Chapter 46: There is a barrier in the airspace of the Northern Ji Kingdom; we shall walk in.

"This depends on what you need."

"Do you want to return to the Seeking Immortal Sect first to formally enter your master's sect?"

"Or would you prefer to go to the Great Zhao Kingdom first?"

Li Muchen lowered his head and pondered for a moment before finally deciding, "Master, let's return to the Seeking Immortal Sect first!"

"Very well, then let us continue back to the Seeking Immortal Sect first."

Having finalized the itinerary, Li Muchen left Yun Qing's palace to bid farewell to his mother and younger sister, and to give them some parting instructions regarding matters that required their attention.

There were also state affairs that he needed to arrange in advance.

In short, Li Muchen was kept extremely busy over the next few days, barely having a moment to rest.

Five days later, Li Muchen and Yun Qing finally set off.

This time, they were also accompanied by the three senior disciples of Azure Wood Mountain.

...

Along the way, Li Muchen discovered that the three senior disciples of Azure Wood Mountain actually possessed quite upright moral values.

Previously, staying at Azure Wood Mountain, they had merely been constrained by pressure and forced to commit those unconscionable acts.

Considering that the three of them had turned over a new leaf and abandoned darkness for the light, Li Muchen decided to keep them by his side as his personal protectors.

In this way, they would also indirectly be considered members of the Seeking Immortal Sect.

As the saying goes, to completely reform and start anew, one ought to be given a new name.

Since Li Muchen was now their master, he decided to bestow a new full name upon each of them.

As for their surnames, they would simply take his surname, Li.

After all, these three had been orphans since childhood and had no idea who their parents were.

They had been found by people from Azure Wood Mountain when they were still infants and brought back to the mountain.

Taking the surname Li now was entirely fitting.

As for their given names, Li Muchen pondered for quite a while before finally coming up with three names.

He turned to the eldest of the three and said, "From now on, you shall be the chief protector by My side. Your name will be Li Zhengyi."

Next, he turned to the middle one and said, "You shall be the second protector. Your name will be Li Zheng'er."

Finally, he looked at the youngest one, "Since you are the youngest, you will be the third protector. I bestow upon you the name Li Zheng-san."

Just like that, the three former senior disciples of Azure Wood Mountain transformed into the three personal protectors at Li Muchen's side.

The cultivation levels of these three were by no means low within the realm of cultivators.

At the very least, their powers ranked around the upper-middle tier.

Li Muchen felt exceedingly satisfied with today's harvest.

...

Their group continued their journey in the direction of the Northern Ji Kingdom, striving to reach the Seeking Immortal Sect as early as possible.

Along the way, Yun Qing and the three protectors, Li Zhengyi and the others, flew under their own power.

Only Li Muchen, having just stepped across the threshold of cultivation, had not yet learned anything.

Sword flight was an absolute impossibility for him.

Fortunately, he still possessed a divine artifact.

That was none other than his Aladdin's magic carpet.

While Yun Qing and the three protectors were all flying on their swords, Li Muchen declined Yun Qing's offer to carry him along through the air.

He summoned his Aladdin's flying carpet from his system's spatial storage.

Throughout the journey, Li Muchen remained utterly leisurely and carefree, sitting cross-legged on the Aladdin's carpet one moment.

A moment later, he changed his posture, lying back in a lazy, indolent slouch upon the Aladdin's flying carpet.

Throughout the entire journey, he was undoubtedly the most relaxed person of all.

Compared to Li Muchen, Yun Qing and the three protectors had a completely different experience.

Yun Qing fared better, seeing as she had already attained the cultivation level of a medical deity.

Even for a prolonged journey, flying by sword was a minor matter for her.

However, Li Zhengyi and the other two protectors possessed only upper-middle-tier cultivation; how could they possibly endure such a long-distance trek?

Time and again, their group had to halt their journey to rest and restore their vital energy and spirit.

After yet another stretch of travel, they would have to stop once more to replenish their stamina.

At first, it was nothing much.

But as the frequency increased, Li Muchen began to find it tedious.

Besides, at the rate they were resting, how much precious time would be wasted?

Li Muchen instantly made a decision, instructing the three protectors to all board his Aladdin's flying carpet so he could carry them along on the journey.

Li Muchen then asked Yun Qing, "Master, would you also like to sit on my Aladdin's carpet, so you won't have to fly by yourself?"

Yun Qing frowned, staring at Li Muchen's small carpet, looking at it from left to right...

"Just this tiny carpet of yours?"

"With this capacity, it's barely enough for you to lie down on by yourself."

"You want to squeeze Li Zhengyi and the other three on here as well, and now you want to cram your master into this too?"

"I'd rather fly on my sword myself than crowd onto this tiny flying carpet with all of you."

Just as Yun Qing was about to step onto her sword, Li Muchen grabbed her arm.

"Master, wait..."

Li Muchen manipulated the carpet with his mind, sending a command to the Aladdin's flying carpet.

Slowly, the Aladdin's flying carpet began to expand... growing larger and larger...

By now, its capacity was fully capable of accommodating ten people.

A flash of considerable astonishment appeared in Yun Qing's pupils: "You...‽"

"I never imagined that despite your low cultivation, you possess quite a number of treasures."

"This Aladdin's flying carpet can actually expand to this size?"

"Even my sword cannot grow this large."

In the end, Yun Qing did not refuse Li Muchen.

Li Muchen, Yun Qing, and the three protectors, Li Zhengyi and the others, all boarded Li Muchen's Aladdin's flying carpet to continue their journey.

The carpet possessed an immense capacity; even with all five of them seated upon it, there was still a vast amount of space remaining.

Having traveled for so long, everyone except Li Muchen had grown weary and fatigued to varying degrees.

Following Li Muchen's example, they all sprawled out lazily in a slouch upon the Aladdin's flying carpet.

Along the way, they continued their journey in this leisurely, slumbering state.

This was Yun Qing's very first time experiencing the benefits of this miraculous flying carpet.

Not only could one leisurely sip tea upon it, but one could also quietly enjoy the surrounding scenery.

Whenever she flew on her sword in the past, she had to maintain absolute concentration the entire time; how could she ever have enjoyed such leisure and serenity?

A faint smile touched the corner of Yun Qing's lips as she thought to herself, "This disciple of mine was indeed a brilliant choice."

...

With the Aladdin's flying carpet, the travelling speed of Li Muchen and his party became much, much faster than before.

They did not stop to rest at all along the way; whenever they felt tired, everyone simply fell asleep directly on the Aladdin's flying carpet.

The originally estimated time was shortened drastically.

Five days later, they arrived before the gates of the Northern Ji Kingdom.

Because this was a nation belonging to the cultivator clans, even the skies above were protected by barriers.

Wishing not to startle the enemy prematurely, Li Muchen and the others descended to the ground just before entering the airspace of the Northern Ji Kingdom.

Li Muchen retrieved the Aladdin's flying carpet back into his spatial storage and, following Yun Qing's instructions, the group prepared to enter the gates of the Northern Ji Kingdom on foot.

All five of them underwent a thorough disguise so as not to be recognized.

After all, whether it was Yun Qing or the three former senior disciples of Azure Wood Mountain, any of them would be remarkably conspicuous figures within the Northern Ji Kingdom.

Through their disguise, they successfully entered the Northern Ji Kingdom without incident.