Chapter Eight: Meeting Zhang Junbao on the Road [At Last, the Second Chapter Arrives]

“How fascinating. Jett, bring the ship into orbit around this planet and use every scanning method available—infrared, X-rays, you name it. Let’s see what exactly is down there: whether it’s a person or something else entirely!” Tang Yi reclined halfway in his chair, issuing the command to the ship through voice.

The ship swept the planet’s surface repeatedly from orbit, employing all manner of scans. Finally, a figure was detected. The image on the main screen was clear: the being appeared to be a cultivator as well, and quite a handsome one at that.

“Jett, beam him up with the transporter,” Tang Yi stood up, ready to welcome this good-looking stranger.

…

On this nameless minor planet, Zhang Junbao had lived in seclusion for a thousand years. From the early Nascent Soul stage, he had long since advanced to the late Tribulation stage. The planet’s harsh environment had only accelerated his cultivation. Today, fully prepared, he was about to begin his tribulation. Yet, just as he was about to release the cultivation base he had suppressed for so long, a web of light enveloped him, instantly surrounding his body and, in a blink, whisking him away.

“Hm? Where am I? How did I get here? Who are you people? Could it be that I failed my tribulation and died? No, that can’t be—I hadn’t even started!” Zhang Junbao found himself in a completely unfamiliar place, confronted by several people smiling at him, feeling somewhat dizzy.

“Heh, sorry about this. My name is Tang Yi. I brought you here without your consent, but I just wanted to chat about your cultivation experiences on that planet. I hope you won’t hold it against me?” Tang Yi grinned at Zhang Junbao. Zhang Junbao was at a loss. This speaker seemed to be the weakest among them—except for Hua Ruoxue, of course. Yet he also seemed to be their leader, and there was something inexplicably trustworthy about him. Though it was their first meeting, Tang Yi gave off the air of a reliable friend. In truth, this was due to Tang Yi’s superpower, which he subconsciously projected to lower others’ defenses during conversation.

“Er…” Zhang Junbao was rather bewildered by Tang Yi’s approach. “I am Zhang Junbao. May I ask why you brought me here? I was just about to undergo my tribulation.”

“Zhang Junbao? You’re not that Zhang Junbao—Zhang Sanfeng of Tai Chi fame, are you? And you said you’re about to undergo your tribulation? Where are your seven disciples? Has Zhang Wuji shown up?” Tang Yi fired off a rapid string of questions, leaving Zhang Junbao utterly confused, as if thunder were rumbling past his ears.

“Wait, Fellow Daoist Tang, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Seven disciples? Zhang Wuji? I’ve never heard of them. As for this Zhang Sanfeng you mentioned, the cultivation technique I practice is indeed called the Tai Chi Daoist Method, but I’ve never heard of any Zhang Sanfeng. Still, ‘Sanfeng’ is a fine courtesy name. Yes, from now on, Zhang Junbao—courtesy name, Sanfeng. Ha! Thank you, Fellow Daoist Tang. I’ve long been troubled over what courtesy name to take.”

And thus, Zhang Junbao adopted the name Zhang Sanfeng.

“…What on earth is going on?” Tang Yi was left speechless. “Very well, Fellow Daoist Zhang Sanfeng, to show my sincerity, please accept this ring. Take it as my apology. As for your tribulation, I’ve heard it’s not guaranteed to succeed. Why not postpone it for now? Let me ask you a few things, then you can resume your tribulation.” Tang Yi handed Zhang Sanfeng one of the first batch of storage rings. Zhang Sanfeng probed it with his spiritual power, discovering its unique properties, and secretly rejoiced. He nodded vigorously at Tang Yi’s words, paying little attention to what was actually being said.

At Tang Yi’s invitation, Zhang Sanfeng joined them for dinner. Afterward, Tang Yi invited him alone to a lavish reception room for a private conversation. Under the influence of Tang Yi’s superpower, Zhang Sanfeng revealed the truth behind the strange entities’ invasion.

“So that’s how it is. But to be honest, I don’t recognize a single one of these names or numbers you mentioned,” Tang Yi remarked after listening.

“Fellow Daoist Tang, you can’t be blamed. After all, you’ve never spent time in the Pegasus Galaxy. However, since you mentioned going to capture those entities, I must urge you not to. They are extremely sinister and dangerous—even cultivators at the Great Ascension stage can’t deal with them, let alone…” Zhang Sanfeng trailed off, unwilling to hurt Tang Yi’s pride.

“Heh, Brother Sanfeng, don’t worry. If you trust me, why not join us in capturing a few of these entities for fun? You should have guessed my abilities by now—I transported you onto this ship without a sound. That’s not something an ordinary Great Ascension cultivator could do. You might even call it an immortal technique, wouldn’t you agree?” Tang Yi continued to tempt Zhang Sanfeng, using his superpower.

After a long deliberation, Zhang Sanfeng finally nodded. “Very well, Fellow Daoist Tang. It’s been ages since I last saw those entities. It was because of them that I secluded myself on that forsaken planet. This time, I can finally settle the score. I’ll go with you to the Horse Tail Star.”

“Exactly! A grudge like that must be avenged,” Tang Yi said happily, his plan achieved. He mused, “Heh, with a cultivator on the verge of the Great Ascension stage, things will be much easier for me.”

“Fellow Daoist Tang, what about Yi Mi Shui and the others? They’re still in the cultivation world and haven’t ascended. What will we do?” Zhang Sanfeng asked cautiously.

“Don’t worry, even if all five of them came, I wouldn’t be concerned,” Tang Yi replied with great arrogance.

The ship made its way, stopping here and there to collect materials and rare plants. Eventually, Tang Yi and his companions arrived at Horse Tail Star. By then, the ship’s cultivation chamber was filled with all manner of wondrous plants.

The ship hovered directly above the ancient teleportation array. On the main screen, the grotesque entities could be seen clearly. The cultivators guarding the ancient formation all looked up at the unidentified craft, speculating endlessly.

“Ugh, that’s disgusting! I’m not looking at that!” Hua Ruoxue caught sight of one of the entities just as it spewed some green, half-solid, half-liquid substance from its trunk-like nose. She nearly vomited on the spot, fled to her room, and sternly warned Tang Yi and the others never to let her see those things again—not even a glimpse.

Tang Yi smiled, unconcerned, and addressed the ship, “Jett, activate the high-security bio-containment protocols and formations in Sector D. Then, use the transporter to beam up three entities: one that can fly, one small, and one giant.”

“Beep. Highest-level command received… Advanced containment array activated… High-risk observation area prepared… Initiating transporter…”

The entities trapped in the ancient formation were as oblivious as ever, unaware that their misfortune was about to begin.