CHAPTER 35: ZHUGE JINGWO’S ASSISTANT

Zhuge Jingwo, as the eldest disciple of Xuanzhenzi and one of the four major disciples of the Emei Sect, possessed commendable Daoist cultivation and martial skills.

His innate qualifications were not good, relying solely on a calm disposition and a resolute character, diligently accumulating knowledge slowly, thus his Daoist technique foundations were extremely stable. Not long ago, he had refined the Mysterious Sect’s top Invisible Sword Energy of the Emei Sect, and although it was only slightly successful, it already possessed tremendous power. With the help of his master, he had also materialized the Invisible Sword.

When he made a move, the Invisible Sword Energy shot through the air chaotically, and the main body of the Invisible Sword itself moved back and forth with unmatched sharpness, stronger than Shi Feiyang’s White Light Sword.

The swordsmanship of the Emei Sect was an orthodox approach of the Mysterious Sect, with movements that were broad and total, advancing and retreating with precision, upright and grand, the intensity of which completely depended on one’s own skills. A powerful person wielding it was like an unstoppable force.

In comparison, Wei Fengniang’s Heavenly Mountain Swordsmanship was grand and beautiful, as described in the Heavenly Book Supplement. Both emphasized quirky and dangerous tactics, seizing opportunities for quick glory. If facing someone weaker, they could end the fight effortlessly within a few moves; against someone like Zhuge Jingwo, however, if they couldn’t secure an early victory, they would soon be overwhelmed.

All the swordsmanship Shi Feiyang had learned was from unconventional schools. The first time he encountered genuine sword techniques of the Mysterious Sect, he observed intently while fighting and soon inwardly marveled. Compared to Zhuge Jingwo’s swordsmanship, his own skills were truly lacking, not only in technique but also in cultivation level, feeling utterly inferior.

However, he was a Demon Dragon with three thousand years of cultivation, primarily focusing on cultivating his inner core rather than swordsmanship. His two inner cores revolved around each other at high speed, quickly conjuring a Water and Fire Tai Chi Pattern. With his claws spread apart, the Tai Chi pattern expanded, forcibly generating a suction force that continuously captured Zhuge Jingwo’s Invisible Sword.

He cast another spell, and from the spinning Tai Chi pattern emerged a continuous stream of Fire Sparrows, Fire Rats, Fire Cats, Fire Dogs, Fire Snakes that rushed towards Zhuge Jingwo, forcing him to use the Invisible Sword Energy to slash these creatures into bursts of fire.

The Tai Chi pattern, generating both water and fire, could equally produce vast amounts of cold waves and condensed countless fist-sized hailstones that fiercely bombarded Zhuge Jingwo.

Zhuge Jingwo did not possess good innate potential and Xuanzhenzi did not endow him with any Magical Treasures; he had only instructed him to remain grounded and climb the cultivation path through sheer effort. Thus, despite many years of practice, besides the recently refined Invisible Sword, he carried nothing else.

The man and the dragon battled for the time it took to finish a meal, and gradually, Zhuge Jingwo could not withstand the incessant, powerful attacks of water and fire. Knowing he could not defeat the Demon Dragon and unable to pursue the herbs today, he had no choice but to retract his Invisible Sword, combine with it bodily, transforming into a ten-zhang-long Invisible Sword Qi, piercing through the overcast sky and vanishing.

Shi Feiyang withdrew his inner cores, looking towards the direction in which Zhuge Jingwo had disappeared, feeling uneasy inside.

Having driven away Zhuge Jingwo, would the Emei Sect just let it be? It was possible other juniors nearby would come to assist, but the worst scenario would be Xuanzhenzi personally intervening. If that were to happen, he would only have to flee, as facing Xuanzhenzi now would be like an egg striking a rock, potentially worse than encountering Xie Shan.

However, Xuanzhenzi would unlikely take action; considering his status, for a disciple to be beaten by a Demon Dragon and to personally intervene would be embarrassing. The three immortals of the East Sea were recluses, usually holed up at Fishing Rock. Besides, they would soon be engaged in a swordfight with the Wutai Sect and wouldn’t likely travel here just to avenge his disciple.

Shi Feiyang tried divining the future, and it suggested that Xuanzhenzi wouldn’t come, but Zhuge Jingwo was indeed likely to return, this time bringing help, specifically a woman.

He couldn’t figure out which Fairy it might be, so he had to return to the vicinity of the Purple River Grass with a troubled heart, hoping for the Immortal Herbs to mature quickly. As soon as the fruit was ripe and fell, he would immediately take it and leave this place.

As for Zhuge Jingwo, after leaving, he headed west and soon landed on a small island, silently sighing.

His master had assigned him a task to collect herbs, but he hadn’t completed it and couldn’t return to report his failure. He couldn’t defeat the Demon Dragon guarding the herbs on his own and needed to find assistance. He wondered which fellow disciple from the East Sea he could ask for help. Even if they couldn’t come, borrowing a couple of useful Magical Treasures would be good as well.

Before he could think of someone, suddenly, a woman appeared on the cliff ahead. From a distance, she looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in a gradient pink dress and red skirt, with a beautiful face capable of toppling cities. Her eyes shone like stars, a silver lock hung from her neck, a golden hairpin was inserted in her hair, and she was wrapped in a colorful silk ribbon around her waist. In her right hand, she held a white jade hoe surrounded by colorful smoke, and slung over her left arm was a basket woven with many fresh flowers and branches, filled with various flowers and plants.

This woman, upon seeing Zhuge Jingwo, flew straight down from the cliff without using sword control or revealing any trace of escape light, floating through the air like the legendary flying fairies of lore.

Upon arriving, the woman bowed slightly and said with a smile that seemed like a nightmare, "This small island hangs solitary offshore, it’s truly fateful that you could reach it. I have brewed some flower nectar wine in the mountains, and today is the very day to unseal it. If you don’t mind, please come and taste it."

Zhuge Jingwo quickly declined, "I’m just passing through this treasure land and accidentally stopped to rest, I dare not trouble you..."

After exchanging names, the woman called herself "Bao Xiang." Zhuge Jingwo hadn’t heard of her, and Bao Xiang hadn’t heard of him either. She insisted on inviting Zhuge Jingwo to drink her flower nectar wine, but he steadily refused and even prepared to leave directly.

Left with no choice, Bao Xiang gave up and then said, "I see you are truly a dragon and phoenix among people. Why do you seem so troubled? If you have encountered any difficulty, you can tell me. I can’t guarantee anything else, but I am fully aware of everything happening within ten thousand miles of these seas."

After pondering for a moment, Zhuge Jingwo explained that he was ordered by his master to gather herbs, but a Demon Dragon had overtaken the area next to the Immortal Herbs, making it impossible for him to subdue it. He had to retreat for now and was preparing to seek help.

Upon hearing this, Bao Xiang’s heart bloomed with joy, "No Demon Dragon has appeared in this sea area for a long time. It must be an outsider, otherwise I wouldn’t be unaware of it. Since you’re going to gather herbs, you needn’t ask anyone else for help. I’ll go with you and we can slay the Demon Dragon."

Zhuge Jingwo didn’t want to owe anyone favors, so he shook his head and refused.

Bao Xiang said, "Even without you, I can’t allow a Demon Dragon to appear here. You don’t know, but my family has a cookbook handed down from the Spiritual Space Immortal Realm, with a recipe for searing Dragon Liver, said to be very delicious, and several other dragon cooking methods. I’ve been longing to try it but haven’t encountered a proper True Dragon. So, you continue to gather herbs, and I’ll go slay the dragon. It’s not about who’s helping whom; we’re merely companions on this journey, each seeking what we need, how about that?"

Zhuge Jingwo still hesitated.

Bao Xiang added, "Regardless of whether you gather herbs, I’ve decided to slay that dragon. I just don’t know its exact location. Could you please guide me there? I’ll go slay the dragon myself, such a small favor you wouldn’t refuse, right?"