Chapter 1777
Chapter 1777 (Raw 1789):
Should I agree or not?
The Venerable Xuan Bei's request was actually extremely excessive.
Firstly, Xiao Chen did not have a good relationship with Zhen Yuan. They were even hostile.
Secondly, Zhen Yuan's strength was not low.
After Zhen Yuan absorbed the Black Dragon King's demonic nature, his cultivation surpassed Xiao Chen's.
Zhen Yuan's comprehension was not low, either.
If Xiao Chen encountered such a person, a fight was likely to break out. Why would he hold back to try to restrain him?
Holding back would be suicide.
However, when Xiao Chen met the Venerable Xuan Bei's eyes, he could not bear to reject him.
After thinking for a long time, Xiao Chen said, "I'll do my best. So long as I can ensure my survival, I will do my best to spare him and bring him back to the Profound Light Temple."
The Venerable Xuan Bei said, "Many thanks, Benefactor Xiao. That child, Zhen Yuan, is not bad by nature. I am also partly to blame for him taking this path. If Benefactor Xiao Chen pulls him out of the sea of bitterness, it will resolve the knot in this old monk's heart."
Xiao Chen thought for a while before asking, "Venerable, why do you feel that I will definitely meet Zhen Yuan? The world is filled with countless people; it is incredibly vast. Without an intentional search, how could it be so easy to meet a person?"
"Fate! Everything is because of that Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique. Both of you cultivate that Saber Technique and will meet sooner or later."
The Venerable Xuan Bei's expression turned complicated. After a pause, he said, "Wait a moment. Let me show you something."
Xiao Chen saw the Venerable Xuan Bei turn around and enter a secret room in the next room. After a while, he came out and handed a painting to Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen gave the Venerable Xuan Bei a puzzled look. Then, he unfurled the painting, which made his expression change slightly.
"The Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique's saber manual!"
When Xiao Chen opened the painting, he saw that the scenery depicted there matched the one in the incomplete saber manual that he once had.
However, there was only one stance in the painting. It looked like a saber manual and yet it did not.
The Venerable Xuan Bei looked at Xiao Chen and said, "This is not a saber manual. It is the starting stance of the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique. The complete saber manual was lost long ago and spread everywhere in scattered pieces. Who knows when it can be collected together?"
"There were originally twelve moves to this Saber Technique. Adding the starting stance brings the total to thirteen moves."
Xiao Chen narrowed his eyes. He felt that this starting stance had boundless benefits. However, he could not immediately comprehend it.
"Many thanks."
Xiao Chen put away the painting and expressed his gratitude.
He was surprisingly pleased that the Venerable Xuan Bei did not voice any special opinion at his response, contrary to expectations.
Obtaining the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique's starting stance also came as a pleasant surprise.
A Saber Technique with a starting stance was completely different from one without a starting stance.
"Here are some of Potala Mountain's White Harmonious Flower Song and some ten-thousand-year-old sandalwood. Consider them as parting gifts; take them with you," the Venerable Xuan Bei said warmly as he pointed to the tea leaves and sandalwood on the table.
[TL Note: Sandalwood is frequently burned as incense.]
The White Harmonious Flower Song. The name of these tea leaves seemed particularly zen.
Xiao Chen loved wine the most; after that was tea. Naturally, he would not be polite and reject such good tea.
"Goodbye."
Xiao Chen performed a cupped-fist salute and left the Profound Light Temple and the Potala Mountain while the Venerable Xuan Bei sent him off with his eyes.
------
Half a month later:
Xiao Chen entered a familiar Pirate Hall in the Grave Sea and went to the West Wind Tower.
Back then, it was this particular Pirate Hall where Xiao Chen saw Ling Yu and another blessed land disciple fight.
Just two years later, he returned to this place.
Everything was the same, but Xiao Chen was now extraordinary, not even fearing Star Venerates.
Xiao Chen looked at the West Wind Tower's signboard and stood there for a long time.
Back then, it was due to the West Wind Tower's Chief Manager Ding that Xiao Chen could enter the Black Cave Mountain. Xiao Chen had used a promise to obtain a recommendation letter.
Naturally, Xiao Chen did not forget about that promise.
If there was a chance, he would redeem this promise while he asked about the Black Cutlass.
"I'm Xiao Chen, here to meet Ding Yuan, Chief Manager Ding."
After reporting his identity, Xiao Chen was quickly led to a guest room on the highest level of the West Wind Tower.
Ding Yuan received Xiao Chen with a smile. However, when he saw Xiao Chen, he was greatly startled and showed a horrified expression.
In a mere two years, Xiao Chen had become a peak late-stage Major Primal Core cultivator from a half-step Primal Core Veritable Personage cultivator.
More importantly, Ding Yuan felt an aura that even made his soul afraid, coming from Xiao Chen.
That was a kind of pressure that only a Star Venerate could put on Ding Yuan.
In Ding Yuan's heart, he had a strange feeling that what stood before him was not a Major Primal Core Venerate but a genuine Star Venerate.
"What's wrong? Has Chief Manager Ding forgotten about this Xiao after not meeting for two years?" Xiao Chen asked indifferently.
Ding Yuan recovered his wits only after a long time. Then, he smiled bitterly. "I have heard that you managed to enter the blessed land. However, I did not expect you to have changed so much in just two years."
Xiao Chen did not deny anything. "Two years is not long, something that passes in a flash. I can have my current cultivation today because of my accumulations in the Veritable Personage Realm. You should not be surprised."
In reality, Xiao Chen did not feel that his cultivation had increased particularly fast.
In the Veritable Personage Realm, he had used ten-thousand-year-old Baleful Yin Energy and the Heavenly Yang Pill to help him build a solid foundation. The moment he entered the Primal Core Realm, his accumulations erupted. This was very logical and reasonable.
Such an accomplishment was nothing for a person with a 9-Star Primal Core.
Shangguan Lei was a Venerate with a 6-Star Primal Core, and he already broke through to Star Venerate. Xiao Chen considered his own current cultivation very normal.
Ding Yuan smiled embarrassedly. "Let's not talk about that. Why did you come here to look for me?"
"I once made a promise to you. If you have anything that needs to be done, I can help you right now," Xiao Chen replied candidly.
Ding Yuan smiled craftily. A gleam flashed in his eyes as he waved his hand. "There's no rush, no rush at all."
Using this favor right now would be premature. As an intelligent businessman, how could Ding Yuan not see Xiao Chen's potential?
Xiao Chen did not feel surprised, so he raised the second matter. "Help me get news about the Black Cutlass. I need to regroup with them as quickly as possible."
"The Black Cutlass?"
Ding Yuan slapped his forehead and said, "I nearly forgot that this ship is yours. News about the Black Cutlass is easy to find. Right now, all the pirates in the Grave Sea have probably heard about it."
Feeling excited, Xiao Chen smiled. "Tell me what you've heard."
"Two years ago, this ship was unknown. Now, it is a famous 4-Star pirate group in the Grave Sea. Even some of the experienced 5-Star pirate groups make way when they see it.
"There was this incredible event that none can surpass. The Black Cutlass once trapped the Divine Shield Army in a dangerous land. The Divine Shield Army lost half their numbers, which infuriated the Sword General. Afterwards, the Divine Shield Army made several attempts to encircle and destroy the Black Cutlass, but none succeeded, so the bounty on it is now even higher, the ninth highest in the Grave Sea.
"It is also the only 4-Star pirate group in the top ten."
It looked like the Savage Blood Star Venerate, whose location was unknown, was dead.
Otherwise, the Iron Hand Yama would not have such great hatred for the Divine Shield Army.
Without even needing to think about it, Xiao Chen could guess that it was the Iron Hand Yama, on the Black Cutlass, who planned the trap for the Divine Shield Army's people.
However, Xiao Chen did not mind that. He did not have a good impression of the Divine Shield Army.
If the Iron Hand Yama wanted to take revenge, Xiao Chen would definitely support him.
"When and where was the Black Cutlass last sighted?" Xiao Chen asked. This was his main concern. He wanted to meet up with his old friends as soon as possible.
Regardless whether it was the Beast Governing Sect's Elder Tang, Fei`er and Luo Nan, whom Xiao Chen met when he first arrived at the Great Thousand Realms, or the Iron Hand Yama, who had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, Xiao Chen missed them all after not seeing them for two years.
Ding Yuan smiled and said, "There's no rush. I'll find out."
After a while, Ding Yuan showed a rather strange expression. "What's going on? The most recent news of the Black Cutlass was actually from three months ago."
Xiao Chen asked, "Why is that strange?"
Ding Yuan looked at Xiao Chen and said, "Brother Xiao Chen, you do not understand. Every Pirate Hall would pay special attention to such a 4-Star pirate group. No matter where they are, there should be news of them at least once a month."
Xiao Chen's heart sank. "In that case, what is going on?"
"I'm not sure. However, Brother Xiao Chen, don't worry, they should not have been annihilated. If they were, the Pirate Alliance would have definite news. It would not be like how it is now: no news at all."
Xiao Chen thought to himself. The Black Cutlass could summon the Yazi Beast Demon Soul—a Great Desolate Eon ferocious beast—at any time.
Even if the Black Cutlass ran into a peak 5-Star pirate ship in the Grave Sea, it would be able to protect itself.
"Where was the Black Cutlass three months ago?"
Ding Yuan took a look and replied with a voice quivering with some fear, "The Grave Island Sea Region."