Volume 1 Volume 7 Chapter 26

Volume 7 Chapter 26: Noisy Night (Part 1)

As for his mysterious junior, Shen Gang didn’t know what kind of feelings he actually had for him.

Although this younger apprentice joined the sect later than him, his skills are much higher. The reason he has made such rapid progress in his skills over the years is entirely thanks to this younger apprentice.

Shen Gang does not understand why everyone keeps their distance from Chou, who is mysterious and gives off a terrifying aura. Chou ignores everyone else but is very caring towards Shen Gang, whom he has only met a few times. Meanwhile, Shen Gang feels strangely familiar with Chou, as if they have always been together since childhood. If it weren’t for the fact that Wang Li had no talent for cultivation back then and Chou’s skills being unfathomable, along with their completely different appearances, voices, and temperaments, Shen Gang would almost mistake Chou for the missing Wang Li.

However, even though Chou has high skills, he never knows how to take care of himself. If something involves Chou, it often needs Shen Gang to arrange it, which reminds him of the past…

Thinking of the long-lost Wang Li, Shen Gang silently sighs. He grew up with Wang Li, and as an older brother, he witnessed Wang Li’s growth step by step, from a wobbly child into a strong and brave hunter, and then how that brave hunter became a pitying person controlled by hatred.

No matter how other former companions see Wang Li, Shen Gang only feels brotherly love and pity for him.

Although Xu Qingfan once said he entrusted Wang Li to a senior, over the years, Shen Gang couldn’t help but worry about Wang Li. Without his care, no one knows what Shen Gang would do under the influence of hatred.

However, perhaps because Chou, like Wang Li back then, does not know how to take care of himself, or perhaps because Chou is Xu Qingfan’s only closed-door disciple, over the years, Shen Gang has unknowingly shifted the feelings and care he once had for Wang Li onto Chou.

Thinking of Chou, who is completely shrouded in a black cloak with no visible face, and remembering Chou’s constant care for him over the years, Shen Gang sighs silently.

"Martial Brother Chou, what kind of secret do you hide within? What have all your actions been for these years?"

Just as Shen Gang was deep in thought, a dark spot suddenly appeared in the distance of the sky and flew quickly towards the direction of Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands. Shen Gang focused his gaze and saw that it was Martial Brother Chou returning from sea. Though still miles away, he could already sense the chilling and suffocating aura clearly.

This was the eighty-ninth time in three years that Chou had gone to sea. Each time he returned, his presence grew more powerful. Compared to three years ago, Chou was like a different person. If anyone in the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands improved faster than Shen Gang in these three years, it was surely Chou.

"Open the formation."

Seeing Chou flying closer, Shen Gang quickly directed his Tianzhu Team.

At this moment, the members of Tianzhu Team also noticed Chou’s return. Feeling his cold and dark aura, they trembled and showed fearful expressions, not daring to waste a moment. They hurriedly opened a gap in the defensive light around Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands to let Chou in.

"Martial Brother Chou, you’re back."

Shen Gang walked quickly to greet Chou; in Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands, he might be one of the few who was not afraid of Chou.

"Hmm."

Chou nodded and with a wave of his hand, a three-meter-long blue fish covered in dragon scales fell at Shen Gang’s feet.

"Fish Dragon Beast?" Seeing the corpse of the demon beast in front of him, Shen Gang exclaimed in disbelief.

The "Fish Dragon Beast," one of the scariest demon beasts in the East Sea besides a few others like the Jiao Dragon Beast, the Violent Sea Beast, and the Transforming Dragon Beast, is said to be a branch of dragons. It has heavenly-level power and is especially known for living in groups and holding grudges. Even though the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands is now strong, with masters like Xu Qingfan and Liu Ziqing, they would not easily provoke it. How could Chou have killed it?

Most importantly, when did Chou gain the strength to kill water-type heavenly-level demon beasts in the deep sea? One must be at least half stronger than a water-type demon beast to kill it in the sea.

Shen Gang looked at Chou in astonishment, but Chou seemed unfazed. He coldly said, "I killed two Fish Dragon Beasts and left one for you. I also saved the inner core for you. You can take this corpse to Scholar Beihai and Old Beggar; they will make some excellent elixirs and magical tools for you."

Although Chou’s voice was cold, it carried an air of nonchalance, as if this valuable heavenly-level demon beast corpse was as worthless as sand in his eyes.

And this is the reason why Shen Gang’s cultivation had advanced so quickly over the years. Every time Chou came back, he would bring Shen Gang inner cores and corpses of demon beasts, allowing Scholar Beihai to refine many high-quality elixirs. Shen Gang had taken more elixirs than other cultivators combined, and with Chou’s frequent teachings about the Heavenly Way and Xu Qingfan’s sermons every hundred days, Shen Gang’s understanding of the Heavenly Way had developed much faster than others.

However, at this moment, Shen Gang couldn’t think of gratitude; he was filled with shock. Chou had not only killed a "Fish Dragon Beast" but two? How strong was Chou now? He knew they lived in groups and held grudges. What if they sought revenge?

Chou seemed to understand Shen Gang’s thoughts and said lightly, "Don’t worry. If they dare to seek revenge, I can handle them."

Hearing Chou’s carefree attitude, Shen Gang sighed but didn’t dwell on it anymore. He silently resolved to report this news to Xu Qingfan and pay closer attention to the defenses of the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands during this time.

He put the body of the "Fish Dragon Beast" into his sleeve and said with a bitter smile, "Over the years, I have received many materials from you to create elixirs, but I can’t possibly eat them all. Right now, I have three ‘Immortal Ascending Pills’ in my hands, and with this heavenly level demon beast’s inner core, I might have one more… Martial Brother Chou, you should keep whatever you have for yourself from now on."

Who knew that after hearing Shen Gang’s words, Chou replied, "Your skills are too weak, and your progress is too slow. I need you to become stronger and to improve faster. I will explain this to Master. For now, you don’t need to guard Rainbow Spirit Island. Go into seclusion and consume all those ‘Immortal Ascending Pills.’ I will find more materials for you later."

"Why?" Shen Gang finally voiced his confusion after many years, "Why are you so eager to improve my skills? Didn’t Master say we shouldn’t rely too much on elixirs and that we should build a solid foundation and progress gradually?"

Although Chou was completely covered by his cloak, Shen Gang felt that he may have smiled just a moment ago.

Then, Shen Gang heard Chou say, jokingly, "If one day I must be killed, I hope it will be by you. But right now, with your strength, even if I don’t defend myself, you wouldn’t be able to kill me. You are too weak."