Chapter 240

Chapter 240

When Su Shouling finally defeated Venerable Lianyue and rushed over, he found Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao still safely in place, not taken away by any of Venerable Lianyue's schemes.

He first breathed a sigh of relief, then proceeded to examine the surroundings.

On the ground lay two cultivators at the Primordial Emperor Realm, beaten almost to death. Without asking, it was clear that they were brought here by Venerable Lianyue. Su Shouling's face turned cold; this act was clearly a sign of disrespect towards Linglong Fort.

Not far away was another unfamiliar cultivator at the Primordial Emperor Realm. Although his cultivation was lower than Su Shouling's, the fierce aura he exuded indicated he was a formidable opponent, capable of defeating two Primordial Emperor Realm cultivators on his own.

Since Hu Yansheng did not seem to be allied with Venerable Lianyue, Su Shouling was somewhat courteous, "May I ask who you are?"

Hu Yansheng glanced at him. Despite the difference in their cultivation levels, he had an inherent bias against human cultivators, so his attitude was neither particularly good nor bad as he coldly replied, "Hu Yansheng."

Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou approached and said to Su Shouling, "Fort Master Su, Senior Hu is our friend."

Su Shouling did not ask further but looked at the two Primordial Emperor Realm cultivators beaten by Hu Yansheng on the ground.

These two were cultivators from the Wasteland Plateau. Earlier, Hu Yansheng had merely beaten them up without causing serious harm, so although their injuries were severe, their lives were not in danger.

Seeing Su Shouling approach, the two cultivators' eyes flickered, and they suddenly shouted, "Fort Master Su, your Linglong Fort is colluding with demon cultivators!"

During their fight with Hu Yansheng, they sensed the demonic aura emanating from him, confirming he was indeed a demon cultivator.

Demonic cultivator?

Su Shouling glanced at Hu Yansheng again and smiled slightly, "How could I be colluding with demonic cultivators? Even if he is a demon cultivator, he is better than you fools. If you are dissatisfied, keep it to yourselves! I will remember today's incident and seek justice from the Wasteland Plateau!"

With that, he ruthlessly crippled their cultivation before calling everyone into the flying boat.

Hu Yansheng looked at Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou. Although he instinctively disliked human cultivators, seeing that they knew these people, he reluctantly followed them inside.

After a while, the flying boat continued its steady journey toward Chongxu Valley.

Inside the flying boat, Su Wangling asked, "Father, where is Venerable Lianyue?"

"After injuring him, he took the opportunity to escape," Su Shouling said calmly. Had he not been worried about Venerable Lianyue's subsequent moves and feared for Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou's safety, he would not have let him go.

His suspicions were correct; Venerable Lianyue had hidden two Primordial Emperor Realm cultivators nearby, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Solitary cultivators cherish their lives more than anyone else, and Venerable Lianyue naturally did not want a direct confrontation. Thus, during the fight, he mainly aimed to delay rather than fight to the death. After being injured, he immediately fled, knowing his plan was to detain Su Shouling and find someone else to capture Wen Qiao and the others.

Unfortunately for Venerable Lianyue, he did not expect a demon cultivator to intervene and beat up the people he had arranged.

Understanding Venerable Lianyue's intentions, everyone felt somewhat angry.

Qiao Leshui said indignantly, "I never thought Venerable Lianyue would be such a person! The two Venerables have already sealed the Heavenly Plains. Even if they know the location of the Divine Sound Tree, what can they do?"

"Perhaps they can do something," Su Wangling calmly replied. "Even though the two Venerables at the Primordial Sage Realm sealed the Heavenly Plains, they will likely find a way to enter again."

Qiao Leshan agreed, "Indeed! Cultivators have many methods. They might find a way to break the seal and sneak in. Besides, both Venerables are now injured and need time to recover, unable to constantly monitor the Heavenly Plains. This presents an opportunity for those people."

The Wasteland Plateau is full of reckless individuals who do not care about the prosperity or decline of the continent. If the Flying Star Continent were to fall, they would simply move to another continent.

Listening to their discussion, Hu Yansheng's expression remained indifferent, but his dislike for human cultivators on the continent grew even stronger.

Indeed, human cultivators are all scum, always plotting and scheming. It is unclear what use all these machinations serve.

Fortunately, Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao were not like those scheming human cultivators. Hu Yansheng found them much more agreeable, which made his effort to find them worthwhile.

After discussing the matter, Su Shouling suddenly asked Hu Yansheng, "May I ask where you come from?"

"The Endless Sea."

The cultivators from the Flying Star Continent were surprised to learn that this demon cultivator came from the Endless Sea. Then they remembered that Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou had initially ended up in the Endless Sea before coming to the Flying Star Continent, so it was not surprising they knew a demon cultivator from there.

However, they did not expect that these two had such extensive connections that even a demon cultivator from the Endless Sea would come to their rescue. It seemed they truly had friends all over the world.

Among the cultivators they knew, none had such powerful allies who would protect them no matter what.

At this point, Wen Qiao also asked, "Senior Hu, when did you arrive?"

Hu Yansheng glanced at her and coldly replied, "I arrived in the Flying Star Continent half a year ago."

"For so long? Why didn't you come to Linglong Fort to find us?" Wen Qiao asked in confusion.

"I did," Hu Yansheng muttered.

Su Shouling and his son were puzzled. In the past year, many cultivators had been spying on Linglong Fort, and they knew their identities well. However, they had not detected this demon cultivator's presence, certain that he had not come to Linglong Fort.

Then they heard the demon cultivator say stiffly, "I searched for a long time but couldn't find Linglong Fort. Your human continent has too few places with water. Everywhere looks the same. They told me Linglong Fort was in the east, so I flew east for a long time but couldn't find it. When I asked again, they said I was mistaken and directed me west..."

After hearing Hu Yansheng's awkward and accusatory explanation, the human cultivators present understood that he was directionally challenged, unable to distinguish directions without water, wandering aimlessly.

Should they say it was typical of a sea beast?

Fortunately, his high cultivation level kept him safe. Otherwise, his random wandering would have led him to dangerous places, resulting in unpredictable consequences.

Wen Qiao saw the aggrieved look on his fierce face and kindly comforted him, "It's okay, you found us eventually. It seems Senior Hu's sense of direction is still pretty good. By the way, how did you find us?"

Hu Yansheng replied stiffly, "A few days ago, I received a message from Young Master Ning and rushed here. I happened to be nearby and noticed a battle involving Primordial Emperor Realm cultivators, so I came to check it out. I didn't expect to find you here."

When leaving Star Crossing Gorge, Ning Yuzhou gave him a communication talisman. Due to the distance, there was no response until a few days ago when he finally received Ning Yuzhou's message.

Wen Qiao was surprised and turned to Ning Yuzhou, "Husband, did you know Senior Hu would come?"

Ning Yuzhou smiled and said, "Actually, I received Senior Hu's message a few days ago, but I didn't know where he was, so I asked him to come to Chongxu Valley."

Hearing this, Wen Qiao finally understood why he had been so calm when the Primordial Emperor Realm cultivator tried to take them away. He knew Hu Yansheng was nearby and was not worried at all.

Although Yansheng is a demon cultivator from the Endless Sea, none of the cultivators present harbor any ill will towards him.

Demon cultivators rarely interact with human cultivators, and their relationship isn't particularly harmonious, but it doesn't reach the point where they fight to the death upon meeting. Most of the time, they keep to themselves. Demon cultivators near the Endless Sea around the Flying Star Continent seldom venture onto land and have no significant grudges against human cultivators, so they can still remain calm when they meet.

Moreover, Yansheng is a friend of Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou, so they naturally treat him with more tolerance.

Wen Qiao is clearly pleased by Yansheng's arrival, her smile growing wider as she says crisply, "Senior Hu, you've come at just the right time. My husband has refined several new types of spirit pills. Didn't you want them?"

How could Yansheng admit to such an embarrassing thing? He says nonchalantly, "I'm just here for a visit. I'll leave after that."

"Isn't Senior Hu going to stay for a while longer and let us entertain you properly?" Wen Qiao presses.

Yansheng: "...Then I'll stay for a bit longer."

Everyone: "..."

Well, they all understand now—this demon cultivator is here for Ning Yuzhou's spirit pills and delicious food!

It seems this demon cultivator is somewhat proud and unwilling to admit such things, so they naturally don't embarrass him by saying anything.

As the flying boat passes over a forest, Wen Qiao asks Su Shouling to stop the boat, planning to catch a few piglets below to entertain the visiting Yansheng.

Qiao Leshui offers enthusiastic help.

Qiao Leshan and Su Wangling also express their willingness to assist.

Thus, a group of cultivators appears in the forest, not for cultivation, but to catch piglets across the mountains. Among them are the young master of Linglong Fort and Qiao Leshan from Feixian Island. If anyone heard about this, they wouldn't believe it.

Su Shouling stands on the flying boat, smiling warmly at the scene, finding it quite amusing.

In the evening, everyone sits under the starry sky, eating fragrant roasted suckling pigs, finally understanding why Yansheng came all the way from the Endless Sea to find Ning Yuzhou and the others.

The roasted suckling pigs prepared by Master Ning are simply too delicious; even the most ascetic cultivator would be tempted to taste them.

Yansheng, with a stern face, says, "Lord Xuan is worried about your well-being and sent me specifically to check on you. If anyone bullies you, I'll send a secret message to him, and he'll send the Scarlet Thunder Venerable from the Purple Thunder Sea to uphold justice for you."

As he speaks, he deliberately glances at the cultivators from the Flying Star Continent present.

Su Wangling and the others, having clear consciences, pay no heed to his implied meaning.

They know Yansheng's words are true. The Purple Thunder Sea borders the Cloud State Sea, and the cultivators of the Flying Star Continent are familiar with it, knowing that there is an imperial-level demon cultivator residing there. If something were to happen to Ning Yuzhou and the others on the Flying Star Continent, those demon cultivators would come ashore to uphold justice for them...

Thinking about it, Su Wangling and Qiao Leshan feel relieved.

After finishing the roasted suckling pigs, everyone remains unsatisfied.

Qiao Leshui, feeling that anything Ning Yuzhou prepares is delicious, can't help but say, "Master Ning, your cooking skills are on par with those of spirit chefs. You should consider cultivating in the path of spirit chefs."

"No time," Ning Yuzhou dismisses with a light reply.

The cultivators and demons present fall silent.

If given enough time, would he even surpass real spirit chefs in this path? Recalling the roasted suckling pigs, everyone confirms that he indeed has considerable expertise in spirit cooking, surpassing most spirit chefs.

Ning Yuzhou prepares a dozen roasted suckling pigs, which Yansheng collects as a token of gratitude for his timely rescue.

Yansheng is very satisfied and asks what they plan to do next, offering to accompany them since he has nothing else to do.

This is clearly because of the dozen roasted suckling pigs, providing them with protection.

Although there is Su Shouling, a Yuan Emperor realm cultivator, Yansheng always feels that the cultivators on this continent have ill intentions. Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou's situation on the Flying Star Continent is too dangerous, so he needs to keep an eye on them.

Su Shouling, aware of the demon cultivator's thoughts, merely smiles gently, brushing it aside.

"We're going to Chongxu Valley," Wen Qiao says. "It's the site of the ancient sect, the Qixing Sect, and there's a teleportation array there."

Yansheng is not stupid and instantly understands their intention, exclaiming, "You want to use the teleportation array to go to another continent?"

"Yes."

Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou don't treat him as an outsider, unfolding the sea chart they drew for Yansheng to see.

Su Shouling and the others gather around to watch. Seeing the detailed sea chart, even Qiao Leshan is somewhat surprised. This sea chart is no less precise than the one from Feixian Island, both in quality and the clarity of the lines and markings used to draw it.

"Ning Yuzhou, take a look. Is there anything that needs to be added to this sea chart?" Yansheng asks.

Yansheng takes one glance and his expression becomes serious.

He carefully examines the sea chart and praises, "I never knew the Endless Sea was so vast. This is my first time learning about it." He admires the creativity and intelligence of human cultivators, who meticulously draw such charts, unlike sea beasts.

After examining the sea chart, Yansheng reluctantly looks away and says, "This sea chart covers a vast area, including places I don't even know. I have nothing to add, perhaps Lord Xuan can."

However, Xuanlun is not here, and they cannot wait for him, so Ning Yuzhou reluctantly puts it away.

"Is there still no news of the Holy Martial Continent?" Yansheng asks again. Although the sea chart marks many places, the Endless Sea is vast, and only a part is shown on the chart, without any mention of the Holy Martial Continent.

"No," Ning Yuzhou sighs lightly.

Seeing their silence, Yansheng clumsily comforts them, "Don't worry. Perhaps you'll find news of the Holy Martial Continent on the next continent."

"Thank you for your good wishes, Senior Hu."

***

The journey ahead goes smoothly, and they arrive at Chongxu Valley without any further interruptions.

Chongxu Valley is not actually a valley but a series of mountains connected to a large valley, much of which has been destroyed, making it appear desolate and ruined.

The flying boat stops before the valley, and the group leaps off, entering Chongxu Valley.

The plants in the valley grew lush and dense, thriving abundantly. Upon entering, one would find the area overgrown with weeds that reached halfway up one's body. Amidst the overgrowth, remnants of broken rocks and walls could be glimpsed, bearing the marks of time's passage.

Seeing these traces, Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou finally understood just how dilapidated this place had become. No wonder the cultivators of the Flying Star Continent had disregarded it.

Qiao Leshan said, "The teleportation array should be inside the valley. Let's head this way."

The valley was filled with abundant weeds and trees, most of which had grown to considerable size. Not only did they conceal the remains of the old Qixing Sect site, but they also made it extremely difficult to find any clues. Locating the abandoned teleportation array would require some effort.

Qiao Leshan led the way ahead, while Su Shouling released his divine sense to envelop the entire valley, smiling as he said, "I came here when I was young, but there really wasn't much to see. I wandered around briefly and left, never noticing the teleportation array."

In the Flying Star Continent, the art of talismans thrived, while other auxiliary techniques declined, especially those related to alchemy and array formations. Few were proficient in these skills.

Even if they knew about the ruined ancient teleportation array here, it wouldn't have garnered their attention—after all, no one on the Flying Star Continent had the ability to repair it. Over time, everyone had forgotten about it.