Free Web NovelChapter 837: Chapter 91 Five Immortals
Fan Qingqing made a gesture of invitation in midair.
Jiang Wang then cupped his hands towards Old Zhao and the others, "Gentlemen, until we meet again."
At this moment, Old Zhao was without his usual roughness, cupping his hands properly, incredibly gentle and polite.
Only then did Jiang Wang step into the sky and fly away with several cultivators from the Five Immortal Sect.
As they watched the young cultivator’s departing figure, someone on the entire dragon bone boat started, and everyone bent over to bow deeply.
In the Near Sea Archipelago, there’s a saying——
"They all say being transcendent is wonderful, as each step takes you higher and each step comes with trials, with life and death twisting around one’s fingertips.
Battle the Furious Sea, fight against fierce beasts, exhaust wisdom and courage, and decide the fate of the greatest.
They all say being transcendent is wonderful, yet a life of peace is nowhere to be seen!"
If transcendent cultivators really wanted peace, why wouldn’t they see it? They could simply abandon their responsibilities and hide anywhere, living in wealth, couldn’t they?
Like back then in the Qingyang Town mines, Old Ge Heng was only greedy for pleasure, Zhang Hai was dedicated to alchemy, and Xiang Qian lived in a daze.
In the Near Sea Archipelago, under the circumstances of transcendent cultivators defending against the Sea Clan, there are quite a few like Li Daorong who actually do not care about the lives of ordinary people. Yet, at least in general public opinion, transcendent cultivators still acknowledge their responsibility to protect ordinary people.
Li Daorong and the others merely delayed their rescue but dared not neglect it entirely. If Jiang Wang weren’t there today, just the issue of the Angry Whale Gang’s Fierce Beasts losing control and harming people would have been enough for a dispute between the Five Immortal Sect and the Angry Whale Gang.
It would naturally result in accusations from one side and defenses from the other, potentially escalating to bringing the case to the Diao Hai Building.
However, for those who genuinely faced danger, their lives only happen once. Whatever is done afterwards is futile.
After flying not far from the dragon bone boat, Jiang Wang spoke, "Elder Fan, please take care of those people on the boat for us at the Five Immortal Sect."
"Of course, there’s no problem, this is our responsibility after all," Fan Qingqing replied generously, smiling, "The main concern is Old Zhao, right? I see you seem to get along well."
No matter the reality, the Five Immortal Sect at least put on an excellent front.
Jiang Wang only responded with a smile, neither denying nor discussing further.
The reason he only asked the Five Immortal Sect to take care after coming this far was precisely because he did not want to show reliance in front of everyone on the boat.
Even if the Five Immortal Sect only promised their safety for a short time, it would still represent a chance for a drastic change of status for them.
This kind of opportunity might erode many people’s stances, pulling them into a vortex they themselves could not escape from. It’s possible to break out, but more likely, they would perish.
Just living safely, supporting themselves with their hands and feet, blowing off steam by bragging a bit or discussing the world’s situations, might indeed be the best outcome for them.
With local cultivators of the Five Immortal Sect from Youxia Island as guides, they naturally needn’t adhere to any flight restrictions over the islands. In fact, Jiang Wang himself also had pass tokens permitting him to fly directly to the islands, it was just intentionally delayed.
Along the way, Fan Qingqing introduced him to the local customs and scenery, with a very gentle demeanor.
Jiang Wang responded warmly, showing none of the arrogance of a dignitary from Linzi. Each had their own thoughts, making for a very pleasant conversation.
Her two subordinates, however, were very composed, neither speaking out of turn nor looking around, just like clay figures. From this point, it was clear Fan Qingqing’s ability to manage subordinates was significantly better than that of Li Daorong.
They soon flew to the Five Immortal Sect’s headquarters.
"Youxia" and "No Winter" sound almost the same in writing, and in fact, Youxia Island is even a bit larger. But the status of the two islands in the Near Sea Archipelago cannot be compared.
The struggle between the Five Immortal Sect and the Angry Whale Gang was fierce on Youxia Island, but put together, they were no match for a single Zhongxuan Minghe.
In the Near Sea Archipelago, cultivators did not even need to recognize Zhongxuan Minghe; they just needed to know whose younger brother he was. Hardly anyone doubted his capabilities.
Of course, although the influence of Zhongxuan Futu had not completely dissipated, the foundation of No Winter Island today was indeed established by Zhongxuan Minghe single-handedly.
The four brothers of this generation—second brother Ming Tu, third brother Ming Shan were deceased; and the capabilities of eldest brother Zhongxuan Mingguang, needless to mention, everyone in Linzi knew. Zhongxuan Minghe had great hopes of inheriting the title.
But he gave up everything in Linzi and went overseas alone, until today.
Many aristocratic families from Qi Country came to the Near Sea Archipelago to expand their territories, but few could truly establish a stable base. The Zhong Xuan Family was one of them.
Of course, in the grand scheme of the Near Sea Archipelago, the strength of No Winter Island was nothing exceptional. frёewebηovel.cѳm
If it were not for JueMing Island, manned by elite Qi Army, blocking the way in the Lost World, the reach of these various aristocratic families would have been severed and discarded long ago.
The base of the Five Immortal Sect was on the northern part of Youxia Island, indeed farther from the region where octopodal sea beasts lost control, which explains their slower response.
The entire Five Immortal Sect had four elders in the Inner Mansion Realm, as opposed to the three in the Angry Whale Gang, giving them one more elder. But the Angry Whale Gang had more ordinary members and more thriving businesses.
Both sides possessed tamed sea beasts, and both had major backing from Diao Hai Building, hence they had been evenly matched for a long time.
Only now had they gradually begun distinguishing superior from inferior.
As one of the four elders of the Five Immortal Sect, Fan Qingqing moved unhindered in the sect’s base.
She led the way, casually explaining, "This place is where disciples practice their paths. Brother Jiang Wang, if you have some free time, perhaps you could help give some guidance later."
Having chatted casually along the way, she had already grasped who Jiang Wang was. Her words were even warmer and more enthusiastic.
"Guidance I dare not presume, but we can exchange knowledge," Jiang Wang replied, not outright refusing the offer. After all, that could be discussed later.
Looking around, he seemingly asked without intention, "I still do not know, why is your sect called the Five Immortal Sect? Is it because the sect leader and the four great elders together make up exactly five illustrious persons?"
Fan Qingqing laughed at his question, "Naturally, that’s not the case. First, we can hardly dare to call ourselves immortals. Second, if there were ever a fifth elder, how would that be calculated? Could we still change our name?"
Her words hinted at an attempt to charm. But it was clear to her that a position as an elder of the Five Immortal Sect held no allure for Jiang Wang, so her expression was exceedingly subtle. She just mentioned it in passing, hoping to stimulate interest, but it was fine if it didn’t.
Jiang Wang shook his head, "It seems I made a careless guess, truly embarrassing."
"The ’Five Immortals’ actually refer to the five senses—the so-called sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. These are important portals for human interaction with the world and are essential for observing the transcendent. Therefore, they are named immortals to honor their significance," Fan Qingqing explained.
"Don’t see our small base of operations at the Five Immortal Sect; our lineage is indeed ancient, tracing back over a thousand years!"
The so-called sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch are vision, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile senses, respectively.
It is not unthinkable that sects like the Five Immortal Sect have some cultivators with ancient lineages, often established during the era when cultivators ventured to the seas.
However, to Jiang Wang, this bore no significance.
While the concept of forming Five Immortals from the Five Senses sounded impressive, the Five Immortal Sect only held sway on Youxia Island, and anyone could guess that their lineage was not particularly strong with just a few power players in their sect.
He was initially interested because he wanted to know if this sect was related to the Nine Great Immortal Palaces.
After all, with a Cloud Top Fairy Palace already present in the Five Mansions Sea, he wanted to see what the other immortal palaces looked like. If he could help complete his own immortal palace and restore the Cloud Top Fairy Palace to its former glory, that would be ideal. To gather all Nine Great Immortal Palaces... just the thought was exciting.
And as Fan Qingqing raised her voice to boast, she could only trace back a thousand years, which hardly seemed possible.
Jiang Wang dismissed the thought and probed, "In Linzi, I heard that Diao Hai Building dominates the Near Sea Archipelago uniquely. Coming here, I have heard various accounts. I wonder what Elder Fan’s view on this is?"
