Zhao Sheng saw this situation and frowned slightly.
"Get up! When did I say I was going to kill you?" he said irritably without making a sound.
"Ah, it's just that I was scared," came the meek reply.
Xin Buhai, upon hearing these words, relaxed, then climbed up from the ground with an embarrassed expression before looking at Zhao Sheng with a face full of flattery.
"Come with me!"
At this command, Xin Buhai followed Zhao Sheng to the main hall at the back courtyard.
Xin Buhai surreptitiously surveyed his surroundings, his expression swiftly shifting from shock to fear.
Clearly, the scenery of Bei Mansion Cave Heaven made Xin Buhai realize that this place was no ordinary abode, which made him fear for his life.
Seeing the fear in Xin Buhai's face, Zhao Sheng couldn't help but knock on his forehead and coldly said, "Relax! As long as you do one thing for me, I guarantee you won't die."
"Senior, your wish is my command!" Xin Buhai collected himself and said respectfully.
Zhao Sheng pointed to an ancient painting in the hall and instructed, "You operate the wooden puppet to take down the painting on the wall."
Is that it?
Xin Buhai turned his head to look at the Cold River Elder Fishing Painting on the wall, feeling somewhat relieved.
"Senior, please wait a moment."
After speaking, Xin Buhai took out the wooden puppet, then chanted the Magic Spell while channeling his Spiritual Power to control the puppet, sending it into the hall toward the innermost part.
Zhao Sheng's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze heavy with darkness engulfing the hall, a sensation of looming death surrounding his heart.
However, when the wooden puppet touched the ancient painting, the scene Zhao Sheng most dreaded never occurred.
Xin Buhai, still standing in place, controlled the wooden puppet with ease to take down the ancient painting.
"Be careful! Slowly roll it up!" Zhao Sheng cautiously reminded.
"Mhm!"
Xin Buhai softly acknowledged, then slowly began rolling up the ancient painting as instructed by Zhao Sheng.
When the ancient painting was rolled into a scroll, Zhao Sheng's face instantly showed an expression of delight.
For at that moment, the deadly dark aura in the hall abruptly vanished without a trace.
"Good, very good! Little Xinzi, you've done a great deed!" Zhao Sheng couldn't help but praise Xin Buhai.
Then, he instructed, "Next, use the puppet to bring out that bamboo basket as well."
Xin Buhai obediently complied, commanding the wooden puppet to pick up the lush green bamboo basket and step by step, walked out of the hall.
"Senior... uh!"
Xin Buhai had just spoken two words when a sudden intense pain on his forehead, followed by darkness, overcame him.
"Not again!"
As his last thought flashed, Xin Buhai's eyes rolled back and he immediately fainted.
...
The dazzling sunlight hit Xin Buhai's eyelids, and the sting of the light woke him from his unconscious state.
Xin Buhai suddenly turned over and sat up from the reclining chair, opened his eyes, and dazedly looked around, only to find himself back in the familiar courtyard.
The courtyard was empty, without that hateful figure.
"Senior?"
"Senior?!"
He tentatively called out a few times, but there was no response.
Really gone?
After double-checking, Xin Buhai shouted excitedly, "That's great!"
Just then, he suddenly noticed a Storage Bag and a secret manual placed on the stone table behind him, with the title "Golden Spirit Refining Skill" written in big characters on its cover.
"Eh! What is this..."
Just as Xin Buhai discovered the gifts Zhao Sheng had left for him, a silver-white, three-zhang-long Flying Boat, skimming close to the sea surface, sped like lightning towards Nine Virtuous Isle.
...
Two days later, the Flying Boat raced over the wavy sea surface.
Just then, Zhao Sheng saw a large, dull-colored ship suddenly rise from the sea ahead.
This ship was over seventy zhang in length, with a round, large belly and was several times wider than common ocean-going ships, looking from afar like a gigantic sea turtle lying on the sea surface. Enjoy new tales from
Zhao Sheng frowned slightly upon seeing this abruptly appearing ship.
With a thought, the Light Spirit Flying Boat suddenly swerved, changing its direction to steer far around the sea ship, and continued to fly forward.
However, despite his desire for peace, the wind was unceasing!
A streak of light suddenly launched from the ship, rapidly chasing after the Flying Boat.
Zhao Sheng squinted his eyes, quickly identifying the light to contain a middle-aged man in a green robe.
He was riding a green flying sword, pursuing at an extreme speed.
"Halt!" Zhao Sheng's expression darkened as his White Gold Spirit Sword suddenly flew from his waist, transforming into a white-gold sword rainbow spanning in front of the Flying Boat,
"Haha, Taoist friend, please don't misunderstand, I mean no harm. I hope the Taoist friend doesn't blame me," the middle-aged man in the green robe laughed and quickly stopped ten zhang away.
This person was dressed in a bamboo green robe, his head adorned with a green jade crown, and he wore an emerald-green spiritual pendant around his waist, his face exuding scholarly air, as if he had read many books.
From the aura emanating from him, it was clear he was also a Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Stage, but the exact level of his cultivation was not apparent from the surface.
Seeing this person's polite demeanor, Zhao Sheng's expression lightened, and he asked, "Taoist friend, why do you block my path?"
"I am Meng Quyi. May I ask for your distinguished name?" the middle-aged man in the green robe responded with a smile and bowing gesture, without directly addressing the question.
"I am merely Nameless, no need to mention my name. Taoist friend Meng, you have not answered my question yet?" Zhao Sheng said, his face not showing much displeasure, but his tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
Meng Quyi, upon seeing this, responded with a slight smile, "Do not be offended, Taoist friend! This sea area is under the jurisdiction of the Spring and Autumn Alliance, and there is some secrecy here that should not be disclosed to outsiders. Thus I came to inquire. But I certainly have no malice."