Chapter 96: Chapter 68: Cultivator (3/6)_1
Translator: 549690339
Time flies, and another March has arrived.
Upon Dongting Lake, the misty expanse remains vast and obscured by clouds.
In its depths, the waters are still taboo, no one daring to approach, the aversion deep-rooted.
But the world is ever-changing, and there are always exceptions.
At this moment, a solitary boat drifts upon the lake.
Though called solitary, it spans several meters and can comfortably accommodate a dozen people with horses.
Currently, three men and two women stand aboard, gracefully touring Dongting, a most refined sight.
The three men each differ in attire: one dresses as a scholar, idly brandishing a folding fan; the other two are clad in black and white, bearing swords and sabers, as if martial heroes from the Martial World.
The two women are equally distinguished: one wears a white dress, her demeanor cool and detached; the other is garbed in palace attire, dignified, and luxurious, both stunning as a peony and a lotus side by side, blossoming on this modest boat.
“I’ve long heard that Dongting’s misty waters are quite extraordinary, and seeing them today proves the tales true,” one of them remarked.
“We are still on the outskirts of the lake; further in, as we near the lake’s heart, the mists grow even denser!” another said.
“Sadly, despite such marvels, this place remains mundane, with no Spirit Vein buried beneath, no concentration of Spiritual Energy…”
“If there were Spiritual Energy here, it would have long been claimed by the major sects or powerful families. How could they allow the likes of us to tour such a place?”
“Many Cultivators, upon witnessing Dongting’s enchanting sights, would assume there must be some mystical secret or treasure of Immortal fate hidden within, wasting time scouring the waters, only to come out empty-handed.”
“Such jokes abound, and soon no one bothers coming here to waste their time. Only novices to the Cultivation World, naive to everything, fall for the traps set by deceitful peddlers, coming here in search of Immortal fate.”
“Haha, surely Brother Song isn’t referring to us?”
“Of course not, our purpose here today is to enjoy the scenery, not to chase after some Immortal fate.”
“Still, you never know—something interesting might happen.”
“Indeed, even though this place lacks Spiritual Energy and isn’t favored by
Cultivators, it is considered unusual and secluded to ordinary Martial Artists.
Many so-called experts of the Martial World hide here to seek Immortal fate.”
“I’ve heard that not long ago, someone claiming to be a Fisherman appeared here, teaching martial arts.”
“Heh, experts of the Martial World, no matter how proficient, are still mortals.
If they truly had potential, they would have been discovered by Searching Immortal Envoys and sent to cultivate in the major sects. Who would then bother learning martial arts with limited power and prospects?”
“Miss Tie, with your exceptional talent and unique gift, you must not become obsessed with so-called martial arts. The true path lies in Qi Cultivation and Cultivation.”
“You needn’t be so verbose. I’ve heard Miss Tie has already obtained a Searching Immortal Order from the Green Jade Sect. She just needs to wait for the Immortal Gate to open in September, and she can attempt entry. Given Miss Tie’s aptitude, it’s certain she’ll become a disciple of the Green Jade Sect, ” came another voice.
“The Green Jade Sect, ah…”
“Speaking of the Green Jade Sect, we must mention Brother Zhang. Is it true that you are soon to be recruited by the Tianshu Sect?”
“Is that even a question? Everybody knows Brother Zhang is extraordinarily gifted, with exceptional fortune. Not only is his Cultivation profound, but his comprehension is also remarkable—a natural seedling for a Formation Master. The Tianshu Sect, being a grandmaster of the Array Path, naturally wants to recruit such a talent.”
“Oh, you flatter me…”
The three men chatted and laughed, the two martially dressed men lavishing praise, while the scholar in green seemed pleased, subtly showing off his background. From the corner of his eye, he frequently glanced at the woman beside him.
However, the woman in white, cool as a lotus blossom, did not react at all. Her gaze fixed on the mysterious mists of Dongting Lake, her thoughts uncertain, she didn’t utter a single word, causing the scholar some embarrassment.
Thankfully, the woman in palace clothes covered her smile, graciously offering a way out: “Don’t be so merry, gentlemen. Miss Tie has come here to pursue her enemy and intends to execute that villain here. Make sure not to get so lost in your amusement that you let the scoundrel escape!”
“Ah, Fairy Yang can rest assured. Although we aren’t very skilled, capturing a lowlife who chanced upon Immortal fate is still well within our grasp,” one of the men in martial attire assured.
“Exactly. Fairy Yang, if you don’t trust us brothers, don’t you trust Brother Zhang?” asked the other.
“Without boasting, just consider this Dark Iron Boat, a mid-tier Magic Artifact. Energized by Brother Zhang’s late-stage Qi Cultivation mana, it’s powerful enough to shatter mountains and cleave valleys. What could a scoundrel with a stroke of Immortal fate possibly do against that?”
“This Dark Iron Boat is still a defensive Magic Artifact. I’ve heard that Brother Zhang also possesses a Gengjin Sword that was forged from a Flying Sword sword embryo and has already ranked among superior Magic Artifacts. When activated, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators would have to avoid its edge.”
“Exactly, exactly. That commoner is nothing but a mortal, without any foundations or inheritance. Whatever Immortal fate falls into his hands would be like casting pearls before swine, and he will never amount to anything.”
“Miss Tie, rest assured, once Brother Zhang takes action, he will surely capture him with ease and avenge you.”
The two began to flatter extravagantly once again.
Seeing this, the Scholar couldn’t help but feel pleased, but still humbly said, “You two brothers flatter me too much. What I have is no Flying Sword, just a failed sword embryo. Though it has some might, it’s far from matching a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Having followed me for many years, to this day, it has only slain an Evil Cultivator in the later stages of Qi Cultivation!”
“An Evil Cultivator in the later stages of Qi Cultivation?”
“Brother Zhang is truly Brother Zhang, we are ashamed in comparison!” “Turns out we have underestimated Brother Zhang, how shameful.”
Hearing this, the three sycophants hurried to keep up, making the Scholar’s smile even brighter.
However, the lady in white still showed no reaction.
This made the Scholar somewhat embarrassed, and the others had no choice but to change the subject.
“Have you heard that in recent times, there’s been a Jiao Dragon appearing in
Dongting Lake?”
“Really? Is that so?”
“Yes, many fishermen have seen it. That day in the foggy parts of the lake, a dragon’s roar shocked the sky, audible for miles around. Then came thunder that shook the heavens, and the shadow of a golden dragon appeared, soaring and frolicking amidst the clouds above the lake, lingering for a moment before vanishing without a trace.”
“This…
While discussing the rumors from a few months ago, the three of them were somewhat astonished.
Only the Scholar was unconcerned, shaking his head and saying, “Ignorant mortals, it’s nothing but rumors built upon rumors. How could a dragon, a Divine beast of supreme honor, appear in the mortal realm?”
“Perhaps it was a Jiao Dragon?”
“Even if it was a Jiao Dragon, it could be on par with Great Golden Core cultivators, even Nascent Soul Ancestors. How could it dwell in Dongting Lake, which doesn’t even have a Spirit Vein?”
“In my opinion, it was just a temporary cloud and rain, a rainbow phenomenon, accompanied by thunder. The common people, not knowing the cause, have spread rumors. It’s not surprising.”
“That makes sense, Brother Zhang is indeed experienced and knowledgeable…” Amidst their conversation, the small boat ventured deeper.
In the depths of Dongting, the mist enshrouded everything, reducing visibility to an extreme low.
Zhang Guanghua waved his paper fan and said to the woman named “Tie
Xiner” clad in white, “Miss Tie, do you know where that scoundrel is hiding?”
Tie Xiner then turned her gaze back, “That villain was hit by my palm, which contained my azure-blue fragrant powder. Even diving into the water won’t block it. As long as he is within a thousand zhang, I can detect his whereabouts.”
“Good!”
Zhang Guanghua nodded, “My Dark Iron Boat can travel tens of thousands of miles a day, moving freely. At most, in three days, we should be able to search all inside and outside Dongting Lake.”
Seeing this, Tie Xiner bowed slightly, “Thank you for your aid, Brother Zhang!”
“Hey, between you and me, there’s no need for such formalities.”
Zhang Guanghua smiled and spurred the Dark Iron Boat forward, venturing into the mist.
After all, being a mid -tier Magic Artifact, it boasted impressive defenses, and there was no need to worry about hidden reefs or other hazards.
After careening about for a moment…
“Hmm?”
Zhang Guanghua frowned and brought the Dark Iron Boat to a halt.
“This…”
“Brother Zhang, what’s wrong?”
Puzzled looks were cast by everyone.
Zhang Guanghua frowned, staring ahead, “That small island… there’s something strange!”
“Strange?”
“What kind of strange?”
Everyone looked in the direction he indicated, only to see a desolate island, standing alone out there, seemingly nothing out of the ordinary.
Zhang Guanghua shook his head, said nothing, but waved his fan to produce a fierce gust of wind.
“Whoosh!”
The tangible wind swept across, causing the illusory scenery to ripple like reflections on water.
“This…”
“A formation?”
The crowd gasped in surprise as they finally recognized what it was.
“An Illusion Array?”
“Just a single layer?”
Zhang Guanghua tapped his folding fan against his palm, smiled lightly after making a silent assessment of the difficulty, and said, “It seems a fellow cultivator has settled here!”
After speaking, he looked around, “Gentlemen, shall we go and pay a visit?”
“This…”
The group hesitated, unable to make a decision.
“Don’t worry, gentlemen, we are not those vicious Robbing Cultivators; we’re just going to take a look. If indeed it is someone from our own circles, then let’s pay them a visit. If it is an Evil Demon, then it will be time to slay demons and eradicate devils.”
After saying this, Zhang Guanghua turned to Tie Xiner, “What do you think, Miss Tie?”
“Brother Zhang speaks the truth,”
Tie Xiner nodded, looking coldly at the island shrouded in illusion, “Perhaps the enemy I seek is hiding right there.”
“Good, then let’s go take a look!”
Seeing Tie Xiner agreeing, Zhang Guanghua didn’t bother asking for anyone else’s opinion and directly urged the Dark Iron Boat toward the illusion.
One should not be so reckless when facing a formation.
However, the person responsible for this rudimentary Illusion Array in this place devoid of spiritual energy doesn’t seem like someone with profound cultivation.
Therefore, there was no need to be overly cautious.
The Dark Iron Boat charged, piercing through the mirage-like scenes, and discovered an island of moderate size on the lake.
By the side of the island, there was also a boat, clearly indicating someone lived there.
Zhang Guanghua’s eyes sharpened, and without a word, he flew the Dark Iron Boat up into the sky, heading straight for the island.
The Flying Boat ascended, giving them a high vantage point, immediately revealing the entire island with its attention drawn to a field of golden, ripe grain.
“A farm?”
Zhang Guanghua’s eyes narrowed, he maneuvered the Flying Boat above the fields, and with a gesture, a spike of rice flew up into his hand.
“Is this… Spirit Rice?”
Zhang Guanghua looked at the white jade grain in his hand, then down at the fields below ripe for harvest, his eyes glinting with a sharp light. “In the mundane world, to be able to grow Spirit Rice?” “It doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t make sense!”
“Unless… Immortal fate!”
“Treasures of Immortal fate, it must be treasures of Immortal fate!”
His mind raced to a conclusion, and a barely concealable joy rose in Zhang Guanghua’s eyes.
Immortal fate, Immortal fate, true Immortal fate!
To cultivate and harvest Spirit Rice in this land devoid of spiritual energy, could it be the work of mere mortals?
Let aside mortals, even common cultivators couldn’t do this, unless they were willing to shatter spirit stones and use the powdered stone as fertilizer.
Zhang Guanghua didn’t believe anyone could be so extravagant.
So he was certain, behind this field of Spirit Rice awaiting harvest, there was a stroke of Immortal fate, a treasure.
A treasure of Immortal fate that would soon be his!
What, cultivators?
Which cultivator would shrink away in the mundane world to farm – did they have some serious illness in their head, or was there a problem with their body?
Only the Immortal fate Men, those both fortunate and unfortunate, would undertake such bizarre endeavors.
Therefore…
“Brother Zhang!”
“This must be the handiwork of an Immortal fate Man!”
“Such an opportunity should rightfully belong to Brother Zhang!”
Meanwhile, the other three had come to the same realization and immediately congratulated Zhang Guanghua, making clear their lack of intention to contend for it.
“Haha, since it’s an opportunity, let’s share it,”
Zhang Guanghua laughed, then with a serious tone added, “First, let’s search the area to see if the Immortal fate Man is here, then we’ll harvest the Spirit Rice in the field. I see there’s another area that seems to be a medicinal field, you must be very careful not to damage the spiritual herbs.”
“Yes!”
Seeing Zhang Guanghua, a Qi Cultivator in the late stages, willing to share a piece of the cake, everyone was suddenly motivated, even the aloof Tie Xiner was eager to try.
Zhang Guanghua wasted no more words, the Mysterious Iron Flying Boat descended to the ground.
The group stepped out of the Flying Boat; he swept his fan, and the several-zhang-long Flying Boat shrank to the size of a palm, which he then tucked into his sleeve.
“Let’s go!”
Zhang Guanghua stowed away the magic artifact and led the group toward the central cabin on the island.
Just then…
“Screech!! ! ”
A cry pierced the sky, stirring the winds and clouds..