Chapter 321: Jiang He, Why Are You Here?
“Vice-chieftain Zhong!”
The two Ten Thousand Swords Sect elders, who had arrived alongside with Zhong Wanshan, appeared utterly stunned just then. They shouted at the array, but got no reaction in return!
Noting the pair’s worried looks, the Convergence-tier cultivator of the Penglai Sect laughed. “No need to panic, elders. It’s just an illusory sect—it would not inflict any injury. Moreover, the Fourth Elder of your sect is a specialist in arrays while vice-chieftain Zhong is powerful, so with their combined strength as husband and wife, it’s simply a matter of time before the array is broken.”
The man was the senior elder of the Penglai Sect, his sage t.i.tle being Jade Hollow Child and was usually addressed as the Sage of Jade Hollow. Being Convergence-tier intermediate, he was quite powerful.
Only then did the two Ten Thousand Swords Sect elders relax.
They remained where they were as they looked ahead, watching as Jiang He’s house was shrouded beneath the array’s radiance. Still, everything inside the array itself was a blur and could not be seen, and likewise, there was no sign of Zhong Wanshan’s family of three at all.
It was only after half an hour that the array suddenly shook. After that, Fourth Elder flew out, carrying an unconscious Zhong Yue with a gloomy look on her face.
Zhong Wanshan retreated out of the array a few minutes later too.
He appeared pale and was panting heavily. The look of shock on his face took a long time to fade before he cried out in surprise, “That illusory array was too powerful. My sage heart was actually affected—a specialist on arrays must have laid out that array.”
Striding forward and reaching Zhong Yue, he could not help breathing a sigh of relief after doing a brief checkup. “Yue’er is mostly fine. His sage heart was merely strained a little by the illusions conjured and all he needs is some rest.”
The many other elites flocked towards them, all of them asking about what had happened inside the array.
The Fourth Elder of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, who is also Zhong Wanshan’s wife, somberly said, “That illusory array is powerful and it invokes the demons in one’s heart if they were to enter, thereby weaving a vivid dreamworld. Anyone whose sage heart is lacking would not be able to pull themselves out from the submersion.”
“Are you sure you could crack the array?” Jade Hollow asked then.
Fourth Elder, however shook her head. “It would be very difficult. I was obstructed immensely even though I was only trying to escape it with Yue’er. I might have to study it for a while before I attempt cracking it again.”
“However...”
Fourth Elder’s tone changed as she added, “Since the array protects a residence, it definitely would not only be a single illusory array—I’m afraid there would be other arrays beneath the illusory array even if I were to break it.”
“Then, what should we do?”
Everyone present appeared upset, with one of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect Elder seething, “That brat Jiang He must be captured alive. Both our immortal sects have come mobilizing most of our strength, but if word gets out that we failed to crack down his house’s array, could we even show our faces anywhere else?”
Zhong Wanshan turned to give his wife a look and somberly said, “Just focus on cracking the array.”
Then, taking out a jade charm and pa.s.sing it to another Ten Thousand Swords Sect Elder, he instructed the Elder to return to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and inform the chieftain regarding the matter.
Nearby, Jade Hollow Child said, “Elder Nine Dragons, please return to your sect to ask for vice-chieftain Cloud Sky as well.”
Having received his orders, the True Habitant of Nine Dragons returned posthaste.
The Fourth Elder of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect appeared delighted at those words, saying, “Cloudy Sky Fairy Child is an expert in arrays and is much more accomplished in arrays than I am. Cracking this array would be easy with her around.”
Just as the other Elder from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect had put it, this matter now involved the reputation of two sects. Where indeed would they put their face if they could not crack the array?
Hence, one of the Elders started yelling at the array, demanding that Jiang He come out, while the Fourth Elder of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect sat cross-legged and began feel around the array.
None of them were aware that Jiang He was not inside the array at all.
***
Jiang He was unaware about everything happening at his house.
Right now, he was bringing along his entire household and having a barbecue on an island in the middle of the ocean.
They were grilling a giant rank-nine Feral Fish which Trumbo had caught.
Though it was feline nature to fear water, Trumbo had awakened water-type powers, which was why it was no different from a fish after it entered water.
After the fish was more or less cooked, it was painted with aromatic oil and conditioned with chili powder and grill spices. As its fragrance spread, many marine Ferals were drawn toward them.
Jiang He tore a chunk of the fish and shared some with Sora and Boa Hanc.o.c.k. Then, he pointed at the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers and barked, “Only attack when there are more Ferals around us. Practice more and learn to control your powers as soon as possible!”
“Yes, Gramps!”
The Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers all answered, each of them chomping on a big chunk of fish they tore off, oil flowing all over their mouths.
Dumbo and Trumbo each had a huge chunk of fish as well, and were eating in sweet pleasure.
As for the two golden eaglets...
They had flown away for quite a while and were nowhere to be seen, probably off to play. Jiang He did not stop them since eagles were creatures destined to soar the skies and it was unpleasant for them to have to run laps around his farm every day.
After having his fill, Jiang He moved a sofa out from his mansion into the farm and lay back. Sora then ma.s.saged his eggs in front, while Boa did his shoulders from behind.
At the same time, the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers went to action. As waves of ‘hetui’, ‘hetui’ echoed, streaks of air blades shot into the water and the ocean was soon dyed red with blood, with untold number of Ferals soon floating up to the surface.
Most of the corpses were fishes, prawns, and crabs. Dumbo and Trumbo hence entered the water, each of them gathering some prawns and crabs, filling the Spatial Rings that Jiang He had given them.
That was when sonorous eagle cries resounded—both golden eaglets were circling up in the skies before descending.
The two little chicks were growing at an astonishing rate. Having reached rank-nine pinnacle and cultivated Sky Daemon Invincibility, they were not far from condensing their pellets.
Meanwhile, still on the sofa, Jiang He whipped out his satellite phone to check his present location.
“We are around 400 kilometers away from the Hua Nation coastline. We should be at the area between the Eastern Sea and the Yellow Sea... if we go further ahead...’
Jiang He shook his head and looked east.
Further ahead was the Pacific Ocean. Moreover, this place was not far away from the island nation, was it?
And once he remembered the island nation, Jiang He could not help recalling the Nine-Headed Serpent Emperor which lived in the Pacific Ocean and topped the ranking of Feral Serpents.
“Oh yes!”
“Didn’t old Lin Tianzheng fight against the Nine-Headed Serpent Emperor on one of the islands of that island nation?”
“The entire island sank as a result and he found the Penglai Sect...’
Jiang He appeared thoughtful. Would he reach the domain of the Penglai Sect if he kept going forward?
That was when...
Whoosh!
A figure was rapidly flying past from the horizon.
As Jiang He’s divine mind swept out, he exclaimed in surprise, “Isn’t that the True Habitant of Nine Dragons from the Penglai Sect? Where is he flying to in such a hurry?’
He had wanted to communicate through divine mind and call out, ‘Hold up, fellow sage.’ However, the True Habitant of Nine Dragons had already flown out of the range of his divine mind, and so, he had to give up.
Taking out several spirit condensation pellets, Jiang He refined and strengthened his Yuan Spirit before breathing a long sigh. “Forget it, I won’t visit the Penglai Sect for now since things had been a little unpleasant before. If I visited them without an invitation, won’t I lose face if they wouldn’t see me?”
Moreover, the scenery on the isle was quite fine.
Hence, Jiang He continued relaxing with his two maids, cat, dog, two golden eaglets, and the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers on the isle, while also looking around for stuff like mutated plants.
But even before one hour had pa.s.sed...
Whoosh!
Two flashes streaked through the skies just then.
Extending his divine mind again, he realized that aside from the True Habitant of Nine Dragons, there was now a female cultivator with an icy aura and stunning looks. She was quite powerful, her cultivation having reached Convergence-intermediate, and she could not help frowning and pausing when Jiang He’s divine mind reached her. Looking down at the area beneath her, she spoke crisply, “Fellow sage without a face, please do come out to meet us.”
At the same time, the True Habitant of Nine Dragons turned toward the female cultivator in surprise and asked, “What is it, Cloudy Sky chieftain?”
“Someone with divine mind on that isle was watching us,” Cloudy Sky replied flatly.
***
On the isle beneath her, Jiang He chuckled begrudgingly.
Though it was awkward to cross paths with people from the Penglai Sect since various things had happened, how could he keep hiding since the other had spoken?
As such, he laughed out loud as he took to the skies with a smile. “True Habitant of Nine Dragons, Fairy Child... I’ve inadvertently obstructed your urgent journey, so really sorry about that.”
True Habitant of Nine Dragons was dumbstruck.
His eyes were bulging as if he had seen a ghost. Staring at Jiang He, he could not help exclaiming, “Jiang He, why are you here?”
What the h.e.l.l?
What the h.e.l.l?!
Jiang He?
Why the h.e.l.l was he here?
Jiang He was absolutely confused... what was the True Habitant of Nine Dragons talking about?
What do you mean by asking why I am here?
This is the vast, infinite ocean and it does not belong to your Penglai Sect. Why would you care?