Chapter 966: Bamboo Whistle

Even though they weren’t using the route above the heavenly screen to travel to the Eastern Region, they would still be an extremely eye-catching party if they moved openly.

That was why when they set off from the Drifting Cloud Continent in the Western Region, all of them didn’t just conceal their auras. They set off in 2 separate groups, ensuring a certain distance between them as they made their way East.

Shang Xia and Huang Yu were split up and Shang Xia was grouped up with Lou Zhe and Shan Yunchao. Their group stayed 30 to 50 miles behind Lou Yi, Fei Gu, and Huang Yu as they traveled to their destination.

“The True Immortals are mostly concerned about what’s happening with the expedition. Otherwise, even with our concealment, we will most likely be discovered by a True Immortal the moment we step foot onto the Heavenly Lake Continent...” Lou Zhe was someone who couldn’t stop talking and that was exactly what he did along the way.

Unlike him, Shan Yunchao seemed a lot more careful and quiet. Perhaps it was because of his identity, or maybe Shang Xia was comparing him to the noisy Lou Zhe... He seemed to be a much more reliable person.

In the end, Shang Xia became the only one responding to Lou Zhe the entire way. Because of Lou Zhe, Shang Xia managed to learn a lot about matters regarding the Spirit Abundance World and he gained a deeper understanding of them. It was also why he was able to endure the man talking non-stop.

After hearing a portion of what Lou Zhe was talking about, Shang Xia revealed a curious expression. “I heard about the strength of the Spirit Abundance World back in the Star Origin City! According to the rumors, there are more than 20 Martial Void Realm True Immortals here. Why is there a need to act so cautiously when facing a mere Azure Oddity World?”

Shang Xia’s sudden question wasn’t because he was merely finding something to talk about because he was bored. He truly found it unbelievable. He felt that the Spirit Abundance World was using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, and it was just too exaggerated.

Lou Zhe and Shan Yunchao exchanged a glance and Lou Zhe chuckled in amusement. “Brother Shang, do you know which part of the expedition to the Azure Oddity World will cause the greatest threat to our world?”

Shang Xia raised an eyebrow in shock and muttered, “Threat? Can the Azure Oddity World pose the slightest threat to your Spirit Abundance World?”

Smiles appeared on the faces of Lou Zhe and Shan Yunchao. Seeing Shang Xia getting more and more confused, Lou Zhe continued, “Of course the Azure Oddity World won’t pose the slightest threat. It doesn’t matter if the rank six Formation Grandmaster, Meng Yuanxiu, is injured, or if his weapon was damaged. Even if they were completely intact, they wouldn’t be able to do a thing to us! The threat we will face doesn’t come from the Azure Oddity World. Instead, it’s the other worlds that also have their eyes on the Azure Oddity World!”

Shang Xia revealed a look of shock before falling silent. It seemed as though he was in a state of disbelief. Only after some time did he sigh softly, “So, this is going to be an expedition filled with deceit and treachery?”

Finally, Shan Yunchao who hadn’t said anything for a long time replied, “Every single world is looking for a way to improve and we’ll definitely compete with each other. All of us are merely looking for a chance to grow stronger with this opportunity of taking over the Azure Oddity World.”

Shang Xia had a feeling Shan Yunchao’s words contained a hidden meaning and he wanted the man to keep speaking. However, Shan Yunchao no longer added anything else and Shang Xia could only continue chatting with Lou Zhe. While they made their way forward, he was carving the memory of everything he passed into his mind. A basic geographical knowledge of the Spirit Abundance World was formed in places he passed through and Shang Xia felt that he learned quite a bit.”

Just like that, the group eventually arrived in the Heavenly Lake Continent in the Eastern Region. They used slightly more than a month to arrive, and one could easily see how large the Spirit Abundance World was.

According to Shang Xia’s estimates, the Spirit Abundance World was at least twice as large as the Spirit Luxuriant World.

After entering the Heavenly Lake Continent, everyone became extremely careful. They arranged for a time and place to meet before splitting up to carry out their individual tasks.

Several more days passed as Shang Xia eventually closed in on the sealed-off entrance of the Solitary Peak Heavenly Lake.

Since they closed themselves off to the world, the Five Links Ridge had long since been covered by layers upon layers of cloud and mist. From afar, one wouldn’t be able to see anything.

In the past, cultivators tried to look for the entrance of the Solitary Peak Heavenly Lake but even after making countless rounds in the mountains, they eventually returned to their original spot. As such, no one bothered to approach the Solitary Peak Heavenly Lake.

As one of the two only Elysiums in the Eastern Region, before the Solitary Peak Heavenly Lake sealed themselves off, they once maintained a massive city in the Five Links Ridge called the Heavenly Lake City. However, the city was pretty much deserted after they closed themselves off.

Shang Xia didn’t enter the city. Instead, he started to move in another direction after observing the city from a distance.

From what Lou Yi and Huang Yu said, even though more than half the experts in the city had left and only ordinary people remained, no one knew how many spies from the various factions were still in the city.

Glancing in the direction of the Five Links Ridge which was completely obscured, Shagn Xia headed for a forest that was on a mountain dozens of miles away.

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

When he was 20 to 30 miles from his destination, he stopped abruptly and turned to stare at a pile of rocks hundreds of feet away.

A figure quickly emerged and made its way towards him.

“Why are you here?” Shang Xia was a little surprised to see Huang Yu. From the looks of it, Huang Yu arrived some time ago and had been waiting for him.

From how Shang Xia was looking, he seemed to have a smooth journey the entire way and Huang Yu heaved a sigh of relief. However, he soon asked in a slightly impatient tone, “Tell me the truth. How strong is the suppression by the World’s Will and how much strength can you muster?”

Shang Xia was slightly taken aback and he mumbled, “Is that it? Did something happen?”

Huang Yu sighed softly as he tried to soothe his nerves. “It’s fine. Maybe I was too nervous, but I’m afraid that they will try to silence you the moment we enter the Solitary Peak Heavenly Lake.”

“That’s not really surprising... Didn’t we already run through this scenario when going through the plan?” Shang Xia chuckled in response.

With a slight look of disbelief, Huang Yu continued, “Is your Teleportation Talisman really able to help you leave the world without being detected by Martial Void Realm True Immortals? Did Kou Chongxue really not give you anything to protect yourself?”

Seeing how serious Huang Yu was acting, Shang Xia couldn’t help but answer, “There’s no need to worry about me. You should start thinking about the situation you’re in! There’s no need to speak more about Lou Yi and Lou Zhe as they are direct descendants of True Immortal Chong Shan, but even Shan Yunchao is his direct disciple! Strictly speaking, the other 3 of us are outsiders! Mister Fei Gu is supposed to be Lou Yi’s advisor according to you, and he started serving Lou Yi long before you did! He’s definitely trusted by Lou Yi a lot more than us... You brought me over here and if they didn’t tell you anything before trying to silence me... Their intentions cannot be more clear!”

“Heh...” Huang Yu chuckled to himself while shaking his head. “Relax. I have my ways to retreat. If anything happens, you just need to remember to take care of yourself during the crucial moment!”

Shang Xia shook his head and stuffed a sealed spiritual case into Huang Yu’s hands. “Anyway, for you to risk it all to stay here and remind me means that the matter with the Solitary Peak Heavenly Lake definitely caught the attention of a Martial Void Realm True Immortal. I might be able to conceal my aura and hide my true strength, the moment I burst forth with my full power and my five colored spiritual light is revealed, they will definitely recognize me! When that happens, you won’t be able to avoid suspicion too. You better keep this Teleportation Talisman.”

He didn’t wait for Huang Yu to reject the talisman and he revealed another sealed spiritual case. “Don’t worry about me. I have another.”

Keeping the sealed spiritual case properly, Shang Xia turned around to leave. “Alright. Before we arrive at the meeting spot, we shouldn’t be seen together to prevent them from getting more suspicious. We might even rouse the suspicion of the True Immortal keeping his eye on this matter.”

Watching Shang Xia’s leaving figure, Huang Yu seemed to realize he missed something. After thinking for a moment, he growled, “Hey! This damn brat didn’t answer my question about how strong he is after being suppressed by the world! Fuck! What a crafty brat...”

A profound light flashed in his eyes as he stared in the direction where Shang Xia had left.

Shang Xia didn’t doubt Huang Yu’s sense of danger at all. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have forced Huang Yu to accept his Teleportation Talisman.

Earlier, he avoided Huang Yu’s question about his combat capabilities as didn’t wish to give the man the shock of his life.

As someone who took part in exterminating Dugu Yuanshan’s soul, Shang Xia wasn’t just going to face the suppression of the world. There was even a trace of hostility concealed within. The hostility of a Spirit World was no laughing matter! The suppression and sense of rejection from the world were amplified because of it and it was possible for it to suppress his cultivation by 2 small realms!

However... Along the journey, Shang Xia discovered something extremely strange. His Five Element Dipper Qi seemed to be transforming. The subtle transformation allowed him to better integrate himself into the Spirit Abundance World.

That wasn’t all. The change would also allow his aura to slowly become similar to cultivators of the Spirit Abundance World! Naturally, it wasn’t exactly a fundamental transformation. It seemed more like a natural disguise...

After some trial and error, Shang Xia discovered that that wasn’t exactly the right way to put it either. His Five Element Source wasn’t just allowing him to disguise. To be more accurate, the power of the Five Elements was the origin of where everything came from!

Shang Xia’s Five Element Source wasn’t restrained and limited to the world origin of the Spirit Luxuriant World! If he dug deeper into the path of the Five Elements, he would discover that it ranked above that of any world origin. It was a type of power that couldn’t be controlled by any world!

If Shang Xia was willing, he would be able to link up to the world origin of any world with his Five Element Source to receive the recognition of the World’s Will!

He was an expert from the Spirit Luxuriant World, but he could very well be seen as an expert from the Spirit Abundance World! The Spirit Tinkle World, Spirit Thistle World, and even the Spirit Mammoth World wouldn’t be exceptions to his ability!

With everything he learned along the way, he discovered that as long as he willed it, he could get rid of the suppression of the Spirit Abundance World and return to his peak state as an expert at the grand completion stage of the Martial Dipper Realm! His combat abilities wouldn’t be affected in the slightest.

Earlier, he didn’t say it because he was afraid it would shock Huang Yu, but actually, he didn’t quite believe his abilities either.

...

It didn’t take him long to locate the small forest they were supposed to meet. By the time he arrived, he noticed that Lou Yi and Shan Yunchao were already there.

Not too long later, Fei Gu also entered the forest and he was swaying about like an ordinary old man out for a walk.

The last people to arrive were Lou Zhe and Huang Yu as the 2 of them rushed over to regroup with the others.

With all 6 of them present, Fei Gu chuckled in amusement, “Brother Huang, it’s not your first time here. Why are you part of the latest group to arrive?”

Before Huang Yu could say anything, Lou Zhe spoke up from the side, “I ran into Brother Huang along the way and decided to slow down a little... I caused him to be late...”

“I see!” Fei Gu laughed Seeing as Lou Zhe had spoken, he didn’t even ask why they decided to slow down.

Lou Yi tapped a brass bracelet on his hand as a bamboo whistle fell into his palm.

Lou Zhe stared at the whistle and revealed a look of amazement while he gasped, “So this is the item we’re using to communicate with that person on Five Links Ridge?”