My Journey to Immortality Begins with Hunting-Chapter 607 - Joyous Union - Part 1
“I’ll go test him.”
From the darkness came a bestial growl.
A towering, musclebound brute with a shaved head, who was barely human in appearance, was squatting on the ground. Then suddenly, he rose, a mountain of flesh and blood surging to its full height. The heat radiating from his body was almost tangible, like a furnace blazing to life, searing the air around him.
He tore off his outer garment, revealing seven crimson lotus banners jammed into the thick fat around his waist.
These formation flags could anchor a battlefield, drawing upon the power of the surrounding world to strike a chosen target.
The combination of formation flags and domain skills was a classic third rank offensive method, signifying a cultivator's transcendence from the self to a higher, more universal state of being. Of course, this greater self was still incomplete, which was why the flags were needed as support.
In theory, the more flags one wielded, the greater the force they could channel from the world.
And this man, who bore seven of them, was none other than the shadowy powerhouse behind the Red Lotus Cult, Pang Si.
It was rumoured that Pang Si came from nothing. Back when he was young, he was constantly ordered around like a gopher. But somehow, through sheer brutality, willpower, and bloodshed, he clawed his way into perfect sync with the legacy of the Faculty of Martial Spirit and rose to become its dean.
After ascending to that seat, some suggested he change his given name. After all, Si meaning four didn’t sound very dignified for a dean. But Pang Si didn’t change it. Instead, he beat to death anyone who dared question his authority.
And so, many in the Eastern Sea trembled at the mere mention of Pang Si.
The Lotus Cult had four branches, Red, Black, White, and Green.
The Faculty of Puppets stood behind the Black Lotus; the Faculty of Seduction, the White Lotus; and the Faculty of Martial Spirit, the Red Lotus.
As for the Green Lotus, it was different. Its backing wasn’t a traditional faculty, but rather a lone, enigmatic agent of the Northern Dipper.
When news of the battle at Li Yuan’s skyport spread, Pang Si decided he would confront the man directly.
That was Pang Si’s way, blunt and to the point.
Besides, Li Yuan’s slow and steady travel gave him plenty of time to prepare.
Had Li Yuan immediately headed to the Arcane Supreme Sect after the fight, then most likely, the next time the two met would’ve been during an official grand gathering.
This meeting would’ve involved the five leaders of the Arcane Supreme Sect, joined by five from the Five Spirits Institute, and possibly some hidden sects emerging to get their share of the action.
In such a setting, none of them would truly understand Li Yuan. The odds were high that the 13 would unite as one against him.
Li Yuan was formidable, yes. But against a formation-based suppression, coordinated by multiple masters, even he could be restrained.
It was like a game of chess. If he went straight for checkmate, he would miss all the intricate exchanges that happened between the pieces along the way.
“How exactly will you test him?”
The voice came from the shadows, cold and slithering.
It belonged to a tall, emaciated figure with pale, bluish skin, like a haunted bamboo stalk.
This was none other than the Dean of the Faculty of Ghosts, Shi Jialan.
Before Pang Si could respond, Shi Jialan continued, “And what will you do once you’ve tested him?” 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Pang Si let out a low chuckle. “He’s taking his time getting here, clearly waiting for the best offer. Since he’s laid his cards on the table, I might as well weigh him up. See what he’s worth, both in strength and in price.”
Shi Jialan said coldly, “If the reports from the skyport weren’t exaggerated, then you’re no match for him. You might not even be qualified to measure his strength. Maybe...he’s a monster like the Human Emperor.”
Pang Si replied, “We both know the Human Emperor was a once-in-an-era anomaly, born at the end of an age, the kind of monster that can’t be replicated. And he...he’s clearly not the Human Emperor.”
He paused, then continued with a deeper tone, “He’s just like us, someone who moves in the shadows. But unlike us, he hides too well. Too deep. Too mysterious.”
Shi Jialan narrowed his eyes. “I’ll go with you. So will Yun Ranzi. You’re peak Human Soul. I’m peak Earth Soul. He’s peak Heaven Soul. If the three of us together still can’t beat him...”
He trailed off, his eyes gleaming faintly with a cold light.
At that moment, a fog-like face drifted in from the distance and finished his sentence.
“Then we follow his lead.”
“Follow his lead,” Shi Jialan repeated softly, the words cold and heavy.
Suddenly, Pang Si burst into a harsh, guttural laugh. “The road to ascension is narrow, but it’s still a road. Getting there first doesn’t mean anything. Only the one who makes it to the end gets to climb the heavens.”
His grin turned wicked. “If he truly is that powerful...then fine. Let him lead. Let him walk in front.”
He paused, then added darkly, “But there’s a variable among us.”
“Bai Xinxuan,” Shi Jialan said immediately.
Pang Si nodded.
“That vixen looks seductive, like she understands men better than anyone. Her subordinates are all temptresses. But I suspect she’s been hoarding her Yin energy for thousands of years. I’ve tested disciples from her Faculty of Seduction. That dual cultivation technique of hers...at its peak, I don’t even know what it becomes. But I do know one thing: it’s a vine that climbs with the tree.
“The more powerful the man she bonds with, the stronger she becomes. But the man doesn’t lose out either, he benefits as she grows. Problem is, the first time is where the real gain is. After that...not so much. So if Li Yuan really is that strong, I fear Bai Xinxuan might just switch sides entirely. And then we’d be in trouble.”
The misty face said, “That’s why the three of us will test him. Heaven, Earth, and Human Souls can’t form a proper array, but they can still coordinate. If Li Yuan wins, we go straight to him and tell him everything. Better we make it seem like a planned approach, rather than let that old witch Bai Xinxuan sneak off to seduce him in secret. That way, we plant a seed of suspicion in his heart.
“When the time comes, there will be a natural rift between the two of them. She might get benefits from him, but if he’s that powerful, she’ll fear him too. After all, Li Yuan has more than one wife. The road to the heavens is narrow. Bai Xinxuan would likely decide it’s safer to stick with us.”
Shi Jialan suddenly said, “Lately, Bai Xinxuan’s been busy arranging marriages for her personal disciples, constantly going back and forth between the Faculty of Seduction and various noble houses. Her reaction to all this seems a little slow. Is that normal?”
Pang Si sneered. “Doesn’t matter. She can’t possibly move faster than us. We’re just testing Li Yuan. If she really plans to defect, she’ll need a lot more information than we do. That alone guarantees we’ll reach him first.”
The misty face added, “Besides, everything we’ve just said is still speculation. We must not turn on each other/ The five of us, no infighting. This matter stays between us. Not a word leaks out.”
“Of course,” Pang Si agreed. Then he added, “He should be arriving at Immortal Spring City soon. From there, there's only one road to Taixuan Sect. We’ll wait for him along that path.”
˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙
Immortal Spring City.
As Li Yuan’s carriage rolled into the city, a light mist hung in the air, veiling both the city and the surrounding countryside. The haze gradually thickened, swallowing up even the setting sun.
A crescent moon peeked out from the dim sky, casting a pale golden glow across the twilight world.
Li Yuan picked an inn that looked decent and asked to stay the night. The innkeeper gave him a careful once-over, then said something curious. He’d been instructed in advance to expect someone and promptly arranged the best room for him.
This inn drew its water from the famed Immortal Spring. Drinking from the spring was said to extend one’s life. Bathing in it kept one’s face youthful and unchanging.
It was because of this spring that the ordinary mortal town had come to be known as Immortal Spring City.
Now Li Yuan lay comfortably in a large wooden tub, soaking in the healing waters. Beside him, Ying Zhuoyao gently massaged his shoulders.
“Can you see more of the future?” he asked.
Ying Zhuoyao replied, “A sea of chaos...but the moment when the world shifts remains unchanged. 20 years left.”
“And me?” Li Yuan asked. “Do I live or die?”
She gave a bitter smile. “You’ll live, of course. But...I truly can’t see.”
