Chapter 537: Chapter 543: Two People Challenging a Group Alone? (One More Update)
“Achoo!”
Yang Zhen, who had been strolling comfortably, suddenly sneezed and muttered to himself, “Damn it, can Practitioners catch a cold, too?”
Feng Lingqiao covered her mouth to hide a smile and looked oddly at Yang Zhen, “Yang, you jester. How can our kind of Practitioners get a cold? Is there a peculiar scent in the air here?”
Yang Zhen paused and rubbed his tingling nose, “Oh, I see. Let’s find out!”
As he spoke, Yang Zhen closed his eyes with a determined look. To Feng Lingqiao’s amazement, a burst of Spirit Soul energy exploded from him. Like a raging fire, the Golden Lotus Heavenly Fire permeated through his body making the surrounding air twist with heat.
“Hmm?”
After sensing for a moment, Yang Zhen wondered aloud, “Just as I thought. There is a sour stench in the air. It seems to be coming from the north. No doubt something lies in our northern quarter; let’s go investigate!”
Back then, that inkspot had also flown north. The Rascal Cat should be in that direction, as well.
Feng Lingqiao followed Yang Zhen with a confused expression, clearly amazed that such a method could be used.
Yang Zhen had only thought of this method on a whim and was surprised by its effectiveness. The air did indeed contain a pungent odor, but it was extremely difficult to detect. Had it not been for his exceptional gaining perception, even using Golden Lotus Heavenly Fire to dispel other scents, he wouldn’t have discovered it.
There was one thing Yang Zhen had not mentioned: this sour scent, like the decay of fresh blood or emanating from a corpse. It struck Yang Zhen as odd that the scent was unlike that of a dead body: it held an indescribable essence, similar yet dissimilar, to the stench of a ghoul.
Even if it was a corpse, it was one that had not been dead for long, or perhaps… a living corpse!
These Mountain and River Ruins truly held something interesting.
…
At the same time, outside the Mountain and River Ruins, Master Tie solemnly told Luoluo, “If I don’t come out in three days, you must activate the seal on the Mountain and River Ruins.”
Luoluo shook her head, uncertainty flashing in her eyes, “Grandfather, activating the ban on the Mountain and River Ruins would trap you there permanently. Luoluo will wait here for three days, three days later, if you haven’t come out, I’ll go in to find you.”
“Nonsense!”
Master Tie’s face darkened, “With people from Heavenly Spring Sacred Land and Heavenly Snow Holy Domain inside, what can you do once inside?”
“I don’t care. Even if I can’t do anything, I’ll activate the ban on the Mountain and River Ruins and go in to find you.”
“You…” Master Tie trembled with anger, then sighed, “Luoluo, the era is changing, and this world will soon belong to you young people. Whether or not I manage to break the seal on Mountain River Academy, it will surely be broken eventually. This… this is my fate, unavoidable and inescapable.”
Luoluo wiped away her tears and nodded, “Don’t worry, grandfather, I won’t act recklessly.”
Eyeing Luoluo skeptically, Master Tie rubbed his temples as he placed both hands on Luoluo’s shoulders, “Don’t think things will end up horribly. Breaking the seal of Mountain River Academy won’t be easy for them whatsoever. Having nothing to lose, I can simply set off the seal, ensuring they gains nothing.”
Luoluo’s face changed, but before she could speak, a sigh sounded, “Who says you are alone?”
Master Tie looked surprise as he looked up and saw a charming woman floating in mid-air with a beaming smile. She landed and spoke to Luoluo, “Luoluo, don’t worry, with Aunt Ya here. If anyone dares to prevent your grandfather from breaking the seal, Aunt Ya will kill them.”
“Aunt Ya!”
Luoluo exclaimed joyfully and nodded, “Aunt Ya, Luoluo will wait here for three days. If, after three days, you all still haven’t come out…”
“If we don’t make it out, you go find that Yang Zhen. He might just have a way to rescue us,” Aunt Ya chuckled as she interrupted Luoluo.
“Yang Zhen?” Luoluo’s eyes shot open wide. “What can he do? No, he must have a way. So far, there hasn’t been a restriction able to trap him. But will he help me?”
Aunt Ya, smiling, wiped the tear stains from Luoluo’s eyes. “Luoluo, remember these words: when there is a sufficient benefit, anyone will help you. The world of practitioners is inherently brutal. We won’t let Heavenly Spring Sacred Land and Heavenly Snow Holy Domain obtain what they desire. If worst comes to worst, we’ll give it to Yang Zhen.”
Luoluo paused, and turned to Master Tie, asking hesitantly, “What is this thing that has attracted the attention of two major sects, Heavenly Spring Sacred Land, and Heavenly Snow Holy Domain?”
Master Tie gave a bitter smile and replied, “The Mountain and River Map.”
“The Mountain and River Map?” Luoluo let out an exclamation, her eyes filled with surprise. “You mean the legendary Sumi Condensed Inch Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains?”
Master Tie took a deep breath and said solemnly, “Exactly. The Sumi Condensed Inch Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains. We’re running out of time. If your Auntie and I fail, you… go find Yang Zhen and tell him about the Mountain River Map. He will help you!”
Without waiting for Luoluo to respond, Master Tie and Aunt Ya exchanged glances, then flew off, their figures darting like two rainbows towards the Mountain and River Ruins.
In mid-air, with the fierce wind howling, Aunt Ya, who was about to confront two major sects, wore a smirk on her face. Suddenly she reached out and grabbed Master Tie’s hand, saying, “You’ve been a stubborn old fool your whole life. Now… you won’t refuse me, will you?”
Master Tie’s body trembled, and in a bitter smile, he said, “Why are you doing this? You know this mission is a death wish…”
“So what if it’s a death wish? If this old gal wants to risk her life with you, what gives you the right to stop me?” Aunt Ya glared at him, her body immediately rippling with a ferocious hurricane resembling a thunderstorm.
Master Tie was stunned and then he laughed loudly, saying, “In that case, let’s show them what a spectacular era it was in the past!”
BOOM! Boom!
Two horrifying blast waves erupted, like two rampaging dragons, charging towards the northern Mountain and River Ruins.
Inside the Mountain and River Ruins, Yang Zhen exclaimed and looked up. He pointed to the two figures in the sky and said, “Look, isn’t there someone else entering?”
Feng Qiaoling’s expression hardened, and she nodded, saying, “There are countless talented practitioners in this world. There will always be those who are not intimidated by the Heavenly Spring Sacred Land and the Heavenly Snow Holy Domain. Your… brother, have you found him yet?”
“I’ve stopped looking for him. Who knows where he’s run off to? Compared to searching for my brother, watching the drama is far more entertaining. Hurry, let’s catch up! I brought peanuts, melon seeds, and a foldable stool, and even chilled watermelon. The perfect essentials for spectating.”
Once Yang Zhen finished, he grabbed Feng Lingqiao without waiting for her response, and chased after the two figures. His pace was so swift it was as if spectating was far more important than finding his brother.
Feng Lingqiao stared dumbly at Yang Zhen, wanting to speak but hesitating. Confusion filled her eyes.
Didn’t he say that his brother was his most important companion in his life?
Why has he suddenly become less important now, especially compared to… spectating?
But in reality, how could Feng Lingqiao know that Yang Zhen didn’t stop searching for his brother because, like himself, his brother was synonymous with trouble. When trouble arose where his brother had vanished, he didn’t need to bother looking anymore. He’d just head straight for the problem, and he’d be sure to find his foolish brother.
The two figures landed on a mountain, with Yang Zhen and Feng Lingqiao arriving on a nearby mountaintop. Looking down, they were both startled by the sea of people below.
There were countless individuals. Both Fang Zhongjian and Lu Tianwei were there. Ji Yourong was there as well. The disciples of Heavenly Spring Sacred Land and Heavenly Snow Holy Domain were all gathered in that place.
The two figures that descended from the sky were none other than Master Tie and that enchantress Aunt Ya!
Shit, things were getting exciting now. Were Master Tie and the enchantress planning to take on a crowd by themselves?