Vol 2 Chapter 10 (1/2)
Volume 2, Chapter 10 – The Letter to Lead Alchemist Master to Receive Apprentice
A few days later, Zhang Yan was on Scarlet Cloud Island. Having looked around the island, he couldn’t help but sigh seeing the contrasting scenery. His Blessed Land was indeed far more barbaric—to the extreme.
This island’s earth veins were auspicious as well as harmonious, temperate and mild. This place was truly a rare Pure Manor grade with abundant spiritual qi; one only saw the island’s scenery in a glance with numerous small streams and waterfalls. There was also a gigantic scarlet-colored rock reclined on the island, reflecting the lights and s.h.i.+ning upon all the water springs, resembling flowing lava.
Gazing from the distance at the ma.s.s of the red clouds that converged at the same place in the sky, it was as if the red clouds poured down waters from the sky in a single stretch along with a burning flame that descended from the heavens, making anyone who saw it gape in amazement.
The island was truly worthy to be the encampment of the w.a.n.g Family’s affairs for hundreds of years. The road in each place was built from pure white fine jade with palaces and mansions everywhere, while cl.u.s.ters of pavilions built on the water’s surface platforms could also be clearly seen everywhere. There was also the sight of a small floating island that turned anyone’s mind into astonishment with exotic flowers and plants above it—It’s unworldly beauty was simply beyond imagination.
The warrior who guided him on top of this island said that n.o.body was permitted to mount on top of that floating island without w.a.n.g Pan’s consent. He also said that before he dueled with Zhang Yan, w.a.n.g Pan had stayed there for one night.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan’s curiosity suddenly sparked. He was eager to visit the floating island.
Not only was a dwelling place built here, but there were also a lot of rare and exotic medicinal herbs planted on this island, taking the advantages of the island’s fire seed feature. It was truly understandable why the w.a.n.g Family must take this island back, as they were unable to give up these things. However, Zhang Yan was completely disinclined about it. Because, although these medicinal herbs were valuable, they had yet to mature. Even if he took it, it was useless to him, so he might as well exchange it for other practical things.
There was a 3 storey attic that was carefully built at the center of this floating island with a lot of bluish green colored plants, moistened by the dripping water from the green bamboos planted in the surroundings. It could be seen that some people often swept it since the jade’s stairs were very clean, without even a speck of dust on it.
After stepping into the attic, he freely flipped over the cover and saw some gold devices that were decorated with precious stones and jade ornaments. However, after he quickly looked around and sensed that there was no spiritual qi, he was not interested and headed straight to the second floor where a mysterious Celestial Chart was hanging there. A meditation mat was laid on the floor in the center, which should have been used occasionally for meditation.
After having glanced for several times, he didn’t find any valuable things here and entered the third floor, which was designed like a studying room. Only then did he find something that captured his interest.
Besides a lot of geographical miscellanies laid in this room, there were many books that he deemed very valuable, such as the treasured ma.n.u.script about the Eclipse Codes’ deduction method, ancient cultivators’ handwritt
en notes, and many others. However, the most valuable thing was a volume of cultivation laws that was used by w.a.n.g Pan, “Scarlet Fire Cloud Scroll.”
After Zhang Yan turned a few pages, he put it into his sleeve and secretly mused, “Others’ methods could always be used to polish oneself. w.a.n.g Pan’s cultivation law also had some strong points and was very suitable for studying the Golden Fire Blazing Inferno. It’s perhaps better to carefully research this one. I might not be able to completely unravel all its mysteries, but should I meet similar opponents in the future, I would also have some ways to contain them.”
Afterward, he carefully searched each spot throughout the island and ordered the warriors to carry all the concocted pills, Dao manuals, magical treasures, and Five Element Divine Sands to the flying boat, moving them to his Spirit Leaf Island.
However, in order to please Zhang Yan, those warriors also took ornamental furniture, calligraphies, and carving jade to s.h.i.+p them away. The nine flying s.h.i.+ps that were usually used under w.a.n.g Pan’s orders, spent a whole day before they fully s.h.i.+pped away these things.
Scarlet Cloud Island was just only an empty sh.e.l.l after Zhang Yan finally gave it back to the w.a.n.g Family, even things that only had a little value had been removed entirely. However, the w.a.n.g Family couldn’t say anything because his conduct was in accordance to the customs. As long as this Scarlet Cloud Island was justifiably under his name, even if he demolished all the constructions there, the w.a.n.g Family couldn’t blame him even a bit.
After all the concocted pills, magical tools, and other things had been sent to Zhang Yan, w.a.n.g Mao hurriedly flew back to Scarlet Cloud Island. As soon as he saw that the medicinal herb field was still intact on the floating island with not the slightest damage, he couldn’t help but lift his sleeve and wipe away the cold sweat. He felt relieved while musing that Zhang Yan truly didn’t handle this matter excessively.
For Zhang Yan, this harvest could be said to have filled his bowl to the brims. Tang Yan had also been sent to w.a.n.g Mao, causing him to be in an excellent mood. He then arranged all the warriors to settle down at the previous place which originally had been settled by them, after which he activated the Restrictive Seal on the entire island and then s.h.i.+fted to his Immortal Cave to close up.
Hornless Dragon Island.
In a thatched house, a middle-aged cultivator was laying on a couch with his robe’s belt loose and disheveled, exposing his stomach, while he indifferently asked, “That Zhang Yan, what is his origin?”
This man’s name was Feng Shang, he was Feng Zhen’s granduncle, and n.o.body knew what his cultivation level was. He was an unrestrained person and didn’t care about anything; n.o.body wanted to even talk with him. However, Feng Zhen was perfectly aware that this elder was absolutely not simple. Moreover, he was also born from the branch family. Since he didn’t have anyone in the family to rely on, therefore, he had always looked for this man for advice when he encountered difficult problems.
For the past few days, Feng Zhen had inquired about Zhang Yan’s origin, and he quickly answered the question at this moment.
Feng Shang caressed his spa.r.s.e beard and said, “In former days, we—from the ancient families branches—had a treaty with the apprentices.h.i.+p branch. That all disciples who did not pa.s.s from the Lower Court’s disciple could not have a true disciples’ status straightaway. To have this position, everyone from ancient family’s background must spend 16 years cultivating in the Lower Court. However, Zhang Yan is a different case. His apt.i.tude is but only mediocre and comes from a humble background. He was able to gain a foothold in the Lower Court, and then got promoted to a higher level. Such a figure is by no means simple.”
The proper way to enter the Upper Court was getting promoted from the Lower Court while the rest of the disciples usually had recommendations from credible parties to enter. However, the status and privileges were naturally worse than a true disciple’s. Even if one’s cultivation level were high, as long as they were not able to beat those true disciples, they were neither eligible nor had the rights to inherit the elders’ or Sect Master’s position. This was why w.a.n.g Pan was so obsessed to obtain a true disciple’s status.
Feng Zhen took a deep breath and sighed before he spoke, “This was precisely the main issue why I’m worried about the matter. The more extraordinary Zhang Yan is, the more restless I am.”
Feng Shang laughed even though he tried not to and said, “Why so? Zhen’er, you also have entered the Profound Light Realm. How could you even dread a cultivator who has yet to step into the Radiant Qi Realm? I don’t get it, I don’t get it!”
Feng Zhen’s expression was somewhat awkward before he finally said, “It’s not for me, but for my Second Younger Sister.”
Feng Shang was quite startled and asked, “What about Yao’er?”