Chapter 430: Chapter 369 Zhang Yu and the Gourd! [Vote for Monthly Pass!]_2
But unexpectedly.
The Brocade Robe Direct Pointing agent descended the mountain in a fury, yet did not take Chen Jichuan away.
Zhang Yu was greatly disappointed.
His mind spun in circles, jealousy distorted his face beyond recognition. Watching Jiang Chong leave, a thought soon arose in his mind.
Malice surged from the edge of his courage.
He went straight back to his dwelling and hastily grabbed a few items of Chen Jichuan’s clothing and used toiletries. Then he tried rummaging through the bed in search of fallen hair.
Unfortunately, Chen Jichuan was highly mindful of such matters. Knowing that in the Immortal World, there were countless sinister arts and curse techniques, he never left behind his blood, flesh, or hair, ensuring all were properly disposed of.
Zhang Yu searched for a while but couldn’t locate a single strand.
"He doesn’t shed hair?"
Zhang Yu touched his own slightly thinning scalp, his resentment growing even deeper.
Thinking for a moment.
Zhang Yu returned Chen Jichuan’s clothes and toiletries to their places, then stepped out and headed toward Chen Jichuan’s cultivation area.
As he hurried.
His face quickly displayed an expression of urgent concern.
Just after stepping out, he coincidentally met Chen Jichuan. Zhang Yu froze for a moment, adjusted his demeanor hastily, and rushed forward in a few strides to hug Chen Jichuan tightly, exclaiming anxiously, "It’s such a relief that you’re alright! I just heard Direct Pointing Department sent someone in Brocade Robes over, and I thought you might be taken away!"
Chen Jichuan had keen control.
Sensing Zhang Yu hugging him, he subtly plucked two strands of hair from Zhang Yu’s head without drawing notice. Chen Jichuan sneered inwardly but replied with a light smile, "I am a disciple of Leiyin Mansion; how dare the Direct Pointing Department capture me?"
"Ah!"
"Still, don’t take this lightly!"
"You’re the son of the Zichuan King, a remnant of the Seven Kingdoms. Neither the court nor the Direct Pointing Department will let you go. Even the Lord of Leiyin Mansion might not be able to protect you. If you ask me, you’d be better off leaving sooner rather than later, finding a place where no one knows you, and cultivating in secret. With your talent, you will eventually reach Qi Refinement and become a True Person. Then you can return without fear!"
Zhang Yu appeared as if he were advising Chen Jichuan sincerely.
But in truth, his heart was filled with malice.
Given Chen Jichuan’s apparent newly advanced Innate cultivation level, staying within the bounds of Leiyin Mountain—where Wuu Quan and his wife could protect him—the Direct Pointing Department wouldn’t dare act directly. However, the moment he stepped out, he’d surely be captured without any possibility of survival.
Zhang Yu thought Chen Jichuan was a fool.
"I trust the Lord of Leiyin Mansion."
"I won’t discuss further. I need to go back and grab a couple of books."
Killing intent surged in Chen Jichuan’s mind, and he couldn’t bear to let Zhang Yu live even a moment longer.
He pushed Zhang Yu away and secretly swapped the two strands of hair in Zhang Yu’s hand with Zhang Yu’s own hair strands, then strode back toward his dwelling without paying Zhang Yu any attention.
"Hmph!"
"Acting so arrogant!"
"Let’s see how long you can keep this up!"
Watching Chen Jichuan’s cold demeanor, Zhang Yu seethed inwardly. He didn’t linger, clutching the freshly acquired strands of hair, consumed by both resentment and a burning fervor.
Without further delay, he marched briskly toward the mountain’s exit.
...
Leiyin Mountain stretched across a substantial area.
Zhang Yu, newly Postnatal, was slow in speed. Walking through the mountain since midday, it took until nightfall for him to truly leave the bounds of Leiyin Mountain.
This was only because the Outer Disciples were located near the mountain’s edge.
Exiting Leiyin Mountain.
The road became increasingly treacherous, and ferocious beasts began to roam. In the pitch-dark wilderness, even cultivators couldn’t help but feel some trepidation.
Zhang Yu pressed onward on pure adrenaline: "Direct Pointing Department! Direct Pointing Department employs countless skilled individuals; as long as I present Jiangg Xian’s hair, there will certainly be someone who can curse him to death. At that time, I’ll earn Great Merit, receive rewards or even favor from the Direct Pointing Department and the Brocade Robe Direct Pointing agents. I wouldn’t have to return to that contemptible Leiyin Mountain!"
His heart brimmed with anticipation.
At this moment, it felt as though he wasn’t treading a mountain path but blazing forward toward a radiant future.
Whoosh!
Zhang Yu sped forward hastily, but was suddenly ambushed by a black shadow that swiped at his chest, tearing his garment and leaving several claw marks across his chest.
Blood oozed out.
Soaking his clothing, it also stained the gourd pendant hanging from his chest.
"Such speed!"
"Such sharp claws!"
Zhang Yu gripped his sword tightly, standing at attention, fully alert, his shining eyes scanning his surroundings.
Suddenly.
A chill tightened around Zhang Yu’s neck: "Not good!"
He gasped inwardly.
The sound of rushing wind reached his ears as the beast that had attacked earlier came back for another strike. This time it targeted his neck, moving with uncanny speed.
Despite his heightened vigilance, there simply wasn’t time to react.
"No!"
"I can’t die like this!"
As death loomed inches away, a flash of yellow light burst forth from his chest, and Zhang Yu vanished abruptly into thin air.
In the pitch-dark forest.
A small beast resembling a miniature lizard hovered where Zhang Yu had been, sniffing and twitching its ears, its beady eyes swiveling in confusion.
But no matter how much it searched, it couldn’t find Zhang Yu.
The beast lingered briefly before reluctantly departing.
One quarter-hour.
Two quarter-hours.
An hour.
Two hours.
Soon, midnight came.
Suddenly, at the spot where Zhang Yu had vanished, a figure abruptly reappeared. Upon closer inspection, wasn’t it Zhang Yu, who had disappeared two hours prior?!
Emerging unscathed from the ordeal, Zhang Yu’s face was alight with uncontainable joy, as if he’d stumbled upon unimaginable treasure.
Indeed.
He truly had stumbled upon treasure.
"Who would have expected!"
"This gourd pendant I picked up two years ago in the rear mountain turned out to be a Magical Treasure!"
Zhang Yu couldn’t stop grinning.
Two years ago.
Dismayed by how far Chen Jichuan had advanced in cultivation, leaving him in the dust, Zhang Yu wandered off to the rear mountain to vent his frustration. There, he stumbled upon what looked like a delicate, miniature gourd, which he cleaned and attached to a string to wear as a pendant, keeping it close to him ever since.
For two years, it showed no sign of being special.
Zhang Yu had never suspected it to be anything remotely magical.
But today, faced with danger and his blood soaking the gourd pendant, it unexpectedly accepted him as its owner, revealing its extraordinary nature and saving his life.
A discovery that thrilled him to no end.
"The gourd has immense storage space, with Spiritual Energy even denser than the specialized Cultivation Quiet Rooms in Leiyin Mountain."
"Cultivating inside it will undoubtedly allow my cultivation to skyrocket."
"Haha!"
"I’ve struck gold now!"
Zhang Yu beamed brightly, fondly fiddling with the precious gourd, overflowing with happiness.
Beyond Spiritual Energy, undoubtedly the gourd contained even more wondrous secrets.
But now was not the time to delve deeper.
"I need to return quickly."
Having acquired such a miraculous treasure, Zhang Yu dismissed the idea of seeking the Direct Pointing Department. Instead, he longed to return to Leiyin Mountain and fully explore the newfound treasure.
He made up his mind.
Zhang Yu turned and prepared to head back.
And at that moment.
Boom!
A burst of profound light erupted, accompanied by searing flames, engulfing Zhang Yu in an instant.
"Re—"
"turn—"
"home—"
Zhang Yu’s face was still mid-smile, completely caught off guard, as he was obliterated, reduced to ashes without a single trace remaining.
From within the forest.
A shadowy figure swooped in, snatched up the miniature gourd, and darted deeper into the woods, vanishing quickly from sight.
...