Bab 580: The Only Way
On the morning of the third day, two days after the disciples had entered the Forest of Swords, two days after the demon ambush, Chen Wentian, Shi Shi, and Qiu Chuyi were allowed to leave Everblade City. Nobody could find any fault with the three Spirit Lords that managed to survive the attack. Keeping them here any longer would be improper and go against their honor as human immortals.
Shi Shi left first. She didn't talk to Chen Wentian or even glance in his direction. She directly disappeared into the teleportation array.
"Heh, did you… make her angry somehow?" Qiu Chuyi asked.
Chen Wentian coughed in surprise. "I didn't know you were the gossipy type."
The older immortal shrugged, "I got the vibe that she liked you. I guess I was wrong."
Chen Wentian cursed in his heart. People were so nosy and sensitive. Shi Shi acting abnormally had caused even more suspicion. He was reminded of why he hated interacting with people.
Qiu Chuyi laughed and turned to face him, "Brother Chen. Due to my lord, I may never be able to properly thank you for saving my life. Thus, please accept this bow."
He bowed deeply to show his sincerity.
Chen Wentian returned the bow with a nod, "Brother Qiu, I will remember your words. Perhaps there will be a day when there will no longer be animosity between our two sides."
"I hope so." Qiu Chuyi said and left a flash
With another flash of light and void energy, Chen Wentian also left Everblade City. He eventually reappeared in Thousand Flower City and flew off towards Ten Thousand Flower Valley.
He didn't say in the sect for long. He took care of some administrative tasks, made sure Jasmine's lair was undisturbed, and quietly slipped away into his private cultivation room. Inside there, he took a secret tunnel and left.
He couldn't stay and have his breakthrough within the valley. A Spirit Lord was impressive but a Spirit King was another matter altogether. He could feel the vast changes in his soul realm from the two immortal souls he had refined. There were twenty-one more waiting for him. He could already imagine what kind of effect they would have.
His breakthrough was around the corner and he had to keep it a secret. Only Immortal Gentle Lotus Gong Liyun knew that he actually reached the Spirit Lord Realm at the age of twenty-five. But if he broke through again after only three years of being a Spirit Lord, the entire world would have irrefutable proof that he held some unfathomable secret. His life would then be filled with unknown dangers that stemmed from the uncontrollable jealousy and greed of the human heart.
Chen Wentian hid his aura and entered the Northern Wasteland. He found one of the underground dens Jasmine had dug the last time they were here and decided to stay there. He wouldn't leave until he became a Spirit King.
Thinking about the angelic fox girl, he felt a pang of longing. She was still slumbering but she hadn't broken through yet. It had only been around seven months since she went into seclusion but he already missed her so much. She always brought joy to him and the other disciples. He also had to admit that he missed her body and her touch. He wondered how would she react if he became a Spirit King before her. She would probably throw a fit and demand that they have a duel.
He laughed to himself. As the master, how could he lose to her? He had to have the strength to press her down. That was the only way.
---
Back in Everblade City, a group of human immortals returned after two days of searching for the demons. Immortal Solemn Duke Huang Wuji returned with them and entered the city lord's palace where he met up with Immortal Gentle Lotus Gong Liyun. The other immortals quickly left and gave the two most senior immortals room to talk privately.
"You let them leave?" Huang Wuji asked.
He was slumped on the sofa, looking weary and older than he had ever been. His white hair was windswept and in complete disarray. His eyes were bloodshot. Even his spiritual aura was weak as if he had expended most of his energy.
Gong Liyun raised her eyebrows as she put down a cup of wine, "Old Huang, you don't look so good. Do you want me to keep you company tonight?"
"Stop saying nonsense."
"Hehe… anyway, I let them leave. There was no problem with them. In fact, I think we should be thanking Chen Wentian instead. At least he was able to accurately react to the situation and escape with a couple of people."
"That brat again. He always causes so much trouble. Whatever, he is your problem."
"Right, how was it on your end?" Gong Liyun asked.
The ancient Huang Wuji scowled, "Not good. We haven't found anything. But at least, Su Tan isn't dead yet. She is probably being suppressed by that Spirit King Realm demon's power so she cannot activate the golden imprint by herself. However, if her life is truly threatened, it will automatically activate and I will know her location. Unless we get some other leads, that's the only way I can think of to find them."
Gong Liyun signed, "Even so, how quickly can we reach them? What if they are too far away? Ai… why did it have to be Su Tan? Why couldn't it have been one of your useless sons?"
Both of them fell silent. They both liked Su Tan a lot. Immortal Ardent Duchess Su Tan was a famous figure within the Eastern Sanmu Metropolis. She was beautiful and talented. She came from a humble background but she astonished everyone with her talent. She joined the Huang Family and rose up step by step, even becoming the most favored daughter-in-law of Huang Wuji. Although the husband she married was considered rather useless within the Huang Family, the rumor was that Huang Wuji was willing to make him the next patriarch if Su Tan could break through to the Spirit King Realm.
"Our loss this time is great but it is still far from touching our bottom line. If Su Tan dies, my Huang Family still has the strength to avenge her." Huang Wuji muttered.
"It's not just about you." Gong Liyun said, "Have you thought about it? There are so many human territories that can be considered weaker than us. Why us? What if this shuimu becomes a Spirit King after consuming all those human lords? Will it leave us alone after that or will we have to deal with two Spirit King demons running amok throughout the subcontinent?"
His expression became gloomy, "Do you think… that they could have found out about that?"
She shook her head, "I don't know. But if they did, then this subcontinent will turn into a ferocious battlefield…"
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