Chapter 89: A Leisurely Mood

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: A Leisurely Mood

On the first day Xu Chang’an returned to Langlang Mountain, the Elders of Elder Peak held a special banquet to welcome him.

They gave him a grand reception.

In Langlang Mountain today, Xu Chang’an was considered one of the most important demons, second only to the two Great Kings.

For the next dozen or so days, Xu Chang’an stayed in his mountain cave and didn’t venture out.

He had returned to Langlang Mountain under the pretext of recuperating from his injuries in seclusion.

In reality, those injuries were nothing to him. He could recover whenever he pleased.

With his current Demon Body and Spirit, his regenerative abilities were beyond what any ordinary demon could imagine.

If he hadn’t allowed it, the attacks from a few Qi Refining Old Demons, who lacked even Top-grade Magical Artifacts, could never have harmed him.

During his dozen days of secluded cultivation, aside from Nurturing the Jade Ruyi, he also took the time to consolidate and refine his Alchemy Skill.

After years of practice, his Alchemy Skill had improved significantly.

He was just one step away from becoming a true Tier Two Alchemist!

With a complete alchemy heritage, he could avoid many pitfalls.

’I estimate that in about another year, I’ll be able to advance to Tier Two Alchemist!’

’In that case, the day I leave Langlang Mountain is probably drawing near!’

Xu Chang’an sighed softly, then wrote a letter.

The letter was for the young lioness from Lion’s Mane Cave.

It was time for the young lioness to repay the favor she owed him.

...

Half a month after returning to the mountain to recuperate, Xu Chang’an finally emerged from his cave.

He set some matters aside and prepared to take a proper stroll around Langlang Mountain.

Come to think of it, the only time he had regularly roamed all over Langlang Mountain was back when he first joined the Mountain Patrol Hall as a Mountain Patrol Little Demon.

After that, his excursions became less frequent.

And later still, he almost never wandered around at all.

The path of cultivation required a balance of work and rest.

Xu Chang’an’s current cave residence was on Elder Peak, at the very summit of the mountain.

He strolled leisurely down the mountain. When he reached the halfway point, he unexpectedly encountered a familiar face.

It was a Canary demon, with a physique much larger than that of a typical adult human.

It was none other than Jin Dashan, the Elder who had first brought Xu Chang’an into Langlang Mountain.

"Elder Jin."

Xu Chang’an greeted with a smile.

All these years later, Jin Dashan’s cultivation was still at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer; he hadn’t made much progress.

The Demon Path was difficult. It wasn’t a journey where effort and time alone guaranteed progress.

Most demons were like Jin Dashan, remaining stagnant even after decades had passed.

"Elder Grey Rat."

Jin Dashan, hearing a demon greet him, immediately looked up.

He saw it was a Gray Rat Demon and his expression tightened in respect as he responded.

Xu Chang’an was now one of Langlang Mountain’s Sequence Elders.

However, he was renowned for his Alchemy, not his combat strength, so his Elder title wasn’t preceded by a number indicating his rank.

"Elder Jin, long time no see. What have you been busy with recently?"

Xu Chang’an said with a friendly laugh.

"Indeed, Elder Grey Rat. I haven’t seen you since you were put in charge of the Marketplace Elixir Workshop. It’s been a long time.

I just recruited a new batch of Little Demons and was on my way to Elder Peak to report it."

"I see. Recruiting Little Demons and running back and forth must be tiring work."

"It’s no trouble. I do this often, so I’m used to it."

Jin Dashan replied with a smile.

Jin Dashan still had matters to attend to, and Xu Chang’an wanted to continue his stroll.

After a brief exchange, the two demons went their separate ways.

As his status was lower than Xu Chang’an’s, Jin Dashan respectfully watched him depart.

Watching Xu Chang’an’s retreating figure, Jin Dashan’s mind drifted back more than twenty years.

"How should I address you, Elder?"

An utterly unremarkable Gray Rat Demon had asked him with great courtesy.

"I am Jin Dashan, an Elder of Langlang Mountain. Are you interested in joining us, my young friend?"

"Elder Jin, what are the benefits of joining Langlang Mountain?"

"Upon joining, you may choose a Cultivation Technique based on your own foundation, and you will be provided a place to cultivate. Furthermore, Langlang Mountain will grant you access to our resource exchange. As long as you have enough merit, you can trade for any cultivation materials you need.

Of course, joining Langlang Mountain comes with obligations as well as benefits. You will be required to perform certain duties as assigned by the mountain."

’A Cultivation Technique!’

"Elder Jin, I wish to join Langlang Mountain."

"Good."

That was the first demon he had recruited that day.

And now, this utterly unremarkable Mouse Demon with his Inferior Bloodline and aptitude had become one of Langlang Mountain’s most important demons.

His rate of advancement was faster than anyone could have possibly imagined!

...

The chance encounter with Jin Dashan was but a minor affair.

Xu Chang’an paid it no mind and continued his leisurely walk, admiring the scenery of Langlang Mountain.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at Pinglang Valley.

This was where he had first lived after joining Langlang Mountain.

With a new batch of Little Demons having just joined the mountain, Pinglang Valley was bustling with activity.

Xu Chang’an hadn’t worn his Elder’s robes for his outing today, dressing in simple, ordinary clothes instead.

As a result, his arrival in Pinglang Valley went unnoticed.

Pinglang Valley was filled with numerous residences.

Most of the residences were inhabited by Little Demons.

Outside the residences, many demons were walking about, most of them Little Demons who had just joined the mountain.

Having just joined, they found everything around them novel and exciting.

"One of the elders just told us that Langlang Mountain has Golden Yuan Cave, Elder Peak, Hundred Arts Peak, the Spirit Plant Garden, Spirit Field Valley, Pinglang Valley, Wave Valley, the Library Hall, the Mountain Patrol Hall, the Merit Hall, and the Law Enforcement Hall."

"That’s so many places! Langlang Mountain is huge!"

"Of course it is! This is a major power with two Foundation Establishment Great Demons presiding over it! What did you expect?"

"That’s incredible!"

"Speaking of which, our duties will be assigned in three days. Where do you think we’ll end up?"

"Man, I really hope I get assigned to the Spirit Plant Garden!"

"In your dreams. Haven’t you heard? We new Little Demons can only be assigned to the Three Valleys and Two Halls.

But why do you want to go to the Spirit Plant Garden, anyway?"

"The Spirit Plant Garden is full of Spiritual Herbs and Plants, and the Spiritual Qi is really dense. If I could get stationed there..."

"Stop, you’re making my mouth water!"

"Am I?"

"Just kidding! HAHA."

"..."

The valley was filled with boisterous cheer.

As Xu Chang’an walked slowly, a faint smile touched his lips.

He had experienced a similar scene when he first joined the mountain.

The Little Demons who had just joined had not been demons for long. They had yet to be tempered by the mountain’s discipline and were mostly wild and high-spirited.

After spending some time on the mountain, they would learn its rules.

"Look at that little hamster, he’s back to cultivating again!"

"HAHA, so he is."

"He’s just a little hamster with an Inferior Bloodline and aptitude. What’s the point of him cultivating so hard!?"

"Three days of his cultivation doesn’t even match one of ours!"

"That’s right. With an Inferior Bloodline and aptitude, the highest he’ll ever reach is the Qi Refining Third Layer. Even with a Tier-Breaking Elixir, it’d be nearly impossible for him to break into the Mid-stage Qi Refining. His potential is already capped. No matter how hard he works, it’s a waste of effort."

"Exactly. Just ignore him. He’s just a little fool."