Chapter 643: My Dear Ticking Time Bomb
The area that housed the pagoda was close to a hectare large and there were 4 entrances directly leading up the pagoda. Experts from all directions were streaming over from different parts of the island.
The members of the Tongyou Institution weren’t in a hurry to get in. They raised their heads in unison as they observed the giant tower.
A low chuckle left Shang Xia’s lips. “Even though we haven’t gone in, I believe that the rumors of the interior being a mysterious world are true.”
Liu Qinglan swept her gaze over the experts who had gathered and muttered, “There seems to be some sort of barrier around the entrance of the Three Unity Pagoda. Cultivators under the Martial Extermination Realm definitely won’t be able to enter.”
“We expected as much.” Shang Xia laughed.
“Alright. Let’s head in.” Liu Qinglan eventually spoke. However, she saw that Shang Xia was standing completely still and she didn’t continue walking. She turned to look at him. “What’s wrong?”
The corners of Shang Xia’s lips curled upwards as he replied, “I think I see someone I know. You guys can head on in first. I’ll be right there.”
Chu Jia wanted to ask Shang Xia what he was about to do, but Liu Qinglan pulled her by the sleeves before speaking on her behalf. “Alright. Don’t waste too much time. We’ll enter the pagoda and wait for you there.”
After speaking, she continued to drag Chu Jia in the direction of the entrance. Yun Yichen and the others smiled at Shang Xia before following behind Liu Qinglan.
Turning abruptly, Shang Xia started to head in a certain direction that led back to the street.
A hundred or so feet away from where the members of the Tongyou Institution once stood, there were 4 Martial Extermination Realm experts making their way to another entrance of the pagoda while chatting happily with each other.
Suddenly, one of them froze for a second and he didn’t keep up with the others.
“Junior Brother Zheng?” The person who was leading the way immediately detected his strange actions and turned to look at him.
Zheng Chang reacted quickly. Acting as though nothing was wrong, he muttered, “Senior Brothers, please go ahead. I seem to have seen someone I’m familiar with. I’ll catch up.”
Glancing at their surroundings, the person in the lead didn’t know who Zheng Chang was talking about but he replied anyway. “Make it quick. Don’t waste too much time.”
“Senior Brother, please rest assured. I’ve been looking forward to the trade fair for a long time. I know what I have to do.” Zheng Chang laughed.
After they left, Zheng Chang’s expression sank immediately. He hurriedly ran over to the street covered by many residences where he saw a young man who was slightly older than 20 smiling at him.
“Brother Zheng, it’s been a while since we last met in the Manyu Continent!”
Obviously, the person who greeted him was Shang Xia, and he had been waiting for some time now.
Instinctively, Zheng Chang wanted to cup his fists to show his respect, but his expression changed the next second. A look of anger flashed across his face. “Seni… You’re Young Master Shang from the Tongyou Institution of the You Continent. Hmph, yeah, long time no see.”
Raising an eyebrow slightly, Shang Xia was slightly surprised that Zheng Chang found out who he was. “Oh? Looks like Brother Zheng Chang learned about me.”
With the corners of his eye twitching, Zheng Chang growled, “Of course. Our Great Young Master Shang of the Tongyou Institution isn’t some nameless cultivator. Is it strange for me to know of your identity?”
Shang Xia glanced at him from the corner of his eye before speaking indifferently, “Oh. Seeing how enthusiastic you seem to be right now, I don’t think you managed to get rid of the restriction I placed on your dantian. I wonder if you have a better idea of it right now?”
“You!” Zheng Chang nearly lost control of his emotions but he managed to suppress his fury when he saw the indifferent yet terrifying smile on the youngster’s face before him. Gritting his teeth, he responded, “What do you want?!”
“Oh? I don’t want anything. I just wish to catch up with an old friend.” Shang Xia spoke casually. “If not for the fact that I ran into you here, I would have forgotten that I still had such a nice acquaintance in the Lushan Sect!”
Zheng Chang lowered his voice and muttered, “Don’t think that you can mess around with me just because of the restriction you placed on my dantian. If you push me far enough, I’ll just go all out and we can both suffer together!”
A light chuckle left Shang Xia’s lips. Shooting Zheng Chang a deep gaze, Shang Xia said, “Brother Zheng, relax. There’s no need to go all out, and no one needs to suffer. Don’t scare yourself.”
“What the hell do you want?!” Zheng Chang’s temples thumped in annoyance and he growled angrily at Shang Xia.
“Well, there’s nothing much. I was planning to catch up, and also check on the Four Constellation Restriction on your dantian. Seems like it didn’t get worse… Brother Zheng Chang, you’re really careful alright. Looks like you didn’t try to mess with it…” A wide smile formed on Shang Xia’s face.
Zheng Chang’s temples throbbed even harder and his veins could be seen protruding on his forehead.
“Oh yeah, and also…” Shang Xia thought for a second before adding, “I wonder what the members of the Lushan Sect brought to join the trade fair this time?”
Raising his head abruptly, Zheng Chang snapped, “What the hell are you playing at?! That’s the treasures of my sect you’re asking about!”
Sniggering softly, Shang Xia replied slowly, “Brother Zheng, there’s no need to get so worked up. I merely plan to make a trade with you in advance since we managed to run into each other before the trade fair started. Not to worry, I won’t let you suffer a disadvantage in our trade!”
Seeing the look of doubt on Zheng Chang’s face, Shang Xia sighed softly, “Brother Zheng, you’re an important figure in your sect. I have to make full use of you. Not to worry, I definitely won’t kill my golden goose. Wouldn’t it be better for me to leave you alone so as to achieve greater goals in the future?”
The anxious expression on Zheng Chang’s face loosened up to a large extent after hearing what Shang Xia had said. A sneer left his lips. “Heh, seems like you’re really up to no good. Are you plotting against my sect?”
“Brother Zheng, don’t refuse a toast, only to drink a forfeit. I have been more than patient with you.”
A cold smile remained on Zheng Chang’s face for some time and he wanted to continue speaking. However, when he finally met Shang Xia’s gaze again, all the courage he managed to gather deflated immediately. He quickly shifted his gaze away and muttered, “What do you wish to know?”
“Fate dipper essence, rank five spiritual treasures. High-level talisman paper, talisman ink, or treasures like that. Just let me take a look at whatever you have. I will definitely give you a fair price if I wish to trade any of them with you.” Shang Xia spoke slowly.
Glancing at Shang Xia, a trace of doubt remained in Zheng Chang’s eyes. However, he could see that Shang Xia was being really sincere.
Lowering his head slightly, Zheng Chang explained, “Our Lushan Sect sent my senior brothers and me over to the Three Unity Island to take part in the trade fair. All the treasures were spread between us. I only have a small portion of it and the most important stuff is with my Senior Brother Tang.”
Zheng Chang brought out 4 sealed spiritual cases as he spoke.
Looking at the cases he brought out, Shang Xia sighed, “Brother Zheng, get rid of the restrictions and let me take a look.”
With his eyes widening slightly, Zheng Chang took a step back in caution.
However, Shang Xia’s figure had already blurred as it arrived right before him. A hand pressed down firmly against his shoulders.
No one can make a move on the Three Unity Island!
Even though Zheng Chang’s first instinct was to resist, the strange ball of qi Shang Xia placed in his dantian started to spread around. His face paled and the inner qi he was about to rouse scattered. Shang Xia’s hand was still placed on his shoulders but they looked more like they were great friends exchanging a greeting.
A soft whisper that couldn’t be heard by anyone else entered Zheng Chang’s ears. “Previously, my cultivation wasn’t sufficient and I could only use such a simple and crude method to lay down a restriction in your dantian. I apologize for nearly harming Brother Zheng!”
As soon as the words left his lips, Zheng Chang felt another strange feeling invading his body. It was also a stream of foreign extermination qi, but he wasn’t able to resist it in the slightest. It entered his dantian directly and interacted with the ball of qi Shang Xia placed before. They fused together the next second.
“Oh? Brother Zheng, you’ve been hiding your cultivation! You have already refined your third extermination origin and you should be considered a qualified expert in the Martial Extermination Realm now.” Shang Xia discovered what Zheng Chang was trying to hide immediately.
Zheng Chang’s face turned as white as a sheet the next instant.