"If the young fairy wishes to learn a movement technique, perhaps I can teach you."

The moment Qin Shu heard this, alarm bells rang in her mind.

As the saying goes, when someone is being overly kind for no reason, they must be up to something. She wasn't some naïve, clueless eleven-year-old—how could she not understand such a basic truth?

"No, no need to learn. We body cultivators never run away." Qin Shu declared with a straight face, spouting absolute nonsense.

The ever-honest Yueming was instantly dumbfounded. He turned to look at Qin Shu in confusion. "But, Junior Sister, aren't you..."

A pill cultivator?

Before he could finish his sentence, Qin Shu swiftly interrupted him. "Senior Brother, I'm a body cultivator, remember?"

Yueming believed her, and his admiration for her grew even deeper.

His master had told him before—humans could cultivate various arts, comprehend Dao, and were gifted with great talent. But in exchange, they were given the weakest bodies.

Any human who wished to pursue body cultivation had to endure immense pain—tempering their bones, refining their flesh—an agony ten times worse than what demon beasts endured.

For his little junior sister, at such a young age, to endure such hardship... how incredible!

Of course, Qin Shu had no idea what was going through his mind. If she did, she would have been utterly ashamed.

After all, she was a body cultivator who had never actually trained her body.

Standing beside her, Lu Li eyed her slender limbs. Where exactly does she look like a body cultivator?

He didn't even need to divine anything to know she was completely full of it.

"Young Fairy, are you truly not interested in learning a movement technique? I once obtained a technique in a Minor Spirit Realm—'Shrinking the Ground Into an Inch.' If you want to learn it..."

Shrinking the Ground Into an Inch? Qin Shu's heart trembled at the mere thought.

However, another voice in her head immediately warned her:

There's no such thing as a free meal. If there is, then you're the meal.

She stared at Lu Li, her dark eyes unwavering. "I don't want to learn it."

Lu Li: "?"

He prided himself on offering something no one could refuse—yet this little girl actually turned him down?

Did this clueless little thing even realize what an incredible opportunity she was rejecting?!

Just as he was about to speak again, the stall owner nearby couldn't help but interject with a rough voice.

"Hey! The little fairy just wants to browse my jade slips! What's with you trying to steal my business? 'Shrinking the Ground Into an Inch'? Bah! I've seen plenty of swindlers like you—promising divine movement techniques but selling snail-paced nonsense!"

Hearing this, Qin Shu quickly nodded in agreement. "This immortal speaks the truth! I don't believe you!"

Lu Li felt utterly wronged. He stiffened and tried to explain, "I never even asked for payment—"

The stall owner scoffed even louder. "Little Fairy, go ask your elders—have you ever seen someone just give away a powerful technique for free?"

Qin Shu shook her head so fast it looked like a rattle drum. "Nope! Never!"

She even turned to seriously lecture Yueming. "Senior Brother, you must be careful when traveling! Never accept free benefits from strangers. The world is full of schemes, and there are many bad people out there!"

Yueming solemnly nodded. "Junior Sister, you must also be cautious. If you're in danger, use the crane feather to call me. I can take a hit."

Hearing this, Qin Shu felt warm inside.

Her senior brother was so sweet.

Meanwhile, the "scheming" Lu Li stood there, completely speechless.

What did I even do?! He just wanted to uphold his Dao heart!

Why are kids these days so wary?

He trailed behind Qin Shu as she moved, no matter how fast Yueming flew with her. With his cultivation and Shrinking the Ground Into an Inch, he could easily catch up.

He didn't attack them. Instead, every time they stopped, he would appear before them—just to show off his movement technique.

He refused to believe that anyone could reject Shrinking the Ground Into an Inch!

Finally, Qin Shu couldn't take it anymore. She stopped in her tracks, spun around, and demanded, "Lu Li Immortal! What do you want?!"

Lu Li fanned himself leisurely, his expression calm. "So? Young Fairy, does my technique look like a scam?"

Qin Shu huffed out a deep breath. "No! It doesn't! Satisfied?!"

Lu Li smirked. "Good, you've got sharp eyes."

Just as Qin Shu was about to snap back, he added, "Alright. Take me to see your master."

Qin Shu raised an eyebrow. "You think my master is someone you can meet just because you feel like it?"

She had been under her master's tutelage for over a year and had only seen him three times.

But before she could say anything else, a paper crane fluttered toward her, igniting midair as a voice echoed out:

"Shu'er, do not be rude. Bring Lu Li Immortal to Lingxiao Peak."

It was a voice transmission talisman—one that gave off a rather impressive aura.

Qin Shu suddenly wanted to stop using jade slips and start playing around with these voice transmission talismans instead.

Lu Li glanced at the little girl and said, "Well? Your master has spoken. Can I meet him now?"

Qin Shu recalled the rumors she had read in the jade slip. Lu Li was supposedly an elder of the Celestial Secrets Pavilion, which meant he wasn't weak and probably had some history with her master.

But... why was this supposedly powerful elder so childish?!

Qin Shu couldn't figure it out, but she still adjusted her attitude and respectfully said, "Immortal, please follow me."

Lu Li followed her to the Xuantian Sect's teleportation array. He didn't have a sect badge, but he had one from the Celestial Secrets Pavilion.

Since the two sects had friendly relations and often exchanged visits, he was permitted to enter.

Yueming parted ways with them at the sect's entrance, while Lu Li followed Qin Shu step by step up Lingxiao Peak.

By the time they reached halfway up the mountain, Lu Li finally couldn't hold back anymore and asked, "Young Fairy, why are we walking up the mountain? Why not use a movement technique?"

Qin Shu fell silent.

As if I don't want to! I just don't have one!

Normally, she'd use her Children's Joy Leaf to fly, but right now, she deliberately chose to walk. If this show-off wanted to follow her, he could suffer along with her.

She kept her face completely neutral and said, "Immortal, I am a body cultivator."

Even Lu Li was starting to believe she was some weak, entry-level body cultivator at this point.

But... wasn't her master Lingxu Zhenren, an Eighth-Rank Pill Cultivator?!

They finally reached the peak. The once indistinct path Qin Shu had been treading was now clearer than ever.

Lu Li panted slightly, glancing at the ground. "This path... it wasn't here before, was it? Did you carve it out yourself?"

His words were casual, but Qin Shu's response was anything but.

With a solemn expression, she replied:

"There was no path before. But as more people walk it, it becomes a path."