Chapter 99 Stories, stories, stories—if you tell too many stories, you'll really encounter ghosts.

The circle formed by the eight people sitting around has been expanded, and the space between each person has become more spacious.

Guan Wangzhen moved back while looking around, saying, "Oh dear, you told him to go back and he really did! I was hoping to get some answers from him!"

Ji Mingran: "What are you asking?"

Guan Wangzhen picked up the topic again: "We were just talking about the Demon Sacrifice Abyss, and then we talked about how the Nameless Sect suddenly appeared. That was a sect that was wiped out more than two hundred years ago, more than two hundred years, right? I don't remember exactly how long. Shi Bai, do you remember?" He nudged the person next to him with his elbow.

There was no response.

Guan Wangzhen turned his head in confusion: "What's going on...?"

But Zhu Shibai's gaze remained fixed on the direction where the departing person had disappeared, as if he were lost in thought.

Guan Wangzhen was immediately helpless. Even after everyone had left, he was still watching.

He had a clear understanding of Zhu Shibai's situation.

Granny Ming had just squeezed into the space between Shen Qingluo and Zhu Shibai. The disciple of the Nameless Sect who followed her was standing right behind Zhu Shibai. Ever since his gaze inadvertently fell on the sword that was worn at Zhu Shibai's waist, he had stopped moving.

This weapon-forging cultivator, obsessed with crafting artifacts, could he really be eyeing someone else's spiritual weapon?

"Mingran," Shen Qingluo whispered to Ji Mingran, "Although they know you, they are not familiar with the Ming Sect massacre. Even the Zhu family in the small world has heard rumors about it. I'm afraid there are some strange things behind this sect."

Fu Daolan added, "Little Sister Mingran, they just said that the person who destroyed the sect also slaughtered several continents. How terrifying! Will you and this little brother be in danger in this sect?"

"You guys mentioned this before." Ji Mingran recalled and clicked his tongue in amazement: "A massacre, so ruthless, it really sounds like a villain, a great demon."

“Mingran, why are you still sighing here? Take some time to advise our brother to be careful. We don’t even know if those fallen cultivators have disappeared. What if they come back to kill us one day?”

Shao Qing glanced at Ji Xingyang, whose face was growing paler, and coughed a few times to interrupt Fu Daolan, saying, "That's all in the past. Don't scare people for no reason. This little brother is still young, and you've scared him so much that his face has turned white."

Bu Wangchao said to Jimingran, "Dao Lan was only worried and had no other thoughts."

"Don't worry." Ji Mingran said casually, "He's quite good at handling things like being surrounded by dangers, being wiped out, and having to rise again. In that case, the Nameless Sect is surprisingly suitable for him."

"Is that so..." Fu Daolan murmured, "What has my brother been through in the past? No wonder he's so gloomy and cold... Ouch!"

After being elbowed by Shao Qing, he finally changed the subject: "Brother, why don't you join us for a fire?" Fu Daolan said regretfully, "It's a rare opportunity to get together. This is just like the days when we used to roast meat in the forest!"

As he spoke, he actually took out four sea fish from his storage bag, each as long as a normal human arm. "I've prepared them all. I was just waiting for you guys to come and eat together."

"Brother Fu's barbecue skills are absolutely superb, we're so lucky!" Ji Mingran said with a beaming smile, "We happen to have the barbecue equipment."

Upon hearing the word "grilling equipment," Zhu Shibai immediately snapped out of his daze and calmly took out a grill, forks, and other items from his storage ring. "Yes, we always carry them with us. Since we have fresh meat, we won't stand on ceremony."

The four members of Dingshengzong put the big fish on the barbecue equipment.

Fu Daolan said, "Your stuff is interesting. Oh, it's a pity my brother is shy." He swung his hand down and slapped Ji Xingyang on the shoulder.

Ji Xingyang was so startled by the slap that he immediately slumped to one side, struggled to sit up, and mumbled, "Uh, yes, yes, he's shy." It wouldn't be right to say that his father was naturally cold, aloof, and unsociable, even though that was the truth.

Guan Wangzhen had already set up a fish and asked with great interest, "You guys used to have barbecue together? Speaking of which." He turned to Ji Mingran and said with great enthusiasm, "Would you like to tell us how you met?"

He winked and said, "And why does this little blondie call you 'Mom' one minute and 'Daddy' the next?"

“I met them on my way from the Small World to the Heavenly Gate,” Ji Mingran said frankly, pointing to Fu Daolan and Shao Qingshang. “The one you just saw is my partner from the Small World. As for Little Chicken…”

Ji Xingyang excitedly interjected, "My parents adopted me in the small world. As the saying goes, the kindness of raising is greater than the kindness of giving birth. That's why I call them father and mother."

Fu Daolan smacked his head in surprise, "Little Brother Ji, you also came from the small world with Little Sister Mingran and the others? How come I didn't see you before? Wait... something's not right..."

Shao Qingshang realized something and covered her face, saying, "Stop talking."

However, Fu Daolan slapped his forehead again, his eyes wide open: "Could that bird be you? Oh, I'm sorry, little brother Ji, I even wanted to eat you back then."

Why did everyone want to eat it back then? Ji Xingyang was stung by the question, and he was on the verge of tears. He said weakly, "I was young at the time and couldn't take human form. You're not the only one who had this misunderstanding."

Now it was Ji Mingran's turn to feel guilty and remain silent.

Fortunately, Shen Qinglu spoke up and asked a different question: "But I clearly only met you back then? And didn't that person from Hongqizong say that your partner in that small world is... gone?"

Ji Mingran shrugged: "I guess it's a mistake."

"There are rumors like this circulating?" This was the first time Ji Xingyang had heard of such a thing.

However, that's not wrong. When his father's mortal body died, that wisp of his soul separated, which allowed him to return to spiritual cultivation with his father's wisp of soul. But the details are best left unsaid.

He pondered and said, "After my father faked his death, he came to Lingxiu with me. Perhaps that's why this rumor spread. After we arrived, we accidentally obtained the legacy of the Nameless Sect that had been left outside and became disciples of the Nameless Sect with a few other people. But in fact, we never actually went to the Nameless Sect."

So it was inherited from the Nameless Sect?

The four members of Dingsheng Sect, who had personally restored all the inheritances of their sect's treasure pavilion, quickly grasped the concept and exclaimed in unison, "So that's how it is!"

Fu Daolan, Shao Qingshang, and Qin Danniang also seemed to be deep in thought, and nodded in agreement: the ancient sect must have some profound foundation.

Shao Qingshang said with slight regret, "I was also hoping to inquire about the situation in the Abyss from Fellow Daoist Ji, thinking that perhaps the Nameless Sect would have relevant information that we could use to avoid the potential dangers in this sea area. It seems that you don't know either, so we can only try to find out if there are any other ways to inquire about the situation in the Abyss."

Hey! Ji Xingyang thought to himself with a touch of smug satisfaction. He had also managed to answer everyone's questions earlier and patch up his father's whereabouts. He really was a clever bird!

Guan Wangzhen slapped his thigh and said with righteous indignation, "I knew it! Hongqi Sect is still determined to destroy my Dingsheng Sect! They deliberately said some nonsense to disturb you back then, just like those people from Liuhuan Valley, they are still up to no good."

Finally, he suddenly said to Qin Danniang, "I wasn't talking about you."

Qin Danniang forced a smile and said softly, "I know there are some misunderstandings between your sect and our sect."

Fu Daolan flipped the big fish over: "I'm not saying this to be mean, but little sister, your sect is really strange. This is the first time I've ever seen a sect abandon its fellow disciples. This is quite the behavior." He shook his head and didn't continue.

"It's all because my skills are not good enough. I've been dragging my senior brothers and sisters down since the competition started. They have been tolerant of me for a long time..." Qin Danniang said with her eyes lowered, her voice getting softer and softer. "However, I know that once Senior Brother Ya recovers, he will come to find me."

Shen Qingluo and Zhu Shibai exchanged a glance, both angry at each other's lack of ambition.

Guan Wangzhen rolled his eyes dramatically.

Ji Mingran stared intently at the fish meat oozing juice from the grill fork in Fu Daolan's hand, silently swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

"You're so protective of your fellow disciples, you're quite the loyal one," Fu Daolan muttered, neither understanding nor appreciating the sentiment.

"No." Qin Danniang's voice was dry, and the forced smile barely held up. "I'm an orphan. I was lucky enough to be taken in by my master, who named me Danniang. My sect raised me and taught me alchemy. I should contribute to my sect. In this competition, I really didn't do well enough..."

The negative words were interrupted by a soft call, "You're all sitting here, why didn't anyone call me?" Shi Jinle grabbed her skirt with both hands and ran out of the cabin.

"Make way, make way!" Shi Jinle rudely pushed Zhu Shibai aside and sat down next to Ji Mingran, complaining, "If I hadn't been feeling stuffy in my room and wanted to get out for a walk, I wouldn't have known you were all gathered here."

Looking around, he found that only this yellow-feathered chicken remained in the nameless sect, which pleased him.

Shi Jinle moved even closer to Ji Mingran.

Ji Mingran's eyes were fixed on the glistening fish meat. He pulled his hand out of Shi Jinle's arms, rubbed his hands together, and said, "Oh, everyone is telling their stories. It's a sea adventure, after all. That's how it should be. It's roughly in the order of arrival. Since you're here, it's your turn to tell your story."

Shi Jinle was taken aback: "Huh?" Why is it that she's the one who's speaking when we arrive?

The others, having nothing better to do, chimed in, "Yeah, you tell us."

Shi Jinle's eyes gleamed, and he smiled like a flower, "Alright, alright, I'll tell you one."

She lowered her voice mysteriously and said, "Let me tell you a story about the Hehuan Sect that is not well known."

"Oh?" Everyone became interested and leaned closer to listen.

“In our Hehuan Sect, there was once a beautiful and talented junior grandmaster. She cultivated the Hehuan Heart Sutra to an unparalleled level on her own, astonishing the sect elders. However, our Hehuan Sect has a rule that if you want to obtain the supreme Heart Sutra hidden in the secret pavilion, you must complete the corresponding dual cultivation trial. Therefore, she had to leave the sect.”

"During her travels, she would frequently send messages back to the sect to report on the progress of the trials. She did not disappoint the sect leader's expectations, winning the hearts of many powerful figures from various spiritual cultivation sects and families. With just the word 'love,' she stirred up a storm among the spiritual cultivators."

Guan Wangzhen scoffed, full of doubt: "What a bluff! If it were really that powerful, how come I've never heard of it?"

Zhu Shibai also said, "I have never heard of a female cultivator of the Hehuan sect who could stir up the emotions of powerful figures in various spiritual cultivation sects."

"Believe it or not," Shi Jinle said, pursing his lips.

Fu Daolan: "Go on, go on."

Shi Jinle cast his gaze toward the dark sea and said softly, "Then one day, she said she had finally found the key to completing the trial and success was in sight... But since then, she has disappeared without a trace and has never appeared again. If you count carefully, it has been more than three hundred years."

She paused for a long time, so long that Shao Qingshang couldn't help but ask, "Is it over?"

Shi Jinle nodded: "I'm done."

“It’s normal to encounter accidents when you’re out and about.” Guan Wangzhen rested his chin on his hand: “Your story is pretty boring.”

"What? A campfire in the middle of the night by the sea?" Shi Jinle protested. "Isn't the point to tell these ghost stories about people mysteriously disappearing and people suddenly dying?"

"Alright, alright." Fu Daolan said a few perfunctory words to Shi Jinle, then said impatiently, "Now that you've all finished, it's my turn. I'm going to tell you a story about a talented cultivator who worked hard and successfully came to the spiritual cultivation world from a small world. Listen carefully."

"No way." Shao Qingshang almost curled up in embarrassment: "Not again."

Ji Mingran suddenly stood up: "Brother Fu, is the fish you're holding ready?"

Fu Daolan: "Ah, all done."

"I'll share it with everyone." Ji Mingran quickly grabbed the grilled fish and distributed it to everyone present. Then, holding the remaining half of the fish, he stepped back and said, "The people inside haven't eaten yet, so I'll let them have a taste too."

After saying that, he slipped away with the fish and ran.

"Hey! Why did you run away? It's alright, I'll continue..." Fu Daolan gripped the remaining fish skewers in his hand, not giving anyone another chance to snatch the fish from him, and said cheerfully, "Listen up, everyone."

"Once upon a time, I was just an ordinary, unremarkable young man. One day, I was chopping wood on the mountain..."

This story... is really boring. As everyone listened, their eyelids grew heavy, and their heads nodded like chickens pecking at rice.

A cold wind blew by at night, and the drowsy crowd shrank back, rubbing their arms to smooth the goosebumps that had risen on their skin.

The sea was cold at night, and the wind was so cold it seemed to seep into your bones.

"Hey!" A loud, rough shout jolted the group of dozing people awake.

Several of them unconsciously walked out of the deck and stood side by side on the railing, as if they were about to jump!

Everyone's expression changed, their confusion vanished instantly, and they turned back to the deck.

Guan Wangzhen was still shaken and looked around warily: "My God, I've been tricked."

On the deck, the campfire was still burning, and the fish was still emitting a fragrant aroma.

Everything seemed perfectly normal.

Qin Danniang hurriedly took out the Qing Shen Dan (a type of pill) and distributed it to everyone.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Qin," Zhu Shibai frowned, "and thank you, Fellow Daoist Fu, otherwise we would all have fallen into the sea, and we don't know what was waiting for us down there."

Fu Daolan took out a gold chain from his pocket: "Fortunately, I had this magical artifact, otherwise I wouldn't have woken up."

Shao Qingshang carefully examined the sect's spirit boat opposite and said with relief, "Fortunately, we also left one to place the sect's spirit boat, and they seem to be fine now."

"When was it? I didn't even realize it." Shi Jinle murmured. As a cultivator who focused on cultivating her mind, she was unknowingly controlled.

Shen Qingluo's longsword hummed as she pressed it down, her gaze rising: "Didn't you say that the demons and monsters in this sea area can create illusions?"

Fu Daolan said, "But they won't jump onto the sea surface!"

Shen Qingluo's gaze then fixed on the cabin, her eyes as cold as frost: "Can you guarantee they really won't come down?"

“We’ve never seen this before…” Fu Daolan said.

"No!" Shao Qingshang pressed down on Fu Daolan, his expression darkening. "We were just being presumptuous."

Zhu Shibai's gaze also fell on the cabin: "Not on the deck."

Guan Wangzhen followed Shen Qingluo and Zhu Shibai's gaze into the cabin, then slapped his forehead: "Oh no!"

......

The cabins were like a sea of ​​blood; everywhere you looked, it was a bloody mess.

Ji Mingran's lower body was submerged in blood, his hands were holding fish skewers high, looking at the table floating in the blood, and he looked up to meet Yu Tianxing's gaze.

After hesitating for a long time, he resolutely addressed the heads with bloodshot, dark eyeholes floating around them on the table, staring at them:

"No way. There's only so much fish, enough for just the two of us. There's no extra for you."