"Lord Green Fright, gentlemen, you've arrived?" As the Eight Great Iron Guards, their faces heavy with concern, hurried to the entrance of the Enlightened Deity Cave Grand Hall, a Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivator who had been waiting at the door eagerly greeted them.
"Hmm, why are you injured?" Iron One nodded slightly at the words, and then suddenly frowned. He had seen the bloodstain at the corner of the Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivator's mouth.
"Reporting to Lord Green Fright, it's nothing serious. However, it seems those two are here to find Lord Cave Master." The Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivator replied.
"They're here to find Lord Cave Master?" Iron One's brows furrowed slightly at the words but instantly relaxed.
Indeed, apart from the Lord Cave Master, Chen Fei, there seemed truly no one else in the Enlightened Deity Cave worthy enough for those two from Canglan Island to come all this way. But then, what was their true purpose for coming?
With this question in mind, his face composed, taking a deep breath, Iron One led his seven brothers, pushing open the door and entering the Enlightened Deity Cave Grand Hall.
"You've arrived?" A gentle voice sounded.
Iron One's entire body shivered at once, inhaling deeply with urgency, he quickly said, "Island Master Cang Kun, Blue Whale Island Lord, your presence is truly an honor, please forgive us for not welcoming you from afar." Although the brothers had undergone a transformation, Iron One still felt genuine reverence and tremor facing Cang Kun and Blue Whale.
No doubt, within nearly a thousand miles surrounding Canglan Island, both Cang Kun and Blue Whale instilled uncontested terror, whether through reputation or combat power! It was as though an ominous shadow loomed over their spirits, ever persistent.
"Hmph!" Blue Whale Elder emitted a cold snort upon seeing Iron One and his comrades merely at Second Level Middle Stage Beast, albeit without employing any momentum.
Indeed, after acquiring the Low Grade Third-Level Four-Silver Patterned Pill from Chen Fei, even Green Fright, that is Iron One included, among the Eight Great Iron Guards, all broke through to become Second Level Middle Stage Beast experts!
Moreover, before leaving, Chen Fei handed over a newly optimized formation to them. After initial comprehension, they surprisingly discovered,
that this Four-Layer Human Formation Technique they valued had become twice as strong, with the understanding difficulty oppositely reduced thanks to Zhen Jingkong's refinement. And what did this mean?
It meant that if they could fully set up the formation now, it was uncertain whether ordinary cultivators at Qi Refining Ninth Layer could truly contend against them.
They even sensed the enormous potential of the newly perfected formation, suggesting that further insights might make defeating Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivators possible for the eight brothers. Weren't they already fundamentally transformed?
But even though they had transformed, this 'somewhat' cultivation capacity still seemed merely average in the eyes of Cang Kun and Blue Whale, especially considering cultivation level standing alone.
"I have some impression of you, weren't you previously beside that little toad? Now with a new master in Golden Toad Cave, you've fared quite well."
Then Taoist Cang Kun's gaze fell onto Iron One and the others, scrutinizing them. A moment later, he chuckled.
"Not at all, compared to you two Island Masters, we are no more than small lights within the realm of luminescent moonlight, hardly worth mentioning. Nevertheless, the fortune and luck of being under Lord Cave Master's leadership are indeed ours." Iron One felt flattered, looking on with admiration.
His words were not mere flattery; without Chen Fei, none of the eight brothers dared claim they could have come this far.
In other words, all of today's achievements were thanks to Chen Fei, how could they not submit to him?
"Hehe, since you put it this way, it seems the Master of Enlightened Deity Cave indeed has some capabilities. If you don't mind, could I politely ask some questions?" Taoist Cang Kun's eyes slightly narrowed with a flash of wisdom, then he spoke warmly.
"Ask some questions?"
Iron One was slightly stunned upon hearing, immediately replying without hesitation, "Island Master Cang Kun, your words are valued, feel free to ask any question."
"Is your new Cave Master truly, as rumors suggest, a Third-Level Alchemist?" At that moment, a cold and rigid voice abruptly interjected. Blue Whale Elder, who previously remained silent, suddenly spoke indifferently.
"You're asking about Lord Cave Master?" Hearing this, Iron One was initially surprised, then instinctively hesitant.
Evidently, he hadn't anticipated the question from both parties would be this, and such matter, without Chen Fei's consent, how could he reveal it?
To put it broadly, this counted as external confidentiality and a trump card for Enlightened Deity Cave.
"Didn't you hear me..."
Witnessing Iron One not immediately responding, Blue Whale Elder's expression darkened, unable to restrain his anger.
Yet the next moment, Taoist Cang Kun's hand gestured for the elder to be silent.
After doing this, he then amiably addressed the slightly pale Iron One et al., "This old codger has been somewhat unstable lately, please ignore him. I understand my question was a bit presumptuous; if you find it inconvenient to answer, feel free to act as though I never asked."
Saying that, his gaze fluctuated faintly, flashes of insight passing through.
Obviously, there were moments when words needn't be explicit, nor overt. As evidenced now, he read the implicit response from Iron One et al.'s expressions.
Fortunately, this first step succeeded. Thankfully, the news wasn't mere reckless dissemination.
"Thank Island Master Cang Kun for understanding." Iron One, upon hearing, directed a thankful gaze toward Taoist Cang Kun. His circumstance precluded careless speech, or it could lead to major problems.
Thankfully, Island Master Cang Kun unexpectedly proved reasonable, understanding, besides which—an ideal outcome was, thankfully, the matter didn't require explicit statement for the other party to discern the answer. And so, he needn't bear the burden of this.
"Not at all..." Taoist Cang Kun replied perfunctorily, eyes narrowed in thought, soon silence settled within the hall.
Whoosh!
However, after such a brief moment of silence, green light suddenly sped into the hall from outside, landing in Iron One's palm. Upon closer inspection, it was a short-distance Communication Talisman.
"Island Master Cang Kun, Blue Whale Island Lord, our Lord Cave Master has returned, so may we take our leave?" Having opened the talisman, seen its content, Iron One's face instantly beamed with joy.