Chapter 64: Tianming Continent Teleportation Network
Li Ling was actually quite angry inside since he was still a young man who had strong emotions, but had gained strong control over them after all he had been through. However, control over one’s emotions did not mean that one did not have them or did not feel them, only that one did not let them affect one’s actions without intent.
If you slapped Li Ling, he would still feel angry, but he would not show it on his face if he did not want to, and he also would not lash back with a retaliatory slap if he did not want to. He had this basic control over himself, which differentiated him from a mere beast.
Even when he killed, he did not do it out of emotion, but due to cold calculation that he could make the kill and get away with it. Even during his impulsive phase, when he vented his true nature after being given free rein and a taste of power, he still chose to go high risk, high reward rather than pure recklessness.
So he remained silent as the palanquin entered the Boundless Joy Hall, even as Bai Ruyi spoke with a smile, not aware of the danger awaiting them in a week as Wen Caiyi was still struggling to come to terms with it.
"This is a patrol hall of our sect, established in the mortal world to handle regional affairs. The true sect is located on a special ley line near the edge of the Huxian Province, and it is not accessible to anyone not an inner disciple of the sect and above. Even visitors or guests are not allowed in our holy grounds, and many only arrange to meet whoever they seek at one of our many patrol halls," Bai Ruyi explained.
"Yes, I’ve been to one of the Boundless Joy Halls before, but I did not have spirit sense back then. I presume that the Tianming Continent Teleportation Network’s array is located in this hall, right?" Li Ling asked with a nod to show he was aware of what she was saying.
Bai Ruyi was now quite curious about what experience Li Ling had undergone in the past, but she knew that this was not the time for that. Rather, she raised her delicate eyebrows with interest.
"Only thinking about leaving? Are you sure you do not want to spend a few days in the care of our sect? Apart from the luscious Elder Wen, I have many senior and junior sisters who can satisfy you," she cooed teasingly.
Li Ling smiled and folded his arms. "Why would I need those inferior products when I have you by my side? My dear wife is more than enough to keep my soul and body sated."
"Oh?" Bai Ruyi’s eyes lit up at those words, and she visibly swooned, but inwardly she snickered.
It seemed that her charm plus the earlier trick with the banner had achieved their goal of tamping down his arrogance, making him more obedient. That was just as well, because she did not have much time left to effect her plan.
Wen Caiyi wanted to speak many times, but hesitated. In the end, even as they disembarked from the palanquin and were received by Joy Sect disciples into the hall, Wen Caiyi was still unable to find the words to warn Bai Ruyi, knowing that the conceited Saintess would take it for granted.
The two Qi Refinement level Joy Sect disciples had shining eyes when they looked at Bai Ruyi, like a bunch of fangirls around their idol. To that end, Bai Ruyi, despite her superior cultivation, casually chatted with them about banal things, seeming rather approachable among her own people.
Li Ling casually noted this but thought nothing of it. It did not matter whether her amiability towards her people was fake or true, what mattered was that due to her position, she had both an incentive and an interest in being amiable to her people.
Never stress yourself about whether a politician who is seen as a saint is truly saintly in character or a beast in human skin. Understand that he would make every effort to present himself as a saint for the most part.
As for Wen Caiyi, after greeting her initially with solemn bows, the two disciples did not even dare look her way. Just a casual release of her aura was enough to suffocate them to death, so those of vastly different cultivation levels usually refrained from interacting with each other.
Soon, they were brought into an administrative room where a lot of seductively dressed Joy Sect disciples were working seriously, handling various matters relating to the cultivators and mortals of the City of Joy’s jurisdiction. Especially since the teleportation array was here, they had to file so much paperwork to track and log who used it, why, and how much they paid.
Luckily, Li Ling did not come alone as he originally planned, but was escorted by two of the Joy Sect’s elite personnel. Upon being told that the Saintess wanted to use the teleportation array to head to the famous Tianmo Empire, the disciples were surprised but not overly so.
The Saintess was the outward face of the younger generation of the sect, akin to an elder in herself. Since the Joy Sect was a very wealthy mid-level demonic sect, they were often summoned for various important conferences, meetings, and the like by the Six Paths Demon Sect and the Seven Sins Demon Sect.
Usually, if not an elder, then naturally Bai Ruyi would be sent to represent them where suitable, especially now that she had entered Foundation Establishment and would soon undertake Core Formation. With her and at least one veteran elder like Wen Caiyi, they could go anywhere and achieve whatever goal the Boundless Joy Sect needed.
As such, the teleportation request was rapidly processed and handled, allowing the group to be led through the halls of the Boundless Joy Hall towards the teleportation chamber. It was located all the way near the southeastern wing, which connected to the main boulevard of the City of Joy, allowing those freshly teleported over to see the best side of the city first.
The traffic here was quite heavy, as many people came to the territory of the Boundless Joy Sect from all over to experience the more liberal customs as well as to purchase the rather niche goods that might not be sanctioned in other places, especially for those of the righteous sects.
Most of those who came were at Foundation Establishment, as this was the minimum level needed to traverse Firmament Heaven in relative safety. As for Qi Refinement fellows, being on the level of martial artist grandmasters, what safety could they have to speak of?
Seeing the teleportation chamber, which was a large room with a double door for entry and exit like an airport’s departure and arrival area, with some Joy Sect disciples posted on either side verifying the issued tokens and necessary documents before either letting them proceed inside or proceed outside.
When Li Ling’s group approached the door, they directly skipped any form of line due to their VIP status, and those who were patiently waiting to be verified and use the portal were first disgruntled, but then became subdued when they sensed Wen Caiyi’s Nascent Soul aura.
Not to mention that their entourage were clearly from the Joy Sect, the Overlord of this region. If they did not get to cut the line, then who else would?
Of course, many gazes fell upon Li Ling who tagged along rather casually, looking more like an attaché than a significant member of the team, especially due to his cultivation realm versus his companions. Many even thought of him as the boy toy of the Saintess that she was parading around, seeing as he was slightly handsome and seemingly the same age as herself.
As such, the gazes were either full of pity, disdain, or schadenfreude, enjoying his misfortune deeply.
Li Ling saw this and was amused because none of these people coming here could guarantee that they too would not be captured by a demoness while indulging themselves. It did not matter what sect you came from or what your background was, if you came to a demonic sect region like this without enough power or a protector, your outcome was predictable.
Entering the chamber, Li Ling was moved as he saw the teleportation formation that was the backbone of travel across the Tianming Continent, a huge circular array the size of a basketball court that continuously spawned human figures, turning from vague silhouettes to dazed persons who were ejected from its space as they regained their senses.
The Joy Sect disciples who escorted them walked over to those managing the formation and had them enter the destination of Li Ling’s group, which was the capital city of Tianmo Empire, Holy City. Putting aside the on the nose name the demonic sects’ main empire chose, Li Ling finally felt a hint of excitement begin to build as the moment of truth finally arrived.
However, it was as if the heavens responded to his excitement, immediately sending down its judge to take him down.
"Halt the formation! Do not allow them to go through!" A loud and smug female voice sounded behind the group, causing them to turn around.
It was a group of women, of whom two stood at the front, being much more notable than the lackeys who stood behind them. What was interesting was their aura and disposition, which were the same as the Joy Sect disciples who were spread out around this area.
Of the two new female intruders, one was a beautiful young woman with bright pink hair and purple eyes that were full of cruel juvenile malice. She was not as voluptuous as Bai Ruyi and was slightly shorter, but she made up for it in terms of posture and loose dressing, her attire a thigh length red silk dress with a low cut that displayed almost all of her cleavage.
The other was a slightly more mature woman than Wen Caiyi, with the same kind of palace attire set up with big sleeved robes and a neat bun secured with a hairpin. The only difference was that she was more sultry and milf like than Wen Caiyi, who despite being sexy, was stiff as a board unintentionally.
Interestingly, the small one was at the entry of Foundation Establishment while the big one was also at Nascent Soul.
As for the lackeys who stood behind the other group, they were at the Qi Refinement realm and were not something that either side took seriously, just there to be witnesses and make up the numbers.
When Bai Ruyi and Wen Caiyi saw the two rivals opposite, their faces changed greatly. Bai Ruyi’s ever present smile of playful interest became a thin and unfriendly grin that showed how much she disliked the other party, while Wen Caiyi’s expression darkened, showing a grim frown as if she had met a great enemy this time.
"Oh? Isn’t it Old Feng and Little Yue? To what do we owe the pleasure, and why are you halting the operation of the Tianming Continent Teleportation Network? Do you want the sect to be penalized by those above?" Bai Ruyi took the initiative to greet with a tone that was full of restrained venom.
Opposite them, it was the older woman who replied with a smile of mockery. "Elder Yan Bing greets the noble Saintess, may the Saintess live forever and achieve her prophesied destiny."
Bai Ruyi’s face became gloomy in response to those words, because they were layered with meaning that only those privy to the inner politics of the Boundless Joy Sect would understand. Just as she was about to retort, the young lady on the other side spoke up in a vibrant tone that was quite endearing to the male ear.
"Ha, do not expect me to greet you in such a manner, Senior Sister Ruyi. You may be the sect’s Saintess, but it is only because of that old coot’s madness induced ramblings after overdosing on Yin/Yang Change Powder. Oh, and also because you killed your own parents and turned them into a pill to break through, but let us not remember that, shall we?" the young lady spoke with a wave of her hands, her tone full of excitement as she poked at Bai Ruyi’s weaknesses.