Chapter 168: The Meeting of Past and Future

Sneaking into the Miaojiang Five Immortals Cave was very simple. Generally, Chen Xiyi had two plans. The first one was the orthodox berserker infiltration, killing everyone along the way. As long as everyone was dead, no one would discover his infiltration.

This plan was straightforward, but it could not be used in the modern world. Because they had surveillance cameras, even if you fought your way in, you could not hide from the cameras.

Unfortunately, this time Chen Xiyi planned to use another, more subtle infiltration method: sneaking in secretly.

“So, this is what you call sneaking in?” Lin Feng watched as Chen Xiyi and himself walked openly into the Miaojiang Five Immortals Cave. The Five Immortals Sect disciples guarding the entrance completely ignored them, making him wonder how much money Chen Xiyi had spent to bribe these disciples.

“If you feel uneasy, you can act a bit more sneakily,” Chen Xiyi kindly tried to ease Lin Feng’s anxiety.

“How did you manage this?” Lin Feng asked curiously.

“As a scholar, it’s normal to know a bit of the Strange Gates Escaping Arts,” Chen Xiyi replied rather dismissively.

For a moment, Lin Feng did not know what to say.

“I wanted to ask earlier, what exactly is the Strange Gates Escaping Arts?” Lin Feng had no idea what the Strange Gates Escaping Arts was. This world was not Chen Xiyi’s previous life or the somewhat similar Qi Refiner World; it was just a low-level martial world.

“It’s an excuse I used to fool you. Understand? I can’t very well tell you that I’m incredibly strong and can completely impersonate the Bald Cloak Hero here,” Chen Xiyi felt that since the other had asked, it was not appropriate to continue being evasive.

Lin Feng thought for a moment. “Who is the Bald Cloak Hero? Why don’t you go all the way and impersonate the bald head too?”

Whether he was strong or not was another matter. He just wanted to know why Chen Xiyi did not impersonate more thoroughly by shaving his head.

“…”

Chen Xiyi realized that Lin Feng’s argumentative skills had improved a lot recently. It was true that one takes on the color of one’s company. Three months ago, Lin Feng was still an elegant and somewhat aloof swordsman. Now, after spending so much time with Chen Xiyi, he had mastered sarcasm, arguing, and mocking others.

“Not really possible. My hair is not just hair.”

“Then it can’t be armpit hair, right?”

“Can’t you wait until I finish before arguing?” Chen Xiyi could not help but retort.

“Fine, explain then,” Lin Feng indicated that Chen Xiyi was the expert and should continue.

“I remember you always wanted to be an aloof-style swordsman. Why have you been talking so much recently?” Chen Xiyi decided not to engage with Lin Feng any further.

“Adjectives are unnecessary. Just ‘swordsman’ is enough. Besides, after hearing your trash-talking psychological warfare tactics, I thought I could try them out.”

“So you’re practicing on me, is that it? This tactic works on those weaker than you, but if you use it on someone stronger, and they get angry, wouldn’t you die faster?” Chen Xiyi felt that messing with someone’s mind was fine, but not with your allies’.

“You have a point, but there are no enemies right now.”

“Darn, you’re so mean you’ll definitely get killed by a woman someday. Hurry up and practice the Iron Pants technique, you jerk.”

“I’m practicing, I’m practicing.”

The two of them walked deeper into the Miaojiang Five Immortals Cave.

This place was built inside the mountain, winding and twisting like intestines, with many turns.

The guards were extremely strict. Although it was not ten steps one post, five steps one sentry, there were Five Immortals Sect disciples patrolling from time to time.

It was just that these disciples completely ignored the two who were joking around.

Although the passage twisted and turned, it had only one path, so there was no chance of getting lost.

After walking for about half an hour, Chen Xiyi and Lin Feng finally reached a consensus: this place was definitely not man-made; it must have formed naturally.

At the very end was a cave-like treasury.

There were poisonous Gu martial arts, medicinal herbs and toxic insects, weapons and armor, and all sorts of strange things.

Of course, there were also three people: two men and one woman.

The woman was tied up tightly, without any of the imagined white sticky series.

It should be a very normal kidnapping case.

[Mei Yu, Leader of the Five Immortals Sect]

Unexpectedly, the one tied up was the leader of the Five Immortals Sect, which surprised Chen Xiyi.

As for the other two, they made Chen Xiyi’s expression turn serious, because he had never expected this situation.

[Zhan Xue, the Outsider, Health Points: 100%, Status: Alert]

[Ability 1: Grandmaster Martial Artist]

[Ability 2: Palm Skill Proficiency]

[Experience]

[December: Ambushed and killed Wandering Light, preparing to destroy the Ascension Ritual]

[December: Traveling]

[December: …]

The appraisal of the other outsider, Guo Chen, was similar, except he was an Innate Warrior with beginner-level palm skills. The difference was in his experience. This outsider named Guo Chen seemed not to want to destroy the Ascension Ritual but rather to obtain it and become The Immortal.

[December: Ambushed and killed Wandering Light and prepared to find the Ascension Ritual to become The Immortal]

This was the difference between the two: one wanted to destroy it, the other wanted to become The Immortal.

As for more specific details, Chen Xiyi did not know. He could only see a brief summary of thirty days, with the first twenty-nine days all spent traveling.

‘Wandering Light, the Ascension Ritual, and The Immortal, plus the prefix “outsider,” these three had extraordinary origins.’

Especially the mismatch in their abilities.

Chen Xiyi was certain that Grandmaster Martial Artist should be a level above Innate Warrior. That was not the problem; the other ability was the issue.

They had reached the level of Grandmaster, above Innate, yet their palm skills were only at proficiency. The other Innate Warrior was even worse, only at beginner level.

Normally, a Body Forging Warrior would have beginner-level skills, a Postnatal Warrior would have proficiency, an Innate Warrior would have transcendence, and a Grandmaster Martial Artist should correspond to Lin Feng’s divine level.

But these two seemed rushed, their levels achieved but their skills not keeping up at all.

A martial artist’s strength consisted of two parts: Internal Energy and martial skills. These two complemented each other; it was impossible for such a big gap to appear.

An Innate Warrior with only beginner-level palm skills was laughable. They might even be killed by a Postnatal Warrior.

‘More importantly, they were looking for Wandering Light. That was interesting.’

Wandering Light, without thinking, was Lin Feng.

He had obtained the sword named Wandering Light at the Sword Distribution Conference, and his nickname in the Jianghu was also Wandering Light Sword.

Plus, “ambush” — who else could it be but him.

“Do you know those two men?” Chen Xiyi asked.

Lin Feng was stunned. “No, I don’t. Do you?”

“I don’t either, but I think they might be here for you,” Chen Xiyi said, squinting his eyes.

Looking at Zhan Xue and Guo Chen, Lin Feng’s Sword Heart Clear Mirror reflected an extremely strange feeling: these two were both strong and weak.

Especially the young one. The other was likely an Innate Warrior, but both his breathing and posture were like that of a novice. If they really fought, he could kill the other with just one sword strike.

As for the middle-aged man, his aura was very strong, seeming to be at a level above Innate. But in terms of martial skills, he was at most at the level of a Postnatal Warrior.

These two seemed rushed, of course, but even rushed ones should not be underestimated, especially the middle-aged man above Innate. He was the one Lin Feng truly feared.

When level and attributes far surpassed, forming a crushing advantage, no amount of skill proficiency could withstand the other’s attacks.

“Here for me? For this Wandering Light Sword in my hand?” Besides this Wandering Light Sword, what else on him could be more valuable?

“Not sure. Do you want to go out and meet them? I’ll look for things,” Chen Xiyi urged Lin Feng to cause trouble.

“I can’t beat that middle-aged man. He would kill me in at most three moves. But that young Innate Warrior might be worth a try. How about you help me deal with the middle-aged man?” Lin Feng was not stupid; why would he go die for no reason?

He was a swordsman, not a fool or a martial fanatic.

“You have so much confidence in me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll charge up and get killed on the spot by one move?” Chen Xiyi said in a teasing tone.

Lin Feng looked at Chen Xiyi with disdain. “We’re almost talking right in front of them, and they haven’t even noticed. Don’t you feel guilty saying that?”

“Not guilty. I think you have that ability,” Chen Xiyi said seriously.

“The Innate Warrior is mine, the one above Innate is yours. To be honest, I suspect you might also be above Innate,” Lin Feng said with certainty.

“You can’t wrong me like that. I can’t practice martial arts at all. I don’t know anything about being above Innate,” Chen Xiyi indicated that this kid knew how to frame others. He didn’t even have the corresponding Module; how could he be a martial artist?

“Just say whether you’ll do it or not,” Lin Feng did not want to continue arguing with Chen Xiyi.

“Fine, I’ll hold off that middle-aged man for you. But let’s agree first: you have to go easy on that young one; I need him,” Chen Xiyi said slowly.

“Deal,” Lin Feng agreed without hesitation. Such a rushed, low-quality Innate was hard to come by; it would be perfect to use as a whetstone for himself.

As for a real Innate?

If he faced one, he would be killed on the spot.

Chen Xiyi canceled the Illusion Art, and the two suddenly appeared in front of Zhan Xue and Guo Chen.

The moment they saw the two, Zhan Xue and Guo Chen’s eyes were drawn to the Wandering Light Sword in Lin Feng’s hand.

“Wandering Light! Guo Chen, attack!” The moment Zhan Xue saw the Wandering Light Sword, he immediately ordered an attack.

They had never seen Wandering Light’s true face, but they knew the symbol of the first Sequence Wandering Light was this Wandering Light Sword. Every Wandering Light Devotee carried a replica Wandering Light Sword. As agents dealing with the Bureau, they had dealt with these Wandering Light Devotees countless times and recognized the Wandering Light Sword at a glance.

In this era, only one person could possess the Wandering Light Sword: that first Sequence, Sword Concept, The Immortal Wandering Light.

As for why he suddenly appeared, that was not something they needed to consider. The only thing to do now was to kill Wandering Light.

A hand suddenly grabbed Zhan Xue’s shoulder, the tremendous Strength Path directly holding him back.

“Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. Can you tell me about your origins?” Chen Xiyi’s voice came from behind Zhan Xue.

This made Zhan Xue’s expression change. He had not noticed when the other approached.

With a fierce tiger turn, he shook off Chen Xiyi’s hand on his shoulder and slammed his palms, infused with Internal Energy, toward Chen Xiyi’s chest.

If hit, not to mention a person, even a stone would shatter.

“Isn’t all this fighting and killing bad? Wouldn’t it be better to sit down, have some tea, and chat?” Chen Xiyi’s voice came from behind Zhan Xue again.

Zhan Xue’s fierce tiger turn burst of energy completely missed.

“Who exactly are you?” Zhan Xue retracted his stance, glanced at Guo Chen who was already fighting Lin Feng, and asked in a deep voice.

In his eyes, Guo Chen was currently gaining the upper hand, while Lin Feng was at a disadvantage. Defeat was only a matter of Time. How could a Body Forging Warrior possibly defeat an Innate Warrior?

“I’m just a scholar with no strength to tie up a chicken,” Chen Xiyi said slowly.