Since two years ago, Xu Xiaochun and Guo Wanzhi have been temporarily slowing down their alchemy under Li Ji’an’s instructions, focusing entirely on reaching Foundation Establishment.

During this period, aside from secluded cultivation, there’s much sparring and competition with fellow disciples.

However, to truly temper their magical power, they must experience life and death trials.

They also need to accumulate sect contribution to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pill.

Half a year ago, the two started taking sect trial missions.

Taking out a communication talisman, Xu Xiaochun’s location was sensed in the eastern region of the Great Marsh Mountain Range, a month’s journey from the sect.

The Celestial Cyan Domain’s Great Marsh Mountain Range extends from west to east, connecting to the northern area of the Fire Domain. The farther east, the fewer demon beasts there are, and their tiers are much lower.

Especially after the establishment of the Eighteen Spirit Strongholds, the passage from the west to the east of the mountain range was cut off. It’s rare for great demons to reach the eastern part of the mountain range.

The sect’s Qi Cultivators often conduct trials within it.

After putting down the communication talisman, Li Ji’an immediately sat cross-legged on the ground, his heart as calm as water, his Sea of Consciousness clear.

Buzz~

The next moment, his divine sense had already connected with a thread of split soul thousands of miles away.

This was a protective measure Li Ji’an gave to his two disciples when they left for training.

A Soul Jade crafted by an elder of the sect can store a divine split within it, carrying a faint trace of Li Ji’an’s magical power with the force of a full strike from an early Foundation Establishment, but it can only be used once.

At this moment, Xu Xiaochun had not yet activated this Soul Jade.

After a brief adaptation, Li Ji’an sensed Xu Xiaochun’s situation through the split soul.

"Whoosh~" In the deep forest with thick foliage, the wind howled.

Xu Xiaochun darted rapidly through the dense woods.

Though the late Qi Cultivation stage was sufficient for controlling a flying sword to escape, it exhausts magical power excessively and cannot be sustained for long.

At this moment, Xu Xiaochun infused magical power into his legs, his speed wasn’t much behind flying with a sword.

Because it was merely a thread of split soul, Li Ji’an could only sense several energies chasing behind him, but due to the distance, couldn’t fully perceive them.

A moment later, Li Ji’an sensed that the energies chasing Xu Xiaochun were weakening, clearly about to be thrown off.

Yet, before Li Ji’an could relax, he suddenly noticed Xu Xiaochun gradually slowing down.

"Planning a counterattack?" Li Ji’an saw through his intentional plan to lure the enemy.

Meanwhile, his heart slightly settled, knowing that based on his understanding of Xu Xiaochun, this rebellious disciple would never call for help unless truly at the brink of death.

Of course, this was also the result of his teaching.

Now it seems Xu Xiaochun merely sensed potential danger, thus beginning to call for his master.

Having confirmed his situation, knowing he wouldn’t perish before arrival, Li Ji’an summoned Gugu, then set off on a flying boat toward the mountain range.

Along the way, Gugu controlled the flying boat, Li Ji’an continuously connected to the split soul to understand Xu Xiaochun’s situation.

However, to Li Ji’an’s surprise, after intentionally slowing down, Xu Xiaochun used no other means but accelerated his escape again after the pursuers caught up.

"Intentionally luring the enemy?" Li Ji’an frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled.

He knew Xu Xiaochun carried poison, including Tier Two early period poison.

Theoretically, if laid in advance on the unavoidable path of the pursuers, there’s a high chance of success.

Even if the pursuers were numerous, incapacitating one would reduce a threat.

"Why run north? Crossing the mountain range would enter the Celestial Origin Province."

The easternmost part of the mountain range, with the north being the Celestial Origin Province governed by Dongli Sect, and the south being the Cangyun State near the Fire Domain, Xu Xiaochun at this time kept fleeing north.

"Using himself as bait? Wanzhi?" Suddenly, Li Ji’an realized Xu Xiaochun was likely attracting enemies to cover Guo Wanzhi.

The two senior-and-junior sisters bicker in the sect often, Guo Wanzhi frequently criticizes Xu Xiaochun, even complaining to Li Ji’an, while Xu Xiaochun high-mindedly rebukes Guo Wanzhi, sometimes using her key alchemy moments to threaten her, forcing her to acknowledge him as her senior brother. Sometimes Li Ji’an couldn’t bear it, severely punishing his rebellious disciple, but these were internal conflicts. When outside entanglements arose, their stances were clear.

On a previous occasion, Guo Wanzhi was oppressed by an Inner Sect disciple. Xu Xiaochun disregarded sect rules, retaliating against the Inner Sect disciple, leaving him embarrassed.

This time, during their trial, Xu Xiaochun outwardly complained about Guo Wanzhi, repeatedly warning her not to hold him back. But when Guo Wanzhi really said she’d not go with him, he immediately changed his tune.

Sure enough, Xu Xiaochun repeatedly did this over the next two days, leading the pursuers to chase him.

However, on the third day, Xu Xiaochun’s communication talisman vibrated in his arms, his face changed drastically.

Simultaneously, he stopped merely fleeing.

He retrieved a bottle of poison from his storage pouch, spraying it on the leaves along the path.

Li Ji’an clearly saw this was a Tier One Soul-Devouring Powder, though not difficult to prepare, refining it to be colorless, tasteless, and shapeless required repeated refinement.

Evidently, Xu Xiaochun had achieved colorless and tasteless yet it remained in a white powder form, if further refined into a gaseous state, it would be even more secretive and easier to succeed.

An hour later, Xu Xiaochun stopped completely, hiding within a tree hollow in wait.

Before long, the pursuers drew nearer, Li Ji’an’s split soul finally sensed their exact energies.

Five late Qi Cultivation cultivators.

All wore flower-patterned masks on their faces, with attire vastly different from that of an Upper Sect disciple like Xu Xiaochun’s, appearing impoverished. The best one only wore a lower grade magic robe and it was ill-fitting.