Chapter 00189: I Came to Borrow Something
# I Came to Borrow Something
Chapter 189
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 189: I Came to Borrow Something
Originally, the members of the Fog Sea Immortal Sect were enjoying the festivities of the Western Kunlun Sect when news arrived that Lan Xiaobu had come to their door.
Instantly, they were thrown into a state of panic.
The Sect Master, Zhan Yanqi, even personally led numerous elders and island leaders to welcome Lan Xiaobu.
Unlike other sects where mountain gates were nestled among the peaks, the Fog Sea Immortal Sect was built by the sea.
The entire sect was surrounded by thirteen islands, forming its gates.
Therefore, the Fog Sea Immortal Sect did not have peak leaders, only island masters.
Though a Five-Star Sect, the Fog Sea Immortal Sect was relatively weak compared to stronger sects like the Three Saints Immortal Sect or Western Kunlun.
Among all members, only one, the sect master Zhan Yanqi, had reached the rank of a Human Immortal.
At that moment, Lan Xiaobu stood outside the gates of the Fog Sea Immortal Sect, surveying the oceanic sect.
The protective array surrounding the sect was at level six, and half of its gates extended into the sea.
Yet, the spiritual energy there was abundant, indicating at least one high-quality spiritual vein lay below.
Due to the relationship between the array and the superior spiritual vein, a faint mist enveloped all the islands, creating an ethereal atmosphere that had formed over the years.
This was probably the origins of the Fog Sea Immortal Sect.
“Haha, it is truly an honor to have City Master Lan visit our Fog Sea Immortal Sect. Your presence enhances our humble abode,” Zhan Yanqi exclaimed with a hearty laugh and warm sincerity.
“Then, I hope I won’t be a bother, Sect Master Zhan,” Lan Xiaobu replied without a hint of pretense.
Inside, Zhan Yanqi felt uneasy but had no choice but to invite Lan Xiaobu into the sect.
In the sect's finest guest quarters, Sect Master Zhan, along with several island masters, attended to Lan Xiaobu personally.
Beautiful maidens presented the finest spiritual fruits and wines available from the sect, even adding songs and dances for entertainment.
It could be said that the Fog Sea Immortal Sect had never honored a guest this much in its entire history.
Zhan Yanqi discussed tales and wonders of the sea with the island masters, and under this careful arrangement, the reception was rather relaxed.
“I, Zhan Yanqi, seldom admire others, but I sincerely admire City Master Lan. It is my first time meeting someone so powerful at your age. Thinking back to when the Primordial Ruins first opened, you were just a Gold Core cultivator. Now, in the blink of an eye, you’ve become a peak power of our Yuan Continent,” Zhan Yanqi emphasized as he poured another cup for Lan Xiaobu, his tone somewhat exaggerated.
Lan Xiaobu chuckled, “Sect Master Zhan, you flatter me. I remember when I first arrived at the Primordial Ruins; I was actually stopped by one of your disciples who wanted to take my belongings. I was quite frightened, I must say.”
At these words, cold sweat dripped down Zhan Yanqi’s back.
He hadn’t expected a disciple would dare act in such a manner; was someone trying to ruin the sect’s reputation?
“City Master Lan, who was it? My Fog Sea Immortal Sect has always maintained good relations with Mubei Immortal City. Someone like that shouldn’t exist in our ranks. I’ll find them immediately,” Zhan Yanqi stood and declared without hesitation.
Lan Xiaobu waved his hand dismissively. “That’s all in the past. I’m not here for that today, Sect Master Zhan, so no need to take it to heart.”
Zhan Yanqi thought to himself, “I’d believe that when pigs fly. Do you think I don’t know how the Western Kunlun’s Tai He died? A single smash from you turned him to skin and bones.”
Before Zhan Yanqi could say more, Lan Xiaobu straightened up and said, “Sect Master Zhan, I have a journey I must undertake, and it’s quite far. I would like to borrow an item from your sect…”
At these words, Zhan Yanqi’s heart sank.
He knew at once this was no good.
If someone needed to borrow something for a long journey, there was only one suitable item from the Fog Sea Immortal Sect: the mid-grade flying spirit tool, the Extreme Sea Cloud Boat.
What else could it possibly be? But how could he refuse?
If he refused, then Lan Xiaobu's earlier threats might come to fruition. “Hehe, you stole my stuff first, now I want it back; that’s only fair.” He believed Lan Xiaobu had the gall to do just that, as his previous actions showed.
Once the item was taken, there would be no way to demand it back.
Despite having an inkling of what Lan Xiaobu would ask for, Zhan Yanqi still dryly queried, “I wonder what item City Master Lan wishes to borrow?”
He intended to add, “As long as it’s something our Fog Sea Immortal Sect can provide, feel free to take it.” However, the words just wouldn’t come out.
Lan Xiaobu smiled gently, “I’ve heard that your sect possesses a mid-grade flying spirit tool. Would it be possible to lend it to me? I will certainly return it upon my return. Since it’s a loan, I’d need to offer some collateral. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything good on me to offer, so I’ll leave this spiritual herb as collateral, and when I return, you can give it back to me, Sect Master Zhan.”
As he spoke, Lan Xiaobu pulled out a jade box and pushed it toward Zhan Yanqi.
“Uh…” Zhan Yanqi hesitated for a moment, then ultimately said helplessly, “You don’t have to offer collateral. Just take it, City Master Lan.”
He handed over a small, exquisite boat over a foot long with a hint of reluctance.
He couldn’t refuse.
Zhan Yanqi knew that should he decline, Lan Xiaobu would become hostile.
After all, this was a person who had killed three Human Immortals on Jiuzhou Mountain and had slain Wen Wuqing of Western Kunlun.
Would it be hard for him to kill Zhan Yanqi too?
“Thank you, Sect Master Zhan. I won’t overstay my welcome. As for the collateral, you really should keep it. I, Lan Xiaobu, am a man of my word. What is borrowed must be returned; without collateral, there would be no assurance.” Lan Xiaobu was immensely excited inside.
He never expected to borrow a mid-grade flying spirit tool.
With this, returning to Earth should be straightforward.
“Safe travels, City Master Lan,” Zhan Yanqi thought of killing him but still maintained a forced smile as he saw Lan Xiaobu off.
Until Lan Xiaobu was far away, the island masters were furious.
One particularly long-bearded island master growled, “This person is too arrogant! Our Fog Sea Immortal Sect…”
Before he could finish, Zhan Yanqi hurriedly interrupted, “Island Master Huang, mind your words.”
“Let’s see what he left behind as collateral,” another island master said.
Zhan Yanqi sighed, “City Master Lan has always been domineering; what could he leave as collateral? It’s just for show.”
Yet, he still opened the jade box.
As soon as the box opened, a rich fragrance wafted out, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
Several island masters fixed their gazes on it, unable to tear their eyes away.
Two even suspected they had seen it wrong and rubbed their eyes.
“Is that a Rainbow Immortal Mushroom?” the long-bearded island master finally came to his senses, gulping.
Zhan Yanqi was equally shocked.
Only after the long-bearded island master confirmed it was indeed a Rainbow Immortal Mushroom did he say, “Indeed, this is a Rainbow Immortal Mushroom, and it’s the top-tier type.”
If you were to ask what was the most precious item in the Yuan Continent, without a doubt, it would be the Rainbow Immortal Mushroom.
When Liu Li harvested a few unripe ones, the sect conserved them, waiting for a perfected Wish God practitioner to emerge to break through to the Human Immortal realm.
Before these island masters stood the most exquisite version of the Rainbow Immortal Mushroom.
It could be said that any perfected Wish God would have an over eighty percent chance of breaking through to the Human Immortal realm with this mushroom.
Among the island masters, the weakest cultivator was at the late stage of the Wish God realm, each facing the looming challenge of breaking into the Human Immortal realm.
If they had this mushroom, it was almost certain that the Fog Sea Immortal Sect would soon have another Human Immortal.
In terms of value, it was hard to weigh which was more valuable: the Rainbow Immortal Mushroom or the mid-grade flying spirit tool.
If you needed to break into the Human Immortal realm, then the Rainbow Immortal Mushroom was certainly the more precious item.
If you were already a Human Immortal, then the mid-grade flying spirit tool would naturally be worth more.
“Sect Master, I am already at the perfected Wish God realm. If I obtain this Rainbow Immortal Mushroom, I have absolute confidence in breaking into the Human Immortal realm,” the long-bearded island master could no longer resist the temptation.
The other island masters remained silent but clearly had the same thoughts as the long-bearded island master.
Zhan Yanqi closed the jade box and sighed, “This cannot be used. This is not a gift from City Master Lan; it is collateral left here.”
“I suspect this person won’t be returning the mid-grade flying spirit tool,” one island master couldn’t help but say.
Zhan Yanqi shook his head, “That’s hard to say. If he returns it, but we cannot offer the Rainbow Immortal Mushroom, it would be a devastating blow to our Fog Sea Immortal Sect.”
Everyone fell silent.
After a long pause, one slightly flushed island master said, “Sect Master, could we ask that Lan Xiaobu bring out another Rainbow Immortal Mushroom, and consequently trade our flying boat for it?”
This time, no one responded.
The value of a single Rainbow Immortal Mushroom was immeasurable—how could they offer two?
Zhan Yanqi hesitated for a while, then suddenly said, “Others might not be able to produce two Rainbow Immortal Mushrooms, but City Master Lan should be able to. You all know that not long ago, Shangguan Xiaoyi of Mubei Immortal City broke into the Human Immortal realm, right? In the Yuan Continent, without a Rainbow Immortal Mushroom, breaking into the Human Immortal realm is nearly impossible. Since Shangguan Xiaoyi succeeded, it proves that City Master Lan possesses more than one Rainbow Immortal Mushroom. If he has two, then trading wouldn’t be an issue for us.”
The Yuan Continent was not very large; truthfully, once someone was marked, there was nowhere to escape.
While the mid-grade flying spirit tool was fast, it was indeed limited within Yuan Continent, whereas many sects had eyes on the Extreme Sea Cloud Boat.
(End of Chapter)