Chapter 6: The Little Sea That Stuck Upside Down

  The Golden Bridge was wide and spacious, with a thousand-strong procession (excluding attendants) walking on the bridge looking sparse. Wang Lu led the book boy to walk behind him in a carefree manner, chatting and laughing, without any tension like others.

  The average quality of this thousand-strong team is extremely high, and most of them are sons of noble families, but at the foot of Lingjian Mountain, they all tremble with fear, walking on the path to immortality with trepidation. It's not easy to maintain calmness, and those who can do so are rare. Adding to this was Wang Lu's stunning performance when he first arrived a week ago, which has now attracted attention from many people.

  While most people hesitated, someone walked up confidently and greeted them with a familiar tone.

  "It's been days since I last saw you."

  Wang Lu Zheng was chatting happily with Shu Tong when someone suddenly interrupted him, leaving him stunned for a moment. He turned his head and asked, "Do you owe me money?"

  That person was also taken aback: "This has never happened before."

  "Then is it necessary for me to see you?"

  "It seems there isn't."

  "What's your impression? Just making small talk?"

  “……”

  "By the way, who are you?"

  "That's really a noble person who forgets things..." He smiled wryly, then cupped his hands together in greeting. "I am Hai Yunfan, a native of Yunzhou. We met seven days ago at the Rujia Inn."

  Wang Lu furrowed his brow, as if trying hard to recall: "Oh, you're that young man who kept asking me about the task strategy... what advice do you have?"

  "I don't dare to accept your guidance, I'm just curious. On this road to ascension, everyone is tense, but you alone are calm and composed, with a sense of confidence. I'd like to ask for your advice on the subtleties involved."

  Wang Lu smiled: "Are you here to ask for a strategy again? This habit is really not good, a qualified adventurer should be proud of independent exploration. What's the point of chewing on someone else's leftover sugarcane?"

  Hai Yunfan's eyes lit up: "So you're saying that you really know what checkpoints are on the road to ascension?"

  "How could I know? I haven't even seen a walkthrough."

  "Uh..."

  "Of course it's because of strength. With sufficient strength, why bother about any joints? The path to ascension is no different from a flat road for me."

  These grand words made Hai Yun's face pale with anger, and she couldn't help but look up at the sky.

  Wang Lu also raised his head, the sun was shining brightly and the wind was clear, with scattered clouds dotting the sky. Not even a single bird could be seen flying, what's there to look at?

  Hai Yunfan sighed: "I'm watching to see if a thunderbolt will come down from the sky, and in front of the Ling Jian Mountain Gate, I made such a boastful statement, even if it triggers heavenly punishment, I won't feel surprised."

  Wang Lu was taken aback, then burst out laughing: "You're called Hai Yunfan? Alright, I'll remember that. Once you enter the sect, I'll make sure to take care of you."

  "It's all right." Hai Yunfan nodded again, and naturally drew closer, walking shoulder to shoulder with Wang Lu, while Xiao Shu Tong instinctively fell behind.

  Wang Lu didn't mind and asked while walking: "I remember you're a second-generation official?"

  "Oh?"

  "Your dad is very powerful."

  "It's okay, Emperor of the Yun Tai Empire."

  "My goodness, aren't you one of the Three Thousand Demon Mothers?"

  “……”

  "Hmm, in short, you gave up on the promising path of being a crown prince and came here to do what?"

  Hai Yunfan smiled: "Compared to the divine wonders of the immortal family, what flavor does worldly power have? As for cultivating immortality, with the Cloud Tai imperial family's ability, sending me into an ordinary sect is not difficult at all. Within the Cloud Tai borders, the White Dragon Temple and Ci Yun Mountain are both sects ranked within the top four of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance...". He said this with a slightly mocking smile, "But compared to the Five Top-Ranked Sects of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, being merely fourth-ranked is as tasteless as chewing wax. Moreover..."

  Hai Yunfan gazed up at the sky, sighed and said, "Nowadays, apart from the five major sects, almost no other sect can truly touch the Immortal Path. The Myriad Immortals Alliance has over ten thousand large and small sects, but only these five families have truly grasped the Transcendence Path. Since one wants to cultivate the path, it's naturally the Transcendence Path; otherwise, it's better to be a comfortable emperor."

  Wang Lu was surprised: "You still don't know much."

  "Since we've chosen this path, of course we need to ask around a bit more... These aren't secrets anyway, and who among those rushing to the foot of Lingjian Mountain in search of a chance at immortality isn't fully prepared? How cautious can one be?"

  Wang Lu shrugged and smiled, thinking to himself: I'm not that kind of person, a bold life should be taken naked, prepare for a fight.

  Two people walked side by side, the Golden Bridge stretched upwards, quite steep, but neither of them felt tired, gradually overtaking from the back of the team.

  Looking at the young people constantly passing by, Hai Yunfan said: "To say that before this time's Spiritual Sword Mountain's Ascension Conference, the five major sects have not opened their mountains so widely for a hundred years. Even if there is an occasional Ascension Conference, it is heavily restricted, so this time is truly a rare gathering."

  Wang Lu turned his head and looked around: "Indeed, there are many second-generation rich kids here. This lineup is enough to host a grand banquet."

  Hai Yunfan said: "Hehe, these people are not only of noble birth, at least as far as I know, more than 80% of them have innate spiritual roots, that is to say, they are mechanical masters."

  "What?!"

  The book boy Wang Zhong who followed behind was surprised and couldn't help but ask: "How did you know?"

  Hai Yunfan turned his head and glanced at him, smiling: "Don't underestimate me, the prince of the Cloud Empire. Most people here I can call by name... Moreover, without some real skills, who dares to come to Lingjian Mountain? Among the five major sects, Lingjian Mountain and Kunlun Xianshan are famous for their ancient traditions. The stubbornness of Lingjian Mountain is even more than that of Kunlun. Until now, there has never been a human-made spiritual root in the mountain gate. Isn't it self-deprecating for ordinary people to climb the mountain?"

  Hai Yunfan spoke as Wang Lu seemed completely unbothered, but Xiao Shu Tong's face grew increasingly unsightly, clearly recalling the Peigenling and other items in his backpack.

  So Hai Yunfan sneered: "But to get back to the subject, this time's Ascension Conference, the Ling Jian Sect only mentioned those twelve years old and under, but didn't mention a word about spiritual roots. Perhaps they've changed their stubborn ways? Among these thousand people, there might be one or two adults who are here to gamble on this bit of luck..." He paused for a moment, "However, I really don't think it's likely."

  As they spoke, the three of them had been walking on the Golden Bridge for a long time, gradually entering the clouds and mist. The Lingxi Town behind them had shrunk to the size of a paper box. Xiao Shu Tong followed closely behind the two, no longer daring to look back.

  However, the Golden Bridge still seemed endless, with clouds and mist swirling in front of us, unknowingly stopping at who-knows-where. Beside me, more and more young men with tired faces stopped moving forward, and before I knew it, our group had gradually moved to the front of the procession.

  "You guys are really something, just walking this short distance and you're already out of breath, at such a young age, your bodies have been drained by wine and women."

  It was just a casual joke, but Hai Yunfan's face turned pale after hearing it, and he opened his mouth to say something, but didn't.

  Behind him, Bookworm Wang Zhong complained, "Young master, this road is particularly tiring, I'm almost unable to hold on."

  Wang Lu frowned: "Every day at home, you've never been short of meat and fish to eat. How can you be as useless as those good-for-nothings? It's just an extra lunchbox to carry, what's the big deal?"

  Wang Zhong said with a hint of grievance: "It's not that I'm not willing, but this road feels especially strange. Although we haven't walked too far, I'm already panting and can't catch my breath..."

  "Then use your skin to breathe... Never mind, give me the luggage, you go lightly."

  Wang Lu sighed and took over Wang Zhong's backpack, food box, etc., carrying them effortlessly.

  "This is strange, I feel like walking is even easier than on flat ground?"

  "Young master, you've always been so weird..."

  The master and servant walked forward while talking, but didn't notice Hai Yunfan's solemn expression beside them.

  Without luggage, Wang Zhong felt much lighter and followed the young master's footsteps to climb up again. This time, they walked for a long while, and all around was a sea of clouds and mist, even the brilliance of the Golden Bridge was obscured. The three of them were walking in the middle, and they couldn't see the edge of the Golden Bridge clearly. Most of the people who had been ahead of them earlier had already been surpassed, with only a few still walking in front, but they also seemed to be panting heavily.

  At this time, even Wang Lu realized the problem: "Is this road a **** road? Will people who have broken their pure yang body become more and more tired as they walk? Tell me, Wang Zhong, when did you break yours?"

  "I don't have it!"

  "Why are you sweating so much?"

  "I..."

  "It's really broken, Wang Zhong, you're something else."

  Shu Tong almost knelt down: "Young master, please don't say any more..."

  Hai Yunfan watched from one side and smiled, saying to Wang Lu: "You and Shu Tong are not ordinary either, persisting all the way until now."

  "What's so special about this guy? If the villagers can't even walk on mountain roads, they're not as good as pigs. And this guy is a book boy, but he still wants his master to carry his luggage. Who's the real master?"

  Hai Yun shook his head: "Your request is too high... Alright, I'm happy to have traveled with you this far, but since all gatherings must come to an end, let's part ways here."

  "What's wrong?"

  Wang Lu opened his eyes wide, feeling extremely disappointed. Along the way, talking and laughing, not only was Hai Yunfan happy, but Wang Lu had lived in Wangjia Village for over a decade, and this was still the first time he had found someone who truly understood him! Previously, when he said he would cover for him after going up the mountain, half of it was joking, and half of it was also true.

  Although he is a rustic and unpolished man, Wang Lu still treats Hai Yunfan, the noble prince, as an insider rather than an outsider.

  Hai Yunfan nodded at Wang Lu's kind intention and then explained, "Nothing much, just feel that there is no need to continue struggling upwards, it's enough to be here."

  Wang Lu still didn't understand.

  "It can't be understood then it can't be understood, anyway I have already found a position that suits myself, next..."

  Hai Yunfan walked up to Wang Lu and whispered, "Be careful of your book boy, who uses loyalty as a name but has some rebellious bones growing."

  At this moment, a strong gust of wind blew by, and Wang Lu involuntarily closed his eyes: "What did you say?"

  But when he turned his head around, Hai Yunfan was nowhere to be seen. When asked Wang Zhong, Wang Zhong also indicated that he was baffled.

  The surrounding fog grew thicker, and within a five-meter radius, everything became hazy and indistinct. Wang Lu stroked his chin: "Could it be that she has gone with the gentle breeze, ascending to immortality?"

  "Huh?"

  "Alright, let's keep going... who knows when it'll end."

  ——

  But then didn't go too far.

  It was not that they had reached their destination, nor was it that Wang Lu's physical strength was exhausted, but rather that Shu Tong simply could no longer move.

  Although all the luggage had been put on Wang Lu's back, as the two continued to move forward, Shu Tong's physical strength was lost faster and faster, and finally almost fell to the ground and couldn't get up.

  "I say, you..."

  Shu Tong didn't wait for Wang Lu to speak and hastily said: "Young Master, you go ahead by yourself first, Wang Zhong is incompetent and can only send you off up to here."

  "So from the beginning, I told you not to come, and now you're putting on this righteous and selfless face..." Wang Lu looked at Wang Zhong, who was almost paralyzed, with a mixture of helplessness and resignation. "Forget it, I won't leave you alone here. I'll keep you company for a bit. Sigh... It looks like there are only a few people left in front of us now... Although I don't know what's the point of catching up to first place, but it's still an achievement, after all."

  Wang Zhong was even more ashamed and lowered his head in silence.

  Wang Lu stopped talking and put down his luggage, sitting on the ground. However, just as he sat down, the clouds around him dispersed, the golden light dimmed, and a lush mountain valley suddenly appeared beside him and his servant.

  Wang Lu Zhang opened his big mouth and looked at the suddenly changed surroundings.

  "......This, is this crossing over?"

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