Chapter 24: Going Out

After flying in the mountains for a period of time, Zhang Nuo had still not discovered any traces of the "Mysterious Heaven Gold-Devouring Insect," which made him feel a surge of anxiety. Right now, the Spirit Insect was more important to him than his own life.

The giant sword beneath his feet trembled slightly, then suddenly shone with brilliant spiritual light, rushing toward a small mountain peak below. In the blink of an eye, the giant sword landed at the summit. Zhang Nuo jumped off the giant sword, and with a movement of his Divine Sense, the giant sword shrank to its original size and flashed into the "Nine Dragon Sword Case" on his back.

Having just reached the Sixth Layer of the Qi Refining Stage, Zhang Nuo's Divine Sense coverage was not large; even if he used his Divine Sense to search for the Spirit Insect, it would be meaningless. For now, he sat cross-legged on the mountain top, eyes slightly closed, using his mind to sense the location of the Spirit Insect.

About an hour later, a small golden dot appeared on the horizon in the distance. The dot flew at a very high speed, and in the blink of an eye, it arrived right in front of Zhang Nuo. At this moment, a smile suddenly appeared on Zhang Nuo's face; he opened his eyes to see that the "Mysterious Heaven Gold-Devouring Insect" was already before him.

Vibrating a pair of wings as thin as a cicada's, it made a "buzzing" sound; the Spirit Insect seemed very happy because it had seen Zhang Nuo.

He extended one hand, and the Spirit Insect slowly landed on his palm. But the moment the insect landed, its body suddenly withered, and it quickly went limp in Zhang Nuo's palm.

Startled by this sight, Zhang Nuo hurriedly checked on the Spirit Insect; it turned out that this little thing had started to hibernate again! He shook his head and gave a bitter smile; over the past half-year, the Spirit Insect had been searching for ores in the Divine Sword Mountain Range and had never entered a state of hibernation. Having finally waited for its master like one waiting for the stars and the moon, it naturally could not hold on any longer upon meeting him.

Seeing that the Spirit Insect was safe, Zhang Nuo's heart was put at ease. He placed it inside his robe and flew his sword toward his Cave Abode. Last time, Zhang Nuo had only let the "Mysterious Heaven Gold-Devouring Insect" out for ten days, and it had produced such a large crystal; if he let it out for half a year this time, how large a crystal would it produce?

The help the "White Profound Crystal Stone" provided to the sword case was indisputable, so Zhang Nuo's heart was filled with even more anticipation.

Soon, Zhang Nuo flew back to the Cave Abode. Just as he approached the main hall, he saw Lin Fan and Gao Dakuan chatting about something; seeing Zhang Nuo enter, the two stopped their conversation.

"Junior Brother! Why are you carrying the sword case on your back?"

Gao Dakuan wanted to laugh but was afraid of making a sound; his expression was somewhat comical.

"What's wrong?"

Zhang Nuo had not felt that there was anything improper about carrying the sword case on his back at all. At this time, Lin Fan was also looking at Zhang Nuo, smiling without a word.

"It's all my fault as your Senior Brother! You have already entered the Sixth Layer, so you should be able to use a Storage Bag!"

As he spoke, Gao Dakuan took a gray bag from his robe. The bag was only the size of a fist and looked completely unremarkable.

"A Storage Bag!"

Zhang Nuo's heart skipped a beat. This name was not unfamiliar; in the Cultivation World, cultivators would all possess one or two storage Magic Treasures, and the Storage Bag was one of the most common. It could fit massive objects inside the bag, yet the volume and weight of the bag itself would not increase!

Like Zhang Nuo, carrying such a large sword case on his back all day long—it would be strange if people didn't laugh their heads off! Only now did Zhang Nuo understand why his Senior Brother had laughed so comically.

"Here, take it!"

Gao Dakuan gave a light toss, and the Storage Bag arrived in front of Zhang Nuo. After reaching out to catch it, Zhang Nuo took off the "Nine Dragon Sword Case" from his back and moved it slightly toward the mouth of the bag.

A flash of white light passed, and the large sword case slowly shrank, finally being collected into the Storage Bag. Afterward, Zhang Nuo hung the Storage Bag at his waist.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother!"

Zhang Nuo said happily, but at this moment, Lin Fan's brow furrowed slightly. He took a light breath of cold air, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Nuo Er, put the sword case back on your back!"

Once Lin Fan said this, both Zhang Nuo and Gao Dakuan were completely bewildered. What was wrong with their master? Seeing that Lin Fan did not offer much explanation, Zhang Nuo had no choice but to take out the "Nine Dragon Sword Case" he had just put into the Storage Bag and carry it on his back again.

"Haha! It is as I thought! Da Kuan, have you not noticed the difference between Zhang Nuo carrying the sword case and taking it off?"

Gao Dakuan was slightly stunned, but after a moment, he shook his head gently; he hadn't noticed any difference between the two.

"This sword case itself has the function of gathering Spiritual Qi. Only when Nuo Er carries the sword case does his own aura get absorbed by the sword case. In this way, when others scan him with their Divine Sense, they cannot see his actual cultivation level at all!"

After Lin Fan explained it this way, Gao Dakuan also noticed this matter. He scanned Zhang Nuo repeatedly with his Divine Sense, yet he truly could not sense any Spirit Power fluctuations emanating from Zhang Nuo.

"Nuo Er, carry it on your back from now on! No need to put it into the Storage Bag!"

Zhang Nuo nodded gently. If not for Lin Fan's reminder, even he himself would not have discovered this. In the Cultivation World, if you keep others from figuring out your strength, your safety is that much higher.

"Alright! Da Kuan, take Nuo Er with you to do the task I just entrusted to you! Anyway, since he joined the sect, he hasn't left the Divine Sword Sect even once!"

"Understood, Master!"

Gao Dakuan bowed slightly to Lin Fan, turned around, and led Zhang Nuo out of the Cave Abode. Zhang Nuo, who was completely confused, could not ask too many questions in front of his master and could only follow his Senior Brother.

As soon as they walked out of the Cave Abode, Zhang Nuo asked impatiently:

"Senior Brother, where is Master sending us?"

"Haha, Master is sending us to the market in Donglai City to purchase some things. The market there is much larger than the one in the sect, and it has all kinds of good things. When you have time, you can pick out a few items too; Senior Brother will pay the Spirit Stones for you!"

Gao Dakuan said with a smile. Hearing this, Zhang Nuo was also delighted. He had never left the Divine Sword Sect all these years, and now that he finally had the chance to see the outside world, he was naturally happy.

The two of them each rode their Flying Swords and flew toward the direction of Donglai City!