Chapter 158: Sending Them Away

Time flew by, and night fell in the blink of an eye.

As the sky grew dim, the moon had already climbed into the firmament. Its pale, desolate moonlight gradually enveloped the entire Supreme Immortal Realm, and likewise, cast its glow upon Asking Mountain and the face of Meng Fan, the second-generation Immortal.

Under the moonlight, Meng Fan’s shadow was drawn out long, faintly exuding a sense of desolation.

Indeed, that feeling of unease had not yet dissipated.

Even after making multiple preparations, Meng Fan still felt an empty hollow in his chest, utterly lacking in confidence...

"Calculating the time, it should be about right."

Gazing at the moon hanging high in the sky, Meng Fan’s eyes grew profound as he muttered inwardly.

Two and a half days had already passed. No doubt, Zhuang Wen and the other two would be returning soon...

"Young Master."

After a short moment, three long rainbows appeared in the distant horizon, approaching within mere breaths and landing slowly upon the peak of Asking Mountain.

Three respectful voices rang out simultaneously, and their figures materialized accordingly.

"What did the three of you do over these past three days?"

Meng Fan turned sideways, his gaze continually appraising the three unchanged individuals. Feeling slightly reassured inwardly, he spoke up.

"Just as expected!"

Seeing Meng Fan ask this, the three thought to themselves secretly.

"Reporting to Young Master, following your instructions, we went to the Immortal Treasure Pavilion in Ancient Immortal Town to bid on two garments. Afterward, we consumed hundreds of thousands of spiritual stones to purchase a large quantity of magical treasures and elixirs."

Zhuang Wen assumed the posture of a refined and courteous gentleman, cupped his fists in a bow, and his gentle voice drifted out slowly.

If one observed closely, a trace of elusive self-satisfaction could be detected in Zhuang Wen's eyes.

"Clothes? Elixirs and magical treasures?"

Meng Fan was somewhat surprised, his eyes gradually revealing a profound depth.

"Yes."

"The day of the lecture will, after all, gather thousands of people, so Qingli and Xuelan, as your maidens, must also pay attention to their appearance."

"As for the elixirs and magical treasures, they are to be distributed by me to those disciples after the lecture concludes."

Zhuang Wen wore the expression of one who had fully grasped the subtext of the Young Master's commands. The smugness in his eyes flashed and vanished, immediately gesturing for Qingli and the other to take out the purchased items for the Young Master's inspection.

How dare the two maidens delay? They hurriedly produced two sets of garments along with several storage bags filled with elixirs and magical treasures, respectfully presenting them before Meng Fan.

Just this?

Glancing casually at the ordinary brocade robes in the maidens' hands, Meng Fan chuckled softly inwardly, slowly shook his head, and took the storage bags to inspect them.

Ten thousand Spirit-Nourishing Pills...
Ten thousand Obstacle-Breaking Pills...
Thirty thousand Top-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills...
Twenty thousand Foundation-Condensing Flying Swords...
One hundred thousand Heavenly Thunder Talismans, comparable to a full-strike from a Deity-Splitting cultivator...
...

What the hell!!!

As Meng Fan flipped through several storage bags, the hairs on the back of his neck instantly stood on end. The more he looked, the more alarmed he became, and the chill in his heart grew ever more intense...

If these items fell into the hands of those attending the lecture, wouldn't his reputation instantly blow sky-high?!

When the time came, everyone would be singing the praises of Immortal Master Meng, everyone would be yearning to pay their respects—where on earth would he go to cry?!

Thinking of this, veins began to bulge on Meng Fan's forehead. His gaze toward the four storage bags turned increasingly unkind...

As expected, that premonition of unease earlier had not been groundless!

To think that at a time like this...

That scoundrel Zhuang Wen actually dared to pull one over on this Young Master!

"You have done very well."

Meng Fan forcefully suppressed the urge to erupt, smiling rather cordially. Amidst a swirling glint of admiration in his eyes, he patted Zhuang Wen on the shoulder and laughed:

"Tomorrow at the hour of Chen, come find me here. There is a major matter that I wish to entrust to you."

"You three may withdraw. Tonight, I must prepare thoroughly."

"Understood!"

Seeing this, Zhuang Wen felt a surge of joy in his heart as well. He hurriedly cupped his fists respectfully and slowly backed away.

Qingli and Xuelan cast somewhat envious glances at Zhuang Wen before cupping their fists and taking their leave.

Hmph...

Watching the retreating figures of the trio, Meng Fan's expression gradually grew gloomy. A chilling glint flashed in the depths of his eyes, and with a cold snort, he turned and walked toward the grand hall...

You bastard, how dare you stab me in the back...

Bang!

Accompanied by a muffled hum, the doors of the grand hall slammed shut abruptly!

"Boundary Seal!"

Stepping into the hall, brilliant light flashed in the depths of Meng Fan's eyes. As he softly uttered those two words, a terrifying restrictive barrier burst forth from his body, tightly sealing the entire grand hall within!

If viewed from afar, one could notice that at this moment, the peak of Asking Mountain was shrouded in a thin layer of mist!

Unclear and somewhat eerie, one could only perceive that within the thin mist over the grand hall, flashes of light flickered from time to time...

Even if a Dao Venerable powerhouse were to come here, divine sense would find it difficult to pierce through the mist!

It was as if the inside and outside of the thin mist belonged to two completely different worlds!

This art was precisely one of the Daoist techniques mastered by Meng Fan—the Boundary Seal Art!

A single art executed, forming a tangible boundary and severing the thoughts of all living beings...

"Zhuang Wen, oh Zhuang Wen... Of all people to provoke, you just had to provoke this Young Master..."

After sealing the entire space, Meng Fan sat cross-legged within the hall. As a sinister and cruel smile played in the depths of his eyes, he laughed rather wickedly:

"The three thousand lower realms are nominally affiliated with the Supreme Immortal Realm, but there are quite a few worlds that harbor resentment toward the immortal realm's overbearing ways..."

"Where boundaries breed wandering souls, endless spirits devoid of form that excel at corrupting human hearts and feeding on raw flesh..."

"They truly make for a realm of great misfortune..."

"Although the peak combat power of that Wandering Soul Realm is merely at the Immortal stage, you, after all, possess only half-immortal cultivation..."

"Hehe..."

Thinking of this, the cruel smile in Meng Fan's eyes grew even more intense...

If you don't see it with your own eyes, you'll never realize...

Some people look gentle and teasing, but their hearts are utterly rotten...

Yes, that very Zhuang Wen was rotten to the core!

And this Young Master treated him quite well!

Yet he dared to harm me!

Simply hateful! To the extreme!

"Even though the immortal realm's Dao techniques are of an extremely high tier, incomparable to the three thousand lower realms... you are bound to suffer quite a bit..."

"I presume that with your brain, you can also guess the deeper meaning behind my actions..."

"I refuse to believe that after this punishment, you will ever dare to plot against this Young Master again..."

Pondering thus, Meng Fan no longer delayed. With a wave of his hand, a wisp of Dao essence flowed, and with a light flick of his finger toward the starry void, he summoned a wisp of extraterrestrial wandering soul...

His other hand rapidly formed hand seals. Three inches above his palm, as a formation rapidly took shape, a terrifying teleportation force strong enough to shock even a Dao Venerable erupted abruptly amidst a blinding flash of light!

Yet it was stubbornly blocked by the thin mist outside the hall...

Even those residing within the Immortal Cloud Dao Palace failed to detect the anomaly at the peak of Asking Mountain...

Roughly an hour later, the light within the hall where Meng Fan resided gradually faded, along with the thin mist outside the hall, which slowly dissipated...

......

The next morning, as the hour of Chen approached.

"This expedition to the lower realms is fraught with dangers on all sides, and furthermore carries the peril of life and death."

"However, the benefits you will reap are also beyond your imagination."

At the peak of Asking Mountain, a youth in white stood proudly with his hands behind his back. His profound gaze continually surveyed the rolling clouds and sweeping mountain peaks before him, and his clear, resonant voice drifted out calmly.

Behind him stood a man and two women. The man appeared gentle and teasing, with extraordinarily handsome features, while the two women held themselves with utmost respect and profound dignity.

They were none other than Meng Fan, Zhuang Wen, and the others.

At this moment, although Meng Fan appeared calm on the surface, the fists hidden within his sleeves were tightly clenched.

In fact, they were trembling faintly.

Keeping this traitor around for even a single breath longer was a crime!

"Young Master need say no more, this subordinate is naturally willing to go!"

Zhuang Wen maintained his gentle demeanor, stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the white-clad figure atop the mountain, and spoke solemnly.

"Go, do not tarry any longer."

Gazing at Zhuang Wen, who still wore the air of a refined gentleman, Meng Fan gritted his teeth secretly. Feeling somewhat relieved in his heart, he paused slightly before his voice drifted out calmly.

"During the days of my absence, the two of you must take good care of the Young Master."

Hearing this, Zhuang Wen's expression turned somewhat melancholic. With a light sigh, he turned sideways to instruct Qingli and Xuelan, then turned back with a respectful expression, bowing deeply to Meng Fan:

"Young Master..."

"During the days of my absence, please... take care of yourself!"

With that, Zhuang Wen said no more. After another deep bow, he walked into the grand hall.

There lay the teleportation array constructed overnight by Meng Fan, leading directly to... the Wandering Soul Realm!

Hum...

Before long, a faint humming sound echoed within the hall. As an intensely bright pillar of light shot straight into the firmament, an immensely powerful teleportation force erupted abruptly!

"Young Master! Please take care..."

Inside the teleportation array, Zhuang Wen cast a reluctant gaze, bowing deeply to Meng Fan once more...

Boom!

Accompanied by a muffled roar, a tempest instantly swept outward in all directions. In an instant, the winds and clouds reversed, and not a single trace of cloud or mist remained in the sky above the entire Asking Mountain range!

Would this... be too cruel?

Gazing at the empty grand hall and recalling Zhuang Wen's sincere expression, Meng Fan felt a twinge of hesitation and sighed inwardly.

Forget it, once he comes back after suffering some hardship, this Young Master will impart some Dao techniques to him and guide his cultivation a bit...

Meanwhile, outside the mountain gates of the Immortal Cloud Dao Palace.

Tens of thousands of people stood densely packed across the vast plains outside the gates.

"Look!"

"The Daoist Child has come out of seclusion!"

"I never imagined that the Daoist Child would emerge from seclusion so early just to explain our cultivation doubts!"

"Immortal Master Meng is truly benevolent and kind-hearted. Rumors do not deceive me!"

"Indeed, indeed! The Daoist Child of Immortal Cloud is truly admirable!"

......

As the crowd gazed at the pillar of light soaring into the heavens from the peak of Asking Mountain, followed by the majestic tempest that scattered the clouds, the sense of gratitude in their hearts grew beyond measure.

The Daoist Child of Immortal Cloud was truly a role model for their generation!

A true hero indeed!

Just this single display of respect toward lower-realm cultivators surpassed countless others by manifold margins!

"Daoist Child!"

"Daoist Child! Daoist Child!"

Suddenly, as someone initiated the chant, the tens of thousands in the crowd became emotionally stirred, raising their voices to shout in unison!

In an instant, the cries chanting Meng Fan's name echoed endlessly outside the mountain gates of the Immortal Cloud Dao Palace.

Even some admirers of Meng Fan within the Dao Palace followed suit, raising their voices in cheers!

All of this sounded slow, but the transition was extremely rapid. From the eruption and dissipation of the pillar of light to the ubiquitous cheers, it took mere breaths!

Meng Fan, atop Asking Mountain, had only just reclined on his rocking chair and picked up his teacup.

Hearing these cries, he was startled out of his wits, nearly dropping his teacup to the ground!

Who the hell is playing tricks this time?!

Feeling wave after wave of clamor surging toward Asking Mountain from all directions, bloodshot veins gradually filled Meng Fan's eyes. As his body trembled faintly, a strong sense of unease rose in his heart!

This feeling was thoroughly bad!

Back then, outside the Meng family estate, there had been chanting day and night, every single day.

It was precisely because of this that he could no longer cultivate in peace, prompting him to flee the Meng family in yearning for an ordinary life!

Yet how long had it been?

Was he about to fall back into the nightmare of the past...

"The cheers will only grow louder..."

"This cannot be allowed to continue!"

"The plan cannot be disrupted... otherwise, this trip is in peril!"

Well-versed in crowd psychology, Meng Fan already realized the gravity of the situation. After a brief internal deliberation, he reached a decision. With a profound flash in his eyes, he turned to Qingli and the other two:

"Follow me down the mountain!"

"Understood!"

The two maidens did not dare to delay, hurriedly cupping their fists in a bow.

Following three steps behind Meng Fan and concealing their cultivation aura, the three walked down Asking Mountain just like ordinary mortals.

"They certainly seem more sensible than that scoundrel Zhuang Wen."

Noticing that Qingli and Xuelan looked like ordinary people behind him, Meng Fan glanced sideways, feeling somewhat gratified.

At least he wasn't always unlucky enough to run into scoundrels.

These two lasses seemed much more grounded and could be cultivated properly.

Meng Fan thought to himself inwardly.

This time, emerging into the world as a mere ordinary mortal would surely disappoint some people. The mundane cultivation commonplaces he would lecture on would undoubtedly make everyone realize this Young Master possessed no grand talents.

After the lecture, he would wait a bit longer, spend some spiritual stones to bribe a few formidable demonic cultivators, and then spread rumors to smear his own name—his reputation would undoubtedly plummet!

Within a year—no, half a year!

Or perhaps even just three months, and he could enjoy lifelong peace!

Brilliant!

Truly brilliant...

Pondering thus, Meng Fan could not help but feel immensely gratified by his own brilliance.

"To think the Young Master trusts us so much..."

Meanwhile, following closely behind Meng Fan, Qingli and Xuelan found themselves deeply moved upon realizing that Meng Fan didn't seem worried at all that they might mess up, and a growing determination filled their eyes.

Later on, they had to perform exceptionally well...

The garments they wore today were crafted from cold silkworm silk obtained from the Immortal Ancient Pavilion's auction house!

That ethereal Dao music born from the freezing depths of the immortal realm—how could ordinary people ever hope to hear it?

Just imagine: during today's lecture by the Young Master, boundless celestial music would flow, Dao melodies and essences intertwining. Those cultivators would surely regard the Young Master as a divine and sacred being!

Worshiping him with utmost piety!

For such a benevolent Young Master to be worshiped by the world—wasn't that only right and proper?

Clinging to their resolute thoughts, the trio maintained a brisk pace. Before long, an immensely majestic mountain gate gradually came into view before them...

"Look! The Daoist Child has come out!"

Suddenly, someone shouted, and the gazes of the crowd outside the mountain gate converged upon Meng Fan and his companions like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea!

"Heavens, the Daoist Child is so extraordinarily handsome!"

"The Daoist Child's maidens are also so ethereal!"

......

A chorus of gasps rang out, excitement flashing in the eyes of the crowd as they continuously appraised the trio.

The youth in white leading the group possessed exceptionally handsome features, his eyes filled with a tranquil serenity. A teasing smile hung at the corners of his mouth, and that confident aura—as if he had grasped the inner workings of all things in the world—was utterly intoxicating!

To the youth's left was a maiden draped in cyan brocade. Though not tall, her figure was exceptionally graceful. Her long hair was coiled up with a silver hairpin, and an impeccably balanced smile graced her features as her gentle gaze surveyed the surrounding crowd.

Looking closely, her skin was like congealed lard, her eyebrows like distant painted hills. Matching her cyan brocade attire, she gave an indescribable sense of approachability.

As her long eyelashes fluttered lightly, seeming to merge with the smile in her eyes, every single expression and movement of hers gave one the feeling of bathing in a vernal breeze.