Chapter 4: He's Getting Anxious - Look, He's Getting Anxious
"Such a big production for just bringing a mortal."
"The Wushang Sword Sect is doomed."
"That kid probably doesn't even know what he's about to face."
These words reached Chen Xuan's ears verbatim, but he paid them no mind. Gripping his longsword, he rejoined Zhao Youqian and the others.
"Looks like quite a crowd today."
Zhao Youqian smiled: "None of these people are good. Especially the Ascension Office's Commander Liu and the Great River Sword Sect's Old Dog Feng - they can't wait to carve up our Wushang Sword Sect right now."
Chen Xuan said with interest: "In that case, let's go meet them."
With that, the group walked toward where the Ascension Office members stood. Along the way, every eye was fixed on Chen Xuan.
The Ascension Office's Commander Liu was no exception. From the moment Chen Xuan descended from the carriage, his gaze never left him. But this young man, from any angle, was just a mortal without any cultivation.
Aside from being handsome, there was nothing special about him at all!
"Young man, do you understand this sect assessment task?"
As soon as the Wushang Sword Sect group arrived, Commander Liu asked in a superior tone.
Chen Xuan said nonchalantly: "I understand. Suppress the Red Pavilion."
"Haha..."
Master Feng beside him suddenly laughed: "Young man, did Zhao Youqian fool you into being a scapegoat?
Didn't he tell you that this Red Pavilion is a ghost ship? Inside are countless Dao Foundation realm fierce ghosts, and a Heavenly Essence peak ghost general sits in command!"
Chen Xuan said casually: "I know. Without that ghost general, I wouldn't even bother drawing my sword."
Master Feng's smile instantly froze. In all his years of cultivation, he had seen many arrogant young people, but this was the first time he'd seen someone so ordinary yet so confident.
"Do you know that in the past, the prefecture city's Ascension Office also sent people to destroy the Red Pavilion? The leader was the Heavenly Essence powerhouse Daoist Fire, accompanied by three True Destiny cultivators and dozens of Dao Foundation cultivators. In the end, not a single person walked out of the Red Pavilion.
When the prefecture city's Ascension Office's Seal Holder heard this, he was furious and decided to personally intervene. Yet even he couldn't suppress the Red Pavilion, eventually listing it as taboo.
Do you really think a mere mortal like you is stronger than a Nurturing Spirit realm Seal Holder?"
"Master Feng is right. Matters of ghosts and spirits aren't something a mortal like you should interfere with. This seat, considering your youth and ignorance, will let you leave now - it's not too late."
Though Commander Liu's words sounded noble, his tone was full of disdain. More importantly, he had never thought the Wushang Sword Sect could suppress the Red Pavilion.
Otherwise, the Red Pavilion wouldn't have become one of Dongyang Prefecture's taboos. Rather than waste time here, he'd rather go home early and practice dual cultivation with his newly acquired concubine.
"I indeed don't know how strong a Heavenly Essence Seal Holder is."
Chen Xuan smiled: "But I'm excellent at slaying ghosts. Today I'm definitely boarding that Red Pavilion!"
Ghosts and resentful spirits were essentially both soul bodies, so female ghosts equaled resentful spirits. No problem.
"Ignorant fool!"
Commander Liu's face darkened as he turned away with a sweep of his sleeve.
"Foolish mortal who doesn't know his place. This old man wants to see if you survive tonight."
After his sarcastic remark, Master Feng followed Commander Liu.
Chen Xuan didn't respond, simply closing his eyes to wait for nightfall.
As night fell, Chen Xuan, Zhao Youqian, Zhou Yuanyuan, Zhou Delong, and the others boarded the Ascension Office's patrol boat along with the office members and Master Feng.
After boarding, the two groups stood clearly separated on either side of the vessel.
After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a shout came from the bow:
"The Red Pavilion has appeared!"
Hearing this, everyone's expressions varied - excitement, fear, and panic.
Only Chen Xuan's face showed no change. Gripping his longsword, he walked toward the bow. Seeing a nervous cultivator beside him, he asked casually: "Where is it?"
The cultivator pointed into the distance: "Right there, about a li away. If the boat doesn't turn to shore, we'll soon collide with the Red Pavilion. They say any ship that hits the Red Pavilion sinks."
Chen Xuan looked in the indicated direction. He saw a brightly lit pleasure boat slowly approaching them.
Even from a distance, he could hear laughter and merriment from the boat, and vaguely see graceful figures moving within.
"Quick, turn to shore!"
Commander Liu immediately gave the order.
But the patrol boat didn't turn to shore. Instead, it accelerated toward that pleasure boat.
Seeing this, the cultivators on board began to panic. A boatman shouted: "Commander Liu, the boat won't obey!"
Before the words finished, wisps of mist rose from the Tongtian River, surrounding the patrol boat until they couldn't tell directions.
Only the Red Pavilion remained visible like a bright lantern on the water.
"Damn it!"
Commander Liu, seeing the Red Pavilion growing closer, immediately decided: "Everyone except the Wushang Sword Sect people, abandon ship!"
Facing disaster, he still remembered to trip up the Wushang Sword Sect. But no one noticed that Chen Xuan's group showed no fear at all.
Instead, they watched the Ascension Office members' panicked performance like spectators.
"Yes!"
The cultivators jumped from the deck one by one, but the mist surrounding the patrol boat was like a wall, bouncing everyone back onto the deck.
"Commander, we can't jump out!"
"Commander Liu, this is bad!"
Master Feng's face showed terror: "This... this is a ghost domain!"
As he spoke, the surrounding mist gradually changed color. In the blink of an eye, it turned into blood-colored fog.
"How is this possible?"
Commander Liu stared at the blood-colored mist, cold sweat beading on his forehead, panic flashing in his eyes as he said uneasily:
"A ghost domain is something only a Fusion realm Ghost Lord possesses! The Red Pavilion clearly only has a Heavenly Essence ghost general in command - how could it create a ghost domain?"
"I... I don't know either."
Master Feng's tone weakened when questioned by Commander Liu, thinking: If I knew this Red Pavilion had a ghost domain, I wouldn't have boarded this damn boat.
Just then, a calm voice spoke.
"Brother Zhao, do you know about ghost domains?"
"Of course I know. I even broke into one when I was young." Zhao Youqian said proudly.
Chen Xuan looked at Zhao Youqian with some surprise - this guy always brought something new.
"Tell me about it."
Zhao Youqian smiled: "A ghost domain is actually the exclusive domain of Ghost cultivators at Fusion realm and above. Cultivators below Nurturing Spirit realm are virtually guaranteed to die if trapped in one. Nurturing Spirit cultivators might have a chance to escape. Only high-level cultivators at Fusion realm or above can forcibly break a ghost domain."
Chen Xuan asked thoughtfully: "I understand the logic, but how did you get out back then?"
Zhao Youqian raised his head at a forty-five-degree angle to look at the sky, his eyes full of nostalgia: "Of course, I slept with her."
Chen Xuan gave him a thumbs up: "So Brother Zhao is actually an undead knight! My apologies, my apologies!"
"Enough!"
Commander Liu shouted, interrupting their conversation: "We're facing disaster, and you two are still bragging!"
"He's anxious, he's anxious. Brother Chen, look - he's anxious." Zhao Youqian said nonchalantly.
Commander Liu's face alternated between green and purple - quite a sight. If not for the impending catastrophe, he would have wanted to kill this kid right now.
Chen Xuan glanced at the Red Pavilion just a few zhang away, smiling: "Since Commander Liu is in a hurry, I'll break this ghost domain first."
"Ridiculous!!!"
Commander Liu's eyes widened like bronze bells. He had never seen anyone as arrogant as this young man. Still acting tough at a time like this, he said dismissively:
"You, a mere mortal, really think you're some Fusion realm big shot? If you can break this ghost domain, this seat will chop off his head for you to use as a chair!"
A Fusion cultivator was a first-rate important figure in all of the Jin Kingdom - either controlling a territory or being the head of a top noble family. Such a person, merely by stomping their foot, would make the entire Jin Kingdom tremble three times.
Chen Xuan looked at his pitch-black, fierce face and shook his head: "You're too ugly. Doesn't match my temperament. Keep your head - just open your eyes wide and watch!"
"You!!!"