Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 421: 1 Road to Immortality 12

Yun Chu decided to go out and explore a bit, especially to confirm the direction of Huolian Valley and the location of his neighbors.

Walk out of Moyaju and step onto the small platform.

As dusk fell, the red light of the Fire Refining Valley below became more obvious in the night, like an underground fire. Faintly, there were dull rumbling sounds and wisps of burning air, which made people feel uneasy but also fascinated.

Yun Chu was leaning over the railing, gazing into the distance, absorbed in the wonders of Fire Refining Valley, when he suddenly heard a clear, slightly surprised female voice nearby: "Huh? A new neighbor?"

Yun Chu turned around and saw a young girl wearing the same silver-gray tripod-patterned outer disciple uniform looking at her curiously at the entrance of Cave No. 72 next door.

The girl was about sixteen or seventeen years old, with a round face, almond eyes, slightly plump skin, and a pair of bright and lively eyes, revealing an unconcealed liveliness.

"Yes." Yun Chu nodded slightly, revealing a polite and gentle smile. "I just arrived. My name is Qin Yunchu."

"Oh oh oh! Welcome, welcome!" The girl immediately showed a bright smile, walked over quickly, and introduced herself gracefully, "My name is Lin Xiaoyu! I came earlier than you... Well, including today, it's been half a month, right? I'm a newcomer too!" She spoke in a brisk pace, with a bit of familiarity.

Lin Xiaoyu looked Yun Chu up and down, her eyes filled with kind inquiry. "You were assigned here too, right? This place is close to the Fire Refining Valley, and the heat is quite intense. I was quite choked by it the first few days."

"But once you get used to it, you'll find this warm feeling quite comfortable, especially for those of us who need to practice fire control!"

"Hello, Senior Sister Lin." Yun Chu greeted her readily.

At this time, another slightly deeper male voice came from further away: "The fire source is pure, which is conducive to forging materials and controlling the fire. It is indeed a good place."

Yun Chu and Lin Xiaoyu looked in the direction of the sound.

At the intersection of the stone steps one level below the platform, there stood a tall young man with a serious face.

The boy's figure was like an immature pine tree, tall and straight but still thin, with strong facial features, a healthy bronze complexion, and focused eyes, as if he had just returned from outside (perhaps he had been to the edge of the Fire Refining Valley?).

He was wearing the same silver-gray tripod-patterned outer disciple uniform, and there was still a lingering aura of hot iron and stone on his body.

Lin Xiaoyu seemed familiar with him and immediately waved, "Hey, He Zheng, you're back? Come and see, we have a new member in Moyaju! This is Junior Sister Yunchu! Our new neighbor!"

Upon hearing this, the young man named He Zheng took a few steps forward and stopped three or four steps away from the two men.

He Zheng clasped his fists and bowed slightly. His movements were standard and neat, and his voice was steady and calm: "My name is He Zheng, No. C71. Meet Senior Sister Lin and Junior Sister Qin." His gaze lingered on Yun Chu's face for a moment, with scrutiny, but not rudely. It was more like observing a piece of fine quality ore.

"Hello, Senior Brother He." Yun Chu returned the greeting.

Yun Chu could feel that He Zheng's aura was completely different from Lin Xiaoyu's. He was calm and introverted, with a certain toughness like metal and stone. The heat that had not yet dissipated also indicated that he seemed to be more focused on the tempering of the weapon.

Lin Xiaoyu seemed to have found a new topic and smiled at Yun Chu, "Junior Sister Yun, please don't mind. He Zheng is just like that. He doesn't talk much and is as quiet as a piece of black iron."

"But he's a good craftsman. He tinkers with his ore materials all day long. He even helped me last time..."

He Zheng coughed lightly and interrupted her: "Don't make noise. It's late, and we have things to do tomorrow." After that, he nodded to Yun Chu and Lin Xiaoyu, then walked straight to his cave, pushed open the stone door and merged into it.

"Hey... look at him!" Lin Xiaoyu made a face at He Zheng's back, then turned around and said to Yun Chu with a giggle, "Junior sister, ignore him. We'll be neighbors from now on! If you don't understand anything, you can ask me. I don't know much, but we'll take care of each other!"

Yun Chu looked at Lin Xiaoyu's lively smiling face and He Zheng's closed stone door, then looked at the majestic outline of the main peak of Danding Peak opposite, where thousands of tripod shadows were looming in the twilight.

This "Moyaju" is far away from the core area, a little remote but distinctive, together with its two neighbors with very different personalities - the cheerful and talkative Lin Xiaoyu, and the resolute and taciturn He Zheng, together constitute the real picture of her first step onto Danding Peak.

A cool mountain breeze blew across the terrace, ruffling her hair. The faint sense of uncertainty she had felt at being on such an unfamiliar peak was replaced by a sense of stability and warmth.

"Alright, Senior Sister Lin, please take good care of me from now on." Yun Chu's smile grew more sincere. This tiny place called "Moya" was not only the starting point of her alchemy path, but also the first human connection she had forged on this vast Danding Peak.

As the night deepened, the red light of the Fire Refining Valley below became brighter and brighter.

Yun Chu and Lin Xiaoyu exchanged a few brief pleasantries, agreed to talk again later, and then returned to their caves.

As Yun Chu's black stone door gently closed, the scent of the tranquilizing grass in the cave gently enveloped her.

She sat cross-legged on the cushion, feeling the surge of spiritual energy in the earth's veins, silently thinking about tomorrow's arrangements - registering, familiarizing herself with the environment, understanding the duties of outer disciples and the ways to acquire knowledge of alchemy.

Her life as an outer sect member of Danding Peak quietly began in this small cliffside residence called "Moya".

As the morning light breaks, the mountain mist is like a veil, gently covering the inky stone steps and deep valleys.

The lights inside Moya Residence were still dim, but the gentle warmth of the earth's veins already made the room feel cozy. The refreshing aroma of the tranquilizing grass, after a night of infiltration, had completely blended into the rocky atmosphere of the cave, becoming its unique signature.

Yun Chu opened his eyes on the cushion at the beginning of the morning hour.

The "Green Wood Transformation Art" ran through a full cycle. With the help of the pure earth spirit energy here, especially the one rich in the aura of fire and wood, I felt that the fatigue from yesterday's journey and the slight nervousness of arriving in a new place had all faded away, and I felt refreshed.

Yun Chu stood up, tidied his appearance briefly, and changed into his new outer disciple uniform with silver-gray tripod patterns and a dark black pattern. This clothing had a unique texture that could slightly regulate body temperature. In this environment near the Fire Refining Valley, where the air was sometimes scorching hot, he felt a sudden sense of comfort.

Pushing the door open, she was greeted by a crisp mountain breeze, carrying the rich scent of morning dew mixed with the lingering heat of the valley below. A few clumps of hardy spiritual herbs nestled in the cracks of the rocks in the corners of the platform, their leaves adorned with dewdrops, gleaming in the dim light. She had grown accustomed to this unique "Ink Cliff Breath."

After having a simple breakfast of some dry food and spring water he brought with him, Yun Chu followed the jade slip map and the directions given by the deacon yesterday, and headed to the "General Affairs Hall" - one of the core places where the outer disciples of Danding Peak handle daily affairs, hand over tasks, and collect monthly allowances.

As he walked along, Yun Chu felt more clearly the grandeur of Danding Peak.

Rows of caves are embedded in the cliffs of different heights, and inner disciples or deacons piloting flying magic tools can be seen streaking across the sky.

The massive alchemy pavilion loomed like a giant beast amidst the misty mountains in the distance, dotted with tripod-shaped towers. The pervasive aroma of medicinal elixirs in the air reminded one of the place's name.

The General Affairs Hall is located next to a relatively flat square on the hillside.

The hall is built of huge rocks, simple and practical.

The hall has moderate lighting and is spacious. There are many people but it is not noisy.

Outer disciples dressed in silver-gray tripod-patterned clothing shuttled among them. Some stopped at the registration desk, some stared at the task list, and some waited in line in the designated area.

The most eye-catching thing is a huge list made of black iron with lava patterns and dozens of feet high on one side of the lobby - the Danding Peak Outer Gate Mission List.

There are a large number of task entries scrolling or fixed on it with various colorful spiritual texts, and each task is marked with the requirements, time limit, and reward (mostly calculated in sect contribution points).