Chapter 201: Imminent Departure
"Master, do you really believe that? He’s just trying to trick you. Besides, we can take care of ourselves, and we’ll be the ones to look after your descendants in the future!"
Li Ruohai, however, was unconvinced.
Zhong Yu and the others felt the same way.
"Whether I believe it or not, I have no choice, unless I take you all and betray the Sect, becoming fugitives for the rest of our lives. Besides, if by some chance it’s true, I might just get to live another eighty years," Master Jian sighed.
"This..."
Li Ruohai and the others fell silent.
They knew Master Jian was right. This was their last hope, and they were powerless to resist.
It couldn’t help but remind them of something Zhang Chi had said before: beneath Nascent Soul, all are but ants.
"Master, when did the Sect say you have to leave? Did they mention whether we have to go with you?" Zhang Chi, however, was very calm and asked immediately.
"Within three months. The specific orders haven’t been made public yet, and the list of names isn’t out. However, I’ve already petitioned the Sect to let you all stay behind. The Sect Leader has agreed, saying he’ll do his best to consider my request," Master Jian said.
"Master, I would actually rather go with you!"
"So would we!"
After a moment’s hesitation, Li Ruohai and the others steeled themselves and spoke up.
Only Zhang Chi remained silent.
Half a month passed quickly. Just as expected, the Sect announced the official orders and released a detailed list of names.
The orders and the list were posted conspicuously at the entrance to the Sect Hall for all Cultivators to see.
Zhang Chi and the others went to check it at the first opportunity.
They found Jian Jinfeng’s name on the list, confirming she was the leader of this mission.
Additionally, Li Ruohai and Shangguan Hui were also on the list, while Zhong Yu and Yan Tengfei were not.
And among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators at the end of the list, they found Zhang Chi’s name.
"Damn it! How could this be? It’s not just me; several of my disciples are on the list as well?"
Upon hearing the news, Jian Jinfeng was furious. With a slight flicker, she transformed into an Escape Light and quickly sought out the Sect Leader.
"My apologies, Senior Sister Jian. I didn’t want this either, but this was the Supreme Elder’s arrangement. What’s more, the Supreme Elder has already left on business and won’t be back for a long time. So even if I wanted to help you, I can’t," the Sect Leader said, directly shirking responsibility.
"You!"
Jian Jinfeng was choked with anger but was powerless to do anything. She could only return in frustration.
She even tried to send a message to the Supreme Elder but received no response at all.
"Master, there’s no need to be angry. We actually couldn’t ask for more!"
"Exactly!"
In contrast, Li Ruohai, Shangguan Hui, and Zhang Chi were all relatively calm.
The first two were calm because they were strong enough and had already planned to accompany Jian Jinfeng.
To them, while the mission was dangerous, it was also a challenge and an opportunity.
Zhang Chi, on the other hand, was calm because he had long anticipated this.
’After all, the Song Family has a Golden Core Female Cultivator who is the Supreme Elder’s concubine. I’ve known that for a while now.’
’As a Nascent Soul True Monarch, the Supreme Elder would never pay attention to a minor Foundation Establishment Cultivator like me.’
’But that concubine has plenty of ways to pull some strings.’
As for Zhong Yu and Yan Tengfei, they were prodigies from powerful families. With their families backing them, they naturally wouldn’t be implicated.
Of course, Zhong Yu and Yan Tengfei were also incensed by the outcome and both wanted to use their family’s power to help.
However, their family elders ignored them. When they tried to volunteer for the mission, their families refused, leaving them equally helpless.
"What are we going to do, Senior Brother? It will definitely be dangerous for you, and I want to go with you, but the Sect won’t allow it. They said they’re only accepting those at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage or higher."
"The same goes for us!"
Soon, a group of Cultivators had gathered in Zhang Chi’s cave residence, including Qin Susu, He Shi, and others.
"Don’t worry. Brother Qi and I are going too this time. Plus, with Master Jian and the other Golden Core Powerhouses looking out for him, Zhang Chi will definitely be fine!"
Chen Ling’Er and Chen Bufan were also there. Chen Ling’Er looked at Qin Susu, whose face was fraught with worry and whose eyes were slightly red. She felt a touch of disdain inwardly but offered her comfort with a smile.
Not long ago, she had reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.
Furthermore, both she and Chen Bufan were on the list.
One reason was that their backgrounds were not as powerful as Zhong Yu’s or Yan Tengfei’s.
The second reason was that as Sword Cultivators, they were bold and diligent, and they were inclined to go anyway. Far from fearing this mission, they were actually full of anticipation.
"That’s right. Besides, we still have two and a half months, don’t we? Maybe things will take a turn for the better. For example, the Sect’s upper echelons might suddenly change their minds!" Zhang Chi also smiled.
"Alright!"
The Cultivators were all helpless. After chatting for a while longer, they agreed to meet again on the eve of departure and then dispersed.
Qin Susu, however, stayed the night. She was very forward, hoping to comfort Zhang Chi in this way.
’Going to Yuan Bei doesn’t scare me. But this mission will definitely be dangerous. And if the Song Family arranged for me to go, they will certainly have follow-up moves planned!’
’Therefore, I absolutely cannot go. Fortunately, I’m no longer someone they can just push around. In fact, they will soon regret this arrangement and pay a heavy price for it!’
After a tired Qin Susu fell asleep, Zhang Chi thought about the Sect’s arrangement and sneered inwardly with contempt.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, two and a half months had passed. Early one morning, a Floating Airship hovered in the sky above the sect gate plaza.
Most of the Cultivators assigned to the mission had already boarded, but the leader, Master Jian, and her several disciples had yet to arrive.
"What’s going on?"
"They didn’t desert at the last minute, did they?"
"That’s unlikely. Elder Jian is at the Golden Core Peak. Throughout the entire Great Abyss, she’s a top-tier powerhouse below the Nascent Soul realm. Theoretically, a trip to Yuan Bei shouldn’t be too dangerous for her!"
"Then what’s the situation now?"
The Cultivators waited for a long time. When noon arrived and Jian Jinfeng and her disciples still hadn’t appeared, they grew very confused and began to murmur amongst themselves.
"Was Senior Sister Jian delayed by something? Or did she decide not to go at the last minute? Or maybe she wants to negotiate some terms?"
Even the Cangwu Sect’s Sect Leader, who had personally come to see them off, was rather perplexed and a little worried.
"This is an order from the Supreme Elder! How can it be treated like child’s play? This Jian Jinfeng is simply outrageous! And her disciples are just like her, completely disregarding the sect rules! It’s treasonous!"
The Golden Core Dwarf from the Song Family was also present. He sneered inwardly but immediately began to loudly condemn them on the surface.
"Senior Brother Song, please be patient. I’ve already sent a message to inquire. Senior Sister Jian and the others are fine, and they have no demands or second thoughts. They are simply waiting for Junior Nephew Zhang Chi."
"Right now, Junior Nephew Zhang Chi is in the middle of his Cultivation inside Senior Sister Jian’s cave residence. I’m sure he’ll be done soon!"
Junior Sister Yun replied.
"So that’s how it is!"
The Golden Core Cultivators present all came to a sudden understanding.
"What’s the deal with this Zhang Chi? A mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator is making all these Cultivators from the entire Sect wait for him?"
"And another thing, what right does a Foundation Establishment Cultivator have to practice his Cultivation in Jian Jinfeng’s cave residence? What difference would it make if he skipped one session today? Is he going to form his Golden Core immediately just by cultivating this one extra time?"
The Golden Core Dwarf understood but continued his tirade, this time turning his aim toward Zhang Chi with a look of utter disdain.
He even felt a little gleeful inside, thinking he might be able to use this incident as a pretext to punish Zhang Chi.