Chapter 487 - 219: All on the Same Side, Arriving at Darkness Island
Chapter 487: Chapter 219: All on the Same Side, Arriving at Darkness Island
There were even two Late-stage Golden Core and four Middle Stage Golden Core Cultivators, wielding Spiritual Artifacts and glaring menacingly.
They were only waiting for the Right Protector’s command to attack in concert with the offensive Array.
However, after they appeared, the order to attack never came.
The men exchanged confused glances, not understanding the situation.
’The other party is obviously lying, so what’s the Right Protector waiting for?’
None of them knew that the Right Protector’s back was already drenched in a cold sweat.
Many Cultivators had their own little secrets, particularly Loose Cultivators who had successfully reached the Golden Core realm. Each had encountered fortuitous opportunities, great or small.
Back when the Right Protector was just a Qi Refining Cultivator, he had once stumbled upon a peculiar seashell on the shore.
Its markings naturally formed the character for "fortune," making it seem incredibly auspicious, so he kept it with him, hoping it would bring him luck.
From then on, whenever he encountered danger, the "fortune" seashell would heat up to warn him.
He had relied on this very shell to turn peril into safety, rising all the way from a simple Qi Refining Loose Cultivator to his current position as a Protector in the Fu Bing Sect.
And just a moment ago, the "fortune" shell hanging on his chest had suddenly become scalding hot.
It had heated to the temperature of a branding iron in an instant, giving him a terrible fright.
In all these years, the shell had never given such an intense warning. It was all but screaming that he was facing a matter of Life and Death.
He was so scared he didn’t dare move a muscle.
Though he appeared expressionless and grim, inwardly he was frantic, like an ant on a hot pan.
.
’What exactly is the problem?’
In the span of just a few breaths, the Right Protector’s mind raced, analyzing the situation.
’The warning triggered the moment I had the intent to kill and activated the Array Plate. Could that be it?’
’Qiu Fanghui was the most likely source of danger, but he’s just spouting lies and has already backed down without a hint of an expert’s pride. The threat probably isn’t coming from him.’
’But the others are obviously just small fry from the Inner Sea.’
Using his peripheral vision, he scanned the four people before him again. He was startled when his gaze fell upon Xiao Chen.
’Something’s not right. That black-robed Cultivator’s aura is completely restrained. I... I can’t seem to read him at all.’
’The Sect Leader mentioned that a new Relic is about to open near the Sea of Darkness, so some masters might be coming here with their identities hidden.’
’Don’t tell me my luck is that bad. Did I just run into one of those heavy hitters?’
After sensing something was amiss, the Right Protector struggled to keep a straight face, trying not to betray his inner turmoil.
Another glance from the corner of his eye happened to land on the small rectangular box in Xiao Chen’s hands.
’The stranger the Spiritual Artifact, the more cautious one must be.’
’What the hell is that thing? I’m screwed. I can’t gauge his strength at all.’
The Right Protector was trembling inwardly. ’Could he be from some special Hidden Dao Lineage?’
The more he thought, the more suspicious everything seemed.
’The three men beside him showed fear or panic in their eyes—that’s how an ordinary Loose Cultivator should react.’
’But Xiao Chen is facing my oppressive aura with complete indifference. His eyes are especially devoid of any emotional fluctuation, as if he were looking at an inanimate object.’
’What should I do?’
Thinking fast, the Right Protector suddenly let out a dry laugh. "Hahaha! So you’re friends of Elder Peng! We’re our own people—yes, our own people!"
"Those Spirit Stones? Put them away, quick! How could I possibly take something from our own people?"
"This was almost a case of the great flood washing away the Dragon King’s temple—family fighting family! A complete misunderstanding, hahaha."
He deliberately emphasized the three words "our own people" and even repeated them, afraid that Xiao Chen hadn’t heard him clearly.
The six Golden Core Cultivators behind him were completely dumbfounded.
Huh?
One of the Late-stage Golden Core Cultivators secretly sent a telepathic message: "Do we have an Elder in our sect named Peng Qinglan? I have no memory of him."
The other Late-stage Golden Core Cultivator replied, "There must be a deeper meaning to the Right Protector’s words. If you don’t understand, you should reflect on it more. Don’t ask questions you aren’t supposed to."
In truth, he didn’t understand either, but he knew that such an unusual situation meant something was definitely afoot.
At a time like this, it was best to practice the virtue of silence being golden.
Only then did Qiu Fanghui, who had been standing frozen on the spot, feel as if he’d been granted a pardon. He immediately started laughing along, "Hahaha, our own people, our own people."
’This is great! Thank goodness my luck held out. I actually bluffed my way through.’
’So that Elder Peng’s full name is Peng Qinglan. I’ll remember that. The next time I need to brag, I’ll use his full name.’
As the two of them laughed, the murderous atmosphere instantly became relaxed.
Yu Zhenyang was overjoyed. ’Mr. Qiu really is well-connected! Even a Protector of the Fu Bing Sect gives him face.’
Ma Wenbo’s eyes widened in surprise. He had always suspected that Mr. Qiu was all talk and no substance, so he hadn’t been particularly eager to get close to him.
’But now it seems the man’s influence really is vast,’ he thought. ’I completely misjudged him.’
’Then again, if he didn’t have the confidence to back it up, why would he have stepped forward so boldly? And why would the Fu Bing Sect’s Right Protector have suddenly become so warm?’
’Looks like I’ll have to be a bit more enthusiastic from now on.’
Cao Mingjie, meanwhile, secretly resolved to redouble his efforts to get on Qiu Fanghui’s good side.
’I absolutely cannot miss the chance to latch onto such a powerful backer.’
"Mr. Qiu, don’t take a detour. That would be such a waste of time."
The Right Protector hurriedly tried to make amends. "Please, just come this way."
Qiu Fanghui quickly waved his hand. "No need. Since your esteemed sect has important matters to attend to, we’ll just go around."
The Right Protector, however, grabbed him by the arm. "Mr. Qiu, it’s no problem. Just come this way."
He was fully in character now. "The sea blockade is really just for those outsiders. We’re all our own people here. What’s there to be afraid of?"
Having guessed that Xiao Chen was likely here for the Relic, the Right Protector didn’t dare delay his progress in the slightest.