Looking at the towering mountains and dense forests rapidly receding on both sides, Zhang Yuanjing felt increasingly that something was amiss.
The flying boat seemed to be traveling much faster than before, and furthermore, a quarter of an hour had passed without receiving any communication from Fire Crow Daoist, which was rather strange.
In these mountains, with towering peaks blocking the way, trying to find a rapidly moving flying boat was like searching for a needle in a haystack. If Fire Crow Daoist wanted to catch up, he could only ask Zhang Yuanjing for the flying boat's exact location through the transmission jade.
As a disciple of a major sect, cartography was a basic skill for Zhang Yuanjing. No matter how fast the flying boat flew, he could clearly record every path it took.
"Steward Hao, slow down the flying boat!" Zhang Yuanjing turned to Hao Sanding and said in a deep voice.
"Is this an order from True Person Yuan?" A sharp glint flashed in Hao Sanding's eyes as he asked.
"Of course!" Zhang Yuanjing urged, "If the True Person can't find us, there will be no one to protect the flying boat along the way!"
"The flying boat speeding through the sky is hard to escape the notice of the demons. We don't know if there are any great demons chasing us. Slowing down is very dangerous. Fellow Daoist Zhang, could Hao hear the True Person's instructions?" Hao Sanding's gaze shifted, subtly sweeping over the others, before returning to Zhang Yuanjing's face as he slowly spoke.
Zhang Yuanjing's gaze turned cold: "Steward Hao is suspecting that I'm falsely conveying orders?"
Hao Sanding chuckled: "I wouldn't dare. But with so many fellow Daoists in this flying boat, Hao can't afford to be responsible if something goes wrong."
Suppressing the anger in his heart, Zhang Yuanjing said coldly: "Then does Steward Hao know that if you refuse to carry out the True Person's orders, causing the True Person to be unable to find the flying boat, can you bear all the consequences!"
Hao Sanding said with an innocent expression: "Originally, Hao wanted to wait for True Person Yuan to defeat the White Bear King and board the flying boat before setting off together, but Fellow Daoist Zhang said that the True Person had ordered us to leave first. Hao didn't dare to disobey, so I had to follow the order. Looking back now, the previous instructions were not appropriate, but what's done is done, and cannot be changed.
"Now, we are surrounded by demons. Slowing down the flying boat is tantamount to attracting more demons. The more we delay, the more dangerous it becomes. Therefore, unless I hear the True Person's instructions myself, please forgive Hao for not following your words and putting everyone on board in danger."
Zhang Yuanjing instantly calmed down, dispelling the idea of suddenly attacking. He asked in a deep voice: "So, Steward Hao believes that it is safer for the flying boat to travel alone in the mountains than to wait for the True Person?"
Before Hao Sanding could answer, a weathered voice rang out: "Steward Hao, if we encounter another transformed great demon, can the flying boat resist it?"
Hao Sanding turned his head to look and smiled: "So it's Fellow Daoist Lin from the Purple Cloud Sect. It was already very clear when the White Bear King attacked just now whether the flying boat can withstand a transformed great demon. However, as long as the flying boat is fast enough, even a transformed great demon may not have the opportunity to attack."
He scanned the inside of the boat and said loudly: "Fellow Daoists may have noticed that the flying boat is getting faster and faster. This is because the rapid-travel formation has been activated. If we slow down, the accumulated speed-up effect will be wasted, and we will have to build up momentum again, which will take at least a quarter of an hour. Don't underestimate this time, because it can determine life and death in times of crisis!"
At this time, another person asked: "Steward Hao, you knew that the True Person was behind, but you secretly activated the rapid-travel formation. Are you clearly trying to prevent the True Person from catching up!"
These words were somewhat accusatory. The cultivators immediately turned their attention to the speaker, who was Qu Yizhong from揽月谷.
Those with good information knew that Qu Yizhong seemed to have some friendship with several people from the Xuántiān Sect, and couldn't help but guess some possibilities, their expressions becoming solemn.
Hao Sanding was about to speak when a heavily nasal voice flew out from the middle of the flying boat: "Fellow Daoist Qu, why blame Steward Hao? Steward Hao is also considering our situation. Having a Nascent Soul True Person protecting us from behind can both deter pursuers and attract the attention of the demons. Isn't that great? Don't be ungrateful!"
These words were somewhat sarcastic, and it was unclear which side he was supporting, causing many cultivators to turn their heads to look. It was a Core Formation cultivator, his face covered by a bamboo hat, making it impossible to see his face. Some people scanned him with their divine sense, but were repelled by an invisible force.
Hao Sanding had no time to investigate the identity of this person, and hurriedly explained: "The flying boat is accelerating only to get out of this dangerous area as soon as possible. After a period of time, it will still slow down. If the direction from which True Person Yuan is chasing has not deviated, he will naturally catch up."
His words were obscure, but in fact, he admitted the meaning in the words of the person just now.
At this time, many Core Formation cultivators in the flying boat were focusing their attention on Zhang Yuanjing, and a few of them had unkind looks in their eyes.
Zhang Yuanjing pondered for a moment, then suddenly snorted coldly, sat back in his chair, and stopped speaking.
Qu Yizhong's eyes showed doubt, but he shook his head and sighed.
Seeing this, Hao Sanding chuckled, a hint of disdain flashed across the corner of his mouth, and he leaned over to whisper a few words to a boat operator next to him.
This person nodded, reached out and grabbed a few glittering middle-grade spirit stones, stuffed them under a formation base at the very end of the flying boat, and with a guide of the mana in his hand, a huge force was immediately generated, pushing the flying boat to speed up again.
"Ah, is this the direction to Greenstone Mountain?"
"It seems so! Look, that straight stone mountain is Green Pillar Mountain!"
"Steward Hao, why go to Greenstone Mountain! It's too dangerous there!"
"Steward Hao, what are you trying to do!"
…
The cultivators in the boat who were familiar with the geography exclaimed or questioned.
On the way from Tiannan Immortal City to the First Demon Suppression City, there were several dangerous places that passing flying boats had to avoid as early as possible to avoid breaking into them and attracting danger. This Greenstone Mountain was one of them. It was rumored that the spiritual power in the mountain was abnormal, and the flying boat was very susceptible to interference, leading to disorientation.
"It's okay, my City Lord's Mansion's flying boat has its own way to avoid interference." Hao Sanding said confidently, "Passing through here will definitely be beyond the demons' expectations. By the time they realize it, they will have missed the opportunity, and there is absolutely no possibility of catching up with us!"
"Steward Hao, you are gambling with the lives of the fellow Daoists in the boat!" Qu Yizhong stood up with a whoosh and said sternly, "Qu has never heard that the City Lord's Mansion's flying boat can be unaffected by the spiritual disorder of Greenstone Mountain! What exactly are you trying to do?"
Hao Sanding laughed loudly: "Fellow Daoist Qu, just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean it's false. My City Lord's Mansion's flying boat is not the ordinary merchant flying boat you see, it has its own unique features. We didn't pass through here in the past because it wasn't necessary. Now, to ensure the safety of all fellow Daoists, it's time to show the magical power of this flying boat!"
Hao Sanding spoke decisively, and many cultivators who were about to question him immediately died down, looking at the outside of the flying boat with suspicion.
A huge stone mountain rushed into everyone's eyes, initially like a long spear, piercing straight into the sky. When it got closer, the true appearance of the mountain was fully revealed. It was piled up with countless green boulders, as if they were stacked according to some kind of law.
Behind the stone mountain, it was as if stone bamboo shoots were soaring into the sky. Hundreds of green stone mountains were densely arranged. In the middle right of these stone mountains, there was a narrow valley, extending all the way north along the bottom of the stone mountains on both sides. The valley was filled with clouds and mist, and the situation inside was completely invisible.
