In the secluded valley, the flora was lush, the air perpetually spring-like, with fragrances lingering throughout the year.

The valley housed a hundred simple households, featuring only a single tavern. This tranquil vale lay well within the borders of the Tianwu Kingdom; traversing west across it for three days would lead one to Blackrock City, a major hub of the kingdom.

The sole establishment in the Serene Valley was an inn named “Clear Stream, Flowing Spring.” This name was not only the tavern's title but also the designation for its unique brew. “Clear Stream, Flowing Spring” was smooth, fragrant, appealing to all, and any traveling merchant or Heavenly Master passing through the Serene Valley inevitably stopped at the tavern for a jar of the eponymous wine. (1, the flowing water is so lonely, needing Brother Nan early in the morning. 2, Heavenly Master, I suppose.)

This was a spirit utterly distinct from the fiery 'Dragon’s Burn.' Its flavor was mellow, its entrance bursting with fragrance, instilling a stillness in the drinker, akin to a leisurely stroll along the stream beds of the Clear Stream mountains—utterly comforting and serene.

For those accustomed to the potent 'Dragon’s Burn,' sampling 'Clear Stream, Flowing Spring' offered a peculiar, nuanced pleasure. After half a jar settled in his stomach, Ji Changkong narrowed his eyes, truly experiencing a wondrous sense of exhilaration and refreshment.

The Four Symbols Heaven Realm was suddenly achieved, so smoothly that it felt almost unbelievable.

A Heavenly Master who reached the Four Symbols Heaven Realm was immediately faced with a crucial decision: which of the Sacred Beasts should he focus his communion upon!

This choice dictated the direction of the Heavenly Master’s future development. Once the primary Sacred Beast was chosen in the Four Symbols Heaven Realm, one would have to select the corresponding Five Elements power for cultivation upon reaching the Five Elements Heaven Realm; only by aligning them could one’s strength be maximized.

The Azure Dragon Sacred Beast governs the power of the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder. The White Tiger Sacred Beast governs the power of the Cyclonic Storm. The Vermilion Bird Sacred Beast governs the power of the Blazing Flames. The Black Tortoise Sacred Beast governs the power of the Glacial Blizzards.

Each of the Four Sacred Beasts possessed unique divine abilities. In the Four Symbols Heaven Realm, mastery in just one was required to break through to the Five Elements Heaven Realm. The path of cultivation was long, and from this stage forward, many Heavenly Masters began to specialize. Having actually broken through to this realm, Ji Changkong felt a wave of confusion.

Only by communicating primarily with the Azure Dragon Sacred Beast could a practitioner of the Sky Thunder Strike expertly wield the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, unleashing the full might of that technique. However, if the Raging Wave Art, during the Four Symbols Heaven Realm, received aid from the Black Tortoise Sacred Beast, and subsequently cultivated Water Elemental Power in the Five Elements Heaven Realm, the Raging Wave Art’s destructive force would be immensely amplified.

Sky Thunder Strike and Raging Wave Art were his two primary secret techniques as a Heavenly Master. Each had its distinct strengths: Sky Thunder Strike excelled in close-quarters combat with savage, explosive power, while Raging Wave Art was a method of ranged assault, its power continuous and escalating with each wave.

Both secret techniques had their unique merits. 《1/6\Novel Site Mobile Access $ :////.1@6@.@n》 Choosing a primary focus now would inevitably affect the future potency of both secret arts, leading to his hesitation.

Unconsciously, the jar of 'Clear Stream, Flowing Spring' was finished. He remained oblivious, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

"Eh? It's you! I didn't expect you to still be alive!"

A voice filled with joyous surprise suddenly sounded near his ear. The green-clad girl he had encountered in the ruined temple approached him happily. "How did you escape that child’s deadly grasp? Though he is young, his attacks are merciless. You actually managed to walk away alive."

The red-clad girl followed closely behind. Seeing Ji Changkong look up, she smiled awkwardly and lightly tugged the green-clad girl's sleeve, saying respectfully, "Yi, thank you for your help that day. Otherwise, Xiao Rou and I would surely have been severely injured by that Twin-Headed Python."

"Yes, thank you. If you hadn't helped, I would have been the first to be bitten to death by the Twin-Headed Python," the green-clad girl replied with a touch of innocent charm. She quickly introduced them: "I am Yi Rou, and this is my elder sister, Yi Jia. How did you manage to escape that boy’s clutches afterward?"

The red-clad girl, Yi Jia, also turned her attention to the question when asked, gazing intently at Ji Changkong with her bright eyes.

He downed the last drops in his bowl. The jar of 'Clear Stream, Flowing Spring' on the table was finally empty. Ji Changkong cleared his throat, his voice rough, and said, "That kid is indeed formidable; I nearly fell victim to his poison as well. Do you know his background? And why were you in that ruined temple? Who were that gray-clothed youth and the three middle-aged Heavenly Masters? What was the deal with those black-clad, straw-hatted figures who appeared later?"

The barrage of questions made the two girls pause, staring at Ji Changkong with confusion.

After a long moment, the green-clad girl, Yi Rou, let out a soft chuckle, pulling her sister Yi Jia to sit down opposite Ji Changkong. "So, you were just passing through that day, weren't you? Haha, I thought you were some kind of villain." Yi Rou sat down, stuck out her tongue, and smiled adorably.

"During the Spirit Treasure Assembly, our friend was killed in the Grand Hall of Spirit Treasures, and the treasure was stolen. When we came to the Chen Family, they claimed they were searching for the culprits and would do their utmost to retrieve our belongings, but they didn't say how long it would take."

"The Chen Family said the assailants at the Assembly were from the Western Regions' Mani Sect, the Central Lands' Shadowless Sect, and the East Sea's Sunset Isle. The Chen and Huangfu families fully committed themselves to pursuing the Mani Sect and Sunset Isle factions, leaving no time to deal with the elusive Shadowless Sect."

"However, the Chen Family paid a hefty price to hire the Duan family women to track the Scarlet Shadow Sect’s trail. It was thanks to the Duan women’s skill that the Shadowless Sect’s tracks were discovered. The Chen Family informed us of the location, and we laid an ambush near that ruined temple for the Shadowless Sect members fleeing Yangshuo Mountain."

"Everyone inside that temple that day was a seeker of vengeance for friends or family lost at the Spirit Treasure Assembly. We were all strangers. Only that young boy seemed hostile toward everyone, constantly using his Twin-Headed Python to provoke confrontations. Later, a group of Shadowless Sect members arrived, and the gray-clothed youth and the three Heavenly Masters attacked and killed them. Only then did the young boy seem to realize those two sides were not to be trifled with, as he stopped targeting them."

"Then, you suddenly appeared, and not long after, those black-clad, straw-hatted Shadowless Sect members showed up again. You know the rest of the situation."

Before Yi Rou could speak, Yi Jia quickly interjected, answering all of Ji Changkong’s inquiries. After finishing, Yi Jia subtly signaled Yi Rou. The younger girl, who seemed about to speak, obediently silenced herself.

It was clear Yi Jia was withholding certain information, keeping a wary eye on Ji Changkong.

"Oh, I see how it is," Ji Changkong nodded with a slight smile, not pressing further.

"We truly must thank you for that day. We wouldn't have escaped otherwise. We only made it out alive when we saw those three Flying Blood Vipers suddenly retreat," Yi Rou said, seeming a little embarrassed. She hesitated, then continued, "It wasn't that I didn't want to go back and help you, but I was terrified of the Flying Blood Vipers, and even more afraid of that strange little boy. I'm sorry, Uncle."

Uncle? Ji Changkong gave a wry, inner smile.

"It's nothing," he replied hoarsely, his voice rough, before standing up. "Please, enjoy yourselves. I’m leaving now."

"Wait a moment," Yi Jia suddenly called out sharply, standing up in haste. Seeing Ji Changkong look at her with surprise, she quickly added, "Uncle, you are heading to the Tianwu Kingdom, aren't you?"

"Yes," Ji Changkong nodded.

"We are going there too. Why don't we travel together? If you agree, I am willing to offer three hundred high-grade Yuan Stones." Yi Jia said, her expression brightening with the suggestion.

Bodyguards? Ji Changkong frowned slightly, shook his head, and politely refused, "You two are capable enough to protect yourselves; I have nothing to offer you in terms of assistance. I apologize." With that, he tossed down a small piece of broken silver and walked out of the tavern without looking back.

"Three hundred high-grade Yuan Stones, for just three days of travel, and he refuses! Humph, what an arrogant fellow!"

"Yi Jia let out a low hum, clearly annoyed.

In the past, three hundred high-grade Yuan Stones would have made Ji Changkong's heart race. Back in the Ji Family, he had never even seen a single high-grade Yuan Stone.

In the entire Ji Family, only a few individuals like Ji Yuxing had access to high-grade Yuan Stones for cultivation.

After leaving the Ji Family, his horizons broadened. At the Spirit Treasure Assembly, he had secured generous rewards just from the worldly possessions of the Thousand-Year Violet Gold Toad. Three hundred high-grade Yuan Stones were now barely worth a second glance. Furthermore, Yi Jia and Yi Rou both possessed cultivation at the Four Symbols Heaven Realm; without employing the power of his Silver Pupils, he might not even prevail against them. How could he possibly qualify as their bodyguard or escort?

"Help! Help me!"

Suddenly, Yi Rou's voice, filled with panic, rang out behind him. From the nearby Serene Valley came the sound of intense fighting.

In an instant, the two sisters fled desperately in his direction. Yi Rou’s delicate face was etched with terror, and she looked pleadingly at the gradually approaching figure of Ji Changkong, shouting loudly, "Uncle! Uncle! Save us!"

Bang!

A dull thud sounded as a surge of force struck Yi Jia. Her body suddenly flew backward, sailing past Yi Rou and landing ten meters behind Ji Changkong.

"Sister! Sister!" Yi Rou cried out tragically, rushing to Yi Jia's side, tears welling in her eyes.

"Heh heh, these two little wenches run pretty fast, but we finally caught them." A cold, coarse voice drifted from behind, and four shadowy figures rapidly closed in, surrounding them.

The voice sounded strangely familiar. Ji Changkong abruptly turned, his voice hoarse, and asked, "It's you? Weren't you heading to Yangshuo Mountain? How did you end up here?"

Tu Qi paused, then exclaimed with surprised delight, "It’s Brother Chou! Where is Sister Chou?"

"Sister Chou was supposed to team up with us for a job in Yangshuo Mountain, but she vanished midway. Brother Chou, you aren't with Sister Chou?" said the woman covered in pockmarks, grinning. "Without Brother or Sister Chou managing things, the four of us didn't dare venture to Yangshuo Mountain, so we just kept doing small jobs. What a coincidence, running into Brother again here."

Pfft!

Yi Jia, who had just managed to sit up, spat out a mouthful of blood, her face turning ashen as she stared at Ji Changkong in front of her. They are the same group! Despair washed over her.

Tears streaming down her face, Yi Rou supported her sister Yi Jia as she sobbed. She glanced up at Ji Changkong, her eyes filled with terror and profound disappointment.