Chapter 00311: The Black Pottery Forest Range Stirred
# The Black Pottery Forest Range Stirred
Chapter 311
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 311: The Black Pottery Forest Range Stirred
On May 6, 2022, in the Mo Xuan Path Immortal City, the Star Ascension Immortal Court King, Teng Jilou, sat with a grim expression.
Below him stood two individuals: Teng Mo and Teng Man'er.
The atmosphere was heavy, and after several minutes of silence, Teng Jilou finally spoke, "Teng Mo, are you saying that Lan Xiaobu asked you to look after his friends?"
Teng Mo quickly nodded, "Yes, Father. Lan Xiaobu thought that the Mo Xian Immortal Court would take them away for training. I reassured him that even if they stayed in the Forbidden Immortal Bureau, the cultivation resources would still be provided. After that, he didn't say anything more."
Teng Jilou nodded in approval, "You did well this time."
Teng Mo was overjoyed and quickly bowed before stepping aside.
Teng Jilou then turned his gaze to Teng Man'er, his tone cold, "Do you think that just because your mother and I dote on you, you can disregard everyone else?"
Teng Man'er's eyes reddened, and she hurriedly replied, "Father, it's not like that. I thought Lan Xiaobu was just a servant of Teng Mo's family, so..."
Teng Jilou cut her off sharply, "You didn't just think it; in your eyes, anyone who works for the Teng family is a servant. And as a servant, you believe you can command them as you please, even control their life and death."
Teng Man'er pouted, feeling deeply uncomfortable.
Since when had her father been so harsh with her? Was she wrong? Lan Xiaobu was just a minor official in the Forbidden Immortal Bureau.
Even the head of the Forbidden Immortal Bureau was considered a servant of the Teng family.
What was a minor official compared to that?
The Star Ascension Immortal Court belonged to the Teng family, and the Star Ascension Immortal Court King was a member of the Teng family.
How could a minor official not be considered a servant?
Teng Jilou, being astute, understood Teng Man'er's thoughts.
He shook his head and was about to speak when Teng Man'er suddenly added, "Father, I once met a rogue cultivator in the Heavenly River Immortal City named Yan Chengjian. I invited him to a banquet at the city lord's residence, but he didn't attend. Later, when I saw Lan Xiaobu, I suspected that Yan Chengjian might be Lan Xiaobu in disguise."
Teng Man'er had recalled the incident in the Heavenly River Immortal City after being rejected by Lan Xiaobu.
She had asked an Immortal Venerable by her side and learned that Yan Chengjian was a figure of significant importance.
The Jiting Chamber of Commerce had been robbed, and Yan Chengjian was among the top three suspects.
Teng Man'er immediately felt that this matter was not simple.
Although she was certain that even if Yan Chengjian was Lan Xiaobu in disguise, he wouldn't have the qualifications to steal treasures from the Jiting Chamber of Commerce, she believed this information was valuable.
Since her father was displeased with her, she decided to bring it up.
Yan Chengjian?
Teng Jilou was startled.
Who was Yan Chengjian? Most major chambers of commerce in the Mo Xian Immortal Domain knew of him.
The Jiting Chamber of Commerce had lost several top-tier treasures, and Yan Chengjian was among the top suspects, possibly even the primary one.
Hearing this, Teng Jilou fell into deep thought.
If Yan Chengjian was indeed Lan Xiaobu in disguise, then it was no wonder Lan Xiaobu had managed to leave the Xiaoqian Immortal Rest Pavilion.
Someone capable of stealing treasures from the Jiting Chamber of Commerce could surely escape the Mo Xuan Path Immortal City.
"Teng Mo, after you left, was there an Immortal King left at the Xiaoqian Immortal Rest Pavilion, waiting for Lan Xiaobu's summons?" Teng Jilou asked again.
Teng Mo quickly replied, "Yes, Father. I have some understanding of Lan Xiaobu's character. He appears amiable and easy to negotiate with, but if you underestimate him, you won't end well. The minor official Qu Wuyang and the Zhu family both thought Lan Xiaobu was easy to bully, but they are now history. Moreover..."
"Moreover what? Speak freely," Teng Jilou urged.
Teng Mo continued, "The case of the Bai Duan family was solved by Lan Xiaobu. Even Teng Feihong and the Thousand Color Vine Garden were uncovered by Lan Xiaobu. Lan Xiaobu is definitely not simple. I never treated him as a subordinate but as a true partner in cooperation."
Teng Jilou nodded in approval, "Well done. You've made significant progress. I used to have little hope for you, but now you've outperformed your brothers. Very good. Tell me what happened next."
Teng Mo was elated, "Yes, Father. After I left, Immortal Official Lan met with thirty-two alchemists and spirit herb traders in three batches. All thirty-two individuals later left the Xiaoqian Immortal Rest Pavilion, as witnessed by my people."
Teng Jilou became even more convinced that Lan Xiaobu was either hiding among these thirty-two individuals or had been taken away by one of them.
However, the Xiaoqian Immortal Rest Pavilion had detection arrays outside.
If Lan Xiaobu had been taken away, how was it done?
Teng Man'er, however, was deeply puzzled.
Teng Mo had merely invited Lan Xiaobu to refine pills.
Her own alchemy skills were no worse than Lan Xiaobu's.
Why was Teng Mo being praised so highly?
Teng Jilou looked at Teng Man'er, "Man'er, I know what you're thinking. But I must tell you, the Star Ascension Immortal Court King will not be a woman. That's the first point. Second, your temperament is not suited to be the Immortal Court King. From today onwards, abandon this ambition and focus on alchemy. When you return to the Star Ascension Immortal Court, move out immediately and find your own cave. Lastly, even if Lan Xiaobu were a servant of the Teng family, he is not someone you can order around."
"What?" Teng Man'er was stunned.
Hadn't she just provided valuable information?
Teng Jilou sternly stared at Teng Man'er, "You've been spoiled and have lost your sense of judgment. If it were anyone else, they wouldn't have waited until being rejected by Lan Xiaobu again to recall the connection between Lan Xiaobu and Yan Chengjian. Remember, from now on, you are not to mention any connection between Yan Chengjian and Lan Xiaobu. If I find out, there will be severe consequences. You may leave."
His daughter had remarkable talent in alchemy, but her emotional intelligence was lacking.
Lan Xiaobu, as an alchemist, had a future potential no less than that of an Immortal Court King.
Yet, Teng Man'er had treated him as a mere servant.
Not only that, if they had known earlier about the connection between Lan Xiaobu and Yan Chengjian, they could have controlled Lan Xiaobu.
Now, not only could they not pursue Lan Xiaobu, but they also had to find ways to build a good relationship with him.
Since Lan Xiaobu had left, they needed to ensure that he knew Teng Mo had fulfilled his requests.
...
A similar situation unfolded in the city lord's residence of the Mo Xuan Path Immortal City.
After the black-clad man rushed out, Liu Ming was still puzzled.
The high-crowned Immortal Emperor sitting in the corner suddenly stood up, his aura filled with killing intent.
Sang Buxia looked at the Immortal Emperor in confusion, "Immortal Emperor Fu Shen, have you discovered something?"
This high-crowned Immortal Emperor was none other than Fu Shen, the head of the Jiting Chamber of Commerce in the Mo Xian Immortal Domain.
He took a deep breath and tried to calm his voice, "The person who took Lan Xiaobu is the same one who stole the treasures from our Jiting Chamber of Commerce. Their methods are identical..."
How strong were the divine sense imprints on the treasures of the Jiting Chamber of Commerce? Could an ordinary person erase such imprints in such a short time?
Liu Ming was taken aback but quickly understood Fu Shen's implication.
Lan Xiaobu was also a suspect, though it hadn't been explicitly stated.
However, Liu Ming had doubts.
Lan Xiaobu was only at the early Great Immortal stage.
How could a Great Immortal at such a level easily escape under the divine sense imprints of so many powerful beings and only be discovered at the Black Pottery Forest Range?
From the time Lan Xiaobu left the alchemy competition square to his appearance at the Black Pottery Forest Range, less than a day had passed.
Not to mention how he got there, the divine sense imprints on Lan Xiaobu's body wouldn't have been so easily removed.
He hadn't placed a divine sense imprint on Lan Xiaobu, but he was certain Sang Buxia had.
Besides Sang Buxia, the other three Immortal Court Kings had also placed imprints.
That much he knew, but there might be others he hadn't detected.
Liu Ming shook his head.
Regardless of the outcome, Lan Xiaobu was unlikely to survive.
What a pity for such a talented alchemist.
...
The arrival of the four Immortal Court Kings and a group of powerful figures at the Black Pottery Forest Range immediately caused a stir.
In the Mo Xian Immortal Domain, over ninety percent of beast tides originated from the Black Pottery Forest Range.
In terms of area, the Black Pottery Forest Range covered more than a third of the entire Mo Xian Immortal Domain, home to countless immortal beasts.
There had been numerous beast tides in the past, where endless waves of immortal beasts surged out of the Black Pottery Forest Range, leaving no immortal city or sect unscathed.
Later, with the rise of the Mo Xuan Path Immortal City, any beast tide from the Black Pottery Forest Range would first strike the Mo Xuan Path Immortal City.
The city was filled with powerful cultivators and protected by an eighth-grade peak immortal formation, making it impossible for the beast tide to breach its defenses.
As long as the first wave of the beast tide was held back, reinforcements from across the Mo Xian Immortal Domain would arrive to help defend against the tide.
Several beast tides had been crushed before they even began, and over time, the frequency of such events decreased.
In recent millennia, there had been almost no beast tides.
The cultivators of the Mo Xian Immortal Domain knew that the absence of beast tides didn't mean the immortal beasts of the Black Pottery Forest Range feared them.
It was simply that the beasts didn't want to engage in futile efforts.
However, if the Mo Xian Immortal Domain provoked the Black Pottery Forest Range, another beast tide could very well occur.
...
Lan Xiaobu, an eighth-grade immortal formation master, knew immediately upon entering the Black Bone Swamp that he was in a natural forbidden formation.
He wasn't sure how Cheng Yin Yao knew the safe paths and entry points of this natural forbidden formation, but once inside, Lan Xiaobu realized that even as an eighth-grade immortal formation master, without Cheng Yin Yao's guidance, he would eventually sink into the swamp.
Walking through the Black Bone Swamp wasn't as simple as stepping on solid ground.
Some areas appeared solid, but stepping on them would plunge you into the swamp, never to rise again.
Other areas looked like swamps but were actually safe to step on.
Similarly, the distribution of immortal spiritual energy here was peculiar.
Some areas were incredibly rich in immortal spiritual energy, while others were as barren as a mundane world.
(End of Chapter)