Chapter 354 - 191: Han Fashou
The two young cultivators stood together. One wore an indifferent expression, clearly a bit arrogant and unconcerned. The other, however, was frowning as he gazed in the direction Xuzhuang had departed.
The man they called Brother Wang was in his thirties, with short hair and a beard, and dressed like an ordinary Daoist. He appeared to be a steady individual, and his cultivation level was firmly the highest among the group, so the other faction of cultivators implicitly treated him as their leader.
Daoist Wang glanced at the cultivator with the ashen complexion. Everyone understood the implication of his words. While not all of those who risked their lives in the void were without virtue, most were vicious fiends who would commit any act for the sake of their own cultivation path.
Daoist Wang himself was no paragon of virtue, but after a moment’s hesitation, he glanced at the two young cultivators and said, "Let’s not cause any unnecessary trouble."
The man frowned, but knowing their main business was more important, he said nothing more. Seeing this, the young cultivator who had been staring thoughtfully in Xuzhuang’s direction let his brow relax slightly.
Daoist Wang waited a while longer, growing impatient. He suddenly asked the young cultivator, "Fellow Daoist Min, when exactly is your Senior Brother arriving? You’re not trying to deceive me, are you?"
The young cultivator, Min, glanced at him and replied with a smile, "He must have been delayed by something. We can just wait a bit longer. A little more time won’t make a difference."
Daoist Wang narrowed his eyes, his tone unreadable. "It’s nothing for me to wait a little longer. But you had better not let me discover that you’ve been deceiving me."
Fellow Daoist Min smiled faintly and offered a compliment. "Fellow Daoist Wang, is there anyone who hasn’t heard of your Seven Friends? You yourself are a Great Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Third Layer. How could my junior brother and I possibly dare to deceive you?"
Daoist Wang’s lips twitched, and he let out a feigned sigh. "Alas, if it weren’t for covering the cultivation expenses for my fellow Daoists, why would I be out here struggling again? I’d have long since hidden myself away in my estate, cultivating diligently, just hoping that one day I might refine a Primordial Spirit and roam free between Heaven and Earth."
Before Fellow Daoist Min could reply, a derisive laugh suddenly echoed in his mind. ’A backwater Loose Cultivator, lucky enough to form a Top-grade Golden Core, and he’s still not satisfied? He even dares to dream of attaining a Primordial Spirit.’
Fellow Daoist Min’s expression remained unchanged. He feigned a rebuke in his mind, replying, ’Junior Brother Ying, if Wang Jiao sees through your mental transmission, you can explain yourself to Senior Brother Han.’
Upon hearing the name ’Senior Brother Han,’ Junior Brother Ying immediately fell silent. Fellow Daoist Min smoothly followed Wang Jiao’s lead. "Fellow Daoist, your labors are great indeed. However, if this venture is successful, you might be able to gather enough for your fellow Daoists’ cultivation expenses. You could then be free of these worldly struggles and cultivate in peace."
"And in the future, if you manage to refine a Primordial Spirit, with the help of your fellow Daoists, you might even be able to establish your own sect and spread your teachings."
Wang Jiao chuckled, putting on a pleased expression. He offered a few modest words of refusal, but inwardly, he was sneering with contempt.
In truth, he didn’t have the slightest bit of faith in the opportunity Fellow Daoist Min mentioned. What he was truly after was the astounding wealth that Min and Ying’s senior brother had once displayed.
A glint flashed in Wang Jiao’s eyes. ’Cultivation for us Loose Cultivators is so arduous. The only way to achieve the Dao is to take from others to make up for what we lack. Han Fashou, don’t blame me for this.’
Just as the two were exchanging false pleasantries, the ashen-skinned cultivator suddenly shouted, "Brother Wang!"
Wang Jiao’s eyebrow twitched as he looked up into the sky. He saw the Daoist from earlier fly out of the restrictive array and pause for a moment in the void, as if testing the power of its raging energies. Then, with a sudden flick of his sleeve...
A fist-sized Flying Palace floated out, expanding in an instant to hundreds of yards across, nearly blanketing the entire sky. The Daoist flew into the palace, and it immediately stirred the clouds and tore through the void, vanishing in a flash.
"A Magical Treasure!"
"This is bad." Fellow Daoist Min’s expression changed slightly. A sharp glint had already erupted in Wang Jiao’s eyes. All thoughts of their important business were instantly cast aside, leaving only a single, burning desire: ’A Magical Treasure capable of traversing the void! If I can obtain it, I’ll have a real chance of attaining a Primordial Spirit!’
"Let’s go!" The Flying Palace was moving at an incredible speed. Wang Jiao had no time for further words. With a single shout, his entire group shot into action, soaring into the sky after him and hurtling out of the restrictive array.
"What in the...?"
The turn of events was too sudden. Junior Brother Ying frowned slightly and muttered to himself, ’What an incredible Magical Treasure Flying Palace. Even I’m tempted, to say nothing of these Loose Cultivators.’
He asked Fellow Daoist Min, "Should we pursue them?"
The ever-composed Fellow Daoist Min now wore a grim expression. He never expected such a complication to arise at the critical moment. After a moment’s consideration, however, he sighed. "Forget it. Let them go."
"Oh?" Junior Brother Ying frowned. "Never mind the Magical Treasure Flying Palace. If Wang Jiao leaves and doesn’t return, how will we answer to Senior Brother Han?"
Fellow Daoist Min said flatly, "This is not a matter for us to decide."
"Oh?" Junior Brother Ying’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. He suddenly asked, "You know the Daoist piloting that Flying Palace?"
Before Fellow Daoist Min could answer, Ying observed his expression and instantly drew a conclusion. "What’s his background? Why are you so afraid of him?"
Fellow Daoist Min snorted and coldly uttered a single name: "Xuzhuang!"
"What?" Junior Brother Ying’s expression changed. At almost the exact same moment, a soft sound of surprise came from the void above.
Hearing the sound, Min and Ying reacted instantly, looking up in unison. They saw a Daoist in a brilliant red robe, hovering in mid-air. It was impossible to tell when he had arrived.
His long hair was casually tied in a topknot, his face as flawless as white jade. By his looks alone, he had the noble air of an immortal. But hanging around his neck was a string of fist-sized, skull-shaped Bone Pearls that emanated a sinister, palpable Demonic Qi.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Han." Upon seeing him, Min and Ying dared not hesitate and immediately bowed in unison.