Chapter 188: A High Immortal in the Mortal World

The soldiers who were not afraid to die in battle, after recovering from their shock, saw Qin Haoxuan’s calm expression and were instantly thrown into a panic. A sense of inexplicable terror washed over them, as if the shadow of death were looming over their heads.

To a mortal, a High Immortal was a being that was high above them. As a mortal who had offended a High Immortal, was there any path for them but death? Thinking of the power of the High Immortals in the enemy army these past few days, these soldiers were so frightened their faces turned pale.

Qin Haoxuan had not yet come to terms with being a “High Immortal,” but these soldiers could clearly feel the faint “immortal might” emanating from his body. This faint immortal might made it almost impossible for them to breathe. This young man, who was just standing there casually, seemed like a great mountain, insurmountable and suffocating.

The leading soldier, his face pale with alarm, immediately dropped the broken saber in his hand and prostrated himself on the ground. He said, trembling, “I deserve to die, I deserve to die for offending a High Immortal. I beg your forgiveness, High Immortal, please forgive me…”

As the corporal prostrated himself, the other soldiers also dropped their weapons and, with a clatter, all knelt down.

This was the difference between an immortal and a mortal. Qin Haoxuan sighed to himself and said to the corporal, “There is no crime in ignorance.”

Tears streamed down the corporal’s face as he wept. “High Immortal, we have been waiting for you as one waits for the stars and the moon, and we have finally awaited your arrival. Our general has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Thinking of how they had just been pointing their blades at a High Immortal, these soldiers trembled with fear, occasionally stealing a glance at the young immortal. Recalling the scene of him severing their weapons with a single blow, and the neat cuts on the broken blades on the ground, they were terrified that if he were to become the slightest bit displeased, he would reach out and sever their heads.

If Qin Haoxuan had been an ordinary person, they would certainly have tried to capture this young man who had trespassed into their military camp as a spy. But this young man was a High Immortal. Their gazes immediately changed. They could afford to offend martial arts masters and heroes of the martial world, but they could not afford to offend a being as high above as a High Immortal.

The corporal gave a signal with his eyes, and a young soldier immediately understood, scrambling up and running towards the general’s camp.

Soon, several generals in full armor came rushing over. From a distance, they saw Qin Haoxuan and prostrated themselves on the ground. “High Immortal, your arrival is most timely! The King of the Foothills, Ling Feng, has rebelled. He has recruited several High Immortals from who knows where. With their help, our vanguard has been suffering defeat after defeat and heavy losses. If we retreat any further, we will be at the encampment of the main army. Thank heavens, the prince has finally managed to invite you here.”

It turned out that this army was the vanguard of the Soaring Dragon Nation’s imperial forces. When King Ling Feng had rebelled, the imperial court had immediately organized a main army to suppress him, and this was their vanguard. But Ling Feng had recruited several rogue cultivators to help him, and these mortals were no match for them. Under the enemy’s frenzied assault, they had been beaten back time and time again. The moment they saw Qin Haoxuan, who could use immortal arts, they naturally assumed he was the reinforcement the prince had brought from the guardian sect.

Although they didn’t know why only one High Immortal had come, and one who was so young, they did not dare to ask. The vanguard general secretly glanced up at Qin Haoxuan and muttered to himself, This High Immortal looks to be only sixteen or seventeen, younger than my own son. Could his immortal arts be too shallow? Is he a match for the High Immortals in the rebel camp?

But regardless of his thoughts and suspicions, he did not dare to show the slightest bit of doubt. Even if this High Immortal was the same age as his own son, he still had to kneel and kowtow respectfully. How could a mortal violate the dignity of a High Immortal?

As the two generals knelt before him, a sense of unreality flashed through Qin Haoxuan’s mind. Before, when he was a mortal, these generals who commanded tens of thousands were beings he had to prostrate himself before. Now, they were the ones kowtowing to him.

“High Immortal, what are your orders?” the general asked cautiously.

Qin Haoxuan, who was exhausted from his long flight, said to the general without ceremony, “This High Immortal has traveled a long way and is a bit tired. Arrange a tent for me to rest.”

Hearing his words, the general muttered to himself, Do immortals also get tired? But how could he dare to show it? He kowtowed respectfully and said, “Yes, as you command.”

Seeing his respectful attitude, Qin Haoxuan intentionally decided to show off a little more. Mimicking his master’s style, he condensed a strand of spiritual energy in his hand and, with a lifting gesture, lifted the general to his feet. If the general had any lingering doubts before, he was now completely convinced that Qin Haoxuan was a High Immortal.

The general, named Su Wu, quickly led him to his own tent, which was the most spacious and clean in the entire encampment. “Please rest well here, High Immortal,” he said humbly. “If you need anything, please do not hesitate to command.”

Qin Haoxuan sat down cross-legged. Xing, who had been wrapped around his arm, transformed from a shield back into human form, scaring the mortal general so badly his face turned pale. “This is my friend,” Qin Haoxuan said in a deep voice. “You need not be alarmed.”

“Yes, yes,” General Su said, quickly bowing to Xing as well. He wasn’t too surprised; legend had it that High Immortals were omnipotent, and it seemed to be true.

Xing’s face was not looking good after taking that blow from Master Chi Lian. He ignored Su Wu and stood by Qin Haoxuan’s side with his hands behind his back.

As Xing was transforming back, Qin Haoxuan had turned away and secretly taken out the Thousand-Mile Mirror. He infused it with a stream of spiritual energy and began to search for Master Chi Lian’s whereabouts. The mirror showed that he was flying around in a rage, searching everywhere. After Qin Haoxuan had hidden himself in the army camp, the aura of slaughter had washed away the scent of the tracking art, and Master Chi Lian had lost his trail, now flying around like a headless fly. The unwilling Master Chi Lian once again cast the Great Luo Tracking Art. Strands of spiritual energy flowed from his body, drifting in all directions, but they all dissipated after a short distance. This proved that the tracking art had been broken.

Master Chi Lian was furious and greatly shocked. Unless it was a cultivator stronger than himself, how could anyone break his tracking art? But Qin Haoxuan was only at the Fourth-Leaf, and that demon that could turn into a shield was only at the Spirit Sprout Realm. It was impossible for them to have broken it. The only explanation was that Qin Haoxuan had some powerful artifact that had forcibly severed the connection.

“Qin Haoxuan, oh, Qin Haoxuan,” he cursed, grinding his teeth, “you had better not fall into my hands. If you do, I will make you wish you were dead!” If resentment could kill, Qin Haoxuan would have been torn to pieces long ago. But all he could do was vent his anger with empty words, because he could not find him.

Seeing this in the mirror, Qin Haoxuan finally felt at ease. It seemed Xing’s plan had worked. But he still didn’t dare to leave the camp.

He thought for a moment, then put away the mirror and turned to General Su Wu. “This High Immortal will be staying in your camp for the time being. You may leave for now.”

“Yes, please rest well, High Immortal,” Su Wu said, bowing and preparing to leave.

Just then, the logistics officer beside him fawningly asked, “I wonder if the High Immortal has had breakfast? Is there anything you require?”

Mortal food contained not a sliver of spiritual energy and would only add impurities to his body. Qin Haoxuan shook his head. “High Immortals do not eat the food of mortals. By the way, do you have any spirit stones?”

The logistics officer was stunned. Spirit stones? What are those? He shook his head in confusion.

Not giving up, Qin Haoxuan took a spirit stone from his robes. “It’s this kind of stone. If you have any, bring them to me at once.” The moment the stone appeared, the tent was filled with spiritual energy. Its brilliant, translucent appearance left the two mortals dumbfounded.

Facing his command, they repeatedly agreed, though they muttered to themselves, We’ve never even seen such a thing. How could we possibly have any?

Qin Haoxuan waved his hand, and they tactfully departed. He and Xing exchanged a look and then silently began to recover their spiritual energy. After the long flight, he was exhausted.

They meditated for the entire morning, and by the time they had recovered about seventy or eighty percent of their energy, General Su Wu was waiting respectfully outside the tent. “This humble general, Su Wu, requests an audience with the High Immortal,” he asked cautiously. “Is it convenient for you to speak now?”

“Come in, General Su,” Qin Haoxuan said in a cool voice.

Su Wu and Xing opened their eyes and looked at him calmly. “What is the matter, General Su?”

Seeing their calm and composed expressions, looking so profound and unfathomable, Su Wu was so frightened he quickly lowered his head and prostrated himself on the ground. “This humble general boldly reports to the High Immortal that the battle at the front is critical. The enemy has found a High Immortal to help them, and our army has been suffering defeat after defeat and countless casualties. We are on the verge of collapse. This humble general is extremely anxious and so has boldly come to ask when the High Immortal will lend us his aid.” His expression was humble, his face full of expectation. He did not dare to lift his head, staring fixedly at the ground, for fear of profaning the High Immortal and incurring his displeasure.