“You can’t go alone. If something unexpected happens, there’s no way to remedy it. If I go with you, we can find a way to escape together, even if it means leaving Qingxuan Sect.”

Xu Taiping grabbed Baiyu by the hand, looking at him seriously.

“Taiping has finally established himself in Qingxuan Sect. It would be a shame to abandon everything because of me.”

Baiyu’s eyes were filled with guilt.

“You, me, Ping’an, and Fairy Lingyue are like family now. How can we abandon family?”

Xu Taiping was a bit angry.

Baiyu was stunned for a moment, then turned his head away, seemingly not wanting Xu Taiping to see his current expression.

“Fairy Lingyue, keep an eye on him for me. Don’t let him act on his own before I return.”

Xu Taiping instructed Fairy Lingyue.

Fairy Lingyue just split a part of her divine sense to follow him, still able to handle matters here.

“The herb garden has so many things to manage every day, and this kid still has time to play?”

Fairy Lingyue glared at Baiyu.

“I’m seeking revenge, not playing!”

Baiyu flew onto Ping’an’s head.

But he was immediately lifted by a bamboo stick controlled by Fairy Lingyue.

“Whether it’s revenge or play, you must catch all the bugs in the herb garden every day, or you won’t go anywhere.”

Fairy Lingyue controlled the bamboo stick and flung Baiyu towards the herb garden.

“Xu Taiping, you and this old woman are ganging up to bully me. I don’t want to stay in this house for another moment!”

Baiyu shouted in grief and indignation.

But soon, tender green bamboo sticks, like countless whips, lashed towards Baiyu.

“Stop, stop! I’ll catch them, okay?”

“Ouch, Sister, I promise, while Taiping is away, I won’t go anywhere!”

Baiyu’s cries for mercy echoed continuously.

Since getting this bamboo stick, Fairy Lingyue’s combat power had skyrocketed.

“Taiping, go ahead. I’ll take care of this kid.”

Fairy Lingyue continued to lash Baiyu with the bamboo stick while smiling at Xu Taiping.

Xu Taiping’s mouth twitched.

“Fairy Lingyue, there’s no need to be so harsh.”

He smiled at Fairy Lingyue.

“Are you questioning my methods of discipline?”

Fairy Lingyue glared at Xu Taiping.

“No, no, no.”

Xu Taiping waved his hands repeatedly, thinking Baiyu, you’re on your own now.

After all, if Fairy Lingyue really got angry, he would only get beaten up.

“By the way, take these three bamboo leaves.”

At this moment, Fairy Lingyue handed three triangular bamboo leaves to Xu Taiping.

“I’ve left a divine sense in each leaf. Try to save them for when you find the entrance or encounter a critical situation, as each divine sense can only last for half an incense stick’s time.”

She continued to instruct Xu Taiping.

“Thank you, Fairy Lingyue. I’ll remember.”

Xu Taiping took the three bamboo leaves and nodded.

Although Fairy Lingyue had helped Xu Taiping complete the map of the Immortal Gourd Secret Realm from memory, marking the locations of the beasts, the entrance to the Jade Gourd, and the entrance to the second layer, everything could change over time. When the time came, Fairy Lingyue’s personal assistance would be needed.

…

Five days later.

In the bamboo forest of the backyard of Youxuan Residence on the Seventh Peak.

“To watch the Immortal Gourd Contest, not only do we have to buy a spiritual realm from the Nine Mansions, but we also have to spend three hundred Gold Essence Coins. The current mansion master of the Nine Mansions is really good at business.”

Zhao Linglong looked at Senior Brother Qingxiao, who was inserting Gold Essence Coins into a large bronze mirror on the table, with a pained expression.

“The price has doubled since last year. If it weren’t for Taiping this time, I wouldn’t bother watching.”

Xu Ziyan, standing nearby, also frowned slightly.

“Some small sects might only earn two or three hundred Gold Essence Coins in a month. If it weren’t for the three of you chipping in, I wouldn’t be able to watch either.”

After inserting the last Gold Essence Coin into the bronze mirror, Qingxiao sat down.

He had been in closed-door cultivation for the past two years and rarely took on bounties from the Nine Mansions, so his Gold Essence Coins were almost depleted. That’s why he had to pool money with his junior sisters to watch this Immortal Gourd Contest.

Only Lin Buyu remained calm.

At this moment, she was engrossed in reading a book titled “Records of the Heroine of Qingcheng,” occasionally fiddling with the jade bracelet on her wrist. Sometimes, her lips would curl up slightly when she read something amusing.

Seeing this scene, Xu Ziyan couldn’t help but sigh:

“I remember the last time we all gathered together was also because of Junior Brother Taiping.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

Zhao Linglong, who was placing a pile of food and pastries on the table, nodded repeatedly.

“Last time, we were worried if Taiping could ascend the mountain. Now, he’s competing with the geniuses of the Nine Mansions in the Immortal Gourd Cave. It feels like a dream.”

Xu Ziyan smiled and added.

“It’s starting.”

Qingxiao, who had been fiddling with the bronze mirror, suddenly spoke.

Everyone turned their gaze to the large bronze mirror on the table.

Even Lin Buyu, who had been engrossed in her book, looked up with curiosity at the bronze mirror.

In the mirror, an old man with white hair and beard, as thin as a skeleton, sat cross-legged on a high platform with his eyes closed, holding a jade gourd.

“It’s Jade Green Scholar.”

Xu Ziyan said.

Jade Green Scholar was the master of the Immortal Gourd Cave and the first mansion master of the Nine Mansions.

The scene in the bronze mirror began to sweep across the young faces around the high platform.

“It’s Taiping!”

Finally, Xu Taiping’s face appeared in the bronze mirror. Although it was just a fleeting moment, it still excited Zhao Linglong and the others.

“Boom!…”

After the rules of the Immortal Gourd Contest were announced and the precautions were explained, Jade Green Scholar, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and removed the cap from the jade gourd in his hand.

A strong suction force pulled all the disciples around the high platform into the gourd.

Yes, the Immortal Gourd Cave was inside the jade gourd held by Jade Green Scholar.

The scene in the bronze mirror briefly went dark before brightening again.

A landscape vastly different from Zhenwu Heaven appeared in the bronze mirror.

“Even though it’s not the first time I’ve seen it, the scenery inside the Immortal Gourd Cave still looks like the legendary otherworldly realm.”

Zhao Linglong stared at the bronze mirror with wide eyes, full of wonder.

“There are indeed rumors that the Immortal Gourd Cave comes from another realm.”

Second Senior Brother Qingxiao nodded.

“Senior Brother, quickly look in the mirror and see if you can find Taiping.”

Zhao Linglong urged.

She wasn’t interested in the other sects’ disciples, only in Xu Taiping’s current situation.

“I’ll try. Taiping has no intention of competing for the Jade Gourd Peak, so he might be hiding in a mountain area.”

Qingxiao nodded and began to move his fingers over the bronze mirror.

“Rumble!…”

Before he could find Xu Taiping, a rumbling sound suddenly came from the bronze mirror.

“Ah!”

As everyone wondered where the sound came from, a bloodshot eyeball suddenly appeared in the mirror, almost filling the entire screen, startling Zhao Linglong into stepping back.

“What is… that thing?”

Senior Sister Xu Ziyan stood up in astonishment.

At the same time, screams began to echo continuously from the bronze mirror.

Everyone’s faces changed dramatically.