CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 85: I AM MY OWN CONNECTION

"How did it go?" Duan Shulin hurriedly asked as he saw Chen Guan coming out from the turn.

"You don’t have the Secret Spirit Egg on you; take the Mountain Viewing Platform route to leave. I’ve already arranged for someone to pick me up on my end. We’ll contact each other after we get out." Chen Guan left his number with Duan Shulin and instructed him to take another route.

"Alright, take care of yourself." Duan Shulin took a few steps and then turned back to Chen Guan, saying, "Brother Guan, you have talent, and I have resources. Together, we can achieve great things. I’m sincerely eager to join forces with you; my intention is as clear as day."

"There’s still plenty of time ahead for us. No need to rush at this moment." Chen Guan waved at Duan Shulin and turned towards the direction of the One Line Gorge.

Duan Shulin watched Chen Guan’s departing figure, his gaze deep: "The depth of Chen Guan’s Primordial Energy is unimaginable. I wonder what kind of extraordinary encounters and how many Heavenly and Earthly Treasures he has consumed to achieve such accomplishments. Just this alone indicates he is a person of great fortune."

"His battle with Master Yang appeared to rely on his abundant Primordial Energy to overcome the strong with the weak, but every move seemed calculated with no mistakes. Others, even with such abundant Primordial Energy and powerful Secret Skills, couldn’t possibly calculate everything in a fight with a stranger without a single error. This shows that his ability matches his fortune."

"Such a capable and fortunate person is destined for great achievements in the future. Forming an alliance with him would undoubtedly benefit the Duan Family."

Unbeknownst to Duan Shulin, Chen Guan’s perfect execution wasn’t just based on his own ability. It was because he used the Ultimate of the Infinite, entering a mystical state that allowed him to swiftly deal with Master Yang.

Killing a Second Awakening Cultivator with a First Awakening body isn’t as simple as it seems. Chen Guan had to exert all his effort to kill Master Yang.

What seemed effortless was actually fraught with danger every step of the way. Any mistake could have led to disastrous results.

Fortunately, Chen Guan’s foundation was deep enough, and the Ultimate of the Infinite state enhanced him, preventing any issues.

"The Ultimate of the Infinite is truly mystical. In that state, it’s as if one can understand the laws of everything and make the most correct choices. That feeling of having the wisdom in one’s grasp is indescribably wonderful. I really have to thank Qin Ziyu." Chen Guan crossed through the One Line Gorge and saw from afar that there were indeed cultivators blocking the path ahead.

"I’m at the exit of One Line Gorge. Have you arranged for someone on your end?" Chen Guan took out the Echoing Jade to contact Xiu Yingmei.

"It’s arranged. You just come out from there," came Xiu Yingmei’s voice.

Chen Guan responded, glanced at the cultivators, adjusted his package, took a deep breath, and walked towards them.

"Reincarnation City ban, Ghost King Mountain Range is temporarily closed. All who enter or exit must undergo inspection. Place your belongings on this platform," a cultivator from Reincarnation City directed at the stone platform blocking the path.

Chen Guan took a glance and noticed there were a dozen cultivators around. Some were resting in a nearby room, likely high-level cultivators, while these seven or eight responsible for the inspection were probably just ordinary First Awakening Cultivators.

None of them stepped forward to speak, which didn’t surprise Chen Guan. He slowly removed his backpack, as he didn’t believe Xiu Yingmei had connections that could get him out.

Shang Qingtian’s bet on the Ghost King Mountain Range couldn’t be resolved with Xiu Yingmei’s limited connections. No matter how influential her connections were, they wouldn’t be useful at this moment.

Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!

As Chen Guan had anticipated, before he even placed his backpack on the stone platform, golden arrows shot across the sky, striking down the guarding cultivators. Quickly, a golden figure charged forth—it was Xiu Yingmei riding the Golden Lion.

The Golden Lion charged aggressively up to the checkpoint. Xiu Yingmei’s Golden Bow didn’t cease, continuously shooting golden arrows. The quick-eyed ones outside the hut scrambled to hide, but those who didn’t make it in time were already sprawled on the ground, and the cultivators inside the stone house couldn’t emerge in time.

As the Golden Lion lunged forward, Chen Guan immediately picked up his backpack, jumped over the checkpoint, and landed on the Golden Lion’s back, embracing Xiu Yingmei’s athletic waist from behind.

Without a word, Xiu Yingmei turned and rode away, the Golden Lion racing with whistling winds flowing past.

Xiu Yingmei shot a few more arrows backward. By the time the Golden Lion charged some distance away, the cultivators inside the stone house finally rushed out, furious and quickly summoning their mounts and pets to chase after Xiu Yingmei and Chen Guan.

But their mounts were no match for the Golden Lion. In a few leaps, they were left far behind.

Xiu Yingmei, of notable status, had a Golden Lion pet that was almost as formidable as Ji Nanhong’s Fire Qilin, with a Level much higher than the Fire Qilin’s. How could ordinary pets keep up?

The Golden Lion’s figure sped faster and faster, almost disappearing into the forest. The gatekeeping cultivators frantically fired flares for assistance.

"Didn’t you say you had connections?" Chen Guan asked as he noticed the direction Xiu Yingmei was heading didn’t seem to be towards the Celestial Court Army.

"I am my own connection. Isn’t this connection hard enough?" Xiu Yingmei laughed.

"Where are you heading?" Chen Guan asked again.

"I’ve offended Reincarnation City for you, so I can’t stay here any longer. We must teleport out of the Pingdu Mountain Blessed Land as fast as possible. The teleportation station at Reincarnation City is unusable; the nearest is in Yuhua City. We’ll teleport out from there," Xiu Yingmei said.

She obviously couldn’t return to the Celestial Court Army. Currently on a mission, everything she gained in the team had to be turned over for the leader to redistribute.

The leader was Ji Nanhong; Xiu Yingmei couldn’t possibly hand over the Secret Spirit Egg, which might belong to the Secret God’s child, to Ji Nanhong for distribution. That would be like throwing pastries at a dog, with no return.

Therefore, Xiu Yingmei planned to leave the Pingdu Mountain Blessed Land alone with the Secret Spirit Egg, making it her private property.

Xiu Yingmei pondered: "If Chen Guan obediently hands over the Secret Spirit Egg, I’ll spare him and let him continue to infiltrate Ji Nanhong’s side. If he doesn’t comply, then I’ll have to take him out."

Now wasn’t the time yet. Xiu Yingmei needed to hurry to Yuhua City with all her might, or it would be troublesome if stopped by Reincarnation City’s people.

Even if Chen Guan needed to be killed, it had to be outside the influence range of Reincarnation City to safely take action.

As for Duan Shulin’s whereabouts, Xiu Yingmei didn’t care in the slightest.

As the forest whizzed by, Chen Guan was also contemplating how to trick Xiu Yingmei to get through this crisis.

Both harbored their own motives. Just as the Golden Lion was about to leave Reincarnation City’s sphere of influence, they heard strange noises coming from the sky.

Both couldn’t help but look up, and they saw a black-bodied, white-curtained palanquin flying through the sky behind them.

The palanquin had no visible carriers or power system, yet it flew forward at astonishing speed, even faster than the running Golden Lion.

Though it can’t be said the palanquin was faster since the Golden Lion can only run on the ground, its speed affected by the terrain and having to detour.

The palanquin, however, could fly in a straight line through the sky, making it appear faster with similar speeds.

Thud!

The black palanquin landed in front of the Golden Lion, blocking its path.

"A unique Secret Treasure, the Ghost Palanquin, so you must be Shang Ziyi." Xiu Yingmei eyed the palanquin.

An icy hand, with blood vessels visible on the back, slowly drew back the white curtain, and a delicately handsome man with an androgynous appearance emerged from the Ghost Palanquin.

The man’s skin was so pale it seemed almost translucent, as if his blood vessels could be seen beneath. Even his face was not spared.

He was tall and slender, appearing frail as if a gust of wind could knock him over.

"Xiu Yingmei, leave the item and you may go," Shang Ziyi said calmly.