By the cold drink stall, there were over a dozen tables and chairs, all completely full.
Many people who couldn't find a seat simply held their drinks and sat on the lawn.
Fan Xiaomei and Lu Xiaohei, along with a few other children, were bustling about, carrying drinks to various places.
This was the job Qin Hao had secured for them; although Chu Huaian had rewarded them with a generous amount of cultivation resources this time, they were very happy with this work.
Chu Huaian sat in a corner, holding a milk tea, his gaze sweeping over every disciple.
Beside him sat Luo Xi, Xia Ling, Shen Qinghan, Jiang Xiaoxiao, and Liu Yifei, all chatting about gossip.
The most lively spot was undoubtedly the center of the night market.
Fang Yuan and Qin Hao had set up a game called the “Money Gourd Toad.”
With three dice, as long as you bet on the corresponding animal, you won; if the same animal appeared, you could even double your winnings.
In front of them was a white canvas, painted with various animal head images.
At this moment, a crowd had already gathered around them, with a large number of people placing bets.
Sun Yiyi, Huo Sichun, and Zhang Ziqiang squatted in front, coldly watching Fang Yuan and Qin Hao, preventing these two from cheating.
After all, it wasn't just once or twice; whenever they weren't paying attention, these two would secretly use spiritual power to control the dice.
Of course, it was the same for everyone else; whoever dared to cheat with spiritual power would be caught and would have to pay everyone's money, ten times over!
"Bet on money, ten high-grade spirit stones!" Sun Yiyi waved her hand, slamming the spirit stones onto the money head image.
"I'll bet five high-grade spirit stones, toad!" Huo Sichun looked coldly at Fang Yuan and Qin Hao.
"Listen to me, this time it's definitely going to be the gourd!" Zhang Ziqiang said, while placing all the spirit stones in his hand on the toad head image.
"Anyone else want to bet? If not, I'm opening it!" Fang Yuan wiped the cold sweat from his face and shouted loudly.
During this time, many more players placed bets, and even the handyman disciples came to join the fun.
"Open!"
"Three money!"
"Oh my god, it actually exploded!"
"Senior Sister Sun won again!"
Fang Yuan and Qin Hao exchanged glances, secretly spitting.
This damn Sun Yiyi always wins, and a large group of people follow her bets.
The combined gambling funds of the others were not enough to compensate, so Fang Yuan reluctantly took out a pile of spirit stones from his storage ring.
Meng Ke'er, seeing him sweating profusely, took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and helped him wipe the sweat from his forehead, saying softly, "Fang Yuan, don't play anymore after a while..."
"No more, no more, it's boring..." Fang Yuan ripped off the white cloth and stood up, patting his backside.
If he kept playing, the nature of it might change; appropriate entertainment was enough.
"Hey, hey, Grandpa, let's talk nicely, quickly put away the gun in your hand."
Everyone heard his words and turned their heads in unison.
They saw Fang Guohua holding a submachine gun, aiming it at Fang Yuan's head.
Meng Ke'er nervously pulled on Fang Yuan's sleeve, quietly moving behind him.
"It's nothing, I'm just passing by, you continue." Fang Guohua said, lightly pulling the trigger.
Fang Yuan didn't believe his nonsense at all, and pulling Meng Ke'er, he immediately slipped away.
"Little brat, always corrupting the sect's atmosphere..." Fang Guohua muttered, put away his rifle, and ran back to the barbecue stall to continue drinking and bragging with the three old men.
Fang Yuan and Meng Ke'er ran to a rockery and sat on the edge of the lake.
"Why did you hide just now?" Fang Yuan lowered his head, looking directly into Meng Ke'er's eyes.
Meng Ke'er's cheeks were slightly flushed, emitting an alluring aura under the moonlight.
"I... Mmm..."
After a long while, their lips parted.
Meng Ke'er cupped Fang Yuan's head, turned it to the other side, and then rested her head on his shoulder.
A gentle breeze swept across the lake, creating ripples.
"If it could be like this forever, it would be great..." Meng Ke'er's eyes were hazy, and she murmured.
Fang Yuan turned his head to look at her profile, revealing a rare tenderness, but unfortunately, Meng Ke'er didn't see it.
They leaned against each other, neither speaking.
After a while, Meng Ke'er sat up straight, pulled his mischievous hand from inside her robe, tossed it aside, and said coyly, "Let's go back, I still need to find Luo Xi to help me choose clothes..."
With that, she scurried away, leaving Fang Yuan alone sitting on the stone steps, enduring the cold wind.
"Alas, life is boring, I need to find a chance to sneak out of the sect." He patted his backside, stood up, and flew back into the crowd.
He still couldn't forget about going to the Barren State.
...
The next day.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, falling obliquely into the sect, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, which fell onto the lake, creating ripples.
In the center of the main square, hundreds of handyman disciples held long swords, stepping with elegant strides, freely brandishing them.
At the entrance of the main hall, Chu Huaian wore a blue robe, and behind him followed Luo Xi and Xia Ling.
"Xiao Xiao, I'm going out for a while, and it might be some time before I return.
The sect will temporarily be managed by you.
If you encounter anything you can't decide, you can send me a message or ask Elder Fang and the others to decide."
"Don't worry, I'm very familiar with this now." Jiang Xiaoxiao patted her chest and promised.
Chu Huaian nodded with satisfaction, then took Luo Xi and Xia Ling and left on their flying swords.
"Xian Ge, Sister Luo Xi, Little Xia Ling, have fun."
Jiang Xiaoxiao kept waving below until the three figures disappeared into the sky.
Only then did she walk to the center of the square to supervise the cultivation of the handyman disciples.
At the same time, in a courtyard next to a small mountain, Fang Yuan and a few others cautiously poked their heads out, constantly looking towards the sky.
"They've gone far, it's our turn to act." Fang Yuan suppressed his voice and whispered.
"Xian Ge didn't forbid us from going out, why are you so scared?" Sun Yiyi said nervously from the side.
"Xian Ge doesn't forbid others from going out, but he forbids us! Didn't you see the sect's announcement board?"
"【Fang Yuan, Qin Hao, Sun Yiyi, and Zhang Ziqiang are not allowed to leave the sect, otherwise, sect rules will be enforced!】"
Qin Hao pouted and grumbled, "I think Xian Ge just has a prejudice against us."
"Exactly! Why single us out and restrict our freedom? Besides, we haven't done anything." Sun Yiyi was clearly a bit indignant, muttering to herself.
"Hey, hey, look, Old Bai and the others are also going out, should we team up with them?" Fang Yuan pointed to the sky.
They saw Li Taibai, Chu Heshan, and Shen Qinghan flying on their swords, instantly soaring into the clouds and disappearing from everyone's sight.
"Yesterday, I heard from Uncle that Xian Ge gave them a mission, something about finding Vermilion Bird essence blood and Five Elements Innate Spirit Plants, to refine the Nirvana Pill." Sun Yiyi said uncertainly.
"What is the Nirvana Pill?" Fang Yuan, Qin Hao, and Zhang Ziqiang stared at her blankly.
There were many pills and various auxiliary medicinal materials in the shop, so something that could make Chu Huaian go to such great lengths to send out three high-level fighters to search for it must not be simple.
Sure enough, Sun Yiyi's next sentence made the three of them jump up on the spot.
"The Nirvana Pill is a heaven-defying pill that can reshape spiritual roots."
"What?!" Fang Yuan, Qin Hao, and Zhang Ziqiang's eyes immediately widened.
It was well known that talent was always a weakness for them, so now that they heard there was such a pill that could reshape spiritual roots, how could Fang Yuan and the others hold back?
"Do you know where they're going?"
"Uncle doesn't know either, we'll have to inquire outside."
"Then there's no rush for this, when we find them, we'll just ask them."
"So, are we still going to the Barren State?"
"Yes, let's go now!"
With that, the four of them stepped on their flying swords and quietly snuck out of the sect.
After a while, Zhao Shijie, Lin Ye, Ye Wuyai, Huo Sichun, Peng Yiyan, and a dozen others soared into the sky.
Zhao Shijie and the others' purpose for this trip was to carry out Chu Huaian's mission to open up an upgrade path for the Hua Xia Sect.
