Chapter 275: News

In the northern courtyard of Dongyu Tavern, the youths, including Ye Qing, blinked in astonishment. If the casual display of power by the familiar butler Bai, who effortlessly humiliated the Flame Knight Sha Hu, left them astounded, then witnessing their most familiar, frail-looking master wave his hand and cause a whole group of people—including their horses—to vanish into thin air left them utterly stunned!

“Master, you… you?” Ye Qing stared at Dongbo Xueying. That couldn’t be right. His master’s poor health had been evident for over a decade, and having lived side by side with him, Ye Qing was certain he hadn’t misjudged anything. There was no reason for his master to feign illness all this time.

“It’s actually just that ‘Dongbo’ is my surname,” Dongbo Xueying said. “My full name is Dongbo Xueying!”

“Dongbo Xueying?” Ye Qing was puzzled, and others beside him shared the same confusion.

Who was that?

“Hahaha…” Seeing this, Palace Master Chen burst into laughter beside them. “Xueying, your apprentices have clearly never heard of your name before. You introducing yourself like that, hahaha…”

Dongbo Xueying was momentarily speechless. Indeed, back when he first gained his title, very few knew the names of the transcendent beings. His apprentice Ye Qing was weaker than he had been back then, and his knowledge was likely far inferior. The transcendent was too distant for them, usually only known through biographical novels—usually about ancient transcendent figures. Although stories and biographies about Dongbo Xueying had recently started circulating, they were still limited to certain regions.

Moreover, few actually read such biographical novels. Ye Qing, his apprentice, certainly wasn’t one to indulge in them.

“You’ll understand in time,” Dongbo Xueying smiled.

“Alright,” Ye Qing felt a pang of shame. How could he, as a disciple, not even know what his master’s name represented? He silently resolved to find out who Dongbo Xueying really was.

“Master, what about the senior apprentice?” Ye Qing asked.

“He isn’t your senior apprentice,” Dongbo Xueying shook his head.

“Then what should we do about Long Tianyun?” Ye Qing asked.

“Act as if you don’t know him,” Dongbo Xueying replied. “Alright, I have other matters to attend to. You go on with your business.”

With that, he turned and walked alongside Palace Master Chen toward the corridor.

Along the corridor, Dongbo Xueying, Palace Master Chen, and Jing Qiu walked side by side, while butler Bai, “Zi Lei,” followed behind.

“Xueying, you really have a unique way of teaching apprentices. When choosing apprentices, temperament is crucial,” Palace Master Chen chuckled. “Either you carefully select those with good character and talent, or you raise them from childhood!”

“I merely travel across the Xia Clan’s lands, teaching basic spear techniques,” Dongbo Xueying replied. “Everything is left to fate. No need to force it.”

Jing Qiu added, “Back when Long Tianyun was learning spearplay here, he was already the oldest at fifteen! Fifteen is far too old. Once a person’s nature is set, it’s hard to change. I always knew he had a temper, and I even advised Xueying to expel him, but Xueying felt pity for the boy’s pitiful circumstances.”

“It was his family that shaped him!” Dongbo Xueying countered. “His father was a gambler who abused and tormented him endlessly, and there were even debt collectors. His body was weak, nearly starving to death. He came to learn spearplay just to have a full meal. How could I cast him out just because of a bad temper? Let him die of hunger and illness outside? Since he came to learn spearplay, it was fate. I had to help him rise from that mud!”

“I just didn’t expect that back then, although his temper was bad, he hadn’t committed any real evil and was even obedient in front of me. But as he grew older, he became increasingly disappointing,” Dongbo Xueying shook his head.

As he aged, Long Tianyun’s natural flaws surfaced with his growing strength—his love for violence, extravagance, and ostentation. Perhaps because of his harsh childhood, he overcompensated in luxury as an adult. Being the oldest, and with limited talent in cultivation, Dongbo Xueying had originally planned to nurture his third apprentice carefully, find a good husband for his second apprentice, and have the Longshan Pavilion take care of her. As for the eldest apprentice, he had intended for him to manage the tavern.

But who could have predicted that once the eldest apprentice got his hands on money, he would recklessly squander it? Dongbo Xueying had scolded him before, but when the eldest apprentice dared to take the dowry money meant for the second apprentice to gamble and wine with courtesans, even competing for the top courtesan with extravagant spending, Dongbo Xueying had been truly furious and punished him severely. Long Tianyun then decided to cut all ties with Dongbo Xueying, clearly believing his wings were strong enough and that he could survive well on his own.

“You’re just too soft-hearted,” Palace Master Chen remarked. “But it’s easy to foresee that this ungrateful one will suffer greatly without your protection.”

“He was young, and I could protect him. Now, let him be,” Dongbo Xueying said.

Palace Master Chen nodded slightly.

He could sense Dongbo Xueying’s nature—acting from his heart, saving when necessary, letting go when fate dictated, guided by his own inner principles.

…

Soon, the three entered a parlor and sat cross-legged on cushions. Before them, a low table was set with delicate dishes, fruits, pastries, and fine wine.

“I came today for a very important matter,” Palace Master Chen said directly after sitting.

“Oh?” Dongbo Xueying and Jing Qiu were both surprised.

One was a Saint-level archmage, the other currently afflicted by voodoo poison. What momentous affair could possibly concern them both?

“It’s about Hongshi Mountain,” Palace Master Chen said.

Dongbo Xueying’s expression subtly changed. He couldn’t help but ask, “Should Jing Qiu leave?”

Even among the Xia Clan, few demigods were qualified to know of Hongshi Mountain.

“You’ll eventually have to tell her, so there’s no need to hide it,” Palace Master Chen replied.

“Hongshi Mountain?” Jing Qiu asked, puzzled. “Where is that? I’ve never heard of a special place called Hongshi Mountain.”

“Hongshi Mountain is an extremely unique location,” Palace Master Chen explained. “It lies ten thousand li beneath the Xia Clan’s world, deep underground!”

“Ten thousand li underground?” Jing Qiu was stunned.

Even at three hundred li beneath the surface, invisible laws began to hinder descent. The deeper one went, the stronger the resistance from the physical world’s laws. Even demigods of the Xia Clan found it extremely difficult to descend ten thousand li. The existence of a place called “Hongshi Mountain” at such a depth meant something was seriously amiss.

“You know, Xueying,” Palace Master Chen continued, “since Hongshi Mountain descended from the Divine Realm and fell into our Xia Clan’s world, powerful beings from the Divine Realm have sent wave after wave of demigod teams into our world.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

Jing Qiu’s heart clenched.

Sending demigods here? Usually, demigods were transported through the Temple of Time and Space, and the cost for such transport was terrifyingly high. So aside from those who arrived through accidental spatial rifts, every demigod transported through the Temple of Time and Space came at an enormous price. Let alone entire teams.

“Hongshi Mountain is extremely dangerous—nine out of ten don’t return,” Palace Master Chen said. “So for the past million years, our Xia Clan’s world has remained relatively peaceful, with only occasional teams arriving.”

“But now it’s different,” Palace Master Chen grew serious.

Dongbo Xueying frowned, listening intently.

“The schemes of the Witch God and the Great Demon God must have been discovered by powerful beings from the Abyss of the Divine Realm. Recently, there will be a continuous stream of foreign visitors entering our world through the Temple of Time and Space. And reportedly, each of them is arriving with divine artifacts,” Palace Master Chen took a deep breath. “Clearly, this time, the powerful beings of the Divine Realm and the Abyss are preparing for a decisive battle.”

“Divine artifacts?” Dongbo Xueying was shocked.

Transporting elite demigods was already costly. Bringing divine artifacts down was even more expensive.

Each foreign visitor brought divine artifacts? Madness!

“A team from the Temple of Earth has already arrived in our Xia Clan’s world,” Palace Master Chen said. “I’ve already met them and requested their help. I’ve asked them to take you with them to Hongshi Mountain!”

“Me, go to Hongshi Mountain?” Dongbo Xueying was puzzled.

“Xueying, you’ve been poisoned by the Ghost Six Resentment Voodoo. A hundred years have already slipped by. The antidote’s power must be waning. Do you endure this torment with every breath you take?” inquired Palace Master Chen, his voice laced with ancient sorrow.

“It’s bearable. The antidote helps a little when I first take it,” Dongbo Xueying replied.

“But when the antidote stops working, the pain will make it hard for you to even control your body. How can you fight then?” Palace Master Chen frowned. “Right now, you can still control your body and fight. This is your chance to take a gamble at Hongshi Mountain. If you delay any further, you may lose your chance forever. If there’s one place that can save you, I can only think of Hongshi Mountain.”