Volume 3 Chapter 15
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Volume 3 Chapter 15: Huandao Island
Hearing Bai Qingfu’s words, Xu Qingfan was slightly stunned, feeling there might be a deeper meaning. Hidden threats? What does that refer to? But just as Xu Qingfan was about to ask something, he realized Bai Qingfu had already walked far away.
Watching Bai Qingfu’s figure gradually disappear, Xu Qingfan shook his head slightly and turned to walk towards the teleportation circle. At the edge of the circle, Jin Qinghan and the other four were waiting quietly.
As for Bai Qingfu’s words, Xu Qingfan didn’t understand them, but he remembered them clearly in his heart. He knew that Bai Qingfu, though mysterious in his actions, wouldn’t speak without reason. There must be some hidden meaning, even if he hadn’t discovered it yet. So Xu Qingfan decided to pay close attention to his surroundings during the competition, as it wouldn’t cost him anything.
During the short walk to the teleportation array, Xu Qingfan kept thinking about Bai Qingfu’s advice and Zhang Hualing’s words before he left the sect. It seemed as though both hinted at something, making Xu Qingfan feel this wasn’t just a simple Newcomer Competition. But he couldn’t figure out what it was, as he knew too little.
When Xu Qingfan reached the edge of the teleportation array and saw Jin Qinghan and the others waiting for him, he clasped his hands apologetically and said, "Thank you for waiting so long, please forgive me."
"Indeed, it was quite a long wait," Lv Qingshang said with a stern face at first, but then a smile appeared as he added, "But since Junior Brother Xu was reluctantly parting with a beauty, we have no choice but to wait as long as needed, haha." With that, Lv Qingshang burst into laughter.
Hearing Lv Qingshang’s words, even the usually aloof Jin Qinghan revealed a slight smile. In fact, Jin Qinghan often teased Xu Qingfan privately about Dongfang Qingling. Wang Qingjun also laughed along with Lv Qingshang, but Xu Qingfan felt his smile was somewhat odd, like he was smiling without truly feeling it.
As for Feng Qingtian, he remained his usual aloof self, standing with his hands behind his back at the edge of the teleportation array, looking at the four with an indifferent expression, his brow slightly furrowed, clearly not finding Lv Qingshang’s words funny.
Initially, Xu Qingfan’s cheeks reddened slightly from Lv Qingshang’s comment, but seeing Feng Qingtian’s impatient expression, he quickly said, "It’s getting late, we should hurry to Huandao Island."
With that, Xu Qingfan took the lead and stepped into the teleportation array.
As the five of them entered the teleportation array, a dazzling light flickered before their eyes, and their bodies swayed as if the world was shifting. When the light faded, they found themselves in a place completely different from Zhantai.
…
As Xu Qingfan walked towards the teleportation array, he was lost in thoughts about the meaningful words Zhang Hualing and Bai Qingfu had said to him and didn’t notice a concerned gaze watching him from among the Qingxu Gate disciples.
After Venerable Xuan Jian announced the trial’s content, besides worrying about her five senior brothers participating in the trust trial, Xu Xiurong found herself more concerned about Xu Qingfan’s safety.
Xu Xiurong was puzzled by this unexpected worry, just like the sudden pride she felt when she discovered Xu Qingfan was the leader of the five Jiuhua Gate disciples participating in the Newcomer Competition.
Over the three years since she parted ways with Xu Qingfan, Xu Xiurong often found herself recalling moments with him in the Southern Wasteland, even though they hadn’t exchanged many words. Xu Qingfan’s graceful demeanor when explaining the origin of the "Nine Demon Bead," his calm expression when rescuing her from mutant beasts, and the determined yet sorrowful look in his eyes during fierce battles, all became clearer over time.
When Xu Xiurong saw Xu Qingfan leading the four Jiuhua Gate disciples towards the teleportation array, she initially wanted to step out from her sect’s crowd to say some words of concern to him. But she noticed a woman, much prettier than herself, already standing closely beside Xu Qingfan, and a wave of sadness and a fleeting feeling of inadequacy swept over her heart.
When Xu Xiurong finally suppressed her mixed emotions and walked over to Xu Qingfan casually, she found that he and the Jiuhua Gate people had already stepped into the teleportation array. In a blink of light, Xu Qingfan’s figure disappeared before her eyes.
With Xu Qingfan’s disappearance, Xu Xiurong felt a hollow sensation in her heart as if something was right in front of her but she had failed to grasp it.
…
Although Xu Qingfan had been practicing cultivation for thirty years, he had never encountered a teleportation array. It is important to know that setting up a teleportation array requires consuming many spirit stones and rare materials, and it can only transport up to a few thousand miles at most, making it quite rare in the cultivation world.
At the moment the teleportation array was activated, Xu Qingfan felt a brief instant of nervousness. Before this feeling could dissipate, he noticed that the dazzling light before him had vanished, and the beautiful scenery that was once in front of him had suddenly changed.
In this new place, a dense forest blocked the sunlight from above. Strange rocks were scattered beneath the trees, and vibrant green grass grew abundantly. Despite the lively appearance, there was not a trace of animal life. No wild rabbits, no birds singing, not even a single flying insect could be found. Only the monotonous sound of waves echoed through the forest.
Hearing the sound of waves, Xu Qingfan knew that he and his companions had arrived at Huandao Island.
However, perhaps because the forest was so dense, Xu Qingfan could hear the sound of the waves but could not see the ocean. The continuous sound of waves within the thick woods added a mysterious and eerie atmosphere to the island.
Xu Qingfan was now standing in a clearing within the forest, at his feet was a teleportation array slightly smaller than the one at Zhantai, clearly used to connect to Zhantai.
Most of the disciples from various sects who had already arrived at Huandao Island through the teleportation array had ventured out to search for the Seven-colored Deer on the island. Yet, dozens of disciples from different sects remained in the clearing. Most of them were at the Inedia Stage of cultivation, their expressions hesitant and uneasy, unsure where to start or even afraid to leave the clearing.
What surprised Xu Qingfan was that disciples from the Qingxu Gate and the Liuhe Gate had not left either. When they saw him appear, they approached him as if waiting for him.
When the five disciples from Qingxu Gate noticed Liuhe Gate disciples also heading towards Xu Qingfan, they paused in surprise and halted. However, the young, proud Taoist from Liuhe Gate showed no hesitation, leading four other Liuhe Gate disciples towards Xu Qingfan first.
"Are you representing Jiuhua Gate for the Newcomer Competition? What about Bao Qingfang? I remember he only practiced for ninety-eight years." The young Taoist approached Xu Qingfan without introducing himself and asked coldly.
Hearing the rudeness in his words, Xu Qingfan frowned slightly but still bowed and said, "May I ask which senior you are from Liuhe Gate? What business do you have with Brother Bao Qingfang?"
"You haven’t answered my question," the young Taoist ignored Xu Qingfan’s words and continued coldly.
Hearing his words, not only Xu Qingfan but also Jin Qinghan and the others behind him frowned slightly. However, Xu Qingfan didn’t want to cause trouble in this Newcomer Competition, so despite his dislike for the young Taoist’s rudeness, he politely said, "Brother Bao Qingfang entered the Condensed Core Stage twenty-one years ago and became an elder of our sect. He is now on the Zhantaijade platform, which, according to the rules, means he can’t participate in the Newcomer Competition."
Hearing that Bao Qingfang had reached the Condensed Core Stage, the young Taoist’s face turned a bit pale but didn’t say more. Instead, he turned to leave. Halfway through, he turned back to Xu Qingfan and said, "Sixty years ago, I lost to Bao Qingfang. This time, I will not lose to his junior. Remember my name, I am Deng Tianao."
With that, the young Taoist did not linger, leading the disciples of Liuhe Gate to swiftly walk out of the woods.
Hearing the young Taoist’s words, Xu Qingfan was slightly taken aback and understood the grudge between this young Taoist and Bao Qingfang. It was clear he had lost to Bao Qingfang in the previous Newcomer Competition and was now venting his anger on him. What surprised Xu Qingfan was that Deng Tianao, despite his youthful appearance, was participating in the Newcomer Competition for the second time, indicating he was at least eighty years old. He must have a secret method to maintain his appearance.
After the Liuhe Gate people left, five disciples of Qingxu Gate, led by an aged middle-aged man, walked towards Xu Qingfan.
"I am Hua Xian from Qingxu Gate. I thank Junior Brother Xu for looking after my Brother Lü and Brother Shang in the Southern Wasteland," the middle-aged man said first, clasping his hands in greeting as he approached.
Upon hearing Hua Xian’s words, Xu Qingfan quickly clasped his hands and replied, "Senior Brother Hua, you’re teasing. Senior Brothers Lü and Shang are highly skilled; they don’t need me to take care of them."
Hearing Xu Qingfan’s response, Hua Xian didn’t argue but merely smiled slightly and said, "This Newcomer Competition is very dangerous, Junior Brother Xu. You must be extra careful."
Saying this, Hua Xian clasped his hands again towards Xu Qingfan and then turned to leave. Lv Ziqing and Shang Nianyao also clasped their hands to Xu Qingfan before following Hua Xian out of the forest.
Watching Hua Xian and the others leave, Xu Qingfan gave a faint smile, then turned to Jin Qinghan and the others and said, "Time is short; we should get moving too."
