"Of course, but unless you are exceptionally lucky, even if you enter Lan Sha Island and find the Cicada Fruit, don't expect to be able to get it," the old man said with certainty.
"Why?" The woman named Tian Fei couldn't help but ask.
The elder spoke in a deep voice, "Because the Cicada Fruit Tree is surrounded by a Level Five Murderous Array. Any cultivator who covets the Cicada Fruit Tree will be slaughtered by the array and ultimately become nourishment for the Cicada Fruit Tree."
Having said that, the elder looked at Feng Feizhang and others, "There's no need for you to doubt that I'm deceiving you. The reason I'm revealing this information is that the formation maps to enter Lan Sha Island will be auctioned off at the end of the month at the Mango City Auction House, and a hundred copies will be sold. Even if I didn't tell you, many people would come to know about it by the end of the month."
Initially, everyone harbored some doubts towards the old man, but now they began to believe him. The Mango Auction House was going to auction off the formation maps to Lan Sha Island, so this matter might really exist. The Mango Auction House, located near the Mango Sea Area, was an immensely powerful entity; if they said they would auction one hundred copies, then that was the exact number—they ensured that no one dared to reproduce and sell the auctioned maps.
"May I ask, friend, how you obtained the formation maps to enter Lan Sha Island earlier than the Mango Auction House?" Feng Feizhang asked with a serious tone.
The elder nodded and said, "Even if you hadn't asked, I would have told you. I wasn't the only person who obtained this map; there was another person involved, who, I presume, has also visited Lan Sha Island many times. He probably couldn't get the Cicada Fruit either, which is why he chose to sell the map to the auction house."
Everyone remained silent. Since the elder spoke like this, they anticipated there was more to come. Sure enough, after finishing his words, the elder continued, "I am skilled in low-level arrays, and this time I even went to consult a master of formation arrays. That master said that at least a Level Five Formation Master would be needed to break through this murderous array. Apart from that, there is another method—eight people can break the array if they attack eight specific positions simultaneously following a pattern. However, using this method to break the array, I'm not sure whether it would damage the Cicada Fruit Tree."
"Friend, are you looking to invite us to join you?" Miao Xiuming immediately asked.
The elder replied, "Indeed, that's the case. I'm only at the third layer of Qi Gathering; I wouldn't invite mid-stage cultivators. And with at least thirty-six Cicada Fruits on one tree, even if all eight participants joined, each person could get as many as four fruits. There are six of us here now, and if we find another two in the Mango Sea Area, we can assemble eight people to go to Lan Sha Island. Let me introduce myself; my name is Pu Jingye, and everyone calls me Daoist Jingye. Moreover, I will make a sea oath on my words."
After hearing Daoist Jingye's words, Miao Xiuming saluted with his fist, "Tian Fei and I will join as well. However, before we go, Brother Pu, please let me take a look at your formation map. Otherwise, please forgive me for not agreeing."
He had some understanding of formation arrays and had also visited the outskirts of Lan Sha Island. Although he never entered, he was quite familiar with the periphery. If the map provided by Daoist Jingye did not satisfy him, even if Daoist Jingye made a sea oath, he definitely would not agree.
After hesitating for a moment, Feng Feizhang also saluted with his fist and said, "Count me in as well, Brother Pu. My requirement is the same as Brother Miao's; I need to see the entry path of the formation map before this."
Daoist Jingye laughed heartily and said, "That's to be expected. Before we go, I will make the map available for everyone to review. Even without that auction house selling the formation maps, you will be pleased with the one I have."
At this time, all eyes turned towards Ning Cheng, wanting to know his thoughts. An Yi followed Ning Cheng closely, clearly taking his words as the leading voice; they just needed to consult Ning Cheng's opinion.
Ning Cheng smiled slightly and said, "Of course I want to participate. It would be foolish not to partake in such a good opportunity."
Although Ning Cheng was smiling on the outside, inside, he felt extremely frustrated. Only a fool would think of going to Lan Sha Island to join this squad. Regardless of whether what Daoist Jingye said was true, and even assuming the existence of the Cicada Fruit on Lan Sha Island, why had no high-level formation masters gone there? Even if high-level formation masters were unwilling to go, surely the auction house would try to invite one to inspect it.
If they could secure over thirty Cicada Fruits, the auction house would definitely undertake such a venture.
The only possibility was that a high-level formation master had gone there and the situation inside the island wasn't as simple as Daoist Jingye described.
Of course, there was another possibility: that Daoist Jingye was spouting nonsense. Feng Feizhang and Miao Xiuming, who had long been living on the outskirts of the Mango Sea Area, were both shrewd and cunning individuals. They should be able to discern whether Daoist Jingye was bluffing. Hypothetically, if they chose to believe Daoist Jingye, the chances of him spouting nonsense were slim.
But for Ning Cheng, even if the whole affair were entirely true, he had no desire to participate. Having lived on Earth, he had always abided by one truth: pies don't just fall from the sky. What worth is a vow? On Earth, some people took vows as lightly as eating and drinking, without witnessing any actual consequences.
Besides, had he and An Yi just set out and encountered such a great opportunity? Even if such a good deal existed, it would be for those in the later stages of Qi Gathering to explore. What did it have to do with someone at the third layer of Qi Gathering like him?
However, he had to agree. The murderous intent in the eyes of Miao Xiuming and Daoist Jingye was evident. Clearly, if he refused, both of them would act immediately to silence him. As for Feng Feizhang, their encounter was nothing more than a brief crossing of paths.
Thinking this way, Ning Cheng could only blame himself for not knowing the prestige of a Level Five Formation Master. Expecting a Level Five Formation Master to check out a Cicada Fruit in the Mango Sea Area was a fool's dream. But Ning Cheng didn't know this; he thought that it was easy to invite a Level Five Formation Master.
Upon seeing Ning Cheng's immediate agreement, Feng Feizhang was taken aback. He thought that Ning Cheng, just starting out, would need an explanation even if he agreed. Feng Feizhang would have told Ning Cheng that Daoist Jingye wasn't lying because the Mango Auction House did indeed have an item related to Lan Sha Island for auction at the end of the month, although they didn't know it was the formation map to enter Lan Sha Island.
Besides, there was another factor: Daoist Jingye was willing to make a sea oath. The cultivators living near the Mango Sea Area all knew the dread of a sea oath; once made, it was bound to be truthful, otherwise, the oath would definitely be fulfilled.
"Alright, since everyone trusts me, I will now distribute the array formation route maps for entering Lancha Island." After speaking, the Taoist Master took out five copies of the array formation route maps and handed them to five people.
Ning Cheng merely took one copy and said, "One copy is enough for my cousin and me."
He had absolutely no understanding of array formations; even if he were to go, he could only follow others. He took a copy of the route map to give to An Yi later, for he couldn't understand it.
"No need, I've prepared plenty. It's safer to have one per person. In case we get separated, we'll each have a map to rely on." The Taoist Master then handed another route map to Ning Cheng.
Thinking it over, Ning Cheng took the second map but did not give it to An Yi. One of the maps went into his bag, and he held the other in his hand, ready to take a look. If he couldn't understand it, he could simply ask An Yi.
The Taoist Master smiled faintly at Ning Cheng and said, "You can also take out the other copy for your companion to see. If there's anything unclear, you can also ask me."
Ning Cheng knew that things were not simple, always being cautious. He had already been wary of the Taoist Master, and now this remark made Ning Cheng even more vigilant. The intention behind the Taoist Master's words was to have him show the route map to An Yi. Why should he care about this?
Even though he felt something was amiss, Ning Cheng still smiled and said, "It's okay. My cousin knows even less about array formations than I do, and she's not in the mood to look at it now. When she feels a bit better, I'll show it to her then."
An Yi, of course, would not contradict Ning Cheng's words. In terms of array formations, she definitely knew more than Ning Cheng, but she wouldn't refute what he said.
A glint of cold light flashed in the corner of the Taoist Master's eye, which Ning Cheng caught clearly. This made him feel even more that there was something unusual about this situation.
Everyone was looking at the array formation route map for entering Lancha Island. After a while, Ning Cheng, who couldn't understand a thing, simply put away the map in his hand and stowed it in his bag behind his back.
"I haven't had the chance to ask for your name yet," said the Taoist Master with a smile after seeing Ning Cheng put away the map.
Ning Cheng replied indifferently, "We're only cooperating to go to Lancha Island, nothing else needs to be said."
The Taoist Master surprisingly did not get angry. Instead, he just smiled, nodded, and said no more.
Sister He's carriage was both fast and stable. Ning Cheng wondered if the carriage had rubber tires, would it be as smooth as a business car, without a single jolt?
Over the course of several days, except when Sister He stopped the beast carriage for them to take rests and eat something, everyone else, except for Ning Cheng and An Yi, studied the array formation route maps. They inquired about the situation on Lancha Island with the Taoist Master or discussed strategies to adopt once on the island.
Ning Cheng did not participate in these discussions, nor did he say anything more. No one else asked Ning Cheng either; when the time came, they would simply assign him tasks. As the beast carriage traveled further, the smell of the sea became more pungent.
Over these days, the Taoist Master did not bother Ning Cheng with idle chatter. Instead, Tian Fei stopped studying the route map and often looked over at Ning Cheng and An Yi but did not speak to them.
On the seventh day of the journey, as Ning Cheng was pondering how he could avoid participating in the team deployment, he heard a fierce roar. Immediately after, the carriage they were in shuddered, seeming on the verge of flipping over.
Ning Cheng's reflexes were quick; almost simultaneously with the jolt of the carriage, he grabbed the still-bewildered An Yi, punched through the roof, and flew out of the top.
Exiting with Ning Cheng was the Taoist Master, who immediately retreated backward and instantly moved a hundred meters away from the carriage. At the same time, Feng Feizhang and the other two people also leaped out, retreating in the same manner.
Ning Cheng had just seen a trench of dozens of zhang long lay in front of the beast carriage. The unicorn pulling the carriage had been split in half, with no sign of the other half. Not having time to think further, Ning Cheng heard another whooshing sound and quickly rushed out to the side with An Yi, not caring where they would end up.
As he dashed out, he heard an explosion from behind. Two shadows seemed to crisscross in the sky. Ning Cheng had no intention of figuring out what they were; he immediately rushed to the side with An Yi at the most breakneck speed.
(The second update is here, new book seeking favorites and recommendation ticket support!)
...