Chapter 16
I am not. I did not. Don’t talk nonsense.
The second reaction that followed was to want to give Bai Canghai a tight slap to wake him up.
Was this what my advice meant?
Hey, it is not about what you think, it is about what I think!
After taking a few breaths, Feng Xia advised him earnestly, “Why don’t you… reconsider carefully?”
“Senior, you don’t have to dissuade me. I’ve made up my mind.”
Bai Canghai seemed to have already completely recovered from his earlier disappointment. His eyes were filled with a fighting spirit that shocked whoever who saw it. He took a deep breath and replied, articulating his words slowly, “The world is huge and there are as many treasures as there are stars in the sky. Even without the Ancient Forsaken Land, there are still other opportunities out there.”
“Staying in the Thousand Autumn Valley will only limit the opportunities I have,” he said in a low voice with a determined look.
“Eldest… Eldest Brother!”
“Brother Bai, what… what do you mean?”
“Eldest Brother, you’re joking, right!”
Seeing that Bai Canghai did not look regretful, nor did he look like he was joking, all the Thousand Autumn Valley disciples finally panicked.
They could not believe their ears. That eldest disciple who was loyal to the sect, always approachable to his fellow disciples and determined to revive the Thousand Autumn Valley… had suddenly chosen to leave the sect?
“How… how did this happen …”
“We have already found the Ancient Forsaken Land and driven away the Hundred Nether Sect demoness. Why did it… end up like this?”
The good-looking youth, who was the first one to step forward to protect Bai Canghai earlier, had a blank expression as if he had been struck by lightning. He kept muttering incoherently.
The sect was not a school.
Although Bai Canghai put it across as him wanting to leave the sect, to put it in an extreme manner, this was almost equivalent to betraying the sect!
According to the sect rules, before Bai Canghai left the sect, he had to destroy his own cultivation and return to the sect everything he had obtained during his time there. He could only leave the Thousand Autumn Valley after receiving confirmation from the elders.
“You don’t have to talk me out of it. My mind is made up. This is the best possible outcome for everyone concerned.”
Not for me, I do not think so.
—Feng Xia observed the situation in a bossy manner and really felt like interrupting the man.
However, when all the words reached his mouth, he realized that he could not say them out loud.
It was fine for him to use stories from the Chicken Soup of the Soul books to torment people. However, he was actually in no position to advise Bai Canghai on this matter.
This was like a situation when someone tried to persuade a couple to break up. At least 95% of the time, the person giving the advice would get scolded by the couple…
“If I support this guy’s decision, the Thousand Autumn Valley will definitely target me. After all, it happened because he took my advice. No one will believe it if I say that I had nothing to do with it.”
“But if I object to his decision, it’s equivalent to saying that what I just said to him was nonsense. Not only that, if Bai Canghai suddenly takes things too hard and does bungee jumping like Yan Wuyou…”
If that was the case, Thousand Autumn Valley would still focus their animosity on him in the end.
To support? To object?
Feng Xia quickly weighed the pros and cons. In the end, he realized regretfully that no matter which choice he made, it seemed that he would incur the animosity of the Thousand Autumn Valley!
“Still, it’s not completely unsolvable.”
Thinking of this, Feng Xia waved his hand as a hint of praise flashed in his eyes. He smiled and said in a deep voice, “Coincidentally, I just came out of seclusion and need to find a place to stay. There’s no time like the present. I’ll follow you and do a stopover at the Thousand Autumn Valley.”
Bai Canghai moved his eyes slightly and he seemed to have understood something.
Everyone from the Thousand Autumn Valley looked over in unison. Their surprised, dazed and disbelieving gazes fell on Feng Xia.
“Senior… do you mean…”
“I’ll go and stay in the Thousand Autumn Valley for a while and visit my fellow practitioners of this era. As for when I should leave, I’ll leave that up to fate.”
Feng Xia smiled mysteriously and casually flicked his sleeve, wanting to imitate those experts in a movie. Then, he remembered that he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and had nothing to flick.
Feng Xia could only give up grumpily.
After taking a few breaths, Bai Canghai finally managed to recover from the shock. He opened his mouth in a daze but was unable to say anything. In the end, he only bowed to Feng Xia again.
“Senior, I will never forget your kindness. If you need my help in the future, I will definitely be there, come hell or high water!”
Visit the Thousand Autumn Valley temporarily (×)
Cleaning up Bai Canghai’s mess (√)
After automatically completing this formality, Bai Canghai felt a surge of emotions in his heart. That man who did not look big and strong had now become exceptionally imposing in his eyes. After all, the man felt like a father figure who willingly accepted everything about him.
Feng Xia did not know that in Bai Canghai’s heart, he currently held the same status as Patriarch Chenhai did in his own heart a few months ago. This was because he had just gone through his plan three times before confirming that he could not find any major flaws in it.
Cleaning up Bai Canghai’s mess (×)
Heading to freeload in the Thousand Autumn Valley (√)
Since everyone thought that he was a Dao Platform Realm Champion, and this group of people was indeed quite weak in cultivation, it should be fine for him to temporarily cosplay as a Dao Platform Realm Champion and visit the Thousand Autumn Valley for a few days?
“A visit from an ancient champion from 700 years ago should divert the attention of everyone from the Thousand Autumn Valley, so that they don’t dwell on the fact that I screwed up one of their disciples…”
In Feng Xia’s opinion, this was the closest thing to having the best of both worlds.
Then again…
Feng Xia turned his attention back to Bai Canghai. He gathered all his thoughts and sighed,
“May I know why you’re so outstandingly showy?”
If they were back on Earth, Bai Canghai’s actions at this moment would be no different from selling his three houses in Shanghai at low prices and starting a WeChat business in telecommunications after reading a random piece of advice posted on social media.
“Since Senior is willing to pay us a visit, I can also leave in peace.”
Bai Canghai then interjected unexpectedly, “But before we go back, we have to find Junior Sister Ling that the demoness abducted.”
Before they set off, one of the disciples of the Thousand Year Valley entered the Ancient Forsaken Land and confirmed with everyone that the flowers, plants and trees around the entrance were indeed just ordinary plants. Only then everyone set off on the return journey.
Not long after they left, a loud buzzing sound could be heard throughout the world.
Streaks of light soared around endlessly in the sky. It was divine light pouring down and spiritual energy surging. The Divine Light Bridge that cut through the vast sea of clouds gradually faded, allowing the ancient land to return to its state of isolation.
The next time it opened again would be many years later in the future.
“The dream that took you through thousands of years, which year would it bring you to?”
Feng Xia took a glance at the ancient land in the distance and turned silently to leave.
“Senior Chenhai, one day… I will return!”
Not long after they left, a blurry shadow streaked across the long bridge that was about to dissipate. It then turned into a beautiful woman with an unhappy expression who headed straight for the other side of the abyss.
“Feng Xia, Feng Xia, Feng Xia, Feng Xia!”
“First Ancestor is really too much. No matter what he says, it’s always about Feng Xia, Feng Xia!”
“He even said ‘That brat Feng Xia comprehended the Floating Dream Three Lives Technique in two days. Young girl, you can’t be worse off than that brat, so you only need a day and a half’!”
“Can that sort of thing be decided so casually? It clearly took First Ancestor himself seven days to do it!”
“He even asked me why I haven’t cultivated any divine powers. He said that when Feng Xia comprehended the cultivation technique, he cultivated three divine powers naturally… Ahhhhh!!”
If there had been any outsiders here, they would have been stunned by what was happening.
All along, the rumors about Yan Wuyou were regarding her reputation as a fierce demoness.
Apart from this, there were also many rumors about her beauty—proving the fact that no matter how bad Yan Wuyou’s reputation was, and even in the alternate world, appearance was power.
She might not be elegant, but she was vixenly enchanting and irresistible.
However, at this moment, Yan Wuyou was shouting hysterically as she rushed out of the Ancient Forsaken Land without looking back. She was even crazily pulling her hair into a mess.
“He comprehended a cultivation technique in a day and a half and cultivated three divine powers in three days. How is that possible!”
“But I can’t even refute First Ancestor. He was clearly the one who had been mesmerized by that Feng Xia. One moment, he said that the guy ruined his escape plan. Then the next moment, he said that that guy was very talented and became conflicted about why such a person wasn’t his disciple…”
After their brief interaction, Yan Wuyou could confirm one thing—
The Yan Clan’s legendary peerlessly powerful and infinitely clever First Ancestor might have been suppressed and sealed for too long that his mind seemed to be a little dim…
Since you think he’s talented, then take him in as your disciple!
If that guy refuses, then force him!
If you don’t even dare to force him, how are you able to practice what you preach!?
First Ancestor had already imparted his unique cultivation technique to Feng Xia and even guided him in his cultivation. In the end, how did he become the culprit who ruined First Ancestor’s plan?
“Seriously… I’m hopping mad.”
Grumbling unhappily, she finally crossed the deep abyss and stepped onto the solid earth on the other side just before the long bridge disappeared.
Swoosh—
The divine light dissipated completely.
The sea of clouds on both sides closed up quickly. Clouds of smoke swirled around, filling every inch of space and blocking the view from all angles, making it impossible to see the way back.
The ancient land, which was last sealed for 3,000 years, was once again isolated after a brief three-day opening.
“It’s time to go back.”
After silently calming her own mood, Yan Wuyou’s figure gradually changed. From her original tall and lanky figure, she quickly transformed into a petite and cute girl.
“Brother Bai and the other senior brothers and sisters should be anxiously trying to find me, right?”
The little girl smiled sweetly. There was a tiny dimple in her face and she looked like a fledgling when she smiled, making people feel like protecting her.
Who else could it be but Ling Jieyu, the most obedient junior sister of the Thousand Autumn Valley?
…