Immortality: Grinding Experience Starting as a Paper Craftsman

Chapter 110 Princess Qingge, Hunting in the Clouds

The author "A Monkey Under Huaguo Mountain" recommends reading "Immortality: Starting as a Paper Craftsman to Gain Experience" using the "Renren Bookstore" APP. Download and install it.

The aroma of tea wafted through the main hall.

Gu Yan changed into a brand-new scarlet official robe, with a jade belt around his waist and black boots on his feet. He looked much more energetic than before, a far cry from his usual lazy demeanor.

He stepped over the threshold, but his gaze did not fall directly on the guest. Instead, he first bowed slightly to the plaque above the main hall that read "A Clear Mirror Hangs High" before turning to look at the uninvited guest.

The moment the woman came into view, her stunning beauty captivated the heart and garnered much goodwill.

She was not dressed in elaborate palace attire, but rather in a neatly tailored, moon-white swordsman's robe. Her long black hair was tied up with only an ebony hairpin, making her appear extremely aloof.

At this moment, she was sitting upright in the guest seat, holding a rough porcelain bowl for drinking large bowls of tea, her expression indifferent.

Even when she was just sitting still, she exuded a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay.

That was the unique sharpness of a sword cultivator, and the majesty cultivated by those who had long held positions of power.

At her feet crouched a pure white crane, without a single stray feather.

The crane stood on one leg, its red crest trembling slightly. Its eyes, the size of mung beans, held a haughty intelligence that seemed to understand human nature. It tilted its head and sized up Gu Yan as he walked in.

"This humble official, Gu Changsheng, Commander of the Demon Suppression Division of Changning County, greets Your Highness, Princess."

Gu Yan bowed respectfully, performing a standard lower-ranking official's salute, without the slightest fault.

Li Qingge did not call out immediately, but instead took a small sip of the slightly bitter tea in the bowl, her brows furrowing before relaxing.

"Lord Gu, this tea is stale."

Her voice was clear and cold, like pearls falling on a jade plate, with an undeniable penetrating power.

Gu Yan straightened up, a slick smile typical of those who had navigated the officialdom on his face: "Your Highness, Changning County is located in a remote area and cannot compare to the prosperity of the county seat. Although this tea is old, it was grown by ordinary people to make it famous for allowing cultivators to savor the taste of everyday life. I hope Your Highness will forgive my rudeness."

Fireworks? Ha.

Li Qingge put down her teacup, and her eyes, which seemed detached from the world and as clear as autumn water, finally fell on Gu Yan.

In an instant, a powerful aura belonging to a Golden Core cultivator in the early stages surged toward Gu Yan like a mountain collapsing.

The air in the main hall seemed to freeze, and the hanging calligraphy and paintings moved erratically without any wind, rustling softly.

Gu Yan felt a sudden weight on his shoulders, as if he were carrying a mountain.

However, the divine and demonic Taiji diagram within his body simply rotated subtly, completely dissolving the oppressive force.

To onlookers, however, he appeared pale, his knees bent, as if he had used all his strength to barely stand, and a fine layer of cold sweat was seeping from his forehead.

"What a wonderful sense of everyday life."

Li Qingge withdrew her oppressive aura, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes. She said indifferently, "I thought that Lord Gu, who survived the annihilation of Luo Lie's entire army and the rampage of the demonic giants, would have some extraordinary abilities. Now it seems that apart from his silver tongue, he has nothing special about him."

Gu Yan chuckled inwardly, but put on a show of trepidation and said with a wry smile, "Your Highness is too kind to me. I am only able to live to this day thanks to the blessings and protection of the people of the city, which allowed me to escape such a terrifying ordeal."

"Luck is also a form of ability."

Li Qingge stopped probing and waved her hand, causing a soundproof barrier to rise out of thin air and envelop the two of them.

"I have not come here to reminisce. I have heard about the recent events in Changning County from the county seat. There was the mysterious demonic cultivator who killed Luo Lie with a single sword strike, and the mysterious person who crushed the Sky-Gazing Sparrow of the Flowing Cloud Sect with a single palm strike."

When she mentioned the words "mysterious person," Li Qingge's eyes became exceptionally sharp as she stared intently into Gu Yan's eyes, as if trying to extract something from the depths of his pupils.

Gu Yan's eyes were initially filled with confusion, then a hint of fear flashed across them: "Those events of that day still terrify me. That enormous hand that descended from the sky... it was simply beyond human capability. Could it be that the Princess knows which senior master it was?"

"If I had known, I wouldn't be sitting here."

Li Qingge withdrew her gaze, seemingly believing Gu Yan's reaction.

After all, in her view, a minor bureaucrat in the early stages of Foundation Establishment could never possibly be associated with a powerful being who controls the power of rules.

"This time, Sunset Valley's opening is different from previous ones."

Li Qingge stood up, walked to the door, looked at the old locust tree in the courtyard, and said with her back to Gu Yan, "Father has deduced the secrets of heaven. In this secret realm, there is not only the legendary opportunity to form a Nascent Soul, but also a supreme treasure that concerns the fate of our Yong'an County."

"The Flowing Cloud Sect wants it, the Emerald Bamboo Sect wants it, and even the forces from other counties are eyeing it covetously."

A thought flashed through Gu Yan's mind: an opportunity to condense his Nascent Soul?

This was an unexpected delight.

He feigned ignorance, saying, "In such a momentous event as a battle of gods, my humble frame probably doesn't even qualify me to be cannon fodder. Why would the princess seek me out?"

Li Qingge turned around, a meaningful smile curving her lips.

"You know him better than anyone else."

Gu Yan's heart skipped a beat.

This woman's intuition is frighteningly accurate.

But without batting an eye, he nodded vigorously: "I wouldn't say I'm familiar with him, but I have indeed dealt with him a few times. That devil is extremely cunning and greedy."

A sneer flashed in Li Qingge's eyes as she raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I need someone familiar with demonic cultivation who can lure the snake out of its hole. You just need to lead our people to a specific node on the outskirts of Sunset Valley, and I'll handle the rest."

"Of course, once it's done, I'll guarantee you'll break through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, and I might even recommend you to a top-tier sect in the Eastern Continent."

This is just empty promises, a common tactic used by those in power. Gu Yan doesn't believe she will keep her word.

Gu Yan feigned surprise and hesitation, saying, "This... if I were to go, what would happen to the defenses of Changning County..."

"rest assured."

Li Qingge took out a command arrow from her sleeve and threw it on the table.

"This is the Prince's troop deployment order. I have dispatched a squad of Black Armor Guards to be stationed thirty miles outside Changning County. After you leave, if any demonic cultivators dare to invade, they will be killed without mercy."

Looking at the command token, Gu Yan's last concern was dispelled.

Although Li Qingge is arrogant, he is indeed meticulous in his work.

With this safeguard, even if something happens to the Blood River Sect, Changning County will remain as stable as Mount Tai.

"Since the princess is so kind, it would be ungrateful of me to refuse."

Gu Yan clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice, "This humble official is willing to go!"

Li Qingge nodded in satisfaction, and with a swift movement, she floated onto the back of the white crane.

"I'll give you half an hour to explain some trivial matters."

"Follow me in half an hour."

The white crane flapped its wings, uttered a clear and melodious cry, and soared into the sky, circling above the Demon Suppression Division to wait.

Gu Yan looked at the departing figure, and the respect on his face vanished instantly.

"Barecloth?"

He picked up the command token on the table and gently traced the cold lines on it with his fingers.

"It's really hard to say who will be the hunter and who will be the prey in the end."

……

Fifteen minutes later.

Inside a secret room in the backyard of the Demon Suppression Division.

Gu Yan sat cross-legged, with Xiao Chen and Song Hong standing on his left and right respectively.

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

"You're going to leave with that woman?"

Song Hong frowned, the throwing knife in her hand spinning unconsciously. She hesitated and said, "Although Li Qingge has a good reputation and is a righteous prodigy, she is cunning. She definitely has ulterior motives for contacting you."

"It's precisely because they have ill intentions that it's all the more interesting."

Gu Yan smiled and took two things out of his pocket.

One was the same troop mobilization order from the Prince's Mansion, and the other was an ordinary-looking paper doll.

The doll was only the size of a palm, dressed in a miniature version of a scarlet official robe, and its eyebrows and eyes bore a striking resemblance to Gu Yan.

"Senior Sister, take this command token," Gu Yan handed the troop mobilization order to Song Hong. "The Black Armor Guards only recognize the order, not the person. If there's a crisis they can't handle, use this."

Then, he handed the paper doll to Xiao Chen.

"Senior brother, this is for you."

Xiao Chen took the doll; it felt as light as if it were nothing in his hand, and he could faintly sense that it contained an extremely mysterious aura.

"This is?"

"This is a substitute I obtained from some secret realm."

Gu Yan lowered his voice: "After I leave, Changning County cannot be without Gu Changsheng. There is a wisp of my spirit inside this paper figure. As long as I inject spiritual power into it every day, it can handle official documents in the yamen and even show its face in front of people. As long as it doesn't make a move, no one below the Golden Core stage can see any flaws."

This is a paper doll made casually by Gu Yan after breaking through to the pinnacle of his skill.

Although it cannot possess the formidable combat power of the Blood Swordsman, it is more than sufficient to serve as a mascot that merely stamps and signs documents, acting as a figurehead.

Xiao Chen looked at the paper figure in his hand, then at Gu Yan, a look of amazement flashing in his eyes.

"Junior brother's methods are becoming increasingly unfathomable."

"It's safer if you can't see through it."

Gu Yan stood up, straightened his robes, and said in a deep voice:

"This trip to Sunset Valley was extremely dangerous. But I have a premonition that my opportunity to form my Golden Core lies within it."

"As for the Blood River Sect..." Song Hong hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

"rest assured."

Gu Yan looked westward, his eyes gleaming with confidence, and said calmly, "The Blood Sect Master is currently riding high, and he certainly won't be able to unleash another demonic calamity anytime soon. This time, I want both the righteous and demonic paths to know that there is a third hand on this chessboard."

"I'm leaving the family in your care."

Gu Yan extended his hand.

Xiao Chen and Song Hong smiled at each other, then extended their hands, and the three of them clasped hands tightly together.

"Take care of yourself."

"Come back alive."

……

Half an hour later.

The gates of the Demon Suppression Bureau slowly opened.

With a simple bag on his back, Gu Yan stepped onto the giant white crane, which was no longer constrained, amidst the awe-inspiring gazes of countless people.

On the back of the white crane, Li Qingge sat cross-legged, resting with her eyes closed, without even lifting her eyelids.

"Hold on tight."

She gave a brief instruction.

"rise!"

With a soft shout, the white crane flapped its wings, creating a gust of wind, and instantly soared into the azure sky.

Changning County quickly shrank in the field of vision, eventually becoming a black dot.

High in the sky, the wind howled fiercely.

Gu Yan pretended to be overwhelmed by the force, swaying as he grabbed a feather from the white crane, his face turning pale.

Li Qingge glanced at him, then casually flicked out a spiritual light shield to protect Gu Yan, a barely perceptible hint of contempt flashing in her eyes.

"You can't even withstand this bit of gale force? I really don't know how you survived that demonic cultivator."

Gu Yan quickly expressed his gratitude: "Thank you for protecting me, Your Highness. I am usually busy with paperwork and have very little experience of flying."

He sneered inwardly.

This protective aura, though seemingly protective, is in reality a form of probing and surveillance.

The two sped northwards.

This white crane truly lives up to its reputation as a descendant of a Golden Core demon; it is incredibly fast and flies with remarkable stability.

Gu Yan sat on the crane's back, looking at the mountains and rivers rushing past below, quickly calculating his next plan.

Sunset Valley is located at the northernmost tip of Yong'an County and is a huge canyon that is shrouded in mist all year round.

The rules there are chaotic, the five elements are reversed; it is a natural dead end, but also a ready-made treasure trove.

"Princess."

Gu Yan suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

"If I may be so bold as to ask, will the Blood Swordsman also go to Sunset Valley?"

Li Qingge opened her eyes and looked towards the distant horizon, where a faint crimson sunset seemed to foreshadow misfortune.

He will definitely go.

Li Qingge said with certainty, "A demonic cultivator who forms his core will inevitably suffer divine retribution. If he doesn't want to be devoured by the evil energy and die, he must use the special cleansing pool in Sunset Valley to neutralize the medicinal properties."

Gu Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

It turns out that when the Flowing Cloud Sect gave the Blood Swordsman the Condensing Evil Pill, they had already foreseen this step.

"The princess is wise."

Gu Yan promptly offered a flattering remark: "But besides the Blood River Sect, there must be other forces within Sunset Valley, right?"

"Zhao Lingfeng, Shen Youwei, and Su Hongxiu from the Liuyun Sect; Ye Hongyu and Bai Peihui from Cangwu Mountain, and those old monsters from the Loose Cultivator Alliance..."

Li Qingge knew the names like the back of her hand, and with each name she uttered, her fighting spirit intensified.

"Sunset Valley is destined to be a battlefield. What, are you scared?"

Gu Yan shrank his neck: "This humble official's cultivation is meager, so naturally I am afraid."

Li Qingge snorted coldly and ignored him.

Just then, the clouds below suddenly began to churn violently.

"Um?"

Li Qingge frowned slightly, and with a wave of her hand, a long sword as clear as autumn water appeared.

"Who dares to block my path!"

Before he finished speaking, the sea of ​​clouds below exploded.

A huge black net, shimmering with an eerie green light, enveloped the white crane.

The internet cable was covered with skulls, each one emitting a piercing scream that disturbed the mind.

"Hehehe! I've long heard that Princess Yong'an is incomparably beautiful, and seeing her today, I can confirm that the rumors are true!"

Three strange figures dressed in black robes and riding on ghostly clouds emerged from the clouds in a triangular formation, blocking their path.

All three were at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, exuding a cold and sinister aura. They were clearly evil cultivators who had been engaged in murder and robbery for many years.

"The Three Ghosts of Yinshan?"

Li Qingge recognized the newcomers at a glance, her eyes flashing with murderous intent. She said coldly, "Three cowards who only dare to steal chickens and dogs in the shadows dare to block my path? You're courting death!"

"Hehe, if the princess were at her peak, we brothers certainly wouldn't dare. But we've heard that to suppress the cold poison within her body, her cultivation level drops by 30% every full moon. Today happens to be the fifteenth!"

The leader of the evil cultivators let out a strange laugh and changed the hand seals in his hands.

The enormous ghost net tightened instantly, sealing off the entire area within a hundred miles.

Li Qingge's expression changed.

She never expected that such a secret matter would be known to these evil cultivators.

"Frost Cold Kyushu!"

Li Qingge let out a delicate shout and swung her long sword out fiercely.

A dazzling sword light, like an inverted Milky Way, carrying an extreme chill, slashed fiercely at the ghost net.

Gu Yan sat on the crane's back, watching this scene with narrowed eyes.

This was definitely not a coincidence; someone had deliberately leaked their whereabouts in an attempt to eliminate Li Qingge, a formidable competitor, before Sunset Valley opened.

"interesting."

Gu Yan didn't move, looking completely terrified.

He was waiting, waiting for the right moment to make a move, or rather, waiting for an opportunity to stir up the waters even more.

He quietly slipped his hand into his sleeve.

There, a thin sheet of white paper, empowered by the power of a single thought to create, was slowly folded at his fingertips, transforming into a small sword only an inch long.