all."

The young expert was stunned, his eyes widening.

"How is that possible?!"

"Every time we’ve passed through, we’ve encountered powerful demons. Yet you ran into nothing?!"

But seeing Yi Feng’s lazy posture and the deathly stillness around them, $2he young man fell silent, though suspicion lingered in his eyes.

The elder, however, stroked his beard with a sigh of worldly wisdom.

"The path of cultivation is not just about strength—there’s also the matter of fortune. For Yi Feng to remain unharmed without encountering any demons, his luck must be extraordinary. That, too, is a form of power."

"Perhaps his journey in the immortal path will be a long one."

"Only now does this old man understand why he was chosen as our guide. Though the sages of Yunxing may be weak, they possess unique insights."

Hearing this, the young man twitched his lips into a sour smile.

"So that’s how it is."

"No wonder there were no demons—sheer luck. Brother Yi is truly blessed by the heavens, huh…"