Chapter 91: The Fortunate Child of the Blessed Land

Seeing Ye Xiaoshu so sensible, Lin Fanyun felt amused.

“I thought you would hide. Why did you come to Luofeng Sect?”

He was a bit curious. At times like this, shouldn’t ascenders be hiding? Why would they run to a major sect? Something seemed off.

Ye Xiaoshu’s heart stirred. He had indeed come to Luofeng Sect with a purpose, planning to seek help from the ancestor Huang Luo, but given the current situation, the person before him seemed more suitable.

“Senior…” Ye Xiaoshu immediately explained his reason.

It turned out that since they had arrived from their world to True Martial Continent, they had all dispersed. Unlike his companions, who had always been proud and dominant back home, Ye Xiaoshu had risen from a poor family and stayed cautious throughout his life. Even after gaining power in his original world, he had never changed this habit.

After arriving at True Martial Continent, while others were actively investigating the new place, Ye Xiaoshu did things differently. He found a place to hide or destroy items from his original world, then disguised himself as an ordinary Feathered Clan member, mingling among the common folk.

He avoided towns with many martial artists and even steered clear of the ten major forces.

Ye Xiaoshu’s plan was simple. First, get familiar with the mundane world here, then gradually approach the martial artists’ world.

He was very patient.

It was precisely because of this caution that he avoided being detected by powerful martial artists who could sense the slight difference in his aura from that of True Martial Continent.

If all went well, after a year or so, the foreign aura would dissipate, and Ye Xiaoshu could seamlessly blend in with the feathered race.

Moreover, because he had hidden everything from his original world, the other ascenders couldn’t contact him, so he was unaware of their gathering, thereby avoiding the disaster.

However, a few days ago, while he was happily following his plan, he suddenly heard news about ascenders being captured.

He wasn’t stupid. He immediately realized that some of his companions had been discovered.

He started investigating and, from a distance, spied on Wanqiu Mountain.

He found that the ten major forces had gathered there.

There was no need to think further. The spatial passage they had used must have been exposed.

This made Ye Xiaoshu extremely anxious.

Just by investigating a little, he realized what the ten great powers represented. Once they descended upon his world, his homeland would have no way to resist.

His family and friends were all there.

He cursed those incompetent fools who had come to True Martial Continent with him.

But cursing was futile.

After forcing himself to calm down, he began to think of a strategy.

He couldn’t stop the ten great powers. He didn’t have the ability. He only wanted to protect his family and friends.

After much deliberation, he decided to take a risk.

Among the ten great powers, the Luofeng Sect had only one Law Manifestation stage expert holding the fort. In recent years, the ancestor Huang Luo had grown increasingly old, and with no new Law Manifestation experts emerging, Luofeng Sect’s reputation was becoming undeserved. Even the two Law Manifestation rogue cultivators had a greater presence.

It was foreseeable that once Huang Luo passed away, the Luofeng Sect would undoubtedly fall from the ranks of the ten great powers. A mishandling of the situation could even lead to a chain reaction and attacks from all sides.

After much thought, Ye Xiaoshu made a ruthless decision. If he couldn’t stop the ten great powers, he would become a collaborator to seek their protection in exchange for the safety of his family and friends.

Given Luofeng Sect’s predicament, they were the most likely to agree to cooperate with Ye Xiaoshu. With Ye Xiaoshu leading the way, Luofeng Sect could gain more benefits, and the chances of using those resources to cultivate a new Law Manifestation expert would be greater.

And all they would need to provide was protection.

There was a foundation for cooperation between both sides.

After hearing Ye Xiaoshu’s explanation, Lin Fanyun couldn’t help but marvel.

‘What a talent, truly a remarkable talent.’

“You’ve come up with quite the plan. This is something that would make you despised till death,” Lin Fanyun said, his eyes flickering with admiration.  “But to think of such a solution in a desperate situation shows your cleverness.”

Ye Xiaoshu’s expression was bitter. “If there was any chance of resistance, I would lead my people from home to fight back. But after coming here and understanding the situation, I realized deeply what a Law Manifestation stage expert means. Just one is already insurmountable for my homeland, let alone several.”

Ye Xiaoshu’s face was filled with sorrow. “Even if they refuse, I will still try.”

Lin Fanyun nodded. Ye Xiaoshu’s situation was different from those detestable people in his previous life. His homeland truly couldn’t resist, and preserving even a bit was the best outcome.

At this moment, Ye Xiaoshu fell to his knees before Lin Fanyun.

“Senior, I am willing to become your servant, as long as you save my family and friends from disaster,” Ye Xiaoshu pleaded sorrowfully.

Lin Fanyun looked at him. This was the sorrow of the weak, and it was also why he had always pursued strength and proceeded with caution.

But his heart was unmoved. He had long been accustomed to life and death, and such situations no longer stirred any waves in his heart.

“Ye Xiaoshu, I don’t mind making this deal with you, but the price you’re offering isn’t enough to make me take action.”

Everything had a price, but Ye Xiaoshu’s current offer wasn’t enough to move Lin Fanyun. 

So what if Ye Xiaoshu was a genius? Wasn’t he, Lin Fanyun, even more of a genius?

As for leading the way, Lin Fanyun wasn’t his true self. He was a lone wanderer and didn’t need a guide much.

“Then, Senior, I am willing to trade a hidden land in exchange,” Ye Xiaoshu said heavily.

“A hidden land?” Lin Fanyun’s interest was piqued.

Ye Xiaoshu didn’t keep him guessing and immediately described a secret land he had once stumbled upon.

“The spiritual energy there is extremely dense. Even just in the periphery, there are countless high-quality heavenly materials and earthly treasures. At the time, I felt immense fear and didn’t dare venture too close. I only picked a few spiritual herbs and fruits from the outskirts before leaving.”

As he listened to Ye Xiaoshu’s description, Lin Fanyun’s mind stirred, considering a possibility.

“You mentioned earlier that someone was with you at the time and went deeper into the secret land. Was that person Li Donglai?” Lin Fanyun asked, recalling the two mysterious individuals from Wang Luo’s memories.

Compared to Ye Xiaoshu, Li Donglai was even more intriguing.

Ye Xiaoshu was taken aback. “Yes, Donglai was with me at the time.”

Lin Fanyun narrowed his eyes.

“Can you contact this Li Donglai now?” 

Ye Xiaoshu shook his head. “Since we parted ways, I’ve lost contact with Donglai. If he hasn’t been captured, he should be hiding like me.”

Ye Xiaoshu was very familiar with Li Donglai, as they were once close friends. But since their visit to the secret land, Li Donglai had gradually changed. Ye Xiaoshu didn’t understand why, but he sensed a terrifying aura from Li Donglai.

Ye Xiaoshu had speculated that Li Donglai must have gained something in the hidden land.

He had warned Li Donglai that there was great danger there, and what he gained might not be good.

Unfortunately, Li Donglai ignored him.

Now, hearing his name again, Ye Xiaoshu couldn’t help but ask.

“Senior, has Donglai done something?”

He was fearful. The senior knowing him implied he had some ascenders. Was Donglai one of them? Or had Donglai done something to the senior?

Lin Fanyun looked at Ye Xiaoshu. Combining what Ye Xiaoshu said, he had some thoughts on a previous doubt.

He said, “Initially, the matter of the ascenders was known to a few. Only the Langtao Sect and Jianyue Sect among the ten major powers were aware and had captured some ascenders. But within days, the entire True Martial Continent knew. Do you think the Langtao and Jianyue Sects were too full to enjoy the feast alone, or did someone deliberately spread the news? Li Donglai wasn’t captured. So, do you think someone deliberately spread the news? If so, who among the ascenders did it?”

Lin Fanyun’s words were clear.

He was basically asking if Ye Xiaoshu thought Li Donglai could be the one who revealed the spatial passage.

Ye Xiaoshu wanted to refute it. The Li Donglai he knew wasn’t a perfect person but never wavered in major matters. He wouldn’t think facing two major powers was easier than facing ten and wouldn’t invite such trouble.

But recalling Li Donglai’s change after the hidden land, he felt this matter was surely connected to him.

Ye Xiaoshu was speechless.

Lin Fanyun nodded. 

“I think I know the answer. A hidden land, hmm? Alright, I agree to our deal. I will protect your family and friends. But in return, you must take me to the hidden land, and you must go in with me.”

“Yes, Senior, I understand.” 

Ye Xiaoshu was mentally prepared. 

He was most aware of his own peculiarities. Even though he tried to hide them, others could easily sense his strong luck when certain things were discussed.

Thus, either he said nothing at all or resigned himself to his fate.

Of course, Ye Xiaoshu kept his keen intuition hidden.

Unfortunately, the world Ye Xiaoshu saw was vastly different from the one Lin Fanyun saw.

Otherwise, he would have understood how he appeared to Lin Fanyun, a Law Manifestation stage expert.

“In Wang Luo’s memories, it wasn’t very clear, but seeing him in person confirms he’s no ordinary person.”

Lin Fanyun’s perceptive eyes saw marvelous things on Ye Xiaoshu.

Fortune!

A steady, rock-like great fortune. And hidden divine light.

That was the sign of innate divine abilities.

In this world, some people awakened their innate divine abilities even before reaching the True Core stage. These abilities were weaker than those cultivated at the True Core stage but provided a significant advantage below that level.

Even after reaching the True Core stage, these abilities could evolve and surpass ordinary True Core techniques. Only those with incredibly deep foundations could match them.

‘Lucky boy, if you had wandered openly in the True Martial Continent without mastering the methods to conceal your divine light and fortune, you would have been discovered and manipulated by martial experts long ago. Caution and rock-solid fortune saved you, huh?’ Lin Fanyun thought.

Connecting Ye Xiaoshu’s origin to a blessed land, it was highly likely that he was the blessed land’s favored one.

This was partly why Lin Fanyun hadn’t immediately accepted Ye Xiaoshu’s offer to be his servant.

People with great fortune were difficult to control, and the backlash from their fortune could strike at any moment.

Although Lin Fanyun wasn’t afraid, he had no interest in keeping a ticking time bomb by his side.

After all, weren’t the fortunate often surrounded by dead allies while they were unscathed?

Using him was possible, killing him was also an option, but until Lin Fanyun mastered high-level martial techniques related to fortune, he wasn’t planning to make someone like Ye Xiaoshu his subordinate.

However, Ye Xiaoshu’s problem needed to be addressed.