Chapter 638: Even Among Saints, They Are Not The Same Level
Among all the survivors, Cang Xu was arguably the most adept at concealing his true abilities.
His rich life experience had taught him well: feigning ignorance and playing dumb were highly practical survival skills.
By pretending not to have seen through Jian Gui and avoiding displays of intelligence, he avoided arousing his suspicion. This allowed Jian Gui to cling to his old impression of Cang Xu and maintain its mistaken sense of intellectual superiority.
To a certain extent, this also significantly mitigated Jian Gui's jealousy over Cang Xu's transformation into a saint level bloodline.
Cang Xu's most important goal was achieved. By pretending to be stupid, he forced Jian Gui to reveal his secret and made Teacher Si Ling reveal himself.
Teacher Si Ling's appearance caught not only Jian Gui off guard but also exceeded Cang Xu's own expectations.
Yet in terms of outcome, this was a monumental victory!
Though seemingly weak, Cang Xu had, through his unique diplomatic skills, defused Jian Gui's jealousy in a remarkably short time and secured an excellent first impression with Teacher Si Ling.
Among the survivors, none could have performed better than Cang Xu.
Such diplomatic achievements, though seemingly minor, concealed immense potential benefits!
Merchants like Zi Di and Fei She undoubtedly grasped this profoundly.
Yet they still fell short of Cang Xu's exceptional skill. This wasn't merely due to his rich life experience, but also his dark, calculating mind, his ability to penetrate hearts, and his masterful acting.
Zi Di possessed natural talent in this regard, yet compared to Cang Xu, she was still too green.
“Both of you come with me,” Teacher Si Ling instructed. “I'll broaden your horizons.”
He was a necromancer who took great care of his juniors, evident from his title “Teacher.”
While Jian Gui was a true-blooded member of the undead orthodoxy, Cang Xu was not. Yet Teacher Si Ling recognized the latter's potential and had been favorably impressed at first glance, wishing to cultivate him.
Thus, he resolved to bring both Jian Gui and Cang Xu into the divine domain.
“T-Thank you, Teacher Si Ling!” Cang Xu exclaimed, his excitement palpable. Without hesitation, he followed closely behind.
Even if Teacher Si Ling hadn't invited him, he would have followed anyway.
He couldn't shake his unease about the fishman youngster.
After all, Teacher Si Ling was renowned far and wide. His reputation far surpassed that of the fishman youngster.
The fishman youngster might be well-known within the Ice Sculpture Kingdom, but Teacher Si Ling's fame encompassed the entire Main Plane!
A person's reputation was like a tree's shadow, great renown was proof of power.
Cang Xu trusted the Deceptive Disguise spell and Anti-investigation and Prophecy spell, yet he still feared Teacher Si Ling might see through them.
He knew much about Teacher Si Ling and understood that he possessed a special divine artifact—the Truth Slate!
“Teacher Si Ling wields the divine artifact, the Truth Slate. He is the most likely saint level being we've encountered so far to see through the Deceptive Disguise spell!”
"If something goes wrong later, I'll have to step in. As a member of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance, I'll vouch for the commander and reveal that the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps is actually the merchant alliance's pawn."
Jian Gui was well aware of Cang Xu's background with the Wisteria Merchant Alliance.
In fact, back on Weeping Pine Island, Cang Xu had approached Xiao Wang Zi and others precisely under this guise.
Therefore, the contingency plan Cang Xu devised contained no logical flaws.
However, when Teacher Si Ling effortlessly led Jian Gui and Cang Xu through the breach in the Ocean Mother Nest, formally entering the Charming Blue Divine Domain, Teacher Si Ling showed no expression of surprise.
His gaze swept the surroundings, glancing over the Deep Sea Monster Fish without lingering.
Cang Xu scrutinized the area, finding nothing amiss.
“It seems he hasn't detected the Deep Sea Monster Fish!” Cang Xu breathed a sigh of relief.
The excuse he'd devised still had numerous flaws.
The most glaring one was the Deep Sea Monster Fish.
This gold level magic ship was crafted by War Merchant. It had made an appearance during the Battle of Two Eyes Island, where the fishmen had mistaken it for a Charming Blue saint beast.
Survivors speculated wildly about its true nature.
But one thing was certain: many outside knew of the Deep Sea Monster Fish.
If Teacher Si Ling knew anything—especially the strong connection between the Deep Sea Monster Fish and War Merchant, it would spell trouble!
Back on Weeping Pine Island, Jian Gui presented three demands for exchange.
The first was the undead inheritance of the corpse aspect and bone aspect. The second was any hidden intelligence concerning Charming Blue Goddess. The third was a valid means of contacting the legendary magician, War Merchant.
Jian Gui, a legitimate member of the undead orthodoxy, demanded information on Charming Blue Goddess and War Merchant. With only gold level qualifications, he was far from qualified.
Especially since his trading partners were merely figures like Xiao Wang Zi and Ku Feng.
Therefore, it was highly probable he was merely tasked with gathering intelligence, expanding the scope of his search as much as possible, without harboring much hope.
Who else could command him?
Cang Xu easily deduced: the undead orthodoxy was searching for War Merchant and Charming Blue Goddess!
Under these circumstances, if Teacher Si Ling discovered the Deep Sea Monster Fish and happened to know it belonged to War Merchant, then Cang Xu and the fishman youngster would inevitably face rigorous investigation. The consequences were unimaginable!
Fortunately, such a dire scenario did not materialize.
Teacher Si Ling lifted his head, gazing intently at the Charming Blue Divine Domain before sighing deeply. “Charming Blue Divine Domain... After so many years, I find myself here once more.”
His expression held a complex mix of emotions.
Cang Xu: ?!
In an instant, he keenly sensed the hidden meaning behind Teacher Si Ling's intricate expression.
“What's going on?”
“It seems... Teacher Si Ling doesn't harbor strong hostility toward the Charming Blue Church?”
“Didn't he join the battle after hearing Jian Gui's plea for help?”
Earlier, Cang Xu had speculated that Teacher Si Ling's appearance was likely reinforcements Jian Gui had accidentally summoned through their soul bond.
But now, it seemed things weren't quite as he'd assumed.
Cang Xu's gaze involuntarily shifted to Jian Gui.
Jian Gui wore only a hint of puzzlement, more akin to the relief of a conjecture confirmed.
The next moment, he spoke: “Teacher Si Ling, could it be... the Charming Blue Church truly is our ally?”
Teacher Si Ling glanced at him, smiled faintly, and nodded slowly.
Cang Xu: “?!”
Jian Gui grew agitated: “Zhou Zhang is a Charming Blue Archbishop. Could she not have known about this connection?”
“No,” Teacher Si Ling replied. “This time, her blood sacrifice was also meant to await my arrival.”
Jian Gui's eyes widened: “Then why did she capture me? To sacrifice me? To kill me!?”
Teacher Si Ling replied meaningfully: “You are already dead.”
Jian Gui: “No, I mean, she wanted to completely exterminate me!”
Teacher Si Ling smiled: “Did she?”
Jian Gui: “Uh...”
Just as he was about to speak, a surge of saint aura abruptly closed in.
It was Qian Xing!
The Snow Pear Octopus was tough as nails, a formidable opponent. But Qian Xing's mobility far surpassed its own, effortlessly shaking off the Snow Pear Octopus for the moment.
“No need to waste time tangling with a saint beast. I'm not stupid.”
“Let me see what treasures lie here!”
Qian Xing, a member of the Fire Beard Pirates, was a pirate through and through.
Plunder was in a pirate's blood, and Qian Xing was no exception.
With Da Han now occupied by Zhou Zhang, Qian Xing shook off the Snow Pear Octopus and charged toward the settlement of the Charming Blue believers.
He saw the divine script and magic formation he'd shattered, the gold level altar he'd slashed down to a third of its size, and the breached Ocean Mother Nest.
His excitement soared, his expectations skyrocketing, then he crashed headlong into the Charming Blue Divine Domain.
Like Teacher Si Ling, he too failed to spot the Deep Sea Monster Fish. Instead, he saw the trio of undead.
He swept past Jian Gui and Cang Xu, his gaze instantly locking onto the seemingly “ordinary” Teacher Si Ling.
So familiar!
“You... are Teacher Si Ling?” Qian Xing recognized him instantly, his pupils contracting violently.
Without Da Han's prophecy, his identification wouldn't have been so swift. But before they acted, Da Han had foreseen the future, witnessing Teacher Si Ling modifying Ba Qi.
Thus, Qian Xing recognized him instantly.
Then, in a flash, he changed direction and fled outward!
As a fighter skilled in close combat, his first instinct when facing a magician of the same level would be to engage in melee.
But Qian Xing didn't do that. Instead, he chose to run away immediately.
For one reason alone—his opponent was Teacher Si Ling!
Cang Xu stared in stunned silence.
Teacher Si Ling smiled faintly, his attitude serene.
Noticing Cang Xu's expression, Jian Gui lifted his chin slightly, a hint of pride in his voice. “The gap between saints is unthinkable.”
“The higher the transcendent level, the greater the disparity between those of the same level.”
Cang Xu's mouth opened slightly as he looked at Teacher Si Ling, his eyes brimming with curiosity, admiration, and awe.
Teacher Si Ling, with hands clasped behind his back, sensed Cang Xu's gaze. His smile grew even more serene.
Without exchanging a single blow, Qian Xing fled.
He shot out from the Mother Nest, closing in on Da Han, and whispered telepathically: “Teacher Si Ling! I saw Teacher Si Ling!”
Da Han, locked in combat with Zhou Zhang, paled visibly and snapped back, "Are you certain? You must know the Charming Blue Church excels at deception."
Necromancy magic - Soul Capture!
In the next instant, Teacher Si Ling unleashed a saint level undead spell.
Though he remained hidden within the divine domain, both Da Han and Qian Xing fell victim simultaneously.
Instantly, they felt their souls seized, their bodies stiffening.
Though they recovered moments later, their expressions darkened.
“It's Soul Capture!”
“Teacher Si Ling has established his domain here, and we didn't notice a thing.”
“Let's go! It really is him!”
As Jian Gui had said, there was a difference between saint level individuals.
The greatest disparity lay in their domains.
Saint level transcendents could command domain power, but the scope, quality, and other aspects of their domains varied vastly.
Qian Xing's domain, for instance, was confined to a mere ten meters around his body. Da Han's extended slightly further, reaching over a hundred meters.
Yet now, Teacher Si Ling stood over a thousand meters away from them.
More terrifyingly, though his domain was spread out, it revealed not a single trace of abnormality. Only when Teacher Si Ling made his move did Qian Xing and Da Han sense it.
Such profound and subtle mastery over domain power was rare among the saint level individuals.
Who else could it be but Teacher Si Ling?
Even if it weren't him, but someone else impersonating him, this level of mastery alone was enough to make Da Han and Qian Xing feel an intense urge to retreat.
So, in the next instant, these two saint level pirates didn't hesitate. They turned around simultaneously and fled.
Of course, it wasn't that they lacked the strength to fight. It was simply that it wasn't worth fighting.
They were pirates. They came here to get rich, not to risk their lives!