Chapter 2469

Du Zhishan, beneath the Ghost Claw Locust.

Miscellaneous laborer Shangguan Biao ran in small quick steps, head down, blending into the crowd.

Everyone was busy watching the excitement in the distance; no one noticed his approach.

Soon, Li Yun led the crowd over, and some outsider cultivators also arrived, causing a great commotion behind the Medicine Rock. Shangguan Biao simply climbed onto the branches of the Ghost Claw Locust to observe the battlefield.

The man who gave him two choices was indeed the invader.

The stone men appeared.

Then the Earth Mother also appeared……

As everyone watched dazzled, the Earth Mother and the outsiders mysteriously vanished from the spot, leaving only the people of Changfeng Valley staring at each other, bewildered about what had happened.

The Medicine Rock lay shattered on the ground, countless spiritual herbs destroyed.

In this Du Zhishan, let alone a menial worker damaging spiritual herbs—even growing a few yellow leaves would invite scolding and fines, lightly a torrent of abuse and docked wages, heavily two beatings that split skin and flesh.

But now, with spiritual herbs ruined across the land, the immortals of Changfeng Valley gathered by the Medicine Rock to discuss, too lazy to even glance at it.

To the menials, this was a heaven-shaking matter; to the immortals of Changfeng Valley, not even a sesame seed counted.

In other words, his work, his diligent effort and sweat, meant nothing to his superiors.

Shangguan Biao once again felt what it meant to be worlds apart.

Li Yun, surrounded by the crowd, showed visible agitation.

Du Zhishan had seen such a major event tonight; as for them, they didn't even catch the invader, let alone figure out where the other side came from.

Shangguan Biao watched him, quietly pressing the wave drum in his bosom.

Returning it to Li Yun might earn him a reward. But he had no intention of foolishly handing it over; he wanted to wait for a better opportunity.

The chance to change one's fate comes only once; he must seize it well.

Gazing at the mess all around, he again thought of that mysterious person who called himself "Fate," unable to help wondering: if he had chosen the Profound Crystal, he would likely have already left Du Zhishan, gone to the sect's garrison to handle redemption—no, to handle withdrawal procedures.

He had truly seen others complete the withdrawal process, return to their hometowns to live peacefully. Changfeng Valley's grand gate still carried this credibility.

Such liberation's joy was also a great temptation to him, but he restrained himself.

Because "Fate" had already prompted him to understand clearly what he truly wanted.

And just a few dozen breaths later, rainbow light flickered on the horizon, then everyone knelt down; Shangguan Biao also hurried down from the tree, kneeling together, because——

Changfeng Valley Sect Master Wang Ye arrives!

All disciples were excited, for most had never seen the legendary Sect Master Wang, this supreme helmsman of Changfeng Valley.

Indeed, indeed, he bore the immortal bones and celestial grace, benevolent and awe-inspiring as everyone imagined!

"What exactly happened at Du Zhishan? Where did these foreign invaders come from?"

Before Shangguan Biao stood Li Yun, who had always seemed a transcendent hermit; now he too was respectful, reporting the incident to Sect Master Wang.

The more Wang Ye listened, the tighter his brows furrowed.

"The Earth Mother seems to have awakened, but was then dragged underground? The enemy also vanished together?" he said to Li Yun, "Where is the wave drum? You summoned the Earth Mother—I'll ask it."

Among the entire sect, only three artifacts can borrow the Earth Mother's power; their usual function is to communicate with the Earth Mother. Wang Ye also possesses one, but having come from elsewhere, he did not bring it.

Li Yun choked, paused for two seconds, then whispered softly: "Sect Master Uncle, please forgive me!"

Xu Liangye hurried forward a step, voice lowered even more: "That thief ambushed Li Shushu, broke his arm, and seized the Earth Mother's artifact!"

Wang Ye turned his back to the crowd; only Li Yun saw his gaze turn icy cold.

Trash! Not even clarifying the enemy's origin, and the sect's treasure was taken by them!

Li Yun, stared down by him, lowered his head, a chill running down his back.

Disaster! Losing the Earth Mother's treasure is a grave fault; the Sect Master will likely punish him severely, and those with ill intentions in the sect will still kick him when he's down.

But just then, a loud voice rang out from the outskirts, heard by all:

"Sect Master, Li Shushu!"

Then someone squeezed out of the crowd, running toward this place.

Several disciples immediately stepped forward to block: "Halt!"

Wang Ye turned his head, his expression softening again: "No matter, let him come."

The comer was precisely Shangguan Biao.

Seeing Sect Master Wang up close, he too was excited, thudding to his knees and performing the full great salute on the spot.

"What is your name?"

"Shangguan Biao! I was originally a disciple of Tang Lin Zi Cave Master, later came to Du Zhishan to work." His voice was loud, so everyone present could hear clearly.

"Hmm, what do you have to report?"

Shangguan Biao immediately produced the wave drum from his bosom, holding it with both hands above his head: "I just picked this up; hearing that Li Shushu was injured, I knew it should be returned to its rightful owner."

Li Yun was moved, while Wang Ye reached out and took the wave drum, noticing a bit of blood still on the handle.

This was originally the treasure he had given to Li Yun; one look and he knew.

"Where did you pick it up?"

Several shattered stones from the Medicine Rock had rolled to the edge of the three rows of houses; Shangguan Biao pointed to them: "I found it between these two stones."

This spot was also where that mysterious person vanished.

He didn't need to explain why the mysterious person left this wave drum; the advantage of his lowly status and cultivation now showed—no one would actively demand such an answer from him, for they'd surely assume he didn't know the reason.

In any case, the wave drum snatched from Li Yun by the mysterious person was retrieved by Shangguan Biao; the sect did not suffer the loss of this artifact.

Whether Wang Ye or Li Yun, neither believed Shangguan Biao could have any connection with the invading enemy. The enemy's cultivation was high—could this lowly menial possibly climb to their level?

Those invaders vanished too abruptly; the likelihood they didn't have time to take this wave drum is greatest. Besides, this thing is only useful in Du Zhishan; taken elsewhere, it's merely a broken toy.

Wang Ye swept his gaze across the surroundings; Changfeng Valley disciples numbered at least three to four hundred.

He then returned the wave drum to Li Yun, while saying to Shangguan Biao: "You were originally a disciple of Tang Lin Zi?"

"Yes!"

"You did well today, attending to the sect's urgent needs! Then go back to Lin Zi's place."

Wang Ye still had many matters to attend to, no time to bother with this little disciple, so he made the decision directly.

"Yes!" Shangguan Biao bent his waist almost double, shouting loudly, "Thank you, Sect Master!"

"Alright, you may go first." Wang Ye still had things to do.

Shangguan Biao also knew when to retreat, stepping back a few steps before turning and walking back into the crowd.

Success! He had seized the best opportunity, from now on he could break free from Du Zhishan and return to the right path!

Li Yun also took the chance to glance at him.

Before the Sect Master Wang arrived, I had been standing here for a long time, Shangguan Biao neither offering early nor late, but specifically waiting for Sect Master Wang to arrive before stepping forward to show off—this intention isn't obvious?

Readers, don't leave yet, there's an extra chapter coming~