Chapter 21 : Chapter 21
Chapter 21: The Useless Fools of the Golden Stratagem Immortal Sect
Luo Ke had been deeply impressed by Ning Ri.
The reason was simple.
Ning Ri had been completely indifferent to everything on the ship.
Golden Stratagem Mileage used the 【Golden Stratagem Flying Boat】 and 【Golden Stratagem Treasure Ship】 issued by the Golden Stratagem Immortal Sect to pick up and deliver passengers. For one to three passengers, they used a flying boat. With more than that, they used a treasure ship or a tower ship.
And whether it was a flying boat, a treasure ship, or a tower ship, all of them were extravagantly luxurious, fully displaying the Golden Stratagem Immortal Sect’s wealth.
At the same time, there were all kinds of jade slips aboard, allowing passengers to understand just how powerful the Golden Stratagem Immortal Sect was, how comfortable and enjoyable cultivation would be after joining it, and what kind of cultivation resources they could receive...
Great cultivators would never think of hailing a ride when they traveled. Golden Stratagem Mileage was basically only used by ordinary cultivators.
And the reason Golden Stratagem Mileage operated this way was actually to recruit ordinary cultivators into Golden Stratagem—recruiting both disciples and workers, taking in anyone they could.
The more people who joined the Golden Stratagem Immortal Sect, the better.
Moreover, the Golden Stratagem Immortal Sect did not need to lower itself in the process. After all, you had come here of your own accord after seeing the “benefits” displayed aboard their flying boats. It was not as though they had begged you to join.
But Ning Ri was different.
When other people boarded a flying boat for the first time, merely looking around without restraint already counted as polite. The norm was to touch everything and inspect it all over.
But Ning Ri had done none of that.
He had done absolutely nothing except ask one question after boarding the flying boat: “Can I practice my blade here?”
Luo Ke had said yes.
And then Ning Ri had started practicing his blade like mad!
He had not stopped for the entire trip!
At the time, Luo Ke had been astonished, but at the same time, he had also developed a measure of admiration for Ning Ri.
Although Ning Ri had only been practicing an ordinary blade art, Luo Ke had liked that steady, diligent attitude toward cultivation. And Ning Ri’s blade work had been smooth and graceful, pleasing to the eye.
If the 【Driver Regulations】 of Golden Stratagem Mileage had not explicitly stated that passengers were not to be harassed, Luo Ke would have wanted to interrupt him and personally examine his innate talent...
But Luo Ke had thought that since Ning Ri was already a third-level Qi Refining cultivator, he must have a spirit root. With that temperament as well, joining the Outer Sect of the Golden Stratagem Immortal Sect should have posed absolutely no problem.
It was precisely because of this that, after asking for Ning Ri’s opinion, Luo Ke had first delivered him to the Golden Stratagem Immortal Sect. Golden Stratagem was currently in need of exactly this sort of down-to-earth disciple.
And now, when Luo Ke saw Ning Ri here—especially with the Defying Heaven Sect not far away—surprise appeared on his face. “Who would have thought we were so fated as to meet again in a place like this?”
The moment Luo Ke spoke, Ning Ri froze as well. “Senior Luo!”
Luo Ke had recognized him, and he had recognized Luo Ke too—
Was this not the cultivator who had taken him to seek a master last time?!
Then his heart skipped a beat—
Oh no. Surely this guy was not going to stop him from freeloading just because he knew him, right?
What was going on?
Did the Golden Stratagem Immortal Sect only have one driver assigned to this whole district?
Luo Ke then revealed a smile and was just about to exchange a few pleasantries with Ning Ri, but the next moment, he suddenly seemed to think of something. His expression turned noticeably stunned, disbelief appearing in his eyes. He lowered his head to glance at the jade slip in his hand, then raised it again in even greater disbelief.
“Wait!”
“How... how are you using Golden Stratagem Mileage for the first time?”
Because he was supposedly a new customer, the “admission brochure” aboard the Golden Stratagem Flying Boat had already begun operating.
It was simply waiting for the new passenger to board so it could give him a proper shock from Golden Stratagem!
But only then did Luo Ke realize—how could Ning Ri possibly be a new customer?
Hearing this, Ning Ri could not help revealing an awkward smile. “Uh, well, Senior Luo...”
He felt even more awkward inside.
And after Luo Ke glanced at the Defying Heaven Sect in the distance, he seemed to realize something. His expression suddenly darkened. “You joined the Defying Heaven Sect, didn’t you?”
At that, Ning Ri immediately nodded. “That’s right!”
After receiving confirmation, a look of sudden understanding surfaced on Luo Ke’s face, followed at once by a dark expression. “Then no wonder. It must have been the people of the Defying Heaven Sect who led you astray.”
“They’re always using that damned soul-splitting art of theirs and ordering the Foundation Establishment disciples under them to use 【Golden Stratagem Mileage】.”
“They’re absolutely despicable!”
Ning Ri: “...”
So the entire sect was doing this?
Wait...
Did that mean they had all been milking Luo Ke alone?!
Luo Ke then said to Ning Ri, “Do not worry. Once Golden Stratagem Mileage accepts an order, it is never voided or changed.”
“Your order is still valid!”
“I will take you to your destination.”
Hearing this, Ning Ri could not help asking, “Then... will you still get paid?”
When Luo Ke heard that Ning Ri was actually worrying about him, he despised the Defying Heaven Sect even more in his heart—
A bunch of demonic cultivators. Who knew how many good disciples they had ruined!
Luo Ke looked at Ning Ri with even greater satisfaction and said, “You need not worry about the payment. My sect is rich and powerful. Since your order has been recognized by Golden Stratagem Mileage, I will be paid.”
“I’m just displeased with the way your elders conduct themselves.”
Ning Ri let out an “Oh.” “That’s good!”
After that, Luo Ke released the flying boat. Once he learned that Ning Ri’s destination was Sunset Glow City, he took Ning Ri with him and shot into the sky...
The interior of the flying boat was still as luxurious as ever, but Ning Ri had no mind to pay attention to it. He intended to continue practicing his blade just as he had before.
At present, he felt like someone on Pinduoduo trying to cash out one hundred yuan but still short a single gold coin—his mind was filled with only one thought: hurry up and slash one more time!
But as Luo Ke piloted the flying boat, he asked in puzzlement, “By the way, little friend Ning, why did you choose to join the Defying Heaven Sect instead of my sect?”
In his view, if Ning Ri could join the Defying Heaven Sect, why could he not go to the Golden Stratagem Immortal Sect?
Ning Ri could not help giving a dry laugh. “Senior Luo, the truth is that my aptitude is actually extremely poor.”
“It was only because of a bit of fortuitous luck, and because someone passed a cultivation method on to me, that I was able to enter the third layer of Qi Refining by sheer good fortune. But I lack the strength to continue further, so the disciple recruitment office of the Golden Stratagem Immortal Sect rejected me.”
After learning of the existence of 【Mortal Anomalies】, he no longer dared say that he had happened to obtain a Qi Refining method by chance.
But after hearing Ning Ri’s explanation, Luo Ke felt that something was off. Frowning, he said, “So the reason my sect turned you away was that your aptitude was poor?”
Ning Ri nodded.
The more Luo Ke heard, the more wrong it felt. Then he suddenly remembered something and said, “Wait. Since your aptitude is extremely poor, then what... what realm are you at now?”
Ning Ri answered honestly, “Third-level Qi Refining cultivator! It’s already been so long, and I still haven’t made the slightest progress. My aptitude really is extremely poor.”
This time, Luo Ke froze again. Then his expression gradually changed, and disbelief welled up on his face as he stared at Ning Ri...
Seeing this, Ning Ri grew a little nervous. “Senior, what’s wrong?”
Luo Ke said in astonishment, “Nothing is wrong. I just realized that you really are a third-level Qi Refining cultivator.”
Ning Ri was puzzled. I really am a third-level Qi Refining cultivator, so... so what?
Luo Ke muttered, “It’s just that I’m very curious. How could a third-level Qi Refining cultivator possibly have learned the Defying Heaven Soul-Splitting Art?”
“Dog Heng told me himself that this is a spell that can only be cultivated in the Foundation Establishment stage!”
Ning Ri: “............”
Oh...
So that was why he had been stunned?
The very next moment—
Luo Ke’s furious voice rang through the clouds:
“What the hell are those useless fools in the disciple recruitment office doing?!”