It was noontime . The scorching sun was shining high up in the sky . The sky was clean, and it seemed as if it had been bathed in blue color . There was no cloud in the sky as far as the eye could see . An area of dozens of acres of woods was scattered on either side of the ten-feet-wide road . The luxuriant growth of branches and foliage were adequate-enough to render a cool and refreshing feeling . A luxurious horse-drawn carriage was parked on the left side of the woods . It was drawn by two pure-white and graceful horses . And, a grey-robed stableman was feeding water and fodder to these horses . Twenty or more people could also be seen around the horse-cart . They were either in a standing or a sitting position . They seemed to be guarding the carriage . Their eyes were smeared with a touch of vigilance . Most of these people had bloodstains over their bodies . But, their wounds had been bandaged . These people could be seen in small groups of two or three people at this moment . They were eating food while sitting on the ground . There was a huge tree not far from the carriage . A tall and black-robed young man was resting against this tree trunk . His eyes were closed, and his arms were crossed across his chest . Two long weapons were crossed on his back in an intersecting position; they were wrapped in a piece of black cloth . This young man was Shi Mu . However, his shoulder was empty at this moment since Cai didn’t seem to be around him . A handsome man walked over to Shi Mu’s side from another tree at this time . This man seemed to be in his thirties . This man was clad in a white robe . He had sword-like sharp and straight eyebrows over his vivid eyes . A piece of silver cloth was wrapped around his forehead . His smooth and dark-red hair was hanging on his back . They were left loose around his shoulder . These features gave off an aura of a graceful yet manly beauty . "Elder Brother Liu, do you have any idea how far we are from the Heavenly Yu City?" Shi Mu opened his eyes as he heard the sound of footsteps . He then asked . "It should be roughly one month of a journey to reach there . " The handsome man replied as he arrived under a tree that wasn’t far from Shi Mu . He then similarly leant against the tree trunk and asked, "Oh, that’s correct… Brother Shi has stepped into the Xian Tian realm at such a young age . Could it be that you are heading to Heavenly Yu City to attend the Ascension to Immortality Ceremony?" "Brother Liu is making fun of me . I don’t have such an important reason . I’m only travelling there to gain knowledge and enrich my experience," Shi Mu shook his head . "It seems like just like me, Brother Shi is also going to the Ascension to Immortality Auction," Liu An said . "Ascension to Immortality Auction?" Shi Mu gawked .
"Oh, Brother Shi doesn’t know about this auction?" "I would appreciate if you could give me some more details . " "Actually, this isn’t considered a secret matter . A greater part of the talented disciples of the Eastern Continent converge to participate in this ceremony every time it is conducted . Moreover, many people rush over to observe and emulate . This obviously contributes to the unprecedented grand event that is held once in every thirty years in the Heavenly Yu City . The Heavenly Wu Chamber of Commerce is the best trading house of the Lu Shan Kingdom, and they hold the inauguration of the Ascension to Immortality Ceremony . After that, the Ascension to Immortality Hall holds a grand auction . It is said that a person is likely to get everything he wants to buy in this auction . But, there is just a little catch… this Ascension to Immortality Auction doesn’t accept the silver coins or paper money . It only accepts spirit stones," the handsome man explained with a smile . "So, it’s like this . Thank you so much for sharing this information, Brother Liu," An idea cropped up in Shi Mu’s mind as he heard the handsome man's words . He wanted to ask something else as well . But, a tumultuous sound suddenly transmitted from the direction of the luxurious horse-cart . The two men shifted their gaze towards the source of the sound . They saw that the carriage’s door was open . And, a well-dressed young boy was getting down the carriage; he seemed to be a twelve or thirteen-year-old kid . The boy then started to walk over to Shi Mu and the handsome man with the support of the arm of a middle-aged man who had a dignified expression on his face . There was a majestic aura around that dignified middle-aged man’s body . He was surprisingly a Xian Tian warrior . He was also the leader of this convoy . However, the young boy looked very frail and insignificant in contrast . He didn’t exactly have a thin and weak stature . But, his complexion looked slightly pale . And, he looked a little shy . But, there was a trace of stubbornness hidden behind his eyes . Shi Mu and the handsome man stood up when they saw this . "Our Young Master Hong insisted on personally expressing his gratitude to you two honorable men!" the middle-aged man supported the young boy, and arrived in front of these two men . The two then stood firm as he started to speak . His sound was sonorous and brimming with energy – like the sound of bells . Shi Mu and the handsome man were dumbfounded . They couldn’t help but pour a glance at the young boy . This was the first time that they had seen this boy outside the carriage . "Our convoy was attacked a few days ago . But, you two gracious benefactors extended support and rescued us . I’m truly grateful to you two for lending a hand in this time of emergency . And, thank you for rescuing this Young Hong’s life . Please accept this Young Hong’s greetings . " The skinny boy tried to break himself free from the middle-aged man’s support . Then, he walked towards Shi Mu and the other man, and greeted them . "Young Master Hong, it was nothing but a chance encounter . Besides, it was our fate that brought us together . " The handsome man moved his right hand, and gently supported the petite boy . Then, he replied with a soft smile . "It was only a trivial matter . Young Master Hong doesn’t have to mention it," Shi Mu also flashed a mild smile as he spoke-up . The skinny young boy spoke a few words of gratitude for some time . But, his poor physical strength failed to hold him further in some time . Therefore, he returned to the carriage with the help of the dignified middle-aged man . "Young Master Hong reminds me of my own younger self from childhood whenever I see him," the handsome man muttered once the young boy had left . Shi Mu couldn’t help but size-up this man as he heard these words .
He couldn’t understand how to associate this graceful and handsome man he was looking at with that frail and scrawny little boy who couldn’t even properly walk without someone’s support . As for how Shi Mu bumped into this handsome man, the young boy, and others — it was indeed a coincidence . Shi Mu had encountered this young boy’s convoy when he was passing through a narrow and rugged valley one day .
The convoy was under attack at that time . Twenty or more black-robed masked men had besieged these people . Four of the masked besiegers were Xian Tian powerhouses . And, the rest of them were Hou Tian advanced stage warriors . Shi Mu had soon learned from the middle-aged man’s angered wordings that they belonged to Heavenly Yu City . In fact, it had seemed they commanded a rather very dignified status in that city . However, those black-robed masked men didn’t seem to care about their privileged status . Instead, they continued to launch waves of fierce offensive attacks on them . And, their actions had made it seem as if that horse-drawn carriage was their prime target . Shi Mu had then noticed that the middle-aged man and his group’s members were desperately trying to resist them by putting their lives on the line . The middle-aged man possessed tyrannical strength . However, the other men of the convoy were obviously in a disadvantageous situation . That handsome young man had unexpectedly sprang up on the scene at such critical juncture . And, he had joined the convoy’s team without demur, and had tied down one of the Xian Tian powerhouses of the opposite party . His sudden action had greatly stabilized the situation . Shi Mu had been a bit hesitant in the beginning . But, he had then released Cai to fly for some time . After that, he drew his black blade and joined the side of the battling group . Then, he similarly took down another Xian Tian warrior of the besieging group . The convoy quickly gained the upper hand with the support of Shi Mu and the handsome man . And, the black-robed masked men eventually gave up and retreated . They also left several corpses of their Hou Tian warriors and a pile of weapons behind . Then, the middle-aged man proposed the handsome man and Shi Mu to become their escorts, and accompany their convoy to Heavenly Yu City . And, he promised that they would provide generous compensation for this task . The handsome man readily agreed since he had to travel in the same direction . But, Shi Mu hesitated a bit at first . However, he didn’t refuse them in the end . Shi Mu became a member of this team as a result . He later came to know that this handsome man’s name was Liu An . Suddenly, a clamorous sound was heard . And, it pulled Shi Mu back from his memories . He raised his head, and realized that the convoy had completed the necessary preparations . So, they were ready to set out on the journey again . . . .
One particular night… several days later . The moon was obscured by a layer of black clouds . A curtain of darkness and silence was spread across the world . The luxurious carriage was parked on the side of a wilderness . A dozen tents of different sizes were scattered around the carriage in the periphery . Therefore, the appearance of this carriage surrounded by these tents looked similar to the moon surrounded by stars . Most of the people of the convoy had already fallen into a deep slumber… except for the two men who were the night guards . There was an ordinary-looking tent on the edge of the convoy . Shi Mu stood up and opened the flap of this tent . His body moved, and he walked in a certain direction in a silent and secretive manner . He arrived near a river bank after a quarter-of-an-hour . The layers of clouds had also drifted away from the moon by this time . And, the soft silvery radiance of the moonlight had started to illuminate Shi Mu’s face . Shi Mu examined the riverside surrounding grove at an electric-fast speed . But, he didn’t find anything abnormal around . He then arrived, and stood in the open space by the river . After that, he pinched his fingers and started to mumble something . He had been quite depressed for some time . It was because Yan Luo had been ignoring his summons ever since he had replaced his flower with Yan Luo’s green flower . However, a plume of black smoke appeared not far from him soon after the spell was read this time . Shi Mu was overjoyed at this . This was the prelude which marked that Yan Luo would to appear here any moment . It seemed that Yan Luo had finally forgiven him . Soon, a human skeleton emerged from the black smoke . It held a bone spear in its hand . Its body moved and it walked out of the smoke . But, an unexpected scene unfolded the next moment! Yan Luo’s stature abruptly turned fuzzy, and disappeared from the place . Shi Mu hadn’t even been able to react to this when a mass of black smoke appeared not far from the grove . It was followed by Yan Luo’s silhouette that emerged amid that smoke out of thin air . Then, a layer of white light began to flow on the surface of its bone spear . And, the bone spear changed into a misty-white spear shadow the next moment . It was then thrust towards a particular place that was somewhere in the grove . A silver sword light scuttled out from the grove the next moment, and blocked Yan Luo’s attack . "Clang" a loud sound rang out! Two rays of light – one silver and other white – flashed, and then extinguished in a split second . Yan Luo’s stature also halted . "Brother Shi, it’s me!" a familiar voice resounded . A white silhouette sprang out of the grove like a bolt of lightning as this voice was heard . This figure then flashed a few times as it advanced towards Shi Mu . A mass of black smoke flashed beside that white silhouette at this time . Then, a long and white bone spear stabbed towards him while trailing dozens of blurred shadows behind . A shrill ear-splitting sound rang out in the air – like a shrewd laughter of an evil spirit . However, the white silhouette was also very nimble . It swayed and flashed a few times to evade the attacks Yan Luo had launched . After that, the white silhouette turned fuzzy again, and appeared in front of Shi Mu . A white light flashed on Yan Luo’s body, and it seemed as if it was about to pursue the white silhouette once again . Shi Mu promptly used his mind to send an order to stop Yan Luo as he saw this . Yan Luo’s gaze halted on the white silhouette that stood in front of Shi Mu . Then, the soul flame flickered in its eyes . Afterwards, Yan Luo turned around . A mass of black smoke enveloped its body completely . And then, it disappeared from the sight once again . Shi Mu smiled bitterly as he saw this . But, his eyes then shifted to Liu An . He then said, "Brother Liu, are you tracking me?" "Brother Shi, don’t misunderstand me . I couldn’t fall asleep . So, I went out to the river bank to take a breath of fresh air . I didn’t expect that I would bump into Brother Shi here . I had barely thought to come out and greet you . But, who would have thought Brother Shi's spirit pet would be so fierce . Its strike nearly compelled me into a big tumble as I tried to evade it," Liu An explained while shaking his head . "Yes, it is…" Shi Mu said . "He He, Brother Shi’s martial arts cultivation is remarkably profound . But, I didn’t expect that he’s also a Soul Magician . Speaking of which… I have a number of Soul Magician friends . I will introduce you to them if I get a chance . You might get a chance to enrich your knowledge and experience this way . Soul Magicians are very rare as far as I know . . . " Liu An said with a smile . "Brother Shi, you rest assured . I will keep this matter locked in my heart forever," Liu An didn’t wait for Shi Mu’s reply . He suddenly gave Shi Mu a meaningful wink and spoke-up in a lowered his voice . Liu An seemed to have noticed that Shi Mu was reluctant to talk further . So, he found an excuse and left . Shi Mu remained standing in the same place . He gazed at Liu An’s silhouette as it gradually faded away, and the hint of a pensive expression appeared on his face .
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