Chapter 1533: When Free Lunch Hits You In The Head

“Are you sure, celestial?”

𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Fu Qingbai grew wide-eyed. He could not seem to believe his luck.

“But of course.” Xin Yuyao smiled. “The Eight Views Sect is an ancient celestial sect. Our mission is to deliver those fated with us to celestial hood. Since you are fated with us, it is only natural that we aid you and create good karma. Therefore, you do not need to suspect foul play.”

“Now, please!”

“... Thank you for the offer, celestial, but we are fine.”

Fu Qingbai mulled over her offer carefully but still shook his head in the end.

“Why not?” Xin Yuyao seemed astonished. She was practically giving away the boon for free, and still Fu Qingbai had rejected her. She wasn’t expecting this.

“It’s not that we don’t want to, but this voyage has far exceeded the time limit given by our alliance. The alliance leader has ordered that we are to return immediately as soon as the matter is settled and cannot delay for even a moment.”

“I dare not go against my leader’s command. I need to return and fulfill my orders as soon as possible, which is why I have no choice but to turn down your kind offer. I hope you can forgive my impudence.”

Fu Qingbai’s face was wrought with regret, but there was an invisible flicker of wariness deep within his eyes.

He was lying through his teeth, of course. The alliance leader never gave him such an order. The reason he was lying was also simple. It was because he thought that something felt off.

To be honest, he was overcome with joy and excitement when he initially heard that he could climb the Celestial Asking Road, purify his body, and increase his cultivation without joining the Eight Views Sect.

After all, it was basically a free lunch that hit him in the head. Who wouldn’t be delighted or excited about this?

However, his reason eventually got the better of him, and he thought to himself: Is there really such a thing as a free lunch in this world?

He was born in the chaotic regions of Nanjiang. He had grown up in a hotbed of lies and trickery. He had witnessed far too many accounts of conspiracy, deception, and betrayal; experienced far too many open conflicts and secret struggles. That was why he knew in his bones that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world unless it was a trap; no such thing as a utopia unless it was a conspiracy.

That was why he suspected that there was a trap or a conspiracy waiting for him. That was why he lied hoping that he could convince the celestial to let him leave.

Of course, he didn’t have any actual evidence to support his theory. It was all guesswork and intuition. If he was wrong, then there was no doubt that he had just given up a great opportunity. He might never encounter an opportunity like this again in his life. He was sure he would regret it for many years to come.

But if he was right... then this decision would save his life.

What were opportunities compared to one’s life? Nothing was more important than living after all.

“I see. You noticed.”

It was at this moment an odd smile crossed Xin Yuyao’s face.

“Celestial? What do you mean?”

Fu Qingbai’s heart skipped a beat. There was a conspiracy after all. Still, he endured his shock and wore a look of dumb confusion.

“You’re a smart man.” Xin Yuyao merely sneered at him. “It’s too bad that smart people don’t usually live long!”

At this point, Fu Qingbai knew that he was exposed. There was no chance he might be able to fool the celestial and escape. So, he decided to attack first and unleashed a flurry of palm strikes. Energies surged, and layers upon layers of stunning waves surged toward the woman.

It was the “Stunning Wave Palm”.

Unfortunately, the stunning waves abruptly lost its strength and subsided as soon as it got close to the Sea Patrolling Divine General.

“You seriously think that would work?”

Xin Yuyao scoffed disdainfully from the metal giant’s shoulder.

Fu Qingbai knew that he was no match for Xin Yuyao or the Sea Patrolling Divine General, of course. The attack was just to buy himself some time to make his escape.

That was why Fu Qingbai assumed control of the Wave Fighter ship and turned tail as soon as he was done unleashing the attack.

“He’s a little old, but his body is good.”

Xin Yuyao smiled as she observed the escaping Fu Qingbai. Then, she patted the Sea Patrolling Divine General on the shoulder and said, “Don’t kill him.” As soon as she said this, the Sea Patrolling Divine General gripped his massive blade and tilted it upward.

Rumble!

The sea region within several kilometers rumbled incessantly. Then, a massive wave gushed out from the bottom of the Wave Fighter ship and tossed it into the air.

Crack!

The next moment, the tough vessel split into two. The falling debris was shattered into pieces as well.

Strangely, the crewmates who were frailer than the ship in every way were fine. They were only unconscious.

As for Fu Qingbai, he was executing his movement art, stepping on the waves, and dashing away as soon as the Wave Fighter ship was destroyed.

He was only a Half-Step Trueman. He could not stay in the air for long. Without the Wave Fighter ship to protect him, only death awaited him in the sea.

Still, he wasn’t willing to give up without a fight.

Unfortunately, he didn’t manage to go far before a stream of water wrapped around his body like a rope and dragged him away.

The stream looked weak, but Fu Qingbai could not break free no matter how much he struggled.

“I’m a guest warrior of the Southern Sea Ship Alliance, and our alliance master is the Raging Whale Sea Tiger. He knows where I am right now. If something happens to me, he will know exactly who is behind it.”

Fu Qingbai immediately switched tactics when he realized he couldn’t escape. “He would never let you go.”

“Let us go?” The stream pulled Fu Qingbai all the way to Xin Yuyao. Smirking, she said, “Good. I would be worried if he doesn’t show up.”

“I promise you that your alliance master and everyone else will embark on a path of no return just like you.”

“You... What the hell are you people planning?!” Seeing that his threats were useless, Fu Qingbai roared at the top of his lungs.

“Patience. You will find out very soon.” Xin Yuyao kicked off the metal giant and climbed up the air like a gust of wind. Trailing behind her were the bound Fu Qingbai and his crew. They were flying toward the peak of the mountain.

Soon, Xin Yuyao passed through all the clouds and landed on the peak of the Eight Views Celestial Mountain.

When Fu Qingbai saw the peak, his eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

Instead of elegant pavilions and palaces, picturesque sceneries and wonders, mountains of treasures and valuables, auspicious beasts and celestial plants, or living celestials whose appearance was untouched by dirt...

He saw rubble upon rubble and bones as far as the eyes could see.

He smelled the stench of rot and filth in the air.

He heard the chaotic and distorted murmurs.

Celestial mountain? Blessed land? No, this was hell on earth.

“Why did you bring them up, Yuyao?” Several people walked up to Xin Yuyao while Fu Qingbai was still trying to process what he was seeing.

He received yet another shock when he saw those people.

One was withered or shriveled up like a corpse. Another was rotting and giving off a disgusting stench. A third was covered in cracks and looked like he would shatter at first touch. The fourth person didn’t even have a body. It was a soul.

Everyone’s eyes were the same though. They were flashing with dark, twisted, anomalous light.

When they saw Fu Qingbai and his crew, their faces immediately lit up with cruelty, urgency, and greed. They looked like starving men who just saw a table of delicacies.