Volume 1 Volume 6 Chapter 168

Volume 6 Chapter 168: East Sea, Rainbow Spirit Island (Part 2)

"Ah!"

Zhang Ningmei, Dongfang Qingling, and the other women let out a sharp scream, while others like Wang Zegang and Bai Yu looked at Bai Qingfu with shock.

After Xu Qingfan said he would contact Zhang Xusheng now, Bai Qingfu was silent for a moment, then suddenly pulled out a small silver knife from his sleeve and made a deep cut on his left arm.

The skin opened up, blood gushed out, dripping continuously and staining the yellow bird’s feathers.

Dongfang Qingling, Zhang Ningmei, and the others had seen many horrid things over the years of battle, but they were still shocked to see their friend harm himself so decisively without a word of warning.

When Xu Qingfan saw Bai Qingfu’s actions, he was first startled, and then he noticed a small gray pearl inside the opened skin, which was clearly the item used to contact Zhang Xusheng.

Xu Qingfan sighed, realizing that such a secretive method fit Zhang Xusheng’s style, but it was too cruel for his subordinate.

Bai Qingfu, in pain, took the gray pearl from the wound and handed it to Xu Qingfan, saying, "This is what we use to contact Zhang Xusheng. It was placed inside me by Zhang Xusheng himself when I was sent to hide in Jiuhua."

As he spoke, he became pale from blood loss, and cold sweat began to drip down.

Xu Qingfan quietly took the gray bead, but instead of contacting Zhang Xusheng immediately, he stepped forward. Not afraid of getting blood on his clothes, he placed his hand over Bai Qingfu’s left arm wound. Under the "Way of Life and Death," the wound on Bai Qingfu’s left arm healed at a visible speed.

When Bai Qingfu was imprisoned by Jiuhua, all his magical treasures and healing medicines were taken away. Now, he still had nothing. Xu Qingfan took out a bottle of healing elixir and handed it to Bai Qingfu, saying, "Senior Brother Bai, go rest over there for a while to regain your strength. Even a cultivator needs blood."

Bai Qingfu knew that letting himself rest was just an excuse. The truth was that Xu Qingfan saw through him and understood he was too afraid to face Zhang Xusheng again. He silently nodded, took the elixir, and walked to the side to recuperate.

Watching Bai Qingfu move aside, Xu Qingfan looked at the people nearby. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "You all should go rest over there, too."

For some reason, Xu Qingfan felt it would be better to face Zhang Xusheng alone.

Hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, everyone nodded and walked away, except for Ting’er, who still held onto the corner of Xu Qingfan’s shirt and refused to leave his side.

Looking at the ordinary, dull, and lifeless bead in his hand, and thinking about the upcoming meeting, Xu Qingfan felt his heart race a bit, even though he was just going to contact Zhang Xusheng and not actually meet him.

Although they had only met once, Zhang Xusheng had left a deep impression on Xu Qingfan.

What puzzled Xu Qingfan was that thinking about contacting Zhang Xusheng filled him not only with some panic and hatred, but even more with a strange sense of expectation and excitement.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly exhaled, letting the cold indifference spread in his heart. In the next moment, Xu Qingfan’s mind was extremely calm, and his face was cold and fierce.

Then, Xu Qingfan slowly poured Spirit Qi from his body into the gray bead.

"Bang…"

With a soft sound, as Xu Qingfan poured in his Spirit Qi, the gray bead shattered instantly, turning into endless gray powder that emitted a faint glow, floating in front of Xu Qingfan.

Next, the powder that glowed faintly began to spin without wind, and after a moment, it surprisingly formed the shape of a person.

Although it was somewhat unclear, the person’s face, body shape, and charm clearly resembled Zhang Xusheng, lifelike and vivid.

After Zhang Xusheng’s appearance, the area around his eyes glowed brightly, continuously staring at Xu Qingfan, seemingly very curious about Xu Qingfan’s new look. After a moment, Zhang Xusheng’s voice sounded.

"I never expected my little friend would take the initiative to contact me. You have added some fun to my boredom. What’s up? Are you here to declare revenge, or do you need my help with something?"

Xu Qingfan looked coldly at Zhang Xusheng in front of him. As indifference took over his heart, his voice came out icy and fierce.

"A declaration of revenge? I’m not that boring. Besides, even if I don’t say these things, you will still come looking for me in the future, won’t you?"

"So, you’re here to ask for my help? First, I must say, there are some things I might be able to help you with, but you will need to pay a price. After all, I’m not such a selfless person."

Xu Qingfan frowned and interrupted Zhang Xusheng’s teasing, saying, "I’m not asking for your help. I just want to tell you something, and you can decide how to act on it."

Saying this, Xu Qingfan did not wait for Zhang Xusheng to speak and began to share with him everything he saw at the Divine Plate of Inheritance and the guesses he made with others.

In complete contrast to Xu Qingfan’s initial reaction upon learning this, Zhang Xusheng remained silent for a moment after hearing it and then smiled at Xu Qingfan, saying, "I see, you want to use me to deal with the Shura Clan."

"Yes," Xu Qingfan admitted straightforwardly. "My current situation and strength are not enough to do much."

But Zhang Xusheng asked again, "Aren’t you afraid I might just walk away?"

Xu Qingfan frowned and looked at Zhang Xusheng, saying, "Let’s be clear. Although I don’t know what your purpose is, once the Shura Clan becomes powerful and unstoppable, it definitely wouldn’t be in your interest to just walk away, would it?"

Zhang Xusheng smiled at Xu Qingfan and said, "Not bad! You’ve learned a lot, and you are already using the strength of your opponent. Over the years, you’re the only one who has been able to use me."

"It is not about using you; the choice is yours," Xu Qingfan said softly.

Zhang Xusheng smiled slightly, not angry at all. Instead, he suggested to Xu Qingfan with great interest, "Alright, I will handle this matter. Perhaps I will team up again with those old fellows from the Righteous Alliance. By the way, what are your plans now? The righteous path can no longer accept you. Why not come to my place? I can make you the second person in the ‘Shadow’ organization, after me, and I will never give you orders. How does that sound? Don’t worry, I won’t push you until you are ready."

Xu Qingfan said coldly, "No thank you, I just want to rest for a while. I have decided to live in seclusion."

While speaking, Xu Qingfan had no desire to continue talking to Zhang Xusheng. Although it was just an illusion, he still felt uncomfortable in front of Zhang Xusheng, as if he were completely exposed. With a wave of his hand, he scattered the illusion before him.

"Think carefully. Even in seclusion, you cannot escape all of this. Working with me is your best choice…"

Although Zhang Xusheng’s illusion was scattered, his voice still echoed in Xu Qingfan’s ears, and it was only after all the dust had settled that Zhang Xusheng’s voice began to fade away.

After seeing the conversation between Xu Qingfan and Zhang Xusheng end, everyone instinctively gathered around Xu Qingfan. Dongfang Qingling looked deeply into Xu Qingfan’s eyes, showing no fear of the darkness and coldness in them. Instead, she was full of tenderness and concern. It was as if she could see Xu Qingfan’s deep helplessness, fatigue, and conflict beneath that darkness and indifference. Having been by Xu Qingfan’s side for so many years, she understood how much he wished to return to the Righteous Alliance at that moment and discuss strategies with his familiar comrades, but unfortunately…

After a moment, Dongfang Qingling gently asked, "Senior Brother Xu, have you still decided to live in seclusion?"

Xu Qingfan nodded and said, "In the current situation, we can’t do anything. Besides, we have done what we needed to do. And we agreed to live in seclusion, didn’t we?"

At that moment, the coldness in his heart faded away, and Xu Qingfan returned to his usual demeanor.

As he spoke, Xu Qingfan furrowed his brow for a moment and then said, "However, Zhang Xusheng’s words are not very trustworthy. No one knows what he is really thinking, so after we settle down, we should find a way to remind the Righteous Alliance to be extra careful."

Dongfang Qingling silently nodded but did not say anything more.

Hearing that Xu Qingfan still decided to go into hiding, Bai Yu excitedly asked, "Master, have you thought about where we will hide?"

Xu Qingfan turned to look towards the east, his gaze becoming immensely distant, as if it had traveled through countless years. He said slowly, "The East Sea; there, it will be our new beginning."

※※※※

On the other side, high in the sky of a bustling Middle-earth, within a massive white cloud, Zhang Xusheng had been silent for a full hour after contacting Xu Qingfan.

His followers, from Anluo to Nüluo, stood with their hands down by their sides, quietly waiting for Zhang Xusheng’s instructions.

It wasn’t clear how long it had been, when a small white cloud floated toward the area where Zhang Xusheng and the others were, seeming to move slowly yet quickly, and soon joined with them.

A moment later, Mingluo quickly walked to where Zhang Xusheng was and bowed, saying, "Boss, I’m back."

"Did you lose them?"

Zhang Xusheng, with his back to everyone, finally spoke and asked softly.

Mingluo nodded in shame and said, "The people from the Shura Clan ran too fast, and I didn’t dare to follow too closely…"

Zhang Xusheng interrupted, "You at least know which direction they ran, right?"

Mingluo replied, "I lost them two thousand miles north of North Iceland. When I lost them, they were still deep into North Iceland."

Zhang Xusheng nodded and suddenly turned, giving the order, "Every ten people take one ‘Disaster Cloud’ and go deep into North Iceland to find the tracks of the Shura Clan."

"Yes."

Everyone quickly answered.

Mingluo was puzzled and asked, "But if the ‘Disaster Cloud’ spreads out like this, where will we hide?"

Zhang Xusheng smiled slightly and said, "You should also look for the Shura Clan, as for me, I have to shamelessly team up with the Righteous Alliance again."