Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Boarding the Flying Ship

The command was given.

It was akin to a spark falling on dry tinder, igniting the spirits of the Feixian Peak disciples who had been despondent for days.

Seeing more and more people heading to the top of the peak to board the flying ship, Wen Jiu remained unwilling to move.

To be honest,

he really didn’t want to go.

Sure enough.

In the sect, one could gain benefits that a Loose Cultivator might never obtain in a lifetime, but it also required a price.

This price could well be their own life.

Meanwhile, Wang Nian hastily went home. After explaining some things to his wife, he turned and came to Wen Jiu’s house.

Seeing Wen Jiu still hadn’t moved and was merely gazing into the distance in the courtyard, Wang Nian hurriedly shouted, "Younger Brother Wen, it’s time to go... You aren’t afraid to go, are you?"

That night, Wang Nian learned about how Wen Jiu had helped his wife avoid a battle, and he felt he understood Wen Jiu better. That is to say—this guy puts on a brave front but is actually timid inside!

Nonetheless, even though he was afraid, he was willing to help take care of his wife, so this friendship wasn’t in vain.

Wen Jiu smiled wryly.

Wang Nian considered him a coward?

But that’s just as well.

He now had a reason to stay behind.

As for what others thought of him, it didn’t matter. It was all about the Heterodox Dao now; why care about gaining a cowardly reputation?

"Just follow me when the time comes; don’t worry, I’ll protect you!" Wang Nian said and then quickly led Wen Jiu to Feixian Peak.

Which was exactly what Wen Jiu intended.

To cling to a strong ally.

Let the strong lead the charge.

Not long after,

the first flying ship was filled and ascended.

Wen Jiu boarded the second one.

The two flying ships carried at least seven to eight hundred people.

Wen Jiu took the opportunity to glance from afar, focusing on observing the Feixian Peak Master who orchestrated all this.

Mu Canglong, despite having somewhat unstable aura, was still much stronger than the white-haired elder from the Night Patrol Department. Upon closer inspection, one could see the paleness of his face, as if his severe injuries had not healed.

But in Wen Jiu’s view,

this was likely fake.

After all, the previous corpse was fake.

Wen Jiu then glanced at the seven individuals beneath the Peak Master. They were clearly the peak masters of the various branches of Feixian Peak.

Demon-slaying Department, Demon Suppression Department, Night Patrol Department, and so on.

The seven peak masters all had extremely powerful auras that one could perceive even without using Divine Sense.

Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer!

All seven, without exception, were elderly.

The youngest were the two female cultivators, looking just over thirty, but Wen Jiu felt this was unreliable. Because he had heard from the elder cultivators in the Trading Market about a kind of Youthful Appearance Pill.

"No wonder the Heterodox Dao is not well-regarded... This is probably one reason," Wen Jiu thought to himself.

Others work tirelessly for half their lives.

To reach Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.

While in the Heterodox Dao, one can reach Qi Cultivation Second Layer in two months.

How could anyone bear that?

Finally, Wen Jiu’s gaze fell on the twenty-one stewards of Feixian Peak, including Mu Canglong, and those eighty stewards, most of whom he had never seen before, but he was surprised there were so many people.

If a single Feixian Peak was like this,

how many were there in the whole Deadman Peak?

How strong must the Blood Robe Tower, which once contended with them, have been?

After his musings,

the flying ship ascended.

And at the moment the flying ship ascended, a huge array suddenly activated, enveloping the entire Feixian Peak.

As the array on the flying ship hummed, the flying ship flew rapidly towards the sea of clouds.

Into the sea of clouds.

Past the mountain forest.

In a moment, Feixian Peak was nothing but the size of a fist.

However,

as Wen Jiu prepared to admire the scenery, he found himself unexpectedly surrounded and observed as a spectacle.

The black corpse beside Wen Jiu was too conspicuous. Although it was covered with cloth, the sinister hand hanging down was clearly visible.

"Is that the apprentice disciple of the Night Patrol Department, Wen Jiu, who practices the Heterodox Dao?"

"Ignoring the Night Wind Technique of the Night Patrol Department, yet practicing the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Technique, truly incomprehensible."

"Those who love quick and cheap methods often resort to the Heterodox Dao techniques; if it weren’t for the Heterodox Techniques, could he have become the only corpse burier in fifty years to advance by slaying enemies? However, all Heterodox Arts shorten life. Even if one becomes stronger, it’s nothing but a fleeting moment... Cultivation is about enduring legacy."

Hearing the disciples’ discussions,

Wen Jiu could only shake his head helplessly.

He turned around to quietly enjoy the scenery below.

As long as no one came to pick a fight, it was fine.

Let them gossip if they liked.

But just at this moment, Wang Nian leaped down from the ancient tower at the back of the flying ship and walked towards Wen Jiu. Because he heard these negative remarks about Wen Jiu, he worried Wen Jiu couldn’t handle them.

"Younger Brother Wen, come over here!"

Wang Nian called out.

Drawing the attention of two or three hundred people.

But Wang Nian didn’t care.

He continued to shout, "Younger Brother Wen, hurry up, what’s there to see looking at the scenery alone."

Seeing this, Wen Jiu smiled sheepishly and moved over with the black corpse.

Although Wang Nian’s actions made him even more conspicuous,

it did manage to shut the mouths of the gossipers behind him.

And it even attracted looks of envy from many.

Who was Wang Nian?

A member of the Wang Family.

Many people wanted to fawn over Wang Nian but couldn’t.

"I didn’t expect him to have this kind of relationship with Steward Wang," someone in the crowd whispered quietly.

As for Wen Jiu, he followed Wang Nian up the ancient tower, standing with him at the balcony overlooking the front of the flying ship.

Two or three hundred disciples were all visible.

Gradually,

with the flying ship’s progression, Wen Jiu saw the anticipation and fervor in the eyes of many disciples.

Wang Nian whispered, "Do you wonder about their excitement... Actually, it’s not just for revenge, or to restore Feixian Peak’s honor, but also for wealth. Because Feixian Peak has a rule that the spoils of war don’t need to be turned in."

"No wonder."

Wen Jiu suddenly understood.

Indeed,

only profit could make people forget about life and death.

Wen Jiu had been curious before, seeing everyone so eager for revenge, to restore face—could the sense of belonging to the sect really be that strong?

Partly understandable.

But entirely? That would be ridiculous.

"When the time comes, just join me in the fight, I’ll kill, you loot the corpses!" Wang Nian said eagerly.

Wen Jiu quickly shook his head, "No, better not. I’m only Qi Cultivation Second Layer... I’m afraid I’ll hold you back, make you distracted."

Are you kidding?

You’re Qi Cultivation Third Layer.

The enemy is also Qi Cultivation Third Layer.

What business does a Qi Cultivation Second Layer have tagging along?

"This kid, what’s there to be scared of, high risk, high reward. Between you and me, killing a Qi Cultivation Third Layer could make up for years of hard work... It could cover a decade or so of your Night Patrol pay!"

Wang Nian seemed to lament Wen Jiu’s lack of ambition.

This kid didn’t hesitate when killing the traitor that night.

Why was he hesitant now that there was money to be made?

"I’d rather not."

Wen Jiu shook his head again.

Seeing this, Wang Nian didn’t say any more.

After all, people can’t be forced.

...

Soon,

the flying ship suddenly adjusted its course,

starting to dive downwards, instantly revealing layers upon layers of the Red Maple Forest.

Within the Red Maple Forest,

there was a fairly large Cultivation Clan.

"The Chen family territory of the Red Maple Forest!" As he watched the flying ship dive towards it, Wang Nian exclaimed in surprise, feeling it was unbelievable, "How could the remnants of Blood Robe Tower be here? The Chen Family was the former Peak Master’s clan."

In his impression, the Chen Family was always the most loyal vassal family of Feixian Peak.

Ever since the former Peak Master died at the hands of Blood Robe Tower, they declined, but they should hate Blood Robe Tower.

How were they now entangled with the remnants of Blood Robe Tower?

And just then,

the peak master on the other flying ship suddenly spoke.

"The remnants of Blood Robe Tower are hiding in the Chen Family... The Chen Family colludes with Blood Robe Tower, harming our Feixian Peak disciples. Killing a member of the Chen Family earns twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones! Killing a remnant of Blood Robe Tower earns a hundred!"

With those words,

the Feixian Peak disciples on the flying ship erupted in excitement.

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