Volume 1 Volume 7 Chapter 2

Volume 7 Chapter 2: The World Is Divided, a Letter From Afar (Part 2)

"I am Wang Zegang, the junior. I greet Senior Liu."

Hearing the visitor’s words, Mr. Liu was slightly surprised, carefully looked at the person in front of him, and finally remembered who it was. Wasn’t this Wang Zegang, who had followed Xu Qingfan into hiding all those years ago?

However, back then, this Wang Zegang was only at the middle stage of the Golden Core Stage. How did he reach the peak of the Golden Core Stage in just thirty short years? Moreover, after Xu Qingfan told Jin Qinghan he wanted to hide away, he took Wang Zegang and the others and left, not to be heard from for a full thirty years. How did Wang Zegang appear here and now? Could it be that there is some news about Xu Qingfan?

Mr. Liu suddenly closed his eyes to check if anyone was watching, then slowly opened them again. With a wave of his hand, a subtle protective barrier was set up around the courtyard.

"Let’s talk inside."

Mr. Liu glanced at the still-bowed Wang Zegang and said calmly.

After entering the room, Mr. Liu sat down, while Wang Zegang stood respectfully with his hands at his sides.

After a moment of thought, Mr. Liu slowly asked, "Did you not go into hiding with that boy Xu Qingfan? Why did you suddenly come here? Are you no longer with Xu Qingfan, or did he send you here?"

Wang Zegang replied, "I was sent by the Island Master."

Hearing Wang Zegang’s words, Mr. Liu paused for a moment, then a smile appeared on his lips as he asked, "Island Master? So that means Xu Qingfan is hiding in the East Sea?"

Wang Zegang answered, "Yes, the Island Master told me that you are the most respected and trusted person in the world to him, so he asked me to have no secrets from you."

Mr. Liu smiled again and said, "That rascal Xu Qingfan has been in hiding for thirty years, taking his hands off everything. I thought he would never show up again. I didn’t expect he would send you and that your flattery has become even better. Hmm, how is Xu Qingfan doing now? I haven’t seen him since he became a great master. What level is he at now?"

Hearing Mr. Liu’s words, Wang Zegang felt warmth in his heart, as he could tell that Mr. Liu truly regarded Xu Qingfan as his junior.

After hearing Mr. Liu’s question, a look of worry crossed Wang Zegang’s eyes. After a long pause, he replied, "The Island Master’s progress in skill over the years can only be described as astonishing, but… the situation is not very good."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Liu was taken aback, and his expression grew serious as he asked, "What happened? With Xu Qingfan’s current skill level, could there still be a problem? Did something occur after he merged the magic orb and the Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic? I heard Jin Qinghan say that Xu Qingfan balanced the powers of both and absorbed and controlled them."

Wang Zegang shook his head and said, "I don’t know the specific details; the Island Master hasn’t told anyone. However, over the years, the Island Master’s skill has increased, but his health has worsened."

"His skill is increasing, but his health is getting worse?" Mr. Liu exclaimed in disbelief.

After pondering for a long time, Mr. Liu still could not find any clues. Normally, the higher one’s cultivation, the longer their life and the better their health should be. Xu Qingfan’s situation truly is rare and unusual.

After a while, Mr. Liu suddenly looked at Wang Zegang and asked, "Since you have returned, where is that young man Xu Qingfan? If he has also come back, let him come to see me. His condition is quite strange, and if it drags on, it might lead to something uncontrollable."

Wang Zegang shook his head and said, "The Island Master is still deep in the East Sea and did not come with the younger generation."

Mr. Liu sighed and said, "When you return, tell him that even though I do not know what is happening, his situation is very dangerous and should be resolved quickly. If I could investigate in person, perhaps I could find some clues. Unfortunately, given the current situation, I cannot leave…"

Wang Zegang nodded quietly.

After taking a deep breath, Mr. Liu’s expression suddenly became serious. If he had been a caring elder just now, he now transformed into a representative negotiating on behalf of a powerful force, slowly saying, "Alright, enough small talk. When you return, just convey my intentions to him. Now, tell me why he sent you to find me."

Wang Zegang’s expression also grew more serious as he bowed and said, "The Island Master sent me here with a request. He mentioned that you are the person he respects most in the world. Since I have come here, I must first pay my respects to you on his behalf. Also, when he decided to go into seclusion years ago, he was a bit rushed and didn’t prepare many everyday items. This time, I also need to bring back some supplies. Moreover, the Island Master has been closely following the situation in the Shenzhou Continent over the years, so he asked me to inquire and learn more."

Mr. Liu waved his hand and said, "Don’t say those empty words. Xu Qingfan isn’t that frivolous. What exactly did he send you to do?"

After a slight hesitation, Wang Zegang continued, "Furthermore, there are two matters that the Island Master instructed me to take care of. The first is that when the Island Master was with you in North Iceland, you mentioned that if he ever wanted to repay you, he should help you gather some items from the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House’ when he had the ability. Now that the Island Master has reached the Mahayana Stage, he can sense the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House’ exists. He said it will soon open, and when it does, he will go to explore it and collect some items. He would like to know how to cooperate with you at that time, so please set some rules."

Mr. Liu smiled slightly and said, "Yes, this kid has quickly reached the level to enter the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House’… It’s rare that he still remembers my words. When you go back, tell him that when the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House’ opens, many will gather. Besides human cultivators, it seems the Shura Clan will also join. At that time, just let him stay by my side. What’s the second thing?"

Wang Zegang bowed respectfully and replied, "The Island Master said he wants to bring some old friends back to live with him in seclusion. For the past thirty years, the Island Master has missed them. He thought since they would be very useful to you and the Righteous Alliance, he didn’t mention it much. But now the Island Master thinks they are no longer useful here and hopes you will understand and not stop them."

Mr. Liu said, "The fox’s tail has finally shown; it turns out he wants to steal some people. Who are they? Why were they very useful thirty years ago but now are no longer useful?"

Wang Zegang answered, "They are Old Beggar, Scholar Beihai, and Zhang Yuning…"

Just like that, Wang Zegang quickly named more than ten people. Mr. Liu was momentarily surprised but then fell into deep thought.

He finally understood why Wang Zegang said these people were very important thirty years ago but were now useless.

Old Beggar and Scholar Beihai were the leaders among the rogue cultivators in weapon forging and alchemy. The others were also outstanding in those two fields. For the past thirty years, to enhance their power, they had truly been very busy, practicing day and night with various magic items and spiritual pills for the cultivators. However, after thirty years of indulgence and extensive forging, the stock of the human cultivators had felt great pressure. Although there were still magic pills and items being created, they had all been handed over to the alchemists and forgers of the major sects. Now they had become idle, constantly complaining about Immortal Zizhen not providing them with materials.

For Mr. Liu, these people were indeed no longer useful, so it wouldn’t matter if Xu Qingfan took them away. However, Mr. Liu did not plan to let Xu Qingfan have it so easily.

So he said, "It seems that little Xu Qingfan knows what he’s doing. Far away in the depths of the East Sea, he has already guessed the situation here. Yet these people are experts in forging and alchemy. Just because they are useless now doesn’t mean they won’t be useful in the future. Xu Qingfan wanting to take them all is rather greedy, isn’t it?"

From Xu Qingfan, Wang Zegang had long known about Mr. Liu’s character. This guy, although very smart, was often very stingy and greedy. He would never help unless he gained something, and usually, the benefits he sought were not for himself.

It was clear that Xu Qingfan wanted to gather so many alchemists and artifact masters at once, which made Mr. Liu see him as someone with extra wealth, while human cultivators had been somewhat lacking over the years.

Wang Zegang replied, "The Island Master said that if you agree to let these people leave, then when we meet, he will offer you twenty ‘Immortal Ascending Pills’ and twenty heavenly-level artifacts."

Mr. Liu was slightly taken aback; twenty ‘Immortal Ascending Pills’ and twenty heavenly-level artifacts were enough for the Righteous Alliance to create twenty powerful warriors at the Condensed Core Stage.

"Thirty-five ‘Immortal Ascending Pills’ and thirty-five heavenly-level artifacts!"

Mr. Liu was bargaining.

"Okay. We will agree to what you said, Senior."

To Mr. Liu’s surprise, Wang Zegang readily accepted, and he couldn’t help but regret inside that he should have asked for more.

"Alright, if those people agree, you can take them away, and I will pretend not to know."

In the end, the words "fifty ‘Immortal Ascending Pills’ and fifty heavenly level magical tools" were on Mr. Liu’s lips for a long time, yet he did not have the courage to say them out loud, but he still agreed to Xu Qingfan’s request.

"Thank you, sir. The Island Master asked me to tell you this much. If you have no other matters, I will take my leave."

A thoughtful look flashed in Mr. Liu’s eyes. He quietly nodded and waved his hand, signaling Wang Zegang to leave.

However, just as Wang Zegang was turning around, Mr. Liu suddenly asked, "That kid Xu Qingfan sent you, is it just to see me?"

Wang Zegang turned back and replied, "You are truly wise, sir. The Island Master sent me not only to see you and the fourteen people I mentioned before but also to meet three more people."

"Which three?"

"Jin Qinghan, Li Yuhan, and… Zhang Xusheng!"