Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 448 - 443 Ordered to Break the Formation, Taiyang Lake_1
Jia Ren accompanied Zhuo Chengdao to the Heterodox Peak to report their external affairs. This was to avoid being away for too long and subsequently mistaken for traitorous cultivators of the Sect.
After leaving Heterodox Peak, the Bewildering Spirit Bead concealed their auras.
They ’evaded’ the sight of numerous Lingbao Sect disciples and swiftly departed the Sect.
Approaching the Sect entrance, Jia Ren silently had his Insect External Incarnation take his place.
The Insect External Incarnation’s Cultivation Level was far inferior to his true self’s, only at Nascent Soul Late Stage Perfection. Jia Ren himself hadn’t found a suitable opportunity within the Lingbao Sect and had thus been delayed in advancing to the Divinity Transformation Stage. However, impersonating his true self for a short period was not an issue.
No one noticed the change in Jia Ren, and Zhuo Chengdao was unaware that Jia Ren had been replaced by an incarnation.
Unfortunately, the Insect External Incarnation could only move freely within a limited distance. Its maximum operational range was 20,000 li, a considerable distance in the Sealed Land. In the Mysterious Realm, it wasn’t enough.
Sixth Senior Brother’s family was 100,000 li away, far beyond the Insect External Incarnation’s reach. Operating at such a great distance and separated from the main body for an extended period was tantamount to setting the Insect External Incarnation free.
Under the cover of the Bewildering Spirit Bead, Jia Ren and Zhuo Chengdao were about to leave the Sect. With both the Bewildering Spirit Bead and the Mirror Flower Divine Moon active, discovery was nearly impossible unless they encountered a Void Refinement Cultivator possessing specific countermeasures.
However, the Mysterious Realm was not the Sealed Land. In the Mysterious Realm, the cultivators’ cultivation was not capped at the Lianxu Stage. With countless powerful individuals, it was ultimately not safe enough.
"Elder Brother, there should be a Teleportation Array within the Sect, right?" Jia Ren asked. "Flying out 10,000 li would be far too time-consuming and exhausting!"
Jia Ren wasn’t sure whether leaving the Sect would attract the attention of those with ulterior motives. Flying out openly, even the Bewildering Spirit Bead couldn’t guarantee safety. The Cultivation World teemed with countless treasures and Divine Skills; it wouldn’t be surprising if some could counter the Bewildering Spirit Bead and the Mirror Flower Divine Moon. Relying on a single trick to dominate everywhere wasn’t easy.
Using a Teleportation Array was much safer by comparison. Only their Senior Brothers from the Ji Kong Lineage knew the destination and would not divulge the secret. Teleportation was more efficient and would minimize potential trouble.
"Indeed, there is a Teleportation Array within the Sect," Zhuo Chengdao replied. "However, it’s only one-way; it cannot be used to teleport into the Sect. Aside from a few Secret Realms, the other destinations are Markets and affiliated sects under the Lingbao Sect’s control."
Most sects would set up a Teleportation Array within their gates, allowing only outward transportation. If the sect faced an existential disaster, they could escape using the Teleportation Array. Why wasn’t there a two-way Teleportation Array? It was to prevent the possibility of an enemy breaching the external waypoints and using the Teleportation Array to directly invade the Lingbao Sect, catching them unprepared.
"Let’s follow Junior Brother Jia’s suggestion," Zhuo Chengdao agreed.
If they left the Sect normally, they would eventually need to use a Teleportation Array in a Market. Compared to that, the Sect’s Teleportation Array was safer. The drawback was there were fewer places it could transport to, and the cost was not Spirit Stones, but Lingbao Sect Contribution.
"Let’s go to the Five Metals Sect!" Jia Ren decided.
The Five Metals Sect was a vassal sect of the Lingbao Sect. It was a power with Void Refinement Cultivators and was the closest to the Ji Family of their Sixth Senior Brother, Ji Kongming.
"One hundred points of Lingbao Sect Contribution each."
The two arrived at the Eastern District and easily found the one-way external Teleportation Array. After a flash of white light, they were transported 50,000 li away to the Five Metals Sect.
Jia Ren didn’t know that this careful move had spared them a disaster.
「Outside the Lingbao Sect.」
Over a hundred cultivators loitered in the vicinity. Each of their shadows was unusual, as if something lurked within. This was the work of Demon Cultivators from the Dark Demon Sect, who used Demonic Path Divine Skills to control ordinary cultivators, parasitizing their shadows.
The Dark Demon Sect had been attacked by the Lingbao Sect, and over ninety percent of its High-Order Cultivators had perished on the spot. Only a few Demon Cultivators who were active elsewhere managed to escape.
Fei Zhong was one of the fortunate survivors from the Dark Demon Sect. As a Lianxu Stage Demon Cultivator, seeking revenge against the Shimo Sect was beyond his capabilities. Killing Jia Ren, the main culprit behind the Dark Demon Sect’s losses, was one of the few things he could do for his sect. He utilized the Dark Demon Sect’s moles within the Lingbao Sect to gather intelligence that Jia Ren was planning to leave the Sect soon. He meticulously set an inescapable trap, waiting only for Jia Ren to leave the Sect to assassinate him.
"The Lingbao Bewildering Spirit Bead? It might deceive others, but it won’t escape my Dark Demon True Eye."
Since Fei Zhong intended to target Jia Ren, he was well aware of the few Spiritual Treasures Jia Ren possessed. The most troublesome Bewildering Spirit Bead was not a concern at all.
However, he was unaware that Jia Ren hadn’t left the Sect by conventional means; instead, he had departed directly using the Teleportation Array. His meticulously arranged ’inescapable trap’ was useless; he didn’t even catch a glimpse of his target.
「At the Five Metals Sect.」
No sooner had Zhuo Chengdao and the Insect External Incarnation arrived than they alerted the Sect’s upper echelons. The Lianxu Stage Sect Master personally came out to greet them.
"We are honored by the arrival of cultivators from the Upper Sect!" A portly Void Refinement Cultivator with a jovial, round face greeted them with a smile.
Any Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator from the Lingbao Sect held an esteemed position in the Five Metals Sect, akin to a special envoy. Moreover, this Teleportation Array was seldom used, inevitably leading the Five Metals Sect to suspect that the emissaries from the Upper Sect had arrived with orders.
"We are just passing through," the Insect External Incarnation stated.
Zhuo Chengdao noted the grand reception from the Five Metals Sect and felt a touch of helplessness. No wonder the Sect’s internal Teleportation Array was rarely used. One hundred Lingbao Sect Contribution points wasn’t cheap, and then there were the unforeseen complications that could arise during the journey. Unless one was a cultivator overly fond of pomp, no one wished to get entangled with a minor sect.
"What destinations does the Five Metals Sect’s Teleportation Array connect to?" the Insect External Incarnation asked. It had no desire to waste time. Although they had used the Sect’s Teleportation Array to leave, it was still uncertain if danger lay ahead. He would not linger here any longer.
The Five Metals Sect Master listed several Market and mining area locations. Jia Ren identified the one closest to their destination and said with a smile, "Thank you, Sect Master. This is for the teleportation fee."
He tossed over a River Mountain Bag filled with Spirit Stones—a total of 100,000.
"You are too generous, Seniors," the Sect Master said.
The Insect External Incarnation chuckled. "Consider this compensation for the Five Metals Sect. Later, we’ll need you to dispatch an Array Master to repair the Teleportation Array."
Repair the Teleportation Array? the Sect Master wondered.
"Could you provide a token of the Five Metals Sect?" the Insect External Incarnation asked.
The Five Metals Sect Master was thoroughly perplexed. He assumed Jia Ren wished to establish connections with a True Disciple of the Lingbao Sect and quickly handed over a Jade Token engraved with the characters for ’Five Metals.’
"My martial brother and I have urgent matters to attend to and cannot linger. We bid you farewell," the Insect External Incarnation said.
Zhuo Chengdao was inwardly suspicious but didn’t voice his questions at that moment.
Each of them clutched a Teleportation Token in their hands, and with a flash of white light, they vanished.
「Cloud Green Mine.」
The Teleportation Array here fluctuated, and the figures of the Insect External Incarnation and Zhuo Chengdao materialized.
As soon as the Insect External Incarnation stabilized, it produced a thin, thread-like Magic Artifact and etched a tiny mark onto a corner of the Teleportation Array. The Teleportation Array’s light dimmed, rendering it unusable.
Only then did Zhuo Chengdao understand the purpose behind Jia Ren’s talk of compensation and repairs for the Teleportation Array.
"Junior Brother, aren’t you being overly cautious?"
Zhuo Chengdao was no fool; he naturally understood this was a measure to prevent Tracing. Even if someone were following them, they would be unable to continue their pursuit once they found the Teleportation Array disabled.
"Better safe than sorry!" the Insect External Incarnation replied. "Out here, beyond the Lingbao Sect, the Cultivation World isn’t like the Secret Realm Battlefield, where cultivators are generally at the Nascent Soul Stage or Divinity Transformation Stage. Once we leave the Sect, who knows if we’ll encounter old monsters at the Lianxu Stage or the Body Integration Realm. Elder Brother Zhuo, can you guarantee that among the Shimo Sect Demon Cultivators you’ve slain, none were True Disciples of a Fusion Ancestor? Have you considered that shameless Demon Cultivators might be lurking, waiting to ambush us?"
Zhuo Chengdao was rendered speechless by Jia Ren’s words. After a long pause, he finally choked out, "Junior Brother Jia, ultimately... I’m the one who has led you to this..."
He was once again caught up in Jia Ren’s ’crooked reasoning.’ Zhuo Chengdao didn’t respond to Jia Ren, not because he agreed, but because he himself had a clan-annihilation vendetta with a Lianxu Stage enemy. He didn’t want to involve his Junior Brother Jia in this matter.
"Who are you? How dare you damage the Five Metals Sect’s Teleportation Array?!"
An angry shout rang out as dozens of Five Metals Sect cultivators rushed over, their auras flaring menacingly. However, when they saw the distinctive Purple Taoist Robes of the Lingbao Sect on the two, the words died in their throats.
The Insect External Incarnation raised a hand and tossed the Five Metals Sect Master’s Jade Token to them. "We are acting under orders to disable the Formation. You can send someone to repair the Teleportation Array in three days."
The leading Five Metals Sect cultivator awkwardly caught the Sect Jade Token. He opened his mouth, but no words of refusal came out. He could only watch as the two culprits strode away brazenly.
The area around Cloud Green Mine had no Markets or Teleportation Arrays, which had both pros and cons. The disadvantage lay in the inability to use Teleportation Arrays for swift travel. The advantage was that their exact location couldn’t be determined via Teleportation Array records, making it easier to cover their tracks.
"Elder Brother Zhuo, the Lingbao Sect’s Taoist Robes are too eye-catching; we should change into something else," the Insect External Incarnation suggested.
Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators were not weak, and few would willingly provoke them, so normally, they would be safe. However, the Lingbao Sect had many adversaries, and being conspicuous often attracted trouble. Outside the Sect’s territory, the disadvantages of wearing the Sect’s emblem—attracting unwanted attention—far outweighed any benefits. The risks were much greater than any potential advantages. Indeed, their status as True Disciples of the Lingbao Sect might attract trouble from High-Order Cultivators. Better to avoid trouble whenever possible.
Zhuo Chengdao understood Jia Ren’s methods and didn’t reply, his silence signifying agreement. One of his strengths was his willingness to listen to advice; he wasn’t obstinate.
They changed out of their Lingbao Sect Taoist Robes, disguised their appearances, and erased their tracks before heading towards the Ji Family’s territory, the home of their Sixth Senior Brother.
Throughout their journey, they remained exceedingly cautious, occasionally using astrology to check for potential dangers—the very epitome of prudence. Thanks to this caution, they encountered no unexpected dangers or troubles and arrived smoothly at Taiyang Lake.
The Ji Family was a dominant force by Taiyang Lake, with a Divinity Transformation Cultivator presiding over the clan. Leveraging their geographical advantages, they controlled the countless Spirit Fish from the bountiful Taiyang Lake. The Ji Family’s ’Kylin child’ (most talented scion) was a True Disciple of the Lingbao Sect. With such powerful backing, other Divinity Transformation Stage families who had feuds with the Ji Family were powerless to resist and were suppressed or eliminated. In recent years, the Ji Family’s territory continued to expand, and they were in their prime. Rumor had it that this True Disciple from the Ji Family in the Lingbao Sect was on the verge of breaking through to the Lianxu Stage, making the Ji Family untouchable in the Taiyang Lake region. The Ji Family’s development was thriving and their future looked promising.
Before long, Jia Ren and Zhuo Chengdao reached the Ji Family’s territory. It was a vast lake, its surface dotted with Spirit Boats fishing, all flying the Ji Family’s flag.
Spirit Fish?
Jia Ren recalled his Ancestral Fish Sage Pill, which had gone unused for a long time. The thought of using it to cause these Spirit Fish to undergo atavistic reversion surfaced in his mind.
He didn’t expect to obtain a miraculous Holy Infant Carp, but something slightly inferior would still be acceptable.
"Elder Brother Zhuo," Jia Ren (the incarnation) said, "since we’re already at Taiyang Lake, let’s take a stroll in the fish market first."
