CHAPTER 526: CHAPTER 526: I WON’T FORCE YOU

The battle had ended.

Chen Pingping’s strength had once again crushed Liu Changqing’s spirit, leaving him silent. He suddenly felt as if a massive stone were pressing on his chest, making it impossible for him to breathe.

Alan, on the other hand, had already calmed down, her long hair dancing in the wind.

After a long while, Liu Changqing took a deep breath and cursed, "Damn that Chen Pingping."

Time had not brought him proportional growth; instead, it had only widened the gap between him and Chen Pingping. Now, he probably didn’t even qualify as Chen Pingping’s rival, did he? It was very suffocating. He shook his head and spoke no more.

Cang Yun seemed to have perceived something and said with a determined gaze, "When the Wind Cloud List opens, I will definitely slay him. Rest assured."

The two of them were speechless.

「Meanwhile.」

After ensuring Chen Shixian was safe and unharmed, Chen Pingping silently left the area, returning to Yue Wuxia’s side.

It took a while for Yue Wuxia to come to. Looking blankly ahead, she asked, "Eh? Where is everyone?"

Chen Pingping also widened his eyes and said, "Ah! Yes! Where did everyone go?"

"What happened? What was wrong with me just now?" she tried hard to recall.

"We were too tired and accidentally fell asleep," Chen Pingping said. "Then, when we woke up, everyone was gone."

Yue Wuxia pouted without speaking, her clear eyelashes fluttering, clearly not quite believing his explanation.

How could cultivators simply fall asleep?

But she didn’t dwell on it, merely feeling secretly annoyed that a good opportunity had just slipped away.

Not long after, the little monkey returned, bringing Jiang Ni’er and Zi Ji with it.

Chen Pingping and Yue Wuxia, however, had long since departed.

The opportunity was lost, but that wasn’t important. They each had their own thoughts, all contemplating how to outwit the other.

"Where is everyone? Where is everyone?" The little monkey approached Chen Shixian, its eyes wide. "See! I didn’t run away; I went to call for reinforcements!"

"Who was going to kill you?" Zi Ji also stepped forward.

"Little girl, hurry up and use your summoning spell! Get Chen Pingping over here. Chen Shixian must have been frightened and needs someone to soothe her," the little monkey said gravely.

SMACK!

Chen Shixian rapped its head. "Shut up."

The little monkey instantly showed a pained expression, then seemed to realize something and shrieked, "You—you’ve gotten stronger?"

It looked at Chen Shixian in disbelief. Unfathomable. How had she grown stronger without breaking through her current realm?

Chen Shixian remained silent, carefully recalling the battle. Her memory only went up to the point when she had activated the fourth Human Body Treasure before she blacked out.

It was as if I had fallen into the sea, and then...

She didn’t need to think hard about what happened next. Chen Pingping must have intervened; otherwise, I wouldn’t be standing here unharmed.

Chen Shixian sighed softly, then turned to Zi Ji. "Did you also come to join the battle?"

Zi Ji shook her head. "Jiang Ni’er and I were just walking along when we ended up here. We didn’t plan to join the fight; we were merely passing by, so we went up Spirit Mountain."

"What about your Senior Brother?" she asked again.

"I didn’t see him," Zi Ji answered.

Chen Shixian scoffed inwardly. What a fool. If he was going to intervene, he should have just done it! Why did he run away afterward? Did he think I was going to eat him?

Realizing Chen Pingping intended to stay hidden, she refrained from asking further. But then, the thought of the Wind Cloud List opening...

His goal must be the Wind Cloud List too, right? If that’s the case, I’ll join the battle too...

As time passed, the atmosphere in this region grew increasingly tense. The young geniuses were all waiting.

「A few days later...」

In a deserted mountain range, sudden, deafening thunderous booms erupted. Overwhelming fluctuations of aura swept across the Ancient City, and everyone clearly perceived it.

A single thought echoed in everyone’s mind: It’s here.

The Wind Cloud List had opened.

Countless cultivators, powerful experts, and geniuses rushed in that direction. Densely packed streaks of light trailed one after another.

On a high mountain, Sound slowly lifted his head, his Dharma Eye penetrating heaven and earth, fixated on that mountain range.

Elsewhere, the unadorned Li Chaoge also opened his eyes and whispered, "Are you there too?"

The First Prince of the Ancient Country emerged from seclusion.

Demon cultivator geniuses and Zhu Menting also made their appearances.

Qin Meng, the scion of the Demon Emperor, approached with a few strides.

「On Spirit Mountain.」

Shisan was persistently trying to dissuade Gu Mang. "Brother Gu Mang, I truly don’t recommend you join the list; it’s very dangerous."

Gu Mang shook his head. "I must join the list to prove to everyone that I, Gu Mang, too can achieve Tao Verification."

"Not every Great Emperor has been on the Wind Cloud List..." Shisan said helplessly. "Besides, didn’t that girl say earlier they’re very interested in you? I think you should join the Wuji Sect."

"Brother Shisan, let’s not bring this up again. I, Gu Mang, will not join the Wuji Sect," he said, his expression troubled.

Shisan fell silent.

Lan Qingshui, who was nearby, remained calm and silent, but her gaze occasionally drifted beyond Spirit Mountain, lost in thought.

Huh?

Suddenly, several figures appeared in her line of sight.

It was Chen Pingping and Lao Huang the ox, Yue Wuxia, and Ali...

"The Wind Cloud List has already opened, so why have you come to Spirit Mountain?" Yue Wuxia asked, confused.

"I’m here to see an old friend. Brother, wait for me..." Chen Pingping smiled, then led Lao Huang up Spirit Mountain.

Lan Qingshui thought she was mistaken and rubbed her eyes. After confirming repeatedly, it was indeed Chen Pingping. She tugged Gu Mang’s sleeve.

Gu Mang frowned. "What is it?"

Lan Qingshui did not speak but pointed at the trail on Spirit Mountain.

A man and an ox quickly arrived. Upon seeing Gu Mang, Chen Pingping grinned, his smile radiant. "I’ve finally found you."

Chen Pingping of the Wuji Sect.

Famous for his smooth talk, his eloquence was such that he could persuade anyone—he could even talk a dead man back to life. In the lands of the Southern Diaspora, everyone knew of him.

"You’re looking for me?" Gu Mang asked, on guard.

"I am here on behalf of the Wuji Sect to ask if you’re interested in joining us," Chen Pingping said, his smile gleaming. "Don’t be hasty in refusing. The Wuji Sect is currently on a strong upward trend. The Sect Master has already stepped into the Saint King Realm, and we have many powerful Saints. If you join the Wuji Sect, benefits and compensation are all negotiable."

"Not interested," Gu Mang rejected outright.

The two people nearby grew secretly anxious, thinking, Big Brother, don’t be impulsive! The Wuji Sect now isn’t the sect of the past. Even Fairy Valley fell to them, and Star Sea is no match for them! Joining the Wuji Sect to cultivate is the wisest choice.

Chen Pingping’s smile remained. "Name your conditions."

Gu Mang snorted. "There are no conditions. I will not join the Wuji Sect."

Chen Pingping sighed. His smile faded. "I don’t like your tone. I’ve investigated you. You may be from the royal family of the Ancient Country, but your bloodline is impure, and you have never been valued. You have a talent for alchemy, yet you insist on cultivating to prove yourself. Actually, alchemy can also make one strong."

Gu Mang mocked, "I’ve long heard that Chen Pingping of the Wuji Sect is eloquent and silver-tongued. Seeing you today, it’s clearly true."

Chen Pingping blinked. "Am I really that famous?"

Gu Mang replied, "Yes."

"Are you sure you want to refuse my invitation?" Chen Pingping eyed him askance.

Gu Mang sneered. "What? Do you intend to use force? This is the territory of the Ancient Country, not your Wuji Sect."

"No," Chen Pingping shook his head. "Our Wuji Sect has always persuaded people with virtue. We never bully the weak or use our numbers to overwhelm the few. We greatly respect personal wishes. If you don’t want to join the Wuji Sect, we will not force you. Please rest assured on this point."

For some reason, the three of them felt that something was off about his words, though they couldn’t quite pinpoint what.

But Chen Pingping did indeed leave, decisively.

Gu Mang laughed contemptuously. "It seems the rumored Chen Pingping is nothing more than this."