Inside the upstairs private room, Wu Bufan handed the menu back to the waiter after calmly ordering every single dish available.
The waiter’s expression did not so much as flicker. Instead, he smiled politely and asked, “Would the two gentlemen like the food packed to go?”
It was not an unusual request. Many cultivators who planned to enter the Sky Demon Mountain Range came here beforehand to stock up on meals they could eat on the road. The waiter had long since grown accustomed to it.
“Yes,” Wu Bufan replied without hesitation.
Originally, he had intended for them to dine here first before taking extra food for the journey. But the unexpected appearance ofChao Lingyue and her companions had disrupted all of his plans.
Normally, after the recruitment competition in Xichuan Town ended, the mentors from Dragon Fish Sect would give new disciples a full week to bid farewell to their families. Logically, those people should still be in Xichuan Town right now not here.
Just then, a tiny voice echoed within his mind. It was the spirit light that dwelled in his space.
“Something was just spying on you,” it said.
Wu Bufan’s heart tightened instantly.
“Relax,” the little light continued, its tone calm and reassuring. “Whatever it was, it couldn’t see anything clearly.”
It paused for a moment before adding in a more serious tone, “Thanks to your recent breakthrough, I can still conceal your cultivation from anyone below the mid Golden Core stage. But if you run into someone stronger than that, my concealment won’t be able to hold.”
Wu Bufan frowned slightly. “And what about Chao Chen?”
The light gave a snort of admiration. “Chao Chen possesses the Chaotic Specter Physique. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator wouldn’t be able to see through him, let alone a mere Golden Core.”
Then, with a teasing note, it added, “You should worry more about yourself. I can help hide your aura, but that protection has limits. If someone stronger than that Bo Yinran fellow appears, you will still be exposed.”
It sighed dramatically. “Ah, the benefits of a Chaotic Specter Physique are truly enviable. Unless the difference in power is overwhelming, no one can see through that kind of disguise.”
Its tone suddenly turned mischievous. “You’d better hurry up and improve your strength. At your current level, thinking of chasing after someone with that kind of physique is nothing but wishful dreaming!”
Wu Bufan was speechless. He had no words for the spirit’s sharp tongue.
Soon after, the restaurant’s service proved impressively fast. The food was carefully packed and sealed, and once everything was stored away in his spatial ring, Wu Bufan gestured toward the window.
Without another word, he and Chao Chen leaped out from the private room’s window, vanishing into the alley below.
Moments later, a group of people stormed into the restaurant, their aura fierce and heavy. “Where are the men in black robes?” one of them demanded.
Bo Yinran’s gaze swept toward the group. “Instructor Wu?” he said, recognizing the leader.
The man he addressed Wu Keyuan was none other than the instructor from Dragon Fish Sect in charge of recruitment in Sky Demon Town.
When Wu Keyuan saw them, his brows knit tightly together. “Why are you all here so soon?” he asked.
Bo Yinran’s eyes flickered faintly. “The newly recruited disciples were eager to reach Dragon Fish Sect, so we didn’t linger in town. But Instructor Wu, what’s with this commotion?”
Wu Keyuan’s expression darkened. “Someone had the nerve to bully one of the new disciples I recruited.”
As he spoke, another mentor descended from upstairs with a cold expression. “The private room is empty,” the man reported.
The crowd’s faces collectively shifted.
Ji Yingyi and Ne Lisi exchanged uneasy looks. They had clearly seen the black-robed pair walk upstairs but never saw them come back down. The only explanation was that they had slipped away in secret.
Standing behind Wu Keyuan, Mu Sisi clenched her teeth, her face twisting with anger.
How infuriating!
Wu Keyuan’s own expression soured. He had originally planned to seize the spirit stone for himself before too many people learned about it. Unfortunately, Bo Yinran had shown up, ruining everything.
Bo Yinran held the same rank as him a mid-tier Profound Grade instructor of Dragon Fish Sect. Now that his colleague was here, he couldn’t exactly make a move openly to rob anyone.
It was rare to encounter such a treasure in this backwater place, and having it slip through his fingers left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Meanwhile, deep within the Sky Demon Mountain Range, demonic beasts roamed freely. Wu Bufan and Chao Chen had barely stepped past the outer perimeter when a third-grade beast, a Fistflower Horse, came charging at them.
A third-grade beast possessed power equivalent to a cultivator in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. Working together, the two of them quickly dispatched it, extracting its monster core before hastily fleeing the scene.
Moments later, the scent of blood drew another creature a fourth-grade Firehoof Rat. It prowled around the clearing for a while, but when it failed to detect any prey, it squeaked in frustration and scampered away.
Only after confirming that the beast was gone did Wu Bufan and Chao Chen emerge from hiding.
Wu Bufan’s expression was solemn.
They hadn’t even reached the inner regions of the Sky Demon Secret Realm yet, and already they were encountering fourth-grade beasts. If this continued, the deeper they went, the stronger the monsters would become.
Just as he was about to speak, Chao Chen’s eyes sparkled. “I can imitate that stinky rat’s aura!” he said suddenly.
Wu Bufan blinked in surprise. “You can?”
Chao Chen nodded eagerly, his face lighting up. “It’s a fourth-grade beast. If I release its aura, none of the lesser beasts around here will dare come close.”
They were in a hurry. They had no time to waste fighting off waves of low-level monsters.
Wu Bufan’s lips curved into a smile. “You really are a treasure,” he said warmly, his tone filled with quiet affection.
And indeed, in his eyes, Chao Chen was worth far more than any spirit stone or rare herb they could possibly find in this wilderness.
With the help of Chao Chen’s concealment art, one that could deceive even the keenest of demonic beasts, they traveled safely from the outer rim of the Tianyao Mountain Range into its inner region without encountering any trouble.
By the time the sky had darkened completely, they decided to rest for the night. Wu Bufan kindled a small bonfire, the flames flickering warmly against the cool night air.
He then took out the packed food from his spatial ring. The aroma of hot dishes filled the air the food was still steaming as if it had just come out of the kitchen.
Chao Chen, who had long been starving, was quick to grab a drumstick. He bit into it with delight, eyes gleaming as he tore off another one and passed it toward Wu Bufan. “Here, eat this!”
Just as Wu Bufan was about to take it, the drumstick vanished before his eyes. One moment it was there, the next, it was gone.
Wu Bufan fell silent.
Chao Chen didn’t notice anything amiss. Assuming his companion had already taken it, he merely retracted his hand and continued munching on the chicken in his other hand, satisfied.
Wu Bufan tore off a chicken wing, glancing at him. “Did you withdraw the Firehoof Rat’s aura yet?” he asked.
Chao Chen shook his head, swallowing a mouthful of meat before answering, “Of course not. That old rat’s aura is so useful. Why would I cancel it now?”
“Tomorrow, you should pull it back.” Wu Bufan poked at the fire with a branch, his voice calm. “Once we step deeper into the mountain range, the aura of a fourth-tier beast won’t be enough to keep others at bay.”
Chao Chen nodded readily. “Then tomorrow we’ll look around for something stronger!” His lips curved in a mischievous grin. “As long as we hide well enough, those beasts won’t even know we’re here.”
Wu Bufan found himself chuckling softly. Somehow, Chao Chen’s smile always had a way of lifting his spirits.
But midway through his laughter, Chao Chen suddenly froze. His eyes darted to the ground, widening in disbelief. “Where’s the chicken?” he cried. “The giant chicken where did it go?!”
They had bought a giant demonic chicken earlier that day. The thing had stood half as tall as a man far too big for the two of them to finish in one meal.
Yet now, not only was the chicken missing, even the box that had contained it had vanished without a trace.
Wu Bufan’s expression turned dark, and he said nothing. He already knew exactly who the culprit was. He had sensed that little thief’s presence earlier.
Since it didn’t seem hostile, he had chosen not to bother with it. Who could’ve guessed it would become this brazen, daring enough to steal their food right under their noses?
Chao Chen stood up furiously, scanning the trees around them. “Who stole my chicken?!” he shouted.
Wu Bufan tugged him gently back down to sit by the fire. “Enough. Sit. Do you want some pork knuckle instead?”
Chao Chen pouted, reluctant. “Fine, but chicken tastes better,” he muttered under his breath, clearly dissatisfied.
Wu Bufan reached into his spatial ring and retrieved a massive pork knuckle, nearly the length of his arm. He handed it over. Chao Chen grabbed it, raised it to his mouth, and before his teeth could sink in it vanished into thin air.
His bite landed on empty air. For a heartbeat, he stared blankly, then his temper exploded. “Who did that?!”
“It’s this one,” Wu Bufan said calmly, lifting a small creature by the scruff of its neck.
It was a tiny beast, its fur a deep shade of violet-black that shimmered faintly under the firelight. Even while being held aloft, the little thing refused to let go of the pork knuckle clutched in its paws.
It twisted and struggled violently, baring tiny fangs at Wu Bufan in defiance.
Chao Chen’s eyes narrowed. “Still daring to bare your teeth, huh?” he snapped, smacking the creature lightly across the head.
The little beast froze, its long dark lashes trembling. Then, to their surprise, its black eyes filled with tears. It let out a soft whimper actually crying.
Chao Chen blinked, utterly at a loss. Wu Bufan’s lips pressed together in silence.
A second-tier demonic beast that could cry now that was a first.
Both of them suddenly felt as though they had just bullied a child. Chao Chen looked awkward, scratching his head. “Alright, alright, stop crying. Keep the pork knuckle, alright? You can have it.”
The little beast instantly stopped sobbing. As if tears had never existed, it simply lowered its head and began gnawing contentedly at the pork knuckle right in front of them, utterly unbothered.
Chao Chen stared at it, feeling as though he had just been outsmarted. His face fell into a mix of annoyance and disbelief.
Wu Bufan pulled out another pork knuckle and handed it over to him. “Just eat. It’s probably still a cub,” he said with a faint smile.
Chao Chen took the meat, chewing reluctantly, though his curiosity soon got the better of him. Between bites, he muttered, “A mutated Violet Thunder Beast… it’s got heavenly-grade bloodlines. Once it grows up, it’ll be really powerful. Do you plan on forming a contract with it?”
The small beast’s ears twitched, but it made no response. It simply pretended not to hear him and kept eating its stolen pork knuckle, completely absorbed in the meal.
Wu Bufan and Chao Chen exchanged a glance. For a moment, they both felt as though they had somehow picked up trouble wrapped in fur and yet, neither of them could quite bring themselves to chase it away.
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The Realm has many treasures. Coffee is currently its favourite.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Dream to RealityChapter 2 · Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortuneChapter 3 · Retrieve the tokenChapter 4 · Top-tier alchemistChapter 5 · A cooperative treasure hunt?Chapter 6 · Thousand mile Thundercloud LeopardChapter 7 · Chaotic Strange EntityChapter 8 · Back to Xichuan TownChapter 9 · How could Wu Bufan be stronger than him!Chapter 10 · Wu Bufan possess so many top-grade pills?Chapter 11 · This time, she will not let anyone take what is hers away againChapter 12 · Seize the luckChapter 13 · Mutant Purple Thunder BeastChapter 14 · I’m afraid he’ll get angryChapter 15 · PumiceChapter 16 · Enemies meet on a narrow roadChapter 17 · Becoming Daoist CouplesChapter 18 · Top-grade Calamity-Breaking PillChapter 19 · The amazing effects of top-grade pillsChapter 20 · Basic Body ForgingChapter 21 · One world cannot contain two chosen ones.Chapter 22 · PuppetChapter 23 · AuctionChapter 24 · Space FoundationChapter 25 · Top-grade Foundation Building PillChapter 26 · Increased space areaChapter 27 · The competition BeginChapter 28 · RobbedChapter 29 · Turn Defeat into Victory!Chapter 30 · The Death of Wu KeyuanChapter 31 · BetChapter 32 · Even the way Chao Chen talks is so cuteChapter 33 · Avenge Wu KeyuanChapter 34 · Finding Bodhi Wood at a BargainChapter 35 · Little PuppetChapter 36 · Explosive PillsChapter 37 · I’ll concedeChapter 38 · You are a genius, so your Daoist partner must also be a genius.Chapter 39 · The Third Elder was refused a disciple.Chapter 40 · Has the floating marrow stone secret been exposed?Chapter 41 · How Could There Be Such a Sinister Human!Chapter 42 · The Mutated Mugwort FoxChapter 43 · Wandering the JianghuChapter 44 · Ancient ElixirChapter 45 · I feel like I’m about to be struck by lightning!Chapter 46 · Earth-level Secret RealmChapter 47 · The spot is practically yours.Chapter 48 · His Daoist partner is truly amazing!Chapter 49 · The legacy in the libraryChapter 50 · Dual cultivation techniquesChapter 51 · First genius Ji Pu RanChapter 52 · Shifting the blame eastwardChapter 53 · The little puppet went to run errandsChapter 54 · The Explosive Pill once again demonstrated its power.Chapter 55 · Chao Lingyue’s cultivation levelChapter 56 · Little Money-GrubberChapter 57 · What a venomous mouth!Chapter 58 · Enter the secret realmChapter 59 · A huge windfall fell from the sky.Chapter 60 · The birth of a rare treasureChapter 61 · This alchemy furnace is quite uniqueChapter 62 · The alchemy furnace that walked right into the trapChapter 63 · Xiao Zi’s Self-Rescue GuideChapter 64 · Spirit Field Micro RealmChapter 65 · Someone Planning to Reap the Benefits?Chapter 66 · Are You Lost?Chapter 67 · Chao Chen, Corrupted by the Big Handsome PotChapter 68 · Is Your phoenix Fish Sect Collecting Trash?Chapter 69 · The Death of Hui SipingChapter 70 · No, Junior Brother Chao, Where’s Your Backbone…Chapter 71 · Has His Identity Been Exposed?Chapter 72 · This Child Is Far Too ShrewdChapter 73 · Young people are wonderful. They fall asleep the moment they lie downChapter 74 · Sparrow Alchemist Chao Lingyue?Chapter 75 · The Silver Tongued Chao ChenChapter 76 · What’s the rush? I have moreChapter 77 · Leave the sectChapter 78 · Showing Off on a Grand ScaleChapter 79 · The Sparrow Alchemist Returns to the Martial WorldChapter 80 · Does Junior Brother Chao know about this?Chapter 81 · The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole BehindChapter 82 · So FierceChapter 83 · They’ve been targeted by the local bulliesChapter 84 · The Kid Is Missing?Chapter 85 · A Thing from the Void: SilkChapter 86 · Chao Chen became famousChapter 87 · The Devil MentorChapter 88 · The four little ones went out to gain experienceChapter 89 · The Students Who Were Truly ConvincedChapter 90 · What a Bountiful Harvest!Chapter 91 · No Random KissingChapter 92 · Detoxification PillChapter 93 · Master Wu, your Daoist partner has disappearedChapter 94 · The Demonic ThiefChapter 95 · Fellow Daoist, are you selling this sparrow?Chapter 96 · Unexpected disaster, nothing moreChapter 97 · My Daoist partner was born in the Year of the PigChapter 98 · The Undying Devil ChildChapter 99 · Exotic Treasure! Buddha Flame Glazed Light!Chapter 100 · We stole the Beast Taming Sect’s treasure vaultChapter 101 · Waaaaah… Why is this strange fire so gay?Chapter 102 · The Mysterious Pill – Flower in the MirrorChapter 103 Part 1 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 103 Part 2 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 104 Part 1 · Separation and ReunionChapter 104 Part 2 · Separation and ReunionChapter 105 Part 1 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 105 Part 2 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 106 · Chao Chen’s RevengeChapter 107 · The Death of Chao LingyueChapter 108 · A Narcissistic Man or a Great Beauty?Chapter 109 · This Person Has No MannersChapter 110 · The Ancient Spirit Botanical GardenChapter 111 · Thousand-Thread Poison WomanChapter 112 · I am not kindChapter 113 · Are you the most handsome man here?Chapter 114 Part 1 · ReunionChapter 114 Part 2 · ReunionChapter 115 Part 1 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 115 Part 2 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 116 · Central ContinentChapter 116 Part 1 · Central ContinentChapter 117 Part 1 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 117 Part 2 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 118 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 118 Part 1 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 119 · Xiao Chen will also be embarrassedChapter 120 · The moon is so bright tonightChapter 121 Part 1 · Treasure ArrayChapter 121 Part 2 · Treasure ArrayChapter 122 Part 1 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 122 Part 2 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 123 Part 1 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 123 Part 2 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 124 Part 1 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 124 Part 2 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 125 Part 1 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 125 Part 2 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 126 · Ice spirit tower has explodedChapter 127 Part 1 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 2 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 3 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 128 Part 1 · Being Followed?Chapter 128 Part 2 · Being Followed?Chapter 129 · Magical ArtifactChapter 131 · A Declaration of WarChapter 132 · A chaotic war of words: Friend or foe indistinguishable…Chapter 133 Part 1 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 133 Part 2 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 134 Part 1 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 134 Part 2 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 135 Part 1 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 135 Part 2 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 136 Part 1 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 2 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 3 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left Behind