Enemies?
After leaving Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Shen Ge had almost emptied his pockets, but his haul was still quite substantial: a book on weapon crafting, two highly effective healing pills, and a piece of star iron the size of a fingernail.
After wandering around for a while, Shen Ge arrived at the teleportation array next to the city lord's mansion. His purpose in coming to the mechanical city was to use the teleportation array to travel.
Although this teleportation array cannot reach Azure Vastness Province directly, it can reach the Purple Bamboo Sea to the west of Azure Vastness Province. At that time, it will be convenient whether to continue using the teleportation array or fly there directly.
They joined the queue at the back of the line. Right next to them was the City Lord's Mansion, where powerful figures from the Ten Thousand Mechanisms Sect were stationed, so the order here was quite good.
However, the queue was quite long. Although the teleportation array could send three hundred people at a time, it would probably take half a day for Shen Ge to get his turn. Fortunately, Shen Ge wasn't in a hurry.
Two hours later, Shen Ge suddenly sensed something and a feeling of disgust suddenly arose for some unknown reason.
Shen Ge frowned slightly and began to observe his surroundings to determine where the disgust came from. He focused on observing the crowd behind him. Since the disgust appeared suddenly, it meant that something had come, so he paid special attention to the newcomers behind him.
After looking around, he still couldn't pinpoint the source of that aversion, but since it was now his turn, the investigation had to stop.
After paying the Spirit Stone, Shen Ge stood on the formation. The moment the formation was activated, Shen Ge sensed the source of that feeling of disgust.
It was a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance in the crowd behind him. Shen Ge noticed a hint of surprise in the man's eyes, though it was only for a moment.
But it's no use now; he's already been teleported away.
After descending from the array in the Purple Bamboo Sea and Bamboo Sea City, Shen Ge pondered deeply as he walked. Since the person had shown surprise and doubt, they must know each other, so Shen Ge was searching for that memory.
After going through all her memories, Shen Ge still couldn't be sure where she had seen that person before, but since it was a feeling of disgust, it must be an enemy.
After narrowing down the search area, Shen Ge carefully recalled the scene again and finally identified a few figures.
The one ranked first was that Devil Cultivator from Thousand Illusions Mountain who escaped. Shen Ge failed to kill him back then due to a momentary lapse in attention.
The second one is the robber who escaped earlier. Actually, Shen Ge didn't think he would have such a strong aversion to him, because he didn't take this person seriously at all.
The third one is naturally the people from the Heavenly Sword Sect. Although the two have never met, Shen Ge is wanted by them, so it's normal for their people to recognize him.
This might be an instinctive warning, but whether it is or not remains to be verified. Let's see if he comes after us.
As for the fourth point, Shen Ge included that bastard Huang Tao in the calculation. Although he personally killed that bastard back then, his cultivation level was not high enough to tell whether the guy was completely dead or not.
However, it must be completely dead; even its body hasn't completely dissolved.
As for the last one, that's a bit hard to say. It was that damned Devil Cultivator from back then. He was sent into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner by that bastard as soon as he transmigrated.
Although it was because of him that she ended up in this situation by a twist of fate, Shen Ge hated him to the core.
Although there had been no news of that person since that great battle, it was precisely because Shen Ge didn't know whether he was alive or dead that he suspected it was him.
If it really is him, then not only is that surprise and doubt explained, but even that feeling of disgust is explained.
Shen Ge made up his mind to stake out that guy here; he wanted to see if he was really the same bastard from before.
But he waited for most of the day and the person never showed up.
Shen Ge knew the other party had recognized him, so he didn't come over. Besides, the other party might have even sold his information to the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Unable to linger, Shen Ge quickly set off and left the Bamboo Sea City.
Although it's a pity that we missed the chance for revenge, there will be other opportunities in the future.
In a pavilion in the Mechanical City, Mo Shang looked with a playful expression toward the teleportation array located in the city center.
"I never expected it, I really never expected it. That little ghost from back then could have made it this far. I think its name was Mo Yi. That little ghost was very eager to have me name it."
"Looking back now, time really flies. It's been almost four hundred years, hasn't it?"
"I knew something was off about you from the start; we should have just performed a soul search."
"It feels like I missed an fortuitous opportunity."
If he had actually searched Shen Ge's soul back then, he would probably have been reduced to ashes long ago. Don't forget, Shen Ge was under the watchful eye of the Dao Ancestor.
"Looks like that kid sensed me just now." Mo Shang took a sip of wine and chuckled softly, "With such keen perception, just how much do you hate me? Although I killed you back then, I still managed to enter the path of immortality, didn't I?"
"If you really think about it, you're in this situation because of me."
Shaking his head, Mo Shang took another sip of wine, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "Looks like you also have a Cultivation Method to enhance your soul power. What a lucky kid."
Mo Shang's tone carried a hint of envy and melancholy, because he had always wanted a Cultivation Method that could cultivate the soul, but he had not been able to obtain it yet.
"He's got the makings of a main soul master; I wasn't wrong about him back then."
However, it would be quite difficult for him to take Shen Ge as his main soul now. It's no exaggeration to say that even though the two of them only made brief eye contact before, he felt that he probably couldn't beat that kid now.
"He's truly a prodigy. He started cultivating almost three hundred years later than me, and now I'm actually struggling to beat him." Mo Shang chuckled bitterly, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice. "Tsk tsk tsk, some things are just innate, and we can't compare."
Mo Shang had made up his mind that he would definitely avoid that kid from now on. He would definitely avoid the places where that kid appeared, and he would never step into the kid's vicinity. Otherwise, with his keen senses, there would really be a relentless pursuit to the death.
Speaking of pursuit, the people from the Morning Glow Sect should be arriving at this Mechanical City soon, right?
It seems I really can't stay any longer; I need to leave as soon as possible.
Mo Shang put down his wine cup, left the Spirit Stone on the table, and then left the restaurant with the wine. He had originally planned to go to the Purple Bamboo Sea, but now, because of that kid, he had to change his route to East Lin. The Spirit Stone had doubled in price, what bad luck!
A year later, Shen Ge finally arrived in Azure Vastness Province after a long journey. He immediately sensed the difference upon entering the Azure Vastness Province.
Because of this trial, countless cultivators have flocked here, especially the shops; almost every powerful store in the entire Heavenly Desolation Domain has come to open a branch.
On the way to the trial site, a man dressed in a Daoist robe suddenly darted next to Shen Ge Shen Ge, who immediately became alert.
"Fellow Daoist, don't be in such a hurry to attack. I have no ill intentions," the Daoist hurriedly waved his hand and said.
"Why did you suddenly appear next to me if you meant no harm?" Shen Ge unfurled his Sword Yi, a Sword Intent swirling around him, and said with a chilling look in his eyes, "Were you trying to ambush me?"
"Fellow Daoist, it's a misunderstanding, this really is a misunderstanding." The Daoist explained, "I am from Clear Spring Temple. I just noticed that you seemed a bit lonely, so I came up to make your acquaintance."
"Fellow Daoist, you don't understand. I'm known for my love of making friends. After all, for those of us with weak lineages, only by making more friends can we go further on the path of cultivation."
Shen Ge wouldn't be swayed by just a few words. He said coldly, "I don't need friends, and I don't need a friend like you who's too familiar with everyone."
Although he was being looked down upon, the Daoist priest wasn't angry. He chuckled and said, "Fellow Daoist, don't be so absolute. Aren't you just worried that I came here with ill intentions?"
"I won't explain this. Anyway, you wouldn't believe me whether I had ill intentions or not."
"Even if we can't be friends, we should at least get to know each other, right?"
"Fellow Daoist, let me formally introduce myself. I am Cao Fengsheng, a disciple of Qingquan Clear Spring Temple. In the future, if you need anything, just let me know, and I promise to help if I can." The Daoist patted his chest and said.
"Get out of the way, or I'll make a move if you come any closer," Shen Ge snorted coldly and then shooed them away.
"Alright then, if you're unwilling, then so be it." Cao Fengsheng's lips twitched slightly, but he quickly smiled and said, "But I'll say it again: if you need anything from me, I'll help you if I can."
After saying that, he left the place.
After driving that guy away, Shen Ge continued his journey, and soon, in just over a month, he finally arrived in Azure Origin City.
As expected of a major city directly under the jurisdiction of the Azure Origin Palace, Azure Origin City is indeed magnificent, more than three times the size of the previous Bamboo Sea City.
Moreover, it looked extremely prosperous, with countless cultivators flying and landing at the city gate every moment.
Because the trial is about to begin, there is no need to pay Spirit Stone to enter the city. After Shen Ge followed the crowd into the city, a commotion came over him, with hawkers' cries and tour guides' voices everywhere.
After passing through the city gate and the surrounding market area, Shen Ge strolled along the street. There were many cultivators coming and going all around, and most of them looked young. It seemed that many people had come to participate in this trial.
They found a restaurant, Shen Ge ordered a pot of wine, sipping it while listening to news from all directions.
Now this place is a gathering place for cultivators from various regions, so people often talk about news from different places.
After listening for a while, Shen Ge learned that the trial would be held in five months, and the entrance to the trial was located in the huge square in the center of the city.
After listening for a while, Shen Ge's attention was drawn to the news about the secret realm surrounding the Desolate City that the group at the table were discussing, so he shifted his focus to it.
"I heard that a really good thing came out of that secret realm near the Desolate City a while ago. Rumor has it that it's the legacy of the Lord of the Snow Domain!"
"The Lord of the Snow Domain? Is he the one who ascended to heaven 100,000 years ago?"
"But this shouldn't be the case. Logically speaking, shouldn't that being's legacy be in the Ice and Snow Sect in the north? How could it have ended up in the Earth Marsh region?"
"I heard that the origin of that being is in a small village near the Desolate City, so it's understandable that the legacy remained in his hometown."
"But that's not important anymore. If you ask me, the Li Household of Desolate City has really lost face this time. A fairly large local force couldn't even snatch three Nascent Soul Realm women, and they were completely played like fools."
"Brother Dao, I've heard about this news, but I haven't seen the Li Household issue any arrest warrants. Could it be just a rumor?"
"What kind of arrest warrant is this? Think about it, the Li Household has lost so much face this time, would they become a laughing stock if they issued an arrest warrant? Besides, that's the inheritance of the Lord of the Snow Domain, why would they spread the news? Wouldn't it be better to hunt them down slowly themselves?"
The three women, all at the Nascent Soul Realm, and still in the Earth Marsh region, immediately reminded Shen Ge of his three disciples, and he couldn't help but feel worried.
If it really is them, what will they do about the large Lineage hunting them down? Could they have already been captured?
For a moment, Shen Ge's mind was in turmoil, but she didn't know how to contact them or how to find them, so she could only worry aimlessly.
After that, Shen Ge lost interest in listening to any news. By the time he regained his composure, it was already the next day.
Since we don't know how to find them now, we can only hope they're alright.
Shen Ge then found a room to begin his seclusion. The trial would begin in five months, and he needed to hurry up and break through to the Peak Nascent Soul.
Earth Marsh region, Great Demon Mountain.
Su Sui and the other two were in seclusion in a stone cave, cultivating their skills.
This place is close to the Red Maple Region, and at least several million miles away from the previous Desolate City, so they are not worried about the Li Household family chasing after them.
Moreover, they all carry teleportation arrays with them, so if the enemy really catches up, they can quickly teleport away, so there is no immediate danger.
In the central part of the Earth Marsh region, on a small island outside the Heavenly River Limitless Sect, Mo Qingyu, dressed in Qingyi, stood proudly. In front of her were five disciples of the Heavenly River Limitless Sect.
After a brief standoff, a disciple of the Heavenly River Limitless Sect said somewhat helplessly, "Fellow Daoist, you should go back. It's not time for us to recruit disciples yet."
"Furthermore, you don't genuinely want to join our Heavenly River Limitless Sect; you've come seeking protection, so we absolutely cannot accept you."
"Although we don't get along with the Heavenly Sword Sect either, that's just a matter between our two sects. We're already being quite lenient by not kidnapping you to extort money from them."
Mo Qingyu ignored the disciples and looked up at the sky with a cold and arrogant expression, saying, "One against five, I wonder if I can become an outer disciple if I win?"
These words made the faces of the five people opposite him turn dark. Such arrogant words were truly infuriating. This guy really didn't take them seriously at all. One against five? If they weren't good at keeping their composure, they might have already attacked and shown her what it's like to be outnumbered five to one.
"Granted."
At that moment, a faint voice echoed from the void.