Chapter 183: Tang Shelter— Return

The Red Sea Auction has finally come to an end. All in all, it took six hours and by now, it was already almost sunset.

It was a pretty good auction. I managed to snag the Essence Pot and the Boundless Calligraphy right under their noses. I never would've thought that such priceless treasures would fall in my hands just because I kept what little Gold Coins I have left from the past. Indeed, one just cannot be too sure of what the future will hold.

"Thank you so much for your contributions, Yongrui, I hope you will visit us again soon." Shen Rong cupped his hands as I approached the entrance to the Shelter... or rather, the exit since we're heading out that way.

"No, thank you, Shelter Leader Shen Rong, your hospitality is very much appreciated. I'll try to return as soon as I can. Until then." I cupped, my hands in return, and turned away.

The Shelter Leader of the Immovable Mountain Shelter came to see me off as well. I don't know who he is but based on his smile, he might've heard about me. He's probably the son or a close friend of the previous Sect Master of the Immovable Mountain Sect. He bowed towards me in a graceful manner. "We will never forget your gracious contributions to our Sect as well. We express our collective gratitude for your purchase of the Boundless Calligraphy. And if it will not be a bother, my daughter wants to join you in your journey to your Shelter."

"Does that mean..." I trailed off, hoping that he would finish what I was saying.

"Yes, I hope our sentiment aligned with yours... we would like to form an exclusive alliance with the Tang Shelter. After seeing your achievements, wealth, and power, I am well aware that this is favorable for both of us. Also, if it isn't too impertinent of me to ask, I'd also encourage the White Dragon Shelter to ally with the Tang Shelter. We are closely affiliated with them, after all."

Before he could change my mind, I extended my hand and shook his much to his surprise. "Very well, I'll be looking forward to working with you. And also, leave your daughter to me, I promise to take care of her."

"I am also well aware of your relationship with my daughter. I hope you treat her well just as how you treat her well a few hours ago." Wu Jia's father teased as a smile briefly appeared on his face

"Dad!" Wu Jia pouted as she walked towards me.

So he was her father, no wonder they look alike.

"Yongrui, please take care of me." She continued.

I felt a chill suddenly run up my spine as Wu Jia greeted me. When I finally decided to turn back, I saw White, Liu Zhi's party, my disciples, Shi Meili, and Yang Mei Mei staring at me with their suspicious gazes. Of course, I never told them anything about curing Wu Jia and saving her from death. It's not like it's worth explaining though.

"They're multiplying." Luo Zehn muttered underneath his breath and I knew exactly what he meant.

Let's just pretend I didn't hear that.

As our party waved goodbye, I took one last look towards the Red Sea Shelter. I've spent more than a month in this place that it felt like home already. But now, it's time to finally head towards Tang Shelter. I wonder how it looks like.

"Ye Zhiyun,"

"Yes?"

"Is the Tang Shelter near our Tang Sect? Are we going to pass through there?" I asked. For a moment, I hesitated to ask it since it might make painful memories resurface... but since I have no idea where the Tang Sect is, or rather, what's left of it, I knew I just had to ask.

Ye Zhiyun nodded. "Yes, we will pass through there, Sect Master... is there anything you need from the ruins of the Sect?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I hope it's still there," I mumbled.

"But Sect Master," Xiao Liang joined in, his face filled with concern. "The ruins of the Sect have been plundered by a lot of Zombie Hunters for five years now, there's nothing left in there."

"Hopefully it's still there. I hid it in a very obscure place, no one would look there unless they're someone close to me. If that's what happened, then I guess I'd be fine even if my artifacts and cultivation materials were missing."

"Wait, Sect Master... did your Sect... perhaps it had a treasury?" Luo Zehn asked. "But that's impossible. No matter how we scoured the place, we didn't find anything. Or maybe it's in a different location from Tang Sect itself? Where did you hide it, Sect Master? Do we really have a treasury?"

I puffed up my chest in enthusiasm. "Of course! Every Shelter has one." I responded. "However, it's been five years, I hope it's still there."

A few minutes later, the clear blue skies shifted into an orange hue as it approached nighttime. Streaks of violet filled the atmosphere while it underwent twilight and then... it was nighttime. Unlike the view from the Red Sea Shelter itself, the nighttime view outside it was nothing short of extraordinary. A myriad of stars filled the vast ocean up above, livening the skies that seemed pretty bland during the day. A gasp of awe escaped my mouth as I admired it. It has been so long since I had a relaxing day like this.

But no matter how I wished for it to last, I'm fairly certain that trouble would come sooner than later. That's just what happens when I'm living my life.

"So the view of the skies here are no different from the MIddle Plane, huh. It's beautiful." White simply commented.

"It's way more beautiful back when the stars couldn't be seen in the sky." I continued. "Buildings fifty stories or so high is too common that every corner is filled with them. There were also cars, phones, and such things. But now we've reverted as if we're living in the Stone Age. But I do agree that the standard of living right now is more compatible with me. The life back then is suffocating, but now, it's soothing."

"Don't misunderstand though, I'd still kill to stop this outbreak from spreading further. As soon as I get to the Middle Plane, we'll get rid of the Black Spirit Sect, and then we can go on from there." I nodded towards White.

"But before that, we have some unfinished business here in the Lower Plane. Ye Zhiyun, so far, how many Shelters are allied with the Tang Shelter?"

"For now? The Red Sea Shelter, Immovable Mountain Sect, Meili Sect, and the Hundred Poison Lady are backing us as well." Ye Zhiyun responded as quickly as lightning. "It was all thanks to Sect Master."

"No, I merely displayed a portion of the grand Tang Sect." I continued. "Now that we're talking about Shelters, has any of you heard of the Shi Shelter and the Wu Yan Shelter? I've taken possession of it but it's quite a few ways from the Tang Shelter. If ever you need some space or the number of people in the Shelter is a bit too much, then you can use those shelters. I'll be sending my subordinates over there to fix up the walls and drive out intruders and rabid humans inside. I hope that would help.

"And also, if you ever need additional hands in the Tang Shelter... Yang Mei Mei, Shi Meili, Liu Zhi, Blade, and Wu Yan will be helping us from now on. Zeng Meihui and Xiang Xiaoqing of the White Pearl Sect still needed to get some things from their shelters but they'll be arriving soon in Tang Shelter. Please give them a warm welcome. They'll prove to be useful in managing a lot of technicalities in maintaining a Shelter."

"And with that amount of people, training a few more rabid human hunters would prove useful for everyone as well. So when the time comes and the other shelters need some support, you can send them off as aides. If you need cultivation materials I have a plethora of high-grade pills and essences in my storage ring."

"Since I'm almost at Transcendence Realm, I don't have any use for them. I also have the Boundless Calligraphy and Essence Pot in hand. For the remainder of my stay here, I'll record all the high-grade cultivation techniques and martial arts I know so you could keep them for future reference. I'll also try to create as much Essence as I can using the Essence Pot. I hope that would be enough."

"That's more than enough Sect Master!" Ye Zhiyun interrupted me, then she bit her lips. "I mean, Sect Master... you've done enough for us and..."

Luo Zehn, who realized that Ye Zhiyun was struggling with her words, came up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Shelter Leader, in this situation, the best thing to do is express your gratitude. Sect Master has been wholeheartedly helping us all this time. The best we can do is stand beside him and sincerely accept. And as for Sect Master, we hope that we'll remain in your good graces for a time." Luo Zehn cupped his hands.

"Anytime." I cheerily responded. "If you ever need any help, don't ever, and I mean, ever hesitate to come to me. I'll do anything for my precious disciples."

The three of them nodded.