The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

The cultivator surnamed Han waved his hand, and the other cultivators followed him out of their hiding place. His face was full of greed and smugness. He shouted, "You outsiders, hand over your treasures and flying artifacts today, and maybe we can even leave you with a whole corpse!"

When Jing Yun and the others saw the sudden appearance of the cultivator surnamed Han and his group, their hearts tightened, realizing that the worst had finally come. Jing Yun gripped his pistol tightly, his gaze cold, and said, "You shameless bastards, how dare you plot against us behind our backs! You want our things? No way!"

The cultivator surnamed Han let out a cold laugh: "Hmph, with your kind of behavior, you still want to resist? If you know what's good for you, you'd better hand over the items obediently, otherwise, when the demon beasts and we attack together, you won't even know what happened until you die."

Just as the cultivator surnamed Han was about to make a move, his body was bound by an invisible spiritual force.

"Senior Ouyang..." The cultivator surnamed Han hurriedly begged for mercy from the cultivator who had suddenly appeared.

A young man dressed in a plain white robe was seen hovering high in the sky, riding a sword.

The young man had a cold face and sharp eyes like cold stars. He slowly descended and stood in front of the crowd, saying in a cold voice, "In this Illusionary Continent, there are still such blatant acts of murder and robbery. Do you really think the rules of this world are just for show?"

The cultivator surnamed Han turned deathly pale, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down. He trembled as he said, "Senior Ouyang, we...we were just confused for a moment. Please spare our lives, senior."

Senior Ouyang sneered, "Spare my life? You disregard the lives of others for your own selfish desires. If I hadn't happened to be passing by today, these fellow Daoists would probably have met with your wrath. Today, I will cleanse the world of you scum."

After speaking, Senior Ouyang waved his sleeve, and a powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted, enveloping the cultivator surnamed Han and the others. The cultivator surnamed Han and the others felt immense pressure and groaned in pain.

Seeing this, Luo Yifei and the others were overjoyed, knowing that Senior Ouyang had come to help them. Luo Yifei quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you for your help, Senior Ouyang. If you hadn't arrived in time, we would probably be in grave danger today."

Senior Ouyang nodded slightly and said, "No need to be polite. Although I don't know where you come from, I will naturally help you if you encounter injustice on this Illusionary Star Continent. However, you should also be careful, as there are many treacherous people in this world, just like them."

Jingyun stepped forward and said, "Senior is right. We will definitely be more careful in the future. However, our brother is seriously injured. I wonder if Senior has any way to treat him?"

Senior Ouyang looked at the unconscious Ma Jierui, then placed his hand on his pulse. After a moment, he frowned slightly and said, "His body is fine, but his soul is probably damaged. There's nothing I can do about it."

"You are from the Floating Life Continent, do you know Young Hero Qi Yuan?" Senior Ouyang looked at Luo Yifei but did not speak, instead secretly transmitting his voice.

Luo Yifei looked at Senior Ouyang and realized he looked familiar. Could it be Ouyang Yang, the rogue cultivator who came to the Illusionary Continent with them a year ago?

Luo Yifei, his thoughts in turmoil, nodded silently.

When Senior Ouyang saw Luo Yifei nod, a hint of barely perceptible relief flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his aloof demeanor and continued to transmit his voice in secret: "It really is you. Ever since I arrived on the Illusionary Star Continent, I have been secretly keeping an eye on the people of the Floating Life Continent, hoping to meet an old friend again. Your brother's soul is damaged, and although I cannot directly heal him, I know a place where there might be a way."

Luo Yifei was overjoyed and quickly replied in secret, "Senior, please speak. As long as you can save my brother, no matter how difficult it is, we are willing to try."

Senior Ouyang nodded slightly and transmitted his voice, "Go to the City Lord's Mansion in Wanghe City and find City Lord Qin Buliang. I can escort you to the city gate."

Upon hearing this, Luo Yifei's eyes filled with gratitude. He was about to clasp his hands in thanks again when Senior Ouyang gently raised his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be so formal. Then, Senior Ouyang formed a hand seal and chanted incantations. A beam of light rose from his hands, enveloping Luo Yifei and the others, including the unconscious Ma Jierui. In a flash of light, everyone felt a dizzying sensation, and when the light dissipated, they found themselves at the city gate of Wanghe City.

The city gates of Wanghe City were tall and imposing, heavily guarded. Luo Yifei and his companions, however, paid no attention to the grandeur of the gates and headed straight for the City Lord's Mansion. Along the way, they asked passersby for directions to the mansion, and everyone enthusiastically provided directions. Soon after, they arrived at the City Lord's Mansion.

The gatekeeper had been waiting in front of the city lord's mansion for a long time.

"This must be Fellow Daoist Luo. Senior Ouyang already informed us. I will now take you to see the City Lord," the gatekeeper said respectfully to Luo Yifei.

Luo Yifei was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, fellow Daoist." The gatekeeper stepped aside and gestured for him to enter, then led the way.

The group followed the gatekeeper through the winding corridors of the mansion. The buildings inside were arranged in a well-organized manner, with lush flowers and plants. Although it was not as grand and magnificent as some of the major sects, it had its own unique elegance and charm. After a while, they arrived in front of a large hall. The gatekeeper stopped and said softly, "Please wait here for a moment while I go and inform the city lord."

Luo Yifei and the others nodded in acknowledgment and waited quietly outside the hall. A moment later, the gatekeeper emerged from the hall, smiling, and said, "The City Lord invites you all in." Luo Yifei took a deep breath and led the group into the hall.

The hall was decorated very solemnly, with a large chair placed at the head of the room. A middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes sat on the chair; this man was Qin Buliang, the city lord of Wanghe City. Upon seeing Luo Yifei and the others enter, Qin Buliang rose and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoists, you have come from afar; you must be tired. Brother Ouyang has already told me about your situation. I wonder how that injured fellow Daoist is doing now?"

Luo Yifei hurriedly stepped forward and clasped his hands in a fist salute again, saying, "Lord Qin, my fellow Daoist's soul has been damaged and he is unconscious. I hope that you can lend a helping hand." Qin Buliang nodded slightly, walked to the unconscious Ma Jierui's side, and after carefully examining him, said, "Soul damage is no small matter, but I have something in my Lord's mansion that may be of some help to him."

He then took out a pill, saying, "This is called the Soul-Stabilizing Pill, a miraculous medicine for treating damage to the soul. However, this fellow Daoist's condition is probably not as simple as just soul damage. I just detected that there are two souls fighting within him. It seems that this fellow Daoist was unsuccessfully possessed, which is why he is in this state now?"

After listening, Luo Yifei nodded, "That's not entirely true. There's also the soul of a Hidden God Sect cultivator named Liu Xuanfeng inside him. However, it wasn't because of possession, but because we went to a place called the Void Land together, and Liu Xuanfeng's body was accidentally destroyed, so he had no choice but to possess Fellow Daoist Ma Jierui. Now that I think about it, it must be because that place was too strange that caused their current situation."

“If that’s the case, I do have a technique here that’s suitable for them to learn. It’s said that this technique originated from the ancient immortal path and is called the One Body Two Souls Technique,” ​​Qin Buliang said slowly.

Qin Buliang took out an ancient book from his sleeve. The cover of the book gleamed with a faint glow, as if it bore the marks of time. He gently handed the book to Luo Yifei and then said, "This 'One Body, Two Souls Technique' was created by an ancient powerful being. It allows two divine souls to coexist harmoniously and even promote each other, enhancing their cultivation. However, cultivating this technique is extremely dangerous. If there is the slightest mistake, both divine souls will be damaged, and even a god might not be able to save them then."

Luo Yifei accepted the book with both hands, feeling its weight as if it carried Ma Jierui's hopes. He solemnly said, "Lord Qin, no matter how dangerous this technique is, we are willing to try it to save my brother."

Qin Buliang nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "It's good that you have this determination. However, some preparations are needed before you can start practicing this technique. There is a quiet room in my city lord's mansion, with a serene environment and abundant spiritual energy, which is suitable for cultivation. You can stay here for now, and once you are ready, you can let those two fellow Daoists try practicing it."

Upon hearing this, Luo Yifei and the others felt somewhat relieved and quickly clasped their hands in thanks again. The gatekeeper then led them to the quiet room.

......

The next morning, the gatekeeper of the City Lord's Mansion came to the courtyard where Luo Yifei and his companions were staying. "Fellow Daoist Luo, there is a man outside who claims to be Mr. Yan Xiao of the Tiger Gate Escort Agency requesting an audience," the gatekeeper said respectfully. "Alright, please let him in," Luo Yifei nodded in agreement.

"Sun Li, we're posing as bodyguards from the Humen Escort Agency this time. Could it be that the real person has come looking for us? I remember Qi Yuan once mentioned that there is indeed a bodyguard named Yan Xiao from the Humen Escort Agency on the Floating Life Continent." Luo Yifei secretly transmitted his voice to Sun Li. "You guys communicate using an encrypted channel," Ye Xuehan reminded him from the side.

Luo Yifei nodded slightly to indicate that he understood, then straightened his clothes and walked towards the courtyard gate with Sun Li, Ye Xuehan, and the others. Soon after, the gatekeeper led a burly man with a resolute face into the house; this man was Yan Xiao. Upon seeing Luo Yifei and the others, Yan Xiao first sized them up, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Fellow Daoists, I am Yan Xiao, a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of the Humen镖局 (Tiger Gate Escort Agency). Hearing that you all claim to be from my agency, I have come to investigate."

Luo Yifei quickly returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute, and explained with a smile, "Master Yan, to be honest, we are not real镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) of the Tiger Gate Escort Agency, but are just using this identity. We come from the Floating Life Continent and came to the Illusionary Star Continent for some special reasons. We hope Master Yan will understand."

Yan Xiao frowned slightly upon hearing this, but then relaxed and said, "I guessed so. Our Tiger Gate Escort Agency has just begun to make a name for itself on the Illusionary Star Continent. I thought there was a local escort agency with the same name, so I came here to pay a visit. Now the Floating Life Continent is changing rapidly, with opportunities constantly arising. I wonder why you gentlemen did not stay on the Floating Life Continent, but instead came to the Illusionary Star Continent? You know, the teleportation arrays in those secret realms consume quite a few spirit stones to activate each time you travel across continents."

“Does Master Yan know of Wind Whisper Island in the southern waters of the Southern Han Kingdom? We encountered an accident while exploring the strait between the mainland and the island and were teleported here,” Sun Li replied.

Yan Xiao nodded slightly, a thoughtful look in his eyes. After a moment, he said, "Wind Whisper Island? I've heard of it. It's said to be a mysterious place, with turbulent currents in the surrounding seas, where strange things often happen. It seems your encounter this time was indeed extraordinary. But now that you've come to this Illusionary Star Continent, what are your plans next?"

Luo Yifei sighed softly and said, "To be honest, it's not a good idea for us to linger in the City Lord's Mansion for too long. We're trying to find a teleportation array to return to the Floating Life Continent."

Upon hearing this, Yan Xiao's eyes flashed with surprise. He said, "Although the world has changed and long-distance teleportation has become easier, the amount of spirit stones consumed is astronomical. It would be better to use them for cultivation."

Luo Yifei looked troubled and said, "We know that the consumption of spirit stones is huge, but since we are disciples of Fengyu Mountain, it will be more convenient for us to go back and cultivate."

"I wonder if Master Yan is still short of escorts? I heard that you can earn a lot of spirit stones for a single escort mission," Sun Li interrupted.

Upon hearing this, Yan Xiao glanced at Sun Li and the others, then smiled and said, "You all have a good plan. Escorting goods can indeed earn spirit stones, but the risks are considerable. However, considering that you are from the Floating Life Continent and are fellow countrymen with me, I can give you a chance. I don't know what your cultivation levels are. Although I am at the Yuan Dan Realm, I really can't see through your cultivation levels."

Yi Fei smiled slightly, clasped his hands and said, "Master Yan, among us, my cultivation is the weakest, at the Body Refining Realm. Sun Li is at the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, Ye Xuehan is at the Core Formation Realm, and our brother Ma Jierui is currently recuperating from a damaged soul, although he was originally at the early stage of the Core Formation Realm. We know that our cultivation is not top-notch, but we still have the determination and courage to do escort work. We hope that Master Yan can give us this opportunity."

Yan Xiao nodded slightly after hearing this, a hint of appreciation in his eyes, and said, "You are all quite frank. In that case, I will give you a chance. However, escorting goods is no child's play. You will encounter all sorts of dangers along the way, including not only bandits and robbers, but also possible attacks from monsters and even obstruction from some mysterious forces. You must be mentally prepared."

Sun Li quickly said, "Don't worry, Master Yan. Since we've decided to go on this mission, we're prepared to face all kinds of dangers. Besides, we come from the Floating Life Continent and have some unique skills and experience. We definitely won't cause any trouble for the escort agency."

"By the way, we also have a few outer disciples from Fengyu Mountain, all martial artists who have just embarked on their cultivation journey. I wonder if we could find them some work together?" Ye Xuehan hadn't forgotten about Jing Yun and the other astronauts, after all, she was different from Luo Yifei and Sun Li. She hadn't come directly from the Floating Life Continent to the Illusionary Star Continent, but rather, while on an exploration mission on the moon, she unexpectedly encountered Luo Yifei and Sun Li in the Void Land. The group had encountered black mist together, and to avoid it, they had no choice but to enter a teleportation array and arrive here.

Yan Xiao pondered for a moment and said, "Since they are also from Fengyu Mountain and have just embarked on the path of cultivation, it's not unreasonable for them to want to find work. However, their cultivation is still shallow, and they might not be able to handle escorting goods for cultivators. How about this, we also have the business of escorting goods for mortals, so why don't we let them try it out? They can go on one trip first. Although escorting goods for mortals can only earn gold and silver, not spirit stones."

Ye Xuehan's face lit up with joy, and she quickly clasped her hands in thanks, saying, "Then thank you very much, Escort Master Yan. They will definitely study hard." Yan Xiao waved his hand and said, "No need to be so polite. Since we are all from the Floating Life Continent and have met here on the Illusionary Star Continent, we should naturally look after each other. However, the Escort Agency happens to have a shipment to make these few days. You few at the Yuan Dan and Yuan Shen realms can come with me; it'll be a good experience. As for Fellow Daoist Luo, why don't you go on a shipment for mortals first? It's led by my trusted confidant, codenamed 'Idiot.' He's already at the ninth level of Body Refinement, so there shouldn't be any problem escorting this shipment. What do you say?"

After listening, Luo Yifei pondered for a moment and felt that this was a good idea. It would allow him to familiarize himself with the operation of the escort agency and give the others experience. He nodded and agreed, "This arrangement is excellent. Then I will trouble Escort Master Yan and that senior codenamed 'Idiot'." Yan Xiao smiled slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist Luo, you don't need to be so polite. It's settled then. You all prepare yourselves. We'll set off early tomorrow morning." Everyone nodded. Then Yan Xiao talked to them about some precautions for escorting goods and the dangers they might encounter before taking his leave.

After seeing Yan Xiao off, Luo Yifei and the others returned inside to prepare for the next day's escort mission. Luo Yifei checked his luggage, organizing commonly used items and self-defense tools. Sun Li and Ye Xuehan discussed the spells and techniques they might use during the mission. Jing Yun and several other outer disciples were also excited to learn that they could join the mortal escort mission and asked Ye Xuehan about the details.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the courtyard of the City Lord's mansion, where Luo Yifei and his group were already prepared. Yan Xiao, along with several other bodyguards, arrived at the courtyard to meet Luo Yifei and the others. The Body Refinement Ninth Level expert, codenamed "Idiot," also arrived with several bodyguards. He was burly and had a simple, honest face. Smiling, he said to Luo Yifei, "Fellow Daoist Luo, I'll be leading you this time. Let's make this escort mission a success." Luo Yifei quickly clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Thank you for your help, Senior. I'm new here and hope you'll give me some guidance." Afterward, the group split into two teams. One team followed Yan Xiao along the route used by cultivators, while the other team, led by "Idiot," escorted the goods belonging to mortals and set off.