Salted Fish Sect

The four of them were utterly stunned, their hearts filled with dread and awe.

Qing Yin Xianyun had never offended Yi Feng, so she wasn’t as terrified as the other three. Yet, as she recalled everything, her eyes still brimmed with disbelief.

“Who would have thought… that Yi—no, Master Yi was such a figure…”

“With his status, why would he come to our Moon God Pavilion?”

Hearing her words, the other three looked up in shock.

“Th-this is far beyond our understanding…”

“How could our humble Moon God Pavilion ever deserve the honor of his presence? For him to lower himself and remain here as a mere elder—it’s something we wouldn’t dare dream of!”

“The Pavilion Master speaks the truth. Even now, it feels like a dream!”

Amidst their murmurs of shock and reverence, Xiong Fen finally snapped back to reality.

Recalling the rumors he’d heard, he spoke nervously.

“I once had the fortune to hear that Master Yi is elusive, appearing and vanishing like a divine dragon. Even the esteemed figures on Dark Shadow Island rarely get an audience with him. It’s said he has reached the pinnacle of cultivation, his actions beyond mortal comprehension!”

“Some say he roams the mortal world to temper his heart. Others claim he seeks talented disciples to inherit his legacy. There are even those who believe he walks among mortals to experience their suffering…”

As these rumors were recounted, the other three listened with reverence.

Their minds raced with thoughts of a true deity walking the earth. Their eyes held nothing but awe, and none dared interrupt. They could only gaze in longing.

Midway through his words, Xiong Fen’s expression suddenly turned solemn.

“It seems Master Yi has chosen to keep a low profile in Lanxing, even adopting this humble identity in our Moon God Pavilion. There must be profound meaning behind it—perhaps even a trial of his Dao. The karma and level involved are far beyond our meager comprehension. We must remain vigilant at all times.”

“No matter how shocked or fearful we are, as long as Master Yi doesn’t reveal his true identity, we must never break that unspoken rule. If we disrupt his cultivation journey, we could never atone for such a sin!”

The three trembled at his words, nodding in fearful agreement.

Though standing beside such a supreme figure brought immense pressure—one misstep could spell eternal doom—it was also an unparalleled opportunity.

Especially since Master Yi had chosen the Moon God Pavilion as his first stop upon arriving in Lanxing. This was a chance others could only dream of!

With that thought, the Moon God Pavilion Master could barely contain his excitement, nearly losing his composure.

Such overwhelming joy was only natural.

If this were anyone else, having a supreme being descend upon their sect would be cause for wild celebration—beating drums and gongs would be an understatement.

After a long while, the group finally steadied their emotions.

Just then—

A familiar voice came from outside the door.

“Pavilion Master, I’ve brought Elder Yi Feng!”

Whoosh—

The gentle announcement sent chills down their spines!

Xiong Fen stiffened in alarm and quickly whispered to the others.

“Steady yourselves! Everyone, stay calm!”

The group forced their nervous expressions away, struggling to maintain composure. Their gazes locked onto the entrance as the Pavilion Master took deep breaths, his voice strained as he called out.

“Ah… yes!”

“Thank you, Elder Yi—no, Elder Yi Feng! Please, come in at once!”

Yi Feng pushed the door open and strode in with Feng Tianquan at his side.

Entering the hall, he saw that the esteemed guests—Elder Xiong Fen and his son—had already recovered, standing as if nothing had happened. The Pavilion Master and Qing Yin Xianyun stood beside them.

The four were lined up neatly, almost comically rigid.

Yi Feng’s eyes lit up with delight. He quickly approached with Feng Tianquan, bowing respectfully to each.

“Pavilion Master, Elder Xiong.”

“Elder Xiong, how are your injuries? Should Elder Feng Tianquan examine you again?”

The moment he asked—

All four waved their hands in unison!

Especially the distinguished Elder Xiong Fen, who wore an expression of humility and warmth.

“No need, no need!”

“Ah… I’m perfectly fine! Just a bit tired, that’s all. Elder Yi Feng, you’re too kind. Please, take a seat!”

Seeing such enthusiastic hospitality, Yi Feng grew even more hopeful.

This elder had no airs at all—truly befitting a man of his stature!

Even after achieving great success and gaining the backing of a supreme power, he remained so courteous upon returning to his sect, treating everyone like family. Such refinement spoke volumes.

A man like this must belong to an unfathomably powerful faction!

This time, his quest for death was surely a sure thing!

Amidst the warm welcome, Yi Feng and the others settled around the tea table.

The conversation flowed naturally, filled with warmth and familiarity.

Yi Feng relaxed further and decided to test the waters with a respectful question.

“Elder Xiong, might I have the chance to join your esteemed sect?”

The moment the words left his mouth, Xiong Fen slapped his thigh in excitement!

“Absolutely! Without a doubt!”

The others nodded fervently.

“Elder Yi—no, Elder Yi Feng, your entry is guaranteed!”

“You’re more than qualified!”

The enthusiastic response left Yi Feng momentarily dazed. He hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly.

Most likely, the Pavilion Master and the young lady had put in a good word for him in private.

How thoughtful of them!

Yi Feng shot them a grateful look, startling the two into hurried smiles. The atmosphere grew even more harmonious, as if all hierarchy had dissolved, leaving only camaraderie.

Encouraged, Yi Feng pressed on.

“Elder Xiong.”

“Might I ask if your sect has any peerless experts? And what’s the general ethos like? Of course, I understand if some matters are confidential, but if you could share even a little, I’d be deeply grateful!”

His clasped fists made the group stiffen again!

Xiong Fen’s nerves finally frayed, his throat bobbing as he fought the urge to collapse.

How could he possibly deserve such respect?!

This was life-shortening!

As for experts—what a joke!

The entire Dark Shadow Island was Master Yi’s creation. The great figures there were his disciples. Who would dare claim to be an expert in his presence?

If he misspoke and named someone as a “peerless expert,” he’d face the wrath of one of those very figures!

Xiong Fen’s heart pounded like a drum!

But under the encouraging gazes of the others—their eyes gleaming with wisdom and “big-picture thinking”—he had no choice but to force a smile and clasp his fists.

“Elder Yi—no, Elder Yi Feng, you flatter me.”

“Our sect’s experts… are passable, I suppose…”

Desperate to save himself, he quickly added some flattery.

“As for our sect’s ethos… it’s impeccable!”

“Everyone is dedicated to their duties, helping one another. I’ve never seen such unity—it’s like one big family!”

Beside him, Xiong Zhong chimed in nervously.

“Yes, yes!”

“Our fellow disciples treat each other like kin, regardless of status. Truly a model for all sects!”

As the two spoke, Yi Feng’s heart began to sink.

At first, it sounded like modest, polite talk.

But by the end—something felt off!

“Like one big family”…

“Dedicated to their duties”?

This… didn’t sound like a place where people fought to the death.

It sounded more like a group of carefree cultivators, content with their peaceful lives.

Yi Feng frowned slightly.

“Such a sect exists? No internal conflicts at all? Not even occasional duels or disputes?”

The question made Xiong Zhong’s heart tremble.

Thank heavens for their earlier caution!

Master Yi’s repeated probing about Dark Shadow Island was clearly a test—both of their discernment and of the sect’s current state.

If this one truly wished to return, he could do so in the blink of an eye!

There was absolutely no need to keep asking me!

At this moment, Xiong Fen was utterly convinced—Yi Feng was probing for recent updates about the island, listening from a mentor’s perspective to gauge his disciples' conduct!

This was a life-or-death question.

Dare to speak even a hint of negativity, and the master would surely be displeased. If any of the higher-ups took offense later, a mere flick of their fingers would reduce him and the Moon God Pavilion to ashes!

With that in mind, Xiong Fen promptly plastered on a face of awestruck admiration, launching a relentless barrage of flattery!

"Every word I’ve said is the absolute truth, no deception whatsoever!"

"In our land, everyone treats each other with kindness and respect! Just the other day, when my son and I were in dire straits, one of the great masters personally came to our aid. Such camaraderie is unthinkable in other sects!"

"Forget about duels or fights—you won’t even find a single quarrel in our sect. No friction, no conflicts, just mutual support and boundless camaraderie!"

"If I’ve spoken even half a lie, may lightning strike me dead!"

Xiong Zhong solemnly echoed, his expression deadly serious.

"Absolutely true!"

"If I’m lying, may I too be struck by lightning!"

Their fierce oaths left everyone around them stunned.

Yi Feng froze in place, completely dumbfounded.

Holy hell…

With such vicious oaths, this sect must genuinely be a utopia of harmony!

Could such a faction truly exist in this world?

This is just…

What a waste of all those experts!

Who in the world founded a sect like this?

For a lazy bum like him, such a place would indeed be the perfect choice—if not for the impending calamity hinted at by the system.

But this was the exact opposite of what he wanted.

In that kind of environment, he’d probably never get a chance to court death. Worse, he might end up surrounded by a bunch of overpowered friends, making it even harder to die.

Overcome with frustration, Yi Feng offered a few tactical compliments before making excuses to bow out.

"Uh…"

"It seems your sect is truly extraordinary."

"But I just remembered—I have some personal matters to attend to. So, gentlemen, could I postpone my visit? Once I’ve settled my affairs, we can revisit this discussion."

"No problem, no problem…"

Xiong Fen nodded vigorously, finding Yi Feng’s withdrawal from the Dark Shadow Island plan entirely reasonable.

It only confirmed his belief that this meeting had been nothing but a test.

As the storm seemed to finally calm, the Moon God Pavilion’s master quietly wiped his sweat.

Then—

Yi Feng suddenly turned to him and asked,

"Pavilion Master, enlighten me—do you know of any extremely perilous places? The kind teeming with formidable experts?"

The question left the Pavilion Master utterly numb.