Chapter Forty-Five: First Encounter with Mo Sitong [Please Add to Favorites]

The spiritual energy of the seventh layer was even richer, nearly on par with the training space Liu Junhuai had grown accustomed to. He followed the path paved with white pebbles along the lake, circling its edge. There was no other choice—the lake cut across the way beyond the entrance, allowing only a left or right passage. Had there been a small boat, the journey might have been much swifter.

After traveling for two hours, night had fully descended, and Liu Junhuai finally made it around the lake. Ahead stood a forested peak, its lofty flanks shrouded in dense woods. A mighty wind swept through, causing the trees to bend like waves whipped up by a tempest at sea, the sound of surging branches thundering without cease.

Liu Junhuai hesitated, his heart unsettled as he gazed at the wild, tangled forest, wondering what hidden dangers lurked within. His plan was to find the entrance to the next layer as swiftly as possible, hoping to reach the ninth layer soon. The thought of unexpected gains had faded; to cross such a high, wooded mountain would cost him much time.

Without a map, even seeking a shortcut proved nearly impossible. He searched the surroundings with his spiritual perception, hoping to avoid the dense mountains, when he suddenly caught sight of a black dot emerging on the lake’s surface. This tiny speck appeared as if cast from the moon, growing steadily as it drew closer, eventually revealing itself to be a boat.

He did not expect to encounter another cultivator here and was greatly surprised. Quickly, he withdrew into the cover of the forest, quietly observing the figure on the boat.

In the time it takes for incense to burn, the boat became clear, and standing at its prow was a woman. Liu Junhuai was all the more astonished, the string of surprises leaving him intensely curious.

As the wooden boat approached the shore, the woman’s snowy, graceful figure emerged, bathed in the dreamy light of the moon. She wore a pale blue dress, her long, lustrous black hair cascading over her shoulders, fluttering in the cold wind. A diaphanous veil enveloped her form, her ivory skin appearing and disappearing with her every movement—she seemed a celestial maiden descended from the moon itself.

So striking was her arrival that Liu Junhuai felt a touch of panic, as if fearful his presence would disturb this ethereal beauty. Instinctively lowering his voice, he called out, “Forgive me for intruding, fairy. May I ask, are you also here to participate in the opening of the mansion?”

The female cultivator had clearly not expected to find anyone here. A flicker of alarm passed through her eyes before she replied, “Indeed. I imagine you have just arrived as well?”

Judging by her aura, she was at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Liu Junhuai paid it little mind and replied, “I just got here, though I came on foot. It seems you came better prepared.”

“Why didn’t you bring a boat? Or is it that you don’t have a map?” she asked in surprise.

“My map only covers up to the sixth layer,” Liu Junhuai admitted. “I was just fretting over which direction to take next.”

She seemed to hesitate, uncertain of Liu Junhuai’s intentions. But noting he appeared younger and his cultivation was slightly lower, she decided to lend a hand. “I can copy my map for you, though it only goes as far as the entrance to the eighth layer. Or, if you’d like, we could travel together.”

Her offer warmed Liu Junhuai’s heart. “Thank you, fairy, I am deeply grateful.”

He stepped forward to meet her as she disembarked from the boat. “Fairy—”

Before he could finish, she interrupted, “Why do you keep calling me ‘fairy’?”

Liu Junhuai smiled, “Then may I call you Senior Sister? When I first saw you, I was stunned by your beauty. You seemed just like a fairy, and I said it without thinking.”

“You certainly know how to flatter.” She smiled demurely. “I am Mo Sitong, an inner disciple of the Palace of Pure Dust. And you?”

“My name is Liu Junhuai, a rogue cultivator from Cloud Valley,” he replied.

Mo Sitong put away her boat and walked alongside him. “You’re quite young to have reached this level.”

“I’m not yet fifteen,” Liu Junhuai said, eager to change the subject. “Thank you for your guidance. As a rogue cultivator, there’s much I don’t know. If not for your help, I might never have found my way out of the seventh layer.”

Mo Sitong gave a gentle smile. “You’re too kind. When we entered, the elders of our sect gave us instructions. It’s understandable that you, as a rogue cultivator, wouldn’t know.”

The Palace of Pure Dust was a sect within the Yunluo Mountains, under the jurisdiction of the State of Mojue, and counted among the nation’s most prominent sects, with a great many disciples, most of whom were women. For Mo Sitong to be chosen for this trial, she was clearly not an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“Are you alone? It’s dangerous not to form a team during this trial. If you encounter a high-level demon beast, escape would be impossible. I teamed up with three others, but they weren’t able to make it to this layer,” she said, concern in her voice.

“I was also part of a team. The others didn’t make it past the previous layer,” Liu Junhuai replied, not wishing to draw attention to his uniqueness. “What’s our next step? Do we have to climb over the mountain?”

Mo Sitong handed him a map. “Exactly, that’s the only way to reach the next entrance. But I doubt I’ll get through. The barrier on this layer nearly crushed me; it’s far too powerful.”

Liu Junhuai studied the map, committing the route to memory, then handed it back. “The pressure was immense. I barely made it through myself. I wonder what the barrier on the eighth layer will be like.”

Mo Sitong regarded him with curiosity, but remembering he was a rogue cultivator, she let it pass. “The elders say no one’s ever reached the eighth layer. There are rumors of sixth-rank demon beasts there. If I ever make it that far, I’ll find a safe place to hide. A sixth-rank beast is equivalent to a Golden Core cultivator.”

Liu Junhuai pursed his lips—indeed, a sixth-rank beast was not something a Foundation Establishment cultivator could hope to challenge.

“That’s Beauty Preserving Grass!” Mo Sitong suddenly exclaimed, catching Liu Junhuai’s attention.

“Wait!” Liu Junhuai called, stopping her from rushing forward.

“What is it, Junior Brother Liu?” she asked in confusion.

For female cultivators, Beauty Preserving Pills were precious, and the grass was their main ingredient.

Liu Junhuai signaled her to step back and pointed at the plant, speaking softly, “Scan the soil around that grass with your spiritual sense. The earth has been disturbed, only to be covered up with grass again. The marks are fresh—someone deliberately buried it here.”

Beauty Preserving Grass wasn’t extremely rare, but no one would leave it untouched. Whoever hid it here knew of Mo Sitong’s presence—only a woman would covet such a herb.

Given that few female cultivators had entered this layer, Mo Sitong might be the only one. Realizing this, she looked at Liu Junhuai with newfound respect. After all, which female cultivator, upon spotting such a rare herb in the wild, would think to scan the soil for traps?

“Are you saying someone set a trap for me here? But I don’t see any traps. Everything looks normal,” she said, though she trusted his judgment.

“You’re right. There is a trap. Watch, I’ll show you,” Liu Junhuai replied.

His spiritual sense had already pinpointed the source of danger.

Drawing his Five Elements Chaos Blade, Liu Junhuai slashed in a specific direction. The rampant blade energy tore through the air with a snap, and a Foundation Establishment mid-stage male cultivator was revealed.

The blade had broken the concealment formation, but its energy did not abate, sweeping toward the cultivator’s position. The man dodged in haste, but the formless blade was too swift, severing one of his arms.

“Spare me, fellow cultivator! I am but an admirer of Senior Sister Mo—please, grant me mercy this once!” The man, shocked that a Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator could so easily take his arm, realized Liu Junhuai’s strength far exceeded his own.

Liu Junhuai ignored him and raised his blade to strike again, but Mo Sitong, furious, had already lashed out with a crimson silk ribbon.

The man dared not resist and rolled aside to dodge. Mo Sitong’s ribbon hardened like an iron rod, sweeping toward his legs. He leapt into the air, intending to escape down the slope, when the ribbon suddenly returned to its soft, silken form, entangling his ankle.

With a forceful tug, Mo Sitong flung him to the ground. She strode forward and pressed her foot to his chest, a short sword appearing in her hand and resting against his brow.

Liu Junhuai was amazed by Mo Sitong’s swift, decisive movements, capturing the man in an instant.

“You are Miao Zongmin of the Seven Stars Sect, aren’t you? Why did you set a trap for me?”

Liu Junhuai was exasperated—did she even need to ask? The answer was obvious.

“I have admired Senior Sister Mo for a long time, but she has always ignored me. I only resorted to such means in hopes of winning her favor,” the man replied glibly.

“How did you know I entered the seventh layer after you?” she demanded.

“Liu Hanliang, who was in your team, is a disciple of my sect. He failed to enter this layer but sent me a message,” the man admitted.

“No need to waste more words on scum like this,” Liu Junhuai said impatiently.

Mo Sitong nodded, ready to act, but Liu Junhuai quickly stopped her. “How many cultivators are ahead of you?”