Chapter 331: Chapter 318: Uninvited Guest!
"It’s almost time!"
"By the looks of it, these two leaves of Immortal Tea will be fully matured in at most another month!"
"I’ve been here for two years, and it’s about time to leave and handle proper business."
On the unnamed island, Zhouyang stepped out of his cave abode and looked at the two leaves of "Cloud Mist Immortal Tea" brimming with Spiritual Qi on the tall tea tree outside. His eyes were full of anticipation.
After waiting for over two years, he finally awaited the maturation of these two leaves of "Cloud Mist Immortal Tea."
Just in case, for the next month, Zhouyang did not dive deeply into meditation but instead waited under the tea tree.
He had waited for two years and definitely did not want it to be in vain.
If someone or a demon beast were to steal the mature "Cloud Mist Immortal Tea" while he was meditating, crying would be too late.
Facts proved his precaution was necessary.
Because just a few days before the official maturation of "Cloud Mist Immortal Tea," the fragrance wafted out of the valley, attracting many demon beasts to attack the grand array enveloping the valley.
Although the strongest among these demon beasts were merely Tier Three demon beasts, their sheer numbers made it hard for Zhouyang’s array to hold for long under their simultaneous attack.
Naturally, Zhouyang wouldn’t allow these demon beasts to break the array; he had no choice but to unleash his flying sword and begin a slaughter.
After a ruthless massacre, those demon beasts attracted by the tea fragrance either died under Zhouyang’s sword or fled the island in fright.
After dispelling the probing demon beasts, Zhouyang thought he could finally sit back and wait for the Immortal Tea to mature for harvesting.
But unexpectedly, just two days before the Immortal Tea fully matured, unexpected guests arrived on the island.
"It’s you!"
"It’s you!"
On the unnamed small island, separated by several miles, two people spotted each other through their Divine Sense and exclaimed in surprise.
Zhouyang looked toward where the unexpected guest was, and although the mist blocked his view, his Divine Sense clearly perceived the other party’s change in complexion.
This unexpected guest turned out to be the blue-clad middle-aged human cultivator who was injured and driven away by the "Canglan Cloud Tiger" two years ago.
This person, after two years, had indeed found his way back to this island and even brought along a helper with Fifth-Layer of Purple Mansion Stage cultivation.
"Why the surprise, Brother Zhu? Do you know the cultivator on the island?"
In mid-air, a white-shirted, sword-bearing youth who arrived with the blue-clad middle-aged human cultivator frowned and asked after hearing his companion’s exclamation.
Hearing his companion’s question, the blue-clad middle-aged cultivator regained composure and said solemnly, "Brother Tuoba, you may not know; this person was drawn because of Brother Zhu’s battle noises with that beast two years ago and later used a powerful escape technique to flee while Brother Zhu was fighting the demon beast."
"Back then, I was merely angry at his shameless actions, but now it seems that his escape was not necessarily out of fear of the demon beast; it was likely to avoid sharing the Spiritual Object on the island with Brother Zhu!"
The white-shirted, sword-bearing youth flashed a surprised look in his eyes and couldn’t help but whisper, "Brother Zhu, do you mean the Tier Four Middle Grade demon beast was slaughtered by this kid on the island?"
"Besides this explanation, Brother Zhu can’t figure out why the demon beast would abandon the island’s Spiritual Object and Spirit Vein and leave this place!"
After finishing his words, the blue-clad middle-aged cultivator directly spoke loudly to Zhouyang, "Fellow Daoist, may I ask if what Brother Zhu said is correct?"
Their conversation just now did not use sound transmission, so Zhouyang heard every word clearly.
Upon hearing the blue-clad middle-aged cultivator’s question, Zhouyang was momentarily taken aback, then calmly smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhu is absolutely right; that beast indeed died under Brother Huang’s sword!"
Hearing Zhouyang openly admit the speculation, the blue-clad middle-aged cultivator was shocked, and the solemn look on his face deepened considerably.
Then, as if recalling something, he looked at Zhouyang with an ugly expression and said, "Brother Huang? You said last time you were Zhu Ziyu of the Purple Star Sect, making me investigate and find that person had indeed died just two years ago outside Seven-Colored Immortal City. Now you say your surname is Huang; should I believe you, fellow Daoist, or not?"
"A name is merely a label. Fellow Daoist Zhu and Brother Huang met by chance; why bother with such things? I’d say, let’s discuss your purpose for coming here!"
Zhouyang squinted his eyes, already losing patience for idle chatter with the other party, and directly asked for their intentions.
Even though he didn’t need to ask, he already had the answer in his heart.
The blue-clad middle-aged cultivator did not immediately answer his question, but instead, the white-shirted, sword-bearing youth snorted coldly after Zhouyang finished speaking, "Humph, there’s no need to ask, Brother Zhu. In my opinion, this person must be the villain who killed Zhu Ziyu of the Purple Star Sect!"
"It’s said that Zhu Ziyu not only had Eighth-Layer of Purple Mansion cultivation but also had a pair of loose cultivator Purple Mansion stage couple from Fire Cloud Country as his helpers at the time."
"If the demon beast Brother Zhu mentioned was indeed killed by him, then he must be the one who murdered Zhu Ziyu!"
This person, whether naturally bold or relying on something, dared to mention this matter directly in front of Zhouyang, knowing full well that Zhouyang was the murderer of Zhu Ziyu, with a very arrogant attitude.
Upon hearing these words, Zhouyang’s gaze instantly became sharp.
"Fellow Daoist Huang, for now, let me just believe your last name is Huang!"
"As long as Fellow Daoist Huang allows us to have those two pieces of ’Cloud Mist Immortal Tea’, Brother Tuoba and I will not take any other spiritual objects from the valley, nor will we spread the news of your presence here. Moreover, we are willing to each offer you twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones as an exchange. What does Fellow Daoist Huang think?"
As if sensing Zhouyang’s murderous intent awakening, the blue-robed middle-aged cultivator surnamed Zhu quickly responded loudly to Zhouyang’s offer.
While stating his intentions and conditions, he hurriedly used sound transmission to his companion, who was showing displeasure at his words, saying: "Brother Tuoba, please be patient. This person can kill Zhu Ziyu of the Purple Star Sect and that Tier Four Middle-Grade Demon Beast; whatever method he used, it shows that he’s not someone to be trifled with. If we can exchange a mere few tens of thousands of spirit stones for the ’Cloud Mist Immortal Tea’, why make an enemy of such a ruthless person?"
"Besides, Brother Tuoba, don’t you find it strange? This person discovered this place two years ago after me and seems to have stayed on this small island ever since. What does that indicate?"
"It indicates that this person either has some means or treasure to precisely locate the small island every time he enters the ’Cloud Mist Marsh’ or has some powerful method or treasure to delay the time of the anomalous power explosion in the fog!"
"Either way, it shows that this person is hard to deal with, and we shouldn’t become hostile to him unless absolutely necessary!"
After listening to the blue-robed middle-aged cultivator surnamed Zhu, the white-robed, sword-bearing youth’s eyes suddenly tightened; if not for his companion’s reminder, he would not have thought so much.
However, unlike the blue-robed middle-aged cultivator surnamed Zhu, although he temporarily suppressed his desire to act on impulse due to these words, his desire to kill Zhouyang became even more intense.
Just as the blue-robed middle-aged cultivator surnamed Zhu said, no matter Zhouyang’s situation, the profound secret techniques and treasures he had would be extremely valuable to the forces near the ’Cloud Mist Marsh’.
If my sect could obtain these...
The white-robed, sword-bearing youth thought of this, and a blazing enthusiasm surged in his heart.
A piece of ’Cloud Mist Immortal Tea’ is good, but how could it compare to possibly finding countless pieces of ’Cloud Mist Immortal Tea’ in the future?
He immediately said aloud: "Brother Zhu is right; as long as Fellow Daoist Huang agrees to our terms, Tuoba Gui will definitely present the twenty thousand spirit stones with both hands!"
Exchanging twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones for a piece of ’Cloud Mist Immortal Tea’, this price is quite generous.
It should be known that the usual purchase price of ’Cloud Mist Immortal Tea’ by major forces is only ten thousand low-grade spirit stones.
After all, although this immortal tea is good, it can only have an effect once for each cultivator, so it can’t be speculated to a very high price.
However, in the past, once this ’Cloud Mist Immortal Tea’ appeared, it would mostly flow into the hands of Golden Core Stage cultivators.
Because compared to Purple Mansion Stage cultivators, it’s obviously more cost-effective for Golden Core Stage cultivators to consume this immortal tea.
So it was not too bad for the blue-robed middle-aged cultivator surnamed Zhu and his companion to offer twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones for a piece of ’Cloud Mist Immortal Tea’ for their own use.
But Zhouyang didn’t care about these things.
He had waited two years for the ’Cloud Mist Immortal Tea’ to mature. How could he sell it to others for mere tens of thousands of spirit stones?
Did he look like a person lacking spirit stones?
"Are you done talking? If so, you can leave now!"
He looked coldly in the direction of the two, his voice icy and devoid of any emotion, his patience utterly exhausted.
"You brat..."
The white-robed, sword-bearing youth was momentarily stunned, then his face flushed red with anger, instantly provoked by Zhouyang’s disdainful words.
Since childhood, he had been praised by elders and admired by peers for his outstanding aptitude. He had never been treated this way by a cultivator who appeared significantly younger than himself.
Zhouyang’s words, "You can leave now," deeply wounded his pride and arrogance.
He took a deep breath, waved his hand, and the flying sword he carried on his back shot out with a "clang" from its scabbard, suspending itself above his head, its tip pointed directly at Zhouyang.
Then, with a fierce look in his eyes, he exhaled and shouted like thunder: "Tuoba Gui of the White Cloud Sword Sect, let’s see Fellow Daoist Huang’s great skill!"
Before the shout was completely out, the silver flying sword had already transformed into a silver sword rainbow, slashing towards Zhouyang.
"Brother Tuoba, you..."
The blue-robed middle-aged cultivator surnamed Zhu opened his mouth, then clenched his teeth, similarly reaching out to pat his storage bag to take out a blue crescent short halberd magical artifact and toss it towards Zhouyang, following with a shout: "Zhu Wuya of the Profound Water Sect, let’s see Fellow Daoist Huang’s great skill!"