Chapter 1019 - A Storm Is Coming

Due to Mo Wen’s induction into the Senate, he naturally needed to take care of some paperwork there. By the time he finished and left, the sky had turned completely dark.

“Brother Mo Wen, congratulations.”

As soon as Mo Wen stepped out from the door, a figure came straight to him. It was none other than the veteran of the Senate, Wise Man Ku Ji. Upon learning that Mo Wen had returned from the Path of Creation, he had waited for him here.

“Most likely Brother Mo Wen has reaped great benefits during the trip to the Path of Creation. In the near future, I have no doubt even I will be no match for you,” Wise Man Ku Ji said, with a smile.

Judging from Mo Wen’s aura, Ku Ji could tell that Mo Wen had broken through to the Primordial Soul Realm. Not only that, Mo Wen most likely broke through to the Primordial Soul Realm at Creation Pool. Anyone that broke through to the Primordial Soul Realm and reached Creation Pool was a genius. Even Ku Ji, who was famous among the Senate, was well-aware that his potential paled by comparison to that of Mo Wen.

Throughout history, it was known that cultivators who entered Creation Pool were always able to at least advance to the Tide Changing realm. More than half of them would ultimately breakthrough to the Supreme Profundity realm. The pinnacle of strong practitioners in the Peng Lai Immortal Realm were mostly people of this select group.

Of course, to enter Creation Pool, one must already possess extraordinary ability and potential. Ordinary people would never be able to enter the Creation Pool.

Ku Ji did not know about Mo Wen’s actual performance in the preliminary ancient land. He only knew that Mo Wen had broken through to the Primordial Soul Realm. As for what Mo Wen’s exact level of cultivation was, Ku Ji could not tell. Other than Xiao Jinghe and the rest who were there, only a few members of the Huatian Palace upper echelons knew about Mo Wen’s adventures in the preliminary ancient land. Obviously they would be discreet about such matters.

“Elder Brother Ku Ji, you praise me too much. Here is what you wanted. I was fortunate to have accomplished my mission.”

Mo Wen smiled. With a flick of his wrist, a fiery red crystal appeared in his hand. It was a Fire Leaving Diamond.

For Wise Man Ku Ji to wait so anxiously outside the door, it was most likely in anticipation of a Fire Leaving Diamond.

“Mo Wen, you have actually obtained a Fire Leaving Diamond.”

Wise Man Ku Ji stared at the crimson crystal in Mo Wen’s hands, his mind momentarily blank. The next moment, his eyes sparkled. A Fire Leaving Diamond! It was truly a Fire Leaving Diamond!

Ku Ji had thought it would be incredible if Mo Wen managed to get him a Fire Leaving Stone. As for a Fire Leaving Diamond, it was merely wishful thinking.

He had not expected that Mo Wen would truly find him a Fire Leaving Diamond. He could not possibly imagine what Mo Wen had done to get his hands on it.

Even if Ku Ji himself went into the preliminary ancient land, it would have been difficult for him to obtain a Fire Leaving Diamond.

“Brother Mo Wen, you are the lucky star that shines upon me!” Wise Man Ku Ji yelled in excitement. It had been a long time since he was so moved. With a Fire Leaving Diamond, there was at least an 80 percent chance of him breaking through to the Tide Changing realm. Only by cultivating up to the Tide Changing realm could he truly be counted among the upper echelons of the Peng Lai Immortal Realm.

As he received the Fire Leaving Diamond, Wise Man Ku Ji trembled in excitement.

“Brother Mo Wen, this is the Cold Spiritual Marrow. Please accept it.” Wise Man Ku Ji took out a jade bottle from his storage sack with a solemn expression. The jade bottle was pearlescent; one could tell at a glance that it was no ordinary item. What was stored inside was no less extraordinary.

Exchanging a Fire Leaving Diamond for a Cold Spiritual Marrow had been the arrangement between Mo Wen and Wise Man Ku Ji. How precious the Cold Spiritual Marrow was naturally went without saying. It was a treasure that was equivalent to no less than the Fire Leaving Diamond itself.

Prior to his adventures in the Path of Creation, Mo Wen had expected the Cold Spiritual Marrow to be of great benefit to himself. However, now that he had experienced so many bodily baptisms in the Path of Creation, and had even been reborn in the Creation Pool, the Cold Spiritual Marrow would not have any effect on him anymore.

Nonetheless, the Cold Spiritual Marrow was a still treasure. Mo Wen didn’t need it, but that did not mean the people around him might not benefit from it all the same.

After they had finished their trade, Wise Man Ku Ji bid Mo Wen farewell with a pleased expression. Just before he left, he suddenly thought of something, warning Mo Wen with a serious expression, “Brother Mo Wen, you better be careful. It will be best if you leave the Peng Lai Immortal Realm as soon as possible. Many large sects are looking for you.”

Clearly, Wise Man Ku Ji had received news regarding sects seeking out Mo Wen. As a veteran of the Senate, he was often kept well informed.

Mo Wen nodded in acknowledgment. “Thank you for your concern. I have a plan in mind.” Mo Qingge had already told him as much and recommended he seek refuge at the Huatian Palace Headquarters for a while. However, Mo Wen hadn’t accepted her suggestion.

Mo Wen scoffed internally. He would cross that bridge when he came to it. He, Mo Wen, had come so far. He was afraid of no one.

“Brother Mo Wen, you shouldn’t be careless. Do you know who Shao Tianqi is?” Wise Man Ku Ji asked with a frown, realizing Mo Wen was not taking his advice seriously.

Mo Wen’s troubles were not small; they were huge. It was difficult for even the Huatian Palace to deal with them. After all, back in his day, Zhang Poxiao had offended too many people. A few Supreme Profundity Realm Mighty Immortal Cultivators had fallen because of him. Moreover, Mo Wen held treasures coveted by others.

“Shao Tianqi?” Mo Wen blinked. The name didn’t sound familiar.

“Shao Tianqi’s fame in the Peng Lai Immortal Realm might not be especially prominent now. He is only an elder of the Petrification Cult. However, I can tell you of another role he has played that you will certainly recognize. Back before the Ming Cult was eradicated, there was a custodian called Shao Tianqi. He came together with Zhang Poxiao to the Peng Lai Immortal Realm. Nevertheless, they ended up becoming enemies.”

This person, Shao Tianqi, was a significant figure in the history of the Ming Cult. It could even be said that he played a role in the cult’s eradication. Wise Man Ku Ji gave Mo Wen a meaningful look.

Given what Wise Man Ku Ji had said, Mo Wen’s thoughts went immediately to one person. Aside from the Cult Leader and Sacred Maiden, the Ming Cult’s highest positions were that of the Left Custodian and the Right Custodian. Back then, the right custodian of the Ming Cult had also been a person called Shao Tianqi.

“Could it be that the Petrification Cult’s Shao Tianqi was the Ming Cult’s Right Custodian back then?” Mo Wen asked with a frown.

“That’s right. Back then, Shao Tianqi defected from the Ming Cult before joining the Petrification Cult. He also told the Petrification Cult some of Zhang Poxiao’s secrets, resulting in a feud between the Petrification Cult and Zhang Poxiao for over a hundred years…”

Wise Man Ku Ji proceeded to explain Shao Tianqi’s past misdeeds. As he listened, Mo Wen learned that Shao Tianqi had not only betrayed Zhang Poxiao, but that he had also created his own sect, The Floating Mystery Dimension’s Ming Temple. Shao Tianqi’s goal had been to deal with the Ming Cult factions in the main space as well as to assume control of the Anti-Ming Faction.

“This Shao Tianqi was an obscure figure back then. He was not worthy even to fetch Zhang Poxiao’s shoes. However, after living so many years, he too has broken through to the Tide Changing realm. You must be careful; he will definitely not spare you.”

In the past, Shao Tianqi feared Zhang Poxiao. Now Zhang Poxiao’s heir had appeared. How likely was Shao Tianqi to afford Mo Wen the time to develop?

“Shao Tianqi sought permission to head over to the main space, more than once. However, the Huatian Palace denied him approval,” Wise Man Ku Ji said, frowning. “It seems likely that someone was intentionally keeping them from going to the main space. However, the Huatian Palace couldn’t possibly anticipate all possibilities. Despite the Huatian Palace’s intervention, some sects have already found chambers of commerce to abet them, such as the Imperial Treasury. They intend to transport people to the main space through those. Although it is very difficult for cultivators who are at or above the level of the Primordial Soul Realm to be smuggled out in secret, Martial Arts level Grandmasters can easily stow away. Just recently, when I was on a mission in the main space, I came across dozens of Petrification Cult Martial Arts Grandmasters attacking members of the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension. The Green Ancient Mystery Dimension members were on the brink of elimination. In the end, I had to step in and aid them.”

He naturally was aware Mo Wen’s base camp was in the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension. An attack on the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension was an obvious attempt to strike at Mo Wen himself. Many ancient martial art practitioners from the various large sects of the Peng Lai Immortal Realm disguised themselves as members from various chambers of commerce. As such, members had relatively lower cultivations. It was easier for them to avoid scrutiny from the Huatian Palace. Cultivators that were above the Primordial Soul Realm, however, found it especially difficult to gain admittance using this method.

After all, Huatian Palace was responsible for protecting the main space. The higher the level of the cultivator, the stricter the inspection would be. Even members of the Huatian Palace, excepting those on missions, could not easily enter the main space.

“Which other chambers of commerce aided them?” Mo Wen’s eyes flashed with rage. This had gone too far.

The Peng Lai Immortal Realm had many large scale chambers of commerce that did business in various lands, aside from the main space. They had business networks even in the mystery dimensions. To run their businesses, they often needed to travel between the various realms. Hence, the members of the large chambers of commerce could move in and out of the Peng Lai Immortal Realm with relative ease.

It was simple enough for a few ancient martial art practitioners of low cultivation to disguise themselves amongst members of the chambers of commerce, to make their way out.

“I have no idea which other chambers of commerce are involved in this. At the time, I killed them all before they could be interrogated,” Wise Man Ku Ji said, with a sheepish smile. Actually, it wasn’t that he couldn’t hold back enough, but rather the thought of questioning them hadn’t even crossed his mind. Plus, if he had indeed found out who they were, he would surely have offended that large chamber of commerce. For any chamber of commerce to be so prosperous, surely their influence and reputation in the Peng Lai Immortal Realm were unfathomable. They were not people whom Ku Ji would want to offend.

“Thank you, Elder Brother Ku Ji, for what you did.” Mo Wen saluted Ku Ji with his fists. He knew that for Wise Man Ku Ji to have killed those stowaways, meant he had done everything that he could. Ku Ji’s actions amounted to the provocation of their sects in the Peng Lai Immortal Realm.

Of course, as a veteran of the Huatian Palace, Ku Ji was responsible for maintaining the order of the mystery dimensions. Once the Huatian Palace discovered any stowaways stirring up trouble, they would surely kill them too. It was difficult to guard against such things. Evil never slept, and no one could keep their guard up at all times. Moreover, those ancient martial art practitioners who sneaked out from the Peng Lai Immortal Realm were mostly kamikazes from various large sects. They would carry out their mission at all costs, including their own lives.

“Brother Mo, you don’t have to worry too much about the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension. Right now, there isn’t a huge threat yet. There is a strong presence guarding the mystery dimension,” Wise Man Ku Ji said thoughtfully. By rights, it should be impossible for a small mystery dimension like the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension to defend against strong ancient martial art practitioners from the Peng Lai Immortal Realm. However, there was a certain woman in the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension whom even Ku Ji was afraid of. With her around, unless the sects in the Peng Lai Immortal Realm sent exceptionally powerful practitioners to attack the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension, they would most likely be unable to do much.

“A strong presence?” Hearing Ku Ji’s words, Mo Wen was momentarily stunned, before breaking into a smile. He thought about Gu Jingman. Since she had received the Blood God’s heritage, even Mo Wen couldn’t figure her out.

“Elder Brother Ku Ji, in the future, when the opportunity comes, let’s talk over drinks. For now, I must rush back to the main space.”

Mo Wen frowned, now a little worried, knowing some people from the large sects had managed to go over to the main space. The sects who wanted him were all super sects with great accumulated power. Mo Wen wouldn’t dare be careless about this. Only God knew whether or not there were still more powerful cultivators even now sneaking out to the main space. Mo Wen had been preparing to head to the Blood Evil Temple to take his revenge, but now, he would need to postpone his trip.