It was said that the place was called Ziyang Hall.
Unlike Chihuo Hall, which refined pills and medicines to improve cultivation and cure illnesses, Ziyang Hall was notorious for everything except its pleasant-sounding name.
Because the Hall Master of Ziyang Hall was once a lethal poison master!
He didn't study things that saved lives or improved cultivation; instead, he researched invisible, lethal poisons capable of killing multitudes.
Anyone who had ever visited Ziyang Hall never came out unscathed.
It was said that a few years ago, when the sect had an urgent matter, Sect Leader Qu Qing personally went to invite the Ziyang Hall Master.
When he walked out of Ziyang Hall, his face was completely purple, clearly suffering from severe poisoning!
Even the sect leader was poisoned, which showed just what kind of lunatic this Ziyang Hall Master was!
Yet, such a person managed to remain safely in the Luoxian Sect until two years ago, when he left for some business, leaving behind a single personal disciple.
At this moment, Yuan Shu was standing at the foot of Yaoyun Peak, her brows slightly furrowed as she looked at the four large words ahead: "No Flying Permitted."
She was not someone who liked to suffer unnecessarily. Ever since she advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage and learned to fly on objects, she would choose to fly over any mountain path with even the slightest elevation change.
Was she expected to climb the mountain now?
Sure enough, just as she took out Zhuohua, preparing to fly on her whip, she was stopped.
"Disciples are forbidden from flying on Yaoyun Peak. Violators will be shot down without exception!"
Yuan Shu frowned, silently cursing the ancestors of whoever made this rule, while pondering how to get up the mountain.
Just then, a row of ethereal spirit cranes flew overhead, leisurely heading toward Yaoyun Peak.
Yuan Shu's eyes lit up. "If the spirit cranes can fly, why can't we?"
The Yaoyun Peak senior brother who was blocking her way looked Yuan Shu up and down, a mocking smile appearing on his face.
"Heh, spirit cranes can fly, but disciples cannot. That's the rule. If you're so capable, why don't you get a spirit crane to carry you up the mountain?"
Yuan Shu could see his mockery, but his words also gave her an idea.
Those spirit cranes looked plump and sturdy; they would surely make a very stable ride!
Yuan Shu immediately raised her hand, forming a special shape with two fingers against her lips, and blew a string of clear, crisp whistles.
The whistling pierced the sky and reached the flock of spirit cranes.
Instantly, the flying spirit cranes stopped in mid-air, circled twice, and then all flew back.
?
The blocking disciple stared at this scene in bewilderment, his eyes widening slightly, a look of disbelief on his face.
He looked at Yuan Shu, then at the spirit cranes.
Could it be that she actually summoned them down with her whistling?
Just as he was thinking this, the flock of spirit cranes flew overhead, passing right by them.
The blocking disciple's expression relaxed. As expected, he had overthought it.
These spirit cranes were raised by that damned fellow from Ziyang Hall. They didn't listen to anyone; how could they be summoned by a mere whistle?
Just as they breathed a sigh of relief and were about to mock Yuan Shu again, she pinched her fingers and blew twice more.
"Fweet, fweet..."
The clear whistling pierced the clouds once more, landing in the ears of the spirit cranes.
Immediately after, as if they had finally found their leader, the spirit cranes changed direction and all flew toward Yuan Shu.
Obviously, the spirit cranes had just flown past because they couldn't tell where the whistle was coming from.
Then, under the astonished gazes of the Yaoyun Peak disciples, the flock of spirit cranes slowly landed in front of Yuan Shu.
They all lowered their noble heads in unison.
"Chirp, chirp..."
The spirit cranes raised their heads and called out. They didn't look like they were angrily trying to peck people as usual; instead, it seemed like they were acting coquettishly?
Yuan Shu smiled and stepped forward, petting the head of the lead spirit crane.
Then, under the watchful eyes of the Yaoyun Peak disciples, she gave a light push off the ground and jumped onto the spirit crane's back.
Everything happened so fast and was so unexpected.
The Yaoyun Peak disciples watched dumbfounded until the spirit crane flapped its wings, carrying Yuan Shu slowly into the sky.
"Senior brother, thank you for the reminder. These spirit cranes are quite nice, they understand human nature and make great mounts..."
Yuan Shu's clear laughter floated down from the sky. Hearing this, the spirit crane beneath her even let out two proud cries of agreement.
?!
The Yaoyun Peak disciples wore bewildered expressions. It took a long time before someone found their voice.
"Wait, she just flew away on a spirit crane like that?"
Someone exclaimed, and another replied.
"There's no need to repeat what we all just saw, right? She really flew away on a spirit crane, and that spirit crane was raised by that person from Ziyang Hall!"
"If he finds out someone dared to mess with his spirit cranes... there will be huge trouble!"
Speaking of that person from Ziyang Hall, everyone present changed their expressions and looked at each other in dismay, acting very secretive.
However, this was also the first time they had seen anyone able to summon this flock of spirit cranes and even ride on their backs!
These spirit cranes used to only listen to their master!
"Alright, if you don't say anything and I don't say anything, how will the news reach that person's ears? Those spirit cranes can't talk!"
"Let's go, let's go, it's time to change shifts..."
...
"Thanks, Brother Crane. When there's a chance, I'll give you guys some sound therapy for your cultivation."
Standing firmly on the cliff of Yaoyun Peak, Yuan Shu smiled and waved at the spirit cranes.
The spirit crane was also quite happy to have carried Yuan Shu for this distance, raising its head to let out two loud, resonant cries.
Then, under Yuan Shu's gaze, it leaned its head over to rub affectionately against her before turning around and leading the other spirit cranes back into the sky.
Yuan Shu watched the flock of spirit cranes leave, then turned around in a good mood and walked into Yaoyun Peak.
The forest here was deep and dense, with only a small mountain path leading forward. The surroundings were quiet, without much sound.
Yuan Shu didn't know the way, so she could only follow the path forward, planning to find a junior disciple ahead to ask for directions.
Just as she turned a corner, a figure suddenly rushed toward her. Before Yuan Shu could react, the person crashed headlong into her.
A faint scent of green bamboo wafted into her nose.
Yuan Shu reflexively took a step back, wanting to put some distance between them.
But unexpectedly, the person in front of her seemed to have been provoked by something. He grabbed her waist and pulled her heavily into his embrace!
A scorching hot body temperature transferred through the thin clothing, and Yuan Shu smelled an even stronger scent of green bamboo from him.
It was crisp and clean.
"Hey, are you alright?" Yuan Shu frowned, reaching out to push him.
The man was tall, much taller than her, and his long arms were very strong.
Without using her spiritual energy, Yuan Shu couldn't push him away.
He even buried his head in the crook of her neck, panting with a low, hoarse voice.
Amidst the faint scent of green bamboo, Yuan Shu caught wisps of the smell of the Huanqing flower.
The kind of Huanqing flower used by the Hehuan Sect as an aphrodisiac.
Yuan Shu frowned, gathering spiritual energy at her fingertips. Pushing hard with her palms, she managed to create a little distance between them.
Only then did she get a clear look at his face.
"A face like flawless jade, eyes like peach blossoms" were the first words that popped into Yuan Shu's mind upon seeing this face.
His facial features were exquisite, with thin lips and a straight nose. Between his brows rested an innate sense of noble elegance.
His eyes were slightly downcast, and his thick, long eyelashes cast a small, faint shadow under his eyes.
His originally fair and delicate skin was now flushed red from the heat, yet it still couldn't hide his handsome elegance.
