“A reward that will definitely satisfy you!”
When Moon Deer of the Extended Net said that, Zhou Bao had a few misgivings.
“Reward? Why would I want your reward?
“Is there something I am lacking?
“I have Fairy Weapons and Celestial Devices. If someone wants riches, I have already stolen numerous rare treasures from the Rolling Dragon Palace which currently sit in my ruby ring. I am now richer than the entire Jin Dynasty combined, so how can anything be a threat to me?
“A cultivation method?
“Hehe, I am familiar with the Nine Heaven Yuan Yang Technique of the 3,000 Great Ways. And practicing the secrets of the 3,000 Great Ways means that everything here is a piece of cake for me. Unless you have a secret realm in your family?
“So what if there is a secret realm! I now have my own private space. Soon, I will seize the Azure Heaven. An average space is not worthy of me!”
Zhou Bao considered it carefully. He suddenly felt that nothing in this world could move his heart again.
“I know that you want to take revenge. I also know that you despise the Wang clan. However, you must understand that although I seem very powerful now, once I return, be it the Divine Wind Palace, the Bigwheel Temple, or even the Dragon Thunder Palace and the Jade Pool, they will all suppress my mind. I can no longer be as free as I was before!”
“That I understand. However, your cultivation has not yet reached the Mysterious Realm. Even if they wanted to suppress you, it would not be an easy task for them. Plus, I am not asking you to attack the Wang family directly; I only wish that you can help hinder the progress of the Wang family!” Having said that, he looked deeply at Zhou Bao. “If news of your performance in the Five-dragon Regions were to be known all across the lands and if you were to express your disapproval of the Wang family, then their every step would be much harder and my purpose will have been achieved!”
“Hmm, that’s not a bad idea. I have been feeling a bit resentful of the Wang family for a while now. If it is just to suppress them, then I think I can manage that!” Zhou Bao nodded.
Seeing that Zhou Bao had nodded in agreement, Moon Deer of the Extended Net was ecstatic. He forcefully inhaled a breath of air, as if sealing his determination. He took out a small box from his clothes and placed it into Zhou Bao’s hands. “Since you’ve agreed, I have nothing more to say. You will find my reward in this box. I promise that you’ll definitely love it!” After speaking, Moon Deer of the Extended Net turned and walked away. He walked off with decisiveness, leaving Zhou Bao a little embarrassed. Zhou Bao understood why he walked off with such decisiveness. It was entirely because Moon Deer of the Extended Net could not bear to give this jade box to him. Moon Deer of the Extended Net was afraid that he would regret it once he saw it again. Therefore, he had to leave quickly.
“Regardless of what one says, this Moon Deer of the Extended Net was the Family Head of a well-known family and one of the 28 constellations of the Immortal Palace. Although his strength may be weak, his knowledge of the world is broad. What could concern him so much?!” Zhou Bao thought to himself and opened the jade box.
“Huh? Why is it this object?!” Having seen the object in the box, Zhou Bao was shocked. He thought for a moment and his spiritual mind focused on the ruby ring in his hand. After rummaging around for a while, he finally found a piece of goat-skin scroll.
“I have had this object for quite a number of years now. However, the words on this scroll are still incomprehensible to me. Who would have thought that I would obtain another one of these? But Moon Deer of the Extended Net treated it like a treasure. Could it be that this thing really has the value of a rare treasure?!” Zhou Bao took out his goat-skin scroll and compared it with the one in the box. The quality of the two scrolls was similar. One of them was given to him by Moon Deer of the Extended Net while the other was obtained from the dead body of Xue Wuya after the battle with him.
For a long time, Zhou Bao never understood what this thing was. As his strength increased and his cultivation methods diversified, this goat-skin scroll obtained from a long time ago was almost wiped from his memory. If not for today, when Moon Deer of the Extended Net passed him a goat-skin so akin to the one he had obtained from Xue Wuya, he would not have recalled this object.
“I have checked the words on it before and they didn’t seem to be words. Now that I look at it, they seem to resemble talismans. However, they seem to be really simple talismans with no power at all.” They were like drawings of ghosts and were not interesting to Zhou Bao.
“This Moon Deer of the Extended Net didn’t clarify what this object was either. For him to regard this object so highly and swear on the value of this object, then it is definitely not worth any less than a Pure Yang Celestial Device. But no matter how I look at it, I just can’t see how this thing could be worth a Pure Yang Celestial Device. What on earth is this thing?!” Zhou Bao cursed in his heart. He kept the two scrolls of skin in his space, intending to ask Moon Deer of the Extended Net about them when the opportunity arose.
On the second day, after everyone had bid farewell to each other, they all left Forever Peace Town. Zhou Bao’s urge to return home was strong as he had been gone for a few months already and had no idea what the situation was like back home. The pressure that White Tiger gave people was seriously too much. Zhou Bao did not want to interact with him anymore. Even if in truth he wanted to avoid looking suspicious, he also did not want to be too close to White Tiger.
The three of them parted ways halfway on their journey together. White Tiger and Moon Deer of the Extended Net had to return to the Immortal Palace. Zhou Bao, on the other hand, wanted to return directly to the Wuyang Region. With White Tiger by his side, it was not appropriate for Zhou Bao to ask anything. Helplessly, he suppressed the suspicions in his heart and headed directly for the Wuyang Region.
With great Gang Wind, Zhou Bao broke open the space and left a mark of a shining black line in the space running from the central mainland all the way north. Within the span of half an hour, he reached the Wuyang Region.
Even after a few months away, the Wuyang Region was still the same. There was not much change visible, except it was more prosperous than when Zhou Bao had left. Yan Yufei’s stomach had grown much bigger and Zhou Bao could almost sense the vitality that emanated from her belly.
Having been apart for a few months, the husband and wife’s reunion naturally was filled with joy. After meeting his wife, Zhou Bao then met with a few of his subordinates. As he began to understand the events from the past few months, his heart grew more at peace.
Over the past few months, nothing significant happened in the Central Mainland Region. Everything was very peaceful. His Wuyang Region and Anyuan Store had progressed significantly and the entire western region also seemed to gradually have more respect for his Wuyang Region. Although Zhou Bao did not do or say anything, everyone knew that these events were due to Zhou Bao’s admirable strength.
“Your Excellency, your departure this time really worried us. The strength of the Wuyang Region is all due to you. Without you in this town, it has been really hard to talk about the situation here!” Seeing that Zhou Bao had returned safely, his subordinates were the happiest. When Zhou Bao had left, it was as if they had no leader. They were afraid to hear any bad news, lose their leader, and see the entire Wuyang Region fall into the hands of others.
“Stop spewing nonsense, am I that unlucky?!” Zhou Bao joked, “What do you mean by that? Did something happen around here?”
“Yes, Your Excellency. This matter doesn’t seem to be a big deal, but it isn’t small either!”
“Go ahead, speak!”
Casting his gaze upon Jiang Xiao, Wang Cheng looked vicious. “Once Your Excellency left, Wang Hua started plotting behind our backs. He sent many people, including masters of martial arts, to spy on our Wuyang Region. They almost shocked Madam!”
“What did you say?” Zhou Bao’s gaze turned cold and the entire atmosphere in the hall was filled with murderous intent. “What did you just say, almost shocked Yunfei? Wang Hua?!”
“Yes, Your Excellency!” Shaken a little by Zhou Bao’s murderous intent, Wang Cheng almost fell to the ground on his butt. Jiang Xiao, who stood by the side, also trembled a little. His master’s power had become more serious.
“What on earth is the matter? Speak clearly!”
“When Your Excellency left initially, it was nothing much. However, after a month, the Wang family seemed to receive some news. That rascal Wang Hua seemed extremely excited. He galvanized a few people secretly and frequently sent people to spy on the Wuyang Region. In the beginning, we gave them some warnings. But this rascal exploited the Wang Family’s power and continued to send people here. Our Wuyang Region only just started progressing, so the masters of martial arts that stand on our side aren’t many. Plus, we cannot control the villa side. We went to seek advice from Chief Wang and he told us not to act rashly and to observe the situation instead. We saw that he did not dare to oppose us publicly, so we set up some defenses. In the end, that rascal Wang Hua grew even more brazen. There was one night when he sent three Level Seven experts to spy on Lord Mansion. It was Chief Wang who found out and ordered them to retreat. If he hadn’t, Madam would have been shocked!”
“It seems like they are really bored with their lives!” Zhou Bao commented. The murderous intent that permeated the hall just now disappeared in an instant as he said, “Alright, all of you may leave. I will settle this matter!”
“Yes, Your Excellency!” Wang Cheng and Jing Xiao bowed and took their leave.
Zhou Bao sat in his chair and tapped his fingers on the back of the chair. After a while, he suddenly spoke. “Chief Wang, what is the matter?”
“Actually, there isn’t anything. The Wang Family seemed to have received some news of the attack on you in the Five-dragon Regions and that you were missing. He seemed to have gotten some guts then, gathering people while waiting for definitive news before he started his mission!” Wang She’s voice could be heard from the left. She revealed herself from the shadows, saying, “You must also know that the Wang Family and my Tian Long Taoism have strong ties. Just like the Wu family, their ancestors came from our Tian Long Taoism. There are also many disciples in their family that worship Tian Long Taoism. Therefore, news travels fast!”
“Because of Tian Long Taoism’s ties with the Wang Family, you did not attack them and only frightened them away?!”
“Yes. It is precisely because of those ties that I did not attack. You must understand that even though I am the Chief of Tian Long Taoism, I am the weakest among the three chiefs. Plus, the internal situation in Tian Long Taoism is not solid, so I did not want to be too passive!” Wang She reasoned. “Anyway, everything’s ok as long as your wife is safe. We wanted to wait for you to come back to discuss it. Now that you’ve returned, it is easy to discuss. I have also heard about your performance in the Sea Area. I never thought that you could push a Yin and Yang Heavenly Sword to such heights!”
“Hehe, there are even more things that you can’t imagine. Since you could not attack, then leave that to me. Hmph, that Wang Family, I haven’t even created any trouble for them but they have for me. Not bad, not bad, this is a good excuse!”
“You want to attack now?!”
“I’ve received their blessings so, of course, I must attack!” Zhou Bao smiled. “Initially, I had wanted these guys to live for a few more days. But since they attacked me first, I will naturally not spare them!”
“Then go ahead and attack. It’s just nice that the Divine Wind Palace wants to restrict you. This Wang Family ultimately still has ties with Tian Long Taoism and can be considered a part of the Immortal Palace. If you attack them, I think the Divine Wind Palace will be very happy!”
Zhou Bao smiled and nodded as he said, “That’s true!”