By the morning of the third day, while the sky was still faint with pre-dawn light, the large man in brocade robes, the thin fellow, and the rest of their group slipped quietly out of the residence and set off toward the Star Palace.
The lockdown had just been lifted, which meant cultivators were technically permitted to move about. But because it was still so early, very few people had yet appeared in the city.
As a result, the seven of them were all the more cautious and tense, each one burying their head and hurrying along in nervous silence.
Only the leading man in brocade robes kept glancing around as he flew onward.
The journey seemed to go smoothly. The group flew uneventfully up to the forty-ninth level of the Holy Mountain. Just a little longer and they would reach the Star Palace.
Only then did their expressions relax, and a measure of peace settled over their hearts.
But just at that moment, the brocade-robed man in the lead suddenly changed expression and halted his escape light. With a grave look, he raised his hand and made an odd gesture.
Those behind him saw this, their faces draining of color as they too stopped in their tracks, each one assuming a defensive, alert posture.
"Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this? Why have you gone invisible and blocked our path?" The brocade-robed man stared at the empty air ahead, his voice cold and sharp.
At the same time, one of his hands quietly pressed against the storage pouch at his waist.
"Heh heh, there is no need for alarm, Fellow Daoists. I have indeed been waiting here specifically for you, but I harbor no ill intent — I merely have a favor to ask."
A somewhat hoarse voice drifted lazily from the empty space ahead. Then a flash of green light flickered, and a green-robed cultivator appeared there with his hands clasped behind his back.
The man appeared to be middle-aged, his complexion pale as though he were suffering from an illness.
But once the brocade-robed man and the others perceived the newcomer's cultivation level, a jolt of alarm shot through their hearts and their wariness rose sharply.
The stranger was at the same late Foundation Establishment stage as the brocade-robed man — equally on the verge of condensing a false core.
"Might I ask your surname, Fellow Daoist? How might we possibly be of assistance to you?" A trace of cold light flashed through the brocade-robed man's eyes, though his tone remained composed.
"My surname is Qu — merely a rogue cultivator. Aren't you all heading for the Star Palace? Might you bring me along as well? I too wish to make a trip to the Outer Star Sea." The green-robed man spoke in a casual manner that turned the faces of his listeners an unflattering shade of green.
Upon hearing this, the brocade-robed man's expression grew even more unsettled, shifting between shadow and light.
He was silent for a moment before forcing a smile and denying it: "So it's Fellow Daoist Qu. But what's this about the Star Palace and the Outer Star Sea? I'm afraid I don't follow. The few of us are merely attending to some private matters — we're simply passing through here. We have no connection to the Star Palace. You may have the wrong people."
The brocade-robed man had made up his mind. Though he had no idea who this person was or how he had learned of their mission, there was absolutely no way he would admit to it so readily.
None of the others spoke out of turn; they seemed content to leave all the talking to the big man.
"Why so cautious, Fellow Daoist Yi? I have appeared right here in front of you at this very moment — did you really think a few paltry words would put me off?" The green-robed man chuckled lightly, his tone deliberately offhand.
"Hmph! You certainly know your way around — you even know my name." A chill shot through the brocade-robed man's heart. He let out a cold snort, and the hand pressed against his storage pouch tightened unconsciously, veins rising to the surface.
The several people behind him seemed to have received some silent cue, and in perfect coordination they suddenly scattered, semi-encircling the green-robed man in an instant.
"You gentlemen wouldn't be thinking of silencing me, would you? I don't mean to boast, but with my cultivation, even if all of you attacked together, you couldn't kill me in one blow. At that point, I'd only need to shout once to draw the people from Star Palace here. I wonder what sort of end that would bring you?" The green-robed cultivator seemed entirely oblivious to their movements, speaking in a languid, unhurried manner instead.
Hearing these words, the dark-faced cultivator and the others exchanged uneasy glances, and their gazes involuntarily fell upon the brocade-robed giant.
The giant's expression was ugly beyond description at that moment.
Though he had not yet formed his Nascent Soul, he had always prided himself on his superior cunning. When had a Foundation Establishment cultivator ever dared threaten him like this?
But he also understood all too well that the other's threat was entirely genuine — this was no laughing matter.
After weighing the pros and cons in his mind, he had no choice but to suppress his fury and ask coldly: "What exactly would you have us do? We already agreed with the other side that seven people would be involved, and that teleportation array can only send seven cultivators at a time. With you added on top, the other side will certainly not agree."
Upon hearing this, the green-robed cultivator simply offered a faint smile.