Chapter 147: Sea Reef Guard

Xuantiandalu, Dongsheng Shenzhou, Aolai Kingdom.

On the sea surface more than a thousand li away from the mainland, there was a sea reef about ten zhang in diameter, named Horseshoe Reef.

Built on Horseshoe Reef was a small stilt house, in which lived a sturdy, dark-skinned youth.

This youth was named Zhao Donglai, originally an outer sect disciple of the Yinghai Sect, the largest cultivation sect in Aolai Kingdom.

After cultivating for more than ten years, Zhao Donglai had yet to break through the Foundation Establishment stage, so he was sent to this Horseshoe Reef to be a reef guard.

Zhao Donglai had been guarding for three years.

For three years, he had been alone, guarding the reef.

For three years, he had not seen another outsider.

Here, besides the vast and misty seawater, there was only boundless loneliness.

At dusk, Zhao Donglai, as usual, stared blankly at the hexagonal altar in the center of the reef.

Staring blankly was Zhao Donglai's greatest hobby. Staring blankly could let him forget time, forget loneliness.

Time passed slowly.

Zhao Donglai bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, like an immovable statue.

Good times are always short.

At the moment the setting sun fell into the sea, the originally calm sea surface rippled with waves.

At the same time, Horseshoe Reef shook violently.

The shaking woke Zhao Donglai.

"Strange, could there be an earthquake?"

Zhao Donglai muttered to himself.

Although he felt strange, he did not have the slightest panic.

As a cultivator, with no hope of advancement and few days left, what was there to be afraid of?

The sea reef shook for a moment and then stopped.

The surroundings returned to tranquility.

Zhao Donglai shook his head, preparing to return to the house.

Just at the moment he turned around, the star rays of the altar lit up.

Immediately following, a pillar of light shot into the sky, piercing the firmament.

The pillar of light vanished in an instant.

Zhao Donglai stared fixedly at the altar.

His eyes were wide as copper bells, and his mouth was open wide enough to fit an egg.

Two people had appeared out of thin air on the altar.

The moment he opened his eyes, Zhang Xingyu saw the petrified Zhao Donglai.

Truly a strange person.

Zhang Xingyu shook his head and turned to size up the surroundings.

Seawater, sea reef, stilt house.

It seems he was teleported to a reef.

There are people on the reef, it seems it won't be too far from the mainland.

That night, Zhang Xingyu and the other stayed on Horseshoe Reef.

Blowing the sea breeze, eating grilled fish, and listening to Zhao Donglai recount his past.

"Junior Brother Zhang, our Yinghai Sect is the number one cultivation sect in Aolai Kingdom. It's just that my aptitude is dull, and I have never been able to enter the Foundation Establishment stage; I am ashamed, ashamed."

"Junior Brother Zhang, I really want to return to the sect to cultivate. Alone on this reef, there isn't even anyone to talk to; it will bore a person to death."

"Junior Brother Zhang, the girl I like is Junior Sister Hao Yu. Junior Sister Hao Yu is naturally beautiful, gentle, and virtuous; she is truly the perfect cultivation partner on the path of cultivation..."

Zhao Donglai's story lasted all night.

When the morning light shone on Horseshoe Reef, his mouth still hadn't stopped.

Zhang Xingyu rubbed his eyes and stood up lightly.

"Senior Brother Zhao, you've been talking all night; is your throat okay?" Zhang Xingyu asked.

"It's fine, it's fine; it's rare that little friend Kaixin likes to listen." Zhao Donglai replied.

Zhang Xingyu looked at Zhang Kaixin, then looked at Zhao Donglai, and gave a thumbs up.

After washing his face and eating, Zhang Xingyu decided to bid farewell to Zhao Donglai.

"Senior Brother Zhao, let us part here."

Zhao Donglai was full of reluctance.

"Junior Brother Zhang, stay for another day; I haven't talked to anyone for three years!"

"This..."

Unable to resist Zhao Donglai's sincere and eager gaze, Zhang Xingyu had no choice but to agree.

"Junior Brother Zhang, let me tell you..." Seeing Zhang Xingyu agree, Zhao Donglai prepared to tell his tragic story again.

Zhang Xingyu quickly stopped him.

Sadness is contagious.

He didn't want to feel sadness, nor did he want to be depressed and low.

"Senior Brother Zhao, what plans do you have for the future?" Zhang Xingyu asked.

"I don't know. Perhaps, I have no future." As he spoke, Zhao Donglai's eyes dimmed, and his expression became low.

"Junior Brother Zhang, do you think I am very useless? Cultivating for ten years, using three Foundation Establishment Pills, yet failing to establish a foundation, and being treated as trash in the sect?"

Zhang Xingyu shook his head.

"Senior Brother Zhao, you tell it so tragically, are you trying to win my sympathy?" Zhang Xingyu asked with a sidelong glance.

Zhao Donglai was silent.

"Senior Brother Zhao, you were able to enter a major cultivation sect like the Yinghai Sect; your aptitude must be extraordinary, right?"

Zhao Donglai shook his head.

"I have three spiritual roots, with wood as the main, and water and earth as auxiliary. My parents were both inner sect disciples of the Yinghai Sect, and I grew up in the sect since I was a child. When I was ten, my parents unfortunately died while performing a sect mission. Since then, I was sent to the outer sect..."

Seeing signs that Zhao Donglai was about to recount his tragic story again, Zhang Xingyu quickly stopped him.

"Senior Brother Zhao, do you know my spiritual roots?"

Without waiting for Zhao Donglai to speak, Zhang Xingyu gave the answer: "Hidden Spiritual Root, which is to say, a Waste Spiritual Root."

"Senior Brother Zhao, do you know how long I have been cultivating?"

Without waiting for Zhao Donglai to speak, Zhang Xingyu gave the answer: "Three years, less than three years since stepping into cultivation."

"Senior Brother Zhao, do you know where I cultivate?"

Without waiting for Zhao Donglai to speak, Zhang Xingyu gave the answer again: "Immortal Academy, an Immortal Academy with only trash techniques."

"Senior Brother Zhao, do you know my current realm?"

This time, Zhang Xingyu did not speak first.

"Qi Refining Second Layer?" Zhao Donglai asked weakly.

Zhang Xingyu shook his head lightly: "Wrong."

"Qi Refining Fourth Layer?" Zhao Donglai asked softly.

Zhang Xingyu shook his head lightly: "Too low."

"Could it be Qi Refining Sixth Layer?" Zhao Donglai asked in disbelief.

Zhang Xingyu shook his head lightly: "Too low, way too low."

He had no interest in keeping Zhao Donglai in suspense anymore and gave the answer directly.

"I have a Hidden Spiritual Root, have cultivated for three years, and my current realm is Foundation Establishment Mid-stage!"

Zhao Donglai was petrified again.

After a long time, he muttered: "How is this possible, how is this possible."

Zhang Xingyu patted his shoulder: "Senior Brother Zhao, everything is possible."

"Cultivation, this thing, spiritual root aptitude is indeed important. However, if the innate is insufficient, the acquired can compensate. As long as you are not afraid of difficulties, work hard continuously, and add a little bit of opportunity, even a poor spiritual root can establish a foundation."

A flash of light appeared in Zhao Donglai's eyes.

He lowered his head, supported his chin, and fell into deep thought.

Zhang Xingyu smiled and turned to leave.

Let him be the "Thinker"; I'm going fishing.

Drawing the flying sword Fire Dragon, Zhang Xingyu whispered: "Good treasure, grow, grow, grow, thin, thin, thin."

Fire Dragon changed in response.

If Fire Dragon had consciousness, if it knew Zhang Xingyu's thoughts, it would definitely be so angry it would vomit blood.

Using a high-grade magic treasure to spear fish, you actually thought of that.

Zhang Xingyu carried the transformed Fire Dragon and walked to the shore, preparing to begin his great fish-spearing undertaking.

Just at this moment, Zhang Kaixin suddenly shouted loudly: "Look quickly, there's a shooting star in the sky."

In broad daylight, where would a shooting star come from?

This little guy lacks common sense; I'll have to give him a lesson later.

This thought had just formed in his mind when Zhao Donglai's shout came to his ears again.

"People are here, the sect has finally sent people."

Zhang Xingyu followed the sound and looked.

He saw several colorful sword lights speeding over from where the sea met the sky.

Seeing that people were coming, Zhang Xingyu put away the Fire Dragon.

A treasure like the Fire Dragon should not be easily revealed to others.

Before long, the sword lights landed on Horseshoe Reef, and several cultivators with fluttering clothes stepped down from their flying swords.

Leading them was an old Daoist, with a youthful face and white hair, a dignified appearance, and wearing a pine and crane Daoist robe.

As soon as this person stepped off the flying sword, he asked Zhang Xingyu and the other three coldly: "Are you the disciples stationed here?"

Before Zhang Xingyu could answer, Zhao Donglai had already replied excitedly: "Exactly. Disciple Zhao Donglai, has been ordered to be stationed here for three years, five months, and five days."

The old Daoist nodded, then asked again: "Did you see any strange phenomena last night?"

Zhao Donglai nodded and replied loudly: "Last night, golden light shot into the sky from the altar, and someone came riding on the light through the clouds." ===== CHAPTER 148 =====