Wen Zhong, Senior Brother, I Want to Go Down the Mountain with You

"Early Heavenly Immortal?"

"Isn't that cultivation a little low?"

Wen Zhong's gaze fell on Lin Yuan, his brows knitting slightly.

As the Grand Preceptor of Great Shang and one of Golden Spirit Holy Mother's most renowned disciples, he spent years campaigning abroad. The aura around him was plainly different from those immortals on Golden Turtle Island who devoted themselves wholly to cultivation.

A divine eye rested upon his forehead, and he radiated righteous energy.

Simply standing there, he carried the chilling, murderous air tempered on military battlefields.

Lin Yuan had merely been swept by his gaze when his Innate Spiritual Perception reacted on its own.

Strong.

And strong in the way only someone who had truly fought through life-and-death battles could be.

He had indeed stood out among disciples of his generation by repeatedly crossing realms during the minor tournament, but compared to an established powerhouse like Wen Zhong, who had led troops into battle year after year, he was still far too green.

Golden Spirit Holy Mother, however, saw no issue with it.

"His cultivation is a little low, but at least his brain works."

She spoke blandly.

"In this minor tournament, he used Earth Immortal Peak cultivation to defeat two Heavenly Immortals in succession. He then used a Heavenly Immortal Peak disciple to temper himself and broke through in the midst of battle."

"Just now, Master also bestowed the Qingxuan Sword and the Supreme Clarity Immortal Scripture upon him."

Wen Zhong had still been assessing Lin Yuan.

But upon hearing that final sentence, his expression visibly changed.

"Master has noticed him too?"

"Yes."

Jin Ling nodded.

Wen Zhong immediately understood.

For his grandmaster to personally bestow treasures upon Lin Yuan, Lin Yuan's performance this time had clearly been far more than merely "decent."

Still, the battlefield and the arena were ultimately two different matters.

In the arena, fellow disciples and senior elders were watching.

If real danger arose, someone would stop the fight.

On the Shang-Zhou battlefield, Explanatory Sect disciples would not truly stop just because someone shouted, "Senior Brother, wait a moment, I'm out of magical power."

Thinking of this, Wen Zhong raised a hand. "You two go make your preparations first. I have a few words for Junior Brother Lin."

The other two selected disciples cupped their fists and withdrew.

Lin Yuan remained where he was.

Wen Zhong looked at him.

"Junior Brother."

"Going down the mountain is not a sightseeing journey."

"The situation across the world is growing more chaotic by the day. West Qi has already shown signs of rebellion, and Explanatory Sect members have repeatedly appeared on West Qi's side. If you come with me this time and truly encounter a spell battle, no one can guarantee they will be able to protect you."

"I will ask you only one question."

"Are you afraid of death?"

Lin Yuan had originally thought Wen Zhong would ask some grand question about the Dao.

Instead, hearing this made him laugh.

"I am."

Wen Zhong's brows lifted slightly.

That answer was somewhat unexpected.

The younger disciples on Golden Turtle Island, especially those who had just made a name for themselves in the minor tournament, all had a certain youthful fire in them.

Wen Zhong had expected Lin Yuan to say something like, "Why should one who cultivates fear death?"

Instead, this junior brother's answer was remarkably plain.

Afraid.

Without the slightest mental burden.

"If you are afraid, why go?"

Wen Zhong asked.

Lin Yuan looked at him.

"Being afraid of death and whether I should go are two different things."

"If I truly run into a situation where death is certain, I will definitely run. I will run as fast as I can."

"But some people should not have to die in the first place."

"If I can clearly lend them a hand, yet hide behind others and watch because I am afraid..."

Lin Yuan paused for a moment.

"Then when calamity comes for me someday, what right would I have to expect my fellow disciples to lend me a hand?"

Wen Zhong's gaze shifted slightly.

Yet Lin Yuan was thinking of Biyun and Shiji.

Of course, he had a system.

Saving people brought rewards.

There was no point pretending to be lofty about that.

But after what happened at Chentang Pass, Lin Yuan had come to understand more and more that the reason he was willing to remain in the Intercepting Sect was not merely because of the system's rewards.

When Shiji got into trouble,

he called for help.

Jin Ling truly came.

When he was injured in the minor tournament,

Duobao gave him extra pills.

When he fought well, Tongtian truly did not hesitate to bestow treasures upon him.

This sect would suffer a crushing defeat in the future.

The people within it each had their own flaws as well.

But at least for now, his senior brothers and sisters here truly treated him well.

Wen Zhong looked at Lin Yuan for a while, then suddenly smiled.

"I heard that at Chentang Pass, the moment you saw Taiyi shielding his own, you immediately sent a message to Master."

"Now it seems the rumors were true."

"There is no shame in calling for help when you know you cannot win."

"Only by surviving will there be a next battle."

Lin Yuan immediately felt that this senior brother suited his tastes remarkably well.

"Great minds think alike."

The corner of Wen Zhong's eye twitched.

"I praised you twice, and you are already taking it for granted."

As the two spoke, Jin Ling had already sent a jade slip floating before Wen Zhong.

"Information from West Qi. Take a look first."

Wen Zhong swept it with his divine sense.

The ease on his face quickly vanished.

Standing nearby, Lin Yuan keenly sensed the change in atmosphere as well.

"Senior Brother, did something happen?"

"More and more Qi Refiners are gathering in West Qi."

Wen Zhong put away the jade slip.

"If it were merely a battle between mortal armies, Great Shang would naturally have nothing to fear."

"The trouble lies with the immortal sects."

"West Qi has the Explanatory Sect behind it."

"Once their disciples begin descending the mountain one after another, the existing Qi Refiners in Great Shang's army will find it difficult to hold them back."

Having said this, Wen Zhong looked at Jin Ling.

"Master, I plan to first seek several fellow Daoists for assistance."

Jin Ling did not stop him.

"Do you have anyone in mind?"

"Kowloon Island."

Wen Zhong replied.

"Fellow Daoists Wang Mo, Yang Sen, Gao Yougan, and Li Xingba have known me for a long time. And when the four join forces, their strength is not weak."

Upon hearing those four names,

Lin Yuan's heart immediately began racing.

They were here.

It truly was like speaking of Cao Cao, only for Cao Cao to charge straight at his face atop four mounts.

The Four Sages of Nine-Dragon Island.

The four great "cards" he had just arranged in his mind.

And now they had delivered themselves to his doorstep.

Lin Yuan's expression remained calm on the surface, but his eyes shone a little too brightly.

After Wen Zhong finished discussing business, he was about to take his people away when he noticed Lin Yuan was still standing there.

And the look in his eyes as he watched Wen Zhong was inexplicably fervent.

"Junior Brother?"

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

Lin Yuan hurriedly reined in his expression.

"I merely wanted to ask when Senior Brother intends to go to Kowloon Island."

"Right away."

Wen Zhong answered strangely.

"Why?"

Lin Yuan stepped forward.

"Senior Brother."

"Take me with you."

Wen Zhong frowned.

"You just agreed to go down the mountain with me. There is no need to follow me everywhere immediately. Return to your Daoist grounds and pack up. In a few days, you can join the other disciples."

How could Lin Yuan possibly agree to that?

What a joke.

Four targets for defying fate lay right ahead.

And he was supposed to go back and tidy his cave dwelling?

What was there in his cave dwelling worth tidying?

One stone bed and two bottles of pills in total.

Even a thief who broke in would have to tearfully leave behind two spirit stones.

"Senior Brother."

"I have nothing to prepare."

Lin Yuan patted the Qingxuan Sword at his waist.

Then he touched the Thick Earth Sword.

"I am carrying all my worldly possessions on me."

Wen Zhong: "..."

So poor?

No wonder Master had just bestowed both a cultivation method and a sword upon him.

Wen Zhong considered it.

Kowloon Island was not part of the true battlefield.

Taking Lin Yuan along to meet some people would not pose any danger.

"Fine."

"Then come with me."

The corners of Lin Yuan's lips immediately lifted.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Jin Ling glanced at him. She always felt that Lin Yuan's eagerness was not simply because he admired the Four Sages of Nine-Dragon Island.

Still, the boy had always liked making connections with fellow disciples.

That was not a bad thing.

Wen Zhong bade Jin Ling farewell.

Lin Yuan followed behind him for several steps, then suddenly turned back.

"Master."

"This time, I may be away from the mountain for quite some time."

Jin Ling nodded slightly.

"Understood."

"Remember what I told you before."

"If you run into something you can't handle, don't force yourself."

"Yes."

Lin Yuan bowed.

Wen Zhong had already summoned his escape light.

Lin Yuan hurried after him.

Two streaks of light left Golden Turtle Island one after the other, racing toward Kowloon Island.

Along the way.

Wen Zhong glanced back at Lin Yuan's speed.

"Too slow."

Lin Yuan: "..."

That really hurt.

Unfortunately, it was also the truth.

In the sparring match just now, he had indeed relied on Innate Spiritual Perception to deal with an opponent skilled in escape arts.

The problem was, that had been an arena.

When it came to actually traveling.

His escape speed was still a weak point.

Wen Zhong raised a hand and swept it out.

Lightning wrapped around Lin Yuan.

The next instant, his speed surged by more than tenfold.

Lin Yuan watched the sea of clouds around him blur in an instant and fell silent for a moment.

"Senior Brother."

"When there's a chance later, teach me that."

Without even turning his head, Wen Zhong said,

"First, master the Supreme Clarity Immortal Scripture."

"Trying to swallow too much at once will only leave you unable to chew."

Lin Yuan agreed aloud.

But his thoughts had already flown to Kowloon Island.

Ever since Shiji's death tribulation had been settled, the system had remained utterly silent.

But just as Wen Zhong led him across a boundless stretch of sea.

His consciousness suddenly trembled faintly.

That familiar notification appeared once more.

[Detected multiple targets of predetermined death tribulations approaching.]

Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed at once.

At the distant point where sea and sky met.

Four powerful auras slowly rose from a massive island.