The Romantic Cultivator

Chapter 194 Unlikely Allies

Nightfall, at the secret spot that was overlooking the glowing descending mountain of the Warrior Empyrean Labyrinth;

A group of high level cultivators had just taken off their dark hoods and were viewing one another with great suspicion.

These dark hoods cultivators had all come from different directions and some of them did not appear to know one another. Some were even surprised to one another.

"You're all here as well?"

Great Saint Jin Tianzong and Saint Jin Yilong of the Mystic Profound Pavilion were the first to remove their hood.

They were swiftly followed by Second Young Master Zhan Zhong and Great Saint Zhan Wuji the protégé grandmaster of the Great Inevitable Divine Clan.

Young Master Bo Anwan, future successor of the Burning Heavens Pavilion was with his father the Great Saint Bo Yikai and also the sect leader of the Burning Heavens Pavilion.

Even Grand Elder Kai Renjie and the Patriarch leader Kai Mo of the Iron Righteous Clan were also presented.

They were all smiling and were greeting Great Saint Zhan Wuji who headed the most powerful orthodox celestial clan.

The next group to remove their hoods was Great Saint Gu Tiexin the sect leader and Great Saint Gu Gui of the Dark Solstice Sect. The Dark Solstice Sect was one of the five major unorthodox clans and was the strongest of the major unorthodox clans.

Great Saint Gu Gui looked a little grumbly and was unhappy; it was because he knew what this meeting was about and he was unhappy about it.

"Great Saint Gu Tiexin!"

Great Saint Zhan Wuji greeted him coolly as he looked at his surroundings. "It seems that the most important guests are still not around…"

"Who says we are not around?" a beautiful voice chuckled. It was Sagess Mei as she appeared into view and she was accompanied by two peaked great saints and they were First Citadel Lord Yin Wei and Second Citadel Lord Yin Xiong.

The Sagess Mei laughed softly. "I am sure all of you know why we are here? We are all here naturally to cement an alliance with one another for the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth."

Great Saint Zhan Wuji asked solemnly. "So what do you want?"

The Sagess Mei smiled coldly. "It is simple enough. We only have two conditions. We want Ji Yuan to be dead and I'm sure that that is your wishes as well. We know that Ji Yuan will be going into the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth as well and I want all of you to hunt him down. If you can kill him then you can keep his immortal sword and we will not intervene."

Immediately there were soft mutterings.

"Ji Yuan must die because he is trying to upset the old order…"

"He is spreading heretic teachings…"

"He is insulting our beards…"

"Ji Yuan is making us look like clowns…"

Fully half of the cultivators at the settlement actually did not believed in Ji Yuan's nonsense about his beardless theory and they numbered a hundred thousand cultivators.

Even though they had heard rumors that Diviner Mo Ming had declared Ji Yuan to be a great hero but they were still in disbelief because their beards were the source of their manly prides.

"Even a lion has its beautiful manes…"

"Now Ji Yuan want us to become beardless tigers instead…"

Great Saint Gu Gui was unhappy that they were all talking bad behind his Big Brother Ji Yuan's back so he said with a displeasure tone. "How do you know if a beardless tiger isn't stronger than a mane lion? From what I can see, a tiger has longer fangs and is more muscular than a lion."

"There are lions that are as big as a small hill and these lions are real desolate beasts. You can't compare mortal lions with the lion desolate beasts of the Celestial Realm…"

"Silence!" Great Saint Gu Tiexin said to Great Saint Gu Gui. "Ji Yuan must die because he is a threat our sect's ambition to dominate the unorthodox fraternity.

"But brother…you must think of the bigger picture! Ji Yuan is actually a nice guy. If we can befriend him, it is equally advantageous to us…"

But Great Saint Gu Tiexin hummed coldly, "Are you the sect leader or I am the sect leader?"

Great Saint Gu Gui sighed as he said to everyone. "Since I have outstayed my welcome, I shall not stay in this meeting anymore."

With an angry huff, he had left the meeting.

Great Saint Zhan Wuji asked the Sagess Mei. "And what is the second condition?"

Sagess Mei smiled coldly, "Once they had entered the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth, follow me to attack the camp of the Spirit Blue Moon Sect. The Evil Cultivation Palace only wants Little Princess and Xue Qianxue."

Jin Yilong said angrily, "Even though the Spirit Blue Moon Sect is an unorthodox clan but I hope that you did not forget that there is an armistice while the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth is still around. How can we join you in this undertaking? We will be the public enemy of the entire fraternity!"

Zhan Zhong found himself agreeing with Jin Yilong. "I am afraid that we can't agree to the second condition!"

Sagess Mei giggled. "Although the two of you may be the future successors to your celestial clans but you are not yet the successors. Therefore you can't decide this for your celestial clan. I happen to know that the two of you will be entering the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth to try to take Yin Wei's life. The one who will take Yin Wei's life will have the chance to take Zhao Songjin to be his consort, am I right?"

Both Jin Yilong and Zhan Zhong were smiling weakly; it was true.

They were calling all the shots when their fathers had suddenly taken an active hand and had even arrived at the settlement to inform them that there was a secret meeting with the Evil Cultivation Palace.

Great Saint Zhan Wuji inhaled softly, "This is a little hard…"

The rest of the leaders nodded, "Actually Jin Yilong and Zhan Zhong are right…this is a little hard…"

None of them had wanted to become a public enemy of the entire fraternity.

Second Citadel Lord Yin Xiong laughed jovially. "Actually it is not difficult at all. We totally understand that you cannot help us to attack the Spirit Blue Moon Sect directly. All we require from all of you is, lead your sects and allies out of the settlement so that it will make things a little easier for us to raid the settlement."

Great Saint Zhan Wuji muttered, "This is not hard at all then…"

Great Saint Jin Tianzong said impatiently. "Then how do we know if you will keep your promise to us?"

Before the meeting had started, the Evil Cultivation Palace had promised them that they would spare them the wrath of their metamorph monsters.

The Sagess Mei laughed, "You must know that the Evil Cultivation Palace has always been a peace loving sect. We didn't attack you first and you are the ones that have attacked us. Naturally our Evil Cultivation Master isn't going to overlook this slight. But if you are able to help the Evil Cultivation Palace on this then we will promise you that we will not loosen our metamorph monsters on your sect. I am sure that you are aware on how deadly our metamorph monsters are by now?"

The deadly attacks of the metamorph monsters had decimated many cultivators belonging to the six major orthodox clans and numerous cultivators from hundreds of celestial clans had also perished too.

Many of the leaders of the six major orthodox clans were now a little afraid of the Evil Cultivation Palace and they did not know how many trump cards that they still possess.

Therefore they had decided that it was time for their own self-preservation instead. By sacrificing Ji Yuan and closing one eye to the Evil Cultivation Palace raid on the Spirit Blue Moon Sect, they were guaranteed of their own sect's survival. This was actually a tempting bargain for them.

Great Saint Zhan Wuji asked. "And you won't attack us if we come into conflicts inside the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth?"

The Sagess Mei chuckled. "Of course not. We will be allies from now on."

Great Saint Zhan Wuji nodded quietly. "Then we are in."

When everyone saw that Great Saint Zhan Wuji was in, a floodgate was opened and none of the leaders had wanted to be lag behind so they quickly agreed to make a secret pact together.

Jin Yilong and Zhan Zhong were secretly sighing. They had wanted to use the strength of their celestial clan to hunt down Yin Wei inside the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth but it was no longer possible now. Even if the two of them joined hands together, they may not be Yin Wei's match because he is a peaked great saint.

Their biggest dilemma was that the two of them had fallen in love with Zhao Songjin and they were hoping to be the ones that would kill Yin Wei for her.

Now they could only secretly pray that none of their other competitors would have the chance to kill Yin Wei.

In fact they were now praying that Yin Wei would live a long life and Zhao Songjin would change her mind later.

-

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Ji Yuan was looking blissful as he looked at Jiajia as he sent her out after their meals together. But he was unable to hold her hand or touch her butt because Xisi, Hua Wuwu and Hua Baiyue were around.

But that was enough for him because he was contented that she was in his company. When he had first met Jiajia, he did not think that he would fall in love again after several lost romances. Although he may appear to be a flirt but it was all because he did not want to lose his face in front of his friends and 'brothers' so he had to pretend that he was really interested in 'women' and gossiped about them.

But the truth was that, ever since he had been 'raped' by Little Princess, he did not have any romantic notions anymore. Moreover he was gaining experiences along the way and was quite cool toward temporary relationships.

But Jiajia changed all that.

He was admiring Jiajia from a respectable distance when she had suddenly approached him to have a little chat with him. This was a something that he had not expected and he quickly seized upon the opportunity to know her. It was really rare for him to take a liking to a maiden as well since he was the adulations of many maidens because of his beautiful long beard.

He had really thought that Jiajia was attracted to him because of his beautiful long beard and he did not know that Jiajia actually know what he had looked like underneath his long beard.

He was quite touched that she was willing to be with him if he could complete a quick mission for her. Although the mission was a success but he had screwed it up by dropping into Xue Qianxue's bathtub.

So he tried to hold her onto a pledge. To his surprise, she had actually agreed.

At that time, he did not know that Jiajia had actually setup a ruse to get to know him better.

Jiajia had naturally come clean to this during the short meal with everyone since all the maidens presented were all going to be Ji Yuan's consorts or going to be her sisters in the future.

She was forced to admit, "Actually I didn't expect that…I will fall in love with Ji Yuan back then."

"As some of have already known, I was just trying to show him that I am also a little beauty beside Ling Feiyue and Xue Qianxue."

Ji Yuan laughed, "Of course you are a beauty or I won't fall in love with you."

Saintess Fang Zhenfei (Jiajia) chuckled. "Superficial."

Immediately all the other maidens were all laughing, "Yea. Superficial!"

Xiang Li who had appeared to join them to have a meal asked. "What is wrong with that?"

Xue Qianxue winked at Xiang Li as she chuckled in a cute manner. "Xiang Li! You don't look at just the appearance. You must look at the heart of a person."

Immediately all the maidens were nodding and agreeing.

"That's right!"

"True!"

Xiang Li and Ji Yuan immediately rolled their eyes and they did not dare to disagree in front of them.

Ji Yuan and Xiang Li secretly said at the same time to each other, "Looks first then heart." This was the conclusion of their great dao together.

Jiajia continued but this time her countenance had suddenly become solemn. "Maybe it is time for me to share with everyone…" It was because Ji Yuan now had the strength to protect everyone.

"I was actually hoping to matchmake Sister Qianxue with Ji Yuan."

Xue Qianxue blinked her eyes, "Huh?!"

Ji Yuan mused with a soft chuckle. "Why am I so lucky?"

Ling Feiyue looked a little panicky, "So I am the extra all along?" She felt a little hurt but quickly got over it. It was because she is now with Ji Yuan and that is a fact. And moreover Xue Qianxue is her best friend now because of what had happened in the past.

Jiajia laughed, "That is only because Sister Qianxue likes Ji Yuan from the very start and I didn't want to give the Evil Cultivation Palace any benefit. So I will prefer Sister Qianxue to lose her chasity to someone that she likes. But of course that man must also be someone that is not affiliated with the Evil Cultivation Palace."

"And that man must be someone must be beautiful enough to attract her lofty eyes. I figured out that Ji Yuan may be the man and that poem that he had written may be a good opportunity for me to make use of."

Ji Yuan laughed shamelessly, "You got the right man..."

Jiajia went on to explain. "Do you still remember that I had told you that I am on something dangerous the last time that we had met?"

Ji Yuan, Ling Feiyue, Xue Qianxue and Bai Qianfeng were all nodding.

"I am actually after the plots of the Evil Cultivation Palace. And through my intelligence network, I know that they are plotting against Sister Qianxue here and they even have their moles inside the Celestial Orthodox Sect."

Little Princess nodded and said without any emotion as she interrupted briefly. "That is right."

"They are actually after Xue Qianxue's body because she has already mastered the Sacred Maiden Profound Art to the eighth level and I know the secret why they are after Sister Qianxue."

Xue Qianxue asked curiously, "What secret?"

Jiajia laughed. "The Sacred Maiden Profound Art is able to restore the fertility of a cultivator. As you know, the higher the cultivation realm of the cultivator, the harder it is for them to have any children."

Xue Qianxue frowned immediately. "I don't get it. This Evil Cultivation Master already has three children. He doesn't need to increase his fertility by copulating with me."

"There is another secret that only the Sacred Maiden Profound Art is able to accomplish." Jiajia slowly said.

Xue Qianxue: ???

Jiajia slowly said. "It can restore the vitality and profound strength of the cultivator to its peak."

Xue Qianxue asked curiously, "The Evil Cultivation Master is injured?"

Jiajia shook her head. "He is merely trying to restore his body to its peak. But for that, he needed you to first attain your Sacred Maiden Profound Art to the eighth rank first. Because you are the only one that show the aptitude to attain to such a lofty high level and he knows it. That is why he has been secretly aiding the Celestial Orthodox Sect in the past."

Little Princess said honestly. "We were told to report to the Evil Cultivation Master once you have reached the eighth rank of the Sacred Maiden Profound Art but we had never realized that you are already on the ninth rank. Even your Matriarch Sacred Maiden can only attain to the seventh rank of the Sacred Maiden Profound Art."

Jiajia nodded. "She had displayed her ninth rank of the Sacred Maiden Profound Art during the new sacred maiden ceremony. That was why I know that I have to act quickly."

Little Princess inhaled softly. "The Evil Cultivation Master has even betrayed his very own daughter…"

Jiajia sighed. "This is something that I have not expected too and everything is moving too fast for me." Then she lit a slow smile. "But one thing that I'm very sure is, you are not his daughter."

Little Princess: ???

"What do you mean?"

Jiajia hesitated for a while before saying. "You have the Nine Yin Divine Body and you cannot possibly be his child."

"What do you mean?" Little Princess asked curiously.

Bai Qianfeng had suddenly interrupted. "It is exactly as I have suspected too. The Sagess Alyssa isn't your mother consort as well."

Little Princess was stunned. She really could not believe what she was hearing. "Then who are my parents?"

Bai Qianfeng replied coolly, "No one because you may be birthed from the essences of the heavens and the earth; they may have taken you here from the Gods' Realm."

But before Little Princess could recover from her perplexed look, Jiajia said to everyone. "I'm afraid that the Evil Cultivation Palace may already have plans to move against the Spirit Blue Moon Sect or rather Sister Qianxue and Little Princess. Therefore we will need a contingency plan to thwart their plans."

Ji Yuan immediately frowned. "Then I'm not going into the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth anymore."

Jiajia smiled. "You ought to go. I will help you to protect Sister Qianxue here."

"Huh Jiajia? You're not entering the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth?" Ji Yuan was startled.

Jiajia replied. "My Sister Sisi will take my place to enter the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth but I will mislead everyone into thinking that I will be inside. The plan that I have in mind is simple enough. I will pretend to be Sister Qianxue to lure the Evil Cultivation Palace to me."

Ji Yuan protested immediately. "Jiajia, it is too dangerous for you. Why don't I stay behind to help you?"

Jiajia shook her head as she said, "You have to enter the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth to distract them and to help me to thwart another plot of the Evil Cultivation Palace for me. Moreover, if you are around, it will be more dangerous for me. My moles have told me that they will be coming for you."

Ji Yuan was startled as he smiled weakly. "They really love me, do they?"

Jiajia giggled. "Don't worry for me. Have you forgotten who I am? I can take care of myself."

Ji Yuan nodded slowly. Jiajia is the Divine Palace Master of the Hundred Flower Divine Palace as well.

"Then what do you want me to do inside the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth?" Ji Yuan asked curiously.

Jiajia replied. "Stop them from obtaining the artefact core of the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth. In order to do so, you must complete the trial."

Ji Yuan: ???

Back to the present;

Ji Yuan laughed, "Jiajia, you are the best. At least you are never a gossiper like some of them."

Jiajia laughed gently. "They are gossiping about you because they all love you and have made you into their talking point. You really don't understand women too well."

Ji Yuan immediately frowned. "Really?!"

He secretly asked Xiang Li. "What do you think, Xiang Li?"

Xiang Li chuckled. "I never gossip about my big brother! And I love my big brother!"

Ji Yuan failed to notice that Xiang Li was stammering and rolling her eyes inside his soul sea. It was because she was not telling the truth and had been gossiping with Ling Feiyue, Xue Qianxue and Little Princess; she had promised not to tell Ji Yuan about their gossips.

Ji Yuan laughed. "Lucky I'm smart enough to ask you first. Only a maiden will understand a maiden. Jiajia may be trying to put me into a test."

So he replied to Jiajia. "No, you are the best. I know that your love for me is the deepest even though you have never gossiped about me."

Jiajia was secretly touched and was flushing gently. "There are others around here…"

Shui Xisi hummed unhappily. "Some men have eyes but are blinded…"

Jiajia laughed before she asked with a wry smile. "What do you think of my Sister Sisi?"

Ji Yuan rolled his eyes and thought. "This must be another trick question…"

"Will you like to take my sister as your consort as well?"

Ji Yuan blinked his eyes. Jiajia is adding another trick question on top of the earlier trick question. Have my tryst with her sister been discovered by her? Jiajia is so smart. She must have discovered it. Crap…

He had actually liked Shui Xisi a lot but he was now rolling his eyes panicky.

Jiajia was still looking at him earnestly for his reply. "So what do you think?"

Ji Yuan laughed weakly. "No way, we are impossible…"

Shui Xisi stomped her foot and was about to speed off when Jiajia caught hold of her hands and put her hands together with Ji Yuan.

Jiajia was laughing softly as she looked at Ji Yuan, "This isn't a trick question. I saw what had happened that night and I think my sister will be happy with you."

Ji Yuan: …

I really have been discovered…

But this isn't a trick question?

Shui Xisi hummed coldly as she shook her hands off Ji Yuan, "Sister, since he doesn't want me then I will go as far away as possible. I will never want to see this rascal again…"

But as soon as she was about to leave, Ji Yuan had flashed in front of her and was holding her hands. "Erm, if you really leave like this then who will pinch my nose in the future?"

Before Shui Xisi could protest, Ji Yuan had pulled her into his embrace. "Don't go. I do like you…"

Shui Xisi's disappointment began to fade away immediately and she was giggling shyly in his embrace.

Ji Yuan laughed too. "Sisi, you have such an ugly expression during the meal earlier. Now you look much better now that you are smiling."

Shui Xisi hummed softly. "That is because I am the odd one out."

Jiajia was also smiling. "Please be tolerant of my little sister. She has many virtues."

Ji Yuan laughed. "Of course I will."

Xiang Li was clapping excitingly, "YES! YES! YES!"