Chapter 263: Chapter 253: Re-encountering the Old Laborer, the Daily Routine of a Cultivating Disciple

One month later, they arrived at Nanyang County.

Standing on the deck of the flying boat, Hong Yuan looked down upon the teeming masses below.

Just as Hong Yuan was observing the surrounding environment, the flying boat slowly descended, making contact with the platform of the Flying Boat Dock.

THUD!

A dull sound of impact arose as the flying boat settled firmly on the ground.

Under the guidance of an Outer Sect Steward, Hong Yuan and other cultivator disciples each boarded a Dragon Scale Carriage.

Beside them, a group of silent and cold-armored warriors stood guard.

A moment later, the massive convoy slowly left the Flying Boat Dock and headed towards the Phoenix Creek Sect’s residence.

Porters and passersby at the Flying Boat Dock looked on at the convoy, their faces full of reverence and longing.

"Uncle Hua, are those big shots the disciples of the Phoenix Creek Sect? They seem even more formidable than our gang leader," a skinny man dressed in short clothes craned his neck.

"Ke, you must be blind! Our gang leader is the ’Wrathful Shark King,’ a master of water techniques. If you can’t speak wisely, better not to speak!" Another man slapped Ke on the head, urging him to apologize to Uncle Hua.

Uncle Hua hummed lightly, continuing to watch the massive convoy.

In truth, Uncle Hua did not fully understand how strong his nephew, Zhang Yinghe, really was. However, he firmly believed that not just any disciple from the Phoenix Creek Sect could defeat Yinghe so casually.

「...」

Inside the carriage, Hong Yuan was receiving intelligence transmitted by the Power Swallow Worm.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide, a smile spreading across his face.

That man is Old Laborer Zhang Xiaohua!?

It looks like Zhang Yinghe is making a name for himself. Even old laborers like him are enjoying good days.

Hong Yuan observed Old Laborer Zhang Xiaohua while tapping his fingers on the wooden table.

The current old laborer, dressed in a green horseman’s jacket and holding a silver staff, stood on the flat ground directing other laborers—the very picture of a manager.

His appearance was vastly different from his downtrodden days of the past. He no longer looked like a man who once risked his life for his daily bread.

Involuntarily, Hong Yuan fell into deep thought.

Last time, the Sword Tao Incarnation had arrived in Pengcheng, Green Sun Prefecture, which was where he had settled.

It was also in Pengcheng that his disguised identity as "Niu Yezi" had many encounters with Zhang Yinghe, Zhang Yingyu, and Zhang Xiaohua.

The reason he remembered so clearly was that Hong Yuan had obtained a great opportunity through Zhang Yinghe.

The Heaven Earth Secret Realm, the Book Mountain expedition!

Zhang Yinghe received the Blood Tao legacy, while he obtained the Sword Tao legacy.

Moreover, Hong Yuan had once saved the old laborer, allowing him to avoid the crisis of paralysis.

Hong Yuan felt quite gratified that the old laborer had managed to escape a life of hunger and struggle, emerging from the lowest rungs of society.

The old laborer was a warm-hearted person; it was good to see a good person leading a better life.

Hong Yuan closed his eyes. Each person has their own fate; let it be. There’s no need to meet again. Let ’Niu Yezi’ be completely buried in the river of time. He continued to use the Power Swallow Worm to observe his surroundings.

「...」

Within the Phoenix Creek Sect, the True Disciple examinations for each hall and palace varied.

Aside from the nine Phoenix Creek Tutelage positions, which explicitly required victory through combat, ordinary True Transmission positions had simpler requirements. They only necessitated the completion of tasks assigned by the Sect and reaching the requisite cultivation level.

The task assigned to Hong Yuan by the Refining Equipment Hall for his examination was to serve as a foundry master in a certain workshop in Nanyang County. He was to meet various targets within a year.

Since Hong Yuan and the others had just arrived in Nanyang County that day, the group of cultivator disciples from various halls and palaces gathered together. They had not yet been assigned to different locations to start their examinations.

The night deepened.

A resplendent, vast estate was brightly lit.

The lively clamor of voices and cheerful music intertwined, and rare delicacies and beautiful women were common sights.

At the banquet inside the palace, this group of Phoenix Creek Sect cultivator disciples engaged in spirited discussions, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Meanwhile, Hong Yuan sat in a corner to the left. Raising his jade cup, he tilted his head back slightly and downed the drink.

The wine in the jade cup was Clear Ant Wine, an extremely precious medicinal wine made by infusing various Spiritual Medicines.

Just a small cup like this would cost upwards of a hundred Energy Stones.

Yet at the banquet, this Clear Ant Wine was merely a common beverage.

Compared to other items, the Clear Ant Wine was insignificant; such a luxurious banquet was beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

"Brother Hong, to have fine wine without beautiful women, how joyless is that? Could it be that the ’warblers and swallows’ here do not catch your eye?" Li Dongdong leaned in to ask.

Li Dongdong held a beauty with cat ears in his arms, his demeanor unrestrained.

Wine and women are intoxicating, but Li Dongdong was full of energy, showing no sign of lewdness.

Clearly, he regarded this too as a form of cultivation.

"Hehe, you jest. Cheers," Hong Yuan chuckled, his eyes narrowed slightly as he lifted his jade cup to drink.

Li Dongdong’s face showed a helpless expression, and he promptly lifted his cup in response.

Seeing that Hong Yuan still wore a wooden expression, he paid him no more attention and turned to converse with others.

Thus, at the banquet, Hong Yuan drank alone, contentedly enjoying himself.

After three rounds of drinks, emotions stirred.

In this process, he overheard several pieces of valuable intelligence.

For instance, Guan Lan had recently achieved the position of a True Disciple and returned to the Scripture Pavilion for intensive study.

For instance, a Taoist from Qinglu Taoist Temple had been bewitched by a demoness from Qingqiu, abandoning the righteous path for the demonic.

For instance, a new Wrathful Shark Gang had emerged in the Green Sun Prefecture of Nanyang County. Its gang leader, Zhang Yinghe, was favored by a Sect Elder, who planned to recruit him.

「...」

All sorts of rare intelligence circulated here. If outsiders were to learn of it, even an illiterate commoner could use this information to gain wealth and establish a significant force.

However, for the cultivator disciples of the Phoenix Creek Sect, this was merely a topic of conversation over drinks.

Hong Yuan picked up a piece of fire beef with his green chopsticks. Zhang Yinghe’s fortune is flourishing; he’s beginning to make a name for himself... It’s true. Inheriting the spirit of the Human Tao and being recognized by the Book Mountain Secret Realm, it would be strange if he didn’t rise to prominence.

In this grand environment, Hong Yuan didn’t try to stand out; he blended in seamlessly.

Meanwhile, his nine Power Swallow Worms were dashing through Nanyang County, gathering all kinds of intelligence for him.

The most important task was to ascertain the specific whereabouts of Long Zhandu.

Late into the night.

The cultivator disciples left the scene one after another. Hong Yuan also rose, flicked his sleeves, and slowly headed towards his bedroom.

Above the bedroom, one Power Swallow Worm lurked on a wooden beam, silently monitoring the surroundings for Hong Yuan.

After confirming the bedroom was safe, Hong Yuan stepped inside and continued to manipulate the other Power Swallow Worms roaming around Nanyang County.

Suddenly, a subtle change crossed Hong Yuan’s face.

「...」

Worm #7, a Power Swallow Worm, flew slowly through the vast night sky, heading west of Nanyang County.

Upon reaching a dilapidated courtyard, it saw swarms upon swarms of Worms dancing within.

The number of Worms was huge, with practically all kinds of Worm creatures present, primarily composed of spiders and venomous bees.

And in the middle of these Worms, a woman with ear-length hair, dressed in a Worm Master’s attire, was refining Worms.

This Worm Master was none other than Xiao Youjun, a cultivation disciple of the Spirit Beast Hall of the Phoenix Creek Sect!

The same delicate girl who had once been severely taught a lesson by Hong Yuan and had her nose bruised and face swollen by Le Congsheng.

Xiao Youjun...

Hong Yuan’s eyes grew deep, and the corners of his mouth lifted. She’s Long Zhandu’s junior martial sister. If I keep an eye on her, I’m sure to learn his exact location.

Hong Yuan had been coveting Long Zhandu’s Slave Tao legacy for a long time.

Obtaining it would make the Ten Thousand Domains competition, which his Demonic Body would participate in, much easier.