Immortal Travel of Longevity

Another year brought a day of heavy snow.

The Southern Region was naturally warm, feeling like spring all year round, and Qiuyue Fang rarely saw snow. According to Tong Nianyi, this was the first time she had seen snow in her entire life, and she had played happily all day.

Mao'er rolled around in the snow, likely finding the soft white blanket comfortable under its paws.

Tong Nianyi rolled around alongside Big Cat, giggling non-stop.

When they returned, Tao'er gave Tong Nianyi a spanking, and Ruyi taught Lihua a lesson for getting covered in melting snow.

Neither the girl nor the cat met a good end that day.

Ruyi lit a fire specifically for this and set Lihua beside it to dry out the cat's fur. Otherwise, in this cold weather, the cat would likely be frozen stiff by tomorrow.

While licking its fur by the fire, Lihua asked, "Why didn't Ruyi come play in the snow with us?"

Ruyi added a piece of firewood. "Do you think everyone is a child like you?"

"Ruyi, Lihua is a cat, not a child."

Ruyi thought for a moment, then added, "You're worse than a child."

She let out a breath and rested her chin in her hands.

Master Jin San sat to the side, roasting a sweet potato over the fire. "Prince Yu has already occupied Yuanchuan. He was swift as thunder and fierce as wind—truly worthy of the title Prince Yu. But according to the news, after searching the city, he mainly focused on pacifying the people. Even though everyone was in a panic, through benevolence and might applied together, Qingshan City has slowly calmed down quite a bit."

Ruyi paused upon hearing this. "Doesn't that mean we can go back?"

Dong Chiyu, who had been silent this whole time, also raised her head.

Master Jin San shook his head. "Prince Yu is going to war with the Prince of Yan. The front line sits right on the only path back. There is no way we can slip through."

Ruyi sighed helplessly. "How troublesome. Can't they just finish the war sooner?"

"Is it not good here?" Master Jin San asked with a smile.

"It's good..."

Ruyi smacked her lips. "But it's never as comfortable as being in your own home."

"That makes sense."

Master Jin San picked up the sweet potato and blew on it. "Wait a little longer. Perhaps it won't be much longer now."

...

Prince Yu's grand army was heading south, forcing the Yan Army all the way back to Nanshui City.

The two armies faced each other. Under Prince Yu's offensive, the Yan Army—which had yet to recover its strength—had no choice but to avoid the brunt of the attack. Their sixty-thousand-strong army gathered in Nanshui City, seeming intent on fighting a desperate final battle.

"Your Highness, the scouts report that Prince Jin dispatched troops to Beirang City half a month ago. Several major noble families provided him with financial assistance. Barring any surprises, Beirang City should be falling into Prince Jin's hands right about now."

The figure draped in a fox-fur cloak sat in the tent. He exhaled a breath of hot air, waving a hand dismissively. "Let him be. Given the current state of the Jin Army, he can take two cities at most. He won't be able to push into any more territory than that."

"But if we allow him to take the neighboring city as well, Prince Jin will have the opportunity to bypass our defensive lines. By the time we turn our attention back, he will be able to advance or retreat as he pleases. Our soldiers will have a hard time dealing with him."

Prince Yu said, "I understand, but how are we supposed to stop him?"

He looked at the person beside him.

The man fell silent, not knowing how to respond.

Prince Yu continued, "We might as well focus on the matter at hand first. We have been locked in a stalemate with the Prince of Yan's army for too long. We cannot drag this out any further."

The situation changed by the day. The longer they dragged it out, the more difficult it would become.

Prince Yu knew very well that he had merely seized an opportunity amidst these chaotic times. Although his momentum was grand, his forces still could not withstand a true test on many fronts. It would naturally be best if they could cut through the tangled mess swiftly; his greatest fear was a prolonged delay.

They remained in a stalemate at Nanshui City for nearly half a month.

Finally, one night.

A sudden burst of gong-striking rang out from within the Yan Army's Military Camp.

"Fire!"

A raging inferno ignited in the granaries.

"Get up! Hurry and put out the fire!"

"Hurry!"

"Attention! Watch out for an enemy attack!"

"Patrol guards, do not get distracted!"

For a time, the entire Yan Army camp descended into chaos. Throughout the night, soldiers continuously fetched water to extinguish the flames, pouring bucket after bucket until the sky turned a hazy gray.

But even with so many people working together, they still failed to completely halt the blaze. In the end, three granaries were mostly burned to the ground.

"This Prince Yu is so treacherous!"

"Don't panic, don't panic. The Southern Domain lacks no grain. In just three days, our rations and fodder will be fully replenished."

"Barring any surprises, Prince Yu will likely make another move against our rations. We must be on our guard."

"Exactly..."

...

Out in the wilderness.

The horse carriages transporting the rations were escorted by the Yan Army. The soldiers kept a vigilant watch on their surroundings; at the slightest sign of abnormal movement, they would immediately draw their blades.

At the very end of the ration convoy, there was one more horse carriage.

A figure sat inside the horse carriage, vastly different from the surrounding soldiers.

A sudden disturbance arose in the mountain ravine.

"What is that..."

"Enemy attack!!"

In an instant, all the soldiers escorting the ration carts drew their blades.

But when everyone looked over, their hearts lurched.

The leading general's eyes went wide.

They saw a fire bird, its entire body ablaze, charging straight toward the ration convoy.

"Screech!!"

The fire bird let out a startling cry, plummeting downward like a sharp sword.

"It's a strange cultivator!" the general shouted in alarm, hastily ordering, "Protect the ration carts!"

Faced with such an inhuman entity, however, the soldiers all stared blankly, not knowing what to do.

Yet, at this exact moment.

A figure suddenly emerged from that final carriage.

When the general looked back, he saw a man gripping a longbow, his gaze exceedingly sharp. In a mere split second, he had already nocked an arrow on the string.

"Whoosh!"

That arrow seemed to have divine aid, piercing through the air.

Golden light seemed to emanate from the arrow. The moment it touched the fire bird, it pierced straight through it.

The fire bird let out a miserable shriek. With its wing punctured by the arrow, it tumbled down into the mountain ravine.

As it crashed into the forest, a massive fire instantly ignited.

The fiery light soared straight into the sky.

Deeply stunned, the soldiers all turned to look where the arrow had come from.

They watched as the person inside stepped down from the horse carriage.

Clad in cloth garments and wielding a longbow, his jawline was sharply defined, and his gaze was as piercing as an arrow. With just a tap of his toes, he shot forward like a startling streak of light, arriving at the very front of the ration convoy.

Atop the mountain peak.

The Painter, holding a calligraphy brush, stared blankly for a moment upon seeing this scene.

"What excellent archery..."

The Painter murmured, then immediately raised his brush once more.

In the blink of an eye, a karmic fire formed on the painting. The final stroke landed.

The Painted Scroll gave a shake.

Dozens of fire birds flew right out from within the Painted Scroll.

The fire birds appeared above the soldiers' heads like a dazzling sun, so blindingly bright that it left them utterly bewildered.

And the bow-wielding man nocked his arrows once more.

Three arrows were fired simultaneously. Several whooshing sounds rang out.

Several fire birds were shot out of the sky.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!