Chapter 378: Blocking the Way
They summoned the Divine Generals and Dharma Protectors of Divine Dao Mountain to tear open the Secret Realm, leaving behind three sticks of long incense as an offering to no one.
Everyone exited the Secret Realm and released the paper boat. Without a moment’s delay, they set off, leaving the salt lands behind.
The visiting Cultivators gathered together. There wasn’t a trace of joy on their faces from their recent windfall; instead, their expressions were heavy.
"Tsk, tsk."
Yuan Chu laughed. "These people have made quite a few enemies."
"Whether they escape with their lives or not, the Giant Tribe will have us to thank. It makes the help they gave us worthwhile."
Why would the pale giant that failed to destroy Mi Mountain want to silence its own heir?
It was all to protect the location of the Secret Realm, wasn’t it? It was afraid someone might bring harm to its ancestral land.
But in the end, the sect pried the location out of them anyway. Not only did they do it no harm, they even delivered its entire line of successors right to its doorstep.
That was merciful enough.
Gong Gui suddenly glanced behind them. At the edge of his vision, two black dots were rapidly approaching.
He could faintly sense they were holding Magical Artifacts, which were locked onto a tall youth aboard the paper boat.
"If we hadn’t been born into a sect, would we also be tangled in so many feuds and favors?"
As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Bai Mo.
"Hey now!" Bai Mo waved his hand dismissively.
"It’s true I’ve scraped by in the Immortal City, but I’ve always believed in keeping the peace. I never go looking for trouble."
"I really don’t have that many entanglements!"
Xiong Xin and the other two nodded in agreement.
"I’ve heard that the Alchemy Dao in Immortal Arrival City isn’t very advanced. With your skills, Junior Brother, it’s true you wouldn’t face much competition."
"It’s always good to have a specialized skill..."
In the time it took to exchange these few words, the two pursuers had arrived.
They were two middle-aged Cultivators, their faces flushed. The chase had clearly not been easy for them.
As their auras pulsed, they revealed the presence of the Core Formation realm. An astral wind howled around their bodies; their cultivation was clearly extraordinary.
One of them held a registry-like book, using it to lock onto the tall youth on the paper boat from afar.
"You little brat! On the run for two years... you really gave us a chase!"
The disciples all looked to Shang Wunian, waiting to see how he would react.
"You there!"
Before Shang Wunian could speak, one of the two Cultivators spoke again, his tone hostile.
"And who are you supposed to be? Do you have any idea what this kid is caught up in? How dare you shelter him!?"
At these words, the gazes of all the disciples snapped to the man who had spoken.
Bai Mo exchanged a look with the three beside him, truly unable to understand where this man found the gall to speak to them that way.
Shang Wunian kept his hands clasped within his red sleeves, his eyes devoid of any ripple.
"Oh? And what might you two have to say?"
"Hmph!"
The Cultivator who had spoken sneered.
"There’s nothing to say. We just ask that you, fellow Daoist, hand the person over."
Arrogant as he was, he wasn’t careless. He smoothly pulled a banner from his sleeve and held it at the ready.
The other man did the same. The two banners were red and yellow.
This, it seemed, was the source of their confidence.
Shang Wunian glanced back slightly, his eyes sweeping over the nervous, tall youth, before turning away again, his expression impassive.
"The way you two are acting is putting me in a difficult position."
A disciple with a gloomy expression stepped forward on the paper boat.
"I am willing to drive these two away for the sect."
"You alone are not enough,"
Shang Wunian said slowly.
"Three more. Only then can you break their formation."
As his voice fell, three more disciples stepped forward, their eyes blazing with anger.
The four of them soared into the air.
"How arrogant! Let us martial brothers see what gives you such confidence!"
"And if you fall short, don’t blame us for flaying your skin and breaking your bones!"
They all had fiery tempers. Clearly, they were among the more extreme Cultivators of Divine Dao Mountain, their personalities heavily influenced by channeling the power of the Dharma Protector Divine Generals.
The two enemy Cultivators shouted curses.
"Going this far for some country brat? Are you really after his treasure!?"
Though they hurled insults, their actions were swift. They raised their banners and began to wave them with all their might.
A gale surged, and in no time, they had conjured a five-colored astral wind.
The sail of the paper boat snapped loudly, stretched taut by the wind.
Unseen by the naked eye, imps and wraiths strained to push the paper boat away from the battle.
Though now distant from the battlefield, Bai Mo could still feel several profound streams of power piercing through the astral wind and entering the fray.
It was the power of Divine Dao Mountain’s Dharma Protector Divine Generals, being channeled from afar.
The paper boat sailed on slowly, passing over the mountains and rivers below.
Before long, two muffled booms echoed from behind them.
Two mists of blood bloomed in the air. The two banners fell, only to be snatched up by the disciples of Divine Dao Mountain.
After the brief, dusty battle, the four disciples’ clothes were merely disheveled, but their breathing was much heavier.
The four landed back on the paper boat.
"Those two did have a few tricks. We were unable to capture them; they managed to escape using a blood-escape technique..."
Shang Wunian seemed unconcerned. He glanced at the two banners and simply said:
"These two banners have some history. If you plan to use them, you’d best be careful."
After speaking, he shook his great sleeves and scanned the four directions. A soul-stirring brilliance flowed from his eyes as they opened and closed.
The few prying gazes in the vicinity immediately vanished.
Everyone understood perfectly. Those two from a moment ago had been nothing more than a vanguard, sent by others to test their strength.
The Sect Disciples’ immediate and violent response had likely frightened off countless onlookers.
The tall youth suddenly came forward, dropped to his knees, and kowtowed several times on the surface of the paper boat.
"I will never forget your kindness, Elder. If not for your esteemed sect, I surely would not have escaped this calamity today."
"Please, take this opportunity to let me off the boat, Elder. Once I am safe, I will surely repay this debt in the future!"
Shang Wunian said nothing, nor did he ask about whatever treasure the youth might be hiding.
The paper boat descended. When it was close enough to the ground, the tall youth leaped off and disappeared into the dense forest.
With no one watching, the other non-sect Cultivators on the boat were also stirred to action.
While the paper boat was still low, three more Cultivators stepped forward, bid their farewells, and left.
"Heh heh!"
Xiong Xin looked completely unconcerned.
"This journey back won’t be a peaceful one. With all these people leaving and the fact that we just emerged from a Secret Realm, who knows how much treasure others will assume we’ve gotten."
"We’ll be plotted against the whole way, won’t we?"
He wasn’t too worried, though.
Matters like these weren’t for Foundation Establishment disciples to handle. Plenty of senior members were there to take the lead; all they had to do was watch.
The paper boat sailed on.
"By the way, Junior Brother," Yuan Chu asked, "you pulled two items from the lake. What did you get?"
Bai Mo answered frankly, "Some insights related to Qi Collection Skills. Exactly what I needed."
’It seemed their offerings hadn’t been in vain,’ he thought. ’They had indeed been looked after.’
Yuan Chu and the other two had each received something as well, with Yuan Chu getting the most—a full three portions.
In keeping with their own Dao paths, what they received was mostly related to the ways of transformation and attack.
As the paper boat continued on its way, more Cultivators began to appear, pointing and whispering about it.
A few, unable to restrain themselves, leaped out to block the paper boat, stopping just short of shouting, "This is a robbery!"
Once again, the disciples on board dealt with the problem. They spared two of the assailants, but the rest fled with grave injuries.
"Junior Brother, take a good look at these people outside."
"One day, when you venture out on your own, these are the kinds of people you’ll have to face."
"Not everyone is scared off by the name of our sect. The world is full of desperados..."