Chapter 130: The Backup
Wen Leyang stood up and nodded to the opposing party, “Taoist priest Liu Zheng, how do you do!”
Wen Leyang had considerable power but he had not learned how to hide his breath. As such, he could not hide from a cultivator’s telegnosis ability. However, he was only considered as an ordinary person in the eyes of a cultivator, no one paid too much attention to him, just like a tiger would not care about that one locust hiding in a gra.s.s pit in front of it. However, this person who came was no stranger. He could use his telegnosis ability to sense their existence in a short moment.
In a friendly manner, the little supreme leader of Kunlun Sect chuckled as he pointed towards the tracksuit that he was wearing, “Liu Zheng is my Taoist monastic name, my given name is actually Liew Zheng[1]. Since I am not wearing my Taoist robe, please don’t call me Taoist priest then, just call me by my name will do.”
When Wen Leyang was speaking, the Metal Poison Stream underneath his feet abruptly spread out and guarded Xiaoyi, Bushuo, Buzuo and the rest within it. The giant pangolin Po Tu released its demonic energy with the initial purpose of luring the appearance of the group of mystery men that killed demons and extracted their vitality, which resulted in Chang Li’s disappearance. No one would have thought that they would manage to lure was one of the Five Blessings, the little supreme leader of Kunlun Taoist, instead.
Liu Zheng understood the situation. Appearing slightly nervous, he wiped his sweaty palms on his clothes, “That big-muzzled weapon is good enough to deal with me. There is no need for such incisive strong poison.”
Xiaoyi’s posture when she was raising the big-muzzled weapon was graceful yet professional. Her pitch-black eyes stared straight towards Liu Zheng without blinking.
Liu Zheng observed the formation before his eyes. He then turned around and took a look at the panting white-skinned pangolin. He was suddenly enlightened, “All of you are trying to lure the enemy?” As he was saying that he started waving his hands hastily, “It is a misunderstanding, it is a misunderstanding, I have only sensed the demonic energy that was surging skywards. This was why I rushed over here to take a look!”
Wen Leyang was accustomed to facing all sorts of unexpected events. He laughed as he shook his head, “I am also hoping that this is a misunderstanding!” This was his honest opinion. The little supreme leader of Kunlun Taoist did not deliberately make things difficult for the Wen family village when they were on Nine Peaks Mountain recently. Even though he did not always say the most reliable things, every word of his was fair. He had also exhausted all his power when he was dealing with the Weeping Buddha. Hence, Wen Leyang had a good impression of him.
Facing the big-muzzled weapon, Liu Zheng spoke rapidly akin to pouring beans out of a bamboo tube, withholding nothing, “About half a month ago, I left the Wen family village and returned to the Kunlun Mountains, when the ‘Wave-less Well’ in the Yu Xu Palace suddenly swooshed and rippled without a stop…” Liu Zheng had sharp eyes, the moment he saw that Wen Leyang, Xiaoyi were slightly puzzled, he did not await their questions but directly explained to them, “The ‘Wave-less Well’ is in the Kunlun Sect’s Yu Xu Palace. It does not dry up or overflow on usual days and not a strand of mild ripple could be seen. However, if a tremendous primordial vitally, or primordial spirit in the world is to vibrate or explode, the Wave-less Well will then start rippling. It is the treasure used for monitoring the changes of tremendous primordial energy in the world. Once the Wave-less Well ripples once, it can be the birth of an extraordinary treasure, a giant demon that has taken form, or a master cultivator with great supernatural power is casting spells in a battle.”
Wen Leyang calculated the time. About half a month ago, he was still in the Qilian Mountains, “Can the Wave-less Well detect Shanghai all the way from the Kunlun Mountains?”
Liu Zheng coughed once, “How will I know? This Wave-less Well of the Kunlun Sect had never vibrated before since the beginning. I always thought it was a bluff and I even threw rocks into the well in the past…”
Xiaoyi frowned, wrinkling her beautiful brows. She inquired closely with a slightly astonished expression, “And that didn’t raise a ripple at all?”
“I was splashed with a body full of water.” Liu Zheng shrugged.
Wen Leyang laughed, “You ought to use a smaller stone next time, all will be well.”
Liu Zheng sneered twice, “I totally did not expect that the Wave-less Well would shake so hard that water was spraying out of it. The Kunlun Sect had its own magic spell. After the well water rippled, someone came and calculated that something happened in Shanghai. I hastily left the mountain, rather than staying there in the Yu Xu Palace and being treated with disdain from my fellow brother disciples continuously.”
Wen Leyang’s expression did not change too much. He was still chuckling as he asked, “So you came to Shanghai?”
Liu Zheng nodded strenuously, “Earlier I was just preparing to visit the Oriental Pearl Tower. I even paid seventy bucks for it! However, when I sensed that the demonic energy was surging skywards over here, I hastily ran over and took a look.” Upon saying that he stopped for a moment, only then Liu Zheng asked in probing, “Do you believe in me?”
Wen Leyang had yet to speak, Xiaoyi had already seized the moment to shake her head, “I don’t believe you, the entrance ticket costs fifty!”
Liu Zheng was astonished, “What do you mean by the entrance ticket costs fifty?”
“The Oriental Pearl Tower. Its entrance ticket costs fifty each. If you wish to visit three more top spheres, it will cost you a hundred, including a free visit to the Munic.i.p.al History Museum.” Xiaoyi had just visited the Oriental Pearl Tower with Wen Leyang the day before.
Liu Zheng gave out an ‘oh no’, his expression was a mixture of anger and regret, “How would I know? Someone told me it was seventy, I paid seventy, I was just about to enter the tower with him when…”
As he was saying that, Liu Zheng pondered for a moment. He had no scruple about his ident.i.ty as he sat on the ground, closed his mouth and refused to speak anymore.
Wen Leyang was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, “What are you doing…are you trying to make a scene here?”
Xiaoyi raised the big-muzzled weapon as she chimed in with her husband, “You thought that you sat on the ground then I will be too shy to shoot you?”
Liu Zheng shrugged, “I can never explain or clarify the situation anymore, I will wait for a while then…” Before he could finish his sentence, a loud and rough voice echoed akin to a thunder from far away, “The Great Mercy Temple, the seat of honor of the Ten Modes Monastery, the monk Hope Aware is here.”
A strong and bulky bald-headed monk appeared with his hands clasped behind his back and back straightened. He did not seem to be moving his feet much but his body had already neared the giant pangolin like a puff of vapor. He was no stranger too.
Liu Zheng, who was sitting on the ground earlier, was prepared to jump up when he suddenly saw Xiaoyi’s big-muzzled weapon was still aimed at him. His b.u.t.tocks moved here and there but he dared not move. He shouted towards the monk, “Hey, the divine monk Hope Aware, you’re here too!”
The seat of honor of the Ten Modes Monastery Hope Aware’s attention was all fixated on the giant pangolin initially. When he suddenly heard Liu Zheng’s shout, he was stunned for a moment. He turned around and glided towards Liu Zheng, “The supreme leader Liu Zheng, you’re here too?” As he was saying that, his gaze swept past Xiaoyi and the rest of the people. Initially, he had already glided past Wen Leyang yet he suddenly turned back, “Wen Leyang? Why are you here?”
Liu Zheng interrupted, “I could not stand my brother disciples’ disdain, I seized the excuse of the Wave-less Well’s shaking and came over to Shanghai. Senior, you’re here at Shanghai. Is it because of the Great Mercy Temple’s Mute Bell?” As he was saying that, he turned around his head and explained to Wen Leyang that there was a Mute Bell in the Great Mercy Temple, which did not ring all year long, almost similar to the Wave-less Well of the Kunlun Sect. It only rang when the spirit primordial energy in between the heaven and the earth vibrated and was also a treasure used to monitor the fluctuation of spirit primordial energy in the world. There was also the half section of ‘Grindstone Knife’ of the One Word Palace, the ‘Non-blossoming Flower’ of the Jilong Sect and the ‘G.o.d’s Will Bell’ of the Eyang Sect, which was all such type of precious relics. Every sect within the Five Blessings had one.
Hope Aware’s expression was always filled with sternness and vigilance. However, he was relaxed as he sized all of them up and down full of interest, he spoke while chuckling, “You are right, the Mute Bell within the temple suddenly shook and hummed. I recovered the fastest, so I rushed over to Shanghai. I was about to go up to the Oriental Pearl Tower earlier when I realized that the demonic energy was surging skywards over here, so I hastily came over to take a look.” All the sects within the Five Blessings possessed the treasures used to monitor the spiritual vitality in the world, naturally, they had their own corresponding magic spell, which was capable of predicting which part of the world was in trouble.
Recently, in the Wen family village, other than Shan Duan, the rest of the master cultivators had exhausted their powers in order to fight hard against the Weeping Buddha. As the monks returned to the temple, the ‘Mute Bell’ rang loudly, all the Great Mercy Temple’s monks with the exception of the little stutterer, the rest of the monks were unaware of the old demon rabbit Bu Le’s location. As they could not get in touch with their supreme leader, Bu Le and Shan Duan were still unaware that half a month before there was an eruption of a tremendous primordial vitality here in Shanghai.
Liu Zheng was immediately high spirited, “How much is the cost of the entrance ticket?”
“Fifty to ascend the tower. To visit three more top spheres, it will cost a hundred, including a free visit to the Munic.i.p.al History Museum.” The monk answered straight to the point without slightest hesitation.
Wen Leyang met the monk of the Great Mercy Temple, he chuckled in relief, “So judging by your words, I guess all the Five Blessings too sent out its people here?”
Liu Zheng sat st.u.r.dily on the ground, “Of course. Any matter capable of shaking the G.o.d’s Will Bell, the rest of the few sects within the Five Blessings will certainly send over some people to examine as well! However…perhaps the Jilong Sect’s people won’t be here.”
While they were talking, the sound of footsteps echoed again. The master cultivators of One Word Palace and Eyang Sect rushed over.
The people that came from these two sects were not the supreme leaders, but they were still famous personages within the right path of cultivation world. Liu Zheng, who was sitting on the ground, raised his head in a great bustle as he introduced them one by one to Wen Leyang before finally asking the two newcomers, “Have the both of you been to the Oriental Pearl Tower already?”
Wen Leyang patted on Xiaoyi’s shoulder, signaling for her to retract the big-muzzled weapon. Liu Zheng was a highly skilled master cultivator, even with Xiaoyi’s big-muzzled weapon, he was not necessarily too weak to fight. However, firstly he did not run away and secondly, he did not fight. In addition, all the sects within the Five Blessings other than the Jilong Sect, the rest of the four sects had sent over their master cultivators. Especially after listening to Hope Aware’s words, he believed that Liu Zheng was telling the truth.
As the Eyang Sect lost the battle to the Wen family, their cultivators left without even greeting the others. On the other hand, the master cultivators of One Word Palace and the Great Mercy Temple’s Hope Aware were rather courteous. They knew that the demon flame was ignited because the people of Wen family was managing some affairs, Wen Leyang did not inform them, so they did not ask as well. They made some small talks before exchanging phone numbers, signifying that if help was needed they were just one call away. Following that, they left after bidding farewell.
On the other hand, Liu Zheng had a mischievous expression. He followed next to Wen Leyang’s side smilingly, “Brother, what are all of you doing here?”
The giant pangolin released its demon power. However, it did not lure the enemy that killed demons and extracted their vitality and somehow found the master cultivators of the Five Blessings. Hence, it was already exhausted and returned back to its human form. Luo w.a.n.ggen’s zombie corpse immediately rushed over to hold it with a heart-wrenching expression.
Wen Leyang chuckled as he shook his head and asked in reply, “What kind of intensity does it take to trigger the shaking of the Wave-less Well?”
Liu Zheng hesitated for a moment, “I shall put it this way then, ever since my return to the mountains from the Wen family village, the well-guarding disciples came to report to me that the Wave-less Well rippled gently twice since a few days ago. I calculated the time. The first time was when the Jilong Sect’s Sun and Moon’s Double Disasters were reclaimed by you. While the other time was when the Great Mercy Temple cast the supreme Buddhism spell in order to guide the fairy maiden s.h.i.+khandini to destroy the demon.”
Wen Leyang gave an ‘oh’ out of excitement, “The stronger the spirit primordial energy’s vibration in between the heaven and the earth is, the stronger the Wave-less Well ripples?”
Liu Zheng nodded, “Not exactly, half a month ago I was waiting for my brother disciples to come and dismiss me as the supreme leader when the well-guarding disciples came and reported that the Wave-less Well was rippling. I rushed over to take a look, just in time to witness a three-feet-high wave spurting out of the well!” As he was saying that, he appeared as if he was just splashed by the water, he could not resist but to wipe his face, “It was my brother disciples who told me that amongst the previous generation of the Kunlun disciples, I was the only who had the opportunity to be splashed by the Wave-less Well twice.”
Wen Leyang did not have the time to consider which Kunlun disciple used the Wave-less Well’s water to shower or washed his face. He frowned as he instinctively continued, “That incisive huh?”
Recently the master cultivators of the Five Blessings were involved in a grand battle at the Wen family village. When the Weeping Buddha ascended the mountain and brought another outbreak of an earthshaking great battle, almost every sect launched their most precious ultimate ability. That only made the Wave-less Well shook gently for a moment.
Nonetheless, the event that happened fifteen days ago was capable of raising a humongous wave in the Wave-less Well.
No matter what happened in Shanghai that caused the ‘Wave-less Well’ to shake, it would most likely be related to Chang Li.
Liu Zheng sn.i.g.g.e.red as he said, “Not really! I was under the a.s.sumption that someone was tossing a rock into the well as a joke. The Wave-less Well shook so incisively. Hence, the rest of the sects’ G.o.d’s Will Bell, Mute Bell would certainly stir around too. I was certain that they would start sending people to Shanghai as well. However, after I arrived in Shanghai, I did not make any discoveries.”
The two experienced men Bushuo and Buzuo were not their usual selves, especially for Wen Buzuo who did not speak of a word. His expression was in agony but he kept his mouth shut.
Wen Leyang peered towards the two brothers with peculiarity as he continued to inquire Liu Zheng closely, “How about those that stay near to Shanghai or the local rogue cultivators, obscure cultivators or the cultivators from the World Sect, have you tried asking them if they felt anything on the night of the event?”
Liu Zheng shook his head, he made a helpless expression, “The Shanghai city is too lively and bustling, it will impede the state of mind of a person engaging in heaven’s cultivation. That is why there aren’t many rogue cultivators and obscure cultivators around here, unless…you can find a demon person of the World Sect!” As he was saying that, he gathered his face in front of Wen Leyang, his eyes were glimmering as he asked, “I am already courteous enough, I told you everything that you wanted to know, I am at least worthy of…”
Wen Leyang knew that he wanted to find out why Wen Leyang came to Shanghai and why was he luring the enemy. He held Xiaoyi’s smooth hand as he sneered a maniacal laugh, “You’re still far away from that. As you said, you are only worthy of that twenty bucks difference of the entrance fee to ascend the tower.
Liu Zheng pestered for a long while, Wen Leyang still shook his head and refused to tell. In the end, with his eyes filled with unwillingness, he left. Wen Leyang seemed to remember his gaze. Every time Wen Buzuo was fully aware that a huge gossip was right in front of his eyes, yet there was no way for him to probe and investigate, he was wearing the same mannerism as Liu Zheng.
Liu Zheng left with resentment. The giant pangolin had attempted to lure for a long while, but he lured in a group of good hands from the Five Blessings, yet the people who killed demons and extracted their vitality did not appear. Wen Leyang and the rest of the people returned to the guesthouse with all sorts of doubts and conjectures in their minds. The group of people went to Bushuo and Buzuo’s room. Xiaoyi was both resentful and a little piteous as she pulled the brothers Bushuo and Buzuo, “Did Wen Leyang offend the both of you? Why didn’t you help Wen Leyang to think of something and ask earlier, leaving him to figure everything out?”
As she was saying that, it was as if she felt that she was backing Wen Leyang up and ranting on behalf of him. She immediately blushed scarlet out of guilty conscience. She was just like a spring fruit that was fresh and juicy, that caused one could not help but to swallow a gulp of saliva.
Bushuo and Buzuo gazed into the eyes of one another once as they laughed.
[1] Same p.r.o.nunciation, the only difference is the first Chinese character