Refining the Mountains and Rivers

The fairy, Li Ruhua, continued to ride south. She had to go past the huge river in order to reach Millet Nation. The long road was bound to have its dangers. Especially now, when she had about seventy or eighty percent of her true appearance, the risk of something dangerous happening for her had increased more than a hundred times.

However, she was a fairy after all. Even if she was restricted and could not lash out recklessly to give a slap to all the disgusting men that were giving her looks from every direction, she found a way to keep herself safe. For example, on the way, she managed to find seven renowned masters.

According to the fairy, she wanted to take her time to think about who she would eventually pick as her master. Before she came to this decision, they could only follow her secretly. If they jumped out and disturbed her while she was traversing the lands, they would lose the opportunity for her to become their apprentice.

If it were someone else who dared to come up with such a ridiculous request to these seven renowned masters all at once, they would have been taught a lesson a long time ago. However, it was a different story when it came to the fairy. The seven masters were each friendlier than the other, and repeatedly nodded their heads and assured her that there was no problem at all.

After all, they were clear about this fairy's aptitude. As long as this brat embarked on a cultivator's path, she would be able to ascend very quickly and become like a goddess that rode the clouds! Who would want to let go of such an apprentice after encountering them? They would not let go of her even if they died!

In this way, as the fairy made her way south, these seven masters continued to stay by her side. From beginning to end, there were only seven of them. She did not need to even lift a finger, as anyone who harbored any bad intentions towards her was directly gotten rid of by these seven masters. There were also other people who drooled as they looked at her, but before they could try to take her in as an apprentice, they were surrounded by the seven masters who looked at them solemnly and with cupped hands. After a conversation, these people could only sigh and walk away looking defeated and sad.

However, there were others who did not mind as they declared that they would replace one of the seven masters. This was because the fairy had said before that she only wanted seven masters to follow her, no more, no less. She said that having seven masters, and adding her into this equation, she would be traveling the world while showing her might in all eight directions.

If there was anyone that was unhappy with this, they could go ahead and attack her. The people who were defeated could only cough out blood and leave miserably. However, renowned masters who had been "replaced" were of course unwilling to lose their connection with this fairy. They immediately turned around and went to find their elders, and those that did not belong to a sect went to find their old friends. Those that did not belong to a sect or have any old friends could only grit their teeth and sell any news they had of the fairy for money. If I could not get this apprentice, then I won't let any of you have an easy time getting her too!

Therefore, in Grandeur Nation, news spread quickly about this fairy, and big figures whose origins were unknown appeared one by one. Since they were highly reputable, they could not directly take action purely based on this piece of news, otherwise it would seem too cheap.

Then, after they hid themselves and managed to take a look at the fairy themselves, they could no longer suppress the agitation in their hearts. They immediately revealed their identities and found the group of masters that were hiding behind her.

Some laughed bitterly and left when they saw these highly reputable people, while others who still did not want to let go were beaten until they were in a miserable state and coughing blood. In short, after going back and forth, there were still only seven masters who followed her but they were now replaced by legendary names.

Only then did the situation finally stabilize, and she could finally guarantee her own safety whilst traveling across Grandeur and Millet Nation. Anybody with any reputation or status now knew that there was now a lady that was traveling south on a cow, who could not be provoked.

Rumor has it that at Grandeur Nation's south border, the son of the county governor of the Haiyan County had all four of his limbs ripped off and thrown outside his mansion. After this matter, the county governor gritted his teeth and had even lowered himself by personally going to apologize to the perpetrator, but in the end, he did not manage to meet the person he wanted to see. When he went back to his mansion, his face was terribly pale. He dragged his son, who was groaning in pain on the sickbed, outside and gave him another beating. It could clearly be seen that he was venting his anger on his son.

After this incident, the whole of Grandeur Nation fell into turmoil. Countless sects started to recall their wandering apprentices, or gave them a stern warning not to provoke the fairy otherwise they would be beaten to death on the spot. Even if they died, it would be in vain because the sect would not take revenge for them over this matter. If they did, their whole sect might even be wiped out and it would be a really tragic ending.

No matter what Dao they cultivated, there was no exception.

The fairy who was riding on the cow, Li Ruhua, was clear about all of this. The reason why the seven masters continued to stay hidden by her side and keep their original promise to protect her was because she occasionally swept her gaze over them. Her eyes were bright and clear, as if she could see through everything.

This made these seven strongest cultivators from Grandeur and Millet Nation sigh internally. No matter what kind of thoughts they harbored, they ended up hesitating and did not dare to break the rules. They only dared to stay silent and wait for the right opportunity to come.

All the way south, the small stream at the beginning had now become a large, gushing and roaring river. Yet, it could not submerge Li Ruhua's thoughts about the small boy that she met earlier on. Li Ruhua was frustrated and frowned deeply, not understanding why she would suddenly think about that boy who gave her the cow once again.

She raised her head and looked into the distance. The mist rose and formed clouds, causing the visibility to decline. However, Li Ruhua knew that she was getting closer. This caused her mood to improve slightly. Even though she had not experienced any hardships during this journey, it was still really boring for her to get through. She just wanted to find him, kill him, and quickly get out of here.

Cultivators, especially very strong cultivators, who were restricted from using their cultivation would find it extremely suffocating. Whatever it was, she had no choice but to continue putting up with it.

On the riverbanks, there was a newly built route in Millet Nation. It was said that it was built for the convenience of the officials and wealthy families that stayed nearby, so that they could come down and enjoy the scenery at the river. Therefore, along the way, she saw many carriages who took this route, and most of them were expensive and luxurious.

The people in these carriages were slightly starstruck when they saw this calm fairy sitting on the back of a cow. When they recovered, they felt excited and inexplicably nervous in their hearts. These noble young men, who had all kinds of personalities - cold, gentle, bright, tender - were wearing different colored robes as they straightened their backs to show the best and most handsome side of themselves.

They did not wish for too much, but what if that fairy had truly taken a liking to one of them? That would be a wondrous twist of fate. Even though the scenery offered by the river here was not too bad, it did not justify why there was such a big crowd here today. It seemed that all the handsome, young and eligible men within a thousand miles were gathered here.

Li Ruhua understood everything that was happening around her, but she did not mind, nor was she annoyed. After all, she belonged in a different world from all these people. If they wanted to look at her, they could look all they wanted. Anyway, after she left, these 'people's' memory of her would become blurry. They would only remember vaguely meeting a very beautiful lady when they were young, but they would not be able to remember the specific details or what she truly looked like.

Suddenly, the fairy patted the cow and it obediently came to a stop. "May I ask what lies ahead in that mist?"

The question was directed towards a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boy who was incomparably handsome and had a noble aura about him. Evidently, he was of noble descent. At this moment, his face was flushed and he lost his composure as he looked at the fairy. He took a deep breath and cupped his hands in greeting, "That's Cloud Mist Valley. It is where an Immortal Teacher lives in seclusion, normal people are unable to get too close to it…"

He was about to reveal his identity to her and offer to lead the way to Cloud Mist Valley, but he was interrupted before he could speak.

"Cloud Mist Valley. That name is not bad, the scenery too. I hope I didn't come to the wrong place," Li Ruhua smiled as she nodded, leaving behind a speechless young boy, who did not know what to say. Then, she patted the cow and started to make her way into the mist.

This young brat is about the same age as him, but his demeanor is about a hundred times worse. How assuming of this noble young man to come up to me of his own initiative. I did not even look at him, yet a toad like him wants to marry me. How bold!

The corners of her lips twitched. Li Ruhua did not know why she would think of this at this moment, and felt that it was rather baffling. Could it be because after all this, it was almost time for the mystery to be revealed whether he was truly the Barbarian King or not?

On the Grandeur stone and under the Millet tree, no one could hide their spiritual identities. If she did not cheat, of course she would not be able to tell. However, since she was already cheating, she only needed one eye to see through everyone.

In Millet Nation's Cloud Mist Valley, there lived a Cloud Mist Taoist who whole-heartedly concentrated on building a home here. When he saw the young girl riding on the cow, his eyes widened and became bright at the same time, unable to suppress the eagerness that he felt. At this moment, his eyes were like two suns that had emerged from behind a cloud that made the surrounding air warm.

Coughing lightly, Cloud Mist Taoist took a deep breath and tried to show his noble aura and elegant demeanor, "Lady, it is my great fortune to be fated to meet you. I have waited a long time for this day. Would you like to be an apprentice under my sect, and cultivate this supreme method and gain eternal life?"

Li Ruhua blinked and saw that Cloud Mist Taoist was feeling extremely nervous in his heart. She smiled faintly and said, "This apprentice greets her master."

Cloud Mist Taoist froze for a while, and happiness erupted from the depths of his heart as he started to laugh maniacally. However, his laughter abruptly stopped and his whole body was like a toad that was stuck in frozen ice. His mouth was still wide open in laughter, but there was endless fear in his eyes… In short, he looked extremely weird and strange.

Li Ruhua frowned before turning her head to look in a certain direction behind him that was covered in mist that was completely calm previously, but had suddenly surged violently.

Whir -

Whir -

Cloud Mist Taoist gasped for breath in large gulps. When he looked up again at the fairy, he could not help but show fear and uneasiness.

"You… You are…"

Li Ruhua smiled and said, "Master, is your memory that bad? I am the apprentice that you just took in, are you going to disown me now?"

Her smile was extremely sweet, giving people the feeling that she had accumulated all of the light and good in this world.

However, at this moment, Cloud Mist Taoist felt like he had been locked on by a terrifying monster in the shadows, and if he was not careful, he was going to lose his life.

This feeling made him want to cry. He wanted to ask… Was there something wrong with the script? Was he not supposed to be an old fairy that had managed to acquire a great talent, before cultivating her and thus making his name in history? Why did it suddenly become a horror story, as if he had fallen in quicksand and was going to be swallowed at any moment?!

The thoughts spun quickly in his head. Cloud Mist Taoist gritted his teeth and asked, "Yeah, my memory has failed me. You… What's your name?"

"Li Ruhua, 'Ruhua' to mean that I'm as beautiful as a flower. Master, quickly show the way. I want to see the other two apprentices that you took in just now."

Cloud Mist Taoist could feel himself blacking out and he almost fainted. He thought to himself, 'It is our first time meeting today, how did you know that I have two more apprentices? It's doomed. There must be a hidden plot going on and Cloud Mist Valley is in danger!'.

While he lamented internally with endless fear and pain in his heart, he dared not to say anything when he looked at Li Ruhua. He did not have the courage to go against her.

Then, both of them turned around and walked towards Cloud Mist Valley. The old fairy bent his back and trod carefully, while the young fairy pranced around bubbly in a good mood.