Chi Muyao hugged his knees as he crouched down and felt the temperature inside the formation where the Yixian Grass was planted. Since things had calmed down recently, he couldn't help but think of Xi Huai. 

It'd been about a month since he left the Qing Ze Sect. He said at the time to Xi Huai that it would take about three months for the planting of the Yixian Grass, and Xi Huai really didn't come to bother him. 

If he didn't go to Qing Ze Sect to enter seclusion after two months, would Xi Huai come find him? 

He would probably come straight to the Yu Chong School, since he had already confirmed Chi Muyao's identity. 

How should he interact with Xi Huai from now on?

 If he acted like a little Yu Chong School disciple, what should he do if Xi Huai suddenly kissed him?

Thinking of this, he flushed as he remembered the arrogant way Xi Huai kissed him. He quickly fanned his cheeks to cool them. 

It wasn't good to think about Xi Huai when his temperature was abnormal. His judgment was more easily affected then.

At this moment, Yi Qianxi quickly walked up to the outside of the formation. "Little shidi, the Sect has some visitors."

Chi Muyao immediately got up and walked out. "Is it Yu-shixiong?"

Apart from merchants who collected spirit beast corpses, only Yu Yanshu regularly came to visit.

Yi Qianxi's expression wasn't very good. "Yu-shixiong and someone annoying."

Chi Muyao had a feeling in his heart that it was someone who made a bad impression on them in the Mitian Tongyin Array.

He and Yi Qianxi quickly walked back to the main hall of the Sect. Several people were seated inside.

Yu Yanshu, Xi Zihe, Mu Ren and Tang Ming.

What a strange combination...

Mu Ren was actually the most excited of the four at Chi Muyao's arrival. He was the first to get up and greet him. "Chi-shidi, have your injuries healed well? I was worried when I saw you in the killing formation last time. If you need something, feel free to let me know. I have some nourishing pills here." 

Mu Ren's enthusiasm made Chi Muyao a little uncomfortable. His smile was a little embarrassed. "I've been fine for some time now. What led to all of you coming here?" 

Yu Yanshu rose to explain to Chi Muyao, but Mu Ren opened his mouth first, "It's like this—one of the smaller sects we've always looked after requested help from the Nuan Yan Pavilion. Shizun dispatched us to deal with this matter, which we heard was difficult and related to spirit beasts causing a disturbance. That's why we came here to ask for your assistance."

This was a no-brainer.

Chi Muyao and Yi Qianxi shared a glance. Yi Qianxi could only shrug helplessly. 

Yi Lan was the head of the Sect. Have you ever heard of a Sect Master heading out with the disciples of other sects to deal with an issue? It would reflect badly on him.

Hao Xia could go, but he and Tutu had to conceal the Colourless Yunni Deer and couldn't leave the Yu Chong School. 

This meant only disciples were left to help this time. Yi Qianxi and Chi Muyao's cultivation was considered relatively high within the Yu Chong School, and their spell repertoire was also good. It seemed like they were the only two suitable.

Chi Muyao was a little hesitant. He still had to plant Yixian Grass, and in two months he would be going into seclusion. He didn't want to get involved in this matter.

However, he couldn't rest easy sending Yi Qianxi off alone. Yi Qianxi was a rash person with thin skin prone to swearing at others. He couldn't leave her to her own devices.

Mu Ren has been looking at Chi Muyao the entire time. He noticed that Chi Muyao's cultivation had improved and congratulated him. "Chi-shidi's cultivation improved a lot. Since you are so good with formations, you must have your own cultivation tricks as well, right?"

Chi Muyao was a three element spiritual root. With that kind of aptitude, building a foundation before one hundred years of age was already good.

He declared to the world that he was seventeen, but his cultivation had already reached the mid-Foundation Building stage. It was definitely a very high level for his aptitude. 

"It's nothing much. All due to some fortuitous encounters." Chi Muyao replied vaguely.

Mu Ren was a very extremist person. Chi Muyao felt annoyed by him when Mu Ren didn't like him, and he didn't feel much better after gaining his approval.

Regardless of the attitude, Chi Muyao was somewhat uncomfortable.

Only now did Yu Yanshu have a chance to interject, "To tell you the truth, the Nuan Yan Pavilion already sent a batch of disciples. There were twenty disciples sent, but only a Sound Transmission Talisman requesting aid came back. If it wasn't for the urgency of the matter, we wouldn't have come to ask for your assistance."

Xi Zihe added nervously, "That's right. Han-shimei, she..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

Tang Ming also added, "Shaoluo was also in that group. I'm very worried, so I could only come to ask for your help. If you have any requests, just say it. I'll do anything within my power."

It seemed like disciples of the third residence were dispatched before, including the female lead, Han Qingyuan and the second female lead, Ming Shaoluo.

Those two girls were the reason Xi Zihe and Tang Ming agreed to come to the Yu Chong School.

Chi Muyao's memory was pretty good, but he didn't remember there being a part like this in the original novel.

It seemed like the plot was beginning to diverge from the original.

Chi Muyao could only reply, "If it is an extremely dangerous environment, then only myself will do—" 

"No way! I'll go too!" Yi Qianxi immediately interrupted him.

Chi Muyao wanted to argue, but he said no more after the look Yi Qianxi shot him. Any more protests and she would argue with him.

Just like he was worried about Yi Qianxi, she was worried about him. 

No matter what, she grew up in the Yu Chong School and knew more about spirit beasts than Chi Muyao. It was only natural that she tagged along. 

Chi Muyao was still a little worried. "Ming-shijie can be considered an elite disciple, and her cultivation is at peak Foundation Building stage. If she is trapped somewhere, it means the situation is really dire. I wonder if any other seniors are coming along this time?"

Yu Yanshu replied, "There are. In addition to me, there will be ten Golden Core stage disciples coming."

The Nuan Yan Pavilion had probably underestimated the danger of the task at the beginning considering they sent Foundation Building stage disciples first. Now that they were paying attention, they sent more Golden Core stage disciples.

Nascent Soul stage Heavenly Venerables usually had their own pride. They wouldn't easily act unless they were caught in an extremely dangerous situation.

This was easy to understand. If all the problems in the book were solved by Nascent Soul stage Heavenly Venerables, what chances would the protagonist have to show off?

Chi Muyao looked at Xi Zihe. He knew this would be a scene of the hero saving the beauty.

In the end, he could only agree. "Okay, I will go with Shijie. However, can you give me some time? I have to teach Shifu how to plant some plants, lest there be significant losses.”

The Yu Chong School has always been cared for by the Nuan Yan Pavilion. It could be said to be 'targeted poverty alleviation'. 

There weren't many times the Nuan Yan Pavilion needed their help, so when help was requested, they had no choice but to go. Otherwise, without the care of the Nuan Yan Pavilion, their days wouldn't be easy.

He had already become a Yu Chong School disciple and spent nearly two years here, so he must do his duty. 

Yu Yanshu was somewhat hesitant. "Things are quite urgent. We will be leaving in the morning.”

"Okay, I see. I will arrange the affairs of the Sect today.”

After that was settled, the four left the Yu Chong School. Tang Ming couldn't help but ask, "Why are we discussing this with a little Shidi from their Sect? The Sect Master didn't even show up."

Yu Yanshu replied, "The affairs of the Yu Chong School have always been handled by this Chi-shidi. It's also thanks to him that the Yu Chong School has begun to thrive."

"En—” Mu Ren looked back at the Yu Chong School. "Chi-shidi is such an amazing person."

Yu Yanshu gradually realised something wasn't right. He looked at Mu Ren and followed his gaze back to the Yu Chong School.

Chi Muyao was still standing at the entrance to see them off. 

His goose yellow clothes were fresh and elegant. His long hair fell on his shoulders. One found it hard to look away from his calm expression. 

That youthful-looking boy seemed to be a ray of sunshine falling into the mortal realm. He didn't compete with anything or anyone, but he still had enough light to overshadow everything around him.

* * *

To travel with the Nuan Yan Pavilion disciples, they needed flying artefacts. 

At this time, neither Chi Muyao or Yi Qianxi had suitable artefacts. They could not keep up with the others, who were also in a hurry, so they could only hitch a ride on other people's artefacts.

Chi Muyao did have the artefact Xi Huai gave him, but it would draw attention if he brought it out now. He couldn't exactly say it was a gift from his Demonic Faction admirer. Then Mu Ren would switch from one extreme to another—back to being utterly disgusted by him. 

So the two of them could only hitch a ride on other people's artefacts.

Yi Qianxi ended up with a little Shijie, whose artefact was a sword.

Mu Ren very enthusiastically invited Chi Muyao. "Chi-shidi, I have an artefact that can be shared between two people. It's a jade gourd."

Chi Muyao instinctively wanted to refuse. If he went with Mu Ren, wouldn't he have to talk to him the entire way?

Just the thought made his head ache.

Yu Yanshu saw that he was in a tough spot and said, "Chi-shidi, I have a lotus seat here that is quite spacious. We don't have to be too close.”

"En, okay!" Chi Muyao immediately agreed.

It would be more comfortable going with Yu Yanshu. Also, Yu Yanshu wasn't much of a talker, so it would also be quiet.

Mu Ren was a little disappointed, but Chi Muyao really was more familiar with Yu Yanshu. Added on to their poor relationship at the start, it was natural for him to make such a choice.

As they headed towards the Ling Que Mountain Range, Yu Yanshu stood upright on his artefact and cast hand seals with one hand, commanding the artefact to move forward. 

There was a barrier before the two of them to block the wind, which was why he was able to stand straight. He was wearing a light blue uniform, and his hair was neatly bound, with not a strand out of place. 

His handsome face and calm appearance matched his humble, gentlemanly attitude.

After a few glances, Chi Muyao understood what kind of man was mentioned in 'Dior'.  There is our elegant and accomplished prince, with his ear-stoppers of beautiful pebbles, and his cap, glittering as with stars between the seams! There is our elegant and accomplished prince, pure as gold or as tin.

He sat cross-legged at the back end of the artefact, naturally freeloading. There was nothing for him to do but sit quietly.

Extremely bored, he took out a book to read.

After less than five minutes had passed, he looked at the ground. The high shores, deep valleys, lakes and mountains painted a picturesque sight. 

He didn't know if this trip would be safe, or how long it would take him to come back. If he couldn't keep the three month promise with Xi Huai, would he be mad?

By the time they reached the Ling Que Mountain Range, it was already nighttime. Everyone was shocked by the situation there. 

A dark mist, even the night couldn't conceal, covered the entire mountain range. 

According to the feng shui teachings, such a mountain range would be a very fierce location, prone to gather yin energy. It was suitable for the Demonic Faction to come and refine corpses and gu. 

Instead of flying directly into the Ling Que Mountain Range, they gathered nearby to discuss their plans.

Chi Muyao stretched after landing. He quickly stood with Yi Qianxi and looked up at the mountain range.

The ten Golden Core stage Nuan Yan Pavilion disciples simultaneously started working, using their divine senses to probe the situation in the mountains.

"Why is this forest so creepy?" Yi Qianxi whispered to Chi Muyao.

"Technically speaking, the Ling Que Mountain Range should not have this feng shui pattern. It seems that it has been changed by external forces. Just like how ordinary formations can be converted into killing formations, this has become a very fierce place. The miasma is overflowing and even spreading. I'm afraid it needs to be suppressed."

She understood the logic, but she was still puzzled. "But...there's nothing our Yu Chong School can do about the feng shui!" 

"Since you mentioned spirit beasts, it should have something to do with spirit beasts."

"Even if hundreds of Heaven grade fierce beasts pooped all over this mountain range, they couldn't pollute the mountain range to this degree!" 

"Hiss—" Chi Muyao frowned at Yi Qianxi. "What's a girl like you doing throwing all those vulgar words around?"

"I'm just that vulgar—"

Chi Muyao glanced at her unhappily.

She immediately backed down. "I was wrong."

Actually, in feng shui, the most important concept was 'energy'. 

To find a place with high feng shui was to find a place with vitality and use it to create a realm where yin and yang, heaven and man, and body and mind were in balance.

A place with vitality should be a place with no wind facing the sun, a place of clear mountains and water filled with flora and fauna.

But here, the wind couldn't enter, the water was stagnant, and the trees silent. Their leaves didn't move for the longest time. It could be seen that wind was absent from this mountain, meaning the energy couldn't flow. This was an ominous sign.

Yu Yanshu had already set up the Fuxi Eight Trigrams to explore the situation inside.

Chi Muyao pulled Yi Qianxi down into a crouch and took out an illuminating artefact. He grabbed a handful of soil to show her. "Look, the soil here has become black, which is bad." 

"How scary...How did this all happen?" In order to be selected as the location for a sect, the mountain range's feng shui would have already been examined by seniors. They definitely wouldn't choose such an environment to house a sect.

Moreover, the Xiang Huang Pavilion had been prosperous in previous years. If it had always been in an extremely yin place like this, the Sect would have collapsed much earlier.

If you compare the environment here with that of the surroundings, you would find the feng shui here was in extreme disharmony. 

Chi Muyao sighed, "If it is not suppressed early, this miasma will gradually spread and implicate more people.”

Yi Qianxi suddenly had a bad feeling. "The Xiang Huang Pavilion didn't do something that goes against heaven in these mountains, right?" 

"In any case, the situation doesn't look good. We have to be careful.” 

"En.” 

Just as the ten Golden Core stage disciples were using their own techniques to explore, a person came rushing out of the forest and attacked them indiscriminately.

The ten Golden Core stage cultivators were not idle. They were each an elite disciple of the Sect and immediately struck back.

However, after exchanging a few blows, their offensive was tempered as they discovered the attacker was Ming Shaoluo. 

Naturally, they couldn't hurt a fellow Sect member. They switched to a defensive state. One of them asked, "Ming-shimei, why are you attacking us?"

Yet Ming Shaoluo didn't answer, her eyes were filled with ferocity. She attacked them very aggressively, each move carrying the potential to take lives.

She scanned the crowd and then attacked the person standing at the very back, Chi Muyao.

A sword strike came, fast and fierce.

Chi Muyao was already on the defensive when he saw Ming Shaoluo suddenly rush out and attack. Seeing how she was coming for him, he immediately took out his Dingding and blocked the sword. Nonetheless, he was still forced back a few steps by the sheer energy radiating off Ming Shaoluo's body.

He was not used to face-to-face combat, especially against Ming Shaoluo, an elite disciple specialising in this type of fight. 

Luckily, he only had to fend off two blows before Yu Yanshu stepped in front of him and helped him resist Ming Shaoluo's attacks. 

Yu Yanshu said while defending him, "Ming-shijie's state is off. I'm afraid she's being controlled by external forces. We must cast spells so she can recover her sanity."

Some cultivators wanted to use the Soul Restraint Technique, but they were interrupted before they could cast it.

More cultivators rushed out of the forest, the remaining twenty disciples sent here first and the Xiang Huang Pavilion's disciples. Everyone quickly found themselves entangled in combat and unable to disengage.

The difficult part about this battle was that they couldn't use their full strength for fear of killing their opponents. The Golden Core stage cultivators also had to set down a formation to restrain souls while defending themselves.

But the other side fought very fiercely and were hard to fend off. 

Xi Zihe saw that Han Qingyuan was also among the attackers and exclaimed, "Han-shimei! Shimei, what happened to you? It's me, Xi Zihe, ah!"

Han Qingyuan's expression struggled for a moment at the sound of his voice, but she continued to attack.

Xi Zihe couldn't bear to make a move against Han Qingyuan, so he could only defend while casting spells to try and restore Han Qingyuan's sanity.

Han Qingyuan's expression became more and more sinister. In the end, she turned back and headed into the forest. Xi Zihe followed behind her.

Chi Muyao quickly shouted, "Xi-shixiong, there is something off with the forest! Do not go in hastily!"

Alas, he couldn't stop Xi Zihe. He and Yi Qianxi had no choice but to head in as well. Because Ming Shaoluo was focusing her attacks on Chi Muyao for some reason, Yu Yanshu lost track of her when he helped a fellow Sect disciple for a moment.

Ming Shaoluo's intentions were obvious. Each strike was targeted to deliberately push them into the forest.

After Chi Muyao entered, he clapped his hands in front of Yi Qianxi's face. "The miasma in these mountains could possibly confound the mind. I can use the Colourless Yunni Deer's power to help you stay awake for a while, but we still need to leave immediately after losing Ming Shaoluo. Even I can't hold on forever."

"Oohhh, okay!" Yi Qianxi agreed as she fled with Chi Muyao.

The advantage they had capturing spirit beasts day in and day out back at the Sect quickly became apparent. They skilfully wove around the trees. No matter how much Ming Shaoluo slashed and hacked, her attacks couldn't make contact with their persons.

Finally, they managed to lose Ming Shaoluo. They hid in a corner, not even daring to breathe.

Thankfully, it looked like the mentally disoriented Ming Shaoluo wasn't that smart. She struggled to search and didn't employ any searching spells or her divine sense, which allowed them to temporarily hide. 

They only breathed a sigh of relief when Ming Shaoluo gradually walked away.

When the two wanted to find a way out of this bizarre forest, they suddenly heard something and quickly hid in a small bush.

After a while, the two peeked out of their hiding spot.

He saw Xi Zihe and Han Qingyuan out there. Xi Zihe had wrestled away Han Qingyuan's sword and was trying to awaken her.

Chi Muyao sighed in relief. Just as he wanted to step out, he suddenly stiffened and reached out to cover Yi Qianxi's eyes.

After staring at Xi Zihe for a while, Han Qingyuan suddenly walked towards him. 

Xi Zihe didn't understand as he was forced back step by step by Han Qingyuan. When he eventually ended up with his back to a tree, Han Qingyuan raised a hand to hold his face. Standing on tiptoe, she forcefully kissed him.

Chi Muyao's mouth dropped open. His eyes also went wide.

Han Qingyuan was always a gentle and lovely girl in his memory. She was kind and thoughtful, so how could she do something so overbearing? 

Back to Xi Zihe, who has obviously been kissed silly. He didn't know what to do with his hands. Since he couldn't bear to push her away, he could only grip the tree trunk behind him tightly.

Chi Muyao didn't spend much time with these two, so he didn't know what stage their relationship had progressed to. He didn't know if this was their first kiss.

However, he knew he had witnessed a splendid scene. 

If this was in a novel, the scene of the female lead taking the initiative to kiss the male lead would definitely result in a squealing comment section. 

Xi Zihe was a clean-cut youth with upright eyebrows and a righteous spirit. Otherwise, he would not have attracted the attention of the female and second female lead.

Han Qingyuan was also a youthful little beauty with ebony eyebrows, cicada sideburns and a pure heart.

The sight of these two kissing in a dark forest painted a beautiful picture worthy of any scroll. 

Yi Qianxi sent a disgruntled message via divine sense, "Why don't you cover your own eyes?"

Chi Muyao replied self-righteously, "I have to keep watch to make sure Xi-shixiong is safe.”

"What, can you save him if he's in trouble? Or is it that you can take Han-shimei's kiss on his behalf?"

"Don't try to break apart the official CP or you'll be hit by lightning.”

"What's an ‘official CP’?"

"It's two people who like each other.”

Chi Muyao squatted in the forest and watched with interest for a while. He was a little happy inside.

Was it really alright for him to watch the male and female leads kissing for free?

Yi Qianxi was growing impatient. She asked again via transmission, "Are they still not done kissing?"

Chi Muyao sent a reply, "Han-shijie seems to have returned to her senses. The two have already separated. Han-shijie is currently apologising and Xi-shixiong doesn't know what to do. They will be embarrassed if we go over now.”

Yi Qianxi pushed Chi Muyao's hand away and sighed after taking a look. "Pei, pei. How shy... I'm getting anxious just watching." 

"How pure!"

Chi Muyao was actually a little jealous. If Xi Huai was half as pure as them, he wouldn't be so afraid of him.

Xi Huai was someone who made him unable to close his legs. How frightening…!