Chapter 816: Chapter 779: Taiyan Without a Single Person (Extra for 8000 monthly tickets)
“Look at what you’re saying…” the Monk of Taiyan Sect gave Fang Zaiji a sideways glance.
“So many years have passed, even a monkey would have turned into a spirit by now. Not to mention our [Transmutation Stone Mother].”
They scoffed at Fang Zaiji’s doubts.
However, Fang Zaiji made a subtle eye signal to Xu Bai and transmitted a message, “Sect Master, there’s something odd. I remember back then, our Taiyan Sect was very wary of the [Transmutation Stone Mother] developing its own consciousness.”
“After all, Cultivators have a finite life, while the Transmutation Stone Mother has an infinite one. If it truly developed Spirit Wisdom…”
“It’s really hard to say who would be in charge of the Taiyan Sect. We’d better be cautious,” Fang Zaiji reminded.
...
Xu Bai nodded slightly, but kept his composure.
Then he pretended to be very curious and asked, “To tell the truth, since we have come from afar, we do have some understanding of your Taiyan Sect.”
“The divine calculations of the Taiyan, though capable of deducing the future through endless computational power, still require initial data for support. You have been hidden within the Tai Xuan Realm for thousands of years, isolated from the world. In the Xuanhuang World, there have been heaven-and-earth shaking changes. How can you ensure the accuracy of the deductions?”
The middle-aged Taiyan Sect Cultivator was somewhat surprised by Xu Bai’s words, then his face showed even more delight, “So, you have some understanding of the art of deduction? It seems you really are destined for our Taiyan Sect!”
“As for your concerns…”
He spoke somewhat smugly, “Who said our Taiyan Sect has been isolated from the world for thousands of years? In fact, every once in a while, our Sect sends out people to gather various intelligence from the Xuanhuang World, in order to adjust the deductions of the [Stone Mother].”
“Otherwise, it hasn’t been long since the Alliance of Thousands of Immortals launched their campaign against the Ten Thousand Realms. If we hadn’t anticipated it, how could we have reacted so quickly?”
“Adjustments, I see,” Xu Bai mused and nodded thoughtfully.
“Alright, I’ve told you so much. Are you willing to join our Taiyan Sect or not!”
By this time, the group was almost ready to escape to the sky outside of the Suspended City, and among the Taiyan Sect Disciples, one short, hunched Cultivator finally showed some impatience.
“I’m actually quite tempted,” Xu Bai stroked his chin.
Fang Zaiji glanced at him immediately.
The Taiyan Sect Disciples, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but show joy on their faces.
“However, I do have some concerns. In fact, before coming here, I had already joined another sect. And for some special reasons, I cannot leave it. Would that be a problem for you?” Xu Bai asked very sincerely.
“Huh?!” The Taiyan Sect Disciples collectively paused, stopping in midair. They all turned to look at Xu Bai.
“You’re just here to cause trouble, aren’t you?!” The short Cultivator was especially angry.
Just about to make a scene, he was stopped by the middle-aged Cultivator’s hand.
“When Elder brother gave the task, he didn’t say this wasn’t allowed.” After pondering for a moment, he took a closer look at Xu Bai.
Then, biting the bullet, he said directly, “I’m not the one to decide this. So, follow me back to the Sect and let Elder brother determine what to do.”
Xu Bai hadn’t expected that the Taiyan Sect’s desire to recruit disciples was so strong that they would tolerate even this.
However, he had nothing to fear and nodded in agreement without reservation.
As they approached the outer periphery of the Suspended City in the sky, Xu Bai discovered that there was a layer of transparent crystal serving as protection around the entire city.
When the middle-aged Cultivator’s face reflected on it, a familiar blue light shimmered on the transparent crystal wall.
Then, in an instant, the middle-aged Cultivator transformed into a streak of blue light and teleported into the city. The other disciples followed suit.
“Just come in directly,” the middle-aged Cultivator said from a distance, across the crystal wall.
Seeing this, Fang Zaiji rushed in before Xu Bai, flying toward the city.
As he was about to touch the transparent crystal wall, it seemed like it didn’t exist at all, allowing him to pass straight through without any hindrance.
Fang Zaiji looked around, finding nothing unusual.
Only then did he gesture to Xu Bai that it was okay to enter.
The moment Xu Bai flew past the crystal wall, it was as if he went through a space made up of countless mirrors.
He saw countless versions of himself, all seemingly experiencing a variety of different events.
A moment later, he returned to reality.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to meet your senior brother,” said the middle-aged cultivator with a smile after glancing at Xu Bai.
Walking through Suspended City, they could see many monks of Taiyan Sect around them.
Their cultivation bases varied from Refining Energy to God Transformation.
There were even one or two white-bearded cultivators that made Fang Zaiji wear a serious expression. Clearly, they were of Unity-Path cultivation.
They all seemed quite leisurely, some quietly conversing with each other, some engrossed in finger computations of some sort.
There were even some who were fiddling with an object in their hands, resembling a Rubik’s Cube. The constantly changing images on it seemed somewhat similar to the [Heavenly Lock Treasure Box] that Li Fan had once found in the Yi Xing Tomb.
As they watched Xu Bai and his companions pass by, they merely glanced casually and then looked away.
They didn’t pay much attention to Xu Bai’s peerless countenance.
What was even stranger was when they greeted the people leading the way in front of them.
Their terms of address were all “senior brother, junior brother” and the like.
Even those white-haired Unity-Path elders did the same.
Xu Bai couldn’t help but frown slightly.
“Sect Master, have you noticed anything amiss?” Fang Zaiji transmitted his voice stealthily.
“It is a little strange. The strength of this Taiyan Sect is preserved a bit too well. Just on our way here, haven’t we seen at least more than ten Unity-Path cultivators? Is the foundation of Taiyan Sect actually this profound?”
“And moreover, Unity-Path powerhouses are actually addressing Refining Energy cultivators as brothers…”
A trace of intrigue appeared on Xu Bai’s face.
“No, that’s not it!” Fang Zaiji’s voice was a bit urgent.
“When I first came in, I didn’t realize it. But now that I’ve carefully observed for a while, I’ve discovered…”
“This place is ghostly!”
Xu Bai’s footsteps paused slightly, “Ghostly? What do you mean, Elder Fang?”
“Sect Master, take a closer look again, these people. They aren’t actually real!” Fang Zaiji’s voice seemed a bit hollow.
“Even this city beneath our feet is probably fake!”
Hearing Fang Zaiji’s reminder, Xu Bai’s gaze became sharp.
He continued to walk slowly while observing more carefully.
Xu Bai’s talent truly belonged to the top tier in Heaven and Earth.
Upon concentrating and looking carefully, he indeed noticed some anomalies.
The cultivators in Suspended City, from God Transformation to Refining Energy.
The faint aura emanating from them was all exactly the same!
As if they were all the same person with different faces.
At this time, the middle-aged cultivator leading the way seemed to sense Xu Bai’s reaction.
He suddenly turned his head with a sinister smile, “What’s wrong, fellow Daoist? Do you have any doubts?”
—————–
I wrote until two-thirty in the morning yesterday and slept all day today.
I hurried to get up and write.
There are still the regular two updates this evening, and I’ll try my best to write the extra updates for the 10,000 chapter monthly tickets.