Chapter 338 - Returning to the Human World (2/2)
Zi Mo’s mind was sharper. He narrowed his eyes and said, “That’s wrong! Hiding in the Human World? That’s not your style, kid! Explain yourself. Why are you in a hurry to return to the Human World?”
Xiao Chen looked conflicted. He wasn’t fully sure that the Three Pure Sect was in trouble, so he didn’t want the two Elders to worry. Qingfeng said, “Forget it, Senior Brother. The League must have noticed that he has escaped by now. It won’t do any harm to have him hide in the Human World for now.”
Zi Mo heaved a deep sigh. He flicked his sleeves and said, “Come with me!”
The five of them made their way to a cave in the mountain behind Yuqing Mountain. Zi Mo and Qingfeng unsealed the mystic arts on the cave opening and primal chaos immediately appeared in their sight. Qingfeng said, “Xiao Chen, stay a little longer in the Human World and don’t come back to the Violet Manor for the time being. You have us here, so you can leave without worry.”
Xiao Chen once again bowed in respect. “I’ll engrave your favor in my heart.” There weren’t many people he could truly trust in the Violet Manor, but Elders Zi Mo and Qingfeng were the exceptions.
Zi Mo shook his hand. “Stop dawdling and leave now! Who knows if the Immortals’ League will send their men after you in just a while!”
Xiao Chen didn’t try to continue the conversation either. He immediately walked up to the primal chaos in the cave opening but hesitated when he was about to step in. He stopped walking and turned around. “You won’t send me to the wrong place this time, will you? If you send me to the lands of the non-Hans outside the Nine Provinces…”
“Oy, you stinky brat!” Zi Mo raised a fist at him. “It was an accident last time, an accident! Don’t go around holding a grudge, kid! Are you going or not?”
Xiao Chen nodded and said no more. He turned around and entered the primal chaos in the cave opening. Qingluan and Ziyun’er immediately followed him.
Moments later, the opening of the primal chaos closed. Qingfeng heaved a deep sigh. “This child is destined for a difficult life. I hope he won’t ever return to Violet Manor again and stay in the hiding in the Human World. He’ll be fulfilling the name ‘Chen’ that I bestowed on him back then.”
Zi Mo put on a wry smile. “Do you think that’s possible? Forget it. Let’s figure out how we’ll deal with the League. If they find out that we let him go, they’ll punish us with at least eighty years of punishment if not one hundred years… Tsk, tsk, tsk…”
…
Sometime later, Xiao Chen’s vision gradually filled up with light as if he finally witnessed sunlight after an everlasting night. His surroundings became bright and clear shortly after and a distant sound of running water entered his ears. The three of them looked up and around them and saw orioles flying above the tall grass, butterflies fluttering in the air, as well as green hills and clear waters in the distance. It was a tranquil and auspicious land.
Xiao Chen spotted a stone bridge nearby and remembered that this was ten kilometers away from Lingtai Town. This was where he first met Li Muxue.
Being here, he couldn’t help recalling how he had come here to enter the Three Pure Sect. Thousands signed up but only a dozen or so remained. It had just been two years, but the sect must have undergone tremendous changes since.
“Is this your hometown, Master? Though the Spiritual Qi here is much thinner, it’s on par with Violet Manor! Hehe! Why don’t we just stay here forever?”
Ziyun’er looked rather cheerful with a butterfly resting on her cupped hand. Qingluan immediately shot her a glare. “Watch your manners when you’re in front of our Master!”
Ziyun’er stuck out her tongue and said nothing more. Xiao Chen looked up and saw the color yellow gradually tainting the clouds as the evening crept into the night. It must be almost six. He said, “Let’s go!”
He led the ladies toward Lingtai Mountain and reached the canyon where he took his first examination. There seemed to be no end to the clouds and mist that filled the air. Even the iron ropes that connected both sides disappeared out of view.
But he could come and go as he pleased even when he didn’t have any cultivation, much less when he was now a true Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. With a leap, he left behind a shadow and landed on the other end of the canyon before the shadow even dissipated. Qingluan and Ziyun’er caught up to him, though a little slower.
Xiao Chen’s expression gradually turned solemn. Why couldn’t he feel the spirit energy fluctuation in the Grand Defensive Formation of Lingtai Mountain? Why weren’t there any disciples guarding the mountain…?