novelraw Chapter 408 - 17: Zhou Xun: So What If I’m Standing Right in Front of You?
Chapter 408 - 17: Zhou Xun: So What If I’m Standing Right in Front of You?
Celestial Cloud Hall,
As soon as the auction ended, the Dao-robed elder went to the exit of the passage and waited there.
He kept a close watch on the departing cultivators,
hoping to spot Zhou Xun.
During the bidding, he had already memorized Zhou Xun’s appearance through the window of the private room,
not to mention that, as fellow Thunder Cultivators, there would be a unique aura about them, which were his confidence in identifying Zhou Xun.
He was confident that he could find Zhou Xun with his keen eyes.
However, until everyone left, he did not see Zhou Xun again. The elder had a gloomy face and then went to find Xiao Yin.
"Ah, it’s Daoist Zhao. What brings you here?"
Xiao Yin of the Wuli Commerce Association and the elder of the Dao Yu Sect were both members of the Celestial Dao Alliance, and both resided in the Chaotic Domain, making them quite familiar with each other.
"Brother Xiao, I want to ask you about something regarding..."
The elder was interrupted by Xiao Yin before he could finish,
"Brother Zhao, I know why you’re here. It’s about that ’Thunder Element Essence,’ but our Wuli Commerce Association has grown from a small Foundation Establishment Market to become the largest association in the Central Continent,"
"Because we’ve always upheld fairness and credibility!"
"That is the ancestral rule of our Wuli Commerce Association. If you want to inquire about the auctioneer, I’m afraid I can’t help you, Zhao Mou!
The elder, surnamed Zhao, was well aware of these rules, but the Thunder Element Essence was too important to him, which is why he couldn’t help asking.
Since Xiao Yin had already refused him, he had no choice but to give up!
He nodded, cupped his hands, and said:
"It was Zhao Mou’s indiscretion. I have duties to attend to and can’t stay away for long. Once I complete my task at the Thunder Accumulation Mountain Range, I’ll seek out Brother Xiao again!"
"Farewell!"
With that, the elder left the Celestial Cloud Hall.
...
The next morning, Zhou Xun left the cave mansion and headed to the South City Gate to gather.
A hundred or so yards from the city gate, Zhou Xun spotted two familiar figures from a distance—Yuan Mountain and the burly man with the surname Hu,
who were talking to an elder in a Dao robe.
Upon seeing the elder, Zhou Xun’s eyes narrowed momentarily before returning to normal.
"Isn’t that the elder who was competing with me for the ’Thunder Element Essence’ at the auction yesterday? Why is he here?"
Though he was puzzled, he did not show it on his face.
Before attending the auction yesterday, Zhou Xun had already used the Thousand Illusion Mask to disguise himself as a round-faced young man,
with a different appearance and aura,
and the one time he acted upon arriving in the Chaotic Domain, he utilized the Blood Demon Child and the Earth Element Beast.
He had not acted personally, and his Thunder Cultivator identity was not exposed.
Thus, Zhou Xun was not worried in the least that this elder could identify him as the one who acquired the "Thunder Element Essence."
He naturally walked forward with confidence.
...
"Daoist Zhao, what brings you to the city gate?" Yuan Mountain asked politely.
The Elder Zhao was a cultivator from the Dao Yu Sect, backed by a True Monarch Nascent Soul, and being a Thunder Cultivator himself, his strength was formidable, not something Yuan Mountain could compare to,
so he was very courteous.
"I was at the auction yesterday, and lost the ’Thunder Element Essence’ to someone else. I’m here today hoping for a stroke of luck, to see if I can encounter that person,"
"If I truly meet them, perhaps I can offer a high price to buy it!"
The elder said openly about his intentions without hesitation.
Although the Shengyu Sect wasn’t top-tier, it was the sect closest to the Chaotic Domain within the Celestial Dao Alliance,
so generally, nobody dared provoke them in this place.
Though a True Monarch Nascent Soul could not enter, calling a few Late-Stage Core Formation Cultivators over was not a problem.
And that was the elder’s confidence.
On hearing this, Yuan Mountain couldn’t help but scorn the elder, who was clearly trying to strong-arm, yet spoke so righteously, though a smile remained on his face:
"Then I wish the Daoist friend success in achieving your desires!"
At that moment, Zhou Xun also walked over,
"Greetings, Brother Yuan, Brother Hu, and this Daoist friend!" Zhou Xun cupped his hands and saluted slightly.
"Daoist Zhou is here as well. Let me introduce you, this is Daoist Zhao from the Dao Yu Sect. Although he is only at Middle-Stage Core Formation, his Thunder Skill is exceptionally powerful, unmatched across the Chaotic Domain,"
"In terms of strength, he is not inferior to those Late-Stage Core Formation Cultivators!"
Yuan Mountain pointed to the elder and introduced him.
"Greetings, Daoist Zhao!" Zhou Xun greeted ’polite’ly, cupping his hands.
"This fellow Daoist looks a bit unfamiliar. May I ask who he might be?" The elder asked, his eyes flashing with a hint of pride, but it quickly subsided,
then he looked at Zhou Xun with a scrutinizing gaze!
"Oh, this is Daoist Lii, Lii Feiyu. He’s recently arrived in the Chaotic Domain. Don’t be fooled by his Early-Stage Core Formation Cultivation; his true strength might even surpass mine." Yuan Mountain continued to introduce.
Upon hearing Zhou Xun’s extraordinary strength, combined with his early-stage cultivation, the elder’s expression instantly softened.
After all, individuals whose true power far exceeded their cultivation often either had brilliant talent or a strong background.
"Oh, so you are a new arrival to the Chaotic Domain, Daoist Brother. Have you seen any other Thunder Cultivators around here?" the elder asked, his tone becoming much more polite!
"Lii Mou has just arrived and only met Brother Zhao today. I haven’t seen any other Thunder Cultivators!" Zhou Xun said indifferently.
Such a tone made the elder more convinced that Zhou Xun had an extraordinary background, so he ceased further questioning.
"In the future, if Daoist Lii is free, you may visit me at the Dao Yu Sect. Not to mention, the Thunderous Jelly Spirit Wine I have there is certainly the best!"
The elder warmly solicited.
"Surely!" Zhou Xun replied blandly.
If he knew the one he had been searching for was standing right in front of him, imagine what a scene it would be.
At that moment, Madam Yao arrived.
She walked over swaying her slender waist like a water snake, giggling as she asked.
"You gentlemen have arrived so early, and oh, Daoist Zhao is here too. Are you joining us as well?"
Seeing this, Yuan Mountain’s face changed slightly, and he hurriedly said:
"Oh, Daoist Zhao is not joining us. Since Madam Yao has arrived, we’ll take our leave!"
Saying this, he cupped his hands to the elder, then subtly signaled to Madam Yao with a glance.
"What are you all up to?"
Madam Yao knew she had misspoken, so she immediately said no more, while Yuan Mountain dismissed it with a sentence:
"Just found a slight opportunity within the territory of the Demon Alliance, not worth mentioning!"
Elder Zhao sensibly didn’t press further, cupping his hands in return:
"If that’s the case, I wish the Daoist friend success on your endeavors!"
"Thank you, Daoist Zhao. Farewell!"
With that, Yuan Mountain, Zhou Xun, and the others exited the city gate and headed straight westward.
...
After proceeding like this for two days, they suddenly changed direction, turning southward.
At this point, Madam Yao couldn’t contain herself and asked,
"Daoist Yuan, can you tell us where the Thunder Flood Dragon is located now?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Mountain paused for a moment before nodding:
"Since Madam is so eager to know, I won’t keep it secret any longer,
"The Thunder Flood Dragon is located in the southern part of the Chaotic Domain, in the Thunder Accumulation Mountain Range!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Yao and the burly man with the surname Hu nodded.
No wonder Yuan Mountain flew west for two days after leaving the city gate; it seemed to be a precaution against the elder Zhao.
After all, their Dao Yu Sect’s mountain gate was not far from the Thunder Accumulation Mountain Range.
If he learned of this, it was uncertain whether the Thunder Flood Dragon would still be their turn.
...
And so, the four of them continued flying south for about ten more days.
A vast natural barrier stretching east to west—endless towering mountains,
appeared before them.
Seeing this, Yuan Mountain, with a tone of excitement, slowly opened his mouth,
"Here it is, the Thunder Accumulation Mountain Range!"