Who Brought Him into the Cultivation World?

”You’re telling me I owe you fifty-one Inquiry Stones?”

Su Xiaoxiao’s face turned pale, and he looked like he was about to collapse.

The Celestial Chasm stretched a thousand miles, and he managed to slice westward thrice, crossing three thousand miles in mere moments.

His already depleted body was nearly dried up; if there were any Spiritual Power left, there wouldn’t be even a drop.

He thought this was the hardest moment of his life, but didn’t expect things to get even worse, facing such a tremendous debt!

”Don’t tell me your lives aren’t worth this amount.”

Han Yu suddenly widened his eyes, thinking the other party might try to weasel out of it.

He initially wanted to mention how Su Xiaoxiao’s gambling-addicted master lost two hundred and fifty stones without batting an eye; now it’s down to fifty-one stones, and reneging at this point would be pointless.

Su Xiaoxiao was genuinely scared by the amount, his face was conflicted; he’s not one to say his life is worthless, but he genuinely felt he wasn’t worth that sum.

It’s too much, I can’t pay it!

”Are you thinking of skipping on this debt?”

Han Yu had a strange expression, quickly going to push Wushang Daoist. It was this man who guaranteed that the Celestial Dao Sect has dignity, yet now he felt Su Xiaoxiao might throw that dignity away.

Wushang Daoist remained dumbfounded, either genuinely lost in thought or forced to be distracted...

After all, it was him who took on the debt for Su Xiaoxiao.

”Just say it! Isn’t my price quite justified?”

”Am I really risking my life for your sakes?”

”I risked everything to deliver them here, nearly losing my life.”

”I just helped you all escape again, did I not?”

Han Yu laid out facts and reason, calculating one after another for Su Xiaoxiao.

A group of people listened, faces filled with conflict, because his points were indeed valid; Wushang Daoist enlisted him voluntarily, and the price was agreed upon; he genuinely risked his life.

”But I don’t have that much.”

Su Xiaoxiao listened, troubled, unable to help but interrupt.

Han Yu knew he didn’t have it; back then, this guy was so stingy, he only produced one, promising five, not even as forthright as his master.

”Don’t you have a close friend or relative?”

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t, but he could ask his senior brother!

Mu Zili could absolutely provide; Han Yu was counting on that when he risked his life to help!

Su Xiaoxiao looked at him as if he’d seen a ghost, thinking, ”He came up with that kind of lousy idea?”

”You... young friend, did you intend to ask my senior brother from the start?”

Not that he was maliciously speculating, but Han Yu gave the impression of coaxing the foolish son into stealing money from the landlord’s house to have fun.

”Just say whether I truly risked my life to save people...”

Han Yu thought if he wasn’t weaker, he’d surely use some methods to bolster persuasion now.

”I advise you to be reasonable; I’m afraid they might use certain methods to persuade you in reverse.”

The Artifact Spirit in the Sea of Consciousness quickly stopped such suicidal thoughts.

Truth be told, in certain aspects, the Celestial Dao Sect seemed more righteous than the Righteous Path of the Central Continent.

At least they hadn’t considered resorting to violence to break the contract.

Additionally, Wushang Daoist seemed correct in saying the Celestial Dao Sect truly cared about face.

Because Su Xiaoxiao, troubled, interrupted Han Yu’s rambling, ”Don’t go. I’ll go myself and notify you once I get it.”

He had it all figured out; if he went shamelessly, he might muddle through with some excuses, but if Han Yu went, aside from other issues, trespassing into the Central Continent alone would be enough to get punished.

Not to mention he almost got killed; knowing Mu Zili’s nature, he might beat him to death when the time comes.

Even if he doesn’t beat him to death, centuries of confinement would be considered light.

Might as well go himself; if he can get it, he will, if not... let the old man ask.

...

Achoo!

Inside the small paradise, the old Daoist sneezed unexpectedly.

How could a Divine Dao Realm cultivator sneeze?

”Impossible, it’s definitely some bastard cursing me behind my back.”

The old Daoist rubbed his nose and muttered a curse softly.

He’s been bored to death inside the small paradise these days; this broken place is so tiny, he could walk a full circle with just a step.

This is no different from being jailed!

Especially Mu Zili guarded against him like he was a thief, afraid that he would run away. In the vast Cave Heaven, Mu Zili’s omnipresent aura was scattered all over, ready to respond at any sign of movement.

Just like now, as soon as the old Daoist moved slightly, Mu Zili appeared in the next moment.

His expression was more helpless than the old Daoist’s because he truly had no way to handle him.

Sending him back, the old Daoist would definitely refuse.

Keeping him by his side, yet he was restless.

”What exactly is there in Central Continent that makes you so afraid?”

The old Daoist couldn’t quite grasp the temperament of his second disciple. Saying he’s mature and steady is true, but he’s overly cautious.

”It’s not that I’m too cautious, it’s just that I can’t be sure whether there are still hidden agendas from the Yama Hall in the mud pit of Central Continent.”

Mu Zili walked to the side and sighed slowly, then waved his hand to draw a galaxy. Amidst the shimmering starlight it was like a mirror, which reflected an ocean world.

This was naturally the Endless Sea Domain outside the small Cave Heaven, but that wasn’t the point. The point was that, through the galactic imagery, an ominous aura was spreading in the void.

Mu Zili glanced at the sky of the Endless Sea Domain and shook his head slightly, ”The grand array not only surrounds Central Continent, its power is also seeping outward.”

What does this imply? It implies that Yama Hall’s scheme extends beyond what they anticipated.

”The people of Yama Hall dare to sacrifice anything. Aren’t you afraid of being used as a sacrifice when you venture there?”

He vehemently opposed his fellow disciple and master delving into Central Continent, sincerely fearing that something might happen to them there.

The old Daoist’s expression turned strange, ”I’m in the Divine Dao Realm, not like that useless disciple of yours.”

”So what if you’re in the Divine Dao Realm? I’m just worried that I might not be able to protect you when the time comes.”

Mu Zili was clearly not joking, his expression was particularly solemn, even the old Daoist was somewhat surprised as he turned back to look.

If it weren’t his second disciple speaking, had someone else said this, he would take it as a joke.

”Is it really that serious?”

The old Daoist was stunned. If even Divine Dao cultivators can’t completely protect themselves, what would become of the situation?

Mu Zili remained silent, though all was merely his speculation, but he seldom guessed baselessly. If there wasn’t the slightest hint, how could he arrive at such an idea?

”Exactly what situation were you in when you went to Central Continent back then? Every time I ask, you don’t say anything.”

Mu Zili couldn’t help but voice the doubts he held deep down. He had always known about it, but the old Daoist seldom spoke in detail.

And even in the Celestial Dao Sect, someone of his stature couldn’t inquire about it, which made him highly concerned.

The old Daoist’s expression turned strange for a moment. He took a step out of the hall with him, the surrounding scenery changed, and one step brought them to the foot of the mountain. Particularly, after reaching the secluded foot of the mountain, he set a barrier with his hands.

Seeing the old Daoist acting so solemnly, Mu Zili’s expression also turned extraordinarily serious, and after a moment, he heard the old Daoist speak lowly, ”Transmission of the Dao!”

Transmission of the Dao?

This wasn’t surprising; the origin of the entire Central Continent’s Taoist tradition came from them. Even just imparting cultivation concepts or enlightening Central Continent’s cultivation path was undisputed fact, needing no concealment. Who in the Celestial Dao Sect didn’t know this?

”It’s different. What you understand is merely the circulated version. Indeed, the batch of us only transmitted the path of cultivation to Central Continent.”

”However, the leader was separate from us. No one knows what he came to do.”

Mu Zili continued waiting silently, but the old Daoist didn’t speak for quite a while.

Is that all?

”That’s all.”

The old Daoist smacked his lips and shook his head.

That’s it, and you make such a mysterious fuss.

Mu Zili almost laughed out of frustration, waving his hand to dispel the barrier, and turned to leave.

Is such triviality worth all this solemnity?

The old Daoist shrugged helplessly; divulging such a millennium-old secret without a barrier just didn’t feel right.

Regarding why he never mentioned it each time, it’s truly because that’s all he knew; where else was there to begin?

Though Mu Zili turned and left, his heart was somewhat calmed. So it seemed that there must have been arrangements made by their side for Central Continent from then on.

...

On the other side, after Su Xiaoxiao and the others found a hilltop, they directly burrowed in, even using slightly recovered Spiritual Power to completely suppress their aura.

Thus, unless someone patiently searched, there might be a slight possibility of discovery, but if they merely glanced quickly, it would be extremely difficult to find them.

”We actually have no malicious intent towards Central Continent.”

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t know why he suddenly wanted to explain to Han Yu. He looked at Han Yu and slowly began speaking.

All along, whether from the Endless Sea Domain or deep into Central Continent, their Celestial Dao Sect cultivators never acted with hostility toward Central Continent.

”But neither can you claim goodwill.”

Han Yu shook his head. After all, apart from their relentless conflict with the Yama Hall, the Celestial Dao Sect came across as a cold observer to Central Continent.