Chapter 493: Goodbye Wei Tianchen, is he going to the Xuanhuang Realm?

The Realm Ship hovered in the starry sky, with meteorites floating around it, and a black whirlwind slowly sweeping past a broken crescent ring.

Sensing the Realm Ship halt, Zhao Xing immediately looked up.

You have entered the ruins of the Great Ye Dynasty, Star Hail Pass (Coordinates: Sun 3, Fern Yin 1, Wood Armor 4).

“I didn’t expect Wei Tianchen and Bamboo Sword to trade me here.”

The Star Pass of the Great Ye Dynasty was the first Realm Star-level dynasty force Zhao Xing encountered after bringing Great Zhou out.

At that time, the highest-ranking guardians, the Nalan uncle and nephew, were only at the Origin Realm.

“The place remains, but the people are gone,” Zhao Xing sighed, looking at the broken walls and ruins in the starry sky.

After the sacrifice by the Eastern Yan Ancient Clan, the vassal states of the Yuan Sea Ancient Kingdom also collapsed, the Great Ye Dynasty ceased to exist, and the Barren Zone further spread. Now, this place has also become a no-man’s-land.

“I wonder what Wei Tianchen means by setting the transaction location in the Sinking Luo Barren Zone.”

Different Barren Zones have different ‘features’. The Black Sky Barren Zone is characterized by ‘eternal night’. This ‘blackness’ isn’t just due to the scarcity of yin-yang twin stars; even common true spirit exploration and mechanical detection struggle to function effectively there.

The distinguishing feature of the Sky Moon Barren Zone is its abundance of ‘small worlds’, such as various Origin Realms and Extinction Realms, and it also possesses the most Overlapping Realm Mountain Ranges.

The Sacred Sea Barren Zone is chaotic, has the most void rivers, and contains an ancient Dao ocean. The Mirage Alliance was born near the Sacred Sea Barren Zone.

The Sinking Luo Barren Zone’s characteristics are ‘isolation’ and ‘descent’.

Karma is isolated, and destiny is hidden.

The Eastern Yan Ancient Clan set up their altar preparations in the Sinking Luo Barren Zone precisely because of this.

It is very covert, and cannot be divined or predicted by Destiny Masters.

The ‘descent’ characteristic is the origin of the name Sinking Luo. It was proposed by a Steward from the Primordial Hill, suggesting that just as the Black Sky Barren Zone is suspected to be a reflection of a Polaris’s shadow, the Sinking Luo Barren Zone is suspected to be pulled downwards by a polar landmass.

However, the latter has no basis, and is purely the Primordial Hill trying to ‘gild’ its own theories.

After all, if your Astrological Sect’s Polaris can project a Barren Zone, there’s no reason my Primordial Hill’s polar landmass can’t influence one.

In this world, your status is self-proclaimed.

Seeing Wei Tianchen about to arrive, Zhao Xing stopped waiting idly for death. He decided to try and save himself.

“Senior Bamboo Sword.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Yes, Venerable Bamboo Sword,” Zhao Xing asked cautiously, “Could you give me a chance?”

Venerable Bamboo Sword turned his head, listening quietly.

“You captured me simply because Wei Tianchen offered you an irresistible price.”

“At your venerable realm, what you seek is nothing more than to break through to the Divine Realm.”

“I guess you accepted this mission from the Shadow Temple, and the bounty is likely a Sword Dao artifact.”

Venerable Bamboo Sword glanced at Zhao Xing: “You are quite clear about your own value.”

“Indeed, you guessed perfectly right. What then?”

Zhao Xing said, “Comprehending a divine artifact might not guarantee a breakthrough. You were in the White Han Realm, so you must have seen that Venerable Bai Han possessed a divine artifact, yet he still hasn’t broken through after all these years.”

Venerable Bamboo Sword calmly said, “Becoming a Divine Realm cultivator in the Barren Zone era is merely about seeking hope. In this world, apart from a very few gifted prodigies supported by super-forces, like your teacher Gu Luohe, who can speak of absolute certainty?”

Zhao Xing pointed to himself: “Suppose what I offer is more valuable than a Sword Dao divine weapon, and can increase your hope of breaking through. Would you consider letting me go?”

Venerable Bamboo Sword immediately let out a light laugh: “Are you trying to bribe me?”

Zhao Xing nodded: “Yes.”

Venerable Bamboo Sword replied, “Don’t dream.”

Zhao Xing was taken aback: “Are you not even going to ask what price I’m offering? Or do you not believe I have such a bargaining chip?”

Venerable Bamboo Sword pondered: “I believe you, but I won’t do it.”

Zhao Xing was somewhat puzzled: “Why?”

Venerable Bamboo Sword slowly said, “I am a Sword Sect practitioner. Breaking faith would tarnish my Heart Sword.”

“Don’t look so surprised.”

“My taking missions from the Shadow Temple doesn’t conflict with my adherence to morality.”

Zhao Xing was left speechless.

Venerable Bamboo Sword’s Sword Dao did not permit him to act faithlessly. If he did so, it would completely betray his own Dao.

If his Dao Heart crumbled, then attaining divinity through the Dao would be out of the question.

Presumably, this was the reason Venerable Bamboo Sword did not join any forces.

Joining a super-force indeed allowed one to live like a lord, with many matters not requiring personal involvement, for a demigod like Venerable Bamboo Sword.

If he were willing to serve an empire, obtaining a Sword Dao divine weapon should not be difficult.

However, after joining, he would also have to obey the empire’s arrangements, and even do some dirty deeds that went against his principles.

The path of bribery was blocked, and Zhao Xing’s heart grew heavy.

Honestly, he really didn’t want to fall into Wei Tianchen’s hands again. That old pervert was too terrifying.

However, Venerable Bamboo Sword spoke again: “However, I am very interested in what you said. Assuming Wei Tianchen doesn’t intend to kill you immediately, I could indeed rescue you again.”

“Huh? Venerable One, do you mean—”

Venerable Bamboo Sword said, “I will hand you over to him, and the mission will be completed. After that, I can fight him. Of course, you’ll have to afford the price.”

There was nothing wrong with that statement. If the mission was completed, it wouldn’t count as breaking faith.

Zhao Xing immediately seized the opportunity: “Venerable One, do you know of the Ten Directions Mountain?”

“Of course.”

“If I can obtain the first divination from the Ten Directions Mountain for you, is that value not enough?”

Venerable Bamboo Sword chuckled: “Are you being fanciful? Forget the first divination of the Ten Directions Mountain; after I obtain the Lihuo Divine Sword, even a second divination would be sufficient.”

Zhao Xing nodded and said, “Good, then let’s aim for the second divination.”

Venerable Bamboo Sword’s smile gradually faded, and he said with a serious expression, “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely,” Zhao Xing said. “The second epoch of the Barren Zone is about to pass, and after entering the third epoch, the Ten Directions Mountain will soon appear.”

“You are not a Destiny Master, how can you help me?”

“I have a Destiny Master friend. If I cooperate with him, I can find the Ten Directions Mountain in advance, and seek a divination for you.”

“That’s impossible,” Venerable Bamboo Sword shook his head. “The moment the Ten Directions Mountain appears, all Destiny Masters will instinctively sense it, and its location will be determined at that instant. Therefore, it cannot be found in advance.”

“The timing of anyone ascending the mountain and obtaining a Ten Directions Divination is fair to all.”

“The Ten Directions Mountain is... a mountain,” Zhao Xing said.

“And then?”

“I am a Steward,” Zhao Xing pointed to himself.

Venerable Bamboo Sword remained unmoved.

Zhao Xing said helplessly, “Perhaps you are not very familiar with me. You can look up my contributions in the Sky Moon Barren Zone. It won’t take too long.”

He realized Venerable Bamboo Sword seemed to have just emerged from seclusion, having been out of touch with worldly affairs for a long time. In other words, this fellow had just gotten ‘connected’ to the world.

Explaining it himself would be too tiring; it would be better to let Bamboo Sword verify it himself.

Venerable Bamboo Sword wasted no words. He immediately went to a Star Mirror to find relevant personnel from the Shadow Temple and conducted a thorough inquiry into Zhao Xing.

About half an hour later, he turned back around, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Xing, as if re-evaluating him:

“The Dao Tree’s writings, eternally preserved—you actually solved the Overlapping Realm Mountain problem.”

He had just found a Steward from the Shadow Temple to learn about Zhao Xing’s ‘glorious achievements’.

Venerable Bamboo Sword found Zhao Xing’s reputation surprisingly vast. That Steward was an Eight-Tribulation Emperor Lord, yet he spoke highly of Zhao Xing.

He spoke effusively about the two Dao books Zhao Xing had written.

Bamboo Sword also roughly understood how impressive solving the Overlapping Realm Mountain problem was for Stewards.

No wonder when Wei Tianchen first abducted Zhao Xing, demigods from the Primordial Hill and the Primeval Realm were all dispatched.

Even Gu Luohe personally went to rescue him.

At that time, Zhao Xing had only just broken through to the Dao Domain Realm, and Venerable Bamboo Sword had wondered how such a minor Dao Domain Realm cultivator could warrant the involvement of Gu Luohe and the Primordial Hill’s demigods.

After hearing more, he understood.

Venerable Bamboo Sword now even felt that the bounty offered by Wei Tianchen was not high enough.

Capturing Zhao Xing would be reasonable even if it cost two divine artifacts!

Seeing that Venerable Bamboo Sword finally understood him, Zhao Xing felt relieved. “Venerable One, are you willing to accept this mission?”

Venerable Bamboo Sword did not reply, but instead fell into thought.

For the remainder of the time, he did not bring up the matter with Zhao Xing again, but simply waited quietly for Wei Tianchen’s arrival.

About half a year later, on the edge of the Sinking Luo Barren Zone, a void vortex appeared out of thin air, and the White Jade Five-Mausoleum Boat, flying the Li Emperor’s flag, burst out, approaching Bamboo Sword’s Realm Ship.

The White Jade Five-Mausoleum Boat was Wei Tianchen’s personal vessel. This ship housed many of Wei Tianchen’s reincarnation avatars and was considered his mobile lair.

Zhao Xing had once boarded this ship, and even the demigods from the Primordial Hill had failed to breach its defenses, so Zhao Xing naturally remembered it well.

A whoosh.

Venerable Bamboo Sword, holding Zhao Xing, appeared in the void.

Soon, Wei Tianchen also leaped down from his ship.

Wei Tianchen’s gaze fell upon Zhao Xing’s somewhat helpless expression, then the corners of his mouth turned slightly upward: “Steward Zhao, long time no see.”

Zhao Xing remained silent. What was with such a cordial greeting? Who the hell wanted to see him!

However, Wei Tianchen did not approach, but was waiting for something.

Soon, the void vibrated again, and a dark palace emerged from it.

The palace’s steps extended, and a black-robed figure descended.

Seeing the Shadow Temple and the black-robed figure, Wei Tianchen and Venerable Bamboo Sword then approached, both stepping onto the stair platform.

Seeing both parties present, the black-robed figure routinely asked: “Ancient Physician, Bamboo Sword, have you brought what is stated in the contract?”

“The person is here.” Venerable Bamboo Sword pushed Zhao Xing forward.

The black-robed figure took out a token, performed a spell in the void to scan Zhao Xing, then nodded: “Good, this is Zhao Xing’s true body. All ninety-six of his split souls are here, bound by Heart Sword Arts.”

“The goods are here.”

Wei Tianchen waved his sleeve, and the Seven Star Lihuo Sword appeared before him.

However, it did not look like a sword, but rather a gentle ball of flame. Yet, within it, there was a faint, illusory outline of a sword embryo.

“The Seven Star Lihuo Divine Sword, verified to be correct,” the black-robed figure said. “Both parties, please exchange.”

Then Wei Tianchen directly pushed the divine sword to Venerable Bamboo Sword.

Venerable Bamboo Sword took the divine sword and then pushed Zhao Xing forward as well.

Wei Tianchen took out a large, colorful net. The net emitted light, uplifting music, and transformed into a square cage.

Zhao Xing found that once netted, he was unable to use the Spaceless Teleportation from the Primordial Grass Figure Art.

He immediately realized that this was likely another divine artifact.

With this, both parties completed the transaction under the auspices of the Shadow Temple.

“Employment mission completed. You two may depart as you wish.”

After seeing the two retreat to a safe distance, the stairs retracted, and the Shadow Temple once again vanished into the void. At this moment, Wei Tianchen and Venerable Bamboo Sword did not immediately leave.

Although the two did not have a deep relationship, they had known each other for a long time.

At this moment, Bamboo Sword was transmitting a message to Wei Tianchen.

Soon, Wei Tianchen’s expression immediately became intriguing. He looked at Zhao Xing: “What benefit did you promise Bamboo Sword, that he would actually want to save your life?”

Zhao Xing remained silent. He couldn’t tell what Bamboo Sword had said to Wei Tianchen.

Wei Tianchen smiled: “Zhao Xing, you are truly impressive. To be able to persuade Bamboo Sword with mere words and no tangible offer is remarkable.”

Zhao Xing calmly said, “I wouldn’t dare say that. How could I be as formidable as you? You’ve lived to this day while being wanted by super-forces, and have captured me yet again.”

Wei Tianchen stroked his beard and said, “If you had been honest back then, none of this would have happened today. However, this time you are purely overthinking it. I don’t intend to kill you.”

Zhao Xing didn’t believe a word of it, but Wei Tianchen waved his hand and actually opened the Realm Ship’s barrier, allowing Venerable Bamboo Sword to enter the ship.

“Bamboo Sword, once I achieve my goal, I will hand him over to you unharmed,” Wei Tianchen said.

Venerable Bamboo Sword nodded slightly: “Besides protecting you, fellow Daoist, in the coming time, I will also owe you another favor.”

Originally, Zhao Xing had only wanted Venerable Bamboo Sword to find an opportunity for a trailing rescue, or, if that failed, to ask him to notify the Primeval Realm of the Empire.

Who would have thought it would turn out this way?

Could he really escape with his life so easily?

However, upon closer thought, Wei Tianchen capturing