Chapter 472 - 441: Welcoming the Valley Master Back to the Valley

Chapter 472: Chapter 441: Welcoming the Valley Master Back to the Valley

Many would overlook Duobao’s strength because of his appearance. For him to have been so arrogant and domineering for so long, his power was naturally self-evident.

Moreover, no one could have possibly imagined that he was also a Sword Cultivator.

The Golden Core Cultivators who had planned to retreat all subconsciously stopped in their tracks. One had to pay respects when encountering a powerful expert; while the expert might not remember those who did, they would surely remember those who didn’t.

But in that moment, was there anyone else in Duobao’s eyes?

"Tributor Chen, how did the mission go?"

The night wind billowed Duobao’s long robes as he stared quietly at Chen Che. An invisible pressure, like a great mountain, weighed down on everyone present.

"The mission failed. Yu Zhen, Fan Sulan, and Guang Hui inexplicably turned traitor at the last moment. Everyone descended into infighting, Xiao Chan escaped in the chaos, and I’m the only one who survived."

Chen Che replied with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

"Xiao Chan is alive too?"

A cold glint passed over Duobao’s plump face.

He had deployed assets he’d kept hidden for years for this operation. And this group couldn’t even complete one of their two tasks? It was fortunate Yu Zhen was dead; otherwise, Duobao would never have spared him.

But he was, after all, a man of deep cunning. Having come all this way, he wouldn’t be leaving empty-handed.

"So be it. It’s not too late to catch that Rebel Disciple another day. Tributor Chen, you’ve had a long journey. The road back is treacherous, with many covetous Golden Core Cultivators about. Why don’t I escort you for a stretch?"

Duobao then turned his gaze to Chen Che.

His intention to go straight for Chen Che was written all over his face. Xiao Chan’s expression changed, his previously lowered right hand once again gripping the Soaring Dragon Spear on his back:

"There’s no need to trouble yourself, Interim Sect Leader. We can handle the rest of the journey ourselves."

However, Duobao merely glanced up and said coolly, "Hermit Fushan, this matter doesn’t concern you. It’s not your place to speak..."

BOOM—

With a deafening crash, Xiao Chan’s body trembled. The ground beneath his feet shattered, and he sank several feet into the earth as if a mountain had been dropped on him. A dense web of countless cracks spread out from his feet.

One crack even stretched from the mountaintop all the way down to its base.

"..."

Xiao Chan’s pupils contracted sharply.

It was worse than having Tai Mountain crash down on him. He felt his roiling True Essence being forcibly suppressed into a stagnant pool. No matter how he tried to activate his Cultivation Technique, he couldn’t circulate even a sliver of it.

The bones and sinews throughout his body seemed to groan and creak.

"Thanks for the offer, but the escort is unnecessary."

Although Chen Che had known Duobao’s intentions all along, he hadn’t expected him to be so brazen. "I’ve already contacted Jinyun Valley," he said. "They’ll be here soon."

"Oh?"

A strange murmur rippled through the crowd; the scene before them was truly baffling.

Anyone else would have been overcome with gratitude by Duobao’s enthusiastic offer of an escort, yet Chen Che had repeatedly refused. When they recalled some of the recent rumors, the way many of the onlookers looked at Chen Che began to change.

It seemed this Valley Master Chen was unlikely to escape his fate today.

"Haha, no need to refuse."

Duobao didn’t believe a single word Chen Che said. "Why haven’t I heard about this? Besides, who knows how long you’ll have to wait for them? Just let me escort you back to the valley!"

With that, Duobao let out a hearty laugh and gave an enthusiastic wave of his hand. Chen Che’s body was suddenly lifted by an unseen force and flew into the air.

Clearly, he intended to abduct Chen Che by force!

TCH!

Chen Che’s eyes narrowed.

The Flying Swords scattered about instantly shot up with a collective HUM, glinting with cold light. However, Duobao simply pressed down with his other hand.

TWANG!

The countless Flying Swords let out a collective wail, as if suppressed by a far greater power. They were not only driven into the ground but crushed deep into the earth below. The land was left completely ravaged, riddled with holes like a sieve.

At that very moment, Chen Che’s aura erupted. His wide sleeves billowed as his body went taut, instantly shattering the force that bound him. Plummeting from hundreds of feet in the air, Chen Che was like a war spear descending from the heavens. He slammed straight into the ground, striking with such force that the entire Celestial Beam Mountain shook violently.

Amidst the tumbling rocks, Valley Master Chen’s long hair whipped about, his gaze incomparably fierce.

Their exchange happened in the blink of an eye, over before the surrounding Cultivators even had a chance to react.

"Oh?"

With a grunt of surprise, Duobao clearly hadn’t expected Chen Che to break free from his control. "Now this is getting interesting. Tributor Chen, come with me..."

His eyes narrowed.

Duobao took another step forward.

SKREEE—

The Little Chick’s wings trembled as it unleashed its Demon Qi to the fullest. Its body swelled by a factor of thousands, its outstretched wings blotting out the sky as it positioned itself directly above Chen Che.

At almost the same instant, Xiao Chan broke free from Duobao’s True Essence lock and took a step forward.

Just as everyone braced for a battle far more intense than the last, Chen Che unexpectedly began to laugh.

"Looks like I won’t be able to leave with you. My escort from Jinyun Valley is here..."

"What?"

Stunned, Duobao looked up in disbelief.

As everyone raised their heads to look.

WHOOSH—

A colossal Spiritual Boat, like an ancient behemoth, seemed to tear through the fabric of reality itself, emerging from the void. The vessel, easily four to five hundred zhang in length, hovered directly over Celestial Beam Mountain.

Its banners billowed in the wind, and the innumerable figures lining its railings created a strange tableau against the night sky.

Hu Yao stepped forward and called out in a booming voice:

"We welcome the Valley Master’s return..."

The cry seemed to shake heaven and earth.

After a brief silence, countless voices rose in unison, merging into a roaring torrent:

"All of Jinyun Valley welcomes the Valley Master’s return!"

Amid the chorus of voices, Duobao narrowed his eyes. A single sweep of his gaze revealed more than ten Golden Core Cultivators. In addition to Meng Qianxun, Meng Changtu, and Chen Xi, there were many unfamiliar faces, including one or two who had even reached the Late Stage Realm.

Beyond them, there were also four to five hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

For a moment, Duobao’s expression turned extremely grim.

’So, he’s already established such a power base?’

He had never imagined it would be on this scale...

This was equivalent to nearly half the Primordial Sect. Under the circumstances, it was impossible to abduct Chen Che right under the noses of so many people. And if he tried to force the issue...

As the thought crossed his mind, Duobao was startled to find that on the far side of the ship’s railings, hundreds of Crossbow Beds had silently swiveled to face him.

He could faintly hear the ominous creaking of bowstrings being drawn taut. The Arrows in their grooves swirled with countless bizarre runes, their tips glinting with a cold light like stars in the night sky.

Furthermore, countless Firefly-like runes had quietly materialized around the Spiritual Boat, flitting up and down.

It seemed if he took even one more step, he would immediately face the thunderous, combined assault of more than ten Golden Core Cultivators and several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

And at the same time, the Array on the Spiritual Boat itself!

"Haha, I didn’t expect Tributor Chen to be so thorough in his arrangements..."

Duobao had no choice but to stop. He turned to Chen Che, forcing a laugh through clenched teeth. "Since that’s the case, I won’t insist."

"I told you, there’s no need for an escort from the Interim Sect Leader." Chen Che tore his gaze from the sky, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at Duobao’s grim face. "Oh, by the way, the journey is long and treacherous. I wonder if the Interim Sect Leader would be willing to travel with us..."

BAM—

Before his words had even faded, the ground beneath Duobao’s feet shattered. His body went rigid as if rooted to the spot, his posture that of a man facing a mortal enemy as a cold light flared in his eyes. The tables had turned completely. Clearly, Duobao was now afraid that Chen Che would try to abduct him.

Even he could not afford to ignore the power Chen Che now had at his back.

"Since the Interim Sect Leader is unwilling, I won’t insist! However..."

Without provoking him further, Chen Che simply waved his hand. Everyone on the mountain was lifted by an invisible force and carried toward the Spiritual Boat. "Also, this trip to Faqian City took far too long. I wish to rest and recuperate for a time after I return to the valley. For that, I will need the Interim Sect Leader’s approval."

"Of course, of course."

Duobao looked ready to grind his teeth to dust. "Tributor Chen has worked hard on this journey," he said. "It is only right that you get a good, long rest. The Sect will not be summoning you for any further tasks."

...

"Ancestor, what just happened?"

The few Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Hu Family exchanged bewildered glances.

Their Realm wasn’t high enough for them to be privy to such inner circles, so they were in the dark about many things.

"This is not something we can get involved in..."

Hu Anyu glanced at the ascending Spiritual Boat, then at the solitary figure of Duobao standing on Celestial Beam Mountain. A sense of foreboding rose in his heart. "Let’s leave quickly, before Duobao notices us. We don’t want to become the target of his anger."

Hearing this, the members of the Hu Clan felt the increasingly cold and oppressive atmosphere. They all shrank back instinctively and slipped away without a sound.

...