Chapter 6: Scheming Against Zhangliu

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye!

During these ten days, Mengchen had been cultivating diligently.

Although he appeared lackadaisical in front of others, his private efforts were no less than anyone else's.

Finally, the time arrived, and he was about to set off for the so-called Profound Gate to participate in the Xuanyu Genius Tournament.

"This Xuanyu young genius competition gathers heroes; everyone who appears will be a top-tier disciple from the major sects. You must treat every opponent with seriousness and never be arrogant!" Before departure, Jinchanzi warned him sternly.

Regarding such serious words, Mengchen followed his usual style, letting them go in one ear and out the other, not taking them to heart at all.

He just stood there, looking around on his own, wanting to know what kind of people would be on this trip.

When it was time to depart, Mengchen was stunned to discover that, apart from him, only one person was accompanying him.

He knew this person, who was quite famous throughout the Western Sect, named Zhangliu, a powerhouse in the Array Formation Realm.

The Array Formation Realm is three levels higher than the Dongtian Realm.

He looked middle-aged, wore a grey monk's robe, had a string of egg-sized black beads around his neck, and possessed thick brows and large eyes, looking quite imposing.

Clearly, this person was sent to watch over him, to prevent him from running away halfway and never returning.

In this vast Western Sect, they only sent one person to participate?

Mengchen was a bit disappointed; this one-on-one surveillance really made it hard to stir up trouble!

He couldn't muddy the waters now.

It seemed he would have to think of other ways.

"Disciples from sects like the Ageless Mountain, as well as a group of descendants of Primordial Remnants, have already set off under the escort of their clansmen."

Sending out powerhouses to protect their descendants—it seemed that those sent out were indeed elite disciples from all the major top-tier forces and clans.

Jinchanzi continued solemnly: "Since you are competing on behalf of our sect, we naturally won't let you lose face, so this time we specifically had Zhangliu escort you."

Mengchen swept a look of disdain over Jinchanzi, his heart perfectly clear.

Calling it an escort was just a nicer way of putting it; in reality, it was surveillance to prevent him from betraying the sect and fleeing.

"I will emphasize one more point: in this genius tournament, you may encounter cubs of Primordial Remnants and very powerful peers. Remember to restrain yourself; do not make too many enemies, lest you be ganged up on!"

Jinchanzi's emphasis was not without reason; although Mengchen's strength was great, his lackadaisical, arrogant words and actions made it very easy to offend people.

"Alright, I know," Mengchen responded half-heartedly.

Facing Jinchanzi's few words, he already appeared very impatient.

If you don't listen to the words of the elders, you will suffer the consequences!

So be it! Let the world teach him how to behave!

Jinchanzi did not want to waste any more breath.

Finally, they arrived at the sect's Teleportation Array, and after several monks placed the bones of Primordial Remnants, they formed strange hand seals.

As the treasure light and Runes circulated, with a boom, a seven-colored light curtain shot up, and a passage gradually formed within it.

After the construction was successful, Mengchen stepped into the passage impatiently.

Although he had no previous experience entering a Teleportation Array, the thought of leaving this place immediately made him unable to care about slowly exploring or adapting.

Zhangliu followed closely, and the two disappeared from the Western Sect entirely.

Inside the passage, colorful light flickered, and all kinds of complex symbols appeared, like stars dotting the sky, making the place mysterious and peaceful.

Being inside it felt like being in a time tunnel, with time passing in an instant.

Under this high-speed travel within the passage, it felt as if the physical body and the soul were about to be stripped apart.

It was a strange sensation, as if someone were walking in front while the soul was chasing from behind.

This trip through the teleportation passage did not take long, about a quarter of an hour; as the Runes shone and colorful light steamed, a glowing portal appeared ahead—they had reached the end of the road.

Although it only took half a quarter of an hour, for Mengchen, who was stepping into a Teleportation Array for the first time, it felt as long as a lifetime, with vast amounts of time slipping away in an instant.

Bone texts intertwined and shone, exceptionally brilliant, and the dense, shining Runes were like Divine Fire burning, constructing a mysterious portal.

Mengchen stepped out and let out a long breath; the fresh air seeped into his heart and spleen, and a feeling of incomparable comfort instantly surged through his whole body.

It was better to have his feet on solid ground; this was his first feeling after coming out.

After Zhangliu walked out, the Rune portal behind them gradually blurred, light rain scattered, and it disappeared from there.

"Is this it?" Mengchen looked back and surveyed the surroundings, staring at the dense crowd of human and beast figures, lost in thought.

There are too many people here...

He saw dense figures that stretched beyond sight.

While he was lost in thought, Zhangliu, who was at his side, stepped forward and said: "Naturally, we have arrived. My Western Sect is a top-tier great sect in Xuanyu; the sect's Teleportation Array can reach any place one wishes to go."

"Tch..." Mengchen expressed contempt.

As he looked up, seeing the bustling crowd, he suddenly had a whimsical idea, thinking he might be able to find an opportunity to escape.

"Since you think the Western Sect is a top-tier great sect, then tell me, in Xuanyu, how does my Western Sect compare to other sects in terms of strength?"

Mengchen looked sideways and asked Zhangliu beside him, his voice not quiet, instantly attracting the attention of many people.

Hearing this, a flash of brilliance crossed Zhangliu's eyes, and a look of smugness appeared on his face.

With his hands behind his back, he was already somewhat carried away and said very excitedly: "I dare not speak for the other seven domains, but here in Xuanyu, apart from the Ageless Mountain, my Western Sect considers itself second, and no one dares to claim first."

Once these words were spoken, they immediately aroused the dissatisfaction of many people.

A creature with a human body and a snake tail stepped out, its momentum impressive, its words somewhat sharp: "What a big mouth!"

Its appearance caused the dense creatures around to quickly leave this place of trouble and retreat to the distance to watch.

Then, another flood dragon with three heads swam out, saying with displeasure: "Your Western Sect is indeed very strong, but it does not tolerate a mere Array Formation cultivator like you looking down on us here."

..., people stepped out one after another, having already surrounded Zhangliu and Mengchen.

These creatures are strong! This was Mengchen's intuitive feeling; presumably, these had all reached the Venerable realm.

But fortunately, these people were not targeting him, but rather Zhangliu beside him.

At this moment, under the pressure of numerous powerful beings, Zhangliu of the Array Formation Realm was already drenched in sweat, his heart trembling incessantly.

"Seniors, please calm your anger! This humble monk had no intention of looking down on any of you." Zhangliu explained with a pained expression, bearing the heavy pressure of the Venerables.

Faced with this explanation, those beings did not accept it; they did not want to let the matter rest easily.

"Since the words have been spoken, something must be done about it."

"If your sect leader, Jinchanzi, were here in person, then those words would be said, and we would acknowledge the strength of your Western Sect. But you have forgotten your own status; today, let us teach you a lesson." "Come! Let me see how a cultivator of the Array Formation Realm dares to look down on us."

"We will not bully you with numbers; you may pick any one of us, and if you can withstand a single move from any of us, we will not hold this against you today."

These words from the beings, spoken one after another, reached Zhangliu's ears and filled him with deep dread; these people were all of the Venerable Realm, how could he dare to cross them?

"Damn it!" Zhangliu was now filled with regret, wishing he could slap himself twice; why couldn't he keep his mouth shut?

"Hehe..." Mengchen rejoiced inwardly, "Aren't you proud of the Western Sect? Well, look at that, it has backfired, hasn't it!"

Mengchen then shifted his eyes, appearing bewildered and pitiful, and said: "Seniors, those words came from his mouth; this humble monk is truly innocent!"

"Fine, you little one, step aside." The large snake with three heads spoke.

"Seniors are righteous; you are truly the role models of our generation!"

After Mengchen finished speaking, he turned to leave. As he brushed past Zhangliu, he raised an eyebrow and whispered with a strange grin: "Heehee... good luck! This humble monk cannot help you, so I shall take my leave first."

Hearing his words and observing his demeanor, Zhangliu suddenly realized the truth.

If it weren't for this brat asking questions, he wouldn't have ended up in this situation.

After reacting, he immediately turned around, his fierce expression revealing the anger deep within his heart, and his outstretched finger almost poked Mengchen in the face, "You little beast, so it was you who intentionally harmed me!"

"Hmph! To actually shift the blame onto a junior, it is truly shameful." The snake-headed, human-bodied being snorted coldly.

Having said that, he extended his palm, and an invisible, immense force slammed Zhangliu to the ground.

"Bye-bye to you!"

This was an excellent opportunity to escape, and naturally, he had to seize it.

Mengchen turned and left, quickly disappearing into the crowd and weaving through it rapidly.

"Not good! That brat is trying to escape."

Zhangliu looked at Mengchen, who had vanished into the gaps of the crowd, and immediately felt that things were going wrong.

Before setting out, the sect leader had repeatedly instructed him that he must keep an eye on this rebellious brat!

If he let him run away, how would he account for it upon returning?

"Seniors, this humble monk apologizes for my previous inappropriate remarks! I ask that you please be lenient."

"That brat from just now is the direct disciple of our sect leader; he is intent on betraying the sect and fleeing. I was sent here this time specifically to watch him and prevent his escape."

"But if, because of your obstruction, he manages to escape, our sect leader will certainly not let this go easily."

"I ask that you seniors please show respect for our sect leader and not hold this against me."

Zhangliu's words made these beings no longer as aggressive as before.

Although they did not fear Zhangliu, they dared not disregard the face of the Western Sect's leader.

After all, behind him stood the entire Western Sect.

The status of the Western Sect in the Xuanyu was self-evident; offending Zhangliu was nothing, but if they offended Jinchanzi, it might bring disaster upon themselves and their tribes.

"Very well! We shall give Jinchanzi face today and not hold this against you." A being spoke up.

The other beings agreed in unison, and then the human-bodied, snake-tailed being withdrew his power and released Zhangliu, who had been pressed to the ground.

Recovering his mobility, Zhangliu bowed to the group of beings and then gave chase with all his might.

Soon, the path ahead was blocked; Zhangliu suddenly appeared, his fierce gaze seemingly ready to devour someone.

"Finished so quickly," Mengchen thought to himself, feeling guilty, and then said with a grin: "You're alright, that's truly great."

Zhangliu did not answer!

He strode over, picked Mengchen up as if he were a chick, and jumped toward a mountain ravine.

Facing Zhangliu of the Array Formation Realm, Mengchen of the Grotto-Heaven Realm was unable to resist.

Furthermore, Mengchen was certain that no matter what, he would not dare to do anything to him; if an accident were to happen to him, he would absolutely be unable to answer to that old bald man, Jinchanzi, upon returning.

Before long, Zhangliu carried Mengchen into a mountain cave and threw him hard onto the ground with a backhand motion.

Then he began a series of punches and kicks, all the while cursing and swearing.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

"You little beast, calling you to set me up!"

"Bang, bang, bang..."

"You want to run? I'll let you run to your heart's content!"

"It truly infuriates me!"

After a series of outbursts, Zhangliu stopped, exhaling a long breath as if relieved.

"You dare to hit me like this; aren't you afraid I'll go back and report you?" Mengchen picked himself up, his face covered in bruises.

Sure enough, although Zhangliu was extremely angry, he knew his limits; after the beating, he hadn't used lethal force.

Otherwise, with his cultivation as an Array Formation cultivator, Mengchen would likely be dead or crippled.

"Report me? Go ahead and report me." Zhangliu looked fearless, "You were the one who tried to escape first; the sect leader will certainly not blame me."

These words reminded Mengchen that trying to vent today's frustration by reporting him would not work.

"You just wait; a gentleman does not let a grudge go unavenged! What happens today will be repaid another day." Mengchen widened his eyes in anger, looking somewhat cute and adorable.

"You little beast, die***, f***, s***!" Zhangliu was exasperated and began cursing wildly.

After cursing, he calmed down, pressed his palms together, closed his eyes, and muttered: "Amitabha! How virtuous, how virtuous! May the Monk King be above; this humble monk was momentarily overcome by anger, truly a sin, a sin..."

After opening his eyes, he looked at Mengchen and said very calmly: "It's all because of you, brat; you almost ruined my years of self-cultivation."

"What a sanctimonious bald prick!" Mengchen cursed in his heart.

At this moment, he dared not curse out loud; he must absolutely not do anything that would invite a beating.

Since enduring for a moment could bring calm, then he would endure for now.

"If you don't want to get beaten, then obediently follow me."

After speaking, Zhangliu walked in front; Mengchen felt helpless, as he could neither beat him in a fight nor outrun him, so he could only obediently listen for the time being.

(End of chapter)