Judging from the tense atmosphere, Master Tie and the witch didnât seem like they had come to reminisce with the people from Heavenly Spring Sacred Land and Heavenly Snow Holy Domain. Everyone was on edge, ready to draw their weapons at any moment. It seemed like a fight could break out at any time.
Yang Zhen didnât know what had transpired here, but he was pretty sure that the travesty of a cat was nearby. The mark Yang Zhen left on the cat sent out a wave of movement not too long ago, and the relief was that there was no sense of imminent danger coming from the fluctuation.
However, Yang Zhen was puzzled. Since there was no danger, why hadnât the darn cat shown up? Could it be pulling the same stunt as him, hiding on the sidelines to watch the uproar?
Quite possible!
While Yang Zhen was lost in his own thoughts, Lu Tianwei and Fang Zhongjian, the two wicked old pals, led a group of people towards Master Tie. Especially Fang Zhongjian, who had a deceiving smile plastered on his face that screamed of ill intentions. You had to admire his ability to maintain such an insincere expression.
âMaster Tie, we meet again.â
Fang Zhongjian looked at Master Tie with a cunning smirk and said, âIâve long suspected you had a connection with the Mountain River Academy. It turns out you really did show up. I assume you know why we are here, right? Why not just hand it over?â
Yang Zhen listened dumbfounded and looked at Master Tie in surprise. His suspicions were correct. Master Tie was indeed associated with the Mountain River Academy, and it appeared to be a deep connection at that.
Then, Lu Tianwei spoke up, âMaster Tie, thereâs nothing more to say at this junction. We were not here for a friendly chat. Weâve already removed everyone in the vicinity. Weâre here for the Mountain River Map. If you hand it over, we promise not to disturb your unsealing of the Mountain River Academyâs seal.â
âMountain River Map?â Yang Zhen was stupefied at first, then a smile spread across his face, âOh, so thereâs a treasure at stake.â
âWhatâs the Mountain River Map?â Feng Lingqiao curiously asked from the side.
Yang Zhen shook his head and said, âI have no idea, but if it has caught the attention of Heavenly Spring Sacred Land and Heavenly Snow Holy Domain, it must be a real treasure. Letâs wait and see.â
With that, Yang Zhen took out a set of table and chairs from his storage ring, arranging a fruit plate on the table. As he sat down, he invited Feng Lingqiao, who was dumbstruck, âWould you like some?â
Feng Lingqiao sat down with a strange expression and asked, âArenât you worried?â
âWorried?â Yang Zhen froze, then looked at Feng Lingqiao in confusion, âWorried about what? About Master Tie and the witchâs lives, or which side will end up with the so-called Mountain River Map?â
At his question, Feng Lingqiao faltered before stating, âWe should be worried about something, shouldnât we?â
Yang Zhen burst into laughter and shook his head, responding, âI never worry about anything.â
What good does worrying bring? If youâve done everything you could, regardless of success or failure, you wonât be left with any regret. Given that, whatâs the point in worrying?
Just forge ahead when you can, or bide your time if you canât. Life is really that simple.
At that moment, a hearty laughter resounded. Master Tie looked around, an ironic smile playing around his lips, âSo this is how the lofty Great Sects behave. If I donât hand over what you want, you plan to rob me?â
âOld man!â
The Senior Brother from Heavenly Spring Sacred Land, Qi, let out a cold harrumph, glaring at Master Tie, âDonât try to put a big hat on our heads. Given the current situation, even if we did rob you, what then? The Cultivation World has always been a place where the survival of the fittest reigns; if you were in our position today, would you miss such an opportunity?â
A cold gleam flitted across Master Tieâs eyes as he shook his head, âNo.â
Senior Brother Qi laughed heartily. He exchanged glances with Fang Zhongjian and others, saying, âSee? Didnât I say this old man understood very well? Why are we even wasting time talking to him? Letâs just take it directly.â
Everyone hesitated slightly, but gradually they started to close in on Master Tie.
Master Tie sighed heavily and opened his hands, saying, âYou are all mistaken. The Mountain River Map is not in my possession right now.â
Mistaken?
The Mountain River Map wasnât with Master Tie?
The people who had just begun inching forward were taken aback, looking at Master Tie in bewilderment.
Fang Zhongjian sneered and brandished a long sword that had appeared in his hand out of nowhere. Even though it was not a sacred weapon, it shimmered chillingly in the light. He stared at Master Tie, saying, âOld man, do you still insist on quibbling? Iâd thought that in spite of your stubbornness, you were a straightforward man. But it turns out youâre as indecisive as anyone else.â
Master Tie exchanged a glance with the witch, then burst into laughter. Looking directly at Fang Zhongjian, he replied, âYou think, if the Mountain River Map was in my hands, youâd still be standing here?â
Upon hearing Master Tieâs words, everyone was taken aback. Fang Zhongjian and Lu Tianwei looked at each other, both seeing confusion in each otherâs eyes, and spoke in a serious voice,
âMaster Tie, the people of Heavenly Spring Sacred Land and Heavenly Snow Holy Domain are all here. Even if you have the Mountain River Map, do you think you can kill us all? If the map isnât with you, then where is it?â
Master Tie pointed to a mountain behind the group and said, âItâs inside there.â
Everyone subconsciously looked towards the mountain Master Tie was pointing at, their faces changed unanimously. Fang Zhongjian exclaimed coldly, âMaster Tie, do you think we would believe that? If Iâve guessed correctly, that place should be the Ring World where Mountain River Academy is sealed, right? Once you break the seal and the people of Mountain River Academy come out, wonât we all end up dead?â
At his words, Yang Zhen exchanged bemused glances with Feng Lingqiao. The Ring World where Mountain River Academy was sealed. What on earth was that?
Were all these Great Sects sealed in such ring worlds, living for tens of thousands of years?
At this point, an ironic smile appeared on Master Tieâs face as he said, âDuring the epoch, in the face of the great catastrophe, all the major forces used the Ring World for hibernation, to survive the disaster. You people are all sleepers from before the epoch, arenât you, even afraid of an old man like me?â
Fang Zhongjian and Lu Tianwei exchanged glances. Just as they were about to speak, Master Tie interrupted, âThe line of the Final Void Academy has been guarding the secret of Mountain River Academy for all these years, and I have finally lived to see the day. My only wish is to fulfill the will of my ancestors. As for who ends up with the Mountain River Map â¦â
Master Tie sneered, moments of self-mockery flickering in his eyes. He looked out at the boundless mountains as if murmuring to himself, âWho ends up with the Mountain River Map is not for this old man to decide.â
Everyoneâs face tightened at his words, looking at Master Tie uncertainly. Fang Zhongjian frowned and said, âMaster Tie, are you telling the truth?â
Master Tie threw back his head and laughed, turning to the witch and saying solemnly, âUndoing the seal would take a whole day. Whether Iâm telling the truth or not, wonât you know if you just wait and see? There are two layers of seals, the Mountain River Academy members are trapped within the second layer. Within the first layer are not just the Mountain River Map, but also â¦â
âAlso, what?â Fang Zhongjianâs eyebrows twitched.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Master Tie took a deep breath, dragging each word, âAlso, the Daoist Origin Fruit of a thousand years!â
What?
Upon hearing these words, everyone was stunned!