「The next day, inside the small courtyard.」
Chen Jiuge watched Da Bai, who was wailing ceaselessly while clinging to his leg, feeling quite helpless. It was just a pool of monkey wine, after all. Though, a pool of monkey wine did seem quite valuable in terms of Spirit Stones.
"Alright, alright. Go get yourself two jars of Immortal Intoxication, and don’t take any extra." In the end, Chen Jiuge could no longer bear Da Bai’s wailing and reluctantly offered him two jars of Immortal Intoxication.
Watching Da Bai leave with a smile on his face, Chen Jiuge always felt that this guy was faking it.
Yue Yinghua stayed in Eden Garden for a month before leaving. A peaceful life really wasn’t suited for this battle fanatic. It was said that she went to find Senior Brother Li Yao again. Although Chen Jiuge had never met him, he mourned for him in silence.
As for Wudao Tian, he had remained in Eden Garden, as he currently had nothing much to do. Besides, with Die Luowu there for company, this place was much more comfortable than his own Grotto Heaven.
During this time, Hua Jianyu and Moluo Shaye were looking after the Spiritual Beast pups together. However, Hua Jianyu seemed a bit too sentimental; the pups she had bought now numbered at least eighty, if not a full hundred. It was said she had even borrowed a large sum of Spirit Stones from her Master.
Senior Sister Wen Ruo took Li He to complete a mission, aiming to liven up Junior Sister Li He’s typically cold and detached disposition by having her experience the myriad facets of the mortal world.
"Junior Chen, your ancestral master has sent someone," Wudao Tian remarked, holding a mission certificate and sounding somewhat curious.
"My ancestral master?" Chen Jiuge was a bit confused. Which ancestral master of mine could it be?
"It’s the Great Elder. The messenger has already left, but he gave me this mission certificate. It seems to be an assignment to be stationed in the Mortal World." Wudao Tian looked at the mission certificate in his hand, his expression curious.
"An assignment to be stationed in the Mortal World?" Chen Jiuge took it with a curious expression. Just then, the Great Elder’s figure materialized in mid-air.
"Chen Jiuge, although you are apprenticed to Wen Tianming, you are also my grand-disciple. Your Master is currently in seclusion, so it falls to me to guide you. From what I understand of you, your cultivation has progressed too smoothly. Therefore, I am assigning you to be stationed in the Mortal World for one hundred years. I hope you will mature during this period."
Eh, another hundred years? Chen Jiuge was somewhat reluctant. I’ve apparently never even been to the Mortal World before.
"Well, that’s the situation. So, Junior Chen, you’d best make the trip. Experiencing the mortal world for training is quite rewarding," Wudao Tian offered his opinion.
"But I have never been there before."
"That’s all the more reason to go! Let me tell you, training in the mortal world is incredibly interesting, and the dangers are minimal," Wudao Tian said, winking conspiratorially.
Willing or not, the assignment had become a reality, and Chen Jiuge had to go.
As for preparations before departure, items like Spirit Stones and Elixirs were a given. He hadn’t really used them much during his last trip to the Hundred Games Realm, but he packed them anyway.
The Mortal World lacked Spiritual Energy, making it impractical to bring a portable cave mansion. He also couldn’t bring too many Spiritual Beasts. Thus, Chen Jiuge selected the Martial Rats, which were the most skilled in martial arts. He took thirty-six of them, nearly depleting his entire stock.
As for his other Contracted Spiritual Beasts, Chen Jiuge thought for a moment. He decided to bring Yue Li, primarily for its strength, and Silver King for its flying ability. The others don’t seem particularly suitable, and it’s not like there will be much danger anyway.
"Junior Chen, besides Spiritual Beasts, I think you should bring more people. Don’t you have territory in a small world? Can’t you just pull a group out from there?" Wudao Tian suggested.
And so, Chen Jiuge mustered a thousand-strong Marquis army from Taiyuan City in the Martial Arts World. This force was equivalent to one thousand Body Cultivators at the Nascent Soul Cultivation Realm.
Looking at the vast and imposing army, Wudao Tian couldn’t help but think, My Junior Chen is truly cautious. This is just a trip to the Mortal World, not the front lines!
「Myriad Beasts Domain, Mortal World, Northern Territory, Imperial Palace of the Great Cheng Dynasty.」
Yan Wen stood at the highest point of the Imperial Palace, gazing into the distance, his eyes filled with anticipation. "I wonder which Junior Brother is coming to take over the mission," he mused. "Three hundred years! Finally, someone is here to replace me. If I stay any longer, my descendants will number over ten thousand!"
"Lord State Preceptor, the new State Preceptor you mentioned seems to have arrived," Wan Ren, the Commander of the Imperial Army, reported, kneeling on one knee.
"Hahaha, he’s finally here!" Yan Wen’s figure flickered as he moved, actually drawing upon his precious Spiritual Energy.
After teleporting with his army to the entrance of the Mortal World, Chen Jiuge realized he had miscalculated. The Spiritual Energy here was incredibly scarce. Wasn’t it said that it could support the consumption of ordinary cultivators?
Actually, Chen Jiuge only needed to reflect on his own Cultivation to understand. Of course, ordinary cultivators aren’t all at the Mahayana Realm; typically, those at the Golden Core or Nascent Soul Realm are the norm.
Fortunately, the thousand soldiers he brought were cavalry. After he enhanced their mounts, the Blood Tigers, they could just about keep pace with Silver King, who flew relying on its innate abilities rather than Spiritual Power.
「Three months later.」
The contingent finally arrived at the Imperial City of the Great Cheng Dynasty.
Presenting the State Preceptor’s seal that came with the mission, Chen Jiuge smoothly entered the Imperial City and proceeded to the Imperial Palace.
"Sir, could you please wait a moment? You have too many men with you; this humble general dares not make a decision arbitrarily," the young captain of the city guard said with a troubled expression, looking at Chen Jiuge. A thousand cavalry! I really don’t dare let them in. Judging by their formidable aura, they could probably cut a swathe straight through the Imperial Palace!
Chen Jiuge was a patient man. At least, that’s how his fellow disciples perceived him.
Before long, Chen Jiuge saw Yan Wen appear before him.
"Might you be Senior Brother Yan?" Chen Jiuge asked the cultivator before him, his tone quite certain.
"Junior Chen! Hahaha, you’ve finally arrived!" Yan Wen then looked in surprise at the majestic cavalry behind Chen Jiuge. "And this cavalry...?"