Chapter 2828 — The East Does Not Lose

"Then... where are you going? If Brother Lin comes back and asks, I should at least be able to tell him something?" Feng Shihua was at his wit's end. He had no way to make Yang Qiqi stay, but since Yang Qiqi was leaving of her own accord, that was naturally the best solution of all — otherwise he truly had no idea how he was going to break it to Zhang Naipao. Was he really supposed to switch sides at the last moment and acknowledge Zhang Naipao as the leader?

"The Five Baleful Mountains," Yang Qiqi said. "The truth is, I came here to tell you all as much."

Yang Qiqi's purpose in coming here had never been to compete for the trial spirit herbs, but to go to the Five Baleful Mountains. Through a special channel of information she had learned that the Five Baleful Dragon existed in the Five Baleful Mountains — a spirit beast of five attributes, with treasures in every part of its body. What she meant to ask for was the scales on its claws, which were a first-rate earth-attribute spirit medicine.

At first, Yang Qiqi had had no idea how to reach the Five Baleful Mountains; the Five Baleful Wasteland was vast, and she had arrived here knowing nothing at all. But now that she had Wei Zhao's map, she could swiftly fix the direction of the Five Baleful Mountains — on the map, the place was clearly marked.

Her coming to the safe ground had been no more than a detour along the way. Her original plan had been to look up Wei Zhao and see whether he might accompany her, which would have greatly improved her chances of obtaining the spirit beast's scales. But Wei Zhao was not here, so she would have to go alone.

For one thing, Zhang Naipao would not let her in; for another, there was no telling when Wei Zhao might return. The trial had a time limit, and four days had already passed. Yang Qiqi did not want to waste any more time. Besides, even if Wei Zhao did come back, he might not agree to accompany her to the Five Baleful Mountains — after all, she was nothing to him, and he had no obligation to risk himself on her behalf.

So Yang Qiqi gritted her teeth and made her decision: she would go to the Five Baleful Mountains alone. In truth, this was already far better than her original plan; with the map, at least she would not lose her way.

"The Five Baleful Mountains? What place is that?" Feng Shihua was startled. He had not studied the map carefully, and the Five Baleful Mountains lay in the opposite direction from where he had been before, so he had paid it no attention.

"I know the Five Baleful Mountains are very dangerous. What are you going there for?" Ge Xian had studied the map carefully and knew that the Five Baleful Mountains were marked as an extremely perilous region, so he asked.

"To look for something. I have to go!" Yang Qiqi said. "All right, I'll be off. If Wei Zhao comes back, thank him for me..."

"That... very well." Though Feng Shihua felt uneasy about letting Yang Qiqi go alone, truth be told, the Five Baleful Wasteland was full of danger, and most of the spirit beasts here could kill him in an instant. Even if he went with Ge Xian, Li Ciba, and Zhao Qilei, they would still be no match for the danger they met.

So Feng Shihua chose to stay where he was and keep waiting for Wei Zhao.

Yang Qiqi left, and Zhang Naipao did not stop her, letting her come and go as she pleased. Zhao Qilei was worried too, but there was nothing he could do except wait for Wei Zhao to arrive as soon as possible.

The day passed quickly. Early the next morning, two more cultivators found their way to the safe ground — only this time, the newcomer was a disciple of the ancient Eastern Clan, an expert at the peak of the late Heaven Rank!

Of course, the two disciples of the Dark Night Palace could not see through his strength. When Dongfang Bushu led his follower to the safe ground, Dark Night Palace Disciple A asked, as a matter of routine, "This place is the territory of Zhang Naipao, Brother Pao. If you wish to rest here, you must hand over trial spirit herbs. Otherwise, I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave!"

"Smack!" What Dark Night Palace Disciple A received in answer was not a reply but a resounding slap across the face that sent him sprawling, blood seeping from his ear. Clearly the blow had not been a light one.

Remember, this was an expert at the peak of the late Heaven Rank — even a casual strike from such a one carried no small force.

"Insolent! What do you think you are? A watchdog, that's what — and Zhang Naipao, what sort of thing is Zhang Naipao? If I want to rest here, I rest here; if I don't, it's not for you to say. And you dare demand trial spirit herbs of me?" Dongfang Bushu's eyes bulged with fury. "Zhang Naipao, is it? Hand over all your trial spirit herbs to your grandfather, or don't blame me, Dongfang Bushu, for being ungracious!"

Dongfang Bushu was arrogant, but he had the capital for arrogance: he was an expert at the peak of the late Heaven Rank, the highest grade beneath the Heavenly Dao itself. Though he had not yet reached Great Perfection, he ordinarily looked down upon all cultivators, and he was as formidable as formidable could be. Now a petty Earth Rank expert of the Dark Night Palace was pointing a finger at him and trying to rob him of his trial spirit herbs — that was thoroughly infuriating.

Only then did Dongfang Bushu's peak late Heaven Rank strength reveal itself. The other Dark Night Palace disciple, Disciple B, was startled half to death and hastily shrank to one side, not daring to make another sound.

Zhang Naipao frowned as well. He had not expected an expert at the peak of the late Heaven Rank to turn up here. Earlier, he had already found himself hard-pressed against that expert at the peak of the mid Heaven Rank, Young Hero Yang. Had he not taken the Small Restoration Pill in time, and had it not been for his mental cultivation method, he would likely have been no match at all.

And now this Dongfang Bushu was an expert at the peak of the late Heaven Rank, and Zhang Naipao truly had no confidence that he could take him down in one move. After all, though he might injure or even kill his opponent if he struck, Zhang Naipao himself could easily die as well. The martial arts of a peak late Heaven Rank expert were no joke; very likely both of them would perish together. Zhang Naipao did not dare test it lightly.

Moreover, Zhang Naipao's earlier injuries had not fully healed. If he were wounded again now, he would probably truly meet his end here.

So there was no help for it: Zhang Naipao could only use his ultimate trump card. Originally he had been saving this move for Wei Zhao, but now, against this Dongfang Bushu, if he did not use it, Zhang Naipao might not even be able to save himself.

"So you're Dongfang Bushu? Heh, a fine name, but wasted on you — it should have been given to me." Zhang Naipao ended his cultivation and rose from the ground, saying mildly, "Very well. I have decided: after I destroy you, my nickname will be Dongfang Bushu!"

"Hahahaha!" Hearing Zhang Naipao's words, Dongfang Bushu burst into wild laughter. "How amusing! Zhang Naipao, others may not know you, but do you think I don't? You've merely cultivated the Great Shift of the Universe, haven't you? That is the martial art once practiced by Dongfang Bubai, an ancestor of my Eastern Clan. Don't imagine I don't know! You simply transfer the injuries others inflict on you onto someone else, don't you? You may fool others, but you can't fool the great-great-great-great-great-great-to-the-hundredth-power grandson of Dongfang Bubai!"