Chapter 5007 — A Place No One Can Tread

Unfortunately for the Great Ability of West Mountain, he met neither of these two conditions. If he wanted the Old Sect of West Mountain to take him in, the only card he had left to play was a sob story.

"Your subordinate knows his own limitations, but I beg the Old Sect Master to grant me a chance out of consideration for my loyalty. I swear I will not disappoint you," the Great Ability of West Mountain pleaded.

The Old Sect of West Mountain gave a noncommittal, sinister chuckle and asked offhandedly, "What happened to that arm of yours? Don't tell me you've used the Blood Sacrifice?"

"The Old Sect Master is sharp as ever. Your subordinate did indeed use the Blood Sacrifice a few months ago. The man I was dealing with is one you also know—he is Wei Zhao, the one who killed your nephew Wu Baoliang," the Great Ability of West Mountain replied with a nod.

"Wei Zhao?" The Old Sect of West Mountain instantly perked up. To track down Wei Zhao's whereabouts, he had gone so far as to deploy the intelligence network of the West Mountain Evil Sect. He had long since learned that Wei Zhao was Ling Yi, and he also knew that Wei Zhao had recently traveled from West Island to the Eastern Continent. What he had not expected was that Wei Zhao had actually crossed blades with the Great Ability of West Mountain. Delighted, he blurted, "You killed him?!"

"Your subordinate is useless. Though I faced him—a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator—with my late-stage Mystic Ascension strength, and even went so far as to use the Blood Sacrifice, I still fell short in the end. He escaped into Chenxing City, and according to the latest roster published by the Eastern Continent's Yellow-Rank Academy Alliance, he is now already an early-stage Mystic Ascension expert," the Great Ability of West Mountain said shamefacedly.

The Old Sect of West Mountain was rendered speechless by this. Still, back in the day even he had failed to kill Wei Zhao; such a matter could hardly be blamed on the Great Ability of West Mountain. It could only be said that this brat Wei Zhao was truly uncanny—his rank might not be high, but he was by no means easy to deal with.

"Old Sect Master, the grudge between Wei Zhao and me over this severed arm is irreconcilable. But with one arm ruined, I fear I am no match for that brat. I implore the Old Sect Master to grant me a chance out of consideration for my utter sincerity, and one day I will lay Wei Zhao's head before you with my own hands!" the Great Ability of West Mountain pleaded.

With matters having come to this point, the Old Sect of West Mountain finally changed his mind. Since they shared a common enemy in Wei Zhao, he might as well take him in. The Great Ability of West Mountain was not too weak, after all, and he knew the Blood Sacrifice too—he would surely be of some use.

"In that case, you may stay. Losing an arm is a bit of a hindrance, but it happens to suit the cultivation of our sect's Soul-Snatching Hand. Who knows, you might even progress faster than a man with both arms intact," the Old Sect of West Mountain said with a nod.

"Thank you, Old Sect Master!" The Great Ability of West Mountain was overjoyed and hurriedly kowtowed three times with resounding thuds. "Your disciple, the Great Ability of West Mountain, pays his respects to Master!"

This time he was truly overjoyed beyond all expectation. In his own estimation, it would already have been good enough if the Old Sect of West Mountain was merely willing to shelter him—who would have thought the man would even be willing to teach him the Soul-Snatching Claw? That was the signature peerless art of the Old Sect of West Mountain!

"Enough. Get up," the Old Sect of West Mountain said with a wave of his hand.

"Yes!" The Great Ability of West Mountain rose to his feet, beaming. Then, somewhat puzzled, he asked, "Master, when I flew over just now on my aerial spirit beast, I had the feeling that the South Continent waters seemed to be in great chaos. Why have the spirit beasts begun sending their experts to operate in human territory?"

"None of this concerns us. Whatever the spirit beasts do is their business, so long as it does not affect us. Do not meddle in others' affairs, lest you bring disaster upon yourself," the Old Sect of West Mountain warned.

"Your disciple understands!" The Great Ability of West Mountain nodded hurriedly. In any case, the only thing he needed to do now was raise his strength as fast as possible and take his revenge; everything else was irrelevant to him. He had never intended to meddle in the first place.

"Heh heh. Though this matter has nothing to do with us, since you have asked, I shall give you a hint or two," the Old Sect of West Mountain said with a strange laugh. He explained, "Our sect received word long ago. The spirit beasts are unwilling to stay idle this time—they intend to bring the South Continent waters into their domain and levy taxes on every human power in the region. Sending so many spirit-beast experts to move about in the South Continent waters is only the first step in preparation for collecting those taxes."

"But the South Continent waters have always been the territory of human cultivators. The spirit beasts have never ruled here before, have they? Is there truly no one here to resist?" the Great Ability of West Mountain asked.

"At first there were a few powers that overestimated themselves and tried to resist, but before the spirit beasts, even if every human power in the South Continent waters were united as one, they would still be nothing but a dish to be served. And besides, no one could possibly step forward to unite them—what waves could they stir up?" The Old Sect of West Mountain shook his head in disdain.

"That is true. Though the South Continent waters have always been chaotic, no truly powerful top-tier force has ever emerged here. Otherwise it would long ago have been forged into a single unbreakable whole, and then the spirit beasts would have found it hard to sink their teeth in," the Great Ability of West Mountain said with a nod.

"The spirit beasts have come prepared this time. They have not directly sent their experts to attack the South Continent waters; instead they have merely sent these experts out to make a show of force. The people of the South Continent waters have long been accustomed to bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Once the might of the spirit beasts has sunk deep into their hearts, no one will resist when the time comes to collect the taxes," the Old Sect of West Mountain sneered.

"Since the spirit beasts have begun to step out from the South Island, I fear the South Continent waters alone will hardly satisfy their appetite. Might this affect our West Mountain Sect's South Continent branch?" The Great Ability of West Mountain could not help asking. Though the South Continent branch was not in the South Continent waters, it was not far away; if the spirit beasts wished to expand further, they might very well set their sights on it.

"That should not come to pass. What the righteous-path alliance could not accomplish back then—could the spirit beasts, however strong, be stronger than the righteous-path alliance?" The Old Sect of West Mountain laughed sinisterly, then continued, "Still, it is wise to prepare for a rainy day. Given the aggressive posture of the spirit beasts, our West Mountain Sect should indeed be a little on guard. They have already begun stationing nominal stewards in the towns and cities throughout the South Continent waters. Though for now they do not interfere in the affairs of human cultivators, this is already the heart of Sima Zhao, plain for all the world to see."

"With you personally holding the fort, Master, let the spirit beasts stir up whatever trouble they please—we shall remain as firm as a mountain," the Great Ability of West Mountain seized the moment to flatter him.