Chapter 4976 — Bound for the Middle Island
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
Even Chen Xinglan, ever gentle and refined, could not help clapping a hand over her mouth, staring blankly at Ning Xuefei, at a loss for what to say.
"A small trick or two. I'd be grateful if you would all keep it to yourselves," Wei Zhao said, cupping his hands to the group.
"A small trick?!" Leng Rufeng nearly bit his own tongue off. His face took on a strange expression. "Leader, even modesty ought to have its limits. If this counts as a small trick, then what's the point of the rest of us cultivating at all? We might as well pack up and go home to farm!"
He and Wei Zhao had become friends through fighting. Before this, though he had acknowledged Wei Zhao's prowess, he had never once thought himself the lesser man—but this move of Wei Zhao's had overturned his entire view of the world and of life. Recalling his former foolish notions, he wished he could find a crack in the floor and crawl into it.
Only one thought remained in his heart now: this leader of his was truly a man of the gods!
"Indeed. Your methods are simply inconceivable—nothing short of heaven-defying," Chen Xinglan chimed in with a sigh of admiration, then looked at Ning Xuefei with a wry smile. "It seems your master has little left to teach you..."
"How can you say that! Feifei still has so much to learn from you, Master—array formations above all. You mustn't hold anything back!" Ning Xuefei clung affectionately to Chen Xinglan. In the past she had been forced to spend the greater part of her time on cultivation. Now things were different—before heading to the Mystic-Tier Sea Region, she need only follow Chen Xinglan and devote herself to studying formations, which suited her perfectly.
"Very well. The way of formations has countless uses; it will do you no harm to learn more of it, Feifei. It will stand you in good stead someday," Chen Xinglan said with a nod.
Though no great master of formations herself, she had picked up a fair measure of insight over the years—enough at least to guide Ning Xuefei through the rudiments. As for advancing further in days to come, Ning Xuefei, as princess of the Western Island, could easily seek out a more accomplished master of the art. What Chen Xinglan gave her here would serve as a foundation.
"Well then. I've said everything on this side that needed saying. Let us part here—until we meet again, all of you." Wei Zhao at once took his leave.
"Then you must take good care of yourself! When the Mystic-Tier Academy begins recruiting, you absolutely must come!" Ning Xuefei said, exchanging a glance with Huo Yudie.
"I'll do my best. Rest assured, I'll certainly come find you," Wei Zhao said with a nod. He embraced Huo Yudie and Ning Xuefei lightly, cupped his hands to the others, and turned to go.
Walking all the way out of the Xiangyun Academy gates, Wei Zhao unsurprisingly drew a crowd of onlookers once more—though he was not the sole focus of their talk. Amid the murmurs around him he could clearly make out talk of last night's strange celestial phenomenon. The Thunderbolt Thousand Bursts had, after all, made an enormous commotion; it would have been impossible to escape notice entirely.
Wei Zhao's heart chilled with apprehension. This was no good thing. If Chang Minghui pursued him to these parts, it would be an easy matter to infer his trail from it. Best to be gone quickly, as he had thought.
Employing the Butterfly Microstep, he left the bounds of Xiangyun City and made straight for the Eastern Continent's largest Yellow-Tier port. He had no flying spirit beast with him, and getting to the Middle Island would be no easy matter—he would have to take a ship.
But to go from the Eastern Continent to the Middle Island, an ordinary vessel would obviously not do. Only warships and treasure ships could cross that vast expanse of sea—and such vessels were strategic resources of the various powers. How would they ever let an outsider aboard under normal circumstances?