Chapter 48: Sorry, I Can’t…

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Just as Lu Xuan had predicted, disguising as the golden-robed and silver-robed demons proved beneficial.

The very next morning, an order came through. The young lord of the Sky Demon Sect, Yan Feiyu, instructed the two demons to select their subordinates and head to the back mountain to assist in repairing the formation.

Lu Xuan, using the secret techniques from the Illusion Scripture,” transformed himself and Cheng Lingzhu into the appearance of the two demons, foolproof against detection.

Both the golden-robed and silver-robed demon cultivators, at the pinnacle of the Golden Core Stage, held significant status and some authority.

Lu Xuan casually chose a few demons and followed the monk who came with the order to the back mountain.

Halfway up the mountain, a vast formation platform was embedded, where dozens of demon cultivators had already gathered, with Golden Core leaders each leading a group, waiting there.

Before long, a short, plump elder, transformed from a golden-furred rat demon and adept in formation arts, flew over, shrouded in demonic energy.

Accompanying him was a human cultivator from the Divine Weapon Pavilion, Yi Changqing.

“Brother Yan is occupied these days and can’t come, so I’ll be in charge here for now,” Yi Changqing said politely, producing a token from his sleeve and showing it to everyone. “The formation is difficult to repair, so I’d like to thank all the fellow daoists here for your efforts,” he added, bowing his hands in thanks.

The plump elder, who had brought him to the back mountain, was a notable demon in his own right, proficient in formation paths and already at the stage of Refined Void, although not quite as formidable as the Golden-Winged Peng responsible for capturing the cultivators previously.

The Sky Demon Sect, located in the Eastern Barren Territory and far from the Western Desert, could not be reached directly by the grand formation. Even with constant “station changes,” the journey involved passing through many places.

The Buddhist cultivator who had invited Yi Changqing was aware of this and thus imposed no restrictions on his method of traveling to the Great Impermanent Temple. Regardless of the route taken, challenges were to be expected along the way.

Yi Changqing had already contacted Yan Feiyu in advance, and the latter had built a new teleportation formation according to his needs. Due to Changqing’s early arrival, the formation was yet to be completed.

The demon cultivators, including Lu Xuan and Cheng Lingzhu, were there to help construct the formation.

The golden-haired elder briefly outlined the task, distributing a detailed diagram of the formation’s intricate parts to each person. Once everyone had memorized their roles, they stood at their designated positions.

The formation was incredibly complex. As soon as the work began, materials of various sizes flew out from the elder’s sleeves, directly tossed to the disciples.

Following his instructions, the demons swiftly embedded array stones, essence stones, spirit jades, and other items into specific slots.

While throwing materials, the golden-haired elder rapidly inscribed formation runes on the platform, moving so swiftly that he left afterimages. Occasionally, if a rune was inscribed incorrectly, he would have to scrape away the surrounding materials and reinstall them.

As he had received the young lord’s order, requiring the teleportation formation to be completed within three days, the elder dared not delay.

By noon.

“Senior, why not let everyone take a break?” Yi Changing suggested.

He had intended to help, but as a distinguished guest of the Sky Demon Sect’s young lord, the golden-haired elder naturally did not allow it, leaving Yi Changqing to handle logistical tasks instead.

For instance, he had just brought food and drinks from the mountain base for the many demon cultivators, and also brewed a pot of spirit tea.

“…Very well,” the golden-haired elder contemplated briefly and then nodded. Thus, the dusty disciples of the Sky Demon Sect finally had the chance to rest.

“Please, fellow daoist.

“Please, fellow daoist.

Yi Changqing personally served the spirit tea. The cups, carved from wood he had chopped from the mountain trees, released a refreshing plant fragrance when filled with the tea.

Lu Xuan and Cheng Lingzhu expressed their thanks, clinked cups, and drank.

After a midday rest, they continued building the formation in the afternoon, thankfully without working overtime in the evening.

Arranging a formation was a meticulous task; lack of concentration could easily lead to errors, a fact the golden-haired elder understood well.

The morning of the third day.

The formation was finally completed.

A disciple eagerly stepped onto the formation platform, then activated the formation. A beam of white light shone, and his figure vanished.

Dozens of breaths later, the formation lit up again, and his figure reappeared on the platform. The Sky Demon Sect disciples were thrilled:

“It’s a success!”

Hearing this, the golden-haired elder heaved a sigh of relief, and the demons cheered.

Smiles appeared on Lu Xuan and Cheng Lingzhu’s faces.

Lu Xuan leaned over and teased, “Tired these past few days? Let me massage your wrists.”

“Most of the materials were caught by you, how could I be tired?”

Cheng Lingzhu’s lips curved up, but she still placed her hand in his palm.

As she said, most of the materials for the formation thrown by the golden -haired elder were effortlessly caught by Lu Xuan. With his reaction speed and proficiency in formation, such tasks were well within his capabilities.

Due to this, Cheng Lingzhu did not feel particularly exhausted.

It was not as tiring as the times she had helped him before…

Cheng Lingzhu blushed at the thought.

After finishing their work, the demons dispersed down the mountain, each returning to their respective positions.

However, Lu Xuan pulled Cheng Lingzhu aside, circled around, and then returned to the mountain.

“What’s wrong?” Cheng Lingzhu asked, puzzled.

The “us” he referred to wasn’t just him and Cheng Lingzhu, but all the demon cultivators responsible for constructing the formation platform.

Lu Xuan cast a concealment spell, hiding their presence as they quietly observed the formation platform.

After the successful trial of the formation, Yi Changqing did not leave immediately but instead brewed a pot of tea, waiting there.

Half an incense stick’s time later, a figure descended from the sky — it was Yan

Feiyu.

“Brother Yan.”

Yi Changqing, seeing him approach, quickly walked up with two cups of spirit tea.

“Once we part today, who knows how long it will be until we meet again.”

Yan Feiyu, disguised as a scholarly young master, sighed and unfurled his folding fan with a whoosh:

“As you part on a journey of thousands of miles, I wish Changqing a prosperous future and a path to the great Dao!”

After a few sentimental words, they drank the tea in their cups.

Yi Changqing bowed to Yan Feiyu and then walked towards the formation platform. But after only a few steps, he staggered and fell to the ground, his legs giving way.

“Why… Why is this happening…”

Yi Changqing’s eyes widened in shock, feeling his body go limp and unable to move.

Along with the weakness, a strange fire burst forth from within, spreading towards his lower abdomen, turning his face red.

“I’m sorry, Changqing,” Yan Feiyu sighed, folding the fan that had been directing wind towards Yi Changqing.

His voice, no longer deep and powerful, became shriller.

Yan Feiyu lifted Yi Changqing’s body and placed him on a clean, large rock.

He pulled out the hairpin from his hair, letting down a cascade of soft, black hair.

His previously robust figure transformed, becoming curvaceous, and a faint fragrance emanated from his body.

Yan Feiyu, now of the opposite gender, stood in front of Yi Changqing.

“The mysterious Yin power within you is not only a great temptation for women but also perfectly aligns with my cultivation practice.”

She reached out, gently caressing Yi Changqing’s cheek, her movements tender and pitying.

“I’m sorry, I can no longer be your brother..”