The long line of carriage trade convoy slowly advanced along the commercial route.
Within the convoy, there were many figures.
However, most of them were mortals, martial artists recruited from a few mortal towns below Red Maple Valley.
The actual cultivators openly present were just four, with one Qi Refining Middle Stage Cultivator of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer stationed at the center of the convoy.
Meanwhile, Qi Chuan and three others of the Qi Refining Third Layer were scattered around the convoy to prevent unforeseen incidents from occurring in various places.
Qi Chuan and approximately a thirteen-year-old boy were stationed at the back of the convoy.
Of course, if something truly did happen, Qi Chuan and the other Qi Refining Third Layers wouldn't be of much use; it was mainly up to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer Cultivator to rely on.
"This person is so young; he looks even younger than me by a year? Probably only at the Qi Refining Second Layer?"
A short distance from Qi Chuan, the thirteen-year-old boy unconsciously glanced in Qi Chuan's direction.
This thirteen-year-old boy was named Qi Feng.
His cultivation was at the Qi Refining Third Layer.
However, at the age of nine, he had been secretly tested for his spirit root in advance by an elder from the primary branch and then taken to the main branch for cultivation.
Even so, being able to reach the Qi Refining Third Layer from an Immortal Seed without any cultivation in four years made Qi Feng quite proud; it was all thanks to his own Middle Sixth Grade Spirit Root.
After giving Qi Chuan a glance, Qi Feng indifferently withdrew his gaze, a subtle shadow appearing in his pupils.
"This time, I heard from Third Grandmother that the Wind Moon Sect is recruiting new disciples, and within the Qi Family, there will be one spot for the Inner Sect?"
"I am now at the Qi Refining Third Layer, and there are still two years before the recruitment time. If I work hard and take some elixirs, I might have the chance to reach the Peak of the Qi Refining Third Layer. I wonder if I can seize that Inner Sect spot?"
"As for the Preaching Elder's granddaughter, Qi Chan'Er, although she has a Fourth Grade Spirit Root and is reportedly already at the Qi Refining Third Layer, even younger than me by a year, I estimate that within two years, it would be unlikely for her to break through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage because the Middle Stage bottleneck is not so easily broken through."
"However, if at that time we are both at the Peak of the Qi Refining Third Layer, given that Qi Chan'Er has a Fourth Grade Spirit Root and is younger than me, the family is most likely still going to choose her…"
Thinking of this, Qi Feng's expression grew increasingly unpleasant, and his confidence in vying for the Inner Sect spot diminished more and more.
Unless he could, shortly after reaching the Peak of the Qi Refining Third Layer, happen upon a serendipitous breakthrough past the Middle Stage bottleneck and advance to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, there was almost no possibility of competing against Qi Chan'Er.
However, although there were such lucky breakthroughs before, the probability was just too low.
As for what Qi Feng was thinking, Qi Chuan naturally had no way of knowing, not even knowing the other party's name.
At this moment, Qi Chuan's eyes were alertly scanning the surrounding movements of the convoy, without lowering his guard just because there was a Qi Refining Sixth Layer stationed in the convoy.
The Qi Refining Third Layer lacked Divine Sense.
They didn't even have Spiritual Sense for introspection; only upon breaking through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer could one awaken Spiritual Sense, usable for introspection but not for dissemination outside.
Thus, Qi Chuan could only rely on his naked eyes for observation.
However, as a Qi Refining Third Layer Cultivator, Qi Chuan had sharp vision and hearing, with a casual scan, everything around, the rustling of grass, birds, and beasts, was all clear to him.
Furthermore, Qi Chuan came to a conclusion: the scenic beauty of the Immortal World was indeed quite pleasant, unpolluted by technology, and with a trace of Spiritual Qi lingering between heaven and earth, you could discover numerous scenic spots with a casual glance.
Under Qi Chuan's vigilance, the surroundings of the convoy remained safe and peaceful, without incident as it traveled across the desolate trade route, occasionally entering some mortal cities along the way for a brief respite.
These densely populated mortal cities, including the various surrounding villages and towns, were all under the dominion of the Wind Moon Sect; even the Qi Family wouldn't dare to cause a disturbance easily, merely pretending to be a regular trade convoy on the surface.
After seeing many, Qi Chuan discovered that the bottom-tier mortals of the Immortal World were probably even more pitiful than those in ancient times of his previous life, living in grimmer impoverishment.
Fortunately, I was born in a Qi Family mortal town, protected by Qi Family cultivators; otherwise, if I had reincarnated as a regular mortal outside, who knows what I would encounter.
In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, and the journey was very peaceful, leading Qi Chuan to think that nothing would happen.
But on this day, the convoy passed by a mountain range densely covered with forest.
Whoosh whoosh!
Suddenly, the sound of something breaking the air rang out; fireballs, water arrows, ice spikes... tore through the empty space and fell towards various parts of the convoy.
Immediately, the entire convoy descended into chaos, demon horses neighed, and fear appeared on the faces of the mortal martial artists.
"They've come?"
Seeing this scene, Qi Chuan immediately prepared himself.
"What audacity! To attack my Qi Family convoy!"
But at this moment, an angry shout came from the center of the convoy, and then on top of a demon horse, the Qi Refining Sixth Layer Cultivator threw out several talismans, which burned and transformed into fireballs, water arrows, ice spikes, etc., to meet the sudden assaults from mid-air.
Boom boom!
In the air, loud explosions echoed, and both sides' fireballs, water arrows, ice spikes... all perished in succession.
"Haha, if you know what's good for you, leave now, and you might escape with your lives, or else you will lose both people and goods!"
A hearty laugh emerged, and thereafter from among the dense forest surrounding the convoy, five black-clad masked figures leapt out, all exuding the fluctuations of mana, they were evidently also cultivators!
After these tribulation cultivators appeared, they immediately charged towards the convoy.
"Protect the convoy!"
The Qi Family Qi Refining Sixth Layer Cultivator shouted angrily and took the initiative to meet two tribulation cultivators; these two tribulation cultivators, one was at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, the other at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, and instantaneously the battle was joined, the former could barely hold on.
As for the remaining three tribulation cultivators, they continued towards the convoy, with their target being the goods within the convoy.
Of course, if anyone dared to obstruct, they wouldn't mind taking their lives as well.
"Unexpectedly, something did happen after all."
Seeing this scene, Qi Chuan sighed; originally, when taking this task, he thought this trip would be relatively safe.
But now that things had come to this, there was no other way.
He could only also meet the nearest tribulation cultivator.
"So young, what cultivation do you have, yet you dare come seeking death?"
This tribulation cultivator was at the Qi Refining Third Layer, and seeing a boy of about twelve with delicate features rushing towards him, immediately a cruel smile emerged at the corner of his mouth.
Then he formed a seal with his hands, chanting incantations under his breath, and with his palm open, a small red fireball, half the size of a fist, elevated before flinging it, with an arm's wave, towards Qi Chuan in the distance with a boom.
This tribulation cultivator, though not young, only had the cultivation of the Qi Refining Third Layer but possessed a Fireball Technique at Minor Success level.
This level of power, below the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, was enough to run rampant, even a Peak of Qi Refining Third Layer, without any particular means, would find it difficult.
Moreover, given the other party's age, estimated only at the Qi Refining Second Layer, and appearing without any magical artifacts, probably one hit with a Fireball Technique would directly incinerate them to death, no?
However, in the next moment, Qi Chuan smiled slightly, and with seal formation and a lift of his hand, an arm-thick Magical Water Arrow appeared, slightly pausing before piercing through the empty space, shooting towards the Qi Refining Third Layer tribulation cultivator.
And it wasn't over yet; Qi Chuan, struggling slightly, formed seals again, and soon after, following the first Magical Water Arrow, two more arm-thick Magical Water Arrows rose, then shot towards the tribulation cultivator.
In a short time, three over Minor Success level Magical Water Arrows were successively shot out, their power was astonishing, causing the tribulation cultivator's face to drastically change!