53: Chapter 53 Disciples of the Joyful Union Sect

"Junior Brother Baili Yunche."

A cold, clear voice came from behind.

Baili Yunche turned around and saw Su Bingqing standing three steps away, looking at him with a half-smile.

Dressed in snow-white robes with hair like a cascading waterfall, her exquisite and peerless features made her look like a Fairy walking out of a painting.

Baili Yunche's heart skipped a beat, and he gave a wry smile. "Senior Sister Su."

"Junior Brother Baili Yunche, you've kept things hidden from me so bitterly."

Su Bingqing walked forward slowly, stopped in front of him, and looked up at him slightly.

"Speak, you hid your Cultivation to approach me, do you have ulterior motives? If you don't give me a proper explanation today, don't even think about leaving."

Baili Yunche quickly waved his hands with an innocent look. "No, no, no... Senior Sister Su has misunderstood! How could I have any other motives? I just purely wanted to learn Alchemy..."

"You purely want to learn Alchemy?"

Su Bingqing let out a cold snort, a trace of disbelief flashing through her beautiful eyes,

"Who do you think would believe that? An expert capable of killing a Foundation Establishment 7th Layer with a single punch hiding his Cultivation to go to Shendan Peak to learn Alchemy? If you say that out loud, would anyone believe it?"

Baili Yunche opened his mouth, momentarily speechless.

When spoken aloud, even he felt it was somewhat unbelievable.

He scratched his head and changed the topic. "Regardless, I must thank Senior Sister Su for teaching me Alchemy. How about I treat Senior Sister to a meal at Xianwei Pavilion as an apology?"

Seeing him like this, Su Bingqing couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

That smile was like melting ice and snow, so beautiful that people couldn't look away.

"An apology won't be necessary."

She put away her smile and said with a serious expression, "I plan to go to the Sunset Mountain Range to find a Spirit Medicine, but I'm a bit scared going alone. Why don't you accompany me on this trip?"

"No problem!" Baili Yunche agreed without even thinking.

"I also happened to plan on going out for experience to prepare for the upcoming Inner Sect Grand Competition. When are we departing?"

"In three days," Su Bingqing said.

"Alright, see you in three days."

...

Three days later.

Sunset Mountain Range.

Baili Yunche and Su Bingqing walked side by side along the mountain path, their footsteps exceptionally clear in the silent mountain forest.

"Senior Sister Su, what kind of Spirit Medicine are you looking for? Isn't there any inside the Sect?"

Baili Yunche asked as they walked.

Su Bingqing shook her head. "What I am looking for is a snow jade orchid. This is a Tier 3 Spirit Medicine, and even the Sect does not have a reserve of it."

"I accidentally received news that a snow jade orchid grows in the Misty Valley of the Sunset Mountain Range."

"However, there is a Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon guarding it, and my individual strength is not enough, so I called you along."

"I see." Baili Yunche nodded, a trace of confidence flashing in his eyes,

"Senior Sister Su, rest assured, as long as we don't encounter a Golden Core Realm Yao Beast, this time I will definitely help you get the snow jade orchid."

The two accelerated their pace and hurried toward the direction of the Misty Valley.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the outer periphery of the Misty Valley.

Mist permeated the valley, and visibility was extremely low.

The air was filled with damp water vapor, mixed with a faint fishy stench.

Baili Yunche slowed his pace, about to enter the valley.

Suddenly, intense sounds of fighting came from ahead.

Rumble!

The sounds of Spell explosions rose and fell, mixed with the angry roars of a Yao Beast and the shouts of humans.

Flames soared into the sky, illuminating the entire valley.

Baili Yunche's expression changed slightly, and he stopped.

"Not good, Senior Sister Su, it seems someone has beaten us to it."

Su Bingqing furrowed her brows tightly, a trace of depression flashing in her eyes. "What should we do? I am now missing only this core medicinal ingredient. If we cannot get the snow jade orchid, this cauldron of Medicinal Pills will be completely wasted."

Baili Yunche pondered for a moment and said in a low voice, "Let's go over and check the situation first. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; we might not lack an opportunity."

Su Bingqing hesitated for a moment and nodded.

The two restrained their breath and quietly crept over.

Soon, they found a concealed position behind a cluster of bushes.

Through the gaps in the branches and leaves, the scene in the valley could be clearly seen.

There was a pool of water in the valley, and in the center of the pool was a small stone platform, upon which grew two bizarre spiritual flowers.

The petals were white as snow, crystal clear, emitting a faint fluorescent glow in the mist, looking like they were carved from ice and snow.

It was precisely the snow jade orchid.

And by the side of the pool, three people and one beast were engaged in a fierce battle.

Those three people wore uniform attire: bright red long robes embroidered with golden patterns on the surface.

Fighting against them was a huge Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon.

That Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon was several zhang long, its entire body covered in cyan scales, each scale the size of a palm and extremely hard.

It possessed four claws with tips sharp as blades, a single horn on its head, and blood-red eyes, crazily attacking the three red-robed people.

Baili Yunche swept his Divine Sense across, inwardly startled.

Among the three red-robed people, the leader was at Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer, and the other two were at Foundation Establishment 8th Layer.

As for that Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon, its aura faintly showed signs of breaking through to the Golden Core, and its strength was comparable to the Peak of Foundation Establishment.

Among these three people and one beast, none of them were pushovers.

"Senior Sister Su, do you know which Sect this group of people belongs to?"

Baili Yunche asked in a lowered voice.

Su Bingqing carefully looked at the attire of the three people and said in a low voice, "Judging by their attire, they should be people from the Hehuan Sect."

"Hehuan Sect?"

Baili Yunche raised his eyebrows slightly.

Su Bingqing nodded and explained, "The Hehuan Sect, just like our Xuanyang Sect, is one of the Four Great Sects of Cangxuan Country. In terms of overall strength, the Hehuan Sect is even above our Xuanyang Sect."

"This Sect is most skilled in Dual Cultivation Techniques. Most of the Cultivation Techniques they Cultivate require male and female Dual Cultivation to advance."

"Therefore, the Disciples of the Hehuan Sect are... relatively open regarding matters between men and women. It is said that quite a few Disciples within their Sect Cultivate in pairs."

Baili Yunche nodded thoughtfully.

"However—the behavior style of the people from the Hehuan Sect is vastly different from our Xuanyang Sect."

"They advocate doing whatever they please and act unscrupulously, and their reputation in the Immortal cultivation world of Cangxuan Country is... not very good."

"Since they discovered the snow jade orchid a step ahead of us today, I'm afraid they won't let go easily. If we want to obtain it, I'm afraid we will have to put in some effort."

Su Bingqing looked at Baili Yunche, a trace of hesitation flashing in her eyes. "Junior Brother Baili Yunche, why don't we forget it?"

"Those three people are not weak in strength, coupled with that Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon... We had better not take the risk."

Baili Yunche did not speak, his gaze fixed on the two snow jade orchids in the center of the pool.

After watching for a moment, he suddenly spoke. "Senior Sister, that Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon seems to be breaking through."

Su Bingqing looked closely and indeed, the aura of that Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon was climbing step by step, faintly showing signs of breaking through to the Golden Core.

"Not good!" Her expression changed. "If this Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon breaks through to the Golden Core, those three people from the Hehuan Sect certainly won't be matches. By then, there will be even less hope for the snow jade orchid."

"Therefore, right now is the best opportunity."

Baili Yunche's gaze burned brightly.

"Both sides are fighting fiercely and neither can spare attention for the other. If we make a move at this time, we might not lack an opportunity."

Su Bingqing grabbed him, her voice carrying a hint of anxiety. "Junior Brother Baili Yunche, do not act rashly!"

"They are all Foundation Establishment Late Stage experts, plus that Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon about to break through to the Golden Core. You had better not take risks."

"If the snow jade orchid is gone, we can find it again. Your life is more important than anything else."

Her fingers tightly grasped his sleeve, her eyes full of worry.

Baili Yunche gently brushed away her fingers and gave her a reassuring look.

"Senior Sister Su, rest assured, I won't do anything foolish."

"Alright then, be careful yourself."

She let go of her hand and instructed in a low voice.

Baili Yunche nodded and took a deep breath.

The next instant, his figure flashed, directly executing the Startled Swan Swimming Dragon Step.

A golden afterimage flashed out from the bushes, fast as lightning, and quickly arrived at the center of the pool.