Chapter 144 - 90: Jade Stone Beauty Xue, Yunlan True Form Temple

Chapter 144: Chapter 90: Jade Stone Beauty Xue, Yunlan True Form Temple

Xuzhuang stopped in mid-air, calmed his mind, and looked inward. He perceived a Red Gold Talisman. Upon closer inspection, he could faintly make out the shape of a Celestial Sphere within the talisman’s runes, which seemed ready to be triggered at any moment.

A thought crossed Xuzhuang’s mind, and he remembered another talisman—the Primordial Treasure Lotus Parasol. He instantly had a guess about the Chaotic Celestial Talisman’s function and relaxed slightly. ’It seems Sect Leader-Senior Brother made arrangements in advance.’

Withdrawing his inner gaze, Xuzhuang looked up and saw the vapor in the sky gathering into streams of flowing clouds, all heading toward the horizon to some unknown destination. He nodded slightly.

’So this is the Celestial Waterfall Realm.’

He cast his gaze downward and saw a stretch of parched, cracked, red earth, utterly silent and dead. The only sign of life was a few strangely dressed cultivators in headscarves surrounding a woman.

These people had, of course, not escaped Xuzhuang’s notice. The moment he arrived in this realm, his Spiritual Sense had already swept across the entire land. A mere squabble between a few Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation Practitioners wasn’t enough to warrant his concern.

However, this desolate land seemed to be outside the range of the Celestial Waterfall Blessings. He wasn’t sure where he was.

Xuzhuang pondered for a few moments, then suddenly spoke up, asking, "What place is this?"

Hearing Xuzhuang’s sudden question, the robe-clad cultivator clutching a lasso suddenly found his courage and said in a low voice, "I do not know which esteemed senior you are, but we are..."

"Hm?" Xuzhuang’s brow furrowed slightly, and the robe-clad cultivator’s words died in his throat.

Seeing her chance, Xue Yuren quickly answered, "This is the red wasteland between Fenglan Province and Yunlan Province."

"Oh?" ’Yunlan Province, Fenglan Province... It seems my location isn’t too remote.’ Xuzhuang nodded, then pointed a finger at Xue Yuren. "Good. I have a few more questions. You will answer them. The rest of you may leave."

A flicker of joy appeared deep in Xue Yuren’s eyes, but her face remained rigid. She just nodded and hurried to extricate herself from their encirclement.

A cultivator holding a golden ring instinctively moved, then stopped and glanced at the robe-clad cultivator.

The robe-clad cultivator’s expression was grim. This man’s aura was as vast as an ocean and as deep as an abyss, and he made no effort to restrain it. He simply stood there in the air, like a great sun descending upon their heads, causing sweat to bead on their temples. But thinking of his own master’s methods, he could only force himself to be brave and speak: "Senior, we are from the estate of Young Master Chu Wei of the Divine Flow Sect. We are acting on the Young Master’s orders to capture his runaway concubine. We ask for your understanding, Senior."

"That’s not true," Xue Yuren said hastily. "That Young Master Chu Wei sent these men to abduct me for his own amusement."

Unexpectedly, Xuzhuang couldn’t be bothered to listen. He waved his hand dismissively and said coolly, "Be gone."

The robe-clad cultivator’s heart sank. He looked up and suddenly saw what looked like a pair of ferocious, bestial eyes flash within Xuzhuang’s flowing sleeve. The hair on his back stood on end. With great difficulty, he waved his hand and said, "Withdraw." Then he turned and fled.

At his word, the others all relaxed. Seeing their leader flee, they hastily mounted their magical artifacts and departed.

Lieyun poked its head out of Xuzhuang’s sleeve. ’Why’d they run off just like that? I was waiting to test out my newly mastered Divine Technique! Right, it’s all Master’s fault. He never restrains his aura. He could scare someone to death...’

Xuzhuang, oblivious to Lieyun’s thoughts, beckoned with his hand. A powerful force seized Xue Yuren, lifting her into the air and pulling her before him.

Suddenly lifted into the air, Xue Yuren let out a cry of alarm, but her facial features remained as rigid and unchanging as ever.

Her strange reaction made Xuzhuang let out a soft sound of surprise. He hadn’t paid her much attention at first, but a closer look revealed something unusual. His interest piqued, he decided not to rush and asked, "Who is this Young Master Chu Wei you mentioned earlier?"

Xue Yuren calmed herself. At the mention of that name, a hint of loathing flickered in her eyes. She replied, "Reporting to Senior, Young Master Chu Wei is a cultivator from the Divine Flow Sect. He has formed a Middle Grade Golden Core and is a debauched rake who takes pleasure in collecting and toying with beautiful women..."

"Oh, is that so," Xuzhuang said with a half-smile. "You’re a jade spirit. Is Young Master Chu Wei interested in your kind as well?"

Her origins suddenly exposed, Xue Yuren seemed flustered for a moment but quickly composed herself and answered, "Yes. I was originally cultivating peacefully in the mountains with my grandmother. But after my existence became known, Young Master Chu Wei sent his men to capture me. To help me escape, my grandmother was also murdered by those villains..."

As she spoke of this, a trace of sorrow actually managed to appear on her expressionless face.

Xuzhuang frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said, "My apologies."

Xue Yuren collected herself and replied, "It’s nothing. Is there anything else you wish to ask me, Senior?"

Xuzhuang mused, "Which direction is Yunlan Province?"

Xue Yuren quickly pointed to the east.

Xuzhuang nodded and asked, "Is the True Form Temple still in charge of Yunlan Province today?"

Xue Yuren replied, "As far as I know, the True Form Temple is indeed still in charge."

Xuzhuang asked another question, "What is the state of the world now?"

"I don’t know much about the state of the world," Xue Yuren said. Reading his expression, she understood what he was truly interested in and continued, "However, Yunlan Province has frequent conflicts with the neighboring Fenglan and Canglan Provinces..."

They continued this way, one asking and one answering, for about half an hour. Xuzhuang’s understanding of the current situation in the Celestial Waterfall Realm grew considerably. He nodded, then asked, "I intend to go to Yunlan Province. Would you like me to take you along?"

Xue Yuren had fled from Fenglan Province, so it was natural to assume she was heading for Yunlan Province. That was why Xuzhuang had asked.

Hearing this, Xue Yuren hesitated for a few moments, then suddenly asked, "May I follow you, Senior?"

"Oh?" Xuzhuang wasn’t surprised. He simply said, "If you follow me, what can you offer, and what do you wish to gain?"

Xue Yuren was taken aback. A torrent of pleas, tales of suffering, and words of admiration all died on her lips. After a long moment, she replied, "I am willing to work like a horse or an ox for you, Senior. I only ask for a safe place to cultivate in peace."