Chapter 226: A Sudden Proposition

I heard that but I didn't dare look behind me and stop. I know that if I were to take a break right now, even for a split second, the gross Flying Meatpiles would come right at me and make me its undigested meal. I for one don't want to die like that... and also, I don't think Hui-ying and the System liked that either. I mean, who would even want that?

The barren wastelands that extended for miles made me realize that I was finally back in the Lower Middle Plane. This is where the terrestrial Meatpiles reside, and so do other rabid humans that are more dangerous than the ones I've met. That's why even though I've heard someone say 'halt', I didn't take my chances.

"I said stop! How insolent!" The man said at the top of his voice once again. Based on his volume, I could tell that he was somewhere above, floating as he watched my desperate struggle.

Left with no choice, and feeling that the man who was floating right above was as dangerous as the Flying Meatpiles that gave chase at me. I immediately activated my Time Stretch Skill and looked back.

A man, probably in his twenties or so, I can't really tell, was floating near the Sky Kingdom. He's got another old man with him, with a black beard flowing with the breeze. Both of them were wearing heavy robes with hoods that covered half their face. Fortunately, I used my Time Stretch Skill and I managed to take a closer look at them.

"Who are these guys?" I told myself...

And right when I looked further behind me, that's when I noticed something rather peculiar. It was the Flying Meatpiles, giving chase towards the opposite direction of where I was running. I saw them fly up, directly at the two hooded men who were telling me to stop running away. These Flying Meatpiles then started wriggling upwards. And instead of aiming their mouths at the two hooded men, they stopped short behind them, as if they were the two archangels that covered the throne with their wings. They are nothing but horrible, however.

"You puny Middle Plane Dweller, how dare you look away from us!" One of them bellowed once again.

Wait... how could they control the— that's when the thought struck me. Calling me a Middle Plane Dweller was a dead giveaway. And also, the fact that they are floating with the gross Flying Meatpiles spoke loudly about their identity.

The Black Spirit Sect!

In short, I had no choice but to stop in the middle of my track and address them without showing any signs of hostility. I'm still too weak, there's no way I could take them on right now if they were ever triggered. And also, the fact that they're floating near the Sky Kingdom is dangerous. If they were to notice that most of the inhabitants of the Sky Kingdom are from the Tang Clan (their sworn enemies), then I don't know how they'll act. The least they'd do is turn the Sky Kingdom to dust.

"Greetings, to whom do I owe this visit? Are you two, perhaps, visitors from the Higher Plane?" I cupped my hands and bowed down. "Your, em, familiars were giving chase. I apologize for turning away. They could be rather scary."

"Good good, finally! A Middle Plane Dweller with manners." The man laughed with great mockery as he extended his hand and pointed his index finger at me. "I like you, what's your name?"

"I am Rui-rui, a man of humble upbringing. I belong to the Gaudron Shelter but I am on a journey, looking for another shelter." I lied, hoping that they wouldn't sense it. When it comes to people with higher cultivation, they could actually sense whether someone is lying or not. I'm just hoping that their cultivation is not that high compared to mine.

"Rui-rui, what an interesting name. Grandpa, I like him. Let's use him as our candidate for the next Tournament! I'm sure he'll do fine! He was able to run from our Flying Corpses."

"Young master, are you sure about this? Did you hear what this guy said, he said he's a man of a humble upbringing! Are you sure about this?" The old man repeated, quite concerned.

"Old man, are you stupid? Anyone with a humble upbringing wouldn't just casually throw that off as their introduction. They'd try to look as grand as possible! This man is more than meets the eye... and it seems like he's of the same age as me. He's a prime candidate for the Black Spirit Contest!"

I had an inkling a few seconds ago but now, I'm fully aware of their identity. They're from the Black Spirit Sect, going down the Middle Plane to get recruits so they could expand their Sects or whatever army they have up there. And somehow, my performance, when I was running away from the Flying Meatpiles, made me a prime candidate to be 'spirited away'. I know I should try to run away right now and regroup with my people from the Sky Kingdom but... I can't. I could tell that these guys are in a Realm higher than the Heavenly Astral Realm, which is the highest realm in the Middle Plane! If I were to run away right here and now, they might deem it as suspicious and kill me on the spot.

"Hui-ying... "

"Don't run away, Yongrui... I know." She simply responded. "Just act as if you don't know anything for now. You managed to fool them with your white lie a few seconds ago. You can definitely play this out as peacefully as possible. They may be the enemies but right now, they have no idea what your identity is. You can't just go up there and tell you who you are."

"I understand. But what if the Sky Kingdom finds out? Or see me talking to them?"

"They're sure to understand. Just play it safe."

"Rui-rui!" The man in his twenties shouted at me once again. "Come with us! We'll definitely make it worth your time!"