Dao of the World Walker (Xianxia) Book 2

He set down his cup. “That is not, in any case, the main reason I gathered you all here.” He looked around the table. “I want you to take Chen Yang and Zhen Hao to the recently discovered secret realm.”

“Oh, we’ve discovered a new secret realm?” Senior Brother Xie Wei was the first to ask before a few others made similar comments, confirming Yang’s suspicion that these were the ones who had been outside the sect long enough to have missed the news.

Senior Brother He Su Ye spoke before anyone could elaborate, “Let me guess, we are calling it the Azure Cloud Realm?”

“Sage Cloud Realm?”

“Scarlet Cloud Realm?”

“Viridian…”

“Cerulean…”

The name suggestions came from every direction around the table until Senior Brother Luo Yun Xi, whom Yang recognized from Senior Brother Zhen Hao’s banquet, spoke over the rest. “It’s actually Vermilion Cloud Realm this time.”

Yang looked around, confused at the reason for the barrage of colour names when Senior Brother Zhen Hao caught his expression from across the table. “Junior Brother, one of our Grand Elders, has an enduring fondness for colour names. Every secret realm White Cloud Sect has discovered and acquired for the last couple of thousand years has been named after a colour.” 

He proceeded to list them like he was reciting an official record. “Red Cloud Realm, Blue Cloud Realm, Green, Jade, Azure, Grey, Black, Pink, Orange, Purple, Yellow, and the most recent before this one was called Lavender Cloud Realm.”

Yang watched slack-jawed at the ridiculous list of names, wondering if they were pulling his leg, but the expression of everyone around him confirmed it was true.

“As fascinating as the discussion of Martial Uncle’s naming preferences may be,” Master said with a roll of his eyes, “I would rather you all return to the topic at hand.” 

The table refocused, and Yang realised that even he had gotten wrapped up in his Senior Brothers’ ridiculousness; he hadn’t given much thought to Master’s statement before. All of them certainly had a bad habit of joking about everything and anything and trailing off topic.

“Which of us were you referring to, Master?” asked one of the senior brothers.

“All of you, ideally, but that’s hardly possible. So I would prefer a group of six to seven, including Chen Yang and Zhen Hao.” Master explained, “The secret realm has proven considerably more vast than the initial exploration suggested. Some months ago, the sect sent several teams in to survey it. What first appeared to be a single hall was found to have various larger inner worlds connected to it, and a few days ago a report came in that a third group had discovered another world connected to one of those inner worlds. It’s larger than anything found previously and significantly more dangerous. The sect wished to have it properly assessed before disciples’ groups with more scholarly focus are given access to it.

“All that makes sense,” one of the senior brothers said. “But I don’t understand why you wish to send us specifically.”

“Exactly, a new secret realm isn’t exactly something new. We find a couple almost every century. And the others in the inner sect have more than enough capable people to lead exploration missions. And more to the point, why send Zhen Hao and especially Junior Brother Chen Yang?”

“Indeed, Junior Brother Yang should not even be allowed to leave the sect until he establishes his foundation,” Senior Brother Qing An added.

“That is precisely why I wish to send him along with some of you rather than other members of the inner sect or on his own. I can trust you, my disciples, to take care of your own junior brother,” Master said. “As for Zhen Hao, he has recently broken through to Golden Core and needs to put his new strength to the test in a real environment.” He paused. “I am aware that some of you were already planning on taking him somewhere with you.” 

“We were actually planning on taking Zhen Hao to the Starry Sea,” said the Senior Brother with a severe face and a rather flat affect. “Junior Brother Qing An had discovered some kind of old tomb there worth investigating.”

“Senior Brother Fan Xiao, I am sure Master has his reason for wanting us to go to the secret realm instead.” Another elegant-looking senior brother said.

“Indeed, I do.” Master’s gaze moved to Yang briefly before returning to the table. “Your new Junior Brother has a special physique.”

“Does he? What type of physique is it?” Senior Brother Fan Xiao turned his piercing gaze towards Yang, reminding him uncomfortably of the way Senior Brother Xiao Zhan used to look at him, leading Yang to wonder if they are actually related by blood.

“We’ve informed the sect that it’s some form of energy-devouring physique,” Master said.

Yang noticed the looks on everyone’s faces, clearly aware that there is a difference between what was being stated and what actually was, but as Yang was understanding the dynamic between Master and his fellow disciple, they accepted Master’s word without saying anything. 

Master continued. “He can consume beast cores to strengthen himself, but the lower-level cores have stopped producing results for him. I would like you to take your Junior Brothers to the secret realm because there seems to be a large population of some kind of never before seen demonic beasts. They are vicious and dangerous, but will provide Zhen Hao with the opportunity to exercise  his new strength and a lot of beast cores for Chen Yang to consume.”

It was Senior Brother Qing An who spoke next. “This new Verud—” “Vermillion” interrupted someone. “Right, this Vermillion Cloud Realm sounds interesting. I am curious about this new secret realm, especially considering it’s a connected world within an inner world.” He looked at Senior Brother Fan Xiao. “I don’t see why we can’t do both. The Starry Sea tomb isn’t going anywhere.”

“Since it will be advantageous for our new Junior Brother, I will take him there to get beast cores.” Senior Brother Fan Xiao turned to Master, “Will he be safe consuming these demonic beast cores?” 

“Yes, it won’t make any difference to him,” Master said dismissively.

“I will join as well,” Senior Brother Qing An added. “We can visit the Starry Sea from there.”

“I would have liked to join in, but I must go into closed-door cultivation.” Came from another Senior Brother.

“Senior Brother Yan Zhen, are you close to advancing?” asked Senior Brother Yuan Shen.

“Don’t joke, I still have a long way to go before I am ready to sever my soul,” replied the one Yang now knew to be Senior Brother Yan Zheng. Yang also jolted at his words about severing the soul, wondering what would require something like that.

“I will also join them,” the elegant-looking senior brother said.

“And I,” added Senior Brother Yuan Shen.

“But I was supposed to take part in the duelling events in a few weeks,” Senior Brother Zhen Hao said with a frown.

“You can stay; we’ll take you somewhere else,” said Senior Brother Qing An, and Senior Brother Zhen Hao cried out. “I am not letting them go to the secret realm and the Starry Sea without me.” 

“Then skip the competition, and stop crying about it.” Said Senior Brother Yuan Shen as Senior Brother Zhen Hao sent him a look that could have curdled milk.

The others expressed varying degrees of regret at not being able to join with them. It was Senior Brother Luo Yun Xi who turned to Yang. “It’s unfortunate, Junior Brother, that many of us couldn’t join you in your first venture outside the sect,” he said, giving Yang a friendly smile. “But we have our whole lives ahead, and no doubt there will be no shortage of future opportunities.”

Yang gave a polite smile and bowed, “I am looking forward to it, Senior Brother.”

“Good,” Master said, casting a satisfied glance at Senior Brother Fan Xiao. “With Fan Xiao leading you all, I won’t have to worry about your safety.”

“Master Song Weilong and I are Nascent Soul cultivators; we’re hardly helpless.” Said Senior Brother Qing An, and this immediately shocked Yang and turned his mind to Senior Brother Fan Xiao, wondering what his realm was.

Yang’s surprise must have been clear on his face as Senior Brother He Su Ye let out a chuckle as he addressed Yang. “Surprised, Junior Brother? I understand, our dear Senior Brother Qing An does look like a weakling.” 

“I will show you weakness, Su Ye. Why don’t you come outside with me?”

“Su Ye, have you not had enough beating for the day?” asked Senior Brother Song Weilong like he was asking if he needed more wine. “I am sure Senior Brother Yun Xi is more than willing to give you another dose.”

Yang watched Senior Brother Luo Yun Xi grinning as Senior Brother He Su Ye raised both his hands in surrender.

“We have been rather inconsiderate. We seemed not to have given proper introductions to Junior Brother Yang,” said Senior Brother Qing An

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