Chapter 16

Two immortal cranes, huge in size; the larger one is over five meters tall, and even the smaller is about three meters.

Each has a red dot on its head, the head and neck pure white, with black stripes on the wings and body.

Ye Zhangqing naturally knows these are the top-tier flying demon beasts raised by the Dao Yi Sect, immortal cranes.

Ordinary disciples at most ride black-scaled horses when traveling; only inner disciples and elders are qualified to ride immortal cranes.

These two immortal cranes are obviously raised by Hong Zun himself.

He looked at Hong Zun in disbelief and said.

"Peak Master, what is this......"

"I'll give you this smaller one; it will make your future outings for gathering ingredients more convenient."

Hong Zun didn't mind at all, and even personally performed a master-servant contract between Ye Zhangqing and this young immortal crane.

As the contract was completed, Ye Zhangqing felt a mysterious bond arise between himself and the young immortal crane.

For a moment, even Ye Zhangqing couldn't help but become excited.

This is an immortal crane, the Dao Yi Sect's top mount—it's like a luxury car from my past life; which man wouldn't like it?

Moreover, this young immortal crane is clearly still young; raised from infancy, its future bond will be the deepest.

No sooner had the contract been finished than the young immortal crane affectionately rubbed its head against Ye Zhangqing; it lacked the foul odor of other demon beasts, instead emitting a light grassy fragrance that was pleasant to smell.

Ye Zhangqing gently stroked it, and the young immortal crane let out a low, contented croon.

"From now on I'll call you Xiao Bai."

Lost in the joy of obtaining Xiao Bai, having already decided on the name, he completely failed to notice the envious looks in the eyes of Lu Youyou and Liu Shuang beside him.

"Youngster Ye Zhangqing, we're leaving now; we'll come back tonight."

After not lingering any longer, and having helped Ye Zhangqing tame Xiao Bai, Hong Zun took Lu Youyou and Liu Shuang and left.

Ye Zhangqing saw the three to the gate, and after the great immortal crane and Xiao Bai bade farewell, they spread their wings and flew off, soon disappearing into the horizon.

That great immortal crane is Xiao Bai's father, as Hong Zun had previously said.

"Master, you're playing favorites."

On the way, Lu Youyou said somewhat jealously.

"You little girl, don't you already have your own mount?"

"How could they be the same?"

Xiao Bai is naturally not an ordinary immortal crane; it is the Dao Yi Sect's premier red-crowned immortal crane, possessing the bloodline of an immortal beast within.

The immortal cranes of the Dao Yi Sect are divided into three grades: ordinary immortal cranes, black-crowned immortal cranes, and red-crowned immortal cranes.

Ordinary immortal cranes are the most common; after reaching adulthood, their cultivation at most reaches the Purple Mansion realm.

Black-crowned immortal cranes are somewhat stronger, but only up to the Nascent Soul level, with a few exceeding it.

As for red-crowned immortal cranes, they are in a completely different league; if well nurtured, they can even rival the peak masters.

In the entire Dao Yi Sect, the number of red-crowned immortal cranes does not exceed ten; aside from the Sect Master and the Supreme Elders, among the thirty-five other peak masters, only Hong Zun possesses a red-crowned immortal crane.

And Ye Zhangqing's Xiao Bai is the offspring of Hong Zun's immortal crane and the Sect Master's immortal crane—how could they be the same?

Lu Youyou's mount is merely a black-crowned immortal crane.

Just now that made her envious to death.

"You little girl, are you not wanting to eat Ye Zhangqing's cooking anymore?"

"I do."

"Well then, that's settled—Ye Zhangqing often needs to go out to purchase supplies, his cultivation is low, and with Xiao Bai protecting him it's safer; do you really want to never again be able to eat Ye Zhangqing's cooking?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Youyou froze; thinking of Ye Zhangqing meeting with some mishap, her heart sank.

Having grown accustomed to Ye Zhangqing's cooking, if she could never eat it again, Lu Youyou would hardly dare to continue thinking about it.

For a moment she repeatedly nodded in agreement.

"Still, Master's thought is the most thorough."

He didn't know the distinctions among immortal cranes, after all, with Ye Zhangqing's cultivation he hasn't yet come into contact with such matters.

After resting for about half a Shíchén, Ye Zhangqing prepared to set out.

Xiao Bai, being very understanding of human nature, immediately lowered its body to let Ye Zhangqing mount.

But with a single flap of its wings, Ye Zhangqing nearly slipped and fell; he hurriedly grabbed Xiao Bai's neck, lying flat on its back.

Previously watching the sect elders ride immortal cranes, they looked so cool, each standing on the crane's back as if rooted to the ground.

But at present Ye Zhangqing is only at the Body Refining stage, with no Línglì in his body, unable to achieve that; thus he can only adopt an ungainly posture.

"Xiao Bai, go slower, I can't catch my breath."

In the sky, Xiao Bai's speed was absurdly fast, forcing Ye Zhangqing to have it slow down a bit.

Alas, his cultivation is insufficient; without Línglì to protect him, he cannot fully unleash Xiao Bai's speed.

However, this first ride on an immortal crane soaring through the heavens feels completely different from riding an airplane in his previous life.

This is also the first time since his transmigration that Ye Zhangqing has viewed the entire Dao Yi Sect from a high altitude.

Thirty-six mountain peaks tower into the clouds, naturally forming a spell diagram; among the ranges, streams crisscross, green trees provide shade, and mist speckles the mountains, exactly matching the immortal realm people imagine.

Beyond lie over a hundred villages, fields of rice stretching everywhere, cooking smoke curling softly—a scene of perfect harmony.

The picturesque scenery lifted Ye Zhangqing's spirits greatly; this is what a cultivator should be—wandering freely between heaven and earth.

Although Ye Zhangqing is still far from reaching that level, his heart remains filled with confidence.

All the way toward Yicheng, even with reduced speed it remains quite fast; at most an hour should suffice to arrive.

But just after Ye Zhangqing had flown several hundred li, suddenly a battle's aftermath came from ahead, followed by a series of angry shouts.

"Old Demon Xueli, you can't escape!"

"Surrender and be captured, demon!"

Looking toward the sound, I saw only on the horizon several Dao Yi Sect disciples chasing a black-robed old man with blood-red hair swiftly toward me.

Void traversal, a Purple Mansion Realm expert.

Seeing this, Ye Zhangqing's heart jumped—how unlucky, to run into demonic cultivators as soon as I stepped out.

A Purple Mansion Realm expert, for the current Ye Zhangqing, is an existence with absolutely no ability to fight back.

But at this very moment, the Blood Fiend Old Demon stared straight at me and charged, while the several Dao Yi Sect disciples behind him also saw Xiao Bai—only because Ye Zhangqing was lying down, they didn't see the person on Xiao Bai's back.

But at first glance, those several Dao Yi Sect disciples also recognized Xiao Bai, their faces instantly lighting up with excitement.

"Red-crowned Immortal Crane?"

"Immortal Crane senior, please act and capture this demonic fiend."

"Blood Fiend Old Demon, today you have no escape."

Several disciples were full of confidence, while the Blood Fiend Old Demon, looking ahead at Xiao Bai, had icy eyes.

During this time he had been surrounded and attacked all the way, the Dao Yi Sect clung to him relentlessly; now even an Immortal Crane dared to block his path, and he immediately spoke with killing intent.

"Courting death."

Saying that, he directly struck out with a palm, and a blood-colored palm print fell from the sky.

Facing this scene, Ye Zhangqing was completely dumbfounded—he really hadn't checked the almanac before going out today, and moreover this demonic fiend is just sick; I already let Xiao Bai move aside, yet you still want to attack?

Could it be that my fate is finished?