Who let him join the Sword Sect?!

"You came alone, huh? Can't you do business by yourself?"

"Don't you need someone to transport your goods?" Zhang Ze asked curiously.

Bai Tao gave him a look as if he was an idiot, "Teacher, how do you plan to transport them? It can't be like what you wrote in your book."

In his shabby book, Zhang Ze directly wrote about transporting goods as if they were escorting a caravan, with demon beasts pulling carts, cultivators providing escort, encountering evil cultivators and engaging in battles, and so on...

Seeing Zhang Ze hesitate, Bai Tao continued with the same idiotic look, took out an embroidered box with a snowflake emblem from her bosom.

After casting a spell to open the box, it was filled with storage rings of various colors.

"Green ones are herbs, yellow ones are ores, and white ones are... I'm not telling you what those are, but they're empty right now. I've come this time just for negotiation, I didn't bring any goods."

Having said that, Bai Tao put away the embroidered box.

Zhang Ze, who had momentarily blanked out, smiled awkwardly, got up and looked around at the surrounding scenery.

Due to the chaotic spiritual qi, his divine sense could only extend about ten feet before disappearing like a clay ox entering the sea.

Looking east from here, the border of Jing State was already out of sight, obviously, they had traveled far from where he was kicked.

But the environment here was rather unique; compared to the scenery at the edge of the Boundless Cliff, it was overly tranquil, almost deceptively safe.

Apart from the spiritual qi vortex that suddenly transported them here, there were no other spiritual qi vortices, with the nearest one being a hundred feet away.

More intriguing than the peculiarity of this place, he was more concerned about who kicked him.

No one was supposed to know he was coming to Jing State, and someone able to approach him without him noticing must have a cultivation of at least Nascent Soul.

It shouldn't be the Sect Leader or the Master messing with him; they wouldn't bother with such trivialities.

But it didn't seem like an enemy either; the footwork was superb, yet lacked any killing intent...

He had a feeling that the person might have sought him out for something, but it was just an intuition, without any reason.

Seeing Bai Tao's clueless expression, he assumed she had nothing to do with it; the person who kicked him probably had something else in mind...

While Zhang Ze was contemplating.

Someone was coming from afar.

This time Zhang Ze reacted quickly, immediately ducking behind a rock, and slapped a Stealth Talisman on Bai Tao's forehead, then one on himself.

A tall and a broad figure jumped out of a spiritual qi vortex, clearly having prepared rather than being kicked in like Zhang Ze and Bai Tao.

...

The two individuals looked peculiar, the tall one had a horse face, an overly long philtrum, with wisps of yellow beard hanging from his chin, swaying in the warm wind of Central Continent.

The other one had slightly dark skin, a full beard that connected with sideburns, wearing a nose ring, and had a robust build like a bull, yet, carried a rather delicate Taoist sword on his back.

"The Young Master truly is blessed with great fortune, right after we got the message to lie low, we found this treasure land." said the horse-face.

"Indeed, though I've never been here, from what I observe, it's no less hidden than the Main Helm. Without a secret technique, even the Sword Sect woman couldn't find this place." nodded the one with the nose ring, agreeing.

"Let's go, the Young Master summoned us, it must be something important."

Having said that, the horse-face cast a few spells, then lifted a massive rock with force, revealing a hidden passage beneath it.

"Close the door." the horse-face said after the two entered the secret passage.

Because the voice came from underground, it sounded muffled.

"There's no one here, why close it? It's a hassle when we leave anyway." said the other.

"Lazy dog." the horse-face snorted coldly, cast a spell to move the stone, sealing the entrance again.

After the voices of the two faded away, Zhang Ze and Bai Tao peeked out together.

From their conversation, it could be inferred that they were evil cultivators from the Hundred Demons Sect.

"Were they the ones who brought us here?" Bai Tao looked at the entrance with some disdain.

"I don't think so." Zhang Ze shook his head, "Why would they bring us here and then ignore us? Besides, you and I have just arrived in Jing State, who would be concerned about us?"

"So what do we do now?" Bai Tao sighed.

"Let's go in and take a look; since we're already here." Zhang Ze shrugged.

"Then, teacher, should you go in by yourself while I wait here?" Bai Tao felt like she was just a burden, knowing her cultivation was inferior to Zhang Ze's, feeling somewhat guilty.

Zhang Ze stared at the entrance, then looked at Bai Tao, "No, judging from those two's conversation, it's likely their Helm Leader has some important discussions, and someone else might arrive soon. Leaving you here makes me uneasy."

"Don't worry, I have a plan." With that, Zhang Ze took out a Beast Taming Ring.

Bai Tao naturally recognized the item and squinted her eyes with some resistance, "I'm Demon Race, not a demon beast, why are you taking that out?"

"It's just for temporary shelter; it can hold a person too. Do you have any other options?" Zhang Ze asked.

Bai Tao sighed, "How do we get in?"

"It's not difficult, but wait, let me give you a few things first."

Saying that, Zhang Ze pulled out a thick stack of manuscript paper, "Some drafts and a new book. You can read them to pass the time."

Seeing these goodies, Bai Tao snatched them up eagerly, and without another word, seemed keen to disappear into the Beast Taming Ring at once.

"Wait, there's one more thing for you."

Bai Tao was surprised and quite excited it was a new book, but instead saw Zhang Ze flip his hand, revealing a pale blue orb.

Receiving the orb, Bai Tao asked, "Teacher, what is this?"

"My Golden Core, you hold onto it for now." Zhang Ze said nonchalantly.

Bai Tao's hand shook, nearly dropping the Golden Core.

She looked at Zhang Ze with disbelief; although just eighteen years old, she was quite knowledgeable.

But someone casually giving their Golden Core for others to play with was something she had never seen.

Even though a cultivator's Golden Core wasn't fragile, it was still the foundation of a Golden Core stage cultivator; damage to the core meant a severe decline in cultivation, and no further advancement in life, even if one survives.

"Now that you entrust your Golden Core to me, though I don't understand your intentions, this trust..."

Just when Bai Tao was about to be moved, Zhang Ze waved his hand, "Don't worry, my Golden Core is tough; even if you slash it with all your might, it'll be fine, and I have several others."

Bai Tao, "?"

She didn't comprehend, feeling Zhang Ze's words didn't make sense; where in the world could you find such a Golden Core, and several at that?

But before she could question it, Zhang Ze lifted his hand, placing her into the Beast Taming Ring.

Bai Tao didn't resist; once inside, she felt somewhat uncomfortable, especially while holding someone else's Golden Core.

As Bai Tao was feeling awkward, the Golden Core suddenly floated up, and with its subtle tremors, Zhang Ze's slightly indistinct voice came through.

"Hey, hey, can you hear me?"

Bai Tao, "...Yes, yes, I can hear you, teacher, what's this?"

"Without practicing the Spirit Control Technique and becoming a life-bound spirit beast, there's no way to communicate inside or outside the Beast Taming Ring. You can use my Golden Core as a Sound Transmission Jade Envoy."

During his time at the Beast Taming Sect, Zhang Ze hadn't idled; he had discovered many new uses for his Golden Core...

After chatting a bit more with Bai Tao, Zhang Ze placed the Beast Taming Ring on the ground and then took out another one.

This time, he went inside himself.

Once inside, Zhang Ze sighed, took out the counterfeit Night Demon Emperor Armor, and transformed into a tight-fitted-clothing weirdo...

After a while, the two Beast Taming Rings floated up and then vanished into thin air.

With [Formless] invisibility, Zhang Ze sneaked to the large stone nearby, carefully inspecting it.

After just a little while, he discerned a few tricks.

The rock wasn't unusual, probably just placed temporarily; it seemed they had only just occupied the area.

Reflecting on the intelligence regarding the Hundred Demons Sect, Zhang Ze recalled that the Jing State's Hundred Demons Sect had been eradicated by the Sword Sect ten years ago; these ones were either survivors or new cockroaches.

Although hasty, they had set up an array around them; it was evident that the Young Master was a cautious person.

Forcing it open might alert them.

Zhang Ze decided to wait a bit.

Whether more people came or the bull-headed and horse-faced ones emerged, he had ways to follow them inside stealthily.

And this group surely had a means to leave the place.

Sure enough, in not much time, Zhang Ze saw another spiritual qi vortex appear, and another person walked out.

Seeing this person, Zhang Ze looked at him for a few more moments.

He had seen this person before.

On the way to Jing State, he had a brief encounter with him on a flying ship; because this person was always cautious in his movements, carrying an air of shadiness, Zhang Ze had looked at him a few more times.

...

As soon as Jin Qiong stepped out, he didn't directly enter the cave like the bull-headed and horse-faced ones but instead surveyed the surroundings thoroughly.

Although even the Young Master laughed at him for being redundant, he felt his cautiousness was necessary; this place was crucial for the Young Master's ambitions, allowing no room for error.

Just a habit, but thinking of the future promised by his Young Master, even Jin Qiong couldn't help but smile.

"Even the Sword Sect wouldn't think we'd be hiding here."

Always following and inspecting with him, Zhang Ze, who had his hands on his back, nodded along after a round.

Indeed.