Chapter 154

Chapter 154: Rong Shu: Has Never Studied Offensive Arts

Rong Shu, as if she had not caught the implication in his words, followed up along the old cultivator’s line of thought to ask: only those at the Foundation Establishment Stage dare enter, and cultivators with lower cultivation simply cannot go in?

The old cultivator shook his head slightly and said: not necessarily. If you are a disciple of a sect or a great clan, you can find people within your sect or family to go together.

He added, with a glance at her: as for a lone rogue cultivator without those connections, unless you are an Alchemist and can be accepted by an adventuring squad, you will not be taken along.

At the word Alchemist, Rong Shu’s eyes flashed, but her face remained puzzled as she pressed on: why an Alchemist? Why not an Array Master or a Talisman Master?

The black?faced cultivator supplied the answer, his tone turning matter?of?fact: as I just said, the Scorchfire Secret Realm is the transformed cave?abode of a great cultivator, and in life that great cultivator was a master of alchemy. The realm is filled with mechanisms only an Alchemist can unlock, and there are all kinds of manuals on spirit herbs that need an Alchemist to identify.

She did not wait for the four of them to reply before continuing, adding chips for herself as she spoke: where would one go to find an adventuring squad? To be frank with you, fellow Daoists, I am but a Second?rank Alchemist. Because I devoted too much energy to alchemy in earlier years, I somewhat neglected my cultivation.

You are a Second?rank Alchemist?

At once, the way they looked at Rong Shu changed.

A Second?rank Alchemist is enough to serve as a guest elder of a second?tier clan, a person who would be treated as an honored guest wherever they go.

The bald cultivator’s expression grew animated as he blurted, then corrected himself mid?phrase: fe—fellow Daoist, are you truly a rogue cultivator?

Rong Shu nodded, smiling shyly as she said: at first I followed an old apothecary to learn. Later, that elder passed away, and I have been on my own since.

That is a stroke of fortune for us, is it not? The bald cultivator quickly signaled the other three with his eyes, then laughed heartily as he said: our little squad happens to lack an Alchemist. Fellow Daoist, would you be willing to join us?

He slapped his chest and added with pride: do not be fooled by the fact that there are only four of us here. We have four more friends: two at mid?stage Foundation Establishment, two at early?stage Foundation Establishment, and the rest are at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

Rong Shu hesitated outwardly and said: I am only at the third level of Qi Refining and have never studied offensive arts. All I know is burying my head in the furnace to refine pills, so I fear I will only hold you back.

[Going alone into the secret realm as a third?level Qi Refining cultivator would be a little dangerous. Among these people, the strongest is only mid?stage Foundation Establishment. If they try anything against me, I may not win, but I can at least run.]

The black?faced cultivator hurried to show goodwill, his face much more amiable now as he said: fellow Daoist, a chance meeting is fate. Inside the secret realm, the strongest anyone can be is late Foundation Establishment. Our group’s combat strength is not weak. If we cannot win, we can still run. Would you consider joining us?

This… Rong Shu appeared torn for a moment, then, under their slightly expectant gazes, she finally nodded hard and said: then I will be in your care, fellow Daoists.

Hahaha, fellow Daoist is straightforward indeed, said the bald cultivator, laughing as he clapped Rong Shu’s slightly thin shoulder. He turned his head toward the black?faced cultivator and said: Wu Man, go call Brother Han and the others.

All right, said the black?faced cultivator, rising to leave.

Right after, the bald cultivator beckoned Rong Shu to sit.

Rong Shu first went to fetch the Little Hamster from the other table, then took her seat at theirs.

I am Zong Wen Shi, and this is Zhu Chun, the same as me at early?stage Foundation Establishment, said the bald cultivator, first introducing himself and then the old cultivator.

Hearing this, Rong Shu said: I am Lin Bu Fan.

Zong Wen Shi then introduced the sharp?faced man and the black?faced man who had just left: Fellow Daoist Lin, this one is called Yun Gao Fei, and the one who just stepped out is called Wu Man.

May I ask where Fellow Daoist Lin hails from? To become a Second?rank Alchemist at such a young age, your future is boundless, Zong Wen Shi added with a smile.

Rong Shu smiled shyly and said with a touch of embarrassment: my master just passed away. Before the end, he arranged a place for me. A friend of his serves as an Elder at the Void Alchemy Sect, so I was told to go to him.

The Void Alchemy Sect is a second?tier sect famed for alchemy, and most of its cultivators are Alchemists.

Old cultivator Zhu Chun ventured a polite question, his tone careful as he said: forgive my boldness, but which Elder at the Void Alchemy Sect are you going to seek?

Rong Shu understood at once.

They did not fully believe her identity.

But she remained unruffled.

Back during her sect’s grand competition, Rong Shu had learned a fair bit about the personnel of various sects.

It is Elder Xu Song, she said.

Zhu Chun’s face cleared as he said: ah, Elder Xu Song. I have heard that Elder Xu has an odd temper and does not enjoy dealing with others.

[Precisely because Elder Xu is reclusive did I choose him. If I pick someone at random and it turns out you know them, what then?] Rong Shu thought, but on the surface she only feigned confusion and said: is that so? My master said Elder Xu was quite a good person. Back when they studied alchemy together as classmates, they often exchanged insights.

In the mouth of a friend of many years, Elder Xu would naturally be described as having a fine disposition.

After that, Zong Wen Shi and the others asked a few more trivial questions. Rong Shu answered with a mix of truth and fiction and revealed no flaws.

Fellow Daoist Lin, is this hamster of yours a pet or a spirit beast? someone finally asked.

Rong Shu stroked the Little Hamster’s head and said: it was my master’s pet. After my master passed away, there was no one to look after the little fellow, so I brought him along.

Catching sight of five people approaching, Zong Wen Shi brightened and stood up, calling out: Brother Han, you are here.

Hearing this, Rong Shu turned to look at the five.

At their head was a sturdy, well?built man with a scar on his face. He nodded slightly to Zong Wen Shi, then looked at Rong Shu and said: I am Han Cheng Yun. Wu Man has already told us.

Welcome to our team.

Rong Shu rose and bowed with clasped hands as she said: I am Lin Bu Fan. My cultivation is shallow. Once we are in the secret realm, I will be relying on your guidance, fellow Daoists.

Zong Wen Shi enthusiastically introduced the newcomers in turn.

Besides Han Cheng Yun, among the other three there was a pair of brothers, the elder brother called Su Meng and the younger called Su Hua.

The last was named Song Xuan. He had the gentle looks of a bookish scholar, but his gaze toward Rong Shu occasionally flashed with a glimmer that made him seem rather deep?scheming.

Among this group, Han Cheng Yun and Song Xuan were mid?stage Foundation Establishment, while the Su brothers were at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

Han Cheng Yun spoke in a level voice: there is no time like the present. Let us have a meal at Spring Breeze Pavilion, then depart at once.

Good, said the others without objection.

After food and drink, the nine set out for the Scorchfire Wasteland.

They used the Teleportation Array in Great Celebration City to transmit directly to Kindled Flame City, the closest city to the Scorchfire Wasteland.