Translator: CinderTL
The sun rose in the east, painting the sky with vibrant morning hues.
Song Wen's figure moved swiftly through the dawn's glow, finally landing atop a small mountain a hundred miles outside Crimson Rainbow City.
Today marked the agreed-upon day to travel to the Dual Polarity Sect and board the Qicang Flying Ark, as well as the scheduled departure date.
Song Wen and the other eight had agreed to meet on this mountain before proceeding to the Dual Polarity Sect together.
The group now numbered nine because another late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator had joined them several years prior.
As Song Wen landed on the summit, he found two figures already waiting: a man and a woman, both at the late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation realm.
"I am Yan He," the female cultivator said, taking the initiative to greet Song Wen. "Greetings, fellow daoist."
Though Song Wen had communicated with the other eight many times, this was their first face-to-face meeting.
He clasped his hands in a respectful bow, his face breaking into a smile. "I am Gou Jun."
The male cultivator then introduced himself, and the three fell into casual conversation.
Soon, more cultivators arrived, all at the Nascent Soul Stage. Within moments, all six Nascent Soul cultivators had gathered.
Among the six, Yan He was the only female cultivator.
Suddenly, two streaks of light shot toward them from opposite directions, converging on the mountain peak.
The figure approaching from the right was burly, with a full beard and a heroic air between his brows.
The person on the left was completely shrouded in a pitch-black cloak, obscuring their face and figure. Only their silhouette suggested they were a female cultivator.
Song Wen and the other six instantly recognized the man on the right as Wei Qian and the cloaked figure on the left as Shui Bing. They bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Senior Wei Qian and Senior Shui Bing."
"Greetings, young friends. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Wei Qian," Shui Bing's voice echoed from beneath the dark cloak.
Wei Qian, however, didn't immediately acknowledge the group. His gaze remained fixed on Shui Bing, his brow furrowed slightly.
"Fellow Daoist Shui Bing, why do you conceal your true appearance?"
Shui Bing replied, "Due to my cultivation method, my appearance has become unsightly. I have no choice but to conceal it with this cloak. I hope you will forgive my rudeness."
Wei Qian countered, "We cultivators seek immortality and the Dao. Why would we concern ourselves with mere appearances? Every Divine Transformation Stage cultivator in the Qianchang Wilderness is renowned by name, yet I have never heard of you. Who exactly are you?"
Shui Bing replied, "I prefer to avoid social interactions. It's not surprising you haven't heard of me."
Wei Qian immediately sensed the evasiveness in Shui Bing's words.
Wei Qian wasn't concerned with Shui Bing's identity, but rather with her strength and cultivation level.
The cloak concealed Shui Bing's aura, preventing Wei Qian from accurately assessing her cultivation. Wei Qian, on the other hand, made no attempt to hide his own mid-stage Divine Transformation cultivation, openly displaying it without reservation.
Sensing the other man's reluctance to elaborate, Wei Qian didn't press further, instead steering the conversation to a different topic.
"The agreed-upon meeting time has arrived, yet Zhong Jun hasn't appeared. He's always been the most eager to depart. Now that the day has finally come, why is he still nowhere to be seen?"
"Perhaps something has delayed him," Shui Bing replied calmly.
Just then, Song Wen noticed the Dual Polarity Sect token in his Storage Ring vibrating faintly. He retrieved it and saw a message from Zhong Jun:
[Fellow Daoists, I've already arrived at the Dual Polarity Sect. Come quickly.]
If Song Wen could see this message, the others undoubtedly had received it as well.
"What's Zhong Jun up to? Why did he rush ahead to the Dual Polarity Sect alone?" Wei Qian asked, his tone tinged with displeasure.
Shui Bing countered, "Fellow Daoist Wei Qian, are you aware of Fellow Daoist Zhong Jun's true identity?"
Wei Qian shook his head. "'Zhong Jun' is likely an alias. I've never heard of anyone by that name before."
Shui Bing said, "In that case, further speculation here is pointless. Once we reach the Dual Polarity Sect and meet Fellow Daoist Zhong Jun in person, we can ask him directly."
Wei Qian asked, "Shall we depart for the Dual Polarity Sect immediately?"
Shui Bing replied, "I've never been to the Dual Polarity Sect before. Fellow Daoist Wei Qian, would you kindly lead the way?"
Wei Qian didn't hesitate. He rose and flew toward the Dual Polarity Sect.
Before long, the group of eight arrived at the sect's mountain gate.
Steward Wang Yi, who had greeted Song Wen at the Crimson Rainbow Pavilion, was already waiting at the gate.
"Greetings, Seniors Shui Bing and Wei Qian, and fellow daoists," Wang Yi said, bowing respectfully.
Wei Qian asked, "Steward Wang, have you seen Fellow Daoist Zhong Jun?"
Wang Yi replied, "Senior Zhong Jun has been waiting for you all within the sect for some time."
Wei Qian said, "Please lead us to him, Steward Wang."
Wang Yi gestured toward the gate. "This way, please."
The group followed Wang Yi through the gate, flying along a winding path until they reached a plaza nestled between mountain valleys.
At the center of the plaza stood a flying ark, thirty meters long and ten meters wide.
The flying ark was sharply pointed at the front and gradually tapered towards the rear, its overall shape resembling a streamlined shuttle. The hull was entirely black, etched with countless formation patterns that radiated a sense of swiftness.
Standing beside the ark were two male cultivators, both at the late Divine Transformation Stage.
One was an elderly man with snow-white hair, yet his spirit remained vigorous.
The other was a middle-aged cultivator.
As Song Wen and the others landed, the elder spoke.
"Fellow Daoists Wei Qian and Shui Bing, you've finally arrived."
Wei Qian fixed his gaze on the elder and asked, "Are you Fellow Daoist Zhong Jun?"
The elder nodded. "I am."
"Why did you come to the Dual Polarity Sect alone?" Wei Qian pressed.
Zhong Jun replied, "My daoist title is Wu Wei. As a cultivator of the Dual Polarity Sect, why shouldn't I arrive ahead of the others?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Wei Qian's eyes. "You're Daoist Wu Wei of the Dual Polarity Sect?"
Zhong Jun smiled faintly. "I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Wei to have heard of me."
Wei Qian cast a deep glance at the group before falling silent.
Shui Bing suddenly stepped forward.
"Since Fellow Daoist Zhong Jun is a cultivator from the Dual Polarity Sect, you must be intimately familiar with the Qicang Flying Ark. We will likely need your assistance in the future, so please don't hesitate to lend your expertise."
Zhong Jun smiled. "You must be Fellow Daoist Shui Bing? Rest assured, since we're all aboard the Qicang Flying Ark together, we'll naturally work together harmoniously."
He then gestured to the middle-aged cultivator beside him.
"This is Hall Master Li Changhe of the Dual Polarity Sect's Formation Hall. He is the creator of the Profound Kunming Harmony Formation. Hall Master Li will explain all the formations on this Giant Flying Ship to us."
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Li," Shui Bing said, cupping her hands in a formal greeting.
Li Changhe nodded in acknowledgment before inviting everyone aboard the flying ark to explain its formations and operational methods.
The flying ark had no cabins or decks, only a flat, unobstructed deck.
The deck was densely covered with countless formation patterns, twisted and interwoven in a complex, mysterious design.
(End of the Chapter)
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