NOVPUBChijian hastily shook his head:
"No, that’s not right. This is my gift to you—it has nothing to do with Qian, not even half a tael!"
Although Wang Ba was tempted, he still politely declined:
"Given the urgency of the situation, Senior, you should hurry back to Huangji Continent with this fellow Daoist."
Chijian slapped his thigh:
"Right! I need to hurry back!"
He quickly bid farewell to Wang Ba, Ying He, and the others:
"I’m off then!"
With that said, he hurriedly flew towards the direction of the fleet.
The robed young man looked apologetic, bowed deeply, and also hurried toward the fleet.
Soon, the fleet within the mist swiftly turned around, heading back east.
The whole process seemed incredibly rushed.
As he watched the fleet’s silhouettes gradually fade away, Wang Ba’s expression became increasingly solemn.
"Chijian knows I’m from a major sect and wants to use the Dragon Order as a gesture of goodwill, in case he needs to ask my sect for help in the future... But what in the world could have happened in Huangji Continent to make such a grand dynasty, stronger even than Jin and Yan, face the danger of being overturned?"
"Heresy... the one that emerged in recent years... Could it be the Kingdom of Immortals?"
As this possibility dawned on him, Wang Ba couldn’t help but become concerned.
But then, he felt it unlikely.
The strength of the Kingdom of Immortals lay in its sheer numbers, with its power growing as more people were abducted.
However, that strength was hastily acquired, and their understanding of power was far inferior to that of cultivators.
Such a force had not yet posed a threat to Jin or Yan on the Fenglin Continent, so how could it have the capability to destabilize Qian?
Unless the Kingdom of Immortals had been on Huangji Continent for a much longer time.
Moreover, Chijian had mentioned that an ancestor of the Qian imperial family might be at the peak of Void Refining, such a being...
"Wait a moment!"
A thought abruptly struck Wang Ba:
"Chijian just said that the heresy wasn’t the most troublesome part, the biggest trouble was that old... old what? Could it be, the old ancestor?"
"That’s not right either, how could the old ancestor become a problem..."
He pondered back and forth, but he couldn’t come up with anything concrete.
Shaking his head, Wang Ba kept these doubts in mind, and without dwelling on them any further, he instructed Ying He:
"Let’s hurry back at a faster pace."
Ying He nodded.
They steered the iron ship, adjusting the direction slightly, and quickly set course for Heishui Port.
But just then, Wang Ba suddenly noticed a five-colored sword-light flying through the mist.
"Hmm?"
Wang Ba was somewhat puzzled.
But he saw the sword-light fly straight towards him. Under the wary gaze of Ying He and the others, it swirled around dizzily and released a golden dragon-headed token from within. Then, Chijian’s voice was heard:
"Wang Xiaozi, when I say I’m giving you something, I mean it. I’m not one to go back on my word."
"If you’re unwilling to take it, just toss it into the sea, but don’t return it to me."
After these words, the sword-light instantly dispersed.
Hearing Chijian’s words, Wang Ba accepted the golden dragon-headed token, his face revealing an involuntary smirk of helplessness.
He didn’t want to take the dragon order of Qian because he didn’t want to get involved in the matter.
Even though he had asked Chijian if he needed help earlier, that was just out of habitual politeness.
He knew his own limitations all too well.
However, touching the dragon-headed token in his hand, he really didn’t have the heart to throw it into the sea.
"Forget it, I’ll just keep it for him for the time being. If there really is an issue that can’t be resolved, then I can return the token."
Enjoying the pleasant sensation from the dragon-headed token, Wang Ba ultimately decided to keep it.
This matter was just a minor episode.
Soon, Ying He and Li Yingfu summoned their mana and propelled the iron ship across the sea at great speed.
Several days later.
The waves churned, and the black clouds hung low.
The mist gradually cleared, and the shoreline could slowly be seen.
Wang Ba and Shen Fu stood at the bow of the ship, their faces showing reluctance:
"Junior brother, make sure to contact me after you return so I can send you some items."
Shen Fu nodded solemnly:
"Senior brother, take good care of yourself too, and please don’t forget what I mentioned to you before."
Although they were no longer Qi Refining Practitioners of the East Saint Sect, as their parting approached, it felt as if they were back in the old days.
Soon, with a gentle reminder from Gong Xiyin, Shen Fu had no choice but to leave the iron ship before they reached the coast, bowing earnestly to Wang Ba, and then, accompanied by Gong Xiyin, they floated ashore and departed.
Wang Ba watched Shen Fu leave, exhaling a deep sigh.
He really wanted to help his junior brother, whom he had watched grow up, but his ability to do so was indeed limited.
A late Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, let alone him, even the whole Wanxiang Sect was unlikely to have more than three people capable of defeating such a person.
Especially since...
Wang Ba’s thoughts inadvertently drifted to some of the Demon Sect’s secrets that Shen Fu had revealed before.
"The Grandmaster of the Demon Sect, Han Yanzi has already awakened... But even though Yan’s northern parts kept losing ground, he never made a move. Is he plotting something, or, as Chijian said, waiting for a good time to attempt Cultivation Ascension?"
The idea of Cultivation Ascension was one thing, but if he was plotting something, then that needed careful consideration.
In the entire Fenglin Continent, only the side of Jin would be worth his schemes.
A sense of gravity weighed on Wang Ba’s heart.
But that was all.
These issues would surely be taken into account by the higher-ups of his sect, and it was not the place for a Golden Core Craftsman like him to fret over.
"Nevertheless, after returning to the sect, I should focus on my cultivation. Chijian’s method of integrating the Five Elements into Sword has given me quite an inspiration for merging various essences. The cultivation methods he provided are extremely complex, perfect for enriching my own foundation."
