Chapter 1021: Stowaways
Unbeknownst to Mo Wen and even the Huatian Palace, a few days ago, on a barren mountain in the main space, the surrounding space twisted and a few silhouettes quietly appeared.
“Haha! We finally arrived in the main space. Humph! The Huatian Palace trying to stop us was basically wishful thinking.”
An elder wearing a red robe laughed loudly. This person with long crimson hair appeared ancient, but his countenance did not have the usual features that old people had. Instead, it was exceptionally hideous. His face was covered in crisscrossed scars.
Aside from the elder, six other people were present. Four of them were elders and the other two were middle-aged men.
If Mo Wen was here, he would certainly be able to recognize one of the two middle-aged persons present the Ming Temple’s Temple Leader Shao Yunyang.
“Congratulations, old ancestor. Mo Wen will surely not be able to escape from us this time. The treasures that he carries, hehe, will sooner or later be in your possession, old ancestor,” Shao Yunyang said respectfully while bowing. He was clearly fawning over Shao Tianqi.
Shao Tianqi, the elder with red hair, was none other than the founder of the Ming Temple. In terms of ranking, Shao Yunyang was merely a great-great-great-grandchild of Shao Tianqi. They were at least six to seven generations apart. After all, Shao Tianqi had existed since six hundred years ago — the era in which Zhang Poxiao still existed.
“Humph, Little Yunyang, I am not greedy enough to lay my hands on the Sacred Fire Sword. That is an item that has been reserved by the cult leader of the Petrification Cult. Of course, I will take all the other treasures that the brat Mo Wen has.”
Shao Tianqi laughed out loud. He was in a great mood. All the sects in the Peng Lai Immortal Realm thought that Mo Wen had gone back to the main space. Now that Shao Tianqi had come to the main space, Mo Wen would not be able to escape from Shao Tianqi’s hunt, even if he had wings.
“Rumor has it that Mo Wen owns a long spear spiritual treasure. If Elder Shao can get this item, you will surely be like a tiger that has sprouted wings. You will most likely be on par with intermediate stage Tide Changing Realm cultivators,” an elder in black robes, who was also part of the group, said flatteringly.
Clearly, a few people from the Petrification Cult followed Shao Tianqi’s lead as well.
“Sect nephew Zhang, Mo Wen is but a callow brat. Yet, he has accomplished extraordinary achievements. He definitely has many other treasures with him. This time, since all of you accompanied me here, I will certainly not treat you shabbily.”
Shao Tianqi glanced at the elder in black robes and nodded, seemingly very pleased with the elder’s words. These people did not dare to argue with him over the treasures. In Shao Tianqi’s mind, Mo Wen’s Heavenly Serpent Divine Spear was his personal belonging.
“Humph, your Petrification Cult has promised to share the treasures with Hades Mountain. Don’t you forget about it.” Among the people present, there was one other middle-aged man. His facial expression was indifferent throughout their conversation. Even when faced with Shao Tianqi, his facial expression did not change.
“Of course. That’s right and just. Minister, don’t worry. Not one treasure will be missing from that which our Petrification Cult has promised to share. We dare not trick Hades Mountain.”
Even though the middle-aged man did not have a good attitude, Shao Tianqi talked to him with a smile. It was because this middle-aged man was a minister of Hades Mountain. The Petrification Cult did not dare to offend such a huge organization. Hades Mountain was a strong force that dared to run neck and neck with the Huatian Palace.
This time, to arrive at the main space, the Petrification Cult borrowed the passageway of Hades Mountain. The Huatian Palace did not let them pass; they could only use this backup plan. Aside from the Huatian Palace, only a few large heretic forces and few of the Peng Lai Immortal Realm’s most ancient sects had control over passageways that led to the outside world. Since the Petrification Cult could not use the Huatian Palace’s path, they could only use the heretic forces’ path.
Of course, there were high risks involved in this. If the Huatian Palace managed to attain concrete evidence of them cooperating with the heretic forces, the Petrification Cult would be beyond redemption.
However, it was difficult for the Huatian Palace to get their hands on concrete evidence for a matter like this. The heretic forces and the Huatian Palace were not the only ones who had control over the space passageways of the world. There were still space passageways that had yet to be discovered in the Peng Lai Immortal Realm. If the Huatian Palace really wanted to pin the blame on them, it was undoubtedly very hard to decisively do so. Moreover, it was worth taking some risks to acquire the Sacred Fire Sword and the treasures of that Divine Illusionary Realm Mighty Immortal Cultivator, Zhang Poxiao.
“Since that is agreed, please be on your way. We will be sure to honor the agreement of secrecy,” the middle-aged man from Hades Mountain said this and then became a beam of flowing light, disappearing into the distance. The space passageway controlled by Hades Mountain was naturally not in this barren mountain. How could they possibly let others know its exact location? Hades Mountain simply intentionally teleported them here.
“Let’s go! Head towards the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension. Humph, six hundred years. I have been hiding from Zhang Poxiao like a startled bird; every day I have been living in fear. After six hundred years, I want to torture his heir to death, slowly erasing him from this world. Painfully, despairingly, so that he wishes he were dead… Haha…”
…
The capital. The center of Hua Xia Country’s politics and culture. Mo Wen, who had been away from this world, finally returned to the urban city. It was dawn and the sky was still dark. Visibility was very low. A mass of smog enveloped the sky above the city, and would probably not dissipate even after a hundred years.
The pollutants in the air would usually disgust practitioners, especially those with high levels of cultivation. The higher their levels of cultivation, the more they disliked it.
Mo Wen strolled around in the streets and frowned slightly. He felt as though he was walking in a cesspit.
“Mo Wen, a while ago, the Dafang Sect was attacked by a mysterious faction. After being unable to withstand them, they retreated from the series of three big mountain ranges and then completely retreated into the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension. Most of their enterprises in the outside world were annexed by other sects.”
Pei Fengwu silently accompanied Mo Wen. As a Vermillion Bird Palace Hall Executor, she regularly came to the main space for missions. Hence, she was quite updated about the situation in the main space. Actually, Pei Fengwu knew the identity of the mysterious faction. Even if she did not say it, Mo Wen had guessed it.
In fact, there were many people in the Huatian Palace who knew about these incidents. Naturally, as the organization that monitored the world, they would always be aware of the movements in various regions. It was impossible for them not to know that such massive events had occurred in the main space.
However, knowing about it was one thing. It was not easy to handle the issue. It could be said that they tried to stop it many times, but the problem persisted.
In reality, the Huatian Palace had helped out Mo Wen a lot. All the stowaways from the Peng Lai Immortal Realm were ancient martial art practitioners with low levels of cultivation. Most of them were kamikaze, not fearing death at all.
“Does that mean that everyone related to me has retreated to the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension?” Mo Wen asked calmly.
Initially, the Dafang Sect had possessed many enterprises in the outside world. In the business world, the sect had controlled a large consortium, including Qin Xiaoyou’s Blue Ocean Group. Right now, all these were in the hands of other sects. The battles in the Jianghu were extremely cruel. There was no rationality to speak of.
Normally, with a powerful figure like Mo Wen around, those sects would not dare to attack even if they had ten lives. But right now, everyone believed that Mo Wen could barely fend for himself. With the Peng Lai Immortal Realm’s large sects backing them, the sects naturally started acting without any scruples.
“The Green Ancient Mystery Dimension is merely a small mystery dimension and is easier to fortify. Even if outsiders wanted to enter it, it would not be easy. The wisest decision for the Dafang Sect was to retreat into the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension,” Pei Fengwu explained.
“It should not be easy for the Peng Lai Immortal Realm ancient martial art practitioners to enter the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension, right?” Mo Wen mused out loud. The Green Ancient Mystery Dimension was a small place. If they sealed the space passageways from within the space, it would be impossible for ordinary ancient martial art practitioners to enter.
“In reality, the Huatian Palace immediately issued orders to seal off all passageways to the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension. However, people from Peng Lai Immortal Realm sects have unusual methods. Even with such actions by the Huatian Palace, they cannot possibly be prevented from entering the small mystery dimension.”
With a serious expression, Pei Fengwu said, “I suspect that at least one Primordial Soul Realm cultivator from the Peng Lai Immortal Realm has managed to stowaway to the main space. That person also probably wields a spatial treasure that can easily break through the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension’s spatial barrier.”
The Green Ancient Mystery Dimension was just a small mystery dimension. Even if there was no stable space passageway, a Primordial Soul Realm cultivator wielding a spatial treasure could forcefully breach the mystery dimension. The ordinary sects of the outside world and even the sects from various large mystery dimensions did not have such capabilities, but the sects from the Peng Lai Immortal Realm did.
Even up to this point, Pei Fengwu had no idea how Mo Wen had offended so many large sects from the Peng Lai Immortal Realm.
“Hmm.” Mo Wen nodded his head and said, “Elder Sister Fengwu, I will head over to the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension to take a look. I hope nothing has happened.”
“I will accompany you,” Pei Fengwu immediately said. Right now, she had reached the Martial Arts Grandmaster Realm. She might be able to lend a hand.
“Don’t you have a mission?” Mo Wen blinked his eyes. From their current position at the Huatian Palace Headquarters, they were instantly transported to the outskirts of the capital.
“Sigh, it is merely a small issue. Putting it off for a few days should not be a problem.” Pei Fengwu indeed had a mission at hand. However, after meeting up with Mo Wen, she immediately changed her mind.
“Then, let’s go together.” Mo Wen did not mind. Their trip to the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension should be devoid of trouble. The bases of the large sects were in the Peng Lai Immortal Realm. If he could not handle a small scuffle outside, how could he possibly win the battle with those large sects?
“Let me carry you. That way, we can move faster.”
Mo Wen did not act like a stranger with Pei Fengwu. He promptly grabbed her wrist and they flew up together. In an instant, they flew out of the capital and disappeared into the horizon. With his current level of cultivation, he dared to fly in the city even in broad daylight. He was not afraid of others noticing him at all.
Pei Fengwu looked at the surrounding environment in astonishment. In the blink of an eye, they flew past the suburbs and reached the countryside. How fast were they going? It was too frightening.
“Mo Wen, what is your current level of cultivation?” Pei Fengwu asked as she drew a breath.
“I have just broken through to the Primordial Soul Realm.” Mo Wen smiled nonchalantly.
“As expected.” Pei Fengwu was somewhat astonished. Only a Primordial Soul Realm Mighty Immortal Cultivator had such speed. She believed that even an ordinary Primordial Soul Realm cultivator could not travel as fast.
“You really managed to cultivate fast. Were you strapped to a rocket?” Pei Fengwu had a self-deprecating look in her eyes. She thought that her recent efforts would have narrowed the difference between Mo Wen and her. She never imagined that the difference would have grown larger.
The Primordial Soul Realm? As a cultivator of the martial arts, it was difficult to say whether she could break through to the Primordial Soul Realm eventually. Although she had confidence in herself, by the time she reached that stage, decades would have probably passed. What realm would Mo Wen be at then?
“I just had some fateful encounters and some good fortune. With Elder Sister Fengwu’s current foundations, breaking through to the Primordial Soul Realm should also not be difficult,” Mo Wen said with a smile. He pondered whether he should aid Pei Fengwu with her training later. Back when he was in the Fengwu team, Pei Fengwu had taken care of him several times. He could not forget that kindness.
Moreover, with his current abilities, it was not difficult for him to aid Pei Fengwu.
Pei Fengwu smiled and did not say anymore. She knew herself best. It was impossible for her to break through to the Primordial Soul Realm within twenty years. Since when was breaking through to the Primordial Soul Realm so easy? Not everyone was a freak like Mo Wen.
After half an hour, Mo Wen had traversed most of Hua Xia Country and reached the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Back then, Chen Zi had brought him here. Here was where the space passageway to the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension was located.
“As expected, the space passageway is sealed.” On a nameless mountain peak, Mo Wen closed his eyes and examined his surroundings. He discovered that the space passageway was blocked off by a force and could not be used for regular travel.
“Can you break through the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension’s spatial barrier?” Pei Fengwu raised her eyebrow. Only now did she recall that the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension was already sealed off.
Pei Fengqu believed that although Mo Wen had reached the Primordial Soul Realm, even he could not break through the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension’s spatial barrier without a spatial treasure.
“No problem.”
With Mo Wen’s current level of cultivation, he could go against a Tide Changing Realm cultivator. He could even put up a fight against a creature at the intermediate stage Tide Changing Realm. A mere Green Ancient Mystery Dimension spatial barrier would naturally not be a problem for him.
Of course, this was only so for a small mystery dimension like the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension. If it was a large mystery dimension like the Floating Mystery Dimension or the Cheng Yuan Mystery Dimension, without the aid of a spatial treasure, Mo Wen would too be unable to break through the barriers. If it was the Peng Lai Immortal Realm, even a Divine Illusionary Realm Mighty Immortal Cultivator most likely could not forcefully break through the spatial barrier.
Rumble!
A strong force collided with the empty space. Next, the surrounding space trembled violently. A terrifying spatial tear suddenly appeared before Mo Wen. In it, a terrifying storm that could extinguish the souls of living creatures was brewing.
“Let’s go.”
Mo Wen grabbed hold of Pei Fengwu. In a flash, they disappeared into the spatial tear. The spatial tear could only last for an instant. The next moment, it completely disappeared. The world fell silent as though nothing had occurred.
Above a forest, two silhouettes silently appeared from empty space, as though they had emerged from thin air.
“We actually got through.” Pei Fengwu looked around the place with her beautiful eyes. This was the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension. It seemed that Mo Wen did not have a spatial treasure. She did not even manage to clearly see how they had entered. She once again had a deeper appreciation of Mo Wen’s level of cultivation.
“This place is not far from Intentionless City.” Mo Wen swept a glance at his surroundings. He immediately determined his location. Then, he became a beam of light and flew in the direction of Intentionless City.
After a mere fifteen minutes, a light appeared above Intentionless City. After Mo Wen had unified the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension, he set up Intentionless City as its center to rule over the entire mystery dimension. The former Intentionless City had also expanded more than ten times its size. It stood on the ground and was extremely magnificent.
“Huh?”
Once he appeared above Intentionless City, Mo Wen noticed that something was amiss. There were actually no Ming Palace disciples on guard at the city walls. The few defense points within the city were also dead quiet. As for the city itself, it was in fact desolate. There were almost no cultivators in sight. There were very few commoners left.
Prior to this, Intentionless City was a city with a population of a few million denizens. Right now, there were most likely not even a hundred thousand people in the entire city.
“Something is amiss!”
Mo Wen’s expression changed slightly. He immediately sensed that something was off. This was the Ming Palace’s Headquarters. By right, it would never be this desolate.