Chapter 162: Chapter 119: Foundation Establishment Cave Dwelling Opportunity in Jiuli Travelogue
"Mr. Liou’s words are reasonable, but how can I be content staying in the library at Five Extremes Mountain for the rest of my life?"
Pan Yang shook his head, the bitterness on his face grew more intense.
"I’ve already seen the end of my life at a glance. When I’m old and the future seems hopeless, I can only return to the mundane world, get married, have children, and establish a small family clan."
He has seen too many outer disciples despair in their cultivation attempts, ultimately forced to leave Five Extremes Mountain to live mundane lives, and that might be his fate as well.
"But I’m not willing." Pan Yang suddenly became agitated.
"I worked so hard to get into Five Extremes Mountain and become an outer disciple, so how could I return down the mountain?"
Liou Yuan remained silent, quietly taking the teapot from Pan Yang and pouring him a cup of tea.
If it weren’t for his Fixed Star Compass, his situation would be similar to Pan Yang’s now.
In the early stages of cultivation, one’s talent is extremely important.
Moreover, the path is long and arduous, those who seek it are as plentiful as carp crossing the river, and not everyone can achieve a favorable outcome.
Pan Yang entered Five Extremes Mountain, saw the path ahead, but lacked the strength to move forward.
"He is already deeply trapped in obsession, unable to extricate himself; if this continues, something will happen sooner or later."
Liou Yuan’s lips suddenly moved, and a low Buddhist chant echoed from his mouth, resonating within the cave mansion.
Harotsana, Toraya Yeyama...
The sound possessed a calming power, causing the emotions in Pan Yang’s eyes to begin fading amidst the chants.
He looked astonishedly at the youth in front of him chanting Buddhist chants for him, sighed and said: "Unexpectedly, the junior is proficient in Buddhist spells."
The spell Liou Yuan was chanting was naturally the Calming Spell, a spell that’s tasteless but hard to abandon.
Sometimes, it can have an unexpected effect in peculiar situations.
Liou Yuan did not explain, only smiled and said: "Mr. Pan, don’t confine yourself. Situations like yours are dangerous; if any thoughts arise during cultivation, it might lead to disaster."
"Mm." Pan Yang lightly responded; how could he not know what Liou Yuan said?
"Thank you, Mr. Liou."
The goodwill Liou Yuan showed made him lower some defenses.
After hesitating slightly, Pan Yang bit his teeth and took out a book from his arms, placing it on the stone table between him and Liou Yuan.
Liou Yuan lowered his eyes and looked at the characters written on the book’s cover, unexpectedly reading "Jiuli Travelogue."
"Indeed, Pan Yang seeks me for this Jiuli Travelogue."
"Did the junior want to borrow this Jiuli Travelogue before, and I kept evading him; do you know why?"
Pan Yang didn’t know that the matters of the Jiuli Travelogue had long been spied on by Liou Yuan using the Fixed Star Compass. With a solemn expression, he explained to himself: "Because I found an opportunity in this Jiuli Travelogue."
"My future lies within this opportunity."
"Willing to hear in detail." Liou Yuan did not reach for the Jiuli Travelogue or even glance at it, instead appearing to listen attentively.
If he were Pan Yang, he would definitely tear out the important part.
What was left for him to see would surely be not crucial.
Sure enough, Pan Yang said: "Inside is a map detailing the location of a previous owner’s cave mansion."
"These months I’ve been reading ancient texts, vaguely uncovering some clues."
"That cave mansion should be from seven hundred years ago, belonging to a Foundation Establishment loose cultivator named Han Zhenzi in Jiuli State."
"A Foundation Establishment cave mansion?" Liou Yuan’s hand hidden in his sleeve tightened.
The Fixed Star Compass found four opportunities in the library that day, he took three.
Unexpectedly, the one he left behind turned out to be the biggest opportunity, causing a pang of heartache for Liou Yuan.
"Missed a great opportunity."
However, these emotions were fleeting; Liou Yuan is a wise man, and as soon as Pan Yang spoke, he understood the reason for his visit.
After a brief hesitation, he asked: "Mr. Pan, do you want to invite me to go together?"
The dangers of a Foundation Establishment cave mansion are imaginable, a casually placed Array or hidden method could cost a Qi Cultivation cultivator’s life.
Pan Yang likely thinks this opportunity is too large for himself, needing help from Liou Yuan.
Pan Yang nodded, his eyes fixed on Liou Yuan’s eyes, smiled: "Mr. Liou is indeed a wise man."
"Why choose me? My strength isn’t considered strong on the Fifth Peak; there are many late-stage Qi Cultivation disciples for Mr. Pan to choose from."
"After so many years in the library, you should know quite a few late-stage Qi Cultivation disciples, right?"
A chance to earn benefits for free, Liou Yuan certainly welcomed it, but he still had to ask the necessary questions.
He didn’t know why Pan Yang trusted him; he didn’t trust the person before him much.
"Of course I know. But which of those late-stage Qi Cultivation disciples would be willing to evenly split this opportunity with me, a Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer?"
"It’s not impossible that once out of Five Extremes Mountain, they could kill me and take the opportunity for themselves."
Pan Yang laughed bitterly; Liou Yuan’s thoughts were something he could definitely think of.
"If the cultivation is too weak, I won’t consider it at all. In that case, I’d rather go alone."
"Mr. Liou is different; despite being at the Sixth Layer, both battle records are impressive."
"Beating Sheng Zeming proves that Mr. Liou’s strength can equate to the late-stage Qi Cultivation."
"Just right for my criteria in selecting people."
Liou Yuan understood Pan Yang’s thoughts.
He feared being harmed by fellow sect members.
Five Extremes Mountain prohibits infighting, but outside the mountain, one can never be sure; few can maintain kindness in the face of opportunity.
"So what is Mr. Liou’s answer?" Pan Yang asked once more, looking at Liou Yuan with slight tension.
He hadn’t known whether he was making the right choice.
If Liou Yuan rejected him, would this opportunity be spread by the young man before him?
But if he didn’t take on even this small risk, how could he seize the opportunity in the Foundation Establishment cave mansion?
Pan Yang bet right, Liou Yuan was indeed very interested.
"Alright! Mr. Pan trusts me; I shall undertake this without hesitation."
"However, before departing, we must clarify how we’ll distribute the gains if we obtain the opportunity marked on the map."
"Discussing the benefits first is the foundation of cooperation."
Pan Yang bit his teeth and said: "I will split this opportunity evenly with Mr. Liou!"
While Pan Yang is providing the opportunity’s clue, his strength is not as good as Liou Yuan’s.
This also means Liou Yuan will contribute more in the pursuit of opportunity.
Simultaneously, Pan Yang expressed his sincerity through this offer.
"Mr. Pan is generous; when shall we depart?" Liou Yuan stood up, since Pan Yang showed sufficient sincerity, he couldn’t hold back.
"Ten days later, this journey’s risks are unknown; we still need to prepare more contingency measures."
"Mr. Liou, also prepare some methods."
Pan Yang, seasoned in Five Extremes Mountain, is very experienced.
Liou Yuan and he further discussed departure details.
According to Pan Yang’s suggestion, it’s best to get a Bounty Order task from the Disciplinary Hall.
Those villain capture tasks not only come with significant achievement points, but also offer more time than the tasks from Shoushan Tower.
Liou Yuan gladly agreed.
Once their discussion was complete, it was already midnight.
Liou Yuan saw Pan Yang to the door and returned to his own cave mansion.
As Pan Yang’s cave mansion almost disappeared in the night light.
Liou Yuan suddenly turned, gazing into the distance at the cave mansion, a smile in his eyes.
"Pan Yang’s got tricks, indeed."
There was actually a question Liou Yuan hadn’t asked.
Since Pan Yang fears late-stage Qi Cultivation disciples who might rob him, why isn’t he afraid Liou Yuan might do the same?
His victory against Sheng Zeming proves he surely has the power to defeat him.
Given Pan Yang’s cautious nature, he’d definitely think of this point.
Thus, only one possibility remains: Pan Yang surely has a way to deal with Liou Yuan.
In other words, he is confident he could escape from Liou Yuan should he suddenly act aggressively.
That’s why Liou Yuan sees him as skillful.
"Indeed, if he weren’t careful, he wouldn’t have survived until now." Liou Yuan’s soft mutters echoed into the night.
