Chapter 763: That Hint of Verdant Green (Part 2)
Shi Ju couldn't be bothered to look at him again, just a mere servant, and an utterly useless one at that.
If I'd known, I wouldn't have brought him in here, he's just a burden.
His gloomy gaze swept over his surroundings, remaining silent for a long time.
After a while, he spoke coldly.
"Leave the gourd! You and Wang Yifu will each go in separate directions to search for Luo Chen and the other person. Once found, don't alert the enemy, and inform me first."
"Also, if you encounter other fellow disciples on the road, pass a message to me."
Qi Xiongcheng asked, "Are you thinking of joining forces with other true disciples to deal with the Huang Independent Cultivator?"
"Join forces?"
Shi Ju sneered, "The Huang Independent Cultivator merely caught us off guard, why would we need to unite against him to kill him. I need the Illusion Core now, and I reckon my fellow disciples have piled up quite a few, especially the runaway Gu Daosu!"
At the mention of Gu Daosu, a hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes.
The other side was without a Protector and couldn't act as freely as he could, the softest lamb, to be taken at will!
...
Atop the Heaven and Earth Peak.
Inside a grand hall.
It had been over two months since the Alchemy Saint's ascension and the opening of the Cave Heaven.
The various factions who attended the ceremony had also left one after another.
The internal meeting within the Tianyuan Daoist Sect had long since ended.
At this moment, those still here were essentially family representatives interested in the results of the martial arts competition.
They gathered, discussing everything from Tian Nan to Bei, sharing cultivation insights, and making all sorts of predictions about the competition's outcome.
In the meantime, some couldn't help but bring out valuable bets to gamble on the results, to pass the time.
Originally, in people's minds, aside from their own younger generations, the most favored were the three sons of the Giant House and the young one from the Xiang Family.
But two months ago, following the elimination of the Wrathful King Kong, everything changed.
The name Luo Chen, the Rogue Cultivator, emerged in their discourse once again.
It was said that this name wasn't unfamiliar to the ears of various family representatives.
First, because he, as a rogue cultivator, was exceptionally entered into Heaven and Earth Peak, becoming the External Affairs Guest Elder.
The second time was when, during the ascension of the Alchemy Saint, he was given one of the five Tianji Pills by the Alchemy Saint!
To know, the destinations of those five Tianji Pills, either at Rotten Stalemate Mountain with three hidden world powerhouses or representatives from the Alchemy Saint's hometown, both were justifiable.
But what merits did Luo Chen have?
A gift for the Heaven and Earth Peak Star Gate?
What a joke, why didn't the Late Stage Four Nascent Soul Elders of the sect receive such a gift!
If it weren't for the opening of the Cave Heaven and Luo Chen as the Protector having to enter immediately, they would have obtained that Tianji Pill from Luo Chen's hand at that time.
Not to mention the despicable means of overt or covert snatching, giving enough rewards would definitely tempt that rogue cultivator from the wilds.
Unfortunately, Luo Chen just went into the Cave Heaven.
Everyone simply hoped he wouldn't use that Tianji Pill so soon, but unexpectedly the first news they received was that he single-handedly defeated two major powerhouses, Wrathful King Kong and Tianshan True Master.
This was the third time the name Luo Chen appeared before everyone.
And this time, it also signified that the once promising Tianjiao of the Xiang Family, Xiang Qi, in comprehending the Law was on shaky ground.
After all, without a Protector, whether hunting Illusion Beasts or cultivating alone would become insurmountably difficult.
They had lost confidence in Xiang Qi.
The subject of discussion instead incorporated Fu Qinglan.
Though the foundation was weak and talent was slightly inferior, he benefited from the recent Nascent Soul Formation, being closer to heaven and earth, and had Luo Chen, a Protector of such prowess, with access to more Illusion Cores for cultivation.
While they were discussing.
On this day, the whirlpool reappeared in the hall.
The Wang Family True Disciple emerged from the vortex with a bewildered expression.
Seeing it was him, puzzled expressions arose.
Without his Protector emerging with him, how did he come out first?
Behind him, the vortex slowly began to seal.
Suddenly!
A streak of blood-red sword light tunneled out from the final whirlpool.
"How bold!"
A large hand suddenly grasped down, catching the sword light in a narrow window of opportunity.
The Wang Family True Disciple turned pale at this sight, his family ancestor both angry and relieved.
"Thank you, elder brother, for protecting the child!"
Above, the Gu Family Ancestor shook his head, then looked at his hand.
"Such sharp Sword Qi, such pure killing intent!"
With a tight squeeze of his palm, the Sword Qi was dispersed forcibly.
Only then did he look at the Wang Family True Disciple.
"Were you eliminated by the master of this sword?"
The Wang Family True Disciple finally realized, and quickly nodded, a look of lingering fear on his face.
The Gu Family Ancestor asked again, "Who is he?"
Before the Wang Family True Disciple could answer, another whirlpool emerged in the hall.
To everyone's astonishment, a delicate and beautiful lady fell into the hall with a thud.
Her face was as pale as gold paper, her breath extremely weak.
Her entire realm, in everyone's perception, was visibly regressing at an eye-catching speed.
"It's Xiuer!"
"She has used that Secret Technique!"
The Gu Family Ancestor's complexion changed, he immediately conjured an Elixir Pill, using his Qi Power to cover Lady Xu.
Finally, under his intervention, Lady Xu's regressing realm halted, stopping at the first layer of Nascent Soul.
"How did this happen?"
Lady Xu slowly opened her eyes, speaking bitterly: "It's the Rogue Cultivator."
The Rogue Cultivator?
Silence enveloped them.
The Wang Family True Disciple, interrupted earlier, spoke angrily again.
"It's Luo Chen!"
...
Lady Xu and the Wang Family True Disciple were sent out to receive treatment.
But the discussions inside the hall about the ongoing competition in the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven didn't cease, instead becoming fervent.
And among the crowd, Fu Chaosheng hid in a corner, fearful of attracting attention.
Especially when one glance after another swept his way, he huddled like a cicada in winter, afraid to utter a sound.