Chapter 135: Ink Grass

When Zhou Yu heard the loud boom from the radio, he sighed softly. If this were a world full of Haoran Righteousness, the Wenyuan Pavilion might have grown strong. But in this Immortal World where cultivation level was what mattered most, Haoran Righteousness could achieve too little.

Just like now. Ren Tianba, with his profound cultivation, was forcing his way into the Wenyuan Pavilion. Faced with such a gap in power, what could the Pavilion’s Haoran Righteousness use to stop him?

“May I ask if it is proper etiquette for a senior to visit in such a manner?” Then, a voice that was neither subservient nor arrogant came from the radio.

“Hahaha, proper etiquette! You really are a bunch of stuffy scholars. Kid, since you’re still young, didn’t your elders teach you? In the Cultivation World, strength is the real truth. If you have strength, others will respect you and be polite to you. Without strength, haha, you can only be at the mercy of others.”

Hearing the challenge from within the Wenyuan Pavilion, Ren Tianba laughed wildly, then continued, “This Venerable One will say it once more. After three counts, if you do not open the formation, This Venerable One will break in by force.”

“Senior, under the bright sky and clear sun, how can you act this way without fearing retribution from Heaven and Earth?” That young disciple, however, showed no fear. He raised his head and met Ren Tianba’s gaze in the sky.

“Hahaha, retribution from Heaven and Earth? Hahaha! We cultivators defy the Heavens from the start, so why would we fear such a thing? Pah! Talking to you stuffy scholars, even This Venerable One starts speaking in this flowery manner!” Ren Tianba gave a loud laugh. He had unconsciously started using the same ornate speech as that disciple and quickly spat to the side.

Then, Ren Tianba said coldly, “It seems your sect’s elders won’t come out, leaving only you junior disciples to face the consequences. In that case, This Venerable One won’t stand on ceremony.”

Listening to these words from the radio, Zhou Yu laughed with feeling. He deeply admired that young disciple’s brave character. But just as Ren Tianba had said, in the Cultivation World, great strength was the real rule.

“Senior Ren, please wait! We were unaware of your arrival and failed to welcome you properly. My apologies. Quick, open the formation and let the senior in.” At this moment, a slightly aged voice came from the radio, full of urgency.

“Hmph, you finally decided to show yourselves. Otherwise, This Venerable One wouldn’t mind making your rundown sect even more rundown.” Ren Tianba looked coldly at an old man with graying hair who hurried over and spoke without courtesy.

Seeing how overbearing Ren Tianba was, Zhou Yu couldn’t help feeling a surge of anger. But what use was anger? When the difference in strength was so vast, anger would only excite the enemy more.

Then, the radio brought the young disciple’s voice again. “Pavilion Master! Are you really going to let such an arrogant person swagger right into our Wenyuan Pavilion? We cultivate Haoran Righteousness! We fear neither ghosts nor evil spirits, nor any vile evils…”

“Be quiet! Luochen, drag this disciple away and discipline him properly!” The Master of Wenyuan Pavilion scolded angrily. If he had any other choice, how could he let this person, whom everyone in the Cultivation World feared, inside?

But his cultivation was unfathomably high. Their sect’s Defensive Array probably couldn’t hold him back at all. If they angered him now, the losses would be even greater.

Zhou Yu shook his head. He understood that the Pavilion Master was doing this for the young disciple’s own good. After all, repeatedly provoking Ren Tianba with words could truly anger him and put the disciple in danger.

“Hahaha! There actually is someone with real backbone in your Wenyuan Pavilion! Not bad, not bad. Kid, you’ll slowly come to understand: in this world, having backbone is useless. Only your own strength matters.” Ren Tianba laughed loudly.

“Ahem, Senior Ren. You’ve come to visit our Wenyuan Pavilion today. May I ask what business brings you here?” The Pavilion Master quickly spoke, wanting to prevent the young disciple from saying anything else to anger this person.

A meaningful smile appeared on Ren Tianba’s face. “Since you know This Venerable One’s name, you should understand why I am here. Today, this young disciple’s backbone impressed me. So, This Venerable One is in a good mood. Bring out the most valuable things in your Wenyuan Pavilion. I’ll only pick two.”

Listening to these words from the radio, Zhou Yu thought it was a miracle Ren Tianba could be this arrogant and still be around. Could his cultivation really be so profound that no one could deal with him?

In the Immortal World, upon hearing Ren Tianba’s words, the Master of Wenyuan Pavilion secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Losing some treasures was nothing. The most important thing was ensuring the safety of their sect’s disciples.

Then, the Master of Wentyuan Pavilion sent someone to bring over some of the Pavilion’s valuable items. “Senior, please look. These are the valuable things within our Pavilion. The superior Wenyuan Brush, made from the hair of the Southern Border Divine Goat and the fur of the Saint Moon Wolf. Our Pavilion has only a few of these. Also, this is our Pavilion’s unique superior Wenhua Ink. It makes the characters written with it flow more smoothly and fill them with spirit…”

The radio carried the sound of the Pavilion Master continuously introducing the items. Zhou Yu smiled and shook his head, naturally hearing the reluctance in the Pavilion Master’s voice.

Wenyuan Brush, Wenhua Ink… It truly was a sect focused on reading and writing. Their most important items weren’t Spiritual Artifacts like swords or blades, but the Four Treasures of the Study.

A smile appeared on Zhou Yu’s face. He wondered what characters written with the Wenyuan Pavilion’s Four Treasures of the Study would look like. But from what the Pavilion Master said, they should be very spirited.

However, he wasn’t thinking about obtaining these things right now. He would wait until Ren Tianba finished picking and left. Then, he would rob Ren Tianba. Use the same method on the person who used it first.

“Oh, Wenyuan Brush, Wenhua Ink. Not bad. This Venerable One has heard some people say that characters written or paintings drawn with your ink here are very spirited. But can you tell This Venerable One what your ink is actually made from? Don’t worry, This Venerable One, Ren Tianba, knows where to draw the line. If it’s something vital for your sect’s survival, This Venerable One won’t take it.” Ren Tianba looked at the Wenhua Ink and asked with some curiosity.

Zhou Yu couldn’t help but laugh. Ren Tianba was really praising himself now. Later, when his things got stolen, he’d know what it felt like to be robbed by someone else.

The Master of Wenyuan Pavilion hesitated, then said, “Each of the Four Treasures of the Study is most important. But ink holds a very high position among them. The Wenhua Ink our Wenyuan Pavilion makes uses a plant called Ink Grass as an auxiliary ingredient. During the ink-making process, adding some Ink Grass juice makes the resulting ink better and gives it more luster.”

“Oh, Ink Grass? Quickly take it out and let This Venerable One see.” Ren Tianba said, his face full of curiosity.

Zhou Yu also felt some curiosity about Ink Grass. Adding some of its juice while making ink could make the ink better? That was truly amazing.

Soon, Ren Tianba’s slightly surprised words came from the radio. “Truly, the grass lives up to its name. As black as ink, very mysterious. Can this Ink Grass be grown outside?”

“Senior Ren, this Ink Grass absorbs the Haoran Righteousness within our bodies as nourishment to grow, flourish, and reproduce. Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy has no effect on it whatsoever.” The Pavilion Master said this without hesitation.

“Oh, so that’s how it is. Good. This Venerable One will take this Ink Grass plant. And also this Wenyuan Brush and the Wenhua Ink. Additionally, bring me a copy of your Wenyuan Pavilion’s cultivation secret method for reference. Afterwards, This Venerable One will leave immediately.”

Ren Tianba’s eyes shifted. He suddenly felt some interest in this Haoran Righteousness. There were three thousand paths to the Great Dao. Though he wouldn’t change his own cultivation method, referencing others might help his own cultivation.

Hearing this, the young disciple who had been restrained by a secret spell nearby forcefully broke through the sealing technique. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he loudly berated, “You shameless person! How dare you call yourself a Cultivation Senior! You disgrace the very word ‘Immortal’! You will definitely face retribution! The day the Heavenly Tribulation comes will be the day your life ends! The Haoran Righteousness between Heaven and Earth will never stand by and watch!”

A playful look appeared on Ren Tianba’s face, but he showed no anger at all. “Oh? The Haoran Righteousness between Heaven and Earth won’t stand by and watch? This Venerable One would like to see if, after killing you, the Haoran Righteousness of Heaven and Earth will give This Venerable One any retribution.”

“Senior Ren, this junior disciple meant no offense. Please forgive him. All the treasures our Pavilion brought out today, you may take them. The cultivation secret method is right here. Here is a copy for you.” Seeing Ren Tianba slowly walk towards the young disciple, the Master of Wenyuan Pavilion hurriedly tried to stop him.

Ren Tianba laughed loudly and directly pushed the Pavilion Master aside. “Hahaha! Today, no one should try to stop This Venerable One. Otherwise, don’t blame This Venerable One for being impolite! Haoran Righteousness? In this world, there is only Spiritual Energy. There is no Haoran Righteousness. That’s just something you people cultivated.”

“Haoran Righteousness fears neither life nor death! You are nothing but a vile creature! If you want to kill me, then kill me! But Haoran Righteousness must never submit under the feet of someone like you!” The young disciple stood ramrod straight, showing no fear at all.

Hearing these words from the radio, Zhou Yu took a deep breath. He couldn’t just stand by and watch this person who truly possessed Haoran Righteousness lose his life at Ren Tianba’s hands.

But what could he do to help? Although the radio could transport items, nothing he could send now would be of any use. The power of a nuclear bomb might help, but that was something he could never possibly obtain.

At this moment, Zhou Yu looked at a book on his desk. He had bought this book when he was in school. He kept it on the table closest to his bed so he could pick it up and read it anytime. The book’s title was “Classical Poetry for a Lifetime.”

Looking at this book, he didn’t know if it could help with what was happening in the radio right now. But since the Wenyuan Pavilion focused on reading and writing, perhaps this book from modern times could bring about some change.

Then, he placed his hand on the radio and thought in his heart, “Radio, if this book can help the Wenyuan Pavilion, please send it over for me.”

He kept thinking this thought in his mind. Zhou Yu only felt the book in his hand tremble. Then he looked, but found the book was still in his hand. It hadn’t disappeared.