Chapter 5: Loose Lips Sink Ships

Chapter 5: Loose Lips Sink Ships

Shang Yunduo wasn't very confident in his flying skills, but Niu Chengdian had full confidence in him, unafraid of his cold demeanor, sticking close to him. Even when Shang Yunduo only replied with "Mm," "Oh," or "Uh," Niu Chengdian kept chattering on endlessly.

As they flew into the evening, Shang Yunduo was astonished.

To avoid colliding, he had been flying with full concentration, yet he hadn't expected Niu Chengdian to keep pace and fly parallel to him for so long—all while still rambling on.

Shang Yunduo's heart skipped a beat, and he grew even more wary of Niu Chengdian. This man was certainly far better at sword flight than he was; he needed to keep his distance.

However, Niu Chengdian stuck to him like glue, refusing to let him escape. That night, they found a clearing in the woods to rest. Niu Chengdian went even further, not only continuing to pester Shang Yunduo but also striking up conversations with Yan Jia and Wang Ming.

"So you want to join the Taiyuan Sect!" Unlike Shang Yunduo, who stayed silent and aloof, Yan Jia was eager to learn about the valley and willing to talk. As they chatted, he realized Niu Chengdian couldn't go three sentences without mentioning the sect, finally understanding his enthusiasm.

Niu Chengdian gave an awkward smile. "Ah, I'm embarrassed before you fellow brothers. It's not easy being a rogue cultivator. I've been stuck at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining for eight years now. Without a good sect to guide me, achieving Foundation Establishment is nothing but a pipe dream..."

Yan Jia: "You want Foundation Establishment? Then why don't you go to the Ancient Plain Secret Realm to find the Floating Cloud Flower?"

Upon hearing this, several rogue cultivators glared at him in exasperation.

As if they didn't want to?!

The well-fed have no idea how the starving suffer!

Zhang Yu, who had been listening in on the conversation, rolled her eyes at him and snorted, "The compasses are all in the hands of you big sects! Easy for you to say!"

Niu Chengdian: "We'd like to, but the Ancient Plain Secret Realm's entrance is always uncertain. Without a guiding compass, it's really... impossible to find!"

Fairy Yuezhang nodded: "Besides, refining the Foundation Building Pill requires more than just the Floating Cloud Flower. Most of the other materials are also held by the major sects."

Apart from the materials, the skill of the alchemist was also crucial. For rogue cultivators, gathering a single set of materials for the Foundation Building Pill was incredibly difficult. If the pill was ruined, it might take another ten years or even decades to gather another set.

How many decades did a Qi Refining cultivator have in their lifetime?

The major sects were different. They had their own spirit herb fields, with inner sect fields growing many rare spiritual plants hard to find elsewhere, and they also raised rare spirit beasts. Even if their own sect wasn't skilled in the Alchemy Path, they could trade with other immortal sects that were, in the name of the sect. In the end, it was far more convenient than for rogue cultivators.

Yan Jia naturally understood all this. He also knew that the resources available to outer sect and inner sect disciples were vastly different. Even as fellow disciples of the Taiyuan Sect, getting hold of a Foundation Building Pill was incredibly difficult for him and Wang Ming. That was why they had to risk coming to the Ancient Plain Secret Realm.

However, his cultivation was still low. Even if he went to the Ancient Plain Secret Realm, he might not successfully obtain the Floating Cloud Flower. Also, because he was still young and could afford to wait another thirty years, he had prioritized the Cold Toad and the Zi Wu Flower.

Wang Ming, on the other hand, had already caught the eye of an inner sect Foundation Establishment cultivator. As long as he performed well in the sect competition, he had a ninety percent chance of becoming that cultivator's disciple. So he wanted to boost his cultivation first, then find a way to get the Foundation Building Pill after entering the inner sect.

Yan Jia kindly reminded him, "Even after entering the sect, not everyone can get the Foundation Building Pill."

Niu Chengdian nodded: "I know that. May I ask what conditions your sect requires for entering the inner sect?"

He was already at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Getting into a sect wasn't difficult—the hard part was entering the inner sect.

To put it bluntly, outer sect disciples were errand runners. The techniques they learned were only the most basic; they could hardly obtain artifacts or pills. Only inner sect disciples could access the sect's core techniques and have a great cultivator as their master to guide them.

But to enter the inner sect, one's talent, spiritual root, and cultivation level mattered. Age was also a key factor. A thirty-year-old at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining was more welcome than a sixty-year-old at the Peak of Qi Refining.

Furthermore, it depended on the master's whim. If one's talent and spiritual root were lacking, but if they caught a master's eye, they could still become their disciple. However, this usually required a family connection or prior friendship with the master's ancestors—not at all easy.

"You want to enter the inner sect?!" Yan Jia's eyes widened upon hearing this. He thought to himself, No wonder he's been clinging to Senior Brother Shang—he recognized that Senior Brother Shang's robes were those of an inner sect disciple!

His mouth twitched as he thought, I can't even get into the inner sect myself! He said curtly, "Among us, only Senior Brother Shang is an inner sect disciple. You'd better ask him."

Niu Chengdian smiled warmly at Shang Yunduo. "So you're Senior Brother Shang! That robe really makes you look outstanding. You're so young and already at the Peak of Qi Refining—your future is surely limitless. May I ask which immortal master you've taken as your teacher? Could you perhaps introduce me..."

Shang Yunduo: "..."

He thought in shock that the difference between the inner and outer sect robes of the Taiyuan Sect was only in the belt. If they hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have noticed it himself. Yet Niu Chengdian had recognized it at first sight! What kind of observation skills were those?!

This man—he needed to stay far away.

Shang Yunduo said coldly, "Information about the inner sect is strictly confidential. Don't ask. Even if you ask, I can't say."

With that, he found a spot, pretended to meditate, and before sleeping, decisively changed out of his Taiyuan Sect inner sect disciple robe.

The next day, Shang Yunduo wore a dark, durable, easy-to-move-in outfit. He also took the opportunity to hang a few more defensive artifacts on himself, and put on protective armor as undergarments.

But when he came over after changing, Niu Chengdian's gaze became even more fervent.

Shang Yunduo: "..."

After a moment's thought, he picked a loose robe, covering himself entirely in a common deep blue-green, hiding all the artifacts he was wearing.

The principle of not flaunting one's wealth should be followed from the start. He had let his guard down for just a moment, and Niu Chengdian had latched onto him again.

Unable to get information about the inner sect, Niu Chengdian asked about his master, then about any close fellow disciples he had. Shang Yunduo didn't dare utter a single word.

Loose lips sink ships. What if he said too much and gave himself away?

Besides, he wasn't familiar with the inner sect! He didn't even know where his master's cave dwelling was or what he looked like!

This round of questioning from Niu Chengdian reminded him again—he needed to get far away from the Taiyuan Sect as soon as possible, so he wouldn't end up walking right past his master on the street without recognizing him and being called a rebellious disciple.

Being questioned so much, Shang Yunduo had a flash of inspiration. He fought fire with fire and turned the tables by asking Niu Chengdian about the dense forest valley.

Compared to him, Niu Chengdian seemed completely open.

Rogue cultivators often came to this mountain range. Niu Chengdian also came frequently, though most people dared not go deep into the mountains for fear of encountering demonic beasts from the other side of the Boundary Divide. Being poor and needing to earn spirit stones to buy elixirs and artifacts, he had no choice but to venture deep.

Having come many times, he had gotten to know a few rogue cultivators in similar situations. Over time, they often traveled together. Li Wuzi and Fairy Yuezhang were two he had met while searching for medicinal herbs in the mountains.

"...This place is a branch of the Boundary Divide Mountains. The deeper you go, the denser the forest. Some deep valleys by the water are terrifying, and we don't dare go there. But over time, we've discovered some small paths that lead deep into the mountains without much danger. I often go with a few friends to catch demonic beasts and find medicinal herbs. A while back, we were tracking a spirit beast and accidentally strayed into a valley in the dense forest. We were trapped there for seven or eight days, almost out of elixirs. Just when we thought all was lost, we took a few more steps and, lo and behold, found a pool rich in spiritual energy!"

As he spoke, he said smugly: "In the pool grew a flower that looked like a lotus but wasn't. Its petals were submerged in the water, and its leaves were greenish-black. Even from a distance, it didn't seem like an ordinary thing."

"Correct," Fairy Yuezhang nodded affirmatively. "The Midnight Lotus has leaves like a lotus, nearly black, with white flowers and emerald stamens. Usually, the flower is immersed in the water. Only at midnight and noon does it raise its petals out of the water to bathe in moonlight and sunlight, emitting a lotus-like fragrance."

Niu Chengdian: "Exactly! That's it!"

Zhang Yu: "So why didn't you pick it?"

Niu Chengdian: "Miss Zhang, you see, at first, none of us recognized the Midnight Lotus. There was also a restriction around the pool. No matter what we did, we couldn't open it. So we had to mark the way and leave temporarily to find someone who understood formations. When we came back, we finally identified the flower as the Midnight Lotus!"

Zhang Yu: "And you failed again the second time?"

Niu Chengdian smiled bitterly: "That restriction was extremely hard to crack. The person we found had no solution either, saying it was a strange formation that required several people to work together at the same time... I have absolutely no talent for formations. In any case, this time we'll have to rely on fellow cultivators skilled in formations."

Zhang Yu muttered, "What a waste." If it were her and her brother, they would have prepared thoroughly the second time and picked the flower no matter what.

Shang Yunduo thought it strange. Why did Li Wuzi and Fairy Yuezhang seem to be hearing this for the first time? He couldn't help but ask, "The friends you mentioned—aren't they fellow cultivator Li Wuzi and Fairy Yuezhang?"

Li Wuzi and Fairy Yuezhang firmly shook their heads.

Even the Zhang siblings were surprised. "It wasn't you?"

Niu Chengdian gave a wry smile. "The last array master was brought in by a friend who found the Midnight Lotus with me. The most skilled array master I know is Fellow Cultivator Li Wuzi."

The implication was clear: he hadn't sought out Li Wuzi earlier because, at that time, he had no say in the matter, and they had been sneaking around, afraid of exposing the secret. Now that he could recruit array masters, Li Wuzi was the first he thought of.

Li Wuzi's expression noticeably softened. "Brother Niu is too kind. I only know a bit about common arrays."

Yan Jia said, "Then why didn't you find someone together with your previous friends?"

Niu Chengdian sighed. "Ahh... we had a falling out last time. To make sure we'd have enough hands, we split up to each recruit our own people..."

He was vague, but everyone couldn't help but wonder what the disagreement was—it sounded like they'd split up?

Before they could ask, Niu Chengdian's face showed some indignation as he struggled to control his temper. "Fellow cultivators, we need to speed up on the road. I'm afraid if we arrive too late, my friends won't wait for me."

Huh?

Did they really fall out?

Someone said, "Then let's hurry."

"Right."

The Zhang siblings looked thoughtful. Zhang Yan, the elder brother, asked, "What cultivation levels are your friends?"

Niu Chengdian replied, "One at Qi Refining Ninth Layer, two at Qi Refining Eighth Layer. I don't know who else they've found, but given their temperament, they won't look for anyone stronger than themselves. With Brother Zhang, Senior Brother Shang, and me here, everyone can relax."

Zhang Yu snorted, her eyebrows full of arrogance.

Wang Ming and Yan Jia exchanged glances—so this Niu Chengdian is clinging to Senior Brother Shang not just to enter the inner sect, but also hoping Senior Brother Shang would help him fight and back him up!

Shang Yunduo looked bewildered, thinking numbly to himself: So this means it's not just their group after that flower—there are an unknown number of people ahead and behind, and everyone's hostile?

Forget the Midnight Lotus—would they even get a shot at the Cold Toad or Fire Toad?

Author's note:

Niu: As long as I butter him up enough, he'll trust me.

Yunduo: He's stronger than me but still flatters me—I gotta be careful with this guy.

Niu: I'm counting on Senior Brother Shang.

Yunduo: Crap. He's coming for me. I wanna bail.