Chapter 404: The Clan Gets First Pick

Just as this squad of Hlai Dao Foundations passed the spot where Dragonhawk was hiding, a violent explosion erupted beneath their feet, instantly blowing the ones in front to pieces.

Although he was being pursued by mere Dao Foundations, Wei Yuan never once thought of turning back and launching a counterattack. If he wiped out the entire squad, wouldn’t that be synonymous to telling the Hlai to send Avatars to hunt him down?

A Hlai True Lord was rushing toward the battlefield at full speed at the moment. In Wei Yuan’s humble opinion, a resource as valuable as an Avatar was best reserved for Zhao fusheng.

The secret realm suddenly grew damp, and tiny streams of water began to seep from the ground. The potency of the Water element rapidly intensified to the point where the other four major elements were being repelled. As the moisture in the air grew impossibly viscous, Wei Yuan felt as though he was running with glue clinging to his body. It caused his speed to drop by more than half.

Wei Yuan silently cursed inside his head. Clearly, the Hlai True Lord had already made its move from a distance. At this rate, there was no way he could escape the secret realm before it arrived.

Just then, green grass suddenly sprouted from the ground. They grew rapidly and covered the ground in tiny flowers in just the blink of an eye. At the same time, Wei Yuan felt the constraints on his body lessen by more than half. It would seem that another Bao Clan powerhouse had intervened.

Grassland and puddles alternated across the ground as the two powerhouses engaged each other in a fierce battle for control of the secret realm. They were both striving to repel the other’s Imaginary World with all their might. But judging by the viscous residue lingering in the air, the Bao Clan’s powerhouse was clearly at a disadvantage.

Not only that, the viscous substance increased the Hlai’s speed instead of decreasing them. As a result, even the squad of Dao Foundations behind Wei Yuan was gradually catching up to him.

Wei Yuan knew this couldn’t go on. The best course of action was to wait for another True Lord of the Bao Clan to be alerted and intervene. He immediately changed directions and darted into a small cave nearby. He raced through winding passageways while secretly planting multiple powder sticks behind him.

Wei Yuan’s plan was to detonate the cave as soon as his pursuers arrive, blocking the path for any further pursuers. Then, he would slowly lead this group of Dao Foundation stage Hlai slowly toward the human realm. By the time the Hlai experts realized what he was doing, he would likely have already escaped back to the human realm.

Suddenly, a lateral cave appeared up ahead, and a towering, blood-soaked figure burst out of it. They collided before either of them could react!

The collision was like Mount Heng colliding with Mount Tai. In an instant, Wei Yuan felt as if his internal organs had shifted, and stars danced before his eyes. Of course, his opponent didn’t fare much better, stumbling backward a few steps and nearly collapsing to the ground.

Wei Yuan shook his head vigorously. As his vision cleared, he saw a completely naked man with a fried dough stick dangling in front of him[1].

It was at this moment he suddenly recalled that Zhao Fusheng was being chased by a massive force of Hlai!

Realizing this, he immediately charged toward the cave ahead. Unfortunately, Zhao Fusheng had the exact same idea as him, so the two collided once more, each bouncing off the cave wall and causing a section of rock to collapse.

After two consecutive collisions that ended in a stalemate, both men set aside their absolute confidence in their physical prowess. On the third attempt, neither men tried to monopolize the escape route and instead ran side by side in perfect unison.

Wei Yuan sensed multiple terrifying auras gradually closing in from behind and couldn’t help but curse Zhao Fusheng silently. Zhao Fusheng kept glancing at Wei Yuan as they ran because his face was completely unfamiliar to him. He could only conclude that he had never seen Wei Yuan before. But what was a Dao Foundation stage cultivator doing in this secret realm? Wasn’t it just suicide?

Wait... a Dao Foundation???

“It’s you!” Zhao Fusheng’s eyes instantly blazed with fury.

“It’s not me!” Wei Yuan ran with all his might, trying to put Zhao Fusheng behind him so that he would draw their attention.

Just then, the hidden dragons and phoenix chicks offered a strategy: all Wei Yuan needed to do to escape from his predicament was outrun Zhao Fusheng.

Unfortunately, Zhao Fusheng also accelerated at the same moment. As a result, the two remained neck and neck.

Meanwhile, the Hlai True Lord’s Imaginary World was gaining the upper hand and slowly manifesting. As a result, both men’s Dao techniques were suppressed, leaving them with no choice but to rely solely on their physical strength for speed. However, their physical prowess was evenly matched, and their travel speeds were nearly identical.

The two men raced at full speed and, wary of one another, refrained from attacking for the time being. However, as Zhao Fusheng scrutinized Wei Yuan and gradually pieced together the scattered clues, the murderous glint in his eyes flashed stronger and stronger.

This was bad. Fortunately for Wei Yuan, where there’s a crowd, there is always a hidden dragon or a phoenix chick. Someone immediately submitted a suggestion that made his eyes lit up.

Wei Yuan suddenly turned his head and fixed his gaze on Zhao Fusheng’s vital spot. He then said expressionlessly, “You’re a bit small, aren’t you?”

Zhao Fusheng’s blood boiled instantly. He instinctively shielded his vital spot, but that single, unnecessary movement was enough for Wei Yuan to pull ahead by several zhang. The gap of several zhang seemed short, but with their physical strength and speed so evenly-matched, it would take incredible effort for Zhao Fusheng to close it.

Wei Yuan was deeply satisfied. The strategy might seem simple on the surface, but in reality, it had taken into account a vast number of factors such as the environment, the situation, Zhao Fusheng’s past behavior, male psychology, and so on. It was the culmination of an entire team’s wisdom.

The dangers within the secret realm had far exceeded Wei Yuan’s expectations. On multiple occasions, it was only thanks to the hidden dragons and phoenix chicks that he was able to avert a crisis. Of course, the mortals across the Great Realm were also acting to preserve their own lives.

Some of the mortals were praying to Wei Yuan, but he paid them no mind.

Some were also praying to Yin Yang—but unlike Wei Yuan’s believers, they received a response.

They were instantly assigned different tasks and provided with the information needed to complete them. Once their tasks were finished, they reported back separately, and their findings were consolidated into a final plan, which was then relayed to Wei Yuan. Even that line, “You’re a bit small, aren’t you?” was a scripted line given directly to Wei Yuan. He hadn’t needed to spend a single instant to think it up himself.

Wei Yuan’s lead was insurmountable. No matter how hard Zhao Fusheng tried, he was unable to catch up. After running for over ten li, Wei Yuan finally burst out of the cave and arrived at a natural terrace jutting out from a cliff.

The terrace was vast, yet it hung isolated over a bottomless abyss. The nearest point across the chasm was over 1,000 zhang away. The abyss below was pitch-black, and though Wei Yuan couldn’t make out what lay within, it sent a chill down his spine.

He had no idea what lurked down there, only that it was openly radiating its presence to ensure that the little insects wouldn’t disturb it.

Wei Yuan stomped both his feet just in time, barely managing to stop at the edge of the ledge. Zhao Fusheng burst out right behind him. Upon seeing Wei Yuan, he let out a savage laugh, but before he could utter a threat, his expression suddenly changed. He looked back just in time to see a horde of Hlai bursting out of a cave and surrounding the two of them in this inescapable spot.

Wei yuan scanned his surroundings. He looked flustered, and in truth, he was a bit flustered. However, as he looked around, he was also updating the terrain data for this area and transmitting it all to the Great Realm in real time.

Zhao Fusheng had been wearing a fearless expression, but he couldn’t maintain it any longer when a third Hlai woman emerged from the cave. Unlike ordinary Hlai warriors, Hlai women were extremely difficult to deal with because each one possessed a unique mystic ability that was both unpredictable and difficult to defend against. The two Hlai women from earlier had already pushed Zhao Fusheng to the point of breathlessness. If another one joined the fray....

Zhao Fusheng suddenly glanced at Wei Yuan. He thought that this bastard was quite capable and should be able to hold his own against one Hlai woman. If that were the case, he himself should be able to hold his own against two Hlai women plus a bunch of Hlai warriors.

When the third Hlai woman, she didn’t waste a single breath on the two humans. She let out a piercing scream—one so powerful that it was visible to the naked eye—straight toward Zhao Fusheng!

Just then, Wei Yuan curled up into a ball as if in fear. At the same time, he dropped his aura so that he gave off the impression of a mid-stage Dao Foundation ant.

A sense of foreboding instantly welled up in Zhao Fusheng’s heart. He was just about to swear at the top of his lungs when a Hlai warrior unleashed a Water Dragon Cannon at Wei Yuan. Wei Yuan didn’t even flinch or try to dodge, as if he’d been scared into a stupor.

All the remaining Hlai warriors and the two Hlai women then charged at Zhao Fusheng.

F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK!! Countless curses surged through Zhao Fusheng’s mind, ultimately condensing into a single, repeated expletive—nothing less would suffice to vent the grief and rage churning within him[2].

This was the plan the mortals had hastily devised in the face of an apocalyptic crisis: feigning weakness before the enemy.

The water dragon struck Wei Yuan with full force, sending him flying off the terrace. Not only were the male warriors of the Hlai much weaker than the females, they were slightly weaker than the average human Avatar as well. Therefore, the blow only left Wei Yuan feeling a bit sore and helped him escape his predicament.

Wei Yuan now had a jet under each armpit. As if a giant had kicked him like a ball, he suddenly accelerated and crossed the 1000-zhang-long abyss in an instant. He landed safely on the opposite cliff face.

A foul wind suddenly surged from the 10,000-zhang-deep abyss, and a 100-zhang long, pointed mouth snapped shut, coming within a hair’s breadth of swallowing Wei Yuan whole. Had Wei Yuan been even a fraction slower, he would certainly not have escaped the giant maw.

Despair finally welled up in Zhao Fusheng’s heart, and a bitter smile spread across his face. He knew very well that he had absolutely no chance of evading the giant beast’s bite at his current flight speed.

Just then, a Hlai woman’s eyes suddenly shot out an aqua blue glow, illuminating a monk who had been cloaking his form and was slowly flying toward the opposite side.

The abyss below rippled instantly, and the giant mouth snapped toward the monk like lightning. At the very spot where the monk had been, a massive peacock appeared and spewed a burst of five-colored radiance directly onto the giant mouth.

The giant mouth slowed only for an imperceptibly brief moment before snapping shut once more, shattering the peacock Dharma in a single bite.

The monk teleported back to the terrace, coughing up a mouthful of blood as his aura plummeted. However, he ignored his injuries and immediately reached out to snatch a Hlai woman and several Hlai warriors from Zhao Fusheng. At the moment, the only way either of them was going to survive this was to fight alongside each other.

During this critical moment, several jets suddenly appeared above their heads and dropped at their feet.

The Bao Clan’s ancestral land.

Bao Manshan was playing Go with an elderly man. The game was deadlocked at the moment. Just then, Bao Yun walked into the elegant pavilion and, without regard for whether she was interrupting their game, said directly, “My dear great grandfathers, I wish to know exactly what terms Qiongshan Immortal Island has offered you that you would sell off the most outstanding junior of your clan. Has the Bao Clan fallen so far that we are reduced to selling our own children?”

Bao Manshan remained expressionless, but the old man looked somewhat annoyed and said in a deep voice, “Where are your manners?”

Bao Yun showed not the slightest fear and replied, “Why would you expect manners from the descendant of a clan that sells its own children?”

The old man glanced at Bao Manshan, but the man remained expressionless. He simply put down a stone and began hunting down the old man’s dragon[3].

Irritated, the old man replied with a frown, “Do you still think you’re the most gifted child among the younger generation? By insulting an Immortal Lord, you’ve squandered your own fortune. By losing an arm, you’ve lowered the quality of your physical body. As if that’s not enough, you’ve given away two of your Dao Foundation’s fruits right after they were born, thereby losing yourself two extremely useful abilities.

“Put all these misfortunes together, forget the next fifty years, you are no longer the greatest even in the past or next twenty years. In fact, you can barely maintain a spot in the top three right now. Do you think that, given your current standing, you can still be an exception to the expectation that all clansmen must contribute to the clan?”

Bao Yun replied calmly, “I don’t need you to remind me of my place, Great Grandfather. All I want to know is what price the young island lord has paid to be allowed to act so brazenly on our ancestral land.”

The old man looked at Bao Yun’s stubborn expression and suddenly let out a sigh. “‘The dragon births nine sons.’ Those who study the Floating World Dragon Diagram and dual cultivate with it—assuming they succeed—will definitely give birth to nine children. Their aptitudes may vary, but all of them will possess the potential to ascend to immortality. When the time comes, the Bao Clan gets first pick on the first five children.”

At that moment, taking advantage of the old man’s distraction, Bao Manshan suddenly placed another piece and instantly slaughtered the old man’s entire dragon.

1. The author couldn’t be clearer with his description without risking the chapter being rejected, so you get this. ( ?° ?? ?°) ☜

2. Again, this is obviously written in Chinese in a way that it wouldn’t be banned. I don’t need to censor this and I haven’t done so on multiple occasions, but I believe this is funnier. ☜

3. A "dragon" is a very long, connected group of stones that stretches across the board and fights to survive or make living spaces. ☜