Chapter 1231: Isolated Island
Translator: Lordbluefire
On 7th December, the sky was slightly gloomy.
West City Gate.
Sun Mo bought six vegetarian buns on his way, and he surveyed the people who stopped here as he ate.
There were six middle-aged men clad in great teacher robes. They should be the examinees who wanted to partic.i.p.ate in this exam. The others looked like they were great teachers but weren’t clad in great teacher robes.
The profession of great teachers had a relatively high status in the Nine Provinces. 3-stars and above could basically get a free meal when they stayed in a hotel.
However, being a great teacher was all about style. No one would care for such a tiny benefit. Besides, to avoid trouble, the majority of great teachers wouldn’t choose to wear their great teacher robes when traveling.
After all, who wouldn’t lose their tempers and have bad habits?
If they got into a quarrel or a fight when wearing their great teacher robes, things would be unsightly.
Sun Mo was precisely wary of this, hence he decided to wear an indigo-colored warrior attire. He looked like a wandering hero who cared little for money from those martial arts novels!
“Sadly, there are no girls with ‘cooling’ clothes on!”
Sun Mo sighed. He started to miss the modern era.
The more he glanced around, the more a middle-aged man grew unhappy.
“What are you looking at? This daddy will dig your eyeb.a.l.l.s out!”
The middle-aged man had a fierce expression as he bared his teeth at Sun Mo.
Sun Mo frowned.
“Yo, this brat is very gutsy!”
The companion of the middle-aged man saw that Sun Mo didn’t have a look of nervousness on his face, hence he decided to speak teasingly. “You should calm yourself. I know you have a bad temper, but everybody here is a great teacher. Things would be unsightly if someone saw you acting like this.”
“So what even if others saw it? I, Wu You, wouldn’t be scared!”
The middle-aged man coldly snorted.
“You…”
His companion almost coughed up blood from anger. This was because his name was Wu You. The middle-aged man with a bad temper was actually Pang Tong.
“Ai, if I knew that the venue of the examination this time is the Great Prison of Desolation, I wouldn’t have registered!”
Pang Tong felt depressed because they would have to waste several years. The gains wouldn’t be able to outweigh the loss.
“There is danger but also opportunity!”
Wu You consoled him. “Many high star-ranking great teachers are locked up there. If we can learn an ultimate technique or two from them, this trip won’t be a wasted one.”
“True!”
Pang Tong nodded. After that, he glanced at Sun Mo. ‘Che, this young brat is quite handsome, I really feel like cutting his face up!’
“My condolences!”
Wu You sighed. He knew that his good friend had a female disciple who had been cheated of her body and money by a handsome young man. In the end, his female disciple jumped into a lake and committed suicide.
“Oi brat, come over and chat!”
A wealthy-looking seemingly married woman that still retained her charm waved her hands at Sun Mo.
“Madam, what can I do for you?”
Sun Mo clasped his fists.
This woman wore a bright-red long dress with a peony design embroidered over it. She also had a golden hairpin and even drew her eyebrows. Other than exuding a wealthy aura, she also exuded charm.
“That baldy is scolding you, why are you not reb.u.t.ting?”
The rich woman seemed to be asking a question, but she was silently provoking Pang Tong.
After all, no men liked to be despised.
“Who did you say is a baldy?”
Pang Tong berated. “My hair is just shorter!”
The rich-looking woman ignored him and continued surveying Sun Mo. “Are you afraid you can’t win against him in a fight? There’s no problem, I’ll back you up. If you are unhappy, just spit at him!”
“…”
Sun Mo was speechless. (Did I run into an aunty that wants to eat me up?)
“What did you say?”
Pang Tong raged but he was held back by Wu You.
“Wait a minute, this woman seems to be Lian Hongying.”
Wu You stared at the golden hairpin. There was a golden b.u.t.terfly on it. It looked like an ornament if one glanced casually, but if one took a closer look, they would discover that it was a loving b.u.t.terfly that would scatter gold powder when it flapped its wings.
“Si, L…Lian Hongying?”
Pang Tong had a look of wariness on his face as he stared at the rich woman. “She also came to partic.i.p.ate in the examination?”
No matter which industry, there would always be some geniuses whose name had spread far and wide, becoming after-meal topics of people. People would either sigh in admiration or feel fear. Lian Hongying belonged to the latter category.
Her teaching ability might not be high, but she was from the Hundred Flowers Sect and her personal teacher was none other than the Hundred Poison Granny. Her technique in using poison was basically unrivaled in the world.
Why didn’t Sun Mo dare to learn the cla.s.sic of poison when he had obtained it in the past? It was because everyone had a negative perception of this subject.
“How is it? This aunty is very impressive, right?”
When Lian Hongying saw Pang Tong’s terrified expression, she giggled and continued to seduce Sun Mo. “Actually, I’m a great teacher. As long as you learn from me, you will be able to crush a few baldies like him within three years!”
This sentence was just too provocative. Pang Tong wanted to lose his temper, but he was held back by Wu You.
“Forget it, I can’t afford to offend her!”
Wu You didn’t want to perish by implication.
“Don’t you judge a disciple by his or her apt.i.tude before you accept them?”
Sun Mo counter-asked.
“Hehe, I trust my eyes. You are a genius!”
Lian Hongying was lying. She couldn’t see Sun Mo’s apt.i.tude. However, she didn’t care about this. When she accepted disciples, it depended on whether they were good-looking or not.
Sun Mo activated Divine Sight.
“Lian Hongying. Warning: Dangerous character. She’s a poison expert.”
“Her personality is extremely arrogant and she kills people without a care in the world.”
Someone like this could become a great teacher too?
Sun Mo frowned as he read the data.
“Kneel and take me on as your teacher. This is a heavenly opportunity for you!”
Lian Hongying’s red lips parted slightly. She puffed out her chest and sucked in her belly, appearing like an expert.
Sun Mo’s lips twitched. “Sorry, I’ve no interest in old women!”
“What did you say?”
Lian Hongying’s brows were furrowed.
Swish~
All the people in the surrounding area glanced over in unison. Many of them were great teachers and knew of Lian Hongying’s great name. This was why they also knew that this young man was going to be out of luck soon.
“Brat, if you don’t want to die, quickly apologize!”
A middle-aged man berated. Although his tone was unkind, he actually wanted to help Sun Mo.
This place was the Darkness Continent. Strength was everything here.
“Great Teacher Lian, you are a 5-stars great teacher. Please don’t bother yourself with a kid!”
An old man with white hair persuaded her.
“Who the h.e.l.l are you?”
Lian Hongying mocked. “This mummy hasn’t turned 18 yet. I’m still a youth!”
Lu Guodong froze and wanted to scold back. However, because he was more senior, doing so would lower his own status.
“This great teacher, we as humans have to speak with logic. Your mother might not have taught you how to behave correctly, but someone would definitely do so!”
The expression of the middle-aged man who wanted to help turned gloomy and he spoke out to lecture her.
“You want to teach me?”
Lian Hongying sneered.
“d.a.m.n, is it impressive just because you understand the study of poison?”
Pang Tong felt very unhappy. “How good would it be if this young man was Sun Mo? He would definitely beat this Lian Hongying up so badly until her s.h.i.+t flows out.”
“Many thanks to the two great teachers who spoke out. However, it’s best that you guys don’t involve yourselves in my business.”
Sun Mo persuaded out of good will.
The data showed that Lian Hongying was truly an expert at using poison, and it would be simple for her to kill these people. As for why he wanted to provoke her?
It was naturally because she had used poison.
Pak!
Sun Mo stretched out his hand and grabbed Lian Hongying’s chest before forcefully giving a squeeze.
“What?”
Everyone’s eyes almost popped out. Could it be that this brat didn’t want to live anymore?
Lian Hongying was stunned. It had always been her teasing others, and no one dared to take the initiative to touch her. But a moment later, rage and embarra.s.sment showed on her face. Just when she wanted to act and punish him, Sun Mo suddenly spoke.
“Using poison on strangers? Your personality is truly terrible!”
Sun Mo moved beside Lian Hongying and whispered in her ear.
What?
Lian Hongying started.
(He could tell? Impossible! My poisoning methods are wondrous and exquisite, even my teacher sighed in admiration due to my skill.)
“Your lip balm is a type of poison that is colorless and odorless. When you breathe out hot air, poisonous particles will form. When they leave your lips and the temperature drops, they will become a poison mist. As long as those people around you breathe in a little of the mist, they will be poisoned.”
Sun Mo smiled. “Naturally, you can still decide whether the poison will take effect or not. I believe that if I have agreed, I would be unknowingly poisoned. But once I disagree, even if I don’t die, I’ll be tormented badly by the poison.”
“Who are you?”
Lian Hongying’s eyes narrowed because Sun Mo was correct.
“Why don’t you take a guess?”
Sun Mo chortled.
“…”
Lian Hongying wanted to act, but she discovered to her horror that her body couldn’t move. She even felt difficulty in breathing and a sense of suffocation.
“Unfortunately, I understand the study of poison, and herbology even more. If you want to depend on these to bully me, you have chosen the wrong target!”
Sun Mo mocked and released his grab on Lian Hongying.
Lian Hongying didn’t say anything. She only stared at Sun Mo ruthlessly before walking alone to a corner in the city.
“It can’t be, right? Lian Hongying actually didn’t kill him?”
“What origins does that brat have?”
“Since he is waiting here, there’s an 80% to 90% chance that he’s a great teacher that will partic.i.p.ate in the exam. But he’s so young, he has to be Sun Mo, right?”
Everyone whispered.
Although one could delay aging upon reaching the Longevity Realm, on average, a cultivator would only be able to reach it after 50 years old. As for great teachers, not only did they have to teach others, but they had to increase their own knowledge as well. So, basically the higher one’s star rank was, the greater their age would be.
Some were as young as Sun Mo. But then there was only one explanation remaining – he was a genius.
Just when everyone was preparing to offer a greeting and ask for Sun Mo’s name, the horse carriages prepared by the Saint Gate had arrived.
“Everyone, time’s up. Get on!”
A middle-aged man clad in armor with a full beard roared loudly. “Three minutes. There will be no delays.”
Everyone turned and looked at Sun Mo. Whether he was a great teacher or not, they would know by seeing whether or not he got onto a horse carriage.
“Can we get on any of them?”
Sun Mo asked.
“Yes!”
Full-beard cast a few glances at Sun Mo. “You guys should move quickly.”
Everyone started to board the horse carriages.
“Should we go to the one Sun Mo is in?”
Wu You suggested.
“You want to be a simp?”
Pang Tong rolled his eyes. He actually wanted to go too, but Sun Mo’s current fame was too great. If he went there like that, it would be like he coveted Sun Mo’s G.o.d Hands and Skyward Spirit Rune.
Maybe, everyone had the same thoughts, so it caused Sun Mo to enjoy a carriage alone in the end.
The horse carriages moved rapidly and they arrived at a pier half a day later. A sailing s.h.i.+p was already there.
“Get on the s.h.i.+p!” Full-beard urged.
“The journey to the Great Prison of Desolation takes seven days. Everyone, don’t move around randomly, just meditate in your cabin for seven days!”
Full-beard listed some things that they had to take note of. After that, he continued, “Each cabin room is to be shared by two people. Allocate the rooms yourself!”
Swish~
Everyone turned to look at Sun Mo.
“Teacher Sun, why don’t we share a room?”
Lian Hongying suggested.
“Are you recommending yourself as a bedwarmer? If you are unhappy, why don’t we fight it out?”
Pang Tong sneered in a low voice.
“Sleeping with a poisonous widow, I’m afraid you have to be wary even in your sleep!”
Wu You shook his head. Lian Hongying’s appearance was 7 out of 10. Her figure was still there and she could be considered one of the most strikingly beautiful ones among rich middle-aged women. However, she was a poison user. This point was truly unbearable.
“I’ve said before, I’m not fond of old women!”
Sun Mo rejected.
“You…”
Lian Hongying gritted her teeth.
“I’m going to select a room!”
Sun Mo walked to the s.h.i.+p’s cabin area.
The others watched. That Lu Guodong and w.a.n.g Bibao both stepped over but soon halted their steps because Lian Hongying shot a gaze over.
The gaze was clear without words. (Whoever leaves with Sun Mo will be dealt with by me!)
Hence, everyone felt trepidation.
There was no solution. In a fair compet.i.tion, no one felt afraid, but when it came to poison, no one here could handle it.
“Hmph!”
Lian Hongying snorted complacently. (Sun Mo, I will let you know how impressive I am. Based on our standards in the study of poison, I’m your great-grandaunt!)
Great teachers were all very busy individuals. On the first day, some people were still curious about the scenery of the Boundless Sea and went to the deck to see the sunset. But on the second day, everyone stayed in their rooms either to cultivate or for revision.
Sun Mo felt very rueful as he stared at these great teachers.
Speaking of accomplishments, these people were 5-stars great teachers and could be considered as successful. But even so, they still cast Complete Focus on themselves and continued learning and revising their studies a.s.siduously.
As expected, those who were successful had to put in so much effort that it would cause people to feel unbearable.
Sun Mo also started revising.
Besides, he had to pay more attention to his study of poison and herbology. After all, he had offended Lian Hongying and naturally had to take some precautions.
A journey on the sea was very dull and the scenery didn’t change. Moreover, because everyone was a cultivator and ate rarely, they didn’t mind having only one meal per day.
Sun Mo chose not to eat anything and only drank water daily.
During the dawn of the fifth day!
“Oh no, everyone, one of the crew members has disappeared!”
Someone suddenly called out.
Sun Mo, who was in the midst of meditation, opened his eyes. His ears could pick up the sounds of hurried footsteps running toward the deck.
Sun Mo also came out.
“Teacher Sun, the sailor has disappeared!”
Wu You looked at Sun Mo as he spoke.
“d.a.m.n, have we fallen into one of the Dark Dawn’s crafty plots?”
Pang Tong felt regret. “Why did I forget to check the ident.i.ties of these people?”
“If the other party really wants to ambush us, they will definitely perform it flawlessly. You won’t be able to see through their ident.i.ties!”
Lian Hongying mocked.
“Although we are 5-stars, honestly speaking, we are not valuable enough to be ambushed by the Dark Dawn, right?”
Lu Guodong covered his chest with his hands and started a.n.a.lyzing.
Why did the Dark Dawn want to kill so many great teachers at one go? What were they after?
“We might not be valuable enough, but Teacher Sun is!” Lian Hongying chortled. “I feel that the other party must be here for him.”
This sentence enlightened everyone.
That was right!
Sun Mo had too many things that the Dark Dawn coveted.
“Teacher Sun, you have to pay us for our ‘losses’!”
Someone teased in a joking manner, taking the opportunity to make their relations.h.i.+p with Sun Mo closer.
Sun Mo smiled but didn’t reply. However, a person that dressed up like an old farmer spoke.
“Could this be a part of the exam?”
The old farmer sniffed. His trousers were pulled up and it was like he was just returning home after he had planted seedlings.
Everyone fell silent as this was indeed possible.
“Isn’t the examination to make three prisoners repent? That is already very difficult. Does the Saint Gate still have to increase the difficulty?”
Pang Tong shook his head. “I think it’s the Dark Dawn trying to stir up trouble!”