Free Thugs

In the original owner's memories.

The Daoist Master was exceptionally talented and seemed to have an innate ability to master Daoist arts, learning them instantly.

He applied all sorts of Taoist methods to himself.

If the original body hadn't proven its Dao through force, it probably wouldn't have even been able to break through the opponent's armor.

In particular, the restorative power of the unity of man and nature.

Chu Yuan cultivated the Nine Revolutions Undying Body because of its terrifying physical body.

So annoying!

Chu Yuan suddenly felt like cursing.

I'm just a noob at the Foundation Establishment stage, yet I'm worrying about reaching the peak of Tribulation every day.

Who can I complain to about this?

He turned and walked toward the inner hall, but stopped after taking two steps.

"Youyue".

A figure quietly emerged from the darkness.

"Master."

"Investigate Qin Shuang's matter personally. Tell me everything you find out immediately."

Youyue knelt on one knee:

"Your subordinate obeys."

She paused, her eyes behind the veil displaying a complex expression:

"Master, your subordinate..."

"Find the person first."

Chu Yuan interrupted her:

"Don't overthink it until you find it."

Youyue nodded and disappeared into the darkness.

A slight fluctuation suddenly occurred in Chu Yuan's mind.

Someone is approaching from the puppet clone's side.

He immediately sat up, crossed his legs, and focused his mind into his clone.

The young scholar opened his eyes.

The first thing you see is a face that's very close to your eyes.

Yun Qingyao was squatting in front of him, her eyes wide open, staring at him as if she were looking at something strange.

Chu Yuan was startled.

What are you doing?

Yun Qingyao blinked:

"I was about to ask you that too. Everyone's gone, what are you doing sitting here daydreaming?"

Chu Yuan then realized that his mind had been distracted, and his clone had frozen in place as if it had crashed.

His mind raced, and he chuckled:

"Isn't this what we're waiting for, Miss Yun?"

Yun Qingyao raised an eyebrow:

"Wait for me? Why would you wait for me?"

Chu Yuan chuckled:

"Junior Sister Yun is only at the Qi Refining stage. I was worried something might have happened to you since you hadn't come out yet, so I've been waiting."

He spoke with such sincerity that he almost believed it himself.

Yun Qingyao stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing.

Are you worried about me?

"yes."

"You? Early Foundation Establishment stage, and you're worried about me?"

Chu Yuan remained unfazed:

"It's only natural for fellow disciples to care for each other."

Yun Qingyao laughed so hard she nearly fell over, and patted his shoulder:

"Alright, alright, that's kind of you. But don't worry, I'm incredibly skilled in martial arts, I'm not afraid of any of this!"

Chu Yuan glanced at her sideways.

Unparalleled superhuman skill?

That's truly remarkable.

He was at the peak of the Tribulation Transcending stage, and his acting skills were even better than his.

But he didn't say it aloud, he just nodded:

"That's good."

The two of them stood there, and the atmosphere was a little awkward.

Yun Qingyao looked around:

"Shall we go?"

Chu Yuan didn't move.

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Isn't this guy in front of me just a free thug?

How many people in the entire Cangxuan Realm can defeat her?

Moreover, she is a disciple of Dao Zun, and there are disciples of the Tianyi Sect among Li Han's group.

Chu Yuan spoke thoughtfully:

"Junior Sister Yun, shall we travel together?"

Yun Qingyao was taken aback:

"Traveling together? Where are you going?"

"I was in contact with Senior Brother Li to ask where they were. But as soon as I sent the message, I heard the sound of fighting."

He paused, his brow furrowing slightly:

"And then nothing happened."

Yun Qingyao's eyes narrowed.

Li Han?

From the Heavenly Dao Sect?

Her innocent and carefree expression faded slightly, but her tone remained cheerful:

"Fighting sounds? Are we in trouble?"

Chu Yuan nodded:

"I'm worried about that too. That's why I wanted to go and check it out."

"Then why didn't you go just now?"

"I'm alone, and my cultivation level is too low, so it would be pointless for me to go."

Chu Yuan shrugged:

"Now that we have Junior Sister Yun, isn't there?"

Yun Qingyao blinked:

"You want me to go with you?"

"right."

"What could I, a mere Qi cultivator, possibly do there?"

Chu Yuan smiled:

"Didn't Junior Sister Yun just say she had unparalleled martial arts skills?"

Yun Qingyao choked for a moment.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

This kid...

Is he trying to use her words against her?

She stared at Chu Yuan for two seconds, but couldn't see anything unusual.

He was just an ordinary cultivator in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, worried about his fellow disciples, and wanted to find someone to go with him to check on things.

Very normal.

But what about Li Han...?

She couldn't ignore the disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

Yun Qingyao suddenly laughed:

"Senior Brother Yuan, please wait here a little longer. I suddenly remembered that I have something to take care of."

Chu Yuan also laughed:

"OK."

Yun Qingyao turned and walked away, but after taking two steps, she turned back:

"Don't wander off! Wait for me to come back!"

"Don't worry, I'm right here."

Yun Qingyao nodded, quickened her pace, and soon disappeared into the night.

Chu Yuan stood there, watching her walk away with a smile.

Once the figure had completely disappeared, he stretched and found a rock to sit on.

With this big shot involved, Li Han and his gang should be safe.

As for who was the one who intercepted them...

Let Yun Qingyao have her headache.

Anyway, she had nothing better to do.

Chu Yuan leaned against a rock, looking at the moon in the sky, and his mood suddenly improved.

Free top-tier henchmen, might as well use them.

He closed his eyes, his mind slowly drifting away.

Inside the Yuanji Palace, Chu Yuan's true form opened his eyes.

A smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Get it done.

But how will Yun Qingyao explain being gone for so long?

Thinking of this, Chu Yuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

One day later, at Yuanji Palace.

Youyue is back.

Her expression was solemn as she knelt on one knee.

"Master, I have found Qin Shuang's whereabouts."

Chu Yuan was drinking tea when he heard this and put down his teacup:

"explain."

"After leaving the main altar, she went to a place called Black Wind Town on the southern border. Then she disappeared."

"Blackwind Town?"

Qianji frowned:

"That place is a no-man's-land, where demonic cultivators, righteous cultivators, and rogue cultivators are all mixed together; it's a complete mess."

Li Tu scratched his head:

"What would she be doing there? She wouldn't pass by there even if she were buying medicinal herbs."

Youyue ignored him and continued:

"Following the clues, my subordinates discovered that Qin Shuang stayed in Black Wind Town for half a month. During that time, she came into contact with one person."

Chu Yuan raised an eyebrow:

"Who?"

Youyue paused, then said, word by word:

"Zhou Fang, Xue Lie's personal disciple."

"Snapped!"

Li Tu slammed his hand on the table:

"I knew it! This is definitely related to that old bastard! Master, I'll go and arrest him right now!"

Chu Yuan glanced at him:

"sit down."

Li Tu sat back down awkwardly.

Youyue shook her head:

"Not only that. After Zhou Fang appeared in Black Wind Town, Qin Shuang stayed for three more days before leaving. When she left, she was already at the peak of the Golden Core stage."

Chu Yuan narrowed his eyes:

"He broke through from the late stage of the Golden Core realm to the peak in just half a month?"

Half a month?

It took him a month to go from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment.

Qianji pondered for a moment and said:

"If Xue Lie wanted to win her over, wouldn't it have been better to keep her by his side as an inside agent? Why let her leave after her breakthrough?"

Youyue nodded:

"That's what I thought too. So we continued investigating and discovered that after Qin Shuang left Black Wind Town, she went to another place—"

She paused:

"Valley of Flowers."

Li Tu was stunned:

"Hundred Flowers Valley? Isn't that the territory of the righteous sects?"

A glint of light flashed in Qianji's eyes:

"The Righteous Sect".

Chu Yuan tapped the armrest lightly with his fingers:

What was she doing at Hundred Flowers Valley?