Chapter 4: Stay Calm!

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

“Why does the family head want us to go to the main hall all of the sudden?” Pei Ling frowned. He was only a member of a branch family, and he was the type that neither his father nor his mother loved. Since his childhood, he could count the number of occasions of meeting the family head on the fingers of one hand.

“Yes, Seventh Young Master.” The manservant was in a hurry to inform the next young master. As he turned around, he hurriedly said, “Immortal Master Zheng came back from the outside and told the family head to do so. You’d better go over as soon as possible. Immortal Master Zheng seems to be in a bad mood.”

Pei Ling’s heart shook as he quickly calculated the possibility of continuing to escape.

Unfortunately, chances of survival were essentially zero.

Although he had just advanced to the third-stage Qi Refinement realm and could kill lions and tigers, even the Pei family could easily end him, much less the disciples of the Deep Sea Sect.

The key was that the Pei family had strict family rules. When the family head summoned someone, experts would immediately come to check on the person for punishment if he failed to show up within five minutes.

In particular, this gathering was for Zheng Jingshan. In order to not lose face in front of the Chong Ming Sect, the Pei family would only be quicker to act. If he fled now, he might not even be able to get out of the Pei family’s door.

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“Don’t panic!” Pei Ling calmed down and analyzed calmly. “If Zheng Jingshan knew that I entered his room and stole the Bone Tempering Pills, he would probably have asked the Pei family to capture or even kill me on the spot instead of just sending a manservant to summon me…”

With this thought, he stopped the manservant, who had already walked some distance. “Did Immortal Master Zheng go to the main hall right after he returned? He didn’t go back to the Jade Parasol Compound to rest?”

“No.” The manservant shook his head and urged him again, “Seventh Young Master, please hurry up and go over. Don’t make the Immortal Master wait anymore! Otherwise, the family head might not let you off easily.”

Pei Ling quickly weighed up the pros and cons. “Okay, I’ll go now.”

A moment later, in the Pei family’s main hall.

The family head, Pei Xuan, was sitting upright. The eldest son, Pei Hongnian, was standing by the side. While at the foot sat three elders. Everyone had solemn expressions on their faces.

At the host’s seat was a handsome young man. He was the inner sect disciple of the Deep Sea Sect, Zheng Jingshan!

After Pei Ling entered to pay his respects to the family head, Pei Xuan waved his hand casually, indicating for him to retreat to the side like the others and wait for instructions.

From the beginning to the end, no one paid much attention to him.

The indifference finally allowed Pei Ling to feel a little safer as a slacker in the dark.

Obviously, Zheng Jingshan did not know about the Jade Parasol Courtyard yet.

This is great!

Pei Ling breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly adjusted his expression. Like the surrounding Pei family disciples, he sized up the five people in front with curious and reverent gazes.

The cultivation realms in this world were divided into the Qi Refinement Stage, the Foundation Establishment Stage, the Core Formation Stage… The Qi Refinement Stage was divided into the first to the ninth level. After the ninth level, it was the Foundation Establishment Stage. The Foundation Establishment Stage had three stages: the early stage, the middle stage, the late stage, and finally, the Core Formation Stage.

As for the realms above the Core Formation Stage, there were no records of it in the Pei family’s school at all. After all, in Deer Spring City, there was not even a single Foundation Establishment Stage expert. The number one expert on the surface was Pei Xuan, who was at the seventh level of the Qi Refinement Stage.

The eldest son, Pei Hongnian, who the family had high expectations of and had spent ample resources to send him into the outer sect of the Deep Sea Sect, was only at the fourth level of the Qi Refinement Stage.

As for the two disciples from the Deep Sea Sect, Zheng Jingshan was young, but he was already in the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

In other words, as long as Zheng Jingshan wanted to, he could slaughter the entire Deer Spring City alone.

Therefore, it was no wonder that the entire Pei family did not dare to treat this person shabbily.

Pei Ling was thinking about the purpose of gathering the Pei family’s disciples on this occasion when he suddenly sensed someone looking at him with hostility from afar.

He subconsciously looked over and saw his younger brother, Pei Tu, glaring at him fiercely.

Is there a problem with my way of slacking off today? Pei Ling was puzzled. Although he had never had a good relationship with his cheap brother, ever since he became marginalized in the family, his stepmother and stepbrother felt that they had already trampled on him and would ignore him no matter where he went, so why would they show clear hostility?

Pei Ling thought with a heavy heart. Or did I get full of myself without realizing it after activating the system?

He was carefully reflecting on his performances during this period and whether it violated his Gou mantra when he saw a manservant approach Pei Xuan and whisper a few words into his ear. Pei Xuan nodded slightly and coughed lightly, and the hall fell silent instantly.

Pei Xuan said to Zheng Jingshan with an extremely respectful manner, “Fellow Daoist Zheng, my family disciples are all here. Please let us know anything that you need.”

Zheng Jingshan opened his eyes expressionlessly. He casually swept his gaze across everyone and said indifferently, “Our sect’s traitor, Wu Tingxi, has recently escaped to Yuanlao Mountain. His whereabouts are unknown. All of you are to enter the mountain to find him. As long as you find any trace of Wu Tingxi, you will be rewarded with 50 Bone Tempering Pills.”

“If there are no questions, you can set off immediately.”

The disciples of the Pei family had different expressions when they heard this. They subconsciously looked at the family head, the eldest son, and the elders.

Pei Xuan looked troubled as he cleared his throat. “Fellow Daoist Zheng, Wu Tingxi was once a disciple of your esteemed sect and was also the personal disciple of Elder Luo. I heard that his cultivation level had reached the seventh stage of Qi Refinement, and my family’s disciples are insignificant in comparison. This…”

“Rest assured!” Zheng Jingshan said calmly. “Wu Tingxi is seriously injured. His cultivation level is less than one-tenth. Even a cultivator who has just entered the path of Dao can take him down. He is already a stray dog and won’t dare to show his face.”

Pei Xuan heaved a sigh of relief and looked around the hall. “Is that clear? Whoever dares to be negligent and spoil Daoist Zheng’s plans, don’t blame me for being merciless!”

With that, he formed a series of hand seals, and a figure appeared in the hall. It was a sinister-looking man with cold eyes. He introduced, “This is the traitor of our Holy Sect, Wu Tingxi. If you find any traces of him, send the clan’s distress signal without delay. Fellow Daoist Zheng will rush over and capture him.”

The group of Pei family disciples said in unison, “We will obey the Family Head’s orders!”

Pei Xuan nodded. “Aren’t you setting off?”

Seeing that the others were raring to go and began leaving, Pei Ling hurriedly pretended to be rushing and joined the crowd.

Then, he walked to the front of the crowd quietly.

He had already thought it through. Once they left the city, everyone would head for Yuanlao Mountain. It would be his chance to leave secretly and flee as far away as possible.

Anyway, he had already brought along all the important things and could escape at any time.

For now, Zheng Jingshan would not know that someone had broken into his room and stolen something. When he went back to take a look later… Pei Ling would definitely die!

After watching the numerous Pei family disciples leave, Pei Xuan said to Zheng Jingshan with a smile, “Fellow Daoist Zheng, my residence has received some spiritual tea recently. I wonder if you have any interest in tasting it?”

“No need.” Zheng Jingshan stood up and said coldly, “I have to return to the Jade Parasol Compound. I will accept your kindness later.”

He hurriedly arrived at the Jade Parasol Compound, but he did not return to the room he was staying in. Instead, he went to a more concealed temple at the back.

The temple looked elegant. There was a series of wind chimes hanging under the roof that swayed gently in the wind, complementing the low eaves and the beautiful bamboo around it, making it a pleasant view.

However, if anyone took a closer look, they would find that the wind chimes were formed by pieces of skull. Countless illusory human faces twisted and struggled, letting out silent roars.

Although Zheng Jingshan was already in the Foundation Establishment Stage, he could not help but feel dizzy when he looked at it accidentally.

He hurriedly steeled his mind and turned his gaze to the ground. He bowed respectfully outside the door of the temple. Before he could speak, a cold voice sounded from inside. “Have you found him?”

“Senior Sister, we have already confirmed that Wu Tingxi has fled to Yuanlao Mountain. Elder Luo’s other disciples have all been executed. The Six Desires Secret Manual must be in his hands,” Zheng Jingshan hurriedly said. “I have already ordered the Pei family to…”

“Scum!”

He was interrupted before he could finish speaking. The person in the room berated coldly, “I don’t have so much time to waste here. Don’t stay idle either, so you better join the search! If I don’t see the Six Desires Secret Manual in three days, I’ll extract your soul for weapon refinery!”

Zheng Jingshan’s expression changed drastically. He immediately knelt down. “Yes!”

After a moment, seeing there were no more instructions, he stood up and left carefully.

When he got outside, he felt that his back was covered in a cold sweat.

He turned his head to look at his room and hesitated for a moment. Soon, he did not dare delay any further. He did not even inform the Pei family before leaving in a hurry and heading for Yuanlao Mountain.

At the same time, Pei Ling took the opportunity while the main group was passing through a forest to make his escape.

Yuanlao Mountain was north of Deer Spring City. He walked out of the forest and headed south. It was a vast wilderness. Passing through it led to the official road that led to several other cities.

He had already thought it through. He would first go to the nearest city. If he was not caught after he arrived, he would disguise himself and quickly find a traveling team on a long journey to blend in, traveling as far as he could.

Although the Bone Forging Art did not emphasize speed, after the completion of the Iron Bone, his body was filled with strength, and his steps were naturally much faster than before.

Pei Ling was afraid that Zheng Jingshan had already discovered the scene in the Jade Parasol Compound, so he did not dare to be negligent. He traveled for more than two hours in one go. When he saw that there was no one around, he heaved a sigh of relief.

Soon, however, he felt that something was amiss.

Someone was watching him!