Started out getting scumbags, but then invested in the invincible Empress.

Chapter 16 A Hidden Paradise, The Gengjin Sword Manual

Xia Gucheng carried Li Wudao as they flew rapidly through the sky, passing over mountain ranges.

"Ahh~"

The boy sneezed and wondered to himself if he had caught a cold.

At this moment, he was unaware that he was being watched.

Even if he knew, he would just smile wryly and not care at all.

After a cup of tea,

Xia Gucheng stopped in mid-air on a mountain peak.

This place is located on the outskirts of the Xuantian Sect, far from the main peaks, and is very remote.

Ahead, a sword-shaped peak rises into the sky, penetrating deep into the clouds. From a distance, it appears barren, with little vegetation.

The surrounding area is filled with towering rocky mountains, overgrown with weeds, and sheer cliffs that rise and fall sharply, making it extremely precipitous.

"Master, this...could this be Misty Peak?"

A bad feeling arose in Li Wudao's heart.

"good."

"......"

Li Wudao remained silent.

This is a completely barren mountain, though it's a bit big, but there's not a single hair on it. What does it have to do with the Misty Mountains?

If he hadn't previously observed the other main peaks from a distance, he almost would have believed it.

"Go down."

Suddenly, Xia Gucheng threw the boy down from mid-air.

Li Wudao was caught off guard and almost fell flat on his face.

He cursed inwardly.

Old Deng, you've gone too far!

Damn it, thank goodness it wasn't high, otherwise he would have really been injured.

Now, he regrets becoming an apprentice; is this really his true disciple?

The area around Piaomiao Peak is full of ravines and cliffs.

Xia Gucheng seemed to want Li Wudao to familiarize himself with the surrounding environment, so he chose to hike into the mountains.

Piaomiao Peak is vast, with layer upon layer of peaks and ridges that stretch as far as the eye can see.

After walking for about five miles, we passed through many stone forests.

Before them appeared a small, dilapidated ancient building, barely the size of a courtyard.

This is a desolate and barren land, with ruins everywhere, cracked stone walls, abandoned for countless years.

"Master, this is...!"

Li Wudao was stunned, never expecting that there were such relics inside Misty Peak.

"This is the secluded retreat of a powerful figure from ancient times."

Xia Gucheng stood with his hands behind his back, stepping on the broken tiles as he continued forward.

Walk a few hundred more steps,

Li Wudao saw a cliff with half a wall of writing carved on it. Unfortunately, due to the passage of time and the erosion of wind and rain, the writing had become blurred and indistinct, and only a hundred or so characters could be vaguely discerned.

"Could this be a cultivation technique inheritance?"

He stood in front of the wall and muttered to himself.

"A fragment left behind by a royal being, nothing worth reading."

Xia Gucheng's voice came from ahead.

Li Wudao was stunned.

He then followed with a wry smile.

Indeed, this old man may look unremarkable, but he is actually a peak Martial Emperor, so naturally he looks down on the Martial Emperor's inheritance.

However, if the sect were to learn of this news, it would likely cause a huge uproar.

As far as he knew, the sect leader and other peak masters were only at the Martial Venerable Realm, and it was hard to say whether they even had Martial Emperor cultivation techniques.

It's quite possible that they might fight tooth and nail for the Emperor Wu's laws.

Unfortunately, this place is too remote and desolate, far from the Xuantian Sect Mountains, and no one could imagine that there are incomplete Martial Emperor's Manuals passed down here.

If Li Wudao hadn't been led here, he probably would have gotten lost long ago.

As we move forward,

Li Wudao was surprised to find that the environment deep within Misty Mountain was complex and ever-changing.

Just moments ago it was a forest of stone cliffs, but as we passed through a narrow stream, the light ahead suddenly became bright.

At this moment, he was in a wide valley.

Everywhere you look, there is lush greenery, exotic flowers and rare herbs everywhere, a spiritual atmosphere, and vibrant life!

On one side of the valley peak, a wide waterfall cascades down, and the flowing water gathers into a pool with about a hundred fish swimming in it, the bottom of which can be seen clearly.

At the entrance to the valley, a winding path paved with cobblestones leads to the valley.

Not far away, there are patches of bamboo groves, and in the center of the groves, there is a pavilion with a stone table, which is very quiet and secluded.

Li Wudao was dumbfounded.

Four words immediately flashed through my mind: A hidden paradise!

What we see before us is like a paradise on earth.

In terms of both scenery and spiritual energy, it is unmatched by any other main peak.

The name "Piaomiao" is truly fitting.

Although it is a valley, it is very spacious, with even a small lake and all kinds of infrastructure.

"There are plenty of rooms nearby, just choose one to stay in."

After Xia Gucheng finished speaking, he yawned and lay down on the rocking chair by the lake.

"Master, is there any gift for our meeting?"

Li Wudao rubbed his hands together expectantly and said, "For example, a Heaven-level cultivation technique, a Grade 9 elixir, a Heaven-rank spiritual weapon, or anything like that, just give me whatever you like, I'm not picky."

Xia Gucheng sat up abruptly from the rocking chair and snorted:

"Kid, do you want to hear what you're saying? Aren't all these things priceless? None!"

Li Wudao chuckled awkwardly, "Then you can give me some, I have nothing on me, I can't exactly cultivate like this, can I?"

Their main tactic is to play the victim.

"Get lost, get lost, don't bother me. Take it and cultivate it first. Come find me again when you've perfected the first level."

Xia Gucheng sighed, and after a while, he took out an ancient book from his bosom, then lay down and turned over.

Li Wudao picked it up from the ground and glanced at it.

Gengjin Sword Manual

This looks like a swordsmanship manual.

Li Wudao stroked his chin. The book had been sitting there for who knows how long; it had started to oxidize and turn yellow, and he could even faintly smell a musty odor.

He held the corner of the book with a hint of disdain.

I have serious doubts about whether this old man is reliable.

However, since he has joined the Xuantian Sect, he will naturally have to focus on cultivating the sect's techniques.

Otherwise, it would be easy to expose oneself and attract the covetousness of powerful beings.

Sigh, I don't know which is better, the Seven Star Sword Manual or the one the system gave me.

Li Wudao shook his head and turned to choose a room.

Just then, Xia Gucheng suddenly spoke, saying:

"Wait, I'm out of wine in my gourd. Go down the mountain and get some now."

Li Wudao paused, then smiled wryly, "Is it alright if I don't go?"

He was exhausted, his hair was a mess, and he just wanted to laze around for a while; he had no desire to go out.

"Twenty miles away from Xuantian Sect, there is a city called Qunying City. In the city, there is a Zuiyu Tower. There is a wine called 'Zuiyu Brew' there. Just fill the wine gourd."

Xia Gucheng lay on the rocking chair, talking to himself in a relaxed posture.

If you don't see any alcohol before dark, you can expect to be kicked out.

After saying that, he put the gourd on the ground and began to snore softly.

Li Wudao wanted to cry.

He was probably the most tragic first disciple in the history of the Xuantian Sect. He faced the risk of being kicked out just one day after entering the sect.

"At least give me some money for the drinks! Why should my apprentice have to pay out of his own pocket?"

Li Wudao poked the old man, but there was no response.

It seems so...

He was convinced.

Never mind, you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub.

It's just a pot of wine; even if it's expensive spirit wine, he should be able to afford it.

Now, he has a million taels of gold, making him richer than even the Prince's mansion.

A sliver of the setting sun appeared on the horizon; it was already dusk.

Without delay, Li Wudao picked up his wine gourd and ran wildly down the mountain.

For the sake of efficiency, he even spent tens of thousands of taels of gold to purchase a Scaled Wind Horse.

This is a hybrid demon beast raised by the sect. It resembles a fine horse, is covered in green scales, and can travel ten thousand miles a day. It is a popular mode of transportation among many disciples.

Half an hour later.

Heroes' City.

After making inquiries, Li Wudao easily found the Drunken Jade Pavilion.

Zuiyu Tower is very famous and is located on the main road in the city.

It was the largest restaurant in the city, with five floors, and its reputation spread far and wide, with business booming.

This restaurant is unlike any other; most of its customers are martial artists.

He met all sorts of martial artists from different factions, and even met disciples of the Xuantian Sect, who went shopping together.

Li Wudao tied up his horse, took his gourd, and went into the restaurant.

He found the waiter and casually asked about the Drunken Jade Wine.

"How much...how much? Ten thousand taels of gold for a dou of wine?!"

Li Wudao was dumbfounded, wondering if he had misheard.

Isn't this robbery?