I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 171: Chapter 145: Repentance (Revised)

Zhao Fuyi and Tang Weimian set up a sound insulation array to speak privately, while Jiang Yuebai sat alone in an abandoned mine cart, fiddling with two charred storage bags muttering.

”They’re probably complaining about me behind my back, small-minded...”

Inside the sound insulation array.

Tang Weimian and Zhao Fuyi quickly exchanged intelligence.

”... I roughly guessed that Master would set up an array at Divine Silence Ridge. When something happened there, I was worried about Master, so I let others retreat first and came in alone to check. How are you, Master? Why are you covered in so much blood? Let me clean it up for you.”

Zhao Fuyi pressed down Tang Weimian’s hand, who was about to perform the Dust Cleaning Technique, ”I’m fine, this blood is for disguising as a corpse controller.”

”What?! She actually made you disguise as a corpse controller, outrageous!!”

Tang Weimian was furious, wanting to confront Jiang Yuebai immediately, but Zhao Fuyi held him back.

”What does it matter if I disguise as a corpse controller? This place is full of perils, my dantian is sealed, and she has been leading me along with great difficulty. The disguise is for our survival. If I can’t bear this little humiliation, wouldn’t it be ungrateful to her risking her life to save me?”

Tang Weimian looked on with anguish, ”Master, you’ve suffered, it’s all because I’m useless. Let me accompany you on the rest of the journey, through thick and thin, I have no complaints.”

Zhao Fuyi’s eyes darkened, ”You can’t.”

”Why?” Tang Weimian was puzzled.

Zhao Fuyi lifted her eyes, looking past Tang Weimian’s shoulder, at Jiang Yuebai sitting cross-legged in the overturned mine cart, holding up a bell-shaped magical artifact, gleeful like a weasel that stole a chicken.

A smile involuntarily appeared on Zhao Fuyi’s lips, but she quickly pressed it down.

Taking a breath, Zhao Fuyi said, ”Since that day, I’ve thought a lot. I’ve been competitive all my life, becoming the strongest in this world has become an obsession. From a young age, I dared not relax for a moment, apart from cultivation and array practicing, there’s nothing else in life, not even seeing other people.”

”But this has also become my shackle. There are many things I unwillingly did, just to maintain the name of a strong person, forcing myself through and finding all sorts of grand excuses, even deceiving my own heart.”

”Being publicly defeated by Lii Jiuchuan was a humiliation and also a relief. I thought I’d rather die than live, but do you know that during that time I locked myself in the Heavenly Gang Peak great hall, and for the first time in my life, I fell asleep? If Wangchen hadn’t disturbed me daily, I would’ve slept soundly.”

”Even now, I still unconsciously want to compete. Seeing Lii Jiuchuan makes my heart ache, and the heart demon keeps asking if I’m willing to accept it. But compared to before, I’m much clearer. This time falling into such a situation in the Secret Realm is not a disaster but a blessing.”

Tang Weimian became more and more confused as he listened.

Zhao Fuyi glanced again at Jiang Yuebai, who was counting spirit stones, ”Along the way, I can do nothing, relying on the once-looked down on Jiang Yuebai more and more. The more excellent she is, the more she doesn’t abandon me, the more I see my own arrogance.”

”This journey’s sufferings are a cause and effect, a necessary hardship to completely cut off the heart demon. Only by facing her peacefully, accepting myself, correcting my past mistakes, can I get through this ordeal. Otherwise, my life ends here.”

Tang Weimian frowned, ”Then let me accompany you, the Divine Silence Ridge has been occupied by the Three Elements Sect’s evil cultivators, it’s too dangerous there.”

Zhao Fuyi shook her head slowly.

Tang Weimian looked hurt, ”Why, Master, am I not as good as her? In terms of cultivation or arraying ability, I surpass her. You’ll definitely need me for arraying on this journey.”

Zhao Fuyi raised a hand, affectionately ruffling Tang Weimian’s hair for once.

”It’s all my fault. In the past, I only valued your talents, cultivation, and arraying gifts, never letting you know that true strength requires more. You’re stronger in arraying than her, but not necessarily in other ways. I need more than just arraying abilities on this journey.”

”Throughout the way, though Jiang Yuebai is... not so considerate, she took good care of me, you don’t need to worry. Alright, go call Jiang Yuebai over, I have something to say to the both of you.”

Tang Weimian, though internally defiant, complied with his master’s order.

”Jiang Yuebai, my master calls for you.”

Jiang Yuebai, fiddling with a Red Scale Armor, looked up and met Tang Weimian’s gaze, silently griping: They must’ve been saying bad things about me, judging by his hostility like a bone-scraping knife, wishing to lingchi me.

For Zhao Fuyi’s sake, Jiang Yuebai gathered the scattered items on the ground, hopped out of the mine cart, patted the dirt off her pants, and walked over.

”What’s up?”

Zhao Fuyi pondered for a moment, ”I know you’re worried about Lii Jiuchuan. If my guess is right, Qing Nangzi will definitely seal the Secret Realm’s entrance from the outside without arousing suspicion. I have a way to send a message out.”

Jiang Yuebai’s eyes lit up, ”Really? Then quickly tell my master about Qing Nangzi’s issues.”

Zhao Fuyi looked at Tang Weimian, ”Only Weimian can accomplish this.”

Tang Weimian blinked in surprise.

Zhao Fuyi continued, ”As I taught you, the Secret Realm and the Great Realm were originally one entity. Even if the Secret Realm’s laws are incomplete, there is still a slight connection between it and the Great Realm. You simply need to go to the location of the Secret Realm’s Transmission Array and use the Beidou Star Positioning Array to strengthen the connection. Sending out a Message Flying Sword is still possible.”

Tang Weimian suddenly understood but frowned with worry, ”But the Beidou Star Positioning Array is a Golden Core Stage Great Array. I’ve looked at the Array Map, and I have no confidence in setting it up.”

Zhao Fuyi held Tang Weimian’s hand, looked into her eyes seriously, and said, ”A moment of success is enough. I believe in you.”

Jiang Yuebai nodded, ”I believe in you too. I know a path that can bypass the outpost camp. I’ll draw it for you now. Yuu Qiuqi and the others are also heading that way, and they can help you when the time comes. Also, take these Five Elements Escape Talismans. Make haste and don’t delay. You must be quick!”

Jiang Yuebai only kept ten Escape Talismans for herself, giving the rest to Tang Weimian, enough for her to catch up with Yuu Qiuqi in two or three days.

”Alright, I will do my utmost best,” Tang Weimian said.

Jiang Yuebai handed the Jade Scroll with the route to Tang Weimian, ”Yes, yes, do your utmost to send the message and save my master. I will also do my utmost to protect your master. If anything happens to my master, then I can’t guarantee your master... hmm!”

”Jiang Yuebai, you scoundrel!” Tang Weimian shouted angrily and then said to Zhao Fuyi, ”Master, if she dares to insult you, just let me know. You can’t discipline her conveniently, but I can!”

”But you also have to be able to beat me...” Jiang Yuebai muttered quietly.

Tang Weimian glared angrily, now fully aware that her master following Jiang Yuebai was far from endearing, and indeed, he must have suffered a great grievance.

”Alright, there’s no time to lose. You should hurry and go now,” Zhao Fuyi urged.

Tang Weimian, filled with reluctance, took out a Jade Scroll from her bosom and slapped it into Jiang Yuebai’s hand with annoyance.

”I came all the way from an abandoned mining area. There’s a path underneath that leads straight to the Divine Silence Ridge volcano, saving you half the journey and time. Be careful of the monsters and evil corpses, and be kind to my master!”

Tang Weimian bid farewell to Zhao Fuyi, disappeared into the night.

”Let’s go too,” Zhao Fuyi picked up the Faceless Mask.

Jiang Yuebai stopped Fuyi’s hand from putting on the mask, ”There shouldn’t be any evil cultivators in the mine, you can be more at ease.”

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Yuebai handed over the Red Scale Armor she had on her hand, ”An eighth-grade armor, better than nothing.”

In the storage bags of the two cultivators earlier, apart from two standard Magic Artifacts, they found two Defensive Magic Treasures. One was a Scale Armor made of Fire Scale Beast Skin, and the other was an Eighth-Grade Shocking Golden Bell.

The Red Scale Armor counterattacks with fire tongues when attacked, while the Shocking Golden Bell requires active initiation, turning into a bell shadow for defense and triggering bell ringing to disturb the opponent’s Divine Sense when attacked.

After donning the Red Scale Armor, Zhao Fuyi still put on the mask and followed closely behind Jiang Yuebai, stepping into the abandoned mine.

It was not just for safety, but also because she did not want Jiang Yuebai to see through her... regret.

*

At the same time, deep within the camp.

Shen Huaxi entered Qing Nangzi’s tent, setting down a record book of treating cultivators from various sects.

Qing Nangzi was reading a medical book and didn’t even lift his eyes, saying, ”In five days, your mother will be completely reborn. You should be ready to tie up all loose ends and leave this place for good.”

After saying this, Qing Nangzi turned a page and glanced with his yellowing eyes out of the tent at Xie Jingshan, who was waiting for Shen Huaxi.

Shen Huaxi appeared tense, ”He doesn’t know anything.”

Qing Nangzi sneered, ”He follows you daily like a spy. Who does he suspect you are? You still won’t tell where your mother’s weakness was exposed? Why did Lii Jiuchuan suddenly become suspicious of you?”

Shen Huaxi gritted her teeth secretly, ”I will handle it well, you needn’t worry!”

”Don’t forget your identity, you’re never going to be one of them!”

Shen Huaxi said no more, bowed to Qing Nangzi, and left the tent.

Xie Jingshan approached, ”Did your master scold you? Your face looks terrible. Come on, don’t go back to the Medical Camp, there are other medical cultivators there anyway. Let’s go find Lu Nanzhi and have some physical activity.”

Xie Jingshan pulled on Shen Huaxi as she looked conflicted.