The next morning, Elder Xu Wen rose early to prepare for his trip to the Central Continent.
Gu Chenyuan and a few others wanted to accompany him—mainly to witness the teleportation talisman that Tara York had bestowed upon him the day before. It could transport twenty people at once, so taking them along wouldn't exceed the limit. Xu Wen agreed.
Last night, he had already studied the talisman thoroughly. Whether transporting one person or twenty, it only had ten uses total. Since that was the case, he figured he might as well do them a favor. After all, they had a decent relationship, and it was likely they'd be working for the same sect in the future.
Xiao Huohuo was visibly envious.He was eager to tag along and see for himself."Elder Xu, could you wait a moment? I want to ask the Sect Leader if I can go too," Xiao Huohuo said hurriedly."Sure, go ahead and ask," Xu Wen nodded.
He also needed to contact his old friend Shao Fei to find out his exact location.
"Senior Brother Xiao, help ask for me too!" Shi Jingjing tugged at Xiao Huohuo's sleeve, blinking her big eyes."Alright," Xiao Huohuo nodded.
Standing off to the side, Jiang Wanwan was also tempted, but she was a bit shy."Junior Sister Jiang, would you like to come too? I can ask for you as well," Xiao Huohuo offered.Jiang Wanwan's eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly.
With that, Xiao Huohuo flew off toward the Sect Leader's Peak.
Meanwhile, Xu Wen had already contacted Shao Fei.
Shao Fei was probably still sleeping, so he didn't enable the visual mode. Only a groggy voice came through:"Xu, you old man… bothering people's dreams so early?"
"Where are you now?" Xu Wen got straight to the point."Didn't you ask me a few days ago? I'm traveling around the Central Continent with two disciples," Shao Fei yawned."Exact location," Xu Wen said crisply."Heng City," Shao Fei muttered."I said exact location. What street? What room?" Xu Wen emphasized."Why so detailed? Are you here already? Or coming?""I'm on my way from North Qian Continent now," Xu Wen replied."Room 9, Xianke Inn, Shunan Avenue, Heng City," Shao Fei yawned again. "I'm free anyway. I'll wait here for you."
"Got it. See you soon," Xu Wen said. "And get up now."
He ended the call.
"See me soon?" Shao Fei murmured."Heng City is in the southern part of the Central Continent. From the intercontinental teleportation platform, it takes days by spirit boat…"
"That old man Xu really doesn't talk sense anymore," he grumbled, then turned over and went back to sleep.
His two favorite things in life were eating and sleeping.
Just as Xu Wen ended the call, the air beside him was torn open—Tara York arrived with Xiao Huohuo.
Gu Chenyuan and the others instinctively stood at attention.
"Elder Xu, take Huohuo and the other two with you. It's good for them to see the Central Continent," Tara York said."Yes, Sect Leader." Xu Wen nodded. "I will keep them safe."Gu Chenyuan immediately added, "Rest assured, Sect Leader, we'll protect them as well."
Tara York gave a slight nod and waved her slender hand.
The disciples' tokens belonging to Xiao Huohuo, Shi Jingjing, and Jiang Wanwan floated into the air. Tara pointed again, and three golden lights shot into the tokens.
"I've imbued each of your tokens with a protective strike. It will activate automatically in danger to protect you," she explained."Thank you, Sect Leader!" the three disciples bowed deeply.
"Off you go, then." As Tara York finished speaking, she tore open space and stepped back toward the Sect Leader's Peak.
Everyone watched the three tokens with shining eyes.
Xiao Huohuo, Shi Jingjing, and Jiang Wanwan solemnly fastened the tokens back to their waists. Shi Jingjing even gave hers a fond little pat.
"Alright, let's go too," Xu Wen said, activating the teleportation talisman.
A light circle enveloped the dozen or so people present. In the next moment, a wave of dizziness washed over them.
The scene before them shifted—they now stood in a messy room.
Several wine jars lay scattered across the floor. The table was piled with leftovers and empty dishes.
On the bed lay a small old man, sprawled out with arms and legs akimbo, a thin blanket draped over him. There was a suspicious bulge in the center.
Shi Jingjing, innocent as a child, pointed and asked, "Master, what's hidden under there?"
Xu Wen quickly covered her eyes.
Yu Ruyi and Jiang Wanwan awkwardly turned away.
"Don't ask questions like that when we're out in the world," Xu Wen said. "And from now on, just call me Elder Xu."
"Okay," Shi Jingjing replied sweetly.
Xu Wen turned her around and rushed forward in three quick steps.
A burst of pressure from a ninth-stage Immortal Realm cultivator descended on Shao Fei without hesitation.
Startled awake by the oppressive aura, Shao Fei's eyes flew open in terror.
He was always low-profile. He had only just arrived in Heng City—how had he already provoked a powerhouse?
Then he saw Xu Wen's face.
His jaw dropped."Holy sh*t!"
He wanted to jump up in shock, but the power gap was too great—only his mouth still worked.
"You… you… you're a ghost or something?" he stammered.
Smack!
Xu Wen slapped the back of Shao Fei's head—holding back most of his strength, of course.Still, Shao Fei felt like his brain had been scrambled.
The idea that one realm is just a small step above another was utter nonsense—between Half-Immortal and Immortal, the gap was like a chasm. And he was still in the Transcendence Realm!
"You… you…" Shao Fei was stuttering again.
"Didn't I tell you to get up already?" Xu Wen scolded. "And look at your place—like a dog's den."
Xu Wen retracted his aura.
Shao Fei could finally move.The moment he could, he froze again.
Seeing the room full of people—and three young women facing away—he swallowed hard.
Oh no. If he drank last night, his body tended to have some morning reactions.
Did they all see!?
He wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole and disappear.
"What are you spacing out for? Get up! We've got serious matters to discuss," Xu Wen said, patting him on the shoulder.
"Take it easy, old man—you're an Immortal! You trying to turn me into a one-armed cripple?" Shao Fei winced and rubbed his shoulder."After all our years of friendship, how could you play me like this?"