Shi Lang came to the alchemy hall and told Yang Bingshan that he would be joining the expedition. Yang Bingshan nodded and said, "Xiao Lang, I will inform you about the other people who will be in a team with you by tomorrow. The highest realm of cultivators that is allowed to cross the restriction in the Eden Garden is Dao General. Anyone stronger than that cannot go in so you are just fine."


    Shi Lang asked with hesitation, "Hall Master, I have the cultivation base of a Dao Soldier, but my prowess, will that not cause any issues?"


    Yang Bingshan shook his head and said, "It will not. There are loops in the restrictions, and such a restriction is what we can exploit. As long as you do not have the Dao fruit in your Dantian, you can go through the restriction with ease."


    Shi Lang thought about this, but decided to handle things as theye. He was not going to hesitate, the path of the shura was not only the one who always won, but also the path of fighting. Never giving up was the key essence of his path, and recently he has almost given up on him, let alone the other things.


    He bade farewell to the old man and left the ce. He wandered around the sect before he ended up at the bank of a wide river. This river flowed behind the Martial Spirit Hall, and provided a naturally defensive wall. Shi Lang found a boulder and sat down atop it. He just watched the water flowing in the river and gradually his thoughts calm down.


    In this moment, everything lost meaning to him, the chaos of his thoughts allowed him to attain peace. If someone was to see him, they would mistake him for a statue. The wind caressed his body, and his hair fluttered. Unknowingly they have grown till his waist. The leaves falling from the trees came down to rest on his shoulders and legs.


    A few birds also flew over to stand over his head and shoulders.


    Some of them sorted his hair, while some dealt with the dead leaves. Shi Lang had entered a state of epiphany. He wasprehending the Dao of nature, which was strengthening his Dao nt.


    ...


    In the river, a spirit beast was watching Hao Ren. It was a big crocodile with a turtle shell. It was a dragon turtle, one of the most rare beasts found in the Immortal world. The reason Martial Spirit Hall was safe all year round was because of this guy. The beast surfaced on the river, it was just the size of a normal crocodile but the pressure it gave made all the other things freeze.


    The beast did not approach Shi Lang, and only watched him. After a few hours, the eyes of the beast twinkled and it mumbled, "Hmmm, a good seed."


    Shi Lang did not notice anything that happened, and he sat on the boulder till he woke up when Yang Bingshan appeared next to him. The Terran came down from the boulder and asked, "I apologize Elder, I did not notice you."


    Yang Bingshan shook his head and said, "I saw you immersed inprehension and did not want to disturb you. I came just a few minutes. On the expedition, you will have seven leaders, and fourteen followers. A total of twenty one people will be forming a team. ording to the decision of the elders council. You have been selected to lead the two juniors from the Alchemy hall.


    Do you agree?"


    Shi Lang nodded without a fuss, he was the golden disciple of the alchemy hall and it was his responsibility to return the care they have shown him. Yang Bingshan smiled and said, "You will leave the sect tomorrow, and meet up with the contingent of the Broken Moon Hall."


    Shi Lang raised his brow and the old man said, "Broken Moon Hall is one of the seven forces that call the shots in the Eastern Continent. They are a mysterious bunch. However, do not underestimate them. They dwell in the shadows, but they have the same foundation as us, thus they have always maintained an amiable rtion with us."


    Shi Lang nodded and said, "I understand, Elder. I will go and prepare."


    Yang Bingshan nodded, and have him a token. He said, "You can go to the treasure hall, and use the points here to exchange for anything you need. The points should be enough to get you a decent bunch of treasures."


    Shi Lang did not understand why he was being given this token and the old man said, "The contribution points you have umted by giving alchemy lessons, and pill refining are not small."


    Yang Bingshan gave him a silver token and vanished from his spot. Shi Lang shook his head and made his way to the treasure pavilion. This ce stored many artifacts and pills that were refined by the disciples and elders of the sect. He had some curiosity to see what was going on inside and since he had the chance, he might as well explore.


    ...


    Shi Lang climbed the stairs of the Treasure Hall, many disciples were surprised to see him. His fame was not small, but his appearance here meant that the rumor was true, he was going on the expedition.


    Inside the hall, many disciples were selling their stuff, and many were buying the treasures. In Shi Lang''s mind, this ce was more of a trade center. He walked up to an empty purchase counter and asked, "Senior Brother, I would like to buy some treasures."


    The person behind the counter was a fat disciple who had a very amiable smile on his face. He replied jovially, "Junior Brother, tell me what can I get for you?"


    Shi Lang thought for a bit and asked, "An armor."


    The fat man nodded and quickly pulled out a catalog from heaven knows where and gave it to Shi Lang. The Terran looked through the whole catalog and after half an hour, he said, "I would like the blood moon armor."


    The fatty frowned and said, "Junior Brother, this is a soft armor and does not have much high quality defense, why not buy the broken titan armor? It is absolutely safe."


    Shi Lang did not care and said, "I have chosen based on my cultivation techniques. Please get me the armor."


    Fatty sighed and took out a dark red soft armor from the space vault in the desk and ced it on the counter top. Shi Lang inspected the armor and nodded before storing it away. Then he purchased for some array tes, and also, shelter tents. What surprised the fatty was how Shi Lang asked for spirit converging incense.


    He finally realized that this man was buying arge quantity of such things, meant he was going to some expedition, and he said, "Brother, how about buy some weapons?"


    Shi Lang looked at him and shook his head. He paid for the stuff he bought and left the Treasure Hall. Someone who knew Shi Lang chuckled and said, "Fatty Tang, you thought you can fool the battle god? Do you even know who was that person? He is Shi Lang, the undefeated warrior of the outer court."


    Fatty Tang was shocked and then he gulped. He said, "Yan, can you save me if hees to find trouble?"


    Yan shook his head, and said, "He does not bother people but do not go overboard the next time. Senior Brother Shi is the darling of all the elders."


    Fatty Tang nodded hurriedly.


    ...


    Shi Lang spent the night meditating and adjusting his mindset. In the morning, he was summoned by Yang Bingshan to gather at the central square. He wore his armor inside his battle suit and tidied up his hair with ab before fixing them at a spot. He took out Raksha and tied her to his waist.


    He stretched his body and jumped on his feet a few times before he headed out. Shi Lang was going on this expedition with the primary intention to find himself.


    When he arrived at the square he found many people gathered around a bunch. The elders were all standing in the void. Yang Bingshan smiled when he found Shi Lang, but his appearance shocked the people. They did not expect him to be so dashing in such an odd attire.


    Shi Lang stood behind the disciples of the Alchemy hall. The sect master said, "This whole expedition will be sessful as long as you people help each other. Do not forget that your individuality does not matter before the unity of this sect. Your glory bes the glory of the sect, but simr is true for the failure too. So go out and show them what you are made of. Do you understand?"


    The disciples were silent when suddenly a loud voice echoed in the surroundings, "Hoorah!"


    Everyone saw Shi Lang shouting and stomping his foot on the ground before he ced his hand on his heart. The disciples could not help but move with this gesture and they all followed him.


    The allied team of the Martial Spirit Hall took off from the sect under the envious and encouraging gazes of the disciples and the elders respectively. They were being led by Elder San who said, "We will be meeting with the Broken Moon Hall team soon, be ready, they always have some surprise prank nned."