Chapter 537 - 488: Meeting at Last

Chapter 537: Chapter 488: Meeting at Last

In the Secluded Meditation Chamber, the Zhao sisters sat across from each other, both clearly preoccupied and looking absent-minded.

After a moment, Zhao Yu could no longer hold back. She looked at Zhao Shuang, hesitating before finally blurting out, "Sister, can we trust this elder?"

Zhao Shuang was silent. After a long while, she finally spoke slowly. For some reason, her voice had become a bit hoarse.

"Given the current situation, the moment we step off this Flying Boat and leave Elder Chu’s protection, there’s no way we’ll get out of Bazhou alive."

"We’ve interacted with Elder Chu a few times before, and everything went smoothly. As for now... he probably doesn’t have much ill intent. Otherwise, wouldn’t it have been easier for him to just capture us and perform a Soul Search?"

Zhao Yu stared blankly for a moment, then asked with some uncertainty:

"If Elder Chu is trustworthy, then... about brother-in-law’s situation, can we ask for his help?"

Zhao Shuang fell silent, then finally shook her head. "With how things have turned out, we’ve already missed our window of opportunity. From here on, let’s just take it one step at a time..."

...

The Flying Boat soared through the ravines between the mountains. In the blink of an eye, several days had passed.

On this day, at high noon, the biting cold of winter finally made its presence felt in the Cangmang Mountain Range.

Snowflakes danced in the air. In just a moment, the mountains and ravines were dusted with a layer of frost, a beautiful, silver-white vista.

The Flying Boat hovered above a mountain peak. The Zhao sisters stood on the prow, their worry unconcealed as they sent out one telepathic message after another.

Chu Mu sat leisurely inside the cabin. Wisps of Spiritual Fire swirled, warming the Spirit Wine in the pot. He took a sip. The wine’s own potency, combined with the heat of the Spiritual Fire, erupted in his stomach, creating a rather unique sensation.

After a few more cups of Spirit Wine, he seemed to sense something. He set his cup down, his gaze fixing on the mountain below.

There, on the mountainside amidst a cluster of strange rock formations, a figure abruptly emerged.

Chu Mu’s expression was placid, as if he had expected this all along.

’In the Cultivation Immortal Realm, once your identity has been exposed, the best way to evade pursuit is to completely isolate yourself from the world.’

’Whether through a sealing Array or other means of isolation, as long as you cut yourself off from the world, the probability of being tracked instantly drops to a minimum.’

’Profound tracking Divine Techniques like Wangcai’s are, after all, exceptionally rare.’

’Of course, isolating oneself has one prerequisite: you must first ensure you have escaped the immediate danger of being hunted.’

’Otherwise, if you’re actively being chased and suddenly find a place to hide, the isolation is pointless.’

’They know you disappeared right here. A thorough search would make it like shooting fish in a barrel.’

’Even the most ingenious isolation method is bound to leave some trace behind.’

’Xie Yu’s current hiding spot was clearly a case in point.’

At that moment, Xie Yu, who had just appeared on the mountainside, immediately looked up at the completely unconcealed Flying Boat.

He was clearly hesitant, but after an exchange of telepathic messages, he seemed to relax slightly. With a leap, he landed unimpeded on the Sky-Breaking Flying Boat.

Seeing that the Zhao sisters were unharmed, Xie Yu couldn’t hide his delight. After a brief exchange of words, Zhao Shuang led him into the cabin, where he bowed respectfully to Chu Mu.

"This junior, Xie Yu, pays his respects to Elder!"

"I will never forget your great kindness, Elder!"

"Back when I was still just a Qi Cultivation Cultivator, I had dealings with Miss Zhao. Though we haven’t met again for many years, we can still be considered old friends."

"How could I stand by and not help an old friend in need?"

"You need not worry. For now, stay here on my Flying Boat. I still have some small matters to attend to in Bazhou. Once I’ve handled them, I will see you all safely out of Bazhou."

Chu Mu’s tone was even, and though it sounded like a suggestion, it didn’t seem to leave Xie Yu any room for refusal.

"I understand."

"Thank you for your protection, Elder."

Xie Yu bowed respectfully, showing no signs of objection.

Chu Mu nodded, then picked up his Spirit Wine and began to drink by himself.

Seeing this, the three of them bowed to Chu Mu once more before following Zhao Shuang into one of the rooms off the side of the cabin.

The door closed, and the cabin returned to silence.

Chu Mu glanced at the closed door and mused for a moment. Then, with a flicker of his will, the Flying Boat, which had been hovering over the mountain, once again vanished into the void.

During its flight, it now headed straight for Bazhou City.

In just three days, the endless landscape of mountains and ravines abruptly vanished, replaced by a boundless, flat plain.

The Bazhou Basin had come into Chu Mu’s view.

Chu Mu stood on the prow, gazing out at the endless plain. He then shifted his gaze, looking back at the mountains and ravines behind the Flying Boat, where the mighty Chu River snaked its way onward, never-ending.

Chu Mu recalled a legend he had come across while researching Bazhou before his trip.

’Legend told that in ancient times, this Bazhou Basin was actually a great lake. The Chu River surged into this area, which, being surrounded by mountains, was a natural gathering place for water.’

’It was known as the Cangmang Great Marsh, and it was said a Great Demon once made its lair there, turning it into a Cultivator Forbidden Land.’

’However, as the ages passed and the flow of the Chu River shifted, the Cangmang Great Marsh ceased to exist.’

’In its place formed the Bazhou Basin of today, a nearly self-contained Cultivation Immortal Realm.’

The Flying Boat skimmed across the sky. Cities and Marketplaces, scattered like stars, and the carnage of the wilds were all laid bare before him.

Killing and being killed was, and always would be, the central theme of the Cultivation Immortal Realm.

In the turbulent Bazhou Basin of today, this truth seemed even more apparent.

Chu Mu watched the various scenes of bloodshed with indifference, his expression unchanging. To him, the existence of the Overlord Saber Alliance, and even that Tier Four True Cultivator of Sword Intent, had little to do with him.

His most important objective on this trip to Bazhou was that piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold.

However...

Chu Mu flicked his finger, and a projection materialized before him, displaying the head-sized piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold.

He watched it calmly, but a hint of worry was visible in his eyes.

’Nine Heavens Profound Gold is an exceptionally rare Supreme Treasure in this world. It has a wide range of uses and isn’t exclusive to Sword Intent.’

’To say nothing of a piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold this massive!’

’With the Overlord Saber Alliance making such a conspicuous display and all the major powers now on the move, the difficulty of obtaining this Nine Heavens Profound Gold was self-evident.’

’If it were only Golden Core Cultivators contending for it, he would still have some confidence. But if a Nascent Soul Great Power were to enter the fray...’

At this thought, Chu Mu’s expression couldn’t help but become uncertain.

After a long moment, Chu Mu took a deep breath, his expression calming slightly.

’If a Nascent Soul expert really does get involved, it can only mean that I am not fated to possess that Nine Heavens Profound Gold.’

’So be it. If I get it, it is my fortune. If I lose it, it is my fate.’

Chu Mu shook his head to himself and composed his thoughts. Taking a step, he returned to the cabin, sat cross-legged, and swallowed an Elixir, taking advantage of the short travel time to resume his Cultivation.

The Flying Boat continued its slow, steady flight across the sky. However, having entered the Bazhou Basin, Chu Mu deliberately suppressed the boat’s sky-breaking ability to avoid revealing its secrets, letting it fly like a normal hovering vessel.

「Days rose and set, and several more passed in the blink of an eye.」

The magnificent Bazhou City at last began to appear on the horizon, a faint and indistinct silhouette.

Just then, the smoothly flying Sky-Breaking Flying Boat rippled like the surface of water before abruptly vanishing into the void.

At the same time, Chu Mu materialized in the sky. Beside him, Wangcai was eyeing their surroundings like a stalking tiger.

"Let’s go."

Chu Mu glanced at the majestic city on the horizon and waved a hand. He leaped forward, and a crimson Tunneling Light streaked across the sky. Wangcai followed close behind, bounding and pouncing as if running on level ground, barely falling behind Chu Mu at all.

In just a moment, the crimson Tunneling Light dissipated, and Chu Mu descended from the sky. Behind him, a dull THUD echoed. As the dust settled, Wangcai trotted over, wagging its tail.

It lifted its head toward Bazhou City and let out a couple of whining growls.

Chu Mu raised an eyebrow. After a moment of thought, he turned his gaze to Bazhou City before them.

The dark city walls stood hundreds of feet tall. Atop them, rows of crossbows, Spiritual Energy Cannons, and other Artifacts exuding terrifying auras were openly displayed in an orderly fashion.

Through the towering city gate, one could clearly see the orderly scene within. Rows of houses stretched out, streets crisscrossed, and patrols of Overlord Saber Alliance Cultivators moved among them. Everything was in perfect order.

Compared to the other Marketplaces in the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World, this Bazhou City seemed somewhat out of place, more like a Marketplace from the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World.

Marketplaces there emphasized solemn grandeur and strict order.

This was unlike the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World, where most Marketplaces were sprawling and disorganized, and rarely had structures like city walls.

After a brief survey, Chu Mu glanced up at the sky, which appeared perfectly normal. In his Divine Sense Perception, however, he could feel his Sky-Breaking Flying Boat in the void not far away, currently executing a Flying Escape in the opposite direction.

’Given the marvelous abilities of the Sky-Breaking Flying Boat, as long as it wasn’t directly targeted by a Nascent Soul Great Power, there would be no problems.’

Chu Mu mused for a moment, then patted Wangcai beside him and took a step, heading straight for the city gate.

There was no resistance at the city gate. Chu Mu had no intention of concealing his identity during this trip to Bazhou.

He was here in the name of the True Understanding Pavilion to offer congratulations.

In Bazhou City, this naturally made him a guest of honor of the Overlord Saber Alliance—a distinguished guest.

As for the Overlord Saber Alliance Golden Core Cultivator he had slaughtered...

As long as the matter wasn’t exposed, it had no connection to a distinguished guest such as himself, who had traveled from afar.

Before he had even entered the city, upon stating his identity, several Overlord Saber Alliance Foundation Establishment Cultivators came out to welcome him.

His path was cleared, and they respectfully guided him into the city.

In the southern part of the city, a special residence was even provided for Chu Mu to stay in, which could also serve as a local outpost for the True Understanding Pavilion...

...