NOVPUB"Uncle Master, you are spoiling me too much!"
"If it weren’t for you, Uncle Master, saving me at Elong Beach, I would have lost my life long ago. Not to mention, sending you to West Sea Country is such a trivial matter."
Standing next to him was the very cultivator surnamed Shi who had once escorted Wang Ba through the geographical positions to the southern part of West Sea Country—Shaoyin Mountain.
However, Deacon Shi’s face was no longer the coldness of the last meeting. Instead, it brimmed with enthusiasm:
"Hehe, yes, if it weren’t for Junior Brother Wang, little Lou Yi would have been long gone. It’s just a trip to West Sea Country…"
But his face immediately showed a worried expression:
"I heard that the situation in West Sea Country is becoming tenser. Both junior brothers must be careful."
Wang Ba nodded and said:
"Rest assured, Senior Brother Shi. After you take us there, you should return immediately."
Deacon Shi said with displeasure:
"Both junior brothers dare to test their swords in West Sea Country and contribute to the sect. How could Shi be afraid of death and cling to life?"
Wang Ba smiled slightly upon hearing this and did not persuade further.
Deacon Shi then turned to Lou Yi and said, "You should go back first."
Lou Yi still looked hesitant, "Are you sure you can get them to West Sea Country, Uncle Master?"
Deacon Shi’s expression darkened, "Are you doubting me, boy?"
Lou Yi quickly shook his head:
"I just don’t want to delay Uncle Master’s business. Alright, alright, I’ll go back first."
After saying that, he still looked back hesitantly before flying away with unease.
"This kid, still not trusting me."
Deacon Shi muttered to himself, then from his sleeve flew out an Iron Ray Boat just like last time.
He immediately flew into it.
Wang Ba and Zhao Feng followed suit.
The Iron Ray Boat plunged into the lake and rapidly submerged.
…
West Sea Country.
Western Line.
Unlike the elongated southern coastline, the western coastline is relatively short.
A monumental wall stretching for hundreds of miles stood tall along the coastline.
The wall’s surface was covered with numerous, densely packed talismans.
Atop the battlements, figures of solemn cultivators filled the spaces.
Outside the wall, faint glimmers hinted at the presence of an encompassing formation.
Many cultivators hurriedly flew within the walls’ confines.
The air was thick with a heavy and solemn aura.
On one of the crowded sections of this tall wall...
A group of cultivators looked up with respect at two figures on the parapet.
One of them was a topless man with wild black hair, standing on the wall, gazing into the distance.
In the far clouds, a massive and complex phantom city loomed, towering over all.
Sounds of chanting lingered, and visions of golden lotuses flickered into being and out of existence.
Shadowy figures appeared to be entering and exiting the city.
Thinking of something unpleasant, the man’s eyes couldn’t help but flash coldly.
He soon withdrew his gaze and turned to a cold-faced cultivator beside him, his brow furrowed as he said:
"Little Guan, has the sect not sent anyone over yet?"
The figure beside him, with a stern visage, felt slightly annoyed when the big man addressed him in such a manner, but still suppressed his voice:
"Yao Wudi, don’t you act all high and mighty with me! I am the Chief Guardian of West Sea Country!"
"Nonsense, I’m asking you a question!" the muscular man snapped impatiently.
Guan Ao’s face darkened with anger, but recalling the news he had received, he suppressed his temper and replied with a cold tone:
"No, the teleportation array seems to have lost contact with the sect a few days ago... The support from the sect should have arrived by now."
Upon hearing this, the strong man’s expression grew severe:
"That’s troublesome. I could still hold off ’Zhaoxin’ that bald fellow and his puppet, but I’m afraid you all won’t last as long."
Guan Ao’s face grew even darker upon hearing this.
Although he knew the other man was speaking the truth, it was precisely because it was the truth that it sounded so grating.
"The cultivators from the Three Continents are coming more and more frequently. Without support from the sect, we will eventually be overrun..." Guan Ao couldn’t help but say.
The muscular man frowned slightly, looking sidelong and saying, "Stop beating around the bush. What are you trying to say?"
Guan Ao looked at the strong man seriously, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn’t keep from asking:
"When exactly can you achieve Immortal Ascension?"
"Immortal Ascension..."
Guan Ao’s words clearly took the burly man by surprise, and his expression momentarily paused before he lapsed into silence.
Guan Ao decided to speak his mind, no longer hiding his thoughts, and spoke decisively,
"That’s right, once you step into Immortal Ascension, with your foundation, even some of the longtime ascended immortals might not be your match. With you in the seat of power, Juhai City will be relatively safe, at least for the short term, enough to hold out until the Sect sends reinforcements…"
"So, how far are you from Immortal Ascension?"
The burly man fell silent upon hearing this, looking towards the distant, faintly discernible phantom city within the clouds.
A trace of indescribable emotion flickered through his eyes,
"Very, very close… But still, not enough."
"Not enough? What exactly is lacking?"
Guan Ao’s eyes shone, unable to help himself from pressing further.
"I don’t know, there’s just this little bit left, yet it’s this little bit…"
The burly man didn’t continue.
Guan Ao shook his head slightly, feeling a sense of deflation in his heart.
Then, as if having thought of something, he asked,
"By the way, you were injured again a few days ago. How much lifespan do you have left now?"
Yao Wudi remained calm, as if speaking of something that did not concern him at all,
"Around two years, I guess."
Guan Ao couldn’t help but frown,
"You’ve lost another half a year… If you don’t break through soon, I’m afraid Monk King Xin will wear you down to death."
"It’s not like I don’t want to break through."
The burly man snorted, then turned and descended from the city wall,
"Alright, I’m going back to heal now. Call me over when Monk King Xin and his lot come… But after the thrashing I gave them last time, I reckon they haven’t recovered yet."
Guan Ao was so frustrated he couldn’t bring himself to talk to the other person.
But soon enough, a cultivator hurried over.
"Chief Guardian, a message from Personal Disciple Xue at the southwestern defense area. A group of Dao Shengzhou Cultivators is driving a puppet army, trying to breach our defenses…"
Guan Ao instantly furrowed his brow, "Those Dao Sheng rodents again…"
While speaking, another cultivator came to report,
"Chief Guardian, we’ve just discovered some Three Continents’ Cultivators have infiltrated Xugou County in West Sea Country, which is very close to the capital of West Sea Country…"
Guan Ao’s expression darkened, "The capital of West Sea Country, I remember there being quite a few mortals who have relocated there."
"Yes, Chief Guardian, what should we do? Xugou County is still quite a distance from us, and I’m afraid we won’t make it in time if we rush over…"
The reporting cultivator said anxiously.
Guan Ao’s face was grave, but in the end, under the astonished gaze of the other party, he slowly closed his eyes,
"…Give it up."
Hearing Guan Ao’s words, the cultivators around who were busily setting up talismans on the city walls couldn’t help but pause their actions.
Their faces frozen in a daze, they turned to look at Guan Ao.
Guan Ao said nothing, nor did he offer any explanations.
Mortals, after all, were just mortals.
All he could do was try his best to protect the disciples of the Sect; the rest, he cared for nothing.
…
Whoosh!
With a violent shake and the deafening sound of rushing waves,
The Iron Ray Boat quickly surfaced and then shot out of the water.
Wang Ba and Zhao Feng immediately flew out from the Iron Ray Boat.
Deacon Shi, however, did not leave the Iron Ray Boat but instead, addressed the two from aboard,
"I will wait here for the two of you."
Wang Ba hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not reject the other’s kindness. However, he still said, "If more than half a month passes, Senior Brother Shi, you should return first!"
In half a month, the cultivators from Diwu Hall would surely have the Teleportation Array rebuilt.
There would be no need for Deacon Shi to wait here then.
Deacon Shi nodded and then took the Iron Ray Boat and plunged back into the water.
Zhao Feng, however, had already turned into a streak of sword-light, rapidly circling the area for a while.
Before long, Zhao Feng returned to his human form and landed in front of Wang Ba, saying in a deep voice,
"This should be Nanji County. If we go north, we will reach the capital of West Sea Country, and if we head west, it will be the direction of the western front."
"Then let’s head west."
Wang Ba stated without a hint of hesitation.
Zhao Feng nodded,
"That would mean traveling westward through Xugou County, Dishui County, and then along the defense area managed by Longevity Sect, towards Juhai City…"
"Brother, there’s no need to say more, I will follow your lead!"
Wang Ba said with a smile.
The two exchanged a smile and then each transformed into a streak of light, flying westward.
