After that, Jiang Zuo headed toward the Small Secret Realm, while Jian Shisan went off to handle his own affairs.
Jiang Zuo didn’t intend to have Jian Shisan escort him. Su Qi had only just departed, and he couldn’t arrive before her.
For now, he could only trail leisurely behind.
It was impossible to stop Su Qi from entering. With so many of her fellow disciples inside, she would insist on going to check on them no matter what.
If anything happened, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life.
That was why Jiang Zuo didn’t try to stop her. Some things simply had to be done.
Jiang Zuo would, however, do everything in his power to protect Su Qi.
He would make sure Su Qi lived her life without any major regrets.
’As for a regret like becoming the Saintess... I’ll just let her regret that for the rest of her life.’
Jiang Zuo put on the Mist. It had been empowered by Jian Shisan, making him undetectable even to Tier Seven experts, so he could move about as he pleased.
However, this was mainly to hide from Su Qi and her group. Out in the open, Jiang Zuo didn’t believe anyone could see him anyway.
He hadn’t been walking for long before he saw someone floating in the sky.
When he saw this person, Jiang Zuo realized it was an acquaintance.
He immediately tossed a Fireball up at them.
’The Fire Elemental Minion was thrilled to greet its big bro.’
The next moment, the Fire Elemental Minion was split in two by a sword strike, and the person frowned.
’This attack is pathetically weak. Who would dare to ambush a great Tier Six master like me?’
’Is the person below me an idiot?’
The man then descended, wanting to see just who had such audacious nerve.
But when he descended, he froze. The person before him wore a mask, and no matter what he did, he couldn’t perceive the true face behind it.
’This isn’t normal.’
"Long time no see," Jiang Zuo said, taking off his mask.
"Fe-Fellow Daoist Po Xiao?" the other man asked, surprised.
That’s right. This person was Swordsman Beitian.
Seeing that it was indeed Po Xiao, Swordsman Beitian was quite happy. This was his territory, so he could play the part of a gracious host.
’I can also show him that I have considerable status within the Sword Cultivation Lineage.’
’I wouldn’t deign to show off for others, but for some reason, I just want to show off a little for Fellow Daoist Po Xiao.’
But at this thought, Swordsman Beitian asked curiously, "How did you get here, Fellow Daoist Po Xiao? Were you invited?"
Jiang Zuo answered bluntly, "A friend flew me straight in."
Swordsman Beitian was speechless. "...So, you trespassed, Fellow Daoist Po Xiao?"
Jiang Zuo said, "Your Mountain Protection Grand Array is terrible."
Swordsman Beitian: "..."
’Now he’s blaming us?’
At that point, Jiang Zuo asked, "How does the Sword Cultivation Lineage plan to deal with that Secret Realm?"
Swordsman Beitian wasn’t surprised that Po Xiao knew about this. Of course, he had no intention of making an issue of the trespassing, either.
With a man of his abilities, none of the Arrays in the entire Sword Cultivation Lineage could have stopped him.
At this thought, Swordsman Beitian’s mind drifted to his personal secret chamber, but he quickly shook his head.
’That’s impossible. Fellow Daoist Po Xiao is a good person. He not only taught me the Path of Sword Cultivation but also the Northern Celestial Seven Swords. He would never do something like that.’
In Swordsman Beitian’s mind, Po Xiao was a great and venerable senior.
He was a man worthy of his utmost respect.
Shaking off those unrealistic thoughts, Swordsman Beitian said, "Actually, someone just sent us a voice transmission. He said the Secret Realm is a Cursed Land that shouldn’t be underestimated. He told us to be extra careful and that it would be best to prepare for the evacuation of the Celestial Permanence Seven Veins."
Jiang Zuo asked, "Do you know who it was?"
Swordsman Beitian didn’t hide the truth. "The great Senior Jian Shisan."
Jian Shisan was a great Tier Eight master, a true grand senior.
Tier Eight Inquiry—an existence unimaginable to countless people.
’Jian Shisan actually revealed his identity directly. I didn’t expect that. If it were me, I’d have given a casual warning at most.’
’I wouldn’t have cared whether they lived or died.’
’It seems Jian Shisan really wants them to be prepared. Of course, this also proves he completely trusts my word.’
’Otherwise, why would he use his own name to warn them?’
’This is why I’m willing to be his friend. A shame he still wants to be my uncle-in-law.’
"So, what did you decide?" Jiang Zuo asked.
Swordsman Beitian sighed. "We rejected Senior Jian’s kind warning. The Celestial Permanence Seven Veins doesn’t believe a single Secret Realm could be that powerful."
"Is that so," Jiang Zuo said.
’It makes sense, I suppose. The Celestial Permanence Seven Veins has a profound heritage. Even the word of a Tier Eight Inquiry expert like Jian Shisan isn’t enough to make them pack up and move.’
’It’s practically a joke. If it hadn’t been Jian Shisan delivering the message, who knows how badly they would have been mocked.’
Swordsman Beitian glanced at Po Xiao and asked, "What are your thoughts on the Secret Realm, Fellow Daoist Po Xiao?"
Jiang Zuo said calmly, "What Jian Shisan told you is what I told him."
At this, Swordsman Beitian was completely dumbfounded.
Then he asked, "What will happen if we let events run their course?"
"The being in the Cursed Land will awaken. Throughout the entire Celestial Permanence Seven Veins, no one will be able to stop it," Jiang Zuo stated.
Swordsman Beitian was shocked, but in the end, he just sighed. "I can’t persuade them either."
’Yes, even if I have some say, it’s only within the Sword Cultivation Lineage. My voice is still insignificant in the context of the entire Celestial Permanence Seven Veins.’
Jiang Zuo said, "Even after Jian Shisan spoke up, Luo Ying didn’t perform a divination?"
Swordsman Beitian sighed. "Senior Luo Ying couldn’t see anything."
’I’m not surprised. If Luo Ying couldn’t get a reading, something must be directly shrouding the truth—something even more potent than what conceals me.’
’It must be a shift in the grand design of the world.’
’After all, that grand design was arranged by Qin Tian’s group. The one on Liyuan Island was broken, which the Holy Land has records of. This place must be another link in that design.’
’Liyuan Island suppresses the Abyss, and the Celestial Cloud Mountain Range suppresses Chaos. It would only be natural for the Sword Cultivation Lineage to be suppressing the Master of Curses.’
’However, since the Holy Land sent people, they must have some contingency plans. I just don’t know if they’ll work.’
After that, Jiang Zuo said nothing more and started walking away.
Seeing Po Xiao leave, Swordsman Beitian had no choice but to follow.
"Fellow Daoist Po Xiao, do you have any good ideas?" Swordsman Beitian asked.
Jiang Zuo put his mask back on and asked, "Have you mastered the Northern Celestial Seven Swords?"
Swordsman Beitian said awkwardly, "Not yet."
"It’s been this long, and you’re still not done? Your talent is rather average," Jiang Zuo remarked.
A dark expression crossed Swordsman Beitian’s face. He didn’t know how to respond. ’It’s only been a few days!’
’It’d be more of a problem if I *had* mastered it already, wouldn’t it?’
Jiang Zuo said, "I mastered the Northern Celestial Seven Swords after a single glance, and that was from an incomplete manuscript."
"As for you, I demonstrated it so meticulously, yet you still haven’t learned it."
Swordsman Beitian was utterly speechless. He felt they weren’t even playing on the same field.
Then Jiang Zuo added, "Practice hard for the next few days. You might need those skills. Even if I get involved, it will be difficult for the area around the Secret Realm to escape unscathed."
Jiang Zuo had said all he was going to say. The rest was up to Swordsman Beitian.
’It’s already a lot for me to say this much. It’s mainly because I feel that Swordsman Beitian is a decent guy.’