"What? That dreadful place last night was the Abyssal Marsh?!" Bai Shuo’s eyes went wide with shock.
The Abyssal Marsh had long been a refuge for those who had abandoned both the Immortal and Demon Clans, filled with strange beasts and lurking demons. It was reputed to be the most dangerous place in the Three Realms. Bai Shuo wiped the cold sweat from her brow, still rattled.
"If you didn’t know it was the Abyssal Marsh, how did you end up there?" Qing Yi asked.
Scratching her head, she pointed upward. "My flying technique isn’t very good, and just then, a bolt of lightning happened to strike down. I fell… right there."
Seeing her embarrassed expression, Qing Yi chuckled. "Looks like it wasn’t my time to die. By the way, may I ask, Miss, about the jade flute you used to save me last night? Where did it come from?"
The aura of that jade flute had been similar to the immortal who had once attempted to assassinate the emperor in the mortal capital. Could this demi-immortal named Bai Shuo be connected to that person?
"Jade flute?" Bai Shuo looked puzzled, pulling out the flute from her spatial pouch, now broken into several pieces. "You mean this?"
Qing Yi nodded.
"When I was practicing medicine in South Sea City, I saved an old woman. She gave me this as payment, claiming it was a low-grade immortal artifact that could save me in times of danger. Are you interested in it?"
Qing Yi noted her innocent expression and felt a sense of relief. He quickly shook his head. "That jade flute holds a powerful essence and was refined with spirit energy. I assumed it might have been a gift from one of your masters or elders."
"Really? What a pity! This was my only life-saving treasure." Bai Shuo looked at the broken flute in her hands with a pained expression, though suspicion was building inside. Why would this young Daoist ask about the flute? Could he know A-Zhao?
"If you don’t mind, please accept this mountain charm from my sect. It can also protect you in critical moments," Qing Yi said, producing a stone that looked like a plump little rabbit, brimming with rich spiritual energy.
Whoa! What a treasure! This Daoist from Daze Mountain is so easy to trick!
Bai Shuo’s eyes gleamed as she eagerly took the charm and tucked it into her spatial pouch. Then, she paused. "If you had such a powerful charm, why didn’t you use it last night?"
"It was a birthday gift from my little martial uncle. My little uncle…" Qing Yi’s voice trailed off, his expression melancholy. "He left many years ago; this is the only thing he left me."
A spirit tool used for protection and defense would likely end up broken, just like her jade flute.
Bai Shuo looked at Qing Yi thoughtfully and suddenly placed the stone rabbit back in his hands.
"Miss?"
"It was nothing, really. Let’s just say it was fate. The path to enlightenment is long; let’s consider this an act of friendship. Now that you’re awake, I should be on my way," Bai Shuo said, gathering her small cloth bag.
"Where are you heading?"
"Phoenix Island," she replied, adjusting her straw hat.
"Phoenix Island?"
"Yes, that’s the place."
"Phoenix Island is a sacred land of the Three Realms. What are you planning to do there?"
"Seek a master! I heard the Wu Tong Martial Gathering is being held on Phoenix Island, and that all the High Immortals of the Three Realms are gathering there. I’ve been cultivating for years and am still just a demi-immortal. A fortune teller told me I won’t live long. I’m going there to find a master, hoping to extend my life by a few centuries."
"Wait!" Qing Yi quickly spoke up as she began to hobble off with her wooden staff. "I’m heading to Phoenix Island as well. Why don’t we travel together?"
Bai Shuo hesitated. "Well…"
Qing Yi stepped forward. "Phoenix Island is a thousand miles away, and the gathering will end in a few days. By the time you arrive, most sects will have already left. My sect has some standing in the Immortal Realm, so if you wish to become a disciple of one of the houses, I’ll do my best to introduce you."
"Really?" Bai Shuo’s face lit up with delight, and she clasped her hands in gratitude. "Then I’ll leave it to you, Immortal Friend!"
Qing Yi nodded, raising a hand, and a cloud descended from the sky. They stepped onto it together and floated eastward.
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