From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 24 Recharge your batteries

As consciousness returned, I found myself lying on a soft lawn, a faint fragrance lingering around my nose. I struggled to open my heavy eyelids, and the long-absent light made me squint uncomfortably.

"Xiao Yao, you're awake!" Li Yan's joyful voice came from beside me. I turned my head and saw her anxiously watching over me, her eyes still a little red.

"What's wrong with me..." I struggled to sit up, but felt sore all over and had no strength at all.

"Don't move." A gentle voice came from not far away. Only then did I notice that a middle-aged man with a handsome face, dressed in a blue robe, was sitting cross-legged on a rock, holding a warm jade pendant in his hand, which emitted a soft light.

“You are…” I looked at him in confusion, having no recollection of him whatsoever.

“I am Windrunner, the spirit of this jade pendant.” He smiled slightly, stood up, and walked to my side. “You had just exhausted your spiritual energy. Fortunately, I arrived in time and used the power of the jade pendant to stabilize your injuries.”

So he was Windrunner. It dawned on me that magical artifacts could truly be imbued with spirits.

"Thank you so much for saving me, senior," Li Yan said gratefully.

“No need to be polite, it was just a small favor.” Windrunner waved his hand and turned his gaze to me. “The Illusion Moon Mirror in your hand and my jade pendant are from the same source; both are ancient artifacts.”

Upon hearing this, I was startled and instinctively gripped the Illusion Moon Mirror tightly. Could it be...?

“I know what you’re thinking,” Windrunner seemed to read my mind. “Blackwind’s target isn’t just the Illusion Moon Mirror, but also my jade pendant, and even more…”

His tone carried a hint of seriousness, which made me feel uneasy.

"Then what should we do?" Li Yan asked anxiously.

Windrunner pondered for a moment before speaking, "Blackwind is incredibly powerful; your current strength is insufficient to contend with him." He paused, his gaze sweeping over Li Yan and me, "But that doesn't mean you have no chance..." He handed me the jade pendant, "As long as you can fully master the power of these two magical artifacts..."

I stared blankly at the jade pendant that radiated a warm glow, my heart churning with turbulent emotions that lingered for a long time...

The Windrunner's words echoed in my ears like a morning bell and evening drum, awakening the dormant desires within me. Yes, rather than passively escaping, it's better to bravely face the challenge! I took the jade pendant, my fingertips touching the warm, smooth jade. A warm current instantly flowed through my body, as if encouraging and supporting me.

"Senior, what should we do?" I looked up at Windrunner with a determined gaze. Li Yan stepped forward and stood beside me, her eyes filled with the same resolve.

Windrunner nodded in satisfaction and began to teach us how to control the magical artifacts. Only then did I realize that the Illusion Moon Mirror and the jade pendant were not simple magical artifacts, but fragments of ancient divine weapons, containing immense power. And we needed to find a way to awaken this power.

In the days that followed, Li Yan and I devoted ourselves wholeheartedly to cultivation. Following the methods taught by Windwalker, we practiced again and again, feeling the flow of spiritual energy within our bodies and trying to establish a deeper connection with the magical artifact.

At dawn, we greeted the first rays of sunlight, cultivating amidst the mountains and forests, feeling the breath of nature and absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. We swung our swords, slashed, parried—striving for perfection in every movement. Sweat soaked our clothes, but we were oblivious, our hearts focused on only one goal: to become stronger!

At night, we sat cross-legged in the cave, cultivating by the moonlight. The jade pendant emitted a soft glow, illuminating the entire cave and our path. I closed my eyes, immersing my mind in the magical artifact, feeling the powerful energy it contained.

Through repeated practice, I gradually discovered that the power of the Illusion Moon Mirror was not limited to attack and defense; it could also manipulate space and even briefly foresee the future. The power of the jade pendant was even more wondrous; it could heal wounds, purify, and even manipulate people's hearts.

Overjoyed, we trained even harder, striving to master every ounce of the magic weapon's power. The Windwalker patiently guided us, explaining every detail and correcting every mistake.

“You’ve done very well,” Windrunner said, looking at us with admiration in his eyes, “but it’s not enough. The power of the Blackwind far exceeds your imagination. You need even greater power…”

He paused, his gaze fixed on the distance, as if he had seen something, his eyes deepening, "And..."

“Moreover,” he withdrew his gaze, his tone becoming more solemn than ever before, “Black Wind may just be a knife in someone else’s hands. Behind him, there may be an even more powerful force controlling all of this.”

Li Yan and I exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes. If that were true, then things were far more complicated and dangerous than we had imagined!

"Then what should we do?" Li Yan asked anxiously, her hand gripping the sword hilt trembling slightly.

Windranger paused for a moment, then slowly said, "You need allies, reliable allies, to meet the challenges that are coming."

ally……

Li Yan and I fell into deep thought again. We were newcomers, unfamiliar with the place and its people; where could we find allies?

Seemingly sensing our confusion, Windwalker smiled slightly and pointed to the east, saying, "Three days from now, a trading market will be held in Sunset Valley, where cultivators from all sides will gather. You can go and try your luck; perhaps you can find like-minded people."

"A trading market?" My eyes lit up. This was a great opportunity! Not only could I find allies, but I could also take the chance to buy some supplies we needed.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior!" Li Yan and I said in unison, our eyes filled with hope.

Three days later, Li Yan and I packed our bags, said goodbye to the Windrunners, and embarked on our journey to Sunset Valley.

Sunset Valley is nestled between two majestic peaks, its valley shrouded in mist and clouds, resembling a fairyland. At this moment, many people have already gathered in the valley. They come from different sects and factions, but all share a common purpose: to trade.

The stalls were filled with a dazzling array of goods, including all sorts of magical artifacts, elixirs, and talismans, making it difficult for visitors to take their eyes off the goods. The shouts of vendors and the sounds of bargaining filled the air, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Li Yan and I weaved through the crowd, carefully observing the people around us while searching for the supplies we needed.

"Young lady, come and see this Qingyun Sword! It can cut through iron like mud and sever a hair with a breath. It's an absolutely rare treasure!" An enthusiastic vendor stopped us, trying his best to promote his goods.

I glanced at it casually. Although the Azure Cloud Sword looked good, it was of no use to me, so I shook my head and continued walking forward.

"Ladies, I see you have extraordinary bones and talents; you must be good candidates for cultivating immortality! Would you like to take a look at my pills? I guarantee your cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds, and you will soon attain immortality!" Another vendor greeted us enthusiastically as we approached.

I smiled and politely declined his offer. These vendors will say anything to make a profit; I wouldn't dare trust their products so easily.

Just as we were about to leave the stall, I suddenly caught a glimpse of a middle-aged man dressed in black sitting in an inconspicuous corner.

His stall displayed only a few ordinary, unremarkable items. Yet, he exuded a powerful aura that commanded respect.

"Hey boss, what do you have here?" I walked up and asked casually.

The boss looked up, his sharp eyes scanning us for a moment before he slowly asked, "What would you two ladies like?"

“We…” I was about to speak when Li Yan pulled me back.

“We’re looking for some reliable allies,” Li Yan said directly, picking up the thread. “I wonder if the boss would be interested?”

The boss smiled slightly, his tone meaningful: "Allies? That depends on what price you're willing to pay."

"We will do anything we can!" I said immediately.

“Very good,” the boss nodded. “I happen to have a task here. If you can help me complete it, I can consider cooperating with you.”

"What mission?" Li Yan and I asked in unison, our hearts filled with anticipation, but also a touch of unease.

The shopkeeper didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took out an exquisite wooden box from his pocket, slowly opened it, and revealed a piece lying quietly inside...

Inside the wooden box lay a palm-sized jade pendant, crystal clear and emitting a faint glow; it was clearly no ordinary item.

“This jade pendant…” I couldn’t help but reach out to touch it, but the shopkeeper quickly closed the box.

“This jade pendant, named ‘Qingyun,’ is a family heirloom,” the shopkeeper said, his voice trembling slightly. “It was stolen three months ago, and I have been sending people to search for it ever since, but we have never been able to find it.”

"So, you want us to help you find this jade pendant?" Li Yan asked.

“That’s good,” the boss nodded. “As long as you can help me find the Azure Cloud Pendant, I can not only cooperate with you, but also give you a generous reward.”

Li Yan and I exchanged a glance, both seeing hesitation in each other's eyes. Since this Qingyun Pendant was an heirloom of the boss, it must be extremely valuable; how easy would it be to retrieve it?

"What, are you two ladies scared?" The boss seemed to see our concerns, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "If you don't even have this much courage, how can you talk about cooperating with me?"

His provocation clearly worked, and my competitive spirit was immediately ignited.

"Who says we're afraid?" I puffed out my chest, meeting his gaze without flinching. "It's just a jade pendant, isn't it? We'll take on this mission!"

"Xiao Yao!" Li Yan tugged at my sleeve, seemingly trying to stop me, but I had already made up my mind.

"Good! You have guts!" A hint of admiration flashed in the boss's eyes. "I believe you won't let me down."

He handed me the wooden box containing the Qingyun jade pendant, his tone solemn: "This jade pendant is very important to me. I hope you can do your best to help me find it."

I took the wooden box and nodded solemnly: "Please rest assured, boss, we will do our best."

The boss smiled with satisfaction and then told us some details about the Qingyun Pendant, as well as its possible hiding places.

After leaving the stall, Li Yan finally couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Yao, why did you agree to it so easily? We know nothing about this jade pendant. What if we can't find it?"

“If we can’t find it, we’ll keep looking. We’ll find some clues eventually,” I said firmly, gripping the wooden box tightly. “Besides, I think this boss is not simple. Perhaps, cooperating with him would be an opportunity for us.”

Li Yan wanted to say something more, but I no longer wanted to explain. I had a premonition that this Azure Cloud Pendant would be a turning point in our fate…

“Alright, let’s find a place to rest first, and then take a good look at this jade pendant,” I patted Li Yan on the shoulder and pointed to a teahouse not far away. “Let’s go have a cup of tea.”

However, as we entered the teahouse and prepared to sit down, we suddenly felt a sharp, murderous aura emanating from behind us...