Feng Xi took the initiative to go see Xiao Baidao.
"Master, the border region is dangerous, but I'm not going there to charge into battle, so there shouldn't be that much danger.
Besides, won't there be an elder leading us?
Nothing will happen!
Just let me go without worry!"
Xiao Baidao shook his head, "No, it's too risky."
"Master, ever since I met you, my luck has been exceptionally good.
If not auspicious, then it's pretty close.
As the saying goes, heaven watches over the fortunate. This time, not only will I be fine, I might even make a great contribution!
I know you can't bear to part with me, but I'm your personal disciple. If I shrink back in fear at a time like this, what will others think of you? What will they think of Xuantian Sect?
So whether it's for your sake or for the sect, I must go this time!
Besides, I also want to go out and gain experience. Flowers that never weather storms are destined never to bloom in the sunlight. Please let me go, Master!"
Xiao Baidao thought Feng Xi was saying all this just so he wouldn't be put in a difficult position. The more he listened, the more he felt like his little disciple was so sensible it made his heart ache.
In the end, he could only agree.
In truth, Feng Xi had only spoken part of the reason. Another reason was that the little black sphere needed to absorb demonic qi, and this trip was the best opportunity.
To ensure Feng Xi's safety, Xiao Baidao spared no expense.
From the empty treasury of Xuantian Sect, he took out a suit of armor.
"Xiao Xi, wear this Dragon Scale Armor. It can withstand a strike from a mid-stage Soul Transformation Stage cultivator."
Jun Wen's eyes nearly popped out!
The sect actually had such a good treasure?!
Master had hidden things so deeply!
What Jun Wen didn't know was that both the Nine-Turn Rebirth Pill and this Dragon Scale Armor were Xiao Baidao's personal lifelines, kept in case the sect ever faced catastrophe. They were capital to preserve the sect.
But for his little disciple, he had taken them all out.
Although Feng Xi didn't know this, she could clearly feel that Xiao Baidao treated her with complete sincerity.
She tried her best to refuse, but couldn't withstand Xiao Baidao's insistence, so she had no choice but to wear it beneath her clothes.
Silently, she made up her mind, she would protect her master's peace for a lifetime, no matter the cost.
After discussing matters with the sect's upper ranks, Xiao Baidao decided to send Duanmu to the border region with Jun Wen and Feng Xi.
First, Duanmu was at second layer of Soul Transformation Stage, second only to Xiao Baidao.
Second, Duanmu was cautious and reliable in handling affairs.
And most importantly, Duanmu could keep Jun Wen in check, preventing him from causing trouble.
Jun Wen: "..."
Isn't your misunderstanding of me a bit too deep?!
Let past incidents go, but the recent ones were clearly all the little junior sister's fault!
At the same time, the other three sects also finalized their selections.
Hunyuan Sect sent Baili Muchen's eldest disciple Mu Zihuai and Shen Zhilan, led by Elder Liu.
Wan Jian Sect sent Lu Zhenkuan's eldest disciple Ling Qianting and Liu Shaobai, led by Elder Han.
Beast-Taming Sect sent Hu Wankui's eldest disciple Qin Shifeng and Xing Wu, led by Elder Feng.
The intent behind these lineups was obvious, letting the eldest disciples lead their juniors to gain experience.
Seeing this, Xiao Baidao scolded his own eldest disciple Jiang Ji until he sprayed out dog blood!
But there's nothing he could do. He could only repeatedly remind his little disciple to prioritize safety.
If they encountered demons, the farther she could run, the better. As for defending the Dao and eliminating demons, that could wait.
Jun Wen, standing to the side: "..."
You didn't teach me that back then?!
You said eliminating demons and defending the Dao was a cultivator's duty, heads could be severed, blood could flow, but faith must never fall!
The day before departure, Feng Xi suddenly realized something.
She didn't know how to fly on a sword!
The journey to the border region would take over ten days. If Duanmu and Jun Wen took turns carrying her, it was doable, but too exhausting.
Is it too late for her to learn sword flight now?
If she didn't have a spirit sword, even an ordinary treasure sword would do!
As long as it could fly!
So she went to find Jun Wen.
"Fifth Senior Brother, can you help me get a sword? I want to learn sword flight."
Jun Wen was about to say there wasn't enough time for her to learn, but thinking of Feng Xi's past feats, especially her talent in alchemy, he swallowed his words.
"The Artifact Refining Hall has treasure swords made of ordinary materials. You can exchange one using sect points. I'll go pick one with you."
Because Feng Xi had made several great contributions to Xuantian Sect, the points on her identity jade token were dazzling.
Just as Feng Xi was about to nod, a strange divine sense suddenly appeared in her sea of consciousness.
Only then did she realize that at some unknown point, a sword had appeared there, rust-covered and mottled.
Before Feng Xi could react, the little black ball shouted, "It must be that wooden sword! I knew it was sneaky and suspicious!
Look, this is its true body, but what we saw was a wooden sword!
Good things don't hide from people, anything that hides has no good intentions. It's definitely not a good thing!"
Feng Xi: "...Why are you so worked up?"
Little black ball: "That, that… I'm just worried about your safety, Master. If you think I'm talking too much, I'll stop."
"Mm. Then shut up."
Little black ball: "..."
Why doesn't retreat-to-advance work on this damn brat?!
Feng Xi carefully sensed the divine sense of the wooden sword. Its response was extremely weak, and combined with the heavily rusted blade, it seemed to have suffered severe damage in the past.
No matter what, it still counted as a spirit sword.
It should be able to fly… right?
So she said to Jun Wen, "Fifth Senior Brother, no need to rush to the Artifact Refining Hall. I'll try this wooden sword first."
She took out the wooden sword.
Jun Wen: "...As you wish."
"Little Junior Sister, to fly on a sword, you first need to use your divine sense to control it. Once you can control it smoothly, then try standing on it.
For now, I'll teach you the incantation to control a flying sword…"
Jun Wen only explained it once before Feng Xi said she'd learned it, then began trying to control the wooden sword.
The wooden sword lay motionless, like it was dead.
The little black ball said gleefully, "See? What did I say? This thing has bad intentions, it's no good!"
As soon as it finished speaking, the wooden sword flew up, though it wobbled crookedly.
A dumbfounded Jun Wen then taught Feng Xi more detailed control methods, such as slightly enlarging the flying sword so she could sit on it.
After all, the journey was long, she couldn't possibly stand the whole way.
Of course, the enlargement wouldn't be drastic, at most enough for two people to sit on.
Feng Xi understood everything in theory, but in practice she was still a bit clumsy.
Every time she stepped onto the wooden sword, Jun Wen's heart leapt into his throat, afraid she'd fall.
"Little Junior Sister, how about we forget it? We're leaving tomorrow, there's no way you'll master it in time!"
Feng Xi rolled her eyes, "It's fine. I've got my own plan. You'll see tomorrow!"
Seeing her confident expression, Jun Wen didn't press any further.
Anyway, if it really didn't work, he and Duanmu could carry her.
Before leaving, Feng Xi said to Jun Wen, "Fifth Senior Brother, I prepared a bit of medicine for you. Take it!"
Then she brought out a large washbasin, filled entirely with pills.
Jun Wen: "..."
This is "a bit"?!
At this moment, he finally believed what Feng Xi had said before about winning through quantity!
At this rate, she alone could support an entire pill shop!