Immortality begins with meditation puppets

Chapter 41 First Steps into the Hunting Grounds

When the owner says they are in a hurry and need to ride me.

At first, Fire Egg refused.

I've never heard of anyone riding a dog, and even the Spirit Dog doesn't have that ability!
But tempted by the extra food for a month, Huodan felt that other dogs couldn't do it because they weren't capable, and since he was more capable, it wouldn't hurt to do more.

It's the first time I've used it since it got a new owner, so I can't let it down.

Of course, this is only for this one time!
Fire Egg lowered its head and nestled Su Qing against its back.

But it doesn't know that some things, once done the first time, can be done countless times.

Fireball ran extremely fast, as if it had drawn a golden streak across the open fields, covering more than ten miles in less than a quarter of an hour.

After crossing a field of spiritual energy, the waiting procession could be seen in the distance outside Haojia Village.

"I was busy with some personal matters, so I'm sorry to have troubled you all to wait a little longer."

Although he rushed to Gejia Village early in the morning, he was delayed and still missed the scheduled departure time.

Seeing his respectful manner, the group of cultivators didn't say anything. The leader, Ma Tuan, only offered a lukewarm reminder:
"It's okay to have personal matters, but remember to let me know in advance next time, so I can keep track."

"Yes, yes, I'll definitely do it next time." Having caused trouble for others, Su Qing readily agreed.

Seeing that Su Qing spoke sincerely but her expression was rather perfunctory, Qinghe chuckled and approached her, saying:
"Didn't you release a batch of puppets yesterday, fellow Daoist? Why have you taken them back today?"

Yesterday, she led the team ahead and did not communicate with Su Qing and the others, but Su Qing's group of puppets did attract her attention.

This trip to the hunting grounds to hunt second-tier demonic beasts was fraught with apprehension, even though she and Ma Tuan were leading the team and had made all the necessary preparations. They were still facing second-tier demonic beasts comparable to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

If they had Su Qing, a puppeteer capable of assembling a puppet army, to fully assist them, their situation would be much easier.

Therefore, although Ma Tuan was somewhat dissatisfied with Su Qing's unauthorized actions, she did not dare to be too rude. When she saw that Su Qing had not released the puppet, she asked him about it.

Ultimately, face is earned through ability.

Su Qing, whose divine sense can control two armored war bears and twelve lizard warriors, is actually on par with Ma Tuan and Qing He in terms of combat strength, regardless of her puppetry skills.

"The puppets consume a lot of energy in a day. Yesterday, I was unaware that the escort team included people like Fellow Daoist Qing and Fellow Daoist Ma, who had activated the puppets at home early in the morning."

Thinking about it today, with two fellow Daoists leading the way, protecting us should be a piece of cake. There's no need for me to add anything unnecessary and waste spirit crystals.”

Su Qing, a shrewd and clever man, knew yesterday that after learning that the Hundred Treasures Pavilion intended to hunt down second-tier demonic beasts, they might use his puppets.

You can use it, but you have to pay.

At least, for regular expenses, you need to use spirit crystals!

Upon hearing Su Qing's words, Ma Tuan and Qing He exchanged a glance. Seeing Ma Tuan nod, Qing He then said:

"Yesterday, we were still within the protection zone of the market, so you could choose whether or not to release your puppet. But today, we will leave the market and head to the perilous hunting grounds."

"It would be a waste not to use these puppets, fellow Daoist. As for the cost, my Hundred Treasures Pavilion will naturally bear it. If your puppets are damaged in battle, my Hundred Treasures Pavilion will also provide compensation."

After saying that, Qinghe clapped her long, fair hands, and saw an ordinary-looking middle-aged man, no different from the other guards, silently hand a money bag to Su Qing.

Su Qing weighed the contents; there were approximately a thousand spirit crystals inside. Clearly, Qing He intended to rent these puppets long-term.

"The Treasure Pavilion is indeed spacious and bright. I will release the puppet now."

Having accepted the spirit crystals, Su Qing simply released the puppets. As soon as Xiong Er popped his head out, Huo Dan jumped onto his shoulder.

The master rides it, and it rides Xiong Er. Isn't this world all about you riding on my head and me riding on his head?

Fire Egg has always loved to think, and it believes that's why it's called the Spirit Dog.

"I only hope that when we encounter battles in the future, these puppets can help out," Qinghe said to Su Qing with a smile. She had a cool and aloof demeanor, but her conversation with Su Qing was like a gentle breeze.

It seems that without such skills, she wouldn't have been able to lead a caravan across the country by force alone.

Su Qing cupped his hands slightly. These puppets, apart from Xiong Er, had taken a lot of his time and effort to make him reluctant to damage them.

He could replace the remaining puppets if he lost them, as long as he had enough spirit crystals. He didn't mind having the puppets help him earn some spirit crystals.

Seeing Su Qing return to the group, Ma Tuan watched his retreating figure, her eyes slightly narrowed, and said:
"This fellow Daoist is no ordinary person. His divine sense is so powerful that he must be at least at the peak of Qi Refining, but he only appears to be at the mid-stage of Qi Refining."

If we were to encounter misfortune, and this fellow Daoist could offer some assistance, it would indeed be of great help to us.

Qinghe nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes lingering for a moment on Xiong Er, whose armor was far more robust than a normal armored war bear, before she softly said:
"Even without war, the sheer power of his puppets alone will make our journey today much less troublesome."

Judging from this fellow Daoist's character, if the battle truly reaches its most ferocious point, he certainly won't stand with us through thick and thin!

Ma Tuan, however, was nonchalant: "It's not just him. Liang Haishun, Helian Xian, and the others are all the same. In the end, they came to the hunting area to earn spirit crystals, not to risk their lives for our Hundred Treasures Pavilion!"

Upon hearing this, Qinghe lost interest in talking, unlike Su Qing and the other guest elders who only had cooperative relationships with Baibaoge.

Both she and Ma Tuan were promoted by Baibaoge. Baibaoge made them work for them, and they had no choice but to obey without question. There was no room for negotiation.

The team set out again.

In less than half an hour.

Then a group of heavily armored body cultivators carrying the Yunshan Sect's "Mountain" tokens came before them.

"Routine inspection. Everyone stay where you are. Open your storage bags and let us take a look. If there are no problems, we will let you out. If there are problems, you'd better confess honestly as soon as possible!"

The Yunshan Sect disciple in the lead spoke without any politeness, causing Liang Haishun and the others to frown.

For wealthy cultivators like them, the greatest taboo is having others examine their storage bags.

Everyone has a few secrets hidden in their storage bag.

For example, Su Qing's storage bag contained about five hundred Wood Spirit servants.

Two witch puppets were hidden in Liang Haishun's storage bag.

Are these things that can be shown to just anyone?

"It's normal for the market to conduct inspections to prevent people from evading taxes and smuggling goods out of the market. But this road connects to the hunting area and leads to the Hundred Beasts Mountain. Which smuggler would use this road?"

"Bah! They've never set up a checkpoint here before. These scoundrels are clearly trying to exploit the spirit crystals that the rogue cultivators have recently earned in the hunting area!"

"Let's see how the Hundred Treasures Pavilion handles it; I doubt they'll make us open the storage bags!"

"Hmph, if you really make me open the storage bag, I'll turn around and leave. I'm not going this time!"

The crowd muttered curses about the Yunshan Sect disciples being worthless, while also watching the Hundred Treasures Pavilion's actions.

Sure enough, after Ma Tuan secretly slipped the leading disciple a bulging money bag, the leading disciple immediately changed his attitude.

"So it's fellow Daoists from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. With the reputation of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, you would never engage in such shady dealings as reselling goods. There's no need to check the storage bags. Fellow Daoists, please leave!"

After saying that, he waved his hand, and the body cultivators who had been like wolves and tigers just now instantly made way for him.

Seeing this, Su Qing cursed the Yunshan Sect disciples for being rotten to the core, no wonder they were being defeated by the Desire Demon Sect.

On one hand, she regretted losing this job; otherwise, she wouldn't have to work so hard now and could be earning spirit crystals just by sitting here!

(End of this chapter)