Jia Xing Tian's Regret

"Wind Spirit Fractal Sword!"

Dozens of streams of Wind Attribute Dou Qi gathered around Yun Shan, condensing into one longsword after another as they shot toward Fama and Jia Xing Tian.

In an instant, Jia Xing Tian and Fama's expressions changed drastically. Even alone, they would most likely not have been Yun Shan's match. Much less beneath the Cloud Smoke Covering Sun Formation, where Yun Shan had gathered the strength of every elder and disciple in the entire Misty Cloud Sect. Even a Dou Zong expert would not find it easy to defeat him, let alone Fama, a Dou Huang who was not particularly skilled in combat.

However, thanks to the solidity and defensive prowess of his earth attribute, as well as the fact that Yun Shan had held back to some extent, Jia Xing Tian barely managed to block Yun Shan's wave of attacks.

"Yun Shan! Have you gone mad, you old fool?! We came to help you save Yun Yun! Do you not want Yun Yun to live anymore?!"

Jia Xing Tian roared furiously, cursing as he did. Hearing this, Yun Shan stopped moving and did not continue attacking the two of them. However, he did not disperse the Cloud Smoke Covering Sun Formation either, merely watching them warily.

"Save Yun? What happened to Yun?"

"Hmph, what else could have happened? Don't you know perfectly well how you got that Earth-tier cultivation method? If Yun Yun hadn't failed to restrain her desire for an Earth-tier cultivation method and bought one in the Black Corner Region, drawing the attention of others, why wouldn't she have returned to the Misty Cloud Sect by now?" Jia Xing Tian said irritably. He had thought he was here to help, only to nearly get beaten up for no reason. Naturally, he was furious.

Yun Shan was completely baffled by Jia Xing Tian's words. "Jia Xing Tian, what are you talking about? What do you mean Yun bought an Earth-tier cultivation method and was targeted? Have you been deceived, or have you gone senile?"

"Bah! You old thing, and you have the nerve to call me old? Take a look at how ancient you are!"

"Enough, you two. Let me explain." Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, and that the topic might get dragged off somewhere else entirely, Fama spoke up to interrupt them.

"Here's what happened. Old Jia saw that only Yan Shi and Feng Li had returned while Yun Yun was nowhere to be seen. Since Yun Yun had gone to the Black Corner Region, he guessed that she had bought an Earth-tier cultivation method there and had therefore attracted the attention of powerful figures from the Black Corner Region."

"According to Old Jia's guess, Yun Yun must have stayed behind to cover their retreat, allowing Yan Shi and Feng Li to bring the Earth-tier cultivation method back first. But considering Yun Yun's speed, even if she encountered enemies near the border of the Gamma Empire, she should have arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect before Yan Shi and Feng Li."

"Yet Yan Shi and Feng Li have already returned, while Yun Yun has shown no trace of herself. Old Jia thus concluded that she was likely in grave danger. He called me here to see whether the combined strength of the three of us and Pill King Gu He could use this Earth-tier cultivation method to exchange for Yun Yun's life from those enemies."

By the time Fama finished speaking, Yun Shan had already waved his hand and ordered his people to withdraw the Cloud Smoke Covering Sun Formation.

"So you thought Yun had met with misfortune because of this cultivation method?"

"What else was I supposed to think? What, did you think I would choose to wipe out the Misty Cloud Sect when it had lost a Dou Huang? Do you take me for someone so short-sighted that I don't know about the threats beyond the Jia Ma Empire?" Jia Xing Tian said unhappily.

Yun Shan fell silent for a long time before slowly sighing. "Staying behind herself and letting Feng Li and Yan Shi leave first... that really is something Yun would do. So you didn't find it strange that they joined the Misty Cloud Sect because you thought Yun had suffered an accident while protecting them?"

"What else could I have thought? That they had also obtained Earth-tier cultivation methods and wanted the Misty Cloud Sect's protection? Do you think Earth-tier cultivation methods grow on trees?"

Jia Xing Tian cursed as he spoke. Meanwhile, Feng Li and Yan Shi exchanged a glance, their expressions turning somewhat strange.

Yun Shan shook his head with a bitter smile, not knowing what to say about this misunderstanding. "Earth-tier cultivation methods naturally do not grow on trees. But you were mistaken about this matter. Yun did bring an Earth-tier cultivation method back to the Misty Cloud Sect, but she did not buy it, nor was she chased by anyone."

"She didn't buy it? Did she run into some fortunate encounter on the way to the Black Corner Region?" Jia Xing Tian was somewhat surprised, and also curious about the level of the opportunity Yun Yun had encountered. Could it allow the Misty Cloud Sect to completely surpass the Jia Ma Empire's imperial family?

Yun Shan still shook his head. "No. Yun was only escorting young friend Su Luo this time. The journey was relatively peaceful, and there were no fortunate encounters."

"Then where did your Earth-tier cultivation method come from? Don't tell me someone gave it to you?"

The moment Jia Xing Tian finished speaking, he noticed Yun Shan looking at him with a faint smile. At the same time, the awkward expressions on Yan Shi and Feng Li's faces made him sense that something was wrong.

"Wait, don't tell me it really was a gift? Who could be that rich? That's an Earth-tier cultivation method! Is that something you can just give away?"

Fama smiled. By now, he had more or less guessed what had happened. "Hehe, Old Jia, I told you long ago that Su Luo's teacher was extraordinary. Earth-tier cultivation methods are indeed incomparably precious in our eyes, but in that boy's teacher's eyes, even ordinary Earth-tier cultivation methods probably would not be worthy enough for him to use in alchemy."

"But that still doesn't make sense. If Yun Yun didn't stay behind to ensure Yan Shi and Feng Li could leave safely, then why did the two of them join the Misty Cloud Sect? Don't tell me..."

Halfway through his sentence, Jia Xing Tian recalled Yan Shi and Feng Li's expressions when he had mentioned Earth-tier cultivation methods. Now that his preconceived notions were gone, it was not difficult, with Jia Xing Tian's experience, to see something from their faces.

Thinking of a certain possibility, Jia Xing Tian could not help drawing in a cold breath. "Su Luo gave you two Earth-tier cultivation methods as well?"

Yan Shi and Feng Li exchanged another glance, then nodded awkwardly.

"Hiss... Does that kid think Earth-tier cultivation methods are free? He just gives them away whenever he feels like it? Isn't he afraid his teacher will scold him for squandering wealth?"

Fama patted Jia Xing Tian on the shoulder. Though Fama did not say a single word, Jia Xing Tian seemed to understand exactly what he meant.

The meaning was obvious. If put into words, it would only be four: Do you regret it?

Jia Xing Tian was already full of regret. But he had just boasted in front of Fama not long ago. If he slapped himself in the face so quickly now, where would he put his old face?

Besides, even if he admitted it, that Earth-tier cultivation method would not be his. What was the use of saying he regretted it now? He might as well grit his teeth and endure it. At least he could save face.

"Hmph, it's only an Earth-tier cultivation method. It may be precious, but if I were willing to go to the Black Corner Region, I could still get my hands on one. If he had taken out a Sect-Breaking Pill, I might regret it, but an Earth-tier cultivation method..." Jia Xing Tian shook his head, saying words even he did not believe. "Hehe, forget it."