Immortal Realm’s Smuggling Kingpin

Chapter 26: Spoils of War (Part 1)

Translator: Atlas Studios

Editor: Atlas Studios

Du Zhongping smiled and waved at Luo Qian. “Okay, you should be on your way.”

Having gotten her leader’s permission, Li Xuexiao raised her hand and said icily, “Let’s go!” Including Luo Qian, 61 Immortals rose up into the air. Their sleeves billowed like clouds, and each used their immortal power, heading towards Rosy Cloud Spring quickly.

Many in Faraway Hall’s support team were familiar with Luo Qian. Most of them were ‘part-timers’ in Luo Qian’s Luo Medicine Hall.

This was another trick Luo Qian learned from the Human Realm. He allowed Faraway Hall’s disciples to work part-time at his medicine hall. Not only did that improve his relationship with Faraway Hall, but it also reduced his expenses. These part-timers were able to get elixirs from the medicine hall at half price. Faraway Hall was a martial art school. Although they had a special department that specialized in elixir research and production, they had a limited number of elixirs. There weren’t enough for all the disciples.

With this benefit, these disciples who worked part-time in the medicine hall had progressed much faster in their cultivation than their peers. They were all grateful to Luo Qian. When they saw him joining them, they all crowded around him, chatting and laughing.

Li Xuexiao [1. Xue means snow and Xiao means raw silk]’s character was like her name. Her beautiful face was hidden behind a veil of ice; she didn’t smile even once along the way. Even when she spoke to both Uncle-Masters, she bowed respectfully and maintained a serious expression.

This was the first time Luo Qian saw Faraway Hall’s legendary top fighter amongst the younger generation, and he couldn’t help but take a second look. Du Lengning had good taste.

Luo Qian didn’t harbor any improper thoughts towards any of the females in the Immortal Realm. Ever since he realized that he was a Tribulation Immortal and understood its meaning, he knew that there would not be any virtuous female Immortal who would fall for him. In the Immortal Realm, power was everything. Immortal Li Feng was the dream lover of many young Immortals. However, did the fabled love story happen? No. She married into a wealthy family. This was the reality of the Immortal Realm.

Luo Qian was very realistic. He knew that he could barely protect himself with his ability as a Tribulation Immortal. Love was an unrealistic dream. Even if he could make a fortune by smuggling, how could he spend the rest of his life with a woman who only stayed with him because of the Immortal Jade he had?

Luo Qian had left love behind in the Human Realm.

Du Lengning finally found an opportunity to ask Luo Qian quietly, “Old Luo, what do you think?”

Luo Qian deliberately pretended to be unaware of his words’ meaning. “What do I think about what?”

Du Lengning blushed. “What else? Her.”

Luo Qian laughed. He patted Du Lengning’s back and said tactfully, “Not bad. You’ve always had good taste. However, she seems to be a little cold toward you.”

Du Lengning was discouraged. “I know that. She treats all male disciples like this.” Luo Qian frowned, and Du Lengning suddenly said, “Old Luo, can you do me a favor?”

“What?”

Du Lengning whispered, “Do you remember the girl from the Human Realm? I want you to help me get her up here…”

“What did you say!” Luo Qian was shocked, and Du Lengning quickly elbowed him.

“Be quiet! I’m not asking you to smuggle her to the Immortal Realm, but to give her a cultivation technique.”

Luo Qian stammered for a while, finally saying uncomfortably, “Don’t you already have Li Xuexiao?”

Du Lengning didn’t have much confidence. “She speaks openly to me, but how do I know what she really thinks? I better wait a couple of years for her to ascend. Old Luo, if you give her some Scarlet Pupil Elixirs, she should be able to ascend in 30 years, right?”

For some reason, Luo Qian felt that this was the Immortal Realm version of the ‘virgin grooming plan.’ It just seemed awfully awkward.

Before he could say anything, Du Lengning suddenly smiled and waved his hand. “Forget it; it was just a spur of the moment suggestion. Just pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Luo Qian let out a sigh of relief. A long-term investment such as this would take 30 years. It was definitely not worthwhile.

Luo Qian’s cultivation level was low, so Du Lengning and the senior brothers took turns assisting him. After the group flew for half a day, Li Xuexiao—who was in front—said loudly, “My brethren, Rosy Cloud Spring is up ahead. The demon may appear at any time; please be careful!”

Everyone responded in unison, their voices thunderous.

After entering Rosy Cloud Spring, everyone slowed down a bit, and Luo Qian was able to keep up with the people in front of him without any assistance.

Li Xuexiao and the Uncle-Masters tried to contact Zuo Lingchuan. They sent out three communication jade talismans, but there was no reply. The expressions of Li Xuexiao and the two Uncle-Masters were a little solemn. The chaos caused by this demon was obviously more serious than they had thought. Zuo Lingchuan didn’t answer any of the three jade talismans. There was only one possibility: Zuo Lingchuan was busy with the unrest and was unable to reply.

Even the third uncle of the Zuo family had entered the fray. It was obvious that the Zuo Family had reached a critical moment.

Li Xuexiao waved her hand and made a decision. “Go to the Zuo Family Manor!”

The Zuo Family manor was adjacent to Tianxia Lake, with green mountains and clear waters, embraced by the ancient trees and the setting sun’s glow. Tianxia Lake surrounded the front of the manor, and the manor overflowed with Immortal aura. The pavilions and corridors were exquisitely arranged, and the observation platform was magnificent. It was known as the epitome of Immortal landscaping.

However, when the reinforcements from Faraway Hall reached this manor, which was famous in the Immortal Realm, it had already lost its former beauty. What was left were only broken walls which could not hide the scorched earth!

“How could this happen!” Everyone was shocked. It was just a demon, yet even the reputed Zuo family was destroyed!

“Everyone disperse and search for survivors. Be careful not to go too far away!” Li Xuexiao flew down, and her fellow disciples also spread out in the ruins.

After a thorough search with no findings, Li Xuexiao breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s a good thing. At least it proves that the Zuo Family has not been completely wiped out. Although the enemy is strong and difficult to hold back, they were still able to carry the wounded and retreat, indicating that they had no problem protecting themselves.”

At this moment, a golden light appeared in the air, flying toward them. Li Xuexiao stretched out her hand and caught it. “It’s Third Uncle Zuo’s communication talisman.” She and the two Uncle-Masters opened it to take a look, then quickly pointed to the northwest. “Hurry, let’s go.”

An imposing group of more than 60 people flew for a few hours before they heard the sound of clanging metal ahead. Everyone tensed up. They had found the Zuos!

One of the Uncle-Masters waved his hand, and a faint green aura danced. The clouds in front of him parted, and the mist dispersed. They saw beams of light in the clouds—tens of thousands of miles away—jumping like rabbits and twisting like snakes. Dozens of light rays encircled a green light, occasionally striking it.

Li Xuexiao immediately intensified her Immortal aura and hurried to the battlefield. “Mountain Ning Yao’s Faraway Hall is here to help. What instructions do the Zuo family’s seniors have for us?”

Although the ball of green light was surrounded, there was no sign of desperation. On the contrary, the masters who were besieging the green light looked very embarrassed. Their attacks were unable to damage the demon’s body because of the green light. However, they had no choice but to try their best to continue attacking, which quickly drained their energy and resources, because the demon would break out once they stopped. It would then be exceedingly difficult to trap it again.

In the Zuo family’s formation, a middle-aged man floated out and said with joy, “It’s Old Du’s people. Where is Old Du?”

Li Xuexiao bowed and said, “You should be Third Uncle Zuo. My Master is not here. He has commanded two Uncle-Masters and me to come and help.”

Zuo Lingchuan nodded. “Okay, you came just at the right time. We laid out an Eight-Sided Sky Array, and we are short of one corner. You go to the southwest.” He pointed his finger, and Li Xuexiao saw that the southwest corner was indeed empty.

The various factions in the Immortal Realm had all come to aid the Zuo family. Mountain Ning Yao was far away, and by the time they arrived, it was already late. Before them, the six major sects had already arrived one after another. Other than the Zuo family members, the people who were besieging the ball of green light included highly skilled members from various sects. The highly skilled fighters joined forces to entrap the ball of green light and buy time for the disciples behind them. The disciples were setting up the Eight-sided Sky Array—which was known to be unbreakable in the Immortal Realm. However, there had only been seven sects. Faraway Hall had arrived just in time to fill the gap.

The two Uncle-Masters waved their sleeves and released their magical artifacts, sending them into the battlefield. “Xuexiao, lead the disciples to form the array. We will help them.” They were closely acquainted with many people in the group of fighters, and the two Uncle-Masters quickly joined the fight.

Li Xuexiao referred to the layout plan passed to her by Zuo Lingchuan and quickly figured out the proper positioning. She got all her fellow disciples into position. At the end of it, she hit a wall. What was she to do with Luo Qian?

Li Xuexiao didn’t know that Luo Qian was a Tribulation Immortal. Since he had come with them, he was part of their group, but Li Xuexiao had no idea what his abilities were and didn’t dare to add him to the array. However, if she just left him out, it would be a great insult to him as an Immortal.

As she was hesitating, Luo Qian smiled and stepped forward, “Hehe, Immortal Li, this fighting and killing is your forte. Can I not participate in something that is of such high difficulty? I’ll just stay behind the array and cheer you on.”

Li Xuexiao breathed a sigh of relief, her tight expression relaxing a little. She nodded slightly. In her mind, she was glad he was forthcoming with his own stand on the matter.

Seeing that Li Xuexiao had no intention of forcing him into battle, Luo Qian’s liking for her greatly increased. He patted Du Lengning on the shoulder and said with satisfaction, “Young Master Du, this wife of yours is a keeper!”

Du Lengning sighed disconsolately. “We’ve not even checked if our birth characters match…”

Luo Qian said, “What are you waiting for? Hurry, go. Look, the position next to Li Xuexiao is empty. This is a great opportunity to fight alongside her!”

Li Xuexiao stood in the southwest position by herself, and the three auxiliary positions beside her were indeed empty. Of the three auxiliary positions, two were reserved for the two Uncle-Masters, but the remaining one troubled her. Everyone was from the same sect, and they all trained together. Everyone knew each other’s capabilities. It was really hard to choose someone who could stand in that position next to her among the fellow disciples that she had brought.

Du Lengning whispered, “I’m not stupid. That’s one of the three auxiliary positions. Damn. In the entire southwest corner of the array, all the attacks that the other disciples are unable to bear will eventually converge in the array’s center and the three auxiliary positions. If I go there, won’t I be courting death? Although getting a wife is good, my life is also important!

Luo Qian shook his head. “It seems that you haven’t reached the highest level of lust before life. I have to teach you a lesson. Come here, I will tell you about it in detail. It’s said that if you die under the peony flower, you can be morally loose, even as a ghost. Better to be morally loose than be despicable…” Luo Qian babbled nonsense and—unnoticed by Du Lengning—led him to Li Xuexiao’s side. Then, he suddenly pushed Du Lengning out. “Immortal Li, are you troubled because of the final position? Young Master Du has volunteered himself. He is willing to shoulder the burden with you.”