ocean-life Chapter 122: Guest Reception (1)
Chapter 122: Guest Reception (1)
Chapter 122: Guest Reception (1)“What’s all this commotion!”
Karlstein strode over, his presence imposing and confident. How could he not be? At Core Formation Stage, one was allowed to strut a bit. Or at least that’s what he was told.
Not to mention, his next Avatar was ready. Though not yet connected, it was prepared for intervention at any moment.
As Karlstein’s initial arrival had been by chance, this Immortal Realm was unreachable through the Galactic Empire’s power. But after relentless experimentation with the platinum-colored egg—the root of all trouble—he managed to force open an entry passage.
Uh huh. If one won’t cut it, try two. If two don’t work, go three.
With his ability to produce Avatars almost infinitely, death held no fear whatsoever. Replacement Avatars always stood at the ready, running Auto-Cultivation macros as well.
“Heheh.”
But the three cultivators before Karlstein, turning around with murder in their eyes, could not possibly know that.
“...”
“Were you just talking to us?”
“Who the hell are you!”
Two handsome young men and one middle-aged man faced him. One youth exuded calm, the other vigor, while the older man frowned silently. Karlstein felt something vaguely familiar about them... but his interest was short-lived.
“Yuyu, long time no see! You’ve grown up now, haven’t you? Haha.”
Karlstein warmly greeted Yuyu, ignoring the men. It felt like seeing a neighborhood kid, all grown up. Rumor had it Yuyu had been managing the business well.
However, the hot-tempered cultivator among them was not about to stay quiet.
“You ignoring us right now?”
“Haah... It looks like you’re from Flame Metal Sect, so just be on your way. We’re not doing this for enjoyment either.”
“...”
Huh? That one seems to be at Qi Refining Stage. Aren’t you supposed to address Core Formation seniors as Grandmaster?
“Old man. Are these lads mad? Has the world changed? Why is an insignificant Qi Refining nobody talking back?”
[Lunatic. You are hiding your Spiritual Power!]
Oh, right.
The automatic macro simply worked too well. Even at this moment, it was circulating all Spiritual Power within his body for cultivation, without wasting a single bit externally.
Realizing this, Karlstein offered a kind warning.
“Take my advice and just leave, while your hyung here is being nice.”
Yeah, Grandmaster sounds too old. Hyung should do.
Unfortunately, the three lacked perception.
“...!”
“Is he insane?”
“How arrogant. Where are you from?”
“...Ah! S-Senior Brothers, I think I know who that guy is—“
Yep. I actually knew they wouldn’t listen.
Karlstein briefly paused the cultivation macro, releasing a tiny bit of Spiritual Power from his body.
Is this about right?
Whoosh—
Immense spiritual pressure crashed over the surroundings.
“Guh!”
“Arrgh!”
“Gasp!“
Needless to say, Karlstein had to adjust his power to avoid harming Yuyu.
Meanwhile, the three cultivators went deathly pale, legs trembling.
“S-shit!”
“What... is this?”
“Urrk! S-Senior Brothers, we need to re-retreat—“
Oh, that bald middle-aged man. We entered the Flame Metal Sect together... What was his name again?
I can’t even remember.
“Get lost!”
Figuring words would not suffice, Karlstein manifested power with a slight gesture, levitating the three and tossing them onto the street.
Crash-
“Argh!”
“Gah!”
“Koff.”
That alone was enough to send them sprawling, groaning in pain.
Was that too much?
“Mmhm. That’s right.”
Karlstein would expand his influence, investigate and research this world, all while following Proxitan’s footsteps.
Naturally, he would milk every opportunity in the process! That was how he would conquer the entire Immortal Realm.
This was his current plan.
“Heheh.”
Karlstein had already confirmed the chance of succeeding, certain after seeing the three cultivators he had spared earlier fleeing on Sky Boards.
Technology is great.
The plan would definitely work. It had to succeed.
“Mmhm. Plum Shadow Pavilion’s distribution line should be enough.”
“Huh? L-line?”
“Good. And it seems we have guests. Just in time too.”
Karlstein grinned as he sensed cultivators starting to gather through his spirit sense.
“Let’s welcome our guests!”
[I did know you were psychotic but this...]
Yuyu was left bewildered, while Zhang Yihong shook her head.
***“...You failed?”
“W-we are sorry!”
“To explain... he appeared to be a cultivator more skilled than us...”
“...”
The three cultivators bowed their heads like sinners before a middle-aged woman.
“Chetou. Why are you so quiet?”
“I...”
The bald middle-aged man called Chetou scratched his head, looking troubled.
“The cultivator in question is a disciple of my generation... or so I believe.”
“Your generation...?”
The woman facing them rubbed her chin, contemplating a moment.
“Hmm... the one with the Heavenly Spiritual Root... was it?”
“Yes. Although I only heard the rumors...”
“I vaguely recall him having some friction with Cultivator Fang, who’s now at the Foundation Building Stage. But even so, this doesn’t make sense.”
“...”
“He entered the sect ten years ago, so no matter how talented, he should be at Qi Refining Stage at most. Yet you ridiculously return like defeated dogs. Is this how I taught you all?”
“...”
“Didn’t I say this task was absolutely necessary for Daohong Valley’s takeover?”
“W-well...”
Their master, a Foundation Building Stage elder of the Treasury Pavilion, belonged to Daohong Valley’s supporting faction.
Although Daohong Valley originally competed with the Flame Metal Sect in spirit tool-making, they had now gained incomparable power. The supporting faction argued that rather than pointlessly burn with competition, they should acknowledge and accept this fact.
“Didn’t I say there’s no future for the Flame Metal Sect if we go against Daohong Valley? Their condition was to be immediately handed the Flame Metal Branch of Plum Shadow Pavilion. Didn’t I tell you to resolve this by any means necessary?!”
The middle-aged woman’s shriek grated on their ears.
Meanwhile, the middle-aged man named Chetou felt regret inside.
This is why I didn’t want to say anything...
From what he could tell, that fellow disciple was at least at Foundation Building Stage. However, his two idiotic senior brothers could not even conceive that possibility, especially after learning he was from Chetou’s generation.
What do I do?
Yet what could he do apart from obeying?
But still, this...
This time, the Flame Metal Sect seemed determined to finish things once and for all. Watching his master head toward Plum Shadow Pavilion with many other elders and over a dozen disciples, Chetou felt conflicted.
“Hmph. While I’m sure there are Formation Core-level cultivators at Plum Shadow Headquarters, they would never come all the way out to these backwaters. Managing their base of operations should be enough of a headache.”
“Moreover, I hear the branch manager is just a mortal woman?”
“Let put a proper end to the matter this time, and quash those opposing Daohong Valley.”
“Hoho... Ghosts unable to keep up with the times, that’s what they are...”
Yet despite the mobilized power, Chetou could not shake off his unease.
I don’t think things will end so simply...
In particular, when he spotted Junior Master Fang Lunyi among the group, his anxiety grew all the more.