NOVPUBThe robed figure was fleeing desperately.
The battle had taken a lot out of him, and even though he had pushed his body to its limits, he still dared not stop.
He still didn’t know exactly what kind of monster they were facing.
Although they had some understanding before coming, the Saint Heir of the True Martial Holy Sect was bound to be extraordinary.
But the three of them, at the pinnacle of their Divine Vein’s power and with years of practice in their combined techniques, should have been nearly sure of victory.
He just hadn’t expected to be defeated so utterly.
"Damn it, no wonder they offered such a high price," the robed figure cursed under his breath.
Just then, his pupils constricted, and his steps faltered to a stop.
Snow fluttered down, and the icy wind cut to the bone across the endless plain.
Xu Zimei’s figure stood casually at the front, smiling at the robed figure running towards him.
"No need to rush, we have all the time in the world," Xu Zimei said with a light laugh.
"Your Excellency, our hearts were blinded by profit, please spare me," the robed man promptly pleaded.
"Take off your bamboo hat and talk to me," Xu Zimei said indifferently.
The robed man was silent for a short moment before he threw his bamboo hat to the side.
He looked to be in his forties or fifties, with a mustache, short hair, and a scar across his face.
"You look unfamiliar," Xu Zimei noted.
"The three of us brothers are Loose Cultivators; your excellency may not know us, we’re not that famous," the robed figure hurriedly explained.
"How could someone at the peak of the Divine Vein be without fame? I just couldn’t be bothered to find out," Xu Zimei remarked.
"Come clean. Why did you try to kill me?"
"If I confess, would you let me go?" the robed man pondered for a moment before asking.
"Do you think you’re in any position to bargain?" Xu Zimei questioned.
"Don’t you want to take revenge? On those who set you up for ambush?"
"It was the Blood Nether Holy Sect," the robed man thought of his two deceased brothers and his current predicament.
His gaze blazed with fury as he said, "Because you killed their Saint Heir, you virtually crushed their chances of competing for Destiny in this era.
That’s why they sought revenge against you."
"You’re quite bold," Xu Zimei said, stepping closer.
The robed man, keeping a wary eye on Xu Zimei, slowly backed away as he replied.
"We were blinded by greed, but this plot was not of our doing. Please, let me go.
I’ve told you all I know."
"I’ll deal with the Blood Nether Holy Sect on my own. But if you were so close to your brothers, shouldn’t you go down to accompany them?" Xu Zimei said with a smile.
He raised Tyrant Shadow above his head, and a Blade Qi filled the air, breaking through the snow — a chasm carved through the white-washed sky.
Seeing this, the robed man turned and fled without looking back.
However, as the Heaven Slicing Blade Qi fell, the robed man had only just made it beneath the edge of the blade.
Then the world sank into silence, the snow scattering away.
The world was blanketed in white.
As the snow rose and then fell again, peace returned to Earth.
Xu Zimei had long since vanished, as if nothing had been left behind, as if nothing had happened.
......…
"Buddy, bring me a pot of hot wine and a plate of beef," Xu Zimei called out from a seat by the window.
He shook off the snowflakes from his clothing and felt the warm atmosphere of the inn before slowly sitting down.
He had been traveling through the wilderness before arriving at this city known as "Yellow City."
This was the heartland of the Eastern Continent, a departure from the Extreme West Region.
The waiter, clad in gray, brought the warmed wine and beef over.
"Excuse me, how far is it from here to the Endless Heaven Sea?" Xu Zimei asked.
"My dear guest, once you leave the city gates and head north, after passing Tianyu Mountain, you can take a sailing vessel to reach the Endless Heaven Sea," the attendant introduced with a smile.
Xu Zimei nodded slightly.
After having his meal, it had already grown quite late.
Having rested overnight in the city, Xu Zimei left the city at dawn the next day and headed toward Tianyu Mountain.
The morning sky appeared even clearer and colder.
Night had not yet completely faded when, shortly after leaving the city gates, Xu Zimei suddenly heard a voice cry out "Boundless Heavenly Venerate" from a distance.
He looked toward the night, shrouded in a mist-like haze, and saw a Taoist priest wearing Taoist robes and carrying a longsword slowly walking over.
Xu Zimei had no intention of paying attention and was ready to leave straight away.
However, the Taoist priest chuckled lightly and called out, "Benefactor, please wait. This humble Taoist has been waiting for you for a long time."
"Waiting for me?" Xu Zimei looked at the Taoist priest in front of him with surprise.
The two surely had never met; they definitely did not recognize each other.
"Why would you be waiting for me?"
"In front of you, how dare I claim the title of Taoist Venerable. I am known as Monk Ruoyu," the Taoist priest said with a smile.
"You may call me Da Zhi."
"Da Zhi Ruoyu?" Xu Zimei laughed with interest,
and said, "That’s an interesting name."
"It’s the name my master gave me; I can’t go against it," the monk Da Zhi said with a smile.
"So, do you have business with me?" Xu Zimei asked.
"Could it be that you are heading to Red Dust Palace?" Monk Da Zhi asked.
"How do you know?" Xu Zimei frowned slightly.
The fact that the other party was waiting here and knew he was heading to Red Dust Palace
Those things, apart from the people from Qin Residence, he had never told anyone.
Xu Zimei did not like the feeling of being seen through by others.
"You’d better give me a perfect explanation, or you might have to stay here today," Xu Zimei said.
"Do not be angry, benefactor; I have come to help you," Monk Da Zhi said.
"Help me with what?" Xu Zimei frowned slightly.
"Whatever it is you intend to do at Red Dust Palace, I can assist you," Monk Da Zhi said.
"Do you know what I’m going to do at Red Dust Palace?" Xu Zimei asked.
"I do not know," Monk Da Zhi shook his head slightly.
"You’re a peculiar monk. Seeing as you don’t know, how could you help me?" Xu Zimei asked.
"Simply state your purpose, benefactor, and this monk here will give you an answer," Monk Da Zhi said with a smile.
"I’m looking for the Nirvana Beads," Xu Zimei said.
"The Nirvana Beads, one of the Five Spirit Beads, eh?" Monk Da Zhi was obviously taken aback.
Then he laughed and said, "You truly are out of the ordinary, benefactor."
As he spoke, he took a golden bone out of the pocket of his Taoist robe.
This bone emitted a golden glow; who knows what it was made of, covered in Taoist engravings so profound and mysterious.
"The Red Dust Palace is vastly immense; do you know where exactly the Nirvana Beads are?" Monk Da Zhi said.
"Searching bit by bit, who knows till when it would take; why not take me along."
"What use would bringing you be?" Xu Zimei asked.
"This monk has a piece of my Ancestral Master’s Taoist Bone, which can guide us in finding the Nirvana Beads," Monk Da Zhi replied.
Xu Zimei’s gaze fixed on that piece of Taoist Bone.
Even he could not see through the Taoist Bone; it was like a shroud of fog, with its mysteries and obscurities making it hard to discern.
