Chapitre 28: Chapter 17 "Respect
'Movement on Cloud Number Two again, the person above has descended on my path ahead.'
Li Ping'an glanced at the Luminous Mirror in his palm, his thoughts racing as he quickly made a decision.
He continued to run forward above the forest sea, pushing his Spiritual Sense as far as it could go in all directions.
After progressing for a while, Li Ping'an suddenly came to a stop, his figure dropping into the canopy of a large tree, and with a furrowed brow, looked ahead.
There lay a young woman, reclining on the grass, her face pale and her breath faint, apparently severely injured, and even from behind, she was enticingly charming.
Li Ping'an jumped straight down from the tree.
Just when the three Wanyun Sect Immortals in the sky thought Li Ping'an was about to play the hero and save the beauty, he clasped his hands towards the woman from a distance and sighed,
"Bound by a secret mission from my sect, I should avoid stirring up trouble, and hope you can safely overcome this current tribulation."
—This was said for the benefit of the Immortals above.
As soon as he spoke, Li Ping'an formed a hand gesture and transformed into a cloud of mist that burrowed into the ground, using an earth-tunneling technique to detour several miles to the west, and continued southward.
On a white cloud, Elder Yansheng smiled and nodded, while Minister Weiyen wore a complex expression.
In another cloud, the True Immortal of Wanyun Sect and outer sect elder, Xiaoyue, let out a soft snort from her nose, her phoenix eyes gaining an added touch of playfulness.
Xiaoyue had specifically made a trip to the East Sea town before this, where, among her numerous nominal disciples, she chose three female cultivators with the most exceptional looks and potential to come here and set a trap for Li Ping'an.
—Her nominal disciples usually lived in towns associated with the Wanyun Sect, similar to menial disciples, and were not on the official register of Wanyun Sect disciples.
Seeing that Li Ping'an ignored such a 'hero-saving-the-beauty' opportunity, Xiaoyue also gained a new respect for him.
Not perturbed by the loss in the first trial, Xiaoyue wasn't in a hurry;
There were still two more obstacles ahead, and she was curious to see how Li Ping'an would deal with them.
Li Ping'an continued south for no more than a hundred miles, passing through two large cities before reaching another deserted forest.
As he hurried along the forest path, a dense mist suddenly appeared ahead, with the sound of babbling streams and what seemed like the sparkle of treasure within.
Treasure on the road?
Li Ping'an almost laughed out loud.
This was the hinterland of the East Continent, a mundane realm, where the Spiritual Energy was mixed with mortal turbidity, rarely settled by sect Qi Cultivators, thus becoming a 'treasure hunting ground' for the 'lower-level' Loose Cultivators of East Continent.
The chance of finding treasure in such a domain was even lower than encountering an Immortal's second uncle taking a bath.
Li Ping'an kept moving, circling around to the east for over ten miles, avoiding the area covered by the thick fog.
When he reappeared, he still did not forget to stand on the treetop to look back and sigh,
"It's truly regrettable, I am under a sect's orders and cannot afford any risks; this treasure is not fated for me."
Then he continued southward.
On a white cloud, Minister Weiyen was beginning to sense that something was amiss, while Elder Yansheng's smile became warmer.
Meanwhile, on another white cloud, Elder Xiaoyue's delicate brows were already lightly knitted.
Was this young man so astute?
He was just a minor cultivator with a faint light, with Foundation Establishment yet to be accomplished, and this was his first time leaving the mountain; how could he be so mature?
Xiaoyue, realizing her plans were too transparent, was about to recall the third female cultivator directly, but as her Spiritual Sense brushed over the area, she saw that Li Ping'an was only a dozen miles away from that third woman.
```
And this time, observing the trajectory of Li Ping'an's advancement, it seemed he was no longer avoiding it.
...
'Is this part of the inner-sect trial, or is it a scheme laid down by those in the sect who disapprove of my family's old Li?'
Li Ping'an mulled it over in secret.
Reason told him that it was likely someone wanting to hinder his completion of the outer-sect trial, thereby tarnishing his father's reputation.
——Owing to the presence of the ancestral master Daoist Kongming, those old Heavenly Immortals competing with his father for the position of Sect Leader could probably only go this far.
However, having experienced the first two encounters 'hero rescuing the beauty' and 'stumbling upon treasure on the road,' Li Ping'an was really not so sure anymore.
If it really was an arrangement made by those people, could it be a bit too sloppy?
In the wilds, which severely wounded female cultivator would deliberately wear a tight gauze dress that offered no protection, purposely arching her back to accentuate her curves just so?
The treasure discovery was even more absurd; why was there ordinary fog concealing the treasure's glow? And why did this fog not carry any spiritual energy?
In short, there were flaws everywhere.
Li Ping'an muttered a few complaints in his heart and continued to cautiously probe the path ahead, soon discovering the location of the third test.
Darn, the distance between each 'test' was the same!
With his spiritual sense, he saw at the edge of a forest some ten miles away, an old woman stood under a crooked tree, a look of sorrow on her face, throwing a strip of cloth onto a branch, seemingly intending to end her own life.
This old woman...
Li Ping'an brought his right hand up, fingers together as if holding a sword, and swiped from left to right, his eyes flickering with a green wooden glow.
A leaf obscures the eyes, the heart's eye sees clearly, unable to distinguish all directions, seeing through spectres and spirits!
It was not an old woman at all, but clearly a young woman with two buns atop her head using a shape-shifting technique to feign old age. Her strength was likely between the seventh and eighth levels of solidifying light.
If a cultivator at the solidifying light realm could hang themselves, Li Ping'an was willing to take the surname of Minister Weiyen.
This person was at the seventh level of solidifying light and also used Wanyun Sect's techniques, and knew the rarely seen transformation technique... Was she a disciple of the sect? Which peak's disciple was she from?
Just as Li Ping'an was about to say 'I'm sorry' and leave, he suddenly heard the old woman cry out pitifully:
"I wish to live no longer! My eldest son joined the Wanyun Sect to cultivate as an Immortal, but my second and third sons are not filial! Truly, I have no will to live on!"
Well done, now they're resorting to direct strategies?
——Had this old woman not mentioned Wanyun Sect, it would be fine, but since she did, if he were to avoid her now, it would easily give others a handle to criticize him.
Not to mention, Li Ping'an already knew that at least two Immortals from Wanyun Sect were observing him from above.
Li Ping'an once again set out, heading straight for the old woman. Halfway there, he intentionally exposed a thread of his aura, allowing the other party to detect his whereabouts.
Noticing Li Ping'an quickly approaching, the cultivator disguised as the old woman became much more agile in her movements, swiftly preparing the strip of cloth, tying a secure knot, and stepping onto a half-cut tree stump.
Her process of preparing to hang herself was exceedingly practiced.
When Li Ping'an appeared atop the northern trees, the old woman was already hanging by her neck from the cloth strip, just a leg kick away from the end.
Suddenly, Li Ping'an spoke up, his voice was clear and unhurried, "Why do you seek death, elder?"
The old woman visibly started, turned her head towards the woods, and on seeing a young male cultivator standing with his hands behind his back on the tree canopy, she couldn't help but gasp.
Her voice trembled as she asked, "Are you an, an Immortal?"
```
His acting is pretty good.
Li Ping'an smiled slightly and asked, "I just heard you say that your eldest son joined the Wanyun Sect to cultivate; is this true?"
The old woman clutched at her sash, lamenting sorrowfully, "What of it? My dear eldest son went to cultivate immortality, seeking his own good fortune. He forsakes me, but this old body doesn't blame him!"
"How fortuitous."
Li Ping'an said with a smile:
"I am a prospective external disciple of the Wanyun Sect. I can't ignore such a matter."
"Ah?"
The old woman turned her head to look at Li Ping'an, her voice trembling:
"Do you know my dear eldest son?"
Li Ping'an immediately shook his head, "I am sorry, I haven't formally started external sect cultivation yet and only know one or two friends. How many disciples the Wanyun Sect actually has... I really couldn't say... However, since you are a mother of a disciple of our Wanyun Sect, I should do something for you."
"Alas! There's really no need for an immortal to bother with me! This old carcass only annoys and disgusts others wherever it goes, living truly holds no joy! Today, right here, let's just say our... goodbyes!"
The old woman was a bit agitated, and again thrust her neck into the sash, ready to kick off from the tree stump.
'Strange, isn't he going to make a sound to stop me?'
The young female cultivator disguised as an old woman muttered to herself and couldn't help but glance towards the treetops with the corner of her eye.
Li Ping'an was standing quietly with his hands clasped behind him.
As sunlight descended, his face, concealed by a thin mask, maintained a warm smile throughout.
This?
The old woman closed her eyes and teared up; Li Ping'an stood still with a smile.
The old woman let out a long sigh; Li Ping'an remained unmoved.
Resolutely, the young female cultivator disguised as the old woman kicked hard. The wooden post tilted to one side, and the sash immediately tightened.
Finally, Li Ping'an moved.
He descended from the treetops, standing on a slightly blanched forest path, and bowed to the old woman, saying in a clear voice:
"Since your eldest son and I are fellow sect disciples, it's only right for me to gather his mother's remains and dispose of the body, showing the friendship of our sect."
The old woman's eyes bulged wide as she started flailing in the air.
Li Ping'an heaved a long and leisurely sigh, "My father used to say, we must give up the urge to meddle in others' affairs, respect their wishes, and not impose our own desires upon them. Although I cannot bear to see this elder meet her end, I must respect her choice. Alas! Woe is me! Born at dawn, dead by dusk, a mayfly's existence in this world!"
The old woman's eyes had rolled back; the kicking started to slow down.
Li Ping'an, with a slow motion of his right hand, produced a desk with fruits, an incense burner, and a Peach Wood Sword placed on it;
Then, with another slow motion of his left hand, a rust-stained Large Pill Furnace appeared in front of him.
Li Ping'an murmured, "In a moment I will cremate this elder. I'll take the ashes to the sect for her son. Although this Pill Furnace is quite valuable, the Bright Flame restriction on it can only be used three or four more times. This way, the elder won't be left without a proper burial, saving me the awkwardness of handling the remains... Right, fire up the furnace!"
Crack!
The old woman's sash suddenly snapped, and she fell to the ground in a disheveled heap, tearfully glaring at Li Ping'an.
Li Ping'an hastily stepped forward, asking from a distance, "Are you alright? I have some good quality rope here, should I help you hang it up?"
"No, no need! Cough! Cough cough! I just remembered... my grandchildren... cough cough cough!"
The old woman's face turned beet red, and she scrambled to her feet, then ran energetically down the path toward the distant village.
Li Ping'an called out, "Elder! I have everything ready!"
"Forget it! I've thought better of it! Thought better of it!"
The old woman's retreating figure became increasingly spry.
Li Ping'an chuckled and shook his head, cleaning up the desk and Pill Furnace, again wearing an expression of regret, murmuring to himself, "I missed an opportunity to help a fellow disciple. Time to hit the road."
Having said this, Li Ping'an leaped to the treetops, then stepped onto a drifting leaf;
He used the leaf as a boat, crossing to the south alone.
...
At this moment, the atmosphere atop the two patches of white clouds couldn't have been more different.
On one side, Minister Weiyen was laughing his head off, beside himself with amusement, while Elder Yansheng was contentedly puffing on his dry pipe with a smile;
On the other side, Xiaoyue's charming face was as dark as water, with three young female disciples she had summoned kneeling behind her, terrified to even breathe.
Especially the young female cultivator with the twin buns and petite frame, who was continuously sobbing at this moment.
"Mas... Master! He almost burned your disciple alive!"
"Shut up! Stop that blubbering! You're embarrassing yourself!"
Xiaoyue snorted:
"He saw through your shoddy shape-shifting technique a long time ago and just wanted to scare you!"
"So, Master, what do we do now?"
"This Li Ping'an, refuses the toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
Xiaoyue stated calmly:
"I had hopes of seeing which one of you would be lucky enough to seize the chance and find a well-connected Daoist companion, thereby gaining entry into the sect for cultivation.
"Since it has come to this, let's give Li Ping'an a taste of hardship first.
"Ling'er?"
The twin buns girl stepped forward, "Master, what are your orders?"
"The Qi Cultivator Gongmin Chen he's looking for was sent by me to a spirit mine three hundred li away just yesterday.
"I'll send you to Gongmin Chen's Daoist temple, where you must disguise yourself as Gongmin Chen's disciple. Be sure to lure him to the spirit mine. I've set up an illusion formation near the mine which can confine him for a hundred days, preventing him from succeeding in the external sect trials.
"In this way, I will have answered to the elders back in the sect."
Xiaoyue's phoenix eyes swept across them:
"If you can't manage this simple task, then you needn't work for me any longer."
"Ling'er understands!"
Following this, Xiaoyue rode the clouds forward, but this time she didn't fly directly over Li Ping'an's head, instead detouring a hundred li to the east.
She had laid aside her disdain for that certain minor light-refining cultivator.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone