Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Black Banner
"Same... same sect?"
Ji Yuan rarely showed a hint of surprise... I just wanted to use the Withered Bone Flower to level up "Pigsty," how did I inexplicably end up with a fellow sect member?
A fellow sect member, doesn’t that mean I’ve been inducted into a sect, and now have senior and junior brothers?
And from what this person is saying, there seems to be some secret hidden with the Withered Bone Flower.
"Exactly, throughout Cloud Rain Marsh, only our sect knows the use of this Withered Bone Flower. Even the name of this flower is known only to our sect."
The man in the black robe let out a long sigh.
"I’ve waited over a decade, and you are the first to search for the Withered Bone Flower here in Cloud Rain Marsh."
Ji Yuan was silent. He didn’t know exactly what was happening, but it didn’t prevent him from acknowledging this fellow sect member.
Whether there’s fruit or not, let’s play the odds first.
After a little thought, he flashed a radiant smile.
"I see, I’ve also been searching for this Withered Bone Flower for a long time, but have found no clues."
"Of course, the Withered Bone Flower can only be found here in Cloud Rain Marsh, nowhere else." The man in the black robe patted his chest and laughed proudly.
Ji Yuan put away the two stacks of talismans in his hand, showed both hands, and with a hoarse voice, bowed to him, saying: "I happen to be a few years older, how about I humbly consider myself the senior brother?"
The man in the black robe showed a brief hint of embarrassment and displeasure, but it passed quickly.
"The sect only has the two of us left, it doesn’t matter who is the senior or junior brother."
"What Junior Brother says is true."
Ji Yuan spoke naturally, then glanced at Wei Caishan beside the man in the black robe.
The man in the black robe noticed Ji Yuan’s gaze and laughed: "Actually, I had prepared three paths for you, senior brother."
"Oh? What three paths?"
Ji Yuan asked curiously.
The man in the black robe clasped his hands in his sleeves, sat cross-legged on the Dharma Ship, and smiled: "If senior brother had chosen to leave, I would have followed... to recognize you, that is the first path."
"The second path is the one now, where you chose to follow Wei Caishan, and I appear naturally."
"What about the third path?"
"The third path is if you choose to trade with Wei Caishan, then when you reach Black Mist Island..."
"Then you’ll meet you, Ghost Island Master."
Ji Yuan revealed the true identity of the man in the black robe.
Ghost Island Master’s face showed a hint of surprise, "You truly are senior brother, in that case, why not come visit my Black Mist Island? After all, it’s considered an old site of our sect."
Should I go?
Ji Yuan laughed... go to hell!
With just a few words, you think you can coax me onto the island to be at your mercy?
Ji Yuan had no doubt that the Ghost Island Master harbored ill intentions towards him, and as for the secrets of the sect, he was even more skeptical.
Even if there were secrets, his goal was likely to lure him to Black Mist Island and then scheme against him.
As he contemplated, Ji Yuan’s gaze fell on the black Dharma Ship at the Ghost Island Master’s feet.
Judging by its aura alone, it should be a Middle Grade Dharma Ship.
A Middle Grade Dharma Ship can enter the water and move freely underwater; it was likely how he managed to follow me so silently, thanks to its ability to submerge.
Perfect, my Dharma Ship is still just a Low Grade one.
Ji Yuan raised his head and cheerfully said:
"I too have some Secret Scriptures left by the sect, why don’t you visit me instead, Junior Brother?"
"Really?!"
Ghost Island Master instinctively asked.
But as soon as he asked, he realized, and after glancing up and down at Ji Yuan, he mocked: "It seems senior brother doesn’t trust me."
"Do you trust me, Junior Brother?"
Ji Yuan questioned in return.
"I do."
Ghost Island Master firmly asserted.
"Then why don’t you give me three Withered Bone Flowers to inspect first, how about that?"
"Senior Brother, saying that is pointless." As the Ghost Island Master spoke, faint black mist arose around the lake, "Why don’t you take out the sect scriptures for me to inspect first, Senior Brother?"
A fight was about to break out!
Ji Yuan almost instantly had the thought; strike first to gain the upper hand, hesitate and suffer!
The two stacks of Water Arrow Talismans he had put away reappeared in his hands. With a flick of each hand, dozens of Water Arrows shot out like a wall of water, covering the sky as they flew forward.
Activate the talisman first, consume some resources to start.
"Damn you!"
Ghost Island Master couldn’t help but curse with eyes wide at the situation.
The distance between them was not very far, and talismans, once activated, execute immediately.
Moreover, who the hell throws so many talismans in a fight, aren’t talismans expensive?
No way to dodge, Ghost Island Master raised his hand, and a Skull Token flew from his waist, growing in size against the wind, encircling him for protection.
But Wei Caishan, who was next to him, wasn’t as lucky when the Water Arrows struck.
Even after using four or five Water Shield Talismans and slapping several talismans on,
she couldn’t withstand the dozen or so Water Arrows that hit her, and after just a moment, she was knocked into Cloud Rain Marsh, the water’s surface tinged with a large section of crimson red.
Though protected by the Skull Token, Ghost Island Master was also pushed back several dozen feet.
As the Water Arrows subsided, he was about to speak when he saw a pure white Flying Sword hovering right before him.
At just one glance, he was deeply shocked.
Flying Sword!
Middle Grade Flying Sword!
"Ding—"
The Skull Token blocked the Flying Sword, but the sword didn’t stop. After sparking wildly, the Flying Sword arched around to strike again from behind the Ghost Island Master.
"Bastard!"
Ghost Island Master cursed, barely stabilizing himself. With a motion, he held a Black Banner enveloped in dark energy.
Once the banner appeared, two shadows leapt from it, biting into the White Water Flying Sword from either side.
Without a word, Ji Yuan recalled his Flying Sword with a thought and urged his Dharma Ship, speeding straight ahead.
"Offending the Island Master and still thinking of escaping?"
Ghost Island Master grinned, and his Dharma Ship accelerated, catching up to Ji Yuan in no more than three breaths.
"Damn it!"
Seeing the two skull-like shadows lunging towards him from behind,
Ji Yuan suddenly halted, the Dragon Armor Shield appeared around him, spinning rapidly.
"Boom—"
The skeletal shadows opened wide to bite down, and even with the Dragon Armor Shield’s protection, Ji Yuan was flung away.
His body plunged into the water, vanishing instantly.
The Ghost Island Master, holding the Black Banner, hurried over. The two ghostly shadows returned to the banner, and he scanned the gradually calming lake surface.
"Ha, trying to escape?!"
The Ghost Island Master’s Dharma Ship sank, about to submerge.
But at that moment, a snow-white Flying Sword shot out of the water, aimed right at his forehead.
He swiftly turned, yet the sword still grazed his face, leaving a clear cut.
"Fine, fine, fine!"
Touching the blood on his face, the Ghost Island Master, with a fierce expression, stabbed the banner into the lake.
"If you like hiding underwater, then better stay there!"
In an instant, a thick black mist rose over the lake within a mile radius.
The black mist enveloped even Ji Yuan, who was hiding in the water.
The mist seemed alive; despite Ji Yuan’s use of the Water-Resistant Talisman, it wormed its way up his nose like a snake.
Ji Yuan formed hand seals and launched Water Arrows towards the lakebed, using the recoil to propel himself upwards, bursting through the water’s surface.