Chapter 5: Returning to the Altar (Part 2)

Xie Xiaoping said, “Flying vehicles… we have very few here. I know where some can be found. Those things are unique to other intermediate continents. It’s said there are even large flying vehicles over ten meters long, but they’re relatively slow and not as fast as the smaller ones.”
Guo Shier understood that this continent was not the one where the Fuye family lived. He asked, “Can we go to that continent from here?”
“Yes, we can!”
“No, we can’t!”
Guo Shier asked, “Lao Tong, why can we go? Lao Guan, why can’t we?”
Tong Zhi replied, “There are special secret realms that can be entered, but this is a secret of the sect. One needs to organize a group before going, and they also have to communicate with the locals; otherwise, they’ll be treated as invaders.”
Guan Yuntao took a sip of wine and said, “The reason we can’t go… as Lao Tong said, individuals can’t go there. Even if they manage to get there, it’s extremely dangerous. The people of the intermediate continents… they’re all nuts! Of course, that includes us too.”
Guo Shier held his wine bowl and, after taking a sip, almost spat it out. He coughed a few times and asked, “Nuts? What do you mean?”
Xie Xiaoping said, “Heh, calling them nuts isn’t wrong. There’s constant fighting here, and there’s little peace. Everyone’s like a hedgehog—once provoked, they explode immediately… Heh, the elders say it was much more chaotic over a decade ago. Back then, most people hid in the Chenxiao Sect, often fighting to vent their anger.”
Tong Zhi added, “Yeah, I remember when I was young… I was often locked at home and not allowed to go out. Being able to play in front of the mountain gate was already a happy thing… Things gradually improved later, and it’s indeed much calmer these past few years.”
Guo Shier inwardly sighed. Life wasn’t easy for these people either. Though they were domineering, he had no right to complain since he was on their territory. Besides, he was now a member of the Chenxiao Sect, even a direct disciple, so he was in the same boat as them.
Suddenly, Guo Shier lost interest in the conversation. Fortunately, he had enough self-control—after all, he had lived three lifetimes. He said, “I’ve disturbed everyone today. I should go back. In a few days, I’ll invite you all over for a meal… of the talismanic food I cooked myself.”
Ying Mo said from the side, “Shier’s talismanic food… Heh, you’re in for a treat.”
Xie Xiaoping replied, “Uh, Eagle, are you saying my junior uncle cooks it well… or badly? I don’t feel so good about this…”

Guo Shier was so angry he wanted to kick someone. He said, “Lao Xie, your mouth is really vile!”
Xie Xiaoping smiled and said, “Well, if it’s not delicious later, I won’t agree…” They joked around for a while, then Guo Shier took Yingmo back to his courtyard.
Back in the house, Guo Shier said, “We can’t be away for too long.”
Yingmo asked, “Why?”
Guo Shier thought for a moment before saying, “Master discovered the Wild Beast Secret Realm but didn’t hand it over to the sect. I now understand his intention. If I’m away for too long and Master thinks I’ve run back, then the continent we live on will be in danger. The sect can send people through the Wild Beast Secret Realm, and by then… who can compete with the Purple-Clothed Elder of the Chenxiao Sect?”
Yingmo was shocked. He said, “Kumu… Senior, um, I get it.”
Kumu had come to the Wild Beast Secret Realm by chance. This secret passage could connect two continents. Once Kumu reported the passage to the sect, the Chenxiao Sect would surely send people to invade the continent and seize people and resources. So Guo Shier absolutely couldn’t leave without returning, or even stay away for too long.
Guo Shier sighed and said, “I originally planned to return to the North Talisman Sect, but it seems I thought too simply. So… we only have at most two days. And… Uncle Yingmo, you must stay here and cover for me. I’m afraid if my wife comes and can’t find me, there will be big trouble.”
Yingmo smiled bitterly. “Your wife already treats you like her own son. Hehe, but she’s really good to you.”
Guo Shier smiled and said, “My wife is the one who truly cares about me, just like Master Luo Jie. Uncle Yingmo, the spot for you to enter the Talisman-Wu Illusion Path was obtained by my wife through great efforts.”
It was only now that Yingmo realized how rare a spot in the Illusion Path was—not everyone could get one. Before, he hadn’t understood and had just followed Guo Shier’s arrangements.
“Hmm, I’m your follower. Improving my strength means helping you, so… your wife is still doing this for you, hehe.”
Guo Shier nodded and said, “Uncle Yingmo, I’ll go back first this time. Give me the things you need to take, and… also tell me any messages you need to convey.”
Yingmo took out a talisman bag and a talisman letter, saying, “Just give it to the old man. He’ll deliver the message and the items.”

Ten days passed in a flash. During that time, Guo Shier went to Dachen’s shop twice, both times accompanied by Xie Xiaoping, and nothing significant happened. As for appraising items, Shopkeeper Xie declined to do it, saying there were other appraisers available and no need for Guo Shier to handle it.

One day, Guo Shier asked Xie Lingyun for three days off, claiming he needed three days to create something. Xie Lingyun agreed immediately, wishing Guo Shier would never come to work so he wouldn’t have to worry about him.

Guo Shier returned home, told Ying Mo, then went back to his small cottage and locked the door tightly. This was the first time he had activated a talisman gate. A green light gate, one person tall and two people wide, appeared, and Guo Shier stepped through without hesitation.

On the other side of the gate was an altar. Guo Shier stood on the altar as the gate behind him gradually disappeared. He narrowed his eyes and scanned the surroundings. After coming through the dazzling light of the gate, his eyes still needed some time to adjust.

The surroundings gradually became clearer. Just then, a loud shout was heard: “Another one! Capture him!” At the same time, Guo Shier’s eyes adapted. His pupils contracted sharply, and a glint of gold flashed as he saw two burly middle-aged men rushing toward him.

Another one?

This thought echoed in his mind. Guo Shier was horrified. His reaction was instantaneous—something had happened to his master. Two golden lines shot from his eyes as he leaped high into the air. With the help of a flying talisman, he could hover and retreat rapidly.

Guo Shier had already advanced to a senior grand talisman caster in the Chenxiao Sect. With the inheritance of the Xumi Dao, his body also possessed the qualities of a talisman martial artist, allowing his strength to soar. He determined that these two men were not from the Northern Talisman Gate, as their tone and clothing were different, and they carried a strong hostility.

Those two must be talisman martial artists. When they saw Guo Shier flying backward into the air with golden lines shooting from his eyes, they realized things were bad—this kid was a master. Almost simultaneously, they reached for something at their waists, and two white lights appeared before exploding in the air.

Those were talisman signals, used to summon allies and request help.

Guo Shier was extremely anxious. The two golden lines turned into two golden blades, which he thrust forward fiercely. The two talisman martial artists swung their talisman knives to block, but the gap between them was too great. They couldn’t withstand the attacks of the blades, which pierced through their bodies, leaving large holes in their chests. The two men collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Guo Shieru landed on the altar and carefully examined the two corpses, growing even more astonished. The clothes they wore seemed familiar; after a brief recall, he was sure they were from the Fuye family! He just couldn’t figure out why someone from the Fuye family would be here.

He quickly searched around the altar and found some items abandoned on the ground. Guo Shieru’s heart pounded wildly—those were items unique to the Beifu Sect, which meant Master Luo Jie and his group had encountered people from the Fuye family. He didn’t know whether his master had been captured or had escaped.

Guo Shieru sensed that this mission wouldn’t go smoothly. He took out the talismans he had bought from Tong Zhi’s shop and swiftly stored them in his life talisman sphere. There were fifteen talismans in total: seven spirit talismans, five ancient talismans, and three true treasure talismans. Among the true treasure talismans, one was an attack talisman; among the spirit talismans, three were attack talismans, with the rest being support talismans.

Having more attack talismans could boost his strength a bit. Guo Shieru knew he couldn’t leave for now because of the restrictions on using the talisman gate. After activating it, he had learned all its information and knew he needed three days of rest before he could use it again.

Suddenly, Guo Shieru looked up into the distance. Several rainbow-like lines streaked across the sky. “Damn it, hunting carts!” he exclaimed. Not daring to stay any longer, he jumped off the altar and flew down the slope close to the ground.

As soon as he reached the foot of the mountain, he encountered a large group of people running toward it. Glancing at them, he realized they were enemies. He heard someone in the group shout, “Look… that kid!”
“Hurry! Capture him!”
“Huh? That kid can fly!”
“Quick! Use the talisman bow to shoot him down!”
“Use the talisman spear!”

Guo Shieru cursed inwardly—this was too much. Without hesitation, he waved his hand, and countless flames appeared like a storm. It was the attack form of a true treasure talisman—Roaring Sea of Fire!

With a loud boom, the flames poured down, throwing the group into chaos. None of them were at the master level; they were all talisman warriors or similar. In the Chenxiao Sect, such people were low-ranking disciples with the weakest strength.

Guo Shieru didn’t dare to engage further. He flew low and fast, shedding the group behind him and diving into the nearby woods. He knew very well that he must not stop now—once the hunting carts arrived, there would be no way to escape. He certainly didn’t want to fall into those people’s hands. Last time in the Tongyou Secret Realm, he had offended those twisted guys, and if he fell into their hands, he would either die or have his skin peeled off.

Guo Shier knew that with his own strength, he had no chance of defeating the people of the Fuye family; there must be experts among them. As long as a master of spells or a master of spell-based martial arts showed up, he wouldn’t be able to escape. With a flying spell and the physical fitness of a spell-martial artist, his escape speed was much faster than before. He dived into the woods and ran desperately forward, worried about Master Luo Jie and the others, while also hating the people of the Fuye family to death. He had originally come happily to meet his master, only to be hunted as soon as he showed up, and he didn’t know how to vent his fury. In the sky, more than a dozen hunting vehicles were rushing toward him.