Chapter 272 - 138: Pursuit and Kill (2)

His words just now were nothing short of undisguised ridicule.

The expressions on the faces of everyone in the camp varied, but no one dared to speak up.

The Penglai Sect was a behemoth that stood far above the Four Islands Alliance!

Elder Huang slowly stood up, dusting off his clothes.

He looked up at Liu Jingtiao and suddenly grinned. "Liu Jingtiao, it’s been thirty years, and you still love to drone on and on."

Before his voice had even faded—

Elder Huang raised his right hand and pointed a finger from a distance.

The gesture was utterly unremarkable.

It held no earth-shattering momentum, no dazzling brilliance.

But Liu Jingtiao’s expression changed drastically. The Ancient Sword on his back let out a BUZZ and slid half a foot out of its sheath on its own, erupting with Sword Qi!

However, it was too late.

The space in front of Liu Jingtiao warped violently, as if crushed by a massive, invisible hand!

THUD!

A muffled bang echoed.

Liu Jingtiao staggered, retreating three full steps before he could steady himself.

The twelve Disciples behind him turned even paler. A few with weaker Cultivation even let out muffled groans, their auras in turmoil.

The camp was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stared at the scene, utterly dumbfounded.

The Upper Envoy of the Penglai Sect, forced back by a single point from Elder Huang?

Elder Huang retracted his finger, sat back down on the blue-green rock, and took a sip of tea before speaking calmly, "The Secret Realm is open, and the rules are set. Those above the Breaking Mortality realm may not enter. This is a rule of heaven and earth. Even the Penglai Sect must abide by it."

He glanced up at Liu Jingtiao. "Just let the juniors you brought go in. Don’t stand here making a racket and spoiling my mood for tea."

Liu Jingtiao’s face was a mixture of livid and pale. He stared at Elder Huang for a long moment, then suddenly took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his rage.

"It seems you haven’t wasted these past thirty years, Junior Brother."

He said slowly, his voice having returned to a state of calm. "Since that’s the case, we’ll do as you say, Junior Brother."

He turned to his twelve Disciples and said, "Once you enter the Secret Realm, seek your own opportunities. Your success will depend on your own abilities..."

"Yes!"

The twelve Disciples answered in unison, then transformed into streaks of light and shot toward the entrance of the Secret Realm.

After they left, Liu Jingtiao gave Elder Huang a complicated look before returning directly to the Treasure Ship to rest. Chen Xuanfeng sighed internally, nodded at Elder Huang, then turned and followed him onto the Treasure Ship.

The Four Islands Alliance Headquarters was merely a place that supplied talented Disciples to the Penglai Sect; they were all subordinates.

The others all wore complicated expressions.

With the prodigies of the Penglai Sect having arrived, they feared that if the disciples from their own families clashed with them, it would likely end in disaster.

...

「The Secret Realm.」

Liang Cheng and Xiao Qingxue left the medicinal garden area and continued deeper into the Secret Realm.

The ancient forest gradually thinned out, revealing a stretch of hilly terrain ahead.

The earthen slopes rose and fell, dotted with strange, rugged rock formations. Rare flowers and exotic grasses occasionally grew in the crevices, and the Spiritual Qi was a good deal thicker here than in the forest.

The two of them crossed a mountain ridge, and the sounds of a battle suddenly drifted from the valley ahead.

Liang Cheng and Xiao Qingxue exchanged a glance and stopped simultaneously. They hid behind a large boulder and looked up.

In the valley, three Fierce Beasts resembling rhinoceroses with Bone Spikes growing from their backs were surrounding a young Martial Artist.

The Martial Artist wielded a Heavy Sword, his Swordsmanship fierce and powerful. Each swing was heavy and full of force, driving the Fierce Beasts back again and again.

"It’s Shi Jun."

Xiao Qingxue said in a low voice.

Liang Cheng recognized Shi Jun as well.

He hadn’t expected to run into him here.

By this time, Shi Jun had already slain two of the Fierce Beasts. His Heavy Sword split the skull of the last one, and he sheathed his weapon, panting slightly as he stood.

Just then, he seemed to sense something and whipped his head around to look toward where Liang Cheng and Xiao Qingxue were hiding.

"Who’s there?!"

Shi Jun shouted coldly, holding his Heavy Sword horizontally before his chest.

Liang Cheng and Xiao Qingxue walked out from behind the boulder.

"Liang Cheng?"

Shi Jun’s expression changed noticeably upon seeing them, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.

They’d had a run-in before, instigated by Fu Qingyun.

With Fu Qingyun having been missing for some time now, he had his own suspicions about what had happened.

In that moment, he felt a mixture of fear, resentment, and vigilance.

"Senior Brother Shi."

Liang Cheng cupped his fist, his expression calm.

Xiao Qingxue also gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

Shi Jun was silent for a moment, then suddenly sheathed his Heavy Sword and turned to leave. "The opportunities here are yours. I’ll look elsewhere."

Without another word, he walked off in a different direction and soon disappeared on the other side of the valley.

Xiao Qingxue was a little surprised. "He certainly knows when to back down."

Liang Cheng watched Shi Jun depart, his brow furrowed slightly. "It’s not about backing down, it’s caution. He doesn’t fight battles he’s not sure he can win."

Many Disciples from the Main Courtyard knew how to assess a situation. They would retreat decisively if they knew they were outmatched. Sometimes, a disposition like that is more important than one’s Cultivation.

The two of them stopped dwelling on it and continued forward.

After passing through the valley, they came upon an area of crimson rock.

In the center of the rocky ground grew a strange, three-foot-tall tree that was fiery red from top to bottom.

On the tree hung three fist-sized, crimson fruits. Their surfaces had natural cloud-like patterns, and the heatwaves they radiated made the surrounding air distort slightly.

"Red Flame Vermilion Fruit!"

Xiao Qingxue’s eyes lit up. "This fruit tempers the physical body, strengthens Qi Blood, and can induce a Purification of Essence and Marrow to further solidify one’s foundation!"

Liang Cheng’s heart stirred upon hearing this.

If his Mixed Element Gang Body was supplemented by the Red Flame Vermilion Fruit, it would surely reach a new level.

Just as Liang Cheng picked them, suddenly—

"This item belongs to me."

A clear voice suddenly rang out.

From the other side of the rocky ground, two figures emerged.

On the left was none other than Shi Jun, who had just left and now returned!

On the right was a young man of about twenty-one, dressed in a light-cyan Daoist Robe with cloud patterns. He had a handsome face, and his eyes held a faint trace of arrogance.

The most eye-catching thing about him was the White Jade Token hanging from his waist.

The word "Penglai" was carved on it!

A Disciple of the Penglai Sect!

And the strength of this person’s aura was enough to make Liang Cheng feel a faint sense of pressure.