Chapter 241 Guarding the Island
Chongfeng Domain, Huangfeng Mountain Range, outer perimeter.
Zhou Yuxiao and several fellow disciples are searching for the Three-Striped Pearl Fruit.
These pearl fruits are divided into three-patterned, six-patterned, and nine-patterned varieties, representing grade three, grade six, and grade nine precious medicines, respectively.
The levels differ greatly, and each time three patterns are added, a mutation must occur.
Zhou Yuxiao and the others were all disciples of the Crimson Wind Sect, who came here on a mission issued by the sect's alchemists.
Their sect's power is only at level six, and there are seven or eight similar sects near Huangfeng Mountain alone, so the competition between them is fierce.
Recently, a small secret realm has appeared a thousand miles away on the right side of the mountain range. It is only open to cultivators who have attained enlightenment and those who have attained the highest level of spiritual cultivation. However, it is said that a lot of miasma has leaked out of the realm, and it requires level three and four "Miasma-Clearing Pills" to resolve the issue.
Three-patterned pearl fruit is one of the main ingredients in the Level 3 Clearing Miasma Pill.
The alchemists from all the schools have been incredibly busy lately!
This medicinal herb is absolutely essential!
Zhou Yuxiao and the others were also doing it for themselves—as outstanding disciples of the sect, they had a great chance of getting a spot to enter the small secret realm. If they gathered more medicinal herbs now, they would have plenty of pills to use in the future.
What they need to be careful about now is preventing other sects' disciples from competing with them.
Ideally, one should avoid disciples from other sects and find a large area where Three-Patterned Pearl Fruits grow.
·
However, Zhou Yuxiao never expected that his wish would be partially fulfilled.
The so-called "half" completion was, of course, because they had indeed found such a pearl fruit... while the other half was misfortune.
Just as the group discovered the depression filled with pearl fruits, an extremely ferocious fifth-tier wild bear gave chase!
Zhou Yuxiao and the others were shocked!
They were clearly still on the outskirts of the mountains, and what they had encountered were at most third-tier savage beasts and rare beasts. Even the appearance of fourth-tier beasts was only a slight possibility, but how could there be fifth-tier beasts?
Zhou Yuxiao and his disciples might be able to escape the attacks of fourth-tier savage beasts, but they certainly couldn't withstand the attacks of fifth-tier beasts!
Fortunately, they all carried a lot of talismans and magical artifacts, and used them all to escape frantically.
The bear was chasing too fast; with each lunge it closed the distance between them. If it weren't for the fact that this bear was a slow-moving beast, it probably would have caught up with them long ago!
Zhou Yuxiao was the fastest to escape and the first to see a tall, slender figure walking slowly on the mountain path ahead.
He didn't have time to think and immediately shouted, "Run! Fifth-tier Savage Bear!"
The figure neither sped up nor looked back, as if it hadn't heard anything, and continued walking at its previous pace.
Zhou Yuxiao had already given her a heads-up, so of course she wouldn't be a pushover again and simply walked past.
His fellow disciples caught up and did the same.
The savage bear was only a few feet away from pouncing on the last disciple, and as the disciple hurriedly passed through the tall figure, the bear would immediately pounce on that tall figure.
Moreover, it was only a hair's breadth away!
Zhou Yuxiao's soul was constantly sweeping outside, so naturally she "saw" this scene.
But he could only feel sorry for him in his heart; his pace of running away would not slow down in the slightest.
However, in the next instant, a horrifying scene was captured by his soul and transmitted to him.
Zhou Yuxiao's pupils suddenly contracted!
That bear's head fell off!
It looks like it was cut off by an extremely thin thread!
Hot bear blood gushed from its cavity, and was about to splash onto the man at a distance of less than a foot!
However, with a slight flick of his sleeve, the bear blood was swept away without even touching him.
Zhou Yuxiao also "saw" that the person was carefully protecting a small statue in his hand, as if he was just worried that the bear blood would dirty the statue, which was why he swung his sleeve.
It was at this moment that Zhou Yuxiao "saw" the person's face clearly.
Extremely handsome, yet with unfathomable eyes.
He didn't even glance at the bear again, but gently wiped the small statue with the cuff of his other sleeve and continued walking forward.
Not only Zhou Yuxiao, but the other disciples were also paying attention to what was happening behind them.
at the moment……
They all stopped in their tracks.
·
Zhou Yuxiao and the others exchanged glances, waited a moment, and as the young man gradually approached, they stepped forward and said, "Thank you so much for saving our lives, senior..."
Killing a fifth-tier savage bear with a single blow—isn't that the senior's achievement?
Moreover, they should rightfully go over and express their gratitude.
However, the peerless senior ignored them completely, his fingers still stroking something.
Zhou Yuxiao and the others dared not block the way, nor did they dare to say anything more—who knew if disturbing their senior rashly would anger him instead?
Please move aside after you've thanked me!
Then... they watched helplessly as their senior walked straight past without giving them a single glance.
None of the Crimson Wind Sect disciples dared to utter a word.
When the senior passed by, Zhou Yuxiao glanced at him cautiously and suddenly realized that what the senior held in his hand was a simple piece of "black iron," and his fingertips were circulating profound energy, constantly carving it.
In a daze, he seemed to see that the senior sculpted the same boy...
But Zhou Yuxiao quickly regained her composure.
The other disciples also stood still, waiting quietly.
Only after the young man's figure had completely disappeared did they exchange a glance, their expressions filled with relief.
Honestly, if they hadn't happened to run into this senior, and if that wild bear hadn't actually attacked him, they probably would have lost their lives.
But now... misfortune may be a blessing in disguise.
Not only can they go together to pick the newly discovered large area of pearl fruit, but there is another benefit.
The disciples all turned around and looked at the enormous carcass of the wild bear.
The senior clearly doesn't want this!
They've waited so long, but the senior hasn't turned around!
so……
They can now get this for free.
Zhou Yuxiao said, "Let's split it evenly."
The other disciples readily agreed: "Yes! Let's split it equally!"
The disciples also excitedly shouted:
"This is a fifth-tier, second-stage savage bear! Senior cut off its head directly, and the entire carcass's hide is still intact!"
"Bear skin, bear bile, bear paws, and bear meat—all of them can fetch a high price!"
"It's a pity that the blood has all drained away, otherwise it could have been sold for a good price."
"With that wild bear from before, even if we don't get a spot to go to the small secret realm, it'll still be worth it!"
"Hey! Don't say that. We still need to try our best to get a spot. I heard that little secret realm is pretty new. Once we enter, we might be pioneers, getting the first taste of the world. Who knows how many resources it has accumulated!"
"That's right, that's right..."
Zhou Yuxiao and the others quickly cut up the corpses, made a rough estimate of their value, and then divided them into several groups. Those that could not be divided equally were sold and then divided.
The disciples were all overjoyed, having put the shadow of their near-death experience behind them.
Later, when they picked the pearl fruit together, everything went smoothly—during the time they were away, no disciples from other factions discovered that treasure land.
It was a great harvest.
·
After returning to the Crimson Wind Sect, the matter could no longer be kept secret from his fellow disciples.
Zhou Yuxiao and the others did not erase the merits of the seniors they met, and told them everything in detail.
One of the disciples was good at telling stories and told them vividly, even rehearsing the senior's posture. However, he was ridiculed for not having the senior's elegant demeanor and not being as swift in action.
Descriptions of that senior's demeanor, the small statue in his hand... all spread.
Later, not only disciples of the Crimson Wind Sect, but also people from other sects encountered this young man.
Some people see the other party from afar, instinctively sense danger, and don't go over at all;
Some were also fighting with wild beasts in the mountains, but wild beasts liked to prey on living people, so the wild beasts blocking the way were killed, allowing the cultivators on the road to save their lives;
Some disciples, seeing that the young man was dissatisfied with his arrogance, provoked him and killed them all without exception... It just so happened that it was in the middle of nowhere, and they were the ones who actively sought trouble, so they had no choice but to accept it.
Similar things happen quite often.
Whether it was a savage beast or a troublesome cultivator, they could hardly last a single round against that young man.
Many people can tell that he is a Fusion cultivator, yet they still feel that he is unfathomable, as if they cannot grasp the limits of his strength.
·
There are many rumors about all the disciples I've met, and comparing these rumors has sparked some discussion...
Disciples from various sects and members of various families all had similar impressions of that young man.
The labels are roughly like this: dangerous, indifferent, and averse to socializing.
As for the statue in his hand... many people have their own guesses.
Some guessed it was his brother, others said brothers wouldn't be this close, and still others speculated it was "his best friend who died for him"... but most people felt it must have been his lover.
Just like Tang Zhifeng before, with her strength on display, many cultivators would suspect that she was someone on the Heavenly Ranking.
However, it still doesn't match.
Someone said, "Even if it's not now, it might be next month."
Others said:
"It's not necessarily true that anyone can make it onto the Sky Ranking. The Central Continent is so vast that there are far more cultivators than can be counted. Only a hundred people can make it onto the Sky Ranking, so you can imagine how strong they are!"
“Everyone on the list has a great record. Although this person casually killed many roadblocks, those roadblocks were just average and cannot be considered a great achievement. He probably won’t make it onto the Sky List.”
“My cousin is a Fusion expert. He recorded the list and showed it to our relatives and friends. I was fortunate enough to take a look and found that there were also those who did not do anything great, but only made their mark by fighting a few matches. The Sky Records recorded them and thus made them onto the list. Later, those seniors also accepted many challenges and won every time. It can be seen that the Sky Records are extremely accurate and will never make a mistake.”
"That's true! It seems that anything recognized by the Heavenly Ranking must be incomparably powerful!"
"Let's wait a little longer. We'll know next month whether we make the list or not. We still don't know that senior's name, though. Maybe we'll meet him on the list instead, hahaha..."
"This senior is still moving forward, and judging from the direction he is heading, it seems to be the Azure Sea."
"I wonder why you went that way, and what your purpose was..."
·
In any case, at least in the Huangfeng Mountain area, there are legends everywhere about a prodigy who "embraces a statue and looks in the mirror from time to time".
That prodigy's figure often disappears in a flash, and what he hates most is roadblocks.
Even the other party's background is probably quite profound—the level eight puppet he carries with him means that even if he encounters a level six or seven bandit, they will all die on the way.
In such a remote place, the highest level of power they could possibly have was level seven.
Many powerful figures were alarmed by the appearance of this prodigy, and they discussed the matter among themselves. However, even the strongest Spirit Transformation experts among them did not dare to make a move against him—nor could they.
In the end, all they did was let it go.
This prodigy is like a drop of water falling into hot oil—very conspicuous and impossible to look away from.
Fortunately, it seems this person was just passing by.
·
Before he knew it, Wu Shaogan had reached the seaside.
The view ahead stretched out endlessly, yet the arrow on the mirror still pointed in a distant direction.
Acai is at sea.
But the sea is too vast. If he goes out to sea by boat, will he miss A-Cai?
A-Cai must be looking for him too.
Wu Shaogan gently sculpted A Cai's features and sat quietly by the sea.
Let's just wait here.
If the arrow deviates, he will go back into the sea.
He waited and never left the seaside again.
·
Many cultivators who thought this person was heading to the Azure Sea were puzzled.
It just stopped at the beach?
What's so interesting about this beach?
It's been many days, and it's still here...
I really can't understand it.
Are all young, strong individuals so unconventional?
·
However puzzled they were, the nearby cultivators simply chose not to disturb them.
If you want to stay, then stay. As long as you don't cause any trouble, at most it will just be a "strange sight" on the beach.
Of course, each sect and family privately instructed their own members to simply treat each other as... a statue.
Just give them some space and don't rush in to bother them.
If they really have to go and disturb them, they'll be courting death, and then the various factions probably won't be able to avenge them.
When the members of various families and disciples of various factions heard about it, they all dared not approach.
Whatever, I just won't go that way!
·
The azure sea.
A colossal treasure ship is sailing swiftly.
It houses a rather magnificent structure, divided into many small cabins, and the deck area is also very large, easily accommodating hundreds or even thousands of people.
At the very front of the deck stood a handsome young man dressed in blue, staring intently at a small portrait.
Leaning against the railing was a rather handsome young man, but with a slightly spoiled air. He was holding a wine pot and would take a sip from time to time, glancing at the boy every now and then as he drank.
After looking at it, the young master casually turned his head back, then grinned, revealing an expression that suggested a toothache.
These two were, of course, Zhong Cai, who was wholeheartedly continuing her "wandering" and searching for her husband, and Duan Xingchen, who accompanied her to act as a tool to appease her subordinates.
Behind the two, there were armored soldiers everywhere.
Patrols are being conducted throughout the ship's upper decks, cabins, and decks...
Each of the armored soldiers also carried a portrait.
Of course, these portraits are all rubbings, exactly the same, depicting a handsome young man who makes people feel like they are bathed in a spring breeze.
He was truly handsome and had an excellent demeanor, so even though these armored soldiers had all memorized his appearance, some of them would still occasionally take a look at him and marvel at how he was a rare prodigy... They just didn't know how strong he was.
·
At sea, appearance is actually quite important.
Otherwise, there wouldn't have been a contest for the "Top Ten Beauties of the Sea" in the first place.
The top ten beauties are judged primarily on their appearance. The selection process involves choosing from many cultivators with outstanding looks – appearance is the primary factor, purely based on looks, with the cultivator's temperament being secondary.
After all, once a cultivator reaches a certain level, their temperament is usually quite unique, making it difficult for them to truly "disappear into the crowd."
Among cultivators whose appearances are similar, it is their temperament that matters.
Once the temperament has been selected, if there are multiple candidates with similar qualities, then their abilities will be considered.
Zhu Zixi was at the peak of the Enlightenment stage and would have become a Suspended Illumination cultivator in no time. His strength was undeniable, and his appearance was indeed exceptional. Therefore, despite his ordinary status and pre-arranged marriage, he still made it into the top ten.
That being said...
There were only ten beautiful women, both men and women, and their images had long since spread throughout the surrounding seas. Yet, among all the beauties carefully selected from such a vast ocean, not one could compare to the person in the portrait…
It's only natural that people can't help but take a second look.
·
We have been traveling at sea for several days.
The arrows on the mirror still don't point to any islands, so the islands we see along the way are just sights; there's no need to stop there, we just keep sailing forward.
Because the portrait was too large and difficult to appreciate, Zhong Cai specially painted several smaller portraits in different poses on the boat. He would take these portraits out from time to time to touch them, just to ease his longing.
At first, Duan Xingchen thought it was normal; missing someone is normal... But as time went on, he noticed that Zhong Cai's gaze never left the portrait—
Duan Xingchen: "..."
He chose not to look at it much.
But sometimes, he still couldn't help but glance at it.
That's why this strange way of getting along has come about.
However, Duan Xingchen did not disturb Zhong Cai.
Whether Zhong Cai wanted to paint or do something else, he would wait at a distance... So, these past few days, apart from his feet occasionally going numb, he was in a pretty good mood.
Furthermore, they didn't dwell on things that made them unhappy.
·
Steady footsteps came from behind and stopped at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
Duan Xingchen turned around and saw his uncle, a commander of the Ming Guard.
He asked with a smile, "Uncle Li, is there anything I can help you with?"
Commander Li had watched Duan Xingchen grow up and naturally treated him with affection. He was also the most powerful of the commanders who had come with him and was tasked with protecting Duan Xingchen. At the same time, he was also willing to accompany Duan Xingchen.
Upon seeing Duan Xingchen's face, Commander Li's originally serious expression softened slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "The island lord has sent a message."
Duan Xingchen was taken aback and subconsciously asked, "What news?"
He didn't immediately realize that his father had anything to tell him.
Seeing Duan Xingchen's bewildered expression, Commander Li breathed a slight sigh of relief and smiled, saying, "It's about what to do with those two."
Duan Xingchen paused for a moment, then thought about it again, and finally remembered.
Those two scoundrels!
Only a few days had passed, and he had already forgotten about the two of them.
Duan Xingchen was a little stunned, but he also thought it was pretty good.
Those two really don't deserve his attention.
Commander Li clearly thought so too. After Duan Xingchen came to his senses, he said to him, "The secret guards have gone to deal with them, and they have already achieved some results."
Duan Xingchen finally showed some interest and said in a low voice, "Uncle Li, please speak."
He also secretly glanced at Zhong Cai to make sure he was far enough away that he wouldn't disturb Zhong Cai's reverie while he gazed at the painting, before speaking.
Commander Li then led Duan Xingchen a few steps back before lowering his voice and explaining the solution.
·
The term "secret guard" refers to someone who acts in secret.
Duan Xingchen returned quickly, having passed through many places along the way. However, the island was too large, and Duan Xingchen traveled frantically. Upon his return, he immediately found his father and reported the situation.
Upon receiving the order, the secret guards immediately dispatched personnel to handle the matter quite swiftly.
Duan Xingming and Zhu Zixi did not receive the news in time—even if they did, it would be difficult for them to make an appropriate response in a short period of time.
Moreover, neither of them expected that the island lord, Duan Jin, would act so swiftly and decisively.
·
The guards acted decisively, sending out two commanders of the palace guards to avoid any possible accidents.
One of the palace guards arrived at Duan Xingming's residence very quickly.
Because the strength of the Duan family's collateral branches was not very high, and Duan Xingming himself was only at the initial stage of Xuanzhao, they had no ability to resist when facing Zhugong.
Without alerting anyone, the guards infiltrated Duan Xingming's home and attacked him.
Duan Xingming didn't even have time to react before he was killed by the guards.
Zhu Zixi is also in seclusion.
The commander of the secret guards sent to the Zhu family was no weaker than the one sent to the collateral branch of the Duan family. He would never be careless in any mission, even if the enemy was weak.
Zhu Zixi's strength was not as good as Duan Xingming's, and Duan Jin never even considered using any mitigating methods or slow, insidious tactics. The guards had no compassion for her... The outcome was predictable.
The guards acted decisively, striking with deadly accuracy, and killed Zhu Zixi instantly.
Although the Zhu family has several strong individuals, the most powerful among them is only at the Fusion Realm. When the Palace Constructor infiltrates, they cannot detect him at all. In addition, the infiltration methods of the Dark Guards are also very sophisticated, and they are fully armed, which further reduces the difficulty of infiltration.
then……
Duan Xingming and Zhu Zixi died in the place where they were in seclusion.
They chose to go into seclusion to have a sufficient alibi, but now that has also led to their quiet demise.
None of Duan Xingming's and Zhu Zixi's clansmen and family members noticed anything amiss.
After all, no one would easily try to break through someone's cultivation barrier or interfere with their cultivation, right?
When cultivators go into seclusion, it often takes them quite a while...
Therefore, if we expect people to discover that they are dead before spreading the news, we will probably have to wait a while longer.
Whether or not someone will have any doubts at that time, or whether or not they will go to the island owner to say something, it doesn't matter.
·
After listening to Commander Li's account, Duan Xingchen felt somewhat conflicted.
Killing that pair of scoundrels is really easy.
But it was precisely because he was unguarded with them that he almost got killed by them...
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