Chapter 9: No Need for Rotation - Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

## Chapter 9: No Need for Rotation Below the Sword Pavilion, the atmosphere was less than harmonious. After Chu Liang answered the question, a hint of awkwardness suddenly rose around him. Disciples of Mount Shu are as close as family... except for those of Silver Sword Peak and Jade Sword Peak. Originally, these two peaks were part of the five sword peaks of Mount Shu and shared a longstanding camaraderie. However, in this generation, the two peak masters were at odds: Jade Sword Peak's master Wang Xuan Ling, being the head of all peaks, was authoritative and stern, while Silver Sword Peak's master, Di Nv Feng, was youthful and spirited, unwilling to be overshadowed by anyone. Hence, whenever they met, disputes were inevitable. With the two mentors clearly at odds, naturally, the disciples followed suit. Especially since the recent wager between Wang Xuan Ling and Di Nv Feng had become well-known throughout Mount Shu, Silver Sword Peak was naturally regarded as a rival by the Jade Sword Peak disciples. However, they rarely encountered the sole disciple of Silver Sword Peak... thus, they also didn't recognize Chu Liang. Chu Liang remained unchanged, with a faint smile on his face. In moments like these... as long as you don’t feel awkward, then it’s others who will. The faces of several Jade Sword Peak disciples were rather stiff. After a pause, Lin Bei Lang was the first to laugh, “Hey, hey, hey!” He draped an arm around Chu Liang's shoulders. “I heard Silver Sword Peak has only one disciple, and we happened to run into him today. What a coincidence.” “Indeed, quite the coincidence,” Chu Liang nodded with a smile. “Anyway, we have our mission tokens, so let’s set out quickly,” Lin Bei Lang turned to the other Jade Sword Peak brothers, suggesting loudly. It seemed like he was urging them to leave, but the implication was clear: since they had already accepted the mission, there was no turning back... they might as well proceed like this. Hearing this, the other three Jade Sword Peak disciples nodded and turned to leave. Their expressions remained somewhat unnatural, and they didn’t look at Chu Liang further. It was still rather cold. Chu Liang didn’t mind, walking alongside Lin Bei Lang at the back. To him, it didn’t matter who he was with, as long as they could fight monsters together. That bushy-browed, big-eyed Lin Bei Lang was quite enthusiastic, introducing the other Jade Sword Peak disciples to Chu Liang at the back. Leading the way was a tall, broad-shouldered young man with a stern face, carrying a wide long sword on his back, named Fang Ting. He was the leading Golden Core stage disciple for this mission, currently at the early stage of the Golden Core. Chu Liang nodded, indeed. Most ordinary disciples of Mount Shu used standard flying sword bracelets, shapeshifting items worn on their wrists. Those who carried swords on their backs usually indicated that their swords were more formidable, and the person wielding them probably was too. Although the Golden Core stage was only one major stage above the Concealed Intention stage, between them was a formidable barrier from the Human Gate to the Earth Gate—an obstacle many never overcome, making the gap significant. Beside him, the female disciple wore a yellow short gown over a plain white blouse and trousers adorned with tassels. She was petite and cute, with a fair, round face, exuding an innocent, gentle aura that naturally invoked a protective instinct in others. “This little junior sister is Xu Zi Qing. We're mainly accompanying her because it's her first time going on a mission,” Lin Bei Lang stated with a smile. “Her brother is our Jade Sword Peak’s senior brother Xu Zi Yang. He's been in seclusion lately, so we're taking her down the mountain.” Xu Zi Yang—just hearing that name, Chu Liang was well aware. Mount Shu had been in decline for many years, and there were far fewer standout young disciples compared to the nine celestial sects. Among the few famous young disciples were Jiang Yue Bai and Xu Zi Yang. Xu Zi Qing, like Lin Bei Lang, had just reached the initial phase of the Concealed Intention stage. Generally, disciples who had recently advanced to the Concealed Intention stage would typically join group tasks for their first missions, guided by senior brothers and sisters. Chu Liang, who couldn’t wait to set out alone on his first mission to slay demons, was indeed a rarity. As for the last male disciple, he was at the mid-Concealed Intention stage, average-looking, and named Lu Ren. ... The group stepped out of the Sword Pavilion, reaching the edge of the towering Tong Tian Peak. Xu Zi Qing raised a hand, making a swift gesture and uttered a clear chant. Immediately, her raised fingertips emanated glimmers of light, as if forging a connection. In the distance, a brilliant, loud cry pierced the sky. Soon after, a gigantic white bird, several meters long, emerged from the sea of clouds, its body still shrouded in frosty mist that dissipated as it landed. This young girl actually had a spirit pet as a mount, something her cultivation level could not have possibly sustained on her own; it was clear her brother doted on her greatly. “Hā—” The white bird lowered its head, nuzzling Xu Zi Qing affectionately with its soft, feathery neck. The young girl smiled, embracing it before inviting everyone to mount the bird's back. Having called the Jade Sword Peak disciples, she did not extend the invitation to Chu Liang but instead turned around and ascended. Chu Liang didn’t mind and followed suit on his own. On long flights, though flying on swords was swift, it was inevitably exhausting and cold. Having a mount, naturally, was a blessing. Sitting on the white bird's back, the long and soft white feathers enveloped them, with the wind whistling past their ears. In a blink, they ascended to the sky. Their destination this time was called "Southern Border Mountain." Southern Border Mountain straddled the boundary between the Southern Domain and the Central Lands, stretching over eight hundred miles, resembling a towering barrier separating the two regions. With lofty peaks, deep valleys, and dense forests teeming with legendary demons and monsters, even powerful beings dared not venture deep inside. However, their destination was merely the periphery of Southern Border Mountain, a small edge forest that wasn’t particularly dangerous. With a Golden Core disciple overseeing things, the task should not be too challenging. On the bird's back, Fang Ting, Xu Zi Qing, and Lu Ren sat at the front, while Chu Liang and Lin Bei Lang sat at the back, quite distanced from each other. "This Human-Faced Jade Essence Flower, they say, is a twin flower growing from the same stalk. It was first spotted by one of our Mount Shu’s seniors. However, it wasn’t mature then, so it couldn’t be picked, and the task was entrusted to the Sword Pavilion. Now, with the blooming season approaching, it's up to us to complete this mission..." Lin Bei Lang explained non-stop, giving Chu Liang a rundown of the task’s details. However, Chu Liang realized that this fellow disciple might not simply be eager to educate; he might just be a chatterbox. Ever since encountering him, Lin Bei Lang hadn’t stopped talking, seemingly afflicted by some strange ailment that made it uncomfortable for him to close his mouth. Chu Liang even suspected that the reason the three individuals at the front sat so far away might not be to ostracize him, but rather to avoid Lin Bei Lang... Boom— After about half an hour, the white bird reached the foot of Southern Border Mountain. A gust of wind rippled out, bringing everyone to a stable landing. “Southern Border Mountain teeming with demons and fierce beasts, we can no longer fly openly here. From now on, we’ll proceed on foot,” said Fang Ting, the leader, finally speaking up. “This forest is dense with plant spirits, filled with miasma even in daylight. We must proceed with restrained breath and inner energy. Therefore, our true essence won’t be easily replenished, so every move must be sparing.” “I need to conserve my cultivation, so the task of clearing the path will be handled by Lu Ren, Lin Bei Lang, and Chu Liang in turns. Any objections?” He issued the command with a stern face. Though surrounded by miasma, practitioners of a certain level had connected qi channels, making prolonged breath-holding feasible. However, without being able to replenish qi, each person's true energy was precious. But should they encounter plant spirits blocking the path, someone must clear the way. As the highest cultivation among them, Fang Ting needed to conserve strength for unforeseen events and wouldn’t waste true energy on minor issues like clearing the path. Meanwhile, Xu Zi Qing, being the least powerful and on her first mission, required protection in the middle of the formation. The remaining three would alternate and handle the task. Such an arrangement was undeniably fair and reasonable. But... “I have a small objection.” At the back of the group, Chu Liang suddenly spoke. “Hmm?” Fang Ting turned with a frown toward him. The group's eyes fell on his smiling face, subtly filled with suspicion. What tricks did this Silver Sword Peak outsider want to pull? Then, they heard Chu Liang say, “The task of clearing the path of demons can be handled by me alone; there's no need for rotation.”