Chapter 24 A Chance Encounter on the Floating Island
"You succeeded?"
"No, and she saw my face clearly. I will hide during this time and not be discovered, otherwise I will be expelled from the sect."
"Useless. He has a third-tier magic weapon but can't even handle a mortal."
"You're talking nonsense! She's in the late stage of Qi Refining, not some mortal like you're talking about! Anyone can talk big, you go next time,"
In the dimly lit room, three people were sitting. The overweight male cultivator and the female cultivator were arguing, while the male cultivator in the middle sat with his arms crossed and his eyes closed, listening to his teammates' argument.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, the male cultivator in the middle roared, "Shut up, all of you! Don't forget what our purpose is!"
The slightly overweight male and female cultivators both shut their mouths, not daring to speak.
The male cultivator in the middle said, "We must get our young master to become an inner sect elder. Those elders are arrogant and conceited. If he doesn't have the title of the number one Foundation Establishment disciple among the new disciples and can't win the Foundation Establishment Competition, how can we let those elders see our young master!"
The female cultivator's gaze was firm: "I will deal with the despicable person who blocked the young master's path. Anyone who dares to block the young master's path must die. All for the sake of the family."
The male cultivator in the middle said, "I received news that Song Yin has been wandering around with another female cultivator recently. They are very interested in the Xuan Tian Assembly and often go to the sect's main hall. Cheng Qian, go to the sect's main hall and keep an eye on Song Yin. If necessary, lead Song Yin to a secluded and deserted place. Cheng Zhang and I will assist you secretly."
The female cultivator, Cheng Qian, replied, "Yes!"
The middle male cultivator then said to the slightly overweight male cultivator, "Cheng Zhang, don't go out until we receive the notification. I'll call you when it's time to take action."
The slightly overweight Xiu Chengzhang replied, "Yes!"
The male cultivator in the middle, Cheng Rong, gazed out the small window. The moonlight was gradually obscured by dark clouds, making the room even darker.
Cheng Qian received orders and went to stake out Song Yin early the next morning. These days, Song Yin didn't go to school in the morning, but would return to the training ground in the afternoon. Cheng Qian arrived at the training ground in the morning and kept an eye on the spot where Song Yin often practiced her swordplay.
The training ground became more crowded in the afternoon, and Cheng Qian finally managed to squat down next to Song Yin.
She watched as Song Yin and her friend walked together, the two of them spreading out to practice their swordsmanship. Song Yin practiced the basic sword techniques with fluid grace, and Cheng Qian couldn't help but think of the young master Cheng Xian, who aspired to be a sword cultivator. Unconsciously, she began to compare Song Yin's swordsmanship with that of the young master Cheng Xian, and Song Yin's swordsmanship seemed to be even better than that of the young master Cheng Xian.
Realizing what she was thinking, Cheng Qian immediately shook her head, dismissing the unrealistic idea. Had she gone mad? To actually compare someone from the mortal realm to the young master of the Cheng family? The two were worlds apart; to compare them was simply an insult to the young master.
After an afternoon of practice, Song Yin finished her sword practice, took out a water bottle from her storage bag, and drank some water. After putting away her water bottle and sword, Song Yin waited for Shi Heming to finish his practice, as usual.
After they finished packing, the two left together.
Seeing this, Cheng Qian quickly followed the crowd and caught up with them. The two people's voices reached Cheng Qian's ears from ahead, passing through the crowd.
Song Yin: "Xia Xining and I agreed to go to the sect's main hall after sword practice today. Where are you going?"
Shi Heming: "I've finished all my business recently, and I'm free anyway, so I'll go to the sect's main hall with you."
Song Yin: "Okay, tomorrow is the day when the contestants of the Xuan Tian Tournament leave their sects to compete. The square will be lively again. I wonder how many geniuses will participate in the tournament."
Shi Heming: "You'll know when you see it tomorrow."
Song Yin entered the teleportation array, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the person who had followed her. A slight smile appeared on her lips. To onlookers, she was simply chatting with a friend, a smile playing on her lips unconsciously.
Once Cheng Qian confirmed that Song Yin had gone to the sect's main hall, she immediately used a communication talisman to send a message.
Communication talismans are much faster at delivering messages than paper cranes. These are cultivation resources prepared for them by their families, allowing them to act freely within the sect without being troubled by a lack of resources.
Cheng Qian: "Everything is going smoothly, proceeding according to plan."
Cheng Rong: "Received, we'll get to it right away."
...
"Here! Song Yin, come quick!" Xia Xining had been waiting near the teleportation array since early morning.
Seeing Xia Xining familiarly huddled up next to Song Yin, Shi Heming lowered his eyes and silently stood on the other side of Song Yin without leaving.
Xia Xining: "I really want to go watch the competition with the participating teams, but unfortunately we are only at the Qi Refining stage, and our time outside the sect is limited. When will we reach the Foundation Establishment stage? Then we can go out and travel together."
Song Yin hadn't noticed this point before, but it came to her attention later. There's a time limit for Qi Refining stage disciples to leave the sect. If someone stays in the Qi Refining stage for two hundred years, wouldn't that mean they can't travel far for two hundred years?
Song Yin told them her thoughts.
Xia Xining: "Therefore, many disciples in the Qi Refining stage, knowing that they have no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, will choose to leave the sect voluntarily."
Song Yin: "If you leave voluntarily, are you still considered a disciple of the Immortal Firmament Sect?"
Xia Xining: "Of course not. Voluntarily withdrawing is equivalent to leaving the sect, and you won't be able to enjoy the sect's monthly benefits. However, people will say outside that they are still disciples of the Immortal Firmament Sect, and the Immortal Firmament Sect has not denied it."
Song Yin: "You know so much!"
Xia Xining: "Hehe, no, no, they all said I'm playful and don't like cultivating, and they want me to learn from you two."
They are referring to Xia Xining's master and her fellow disciples.
I was told to learn from you guys~
Shi Heming secretly rolled his eyes; this person was really an eyesore.
In front of the road, a man paced anxiously, occasionally approaching strangers to strike up a conversation, but the strangers ignored him after hearing what he said.
The man's face was filled with despair, and his eyes were brimming with tears. He seemed to have given up, but seeing three teenagers walking towards him, he mustered his courage and stepped forward.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait! Could you do me a favor? I have an urgent matter and need someone's help. I will definitely bring a generous gift to express my gratitude after it is done!"
Xia Xining: "Tell me first what kind of help you need?"
Cheng Rong hesitated, as if afraid of revealing something, but finally said anxiously, "Regarding the opportunity, if you fellow Daoists can lend a hand, we'll split the spoils 30/70! No, 60/40..." Seeing that the three were unmoved, "50/50 is also fine!"
The greatest temptation for cultivators is nothing more than "opportunity".
In school, elders often say that one should be wary of others talking about opportunities when walking in the world.
Xia Xining ignored him and walked away. After a few steps, she realized that Song Yin hadn't followed. She turned around and saw that Song Yin and Shi Heming had already gone away in another direction with the male cultivator.
Xia Xining: "Hey, you two, come back here! He's a liar!"
Upon hearing that there was a scammer, other people on the street turned their heads away.
Cheng Rong's expression changed. "We need to get to the designated location quickly. If there are too many people, there definitely won't be enough opportunities to go around."
Song Yin: Such clumsy acting, such a fake excuse...
As soon as this person appeared, Song Yin knew it was a scheme against her. She just didn't expect this person to be so stupid. He didn't even bother to come up with a proper reason for lying, and just used the "opportunity" to cheat and swindle people.
Shi Heming knew all of Song Yin's plans, and Song Yin told him about her experience before they went to the training ground.
Hearing the shout behind Xia Xining, Shi Heming felt he had won. Such a secret plan—no matter how close Xia Xining and Song Yin were—would know nothing of it. Only he knew!
As expected, he was Song Yin's best friend! Everything is about first come, first served, so Xia Xining had to wait behind him!
To better cooperate with Song Yin, he even prepared a lot of first-tier attack-type talismans that he had drawn himself, and also took high-tier talismans given to him by his master and senior brother.
Shi Heming: "I have not yet asked your name, fellow Daoist. What exactly is this opportunity you speak of?"
Cheng Rong: "My surname is Cheng and my given name is Rong. This opportunity cannot be revealed, and the secrets of heaven cannot be disclosed. I dare to assure you two fellow Daoists that it is definitely a good thing."
Hmph, as expected, he's young and a peasant from the mortal realm. His eye for opportunity is so shallow; he'll take the bait as soon as he hears about it. It's truly unfair that someone like him can surpass the young master.
It's a pity. For the sake of the family and the young master, we have no choice but to send you on your way. As for Shi Heming, if he wants to follow, let him go with him. At least he'll have company on the road to the underworld.
Cheng Rong felt that he was too kind.
Song Yin: "Cheng Rong, is it the Cheng with the 'grain' radical?"
The Cheng family has a strong sense of honor, and he proudly puffed out his chest and said, "Naturally, it's the Cheng family."
They ran fast, and with Cheng Rong's help using the magical artifact, the three of them disappeared in the blink of an eye, and Xia Xining couldn't catch up with them.
As the number of people on both sides of the road decreased, they arrived at the edge of the floating island, where the bottomless seawater lay below.
Song Yin thought to herself: Could he be planning to settle things with me here? This is the floating island where the sect's main hall is located, and there are many elders inside.
Cheng Rong: "Fellow Daoist, the opportunity lies in the sea."
As soon as Cheng Rong finished speaking, a large area of the sea below began to shimmer with golden light, as if to prove that what Cheng Rong said was true.
Song Yin looked at her strangely, "So you want us to jump?"
Flying on a sword is something only Foundation Establishment stage cultivators can do. Qi Refining stage disciples cannot fly on swords, and jumping off without a protective magic weapon is tantamount to suicide.
If he really jumped down voluntarily, he could easily wash his hands of the matter and claim that he deliberately sought death after the accident. Ha!
Cheng Rong: "I will jump down with you."
Song Yin: "We are all in the Qi Refining stage."
Cheng Rong: "Don't be afraid. I've already bought a flying artifact for this opportunity."
Song Yin: "You can't breathe in the water."
Cheng Rong: "I have a water-repelling pearl."
Song Yin: "How come you have everything? You must have a lot of spirit stones, right?"
Cheng Rong: "Our Cheng family is a well-known cultivation family in the Eastern Continent, so we are naturally not short of spirit stones."
Song Yin: "But I'm afraid of heights."
Cheng Rong gave a forced smile: "Cultivators should be fearless." Damn it, why are there so many stupid questions?
Song Yin walked to the side, cautiously sticking out one foot.
Upon seeing this, Cheng Rong couldn't suppress his smile.
Song Yin decisively withdrew her foot. "No, I'm still scared. Why didn't you jump down first when you discovered the opportunity?"
Cheng Rong gritted his teeth and forced a smile, "The opportunity requires at least three people to activate."
Song Yin: "At most, how many people?"
Cheng Rong: "A maximum of five people."
Song Yin: "Then call two more people, the more the better, otherwise I'll be scared." After saying that, she shrank back behind Shi Heming.
Cheng Rong: That brat is such a troublemaker!
Cheng Rong had no choice but to call out the other two.
One of them attacked Song Yin, and when he came out, he was wearing a mask.
Song Yin: ...What an idiot. What's the use of just wearing a mask? You should at least cover up your body shape. Your slightly overweight figure is too easy to spot.
Hiding behind Shi Heming, Song Yin timidly asked, "Who are you?"
"Cheng Qian".
"Cheng Zhang".
Song Yin: How stupid! They did something bad and then used their real names. They must be from the same family.
The fact that they both shared the surname Cheng reminded her of Cheng Xian, the genius from Class A.
Their immediate attempt to kill her didn't seem like something done out of jealousy of her talent. Rather, it seemed as if she had damaged their interests, forcing them to risk violating sect regulations to kill her.
So here's the question: if you never make enemies, how can you affect the interests of others?
When Song Yin was thinking, it looked to others like she was daydreaming.
Cheng Qian seized the opportunity and struck out with lightning speed.
Song Yin and Shi Heming both fell off the floating island.
A note from the author:
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Song Yin: Wuhu, take off!
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Here it is! [empty bowl]
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