Half a month later.
The two elders stopped.
Mountains stretched all around, and no direction looked any different.
“Second Elder…” Master Xie Yan asked with worry, “Where have we arrived?”
“I don’t know,” the Second Elder nodded affirmatively. “We seem to be lost.”
“Why don’t you try to sense it again?” Master Xie Yan immediately suggested.
“No,” the Second Elder refused with a shake of his head. “The last sensing consumed too much energy, and I haven’t recovered yet.”
Just as the two were at a loss, a flying boat appeared in the sky ahead.
The two elders’ spirits immediately lifted!
“Someone!”
“We can go ask them!”
In mid-air.
A one-eyed cultivator stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the distant scenery with an air of pride.
His name was Da Fei, a rogue cultivator at the third level of the Void Returning realm.
Rogue cultivators were those who belonged to no sect or faction.
In his youth, he had joined a cultivation sect. Because of his good talent, he had even been valued by the sect’s high-ranking officials.
Logically, his life should have been smooth sailing from then on.
However, he later discovered that the sect leader had questionable character!
He was hunted by the sect leader simply for discussing hair care and maintenance with the sect leader’s wife!
Look at that!
What kind of ambition could such a petty person have?!
After narrowly escaping with his life, he became a bandit king and established his own territory.
Robbery was a skilled profession.
For example, some cultivators looked impressive but had no wealth to speak of.
Others might appear to be easy targets but turned out to be tigers in disguise.
So, over the years, he had fared quite poorly.
His subordinates had all run away because he could no longer make ends meet.
Even he, the bandit leader, had to take on odd jobs in town to survive…
However, he had never forgotten his original dream!
Robbing others was the true romance of a man!
My current forbearance is for a greater leap forward in the future!
I, Da Fei, am destined to become the King of Bandits!
Fortunately, his efforts were not in vain.
A month ago, his benefactor appeared!
The man was shrouded in a loose cloak, his appearance indistinguishable.
“You are the best bandit in the area,” the person said directly. “From today on, I will pay you, and you will help me capture cultivators.”
Upon hearing this, Da Fei was furious!
I’m determined to become the King of Bandits!
What do you take me for?!
In response, the cultivator handed him a spatial ring.
Da Fei took it and glanced inside, his face immediately breaking into the most humble smile he had ever worn!
There was no choice!
While ideals should not be desecrated.
But he was giving too much!
…
And so.
Da Fei successfully transitioned from a bandit leader to a human trafficker.
Today was the day of the first delivery.
After all, lone cultivators were not available at any given time, and it had taken him considerable effort to gather this boatload of people.
Once this batch of 'goods' was delivered, he would earn a substantial income!
Excellent!
Life was becoming more promising!
Just as Da Fei was envisioning a bright future, two figures suddenly appeared in his line of sight.
The two stopped about two zhang in front of the flying boat.
“Hello,” the Second Elder smiled kindly.
“Do you know how to get to the Yard Empire?” Master Xie Yan asked politely.
“You’re going to the Yard Empire?” Da Fei replied, his expression somewhat strange.
Clearly, these were two lone cultivators.
Lone cultivators meant performance.
The cloaked man had told him earlier that he wanted any cultivator above the Golden Core realm.
He had already checked.
The two before him were one at the Golden Core realm and the other at the Nascent Soul realm.
Although lower cultivation meant less money, who would refuse such an opportunity?
“Yes,” the two elders replied in unison.
“It just so happens that I’m going to the Yard Empire,” Da Fei quickly replied enthusiastically. “If you don’t mind, I can give you a ride.”
“Thank you, then.”
The two elders happily landed on the flying boat.
Just as Da Fei was about to order his newly recruited subordinates to escort them down, he saw the two elders walking directly towards him.
“You are a good person,” the Second Elder extended his right hand and gently patted Da Fei’s left shoulder.
“Thank you,” Master Xie Yan placed his left hand on Da Fei’s right shoulder.
Then, the two elders maintained this posture and stared at Da Fei.
There was no intention of leaving…
Da Fei was naturally very displeased with the actions of the two elders!
I am the future King of Bandits!
How dare you touch my shoulders as you please?!
Now that you’re on my ship, you will obediently become the fish I catch!
Just as he was about to take action, he inadvertently met the eyes of the two elders…
The Second Elder’s face seemed fine at first glance.
However, after staring for a while, it felt as if his features were constantly moving…
A kind of unprovoked, irregular wriggling.
It made one feel as if his face was perpetually contorted.
Da Fei suspected he was seeing things and quickly rubbed his eyes.
When he looked again, he found…
It was still moving!
Although the amplitude was not large, it never stopped!
“Holy crap…”
Da Fei gasped, his heart rate instantly accelerating.
To be honest.
After being a bandit for so many years, Da Fei had seen all sorts of things!
Let alone a distorted face.
He had seen many things hundreds of times more bizarre.
But he couldn’t quite explain why.
He just felt an inexplicable panic in his heart…
An invisible pressure enveloped him, like a mountain!
“What’s wrong?”
Sensing Da Fei’s abnormality, Master Xie Yan asked with concern.
Perhaps fearing the other party was too nervous.
Master Xie Yan quickly put on an extremely kind smile.
After all, a polite and kind smile was the most effective way to build rapport.
Da Fei instinctively looked over…
This was an even more bizarre face!
One eyeball was larger than the other, and the left eyeball was darting around erratically!
The frequency was terrifyingly high!
One corner of his mouth was turned up, while the other drooped.
…
Da Fei’s legs went weak, and he almost wet his pants…
This was not merely a visual stimulus.
It was more of a mental pressure.
At this moment, he felt as if he had fallen into an endless ice abyss, his entire body chilled to the bone!
Damn it, what’s happening to me?!
They’re just two ugly ghosts, there’s no need to be so scared, right?!
One Golden Core and one Nascent Soul, I can still kill them in minutes!
As expected of a bandit, he had good psychological fortitude!
With this thought, Da Fei immediately fought back!
His internal true qi surged wildly…
Huh?
Where is my true qi?
Why is there no response?
Da Fei refused to believe it and tried again.
Unfortunately, it was useless.
His internal true qi seemed to have fallen asleep.
No matter how he tried to activate it, there was no reaction.
At this moment!
Da Fei finally realized the seriousness of the situation!
To hell with Golden Core and Nascent Soul!
These were clearly two old monsters!
No, I need to save myself!
Fortunately, I didn’t show any malicious intent before, so there’s still a chance to rectify this!
With this thought, Da Fei forced out an ugly smile with great difficulty.
“Two…”
“Why are you sweating so much?” the Second Elder suddenly interrupted, looking at Da Fei’s face with a serious expression. “Wait a minute…”
Master Xie Yan also seemed to notice something and began to look at Da Fei intently.
Being stared at by two powerful figures like this was extremely terrifying.
Especially with their serious and focused expressions…
Da Fei was so scared he didn’t dare to breathe, only trembling…
“Master, is it what I think?”
“That’s right, it is!”
Da Fei was completely bewildered by the two elders’ question-and-answer.
“Two seniors…” Da Fei mustered great courage and said with a tremble, “What exactly do you want to say…”
“You’re sick!”
The two elders replied in unison!