The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

Chapter 108: Recounting Over Four Years of Adventures by the Campfire

On the Floating Continent, at the border between the Western Shu Kingdom and the Qi Kingdom.

The campfire flickered at night.

A wild rabbit was placed on the fire, and Shen Lixi sprinkled some seasoning on it.

"Why didn't you take it out in the Black Forest? We ate wild fruits and tasteless roasted meat the whole way," Luo Yifei said.

"It's always better to be careful when traveling the world." Shen Lixi took out barbecue sauce from her storage bag.

After that, Shen Lixi took out a camping tent, a small table, and a stool.

There was also a kettle, plates and cups, and a knife for cutting meat.

Shen Lixi poured a glass of liquid from the kettle for Luo Yifei, and then poured one for herself.

Looking at the red liquid in the glass, Luo Yifei asked, "Red wine?"

“Grape juice, it’s sweet. You know I don’t like drinking alcohol,” Shen Lixi replied.

By this time, the roasted rabbit had absorbed the flavors, and Shen Lixi took it off the rack and began to divide the meat for Luo Yifei.

Actually, they both had many questions for each other, but there were always other people around after they met. Luo Yifei also asked Shen Lixi about her experiences in the other world, but Shen Lixi didn't go into details.

Shen Lixi never asked Luo Yifei about what was happening on Earth.

"That day, after we were detached, the tunnel shook violently. We all dived to the tunnel entrance together, but we were separated by the underwater currents. Some of us ended up at the top of the tunnel, and some were at the bottom. Then the tunnel started moving again. When I opened my eyes, I was already on the Xuan Tian Continent, with Su An next to me. But there was no one else." Shen Lixi began to recount her experience.

Luo Yifei nodded without interrupting.

"This is a completely different world, a world of cultivators, completely different from the Floating Life Continent we are in now. Of course, at the time we all thought we had traveled to the Floating Life Continent," Shen Lixi continued.

We tried to find inhabited villages or towns, but to no avail.

We started gathering wild fruit and hunting wild animals for kills. It was very easy at first; our guns were deadly to them.

But as time went on, things started to go wrong. The wild animals were no longer just rabbits, wild boars, and wild deer—the kind you see in zoos. There were some animals we'd never seen in books before.

Their hides were thick and tough, making it difficult for guns to penetrate them. Suan and I had to rely on daggers or bows and arrows to hunt, which made things even more difficult. Although food was dwindling, we were fortunate to still have some bullets left for self-defense.

We lost track of time, Su An and I had lost track of what day of the week it was, or even what month it was. Every day, besides hunting, we would find a place to sleep, then wake up and continue hunting. Gradually, Su An and I both became very thin, and our once fair skin turned dark and rough.

Just when we were about to despair, we finally saw a village. It was a very small village with only a few dilapidated houses, but it was a glimmer of hope for us. We excitedly ran towards the village, hoping to find people, food, and clues.

However, as we approached the village, we heard cries of agony. We cautiously drew near and found several people lying there, barely alive. Their bodies were covered in wounds, as if they had been mauled by wild animals. We stared at them in horror, completely bewildered.

"What should we do?" Su An asked in a trembling voice.

“We must save them!” I said firmly. Although we were exhausted, we couldn’t ignore these people in such a miserable state.

We carefully carried these people into the house and began searching for medicine and food. Fortunately, we found some herbs and dried fruit that could temporarily alleviate their injuries and hunger. We fed them medicine and food, and then stayed by their side, waiting for them to wake up.

After an unknown amount of time, those people finally slowly opened their eyes. When they saw us, their eyes showed surprise and gratitude. We began to ask them about their situation, hoping to find some clues about this world.

It turns out we've stumbled into the Mountain of Ten Thousand Beasts. It's a miracle we came out alive. Now, the wild beasts in the mountain are starting to come out and attack human villages.

We didn't have many bullets left at that time.

The villages surrounding the Beast Mountain have all been attacked by wild beasts. The villagers are either dead or injured, and the rest have fled.

Su An and I exchanged a glance, both seeing the despair in each other's eyes. We had thought that finding the village would lead us to clues and the way home, but instead, we encountered this situation.

"What should we do?" Su An asked again.

Looking at those frail people, I felt a deep sense of helplessness and powerlessness. I didn't know how to answer Su An's question, because I didn't know what to do either.

Just then, an old man struggled to sit up. He looked at us and said with difficulty, "Thank you for saving us... but... you should leave quickly... it's not safe here anymore..."

"Leave? Where can we go?" I asked with a wry smile.

The old man sighed and said, "Go to the Xuantian Sect... only there is it safe..."

"Xuantian Sect?" Su An and I exchanged a glance, both looking puzzled.

The old man noticed our confusion and explained, "The Xuantian Sect is one of the most powerful cultivation sects in the world. They have powerful cultivators and spells that can withstand the attacks of those wild beasts. Moreover, they are also searching for a way to resolve this disaster. If you want to survive, you must go to the Xuantian Sect."

After listening to the old man's words, Su An and I both fell into deep thought. Although we knew nothing about cultivation, we had no better choice at the moment. If we wanted to survive, we could only try our luck at the Xuan Tian Sect.

So we decided to bid farewell to the elders and the others, and head to the Xuantian Sect. We didn't know how many difficulties and dangers lay ahead, but we had no way back. We could only forge ahead, to find our own hope and future.

Actually, getting to the Xuantian Sect is very easy; we found many people who wanted to go together along the way.

We're not going to the Xuantian Sect's location, but rather to their liaison stations in various places. Once you pass the initial selection by the people there, they will lead you to participate in the formal selection.

Along the way, we endured countless hardships and dangers. Attacks from wild animals, harsh weather, and shortages of food and water left us feeling exhausted and desperate. However, we did not give up; we supported each other and moved forward step by step.

Finally, after several days of arduous travel, we arrived at a liaison station of the Xuantian Sect nearby. Many people had already gathered there; they were all like us, seeking refuge and hope by joining the Xuantian Sect.

We underwent preliminary selection as required, including tests on physical fitness and spiritual aptitude. Although we knew nothing about these things, we all did our best in the hope of passing the selection.

Fortunately, Su An and I both passed the initial selection smoothly. We were put into a temporary tent to rest and wait for further arrangements.

Inside the tent, we met other people who had passed the selection process. Some were ordinary people like us, while others were cultivators who had been practicing for some time. We shared our experiences and observations, all lamenting the hardships and cruelty of this world.

Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in white walked in. He had an extraordinary air about him, giving off an unfathomable feeling. He introduced himself as an envoy from the Xuantian Sect, there to take us to the formal selection.

We followed the messenger to a spacious area. Many people had already gathered there; they were all those who had passed the initial selection. In the center of the area was a high platform, upon which stood several monks in long robes; they were presumably those in charge of the selection.

The messenger instructed us to line up and then take turns ascending the platform for the test. The test assessed our spiritual roots, cultivation level, and mental state. Although we knew nothing about cultivation, we all tried our best to demonstrate our potential and talent.

After a series of tests, I was not selected, but Su An passed.

We parted ways there. I later heard that she had gained the sect leader's favor and was gifted the Xuan Tian Sword.

I encountered some independent cultivators who were on their way to seek opportunities, so I went with them.